[After earnestly considering Vivian's advice, you returned to Camelot.]
[You formally began the campaign to conquer the islands surrounding Britain. On one hand, you expanded the territory, and on the other, you had Merlin and Morgan create the new Red Dragon.]
[Treating this new member of the Pendragon Family as your future best assistant, although you felt very tired, you were also immensely fulfilled.]
[Artoria Pendragon was born.]
Witnessing the birth of the King of Knights once again, this time it was different. Ryuya no longer saw Artoria as his successor. He hadn't thought about retiring, as he wanted to prolong the Age of Gods.
Looking at the small figure in the swaddling clothes, Ryuya gently held her tiny fingertip, "Artoria, grow up quickly. You will be my most excellent assistant."
[As Artoria grew, you also completely unified the British Isles. Initially planning to continue expanding outward, the prolonged wars had pushed the massive state machinery of Britain to its limit… it clearly lacked the national strength to continue.]
[Because you increased the territory, the mystery of the Age of Gods was sustained for a while longer.]
[Artoria grew up quickly. Even Vivian often taught her. She was hailed as the strongest, most perfect knight under the King.]
[Artoria came of age.]
At the ceremony in Camelot, looking at the hall filled with guests, Ryuya raised his glass to Artoria with a smile, "Congratulations, you have grown up, Artoria."
"Your Majesty..."
Now blossomed into an exquisitely beautiful maiden, compared to the resilience of the original, this world's Artoria clearly possessed more graceful tenderness.
Her emerald-green eyes looked at Ryuya. Memories occasionally surfaced in her mind.
In those memories, Ryuya was still the King of Camelot, but unlike now, she, Artoria, was raised as the crown princess, not a subject of the king as she was now.
But in both worlds, the girl named Artoria fell in love with Ryuya, with the King of Britain.
Similarly, having no interest in becoming Camelot's foremost minister, what Artoria always wanted was that man's gaze.
After the ceremony, in Artoria's room, only Ryuya and Artoria remained.
"Artoria, today is your coming-of-age day."
"Tell me what you want. I will fulfill all your wishes."
Looking at Artoria, who resembled Morgan yet was completely different, Ryuya felt a surge of emotions.
"Your Majesty, I want..."
Looking at Ryuya so close, Artoria lifted the man's hand.
It was very warm, reassuring, exuding a unique majesty, the hand of a noble king.
With a gentle gesture, as if handling the world's most precious treasure, Artoria placed Ryuya's hand on her head, just like in memories past.
"Your Majesty..."
Lowering her head, Artoria didn't know how to describe her feelings at this moment.
Nervous? Shy? Hesitant? Confused?
Thinking about what Vivian had told her, Artoria knew her time was short, but she truly wanted to see a little more, to gaze a bit longer at her Teacher's face.
As Ryuya gently patted her head, his eyes still full of care and affection, Artoria desperately wanted to tell him that she had fallen in love with her King, the man who had cared for and taught her since childhood.
Quietly savoring this moment, the early summer world was so silent.
With the appearance of a shower, the swirling sky seemed to condense into one, much like the maiden's heart at this moment.
The chaos within her heart had become an indescribable turmoil. Truly not knowing what to do, Artoria longed to confess to Ryuya, but she feared his rejection even more, feared his departure.
She was afraid... afraid of everything, afraid of her own destiny, afraid of this world.
But...
A trace of crimson appeared in her emerald-green eyes, a sign of the Red Dragon's awakening. It felt like returning to another failed world. Artoria remembered she had held back then.
'A king does not hold back! A king does not hesitate! As a king, one should fear nothing! I was someone who had followed the Sun-Crowned King my entire life!'
"Artoria."
Seeming to notice Artoria's hesitation, Ryuya drew the girl's small frame into his embrace, just like when she was little.
"Artoria, don't be afraid. As your King, I hope you understand."
The moonlight adorning Camelot's sky shimmered with a captivating radiance. The smile on his face, unchanging from the beginning, was an eternal presence.
"Artoria, no matter what happens, no matter how this world changes, I will stay by your side, as your strongest support, until the ends of the world."
Uttering his promise to Artoria, Ryuya, who had watched the girl grow up, trusted Artoria absolutely, trusted everything about her.
Staring dumbfounded at her King, an ethereal breeze from somewhere swept away Artoria's last trace of hesitation.
"Your Majesty, I..."
Vivian's warning, the gap in their status, the feeling called courage flowed within her at this moment.
It seemed the vast world could only hold Ryuya's figure at this moment. This time, Artoria broke through her previous restraints and voiced her most sincere call to him.
"Your Majesty, I love you."
The voice, using all her strength, wasn't loud… instead, it was as small as a fledgling's chirp. But within this sound lay all of Artoria's courage.
"Your Majesty, I love you. I don't just want to be your subject. My love for you isn't the reverence of a subject for their king. I love you just like Sister Morgan and Sister Merlin do."
"I know I, as a subject, have no right to say this. I also know the difference in our status. I understand even more that I lack the charm a woman should have."
"But..."
The all-out cry and confession completely drained Artoria's strength, but at this moment, she felt a different kind of courage within.
"But, I love you. My feelings, my desire to gaze upon you, will not lose to anyone. I truly, truly, truly... love you."
Believing in Ryuya, believing the King's promise would accompany her for life and beyond, even if the maiden named Artoria were to fade away someday…
Even if the nation called Camelot were to fall into the silence of death, this most beautiful moment, this very memory, would forever remain in Artoria's heart, lingering in every corner of this world…
Never to fade!