Want to Have Your Child

Without saying another word, the two walked tacitly to the bedside.

After lying down side by side, in the small space, their breathing was clearly audible, somewhat rapid, revealing their inner turmoil.

Charlotte's hand moved carefully under the covers and finally found Karl's hand. She gently took it in her hand, and Karl immediately wrapped her slightly cool fingers tightly in his warm palm.

This simple action seemed to be a signal; Charlotte gently turned over to face Karl, and Karl turned around in turn as well.

At such close range, in the faint moonlight filtering through the window, they could clearly see the light in each other's eyes and the subtle tension on each other's faces.

After a brief silence, Charlotte's voice trembled slightly as she softly asked, "Karl... am I... acting a little strange today? I was so... heavy this afternoon, did I frighten you?"

Karl could sense the caution in her words, and he answered honestly, his tone gentle. "It was a little... worrying, but now I think... I understand a little better."

He paused, as if to continue, "I just don't know why you..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Charlotte suddenly hugged Karl's neck, tilted her head back, and gently, yet with undeniable determination, sealed Karl's next question with her lips.

It was a brief and awkward kiss, yet it was like an electric current that instantly pierced through the last barrier between the two.

After their brief contact, Charlotte's breathing became somewhat disordered. In the darkness, she gazed at Karl's face, which was so close to hers, and spoke in a voice as soft as a dream, yet with a clear, desperate resolve. "Alright, Karl... stop talking."

She gently stroked Karl's cheek with her fingertips, a mixture of tenderness and a sense of resigned relief in her voice. "Let's begin... Tonight, let's forget all our worries and problems, okay?"

Her voice held a hint of shyness, but was filled with an unwavering determination. "This is my first time... Karl, I don't want... to have any regrets. Tonight, I just want to remember you, remember us... okay?"

Without any hesitation, I'm determined to give it my all and leave no regrets.

In the darkness, sight is deprived, but other senses become exceptionally acute.

The rapid breathing of each other, the pounding of hearts, the soft rustling of silk pajamas... everything became incredibly clear, amplifying every flutter of emotion.

All hesitation, all concerns, all invisible barriers, melted away swiftly in that moment, like ice and snow under the sun.

All that remains is the most primal and sincere longing for each other and the desire to be close.

Everything happened so naturally, as if it were a natural progression.

The initial awkwardness and nervousness were quickly overwhelmed by a surge of emotions.

The soft, gentle singing intertwines to form the only main melody of the night, telling of the longing after separation, the joy of reunion, and the firm determination to spend the future together.

Outside the window, the Northern Territory night sky was silent, and even the stars seemed to shyly hide their light, leaving only the unspeakable warmth and tenderness within the castle.

After the passion subsided, the room returned to silence, with only the sounds of their still-breathing breaths mingling in the darkness.

Charlotte rested her head on Karl's strong arm, her cheek pressed against his chest, feeling his steady, powerful heartbeat.

Karl gently ran his fingers through her sweat-dampened blonde hair. After a moment of silence, he finally voiced his question, "Charlotte... we're not even married yet, not even a formal engagement ceremony. Why are you in such a hurry all of a sudden?"

Charlotte's body stiffened slightly, and she said softly, "I was afraid you'd die, so I wanted to leave you with a child."

Karl fell completely silent.

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me instantly.

In both his past and present lives, apart from his mother, this was the first time a woman had loved him so unconditionally, even so desperately.

This love is profound and pure, transcending worldly etiquette and titles, concerning only the most primal continuation of life and the deepest emotional attachment.

Charlotte didn't stop. She continued speaking softly, her voice pleading, "Karl, promise me... if... if Carnford really can't be held, don't fight to the bitter end. Find a way to break through, escape, run back to Fran City. No one will look down on you, and Father won't blame you... Living is more important than anything else."

Karl didn't speak, but simply propped himself up slightly and quietly gazed into Charlotte's eyes in the darkness.

Even though he couldn't make out the exact outline, he could feel the worry and pleading in those eyes, but he firmly shook his head.

"I will not run, Charlotte," his voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable strength. "Just as I promised your father, I will defend Carnford to the death. This is not only my territory, but also the gateway to the Northern Territory, a fortress bought with the blood of countless people. As long as I have a breath left, I will not give up. Even if I am the last one left, I will die in this castle, rather than flee back in disgrace."

Charlotte panicked upon hearing this.

She sat bolt upright in bed, exclaiming excitedly, "What will I do if you die? What am I supposed to do?!"

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly realized that she was completely naked. She gasped and hurriedly pulled the blanket over her chest, but the anxiety and anger on her face did not diminish at all.

Looking at her flustered yet stubborn appearance, Karl felt both pity and helplessness.

He reached out, wanting to pull her back into his arms to comfort her, "Charlotte, don't be like this. Listen to me, every time there's a crisis, I've been in danger, but every time I've made it through, haven't I? This time will be the same. Believe me, I will never die, and Carnford will never be breached by the Sauron!"

Charlotte laughed bitterly, her voice trembling with tears. "You always say that! But you're always gambling with your life! Do you know how worried I am? This time is different, Karl! You've completely enraged them! They will definitely gather all the forces they can to retaliate against you!"

"Even if they're too busy looting this autumn to care, what happens when they've plundered enough and are ready to leave? They'll surely gather a massive army and crush Carnford to dust!"

"At that time, those cowardly troops in the Royal Capital won't come to your rescue at all! They'll just hide behind the sturdy city walls and tremble! Even my father... even if he wanted to help, how many troops could he mobilize in the face of the entire Sauron Tribe's frenzied counterattack? The amount he could do would probably be very limited!"

Her voice was filled with despair and a clear understanding of reality; she knew the cruelty of the Northern Territory and the indifference of the kingdom's upper echelons better than Karl.

As Karl listened to her tearful accusations, he knew in his heart that what she said was true, the most likely cruel future.

But he showed no fear or hesitation on his face; instead, he smiled.

Charlotte saw that he seemed to have taken it to heart, and her tense nerves relaxed slightly, thinking that he had finally recognized the harshness of reality and was no longer clinging to those seemingly unrealistic resistances.

She even breathed a slight sigh of relief and prepared to say some more comforting words.

Suddenly, Karl flipped over, pinning the startled Charlotte beneath him once more. Looking down into her tear-filled eyes, he said in an almost roguishly nonchalant tone, "So what if she's dead? I've slept with a woman now, including Count's daughter. My life hasn't been wasted..."

Karl deliberately dragged out his words, his fingers lightly tracing her abdomen. "As for you, you'd better stay alive. Who knows... there might already be a little Karl or a little Charlotte here?"

"You...!" Charlotte was so angry at his insolent words that she couldn't speak. All her worry and anger seemed to have hit a cotton ball.

She wanted to hit Karl, but he held her tightly, and all her struggles and words melted away in a new round of kisses and tenderness.