65: "The Day the Princess Declared Her Sovereignty"

[Artoria had proven through her actions that she was indeed worthy of wielding the sword in the stone, the symbol of the throne.]

[With that strength, she was granted residence in the royal court.]

[However, the coronation ceremony required time to prepare.]

[Until then, Artoria would remain in the royal court as the yet-to-be-crowned king.]

[Although you deliberately arranged for her chambers to be as far as possible from yours and Morgan's, their encounters were inevitable.]

[The maids had already given those moments a name—"The Harsh Winter of Camelot."]

——

The Royal Court Hallway

"Good morning, Princess. Good morning, Lord Rei."

"Good morning."

"Please have a productive day as well."

Rei responded to the maids with a smile. After watching them leave—clearly pleased by his simple greeting—he leaned slightly toward Morgan and spoke softly.

"Princess, you rarely neglect your courtly manners."

"You seem rather displeased today."

"Indeed." Morgan made no effort to hide her emotions.

"I am quite displeased right now."

"Rei, tell me—why was that girl allowed to move into the royal court? You should know I have no desire to see her."

——

The inevitable confrontation had arrived.

Morgan was bound to ask this sooner or later.

But Rei wasn't particularly worried—because he had a perfectly reasonable explanation.

"Princess, I realized there was something we had overlooked."

"Something overlooked?" Morgan narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Yes." Rei nodded. "Princess, while Vortigern has not waged war in some time…"

"His strength remains formidable. I believe you understand this even better than I do."

Morgan was far from foolish.

At Rei's words, she immediately grasped the underlying meaning.

"You're saying—"

"You intend to use Artoria to eliminate Vortigern?"

"Precisely. If we do that, we can avoid a great deal of unnecessary trouble."

"Additionally, there is one more thing I must tell you—Artoria's true name is Artoria."

Morgan did not respond immediately.

Instead, she took Rei's hand.

That, in itself, was all the answer needed—she had accepted his explanation.

——

As they continued walking, they arrived at a familiar garden.

Morgan gazed at the buds that were just beginning to bloom.

"The flowers are about to bloom again."

Then, she turned to Rei and spoke.

"Rei, I command you to answer that question once more—who is more beautiful, me or the flowers?"

"But this time—"

"I don't want to hear you say I am more beautiful than the flowers."

"Nor do I want to hear that the flowers are more beautiful than me."

Rei smiled slightly before replying.

"Princess, there is only one answer—"

"You and the flowers are equally beautiful."

"And how do you plan to justify that answer this time?"

"It's simple."

Rei glanced at Morgan beside him.

"Because it is only through your presence, Princess—"

"That the flowers have words worthy of describing them."

"You are the flower, and the flower is you."

"Thus, you and the flower are equally beautiful."

Morgan gently pinched the back of Rei's hand. "Where did you learn to be so smooth with words?"

"You're surprisingly good at making people happy."

"Because you, Princess, desire it—so I have learned it."

Just as Morgan was about to say more, a voice called out from behind them.

"Eh? Lord Rei, why are you here?"

Rei and Morgan turned in unison and saw Artoria standing there.

The moment their gazes met, a chill spread through the corridor.

An invisible frost, an unseen wind.

All seemed calm.

Yet, all was far from calm.

This was what the maids of Camelot had come to call "Camelot's Harsh Winter."

——

"Good morning, Arthur."

Morgan's expression remained neutral as she gazed at Artoria, but she deliberately pulled Rei closer—so close that his arm pressed against her chest.

This was her battlefield, where Morgan held an undeniable advantage.

Artoria had no chance of winning.

Watching the two standing so intimately together, Artoria's brows furrowed like a waterfall during the rainy season.

"Good morning, you two."

"I have business to attend to—I'll be going now."

Artoria, defeated, quickly walked away—though in truth, she merely retreated to the corner, hiding while observing them in secret.

With her hands against the wall, she peeked out just enough to watch the situation unfold.

What she didn't realize, however, was that Morgan had noticed her every move.

Leaning in close to Rei's ear, Morgan whispered softly:

"Rei, I command you—kiss me."

"..."

Though Rei didn't understand Morgan's reasoning, he knew there was no need to question it.

"As you wish, Princess."

He lowered his head, ran his fingers through her silken hair, and pressed his lips against hers.

A gesture completely natural between husband and wife—none of the maids would question it.

It was enough to show Artoria the intimacy between them.

But Morgan wasn't finished.

As their lips met, her hand slid downward.

The princess guided the knight's fingers over the curves of her chest, urging them to move, to explore.

She knew exactly how to command this devoted knight.

Morgan smirked in triumph.

——

Meanwhile, Artoria retreated fully behind the wall.

She glanced down at her hands—then at her own chest.

Her deep green eyes held a flicker of resolution.

[Morgan was being especially assertive today.]

[Whenever the two of you were alone, she would make sure you felt the allure of her body.]

[One hand became two, crossing boundaries with increasing boldness.]

[You sensed that something about this was unusual—but did it matter?]

[You understood your own desire for Morgan, and you had no intention of denying it.]

[Her allure blinded you to the fact that Artoria had been watching from the shadows.]

——

Time passed quickly in this indulgence, and soon it was time for the evening bath.

"Rei, wait for me."

Satisfied with her victory, Morgan strode toward a screen, clearly intending to give Rei yet another "lesson" in royal etiquette.

But just then—a hand landed on Rei's shoulder.

Turning around, he found Artoria standing there.

Why was she here?

"You—"

Before he could finish, Artoria covered his mouth with her hand.

"Lord Rei! Please don't say anything! I snuck in here!"

"..."

Rei, though puzzled, nodded.

