Chapter Summaries

Lyon returned to Fran City with news that Carnford had repelled Harald’s army and Karl was unharmed. Earl Rochefort told Charlotte, whose fear gave way to relief as she learned Karl and their unborn child were safe.

• Lyon arrived in Fran City and reported that Carnford had held, Harald’s army had been defeated, and Karl was in good health.
• Earl Rochefort left Lyon to handle the report and went to tell Charlotte the news.
• Charlotte asked whether Karl was safe, and her father confirmed that Lyon had seen him alive and unharmed.
• Charlotte broke down in relieved tears and embraced her father.
• Charlotte calmed down, rested a hand on her abdomen, and resolved to care for herself and their child.

After Carnford survived the Sauron siege, Karl welcomed fleeing Broomflower slaves and began rebuilding the devastated territory, though food shortages threatened its recovery. He told Morr and Edgar that the Sauron army would not be able to launch another major attack until next year, leaving Carnford a few months to prepare.

• After the Sauron retreat, fleeing Broomflower slaves sought refuge at Carnford, and Karl opened the gates to them.
• Karl ordered Edgar and Brendan to settle the newcomers, provide supplies, verify their identities, and put them to work.
• Under Morr's direction, residents repaired Carnford's defenses and built makeshift shelters using salvaged materials.
• Carnford's food stores dwindled as its population grew, leaving the territory dependent on aid from Earl Rochefort.
• Karl recognized that the abandoned, damaged Nine-pound siege cannon could be melted down for its iron.
• Karl told Morr and Edgar that the defeated Sauron army would need six months to a year to recover, giving Carnford time to rebuild.

Karl organized Carnford’s urgent reconstruction and spring plowing before discussing the next steps with Friedrich and Konrad. Friedrich planned to seek support from the Royal Capital and his family, while Konrad prepared to leave after failing to capture the Sauron sorcerer.

• Karl ordered Edgar to prioritize spring plowing and Morr to coordinate reconstruction, roads, irrigation, and defenses.
• Friedrich praised Karl’s leadership and said he would report the Battle of Carnford to His Majesty and seek aid from the Franklin Territory.
• Karl warned Friedrich about dangers on the road, and Friedrich said he was ready to leave for the Royal Capital.
• Konrad said his mission to capture the Sauron sorcerer had failed, but he might return to observe Carnford and its unusual opportunities.
• Karl vowed to repay Harald for the destruction of Carnford and welcomed Konrad back whenever he wished.

Friedrich and Konrad left Carnford after saying farewell to Karl, who was left to carry on alone. That afternoon, Sir Valerius arrived with troops from Eagle's Nest Fortress to find Carnford still standing, but Karl refused to receive him.

• Friedrich promised Karl he would report Carnford's defense to the King and explain Karl's achievements to their father before embracing him goodbye.
• Konrad, Lina, and Morian said farewell to Karl and departed with their records and research on the Sauron sorcerers' magic.
• Karl watched the riders disappear along the mountain road and remained alone at Carnford.
• Sir Valerius arrived at Carnford with roughly five hundred men from Eagle's Nest Fortress and was astonished to see the battered castle still functioning and being rebuilt.
• The guards told Sir Valerius that Karl was recuperating and that Carnford had already driven off the Sauron forces, so it needed no rescue.

After Valerius left Carnford empty-handed, Fran City sent food and craftsmen to support Karl’s battered city. A funeral for the fallen strengthened residents’ trust in Karl, while reconstruction continued with new help.

• Valerius failed to enter Carnford and returned to Eagle's Nest Fortress to report the news to Earl Eisenberg.
• Sir Kylan arrived from Fran City with provisions for five thousand people and more than a hundred craftsmen and their families.
• Karl and Sir Laurent welcomed Sir Kylan and thanked Earl Rochefort for his aid and long-term commitment to Carnford.
• Karl held a funeral for the fallen defenders, burying Master Andrei beside the former Lord Marcus and establishing a Martyr's Cemetery.
• Carnford’s residents grew more united and loyal to Karl, while the craftsmen began repairing the walls, rebuilding houses, and restoring the waterworks.

