《2》THE 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 the dwarfs that made 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 Meicheng.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 but 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 sickly but the successor hasn't yet been determined. The ministers and nobles 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 become the 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 and 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 Meicheng? Why was the message cut off? Was it discovered? Did the people at the Intelligence Division send a letter back? "
Veronica replied, "There's none so that's why I'm going there to check what's really going on. But I can probably guess that it's because of that Playboy Jamal who had a tryst with some girls and completely forgot about his task and I’m afraid the Intelligence Division are still in the dark. I wish one day someone would crack his little brother off and see if he dared provoke women everywhere. "
“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 disguised as? I'm not pouring cold water on you Winnie4probably author's typo but you do not appear as a businessman at all, people would be suspicious as soon as they see you. Why not try dressing up as a man...?"
Mina was really scared just now. As soon as the door closed she went back to the living room trembling and sobbed 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 Butler, soon found that she was crying.
He hurriedly came to hold her and asked, "What's wrong with you, Miss Mina? Who bullied you? "
Mina was just about to say something about that hateful woman, when she suddenly remembered her father's advice.
She didn't speak and just cried in Marshall's 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 Mina, stop crying. Don't you say that only children cry in front of others? "
"I'm not a child!" Mina sobbed and retorted "Besides, there's no outsiders here."
Marshall paused, and a kind smile appeared on his face: "Little Mina 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 Mina 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.
Mina approached the living room carefully to see if her mother was still angry.
Dora’s face is cold as she scolded the poor Bree: "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 yet now you're saying that you're wearing your ragweed shoes because you don't want to wear new shoes?! You've lost all my face!"
Bree cried and plead, "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 knew she lost her job, she will be killed.
Dora was even more angry when she heard this: “How many guests do you deserve this kind of hospitality in this rural place? Except for my father, this is the only one this year!”
“You made such a mistake. It’s too late to say anything! Deduct half of the salary this month! Next time, you're out of here! "
Bree 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 leave.
But seeing her daughter trying to sneakily disappear from the doorway, her anger flared up again.
"Mina Cardo! Come here! " She snapped.
Mins 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 glaring at her for a while, 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."
Mina 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 a similar doll dressed with a pink skirt from the garrison 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, "Mina! What's the matter with you today?! Why are you always disobedient? In the morning, I dressed 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? "
Mina 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.
Hearing what her daughter said, 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 titles and property of the Xiao family and the Cardo Family 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. "
Mina 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. "
Mina 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 I 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 Young Master since before. When Young Master married young lady, she still comes to hang around a few times a year. What's her idea? "
"Of course it's a dirty idea!" Dora replied coldly, stood up and walked out of the door, bumping into Butler Marshall. She ignored his inquiry and went straight to the study.
Marshall asked what happened and Mina whispered, "I told mom that dad and Aunt Veronica were talking in the study with the door closed, and then she got angry.”
“I forgot that I promised dad not to tell anyone. Grandpa Marshall, will mom and dad quarrel again? "
Marshall sighed, "Miss Veronica just left, but the young master and madam are probably going to quarrel."
Winnie opened her eyes. "Oh my God, Butler, you knew that woman is here?"
"I know everyone who comes to this house." Marshall turned to Mina. "Little Miss, I think you've done something wrong this time. Now that you've promised, you shouldn't say it."
Mina's face was bitter and she was very sorry. Marshall patted her on the head, and then joined Winnie and Dora as he stood at the side, 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 just don't know what were you two doing in the study? "
Aaron was stunned and smiled “Nothing. We’re just talking.”
"If it's just talking, why close the door? And even ask 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 passing by Keaton and asked me to do something for her. It was inconvenient to talk in the garrison so I brought her back. She also 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, as your wife, know?”
Aaron paused and decided to dodge the point: “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 a young woman would ride so far alone and in such a remote area.”
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 are any bandits, the words in her mouth will already poison people to death. "
Aaron frowned: “Dora, that’s too much. Veronica’s father is 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 then smiled at them. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to disturb the negotiation between you 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, turned around and rush out of the door.
She smiled sarcastically at Veronica and he 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. Mina really regrets it. 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 "you have to do what you promised."
And whenever she wanted to say something good for her father in front of her mother, Mom would issue a statement that if Mina spoke again, she would leave her behind and return to Matt Harbor alone.
Mina sadly hid in the woods and climb to her secret base... The big tree can hide her. 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 mom so angry? Didn't mom say what she did is right?
Will mom really leave? Will she really leave her? Children without a mother will be pitiful. Bree 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 stared 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 not want her? What about dad? Where's grandpa Marshall?
Mina sobbed quietly. At this time, a man's voice came from nearby: "Little girl, why are you crying?"
She was startled and looked back and there was a young man in front of her. His black hair fluttered in the wind and a pair of black eyes were looking at her with a kind smile.
