The moon hung high in the sky, and all was quiet.
Although Vortigern's army had begun to move again, the war would not start immediately.
After receiving the messenger's report, Artoria had immediately begun discussing countermeasures in the castle with Merlin and the old retainers left behind by King Uther.
But she had only just inherited the throne, and with a hundred things needing to be done, to take her limited forces and charge to the front lines to retake the occupied Camelot was clearly a fool's errand.
Therefore, at Merlin's suggestion, Artoria decided to first write letters to the various lords.
Whether through diplomacy, demands, or direct orders, she hoped these lords would send her the two things she needed most right now: supplies and manpower.
And regardless of whether these lords truly submitted to her or merely feigned allegiance, with her status as the legitimate heir to the throne, they would have to make some show of support.
Artoria understood that even though she had inherited the throne and become the new king, Britain was still like a tray of loose sand.
So she needed the resources of these lords to help her achieve her first victory.
Only if this first battle was won would others be more willing to place their bets on her and follow her.
To achieve this goal, Merlin and Kay had been busy from day to night organizing the logistics, while she was still handling official documents and writing the letters to be sent to the other great lords.
Until the crisp sound of a knock on the door rang out, causing her to pause the pen in her hand.
"Is there something you need, my king?"
"Haven't I told you? In private, you can just call me Sister like before, En."
Hearing the title from the boy who had just stepped through the door, Artoria frowned slightly in displeasure.
"But, what if someone is eavesdropping?"
Aozaki Rin pointed to the next room and said cautiously.
After all, things were different now. If people were to find out that the one who had inherited the throne was a young woman, his sister's situation would become extremely dangerous.
To avoid this possibility, Aozaki Rin could only change how he addressed the girl.
"Don't worry. The room next door is just an ordinary storeroom. Besides, Merlin has already set up wards around the castle. I don't think anyone would be so bold as to sneak in directly."
Artoria smiled helplessly. Although she disliked the change in his address, her adoptive brother's cautiousness was for her own sake, which made her smile without realizing it.
"Is that so... I understand."
Aozaki Rin nodded in understanding and didn't insist further, asking instead.
"So, is there something you needed me for, Sister? Also, it should be very late by now. Aren't you going to rest?"
"It's nothing, I just wanted to thank you specifically for what happened during the day. Besides, you're not resting either, are you, En?"
"I'm on night watch. Since Merlin and Sir Kay aren't here, and you've just inherited the throne, Sister, I thought it would be best to be ready in case an assassin really did come. But... Merlin didn't tell me he had set up wards before he left."
Aozaki Rin answered truthfully. Right now, aside from the ordinary soldiers, the remaining people in the castle, such as Uther's old retainers, Merlin, and his brother Kay, had all gone to take inventory and organize supplies.
So currently, the only ones left were him, who had more free time due to his blindness, and Gawain, who had just joined Artoria's side that day.
"Is that right? Thank you for your hard work. It feels like I'm always making you worry about me, En. If it weren't for you, I might not have made it this far."
Artoria said sincerely, a smile on her face, but Aozaki Rin just shook his head.
"No, you've come this far entirely because of your own determination, Sister. I just helped a little on the side."
"But to me, it wasn't just a little..." the girl murmured, as if in rebuttal.
"What?"
Not quite hearing what his sister said, Aozaki Rin asked with some confusion.
"It's nothing. Speaking of which, during the day, it seems you called yourself my knight, didn't you, En?"
As if remembering something, Artoria's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"Because at that time, given the atmosphere, that was the only thing I could say. Are you angry, Sister?"
Aozaki Rin knew that in this era, becoming someone's personal knight was a rather serious matter, and his small face showed a hint of apology.
"I'm not angry. But..."
Artoria stood up from her seat and walked over to the boy, the corners of her lips curling up.
"Since you've already said it, it wouldn't be good for it to become a lie. Therefore..."
Artoria's smile suddenly vanished. As majestic as a king, she spoke in a solemn, dignified voice.
"I ask you, En. Are you willing to become my knight?"
Aozaki Rin was stunned for a moment, then smiled helplessly to himself. He mimicked the girl's serious demeanor and nodded in reply.
"I am willing."
There was no ceremony, no official document, just two simple sentences exchanged like a promise.
But immediately after, a pure smile appeared on the boy's face as he added.
"But I've been my sister's knight since long ago."
"...You have a point."
The feigned dignity on her pretty face finally broke. Artoria let out a soft laugh, and looking at the boy's face, she reached out and pinched his cheeks, which were extremely nice to the touch. Her whole body instantly relaxed.
"Alright, all my fatigue is gone now! I can get back to work!"
Withdrawing her hand at the right moment, Artoria was smiling, her spirits considerably lifted, seemingly full of energy.
Aozaki Rin rubbed his cheeks and asked with some uncertainty.
"Don't tell me... the real reason you called me over was for this, Sister?"
"Of course not... ahem, I was thanking you. That just now was just incidental."
Artoria subconsciously averted her gaze, not meeting the boy's eyes.
Hearing the insincerity in the girl's voice, Aozaki Rin said with some resignation.
"Next time, please just say so directly, Sister. I thought it was something else important."
"What's wrong with that? Helping to relieve the king's fatigue is a very important job, you know..."
Artoria muttered under her breath as if to convince herself. But seeing the boy's expression—like one faced with an older sister's whim, wanting to refuse but not having the heart to—her mood instantly brightened.
However, this sight, which detracted from her dignity and seemed to reveal a girlish nature, was something she only showed when she was alone with the boy.
And just like that, with another knock on the door, Artoria immediately reverted to her stern, unsmiling expression.
"Come in."
"Sir Gawain, is there something to report? And, what is that you're holding...?"
Looking at Gawain, who had entered the room holding a large, full bowl, Artoria was puzzled.
"No, I have nothing to report. I just saw that it was very late and the king was still working hard, so I took the liberty of preparing a late-night snack. I just didn't expect that you would be here as well, Lord En."
"Lord?"
Confused by the sudden honorific, Aozaki Rin asked subconsciously.
"Yes. Because your swordsmanship is greater than mine, and you defeated me. Therefore, I believe there is no problem in addressing you this way."
Even when facing a boy younger than himself, Gawain felt no shame, nor was he being insincere; he spoke from the bottom of his heart.
"...You can just call me by my name, Sir Gawain."
"Then please, just call me Gawain as well. Also, since you happen to be here, please join the king in tasting my cooking. Rest assured, the preparation of the food was approved by the logistics department; I did not use it without permission."
Gawain placed the large bowl of mashed food on the table, revealing a refreshing smile.
"Also, it's not that I'm boasting, but my younger brothers and sisters are always left speechless by how much they love the mashed potatoes I make. So, please, give it a try."
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