"Don't worry. It'll be all right," Karl repeated, his tone deliberately light, yet carrying an unquestionable firmness. "This is my responsibility, isn't it?"
Louise fell silent. Yes, this was his responsibility—to the royal family, to his vassals, to this land, to those who depended on him and followed him.
She could not stop him, nor did she have the standing to. All she could do was wait here, pray, and use every bit of her strength to support him, no matter where he was.
She said nothing more, only curled tighter into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist, as if she wanted to brand him into her body with her own warmth, as if this alone could stretch the peace and possession of this moment into eternity.
This embrace seemed no different from the countless embraces of nights past, the ones that came after exhaustion as mutual comfort, or in moments of tenderness. Yet because of tomorrow's parting, it felt especially heavy; every inch of skin pressed together was soaked in silent attachment and unease.
Karl held her warm, soft body, his chin resting lightly on the crown of her faintly fragrant hair, feeling her even breaths brush across his chest.
In this utmost intimacy and peace, however, his thoughts drifted away beyond his control, back to the dock where his mother, Lady Eileen, had departed a few days ago, back to the seemingly casual whisper she had left him with—one that weighed as heavily as a thousand jun.
"Perhaps... you two could also think about adding another little member to this family? A darling little one, babbling, toddling along—how much joy and hope that would bring!"
His mother's gentle, smiling face seemed to be right before his eyes.
"And, Karl, as a Lord, you spend years campaigning