Chapter 25 Chapter 20 The Last Selfishness

His foot kicked the ground, sending mud flying, before the toe slammed for the hundredth time under a solid half-buried block of rock, just to reveal its true size.Jaka didn't even feel the pain, because the real tearing pain was happening inside him - no, the pain was not from the heart, but from his pride - and things were getting worse.It was a thousand times worse than before. The wedding has been decided to take place at the turn of the seasons, at the end of this week to be precise.Lord Feringal was about to have Meralda, his Jaka's children. "Well, isn't this fair?" he cried.It was only when Jaka bent down to pick up the kicked stone that he realized that its true size did not match his mood.So he had to grab another piece and straighten up and threw it, almost hitting a pair of farmers cleaning their hoes.

Two victims, including an old dwarf with a long nose, rushed forward with a rain of curses, but Jaka was too distracted by his own problems to understand him at this point. He had already gotten into another trouble just now, and he didn't even pay attention to the two farmers who were becoming increasingly hostile. It wasn't until Jaka turned around that he realized that the two were already standing behind him.The rough dwarf jumped up and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. "Damn stupid brat," the dwarf muttered, turning and walking away. Almost without thinking out of humiliation, Jaka stuck out his ankle and tripped the dwarf.

Immediately, the thin young man was grabbed by the foot by the other farmer and dragged over. "Are you courting death?" the man asked while shaking the young man to one side. "Perhaps," Jaka returned with a deep, theatrical sigh, "yes, since all my fun has gone with the wind." "Stupid brat," the farmer said to his companion as he grabbed Jaka.The dwarf was charging back, fists clenched, jaw thrust forward hard from thick beard.As he was about to get there, the first guy slapped Jaka a few times before pushing him over.Instead of grabbing him, the dwarf pushed him back in the same way, and being pushed on the back, the young man fell face down in the mud.The dwarf put his foot on Jaka's thin back, stomping hard with his thick rubber-soled boots.

"Watch out next time you throw a rock," he warned, and the sudden force of his foot knocked Jaka out of breath for a split second. "Stupid brat," the other farmer cursed again as the two walked away. Jaka lay on the ground, crying. "There should be a lot of delicious food in the castle," said Ms. Prinkle, a pale old woman who was always smiling.Her skin was so wrinkled that it looked as if it hung loosely from that bone.The seamstress squeezed Meralda's wrist tightly: "If you pay more attention to your figure every week, how well my clothes will fit on you? But why, girl, Your arm is three fingers wider than I thought it would be."

Meralda blushed and looked away, especially not wanting to meet Priscilla's stare, who was standing by the side, watching and listening attentively. "Indeed, I've been feeling very hungry lately," Meralda replied, "and now I've got to the point where I have to stuff everything I can eat into my mouth. Maybe I'm too hungry." Be nervous." As she spoke, she looked at Priscilla uneasily, the lord's sister had tried her best to help her try to change her rural accent. Priscilla nodded, but that look was completely unconvincing. "Well, it looks like you'd better find another way to keep yourself calm," Ms. Prinkle replied, "or you're going to have your gown rip when you walk beside Lord Feringal. Let's go." Then she laughed maniacally, looking like a big ball with a loose skin and bouncing around.Meralda and Priscilla also laughed thoughtfully, although their laughter sounded perfunctory.

"Is there still time to change the clothes?" Priscilla asked. "Oh, don't worry," Ms. Prinkle replied, "I'll let this girl show off all her beauty on her wedding day." She began to gather up the string and sewing tools.Priscilla went to help Meralda who was quickly putting away her clothes and personal items, and was about to rush out of the room immediately. When she came out, the girl put her hand on her growing belly.It was now a month and a half to two months or so since what happened to her with Jaka under the stars, and though Meralda was concerned that the baby would protrude her stomach visibly when the baby was old enough, it hadn't. The solution is that she has to start increasing her appetite.Maybe it's because of nervousness, maybe it's because what she needs to supply now is from two people, but whatever the reason, in the remaining two weeks, she must always be careful not to let others invest more in herself. attention.

