76. A Maiden Admiring Flowers with Her Beloved 

(TL Note: SMUT ahead, you can skip if you want. Took me awhile to translate lol.)

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The sun gradually sank behind the mountains.

Its golden glow bathed the entire forest, casting a soft amber veil over everything it touched.

Somewhere deep within the woods—

The Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur) and the Sword of Revolving Victory (Excalibur Galatine) stood side by side, embedded in the ground.

Their elongated shadows stretched across the earth, and at a glance, they appeared indistinguishable from one another.

Underneath a tree, Artoria sat with her legs curled up slightly, resting her head against her knees as she gazed into the distance.

Her emerald eyes were filled with joy.

Part of it stemmed from having obtained Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake.

But more importantly—

Artoria turned to look at Excalibur Galatine, standing beside her own sword.

She never imagined she and Rei would share such a connection.

It was an unexpected stroke of fortune.

"I'm back."

Hearing the voice she had been waiting for, the young King of Knights turned around to see Rei carrying an armful of fruit.

With a wry smile, he said, "Looks like this is all we'll have for dinner tonight."

"I don't mind at all."

Artoria's smile remained as radiant as ever.

"As long as I'm with you, Sir Rei, anything will taste delicious."

Crackle—

The campfire ignited.

In the forest now cloaked in night, it became the lone source of warmth and light beside the lake.

"This forest really has an abundance of fruit."

Artoria observed the variety of fruits Rei had gathered.

"As expected from the forest of the Lady of the Lake—even its land is blessed."

"Yeah, that does seem to be the case."

Of course, Rei would never tell Artoria that he had already known this long ago.

After all, he had visited this place before—with Morgan.

As the birthplace of the princess, Rei remembered nearly every detail of this forest. And even now, little had changed.

But there was no need to bring that up.

"Indeed, it's quite bountiful. If even the land here is this fertile, then the Lady's power must be immense."

"Mmm."

Artoria nodded, her gaze fixed on the fruit.

A playful thought crossed her mind.

Smiling, she said:

"Sir Rei, these fruits all look so delicious."

She picked up a ripe apple and held it up to Rei's lips.

"Would you like to try one?"

"..."

Rei didn't need to look at her face to know she was watching him expectantly, her emerald eyes shining with anticipation.

With a faint smile, he leaned forward and took a bite of the apple.

"Mmm, it's quite good."

"R-Really?!"

"Then—"

Artoria took back the apple, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Since you say it tastes good, Sir Rei, then I suppose I won't hold back!"

With that, she took a bite from the exact spot Rei had just bitten, as if sealing an indirect kiss.

She closed her eyes briefly, savoring the lingering warmth, as if she had just exchanged an affectionate kiss.

What she didn't realize—

Was that the knight beside her had already seen through her little game.

[You recognize that Artoria is delighted to have this moment alone with you.]

[You know this is the perfect opportunity to deepen her corruption.]

[Your goal is to control her—not to sit by the lake indulging in romantic gestures.]

[As a knight of corruption, naturally, you won't let this chance slip away.]

This was an opportune moment.

Just as Artoria took her second bite along the same mark, the cunning knight made his move.

He took hold of her hand and effortlessly pulled her into his embrace.

Lowering his lips to her ear, he whispered:

"Artoria, let's have a little contest."

"A contest?"

"Yes." Rei nodded.

"Let's see whether you finish the apple first, or if I get to admire your beauty first."

Hearing this, the girl didn't respond immediately. She simply lowered her head shyly and nodded.

Crunch—

The girl took a bite of the apple.

The long knight's boots that wrapped around her legs were slowly undone and removed, revealing the soft and silky smooth stocking hidden beneath them.

After all, she was still a girl who liked to look good—the stocking was designed to perfectly shape and contour her legs.

The cunning knight reached out his hand and began to slowly peel it down from her thighs.

Her arousing legs were revealed in an instant, full yet slender, the perfect beauty that belonged to her age.

