By the time Isabel had come into the dining-room, Sir Augustine and Madame Sir had sat at opposite ends of the rectangular table, talking happily. At this time, the youngest daughter, Euphemia Walton, who was sitting in the middle of the two on the right side, also joined in the conversation with a smile on her face.

When she looked at the large and small plates on the table, almost all of which were left, she couldn't help frowning and exclaimed, "Damn, it's still too late." ”

Euphemia, who was sitting in the middle of the dining table, saw her first and said in surprise, "Sister, why are you back?" ”

"Effie, I'll come back for lunch." After Isabel finished speaking, she rushed to Sir Augustine's side and gently hugged Sir and kissed her face, and then ran to her mother and hugged Madame Sir to kiss her face. Finally, when she returned to her sister's side and saluted, Euphemia turned to look at her and said, "Sister, didn't Your Highness invite you to lunch?" ”

"Oh, I want to go home for lunch. Father, Mother, is there anything else to eat? I'm starving to death! After kissing her sister's face, Isabel yelled at the couple again.

Sir Augustine smiled and drank the ale, and Antonia looked at her and shook her head and said, "Child, today is the day of fasting, and only fish can be eaten." ”

Isabel immediately walked to the corner of the dining room, untied the wide belt with two short swords, and said, "It's all right, mother. Even if you ask someone to bring a basket of herring, I can eat it. ”

Antonia smiled and said, "Isabel, you don't look like a privy counsellor at all. After saying that, he turned his face and said to the valet standing behind him, "Chrissy, go to the kitchen and ask them to bring some more pickled herring, bread, milk oatmeal, and ale." ”

After the maid had left, Sir Augustine looked at his daughter, "Son, has something happened on the way?" I don't think it would have taken you such a long time to get back even if you hadn't attended His Highness's lunch. ”

"It's fine. It's just that on the way back, I met a person who proposed an honor duel to me... Boy. Isabel said casually as she took the jug from the table and poured herself some ale.

As soon as these words came out, they immediately caused great surprise among the mother and daughter present. Euphemia was about to open her mouth to speak, but she saw her mother speak first: "Son, how can anyone dare to ask you for an honor duel now?" And it's a boy? How old is this boy? ”

"Mother, you know that duels of honor are the main means of settling disputes outside of judicial duels, especially in the North. I don't think this boy is more than 16 years old, right?! ”

"Well, it doesn't seem small. Why do you want to duel with honor? Antonia nodded.

"Sister, where is this kid now? I'm going to warn him. Euphemia stood up and said aloud.

Sir Augustine, who had never spoken, knew very well that Isabelle's temper and character would never be like that of most northerners, who would be irritable, savage, and lack self-control when encountered. He also knew that his daughter had almost never been injured or threatened in a duel of honor or justice.

It's just that he was a little puzzled about the reason for this honor duel, and said calmly: "Child, what is the reason for this boy?" Why is it that as soon as you return to the county, someone asks you for a duel of honor? ”

As he spoke, four servants followed Butler Bruce into the dining room with various plates. As the servant laid the plates on the table, Bruce, who still looked unfazed, said to the head of the family, "Sir, Miss Isabel has brought back a wandering boy and asked me to give him some food. However, I think ......"

Isabel, who had quickly finished praying before eating, looked at the fresh food in front of her, but her ears kept listening to the conversation between the butler and Sir. Just listen to the butler say, "Bruce, say whatever you want, no one here thinks you're just a butler." ”

"Sir, ma'am, this wandering boy also carries a hand axe used by the sergeants, and I doubt he would do anything to harm you and your family."

"Tomahawks? Who is this kid? ”

"Dad, let me go and see, he dares to come here with a weapon." Euphemia, who had already sat down, spoke, and stood up to leave the restaurant.

"Effie, sit down, it's not as simple as you think." Isabel held a bread stick stained with milk oatmeal and spoke quietly as she finished eating.

"No, even if this kid has a good reason to duel you, he can't just bring weapons into the house." Euphemia left the table and walked briskly to her parents and Isabel to the door.

Isabel shook her head, but looked up at the butler and said, "Bruce, you go with Miss, don't let her hurt that boy." ”

The butler nodded and looked at the head of the family, and after Sir nodded, he turned to chase Euphemia. Antonia could see that Sir and Isabel had deliberately not said anything, and after saying something to them, she got up and walked out of the restaurant.

Sir Augustine drank the ale in silence, and Isabel buried her head in eating and drinking. After eating most of the bread, four or five small pickled herring, and half a bowl of milk oatmeal, I slowed down my eating movements. Wiped his hands with a napple and took a few sips of ale with a wine glass.

"Tell me, kid." Sir lowered his glass and spoke softly.

"Sir, this boy is going to kill himself and beg me to release his father." Isabel picked up another pickled herring with its head and tail peeled and dipped in raw onions, craned her neck, opened her mouth, and put the whole very small herring in her mouth.

"Suicide? Well, this boy knows he can't beat you. But who is his father? How did you get imprisoned? ”

"I spoke to Lord Haswell once before going to Lancashire. Later, I told him that it would be better to detain those who were leading the way to join the pilgrimage until the event was over. ”

"Child, I know you don't want to hurt good people, and you don't want to hurt innocent people. However, will this cause even more riots? ”

"Perhaps Lord Haswell's men did not give a proper explanation to the people of the county when they captured these people. Therefore, it will cause misunderstanding among some people. ”

Sir Augustine nodded thoughtfully: "Son, you are right. Now, how are you going to solve this problem? I mean the father of this boy who was imprisoned. ”

Reclining in her chair, Isabel said, "If these people are no longer going to join the pilgrims, let them go first." ”