"She'll be bringing the clothes back tomorrow," Priscilla said behind her, which made the young girl almost pop out of her shoes. "Is there a question, Meralda?" the lady asked, moving to her side and placing a hand on Meralda's shoulder. "Ah, could it be that you are about to marry a lord, wouldn't you be nervous?" Priscilla frowned slightly. "I can't be nervous, because I can't have such an experience." She replied. "But suppose—what are you?" Meralda asked. "Suppose you were a peasant, born poor, and the lord—"

"Absurd," interrupted the lady, "if I had been born a farmer, I wouldn't have been what I am, and therefore wouldn't have any sense of your whole problem." Meralda stared at her, clearly confused. "I'm not a farmer because I'm not a farmer in my soul or blood," Priscilla explained, "Your family thinks you were born into a farmer's family by accident, and we think we're born rich. It is a very normal thing, because this cannot be a problem at all, my dear Meralda. The identity and status are determined by the heavens, not by ourselves."

"So, that's why you are better?" Meralda asked frankly. Priscilla smiled. "It's not better, my dear," she answered humbly, "it's different. We each have our place." "And my status is different from your brother's." The young girl deduced. "I really don't agree with the mixing of bloodlines." Priscilla expressed her opinion, and then the eyes of the two met, and they stared at each other for a long time uncomfortable. Then you can marry him yourself, Meralda thought, but looked away first. "However, I respect my brother's choice," Priscilla went on, with the same contempt. "It's just that he's destroying his life at will. It's just trained to be close to his position. But I do still like you, my dear Meralda." After she added, she stretched out her hand and patted the girl on the shoulder.

You treat me like a toilet cleaner, Meralda suppressed her anger silently.She wanted to respond to Priscilla's theory, and yes she wanted to, but the girl didn't sense enough courage when the words were about to come out.No, that child, Jaka's child, was still thriving in her womb, and she was now the vulnerable party, and Priscilla Oak's viciousness in her present state did not seem to be able to withstand it. look. It was late in the morning when Meralda woke up.She was awakened by the high, bright sun shining through the window.Out of worry, she scrambled out of bed.Why didn't her father come to wake her up to help with the housework?Where is her mother?

Meralda calmed down as soon as she walked through the curtain into the living room, where her family was sitting around the table.Her mother's chair was pulled back a little, and the woman sat facing the ceiling.An eccentric man, dressed like a monk, was softly singing carols and patting her forehead with a balm-stained hand. "Dad?" As soon as she asked, Denis raised his finger to signal her to be quiet, and then asked her to come to him. "That's Baribold the Keeper," he explained, "from the temple of Helm in Luskan. Lord Feringal sent him to see your mother so she can come to your wedding in good health. .” Meralda's mouth fell open. "Then can you cure her?" "This is a troublesome disease," Bai Ruibode replied, "Fortunately, your mother is strong enough, so that she can fight the disease until now." Meralda continued to ask the question just now, but the healer only used a sympathetic way An assured smile answered her. "She'll be free from this slump before High Guard Risten and I leave Orkney," he promised. Torrey screamed loudly, and Meralda's heart beat happily.She felt her father's strong arms around her wrists pulling her closer.The girl could hardly believe the good news.She did already know that Lord Feringal would heal her mother, but it had never occurred to her that this man would keep his promise before the marriage.Her mother's illness had really been to Meralda a great sword that Feringal had hung over her head, and now he was moving it away. The girl pondered as the loyal Lord Feringal escorted a healer to her door without a word.Had it been Jaka, he would never have let go of such an obvious opportunity to be courteous.Not for her, though, and not for anyone else.But now it was Feringal who did it - it seemed silly to him to take the sword away while pursuing Meralda. Such a