Karl entrusted Kylan and Laurent with proof of Carnford’s victory, and Friedrich presented the battle trophies to King Heinrich XI in Prye City. The King praised Karl and announced titles, money, supplies, and compensation for Carnford, though Friedrich doubted how much would actually reach the territory.

• Karl gave Kylan and Laurent crates containing fifteen hundred Sauron soldiers’ heads and a sealed list to deliver to Earl Rochefort.
• Laurent swore to report Carnford’s achievements, and Karl bid farewell as the two knights departed with their troops and the crates.
• Seven days later, Friedrich arrived in Prye City with Kylan and presented samples of the trophies to King Heinrich XI.
• Officials verified that the heads belonged to Sauron soldiers, and Friedrich recounted Carnford’s defense while avoiding mention of the delayed royal reinforcements.
• King Heinrich promoted Karl to hereditary Deputy Earl, named him Guardian of the Northern Border, and awarded money, grain, building materials, and compensation for casualties.
• Friedrich suspected that deductions and delays would prevent much of the promised reward from reaching Carnford.

Kaspar von Schmidt’s ode and a public ceremony celebrated Karl von Schmidt’s victory at Carnford while raising King Heinrich XI’s prestige. At a royal hunt, Queen Katerina encouraged the King to drink, and Prince Sigmund approached to toast him.

• At Prye City’s central square, Friedrich oversaw the display of Sauron heads as Kaspar recited an ode praising King Heinrich XI and recognizing Karl and the defenders of Carnford.
• King Heinrich reread the ode’s central passages, and the crowd cheered for him, Broomflower, and Carnford’s heroes.
• Friedrich felt pride in Karl’s recognition but unease about the ceremony’s political theater.
• At a royal hunt outside Prye City, Queen Katerina drank with Heinrich and praised his leadership, encouraging him to drink more wine.
• Prince Sigmund approached the increasingly intoxicated Heinrich and raised a cup, praising him as a role model.

King Heinrich XI was badly wounded when a wild boar charged him during a hunt after he fired a deliberately weakened musket. The camp had no capable healer nearby, and the injury appeared fatal.

• Heinrich drank heavily before preparing to shoot at the game, while Queen Katerina sent Sir Hans to investigate a flash in the woods.
• Heinrich shot the wild boar with a musket that had been deliberately weakened, wounding rather than killing it.
• The enraged boar charged Heinrich, knocked him down, and gored and trampled him before escaping into the woods.
• Queen Katerina and Prince Sigmund rushed to Heinrich as guards called for a physician and examined his wound.
• A guard captain warned that the boar's tusks had likely pierced Heinrich's internal organs, and the nobles realized no capable healer or healing potion was available nearby.

After King Heinrich XI was gravely wounded on a hunt, he issued a final decree naming Princess Louise as his successor instead of Prince Sigmund. Heinrich died before the convoy reached Prye City, and Marquis Wolfgang helped conceal his death from the realm.

• Queen Katerina ordered the convoy to rush Heinrich back toward Prye City as his condition worsened.
• At a royal relay station, Heinrich summoned Olivier, Count Alvin, and Marquis Wolfgang and ordered Sigmund removed as Crown Prince and Louise appointed the next King.
• Alvin recorded Heinrich’s decree, Olivier sealed it, and Wolfgang witnessed it.
• Heinrich died before the convoy reached Prye City three days later.
• Marquis Wolfgang secretly arranged for Heinrich’s body to be stored in the palace ice cellar while officials announced that the King needed to rest.

Queen Katerina used the king’s injury and death to seize control of the royal palace and suppress support for Princess Louise. She imprisoned the Lord Seal Minister Olivier and called Earl Alvin and Marquis Wolfgang to a meeting to demand that Prince Sigmund be enthroned.

• Queen Katerina secretly ordered her father, Earl Eisenberg, to bring troops from Eagle's Nest Fortress, and his cavalry sealed off the royal palace.
• Katerina’s soldiers placed Princess Louise under house arrest and seized Olivier, taking the copy of the Former King’s Royal Decree that named Louise as heir.
• Olivier was shackled, charged with treasonous crimes, and thrown into a dungeon without a chance to defend himself.
• Katerina summoned Earl Alvin and Marquis Wolfgang to the palace, where they saw armed Eisenberg soldiers and realized Olivier was missing.
• Katerina declared that Prince Sigmund was the rightful heir and demanded that he succeed to the throne immediately.

