Her Royal Eyes Are Only for You

The confrontation between knights typically consists of two parts.

First, the weapon;

Second, the knight himself.

A good weapon allows a knight to fight stronger enemies, while a bad weapon becomes a burden.

But weapons do not determine everything.

When the weapons of two knights are of equal caliber.

What determines the outcome of the battle is no longer the weapon itself, but the knight's personal ability.

Now, this is the situation Artoria faces.

Arondight and Excalibur are both holy swords born from the lake.

There is no difference in strength between the two blades, they are moonlit swords capable of resisting each other.

Of course.

The Knight King did not intentionally want to fight Lancelot.

It was because Ian's body had problems again.

Then—Artoria absolutely could not ignore it.

She is the king of Camelot, but also a young woman in love with her beloved.

Excalibur was drawn.

Corresponding to Excalibur Galatine, this is a blade blessed by the moon.

At noon, it cannot exert its maximum effect.

But for Artoria—this is not something that cannot be reversed.

She is the incarnation of the Red Dragon, with a Dragon's heart.

Where the blessing is lacking, she makes up for it with her own magic;

Where it is not lacking, she strengthens it.

In this way.

The moon blade used against the scorching sun can also easily exert its due strength.

The young king discarded all distractions and focused all her attention on the absolute stillness coming towards her.

The sword comes out.

The wind follows.

Everything is peaceful.

Then a storm rages.

It was a storm that could almost blow everything away.

The so-called realm is not worth mentioning in front of it.

With a bang.

Something broke.

Artoria inserted Excalibur into the ground, silently looking at the other side of the duel arena.

Lancelot hadn't recovered yet.

The realm released by Arondight only survived for less than a second in front of King Arthur.

Similar to Ian's situation.

He felt that his and King Arthur's blades were of the same level.

Then—the reason for the loss was himself.

The third of the three rules of the duel—admit defeat in the duel.

Lancelot returned the heavy blue blade to its sheath, then knelt before King Arthur.

"I lost."

This was the defeat of a foreign knight, but no Camelot knight cheered for it.

Because the life and death of the King's shadow was more important to everyone.

[The feast is interrupted.]

[Artoria picks you up.]

[She takes you back to the camp where only you and she can enter.]

[She temporarily grants you Avalon.]

[As the scabbard of the holy sword, it has powerful healing abilities, even the vicious curse Morgan attached to the dagger cannot resist it.]

[But this is not something you own after all.]

[So it only restores you to a "conscious" state.]

Ian slowly opened his eyes, then saw Artoria looking at him.

"Mr. Ian!"

The girl couldn't care less that her voice might be heard by the knights outside, and sobbed in a choked voice:

"I'm sorry!"

"I shouldn't have let you participate in this kind of duel!"

"..."

Looking at Artoria crying like a pear blossom in the rain, Ian felt as if his heart was corroded by something.

He reached out and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"I should be the one to say sorry."

"I can't teach this Lancelot a lesson and vent my anger for you."

"No need!"

Artoria hugged Ian.

"I don't need you to teach others a lesson for me."

"I will prove myself to them in my own way!"

"Yes."

Ian nodded weakly, then gently stroked the girl's smooth golden hair.

"I know."

"I saw it—the blow that split the realm, right?"

"Artoria, you are worthy of the title of Knight King."

[You are not acknowledging Artoria as king, but just sincerely feel that her strength is indeed beyond imagination.]

[But what you don't know is how ironic your words are to Artoria.]

[She increasingly feels that the title of the chosen king is too heavy.]

[Assassinations, challenges, one trouble after another follows.]

[And all this is because she was born a king.]

[The gifted girl's prayer has been replaced by the girl's awakening: Your existence will constantly remind Artoria that she will remember what decision to make at the end of the war, this will become part of her soul.]

[You don't know the thousands of waves that are surging in Artoria's heart.]

[Your attention, more or less, is still focused on the knight challenge issued by Lancelot.]

[You have an idea.]

[You decide to tell Artoria.]

"Artoria."

"Mr. Ian, what's wrong?" The girl, who barely stopped her tears, looked up at the man.

"Are you still feeling unwell?"

"No." Ian shook his head, signaling Artoria not to worry.

"I feel very good."

"Just—"

"Just what?" The girl blinked her forest-green eyes.

"Mr. Ian, you don't have to hesitate in front of me."

"Our relationship..."

Artoria held Ian's hand, her expression slightly flushed, looking shy and beautiful.

"You don't have to worry about so much anymore."

Ian nodded without hesitation.

"Yes, you're right."

"Then—"

"Artoria."

"Can I have a word with Lancelot alone?"

[Artoria obviously didn't expect you to make such a request.]

[After all, you almost died in Arondight not long ago.]

[If it were her, she would definitely not say much to Lancelot.]

[But no matter what, she always respects your opinion.]

"Yes, I understand."

Artoria nodded without hesitation.

"Mr. Ian, if you want to do this, then I will definitely support you."

"Artoria..."

"..."

Before the girl could react, she felt herself being kissed by the man.

But she wasn't flustered at all.

Because being able to get a kiss like this is one of the few happinesses she can get as a girl in her life.

This is her only greed in life.

[Artoria agrees to your meeting with Lancelot.]