thought brought a smile to Meralda's face.Because for so long she had believed that accepting Feringal's courtship was a devotion to her family, but now, suddenly, she recognized the essence of it all.He was a good man, a handsome man, a man who loved her faithfully.And the only reason she thought she couldn't respond to his confession was because she had a stupid wild affair with a selfish boy.But, strangely enough, it seemed that even the pain in her heart was now healed by the arrival of the healers sent by Feringal. The young girl went back to her room to prepare for today's dressing.She couldn't wait for the next meeting with Lord Feringal, because she guessed—no, she knew very well that when she saw this man today, she would find him extremely different from usual. This afternoon was their last meeting before the wedding.Feringal was excitedly explaining the wedding arrangements and guest list to Meralda, but said nothing about the healer's visit to the girl's home. "You sent the doctor to my house today," Meralda blurted out without thinking, unable to keep the matter in her mind any longer, "and before the wedding. Because only you have the power to make My mother is free from illness, and you could have used that to make me your slave." Feringal looked as if he couldn't understand her at all. "Why do I have to have something like that?" This honest and innocent question confirmed Meralda's long-established guess of the answer.A smile hovered over her beautiful face, and the girl jumped up suddenly, and planted a deep kiss on Feringo's cheek. "Thank you for sending someone to treat my mum and thank you for helping my family." Her heart was filled with gratitude at this moment, and all the happiness showed on her face.When her second kiss was about to meet Feringo's face, the man turned to meet her with his own lips.And the girl gave it back tenfold, confident now that a life with this kind and amazing man wasn't as unbearable as she thought.Far from it. Meralda rode home on the horse, thinking about the earlier scene, and when her thoughts returned to the child in her belly and the lie she was about to tell in the next few days, her mind was like It sank like lead.How horribly she looked now!Meralda thought her greatest sin was simply misjudgment of her lover, but the truth pointed her to a more serious aspect, raising her error to a new level: being a betrayal of feelings in order to enjoy a one-night stand. Therefore, when Meralda stepped into the castle garden next morning, which was already crowded with every nobleman in Orkney and all the important witnesses, her feelings were mixed with fear, hope and joy.There were her family, Lord Feringal's sister, and Steward Temigast, all standing there smiling at her.Meralda also saw Ryan Mumen wearing his most beautiful clothes and guarding the gate with a beaming face, and standing at the end of the garden was the high-ranking guard Coral Resten, a Heim more The elder priest, Meralda's savior to Feringal, in shining armor and a plumed helm. What a sumptuous preparation for today's grand ceremony!Priscilla has replaced all her summer flowers with chrysanthemums, kaphts and marigolds that bloom only in the fall, and despite the fact that only the front row is in full bloom, the lady figured out how to use some Brightly colored flags made up for it.It had rained just before dawn, but the clouds had lightened, leaving only a fresh smell in the air.The traces of water left on the low walls, and the drops of water on the petals of the flowers, are all made to glisten by catching the morning sun.Even the sea breeze from the open ocean smelled so fresh today. Meralda's mood became lighter.She is about to get married, and she no longer has to worry about being threatened or hurt.She has nothing to fear now, save the fear of tripping over her own feet as she ascends the wedding platform, a small platform decorated with wartime iron gauntlets and a tapestry tapestry with a blue Eye pattern.Meralda's self-confidence was only bolstered when she looked up and saw her mother's shining face, for Coral Resten's young assistant had indeed produced something in the woman. kind of miracle.Meralda had worried that her mother's illness might prevent her from attending the ceremony, but now that her complexion was so rosy and her eyes had a