A few minutes later, Isabel hung a string of strings with a dozen fish on the saddle of Sir Augustine's pack horse. After hanging, look at the various species of fish on the string and count silently: "Salmon, cod, haddock, sea bass, flounder, mackerel, sea bream, herring, European eel and sardines." Well, these fish, I think should be enough for Anne and her family. ”

Riding back to Nottingham Castle, Isabel sat on horseback to find the various servants busy. It seems that it should be almost time for dinner to begin. Driving the crotch of Onyx to the outside of the kitchen, he jumped off the horse and picked up the strings of rope with various fish on the string and went straight to the inside of the kitchen.

As she stood at the kitchen door, every servant who passed by her or saw her saluted and greeted her. Isabel ignored the men, and just searched for the kitchen maid Lena Cook and her daughter Anne.

As a kitchen maid, Lena's main job is to take care of the servants' food. Sometimes she also helps the chef prepare cooking ingredients, take care of the kitchen, and prepare food for children and pets. It should be said that Lina's cooking skills are very good, at least the servants including the butler Arthur are quite satisfied with the dishes she makes.

Isabel spotted Lena's busy figure, but she didn't immediately go to her. As it happened, a handymaid passed by at this time, and she stopped her: "Do you know where Anne Cook is?" ”

The maid hurriedly saluted her, and then said, "Ma'am, Anne Cook is now a dishwasher. I think she's probably doing the work of washing utensils, utensils, and handling prey in the back of the kitchen now. ”

"Oh, thank you." With that, Elobel turned and left the kitchen. When she reached the back of the kitchen, she found Anne sitting around with two girls who looked even thinner than her, scrubbing a large number of utensils and utensils.

Isabel stepped forward with a fish skewer and smiled and said, "How are you?" Annie. ”

Anne, who still looked a little weak, quickly put down the utensils in her hand, stood up and saluted her, and said, "Good afternoon, Lady Isabel." ”

The other two girls also hurriedly stood up and saluted her. Isabel observes the two thinly dressed and emaciated girls, and laments the misfortunes that have befallen the children living in this era. Then she noticed that Anne's face seemed even worse, almost the same as before she had met her.

Placing the fish skewer on the ground in his hand, he knelt down on one leg and stared at Anne, who was less than 5 feet (about 1.52 meters) tall. Gently stroked the other person's face and said, "Annie, what's wrong with you?" Why do you still look so weak? ”

Anne lowered her head and did not dare to look into her eyes, and whispered, "Ma'am, I'm fine." Probably because the dishes were washed for too long. ”

"No, even washing dishes can't make your face so bad."

"Ma'am, it's okay, I'll just take a break."

"Really? Annie, I take your word for it. But I'll go to everyone in the kitchen right away and hear what they have to say. ”

"No, ma'am, please don't do that."

Isabel nodded and said gently, "Well, I can accept your explanation. ”

Anne looked at the other two girls twice, then at Isabelle, and then said slowly, "Ma'am, my mother and I are very grateful for the prey you give me every day. Ma'am, I mean I actually tasted the meat of those prey, and it was delicious and fragrant. ”

"You're welcome. Look, what did I bring you? You know it's Ramadan Day, so... I had to buy some fish for you and your mother. ”

"Ma'am, if you don't mind, can you take me to the other side to talk?"

Isabel nodded, and took Anne's small hand to the side where the other two girls couldn't hear what they were talking about. Anne then looked up at her and said, "Ma'am, those prey you gave me and my mother just... Just ......"

Isabel had a premonition that something bad was going to happen, and still asked with a smile on her face, "Don't be afraid, Annie." Say whatever you want, just say it, it's fine. ”

"My father said that my mother and I couldn't eat so much prey, so we could exchange some of the prey for money."

"Well, how much prey did your father take?"

"I don't know, but I hardly see meat on the table every day."

Isabel now understood that it was Anne's father who had withheld the prey she had given to Anne's mother and daughter. Stroking Anne's little head, she smiled and said, "Anne, go and clean up those fish and let your mother make them for you later, okay?" ”

Anne's eyes were filled with tears of a child's grievances and helplessness over the hard life, and she nodded and said, "Thank you very much, ma'am, you are a good person." I will bless you before God. ”

By the time Isabel left Anne and her fellow dishwashers, she was about to restrain her anger. With a sinister face, he walked quickly into the kitchen, grabbed the arm of a maid and said sharply, "Tell me, who is Anne Cook's father?" ”

The maid glared at her with frightened eyes, then gestured to the back of one of the several male cooks who were busy. Isabel shook off the maid's arm and drew the knight's dagger at her right waist as she walked towards the cook.

Quietly came up behind Chef Matthew Cook and called out coldly, "Hey, Cook." ”

Matthew thought that the maid was in some trouble, and turned impatiently and was about to reprimand the other party. In an instant, Isabel rushed up and grabbed the clothes on his chest, holding the short sword upside down in her right hand and pressing the blade sideways against his neck.

Isabel sneered and said, "Tell me, who are you?" ”

Matthew squinted at the short sword resting around his neck, and said in a trembling voice, "I... I'm Matthew Cook, His Royal Highness the Duke's cook. ”

"Matthew Cook, you're Anne's father?! Can you tell me why Anne always doesn't get the food she wants? ”

"I... I gave Anne some food, but—" Matthew was so frightened that his face began to sweat, and Isabel yelled, "Do you think I'm a weak woman?" What right do you have to take away the food I gave to Anne? ”

Everyone in the kitchen was stunned by Isabel's actions. Especially Lena, who was preparing the servant's diet on the side, dropped the spoon in her hand to the ground in horror. Suddenly, her mind was in a mess, and she didn't know what to do.

Fortunately, a handyman beside her reminded her in a low voice, "Lena, go and inform Mr. Field." ”

At this time, Arthur Field was leaving the garrison of the guards and was heading towards the kitchen, where he was to strictly inspect and supervise the lord's dinner before it began. Before, because of Henry's extra instructions, he was one step late to the kitchen, otherwise the above scene would not have happened.

When he came to the kitchen, he saw a woman dressed as a kitchen maid with a panicked look rushing towards him. At this time, the manservant beside Arthur hurriedly stepped forward to block the butler's body, grabbed Lina who was about to collide and shouted, "What are you doing?" Don't you see Mr. Field here? ”