Take It Head-On
The Count abruptly raised his head, his face filled with disbelief, shock, and bewilderment! He even wondered if there was something wrong with his ears! Had he been overworked yesterday and was hallucinating? How could this be? Absolutely not!
Karl and Charlotte... He had long regarded Karl as his future son-in-law, the best candidate to entrust his daughter's life and the family's future to. And Charlotte, his only beloved daughter, was already pregnant with Karl's child.
Although their marriage has not been officially announced, in the eyes of all those in the know, it is almost a done deal and a natural progression, with only the final selection of an auspicious day and the grand wedding ceremony remaining!
The marriage alliance between the Rochefort Family and the emerging Carnford Territory will undoubtedly solidify the Northern Territory, and it is also a crucial step in his strategic plan for the future.
But now... at this crucial moment when everything is about to come to fruition, the royal family, far away in the Royal Capital, has unexpectedly intervened, bestowing the noble Princess Louise upon Karl in marriage without warning?
This sudden change was like a cold iron hammer, shattering all his plans and arrangements and crushing his carefully constructed blueprint for the future!
This sudden turn of events was completely unexpected by the Count, disrupting all his plans and arrangements!
The messenger remained expressionless, seemingly oblivious to the Count's stunned and disoriented state.
Continuing in that flat, monotone voice, he read out the rest of the Imperial Edict: "... Given the strategic importance of Carnford Fortress, and as a sign of honor, the wedding is hereby permitted to be held in Carnford itself."
"By order of the Governor-General of the Northern Border Province, Earl Rochefort, to take full responsibility for all preparations for the arrival of the Princess's retinue in the Northern Territory, to properly settle Her Highness the Princess and her entourage, and to ensure the smooth conduct of the wedding without any mishaps. So be it!"
After the Imperial Edict was read aloud, the spacious and luxurious main hall fell into a deathly silence. Even the sound of breathing could be clearly heard. The air seemed to have frozen, so heavy that it was suffocating.
The Count remained kneeling, but his face had turned deathly pale, devoid of any color. His eyes stared blankly at the ornate carpeted floor, as if his entire soul had been sucked away by the bright yellow Imperial Edict, leaving only an empty shell.
His mind was a jumbled mess: Charlotte's pale, expectant face, her slightly protruding belly, Karl's young, resolute features...
Intertwined with the cold contents of this Imperial Edict, it forms a cruel picture.
"Count Excellency, please accept the decree," the messenger said, seeing the Count standing there dumbfounded.
Earl Rochefort then seemed to wake from a dream, swallowing hard and feeling his throat dry and sore.
He slowly extended his slightly trembling hands and accepted the Imperial Edict, which seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
"Your subject... Rochfort... receives the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude..." His voice was hoarse, almost squeezed out from between his teeth.
Every word carries an indescribable bitterness and powerlessness.
The envoy nodded in satisfaction, gave a few more formal instructions on the precautions for welcoming the Princess's entourage, and then took his leave.
In the empty main hall, only Earl Rochefort remained, still kneeling on the cold floor.
He lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the Imperial Edict in his hand that would decide his daughter's fate, and for the first time, a look of near despair appeared on his usually calm and composed face.
A chilling sense of fear overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.
It's over... it's all over...
What should Charlotte do? What should she do about the baby in her womb? That unborn little life, who should have had a bright future, her grandson or granddaughter, is now facing such an awkward and dangerous situation!
Karl... that young man, what will he choose? On one side is his beloved, carrying his child and bound by deep affection; on the other is the Royal Decree, representing supreme honor and pressure, which he cannot resist... Will he yield? Or will he... do something irrational?
The Royal Decree are absolute... He knew better than anyone the consequences of disobeying them, especially during this dangerous time of a new king's ascension to the throne.
At this time, the marriage alliance between the Rochfort and Schmidt families was enough to terrify the mother and son in Prye City. The Empress Dowager would surely stop all of this, which would not only target Karl personally, but would also affect the entire Carnford family, and even their Rochefort Family.
A surge of anger and sorrow welled up within him, but he knew all too well how insignificant his personal desires and his family's happiness were in the face of such powerful royal authority.
His originally cheerful mood was instantly shrouded by the dark clouds coming from the Royal Capital.
The Count walked out of the solemn reception hall, his steps unsteady, as if he were walking on cotton.
He clutched the bright yellow Imperial Edict tightly in his hand, but it felt like a red-hot iron, burning his heart with pain.
Sunlight streamed into the corridor through the tall arched windows, but to him it appeared unusually glaring and cold.
The Count dragged his heavy steps around the main castle and headed towards the relatively secluded area behind it, where his daughter Charlotte lived in her cottage.
Arriving at the door of the cottage, he took several deep breaths, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, straightened his robes, and then gently knocked on the door.
The door was quickly opened, Aunt Martha appeared in the doorway. Seeing that it was the Count, she quickly stepped aside. "Count Excellency, you've arrived."
The Count nodded and stepped into the cozy little house.
The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, dispelling the winter chill.
He immediately saw Charlotte standing in the center of the room, wearing a casual, loose-fitting long dress, while Aunt Martha was holding a measuring tape and carefully measuring her waist.
Charlotte's face radiated happiness and focus, with a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Father!" Charlotte exclaimed with delight as she saw the Count enter, her face flushing as she shyly tried to tighten her skirt.
"What are you doing?" The Count tried to make his voice sound normal, but there was still a slight, almost imperceptible tremor at the end.
"Taking measurements," Charlotte's voice was light and cheerful, tinged with girlish shyness and anticipation. "I'm designing my wedding dress! It has to fit perfectly, be beautiful, and..."
Her voice lowered, her face flushed even more, and her hand unconsciously stroked her lower abdomen. "... And it has to be done cleverly, so no one can tell, especially when the pregnancy is more advanced."
Her words were like needles, piercing the Count's heart.
He looked into his daughter's clear, bright, azure eyes, full of hope for the future; he looked at her face, which was slightly fuller due to pregnancy but made her even more gentle; and he especially noticed her subconscious gesture of protecting her lower abdomen.