Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 261: Where did you learn to wield a sword?

Chapter 261: Where did you learn to wield a sword?

Not long after they finished discussing about Cassius’ sudden death, the meeting soon ended. And everyone came out of the throne room exhausted. Even after fighting in the battle at the palace, they had to face Hamon’s overwhelming presence, which was not easy to endure the entire time. After the late king’s death, the queen had caused many problems in the kingdom. So even though Hamon was terrifying, he seemed to rule fairly.

It was already midnight when everyone dispersed from the hall, leaving some few officials who stayed back to speak with Hamon. Seeing that Hamon was in a heated conversation with the officials, Ara decided to step out, she walked to the terrace, and the night breeze soon welcomed her.

"Your Highness." She heard a familiar voice call her from behind, and she quickly turned around and saw her father, whom she hadn’t seen in the battle earlier approaching her on the terrace. Her heart skipped a beat at his appearance,

"...father?" She hadn’t encountered him in the battle and in the gathering, she’d only seen Henry, who was now nowhere in sight after the battle. Judging by his formal outfit, it seemed he was just arriving. Ara looked at her father in surprise at his sudden appearance.

Richard had his stern expression on as he said, "You shouldn’t address me as father anymore, you are now a princess..." He trailed off as he noticed her outfit, he had only come here to confirm the rumors. He had heard some of his soldiers who returned from the battle talking about his daughter’s fighting skills. He also heard she was fighting amongst the soldiers in the battle, he hadn’t believed it as he knew Ara had no experience with any weapons, so he had immediately wanted to confirm it himself. And now, seeing her dressed like this only meant they were not wrong.

However, Richard couldn’t scold his daughter anymore as she was no longer just his daughter, but also a princess.

"Ah...I am used to calling you father." Ara smiled awkwardly as she noticed her father was staring at her outfit. He was right though, now that she was a princess, she had to mind how she addressed him, but then she couldn’t bring herself to call her own father by his name.

The last time Ara had encountered her father was on the day of the tournament, "How have you been?" She asked softly.

"I’ve been well..." he replied curtly, then it was silence. The atmosphere seemed a bit awkward as none of them spoke. But Ara decided to break the silence with a casual conversation, "How is Anne doing?"

"Oh about that, Anne already left Findara a few days ago. She said she’d write to you once she’s settled at your aunts place."

Hearing Richard’s words, Ara’s expression turned somber. She wished she was there to see Anne off. Anyway it was good that she left, at least she wouldn’t be entangled in this crisis, and besides she would be able to get over Merek, who didn’t seem to be affected by her absence.

"I am glad she left..." Ara murmured softly.

"..." Richard did not reply as he was busy wondering how his eldest daughter knew how to use a sword. He decided to just ask her straight, "Your Highness, I recently heard a strange story going around."

"What do you mean?" She asked curiously.

Richard’s expression turned rigid as stone, "is it true that you’re an excellent sword fighter...where on earth did you learn to wield a sword?" He asked, "Despite my years of lectures, my own daughter went against my principles. Was this how I raised you to be?"

Ara blinked in surprise. She had wanted to avoid his scolding the entire time, but it seemed it was inevitable. And now she had to explain. However, she couldn’t tell him the real truth of how she learned to use a sword, as she didn’t know if he’d believe her story of living in another lifetime. She hadn’t prepared a particular answer for this question before revealing her skills.

It was easy to convince Henry because of Hamon, but her father was a completely different case.

Ara looked sheepish as she attempted to explain herself to her father, "Do you remember when I was a little girl, I used to beg you to teach me martial arts and how to wield any weapon, but then you refused me countless times..."

Richard simply stood there and quietly listened, his blunt stare and stony expression only served to make Ara feel even more nervous.

"And so...After I got married to the crown Prince i asked him to teach me since it has been my childhood desire to wield a sword just like my father. But I am not yet good at it since l’m still learning, the people must have exaggerated the story to you."

Ara thought once she told her father the crown Prince had taught her, he would drop the topic, but his frown only deepened even more in displeasure.

"You know_" as Richard was about to start his lectures again, he was interrupted by Hamon’s voice from behind, "My wife."

At Hamon’s call from inside the hall, Ara immediately turned towards the terrace door, "Yes, I am right here." Ara rushed to make an excuse to avoid the difficult situation with her father, the scolding and lectures, "Father, I have to go now, my husband is calling for me, we can talk about this another time."

"You...!" Richard was about to say more, but his daughter hurriedly ran past him and went to her husband, leaving him behind on the terrace.

Hamon, did not know it was Richard that was on the terrace with Ara, because Richard’s back was facing the terrace entrance. However, immediately the general turned towards them, he recognized his face, he then looked down at Ara beside him, "Oh, you were with father-in-law? You can go back if you’re not done talk_"

"No," Ara hurried to say, "I want to leave, let’s go quickly."

Hamon did not understand why she wanted to leave in a hurry while her father looked displeased. Was she trying to avoid her father? He mused. And when Hamon did not move to leave, Ara clasped his large hand in hers and pulled him away from the hall.

Meanwhile, Richard watched as his daughter hurriedly tried to get away and simply shook his head in disbelief. And for the first time, a small smile crossed his stony face making him look younger than he was. "...I wish i got to see her fighting in the battle. Silly child." He cleared his throat when he saw someone approaching, and quickly put on his stony expression, then walked away from the terrace.