Dissatisfaction

Lady Eileen gently grasped Louise's slightly cool hand, her words becoming more heartfelt. "Child, I know that you and Karl lack an emotional foundation right now, and it would be unfair and unsettling for you to rush into a relationship like this."

Her words were full of understanding. "But believe me, once you truly understand Karl, you'll find that beneath that hard shell he has to wear because of responsibility and pressure, he's actually a very gentle and respectful person."

Lady Eileen spoke these last words with particular solemnity, looking directly into Louise's eyes. "So, Louise, you don't need to worry that Karl will force you to do anything you don't want to do. He will give you time and will respect your wishes."

These words, like a promise, acted as a warm barrier, dispelling Louise's deepest anxieties and fears.

Her tense shoulders finally relaxed, and the strong shell she had been maintaining quietly shattered in the face of this gentle care and understanding.

She didn't say anything more, but involuntarily, like a young animal seeking shelter, she gently nestled into Lady Eileen's warm and soft embrace.

The reassuring, motherly aura emanating from Lady Eileen, mixed with a subtle fragrance, enveloped her.

A wave of fatigue washed over me, intertwining with this sudden sense of relief.

Louise closed her eyes, her cheek pressed against Lady Eileen's soft clothes, a lump formed in her throat, and her eyes welled up slightly.

She thought of her deceased biological mother, a figure who was incredibly gentle yet whose image was now hazy in her distant and vague childhood memories.

If her mother were still alive, in that moment of confusion and helplessness, she would surely have opened her warm embrace, gently held her, and comforted her, just like Lady Eileen did...

On this strange and cold night in the Northern Territory, at this uncertain turning point in her destiny, the unreserved warmth given by Lady Eileen became the only piece of driftwood that Louise could cling to.

She let out a soft sob in her heart, burying herself deeper into this brief haven, letting her consciousness gradually sink into a weary sleep in the warmth and comfort.

Lady Eileen felt the girl's even breathing in her arms, smiled lovingly, gently pulled the blanket up, and hummed a soft, indistinct lullaby from the south.

The next morning, as dawn broke, Karl awoke on his simple cot in his study on the third floor.

Perhaps it was because he was away from the suffocating atmosphere of the master bedroom, or perhaps it was because he had a night to calm down, but his mind was unusually clear.

After a quick wash, he went downstairs.

The door to the second-floor side bedroom was open, and the sounds of maids whispering and tidying could be faintly heard from inside the master bedroom, indicating that the Princess and her mother had already gotten up.

He arrived at the master bedroom door and knocked gently.

"Please come in." It was Lady Eileen's voice.

Karl pushed open the door and entered.

Inside the room, the fire in the fireplace was reignited, filling the room with warmth.

Princess Louise was already dressed and sitting in front of her dressing table. Her two personal maids, Lina and another, were carefully combing her long hair and arranging it into an intricate and dignified court hairstyle.

Lady Eileen stood to the side, holding the carefully preserved, pristine white wedding dress embroidered with Broomflower patterns, and was conducting a final check.

Seeing Karl enter, Lady Eileen smiled gently. "You're awake? Go and get ready. The wedding is scheduled for this morning; Mr. Albert has been urging us several times already."

Karl nodded, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the magnificent wedding dress, a slight, indescribable ripple stirring within him, but he quickly regained his composure.

He remembered something and asked, "Mom, I already ate the big meal we prepared for the welcoming ceremony yesterday. What about the wedding banquet today? We can't just have everyone sitting around watching, can we?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Eileen rolled her eyes at her son, her tone reproachful. "How dare you say that! That banquet was meant to welcome the Princess, but you got to enjoy it first!"

She immediately reassured him, "Don't worry, I expected this might happen. I've already had the kitchen prepare something new overnight. Although it won't be as luxurious as yesterday, it will be respectable enough and won't be impolite."

Karl felt somewhat relieved after hearing this, and without saying anything more, he turned and went downstairs.

When he returned to the Lord's Hall on the first floor, just as he had expected, the hall had been completely renovated.

The mess of dishes from last night's banquet has been cleaned up, and the air is filled with a faint steam from the cleaning and the aroma of freshly cooked food.

The long oak dining table was covered again with a snow-white linen tablecloth, and it was now neatly arranged with a dazzling array of food.

Whole roasted suckling pigs and goose, roasted to a golden brown and crispy perfection, sizzling with oil; various cured sausages and ham slices, neatly arranged.

Large platters of stewed meat garnished with spices; freshly baked white and whole-grain breads, exuding the aroma of wheat; and even a few kinds of fruits, quite rare for this season, transported from the south by fast horses, slightly wilted but still precious.

The variety of seasonal vegetables and local specialty smoked fish and shellfish, while perhaps not as diverse or refined as yesterday, were plentiful and heartwarming.

Of course, there were also barrels of ale and several bottles of what looked like high-end wine.

The entire hall was filled with the rich aroma of food. Although it was not as luxurious as a royal banquet, it was an extremely lavish and respectable scene in the Northern Territory frontier.

Albert himself stood in the center of the hall with his hands behind his back, his face seemingly even more somber and tense than yesterday, exuding an barely suppressed anxiety.

As soon as he saw Karl come down, he hurried forward, his tone filled with obvious dissatisfaction and urgency, almost impolitely pressuring him. "Lord Karl! Everything is ready! Please, you must complete the wedding ceremony with Her Highness the Princess as soon as possible! This matter cannot be delayed any longer. If the royal procession lingers here too long, something may go wrong, and we will be unable to explain it to Her Empress Dowager the Queen Mother!"

Karl remained calm, seemingly unaffected by his emotions. He simply nodded and replied in a steady tone, "Mr. Albert, rest assured, now that everything is prepared, the wedding will definitely take place today. I won't make things difficult for you."

This assurance eased Albert's tense expression slightly.

While waiting for the Princess to get ready, Albert made a new request. He said formally, "Viscount Excellency, according to Her Empress Dowager Queen Mother's decree, after Her Highness the Princess's marriage, some of our entourage, including several personal maids and myself, will remain here for a period of time to take care of the Princess and ensure that Her Highness can smoothly adapt to life in the Northern Territory."

He glanced around the rather simple castle hall and continued, "It seems that the accommodations in this castle are quite limited. I wonder if you could arrange or allocate a small area in the outer city for us to build a few rooms for temporary lodging? We will not take up any of the Lord's Residence's resources."

Without any hesitation, Karl replied directly, "Mr. Albert, all of Carnford's engineering resources and manpower are currently being prioritized for building winter homes and fortifications for refugees and their people. We simply cannot spare any manpower or materials to build new houses for you all."

Albert frowned, suppressing his displeasure, and offered a compromise. "We can fund it ourselves and hire local migrants to build it. All you need to do is nod and designate a plot of land."

Hearing that the other party was willing to pay for it themselves, Karl softened and nodded, his tone still not very enthusiastic, but it was a form of agreement. "If you hire them yourself, that's no problem. There are plenty of vacant lots in the outer city. You can choose the location yourself, as long as it conforms to Mr. Morr's overall plan and doesn't occupy the reserved land and roads of the Tunbao. Go ahead."

Karl's utilitarian attitude, which was almost purely transactional and devoid of any courtesy or attentiveness, greatly displeased Albert, who felt that this border Lord lacked the respect and courtesy due to royalty.

But he also understood that he was on someone else's turf, and the other party held real power, so he couldn't argue forcefully. He could only swallow his dissatisfaction and stiffly bow, saying, "Thank you for your leniency, Viscount."

Karl ignored Albert's frustrated expression and turned his gaze toward the stairs.

Next, it's just a matter of going through that inescapable process.