67. The Princess’s Intuition Is Always Particularly Sharp 

The wine glass was finally empty.

Artoria lay sprawled on the bed, feeling completely drained.

This was her first time tasting wine, and also the first time drinking so much of it.

Her legs trembled slightly, utterly devoid of strength.

The lingering sweetness of the wine seemed to stay with her, filling the unfamiliar bed beneath her.

"How do you feel?"

Feeling Rei's reassuring hand gently brushing against her forehead, Artoria could hear the rapid pounding of her own heartbeat.

"I'm okay," she answered shyly.

"It's cool… and kind of full."

"Is that so?"

"Then how about now?"

Rei reached out, placing his hand lightly over her slightly rounded stomach, pressing down ever so gently.

Artoria's calm expression instantly tensed, her green eyes widening slightly.

Her legs trembled, and a hint of moisture welled up in her eyes—she was clearly using all her willpower to suppress some kind of reaction.

"R-Rei, please stop! If you keep going, I… I won't be able to hold it in."

Seeing her reaction, Rei quickly withdrew his hand.

"My apologies. It seems I let you drink a little too much."

Hearing that, Artoria immediately shook her head.

"Not at all."

"I drank that much willingly."

"I see… Well, in any case, let's end it here for tonight."

Rei's words were tactful.

And of course, Artoria understood the meaning behind them.

"I understand, Rei. I'll leave now."

Yet despite saying that—she found herself facing a rather awkward problem.

She couldn't stand up.

Her mind was clear, but her body refused to cooperate.

"..."

"..."

"Rei, just give me a moment! I can get up on my own!"

Feeling Rei's gaze on her, Artoria continued struggling—though the outcome was predictable.

Seeing her situation, Rei hesitated for a moment before bending down and effortlessly lifting the golden-haired girl into his arms.

"R-Rei, what are you…?"

"Don't be afraid."

Rei looked down at the girl cradled in his arms.

"Since you had the courage to come here, I should have the resolve to take you back safely."

Hearing that, Artoria said nothing more.

Instead, she nestled into his embrace and gave a small nod.

Under the moonlit corridor, the two walked in quiet solitude, making their way across the not-so-long—but far from short—distance.

With a soft click, the door to Artoria's room opened.

Rei took in his surroundings—it was nearly identical to when she had first arrived.

Only now did he realize something.

Living alone in the royal palace must have been an enormous weight on someone as young as Artoria.

After all, the only person around her was the ever-unreliable Merlin.

That man certainly wouldn't be concerned about her well-being.

Rei's silence made Artoria nervous.

"Um, Rei, I… I didn't mean to leave it messy. It's just…"

Halfway through her explanation, she realized she had no idea how to finish.

Because, in truth, she had left it this way on purpose.

Everything about the royal court was too unfamiliar to her.

Whether it was imitation or quiet observation—

At its core, it all stemmed from the same thing: uncertainty.

Merlin and her foster father, Ector, had taught her the grand ideals of kingship.

But neither of them had ever mentioned how to transition into becoming a king.

"Artoria, don't worry so much." Rei reassured her.

"It's not a big deal if the room is a bit messy."

"But… loneliness, on the other hand, is much harder to ignore."

Artoria lowered her head.

She knew that Rei had seen straight through her.

After a long pause, she finally spoke again.

"Rei… do I seem unworthy of being a king?"

"Should I be braver?"

Rei gently placed Artoria on her bed before sitting down beside her.

"Compared to most people, you're already incredibly brave, Artoria."

"You're just not used to all of this yet."

"Then, Rei, how long will it take for me to get used to it?" she asked.

"I want to do everything you've told me I should."

Her determination was evident—Rei knew this was a rare opportunity.

"Don't worry, Artoria."

"You will get there."

"But before that—"

Rei flicked her forehead lightly.

"For now, just get some proper rest."

"Eh—?"

