Return Voyage 2

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

The dock area of Niceport was as bustling as ever. At the berth of the Southern Star, crew members moved up and down the gangplank, loading items onto the ship. They were about to set sail back to the Northwest Bay.

Several merchant representatives leisurely strolled nearby, taking in the commercial atmosphere of this bustling southern metropolis one last time.

Lady Advisor Ladia, Lady Setia, and Lisa, temporarily acting as a maid, slowly approached with their luggage.

Next to the gangplank, Captain Quik was conversing with Quiller Foster.

"Captain, my father is occupied with official duties, so he sent me to bid you farewell instead. He couldn't come in person. Please forgive his absence."

"Oh, not at all, Lord Marquis has been exceedingly hospitable to us. We are already grateful beyond words."

Quik knew it was just polite conversation. After all, the Marquis was a prominent figure in the Council. How could he personally come to the dock to bid farewell to a small fry like him?

They greeted the Ladia family with a tip of their hats upon their arrival.

"Good morning, Lady. Good morning, Miss Ladia, Miss Lisa."

Ladia smiled in response, "Good morning, Captain. We're finally setting sail."

"Yes, indeed. Everyone has had a great time here, but once the return date is set, everyone becomes eager to return home."

Beside them, Quiller also greeted them and then looked at Ladia in surprise.

"I heard from Captain Quik that Miss Ladia disguised herself as a man and sailed south with the ship. It's really unbelievable. How did such a delicate beauty dress up as a man?"

Facing such a flowery speech from the young nobleman, Ladia just smiled slightly and walked up the gangplank.

Quiller shrugged awkwardly. Miss Ladia had been quite "reserved" during her time with the Lichmann Adventurers' Guild. He hadn't even spoken to her on two occasions when they met. Such a cold beauty unexpectedly chose to stay in the Northwest as an advisor. My brother Paul is really lucky.

Quik instructed several sailors to help the Ladia family settle their luggage in the cabin, and the three women arrived on the deck, gazing out at the sea in the breeze.

Lisa suddenly pointed towards the shore, "There are a lot of people coming over there."

Ladia turned around and saw a magnificent convoy of carriages slowly approaching the Southern Star. The convoy was surrounded by a large number of knights in armor.

"It's people from the Eaton Duchy. I'll go down and take a look."

She immediately returned to the shore, and soon the convoy arrived before her eyes.

First, a group of guards quickly sealed off the surroundings. Then, a squire opened the carriage door, and a tall man stepped out. He was handsome, with curly brown hair, exuding an air of nobility.

Beside him, Quiller Foster's mouth nearly turned into an "O" shape in surprise, his face filled with incredulous expressions.

Then, quickly shifting to a betrayed expression, he grabbed Quik's clothes in sorrow and anger.

"Captain Quik, can you explain to me? Does Alden intend to disregard the contract with the Foster family and replace the agent in Angle Bay?"

"No, no, no, how could that be? I haven't done anything like that, and Lord of Alden didn't authorize me to do so."

Quik hastily explained, but Quiller gestured towards the man who had just got off the carriage and said, "Then why is the Duke of Eaton here to see you?"

"What? He's the Duke of Eaton? No wonder he looks so imposing."

Quik immediately understood what was going on. He whispered to Quiller, "Young Master Foster, you've misunderstood. They are here to see Miss Ladia. His wife is Miss Ladia's elder sister or something."

"His wife? Oh... you mean Duchess Helen?"

Young Master Foster of the Foster family became even more incredulous. That silent and reserved female advisor was acquainted with the Duchess of Eaton?

"However, we did indeed meet the Duchess before. Remember the night of the wolf howl?"

"I remember. Even our household could hear it, disturbing my sleep all night."

"That night, Miss Ladia and the Duchess encountered a wolf pack on the outskirts of the city. It was I who led a team to rescue them and bring them back. Let me tell you, despite their pretty faces, these two have quite some skills. They had already taken down several wolves before we arrived. Oh, I heard Miss Ladia used to be an adventurer, so killing a few wolves must have been a piece of cake for her. It was truly thrilling that night, with howls echoing all around. We were so scared that our mouths went dry, if not for the fact that we had plenty of torches... cough, if not for the many torches we brought, things could have been much worse."

"What? Such an exciting event and you didn't invite me? You guys aren't good friends at all!" Quiller complained with a sorrowful face.

The captain was speechless for a moment. What was this young master thinking? Most people would avoid such incidents altogether.

As they spoke, the Duke of Eaton helped his wife, Duchess Helen, down from the carriage.

Ladia greeted them with a slight bow.

"Your Highness, Sister Helen, good day."

The Duke raised his hand, "Miss Gerald, I recall our last meeting was at Fanny's birthday banquet, right? We need not stand on ceremony between us. Though our meetings have been few, considering your relationship with Helen, you are practically family."

Helen approached, and Ladia embraced her.

"Exactly, just treat him like an elder brother," Helen said with a hint of apology. "I came this time to express my gratitude to you. Without you, Fanny, myself, and our country would have been in great trouble. I've been busy with various meetings these past few days and couldn't thank you in person sooner. I apologize sincerely."

Ladia shook her head. "Your Highness, you exaggerate. Fanny is like a real sister to me, so doing my best was only natural."

The Duke expressed his thanks once more, then raised his head and spoke loudly in Aldorian: "I also came here this time to thank the brave warriors from Alden who rescued my family from the jaws of wolves."

The sailors on board and below deck all looked at Captain Quik, waiting for his decision.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Quik was suddenly flustered, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Handling a Duchess had already made him tongue-tied, and now, unexpectedly, a Duke, a true ruler of a nation, comparable to a king, had arrived. Moreover, judging by his demeanor, he wasn't as easy-going as the old man from the Foster family.

Ladia whispered to the Duke in a low voice, "Ahem, Your Highness. They've never met someone of your status before, so they're not sure how to respond. Please forgive them. The captain with the long sideburns over there is Captain Quik. Please follow me."

The Duke nodded with a smile, "Ah, I see. I understand. Let's go over."

He and his wife followed Ladia towards Quik.

Helen held her husband's arm and pinched it hard, whispering behind her fan, "Be more approachable!"

The Duke chuckled wryly, "Got it, my dear."

(End of the Chapter)