We returned to the castle in the evening, Artoria asking me to take her to her room. I complied and helped her there, putting her on her bed while I sat on a nearby chair. Artoria looked at me, her eyes showing tender affection. After a moment, she smiled and spoke up.
-"I hope you don't mind being put on the spot like that. I asked everyone to keep quiet."
-"I was surprised, but I'm much more happy than anything else."-I responded to her with a smile.-"So now you are officially my wife?"
She flushed slightly, but nodded.-"Yes, you are my official and only consort."
-"I see. Then please take care of me."
-"Mhmm."-She nodded before standing up and leaving the room in a hurry.-"Wait for a moment."
I looked at her back in amusement, my expectations slowly rising. I calmly waited until I heard the doors open, then close again, this time with a lock. When I was about to turn around, my eyes got covered by someone's hands.
-"It's me."-I heard Artoria's voice.
I nodded before allowing her to pull me toward the bed, my eyes still covered. Soon, I had no more time to care about my lack of view, enjoying what was happening. An hour quickly passed, but then I heard a crash. When I took off the cover from my eyes, I found angry Artoria standing in the doorway. I quickly looked at the person lying in the bed with me, finding a face like Artoria's, just that her hair was white instead of blond.
-"Morgan?"
-"Tsk."-She clicked her tongue.-"Can't you wait, sister?"
Artoria looked at her, her thoughts unreadable, then she closed the doors behind her. What followed would never be spoken about again. Both Artoria and Morgan would always avoid this subject, and since that day, they agreed on an order between them, never allowing me to be in a bedroom with both of them at the same time.
After the coronation, I stayed in Camelot for three more months, helping in setting up the government and dealing with some issues that appeared. Most of Sankta returned to Laterano after training their replacements, leaving Britain in human hands. The flying fortresses remained here temporarily, acting as our hidden card. Now, there were a total of six such fortresses, each fully armed and with its personnel trained, only waiting for the orders.
On the subject of hidden cards, Mageknights, Margaret's cavalry, and Shining healers all decided to convert Sankta, each officially becoming part of Pontifica Cohors Lateran, though they remained stationed in Camelot. I also tasked Cellinia, Margaret, and Shining with expanding their ranks to a full 500 people each, but it'll take years to accomplish.
Something was brewing on Terra; I could feel that through the reports I regularly received. And I was afraid that Talulah would be a catalyst for everything. I already sent some people to prepare some things just in case, but I still hoped that the worst could be avoided. Still, this worry made me unable to just sit still.
-"So you are leaving."-Artoria asked one morning, still lying in my arms.
-"Yes. As you said, I can't just watch my friend suffer."
-"Then I hope you can take something with you."-She stood up from the bed, ignoring the fact that she was naked, and walked to where Excalibur was hanging on the wall. She took it down before taking it out from Avalon and hanging it back, bringing the scabbard to the bed with her.
-"Britain is now peaceful, so I don't need constant protection, but you do."-She placed her hand on my chest, a holy light blooming as the Avalon disappeared inside me.
-"But…"
-"No buts. I'm still protected by it, just can't use its barrier of absolute protection, so as long as no god or being like Vortigern appears, I'll be safe, but you don't plan to just stay here or Terra, right?"
I stayed silent, but since becoming Sankta, Artoria quickly learned how to read my mind.
-"As I thought."-She smiled.-"Who'll be taking with you?"
-"My knights, Mostima, Qingyan, and Guinevere."
-"Guinevere, huh? Well, I somewhat expected that. Take care of her, she is a good girl. But what about Serenity?"
-"I planned just that. I won't let her goodwill go to waste, though I'll still uphold my promise with her. Serenity already received my orders and is currently on Terra."
-"You are sometimes stubborn."-She rolled her eyes at me.-"Let's get up, the food won't eat itself."
I smiled at that, since the introduction of more modern cooking recipes and methods to Britain unleashed Artoria's second nature as a foodie in full force. So we quickly got up and changed into appropriate attire before heading for the canteen.
After eating, Artoria had to return to her duties, while I returned to my room. Inside, I talked for some time with Qingyan about my itinerary for my visit to Yan. She prepared a detailed plan together with the Old Man and the Yanese Ambassador, though there were some issues.
