"Ariel, do you want to say something?", At that moment, Artoria spoke first, her gaze quietly appraising the aide before her.
Seeing the King dressed and styled so differently from usual, Ariel was dazed for a while before coming to and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I came to bring you today's documents."
Normally, even after returning to the bedchamber, Artoria often stayed up late poring over these documents. Recently, because transmigrators had been appearing frequently, the ministers were all offering their opinions.
Besides that, the documents contained the number of transmigrators appearing in each noble's territory and the names of their forces.
Watching Artoria take the papers, Ariel hesitated and continued, "Also, Mr. Merlin came to see me today and released the transmigrator lady who was in the same room with you."
"If he released her, then so be it. She descended with a body; she wasn't actually on the list of targets for this capture," Artoria said this and inadvertently glanced at Alvin.
Although she hadn't spoken much with Reines, from that girl's behavior today it was obvious she knew Alvin.
In other words, Alvin was also someone from the outside world.
Perhaps that was the real reason he had 'disappeared' over the past few years.
As Artoria looked at Alvin with meaning in her eyes, Ariel quietly added, "Also, besides Mordred, there was another knight present today."
"She is Miss Gareth."
'Gareth, another of the sister's knight' thought Artoria.
'She didn't rescue Mordred but instead 'ran away' on her own?'
'Or did Gareth find more important intelligence and, after weighing pros and cons, choose to deliver it to sister first?'
'If so, the most important thing that happened today would be...'
Artoria's gaze flickered, and her look toward Alvin grew somewhat suggestive.
"Should we send people to capture Gareth?", Ariel asked.
"Capturing her now would be meaningless; she's likely already sent the message out," Artoria said softly, "If I'm not mistaken, my sister probably already knows."
"Knows what?", Ariel asked instinctively.
Artoria did not answer, merely ordered, "You may go down. Also, seal the palace in and out. No news is to leave the palace for the next few days, especially where I went today and whom I met, understood?"
"Yes," Ariel bowed slightly and then tugged at Alvin's sleeve, whispering, "It's time to go."
"I meant you go down first," Artoria added, her fingertip lightly touching her soft red lips. She tilted her head and looked at the boy gently.
Soon a soft smile passed through her aquamarine eyes.
"He will stay tonight."
'Tonight? Meaning this very night?'
'Stay tonight? Meaning stay here?'
It was a simple sentence; Ariel wasn't stupid and understood immediately.
'But, why tonight?'
'And that wouldn't be so bad if the King hadn't gone to bathe before summoning the boy.'
'Considering the y*ung appearance, he looks only about fift*en or sixte*n, fair and handsome, but I never noticed the King having such a preference before.'
Ariel felt a momentary chill and whispered, "Your Majesty..."
Artoria looked at her in puzzlement, "Is there something else?"
Ariel swallowed reflexively and ultimately forced down the words she had meant to say.
Throughout history there have indeed been sordid stories. After all, some priests or nuns had such proclivities.
But Ariel never expected even this King to be interested in such things.
"If there's nothing else, you may leave," Artoria's calm, pleasant voice sounded again, and Ariel finally reacted, bowing respectfully. As she turned, she furtively studied the young man a few more times, her eyes full of oddity.
Alvin noticed Ariel's gaze but did not realize the drama playing out in her mind.
He was already planning the layout for staying in the imperial chamber.
"What are you thinking?", Artoria's cool, melodious voice came from behind.
"Nothing. I was thinking, do you think having Ariel seal today's outing will look like trying to cover things up?", Alvin asked.
When Artoria went out earlier she had shown no intention of hiding her movements. Although she cleared the streets in advance, many in the palace must have seen her leave.
Sealing the news now would only seem suspicious.
Artoria did not answer, only looked at him quietly.
"Or, are you intentionally trying to make people suspicious?", Alvin quickly asked.
What reason would there be for that?
Artoria had already walked to the white tea table by the window. Outside the window a garden bloomed in full color; sunlight fell and dust motes floated in the air, as if time were peaceful.
The noble, elegant golden-haired woman picked up the delicate pot and poured hot water to make tea.
As if she had not heard Alvin's question, she was calm and her movements graceful.
The girl who used to be clumsy with tea had, by now, mastered the timing and strength. Watching Artoria brewing tea in the warm sunlight, Alvin felt for a moment as if he had indeed once lived through a Camelot journey.
Many scenes and images flooded his mind. From her early days disguised as a boy to Artoria facing the world, to later learning to enjoy life. Thanks to Alvin's "heroine-raising" plan, Artoria's character was no longer so rigid.
