Looking at the abundant delicacies on the table, and the tablecloth neatly arranged opposite him, Taylor Tulls, with a kind and even hospitable expression, let out a deep sigh again.
“Father, I’ve told you, just prepare some food casually, it’s always like this, the two of us can’t possibly finish so much.”
Taylor smiled, stroking his dark beard, never once glancing at the exquisite dishes on the table, his attention always on his beloved daughter in front of him.
“Ah, little Lan, you’re busy with your work at the Bureau of Internal Affairs every day. It’s rare to come back for a visit. Daddy hasn’t seen you in almost a month. What’s wrong with having a little more food? Although the Tulls family isn’t extremely wealthy, we’re not so poor that we have to be stingy with our meals.”
“Come, try this phoenix fish fillet. It’s an extremely rare specialty caught only in the Black River in the capital. Your grandfather knows how much you love fish, so he specially had someone send it over. He’s been raising it, waiting for you to come back to taste it.”
“...Alright.”
Lan understood her father well. Not only did he dote on his daughter, but his character was also full of the typical stubbornness, very rigid. Arguing with him was pointless.
Even though he wouldn’t forcefully pressure her due to his indulgence, he also wouldn’t change his views because of it. Instead, he would keep nagging until others accepted his proposal.
If not for this, her mother wouldn’t have had conflicts with him, moving back to her maternal home alone. She wouldn’t have made the decision to leave the lord’s mansion and live alone in the city.
Not only her father, even her grandfather, the esteemed veteran of three dynasties, the nearly ninety-year-old Gryffith Tulls, was just as stubborn. Politely, it was called a firm stance, but bluntly, it was called stubborn, conservative, and old-fashioned.
In fact, Lan also understood that she had the same personality. It’s just that there were some differences in her values and attitudes towards life compared to her ancestors and parents, but that stubbornness wasn’t much different.
Under her father’s satisfied gaze, Lan spent some time having lunch with him. When the maids took away the dozens of large and small plates on the table, most of which were only sampled lightly, Lan, who had been observing Taylor from all angles, finally removed the tablecloth from her chest and looked curiously at the long knife leaning beside her.
“Little Lan, did you change your knife? But I remember you mentioned something about 【Demon-slaying Blade】 and its relationship with you before...”
“Well, due to some issues, 【Demon-slaying Blade】 is temporarily having some problems and undergoing repairs. This knife is called 【Clear Sky】, it’s lent to me by a friend...”
Seeing the worry in her father’s eyes and knowing what he was concerned about, Lan hesitated for a moment before speaking to reassure him.
“Father, there’s no need to worry. The concept of a ‘life-bonded’ sword was just a joke I made with you before. 【Clear Sky】 is a good knife, not inferior to 【Demon-slaying Blade】. I really like it.”
Hearing her say this, Taylor visibly relaxed.
“I see, I knew that was just unrealistic talk. A knife is a tool, how could it be related to someone’s life? It’s good as long as there’s nothing wrong. Ha ha!”
But Lan furrowed her brows instead.
“Father, a sword is not just a tool, it’s my companion. Both 【Demon-slaying Blade】 and 【Clear Sky】 are like this. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a life-bonded sword or not. Please take back what you just said.”
“Uh, alright, alright, I take it back. Dad was wrong, I apologize to you, my dear daughter, don’t be angry.”
Taylor, who doted on his daughter, showed no intention of arguing about such matters. Although somewhat perfunctory, since the other party had expressed themselves like that, Lan didn’t continue.
Just as she was about to bring up the true purpose of this visit, the lord suddenly changed the subject, bringing up a topic that Lan didn’t want to discuss.
“Speaking of which, Lan, you’re already 20 this year, as a young lady, playing with swords all day is not appropriate... You weren’t satisfied with the previous suitors I found for you, and recently I’ve found some new candidates, all well-behaved, distinguished young talents. Why don’t you consider meeting them sometime?”
