He loved the people like a son;

He is diligent in his administration.

He, upright and kind,

He is brave and fearless.

He stood up to defend his homeland, and he swore to defend glory to defend his country.

He dedicated his life to this country, this land. To the Lord of Heidelberg, Baron Varell.

Varel's funeral took place a week after the decisive battle on the Leynsk River, and the cremation ceremony began after the priest had recited the prayer.

The funeral was filled with soldiers, lords, knights, and officers, and the raging fire gradually burned the corpses on the wooden frame, making a crackling sound. There was no rain, no sensational weeping, no complicated rituals, only silence. The crowd watched quietly as the fire burned, and another lord died in the rebellion......

Caroline stood in front of her father's body, weeping silently. Half a month ago, she was still chatting with her father in the castle, and there was a lot of affection, but now, the living are alone in the world, and the dead are in eternal sleep. This separation of life and death was too heavy for Caroline, although Varel was not a good father, he was greedy for life and feared death, and he regarded money as his life, keeping his mistress. and even squeezed the workers, scraped the people's fat and ointment. But there was still concern for her, and as a father, he gave Caroline everything she could, except for maternal love...... In the foggy air, Caroline remembered the time she spent with her father, and the shattered images flashed by, as if they were in a different world......

"I never thought he would leave me......"

After the funeral, Caroline leaned on Rod's shoulder, grieving. Rhodes had never seen this witch cry so much, she had always appeared as a naughty girl next door, and after all this, Caroline had quietly changed, becoming mature and melancholy.

Like a black rose swaying in the wind and rain, lonely and unsupported. Yes, after Variel's death, she had no real relatives. There are no older brothers and younger brothers, and there are no older sisters and sisters. This made Rod feel a little more pity for the girl in front of him.

"Yes, everyone will die, your father was brave when he died, I have seen, he is braver than the knight of the kingdom, I have never seen him so brave and full of courage. I tried to save him, but it was too late, those ogres...... I'm sorry I didn't make it to him in time......"

Rhodes comforted and apologized to himself, his words full of guilt.

"It's not your fault, it's to blame, it's only the ......"

Caroline swallowed again in the middle of her sentence. But Rhodes knew what she was trying to say, and what she wanted to say was Katerina, the Ice Queen. It was the wise queen who placed the Northern Coalition forces in the front row, fending off the ferocious mercenaries with rudimentary weaponry.

Rhodes could see the hatred in Caroline's heart, from the beginning of her loyalty to the Ice Queen to her hatred of the Queen now, a series of events made her see the true face of the female tsar. For the sake of domination, for the sake of power and power, any means can be spared.

"It's all in the past. Now, you must cheer up, you are the only relative of Varel in this world, and there are many others in Heidelberg waiting for you to lead them......"

Rod whispered comfortingly. This sentence actually implies that Lord Varel has no other children in this world except Caroline. In other words, as soon as Varel died, Caroline was the new master of Heidelberg. If she marries, her husband will also have the right to rule the castle. Rod didn't say it too clearly, but hinted that Caroline had to pick herself up and take on the responsibility, she was no longer the innocent little girl she used to be. It's time to lead your own people and manage your own castle.

However, Caroline apparently did not hear the meaning, and was only immersed in the grief of her father's death on the battlefield. She lay on Rod's shoulder and cried into tears. Crystal tears wet Rod's shoulders. And Rhodes just stretched out his rough arms and let him cry.

"Cry, crying will be better......" Rainbow Literature Network

Rod continued to comfort. He felt that his voice had never been so soft, a little hoarse.

"Thank you......"

After crying on Rod's shoulder for a long time, Caroline remembered that she couldn't make such a gaffe. She looked up just in time to see Rhodes looking into her eyes, a gaze full of compassion, tender and charming...... A strange atmosphere rises deep inside. Caroline warned herself not to, but she still couldn't control the emotions in her heart. At such moments, she needs someone to rely on, someone who can give her care and attention. And the man in front of him is undoubtedly the best object.

No, no......

She tried to look away, however, Rod's hand reached over and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

She couldn't help but turn her head again and look at Rod. The face covered with stubble is handsome, and it is full of the vicissitudes of time and a sense of heaviness. This was exactly what she needed.

And Rod also leaned in at the right time, face to face......

Rhodes felt that he could almost hear Caroline's heartbeat, nervous, reserved, and longing...... Between the mixed emotions, Caroline's exhaled breath rushed to her face. It's a girl's unique scent, not particularly fragrant, but very warm.

Rod looked at Caroline closely, and under the slender eyelashes, there were a pair of blue crystal clear eyes. It is clear, like a clear spring under a snow-capped mountain.

In an ambiguous atmosphere, their faces got closer and closer, and finally, Rod took the initiative to kiss Caroline's lips......

The bleak daylight poured through the windows into the room, elongating the two slender figures.

Wheezing, Rod's hand reached into Caroline's coat and took the two plump ...... (Due to force majeure, this paragraph is abbreviated)

In the quiet and serene afternoon, everything is flowing slowly. An ant crawled over the greenery on the windowsill and returned the way it came. Time is like flowing water......

When I woke up again, it was already early the next morning. Downstairs, the footsteps of the guards walking across the playground were the sound of archers, where several archers practiced archery. Several hens are clucking around the playground as they forage for food. Everything is so ordinary and full of life. The servant had already made the hot water and asked if Rhodes could come in.

Rod just told her to put the hot water outside and he served it himself. That's how it used to be anyway...... It wasn't a good thing for the servants to see Caroline in their own bed...... And, crucially, there are blood stains on the sheets......

"Rhodes ......"

"Huh?"

Caroline said with an embarrassed expression as she wrapped herself in the quilt.

"Yesterday's ......"

"Don't worry, as long as you don't want others to know, no one will. From now on, Heidelberg's business will be my business. ”

Rhodes replied in a deep voice as he wrung Caroline's towel around.