That night, in the King and Queen's chambers, Guinevere was once again combing the King of Knights' hair, untangling the golden tresses that had been coiled up all day and smoothing them into soft waves. By now, Guinevere's justifications for appointing the Vassal Kings had spread like wildfire among the knights.
Kay had indeed fulfilled her wishes, repeating her carefully planted words to several close-knit knights, ensuring they reached the intended ears.
"Guinevere, thank you for your hard work. I should have been the one to play the villain."
Having accepted Guinevere's ability to see the future, the King of Knights attributed her recent, drastic actions to her having witnessed a future far too bleak to bear.
Thus, everything Guinevere had done truly fell under the King's own responsibilities as ruler.
Sitting ramrod straight with perfect posture, the King of Knights felt Guinevere lean down and give a quick peck to the ahoge (cowlick) on the crown of her head. Her entire body froze.
Just then, Guinevere spoke through a mouthful of food:
"What's mine is yours between partners. Just don't think I'm overstepping my bounds."
Guinevere shared her concerns about Morgan with the King of Knights, omitting the part about Morgan wanting to usurp her throne and keep her confined.
Guinevere understood that if the King of Knights were willing to abandon her duties, she wouldn't be herself anymore.
From the King of Knights' earliest days learning to speak, she had been brainwashed into believing she would one day rule all of Great Britain. She had long resolved to live not as a person, but solely as the King of Great Britain.
Any changes to the King of Knights could only be made within the framework of her royal role.
"Lia, you've been working tirelessly these past few days too. With Agravain away, the entire weight of the kingdom's affairs has fallen on your shoulders."
Overall, the King of Knights focused on maintaining the status quo, while Guinevere prepared for the future.
"This is what a king is meant to do. I haven't suffered at all. Besides, Sir Agravain will be returning soon. Just as you predicted, the Barbarians prefer returning north to settling here. According to Sir Agravain's report, only some elderly, weak, and orphaned individuals are willing to stay and cultivate the borderlands."
As Guinevere spoke, she tidied the King of Knights' hair. Her long, loose tresses lent her a touch of softness, yet this gentleness clashed with her regal bearing, prompting Guinevere to rearrange her hairstyle.
"Hmm, this works better. If too many had stayed, Camelot wouldn't have been able to support them. Now that the snowstorms have subsided, we can no longer bleed the Vassal Kings dry. The funds we used to buy grain will soon... well, run short."
Guinevere carefully chose her words, but these past few days, the King of Knights had become even more acutely aware of Camelot's dire financial straits than she was.
Beyond the northern Barbarians, Camelot had also provided substantial aid to newly reclaimed Ireland during the blizzard.
To put it bluntly, the King of Knights had even harbored a secret hope that some Vassal Kings would rebel.
Yet she understood that milking the Vassal Kings was no long-term solution. For Camelot to endure, they needed the formal retreat of mystery to be delayed and for the kingdom to enjoy better harvests in the coming years.
"Guinevere, do you have any idea when the formal retreat of mystery might occur?"
"I don't know the exact date, but it should be within the next twenty years at the latest. Lia, could you ask Merlin? He might have a clearer grasp of the details."
In her previous life, Guinevere had never known the exact year when the mysterious force would wane. She could only guess a general timeframe. As the King of Knights fell silent, she realized she couldn't rely on Merlin either.
She stood up, gently removed the King of Knights' stray hair from her mouth, and used her magic to dry it. Watching the hair spring back to its upright position, Guinevere clicked her tongue softly. She shifted her arms to encircle the King of Knights' neck, pressing their cheeks together.
"Lia, you really are different from Lady Morgan. She's so much more womanly than you."
The King of Knights froze, an indescribable emotion churning within her. She knew the statement was true, yet she disliked hearing such words from Guinevere's lips.
Unable to articulate her conflicting emotions, she adopted her usual stern expression and replied in a flat, monotonous tone:
"Guinevere, do you wish I were more womanly?
As I've said before, in the bedroom, I will indulge your every whim.
But outside the bedroom, I can only be King.
Or do you truly want my sister instead?"
The King of Knights couldn't help but say it. Though she claimed to trust Guinevere, her growing affection for her only intensified her worries about Morgan's allure.
In her heart, the more feminine Morgan was the one who should be receiving romantic attention.
Yet as the words left her lips, a pang shot through her chest. She tried to pull away from Guinevere's embrace, surprised by her own petty reaction.
It was partly rejoicing in the King of Knights' jealousy and partly regret over her teasing, but Guinevere had to find a topic to speak about.
She tightened her grip on the King of Knights, preventing her from rising, and lowered her head to gently nip at her neck, leaving a damp, barely visible mark.
"Lia, I've told you more than once: I have no interest in married women. I even said it to Lady Morgan's face—I have no interest in older women either."
"She didn't kill you?"
"At close range, I could subdue her with a single strike!" Guinevere said, her tone still proud. Noticing that the King of Knights had stopped trying to pull away and seeing the mark on her neck, Guinevere suddenly swallowed hard, mustered her courage, and said:
"Lia, I love you precisely because you lack femininity, because of your righteous and awe-inspiring presence."
This didn't seem to be the first time Guinevere had confessed her feelings to the King of Knights.
The King of Knights' heart skipped a beat, a blush spreading from her earlobes across her entire face, and her carefully maintained composure crumbled.
"Guinevere, I... I..."
"If you can't say it now, you can wait until later, okay?"
"Guinevere, I love you."
Originally, the King of Knights had only intended to ask Guinevere about her relationship with Morgan—why they had appeared at the Training Ground with her dressed as a young girl.
But now, Guinevere had easily stirred her emotions, and the King of Knights found herself moved by Guinevere's liking.
As for the King of Knights herself, she had long understood what "loving" someone meant, and she was not a soft, gentle girl unable to speak her mind.
As soon as she confessed her feelings, Guinevere froze, then recovered, and began jumping up and down like a child. The King of Knights' earlier worries vanished like smoke.
Because one cares, one is concerned; and because one is sure of the other's concern, one is willing to trust the other's feelings.
Now, the King of Knights maintained her smile, her thoughts drifting to Morgan's hardships over the years. She sincerely hoped that Guinevere could truly help Morgan live a brighter life.
"Guinevere, did you specifically mention my sister just to confess your feelings to me?"
"Mmm-hmm, yes, exactly! I could tell Lia wanted to ask but was holding back. Besides, I felt that no matter how I explained, it wouldn't convey my feelings as clearly as having you confirm them for yourself."
Guinevere had discerned the King of Knights' unspoken desires, but she had also been wanting to clarify her own feelings. Just as her heart fluttered with uncertainty, the King of Knights' lips curved into an even wider smile. She pulled Guinevere into a warm embrace, saying:
"Guinevere, do what you need to do."
Their eyes met, locked in a tender embrace. As the atmosphere gradually turned pink, Guinevere spoke first:
"Lady Morgan... she truly is a remarkable person. Even after I criticized her over the Vassal King issue, she still offered her help."
"What about the succession issue?"
"She remains unwilling to budge on that."
The matter of the Vassal Kings was crucial to Camelot's future. After Guinevere voiced her concerns, Morgan, too, acknowledged the validity of her ideals.
Sister Morgan, after all, cared deeply about the kingdom's well-being.
As for the succession issue, she was in no hurry compared to Guinevere and the King of Knights.