In the castle courtyard.
"So... it is almost time for me to depart."
"...Really? It was an honor to speak with you, Miss Euphilia."
After delivering Leon's decision to Artoria and the Knights of the Round Table, Euphilia had been invited by Guinevere for afternoon tea.
Through Euphie, Guinevere had learned many things about Leon.
After all, news within Britain was blocked and heavily restricted, and she herself lived like a canary trapped inside a golden cage.
The British queen knew nothing of many important events taking place in the outside world.
Moreover, she was deeply worried about the black-haired boy with whom she had once shared a romantic night.
"I enjoyed it very much as well, Queen Guinevere. It was an excellent afternoon tea."
Euphie shook her head lightly toward the beautiful pink-haired woman before her.
She was a gifted young woman with an excellent memory.
Even though several months had already passed, she still clearly remembered the woman standing before her.
However, when she had met Guinevere at the banquet in Palettia several months earlier, her expression had been visibly more worn, and a deep exhaustion had lingered in her beautiful eyes.
But that was only natural.
After all, the true gender of the King of Knights had been exposed because of her drunken words.
It was obvious that Guinevere would blame herself and carry a heavy burden of guilt.
Yet, from a certain perspective, Guinevere was also grateful to Leon for revealing Artoria's identity as a woman.
She had the strange feeling that the enormous stone weighing upon her heart had finally fallen away.
Although, after the entire world learned Artoria's true gender, Guinevere's own position had become extremely delicate, and people now looked at her in strange ways.
Guinevere honestly did not know what she should do from this point onward.
But none of that concerned Euphie.
She had completed her mission and was ready to return to Leon's side.
"Then I shall take my leave now."
"In that case, I will have someone escort you."
Guinevere also knew that Euphilia's status was extraordinarily high.
If anything were to happen to the duke's daughter favored by Leon, all of Britain would be unable to bear the consequences.
But Euphilia merely smiled and shook her head.
A quiet pride was hidden within her serene expression.
"Thank you, but that will not be necessary, Queen Guinevere. I do not believe anyone in this land would dare act against me."
"...Yes, that makes sense."
"Ahem... besides, I am also very strong."
Euphilia added, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
As Leon's reputation continued to grow greater and greater, the citizens of the Magic Kingdom were now respected everywhere.
Everyone knew of the terrifying unity of that kingdom.
In the past, a war had broken out between two small nations, and several citizens of Palettia had become caught in the conflict.
As a result, Leon ordered Esdeath to lead an army and destroy both countries the very next day.
Euphilia was also widely known as someone who belonged to Leon, and many powerful figures across the world knew that the mysterious Black Prince kept an exceptionally capable assistant at his side.
If anyone dared harm such a favored young woman...
The next day, Leon would descend from the heavens riding a dragon to exterminate them.
Because of this, whenever the topic arose, Euphilia could not help but feel proud.
Her love and loyalty toward Leon only grew stronger within her chest.
[How truly enviable...]
Guinevere looked as though she were gazing upon something far too radiant to touch.
Unconsciously, she clenched her delicate hands and stared at Euphie with deep envy.
She had just heard it from Euphilia's own lips.
Once, while the girl was visiting a kingdom, she had accidentally arrived in the middle of a war.
The result was that both sides immediately halted the conflict the moment they learned she had appeared.
First, they carefully escorted the girl who represented Leon's will out of the battlefield.
Only after confirming that she had safely departed did they dare resume the war.
Guinevere simply could not believe it.
Was this the result of being favored by Leon?
Just because she wished to move forward, even a war had to stop.
How enviable.
Guinevere could hardly imagine how proud Euphilia must have felt walking across a battlefield in such a manner.
It was no wonder that whenever she spoke of Leon, that girl's eyes shone with love.
She looked like a fanatically devoted nun praying to the god she believed in.
Euphilia: "Of course, His Highness is not a god... He is always before me the moment I open my eyes, and I can touch him whenever I reach out my hand."
Guinevere: "That sounds wonderful..."
She, too, wished she had such a king.
She, too, wished she could do something for that king.
But that was impossible.
Guinevere was fully aware that she did not possess such talent.
She was merely a beautiful and shining vase, without many other qualities.
She was not intelligent.
But neither was she foolish.
She had ideals.
But no ability.
She longed for happiness.
But reality would not allow it.
Aside from her striking beauty, she was only an ordinary person.
And even her one physical advantage served no purpose, because Guinevere's king was a woman.
Naturally, Artoria would never desire to claim her.
As she watched Euphilia's figure walking away, Guinevere's eyes became increasingly clouded.
She thought that the duke's daughter was simply the embodiment of her ideal self.
She, too, wanted a king who would protect her, satisfy her, and at the same time make her wish to offer everything she had.
Guinevere's mind could not help but recall the night she had met Leon several months ago, in a courtyard bathed in moonlight and surrounded by roses.
She felt herself growing hungrier and hungrier.
How she wished that boy were her king.
Guinevere's eyes narrowed.
Her cheeks flushed like roses blooming in the courtyard.
She gazed at herself, entranced.
After that, an indescribable sound echoed through the castle courtyard and was heard by passing maids.
Maid 1: "That voice... If I remember correctly, Lady Guinevere is alone in the courtyard right now."
Maid 2: "My goodness... how could she..."
Maid 3: "It is normal. Didn't everyone recently discover that the King of Knights is actually a woman? She is at the proper age, so it is natural to have needs. Everyone should just pretend they heard nothing."
Maid 12: "Yes, alright, alright."
Inside the fortress occupied by Mordred.
Euphilia adjusted her clothes before the window and, after confirming there was nothing wrong with her appearance, nodded in satisfaction.
After all, the next person she would meet was His Highness, the man she loved and respected most.
Euphilia would not allow herself to have flaws.
She wanted to maintain her most perfect appearance before him.
Then she opened the door before her.
"Your Highness, I have returned."
"Welcome back. Thank you for your hard work."
Sitting casually in the main chair, Leon set down the paper filled with information in his hand and turned all of his attention toward Euphilia.
She immediately felt her heart race.
Just being looked at by those eyes made her feel happy, fulfilled, and warm.
She could not help but think she was a hopeless case.
Deep down, she only wanted to drown herself in that man's embrace.
The position of first wife should belong to her!
No matter if the rival was the green-haired witch or the blonde elf, she would never yield!
"It was nothing difficult, Your Highness. Your order has been fulfilled, and Britain is now in your hands."
(End of Chapter)