Sleeping

As night deepened, the noise in the hall completely subsided, leaving only the soft clinking of cups and plates as the servants cleared away the dishes.

Adhering to Carnford's consistent principle of frugality, Edgar, after consulting with Karl, distributed the large amount of untouched fine food left over from the wedding banquet to some impoverished homeless families, earning much gratitude.

However, for Karl, the most crucial "ritual" had only just begun: entering the bridal chamber.

He sat in the main seat of the empty hall, poured himself another glass of wine, and drank it all in one gulp.

The alcohol burned his throat, but it seemed unable to extinguish the clarity and turmoil within him.

From the start of the wedding banquet until now, he couldn't remember how much he had drunk, probably no less than four or five bottles, but he only felt his body was hot and his head was throbbing. That intoxicating feeling that could make one forget their troubles lingered on the edge, unable to truly overwhelm him.

Perhaps it was because of something on my mind and my nerves were on edge that alcohol was less effective.

He even gave up the idea of washing up, fearing that the cold water would completely dissipate his already dwindling drunkenness.

Reeking of alcohol and with a jumble of thoughts, he staggered up to the second floor.

The second-floor corridor was quiet, with the wall lamps casting a dim, yellowish light.

Her mother, Lady Eileen, was already resting in her temporary side room, and the Princess's two maids had been arranged to stay in the study on the third floor.

The entire second floor seemed to consist only of him and the person in the master bedroom.

He knew that royal eyes were watching from the shadows, and he had to go through that door.

He stood at the door for a long time before finally taking a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind to go to the battlefield, and gently pushed open the door to the master bedroom.

Inside, the flickering firelight from the fireplace cast a warm glow throughout the room.

Princess Louise was already lying on the inside of the bed, her back to the door, covered with a thick wool blanket, curled up as if asleep.

But Karl keenly noticed that the figure stiffened almost imperceptibly the moment he entered and took off his coat, a slight tremor transmitted through the blanket.

Karl sighed inwardly, silently taking off his bearskin overcoat and leather jacket, which reeked of alcohol and the chill of the night, leaving only a thin linen shirt and trousers. He blew out the oil lamp on the table, leaving only the light from the fireplace.

Then he carefully lay down on the outside of the bed, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible, also with his back to Louise.

This is the epitome of sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams.

Time flowed slowly in the silence.

Despite his physical exhaustion and the effects of alcohol, Karl's mind was unusually active, and he showed no signs of sleepiness.

Charlotte's tearful eyes, her mother's worried expression, the Princess's pale face, Albert's sinister gaze... various images flashed by.

He tossed and turned, the mattress creaking softly, the sound particularly clear in the quiet room.

"You... can't sleep either?"

A soft, timid voice suddenly broke the suffocating silence from behind.

It's Louise.

Karl stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, maintaining his back-to-back posture, and gave a muffled "hmm".

Another brief silence followed.

Louise seemed to have mustered her courage and spoke again, her voice slightly more stable than before, tinged with a cautious probing. "Lord Karl, last night, Lady Eileen and I... talked a lot."

Karl's heart skipped a beat; he roughly guessed what his mother would say to the newly arrived Princess.

It was nothing more than saying nice things about him, hoping to ease the cold and unfamiliar relationship between the two.

He rolled over, lying flat on his back, gazing at the ceiling, its surface flickering with the light of the fireplace casting swaying shadows, and asked in a flat tone, "What... did my mother say to you?"

Louise lay on her side, her back to Karl, and her voice came softly. "The lady said... you are a very responsible Lord, with the people of the land in your heart."

She paused, as if organizing her thoughts, then continued, "Actually, even without you saying it, Madam, I could tell myself. From the moment I entered Carnford, although everything here is still very simple, even impoverished, I could sense that the people here are completely different from the refugees I've seen near the Royal Capital."

Her voice held a genuine emotion. "There's a light in their eyes... a kind of energy you can't see anywhere else, a drive to keep living. I know all these changes are thanks to you."

"In these turbulent times for the kingdom, noble Lord like you who truly treat ordinary people as human beings and are willing to exhaust their efforts to fight for their survival are truly... very, very rare. In the eyes of too many nobles and officers, the common people are nothing more than expendable resources, livestock, or numbers."

Karl listened quietly until she finished speaking, then suddenly chuckled softly. The laughter sounded somewhat abrupt in the quiet room, carrying a hint of self-deprecation and detachment. "Are you flattering me?"

Upon hearing this, Louise's heart tightened, and she quickly turned around. Although she couldn't see Karl's expression in the darkness, she hurriedly explained, "No! Please don't misunderstand! I... I wasn't flattering you. That's what the lady said, and I... I really think so too! I'm telling the truth!" Her tone was filled with panic, fearing that she would be misunderstood.

Karl could sense her sudden tension, so he softened his tone and said, "Don't be nervous, I'm not blaming you."

He paused, his voice regaining its previous calmness, even carrying a deliberate sense of distance. "However, don't think too highly of me. What I've done is merely the duty of a Lord. Only when my people can live in peace and prosperity can my Carnford be more stable and powerful. In essence, it's a transaction."

As Louise listened to his seemingly calm and even somewhat pragmatic words, she couldn't help but recall Lady Eileen's assessment: Karl was not good at expressing his emotions.

Far from feeling offended, she secretly agreed with Lady Eileen's judgment.

He has done so many heartwarming things, yet he insists on putting on a cold exterior for himself.

This awkwardness, in her view at that moment, revealed a clumsy sincerity.

She mustered her courage and replied softly yet firmly, "No matter what you say, your sincerity towards your people cannot be concealed. Everyone can feel the changes in Carnford. You... are truly a very good Lord."

In the darkness, Karl listened to his wife, a woman of noble birth and gentle voice, praising him so sincerely. Although he tried to maintain a calm demeanor, deep inside, he couldn't help but feel a small ripple of recognition and warmth.