-"Are you sure you want to enter through Lungmen? You know how delicate the situation between the Emperor and that city is."
-"I know, but I don't plan to make that Emperor's life easy."
-"You don't have to do that for me."
-"I still have to put my foot down. I might be his guest this time, but I'm not under him. Not to mention the Ursus that is causing me a headache, I can't have Yan trying to calculate me."
She nodded, but I could feel that she wanted me not to make trouble in her homeland.
-"I promise that I won't do anything against Yan as long as they remain at least neutral."
-"Thank you."
We discussed some more minor details, but the general plan was already finished. After that meeting, I planned to find Morgan to discuss some last things about handling tasks I'll no longer be responsible for, but I was stopped by Altrouge and Arcueid.
-"Eno, I heard you are about to leave."-Arcueid started without any preamble.
-"Yes."
-"Take us with you."
-"Good, but you'll have to agree to follow my rules."
-"Sure."-Both of them nodded instantly.
-"Also, on Terra, there are other Vampires. I tell you that to make sure you won't cause trouble for, or with, them."
They nodded, though I felt that no matter what, they would be a source of trouble for me.
Before leaving, both of them drank some of my blood, enjoying it as if it were a fine wine. When they were gone, I walked to Morgan's office, finding her working on some documents. I waited for her to finish before speaking.
-"I'll be leaving tomorrow. I hope you can assign my tasks to others."
-"Already did."-She looked at me with her usual cold calmness.-"Anything else?"
-"Yes. I came to bid you farewell properly."
She nodded, pointing to the chair on the opposite side of the desk. She took out a chessboard and placed it between us, arranging the pieces before making the first move. We exchanged a few moves before the situation on the board became visible.
-"Passive as always. No matter how good your defense is, if you can't leverage it, you'll be defeated sooner or later."
-"Indeed, but defense is sometimes for something more than just victory, after all, the king is also just a piece on the board."
-"But the game is just a game; if you don't follow its rules, you are worse than a loser."
-"True. But looking only at what's on the board can make you miss who your opponent is. Check."
-"But I indeed share your feelings that the game on the board is but a way to communicate for the players."-She easily resolved my check.
-"Then what do you see through our game?"
-"That you are in a hurry, but seek stability over quick progress."
-"Quite generous assessment."
The game continued for a few more moves before we arrived at a stalemate. I looked at the board, where despite my king being safe and my pieces being more numerous, I had no move that was possible in the current state.
-"Eno, I believe that Artoria handed you her scabbard, so I don't want to lose to her."-She stood up as I was still observing the board.
She walked toward the bookcase in the room, taking out an expensive-looking scroll. I could see that this scroll was new, made a few days ago, without any embellishment or decorations, just neat letters filling the entire length. She looked it over, confirming everything was correct, then gave it to me.
-"Here."
I took it from her, looking at its contents.
-"Is this..?"
-"Rhongomyniad. The spell I created using your spear as the reference."-She smiled as she looked into my eyes; her smile looked cold, but I felt this was only for outsiders; for me, this smile was charming.-"Artoria only worries about you, giving you something to save you from harm, but I know that you're not so passive to take a beating, so I hope my gift can make you fight back."
-"Thank you."
-"No need to thank me, just make sure to bring me some interesting spells back."-She looked down, lowering her voice slightly.-"And be sure to return often."
-"Of course."
A few hours later, I walked into my mansion in Azure Dream, where my entourage was already waiting for me.
-"Eno."-Mostima greeted me, waving me over.
-"I see everyone's here. Good, let's start then. I believe everyone already have understanding of our next steps, right?"
-"Yes, deal with the mess of Reunion and Yan."-Cellinia summed it up in one sentence.
-"Yes, but there are two more things that need to be achieved, just more discreetly. Old Man wants me to meet someone in Yan, a person not exactly on the Emperor's side."
-"May I know who that person is?"-Qingyan asked, as this was the first time she heard about this.
-"Sui."-I watched how her face changed from cautious to outright shocked.-"For a few reasons, I need to consult them about something. Old Man used his contacts to arrange for someone to arrange everything. We are to meet them in Lungmen before going to where the Sui fragments are."