Crunch—

She took a second bite.

The wide royal robe was gradually lifted, like a curtain rising before the start of a grand performance.

At this moment, she was no longer using the method she had been taught to drink wine.

The moonlight cast over her kitty, with no sign of hair in sight.

If one were to tease just slightly at the pussy cat, they might hear a startled little kitty making its escape.

It was a truly adorable sound.

Crunch—

She took a third bite.

The royal robe slipped to the ground, followed by the clinking of armor.

The soft curves of her hips were now illuminated by the moonlight, outlining a shape that was undeniably beautiful.

Rei lowered his head and tasted the enticing cunt that glistened like honeydew. A faint, delicate sweetness lingered in his throat.

"Looks like I win."

He grasped the girl's hands, leaving her with no choice but to hold onto the unfinished apple between her lips.

"Artoria, you've lost."

"..."

Though she could only let out muffled sounds, the girl still nodded.

"Then—"

Rei lifted Artoria into his arms.

"A loss should come with a punishment."

"Otherwise, a duel like this would be meaningless."

[You picked up Artoria.]

[You carried her into the lake.]

[You knew that you had to make her fall further.]

[Your plan was already in motion.]

Perhaps due to the blessing of the lady of the lake, even though night had fallen, the water in the lake remained warm.

Soaking in the gentle lake waters, it felt no different from being in a bath.

Temporarily removing the half-eaten apple from the girl's lips, Rei set it aside.

Before she could react, he had already captured her soft tongue, still coated in apple juice, between his lips.

At first, Artoria resisted.

But as her hands were caught by Rei and he gently caressed the familiar cunt, her resistance gradually faded away.

Her body began to rise and fall, moving entirely according to his rhythm.

The once cold and unyielding King now resembled a helpless maiden caught in a cage—no matter how much she struggled, it was futile.

Only when the girl trembled so much that she nearly collapsed did Rei finally stop.

Leaning in close to her ear, he whispered:

"Well? Do you now understand how terrifying it is to lose?"

"...I do..." Artoria murmured.

"Then you must never lose again."

"Mm... Rei, I understand."

Her body may have been weakened by pleasure, but her face showed nothing but happiness.

For her, this intimate moment with her beloved was likely the most precious thing she could ever experience at this age.

Rei, realizing this, felt a twinge of guilt—but it was not enough to make him stop.

He pressed a kiss to her cheek before speaking again:

"Artoria, didn't you say earlier that you wanted a chance to continue this happiness?"

"Eh?!"

The girl lifted her head, looking surprised.

"Rei, do you mean… right now...?"

Though her face was flushed with embarrassment, there was no hesitation in her expression.

She had long decided that she wanted happiness from him—so why would she reject it now?

"It might not be exactly what you're thinking."

One of Rei's hands continued to tease the familiar erogenous zones, while the other dipped into the lake.

A few seconds later, Artoria's body suddenly trembled.

"Rei, that's...?"

"Artoria."

Rei whispered against her ear:

"To be honest, I don't think it's time to extend that happiness yet."

"But—"

"Seeing how hard you're trying, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't respond in some way."

"Rei..."

Her green eyes shimmered with a fleeting illusion of being cherished.

"I understand."

"If that's the case, then I'll accept it in whatever way you see fit."

"Artoria, thank you."

On the surface, Rei remained calm, but inside, he was anything but.

[The lake water rippled softly.]

[Under its cleansing touch, both of you became completely pure.]

[It seemed the Lady of the Lake did not reject your actions—on the contrary, they almost seemed to welcome them.]

Under the moonlight, the girl lay against the lake's shore.

Her legs remained submerged in the water, while the rest of her body rested on the grassy riverbank.

The pale moon cast its glow over her, illuminating her skin like fresh snow.

Not far away, Excalibur and Excalibur Galatine stood firmly in the ground, like silent witnesses to everything unfolding before them.

"Artoria, how are you feeling?" Rei's voice came from behind her.

