Altria's Confusion
Altria stood on the battlefield, her mind half on the fight and half elsewhere. She couldn't help but think, I'm so hungry... I can barely summon the strength to fight. Her thoughts shifted to something more motivating, No, I must push through. After all, Her Majesty Morgan promised that if we win, I can do whatever I want. The thought of victory and a feast to follow fueled her resolve, sharpening her strikes against the enemy. No one will stop me from reaching that meal. That's simply impossible, she declared in her heart.
However, there was something strange she couldn't shake off. King Leodegrance's gaze seemed unusually intense. Is he planning a sneak attack? she wondered, continuing her assault while guarding herself against any sudden moves. The battlefield demanded her focus, yet the odd feeling remained, making her stay cautious.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, King Ryan was initially wary, expecting reinforcements to arrive at any moment. But as the battle dragged on, his confidence grew. He had ordered his forces to attack without reservation, and his magicians had probed the area, finding no trace of enemy reinforcements. This discovery relaxed King Ryan, and he began to contemplate the future.
"This enemy is quite formidable," he mused, thinking aloud. "If we manage to capture him, perhaps I can persuade him to serve me. With his strength, our army would be unstoppable." He chuckled at the thought, and the jesters at his side, ever attentive, chimed in.
"Your Majesty, why are you laughing?" one asked.
"I'm laughing at the fact that the enemy has no reinforcements," King Ryan said with a grin. "Imagine if a second army were to appear behind us now... we'd be doomed!" His jesters joined in the laughter, but their merriment was cut short.
From the distance, an army suddenly appeared. King Ryan's laughter ceased abruptly as he turned to his magician in disbelief.
"Didn't you say there were no enemies nearby?" he demanded.
The magician, equally shocked, stammered, "It's possible... that their magician is far stronger than me."
King Ryan narrowed his eyes. "And you couldn't mention this earlier?"
"I didn't know!" the magician exclaimed, looking genuinely distressed.
"Well, what do we do now?" King Ryan asked, panic creeping into his voice. He could see Lott's forces advancing rapidly.
"Perhaps... we could order the guards to counterattack," the magician suggested weakly. "It might buy us some time."
"Fine," King Ryan conceded, though he wasn't convinced. He ordered his guards to charge toward Lott's army, hoping to stop the knight at the forefront.
He watched the figure leading the charge, comforting himself with false hope. "Surely, we won't see another knight as powerful as the one over there, right?"
But the knight leading the charge wasn't Lott—it was Galahad. In one swift, decisive blow, Galahad cut down the leader of King Ryan's guard as if he were nothing. King Ryan's heart sank. This knight is even more formidable, he thought.
He spun around to consult his magician once more, only to find that the man had vanished. "Where did he go?" King Ryan muttered angrily. "These magicians have no loyalty!" With a heavy sigh, he cursed under his breath, realizing his predicament. If even his magician had fled, it was time to save himself.
"Damn it!" he spat, before turning and fleeing the battlefield. His mind raced with thoughts of the future. I can't die here. I still have troops back home. If I survive today, I can rebuild, regroup, and return. With that, King Ryan disappeared, abandoning his army.
Seeing their leader run, the soldiers of Ryan's army lost their will to fight. Faced with a three-pronged assault from Lott, Altria, and King Leodegrance, the enemy forces quickly fell apart. Out of thousands, fewer than a thousand men managed to escape.
Once the dust had settled, the Allied forces gathered together. King Leodegrance approached Lott and Morgan, a grateful smile on his face. "I am deeply thankful, King Lott, Queen Morgan. Your timely intervention saved my castle from being overrun by King Ryan."
Lott, ever diplomatic, responded seriously, "We are allies. Your enemies are my enemies. I couldn't sit idly by and watch you fall under attack." His words were sincere, but King Leodegrance couldn't help but note Lott's sly confidence.
Meanwhile, Altria had been frowning throughout the conversation. Suddenly, she spoke up. "Your Majesty, King Leodegrance, there is still an enemy in your army."
"What!?" King Leodegrance exclaimed in surprise.
Altria pointed toward a spot not far behind King Leodegrance. "I've felt it for a while. Someone has been watching me."
Everyone turned to look in the direction Altria indicated. There, standing amidst the soldiers, was a strikingly beautiful girl, her bright eyes fixated on Altria. The girl's intense gaze hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Daughter?" King Leodegrance called out in surprise.
Is that... Guinevere? Lott thought to himself, as he watched the interaction unfold.
Guinevere, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, approached Altria with a warm smile. Her eyes sparkled with interest as she asked, "What's your name, Sir Knight? And... are you married? How old are you?"
"My name is Altria. I'm unmarried and sixteen years old," Altria replied earnestly, a bit perplexed by the questioning.
Both Lott and Morgan, standing nearby, exchanged shocked glances. Is she... is Guinevere interested in Altria? They both wondered silently.
Altria, on the other hand, was deeply confused. Why is she asking me this? I'm not the commander. Shouldn't she be talking to Lott or Morgan if she's grateful? she thought, glancing nervously at Guinevere. Does she want to reward me for something? But that should go through His Majesty Lott first...
As Altria's bewilderment grew, Guinevere merely smiled wider. What a young and innocent knight, she thought, entertained by his confusion.