Guinevere's blatant affection for Artorius sparked a wave of bitter resentment among the young knights in the escort. They jeered behind his back, labeling him a "fraud" who only knew how to brag about his battle achievements but lacked the courage to accept a proper duel. Artorius turned a deaf ear to their taunts; his only priority right now was staying as far away as possible from this princess, who seemed to be a walking magnet for trouble.
As they rode side-by-side on the return journey, Bedivere couldn't resist teasing him. "It seems Her Highness really likes you, Lis. If you became the New King, I'm sure she'd be more than happy to marry you."
Artorius immediately began to lament. While he acknowledged that Guinevere was breathtakingly beautiful—and had even indulged in a few "Lancelot-style" fantasies—he was a realist. He knew the actual Lancelot had a powerful background, whereas he just wanted to secure a steady future once King Arthur took the throne. He had no desire to get tangled in the Queen's romantic dramas, and he certainly didn't want to be "chopped into mincemeat" by the future King.
He looked at Bedivere and said seriously, "After the reception is over, I'm handing the duties back to you and Sister Kay. I need to keep my distance."
"A princess that beautiful, and you truly have no interest?" Bedivere was genuinely surprised by his decisiveness.
Artorius looked into Bedivere's smiling eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and the words tumbled out before he could stop them: "Sister Bedivere, quit the sarcasm. If I absolutely had to marry someone, I'd much rather marry you."
That sudden confession caused Bedivere to completely short-circuit. The usually gallant and composed girl-knight turned bright red from her cheeks down to her neck. She stammered incoherently before finally blurting out, "I'm not talking to you anymore!" and fleeing ahead on her horse.
Artorius was delighted, ready to strike while the iron was hot and win over his goddess, but he was interrupted by an elegant, perfectly timed voice.
"Master Artorius, could you come here for a moment?"
Guinevere had drawn back the carriage curtain once more, using magecraft to transmit her gentle voice directly into Artorius's ear. He began to suspect the Princess had been eavesdropping on his confession from inside the carriage the whole time. This blatant "interference" with his pursuit of a peaceful life with Bedivere annoyed him, but given her high status, he couldn't exactly snap at her.
Just as Artorius was walking toward the carriage with a look of resignation, a subtle, rapid vibration traveled through the soles of his boots.
His expression instantly shifted from annoyed to lethal. He keenly sensed the vibrations coming from the lush forest to their left and immediately shouted a warning:
"Moore! Sister Bedivere! Everyone, on high alert!"
The knight commander, Bart, realized the danger a split second later. His face paled as he drew his sword and roared, "Prepare for battle! Protect the Princess!"
The first half of this chapter plays like a romantic comedy, only for the tone to shift violently into a tense ambush. Artorius has shown his potential as a "charmer" (even if Guinevere keeps getting in the way), but more importantly, he's displayed a level of perception that far outstrips a veteran like Bart.
It seems Guinevere is about to get the "heroic tale" she was asking for, played out right before her eyes.
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