Dazed

Charlotte carefully used the dagger she carried to cut and pry open the blood-soaked, knotted leather straps on his breastplate and shoulder armor.

Her movements were focused and gentle, as if she were afraid of touching any wounds he might have.

The two were very close, but Karl's gaze involuntarily fell on Charlotte's face, which was right in front of him.

Her golden hair was stuck to her forehead and cheeks with sweat and blood, and there was a bit of dirt on the tip of her nose. Her usually sharp, eagle-like blue eyes were slightly narrowed with focus, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes.

Karl's heart skipped a beat. He leaned forward slightly and, taking advantage of Charlotte's momentary focus on a stubborn knot, quickly planted a kiss on her mud-splattered cheek.

Charlotte froze instantly, and the dagger she was using to cut the ties stopped moving.

She abruptly raised her head, stared wide-eyed at Karl, and her cheeks flushed rapidly.

But she immediately feigned composure, deliberately putting on a stern face and using a reproachful tone to mask her panic:

"Hey! You're injured and still not behaving yourself! What are you doing moving around like that!" she said, symbolically tapping Karl's lining with the hilt of her dagger. "If you move around again, I might slip and cut you too!"

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from afar.

A powerful warhorse suddenly stopped beside the two, its hooves kicking up a spray of mud.

On horseback, a middle-aged officer, clad in fine chainmail and wearing a robe with Broomflower- patterned emblem, nimbly dismounted.

Charlotte was slightly taken aback when she saw the person who arrived, then bowed respectfully, saying, "Sir Kylan! Is it you who led the rescue team? Thank you for arriving in time!"

Sir Kellan nodded, his sharp gaze sweeping across the ravaged battlefield before settling on Charlotte and Karl, whom she subtly shielded behind her. His tone was calm yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "I have come on the orders of the Count. It seems I am not too late. If anything were to happen to you, Charlotte Knight, I would have a hard time explaining it to the Count."

His gaze shifted to Karl, a scrutinizing look in his eyes. "But... who is this?"

Charlotte immediately stepped forward, her tone filled with obvious protectiveness and pride. "Sir, this is Lord Karl von Schmidt, Lord of Carnford! It was he who rescued Lyon's reconnaissance troops in dire straits, and who, outnumbered, held his ground and repelled Sauron! Even without your reinforcements, Lord Karl has already won this battle!"

Sir Kylan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, and once again carefully examined Karl's young face, which was filled with exhaustion and determination, as well as the soldiers around him who, despite suffering heavy casualties, had fervent eyes.

He surveyed the battlefield, looking at the mountains of Sauron corpses and the tattered equipment, and had to admit that Charlotte's words were true.

Even without his reinforcements, this garrison had already inflicted unimaginable heavy losses on the Sauron.

Charlotte seemed less than entirely satisfied with the reinforcements' performance, and she couldn't help but continue with a hint of reproach, "As for you, Sir Kylan, your troops seemed... a bit slow in their march. The enemy commander and his main force of light cavalry almost all fled! This could have been a perfect annihilation battle, just as Karl predicted! Because of your..."

"Charlotte!" Karl gently patted her shoulder, interrupting her, his voice weak but carrying an undeniable authority.

He turned to Sir Kylan, nodded slightly, and said earnestly but wearily, "Sir Kylan, thank you and the Count for your timely assistance. All the survivors are extremely grateful that Carnford was spared. The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly, and some oversights are inevitable. We... have already won the most precious victory."

Sir Kylan looked at Karl's pale face and slightly swaying body, then glanced at Charlotte, who was still somewhat indignant beside him, and couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head, his tone softening. "It seems that our arrival to provide support almost turned into a mistake. I apologize, Charlotte Knight, the battlefield command is indeed questionable."

His gaze returned to Karl, tinged with the concern of an elder. "However, child, perhaps what you should do most right now is to get some rest. You look..."

Before he could finish speaking, Karl's willpower, which he had been holding on to, seemed to have finally reached its limit.

Intense fatigue, injuries, and the backlash from the medication overwhelmed him instantly like a tidal wave.

He felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, the world spinning, and his body went limp uncontrollably.

"Grown ups!"

"Karl!"

Brendan and Richter reacted quickly, each supporting his completely unconscious body from either side.

Charlotte gasped and rushed forward, her displeasure instantly replaced by worry and anxiety.

Sir Kylan looked at the unconscious Karl, shook his head, and instructed his adjutant, "Immediately arrange for a medic! Use all the best medicine! Take good care of this... brave young Lord."

His tone finally carried a hint of genuine respect.