73. Indulgence Beneath the Moon After Victory 

At the gates of Camelot—

Morgan stood with a solemn expression, her gaze complex as she looked upon Gawain and Gareth, who were preparing to march alongside King Arthur.

"Mother, please rest assured!"

Gawain, clad in a knight's armor, firmly gripped his sword as he earnestly vowed to his mother.

"I will do everything in my power to protect Gareth!"

"Yes, yes!" Gareth, standing beside him, nodded eagerly.

"Mother, don't worry! With Brother Gawain around, even if I get into big trouble, he'll figure out a way to fix it!"

"..."

"Gareth, you shouldn't think that way. Otherwise, my burden will be enormous."

"Eh—? Then I'll just cause small trouble! That way, Brother Gawain won't be under so much pressure, right?!"

"..."

Watching the siblings interact, Morgan's expression did not lighten.

With a cold tone, she spoke:

"Gawain, protecting Gareth is indeed your duty as her older brother."

"But Gareth, it is also your responsibility as a sister not to create unnecessary trouble for Gawain."

"However—"

"More importantly, my children, I need you to do something for me on this journey."

"What is it?"

Gareth blinked her large, bright eyes.

"Do you want us to slay as many enemies as possible?! That's a given, isn't it?"

"No." Morgan shook her head.

"That is not what I require of you."

"Then, what is it, Mother?" Sensing that something was amiss, Gawain cautiously inquired.

"It is—"

Morgan's gaze swept over both Gawain and Gareth.

"I need you to keep an eye on your father and make sure he doesn't spend too much time around King Arthur."

"Huh?"

Gareth tilted her head, confused.

"But isn't Father serving as a general under King Arthur? Why would—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Gawain swiftly covered her mouth.

"Understood, Mother."

"Good." Morgan nodded in satisfaction.

"Then I wish you both luck, my children."

The sound of hooves echoed.

Gawain and Gareth rode further away.

"Brother Gawain! Why did you stop me from talking?"

"Because if you had said any more, Mother would have gotten upset again." Gawain stared ahead.

"Gareth, in the future, refrain from openly discussing these matters, understand?"

"I see…" Gareth nodded, still somewhat puzzled.

"And—" Gawain furrowed his brow, as if making an important decision.

"Do not concern yourself with matters between Father and the King. That would only bring Mother sorrow."

"Oh… I understand."

[Gawain and Gareth returned to the marching army.]

[You have no idea what they just discussed.]

[But you can sense that something feels… off.]

[Artoria takes note of your expression.]

"Sir Rei, is something wrong?"

Seated atop her horse, she turned toward the knight riding beside her, concern evident in her voice.

A close listener would hear the gentle worry of a young girl.

But from a slight distance, it would seem as if a king was issuing a command to her subject.

"It's nothing." Rei concealed his thoughts.

"I'm fine."

"..."

Artoria fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

"Sir Rei."

"Could it be—"

"Are you unhappy that I insisted you accompany me on this campaign?"

"Not at all." Rei immediately denied it. "As the first-ranked knight of the Round Table, it is my duty to bear this responsibility."

"I have no objections to your command."

"Really?"

"Really."

Only after confirming several times did Artoria finally relax.

She held the reins tightly, her emerald-green eyes filled with emotion.

"Sir Rei, do you remember this horse?"

"It's DunStallion, isn't it?"

"Eh?!" Artoria's eyes, as deep as a forest, flickered with surprise.

"Sir Rei, you still remember!"

"Of course I do." Rei chuckled. "I gifted you this horse, after all. It would only be natural for me to remember, wouldn't it?"

Hearing his words, Artoria's expression softened with emotion.

After a brief hesitation, she whispered:

"Then… Sir Rei, may I take this to mean—"

"That in your heart… I have a place?"

"..."

Rei simply smiled without answering.

But that alone was enough to let Artoria draw her own conclusions.

A surge of power coursed through her veins.

Raising the legendary sword that symbolized her kingship, she pointed it toward the sky.

"Knights of Camelot!"

"March with me!"

"Oh——!!!"

The presence of their king roused the knights into a battle-ready fervor.

But none of them knew who was truly inspiring the king herself.

[Though she is a bashful young girl when alone with you, Artoria has never lost her unwavering resolve as a king.]

[Despite her small stature, she is fiercer than any knight on the battlefield.]

[She charges at the vanguard, fearless of injury.]

[She even seems to have the intent of protecting you behind her.]

"Sir Rei, please stay behind me."

With the Sword in the Stone in hand, the girl who bore the title of king stood as an unshakable force.

No one would dare question whether she was worthy of Camelot's throne.

"I will protect you!"

"You seem to be underestimating me."

Rei unsheathed his sword.

"Artoria, don't forget—I am a knight as well."

"When it comes to slaying enemies, I may not be any slower than you."

"Is that so?"

For the first time, Artoria's eyes gleamed with a competitive spark toward Rei.

"Sir Rei, let's see who can defeat more enemies!"

"I was just thinking the same thing."

With this wager set, they both charged off in different directions.

[You and Artoria began a contest that only the two of you were aware of.]

[Under this atmosphere, the morale of your knights surged.]

[It was a crushing assault.]

"Brother Gawain, Father is incredible!" Gareth exclaimed in admiration.

"Of course!" Gawain replied proudly.

"Father was the one who taught me swordsmanship, after all!"

"Gareth, we must not let Father down!"

[Final Honor has been upgraded to Final Honor+.]

[Your prowess on the battlefield rivals even that of Artoria.]

[Knights aspire to be like you.]

[Gareth frequently boasts, 'That strongest knight is my father! And I am his most formidable daughter!']

