I Promise You

After dinner, the orderly collected the tableware.

After a quick wash, it was time for the two to go to bed.

The candlelight flickered in the corridor.

Charlotte walked to her bedroom door, placed her hand on the doorknob, but did not push it open immediately.

She suddenly turned around, leaning against the door frame, and looked at Karl, who was about to walk into the opposite room, a half-smile playing on her lips.

"Karl," she drawled lazily, "Why don't we sleep together? I'm a little scared being alone in this strange castle tonight."

Karl stopped, looked at the familiar slyness in her eyes, and smiled, "You can't fool me this time, Charlotte. I won't fall for the same trick twice."

He shook his head, making a move to go back to his room.

Charlotte, however, did not respond with a smile as usual.

She simply watched him quietly, the playfulness in her eyes slowly fading, leaving behind a complex and unreadable expression.

She gently pushed open her bedroom door, but instead of going in, she leaned against the doorframe, the soft candlelight outlining her gentle silhouette in her loungewear.

"Karl," she called again, her voice much softer than before, "I mean it this time."

Karl looked at her expression, which was different from usual. The deliberate ease and joking seemed to have disappeared, replaced by a kind of vulnerability and seriousness that he had never seen before.

His heart began to pound uncontrollably, and his feet involuntarily turned towards her, walking toward the open door.

He walked up to her, so close that he could clearly see her slightly trembling eyelashes and the candlelight reflected in her eyes.

He could almost feel the warmth of her breath.

However, just as he was about to step over the threshold, Charlotte reached out and gently placed her hand on his chest, stopping him from entering.

Her palms were warm, and through the thin layer of clothing, I could feel the subtle pressure of her fingertips.

"Karl," she looked up, her deep blue eyes meeting his, her voice soft yet clear, "Do you love me?"

This problem came so suddenly, without any prior warning.

Karl was slightly taken aback, his heart clenching as if something had squeezed it.

Looking at her so close, he answered without hesitation, almost instinctively, "Of course I love you, I want to marry you, I want to..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Charlotte lifted her hand from his chest and gently pressed her slender index finger to his lips, stopping him from saying anything more or making any promises.

"Don't rush into promises, Karl," she shook her head slightly, her eyes a mixture of tenderness and a clear-headed worry. "We're both still young, and the road ahead... is too long."

She paused, her voice even softer, yet each word clear. "I love you very much too, but... the obstacles in reality are too great. You know that better than I do, don't you?"

Karl fell silent; he knew perfectly well.

Would the Duke Schmidt's child, even the least favored one, marry the daughter of the Earl Rochefort, who wields real power in the Northern Territory?

Even if their marriage was based on pure love, their social status makes it hard not to suspect that it was a Political Marriage between nobles.

The King of the Royal Capital would certainly not be pleased to see his two most powerful noble families so closely united in this way.

The suspicions, obstacles, and potential turmoil involved are enough to drag everything they currently possess into a vortex.

Seeing the flickering emotions in his eyes, Charlotte knew he understood.

She suddenly stepped forward, stretched out her arms, wrapped them around his neck, and gently rested her cheek against his shoulder.

Warm breath brushed against his ear, carrying the fresh scent of a bath and a hint of indescribable melancholy.

"Karl," she whispered in his ear, her voice like a dream, yet filled with unwavering expectation, "I hope you, and your Carnford, will grow up quickly, grow strong enough... strong enough that no one will fear us anymore, neither the King of the Royal Capital, nor the pressure from our families, nor anything else... nothing can stop us."

She stepped back slightly, gazed into his eyes, and asked, word by word, "Promise me you'll keep your word, okay?"

I promise you.

Karl's voice was deep and firm, standing out clearly in the quiet corridor.

Indeed, no man can refuse such a request, especially when it comes from the person he loves and is determined to spend his life with.

This is not just a promise, but a weighty responsibility and an incredibly powerful driving force.

Charlotte seemed finally relieved to receive his response.

She gently rested her head on his shoulder again, closed her eyes, as if absorbing the strength and warmth from this brief embrace.

Karl tightened his arms, holding her more securely in his embrace, his palms able to clearly feel the slender yet strong spine beneath her shirt.

The two embraced quietly in the dim candlelight, listening to each other's heartbeats and the faint sound of the wind outside the window. All words seemed to be contained in this silent covenant.

After a long while, Charlotte stirred slightly and lifted her head from his embrace.

"I should go to sleep," she said softly, a hint of lingering affection in her voice.

After saying that, she tilted her head slightly and placed a soft, warm kiss on Karl's cheek.

Like a feather brushing past, yet carrying an electric shock-like thrill.

Goodnight, Karl.

Before Karl could react, she released his grip, took a step back, and gently closed the door.

The door hinges made a faint sound, shutting out her figure and presence.

Karl stood there, raising his hand to gently touch the spot where he had just been kissed; the spot still seemed to retain a moist and soft feel.

He took a deep breath, and the air seemed to still be filled with the fragrance of her hair.

He turned and went back to his room, closed the door, Karl stood against the cold wooden door for a while before walking to the bed and lying down.

However, he was wide awake.

The feeling of embracing her still lingered in his body; the gentle touch on his cheek was unforgettable; and the scent of her youthful body seemed to still linger in his nostrils.

More importantly, Charlotte's words and those hopeful blue eyes echoed in Karl's mind again and again.

"Growing up to the point where you're no longer afraid of anyone..."

"Nothing can stop us anymore..."

An unprecedented power surged in his chest, washing away all his weariness and doubts.

Karl felt his blood rushing through his veins, filled with energy and an incredibly clear sense of purpose.

He sat up abruptly, gazing at the faintly visible starry sky outside the window in the darkness, then slowly lay back down, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate the simple ceiling and look towards a more distant future.

He clenched his fist and made a vow in his heart, word by word.

Carnford will never be just a secluded refuge; it will be my starting point, the foundation of my strength.

I will make it the strongest fortress and the most prosperous land in the Northern Territory.

I will have the strongest army, defeat the Sauron, and bring peace and order back to this land.

Even more than that, if possible, I want to plant my flag in even more distant places.

For Charlotte's sake, and so that they could stand openly by her side, no one dared to say a word.

For my mother, so that she can be proud of me and no longer suffer from others' cold looks.

And for myself, this soul that has traveled through time and was once treated as nothing, I must leave the deepest mark on this world.

Ambition burned like wildfire deep within his calm eyes.