Warmth
Those refugees who had just fled, barely clothed and emaciated, were arranged to watch from a more distant place. Those who could kneel near the road were the "old followers" who had followed Karl the earliest and whose living conditions had begun to improve. Although they were still dressed simply, their complexions were relatively rosy and their spirits were better.
Tommy and his family were among the kneeling crowd. Anna held her daughter Sarah's hand tightly, and like her son Tommy, they bowed their heads respectfully, their hearts filled with awe and curiosity for the royal Princess. This was the first time in their lives that they had seen such a distinguished person.
However, young Sarah couldn't suppress her innate curiosity. Taking advantage of her mother and brother's inattention, she secretly raised her little head, her big, dark eyes quickly glancing at the magnificent, dreamlike carriage that was slowly passing by.
Just then, a slender, pale hand lifted a corner of the carriage window curtain, and Sarah's gaze met the Her Highness the Princess inside the carriage—eyes that were tired yet still stunningly beautiful!
Sarah froze, her mouth slightly agape, only one thought in her mind, "Oh my god... Your Her Highness the Princess... You're so beautiful... Like a fairy from a painting!"
She was so engrossed in watching that she completely forgot about etiquette.
Tommy, noticing his sister's lapse in behavior, was alarmed. He quickly reached out and gently but firmly pressed Sarah's head down, whispering urgently, "Sarah! Look down! You can't stare at the Princess like that!"
Sarah suddenly snapped out of her daze, realizing her mistake. Her face flushed red, and she quickly buried her head in her hands, murmuring softly, "I'm sorry, brother..." But in her heart, the image of that beautiful, pale Princess was deeply etched into her mind.
In a subtle and complex atmosphere, the convoy slowly approached the gates of Carnford Castle.
Soon, the Princess alighted from the carriage. Lady Eileen stepped forward at the opportune moment, taking over the duties that should have been performed by Karl, and personally helped the still weak Princess Louise, saying softly, "Your Highness, everything is ready inside the castle. Please come in with me to rest."
Louise nodded gratefully, letting Lady Eileen support her as they walked towards the castle. Karl and the other officials rose and followed silently behind.
Upon entering the Lord's Hall, the interior was indeed quite different from usual.
Although the ruggedness of the stone walls and the traces of history are still visible, the huge fireplace has been burning for a long time, and the flickering flames dispel the chill of the Northern Territory, making the entire hall warm as spring.
A faint, delicate scent of fine southern incense filled the air, attempting to mask the inherent stone and smoky aroma of the castle itself.
Countless candles were lit, illuminating the hall brightly.
Thick carpets covered the main passageway, and the tears cleverly concealed by tapestries were indeed less noticeable in the candlelight.
Lady Eileen arranged for the Princess to sit in a cushioned armchair by the fireplace.
However, perhaps it was the warmth of the hall, or perhaps it was the unfamiliar scent of incense that irritated her, but soon after she sat down, Louise's face turned pale again. She covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, her brows furrowed, clearly feeling uncomfortable again.
Seeing this, Lady Eileen immediately said to everyone, "Her Highness the Princess has come from afar and is not feeling well. She needs to rest. Let's end today's itinerary here. I will escort Her Highness upstairs to her bedroom to settle in."
Upon hearing this, the Royal Butler, Albert, immediately stepped forward, his face filled with displeasure and anxiety. "Lady Eileen! This is inappropriate! Today is an auspicious day carefully calculated by the Royal Astrologer, most suitable for holding the welcoming ceremony and engagement ceremony! Everything has been arranged, how can it be changed arbitrarily because His Highness is slightly unwell? This... this violates royal etiquette!"
Seeing this, Edgar stepped forward and explained in a calm but firm tone, "Butler, it is true that Her Highness the Princess is unwell. If we force the ceremony to proceed, and Her Highness cannot withstand it, wouldn't that be even more disgraceful to the royal family? Conditions in Carnford are simple; Her Highness's health should be the priority."
Albert, however, remained unyielding, raising his voice slightly. "Dignity? It is precisely because we must maintain dignity that we cannot delay the auspicious time! We have already wasted a lot of time on the road; if the ceremony is not completed today, how can we explain it to Her Empress Dowager?"
Several royal officials behind him echoed his sentiments, creating a tense atmosphere for a moment.
Just then, a calm yet undeniably powerful voice rang out, drowning out all the arguments.
Karl tapped twice heavily on the oak table beside him with his knuckles.
Thump, thump.
The sound wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
The hall fell silent instantly, and all eyes were fixed on the young Lord who had remained silent all along.
Karl's gaze swept over Albert and the others, finally settling on Princess Louise, who was pale and struggling to suppress her discomfort. His tone was calm but carried the final authority. "Your Her Highness the Princess is exhausted and unwell today. She is not fit for strenuous activity. I suggest that the welcoming ceremony and subsequent arrangements be postponed until tomorrow. Everything depends on Your Highness's well-being."
His words left no room for negotiation, as if he were simply stating a given fact.
Albert opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but seeing Karl's calm eyes and the silent yet firm support of the Carnford officials around him, he ultimately swallowed his words.
This is, after all, Carnford, the absolute territory of this young Lord.
With a grim face, he could only force a bow and say, "... Yes, sir, I will obey Lord orders."
Princess Louise leaned back in her chair, breathing slightly heavily, but her gaze involuntarily fell upon the man who had made the decision for her.
He appeared indifferent, even somewhat aloof, and his decision was perhaps more out of Lord's responsibility to his guests than out of special concern for her.
But in any case, at a time when everyone else only cared about etiquette and auspicious times, ignoring her real pain, it was he who, in the simplest and most direct way, gave her a chance to catch her breath.
At that moment, his seemingly indifferent face inexplicably brought a faint but real warmth to her eyes.
At least, he wasn't a cold, indifferent political figure who didn't care whether she lived or died.