Chapter 83 Chapter 83

"Take down the wooden stick, little bastard, or the people around me will break into the door. If my father is hurt in any way, you are ready to die on the spot!" Emperor Zun's tone sounded very angry. "What is this, boy? The door is barred? What's going on here? Regal, what's going on here?" It pained me to hear the king's angry voice. I crossed the room to remove the wooden bar from the door, and before I could touch it, it opened and Regal's two burly guards grabbed me.They were dressed like vicious dogs in satin-colored garments like Regal's, with ribbons around their necks.I didn't resist so they wouldn't have a reason to throw me against the wall, but they did anyway, making my wound from yesterday ache again.And Wallace came rushing in when they caught me, complaining about how cold it was in the room, and what it was, what it was eating, why it was eating it, it was like poison to King Shrewd, and so on.Regal stood with his hands on his hips, like someone in control, and squinted at me.

This is reckless, boy.I'm afraid we're overdoing it. "So what do you say, little bastard? What are you supposed to say for yourself? What do you want?" Regal asked over Wallace's fading whining, adding another log to the fireplace, regardless How stuffy the room had become before taking the pastry from the king. "I'm here to report, and I also found the king lacking proper care, and want to improve the situation first." I'm not nervous, I'm sweating from the pain, and I hate Regal for smiling at that. "Lack of proper care? What the hell do you mean?" he demanded.

I took a breath of courage and told the truth. "I found his room dirty and musty, with dirty dishes everywhere, and the sheets on his bed hadn't been changed..." "You dare to say that?" Emperor Zun roared. "Yes. I tell the king the truth, as always. Why don't you let him see for himself if it's true." Shrewdness showed some of his nature in the argument, and he straightened up and looked around. "The Fool complained as much, in his usual sarcastic way..." he began. Wallace dared to interrupt him: "Your Majesty, your physical condition is quite fragile. Sometimes it is better for you to rest undisturbed than to bother you to get up in order to change blankets and sheets, and it is better to pile up the dishes than let the men It's appropriate for servants to come and arrange things noisily."

King Shrewd's sudden expression of uncertainty caused a major blow to my heart.That's what the Fool wants me to see, and that's why he keeps urging me to visit the King.Why didn't he say so?But think about when the Fool has spoken straight?I can't help feeling ashamed.This is His Majesty the King to whom I swore allegiance.I loved and loved Verity and was loyal to him, but I abandoned him when the king needed me most.How long Chade will travel, but I only let the jester protect the king.However, when does King Shrewd need someone to protect him?The old man was always good at protecting himself, and I blamed myself for not emphasizing to Chade on my return the changes I had noticed and taking better care of my lord.

"How did he get in?" Regal asked suddenly, glaring at me fiercely. "His Royal Highness, he claimed to have a souvenir from the king himself, and said that the king promised him that anyone who saw the brooch would let him in..." "Bastard! You believe this nonsense..." "Prince Regal, you know it's true. You were there when King Shrewd gave this to me." I explained softly but clearly.Verity fell silent in my heart, waiting to see all this and to know more.Don't I have to suffer, I thought painfully, and tried to bring the thought back. Calmly and non-threateningly, I withdrew one wrist from the dog-like bodyguard, turned the collar of my jacket inside out, removed the brooch, and held it up for all to see.

"I don't remember that happening," Regal snapped at me, but Shrewd sat up straight. "Come here, boy," he instructed me.I shrugged the guards off, straightened my clothes, and carried the brooch to the king's bedside.The king cautiously reached out to take the brooch away, and my heart sank. "Father, this is..." Regal began to lose his temper, but Shrewd cut him off. "Regal, you were there at the time. You remember, maybe you should remember at all." The king's deep eyes were as bright and alert as I remembered, but the wrinkles in his eyes and the corners of his mouth were full of pain.King Shrewd forced himself to regain his sanity, held the brooch and glanced at Regal with his usual thoughtful eyes, "I give this brooch and my promise to this kid in exchange for his promise."

"Then, let me suggest that you take both of them back. If there is such an intrusion in your room, your health will not recover." Regal's tone seemed to be giving an order, and I waited quietly. The king raised a trembling hand and rubbed his face and eyes. "I gave him these things," he said, his voice firm but growing weaker. "Once a word is spoken, it is hard to follow. Am I right, Fitz Horseman? You agree that a person's words cannot be taken back once they are spoken?" The question still carried the usual temptation. "I agree with you as always. A man cannot take his word back once it has been spoken, and he must keep his word."

"Good, then. That's settled, it's all settled." He handed me the brooch back, and I took it, as relieved as I was dizzy.He leaned back on the pillow and I was dizzy for another moment.I remember those pillows and this bed, because I lay here with the Fool looking down on the plundered Muddy Cove, and I burned my fingers in that fireplace too... The King sighed heavily, must have been exhausted , will fall asleep soon. "Prohibit him from disturbing you again, unless you summon him." Emperor Zun issued another order. King Shrewd opened his eyes again. "Fitz. Come here, boy."

I knelt by the bed and approached him like a dog, only to see him pat me weakly with his thin hands raised. "You and me, boy. We have a thing in common, right?" Good question.I nod. "Good boy, that's fine. I keep my word, and you keep yours, that's all. But..." He glanced at Regal, and I felt a pang of pain... "It would be better if you came to me in the afternoon Well, I have more energy in the afternoon." He was tired again. "Should I be back this afternoon?" I asked hastily. He raised his hand and waved it weakly in negative. "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow!" He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, as if he couldn't breathe anymore.

"As you wish, Your Majesty." I agreed, bowing deeply, carefully re-pinning the brooch on the lapel of my jacket as I stood upright, and giving everyone a moment to watch me.Then I asked, "Will you allow me to leave, Your Highness?" My tone was very solemn. "Get out!" Emperor Zun roared again. I bowed politely to him, then turned cautiously and left.The guards around him just watched me leave, and it was only when I was out of the room that I realized that I forgot to mention that I wanted to marry Molly.Now it looks like I'm afraid I'll have to wait quite a while before I mention this again, as Regal, Varos, or some other spies will be around the king in the afternoon to watch.I just want the king to know about it, but I don't want to tell everything in front of other people.

Fitz? I want to be alone now, Your Highness.Do you mind? He disappeared from my heart like a burst soap bubble, and I slowly walked down the stairs.