At that moment, Guinevere no longer cared how Morgan's consort had died.
All she cared about was what Morgan's vassal territory could help her achieve.
"I heard my little sister promised all the Vassal Kings that Camelot would only issue orders concerning the kingdom's future.
Demanding that the Vassal Territories align their policies with Camelot's—does that truly concern the dynasty's future?"
The cavalry halted outside Kay's command tent, where he currently oversaw matters beyond the city walls. After entering one of the tents, leaving only Guinevere and Morgan inside, Morgan spoke first.
"Don't you think your relentless pressure is becoming too dangerous?"
Dangerous? Guinevere was well aware of the risks, but...
"Sister Morgan, if by 'danger' you mean I'll eventually provoke the Vassal Kings into rebellion, is it possible that this is precisely my intention?"
The tent was furnished with a table, chairs, red tea, and pastries, all brought in by knights guarding the perimeter shortly after their arrival.
"Sister Morgan, since it's just the two of us here, and your influence could genuinely aid my cause, I'll speak more plainly.
Did you know that if all the Vassal Kings had fully obeyed Camelot's orders during this snow disaster, at least thirty percent fewer commoners would have perished in the Vassal Territories?"
Guinevere picked up her red tea, took a small sip, and set it down. She caused death, she manufactured death, but she loathed unnecessary death.
She longed for the children she had gathered to not have to learn the art of forced smiles so young.
"However, I understand that the deaths of commoners hold little significance for the nobles. So let's discuss something more practical.
Sister Morgan, if the Decline of Mystery returns, can Camelot—already stretched thin by its mere prelude—truly withstand a more devastating natural disaster?"
As the words fell, Morgan suddenly held her breath. She knew, of course, that this snow disaster was merely a prelude. As a mage, she was naturally more sensitive to mysterious changes.
"The Vassal Kings have called me the 'Queen of Calamity' and even petitioned to annul my marriage to Lia, violating the Church's doctrine against divorce. These are their rightful acts of retaliation, and I allow them their death throes.
Logically, they must have prepared at least three contingencies:
1. To continue lobbying key knights of the Round Table, urging them to resist my increasingly harsh decrees.
2. To forge alliances among themselves, preparing for a potential large-scale war.
3. To collude with external forces, such as the Holy Church, whose advances I have repeatedly rejected..."
Guinevere had navigated the elimination of human-caused disasters with remarkable ease. She believed that by anticipating every possibility and wielding sufficient power, she could always turn adversity into opportunity.
Natural disasters, however, were different. They couldn't be reasoned with or compromised. Survival depended solely on a nation's accumulated strength and resilience.
"Besides," she added, "when I agreed to marry Lia, Merlin warned me I'd be the 'Queen of Calamity.' But if all I face is being branded as such by the Vassal Kings, I'll find genuine satisfaction in it."
Standing face-to-face, Guinevere smiled as she spoke, having held back her true feelings for far too long. She saw this as an opportunity to finally vent her frustrations, and frankly, she didn't care whether Morgan kept her words secret.
In fact, she hoped Morgan—and Kay, who was now standing outside the tent—would spread her words far and wide. Guinevere longed for them to understand her a little better after hearing her true thoughts.
"Of course, since Lia has already assured the Vassal Kings that Camelot won't launch an offensive, I won't pursue them to the bitter end if they show willingness to understand my intentions and obey orders.
But if they stubbornly rebel or disobey for their own selfish gain, then righteousness lies with Camelot."
These were Guinevere's innermost thoughts. She spoke them now because Morgan's direct inquiry had offered her a chance to finally end the endless bickering at the Round Table.
Guinevere realized that if Morgan, the one who hated the King of Knights most, took the lead in accepting orders, it would set an example for the remaining defiant Vassal Kings, breaking their will to resist.
Hearing Guinevere's words, Morgan sighed and said:
"Guinevere, I understand why you're targeting the Vassal Kings now. You're just a squirrel hoarding nuts before the deep winter, aren't you?"
"But the problem isn't just here...
Don't you think you're the one pushing my sister forward in this whole Vassal King business? You seem more like the King of Camelot than she does.
Don't you think that if you keep forcing her down this path, you two will inevitably clash?
Guinevere, why don't you consider my new proposal? I'm willing to help you conceive a child with the King of Knights and support you with all the power at my disposal—as long as you personally kill her.
Afterward, if you need a bed partner, you can do anything you want to me. I'll let you have your way.
Guinevere, come and be Queen. Rule until your child with the King of Knights comes of age."
Using Magecraft, Morgan ensured these words reached only Guinevere's ears.
As Guinevere stared at Morgan, she took her warning seriously, but she found Morgan's proposal utterly absurd.
"Lady Morgan, has your mind been burned out?"
Guinevere had long understood that if she were the Queen of Camelot, many matters would be simplified. But that would be putting the cart before the horse.
"Lady Morgan, you seem to misunderstand something. I don't value the common people as much as you think, nor do I care about the kingdom as much as you imagine.
The reason I care about both is because I care about Lia."
"If Lia insists on preserving the Vassal Kings throughout the land, and is willing to let the kingdom crumble for it, I can concede.
Even if I were to seek the throne myself, it would only accelerate Camelot's downfall. Your children's loyalty lies solely with Lia."
Guinevere transmitted these words directly into Morgan's mind, just as before.
Yet Morgan merely chuckled, as if Guinevere remained blinded by her own narrow perspective.
"You claim everything you do is for my sister's sake, yet you continue to push her forward yourself. Doesn't this betray your lack of faith in her ability to rule Camelot?
If you keep pushing her, at least to outsiders, it will appear as though the Queen is manipulating state affairs. Should any mistakes occur, they will all be blamed on you, the Queen."
Struck as if by a thunderbolt, Guinevere fell silent.
Morgan had pinpointed the core of the problem: Guinevere's lack of faith in the King of Knights' ability to handle matters, her constant urge to do everything for her.
But for Guinevere, who knew the original future and desperately sought to alter it, there was no easy solution. She genuinely distrusted the King of Knights' judgment in critical matters.
Seeing Guinevere's stunned, bewildered expression, Morgan burst into uproarious laughter, her stomach aching from the force of it. It was the first time she had ever seen Guinevere so utterly helpless.
"So, you want to become King? I don't want you to kill her anymore. Keeping her as a gilded canary would be much better."
Morgan seemed to truly transform into a witch, slowly trying to stir Guinevere's heart.
But...
Guinevere lifted Morgan's chin and said with a disdainful tone:
"Sorry, I have no interest in old women. Besides, I'm fine with taking all the blame."
Because of Morgan's face, Guinevere's insults were restrained, but even so, Morgan's composure snapped again.
No woman likes being called "old" to her face.
She swung a palm at Guinevere, but Guinevere gripped her wrist tightly.
Gritting her teeth, Morgan hissed, "From now on, I'll spend my time mastering close combat."
"Heh, by the time you can beat me in close combat, I'll probably be dead and buried."
Inside the tent, the atmosphere was tense, yet neither woman left.
Outside the tent, Kay had finally understood what Guinevere was thinking about her opposition to the Vassal King system.