healthy gleam, she hadn't enjoyed life so much in years. The joyful atmosphere lifted her mood, and all fears about her secret were gradually cast away, and the young girl began to walk on the wedding platform.She was not tripped.Absolutely not.Those who watched the ceremony had the impression that Meralda looked as if she had floated up the steps, a perfect bride-if her waist was a little thinner, they all believed that it was just a young girl who didn't pay attention to diet. The final signs of coming out. Standing beside the magistrates, Meralda turned to watch Feringal appear.He strode forward, wearing the full uniform of Orkney Castle Watch Commander--a suit of shiny gold embossed armor, a feathered helmet, a He hangs a big sword with a shape that matches him very well at his waist.Someone in the crowd began to gasp loudly, the women sniggered with laughter, and Meralda believed again that her union with this man might not be such a bad thing.How handsome Feringal was to her, not just as he was, for she knew the true tender nature of the lord's heart.His exaggerated military attire might not have made him any more handsome than he looked, but he had certainly given Meralda an impressive dignified image. Feringo, who had been smiling all the time, stood beside Pastor Gao Jie with her.The devout priest began the ceremony, solemnly stating that all those present would be holy witnesses of the wedding.Meralda's gaze did not focus on Lord Feringal, but on her family.During the whole ceremony, she hardly heard every blessing from Coral Resten.Until at some point, she was given a chalice full of wine, to be sucked before being passed to Lord Feringal. The birds sang around them, the flowers were so pretty, and the couple were so happy about their beauty—it was a wedding that would make all the girls in Orkney jealous.Everyone who was not at the wedding was invited to pay their respects to the newlyweds outside the castle gates.The public looks at the lucky few as it looks at an exhibit that excites the joy of all.Except for one person. "Meralda!" The shout cut through the morning air and the crowd of idiots watching, and came from the cliffs east of the castle.All eyes turned to the source of the sound in unison.There stood a lone figure, unmistakably Jaka Scully, with drooping shoulders. "Meralda!" cried the foolish young man again, and the name sounded as though it had come flying from the depths of his torn heart. Meralda looked at her parents and saw the anxious face of her father, and then the face of the man who would be her husband. "Who is that?" Lord Feringal asked, with obvious anxiety in his voice. Meralda grunted and shook her head, her disgust fully reflected in her expression. "A fool." She finally managed to get the words out. "You cannot marry Lord Feringal! Run away with me, I beg you, Meralda!" Jaka took another unsteady step towards the edge of the cliff. Lord Feringal, and everyone else, had their eyes fixed on Meralda. "A childhood playmate," she explained flusteredly, "a fool, I tell you, a little boy, nothing to worry about." Seeing that her words didn't have much effect, Maro Dar put his hand on Feringal's forearm, very close. "I'm here to marry you because we've found a love for each other that I never dreamed of," she said, desperately trying to reassure him. "Meralda!" Jaka wailed. Lord Feringal scowled at the cliff. "Someone, shut up the fool," he ordered.The lord looked over to the high priest Risten: "Throw a silence spell on this fool's head." "It's too far." Risten shook his head and replied, although in fact, he didn't even prepare such a scroll. At the other end of the garden, the steward Temigast was always worried about the interruption of the celebration, so after hearing the order, he immediately dispatched guards to silence the yelling young man. Like Temigast, Meralda was genuinely frightened, marveling at how stupid Jaka had proved to be.Didn't the idiot know that what he was about to say would ruin Meralda's wedding, and probably both of their reputations, and more likely their lives? "Run away with me, Meralda," Jaka called, "I am your true love." "Who is that bastard?" Lord Feringal asked again, his uneasiness evidently escalating. "A farmer, he always thought he loved me." The girl could only whisper to her husband in full view.Meralda