Silent Farewell

Karl stood in the corridor, letting out a long, silent sigh, his heart filled with mixed emotions, unable to describe what he felt.

The Count not to refuse outright was already a surprisingly good outcome.

But the heavy expectations and the harsh reality weighed on his heart like a mountain.

Surviving the next siege by the Sauron... that will be no easy task.

Having suffered such a great loss, Harald's next revenge will undoubtedly be devastating.

But he did not back down; instead, he was inspired to fight even harder. For Charlotte, for Carnford, he had to win!

As for the considerations regarding family and the Royal Capital mentioned by the Count, Karl was unwilling to think about them for the time being.

His mother would certainly support him, but it was hard to predict how his distant and opportunistic father, Old Schmidt, would react.

However, a marriage alliance with the powerful governor of the Northern Territory would be politically advantageous for the Schmidt Family, at least not to the point of strong opposition.

As for the King's and the court's opinions... that's not something he needs to consider right now.

"Let's meet force with force and water with earth," Karl shook his head, temporarily suppressing these chaotic thoughts.

Right now, there are more important things to do.

He started walking towards the barracks area below the castle.

He now needs to find Lyon and tell him the good news that the Count has agreed to let him join his ranks.

Soon, in a corner of the military camp, he found the temporary encampment of Lyon and his cavalry.

The cavalrymen were tending to their horses and cleaning their equipment when they saw Karl approaching. They stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully.

In their eyes, besides the usual awe, there seemed to be an unusual sense of recognition, after all, they were comrades who had truly fought side by side.

Lyon was standing beside his warhorse, carefully inspecting the girth of the saddle.

Upon seeing Karl approach, he immediately stood up straight, a hint of nervousness and anticipation on his face.

"Lyon," Karl approached him and said bluntly, "I just came from the Count's place, regarding your request..."

He paused deliberately, noticing that Lyon's Adam's apple bobbed noticeably, and his gaze became even more focused.

"... The Count has agreed," Karl said with a smile. "From now on, you and your cavalry are officially under the jurisdiction of Carnford and will be under my control."

Upon hearing this, Lyon's eyes instantly lit up with unbelievable joy, his tense body relaxed immediately, and his voice trembled with excitement. "Th... thank you! Lord Karl! I... I will never let you down!"

Karl smiled at his excited expression, but then his expression turned serious. "Don't be too happy, Lyon. Now that you're my subordinate, you have to follow my rules."

"Carnford has Carnford own military discipline and traditions. No matter what you were like in Fran City, Hawke's Lands, or anywhere else before, here, everything will be done according to the new rules."

Lyon immediately stopped smiling, straightened his back, and replied loudly, "Yes, sir! I understand! I will strictly abide by your instructions!"

He seemed to be trying to imitate Brendan and the others by giving a Carnford- style salute, but his movements were somewhat clumsy, with his five fingers together near his temples, making him look rather awkward.

Karl chuckled at his slightly comical yet incredibly earnest expression, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Alright, relax. Learn the rules slowly, there's no rush. The important thing is..."

His gaze turned sincere and solemn. "Thank you, Lyon, thank you for your trust, thank you for following me."

Lyon sensed the sincerity in Karl's words, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart, strengthening his resolve even further.

He nodded vigorously. "It is my honor to follow you, sir! I am willing to share the hatred of the Hawk Family and the future of Carnford with you!"

"Good!" Karl nodded in satisfaction. "Now, I'll give you your first task: immediately take stock of your men and equipment, tally the losses on your warhorses, weapons, and armor, as well as the necessary food supplies. We'll be returning to Carnford soon, so make preparations for the journey."

"Yes, sir! I'll take care of it right away!" Lyon accepted the order, turned around with a spirited air, and began loudly calling out to gather his men.

Watching Lyon quickly get back to work, Karl felt a little comforted.

Gaining a valiant general and a valuable cavalry force was a significant achievement of this trip to Fran City.

Having resolved the matter with Lyon, Karl felt somewhat relieved and prepared to return to the Governor's Office, waiting for Charlotte to come out at the entrance.

He thought to himself that perhaps he would have another chance to say a few more words to her, even if it was just a simple farewell.

However, as soon as he reached the square in front of the Governor's Office, he was surprised to see Charlotte already standing there.

She seemed to have calmed down; the blush on her face faded, and she returned to her usual calm and slightly aloof noble knight demeanor.

But deep within those azure eyes, a subtle, complex emotion lingered.

Seeing Karl approaching, Charlotte took a few steps forward to greet him.

"Karl." Her voice was much calmer, no longer trembling with shyness as it had in the office.

"Charlotte," Karl walked up to her, somewhat surprised, "Why are you out? The Count ..."

"Father still has some official business to attend to," Charlotte interrupted him, her gaze lowered slightly as she looked at the ground, seemingly choosing her words carefully. "I... I've thought about it, and this time... I can't go back to Carnford with you."

Karl was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood the reason.

He nodded, his tone gentle. "I understand. The situation is different now. The Count is aware of our affair. For an unmarried noblewoman like you to frequently visit the castle of a single male Lord is indeed... likely to cause gossip."

He gave a wry smile, "Speaking of which, we're quite lucky. The situation in the Northern Territory is special right now, and news is relatively scarce. If we were in the Royal Capital or Franklin, our little 'secret' would probably be the hottest topic of conversation in the noble salons by now."

Charlotte managed a weak smile upon hearing this, but her eyes betrayed a hint of helplessness and disappointment.

She looked up at Karl, her gaze serious and filled with worry. "Karl, you must be careful. Although Father's words... although they are harsh, they are true. The Sauron will not give up easily. Their next attack will be even more ferocious. Carnford... will face an unprecedented test."

Her voice was filled with unmistakable concern. "Once you get back, immediately fortify the city's defenses, stockpile supplies, and train new recruits... Don't let your guard down for a second! If you have the chance, you must ask my father for help; I will come to your aid!"

Hearing the sincere concern and encouragement in her words, Karl felt a surge of warmth and a stronger determination in his heart.

He nodded solemnly, his gaze meeting hers firmly. "Don't worry, Charlotte, I will be fully prepared. Carnford is the home I built with my own hands, and I will never let it fall, nor will I... disappoint you. Wait for my good news."

Charlotte gazed at him intently, as if trying to etch his image into her heart.

In the end, she simply nodded, all her unspoken words condensed into a single, simple sentence. "... Take care."

"You too, take care," Karl replied.

The two looked at each other for a moment. They were surrounded by guards from the Governor's Office and the occasional passing official. Countless eyes were probably watching them intentionally or unintentionally.

They both understood that any intimate gesture that crossed the line at this moment would be inappropriate and would only cause trouble.

Without a hug or further words, the two parted ways calmly and restrainedly in the square in front of the Governor's Office.

Karl turned and walked toward the military camp, never looking back.