Vlad was Ioana's son.

Angelina felt as if she would hyperventilate, but she fought it. "What...?"

Ioana wept, covering her face as if she were ashamed. "Vlad is my son! My boy!" She sounded saddened, yet relieved, since the secret had to be kept for so long. 

Sitting beside her, Angelina asked, "Ioana, how is this possible?"

Ioana fell silent for a moment as Angelina slowly wrapped an arm around her. It had been a long time since someone had shown her such affection. She felt that it was time to tell the entire truth she had held for so long. "I have lived in this castle most of my life, as did my family, since we were servants. My family always taught me that we had to proudly serve the House of Drăculești, as they provided our family with a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. Serving an influential family was a dream of those of lower rank." Ioana sighed while putting her hands together. "I believed it wholeheartedly. When I became a young woman, I was chosen to be the lady-in-waiting for Lady Cneajna, the wife of Vlad Dracul II."

"Vlad II was Vlad's father, right?"

"Yes, he was, and that man was very cruel to not only those who were beneath him but also to his family. When I began working under Lady Cneajna, I captured Vlad II's interest. He wanted me to become his mistress; I refused." The story sounded almost like Angelina's. A part of her hoped that what Ioana was about to say wasn't what she thought. "I told Lady Cneajna about what was occurring, and I thank God that she believed me."

"Wow, the previous lady was the opposite of Minah," Angelina thought.

"Lady Cneajna couldn't speak out against her husband since she would have been punished. She decided to give me money so I could leave the castle with my family. When I told my family about what was happening, they were outraged that I wished to run away."

Angelina gasped as anger slowly crept into her being. "What!? Why were they angry at you!?"

Ioana sighed as she massaged her eyes. "My family believed it was an excellent opportunity for me to capture the Voivode's attention. I would have been paid handsomely if I became his mistress. However, I felt a solid loyalty to Lady Cneajna, who treated me kindly. My family didn't care and tried to convince me to give myself to the Voivode; I refused. I ran away." The young woman was amazed at how loyal Ioana was to her mistress. Ioana trembled; she feared what would be said next. "I hid at a nearby  village for a few days, but Vlad II and his men found me. My family told him I had left and that Lady Cneajna paid me. I had never felt so betrayed; I thought I would be taken back to the castle. I was wrong...."

"Ioana, there's no need to say more. You-"

"It was ordered that every villager except the children and those who were not of age be taken out of their homes and there I was..."

Angelina shook her head as she felt her heart break into tiny pieces. "Don't say it."

"Vlad II raped me while everyone watched. After the deed, I was left like a piece of meat."

"Oh my God...Ioana. Such cruelty! Y-You were never at fault, he-"

The young woman felt tears falling from her eyes; she felt Ioana's pain. Angelina couldn't fathom the trauma that Ioana experienced. "Ioana..."

"I wanted to die in that moment and thought of ending my life, but I feared for my soul and that god would not have forgiven such a sin. I traveled and begged to survive until I arrived at a nunnery, and they took me in. There, I discovered that I was pregnant."

"Then what happened?"

"I thought I could trust the nuns to help me in my time of need, but it was another lie. I was foolish to trust them with the information about the father. They sent word to Vlad II about my pregnancy so they could be paid handsomely; he sent some of his men to take me back to the castle by force."

Angelina hugged Ioana. She knew there was nothing she could say to brighten the situation.

"When I returned, I found out that my family had been executed since they were no longer useful to Vlad II anymore." There was a hint of satisfaction in Ioana's voice. "I didn't care; they were dead to me either way. I was told that I had to lie that the child was another man's. Vlad II had enemies everywhere, and my unborn child would have been put in danger. I gave birth to my son, Vlad III, and he was taken away from me."

"Oh, Ioana. You have been through hell. So, if I had to guess, Vlad was raised by Lady Cneajna?"

The older woman nodded. "Yes, I also learned that not only was she punished, but also tortured for helping me escape. Lady Cneajna pretended to be with the child to possess Vlad when he was born." Ioana let out a cry. "My poor lady wept for me, and she told Vlad II that she would raise the child as her own as long as I could stay as her lady-in-waiting. He agreed on the condition that I would be his mistress, and if I refused, I wouldn't be able to see my son, Vlad, again." 

"Ioana, I'm so sorry. I never thought you suffered through so much. Whatever I say may not convince you, but it's not your fault. You had self-respect, dignity, and loyalty, but Vlad's father was nothing more than a monstrous coward. But please believe me when I tell you that you hold so much more strength and power than anyone here. D-Does Vlad know the truth?"

"No, and he mustn't know. No one must know the truth, or Vlad will be put in a more precarious position. Radu is the son of two nobles, while Vlad is my son, the son of a mere peasant woman. Vlad would lose even more support, and he would be in danger of being killed. Please, don't tell him or anyone, please!"

"Alright, I won't say anything. You have my word."

"Thank you." Ioana sighed in relief. "It is strange; all the anger, sadness, and shame within me has gone. You were the first one I have told, and I never felt so free." She then gently held onto Angelina's hands. "I know what you must think: Vlad is like his father. Please believe me that Vlad is not as cruel as his father. He went through so much in his childhood; Lady Cneajna and I raised him as best we could. With your arrival, I noticed a sudden change."

"Ioana..."

"Please believe me. You are slowly changing him that no one could have. Angelina, you hold innocence and strength that Vlad is not used to but always wanted. He grew up in turmoil with no hope, but you are the hope he always wanted. I know he has committed many sins, but he still has goodness in him and can be a better Voivode than his father." Ioana gently squeezed Angelina's hands. "Please, don't give up on him! Save him from himself!"

The women fell silent for a moment until someone announced Vlad's arrival. Angelina looked at Ioana and felt her hands on hers. She didn't know how to change Vlad, as he was determined to control her. "I-I will see what I can do. It's time for us to go back inside and thank you for putting your faith and trust in me." Ioana smiled, hopeful, but Angelina wasn't sure if she could keep her promise. She didn't know how she could change a monster.