“Ugh...”
Here we go again.
Lan knew that there would always be this process whenever she came home.
Indeed, she recognized that she had some charm, and being the sole daughter of the Tulls family was prestigious enough. Those nobles from both home and abroad must be eager to climb this towering tree, even if it meant being married off according to her father’s wishes.
Lan understood Taylor’s thinking. After all, in his eyes, girls always needed someone to rely on. Otherwise, they would inevitably be unable to handle critical situations as well as males.
Like his grandfather, his mind was filled with many prejudices, such as believing that all monsters were inferior beasts and that women were not as capable as men when it came to matters outside the home.
To Lan, such thinking was laughable. She currently had no intention of getting married, let alone to some vase-like nobleman who only sought her beauty and family status.
“Father, I believe I’ve made it clear to you already. At present, I have no such intentions. Until demons are slain and peace is achieved, I, Lan, will not marry.”
As if he had anticipated such a response, Taylor sighed heavily.
“Ah, daughter, you’re always so stubborn. If you were a boy with such lofty aspirations, I would naturally support you wholeheartedly. After all, eradicating demons and upholding the human race is the noble mission inherited by the Tulls family through the generations. But girls... eventually have to settle down. I hate to say it, but you’re already 20. Other noble girls your age are already pregnant or even holding babies. Your grandfather also constantly...”
Lan massaged her temples, knowing that once her father started rambling, there would be no end to his preaching. The Tulls family was exceptionally good at this, and his words and actions stemmed from genuine concern and affection.
This made it hard for the girl to argue back.
She didn’t even dare to tell her father the true meaning behind the phrase “Demon Slaying.”
After enduring nearly half an hour of her father’s uninterrupted lecturing, ranging from a girl’s household management skills to the responsibilities of noble lineage, and seeing that the lord showed no signs of stopping, Lan finally had to resort to her usual tactic.
“Who says girls can’t handle things on their own? Have you not heard of Miss ‘Scarlet Flame,’ one of the three great legendary of the capital? She rose to fame in her early twenties, creating legendary tales that countless men can only look up to for a lifetime.”
“And also, our current ruler, Her Majesty Queen Lilya, the first queen of the Human United Kingdom, she’s even younger than me. Are you implying that Her Majesty is incapable of governing such a vast kingdom?”
“Oh dear, it’s different, daughter, they...”
“There’s no difference. Father, my mind is made up. Whatever you say is useless. I didn’t come here today to discuss this.”
This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
Interrupting the topic forcefully, Lan took a deep breath and looked at Taylor Tulls, who still seemed inclined to persuade her, before speaking.
“Father, you must be more aware of the situation in the Demon Suppression City and the northern region of the kingdom than I am. The conflicts are escalating, and we’re constantly clashing with the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains. What are your plans moving forward?”
“Hmm? Plans...? What do you mean, daughter?”
“Alright... I’ll be more direct. The imminent issue, Father, is that the Ten Thousand Demons Mountains are sealed, and the main road to the north of our kingdom is blocked. This has already led to economic decline. Yet now, for the sake of capturing a few demons, you’ve conducted multiple city-wide hunts, stirring up public discontent.”
“Our Tulls family fights against external enemies to protect the people. But with this recent action, aren’t we somewhat misdirected?”
“... ”
Suddenly, Taylor fell silent. The gazes of father and daughter met in the air, and perhaps only they could understand the significance.
Although Lan had partially learned the truth through eavesdropping earlier, she still decided to ask this prepared question. She wanted her father to speak the answer himself, to understand to what extent the family had acted behind her back.
Only then could she decide on her next course of action.
Lan knew her father doted on her. Once she asked, he would never conceal anything, after all... she was also a member of the Tulls family.
After a long silence, the lord finally spoke.
His voice was filled with helplessness, guilt, and an undeniable determination.
“Lan, this is... a necessary sacrifice, for the sake of humanity.”