A New Life

Charlotte returned to her quiet home, somewhat dejected.

The scene she witnessed on the city wall, and her subsequent conversation with her father, filled her with complex emotions.

Upon learning that Karl was not only safe and sound, but had also defeated the enemy forces besieging Carnford in such an astonishing way, and even managed to draw enemy troops away from Fran City, she was filled with indescribable pride, excitement, and deep longing.

The young Lord, who had long held the most important place in her heart, once again created a miracle with his courage and wisdom.

But on the other hand, a deeper worry also weighed on her heart.

Karl's move was tantamount to a resounding slap in the face to the Sauron!

Given the cruelty of the Sauron, they will never let this go!

It is foreseeable that an even more insane and brutal revenge will befall the isolated fortress of Carnford in the Northern Territory.

Karl and his people will face an unprecedented and immense danger.

This extreme worry about her beloved's situation has been tormenting her these days, to the point that she often sleeps restlessly at night and even wakes up from nightmares filled with terrifying images of Karl in danger.

"Sigh..." Charlotte sighed softly, walked to the window, and looked north towards Carnford, her eyes filled with worry.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door, and Aunt Martha, the old maid, came in carrying an exquisite silver tray with Charlotte's dinner on it.

"Miss, it's time for dinner. The kitchen has prepared your favorite roasted lamb chops, along with fresh mushroom soup and freshly baked white bread." Aunt Martha smiled kindly as she placed the tray on the small round table in the center of the room.

Dinner was indeed sumptuous; the roasted lamb chops emitted an enticing aroma, their edges roasted to a golden brown and crispy perfection, and the rich soup steamed hot, making it look incredibly appetizing.

Normally, Charlotte would be very happy.

But today, she only glanced at it, especially when she saw the plate of juicy, fragrant roasted lamb chops, and suddenly her stomach churned, a strong feeling of nausea rising to her throat.

"Uh..." She quickly covered her mouth, suppressing the discomfort, her face instantly turning pale.

"Miss! What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Aunt Martha immediately noticed her unusual behavior, hurriedly put down her work, and came forward with concern.

Charlotte took a few deep breaths, barely suppressing her nausea, and waved her hand, her voice weak. "No... it's nothing, Aunt Martha, it's just... it's just that the weather in the Northern Territory has been so unpredictable lately, making me feel stuffy and uncomfortable."

She tried to find a plausible excuse.

But after a moment's hesitation, she couldn't help but voice her doubts, her voice tinged with unease. "Aunt Martha... actually, it's not just today, I haven't had much of an appetite these past few days, especially when I see greasy food, like meat soup or roast meat, I feel particularly nauseous and want to vomit... what's wrong with me?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Martha's cloudy yet wise eyes flickered slightly, and she already had some guesses in her mind.

But she maintained a calm demeanor and gently comforted her, "Oh, miss, it's probably because the recent siege by the Sauron has put you under too much stress."

"As the cavalry captain, you have the safety of the entire Fran City on your mind. It's common for excessive anxiety to affect your appetite. Relax, things will get better once the situation improves."

Charlotte frowned even more upon hearing this. The explanation seemed reasonable, but she still felt that something was amiss.

She bit her lip, her face flushed, and finally whispered the most crucial symptom that was making her vaguely uneasy, "But... Aunt Martha... my... my period... seems to be many days late... it's been ten days late now... could this... could this be related to my poor appetite?"

Aunt Martha's expression changed upon hearing this.

It was no longer just simple concern, but a complex expression that mixed understanding, caution, and a hint of barely concealed joy.

She didn't answer immediately, but slowly walked up to Charlotte, gently and like a mother, took her slightly cold hand, and pulled her to sit down in the soft armchair.

Aunt Martha gazed at Charlotte's slightly pale yet still beautiful face, her eyes gentle and deep, her voice low and soothing. "My child... look at me and tell Aunt Martha, is this nausea especially severe when you wake up in the morning?"

Charlotte paused for a moment, thought carefully, and then nodded. "Yes... yes, the first thing in the morning is the hardest."

Aunt Martha then asked, "Besides loss of appetite and nausea, do you also feel particularly tired, always sleepy in the morning, and sometimes feel... breast tenderness?"

Charlotte blushed even more, but still nodded shyly.

She had initially attributed these subtle changes to a bad mood, but now that Aunt Martha had pointed them out one by one, she realized that it might not be that simple.

Aunt Martha smiled with a reassuring and kind expression and gently patted Charlotte's hand.

The voice was filled with the gentleness and certainty of someone with experience. "My dear Miss Charlotte... in my experience serving many noble ladies, including your mother... you are not ill."

She paused, her gaze softening as it fell on Charlotte's still-flat stomach, her tone carrying a hint of holiness. "This is... this is a blessing from the gods, a new, tiny life quietly growing and developing within you."

"Perhaps... the Rochfort family will soon welcome a new member."

Despite having a vague premonition, Charlotte was still shocked and her mind went completely blank when her guess was so directly and definitively confirmed by her experienced Aunt Martha!

She subconsciously lowered her head, carefully extending her slightly trembling hand to gently stroke her still flat stomach.

Is there really a little life here? Is it her and Karl's... child?

An immense joy, like a warm spring, instantly flooded her entire body!

This is the continuation of her and Karl's bloodline, the deepest and most inseparable bond between them!

At this moment, all worries and troubles seemed to be temporarily overshadowed by this sudden happiness.

But then, the cold reality overwhelmed her again, swallowing up all her joy.

Unmarried pregnancy... for a noblewoman of her status, this is a huge scandal that could ruin her reputation and future!

Meanwhile, the child's father, the one she deeply loved, Karl, was far away on the perilous Northern Territory, his fate unknown...

Joy, worry, fear, deep longing and concern for Karl...

A complex mix of emotions instantly shattered Charlotte's carefully constructed composure.

She could no longer hold back and threw herself into Aunt Martha's warm and generous embrace, burying her face deeply in the old maid's apron. The tears she had suppressed for so long finally burst forth.

She cried softly and choked back sobs like a helpless child, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

"Aunt Martha ... Aunt Martha ..." she sobbed, pleading intermittently, "Please...don't...don't tell anyone...nobody can be told...at least...at least wait until he...comes back safely...okay..."

Although Aunt Martha had a pretty good idea of who the child's father was, she didn't reveal it.

She held Charlotte tightly in her arms, patting her back gently as if soothing a baby, her voice tender yet firm. "Good girl, don't be afraid, don't be afraid... Aunt Martha assures you, this is a secret between just the two of us."

"Until he returns safely and is able to stand before you in person, Aunt Martha will protect this secret with her life... my poor, brave child..."