“Luo Yi is the heroic young man who saved our daughter from the manticore’s jaws!”
Count Brian tried to convince his strong-willed wife.
“House Linde has always been full of respect for heroes—given time, it might not be impossible to allow Luo Yi to become our family’s knight, or sponsor him to go to the Royal Capital to become a Brave… Repaying kindness, this is…”
“Save our daughter? Don’t make me laugh. That’s the basic sense of duty a tenant farmer should have…”
Lady Catalina put down her knife and fork, interrupting her husband’s argument.
“Protecting the lord’s daughter is their duty. Where’s the gratitude? A mud-soaked commoner—can he ride over us and hold us hostage with gratitude? My dear Brian, you are always too soft-hearted toward them.”
“He is a very outstanding child. His grandfather was once a subordinate of Bali Saihe…”
“A failed general, a blind old man? Absolutely ridiculous…”
The lady pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her mouth, clearly finding this conversation boring.
“Throw those two annoying things out. The position of instructor, a position full of honor, should naturally be given to an old knight seasoned in battle—that idiot Kai Luo Si won’t do, and you want a farm old man to take it? That’s even more laughable!”
Xue La had to speak up and argue.
‘Her so-called mother was clearly a nagging conservative who hadn’t yet seen Luo Yi’s value.’
“Luo Yi can become my protector, really!”
the girl said.
“Mom…”
“When adults are talking, children don’t interrupt!”
the lady frowned.
“What do you know?”
“Luo Yi killed the manticore, and I took charge of the kitchen and made a feast!”
Xue La said.
“I’m not a little girl anymore… I… I am an adult who can stand on my own.”
Saying these words might have been a bit… beyond the respect a daughter should have for her mother.
But Xue La knew that what she said was all correct.
“Luo Yi defeated the manticore, and now its head is mounted as a trophy hanging on our own fireplace… The reputation of House Linde has not only not been damaged, but has actually improved.”
Count Brian tried to convince the lady.
“Also, I’ve found a merchant to handle the manticore, and we sold it for a good price of five hundred gold coins…”
In short, both father and daughter were trying to prove one thing: that Luo Yi was useful to House Linde.
But Catalina was clearly worried about something else.
Thus, she still maintained a certain skeptical attitude.
“Can cook, can command the kitchen? Good… but not enough.”
The lady changed the subject, talking about Xue La.
“You haven’t yet learned the self-respect and self-love that a noble lady should have—I heard from the servants that you tore up that dress worth a hundred gold coins and used it to bandage Luo Yi?”
“For a lifesaving benefactor, it was worth it.”
Xue La said.
“And Luo Yi brought us an income of five hundred gold coins.”
“That five hundred gold coins was used to make up for the losses of the Harvest Festival, my silly girl.”
The lady touched Xue La’s forehead.
“That dress was really expensive—it was a fashionable style that I asked your aunt in the Royal Capital to send over. Tearing it was such a waste.”
Perhaps this did reveal some issues: Lady Catalina’s maternal sisters… probably married better than she did.
The Royal Capital was a heaven of luxury and indulgence, while House Linde only had wheat and sheep in the countryside.
Would the lady be content to stay with her daughter in the countryside?
Her own sisters were enjoying magnificent balls, lavish banquets, and social circles of top nobles in the Royal Capital…
In House Linde’s territory, what could there be?
If Xue La were just a simple girl, perhaps she wouldn’t know.
But Xue La was a transmigrator—and before transmigrating, she was an apprentice working in a Western restaurant, so she had the ability to read people.
She vaguely guessed that this was why, in the original timeline of the game, there was a maid named Xue La Linde who became a maid to the royal princess and then a spy in the hero’s party…
After all, she had a mother who despised poverty and loved wealth, who longed to rise in the world.
From this point of view, perhaps the transmigrated Xue La was more like her open-minded and kind father than her mother.
If she continued to side with her father and oppose her mother… Xue La didn’t know whether she should do that.
Although as a transmigrator from Earth, she might not have any feelings for the NPCs in the game, but regarding her pre-transmigration self… Xue La could only smile bitterly.
She herself was actually a poor orphan from an orphanage. After finishing her studies, she considered becoming an apprentice to earn money, so as to give back to the orphanage that raised her…
To have a pair of parents who loved her—even if they were just transmigrated convenience parents—was better than having none.
“My daughter has grown up.”
Count Brian said proudly.
“But I think my daughter did nothing wrong. She is very outstanding…”
“Um…”
Xue La decided it was better to withdraw from the argument.
“I… the sausages I made in the kitchen are still stewing in the pot!”
She said goodbye to her parents and hurried away.
Only the Linde couple were left staring at each other.
“How do I feel like Xue La has become a different person?”
Catalina sighed.
“She’s a bit unlike the little cutie in my memory.”
“I think she’s become better…”
“Are you complaining that I spoil her too much?!”
“How could that be? She’s grown up, she makes us worry less…”
“How could it be less? Xue La is already thirteen, soon to be at the age of engagement. Don’t let her get involved in rumors of fooling around with a brat who isn’t even a knight!”
Even though Xue La had left halfway, the argument did not end.
Luo Yi’s ability and character could indeed make him a guard for a noble lady.
But what about the baseless rumors?
Worse still, Lady Catalina didn’t really believe in his abilities.
So later that day, a fight still took place on the training ground.
Xue La had just turned down the heat, sprinkling a handful of thyme and red wine into the pot stewing the manticore sausages—the manticore, or rather that oversized Harkimi’s meat… had indeed been processed in the end.
‘This recipe is too ruthless!’
Xue La sighed inwardly.
‘After all, it’s a carnivore; its meat isn’t as fragrant as grass-fed cattle or sheep. It always gives off a gamey smell. Must use more cooking wine and herbs to remove the stench!’
The chefs working in the kitchen were quite excited, after all it was the first time they had encountered such a strange recipe as manticore sausages.
At first, of course, they were a bit hesitant—who in the world would eat monster meat?
But when Xue La presented Emius’s recipe, everyone changed their tune.
“My god, to be able to make a recipe compiled by Lord Emius and recreate a delicacy—we are truly blessed!”
And so, the kitchen began in full swing the deboning and cutting of the manticore carcass… until now, wrapped in casings and beginning to stew…
‘I hope it turns out delicious.’
Xue La thought.
‘If I can conquer Mother’s stomach with a piece of sausage, maybe there’s still room for negotiation.’
And she had confidence in this, because in her previous life she also knew how to make delicious sausage dishes!
Unfortunately, the sounds from the training ground still overpowered the bustle of the kitchen.
Xue La had to temporarily hand over the work to the servants, and herself, lifting her skirt and not bothering to take off her apron, rushed to the scene.
A fully armed old knight, carrying a sword, prepared to spar with the new instructor of the manor, Roderick.
After all, a manor could only support one instructor—one was by Count Brian’s order, the other by Countess Catalina’s order.
Whose to follow?
Only fists and swords would decide.
‘Xue La sighed inwardly. After all, they were manor nobles; at critical moments, they still had to decide life and death through such cold methods.’
Moreover, the person Lady Catalina brought was no ordinary person.
Xue La opened her panel and saw the origin of that person.
[Kargon]
Class: Warrior
Level: 25
The description was…
Retired Royal Guard of the Royal Capital.
“I welcome your challenge.”
The old man Roderick held a wooden staff and accepted gladly.
He didn’t forget to turn back and remind Luo Yi to watch his own skills and not let them go to waste!
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