recognized the current crisis, and the flames that were about to burst were boiling heavily in Feringal.She could only stare at him helplessly, unable to find any room to argue, "Even if you and I won't get married, even if we don't find true love for each other, I still won't have anything to do with this fool." What does it matter?" Lord Feringal was still staring at her eyes for a long time, but when he heard Meralda's confession of loyalty, the simmering anger in the air gradually disappeared. "May I continue, my lord?" asked the high priest, Risten. Lord Feringal raised his hand. "After that fool is driven away," he replied. "Malalda! If you insist on not running with me, then I'll jump off here!" Jaka suddenly shouted, walking towards the edge of the cliff. Some people in the garden seethed, but not Meralda.She stood there looking at Jaka coldly, so angry that she didn't even think about what if the fool actually followed through on his threat, because she was pretty sure he wouldn't.He doesn't have the courage it takes to kill himself.All he wanted was to torture and humiliate her in public, especially in front of Lord Feringal.This is mean revenge, not love. "Stay there!" shouted a guard, quickly approaching Jaka on the cliff. The young man turned again at the cry, but as he did so his foot tripped him, and he fell backward.Jaka's hands clung desperately to the air, but he fell so close to the edge that the guy seemed to be hanging from the edge for a moment, before heading towards the jagged edge a hundred feet or so down the cliff. The pile of rocks fell down. The guards rushed up, but it was too late. "Meralda!" came Jaka's last cry, a desperate wail, and then he disappeared from everyone's sight. Meralda nearly passed out from the sudden and dramatic turn of events, her fear coming from both the reality of Jaka's grief and the fact that Lord Feringal was watching her carefully. With that look in his eyes, he observed and measured her every reaction.The girl immediately understood that as soon as she made a single mistake, the facts would immediately stand against her, revealing all her current truths. "God!" Meralda exclaimed breathlessly, covering her mouth with her hand just right. "Oh, poor fool!" She turned to Lord Feringal and shook her head, looking very distressed by it. But in fact, this is also the exact feeling, her heart is now in a chaotic state of remorse, horror, and intense memories.She hated Jaka - how much she hated him - for the way the young man had reacted to the news of her pregnancy, and for the stupidity of his behavior today.But she still can't resist the memories of those passions, and just a few months ago she was cheering every look Jaka gave her.Meralda knew that Jaka's last cry would be firmly in her memory for the rest of her life. She kept it all under wraps, acting like she had been completely shaken and terrified by the horrible things that had just happened. They postponed the wedding.They completed the celebration three days later, on a gray and cloudy morning.Looks like the right weather. During the next few days of this feast, to which all Orkney were invited, Meralda felt hesitation and hesitation in every move of her husband.She tried to discuss the matter with Feringal, but again and again the lord kept his thoughts to himself.Meralda knew he was afraid.Wouldn't Feringal have nothing to fear?After all, Jaka called out the name of his fiancée before he died. However, as the toasting and laughter continued, Lord Feringal finally showed more smiles.And when Meralda leaned close to his ear and whispered her eagerness for Chu Ye to make love perfect, those smiles became even harder to conceal. In fact, the young girl would be excited about what was to come if she wasn't being disturbed by some dreadful thoughts.Of course, he will find out that the girl is not a virgin anymore, but this is not an unusual thing among rural women who live in such harsh farm conditions, work hard, and often ride horses. , these can be the cause.What she wanted to know was whether she should explain her current situation in some suitable way, and the lies that had been used as explanations before. No, Meralda decided as she walked up the bridal stairs with her husband.No, this man has been through enough chaos these days.Tonight will be a night of