[And for safety's sake, she temporarily entrusts you with the holy sword scabbard Avalon until the meeting is over.]

[But you don't think it will make any sense.]

[After all, you can feel that Lancelot really just came to Britain with the heart of a challenge.]

[You meet Lancelot.]

[A meeting that determines the direction of the future war begins.]

"It seems you have recovered almost."

Lancelot said awkwardly.

"Fortunately, King Arthur took action."

"Otherwise, I would have made a big mistake... I'm really sorry."

"It's nothing."

Ian forgave Lancelot very generously.

"Showing your strongest strength in a duel is a respect for your opponent."

"Besides—"

"You also knew that I could deal with that level of realm, so you used your full strength, right?"

"From this point of view, I, who made the mistake, should be the one to apologize."

"Heh."

Lancelot smiled.

"Ian, as the winner, you are really calm when you speak."

"In comparison, it makes me seem a little despicable and look down on you."

"It doesn't matter if you look down on me." Ian smiled slightly.

"But whether now or in the future, please don't look down on the king of Camelot."

"Yes." Lancelot shrugged. "The winner is always right."

"But—"

"You asked me to come here to meet you, wouldn't it just be to say these words to me?"

"Of course not."

Ian picked up Excalibur Galatine from the side.

"Lancelot, your blade was also obtained from the lake, right?"

"..."

Looking at Ian's appearance, Lancelot also drew his Arondight.

"You can say that, but not entirely."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"I didn't 'obtain' the blade from the lake."

Lancelot looked at the blue blade in his hand, as calm as the lake under the moon.

"I am a knight raised by lake spirits."

"They gave me Arondight, allowing me to ride on the land of Gaul."

"I see."

Ian nodded thoughtfully.

"According to you, it shouldn't be described as 'obtained', but 'inherited'."

"Maybe."

Lancelot didn't mind.

"Anyway, it has been with me for a long time and is my most handy weapon."

"Then in that case—"

Ian looked at Lancelot in front of him.

"Have you ever thought about finding a new reason to wield this blade inherited from the lake?"

"..."

Lancelot naturally understood the implications of his words.

"Ian, you can speak plainly."

"Alright—"

Having come this far, Ian no longer concealed his purpose.

"Lancelot, fight for King Arthur."

"The Round Table needs your blade."

[You tell Lancelot the reason for Camelot's expedition.]

[All the contradictions point to Vortigern—you don't want Artoria's identity to be persecuted.]

[Of course, you didn't expect Lancelot to agree immediately after saying these reasons.]

[After all, he is a knight of Gaul, not a knight of Britain.]

[But just as fate always likes to play tricks on you.]

[The development of the matter once again exceeded your expectations.]

"I understand."

Lancelot nodded after Ian finished speaking.

"I accept it all."

"..."

Ian's silence made Lancelot a little unhappy.

"What's with that look? Do you doubt my words?"

"…A little," Ian didn't deny it.

"Alright," Lancelot wasn't angry, "then I'll add another reason."

"Gaul and Britain are lands separated by the sea."

"I can fight against enemies coming across the sea at some point in the future, or I can gather strength now to eliminate all problems at the source."

"Obviously, the latter is much more cost-effective."

"With that, you shouldn't doubt me, right?"

"Yes… indeed." Ian reached out his hand. "I am willing to fight alongside you."

Lancelot smiled calmly and grasped the outstretched hand.

"Mutual support."

"But before that—"

"Can I ask you one more question?"

"Of course," Ian replied with a smile. "We are already allies."

"Yes," Lancelot nodded. "Then can you tell me what your relationship with King Arthur is?"

"..."

Ian pondered for a moment, meeting Lancelot's gaze as he replied:

"He is someone I am willing to protect with my life, nothing more."

"I see…"

Lancelot smiled knowingly.

"If it's about fulfilling a vow at the cost of one's life, I can understand."

"Understand?"

Ian was a little confused.

"Lancelot, do you know something strange?"

"It's not really anything strange."

Lancelot raised his sword and pointed into the distance.

"I just think that King Arthur's eyes only see you."

"Everything else seems to be a level lower for this king."

"Well… now that I understand you have a life-and-death bond, it's much easier to understand."

"..."

Ian felt mixed emotions upon hearing this.

After a long time, he squeezed out a smile.

"Yes… a life-and-death bond."

This was the perfect phrase to describe his relationship with Artoria.

Each word was a story.

[Camelot's elite resumed their campaign.]

[Lancelot's joining made you even more powerful.]

[This knight from a foreign land indeed had extraordinary abilities.]

[At the same time, the gathering of three holy swords from the lake added a more compelling aura to your forces.]

[More and more knights came seeking fame, and the name of the Round Table echoed throughout Britain, reaching its zenith.]

[The number of times you deliberately defiled Artoria also increased.]

[The girl had become accustomed to lying beneath you, to the midnight hours spent in the back garden.]

[Occasionally, she would turn back and shyly ask if her performance was poor that day, leading to a smaller amount.]

[As if, for her, that place was truly the source of life's continuation.]

[The barrier between you was perhaps only one step away.]

[Time flew by quickly amidst the battlefield's overwhelming progress.]

[Finally, the day to confront Vortigern face-to-face arrived.]