After "capturing" Fou, Cang Ye had it release the townspeople from the influence of 'Comparison.' After an initial period of confusion and bewilderment, the residents gradually returned to normal. Of course, after such a soul-baring process of comparison, the interpersonal relationships of some of them were likely to undergo... minor changes.
Cang Ye then took Artoria to a random tavern in town and ordered some food and fruit wine. However, he soon realized he had once again forgotten about the bug-like ability known as the "King's Stomach."
"May I have another serving?" Placing her empty plate aside, Artoria looked at Cang Ye with some embarrassment.
"...Boss, another five servings. No, ten. Please."
Having heard this request for the umpteenth time, Cang Ye glanced at the mountain of plates piled up beside them and silently took a sip of his fruit wine. Heaven only knew how such a small, cute girl could eat more than several grown men combined. He was now seriously beginning to wonder if Artoria would be the first to starve to death if the Age of Gods ended and all crops in Britain failed for a short time.
"Thank you, Lamorak! You're the best!" At his order, Artoria gave him a grateful look before taking a plate from the boss and digging in with gusto.
"By the way, Artorius," Cang Ye suddenly spoke up.
"Yes, Lamorak?" Hearing her name, Artoria, no matter how much she loved the food in her hands, put it down and looked up at him. Even the ahoge on her head swayed in unison.
"How did you recognize me? I don't believe we've met since I became human, have we?" Cang Ye took another sip of his apple wine, which he preferred over the ale favored by most Britons and knights for its sweeter taste. He watched Artoria, trying to keep his tone as casual as possible.
Faced with this question, Artoria seemed to have just realized it herself and looked momentarily stunned. Cang Ye then saw a conflicted expression on the 'boy's' handsome face. After a long pause, as if having made a decision, she said, "Actually, we've met before."
As she spoke, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks, her voice tinged with shyness. "This is actually a secret. Merlin told me not to tell anyone besides Sir Kay and my foster father, but... if it's you, Lamorak, I'm sure it will be fine."
"Hmm?" Cang Ye was perplexed.
"Um, do you remember the time with the mountain giant long ago? When you were fighting the giant, someone came out to help but ended up needing to be saved by you."
Speaking of this, Artoria looked a bit embarrassed. After all, going to help someone only to fail and need saving yourself was quite mortifying.
At this, Cang Ye feigned a look of surprise and realization. "You mean... that girl was you?"
"Yes. For certain reasons, I've been hiding it from you all. I'm actually a girl." Fearing he might misunderstand, Artoria spoke with a hint of urgency. After she finished, she looked at him with apprehension. "Lamorak, are you angry that I deceived you? Or does the fact that I hid my gender make you..."
"Of course not."
Cang Ye cut her off before she could finish. Seeing her astonished expression, he couldn't help but reach out and gently pat her head, taking on a teaching tone. "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself, Artorius."
"There are so many people in this world, and everyone's life is so short. If you're too strict with yourself, life becomes far too tiring."
"But... Merlin said that to be a perfect king, one must be strict with oneself..." Artoria stared blankly at Cang Ye. Feeling the warmth from the large hand on her head, she felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if when she was much younger, someone else had also advised her not to work herself to exhaustion, lest she become unhappy.
"Don't listen to whatever Merlin says. He probably doesn't even understand what a true king is himself." Cang Ye ruffled her neat golden hair with a bit more force, leaving only a single ahoge standing resiliently.
"You must understand, Artorius," he said. "Before a king becomes a king, they first exist as a person. No one is born a king."
"To be human is to be imperfect, to have all sorts of strengths and weaknesses. And lies are not always bad; sometimes they are told for a good reason. Before you become a king, you must first become a person. Only then can you understand the hearts of others, Artorius."
"Mmm..."
Listening to his words, Artoria felt something stir within her. Lamorak's tone was similar to Merlin's, but the principles they taught were completely different. Merlin always told her: You are great, you are important, you were born to be king, you must strive and fight for the throne and the future without rest.
But Lamorak told her: You were not born a king, but a person. You should first learn to be yourself, and then learn to be a king.
So who was right and who was wrong?
Artoria didn't know. She hadn't yet experienced the war with the Usurper King, hadn't witnessed the kingdom of Britain she would build rise to prosperity only to fall into ruin, hadn't seen her Knights of the Round Table leave her one by one. Right now, she was just a pure white knight-princess nearing the end of her training, bearing the fate of a king, with only a limited understanding of the world and its current state.
But this didn't stop her from feeling a mysterious pull in Cang Ye's words, from seeing this knight, who looked only three years older than her, as someone shining brightly in her eyes.
Cang Ye noticed that the already different way the girl looked at him had now intensified, the light in her eyes even brighter. This made him chuckle, but at the same time, a strange feeling rose in his heart. The feeling was strange, but not vague.
He thought for a moment and knew what it was.
Guilt.
Yes, guilt. The unease and guilt of deceiving someone who trusted him.
Cang Ye was a complex person, both rational and emotional. Reason told him he shouldn't get emotionally invested in Artoria. For the plan, for Morgan, he should be ruthless, use her feelings for him to trick her into a duel, and then use Fou's Principle of 'Comparison' to shake her kingly heart so he could shatter the Sword in the Stone. This would complete Morgan's mission and further his own fame. The only thing he would lose was his conscience. A hundred benefits for a single harmless cost.
But emotion made it impossible for him to be so cruel to a girl he had liked in his past life and had once cared for. On one side was the command of the one he had sworn fealty to; on the other was a girl who admired and trusted him. Even though he had told himself this was nothing, and had even built his plan around Fou's ability, when it came down to it, he found himself hesitating.
"What in the world are you doing, Lamorak...?"
Cang Ye lowered his head, pinching his thigh in frustration. He couldn't understand why he, who could be decisive and kill thousands for Morgan's command without batting an eye, was now hesitating over a trivial thing like his conscience when it came to Artoria.
Dammit, wasn't that 'Bond' status supposed to affect Artoria?! Why am I being affected so heavily!
He was going mad.
Just then, the girl's voice suddenly cut through his chaotic thoughts.
"Lamorak... you're here because of my sister's command, aren't you?"
"Huh?" Hearing these unexpected words, Cang Ye instinctively looked up at Artoria. What met his gaze were the girl's star-like eyes, filled with complex emotions and a hint of sorrow.
"I..."
Seeing those deep blue eyes, Cang Ye fell silent for some reason. The excuses and feigned ignorance he had prepared died on his lips. For a moment, the atmosphere became strangely quiet.
And that silence, was it not an answer in itself?
-------
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