joy for him, not pain. This was what Meralda wanted to see. It was a big first week of marriage, full of love, smiles and, of course, the pervasive pride with which Brister Gandley mentioned Meralda.Her family did not come to live with her in Oak Castle.The girl did not dare to make such a suggestion to Priscilla, it was not the time yet, but the high-ranking guard Risten had worked tirelessly for her mother and had publicly declared that the woman's illness was completely gone. was healed.Meralda could now see a real healthy and bright light shining on Bester's face. However, she also saw that Feringal was still overwhelmed by Jaka's previous actions on the cliff.Of course, this man still loves her, so he has been unremittingly caring for the girl so far. Meralda herself had a completely different feeling about Jaka now.She felt sorry for what had happened, but felt no guilt about the boy's death.Jaka did it for his own sake, certainly not hers.Meralda understood now that everything Jaka did was for his own sake.Boys no longer had a place in her heart, because the fantasy no longer existed, but what was added was that her family could finally live a life they had never dared to dream of.In the end, she will definitely be able to help Best and Denny move into the castle, or give them an appropriate amount of real estate, and she will also help Torrey find a husband who matches her, maybe a rich businessman is very good—of course This also has to wait until the little girl grows up. Now there is only one problem left.What Meralda was afraid of was Priscilla's grasp of her reality, for the lady, despite her outward appearance of being happy for her, already had an unmistakable look in the young girl's eyes. mean.That was suspicion, and so was Steward Temigast's.They may have known the truth, or they may have been aware of it.Either way, it would soon be revealed, and the helplessness and despair would be brought back into the perfect life Meralda had just begun. She had considered going to consult the high priest Risten to see if he had any magic to kill the child.But Meralda rejected her idea almost immediately, not because she was afraid that Resten would betray her.Whenever she wanted to make up her mind to sever the only relationship with Jaka, she would soften her heart, because Meralda couldn't bring herself to destroy a life that was growing up with her. When the first weekend of marriage came, Meralda had already decided: there was only one way for her to go now, and it was not until the last day of the second week that she mustered up the courage to start planning.The girl waited for Feringo, Priscilla, and Temigast at the table while she ordered the kitchen to prepare eggs for breakfast.It would be more convenient for all three of them to be present when the plan was implemented. Before the smell of eggs wafted over and Meralda really felt that disgusting feeling, she had already bent down, held her belly and pretended to vomit. "Meralda?" Feringal asked with concern "Are you all right, boy?" Temigast added. Meralda looked across the table at Priscilla who was looking puzzled. She let out a quick wail, and immediately began to cry bitterly.Meralda had no difficulty in bursting into tears. "No, I'm not fine at all!" she cried. "What's the matter, dear?" asked Lord Feringal, jumping to his feet and running to her. "On the way back then," Meralda explained over a whimper, "on the day I went to Lady Prinkle's..." "Is it the day you were attacked?" Temigast Steward gently suggested. "That man, that big man," Meralda wailed, "he raped me!" Lord Feringal backed away as if he had been clubbed. "Why didn't you tell us then?" Temigast, who seemed to be the most resilient of the three, asked after a moment of hesitation.In fact, there were more than three people who were frightened. The chef who was carrying Meralda's breakfast plate into the dining room had already dropped what was in his hand to the floor with a loud sound. "I'm afraid, I dare not tell you," Meralda cried and looked at her husband, "I'm afraid you will hate me." "Absolutely not!" Feringo emphasized, but his heart was obviously shaken, which made the lord still not return to his wife. "So you're telling us now because...?" Priscilla's tone and Temigast's hurt look had revealed to the young girl what the two of