Artoria clutched her forehead, which had turned slightly pink from the flick, then obediently nodded.

"Alright, I understand."

"Good. Then I'll be going." Rei stood up.

"Okay."

She watched him step toward the door, but just before he left, something seemed to come to her mind.

"Wait, Rei!"

"Hmm?" Rei turned around.

"Rei…"

Gathering all her courage, Artoria placed a hand over her stomach, looking slightly embarrassed.

"I… I actually don't dislike drinking like that."

Her voice became even quieter.

"So… next time, can we do it again?"

"..."

Rei smiled faintly.

"I understand."

Click.

The door closed gently.

Artoria's hand slowly slid downward, then hesitated before touching the lingering traces of the cool wine against her skin.

It was a chilly sensation, yet within her heart, it left behind an undeniable warmth.

Did she actually like this experience?

Probably not.

And yet—

Artoria recalled the utterly embarrassing scene.

And Rei's intrigued gaze as he watched her.

She realized that, perhaps, she didn't dislike it as much as she thought.

What kind of wine would she taste next time?

Such a thought drifted into her mind as she slipped into sleep.

[You returned to your shared room with Morgan.]

[Morgan was already in bed, seemingly asleep.]

[You carefully prepared to slip into bed beside her, but things were far from peaceful.]

The moment Rei lay down, Morgan's voice drifted from the pillow beside him.

"Rei, where were you?"

Her tone was calm—almost too calm.

But Rei knew well enough—when Morgan spoke like this, her true emotions leaned in the opposite direction.

Lying was pointless.

So—

He decided to be somewhat honest.

"My lady, I was escorting Artoria back to her chambers."

"What?"

Morgan turned over.

Her deep blue eyes, like the depths of the ocean, gleamed with a dark intensity.

"Rei, what exactly do you think you're doing?"

"Didn't you swear loyalty to me for life?"

"My lady."

Rei reached out, pulling Morgan into his arms.

"It is precisely because of my oath to you that I chose to do this."

"While you were occupied with your research, I suggested to her that she should take action against Vortigern."

Morgan's eyes narrowed slightly.

That ominous gleam dimmed at the edges.

"You mean… you're urging her forward?"

"Yes, my lady." Rei nodded without hesitation.

"And she accepted this idea so easily?"

"She hasn't even taken the throne yet."

"Perhaps she had some doubts, but her enthusiasm was far greater than I anticipated."

"Besides—"

Rei glanced at the wine glass still resting on the bedside table.

"Your fine wine played an excellent role in the process."

[Your explanation made the situation more reasonable.]

[In the end, Morgan chose to believe you, but she still had other concerns.]

"Did she sit on our bed?" Morgan asked coldly.

"Yes, my lady."

Rei made no effort to conceal it.

"That may have also contributed to the success of our conversation."

"But if she was already on our bed—"

Morgan's gaze locked onto Rei.

"Are you truly telling me all you did was talk?"

"Knight, don't let me find out that your 'lance' had any ulterior motives."

"My lady, if you don't believe me—"

Rei raised both hands in a playful gesture of surrender.

"I am more than willing to be inspected."

"..."

Morgan turned her face away.

"Then arrange to have our sheets changed. Burn them. Bury the ashes in the farthest cemetery, and cover them with the heaviest stone you can find."

"I don't want to see a single trace of them."

"Understood, my lady." Rei nodded. "Though that might have to wait until tomorrow."

"Then do it tomorrow."

"And—" Morgan continued.

"Even if you have to wait until tomorrow to take care of it, you are not sleeping here tonight."

"My lady, then where should we rest?"

"Foolish knight."

Morgan wrapped her arms around Rei's neck and whispered softly in his ear:

"Did you really think I wouldn't inspect you tonight?"

[You and Morgan spent a night locked in an intense battle.]

[Talent "Blessing of the Lake+" Activated: The proud princess completely underestimated your strength. There was no way she could overpower you alone.]

