The loyal and devoted Suga had taken Joy's suggestion seriously indeed; he made it his first priority.
Without Lisa's knowledge, he secretly used her eight numbers of birth to find a good number of ladies who had well-matched numbers, then he made a name list for Lisa to consider…
However, when Lisa who usually treated servants quite well saw this name list, she threw a temper for the first time.
She called over everyone in the residence, then she sternly declared, “This must never happen again in my residence.”
And so, no one in the residence ‘worried’ for Lisa's marital status anymore…
As all of the matchmakers were sent away from the door without exception, the entire ‘matchmaker industry’ of Yangguan city knew that the Manoban residence was not a good job to take.
Whenever people sought them to matchmake at the Manoban residence, they would refuse.
And to prove that it was not because they weren’t capable enough, they would add in some words while they made their rejection: “Aiyaya~ don't just see that the Manoban residence is a good place and send your daughter there in a hurry. That Master Manoban is impotent, if you sent her there, she’ll have to keep her chastity…”
Eventually, matchmakers stopped going to the Manoban residence, while Lisa's impotence became a well-known ‘secret’ with most of the Yangguan citizens…
***
It was day.
Lisa came to Carl's big tent as usual...
“Commander-in-Chief, all of the new soldiers have been registered, everything has been arranged.”
As she said that, Lisa presented a thick book with both hands to Carl.
“Mm.” Carl received the name register, but he did not browse through it. He simply placed it on the desk.
“Move a chair over and sit.”
“Understood.” Lisa moved a chair over, then she sat upright before Carl.
Carl studied Lisa.
After a good while of silence, he finally spoke with some deliberation: “This old man… heard some rumors in Yangguan city recently… Have you heard of it?”
Lisa nodded, then she answered indifferently: “The ones related to this officer? It has been heard.”
“Mm… You should be seventeen this year, if this old man remembered correctly.”
“The Commander-in-Chief is right.”
“As a good big man, those meant for making a family will still have to make it eventually.”
Hearing this, Lisa gave a slight smile towards Carl.
She gave a courtesy with her hands as she answered firmly: “How could one make a family when the Huns have yet to be exterminated?”
Hearing this, Carl burst with a chain of hearty laughter.
Following that, he smiled at Lisa as he said: “For such a young brat like you, your ambition is quite big. Even this old man had only made an oath to protect this border, yet you actually want to exterminate the Huns?”
“Yes! Exterminate the Huns, to eliminate future suffering.”
Seeing that Lisa did not seem to be joking with him, Carl's expression turned melancholic.
He sighed straight from the heart, then he opened his mouth to say: “The Huns occupy vast grassy plains of the north, they are formed with many tribes. As nomads, they have no fixed settlements. The Huns have already existed when our Kingdom was founded. For so many years since, so many loyal officials and strong Generals invested their whole lives in this northern border, yet none of them have truly solved the problem of the Huns. This old man is relieved that you can say those words, but you must know this. If every young man in the northern border thought like you, wouldn’t our army have no successors? At your age, the ones who are meant to marry will eventually have to marry. If you do not wish to marry a legitimate wife for now, it’s fine to take in a few concubines too. That’s settled then. This old man will also help you to keep a lookout.”
“Commander-in-Chief…”
Lisa opened her mouth as she wanted to say something, but Carl interrupted her.
He said to Lisa in a grave tone: “Don’t act muddled on such a matter. You must understand the principle of how one ant hole can lead to the collapse of thousands of miles of the dike. Your accomplishments will never just stop at the title of a mere Pioneer Commander. This old man was also full of vigor like you back in the day, and I had thought that a General just needed to protect the common people well, to command the army properly, and that the other matters did not need too much concern. However, having lived for so long, this old man finally understood this principle: the heart is unpredictable. If one wishes to become an indomitable General, there cannot be any weakness exposed to the public. This rumor is like that ant on the dike. It seems very small, but it could easily cause the collapse of a thousand mile dike all at once. If you don’t go and pick by yourself, I will personally pick a few ladies in a few days to send them to your residence.”
Hearing the serious tone in Carl's words, Lisa stood up violently from the chair.
She placed her hands together as she gave a complete bow, then she said sincerely: “This officer thanks the Commander-in-Chief’s good intentions, but the concubines truly can’t be taken!”
“Oh? Why is that? Unless… those rumors are true?”
Lisa raised her head to look at Carl. She did not answer immediately as she was rapidly weighing her options in her heart.
