Family Convoy

"Later, I comforted him and encouraged him to pull himself together. Thousands of people in Carnford were counting on him. He had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and couldn't let himself sink into despair. He was a strong boy, and although he was in pain, he slowly pulled through."

"We later discussed Carnford's recruitment of refugees and the rebuilding of the territory, and his thinking gradually became clearer, allowing him to refocus his energy on his work."

The last few lines of the letter made Charlotte's heart clench even tighter, yet also infused with a bittersweet warmth:

"As he was leaving, he solemnly bid me farewell and asked me to convey his resolve to you. He said, 'Please tell Charlotte, Count Excellency, that I hereby swear that I will never betray Charlotte! I love her, I love her with all my heart, and no matter what circumstances we face, this feeling will never change!'"

"He promised you that this marriage to the Princess was merely a temporary measure, a reluctant choice made under pressure from the royal family. He vowed that his heart and soul would remain loyal to you, awaiting a possible turning point in the future."

At the end of the letter, the Count wrote, "My child, I know what this news means to you. I have conveyed Karl's wishes truthfully. As for your pregnancy, I respect your wishes and have not told him."

"How to choose and how to proceed in the future is something you need to weigh and decide for yourself, but no matter what, remember that your father and mother will always be your strongest support."

The letter has been read.

Charlotte slowly put down the letter, her whole body seemingly exhausted, and leaned limply against the back of the chair.

But her face no longer held the deathly stillness and numbness of before; instead, it shone with a radiance mixed with tears, as bright as the sky after a rainstorm.

She pressed the letter tightly to her chest, as if she could feel the heartbeat of her lover, who was also enduring pain in the distance.

Pain, longing, worry, and that faint yet tenacious hope brought about by Karl's unwavering vow—all these emotions intertwined, causing her to weep uncontrollably.

An immense joy and relief washed away the gloom and frost that had been building up in her heart for days.

She covered her mouth with her hand, but couldn't suppress the laughter that trembled with tears.

Tears streamed down her face, but this time, they were tears of joy and happiness.

She felt that all her strength and patience over the past few days had been rewarded in this moment.

She didn't love the wrong person! Karl was worth all her waiting and sacrifice!

It took Charlotte a while to calm down.

She carefully folded the letter, put it back in the envelope, and kept it close to her body as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

Then, she stood up, tidied her slightly disheveled hair and clothes, took a deep breath, and opened the study door.

When she walked out of the study, Lady Isabella and Aunt Martha, who were waiting outside, were visibly taken aback.

The Charlotte they saw, though her eyes were still red and swollen and her face was streaked with tears, looked completely refreshed!

Those azure eyes regained their clarity and brightness, and a faint, genuine smile even graced the corners of her lips.

The ease and hope emanating from within were a stark contrast to his previous lifeless demeanor.

"Charlotte, you..." Lady Isabella looked at her daughter in surprise, her heart filled with doubt and a hint of expectation, "Why do you suddenly... look so happy?"

Charlotte walked to her mother's side, took her arm, and gently rested her head on her mother's shoulder. Her voice was still a little hoarse, but it was full of lightness and strength. "Mom, I'm okay, really okay. It's just... I just learned some things, and my heart... feels lighter now."

She didn't explicitly state the contents of the letter, but Lady Isabella, seeing the renewed light in her daughter's eyes, seemed to understand something.

Perhaps that young man named Karl wasn't as bad as she initially thought? Her disgust lessened somewhat.

As long as my daughter is happy, that's more important than anything else.

"Alright, alright, it's good that you're alright," Lady Isabella said tenderly, hugging her daughter. "Are you hungry? Martha has prepared dinner; let's go eat."

The atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed during dinner.

Charlotte offered to add food to her mother's plate and ate more than usual herself.

Although she still ate slowly and deliberately, she was no longer in a state of barely tasting or swallowing food as before.

Aunt Martha saw that her daughter finally had an appetite, and a long-lost, genuine smile appeared on her face. She kept saying, "Eat more, it's good for the child."

Outside the window, the night in Herwenham was peaceful and serene.

Inside, under the warm light, although the challenges ahead remain formidable, the flame of hope has been rekindled in Charlotte's heart.

She knew she wasn't fighting alone; in the far Northern Territory, someone else was sharing the same belief and striving for their future.

That's enough.

Three days later, at dawn, an unprecedentedly large convoy, like a winding python, appeared on the road leading to Carnford.

One carriage after another stretched as far as the eye could see, each loaded with goods piled high like small mountains, all covered tightly with thick canvas.

What's even more striking is that the caravan was flanked by a large number of well-equipped, gleaming, and disciplined knights. Their vigilant gazes and orderly formations exuded an aura of majesty that was completely different from that of the caravan guards, belonging to the great nobility.

The sheer scale of the commotion immediately alarmed the entire Shantytown Area. The refugees flocked to the roadside, craning their necks, their faces filled with surprise and curiosity, chattering amongst themselves.

"My goodness! So many carriages! Who is this important person?"

"Look at those knights! Their armor, their aura—they're definitely not ordinary caravan guards!"

"Could it be... Her Highness the Her Highness the Princess's entourage has arrived ahead of schedule?" someone speculated excitedly.

"Yes, yes, yes! It must be the Princess! Otherwise, who would have such a grand entrance!"

The crowd stirred, everyone wanting to squeeze to the front and catch a glimpse of the kingdom's Princess.

However, the cold gazes and subtle oppressive aura emanating from the guarding knights deterred the crowd from getting too close. They could only observe from a distance, their hearts filled with awe and anticipation.

On the highest tower of the castle, Karl and Edgar had already learned of the approaching large army through messages sent by the sentries on horseback.

This could not possibly be the Princess's entourage; the timing is too fast, and the size and demeanor of the guards are different from those of the royal guards.

When Karl's gaze fell upon several striking flags in the convoy, he immediately recognized them as the emblem of the Franklin Territory, the family of the Duke Schmidt.