After several months apart, the King of Knights standing upon the high platform seemed even colder and more forbidding than before. Even at a festive banquet like this, she remained fully armored.
The sealed suit of silver-white knightly armor seemed to form a tower isolated from the rest of the world, enshrining this god in human form within it and compelling mortals to bow in worship.
The moment the King of Knights entered the hall, the lively, noisy atmosphere seemed to have been doused with ice water and instantly froze.
The lords who spent their days in comfort and luxury, their wills comparatively weak, felt their eyes sting after only a brief glance at her and hurriedly looked away with lingering fear. The oppressive pressure was even worse for those seated near the front, leaving them silent and faintly trembling.
Divine might!
Samael's eyes flickered, his brow tightening.
As expected, the unification of the Northern and Southern Realms had made her considerably stronger.
The King of Knights was now even more deeply fused with the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad and seemed increasingly less human. She had already reached the threshold of complete deification.
If this continued, it would not be long before she became the Goddess Rhongomyniad in every sense, transforming into the Tower at the End. She might even peel Britannia away from the surface of the world and turn it into an entirely independent realm.
Tch. I need to move faster...
Samael reached his conclusion with a frown and closed his eyes, silently considering his next move.
But while the Ancient Serpent was lost in thought, the scrape of armor drew closer and closer, and a long shadow fell across him.
Samael looked up absently, only to realize that the King of Knights had left the platform and was now standing directly before him.
Her right hand, clad in a silver-white gauntlet, extended solemnly in invitation as her cool voice echoed through the hall.
"Sir Samael, I have heard of your deeds from Sir Ector, and I greatly admire your abilities. In light of that, would you be willing to serve beneath me, accept my protection, take a seat at the Round Table, and help create this thousand-year kingdom?"
Who was this man, to be personally recruited by the King?!
The hall immediately erupted into murmurs, and Samael, standing face-to-face with the King of Knights, became the center of everyone's attention.
Thank goodness we didn't pick a fight with someone this important earlier. Even several lives wouldn't have been enough to pay for it.
Many of the suitors who had approached Morgan earlier secretly breathed a sigh of relief when they saw what was happening, grateful that they had not done anything truly outrageous.
Samael froze for a moment.
Then his gaze moved past the King of Knights and settled on the elderly man standing in a corner with a slightly awkward expression.
Old man Ector, that's rather underhanded of you...
More than half a month had passed since the crisis ended, and everyone had been celebrating the unification of the Northern and Southern Realms and the triumphant return of the King of Knights.
Yet almost no one mentioned the witch who had traveled from place to place suppressing the calamities.
No one remembered her.
It was as though the Savior Squad that had moved through darkness and shadow had never existed.
And now they wanted to pull Samael into the Round Table.
That was obviously meant to weaken Morgan's power and influence.
Using her when she was useful while guarding against her at the same time was going a little too far, wasn't it?
Sir Ector, who had just been sold out in public by the foster daughter he had always treated honestly, could only smile bitterly.
In truth, the crisis in the Southern Realm had only been resolved thanks in large part to Morgan's help, and he was deeply grateful to the Princess for putting the greater good first.
But understanding that was one thing.
There were some things that had to be done even when he knew they were unfair.
After all, he could serve only one King.
"Sir Samael, have you considered it? What is your answer?"
After waiting briefly, the King of Knights looked directly at the mysterious swordsman. Beneath her visor, her eyes shone with the brilliance of gold and emerald as she asked calmly.
"I..."
Samael's expression turned serious.
But just as he was about to answer, a figure abruptly rose and forcefully stepped between them.
"He will not follow you! Nor will he join your Knights of the Round Table! Give up on that idea!"
Morgan glared hostilely at her half-sister, grabbed Samael beside her, and gave a cold snort.
"Why?"
The King of Knights paused, genuinely taken aback.
"Ahem. My apologies, Your Majesty. I have already sworn to serve as Lady Morgan's guardian..."
Samael cleared his throat and tried to give the sisters a graceful way out.
Before he could finish, however, Morgan pulled him behind her once again and stared coldly at the King of Knights.
Then she dropped a bombshell.
"Because he is my husband! He belongs to me! Your question is meaningless!"
"Pfft!"
"Pfft!"
Gareth and Gahoris, who had been drinking with guests elsewhere in the hall, simultaneously sprayed wine all over the two unfortunate people sitting across from them.
"Bang!"
Gawain, who had been patrolling the hall, stumbled and nearly crashed into the table in front of him.
"Crack!"
Agravain, normally stern and composed and known as the "Iron Wall," suffered a violent twitch in his facial muscles as the cup in his hand shattered instantly.
Incidentally, all four of them were, in name, supposed to call Morgan "Mother."
Not only that, but the Knights of the Round Table behind the King of Knights were equally stunned, staring in disbelief.
As for Samael, the man at the center of it all, he looked down at the arm locked around his like an iron clamp.
Under the countless envious, jealous, resentful, and downright ominous stares around him, his stiff face twisted into a strained smile.
He nodded shakily, like an old man suffering from a bad neck.
There was nothing he could do.
It had happened so suddenly that he was completely... numb.
"Elder Sister, is this the fiancé you chose?"
"That's right. I came here today precisely to announce it to you."
"I see. What a pity."
The King of Knights looked between them and merely nodded.
She did not pursue the matter, nor did her emotions visibly change much.
Then she turned toward everyone in the hall and spoke in her usual cool voice.
"Since you have all arrived, let the banquet begin."
Perhaps she was aware that her presence placed too much pressure on the room.
The King of Knights did not remain for long. She soon ascended the stairs to the second floor and sat quietly in a private alcove, distancing herself from the noise like a Divine Spirit looking down upon the mortal world.
With Artoria's overwhelming divine pressure finally gone, the atmosphere on the first floor gradually warmed again under the efforts of the Knights of the Round Table and the assembled lords.
People began moving around and mingling more freely.
Morgan's table, however, became strangely deserted.
Everyone nearby instinctively kept their distance.
Morgan, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the peace immensely. Her appetite improved as she cheerfully sampled the pre-dinner desserts and wine.
Samael, who had been dragged back into his seat like a puppet, stiffly turned his head and cautiously tested the waters.
"You were joking just now... right?"
"What do you think, my dear husband?"
Morgan raised her head slightly.
A delighted smile appeared in her eyes, and she looked more pleased than Samael had ever seen her.
Forget it.
As long as you're happy...
Unable to make sense of the witch's thoughts anymore, Samael helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead and accepted his fate.
But no sooner had he dealt with the King of Knights than a series of gazes filled with very different emotions settled upon him.
Agravain, Gawain, Gareth, and Gahoris in particular looked especially gloomy, their eyes distinctly unfriendly.
After all, no one could be expected to calmly accept suddenly acquiring a new father.
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