[Unaware of the full truth, many knights admire her even more—though this usually ends with Gawain knocking her on the head and explaining things properly.]

[You Secured Three Consecutive Victories]

[Your campaigns pushed Camelot's borders further than ever before.]

[After returning in triumph, Artoria led you to the command tent.]

"Everyone, leave us."

"I need to discuss our next strategy with Sir Rei."

Artoria, her armor stained with blood, issued the command to the guards.

"Until I say otherwise, no one is to enter."

No one in Camelot had ever doubted their king's orders—this time was no exception.

"Understood!"

Silence quickly descended upon the tent.

Before Rei could even speak, Artoria had already stepped forward.

Standing on her toes, the armored maiden gently pressed her lips against his.

It was a kiss tinged with the faint taste of blood—coppery, yet sweet and damp.

A long moment passed.

Finally, Artoria reluctantly pulled away.

"Sir Rei… I finally got the chance to do this."

"Yeah."

Rei gently ruffled her hair.

"Because before this, we had more important matters to handle, didn't we?"

"That's right." Artoria nodded.

"But even so—"

She looked up at him, her emerald eyes shimmering with something warm and unspoken.

"Sir Rei—"

"You exceeded my expectations in battle. My choice was not mistaken!"

"..."

Rei merely smiled, offering no direct response to her words.

There were some things he wouldn't let her know.

And Artoria, sensing this, did not press further.

Instead, she reached out and gently wiped the dried blood from his forehead.

"Sir Rei."

"What is it, Artoria?"

"Come to the grove near the camp tonight. I'll be waiting for you there."

"...Understood."

[You don't know what Artoria has planned, but you decide to go along with her request.]

[While basking in the knights' praises, you quietly wait for nightfall.]

[Time flows, and before you realize it, darkness has set in.]

[Avoiding the knights' watchful eyes, you slip away alone to the grove.]

[You are certain—no one else will be here.]

It was a small forest—

If someone were determined, it could be felled entirely within a month or two.

On the forest floor, there were fresh hoofprints.

Rei immediately knew—Artoria had arrived here on horseback.

But why ride a horse to this place?

The question lingered only for a moment.

Because as Rei followed the trail, he soon found himself faced with a breathtaking sight.

[A Radiant Vision Under the Moon]

Bathed in the silver glow of the full moon, DunStallion stood still at the heart of the grove.

The moonlight cascaded over its well-groomed mane, giving the noble steed an almost regal aura.

But tonight, it was not the horse that commanded attention.

It was the girl beside it—Artoria.

Her pale legs rested against the stallion's sides as though seamlessly blending with its ivory mane.

She sat upon the horse's back—clad neither in the heavy armor of a king nor in the delicate white dress of a maiden.

Moonlight poured over her bare skin, illuminating her like the first snowfall of winter.

The soft glow outlined her form, tracing along her curves with an elegance that resembled the petals of a flower in bloom.

She kept her noble head bowed, as if waiting for something.

A bashful, delicate presence.

A sight so ethereal—

It took Rei a long moment before he finally found his voice.

"Artoria."

The girl startled at first, then turned toward him—

Her face lighting up with a joy that only one in love could show.

"Sir Rei, you've finally arrived."

"Come up."

"..."

Without hesitation, Rei accepted her invitation and climbed onto the horse—his own gift to her, long ago.

And the moment he settled in place, Artoria leaned into his chest.

Her voice was soft as she asked:

"Sir Rei… does this version of me… displease you?"

"How could it?"

Rei felt the warmth of her porcelain skin against him, and his heart stirred.

"I just didn't expect you to do this."

"If someone saw us, it'd be hard to explain, wouldn't it?"

"Yes." Artoria nodded, her voice tinged with shyness. "But I knew Sir Rei would be the first to arrive here, before anyone else."

"That's why I wasn't afraid."

"..."

There was no deception in her words.

No flattery, no empty sweetness.

Only a girl's earnest wish to offer her beloved something beautiful.

Rei wasn't sure how to respond.

Sensing his hesitation, Artoria spoke once more.

"Sir Rei, you don't need to be nervous."

She took his hand in hers.

"I just… wanted to show you my most beautiful self."

"I don't expect anything in return. I don't need you to promise me anything."

"I just want you to look at me for a little longer. That would be enough."

"..."

For others, Artoria was a cold and distant king.

But in front of him, she burned with warmth and devotion.

Rei had sought to make her his puppet—

Yet she seemed to have no qualms about becoming his.

How was he supposed to respond to such sincerity?

Lowering his head, he wrapped his arms around her.

"Then I fear a single glance won't be enough, Artoria."

"I think… I'll need to take my time."

"Eh—?"

Artoria, startled at first, quickly softened and nodded in submission.

"Mmm… I think so too."

Her airy voice echoed gently through the grove, blending with the quiet chirping of the night birds.

And the one orchestrating this silent melody—

Was a man whose hands bore the mark of the dragon's blessing.

Every soft sigh, every delicate note, was drawn by him.

Like a rippling stream, like a song in the wind—

It all drifted into the quiet night.

DunStallion remained as dignified as ever.

It had carried different riders across many stories—yet it held steadfast, indifferent to it all.

For a warhorse, loyalty to its rider was all that truly mattered.

And as for who that rider was… that was of little consequence.

[You and Artoria Spent a Perfect Night Together, Bound by an Unspoken Pact.]

[No one else knew that their king, so revered and untouchable, still possessed the burning heart of a young girl in love.]

[All of it remained a secret, buried beneath the tide of war.]

[You were the king's greatest knight. And she was the knight's greatest king.]

[Together, you achieved another glorious victory.]

[And then, a knight calling himself Percival appeared before you.]