Seeing this, Artoria took a deep breath, her face flushing red.

"Um—"

"Lord Rei, please come to my room tonight!"

Before he could agree or refuse, Artoria turned and ran off.

As always, she played her little tricks—if she didn't hear a rejection, she wouldn't have to face the sting of refusal.

But before Rei could even begin to think about it—

A long, slender, porcelain-white leg stretched out from behind the screen.

Dripping with bath oils, glistening and sticky, its suggestive appearance stirred all sorts of thoughts.

Then came Morgan's voice:

"Rei, my legs are so sore. Come over here and massage them for me."

[Morgan's feet were remarkably dexterous.]

[As you massaged her, she, in turn, used her feet to massage you.]

[Along with the bath oils, certain things were washed away by the warm waters of the bath.]

[This put Morgan in an even better mood.]

[Once again, she commanded you to be her steed, indulging in the pleasures befitting a knight.]

Warm currents swirled around Rei and Morgan's submerged bodies.

Morgan traced delicate patterns over Rei's firm chest with her fingertips, letting the water droplets slide across his muscles.

For a long moment, she continued this quiet act, as if an artist perfecting a masterpiece.

Finally satisfied, she stopped.

She hooked a finger under Rei's chin, lifting it gently as she whispered:

"Knight, do you know what I just wrote on your chest?"

"Princess, was it your name?" Rei answered without hesitation.

"Oh? You could actually tell?"

"Of course. It is your name, after all. Remembering it like this is only natural."

"Then—"

Morgan wrapped her arms around Rei's neck, ensuring his gaze could only meet hers.

"Rei, do you know why I wrote my name on your chest?"

Rei shook his head.

"No, Princess, I do not."

"Then allow me to tell you—"

Morgan leaned in closer.

She lowered her head and bit lightly into Rei's neck, leaving behind a mark—neither too large nor too small, but certainly noticeable.

Raising her head, she met Rei's eyes with a playful smile.

"A name on parchment turns it into a personal record."

"A name engraved on a sword makes it its master's weapon."

"Rei, I have written my name on you countless times."

"That means you are mine and mine alone. Understand?"

"Princess," Rei looked at Morgan, unwavering.

"Isn't that self-evident?"

"But not everyone thinks so."

Morgan's fingers traced slow, deliberate circles along the rougher contours of Rei's face.

"What should we do about that?"

"..."

Rei immediately caught the deeper meaning in Morgan's words.

"Princess, you may speak freely. You know I always take your desires as my guiding path."

"Hmm…"

Morgan straightened slightly, pressing Rei's phallus further beneath a special place.

"Then I won't hold back."

"Artoria—she's been watching you all day from the shadows."

[Morgan's words struck you like lightning.]

[You suddenly realized that Artoria's earlier appearance was no coincidence.]

[She had been waiting, holding back the entire day for that one opportunity.]

[Meanwhile, Morgan spent the day making her claim over you unmistakably clear.]

"Princess, so that's how it is?"

"Hmm?" Morgan lifted Rei's chin with a teasing smirk.

"Rei, don't tell me you didn't notice?"

Rei nodded.

"I truly did not."

"Because, Princess, your body leaves me utterly spellbound."

Morgan was very pleased with this answer.

Yet, she pressed further.

"I heard from Gawain that you and Artoria have been rather close."

"Yes, Princess," Rei admitted without hesitation.

"I need to learn more about her—her true name, Artoria, was one such revelation."

"I believe that, in the future, I might uncover the secret behind her power."

"That would be of great benefit to you, Princess."

[Morgan did not doubt your words.]

[After all, she knew that getting a girl who had disguised herself as a man to reveal her true name was no simple feat.]

[You sensed the determination within her.]

[You knew that she was still fixated on the throne.]

"Rei, do you remember your promise to make me queen?"

Morgan wrapped her arms around Rei's torso and rested her head against his chest.

Her hair spread out in the water like drifting lotus petals.

The warm bathwater covered half her body, tinting her pale skin with a delicate flush.

"I've always believed in that promise."

"I have never forgotten my vow, Princess."

Rei gently caressed Morgan's back, feeling its smoothness, as soft as polished marble warmed by sunlight.

"Every moment, I move forward toward that goal."

"It's just—"

"These things take time."

"I know."

Morgan closed her eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Your heart beats so evenly—it means you aren't lying to me."

"But I really want to reach that day sooner…"

"Rei, do you think I'm strange for feeling this way?"

"Not at all, Princess."

Rei's hand paused on Morgan's back.

"Princess, everyone has their own obsessions."

"It's just that yours is a little more… extraordinary."

"Then, Rei, do you think it's possible?"

"Of course," Rei answered without hesitation. "I've never doubted it for a moment."

"Someone like you, Princess, is meant to sit on the throne."

"Idiot… You always say such foolish things, it makes it impossible for me to love you."

"But Princess, a knight isn't meant to be clever, is he?"

[Morgan fell silent.]

[She only tightened her grip on your hand.]

[You realized that much of her ambition now rested upon you.]

[The bath ended in a delicate yet satisfying atmosphere.]

[Morgan kissed you lightly before leaving alone for her magic workshop—she seemed to want some time to calm herself.]

[You watched her retreating figure and decided to forgo your meeting with Artoria tonight.]

It wasn't that Rei didn't want to see Artoria.

After all, he knew that he was carrying the last remnants of her emotions.

But tonight wasn't the right time—he would find an opportunity to explain later.

However, Rei never expected—

As he turned the corner of the corridor, heading back to his room, a familiar figure appeared before him.

Dressed in a white dress, Artoria stood there.

"Good evening, Rei!"