A Strange Emotion

However, getting to the Iron Islands is not an easy task. The Northern Sea is turbulent year-round, with waves as turbulent as an enraged beast. At its highest, the waves can smash the rocks on the shore, and on ordinary days, it is full of hidden reefs, making the hydrological conditions extremely poor.

The boats that Carnford currently has are mostly small fishing boats used for inshore fishing. They are narrow and flimsy, and they can hardly cross the Northern Sea to the Iron Islands. Even if they encounter a storm in the near sea, they have to find a place to shelter in fear.

Karl leaned against the doorframe of the document room, his fingertips lightly tapping the rough wooden beam, already having a preliminary plan in mind.

This matter needs to be discussed with Richter later. The Grimm caravan travels all over the world and has several large sailing ships that can withstand storms. Perhaps we can use their ships to send someone to the Iron Islands to investigate their situation.

Having made up his mind, Karl stopped hesitating and turned to lock the door to the document room.

By this time, the sun had completely set, and the last rays of light had been swallowed up by the distant mountains. The sky was as dark as if it had been dyed with ink.

The evening breeze, carrying the crisp scent unique to the Northern Territory, blew over, lifting a corner of his robe and dispelling the weariness that had accumulated in his heart over the past few days.

Karl stopped in his tracks and looked up at the distant horizon.

In the twilight, the outline of the mountains resembled a lurking beast, silently lying prostrate on the earth. In the farmland below the city walls, a few lights from farmers returning home late could be faintly seen, twinkling like stars scattered across the earth.

The air was filled with the earthy smell of soil, the fresh scent of grass and trees, and the faint aroma of meat wafting from the kitchen in the distance. All these aromas blended together, making him feel exceptionally cheerful.

Especially after a period of relentless work, such a moment of peace feels like a stolen treasure.

Karl walked slowly toward the main castle, the stone path beneath his feet coated with a thin layer of silver frost by the moonlight, feeling slightly cool to the touch.

As soon as he stepped through the main gate of the castle, a wave of warm air hit him, along with the aroma of food, dispelling the chill from his body.

Dinner was ready and set out on the long table in the center of the hall.

Karl's gaze fell on the long table, and he couldn't help but pause slightly in surprise.

This table is where he used to discuss important military matters with his civil and military officials.

In those days, the table was covered with densely packed maps, and there were ink-stained pens and papers. The air was filled with the sounds of arguments and planning. Now, it has been thoroughly cleaned, covered with a linen tablecloth embroidered with subtle patterns, and transformed into a dining table.

However, there weren't many dishes on the table, since there were only three people eating tonight: himself, his mother Lady Eileen, and Princess Louise.

Although not lavish, each dish was exquisitely presented and a feast for the eyes.

In the very center is a plate of roasted pheasant, its golden skin sizzling with oil and sprinkled with finely chopped herbs; next to it is a small dish of honey-soaked raspberries, the red and purple berries soaking in glistening honey, their sweet and sour aroma filling the air.

There was also a pot of mushroom soup with a thin layer of butter floating on the surface. With a gentle stir of the spoon, you could smell the rich aroma of mushrooms. Several stir-fried seasonal vegetables were vibrant green and looked refreshing and delicious. Finally, there was a basket of freshly baked wheat bread, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, still emitting a warm fragrance.

Karl couldn't help but admire in his heart; as expected of the royal chefs, they could make even ordinary ingredients look so tempting.

Lady Eileen and Princess Louise were already seated at the table, talking in hushed tones, when they saw Karl enter and immediately stopped talking.

Lady Eileen smiled gently and beckoned to him, "Karl, come and sit down, we've been waiting for you."

Princess Louise also looked up, her gaze falling on him, a slight smile curving her lips, and echoed, "Lord Karl, please take a seat, or these delicacies will get cold."

These days, Karl spends all his time in the office and the military camp, rarely seen. He rarely has time to eat dinner with his mother or the Princess, let alone have dinner together. It's a rare opportunity for them to get together for a meal.

Karl walked over quickly, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

He didn't really object to the fact that his long meeting table had been turned into a dining table.

As the saying goes, "Large meetings should be held in small groups, and small meetings in large groups." The more important the meeting, the smaller the group it should be held.

Those plans concerning the life and death of Carnford were only known to a few core members; if they were discussed in this hall, they would inevitably be overheard.

The servants in the castle now are mostly family maids and royal maids brought by the mother and Princess. Although they are all trustworthy, there are some things that are better left unsaid.

In this way, his small office became a more suitable place to discuss important matters.

At his mother's invitation, Karl took a seat, which happened to be next to Princess Louise.

