Loyalty?

Right at the edge of the training field, beneath a makeshift wooden observation post, a figure had appeared out of nowhere.

He was dressed in a well-tailored but understated dark gray suit, his hair neatly combed, standing quietly with his hands behind his back. He was none other than Albert, the butler who had accompanied the Princess as part of her dowry and represented the royal family in Carnford.

Albert's well-maintained, usually expressionless face now showed a slight furrow in his brow, forming a shallow crease.

His shrewd gray eyes coldly observed everything that was happening on the training field.

Oliver's harsh reprimands and whippings, the soldiers' weary but fearless obedience, and the loud slogans that only mentioned "Lord Karl" and "Carnford."

"Hmph," Albert snorted almost inaudibly, a sound only he could hear, "Only Lord Karl, no kingdom, no His Majesty... what a loud slogan."

His gaze followed the receding crowd, still chanting slogans, his eyes growing increasingly somber.

As the Empress Dowager's carefully chosen eyes and ears, Albert kept a close watch on everything in Carnford, especially the military.

He witnessed firsthand how this desolate land rapidly rose to prominence under Karl's leadership, and how these originally emaciated refugees were organized, trained, and gradually transformed into a formidable armed force.

The well-trained, disciplined army before him, whose loyalty was directly tied to their Lord, instilled in him a sense of unease.

"He's skilled at training troops and adept at managing them... This Lord Karl certainly knows how to train 'good soldiers'," Albert thought to himself, his tone ambiguous, neither praising nor mocking.

He knew perfectly well what it meant to have an army that was completely loyal to an individual, rather than the kingdom or the royal family.

Especially in the Northern Territory, a complex region where the emperor is far away and law and power are intertwined.

He watched for a while longer, until Oliver's figure on horseback and the dust of that troop disappeared into the distance, leaving only a few soldiers training other subjects on the training field.

Albert then slowly turned around and walked unhurriedly into the castle.

His face regained its usual almost indifferent calm, but he had already made a decision in his heart.

"It's time to give Her Empress Dowager a detailed report on the situation here," he thought, his steps steady on the compacted dirt road.

Information about Karl's military reforms, about this growing army that knows only its Lord and not the King, about Carnford's quietly expanding power and influence... must be relayed back to the Royal Capital as quickly and in as much detail as possible.

As for how Her Empress Dowager will view it and what kind of reaction she will make, that is not something a steward like him needs to worry about.

He only needs to do his job—observe, record, and report.

A few days later, when the last batch of arrows was counted and stored, the last supply wagon was inspected, and the list and organization of all participants were finally confirmed, Carnford was finally fully prepared.

At the final pre-battle meeting, Karl finalized the appointments of commanders and generals: he himself would lead the Second Regiment First Battalion, composed of veterans, as the vanguard and core of the battle.

Brendan commanded the First Regiment Third Battalion, composed of new recruits in dire need of combat experience; Roland was responsible for the logistics coordination and escort of the entire operation, ensuring the lifeline remained open.

The cavalry was commanded by Lyon, and the artillery by Elmont. The marching order, communication methods, and contingency plans for encountering the enemy were all meticulously reviewed until there were no more omissions.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Karl issued the final order, "At dawn tomorrow, the army will set off."

The generals received their orders and hurried off to their posts for final mobilization and preparation.

Inside and outside the castle, an atmosphere tinged with tension, anticipation, and a sense of impending doom quietly permeated the air.

Karl stayed alone in the command post for a while longer, making sure all the documents were filed and the orders were unambiguous, before rubbing his throbbing temples and getting up to leave.

Stepping out of the room filled with maps, sand tables, and an atmosphere of tension, the cool evening air gave him a slight boost, but soon, another, more complex emotion welled up inside him.

How should I face my mother and Louise?

He had already made the decision to go to war, and the relevant preparations had been underway for some time.

But to avoid making them worry too soon, he deliberately concealed the specific time, only vaguely mentioning that there might be military operations in the near future.

However, the army is setting off tomorrow, and this matter can no longer be avoided.

Thinking of his mother's worried eyes and Louise's likely forced composure, Karl felt a pang of guilt and heaviness in his heart.

He wasn't a block of wood; he could feel his mother's deep love and his wife's subtle concern. But as a Lord, there were some responsibilities he couldn't shirk, and some risks he had to face head-on.

Back in the main castle building, the dining room was already lit with warm candlelight.

A simple dinner was laid out on the long table, where Lady Eileen and Princess Louise were already seated and waiting. When he entered, they both smiled, but behind those smiles seemed to lie a subtle, almost imperceptible, searching look.

Lady Eileen asked him with concern if he had been so busy that he had forgotten the time, while Louise quietly gestured to the maid to set the table for him.

Karl sat down, deep in thought, trying to appear normal, but how could the lingering seriousness between his brows and the occasional absent-mindedness completely escape the eyes of his closest confidant?

He silently picked up his utensils, ate a few bites without tasting anything, and finally felt that he could not delay any longer.

He set down his silver fork, the metal making a soft, crisp sound as it touched the porcelain plate, which was particularly clear in the quiet restaurant.

He raised his head, his gaze slowly sweeping over his mother's face, which was filled with undisguised concern, before settling on Louise's clear eyes, which now held a hint of unease.

He took a deep breath and said in as calm and even a tone as possible:

"Mother, Your Highness... there is something I need to tell you. Tomorrow morning, Carnford's army will be setting off. We... are going to the mountains to the north for a military operation."

After he finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the restaurant. Even the candlelight seemed to flicker.

"A war?" Lady Eileen's face paled slightly. She immediately pressed for an answer, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly. "Then... who's leading the troops this time? It's not... you going yourself again, is it?"

Her gaze was fixed on her son, filled with her last hope.

Karl met his mother's gaze without flinching, and nodded gently. "It's me."

"Why!" Lady Eileen's emotions surged instantly, her voice involuntarily rising several decibels. "What about Brendan and Roland? Aren't they the ones you personally trained and who led troops for you? Why not just send them!"

"You are the Lord of this land, the backbone of Carnford. You should be in charge, strategizing and planning! There's no reason for the Lord to personally risk his life and charge ahead every time! This...this is too dangerous!" She spoke quickly, as if she wanted to pour out all her unease and opposition at once.