That very night, Guinevere's party rushed back to Camelot City, completely missing the elaborate welcoming ceremony Gawain had spent the entire afternoon preparing.
Upon returning to the castle, the King of Knights, eager to see Guinevere as soon as possible, first retired to the Throne Room to convene a Round Table meeting—the first in four months with Guinevere's participation.
There, she learned about the Kingdom's situation over the past four months and understood what Guinevere, Lancelot, and the other knights had accomplished during the recent natural disaster.
Finally, the King of Knights received the memorials from the Vassal Kings and heard numerous knights vouch for Guinevere's merits.
At this moment, all eyes turned to her, wondering whether she would reprimand Guinevere to appease the Vassal Kings or rebuke the Vassal Kings to defend Guinevere.
"Guinevere..."
After a long period of contemplation with her eyes closed, the King of Knights called out her name. But instead of scolding her, she simply stared at her for a long moment, speechless.
"Guinevere, let's draft a formal decree together. We'll pledge that as long as the Vassal Kings don't rebel or refuse Camelot's commands, Camelot will never initiate hostilities against them. Let's record this oath in writing.
This serves as an explanation to them, and also to some of the knights under our command."
On the surface, this appeared to be the King of Knights yielding to the Vassal Kings. But to Guinevere's ears, it sounded more like reassurance.
Otherwise, the King of Knights wouldn't have needed to specifically mention that it also served as an explanation to some of the knights under their command.
Guinevere knew that most knights were nobles, and through convoluted family ties, many were actually related to the Vassal Kings.
Her earlier anxiety stemmed from her understanding that appeasement was necessary.
Moreover, what pleased Guinevere most was that, in addition to the pledge of non-aggression, the King of Knights had added a clause stating that the Vassal Kings could not refuse Camelot's commands.
"Your Majesty, are you certain about adding the 'refuse Camelot's commands' clause? This would interfere with the Vassal Kings' internal affairs, effectively demanding their submission to Camelot. They're unlikely to agree."
"Then we'll consider it an act of rebellion."
At this, the Round Table fell silent. Even the Round Table Knight who had raised the objection was left speechless.
After a moment of silence, the King of Knights scrutinized the knights' expressions. Satisfied that she had their majority support, she continued:
"Didn't you all support Guinevere's decision to execute King Rience's entire family? Then you must understand that without Guinevere's decisive action, how many lives would have been lost across Great Britain had the plague spread unchecked?
It is their foolishness that forces me to impose this condition!
However, I can assure you further: any commands issued by Camelot to the Vassal Kings will be of critical importance to the Kingdom's survival."
The knights could see that while the King of Knights sought to reassure them, she was also furious at the Vassal Kings' obstinacy. Though their King was sometimes rigid in her methods, she had never hesitated when lives were at stake.
The King of Knights was a knight, but above all, she was a sovereign.
Her royal path had been forged the moment she drew her sword...
A King must protect her people, even if it means slaying the very existence that threatens them most.
Artoria's royal path was extreme, burdening her with an overwhelming weight. Yet she did not fear bloodshed; she only opposed unnecessary slaughter—that which violated the knightly virtues.
Guinevere's slaughter of King Rience's entire family did not violate the code of chivalry. Most importantly, she had chosen to defy her own orders rather than kill the most vulnerable member of the family—the little girl.
"Very well," the King of Knights declared. "If there are no further objections, we shall conclude this discussion."
Around the Round Table, knights descended from various Vassal Kings exchanged uneasy glances. They valued both blood ties and loyalty to their Monarch. They knew the King of Knights would not back down.
King Rience's foolish negligence that allowed the plague to spread had undoubtedly infuriated her. Moreover, the King of Knights had stated that any orders she issued to the Vassal Kings would pertain to matters vital to the nation's survival.
They were willing to trust the King of Knights.
"Your Majesty, we shall obey your command."
-
After exchanging glances, the knights responded with unanimous agreement. Watching them, the King of Knights secretly exhaled in relief, while Guinevere, seated beneath the Round Table, playfully traced a tick mark on her own waist.
Through the thick armor, the King of Knights felt Guinevere's gesture but didn't understand its meaning.
When she looked over, Guinevere smiled warmly and playfully stuck out her tongue, signaling that the Queen approved of her choice.
"Hmph."
Unable to suppress a smile, the King of Knights let it slip. But under the Round Table Knights' suddenly suggestive gazes, her expression immediately reverted to solemnity.
Since the knights believed she was better when she showed more emotion, she had been trying to express herself more openly. However, due to her lack of practice and constant worry about making inappropriate expressions, the King of Knights had repeatedly suppressed her attempts to show emotion.
"Bedivere, as the King's Personal Knight, do you think the King is now slightly more endearing and significantly more popular?"
Guinevere asked, genuinely finding the King of Knights utterly adorable. She desperately wanted to drag her back to their chambers right then and reward her with herself.
When Guinevere's question fell upon Bedivere, the Personal Knight who had accompanied the King of Knights to the North and greeted her upon her return, the smile on his face froze instantly. Seeing this, Tristan, who had become a close friend of Bedivere over their long association, burst into laughter.
"Your Highness," Tristan said, chuckling, "this isn't a question Bedivere should answer. If you're so eager to be alone with the King, just say so! We all understand. After all, the King's welcome today, and the choice he made, must have pleased you immensely, wouldn't you agree?"
"Indeed, immensely pleased," Guinevere replied with a radiant smile.
Guinevere was far more popular than the King of Knights; every Round Table Knight present would agree.
After these words from the increasingly cheerful "Child of Sadness," everyone began to take their leave, starting with little Miss Gareth, who couldn't understand the adults' conversation. They resolved to discuss everything further the next day.
"Your Majesty, may you and the Queen find happiness together."
Kay, ever mischievous, winked and delivered this remark, despite knowing the King of Knights' true gender. Following him, Gawain, Gaheris, and others departed, echoing similar sentiments.
Yet among the many Round Table Knights, some remained unaware of the King's true gender. When these delicate topics arose, they would earnestly wish their King and Queen would soon bless Camelot—and themselves—with a prince or princess.
Soon, the bedchamber belonging to the King of Knights and Guinevere had been tidied up, the room as fresh and clean as ever.
Only the King of Knights wore a stiff expression, her long-dormant guilt toward Guinevere resurfacing.
"I'm sorry... I can't give you a child..."
"How would you know if you don't even try?"
"Guinevere, it's not about trying or not. It's a fundamental matter of procreation. If you don't understand that—"
Mmph!
Inside the chamber, Guinevere had long lost patience. She planned to kiss the King of Knights to her heart's content first.