After The Legend Chapter 2

Machine Translation with little editing. I don't know any Chinese. Please be prepared to read horrifying grammar and terrible sentence structure.

《2》Little Girl

Aaron asked: "Why not tonight? Isn't the sooner the better?"

"Is it the boring family life that has deprived you of the ability to think, or is it the time you spend with dwarves that makes your brain dull?" 

Veronica sneers and satirizes him, "The day after tomorrow is the day when the border merchants set out from Merton1边城梅顿 Border Town located in the East to trade in Mecheng.2边城麦城  border town in Noga"

"We will come to Merton first tomorrow night and go with the caravan. Otherwise the Noga Border Guards will catch us as spies."

"Although we are indeed spies, don't tell the enemy explicitly. "

As her childhood friend, Aaron knew that she always spoke in this way, so he didn't care. 

He just said: "The situation of Noga in the past two years is really disturbing. The current king is getting more and more sick, but the successor hasn't been determined. The ministers and n.o.bles are divided into several factions and are fighting fiercely."

"Although their infighting is good for us, it would be awful if Prince Mario won the final victory. This guy is too ambitious. He's always thinking of unification of the whole continent. If he had become King of Noga, we'll have no peace. "

It's not a secret, so Veronica said rudely, "Who doesn't know about this? You need to tell me? The people we sent to Nomonka3首都诺蒙卡, the capital of Noga, have already started working in the shadows. If Mario really wins then... " 

There was a fierce flash in her eyes while she looked at Aaron. A sarcastic laugh came out of her mouth "As the son of the founder of the NSA, don't you know what kind of role we play?"

Aaron frowned slightly. "Okay, Veronica, you know I don't like to talk about him."

He quickly returned to the subject "What happened to the people who were sent to Mecheng? Why did the news break? Was it discovered? Didn't the people at intelligence station send the message back? "

Veronica replied, "No, that's why I'm going to find out. But I can probably guess that the Playboy Jiama had a tryst with some girls on his back, and even left his business behind. It's not the first time that he's been in the dark. I wish one day someone would crack his little brother off and see if he dared to provoke women everywhere. "

Aaron laughed bitterly "Veronica, you're a lady. How can you say that?" 

Before Veronica could open her mouth to spit poison at him, he shifted the topic "So what do you think we should pretend to be? I didn't pour cold water on you, Winnie. You're not like a businessman at all. People will be suspicious as soon as they see you. Otherwise, try dressing up as a man... "

Minna was really scared just now. When the door closed, she went back to the living room trembling and sobbed in a quietly.

It wasn't a joke. It was a real knife. It was on her skin. It was cold and painful. Maybe it's bleeding. That woman is really mean. She didn't do anything. Why did she do that to her?!

Marshall, the housekeeper, soon found that she was crying. 

He hurriedly came to hold her and asked, "What's wrong with you, Miss Minna? Who bullied you? "

Minna was just about to say something about that hateful woman, when she suddenly remembered her father's advice. 

She didn't speak, just cried with Marshall in her arms. Marshall saw the dirty clothes on her body and thought that she was scolded by her mother, so he comforted her and said: 

"It's okay, it's okay. Madam is only angry for a while and it will soon go away." 

"Little Minna, stop crying. Don't you say that only children cry in front of others? "

"I'm not a child!" Minna sobbed and retorted "Besides, there's no one else here."

Marshall paused, and a kind smile appeared on his face: "Little Minna is right. There is no outsider here, only family. Even if she cries, it's not a big deal."

He soothed the little girl in a soft voice. Looking up at the beautiful and melancholy woman in the painting. For a moment, there was a trace of tenderness in his eyes.

By the time Minna managed to put away her tears and smile again, the guest in the garden had left. Marshall immediately went to clean up all the tea sets, tables and chairs. 

Minna approached the living room carefully to find out if her mother was still angry.

Dora was cold and scolded the poor Brie: "I don't care what you wear on May Day. I made shoes for you so that you wouldn't be impolite when you entertained guests."

"You're saying you're wearing your ragweed shoes because you don't want to wear new shoes?! You've lost all my face!"

Brie cried and asked her, "Madam, please don't drive me away. Next time I'll put on my new shoes to pour tea for the guests. " Although it's only a temporary maid, the job is good here. If her stepmother knows she lost her job, she will be killed.

