What Medicine Did You Drink

Sean Hayes stared blankly at Mrs. Penny, then glanced at the bowl beside her. "Penny, what... what medicine did you just drink?"

"Oh, it's nothing serious, just something for a cold. I caught a chill last night and wasn't feeling well, so a couple doses will fix me right up." Mrs. Penny remained seated on the ground, waving Sean Hayes away. "Why do you keep coming here for no reason? Go on, get back to serving Prince Alexander!"

Sean Hayes didn’t budge. "Penny, what medicine did you really take?"

Mrs. Penny’s face paled a bit, but she looked up with her usual enchanting smile. "I told you, it’s just medicine for a cold. Go serve Prince Alexander, will you? Why don’t you ever listen to me?"

"Are you lying to me!?" Sean Hayes suddenly bent down, clutching Mrs. Penny’s wrist like a hurt, wronged child. "You’re lying again, aren’t you? Are you carrying my child? That wasn’t cold medicine you drank—it was an abortion potion, wasn’t it!?"

"What nonsense are you spouting, you fool." Mrs. Penny poked Sean Hayes with her finger. "Go on, get out of here. You’re always hovering around, driving me crazy. Stop getting in my way..."

Sean Hayes watched Mrs. Penny; her once rosy cheeks had turned pale. Even a fool could tell something was wrong.

Sean Hayes forcefully scooped Mrs. Penny into his arms. Normally, their martial skills were evenly matched, and it would've been easy for her to resist—but now, she seemed to have no strength left. She just mumbled, "You fool, why won’t you listen to me... I told you to go, so go already..."

Sean Hayes’s face was ashen. Holding Mrs. Penny—whose complexion was growing ever paler—he hurried out of the woodshed and rushed her back to her room, laying her gently on the bed. But what he saw beneath her was a shocking stain of bright red.

"You’re bleeding..." Sean Hayes’s face turned deathly pale, his lips trembling.

"Oh, it’s just my period." Mrs. Penny leaned against the bed, pulled the quilt over herself, and gave Sean Hayes a gentle shove. "It’s my period, I need to take care of it. You’re a man, don’t get in the way. I’ll handle it and then I’m going to sleep."

"You’re still lying to me!" Sean Hayes clung to Mrs. Penny’s hand, his nose stinging and tears falling—this was a man who would bleed and sweat but never cry. "You always call me a fool, but you’re the real fool. You’re carrying our child and never told me. It’s our child, why make yourself bear it alone!"

Mrs. Penny rolled her eyes. "You’re the one who’s always causing trouble! I’m not pregnant, and I’m not hiding anything from you!"

Sean Hayes didn’t believe her. He pressed his forehead to hers, voice trembling: "Penny, if you’re really not pregnant, then why are you so pale? Why did you drink that medicine?"

Mrs. Penny sighed, her voice softening. "Sean, I told you, it’s just for a cold. I’m tired, so let me rest, please."

Sean Hayes finally let go, but his eyes were still filled with worry. He pulled the quilt up to Mrs. Penny’s chin and sat beside her, refusing to leave.

Mrs. Penny closed her eyes, a faint smile on her lips. "You stubborn fool..." she murmured, drifting off to sleep as Sean Hayes watched over her, his heart still aching with worry.