He Fantasized Again, Imagining He Could Marry a Blue-Eyed Blonde Female Knight

As evening fell, the old knight Brendan came to report.

"Sir, the reconnaissance squad has completed its initial screening," Brendan's voice was steady. "They are all top-notch men selected from three combat platoons, with no issues in physique or courage. There are twenty-one men in total, and all of them are equipped with horses."

He paused, then added, "However... most of them are just riding horses for travel, not warhorses. Moreover, apart from Knight Roland and a few others who were originally skilled riders, most of them are merely 'unfallen' and would never be able to charge into battle wielding a sword on horseback. They would probably have to dismount and fight on foot in actual combat."

As Karl listened, a vague idea suddenly flashed through his mind.

He recalled what he had learned about the French hussars and Dragon Cavalry before his time travel.

Those were not traditional knights, but soldiers who fought on horseback using sabers and muskets.

"Brendan," Karl said thoughtfully, "Perhaps...we don't have to force them to charge like knights. I have an idea."

He organized his thoughts. "Suppose we equip them with muskets? They don't need superb horsemanship, just the ability to move quickly on horseback."

"When engaging the enemy, you can fire from horseback. After firing, immediately ride away to a safe distance, reload, and look for another opportunity to fire again. Repeat this process, harassing the enemy like a pack of wolves, without having to engage in close combat."

Brendan's graying eyebrows shot up in surprise; he had clearly never heard of such tactics before.

He pondered for a moment, his rough fingers unconsciously stroking his beard. "... Fire muskets on horseback? That... sounds a bit... but it seems feasible! At least, it's much more reliable than letting them charge the Sauron Barbarians ' spears on inferior horses!"

"My lord, this is a unique idea, but it might actually come in handy. I'll go to the armory right away to see how many muskets we can get, and have them practice loading and firing them on horseback!"

The old knight's tone gradually shifted from initial surprise and doubt to excited approval, and he hurriedly left after speaking.

Soon after, Edgar arrived and meticulously reported the list of supplies prepared for the reconnaissance team.

Enough hard bread and jerky for twenty-five people to eat for twenty days, along with the corresponding horse feed, were all packed properly.

After finishing these chores, it was already late at night.

Karl instructed his orderly to boil water and bring it up to the second floor.

He rarely received such special treatment; most of the time, he showered in the public bathroom with the soldiers.

But today, Charlotte is here, after all.

Hot water was poured into a large wooden tub in the bathroom, steam rising from it.

Charlotte followed the steam and, seeing this, smiled. "You're very considerate, Lord Karl. You knew I'd been traveling a long way and specially prepared hot water for me?"

As she spoke, she naturally bent down to take off her muddy boots and socks, stepping barefoot onto the cool floor.

Then, she deftly unbuttoned her coat, casually tossing her slightly damp outer garment to Karl standing to the side. She then reached out and pulled out her hairpin, letting her brilliant golden hair cascade down like a waterfall, making her neck appear even whiter.

She turned her head to look at Karl, who was holding her clothes and seemed a little dazed, her eyes gleaming with a playful light. "What, are you going to shower with me?"

Karl took the clothes, still warm and smelling of her body, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, but he tried his best to remain calm. "If you don't mind, of course I'd like to."

Charlotte chuckled softly, reached for the bathroom doorknob, and gestured invitingly, "Then come in."

Karl could hardly believe his ears, and instinctively took a step forward.

Just as he was about to reach the door, Charlotte slammed it shut with a bang, the door panel nearly hitting his nose.

A smug laugh came from behind the door, "Dream on! No way!"

Karl stared at the tightly closed wooden door for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled.

Soon, the rustling sound of clothes being undressed could be heard from inside, followed by the soft sound of water flowing.

He stood there, able to clearly imagine the scene inside, and felt a strange heat rising in his heart.

Karl took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent thoughts in his mind, bent down to pick up Charlotte's shoes and socks that she had carelessly tossed on the ground, and turned to leave through the door.

Inside the bathroom, Charlotte immersed her entire body in the warm water, stretched her limbs comfortably, and wore a sly smile on her face, as if her scheme had succeeded.

She knew Karl too well. He might occasionally get the better of girls verbally, but Rick and timid, and would never actually barge in.

And she just happened to enjoy seeing him looking a little embarrassed and helpless.

The orderly quickly brought dinner: a tray with freshly baked wheat bread, a large plate of stewed peas covered in a thick tomato sauce, some smoked fish and bacon, and a bottle of dark wheat beer that looked quite old.