Dora was even more angry when she heard this: "How many guests do you think we have in this rural place who can afford to be this kind of hospitality? Except for my father, this is the only one a year!"

"You made such a mistake. It's too late to say anything! Deduct half of the salary this month! Next time, you'll be gone! "

Brie cried and smiled: "Thank you madam, thank you madam. You are so kind. I will do well and never make any mistakes again..." Dora waved wearily to let her down. 

Her anger rose again when she saw her daughter, who had disappeared, appear at the door.

"Minna Cardo! Come here! " She snapped.

Minna slowly moved over with her lips clenched, peeped at her mother carefully, and immediately lowered her head to make a pitiful look of "I know I'm wrong, don't scold me".

After staring at her for a long time, Dora didn't say anything but pointed to the paper box on the table: "This is a gift from your Uncle Goodwin. Take good care of it and don't damage it."

Minna looked over and saw a one foot tall doll lying in the box. She was wearing a gorgeous dress made of silk and ribbons, and a small pearl necklace hung around her neck. She knew that this kind of doll called "Barbie" was sold by her grandfather's firm. 

She had seen such doll in a pink skirt from the captain's daughter, which obviously could not be compared with this high-end item.

But she is not interested in this kind of thing: "I don't like dolls. I don't want them."

Dora was so angry that she snapped, "Minna! What's the matter with you today?! Why are you always disobedient? In the morning, I will dress you in clean and decent clothes and ask you to stay in the room and wait for the guests. As a result, you run to the woods to climb trees and make yourself dirty."

"Uncle Goodwin gave you a gift, but you instead run away without thinking?! Don't you know it's rude? "

Minna said unconvinced, "But I hate him! Every time he came, he looks like a good man but he always made mother scold me."

"Mother would only ask me to listen and be obedient. She always said that I didn't do well here and there. She always compare me with Belle and Mandarby. What do they have to do with me? Why should I compete with them? " She spoke red-eyed.

Dora couldn't help but reflect. It seems that she would only ask her daughter to do her best every time, so not to be outmatched by her husband's two nieces. 

She would always find fault with her, but she never praised her daughter. She really ignored the child's feelings.

But she was also thinking about her husband and children. Their family is different from others. Aaron's elder brother can inherit the t.i.tles and property of the Xiao family and the Cardos without doing anything. 

But Aaron himself is just a little knight and has to go to the countryside to suffer. 

The future is worse than others. If even his wife and children are to be laughed at, Aaron will be oppressed by others all his life.

She looked at her daughter's aggrieved face, coughed twice, and said: "Well, mother admitted that she was negligent. But! It's not right for you to be rude in front of the guests today! Next time you meet Uncle Goodwin, remember to apologize and thank him for the gift. "

Minna twisted for a long time, facing her mother's stern eyes, and reluctantly nodded her head. 

She coddled with mother's neck and said: "Mom, I don't like Uncle Goodwin. Next time I apologize, I won't talk to him, okay? He's smiling all day. It's so fake. It's scary to look at. "

Dora glared down at her daughter "You must have heard your father, huh? Don't listen to him. It's called aristocratic style."

"Besides, it's inconvenient if your Dad isn't at home and only Mom entertained the guests alone. At least you can accompany Mom. 

Minna said, "Who said Dad is not at home? He was clearly there and he was just talking to Aunt Veronica in the study, with the door closed. That fierce woman frightened me with a knife and drove me away. "

As soon as she finished, she thought of her father's advice and covered her mouth: "No! I said it! Dad says you can't tell anyone. What should I do? "

Dora's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. She squeezed a sentence out of her teeth: "It's alright. You did the right thing. You should tell mom about it!"

Winnie, who was standing by, added fuel to the fire: "Why is that fierce woman coming again? She has always been pestering Master since before. When Master married young lady, she still comes to hang around a few times a year. What's her idea? "

"It's a dirty idea, of course!" Dora replied coldly, stood up and walked out of the door, b.u.mping into Butler Marshall. She ignored his inquiry and went to the study.

Marshall asked what happened and Minna whispered, "I told mom that dad and Aunt Veronica were talking in the study with the door closed, and she got angry."

