The Ector household typically dined in a grand hall dominated by a massive long table. The room was spacious, and the table stretched across it like a wooden bridge.
When Artorius and Kay arrived, one after the other, the maids were already busy delivering freshly prepared breakfast to the table. Though it was technically a morning meal, the sheer quantity and variety of food made it look more like a lavish dinner.
"Foster Father."
Seated at the head of the table was an elderly man with hair and a beard as white as snow, yet his eyes remained sharp and full of vitality.
This was Sir Ector.
He was Kay's biological father and the adoptive father of both Artorius and Artoria.
In truth, Artorius had wanted to call him "Dad" more than once. However, Ector had strictly corrected him early on, stating that while he and Artoria could even call him by his name if they wished, they were absolutely forbidden from calling him "Father."
Artorius had never quite understood why.
It wasn't as if Ector didn't treat them like his own children. In fact, it was quite the opposite—Ector treated Artorius and Artoria far better than he treated Kay. On a daily basis, Ector would fuss over the two of them while practically leaving Kay to her own devices, as if her well-being was an afterthought as long as she was still breathing.
He provided them with the finest tutors. Whenever Artorius showed the slightest hint of laziness, Ector would look heartbroken and pull him aside for a deep heart-to-heart, urging him to work hard so he could inherit the family estate one day.
Kay, on the other hand, skipped classes whenever she felt like it and constantly sneaked out to play with her friends, yet Ector never breathed a word of protest.
Crucially, Kay didn't seem to mind. Despite Ector's blatant favoritism toward Artorius and Artoria, she remained close with all of them. To her, this strange dynamic seemed perfectly natural.
"Ah, Lis is here."
Ector appeared to be brooding over something, his brow furrowed in a deep, serious scowl. The maids were so intimidated that they barely dared to breathe, treading lightly as they set down the plates.
But when he saw Artorius, the stern mask on Ector's face softened into a smile.
"Why are you up so late?"
"Artoria insisted on looking after the newborn foal last night, so I went with her. We ended up falling asleep in the stables and lost track of the time."
"...Lis, you'll be an adult in three days."
Ector's head began to ache. He had gotten his hopes up for nothing! He had briefly entertained the thought that Artorius had finally matured and spent the night chasing one of the maids—instead, he had been out looking at a horse with that silly girl, Artoria.
"Back in my day, most noble bastards your age already had several children of their own."
"Forget your day, Dad. Even now, half the guys I know in Camelot have a flock of mistresses and illegitimate kids," Kay chimed in as she sat down next to Artorius. "They still have the nerve to act like 'gentlemen' whenever they're around me or Bedivere. It makes me want to gag."
"Did I ask for your input?!"
Ector shot his daughter an annoyed glare before turning back to Artorius with a warm, fatherly expression.
He spoke with great earnestness. "Lis, don't listen to her. We men must ensure our family legacy has an heir. It's only natural to seek out many women and father many children once you have the means to do so."
Kay: "?" Am I even your biological daughter?
Kay knew exactly why her father—who was fiercely loyal to the late King—was so worried. He feared Artorius would follow in the footsteps of his father, Uther Pendragon.
In his youth, Uther had been so consumed by his conquests and duties that he neglected women entirely. It wasn't until he was much older that he fell in love at first sight with someone else's wife. With Merly's help, he snatched the woman away, eventually fathering Artorius and Artoria.
Then, he died just two years later.
He had left the young siblings behind, forcing Ector to raise them in secret. Merly had proclaimed the "Selection Ceremony" to the public specifically to buy time until the siblings were old enough to inherit the kingdom.
But Dad, is it really okay to treat me like this? I'm your actual flesh and blood! Kay thought bitterly.
"Don't worry, Foster Father," Artorius said confidently. "As soon as the Selection Ceremony is over, I'll find someone to give you ten or twenty fat grandsons."
"If you can actually do that, it would be for the best. Speaking of the ceremony... what are your thoughts on it?"
"Foster Father, here is how I see it..."
Seeing Artorius suddenly perk up and Ector lean in with expectation, a mischievous, almost wicked smile tugged at the corner of Kay's mouth.
Hehehe.
Here it comes. This is exactly why I stayed to eat with them!
Go ahead, old man. Keep playing favorites and see where it gets you!
"I think the new King will most likely be some minor knight with no real power," Artorius explained. "Once he pulls the sword, he'll probably struggle to find followers. That's our chance! We should support him with everything we've got and become his inner circle."
"With that connection, our family will—"
"Stop, stop, stop!"
"Hmm? What is it, Foster Father? Do you see a flaw in my theory?"
A flaw? This is a complete reversal of the natural order!
Looking at Artorius's innocent face, Ector's eye twitched. He couldn't help but ask, "Have you never considered... pulling the sword yourself?"
"Why would I do that?"
"What do you mean, 'why'?"
"Why would I ever want to pull that sword?"
"Huh?"
"Think about it, Foster Father," Artorius said as if explaining something obvious. "Given the current state of Britain, being the King is a nightmare job. It's much better to be a high-ranking minister. We follow the 'New King's' brilliant lead, and if he succeeds, we're the founding heroes of the nation. If he fails, we just keep our heads down, preserve our strength, and continue living in luxury. Isn't that better than being the King?"
Ector opened his mouth to retort, but he found himself at a loss for words. He couldn't exactly say, "But you are the 'New King' from Lady Merly's prophecy!"
"Foster Father, why the face? I don't think I said anything wrong. Or did you find a hole in my logic you'd like me to fix? Foster Father? Sir Ector?!"
"That's enough, Lis. I... I just suddenly remembered something very sad. I need to be alone."
Unable to find a logical counter-argument, Ector covered his face in agony. When he had first accepted the two children from the late King and the Court Mage, he never could have imagined this day.
One was too earnest and simple.
The other was too sharp for his own good.
Had he somehow managed to ruin both potential heirs?
It was over. Everything was over.
Ector realized he could no longer see any future for Camelot.
Your Majesty... I have failed you!
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