Karl rarely drank, but as the orderly put down the bottle, he added, "Sir, this was added on the orders of Mr. Edgar, the steward, who said... it might come in handy."

Karl was slightly taken aback, then realized that Edgar was excessively perceptive when it came to such details.

He smiled, said nothing, and accepted the "kindness" by placing the wine bottle and food on the table in the small living room on the second floor.

As the footsteps of the orderly faded into the distance, the heavy castle gates were closed.

In an instant, the entire fortress seemed to fall completely silent, with only the crackling of burning wood in the fireplace and the faint sound of wind outside the window.

In the vast space, it seemed that only he and Charlotte in the bathroom remained.

Just then, Charlotte's voice came from the direction of the bathroom, slightly muffled by the steam. "Karl! Are you there?"

Karl immediately got up and went over. "What's wrong?"

"Do me a favor," the voice inside echoed with the sound of running water, "Take a change of clothes from my carry-on luggage, it's in that brown leather bag in my room."

"Okay, just a moment." Karl turned and strode into the room prepared for her, easily finding the purse.

Upon opening, one finds neatly folded clothes, with a soft linen shirt and knee-length shorts on top, all feeling clean and comfortable to the touch.

He took these back to the bathroom door and knocked.

A splashing sound came from inside, as if someone was getting up from the bathtub.

Then, the door lock clicked softly, and the door was pulled open a crack, releasing a burst of hot air and a faint, fresh scent of a young girl's skin.

"Give it to me," Charlotte's voice came from behind the door.

Karl stiffly stuffed the folded clothes through the crack in the door.

A damp, slightly reddish arm reached out, and a small hand took the clothes, its fingertips inadvertently brushing against his fingers, still warm and damp.

"Thanks!" The door was immediately slammed shut again, cutting off any daydreams.

Karl stood there for two seconds before taking a deep breath, going upstairs, and returning to his table.

He picked up the bottle, uncorked it, poured the amber liquid into two wooden glasses, and then waited quietly.

Not long after, footsteps could be heard coming from the stairwell.

Charlotte came up and used a dry towel to dry her still dripping golden hair.

She changed into her loungewear; the loose shirt couldn't hide her slender figure, and her smooth calves were exposed. She shed the sharpness of her military uniform and appeared gentle and relaxed.

Karl watched her approach step by step, the candlelight flickering on her still-damp face, and for a moment he was lost in thought.

Unlike the last time we ate at Charlotte's house in Fran City, this time we were at his castle, his home.

She appeared there so naturally, drying her hair, and walked towards the dining table... This sight inexplicably stirred his heart, and a strange feeling spread through him.

It was as if she were the lady of the house, his wife.

"I'm starving," Charlotte's voice interrupted his thoughts. She sat down naturally in the chair opposite him, took a deep breath, and said, "I could smell it downstairs. This pea stew is really good."

"It's just some simple food," Karl said, turning his gaze away and pushing a glass of wine toward her. "It's nothing compared to what you eat at the Governor's Office."

Charlotte picked up a piece of bread, casually dipped it in the bean paste, and popped it into her mouth, chewing it with satisfaction. Hearing this, she laughed and said, "I'm not some pampered noble lady. When we're on the march, hard bread with cold water is common. This is already very good."

She swallowed her food, picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and her eyes lit up slightly. "Hmm? This wine is quite good. Did you prepare it specially?"

Karl shook his head. "It was prepared by Edgar; it was a kind gesture, I suppose."

Charlotte swirled her wine glass, giving him a meaningful look. "Your butler can be surprisingly... terrifyingly at times."

She changed the subject, her gaze sweeping across the somewhat empty but solid hall, "But honestly, Karl, you've managed this place very well, much better than my father initially expected. He thought you could only guard the castle at most, but he never imagined you could expand down the mountain."

"It's just a matter of survival," Karl calmly, cutting through his bacon.

"It's not just about survival," Charlotte shook her head, her eyes becoming more serious, "It's a...power, a power that brings peace of mind."

"Did you know? There's a lot of talk outside saying that Carnford is the only new territory in the Northern Territory that has gained a foothold in recent years. Some small caravans have even started to detour to your side, even though it's risky, they feel safer under the shadow of your castle."

Karl looked up and met her gaze.

In the candlelight, her blue eyes appeared exceptionally clear.

"This news is quite important to me. It seems I need to consider establishing more stable connections with these caravans," he paused, raising his glass. "However, let's not talk about that tonight. Welcome, Charlotte."

Charlotte raised her glass as well, a beautiful smile curving her lips, and gently clinked her glass against his. "Thank you for your hospitality, Karl, and thank you for your trust."