“Could it be that the kid in the Manoban residence was telling the truth? It’s been quite a long time since then. If it’s an external injury, it should’ve pretty much healed. Have you consulted a doctor? You can’t refuse treatment for such a matter. Perhaps this old man should find a good doctor to give it a good look for you?”
Hearing this from Carl, Lisa's cold sweat dropped down at once.
She was extremely grateful that she hadn’t just gone and affirmed it. She looked at Carl, while Carl looked at her.
The two of them ‘stalemated’ for a good while, but Lisa was ultimately the one who was ‘defeated’.
Lisa sighed softly, while her tense body also relaxed.
She looked at Carl, then she said with a serious expression: “Commander-in-Chief, this officer doesn’t take concubines. Not because of unhealed injury, and not like what it’s been rumored. It’s because… because, this officer’s heart already belongs to someone. In this life and this world, I will marry no one other than her. This officer does not need a legal wife, or a concubine, or any random girls. Just her and no one else. My heart calls her name.”
Carl was slightly taken aback by Lisa's words: “Sit down and speak.”
“Thanks to the Commander-in-Chief.”
“It’s common for men to marry many wives and concubines, but for you to say this, this old man can understand. Who would have thought that officer Manoban is the sentimental type, hahahahahahaha!”
Lisa's face heated up, but she laughed along too.
There was a trace of bitterness in her smile: time flew, the mourning period for the late Queen would pass soon. Her wedding day isn’t that far off now, and who knows if we would ever be able to meet again…
“Since you already have someone in your heart, why haven’t you sent a proposal yet? Is she anyone from Yangguan city?”
Lisa shook her head: “Not someone in Yangguan city. This officer… is of a low position, and can’t match up to her.”
“Not a Yangguan citizen? But you’ve always been in the military camp… Unless, she’s someone that you came to know in your journey to escort the Princess back to the capital?”
Lisa nodded.
Carl understood: “Oh… She’s from the capital then?”
Lisa nodded.
“If she’s an official’s daughter in the capital, then your current position might be somewhat low… But you do not need to feel discouraged. You are the most outstanding among the sixteen Pioneer Commanders of my northern border army, and you will never stop there. At the same time, the command of the Flying-Feather Battalion and a Pioneer Commander’s Battalion falls to you. You also have the thousand land rights in fiefs rewarded by his Majesty. It’d be enough to match up with an official’s daughter. If you’re up against a minister’s family…Those old things, hmph. If you need, this old man can personally matchmake for you!”
Lisa's heart was warmed by Carl's words, but she knew that this match must never ever be made…
Without even mentioning that she’s a woman, if she revealed the other’s identity, if Carl learned about the truth, he’d probably break her legs first.
His Majesty had already settled this.
She was already engaged.
Even if things like identity, position and gender were all thrown away, she was still already engaged.
If this were to spread out, her unblemished reputation would be ruined…
“Many thanks to the Commander-in-Chief… This officer will remember the Commander-in-Chief’s grace for as long as I live. However… This officer still wishes to wed her with my own abilities.”
Lisa feared that Carl's would continue to prod for answers, hence she had to lie.
“Mm. If so, you can rest assured. This old man has ways to make all of those rumors about you in Yangguan city disappear, you don’t have to worry.”
“Thanks to the Commander-in-Chief.”
“You may go.”
“Understood!”
Lisa walked out from the big tent, then she raised her head to watch the sky.
Looking at the azure blue sky of the northern border, her heart felt dejected and empty.
-----
That night, on a barren mountain ten miles away from Carl's military camp.
A gyrfalcon flew under the night sky, quickly disappearing into the blackness…
***
Windsor Castle.
I held a silk report with my hand. When I suddenly read to that section:
---Liam's expression was firm, he answered loud and clear: “This officer’s heart already belongs to someone, I will never marry anyone other than her. In this life and this world, just her and no one else. My heart calls her name”…---
My heart skipped.
It was filled with a peculiar feeling.
I felt confident in my grasp of Liam.
It could even be said to be incomparably detailed.
Ever since I began to invest in him, I pretty much knew everything that he did every day.
Which was why when I read about what he had said, I understood at once that the person he referred to was me.
“A heart that belonged to someone, never to marry anyone other than her. In this life and this world, just her…”
I read what Liam said once again. His serious expression was almost visible in my eyes.
Like a needle, it pricked lightly into my heart.
I squeezed the silk report, speechless for a long time.
I was speechless for the first time in my life, as if I am at a loss as to what to do.
I looked at the brush holder before me.
I was not sure if I was thinking or distracting myself, but that peculiar feeling in my heart was becoming thicker, and thicker.
================
Lisa: I love you. My heart calls your name.