my heart flew from its cage and it bled upon my sleeve

Stede had seen the way Edward looked at his library, full of awe and almost childlike wonder. He had wondered in passing at what he perceived as his friend’s aversion to books despite Edward’s clear enjoyment of Stede’s nightly stories. But somehow he had never brought those thoughts to completion. He had never fully, consciously understood that Edward could not read. And that realization broke his heart.Inspired by the look of utter agony on Stede's face after he sees Edward sign the Act of Grace contract with an X. Canon-compliant, all taking place within this scene in episode 9. Title from the song "Prince of Darkness" by Indigo Girls.