A Righteous Female Knight Never Compromises!-Chapter 8 : Meeting Helga’s Father
{Chapter 8} Meeting Helga’s Father
"An—na—!"
As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, before she could even take in the streets that hadn't changed much from over a decade ago, Anna heard a familiar voice calling out to her.
Before Anna could react, a young girl in a morning dress appeared in her line of sight.
The girl, completely disregarding the fact that she was wearing a formal dress, came running at full speed and unceremoniously threw herself at Anna.
"He... Helga..."
Before Anna could even express her own longing, Helga had already poured out her feelings for Anna, holding her tightly for a good three minutes before finally letting her go.
"Ugh..."
Looking at the mirror, Anna couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time as she saw the lipstick marks all over her face. She couldn't help but complain to Helga.
"How am I supposed to meet your father later with all these marks on my face?"
"Hehehe?"
Seeing Helga immediately switch to her clueless mode, Anna couldn't bring herself to scold her. However, Anna felt that she couldn't remain so passive, so she gently hugged Helga in return.
"I missed you too, Helga."
It had taken three to four days to travel from the small town to the royal capital. After being robbed by bandits yesterday and traveling for another day, Anna was finally able to leave the merchant caravan, which had become an awkward place for her, and meet one of her lovers.
Once they entered the royal capital, the carriage headed straight for Helga's home.
Although the coachman was Louise's servant, she seemed to be very familiar with the residences of the major nobles in the capital.
As soon as Anna mentioned she was going to the Bartham household, the coachman brought her directly there.
And as soon as they arrived at the Bartham residence, the earlier scene unfolded.
"...But really, it hasn't changed much from over a decade ago..."
A few days ago, Anna had a mysterious dream. Because the memories from the dream were still vivid, she had revisited the scenery of this street in her dream. Now, comparing the scene before her eyes with the one from her dream, she realized that this street hadn't changed much from over a decade ago.
If there was one difference...
Looking at the carriage, the overgrown weeds, the plants that had taken over the walls, and the only trimmed areas being the path leading to the entrance and the vines by the windows, the place looked more like a haunted house than an abandoned estate...
Perhaps the only difference was that the old Garland residence looked even more dilapidated.
"Anna, what are you thinking about?" Seeing Anna holding her without moving, Helga was quite pleased, but she still gently tugged at Anna's sleeve to bring her back to reality. "Aren't you going to meet the old man?"
"Old... old man..."
The nickname hadn't changed at all...
"Then... could you lead the way?"
"Really! Why are you being so formal? Just act like you did when you were a kid. If the old man sees you being so stiff, he might even scold me..."
The coachwoman was given separate accommodations, while Anna was half-pulled, half-led by Helga into her home.
Just like the street outside, Helga's home hadn't changed much from Anna's memories, still filled with the distinctive features of Lunareth culture.
If one had to briefly describe the characteristics of Lunareth culture, it would be the use of various animal pelts to cover the interior of the castle, along with the extensive use of raw wood materials for decoration, giving it a primitive style.
The Lunareth people are also the race within the kingdom with the least concept of social hierarchy.
Like the Lunarian, they value strength, and even after committing minor crimes, they can apply for a "trial by combat." If they win, their crimes are absolved.
Of course, this only applies to minor crimes. If a serious crime is committed, trial by combat is no longer effective.
However, it is said that the Lunarian can still escape judgment through trial by combat even after committing serious crimes. This is perhaps the difference between the Lunareth and the Lunarian.
At the same time, both men and women of the Lunareth people are powerful warriors, which leads to some rather peculiar sights in Helga's home.
For example... male and female servants with their arms around each other, chatting about combat techniques. Or servants who are in a relationship, comparing which weapons are better...
When they saw Helga and Anna, the newer servants were fine, but the older ones who had been in the household for ten or twenty years were a different story.
"Isn't that Anna from across the street!?"
"I heard the young lady is in a relationship with you, Anna? Is it true?!"
Faced with these "impolite" servants, Helga could only laugh and cry at the same time:
"Get out of the way, why are you asking so many questions!"
After being questioned by a few curious servants, Anna sighed:
"It's just like the old days."
"At times like this, I wish they were like normal servants and didn't ask so many questions," Helga complained. "But whatever, we're 'barbarians' after all. It's normal for others to see us as a bit impolite."
"Helga, you're using that derogatory term on yourself again."
Before Anna could say anything, a stern voice interrupted.
A tall man with golden hair, rough and healthy reddish skin, wearing a somewhat ill-fitting silk robe and a cloak bearing the Bartham family crest, stood at the end of the hallway.
He looked so healthy that one could overlook the few strands of silver mixed in his golden beard.
"Hey, old man!"
"You brat, can't you just call me Dad properly?"
The "old man" was so angry that his beard seemed to bristle, but when his gaze turned to Anna, it softened immeasurably.
"Child, welcome back."
"...Uncle, it's been a long time."
This man was undoubtedly Helga's father, Duke Darlak Bartham, known as the "Wrathful Warhammer."
The most famous general in the kingdom, the instructor of the Third Royal Guard, the highest authority in Lunareth County, and the Grand Duke of Lunareth, all these titles could be used to describe this illustrious duke.
However, this man of great renown now seemed like a worried father dealing with a rebellious daughter and a satisfied father meeting his daughter's lover.
"Wow, old man, you're so nice to Anna. Who's your real daughter here?"
"If you brat could just make me worry less, I'd be just as nice to you!" Darlak shot Helga a glance before turning his attention back to Anna.
"Standing here isn't getting us anywhere. Let's go inside and sit down."
"Yes..."
Anna couldn't help but feel a bit reserved. After all, it had been over a decade since they last met, and even with his kind attitude, it was natural to feel a bit distant.
"Don't be like that," Darlak said, seemingly sensing Anna's discomfort. He walked ahead but comforted her, "As I said earlier, 'welcome back.' This is your home. You can relax a bit more."
‘Even if my girlfriend's father says that, how can I really relax…’
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Chapter 8 : Meeting Helga’s Father
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