-"I see…"-She nodded, but I could see that she was unsure what to make of it.
-"Don't worry, I'm not going to help those guys who wish to harm Yan; I just need some information and answers."
She nodded, relieved by my words, but still a little worried.
-"The second matter is located on the Iberian coast, or even in the Ægirian ocean. I need to find some data from ancient ruins and laboratories."
-"What kind of data?"-Lemuen asked as she had access to the knowledge from the Lateran Archives.
-"Fosterer Project and Predecessor Lu."
She thought for a moment but shook her head, not recognizing either of those terms.
-"For the second matter, I believe that we can send some people to search for us. No need to do it personally."-Cellinia pointed out.
-"Yes, but my presence might be necessary in the laboratories to access some data or locations."
-"Leave this job to me then."-Mostima smiled.-"I'll arrange the searches and secure the ruins."
-"Please."-I nodded.-"Lemuen, this time you'll be accompanying me to Yan."
She nodded with a gentle expression on her face.
-"The rest of you can arrange everything as you see fit, you can travel with me or stay in Azure Dream, coming out only for some personal occasions."
After a short discussion, it was decided that Lemuen, Qingyan, Guinevere, and my Knights would be part of my official entourage. Altrouge and Arcueid would only follow me in an unofficial capacity, spending most of their time in Azure Dream.
-"What about Rhodes Island?"-Lemuen asked after suddenly.-"They are doing something sneaky around Lungmen and Chernobog."
-"Let them be. If our purposes align, we can work together; if not, just try to avoid them."
Everyone nodded, well aware that my relationship with Rhodes Island was complicated.
We discussed some other minor details before ending this meeting. I directly returned to Laterano, dealing with some matters there and preparing for my journey, when I received an urgent report.
-"Son! There is important news."-Sankta Official entered my office in a hurry.
-"What's the matter?"
-"Chernobog. The Reunion launched a hostile takeover of Chernobog. The whole city is engulfed in fighting, as the Ursus military is mobilizing its armies."
This information made my eyes narrow.
-"Details."
The official nodded and explained what happened and things we knew, pointing out what information comes from what source. After he finished, I sat brooding over what I heard. Calling this situation not good would be an understatement. The direct hostility cut off almost any way for us to get involved publicly, while covert assistance wouldn't be able to accomplish anything major.
More importantly, the speed at which the news was spreading and some strange details made it obvious that this whole situation was some conspiracy. Ursus' reaction was also suspect; mobilizing the army sounded logical, but no rescue attempts for the civilians showed that there was more going on behind the scenes.
-"Son."-Old Man walked to my office, his face showing concern.
-"Old Man, I hope you can keep your Legatus put for a moment."
He looked at me, his eyes thoughtful.-"You plan to join the mess in Chernobog?"
-"Yes. Ursus is too full of itself, Yan is too proud, Victoria is too greedy, and Columbia is too blinded by their research. Time to give Terra a shock to wake them up from their delusions."
-"Are you sure?"
-"Prepare for your Summit of Nations, Old Man. Time to point out some common enemy for Terra."
-"Common enemy?"
-"The sea."-I pointed to the Ægirian ocean.-"Since the silence, we have no method of knowing what is happening under the surface, but both of us know that something is wrong there. While I make a mess in Yan and Ursus, I hope you and Mostima can secure enough proof to establish an international task force.
-"Many won't see a point in this task force against a danger that is far away from them."
-"But other threats are closer to their homes. The ocean is only to buy us some friendship with Iberia and possibly the Ægir; the Collapsals can also be addressed."
-"I see, first secure allies close to us and work with others after that. Good, I'll make sure everything goes smoothly."
-"And Old Man, leave the diplomatic matters with Ursus and Yan to me. I won't let the war happen, though I will most likely start one."
-"Son, I'll follow your will as always, just know that if you need any help, be sure to speak up."
-"Thank you, Old Man."
I looked at the Pope, who represented the whole of Laterano, yet always supported me no matter what. Thanks to Sankta like him, this cage of identity was tolerable, so now it was my turn to help him realize his dream.