The General's Wife Wants to Leave-Chapter 131: Filial piety

After taking over eight hours of journey and being trapped inside the carriage, Joanna could take a deep breath of relief when the carriage slowed down, indicating that they had already arrived at the inn where they would stay for a night before heading straight to the capital the day after in the morning.

To make sure that the carriage was slowing down because they had arrived at the inn, not because another carriage got stuck in the hole, Joanna opened the window. But before she stuck her head out of the window to see what lay outside the carriage herself, she heard Sir Clayton’s voice from above her head.

"We have already arrived in Greymore, my lady. But there are queuing carriages in the front. So please be patient a little bit more." Sir Clayton, who was on horseback next to the open window, informed the impatient-looking young lady.

Joanna looked up at the man in his forties and nodded her head. "Thank you, Sir Clayton." It was the only thing she could do to receive such dissatisfying yet not surprising news where they still needed to wait for a few more minutes to get to rest in the inn.

Sticking out her head, Joanna wanted to see how long the queue was, and she let out a sigh of relief when she found that it was not too long—only about seven to eight carriages ahead of her father’s, which was in front of the carriage she rode. There were not dozens of carriages lining up, as they usually encountered every time a grand event was held in the capital.

Greymore was an inn that was named after its founder, Mr. Ednard Greymore, who was a commoner yet a successful farmer. It had stood for more than thirty years now, transforming from a small house into a three-story building and even becoming one of the biggest and most fancy inns in a territory eastward of Barasca, called Fairns.

The entire size of Fairns could not be compared to Barasca, which was larger than Fairns. But it had eminence as a territory that was located in the center of Terra and was an immediate neighbor of the capital, where the economic center was circulated.

Meanwhile, as it was built not too far from the entrance of the territory, Greymore, which was specified for upper-class society, especially those from other westward territories who headed to the capital, would be at an advantage every time the grand events were held in the capital.

Every grand event that was held by the castle would make this old inn busier but earn more due to the increasing number of customers that could reach more than double the regular days.

It was also what happened at the moment, when a long line of luxurious carriages were parked in front of the large front yard of the inn and a few more waited to get a space to park. It was what made Duke de Lara’s entourage have to wait in the queue at the moment.

"Do you often stay in this inn when you are heading to the capital?" Canillas asked Joanna, who kept her head sticking out of the window as if seeking fresh air.

Pulling her head inside the carriage but not closing the window so that fresh, cold night air could stream in the carriage, Joanna turned her head to look at the man who was back to sit across from her since they finished having the discussion.

She then nodded her head and replied, "Yes. Mr. Greymore is a good acquaintance of my father." And Canillas responded with a nod and a small smile on his lips. After that, there was no other conversation between them.

Feeling the carriage accelerate before taking a full halt, Joanna could now really let out a breath of relief. Not soon after, she heard Sir Clayton inform her of the good news. "We are already here, my lady."

At the information she heard, Joanna closed the window and made a move to step out of the carriage that had trapped her for hours. But of course, her husband moved faster and was already outside the carriage, with his hand now stretched out toward her.

"Since we are in public and my wife is not sleeping, may I?" Canillas asked for permission to hold his own wife’s hand as per their agreement, tilting his head slightly to the side with his lips curved up, and Joanna placed her hand on his.

She was glad inwardly that she could really talk to him, and he respected what mattered to her. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Joanna stepped down the carriage carefully, as she did not want to fall due to her numb and sore legs.

However, it did not go unnoticed by Canillas, who captured a grimace on her face. He then asked, "Are you fine? Can you walk?" He gripped Joanna’s hand, trying to provide support for her to stand steadily.

"Yes," Joanna quickly answered, as she knew why he asked her that and what he would do if she said that she was not fine. Hence, she also quickly removed the grimace from her face before pulling her hand away from his.

Hiding the pain that was caused by her numb, trembling legs, Joanna walked, approaching her father, who had just stepped down the carriage.

"Are you fine, Father?" Joanna asked her father, who looked fatigued once she was by his side.

The Duke smiled, patting Joanna’s hand, which circled his arm as she tried to support him. "Father is fine. And you?"

Joanna returned the smile and replied, "I am also fine, Father." The Duke nodded and smiled in relief at his daughter’s answer.

"And what about Sir Canillas?" The Duke turned to ask his son-in-law, who stood two steps away diagonally from them.

"I am fine, Your Grace. Thank you for asking," Canillas answered, to which the Duke nodded and a kind smile formed on his exhausted face.

"Let’s go inside," the Duke demanded, but he halted from making a step forward when he found Joanna still lingered on his arm.

The Duke then patted Joanna’s hand while whispering in Joanna’s ear. "You go walk with your husband, Ann. Father is really fine and strong enough to walk." The Duke advised his married daughter to accompany her husband, who stood alone with an indecipherable face while looking in their direction.

Joanna’s brows knitted at her father’s suggestion. In her mind, it was not time to show her role as a wife who had to walk by her husband’s side when her father was fatigued and needed support to walk.

She knew that her father was still strong enough to walk by himself, despite his fatigue, and it was not his first time taking a long trip to the capital. But she wanted to accompany her father, as she would not be able to hold his hands anymore once she left Terra. So, it was time for her to be close to her father, to show her love for the man who had raised her and her brother wholeheartedly.

"He is fine, Father. Don’t worry about that." Joanna showed her eagerness to walk with her father.

"I am fine, Your Grace. Let Joanna show her filial piety for her father." Canillas, who noticed what they were arguing about, spoke.

For him, it did not matter if his wife preferred to walk with her father, as he was really glad to witness their warm relationship and his wife’s love for her family. Because of that reason, he gave her more time to indulge with her family before he took her with him to his dwelling place.

Feeling glad with the positive response of the General, the Duke offered him the same kind smile before taking the lead to head inside the inn with his daughter supporting his arm.