The Arrival

The final moment has finally arrived.

Two days later, the Northern Territory sky was clear and crisp, carrying a chilly edge.

Lyon hurried back to the castle and reported to Karl that the Princess's procession had arrived at the entrance to Carnford Mountain and was expected to reach the castle within two hours.

Karl took a deep breath and changed into his usual attire.

He wore a tough leather jacket with a fur-lined collar, covered by a heavy overcoat made from a whole Northern Border Brown Bear Hide, and thick riding breeches and knee-high leather boots.

This attire makes him look less like a noble Lord about to marry Princess and more like a seasoned, unkempt border officer.

In fact, Karl never truly identified with his identity as a "Baron" or "Viscount".

Although the King bestowed upon him the title of Viscount for his service, he always insisted that his subordinates address him as "Lord Karl" or "Your Excellency," rather than "Baron Karl."

Lady Eileen carefully straightened the collar of her son's trench coat and brushed away non-existent dust.

In her eyes, no matter what her son wears, he is the most handsome and the most worthy of pride.

She patted her son's arm, her eyes filled with encouragement and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

Karl led the core of the Carnford Territory, including Edgar, Morr, Brendan, and other officials, as they slowly walked out of Carnford Castle.

They didn't stop at the castle gate, but instead walked along the main road that had been urgently repaired and decorated, passing through the still vast but much more orderly Shantytown Area at the foot of the mountain.

Along both sides of the road, the people who had already received the order crowded behind the cordon set up by the soldiers, craning their necks, silent as a graveyard, the air filled with a silence that was a mixture of curiosity, awe and unease.

The group eventually stopped at the edge of the Shantytown Area, on a temporarily cleared open space, and lined up to wait.

This will be the official venue for welcoming the kingdom's Princess.

On both sides of the road, there were even more eye-catching cavalry ceremonial guards.

On the right is the entire Carnford cavalry, led by Lyon.

Their equipment was far from magnificent; their armor was covered with dents, scratches, and a dull patina from battle, and their warhorses were hardly swift or magnificent.

However, every cavalryman stood tall with sharp eyes like a hawk, exuding a fierce, calm, and murderous aura that could only be forged through rolling through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

They stood silently, like rows of cold rocks, proclaiming that this land was protected with blood and lives.

On the left are the family knights that Lady Eileen Franklin Territory.

Their helmets gleamed, their cloaks fluttered in the wind, their armor was adorned with exquisite patterns, their warhorses were tall and magnificent, and their equipment was excellent and well-prepared, showcasing the wealth and prestige of the Southern Grand Duke's Territory.

The two cavalry units were distinctly different, one like an unpolished War Saber and the other like an ornately decorated ceremonial sword, together forming the escort line to welcome the procession.

As for the valiant but sensitive Sauron Defectors under Thorsten's command, Karl, out of caution, did not allow them to appear at such an important and sensitive political occasion, so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicion and tension within the royal family.

Time passed slowly in the silent wait.

Finally, at the edge of the horizon, a Golden Royal Banner came into view first, followed by more banners that slowly appeared like a moving forest.

A large and magnificent caravan, escorted by the silver armor of the Royal Knights, flowed like a shimmering river toward Carnford.

At the very front of the procession were the Royal Honor Guard Cavalry, their armor gleaming in the sunlight, their movements perfectly synchronized, exuding a stylized majesty.

In the middle were several extremely luxurious, Gilded Carriage, like mobile palaces, with heavy silk curtains hanging from the windows, obscuring the interior.

At the very end of the procession was a massive convoy carrying the Princess's dowry and supplies for her entourage.

This ceremonial procession, representing the highest level of the Goldflower Kingdom, formed a stark and somewhat jarring contrast with the rather rough and even war-torn welcome from Carnford.

The royal motorcade proceeded slowly, eventually stopping about twenty paces ahead of Karl and his officials.

The sounds of horses' hooves and wheels ceased abruptly, and the scene fell into an absolute silence, as if even the wind had frozen.

At this moment, Steward Edgar took a deep breath, stepped forward, and with all his might, shouted in a loud and solemn voice:

"Kneel to welcome Your Her Highness the Princess!!!"

The sound echoed across the open space.

Upon hearing this, Karl did not hesitate at all. He took the first step forward, knelt on his right knee, and bowed his head deeply.

Behind him, Edgar, Morr, Brendan and all the other officials, the soldiers on both sides of the road and even all the onlookers in the distance, all knelt down in unison, like waves of wheat being blown by the wind. The cavalrymen could not kneel, but they bowed their heads and touched their chests.

The dense crowd instantly shrank in apprehension, a sign of their awe of the monarchy.

In this silent kneeling, the gazes of the cavalrymen on both sides of the road, members of the Royal Knights and Carnford's cavalry, inevitably met.

On one side were elite troops from the Royal Capital, representing the face of the kingdom, their armor gleaming and their bearing arrogant; on the other side were veterans from the Northern Territory border, survivors of countless battles, their eyes defiant and their aura deep and composed.

There were no words, but an invisible scrutiny and struggle between warriors quietly permeated the air.

Apart from the cavalry, everyone's eyes were focused on the most magnificent, still Princess's carriage.

The heavy carriage curtains remained closed.

Following a pre-arranged, simple ceremony, Lady Eileen's two personal maids, carrying prepared items, respectfully approached the most luxurious carriage the Princess was riding in.

A maidservant held aloft a Silver Wine Cup filled with Carnford's own Honey Wine, a symbol of welcome and sweetness, and announced in a clear voice, "Welcome, Your Her Highness the Princess, to Carnford! May Your Highness's future be as sweet as honey!"

Another maid presented a pair of warm gloves, carefully sewn from soft Snow Rabbit Fur and lined with thick wool, and respectfully said, "The Northern Territory is bitterly cold; may these gloves protect Your Highness's hands and keep them warm forever!"

The carriage door was opened from the outside, and the first to step out was Alice, the Princess's personal maid. She was also a little pale, but she forced herself to stay awake.

Then, with Alice's help, Princess Louise finally appeared before everyone.