[You claimed absolute victory, which also served as a testament to your prowess.]

[However, Morgan had no interest in logic or fairness.]

[Despite being the one who lost, she was the first to drift off to sleep.]

[She used you as her personal chair, curling up in your embrace as she dozed off.]

[Yet you didn't mind in the slightest—this was just Morgan's usual way of doing things.]

[Besides, even now, as she lay bare in your arms, she remained as captivating as ever.]

[This was your original goal, after all.]

[For now, the matter had passed.]

[Meanwhile, Camelot entered a new phase of development as preparations continued.]

[Merlin fulfilled his promise—he replaced the withering crops caused by the fading Age of Gods with enhanced magical seeds.]

[Though Morgan was displeased, she reluctantly accepted the outcome.]

[Of course, she was also secretly plotting something of her own.]

"Mother, the teacher you found for me was indeed excellent."

Agravain reported his progress to Morgan.

"I used the assassination techniques he taught me to personally eliminate him."

Morgan smiled approvingly and nodded.

"Good."

"Await my orders, Agravain."

"And remember—"

"Do not tell your father about this. He already has enough burdens to bear."

"Understood."

With that, Agravain left the royal court.

He was not one to speak unnecessarily.

Looking out over the now-thriving outskirts of Camelot, his expression grew complex.

[Time continued to pass.]

[You never forgot the weight of responsibility Artoria carried.]

[To ease her burden, you sent envoys to the village where she once lived, seeking out her adoptive father, Ector, and her brother, Kay.]

[You invited them to settle in Camelot.]

[Ector declined, citing his aging body as an excuse, though you knew he simply didn't want to be a burden to Artoria.]

[Kay, on the other hand, accepted without hesitation.]

[After a long journey, he arrived in Camelot.]

[You personally greeted him at the city gates.]

"Kay, it's been a long time."

"Yeah, it has, Rei."

As soon as he spoke, Kay immediately corrected himself.

"Ah, my mistake."

"I should be calling you 'Prince of Lot' now, shouldn't I?"

"No need for that," Rei replied with a practiced, insincere smile. "Given your status, calling me 'Rei' is hardly inappropriate."

After all, Artoria was the future king.

Which meant that Kay was the future King's brother.

Compared to Rei's current title of prince, it was hard to say who truly held the higher position.

Of course—

That was merely a formality.

Rei had played an instrumental role in Camelot's affairs, while Kay had done nothing.

If Kay really tried to challenge that comparison, he would only be embarrassing himself.

Kay knew this as well, so he didn't push his luck.

"I understand. So, where's Arthur?"

"Where is he?"

Rei chuckled lightly.

"She'll be here soon."

Just as Rei finished speaking, Artoria's figure appeared not far behind him.

Kay felt a wave of emotion.

After all, when he first heard she was going to try pulling the sword, he had tried to talk her out of it.

He never expected she would actually succeed.

Months had passed since they last saw each other—was she doing well?

Step by step, Artoria walked toward Kay.

A long-awaited reunion was about to take place at the gates of Camelot.

But—

Was that really the case?

Artoria indeed approached him.

However, the warm, emotional sibling reunion Kay had imagined never happened.

Dressed in her usual androgynous attire, Artoria simply reached out, took Rei's hand, and spoke:

"Brother, I'm glad you've come to Camelot."

"However, there are some matters I need to discuss with Sir Rei."

"So—"

She glanced at Kay with an expression as calm as ever.

"For now, please stay at an inn in the city. I'll make arrangements later."

"Of course, you don't need to worry about the cost."

"That's all."

Before Kay could even respond, she had already started pulling Rei away.

Leaving him standing there—completely awkward.

Even the guards seemed confused.

"Sir Kay, what should we do now…?"

"What do you mean, 'what should we do'? Didn't you hear her?!"

Kay gritted his teeth.

"Get me the best inn in the city! And don't hold back—go all out!"

"U-Understood!"