Worry

Fran City, Governor's Office's Office.

A gentle knock on the heavy oak door interrupted Earl Rochefort's reverie.

He sat behind a large desk, a smoldering pipe in his hand, the smoke swirling around him, yet unable to dispel the deep-seated gravity between his brows.

"Enter." The Count's voice carried a hint of weariness.

The door was pushed open, and his daughter, Charlotte, entered.

A fleeting, almost imperceptible look of surprise crossed the Count's eyes the moment he saw his daughter.

Charlotte was unusually dressed today in a well-tailored lake-blue silk gown, the hem of which trailed gracefully on the ground, highlighting a rare touch of gentleness and tranquility in her usually slightly muscular figure, which was made more robust by martial arts training.

Instead of her usual simple ponytail, her long golden hair was carefully braided into an intricate updo, with a few wisps of hair falling beside her ears, adding a touch of gentleness.

The Count rarely saw his daughter dressed so femininely.

In his memory, Charlotte seemed to prefer riding attire that allowed for easy movement or simple dresses; formal dresses like this were usually only worn reluctantly at important banquets or celebrations. What was going on today?

He had no idea, of course, that the carefully chosen long dress, with its loose waist and heavy fabric, perfectly concealed Charlotte's slightly protruding, yet not very noticeable, belly.

This was a preparation she made after discussing it with Aunt Martha, in order to cope with the approaching period when her pregnancy would become more noticeable.

"Father," Charlotte said softly, curtsying slightly as she approached the desk, her voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of concern, "You look...very tired. Has Sir Kylan returned? How is the situation in the Royal Capital ...?"

The Count took a deep drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled the smoke, trying to dispel the gloom in his heart, but with little effect.

He gestured to the chair opposite him. "Sit down, Charlotte."

Charlotte obediently sat down, placing her hands folded on her knees, but her gaze remained fixed on her father's worried face.

"Kellan has just finished reporting," the Count's voice was a little hoarse, "The siege of the Royal Capital has been lifted, and the main force of the Sauron ... has already withdrawn north, laden with the wealth and people they plundered from our kingdom."

Upon hearing this news, Charlotte's face did not show much joy; instead, she became even more worried.

She understood the current situation all too well; the return of the main Sauron forces to the north meant something she knew very well.

"Then... does that mean the Sauron's Sparrow Corps is about to lift the siege? Is the crisis in our Fran City... resolved?" Charlotte asked tentatively, but that wasn't what she really wanted to ask.

The Count nodded, then shook his head, and said with a wry smile, "The crisis is over? Perhaps. For Fran City, the temporary crisis is over. Ulf will soon leave with his Sparrow Corps to join Harald's main force, but..."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the distant northern horizon outside the window, his voice growing even deeper. "But for another person, for another place, the real catastrophe... has probably only just begun."

Charlotte's heart sank; it seemed the news she feared most was about to come out of her father's mouth.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt, her voice trembling slightly. "Father... you mean... Carnford? Is it... Karl?"

The Count turned his head and looked intently at his daughter.

He keenly noticed the undisguised emotion in Charlotte's eyes—an anxiety and fear far exceeding ordinary concern.

He had seen that look in his wife's eyes before, when they were deeply in love.

As a father, a man who has weathered many storms, he already understood some of it.

The daughter has probably already fallen deeply in love with that young Lord far away in the Northern Territory.

He sighed, deciding to no longer conceal the truth and speak frankly, "Yes, Charlotte, the Sauron will never tolerate Carnford remaining a thorn in their side."

"When Harald returns north, satisfied after plundering the heart of the kingdom, he will certainly gather superior forces and completely raze Carnford along the way to eliminate any future trouble. This is inevitable and there is no room for complacency."

He added some tobacco to his pipe, his voice filled with helplessness. "And we... we can't do anything. The Sparrow Corps is still outside the city, I can't send reinforcements, and that coward Eisenberg is even less of a threat. The capital Royal Capital just been besieged and is too busy to take care of itself..."

"Karl von Schmidt, and his little Carnford, are now... truly alone, facing the thunderous wrath of Sauron's main army."

Every word struck Charlotte's heart like a heavy hammer.

Her face turned pale instantly, and her breathing became rapid.

Although she had a premonition, when her father so bluntly revealed the cruel reality, she still felt a dizzying, suffocating sensation.

She subconsciously pressed her hand gently against her lower abdomen, as if she could feel the throbbing and unease of the tiny life inside.

That was Karl's child, the fruit of their love, and perhaps the only bloodline Karl left in this world...

Now, the child's father is in dire straits, his fate unknown...

"No...no..." Charlotte's voice trembled with tears as she stubbornly shook her head. "Karl ...he's so amazing...he always manages to pull off miracles...he's defeated the Sauron so many times in Carnford ...this time...this time he can do it too! Right, Father?"

Looking into his daughter's eyes, filled with despair yet unwilling to give up hope, Earl Rochefort felt a pang of sorrow and helplessness.

How could he not admire Karl? How could he not hope that the young man could create another miracle?

But as an experienced commander, he knew better than anyone that in the face of an absolute disparity in strength, the effectiveness of individual bravery and wisdom was limited.

Carnford will no longer be facing a flanking force, but rather the main force of Sauron, who are riding high on their victory, well-equipped, and overwhelmingly superior in numbers!

That's a destructive force!

But he couldn't bear to discourage his daughter any further, so he reached out and gently patted Charlotte's cold hand, comforting her in as gentle a tone as possible. "Yes, Karl is a young man who always brings surprises. We should have faith in him... Maybe... maybe there will be a turning point..."

However, the uncertainty and heaviness in his words could not be concealed.

Charlotte lowered her head, and tears finally welled up in her eyes, dripping onto the gorgeous hem of her dress and spreading out a small, dark stain.

She knew how pale and powerless her father's comfort was.

A long silence fell over the office, broken only by the faint sounds of city noise coming from outside the window and Charlotte's barely suppressed, soft sobs.

Earl Rochefort looked at his daughter's trembling shoulders, his heart filled with complex emotions.

He also felt sorry for Karl and was deeply worried about his daughter's future.