Compromise

Hearing her son's resounding and responsible words, Lady Eileen was slightly taken aback, but then her eyes revealed undisguised satisfaction and pride.

She grasped her son's hand tightly in return, her voice softening considerably. "Good boy... I understand your intentions now. You put the suffering of your people first, instead of just caring about your own enjoyment and pomp. You are a benevolent Lord, and I am truly happy and proud of you!"

But then she changed the subject, her expression turning serious. "But Karl, welcoming the Princess's procession and preparing for the wedding are not to be taken lightly. This not only concerns Carnford's reputation, but also your father, Duke Schmidt's, honor!"

Seeing the slight doubt in Karl's eyes, she said solemnly, "There's something I forgot to tell you. Your father... he values you very much now! Your brilliant achievements in the Northern Territory have spread throughout the kingdom."

"He told me personally that he is proud of you and considers you one of his most important heirs! Therefore, your words and actions now represent not only yourself, but also the face of the Schmidt Family."

"If you make such an important event as your wedding too simple, and the royal family thinks that our Schmidt Family has neglected the Princess, your father will be very embarrassed in the noble circles of the Royal Capital, and his situation will become passive. Sometimes, these 'face' matters among nobles are more important than actual interests."

Hearing his mother say that his father valued him so much, Karl was indeed a little surprised.

Although he didn't have much affection for his cold-hearted father, reason told him that gaining the Duke's approval and support was crucial for Carnford's future development.

It would be unwise to damage the newly eased relationship because of a "rude" incident at the wedding.

It seems we really can't be too careless in this regard; at least the superficial aspects must be done properly.

Seeing that her son's expression had softened, Lady Eileen pressed her advantage, saying, "Besides, you don't need to worry about supplies! This time, the family caravan brought a lot of support! There's top-quality grain, thick woolen cloth, and plenty of gold and silver."

"These are all things you urgently need to rebuild the castle! Enough for you to make this main castle, as well as the refugee settlements below, beautiful and impregnable, so that you can welcome the Princess in style and dignity!"

Hearing that his mother had brought such a generous amount of building materials, especially the most urgently needed ones, Karl's initial resistance dissipated considerably.

With this substantial material support, the renovation of the castle was no longer a purely wasteful "vanity project," but a pragmatic move that could simultaneously improve both defense and living conditions.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded and conceded, "Alright, Mother, I understand. I will do my best to make the necessary renovations and repairs to the castle, at least to make it look presentable and not bring shame to the family."

He added in his mind: Let it be for my mother's sake, and also to get more substantial support from my father.

Seeing that her son had finally accepted the suggestion, Lady Eileen's face lit up with a radiant smile of relief.

She believed that with the family's wealth and resources, they could definitely help her son dress up Carnford and successfully navigate this important wedding ceremony.

And she finally has the opportunity to make up for the years she has neglected her son and witness one of the most important moments in his life.

Her heart softened, and she couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke his now slightly sturdy hair, just like Karl had when he was a child, her voice filled with affection. "That's more like it, that's my obedient son."

Karl felt the warmth and long-lost intimacy from his mother's palm, and the resentment he felt due to his political marriage seemed to dissipate somewhat.

He lowered his head slightly, obediently accepting his mother's caress, a rare, gentle smile with a hint of dependence on his face.

After a brief moment of tenderness, Karl remembered his business and said, "Mom, you must be tired after walking such a long way. Let me take you to your room to rest first. However... the place I'm staying is rather basic and may not be as nice as home. Please bear with me."

Lady Eileen immediately shook her head, holding her son's arm tightly, her tone firm and content. "Silly child, what are you talking about taking responsibility for? As long as you can live with my son, anywhere is the best. Mom doesn't care about these things."

Karl felt a warmth in his heart and helped his mother up the stairs to the second floor.

The scene on the second floor was even more shocking than that in the main hall, clearly indicating that it had endured more intense long-range attacks during the siege.

The walls and ceiling were covered with repair marks of varying sizes, the stone and plaster used in different shades, like ugly patches, silently telling the story of the tragedy that had occurred.

Lady Eileen looked at the wounds and gripped her son's arm tightly with heartache.

Karl noticed his mother's anxiety and quickly reassured her, "Mom, don't worry. I was mostly not in the main castle during the most dangerous times; I was commanding from the front lines on the city walls. Although this place was heavily attacked, it was empty at the time, and no one was injured."

Hearing her son say that, Lady Eileen breathed a slight sigh of relief, but the heartache in her eyes did not lessen.

Karl led his mother to his bedroom, which was large but extremely simply furnished, even somewhat empty.

A large wooden bed, a desk piled high with documents and maps, a heavy wardrobe, and a bookshelf against the wall. The bookshelf didn't have many books, mainly a few military treatises with sheepskin covers and some war novels with rough paper.

A fire burned in the fireplace, dispelling the chill characteristic of the Northern Territory, but only enough to keep the room warm.

Lady Eileen entered the room, her gaze first sweeping across the entire space as usual, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

The place was even simpler than she had imagined; there were almost no furnishings that would be appropriate for a young person, or rather, a Lord, to have any semblance of everyday life.

She didn't say anything, but like an ordinary mother who cares most about her child's daily life, she first walked to the bedside and reached out to touch the bedding on the bed.

"Is this quilt... warm enough for winter?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with concern.

"That's enough, Mom. The fireplace is burning, it's very warm." Karl stood to the side, watching his mother's actions, a warm feeling welled up in his heart, but also a little helpless.

Lady Eileen nodded, but did not stop her examination.

She walked to the heavy wardrobe again, muttering to herself, "It's cold in the Northern Territory, unlike the South. I need to wear more clothes. I can't be reckless just because I'm young." She then reached out and opened the wardrobe door to check if the clothes inside were thick enough.

Karl watched his mother's retreating figure, knowing what she was thinking. He stepped forward, gently pressed his hand on her slightly thin shoulder, and said in a soft but firm voice, "Mom, don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. There's enough firewood in the castle, and I've gotten used to the climate here."

He skillfully changed the subject, leading his mother toward the door. "Come on, let me show you the room prepared for you. Although it's simple, it has a great view overlooking the entire valley. You must be tired from your journey, so please get some rest."