"I forgot that I promised my dad not to tell anyone. Grandpa Marshall, will mom and dad quarrel again? "

Marshall sighed, "Miss Veronica has just left, but the young master and his wife are probably going to quarrel."

Winnie opened her eyes. "Oh my G.o.d, Mr. Housekeeper, do you know that woman is coming?"

"I know everyone who comes to this house." Marshall turned to Minna. "Little Miss, I think you've done something wrong this time. Now that you've promised, you shouldn't say it."

Minna's face was bitter and she was very sorry. Marshall patted her on the head, and then joined Winnie and Dora as he stood, ready to help.

As Dora stormed angrily into the study, Aaron just returned back from the the gate. When he saw his wife, he asked, "I saw a very respectable carriage just now. The family emblem on it looked familiar to me. Did Goodwin come again?"

Dora said with a smile: "It's just a cup of tea in the garden and things about Easton. But I heard that your Miss Veronica is here again. I don't know what you were doing in the study? "

Aaron was stunned and pulled a smiling face: "Nothing. We're just talking."

"If it's just talking, why close the door? Tell your daughter not to tell anyone? I thought you were working. "

Anlong saw his wife's face was full of jealousy, and carefully chose the words: "Veronica was pa.s.sing by Chiton, and asked me to do something for her. It was inconvenient to talk, so I brought her back. She didn't want too many people to know, so I didn't tell you. " 

As he spoke, he searched around with his eyes, and found his daughter, who was snooping at the stairway, with a slight stare.

Dora discovered it, but misunderstood what he meant. She resisted her anger and said "So, what does she want you to do for her? Can I know as a wife ?"

Aaron paused and decided to avoid the important and to be lighter: "Of course, she's actually going to visit a friend at Merton and wants me to give her a ride. As you know, it's really worrying that young women is riding so far alone and this area is remote."

Dora was not worried at all: "Is there no one but you?! And didn't you say her swordsmanship is as good as yours? How could a few petty thieves be her opponent?! Even if there is any bandits, the words in her mouth will poison people to death. "

Aaron frowned: "Dora, that's outrageous. Veronica's father was an old friend of our family for decades and a teacher who taught me swordsmanship. Veronica is just like my sister. Even if you have any opinion about her, you shouldn't say that!"

Dora raised her head: "Okay, I won't say, but you are not allowed to accompany her! If you really go with her, I'll take the child back to Matt harbor! "

"Dora!" Aaron is really angry this time. He had to do something serious, but he couldn't tell his family. How could his wife misunderstand him?

Just then, there was a soft tap in the window of the study. 

They turned around and saw Veronica standing outside the window, smiling at them. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to disturb the negotiation between the two, but I seem to have left my gloves here."

Aaron soon found her glove on the desk and gave it back to Veronica. He was about to say something, but he heard Dora stamp her foot, turn around and rush out of the door. 

She smiled sarcastically at Veronica and suddenly felt a headache.

The dispute between Dora and Aaron developed into a cold war, and there was no sign of improvement over the course of the day. 

Everyone in the family was careful. Minna regrets. She shouldn't have been so careless and said things. Now, as soon as her father saw her, he taught her with reproachful eyes the principle of "promise what others have done".

Whenever she wanted to say something good for her father in front of her mother, Dora, the mother, issued a statement that if she spoke again, she would leave her behind and return to Matt Harbor alone.

Minna sadly hides in the woods and climbs to her secret base... The big tree that can hide. She really didn't mean it. Why did mom and dad blame her? It's true that she didn't comply with her father's words, but why is mother so angry? Didn't she say what she did is right?

Will mom really leave? Will she really leave her? Children without a mother will be pitiful. Brie and her brothers have no mother, so they are beaten and scolded by their stepmother every day. If she has no mother, will she also be beaten every day?

At the thought of this, she couldn't help being afraid. Through the thick branches, she is staring at her home not far away. Will someone come to see her? As long as Mom and dad call for her, it means they will still want her.

But she waited until it was dark and no one came for her. 

Why? Usually, if she stays in the woods for half an hour, Winnie will show up. Does mom really want her? What about dad? Where's grandpa Marshall?

Minna sobbed quietly. At this time, a man's voice came from nearby: "Little girl, why are you crying?"

She was startled and looked back. There was a young man in front of her. Black hair was fluttered in the wind and a pair of black eyes were looking at her with a kind smile.