You Want to Move into My Castle?

Karl was slightly taken aback, then understood.

This was probably not the Count's order, but rather Charlotte's own initiative, in order to have the opportunity to come to Carnford.

He looked at the smiling young female knight before him, nodded solemnly, and said with a rare hint of ease in his tone, "Welcome, Charlotte Knight. Carnford needs your strength. I will have Edgar arrange accommodations for you immediately."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow at his words, and asked with a hint of mockery, "What, can't I live in your castle?"

Karl was somewhat surprised, but quickly regained his composure and nodded, saying, "Of course, there are two bedrooms upstairs, plenty of space."

He paused, then joked, "Of course, if you don't mind, you can share a bed with me, although my bed is a bit hard."

"Dream on!" Charlotte's face showed no anger, but rather seemed amused. "I want to see the whole of Carnford now, and see what has become of my father's investment in your hands."

Karl glanced out the window. "Now? There are still many people working outside."

He didn't really want to flaunt his high-profile and beautiful female companion at this time; it would be too conspicuous.

If possible, he prefers to take a walk with her in the evening when there are fewer people around.

"What, do you think I'm a nuisance, or that I'm embarrassing you?" Charlotte deliberately put on a stern face.

"Of course not," Karl said helplessly, knowing he couldn't persuade her otherwise. "Alright, I'll show you."

As the two walked down the stairs, they saw Edgar standing in the courtyard, intently checking the supplies that had just been unloaded, using a whiteboard.

Charlotte glanced at him, then lowered her voice and asked Karl, "Is he the butler your father sent to 'assist' you? To spy on you?"

"It's him," Karl answered directly.

"Then why are you still using him? Why are you letting him handle core matters?" Charlotte, somewhat puzzled.

"We were essentially using each other," Karl said calmly, watching Edgar's retreating figure. "He is indeed very capable; he managed Carnford's accounts and logistics impeccably."

"Moreover, the better this place develops, the greater his status and contributions within the family will be. So we're actually in the same boat, at least for now."

Charlotte nodded, but still cautioned, "Be careful. This kind of person is very cunning. Don't be fooled by appearances. Your father is still keeping an eye on this suddenly appearing 'treasure trove' of yours."

Karl turned to look at her and laughed, "Many people are eyeing this 'treasure trove' of mine. Wasn't your father one of them? And you, aren't you one too?"

As they talked, the two walked out of the castle gate and down the newly renovated mountain path.

At the foot of the mountain are gradually thriving residential areas and reclaimed farmland.

When the people saw Karl, they stopped what they were doing, took off their hats to greet him or waved, their faces showing simple respect and smiles.

"It seems your people adore you, Lord Karl," Charlotte said, her voice filled with genuine admiration as she observed the scene.

"I just did what I was supposed to do, it's just a matter of sincerity for sincerity," Karl replied, his gaze sweeping over the houses under construction and the thriving crops.

Charlotte suddenly remembered what he had just said and pressed, "By the way, what did you mean when you said I was also watching your Carnford?"

Instead of answering directly, Karl asked, "Isn't that so? Otherwise, why would you be so... well, so 'eager' to come, even offering to stay in my castle? Just to help with defense?"

There was a hint of probing in his tone.

Charlotte slowed her pace and turned to look at him; his golden hair was particularly striking in the sunlight.

The playful expression on her face faded slightly, replaced by a more serious one. "You... can be quite direct sometimes. Well, not entirely. Father has high hopes for you; he thinks you might be a crucial bulwark against the Sauron in the future."

"He wants me to see more clearly how you did it, what you can do, and whether you can achieve his expected goals. Does that count as... 'watching'?"

"Yes," Karl nodded, not surprised by the answer. "A very reasonable reason. So, what about yourself? You were just here on orders too?"

Charlotte blushed slightly and did not answer immediately.

She glanced at the soldiers training and the busy craftsmen in the distance, and after a moment said, "Well... I just thought this place was much more interesting Fran City, so I wanted to come out and take a look around, and besides..."

She looked at Karl again, her eyes bright. "I also want to know, how did an ordinary person with neither knightly nor magical talent manage to get so many people to follow him and settle down in this desolate place? Is that reason enough?"