Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Trouble Again

"They dare not." I said angrily. He replied disdainfully: "Don't they dare? I don't know what they dare not do now, Fitz Horseman, and you don't know either. If I were you, I would think of a better way to lock the door Chain it, unless you want a bag over your head too." He smiled, but not in the slightest sense of his usual mocking mirth, and walked out.After he left, I went to the door, stuck the wooden bar on the door, and sighed with my back against the door. "Everyone else is well, Verity," I said loudly into the silence of the room. "But as far as I'm concerned, I think you'd better come back as soon as possible. There's a lot going on besides the Red Ship, and I always get the feeling that the Old Spirits might not be able to help with the other threats we face."

I waited, hoping to feel his response or approval, but there was no sound, and my heart fluttered again.It was difficult for me to be sure when Verity's consciousness was with me, never knowing if he sensed what I wanted to convey to him. Once again, I wondered why he didn't pass the order directly to Duan Ning, since he had already spent the whole summer telegraphing to her about the Red Ship, why was he so silent now?It's possible that he passed on his skills to her, but she was hiding something?Or, did she only reveal it to Emperor Zun?I can't help but think deeply.Perhaps the scars on the Fool's face reflected Regal's panic at what had happened in Verity's absence; as to why he'd called on the Fool's scapegoat, that's anyone's guess.Perhaps he was just using the Fool as a punching bag, and the Fool was never afraid to offend Regal, and no one else.

Later that night, I went to Molly.Although it used to be dangerous at this time, with more people now gathered in this noisy castle and more servants to take care of them, my suspicions couldn't stop me.When I knocked, Molly asked through the door, "Who is it?" "It's me." I replied in disbelief because she had never asked before. "Oh," she replied, and opened the door, and I entered quickly, and locked it behind her when she reached the fireplace.She squatted in front of the fireplace, stoking the fire needlessly, without looking at me.In her blue maid outfit, her hair still tied up, every line of her body warned me that I was in trouble again.

"Sorry, I don't have much time to come lately." "I'm sorry, too," Molly replied curtly. She didn't give me a chance to finish my opening remarks. "There's a lot going on these days and it keeps me very busy." "What are you busy with?" I sighed, knowing how this conversation was going to continue. "Things that I can't talk to you about." "Of course." On the surface, her tone was calm and cold, but I knew that her rage was gradually spreading. As long as I said a wrong word, it would ignite my anger, even if I didn't say anything. It seems that I still have to Deal directly with your own problems.

"Molly, I'm here tonight because-" "Oh, I know there must be some special reason for you to finally come here. The only thing that surprises me is myself, why am I here? Why do I go back to my room and wait for you after I finish my work every day, knowing that the chances are slim but still Looking forward to your possible appearance? Actually, I can do other things. For example, there have been several performances of bards and puppet shows recently, all arranged by Prince Regal. I can sit around the small fireplace with other servants and watch the performances. Enjoy the time with them instead of going upstairs to the loneliness. Maybe I could be busy with something else, like the cook who promised me to use the kitchen when she wasn't busy and I have wicks and herbs and tallow , I should have used these when the herbs were in full bloom, but I didn't. I just went upstairs and stayed here, knowing that the chances were slim, but still hoping that you would remember me and want to spend some time with me."

I was attacked like a rock by the sea, wave after wave of her words, but there was nothing I could do.Everything she said was true, and I had to look down at my feet while she caught her breath.When she spoke again, the anger in her voice faded, but worse, it was replaced by pain and discouragement. "Fitz, it's really not easy. Every time I think I've accepted the truth, only to turn a corner and find myself waiting again. But there's nothing more between us, is there? There will never be moments that are fully ours, and spaces that are ours." She paused, her head bowed, biting her lower lip, and her voice trembled when she spoke again. "I saw Jamin. She was so beautiful and I even took the opportunity to talk to her... I asked if they needed more candles in their room... She answered me shyly but kindly and even thanked me for caring so much about them Well, no one here will thank a servant. She is... she is a very nice lady. Oh, they will never allow you to marry me, so why do you want to marry a servant?"

"You are not a servant to me," I said quietly. "I never thought of you that way." "So, what am I? I'm not a wife," she pointed out calmly. "In my heart, you are." I said to her painfully.This was the only sympathetic consolation I could offer her, and I am ashamed that she accepted it.She came over and rested her forehead on my shoulder, and I hugged her tenderly, and after a while I hugged her even tighter.As she snuggled into my arms, I whispered into her hair, "I want to ask you something." "What's up?" "Are you...pregnant?"

"What?" She pushed her hand out of my arms and looked up at my face. "Are you pregnant with my child?" "I... no. No, I don't." She paused, "Why do you suddenly ask such a thing?" "I'm just wondering, that's all. I mean--" "I know what you mean. If we were married and I wasn't pregnant by now, the neighbors would shake their heads at us." "Really?" I never thought of that.I knew there were doubts about Kettricken's infertility, since she hadn't conceived in a year of marriage, but her infertility was a public issue, and I didn't expect that even the neighbors would have such high hopes for the newlyweds.

"Of course. By this time, someone will have given me their mother's tea recipe, or wild boar's tooth powder to add to your ale at night." "Is it true?" I held her close to me, grinning silly. "Yeah." She smiled back at me, and then the smile faded away slowly. "That's right." She said calmly, "I have taken other herbs to prevent myself from conceiving." I haven't forgotten Patience's lesson that day. "I've heard that women get sick if they take that type of herb for a long time." "I know what I'm doing," she said flatly. "Besides, are there any other options?" she added bitterly.