them were really thinking: they already knew this. The answer. "Because, I'm afraid, I'm pregnant." Meralda blurted out without thinking.With the impact of her words and the smell of those damn eggs, she finally turned her head and started throwing up.Meralda heard Feringal's cry of despair mixed with his characteristic coughing, and it really hit the girl hard, she shouldn't have hurt him like this. Then the room fell silent. Meralda, after the vomiting was over, sat there sadly, not daring to straighten her back, and not daring to face the other three.She didn't know what they were going to do, although the girl had heard before about a village woman who had been raped and became pregnant, and that person hadn't been blamed very severely. A comforting hand grasped her shoulders and pulled her out of the chair.Priscilla hugged Meralda tightly and whispered in her ear that everything would be fine. "What should I do now?" Lord Feringal stammered, sounding like he was struggling to suppress the anger in his throat.The tone made Meralda imagine that perhaps she would be cast out of the castle immediately, exiled, away from the life she was enjoying now. Steward Temigast leaned to the young man's side, supporting him. "There is absolutely no precedent for this, my lord," the old man explained, "Even in your entire kingdom, this has never happened before." All three pairs of eyes were fixed on the steward. "Of course, there is no one to blame here," Temigast continued, "except for one thing, Meralda did not tell us the bad news in time. Therefore, you can punish her as you think fit, but I still beg you to be generous and spare this terrified woman." Feringal looked at Meralda with difficulty, but finally he nodded slightly. "As for the child," said Temigast, "this must be announced immediately. This will make it clear to all and ensure that the child will not be considered your legal heir." "I'll kill him as soon as he's born!" roared Lord Feringal.Meralda began to cry, and to her utter surprise, Priscilla chose to show her affection in the same way. "My lord," the butler advised.Feringal clenched his fists in his legs, enduring the excruciating frustration.Meralda, who was watching his every movement at this moment, realized at once that his alleged killing of the child was nothing but a complete scare. Temigast shook his head and walked over to pat Lord Feringal on the shoulder, "It's best to give the child to another family," he said, "just let him disappear from your sight and life .” Feringal turned his questioning gaze to Meralda. "I don't want to know this," Meralda replied, trying to make her expression look real, "I don't want to know everything about tonight, um, not at all right now." She bit her lip and finished what she had just said, feeling I hope that my flickering way of speaking has not been noticed. Reassuring and strange again, Priscilla moved closer to her and the lady began escorting her to her room.Even when the two were out of earshot of Temigast and Lord Feringal, the old maid remained gentle and never hesitated. "I really can't imagine the pain you're going through," Priscilla said. “没有及早地告诉你这件事，我为此感到很抱歉。” 普里西拉轻抚着她的脸，“那一定是因为内心太痛苦了，”她说道，“但是你什么也没有做错。我的兄弟仍是你第一个爱上的男人，是你第一个自愿奉献出全部的男人，而作为一个丈夫，这些已经可以成为他最大的追求了。” 玛萝达将她的愧疚咽到了肚子里，连同普里西拉这些关于弗林戈的论断，实际上，他并不是女孩的第一个爱人，更不是她第一个心甘情愿献出贞操的男人。 “或许我们可以在孩子出生时达成某些协议。”普里西拉毫无征兆地突然说道。 玛萝达惊讶地看着她，一副不是很明白的样子。 “我正在想，也许我该另找一个生活的地方，这样更好些，”普里西拉解释道，“或者就占用城堡的一部分，过我自己的生活。” 玛萝达迷惑地斜斜看着她，随后突然理解到了女士真正的意思。她吃惊地发现自己以前一直努力在改掉的乡下方言再次冲口而出，“你是想自己养活这个孩子？”她脱口而出道。 “也许吧，如果我们能够达成协议的话。”普里西拉迟疑地说道。 玛萝达一时也不知道该怎么回答，也许在孩子生出来以前都没法回答。她能够接收孩子漂泊四方的事实吗？或者说，一旦她发现自己实际上没法离开这个孩子，那怎么办呢？毕竟，那是她的亲生骨肉啊。 不，玛萝达决定了，那样不行。她不会，也不能留下这个孩子，尽管等孩子出生后也许她会很想这样做。 “我们的计划制定得太早了，”普里西拉分析道，就像是读到了玛萝达的心声，“因为现在我们必须要做的就是让人补充营养。你现在是我弟弟的妻子，是将会为他生下奥克尼首领继承人的重要人物。我们必须确保你的健康，直到那一时刻的到来。” 玛萝达几乎没法相信这些话语，这些诚恳的关心爱护。她以前绝没有想到自己的计划能够取得如此程度的成功，但是这一切也只是使得她感觉到更为深重的罪恶感。 随后几天过去了，此时的玛萝达一直在相信所有事情都正在向着一个稳定方向发展进行。除了某些时候、某些地方，仍然会时不时发生一些不愉快的事，特别是两人的起居室，玛萝达已经不止一次地强调那个强暴她的野蛮人并没有带给她什么快乐，以此来缓和她丈夫的自尊心。她甚至想要做出保证，整个折磨的过程她几乎都是不省人事的，甚至直到发现自己已经怀了孩子之前都不能确定有没有发生那样的事。 然后直到有一天，玛萝达遇到了一个计划中意想不到的问题。 “盗匪总是走不远的，”她听到了弗林戈领主同泰米格斯特的谈话声，那时她正好走进客厅。 “这是当然了，不过那些恶棍在奥克尼附近可是无处藏身的。”管家回答道。 “那也足够近了，”弗林戈坚持道，“商人葛维正好雇有一个实力强大的法师。” “即便是法师也必须知道他要找的东西是什么啊。”泰米格斯特分析。 “我不记得他的脸。”玛萝达赶紧加了进来脱口说道。 “但是莱恩·木门记得。”弗林戈说道，他的脸上闪耀着的是一种即将找到复仇对象的自鸣得意的微笑。 玛萝达付出了非常大的努力才成功地隐藏住了自己哀伤的表情。