Queen Katerina forced Count Alvin to destroy King Heinrich XI’s final decree and write a false account naming Sigmund as his chosen heir. The coup ended with Sigmund proclaimed king and Duke Olivier executed, while Olivier’s curse darkened the new reign.

• Queen Katerina offered Marquis Wolfgang retirement in exchange for his resignation, and he accepted and left the capital.
• Katerina threatened Count Alvin’s family until he surrendered Heinrich XI’s Royal Decree and swore allegiance to Sigmund.
• Katerina burned the decree and ordered Alvin to write a replacement claiming Heinrich XI had died of illness and consciously passed the throne to Sigmund.
• The court announced Heinrich XI’s death, Sigmund’s accession, and Olivier’s execution for regicide.
• Duke Olivier cursed Katerina and Sigmund before the executioner beheaded him as the crowd cheered.

Empress Dowager Katerina von Eisenberg met in secret with her lover and adviser Viktor after securing Sigmund’s place on the throne. Viktor explained that he had arranged Heinrich’s death to prevent the Northern Territory’s victory from bringing Rochfort more power and resources.

• Katerina entered a secluded palace hall and joined Viktor, her secret lover and adviser.
• Katerina told Viktor that Olivier had been executed, Alvin had sworn allegiance to Sigmund, and Wolfgang had resigned and returned home.
• Katerina declared that Prye City and the Goldflower Kingdom were now under their control.
• Katerina asked why Viktor had hurried to eliminate Heinrich, and Viktor said he feared Heinrich would reward Rochfort and Carnford after their victory over Harald.
• Katerina accepted Viktor’s explanation, praised his foresight, and kissed him.

Katerina proposed killing Princess Louise, but Viktor argued that they should marry her to Lord Karl of Carnford instead. The marriage would remove Louise from the Royal Capital while rewarding Karl and giving Viktor a potential means of influence over Carnford.

• Katerina worried that ministers loyal to the Former King might use Louise to threaten Sigmund's throne and suggested killing her.
• Viktor warned that killing Louise would create political danger and proposed marrying her to Karl von Schmidt of Carnford.
• Viktor explained that sending Louise to the Northern Territory would remove her from the center of power and publicly make Sigmund appear generous.
• Katerina praised the plan and said she would personally oversee Louise's grand wedding to Karl.
• Viktor privately considered using Louise and her attendants to extend the Royal Capital's influence into Carnford.

Princess Louise remained confined in the palace until Queen Katerina told her that King Heinrich had died and Sigmund had inherited the throne. Katerina then informed Louise that Heinrich’s decree had arranged her marriage to Karl von Schmidt, leaving Louise stunned.

• Louise waited under guard in her room, fearing something had happened outside the palace.
• Queen Katerina told Louise that King Heinrich had died while hunting and that Sigmund had inherited the throne under the late king’s decree.
• Louise asked to see her father, but Katerina refused and said she should remain confined for her safety.
• Katerina told Louise that Heinrich had arranged for her to marry Karl von Schmidt, a young lord from the Northern Territory.
• Louise was left shocked by the marriage announcement, and Katerina concluded that she could control the princess.

Queen Katerina forced Princess Louise to accept a marriage to Lord Karl, leaving Louise grieving in confinement. In Fran City, Earl Rochefort celebrated Carnford’s victory and promised to introduce jeweler Grimm to Karl so Grimm could invest in the region’s reconstruction.

• Queen Katerina told Louise that marrying Lord Karl would give her a stable life away from the Royal Capital.
• Louise accepted the marriage because she had no power to refuse, and Queen Katerina left her locked in the bedroom.
• Earl Rochefort celebrated Carnford’s victory at a banquet in Fran City and received praise from the guests.
• Grimm asked Rochefort to introduce him to Lord Karl so he could invest in industries in Fran City and Carnford.
• Rochefort agreed to arrange the introduction, and Ella and Rochefort shared a knowing exchange after Grimm departed.