"I'm fine… Rei, please continue."

As he gazed at the girl who had left herself completely open before him, Rei felt his lingering restraints beginning to waver.

This place was not the forbidden threshold he had set for himself.

Then—

This would be enough to solidify her dependence on him.

This would ensure that she never strayed.

Rei reached out, plucking a blade of grass from the shore and lightly brushing it against the small, delicate folds.

The girl shuddered immediately, her reaction as vivid as if she had been struck by lightning.

"Are you afraid?" Rei asked, knowing full well the answer.

"No… not at all. It's just… new to me."

Understanding that Artoria feared he would stop, Rei did not expose her small lie.

Tossing aside the grass, he instead reached for the half-eaten apple, twisting it gently to squeeze out its sweet juices.

It was a necessary measure.

A road untrodden bore no natural pavement to ease the journey.

A little moisture was needed to smooth the way.

For Artoria, it was a chilling sensation—but for her beloved, she was willing to endure anything.

With everything prepared, Rei took a deep breath.

He grasped the firm curves of the girl's hips, treating them like sacred treasures.

(R18 AHEAD: Anal)

Then, he lowered his head, pressing a tender kiss onto her pale back.

"Artoria, are you ready?"

"Mm… I'm ready, Rei."

"Then—"

"I'm going in."

Rei took a deep breath and began following through with his plan.

The experience was far tighter than Rei had anticipated.

Even at the very entrance, there was an undeniable resistance, as though this path was never meant to be traveled.

The moment he moved forward even slightly, he heard the girl let out a suppressed cry.

"Is it too much?"

"N-No, not at all." Artoria bit down on her lip. "Rei, I… I really like it."

Rei couldn't tell if she was truly unafraid or simply trying not to worry him.

But in the end, it didn't matter.

This was an inevitable step on the path of corruption.

The juice from the apple, urged forward by external pressure, slowly seeped into the tight ring of muscle, inching its way into the depths.

Artoria, who had barely managed to maintain her composure, now widened her emerald eyes in shock.

She had overestimated herself.

And underestimated him.

It wasn't as easy to accept as she had imagined.

Her hands clenched the grass on either side of her, nearly ripping the delicate blades from their roots.

By the time Rei had fully entered, her fingers were already tangled in a small pile of torn grass.

And yet, this was only the beginning.

Maintaining such a tender lovemaking could never be done while remaining still.

"You're shaking quite a lot."

"I-I can handle it!" Artoria forced herself to endure, despite the slight quiver in her voice.

"Rei, please don't hesitate."

"Just like our oath—"

"Keep going."

Rei knew she was lying.

He had spent countless nights with Morgan.

He understood all too well how a woman reacted when she was truly lost in pleasure.

But—

This was exactly what he wanted.

For her to feel shame, yet accept it anyway.

He was not an honorable man.

He was a wretched knight, willing to do anything for Morgan—even betray his comrades.

"Then, Artoria, I won't hold back."

"Mm… Please, go ahead."

The girl's asshole trembled under his movements, adjusting itself around him as he pushed forward.

Time passed in a haze.

By the end, the once-pristine hold had been completely filled to the brim, until it overflowed and dripped into the lake.

Artoria's emerald eyes were dazed, her body quivering under the remnants of heat.

Was it satisfying?

Of course, it was.

And yet, somewhere deep in his heart, Rei felt an unfamiliar sensation—

A prickling guilt, like a thorn lodged beneath his skin.

But no matter what, he had to finish what he started.

He withdrew slowly—

Only for the girl to suddenly grasp his wrist.

"Rei…"

Her voice was soft, yet filled with determination.

"The night is still long."

"Please… let me learn more."

"I… I don't dislike this at all."

"…"

Rei had no response.

This unshakable sincerity—

He feared that one day, it would make him forget the line he had drawn for himself.

The night by the lake, amidst such hesitation, was met with the girl's delicate moans.