He turned his head and smiled politely at her. Princess Louise returned a gentle smile, her eyes crinkling like pools of spring water.

Not long after he sat down, Lady Eileen couldn't help but tease him, "Karl, you've been gone for so long! You go out early every morning and don't come back until late at night. I've almost forgotten what you look like."

Her tone carried a hint of reproach, but her eyes were full of heartache.

Karl put down his knife and fork, his voice tinged with apology. "I'm sorry, Mother, I've been really busy lately. There are things to do with the territory, the army, and so many other things. I just haven't been able to find the time."

"But things will be fine from now on, everything is back on track, I can spend more time with you all and take this opportunity to relax."

Lady Eileen's smile deepened upon hearing this, and she gently patted the back of his hand. "That's more like it. No matter how busy you are, you must take care of your health. What will Her Highness the Princess and I do if you collapse from exhaustion?"

Princess Louise nodded in agreement, echoing, "Lady Eileen is right. You have too much on your shoulders; you deserve a good rest."

The three of them ate and chatted, their conversation ranging from the newly opened flower garden in the castle to the snowy winter scenery of the Northern Territory, and then to the royal anecdotes brought by Princess Louise. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

The tension that usually runs through one's nerves gradually eases during these casual, everyday conversations.

The meal lasted a full hour. Afterward, Karl accompanied his mother and the Princess for a stroll in the castle garden. A gentle evening breeze blew, insects chirped, and moonlight spilled onto the path, like a layer of shattered silver.

It was already late at night when I got back to my room.

A servant brought hot water, and Karl washed himself thoroughly, washing away the dust and fatigue of his journey.

He pushed open the bedroom door and saw that Princess Louise had finished washing up and was sitting on the bed, reading a book by the dim light of a bedside lamp.

The warm yellow light fell on her profile, outlining her soft features. Her long eyelashes drooped down, casting a small shadow under her eyelids, making her look quiet and beautiful.

Hearing the door open, Princess Louise looked up, saw it was Karl, gently closed her book, and blew out the lamp.

The bedroom was plunged into darkness in an instant, with only the moonlight streaming in through the window, barely enough to make out each other's silhouettes.

Karl tiptoed to the bedside, lifted the covers, and lay down.

To be honest, he's completely used to sleeping in the same bed as the Princess now.

From initial unease to later ease and comfort, it only took a few short months.

They maintained a silent understanding, keeping a perfect distance from each other, never crossing that invisible line.

The bedroom was so quiet you could hear each other breathing, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

Just as Karl thought he would fall asleep in silence, Princess Louise suddenly broke the silence in the darkness, her voice as soft as a feather, whispering in his ear, "How is Mr. Edgar's caravan doing now?"

Karl was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised that the Princess would suddenly bring this up.

Although the two have been in the same room these days, they rarely talk about work, and most of the time they chat about trivial matters.

However, he suddenly felt that this was a good thing, at least it would prevent the atmosphere between the two of them from becoming too dull.

He pondered for a moment, his mind racing with news about the caravan. In fact, Edgar's caravan had not yet sent back any feedback. After all, they had only set off not long ago, and the journey within the Great Wall was long and arduous, so a round trip would take some time.

But Karl didn't want to say that. After all, Princess Louise had lent Edgar her royal flag without hesitation so that the caravan could pass smoothly, so she must have cared about it a lot.

So Karl adjusted his tone, his voice now carrying a hint of certainty:

"Very good, everything is proceeding according to plan. Few people sell the specialties of the Northern Territory to the interior these days. Looking across the entire Northern Territory, only we and the Grimm caravan are doing this business."

"However, because our caravan flies your royal banner, we are exempt from any taxes upon entry, which significantly reduces our costs compared to the Grimm caravan. Our advantage is obvious."

He paused, his tone becoming more sincere, "Thank you, Your Highness. You've been a great help. Without your banner, this deal would never have gone so smoothly."

From the darkness came Princess Louise's soft laughter, like a wind chime swaying in the breeze, clear and melodious. "It's nothing, it's what I should do. I'm happy that Carnford is getting better and better, and I'm even happier to be able to help you."

After he finished speaking, the air fell into a brief silence.

Karl opened his mouth, wondering if he should find something to talk about to break the silence, but after racking his brains for a long time, he couldn't think of anything suitable to say.

He turned his head to look in Princess Louise's direction; in the moonlight, only the quiet profile of her face could be seen.

Perhaps it was because he had been too busy during the day, but fatigue quickly overwhelmed him. Karl's eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and before long, he fell into a deep sleep, feeling completely at peace.