In medieval romances there is a common theme of how to handle a big fuck up, the path of Yvain:
~Loses his sanity.
~Tears off his clothes and flees into the forest.
~Lives as a wild man, surviving on roots and hunted animals.
~Wanders naked and disconnected from civilization until he is eventually healed by a magical ointment and cared for by a noblewoman.

This path is perfect because one just disappears for a year or two, comes back acting a little shell shocked and remorseful. But if you're twitchy enough no one will want to bring it up around you. You can just proceed with life and leave the mess behind you.