Desire
"And," she continued, her worry deepening, "What if Carnford really does grow powerful under that Karl? I've heard he's a shrewd strategist and has a close relationship with Earl Rochefort, the Governor of the Northern Territory. That Old Fox Rochfort may be outwardly respectful to us, but who knows what he's up to."
"If the two of them join forces and form a powerful, independent force in the Northern Territory, it will be much more difficult for us to deal with them then! That would be the real threat!"
The more Katerina, the more she felt the possibility existed, and her voice even carried a hint of barely perceptible anxiety. She seemed to have already seen the distant future, a terrifying scene of Louise and Karl's descendants, supported by the powerful army of the Northern Territory, returning to Prye City and reclaiming the throne.
However, in stark contrast to her, after listening to her worried analysis, Viktor showed no sign of tension or seriousness on his face. Instead, he revealed a confident and slightly mocking smile.
It was as if what she was worried about was nothing more than a child's fantasy.
He gently released his grip on her, instead stroking her back reassuringly, his voice still calm and steady. "My dear Katerina, you're overthinking it. Really, things aren't nearly as serious as you imagine, and it could never possibly escalate to that point."
"First of all, the Sauron will not let Karl off the hook. They suffered heavy losses and lost face at the Carnford City. Given their vengeful nature, how could they possibly let this go?"
"They will never stand idly by and allow Carnford, this thorn in their side, to grow and strengthen on their only route south. I don't think the war in the Northern Territory will be quelled by this marriage; in fact, I think it will only burn brighter because of the presence of Karl, the ' Guardian of the Northern Border.'"
"Can he hold out once, twice, or three times? Can he keep being this 'lucky'? The Northern Territory is a giant meat grinder. Whether Karl will even live to see his fortress truly 'develop' is a question, let alone pose a threat to us?"
He paused, a colder glint flashing in his eyes:
"Secondly, even if we take a step back and assume that this Karl really does possess extraordinary abilities, truly stabilizes the situation, and even thrives in the Northern Territory... so what?"
"Don't forget, Princess Louise was sent there 'legitimately' and 'properly'. As long as she is still in Carnford, as long as we are the royal family of Prye City, the King and Empress Dowager, we have plenty of legitimate grounds to use."
His voice was low, carrying a coldness akin to manipulating puppets. "For example, we could use the excuse that the Northern Territory is unstable and that we need the Prince Consort to share the burden of the country, to order him to send troops to help quell rebellions in other places, or to attack a Sauron stronghold to deplete his forces."
"For example, we can levy a special 'loyalty tax' or 'support tax' on him under the pretext that the royal family is short of funds and needs support, or demand that he 'pay tribute' with Northern Territory specialties, warhorses, and fine iron... We have plenty of high-sounding reasons to constantly wear him down, restrict him, and cause him trouble."
"If he obeys, he will continue to bleed; if he disobeys, he will give us an excuse to accuse him of treason, even to declare him a traitor and call on other nobles to attack him."
"The initiative has always been in our hands."
Finally, his voice lowered even further, almost a whisper, yet the coldness in it sent chills down one's spine:
"As for your concerns about the child... well, that's even simpler. The Northern Territory is harsh and cold, lacking in medicine and medical care, plagued by frequent wars and rampant bandits... a frail infant, or a Princess who needs careful postpartum care but is in such a harsh environment, could unfortunately die young or from illness during a long journey, due to acclimatization issues, or some sudden 'accident'..."
"Isn't this a perfectly normal and reasonable thing? Who will investigate further? And who can investigate further? In the end, all potential threats will naturally disappear with the unexpected, and we can even show appropriate grief and concern to demonstrate the benevolence of the royal family."
Hearing Viktor's clear, ruthless yet incisive analysis, the doubts on Katerina's face melted away like snow under the sun.
Instead, she felt a sense of relief and ease, along with a smile that was a mixture of reassurance and admiration for the man beside her, who possessed a deep understanding of her cunning and ruthless methods.
Yes, why didn't she think of that? With Viktor around, what did she have to worry about?
"You've thought of everything...you've considered all the possibilities," Katerina's face blossomed into a radiant smile again, her body going completely limp as she nestled into Viktor's arms, tracing circles on his chest with her fingers. "I really...worried for nothing. With you here, I'm not afraid of anything."
"So, my noble and beautiful Empress Dowager," Viktor chuckled, this time without hesitation, he used his arms to lift her up easily, and with steady steps, walked towards the soft couch deep in the room that symbolized ecstasy and depravity.
"Now, let's not waste our precious time worrying about things that are far away and may never happen... Spring nights are short, and good times pass quickly."
Katerina let out a soft laugh, a mixture of coquettishness and anticipation, and wrapped her arms around his strong neck like water snakes, burying her face in the hollow of his masculine neck.
Viktor gently hooked the heavy velvet curtains with his heel, closing them completely and shutting out all light and noise from the outside world.
In the dimly lit, luxurious room, only the increasingly warm, ambiguous breathing, the rustling of clothes, and the intertwined whispers and desires remained.