Welcoming Her

The two enjoyed a seafood dinner with Northern Territory flair while discussing various matters concerning their territory in hushed tones.

Following Karl's example, Degas painstakingly pried open a barnacle, picked out the delicious meat inside, put it in his mouth, and after carefully tasting it, he couldn't help but exclaim, "I never expected that this strange-looking thing would taste so delicious!"

"But... sir, such delicious seafood would be even more perfect with some fine wine. I remember there are still a few barrels of fine wheat wine that Earl Rochefort sent over last time in the warehouse. Shall we have someone fetch a jug?"

Upon hearing this, Karl quickly waved his hand with a smile, "Edgar, you don't understand. You can't eat seafood, especially shellfish, with beer, not even ale."

Edgar looked puzzled. "Why is that? Isn't fine wine paired with delicious food the perfect match?"

Karl gave a mysterious smile and explained vaguely, "Well... it was a knowledgeable teacher of mine when I was studying at a school in Franklin. He said that drinking seafood with alcohol, especially grain-based alcohol, can easily produce adverse reactions in the body."

"It might cause... well, joint pain or something like that. Anyway, trust me, we should just drink milk or water."

Seeing that Karl spoke with such conviction, even invoking the authority of "Franklin's teacher," Edgar, though still somewhat skeptical, no longer insisted and nodded in acceptance, saying, "I didn't know there was such a distinction. I was ignorant. I will do as you say, sir."

The conversation naturally turned to Karl's experiences in Franklin. Karl poked at the clams on his plate with his fork, saying with a touch of reminiscence, "Speaking of which, I lived in Franklin when I was a child."

"Although Franklin is also by the sea, Franklin coastline is mostly cliffs and deep-water harbors, far from the gentle beaches and abundant intertidal zone of Amber Bay in the Northern Territory. I didn't have the chance to taste so many exotic and delicious seafood there."

He paused, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips, "However, I have always enjoyed eating aquatic products, mostly small fish and shrimp. Compared to the beef and chicken that my classmates and aristocratic children generally favored, my preference might seem a bit unusual."

"Perhaps... this is one of the reasons why Schmidt's father never really liked me when I was young. He felt that I wasn't like him, not 'aristocratic' enough, not 'manly' enough. As a result, my mother suffered a lot of grievances in the family because of me."

Upon hearing Karl mention Duke Schmidt and that unpleasant past, Edgar's heart tightened, and he quickly reassured him, "Sir, please don't take it too seriously. Duke Schmidt... he did indeed handle some things less than prudently."

"But please believe me, perhaps it was... well... a mistake that many men in high positions make at certain times," he carefully chose his words, avoiding direct criticism of a Duke, "In any case, look at your achievements now, they are undeniable! You built this empire in the Northern Territory with your own hands and wisdom, and that is proof enough!"

Edgar tried to steer the conversation towards a more positive direction. "Furthermore, sir, you are about to marry Princess Louise, a grand event of the kingdom. Your family will certainly send someone of considerable importance to preside over or witness the ceremony."

"In my opinion, the most likely person to come is your mother, Lady Eileen! Then, you and your mother will be reunited! She... will surely be incredibly proud and gratified of your transformation and achievements!"

Upon hearing the name "Lady Eileen," Karl's hand holding the fork paused almost imperceptibly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

To be honest, even now, deep down he still feels uncertain and a subtle sense of alienation about how to face this "mother".

He could only piece together from the fragments of Karl's remaining memories that Lady Eileen was a gentle, kind woman who deeply loved her son but was powerless to protect him due to internal family conflicts.

The emotions in his memory were warm and affectionate, but for Karl, who had traveled through time, this mother-son bond had not yet been nurtured through a long period of time together; it was more like a heavy responsibility that needed to be carefully shouldered.

He paused for a moment before slowly speaking, his tone carrying a complex mix of anticipation and caution. "Well... if Mother could come, that would be wonderful. I... miss her very much."

He ultimately chose the original owner's most likely reaction, then, as if speaking to himself, he said, "Anyway... let's take it one step at a time. When the time comes, treating her with the same respect and deference as my own mother will never be wrong."

Edgar noticed a subtle hesitation in Karl's tone, but he dismissed it as a feeling of trepidation about returning home and didn't delve deeper into the topic.

