Artorius realized that his professional career plan of "siding with King Arthur and quietly amassing a fortune" had likely gone up in smoke. In a desperate attempt to salvage the situation, he tried to explain to Bart that the kiss earlier was nothing more than a misunderstanding—a fluke. However, Bart had already donned a knowing, supportive grin, the kind a matchmaker wears when a plan comes together perfectly.
In Bart's eyes, this young knight wasn't just a combat powerhouse who could literally tear a Demonic Boar apart with his bare hands; his looks and demeanor were impeccable as well. The commander was already mentally picturing King Leodegrance holding his future grandchildren, and he even took a moment to prematurely congratulate Artorius on successfully drawing the sword during the Selection Ceremony. Facing Bart's "prospective father-in-law" level of enthusiasm, Artorius felt a bone-deep exhaustion settle over him.
As he returned to his own unit, the young knights who had previously harbored hostility toward him because of Guinevere now avoided his gaze entirely. Some even offered fawning, sycophantic smiles. Moore, the little brat, decided to rub salt in the wound by coming up to "congratulate the Young Master on bagging the Princess," only to be met with a verbal lashing from Artorius.
The words Artorius truly wanted to say were meant for his childhood friend, Bedivere. He looked at her as she stood there, still shaken from the danger he had faced and scolding him for being so reckless. Seeing his chance, he tried to seize the moment to confess:
"Sister Bedivere, you know perfectly well that the one I actually like is—"
However, the pure-hearted Bedivere seemed to sense the direction the conversation was taking. Before he could finish his sentence, her face turned bright red. She stammered out a flimsy excuse and bolted. Watching her frantic silhouette disappear into the distance, Artorius stood there with his hand frozen in mid-air. He let out a soulful, internal cry: I just wanted to confess! Why is it so damn hard?!
Having fled back to her position, Bedivere's behavior gave her feelings away in front of the Knight Commander, Mandel. While Mandel sighed at his young lady's extreme shyness—noting that she had failed to catch a confession at such a critical moment—he could see that the feelings between the two were mutual. He believed that as long as Artorius didn't go and pull that "Sword of Selection," the two of them being together was only a matter of time.
Artorius's current situation had become incredibly delicate:
Regarding Guinevere: The misunderstanding was massive. It was at the point where the entire country probably thought he was the future Prince Consort.
Regarding Bedivere: The feelings were mutual, yet her shyness was a constant "interrupt" to his confession.
The Selection Ceremony: This was the point where all these contradictions would finally collide.
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