At least now she lacked some of the King's majesty and had gained more of a woman's vivacity.
Artoria sat on the soft sofa with her tea and sipped. Her lips looked more moist for it.
She looked up at the boy with tenderness in her eyes, "May I have your hand?"
Alvin hesitated briefly but stepped forward and took Artoria's hand.
Before he could steady himself, she pressed with a little more force, and he lost his balance.
The next moment the slightly stiff young man found himself held in her embrace.
Artoria's supple and tempting body fit perfectly against him. He could faintly smell a sweet scent; his face buried in her arms, the boy felt slightly short of breath.
"I remember you didn't like black tea back then."
Artoria's voice came to his ear.
Alvin came back to himself and hummed softly, "Back then, it wasn't so much that you disliked tea as that you weren't interested in anything in the world. All your attention was on this country."
He said it, but his eyes couldn't help lingering on the perfect figure in his arms.
There was no denying she was an extremely beautiful woman. The dress could not hide her proud chest; water droplets from her bath still clung to her fair skin. Her red lips were slightly pursed, each tiny movement seemed filled with an indescribable temptation.
'Profound, really profound,' Alvin thought.
Noticing his gaze, Artoria lowered her lashes and spoke softly, "Making tea is an art. The force of pouring hot water, the steeping time, all affect the taste. That's why my early teas were bitter. You taught me by hand how to make tea taste excellent."
"I remember at first Sister would mock me for it. She said my tea always tasted awful."
"Actually she did the same; every time she made tea it tasted bad too," Alvin drifted briefly into memory.
He remembered that when Artoria pulled the sword at sixteen, the weight of the entire empire had seemed to press on her shoulders and she could hardly breathe.
Because his sister became King, Morgan's heart brimmed with jealousy and she even turned dark on the spot.
Alvin soon encountered Morgan's blackened side. Or perhaps that woman approached him because she knew of his bond with Artoria.
At first Morgan merely wanted to take Alvin from her sister, but bit by bit she was healed by him.
In the end, the enchantress who originally sought revenge on Camelot willingly pushed Alvin onto the throne.
"But I remember at some point Sister's tea-making improved a lot," Artoria's voice brought him back.
He looked up and saw her smiling at him, "Later she told me someone taught her by hand, just like the way she taught me by hand."
Alvin: "..."
"Sister said it happened on the sofa in the bedchamber, and after that person finished their tutoring, Sister pinned him on the sofa... and they secretly kissed."
Seeing Alvin's increasingly petrified expression, Artoria leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "What do my sister's lips taste like, Alvin?"
'What do Morgan le Fay's lips taste like?'
Staring at the golden-haired woman's exquisite face and her seemingly casual question, Alvin felt dazed.
Artoria and Morgan were so similar in looks and figure that it was uncanny.
But their personalities were polar opposites. At least Artoria didn't have a particularly sharp tongue.
Morgan was different, the genius with a stunning face had arrogance in her bones. And she did not hide that arrogance.
Still, despite her barbs, time spent with her could be very pleasant.
Alvin's eyes held a trace of fond recollection.
"It must have been very nice. So much that you still remember her when you're by my side?", Artoria's melodious voice broke the warmth of the memory.
"It was a wonderful experience, wasn't it? Having a girlfriend and secretly kissing her sister. That kind of taboo feeling is thrilling, isn't it Alvin?"
She tilted her head and smiled, "That forbidden feeling must be exciting, don't you think, Alvin?"
Her face was soft and gentle, her clear eyes gazing. At that moment Alvin felt himself breaking into a sweat.
Honestly, if given another chance, he might not be able to control his feelings.
After all, it was Morgan le Fay. Who lives if not for king's sister?
She personally seduced someone, most people would be unable to resist such temptation.
Fortunately Artoria did not dwell on the topic. Before she could press further, Alvin sighed and moved the conversation.
"Lily, do you remember when your relationship with your sister started to deteriorate?"
Artoria paused and fell into a brief recollection.
After a long moment, her eyes took on a trace of nostalgia, "Probably since the day I pulled the sword and confirmed inheriting our father's throne."
Morgan had once been a carefree noble girl. But from the day Artoria became King, Morgan began to go dark.
Now thinking back, Morgan had caused her a lot of trouble. During the White Dragon incident, had Alvin not willingly gone to die, perhaps she would have been the one to die.
Artoria returned her gaze to the boy and suddenly asked softly, "Why did you help me back then?"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.