Karl dipped a peeled shrimp in salt, put it in his mouth, and casually mentioned it, but his tone carried an undisguised sarcasm. "Speaking of which... we've been busy with land reclamation, building fortresses, and recruiting refugees lately, doing construction in a frenzy."

"I almost forgot, there's also a very noble Her Highness the Princess from the Royal Capital who's on her way to our ' Northern Territory Paradise'."

He paused, then continued, "If that Her Highness the Princess, of noble birth, were to step out of her carriage and see this ' World Shantytown Expo' -like splendor at the foot of our castle, what would she think? Would she think that her 'heroic Prince Consort's' territory is actually a refugee camp?"

Edgar chewed his food silently, clearly hearing the strong sarcasm and dissatisfaction in Karl's words.

He knew perfectly well that Karl had no feelings for the Princess who was about to arrive, and that the marriage was purely a political arrangement.

Karl's true love was Miss Charlotte, the daughter of Earl Rochefort. For the sake of the greater good, Karl was forced to abandon his personal feelings, but the humiliation and anger of being deprived of his love by power could not be concealed.

Edgar put down his cutlery and cautiously replied, "My lord, you are right. By the standards of the Royal Capital, these Shantytown Area at the foot of our mountain are indeed... an eyesore. The Princess's procession is expected to arrive in about a month."

"Before that, we may indeed need to do some necessary... tidying up and renovations in these areas, at least so that our distinguished guests from the Royal Capital don't feel we've been too impolite."

"Refurbishment? Reorganization?" Karl snorted, his tone clearly impatient. "Edgar, you know our situation very well, don't you? Carnford needs money for everything, and that's exactly what we need most."

"Every penny must be spent wisely, on reinforcing the city walls, buying oxen, and stockpiling grain. I don't have that much spare money or energy to do any vanity projects for that Princess I've never even met."

His voice rose slightly, carrying a sense of resignation. "Whether she likes it or not, I don't care at all. If she's scared away by the reality of the Northern Territory, that's not my problem. Let her go back and complain to her King brother and Empress Dowager mother. Anyway, I don't want to marry her. If she runs away, I'll be relieved!"

Edgar sighed inwardly; he knew Karl was venting his emotions.

He waited until Karl finished speaking before speaking in a calm but firm tone, "Sir, I understand your feelings, but there are some things that must be done for the sake of appearances. This is not only for the Princess, but also for your own sake, and for the sake of Carnford and your father Duke Schmidt's, reputation."

He looked at Karl and offered a reason that Karl couldn't easily refuse. "Think about it, not only will the Princess be there, but your mother, Lady Eileen, will most likely be there to officiate or witness your wedding on behalf of the Schmidt Family."

"Do you want your wife to see one of the most important moments of her son's life take place in such an environment... where even basic dignity is difficult to maintain? Do you want her to worry about you, or be proud of you?"

When his mother, Eileen, was mentioned, Karl's emotions visibly faltered.

He fell silent, his brows furrowed. The original owner's deep affection and guilt towards his mother influenced him; he truly did not want his mother to see him in such a difficult situation.

Edgar pressed his advantage. "We don't need to undertake large-scale construction, just some minimal improvements. For example, we can tidy up the shacks along the road leading from the main castle down the mountain, clean up the excessive garbage, erect some simple wooden fences along the route the Princess's caravan will take, and plant some of the territory's flags."

"The cost won't be high, but it will at least demonstrate order and basic dignity. This is the proper etiquette for a Lord to greet members of the royal family, and it's also to avoid disappointing your family who care about you."

Karl remained silent for a long time, and finally said with some helplessness, "... Alright, you're right, we can't let my mother see this and be sad. But, Edgar, we must strictly control costs, keep everything simple, and absolutely no extravagance is allowed."

"Yes, sir! Please rest assured, I will personally oversee the process to ensure that every penny is spent where it is needed and will not be wasted." Edgar felt relieved when he saw that Karl had finally relented and quickly made a solemn promise.

Dinner continued in a somewhat somber atmosphere. Although Karl had compromised, the resentment in his eyes stemming from being forced into a political marriage did not dissipate.

He knew that what awaited the Princess was not just the embellishment of the surroundings, but also a complex and exhausting political drama that he had to play well.