"If you are willing to stay in Whiterun for a period, I am also willing to reward you with a house in Whiterun, to serve as your residence."
"Later, Proventus will take you to view that residence."
"If you have time, you are welcome to come to Dragonsreach anytime and dine with me."
"I am very eager to hear the thoughts of you young people."
Balgruuf was very generous.
He not only gave money, status, and honor, but also a ready-made property.
This is the attitude of a superior towards talent.
A Dragonborn is not some courier delivering letters or a handyman cleaning toilets.
If she isn't properly courted to fight for humanity, what if she defects to the enemy?
And Thane is actually a unique Nord term; according to Imperial classification, it would be Baron of Whiterun.
Although within the Empire, aside from great nobles and Jarls, most other nobles basically have no fiefs, becoming a noble still comes with many privileges and invisible powers.
This is enough honor and status for an ordinary person to strive for their entire life; this Jarl of Whiterun truly went all out.
Balgruuf didn't say too much. He encouraged Freya to bravely face her destiny and lamented that these were troubled times.
He hoped that as Thanes, they could do their best to help the residents of Whiterun get through this chaotic period.
The underlying meaning, in fact, was for them to take on more quests and commissions, and to strike at Whiterun's enemies.
Just as the meeting was about to conclude, Balgruuf suddenly gestured to his steward, Proventus.
Not long after, Proventus led a tall, beautiful young Nord woman from the Jarl's guest room.
"This is Lydia."
"She is a professional Shield-Maiden, trained by a powerful warrior family, and also the daughter of a friend of mine."
"She hopes to follow a true champion, to pursue the glory and courage of the Nords."
Balgruuf's tone was somewhat wistful, likely thinking of his deceased friend. He looked at Freya and said:
"Freya, I wish for Lydia to follow you and become your follower."
"To be able to become the follower of a Dragonborn."
"This would fulfill her wish and that of my friend."
Upon hearing this request, Freya was a bit flustered. She had always been a lone wolf, only getting her first partner, Guilliman, two days ago.
Now, to have a follower, a subordinate, was something the Nord girl, who had always been a commoner, found difficult to adapt to.
Guilliman, on the other hand, looked somewhat envious, muttering to himself:
Damn, they even give a beautiful follower! Your courtship is too thorough. Too bad the Dragonborn is a girl, otherwise the effect would be outstanding.
Why don't you try to court me instead? I'm easily swayed by a honey trap.
However, when he turned his head to look at Lydia, he was still a little surprised.
Lydia appeared to be under thirty, with a beautiful, soft-featured face. While her overall appearance was not as striking as Freya's, being slightly less captivating, she possessed a mature, ample beauty, clearly well-suited for 'pounding'.
She was about one meter eighty-five tall, with well-developed pectoral muscles and shapely thighs.
She wore heavy Nord armor weighing at least fifty kilograms, held a steel one-handed sword in one hand, and a metal shield weighing about ten kilograms in the other. Her equipment alone likely exceeded one hundred kilograms.
Judging solely by the weight of her equipment, Lydia's physical strength was probably only slightly less than Freya's, definitely several times that of an ordinary person, making her an excellent close-combatant.
And in terms of appearance and presence, even a skilled Witcher swordsman would likely find it difficult to defeat such an elite heavy-armored shield-maiden.
Truly, it lives up to being a mid-magic world.
Some ordinary powerhouses in the world of Skyrim would basically be considered rare powerhouses in the Witcher world.
Their power level is several tiers higher.
Guilliman felt a pang of desire, wishing she were following him instead.
Unfortunately, Lydia wanted to be the Dragonborn's follower, not his.
So, when Freya cast an inquiring glance his way, he nodded decisively, urging the Dragonborn girl to accept.
After all, following the Dragonborn was essentially following him, and perhaps later he could also share in the benefits and enjoy some good fortune.
After the matter of acquiring a powerful follower was settled.
Led by the Jarl's steward, Proventus, they arrived at a large wooden house, neither new nor old, but with a considerable footprint, located near the city gates of Whiterun.
Proventus, with a touch of emotion, pulled out a deed from his pocket and said:
"This house is called Breezehome. Our Jarl bought it when he was young, intending to gift it to a friend."
"Alas… *sigh*."
"Mr. Guilliman, Ms. Freya."
"Today, this house is yours. Its location is excellent: to the left is Whiterun's most famous blacksmith, Warmaiden's, and across the street is the well-known inn, The Bannered Mare."
"When you have free time, you can go across to drink and listen to songs. Many adventurers and champions often gather at The Bannered Mare to rest; it's sure to be very lively."
"Whiterun has simple and honest folk, and everyone is very welcoming. You will surely grow to like it here."
Steward Proventus offered a few more words of introduction, then solemnly handed the key to Freya.
Clearly, the old steward had some sentimental attachment to Breezehome.
After receiving the key, the Dragonborn girl's mind was still somewhat dazed.
She had been wandering for so many years, and although she had earned a good amount of money, she had never had a home of her own.
Nords are quite independent, leaving their parents upon adulthood. She had always yearned for a house of her own, and a man who could accompany her for life.
She never expected such a wish to come true so quickly.
Still somewhat in a trance, Guilliman patted her shoulder and said:
"I took a look inside; Breezehome has very little furniture right now. Let's quickly deal with the spoils and then get the house in order."
"Don't you want to sleep in your own home tonight?"
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