Charlotte wrote Karl a letter celebrating her father’s approval of their marriage while keeping her pregnancy secret as a surprise. Elsewhere, the Count and Ella shared a private moment, and Duke Schmidt read conflicting accounts of the Carnford victory, ending with unexpected relief and pride in his sons.

• Charlotte finished and sealed a letter telling Karl that her father had agreed to their marriage and asking him to come to Fran City once Carnford was stable, while keeping the child a secret.
• Aunt Martha brought Charlotte warm milk and showed her a knitted baby sock, and Charlotte thanked her as they shared their happiness for the child.
• After the celebration in Fran City Castle, the Count and Ella returned to his bedroom and embraced in private.
• Duke Schmidt compared Kaspar Von Schmidt’s lavish newspaper account of the victory with Edgar’s secret letter describing the Carnford siege and the rescue by Friedrich, Konrad, and Karl.
• Duke Schmidt felt relief and pride as he read how his sons had fought together and treated one another as brothers.

Duke Schmidt reflected on Karl’s loyalty and considered reconciling with Karl’s mother, Eileen, before receiving a royal edict announcing that Princess Louise would marry Karl. He recognized the marriage as a political maneuver to remove a potential rival from the kingdom’s center, but accepted the decree without revealing his alarm.

• Duke Schmidt thought about Karl’s family loyalty and felt guilty for neglecting Eileen, considering bringing her back to the estate.
• Steward Sebastian told Duke Schmidt that a royal envoy had arrived with an Imperial Edict from King Sigmund.
• The envoy read the decree, which praised Karl’s service and ordered Princess Louise to marry him in Carnford.
• The decree required the Schmidt Family to send a distinguished relative to preside over the wedding.
• Duke Schmidt accepted the edict with formal gratitude while privately suspecting that the marriage was meant to sideline Princess Louise politically.

Duke Schmidt accepted that Karl’s royal marriage had ended his planned alliance with the Rochefort Family, then decided to exploit the marriage ties for the Schmidt Family’s gain. He ordered Sebastian to use the royal connection to expand the family’s commercial and territorial influence, while Lady Eileen would represent the family at the wedding in the Northern Territory.

• Duke Schmidt suspected that Queen Dowager Katerina and the Eisenberg Family had arranged the marriage to remove Princess Louise from the royal court and control Karl.
• Duke Schmidt abandoned the planned marriage alliance with the Rochefort Family and resolved to turn Karl’s royal marriage into a political advantage.
• Duke Schmidt ordered the family’s merchant caravans to fly royal banners and demand exemptions from customs duties.
• Duke Schmidt instructed agents and vassal nobles to invoke the royal marriage ties in disputes with neighboring territories.
• Duke Schmidt assigned Lady Eileen to represent the family and preside over Karl’s wedding in the Northern Territory.

After Carnford’s victory, Earl Rochefort planned a road to strengthen trade with the north and intended to discuss Karl’s marriage to Charlotte. A royal envoy then announced that the new King had ennobled Karl and ordered Princess Louise to marry him, leaving Rochefort stunned.

• Earl Rochefort awoke refreshed after spending the night with Ella and finished his morning administrative work.
• Rochefort ordered a proposal for an official road between Fran City and Carnford and sent for Karl to discuss important matters, including his marriage to Charlotte.
• A royal envoy arrived with an Imperial Edict announcing that King Sigmund von Heinrich had succeeded Heinrich XI.
• The envoy declared Karl von Schmidt a hereditary Baron and named him Guardian of the Northern Border for his victory at Carnford.
• The envoy announced that Princess Louise would marry Karl, shocking Rochefort.

Count Rochefort received an imperial decree betrothing Princess Louise to Karl and ordering him to host her entourage and wedding in Carnford. He went to tell Charlotte, who was still happily preparing a wedding dress for her expected marriage to Karl.

• An envoy read the Imperial Edict betrothing Princess Louise to Karl and assigning Count Rochefort responsibility for the Princess's arrival and wedding in Carnford.
• Count Rochefort accepted the decree, fearing its consequences for Charlotte, her unborn child, Karl, and both their families.
• Count Rochefort went to Charlotte's cottage to tell her about the decree.
• Charlotte told Count Rochefort that she was measuring herself to design her wedding dress and discreetly accommodate her pregnancy.