Walter Clark, the son of a terrified tenant farmer, stared intently at Isabel fiddling with a serrated dagger. In a trance, he suddenly saw two snakes appearing on both sides of the short sword!

The frightened Walter quickly withdrew his gaze, not daring to look at the dagger again. Turning his gaze at a wine glass in front of the other party, he said carefully, "I'm sorry, Miss Isabel, I... I know I've made a serious mistake. If you want to punish me, I'll willingly accept any kind of punishment. ”

"Walter, the first mistake you made can't be entirely your fault. Mainly because I was so hungry that I didn't let you know in time what I should have told you. Isabel raised the short sword in her hand and slowly admired the two blood grooves on either side of the sword.

Then, she gently stroked a blood trough and said, "As for the second mistake you made, it is indeed that there is something wrong with your thinking. You must remember that I am not yet married, so I, as the daughter of Sir Augustine, can only be addressed as 'Mademoiselle'. ”

"If you must call me 'Madame', you had better pray to God every day... Nine times. Pray that before I get married, my father may be canonized by the king as Lord Earl. Only then can I legally earn the title of 'Madame', understand? ”

"Ming... Understood, miss. ”

"But, Walter, your second mistake must never be repeated. If the nobles hear you call me that, I will be charged with breaking the law. Before I am convicted, this sword of mine will cut off your head!" Breaking the law seemed to be a common thing for Isabel, but she didn't want to be caught in front of her.

"Please... I beg your pardon, Miss Isabel, I... I would never make that mistake again. Walter didn't quite hear her, but felt as if the clothes on his back were getting wet.

"Walwu, I'm kidding. I mean, cutting off your head with this sword is a joke. Suddenly, Isabel's majestic, solemn face turned into a smiling face.

In this regard, Walter really didn't dare to say anything casually, just lowered his head slightly in sorrow. Isabel put the dagger on the dining table, looked at the boy who had lost his courage and was not afraid of death, and whispered, "Boy, I don't really want to kill you. After all, it was for your father's sake that you asked me for a duel of honor. ”

Walter slowly raised his head, and with tears in his eyes, he said, "Thank you, Miss." ”

"Don't worry, if your father is indeed innocent, I will let your father come home before sunset the day after tomorrow."

"Miss, may God bless you!"

"Well, finish all this bread and vegetable soup, and cherish every meal that God has given you."

"I will, miss."

When Isabel's eyes scanned the dozen or so round barley or oat loaves of bread on one side of the cabinet, she was about to speak but swallowed it back. While Walter was happily eating the few loaves of bread that remained, he got up and went outside the room and called a servant: "When the boy is done, take two loaves of bread and his axe and take him out of the manor." ”

The servant said cautiously, "Miss, he is just the son of an ordinary tenant farmer. ”

Isabel explained, "I know. If the boy had been allowed to leave the manor with the bread himself, he would have been beaten up as a thief. ”

After giving an account to the servants, Isabel returned to her room. Walter had by this time eaten the rest of the bread sticks and vegetable soup, and he couldn't help but be moved by the bread on the top of the cupboard. Isabel put away her dagger with a smile, leaned against the table and folded her arms over her chest and said, "Boy, do you still want to have an honor duel with me now?" ”

Walter hurriedly stood up and saluted her and said, "Miss Isabel, although you have not used a sword, you have overcome me. I admit I lost. ”

After the tenant farmer's son had left the manor with the servants, Isabel returned to her room. At this time, her room was no longer the small, narrow knight's squire's room. Rather, it was a spacious, bright bedroom for family members befitting her status in Sir Augustine's house.

As soon as she entered the room, she saw Euphemia standing in front of the window as a lady, gazing out at the idyllic landscape. Hearing Isabel's footsteps walking into the room, Euphemia turned around and smiled and said, "Dear sister, are you back?" ”

Isabel subconsciously felt as if the little girl had something to say, and said with a smile while unbuckling her belt: "Effie, whatever you want to say, I will listen very carefully." ”

"Isabel, how do you know what I want to say to you?"

"Effie, wait for me to change my clothes, and let's go to the back garden for a walk."

Effie looked at her with a strange look: "Sister, do you have something to say to me?" ”

Isabel smiled and nodded, thinking as she untied the belt with her dagger attached, "Damn, I've never had anything like this before, how should I explain it to her?" ”

"If she really doesn't like Sir Roland's son, tell her about the postponement of the marriage."

"What if she sacrificed to the fullest extent in order to save the face of the Walton family? It seems that Effie has not yet reached the realm of the Virgin Mary! ”

"It's better to tell her directly, at least it means that I didn't cheat on her."

A few minutes later, Isabel Walton and Euphemia, dressed in a new black Italian skinny leather jacket with leggings and knee-high riding boots, walked towards the meadow behind the manor. The two of them felt the summer breeze blowing and walked on a lush green meadow, and Effie's face bloomed with a girlish smile: "Isabel, what a wonderful thing it would be if we could stay forever in this meadow that God has given us. ”

Isabel, who was walking beside her, observed her face and said with a smile, "Effie, this seems unlikely, we will all leave here sooner or later." ”

Euphemia glanced at her, and said with a ladylike step, "I know. Before the King's Reformation, the monastery could have become my hideout. But now, even this road is blocked by the king. ”

"What, Effie, you don't want to get married?" Isabel suddenly had a feeling of good luck.

"Marriage is not only about bringing a lot of wealth to the husband's family, but it is always about obeying the husband's wishes. Most importantly, I found out that I didn't even love my husband. Euphemia spoke calmly as if she were talking about someone else.