The Price of Power
Guinevere, standing before her father King Leodegrance, was resolute. "Father, I want to join the Knights of the Round Table."
Leodegrance was taken aback. "To whom? Does she want to go out by herself? What is this going to do? My daughter, is she planning to run away from home?" He was worried about the dangers outside.
Guinevere, undeterred, declared, "Yes, I want to join the Knights. His Majesty Morgan asked me to join, saying that it would allow me to meet Altria every day and perhaps even win her hand in marriage."
King Leodegrance's confusion deepened. "Really? Are you sure?"
Guinevere nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, if you don't believe me, you can ask Her Majesty Morgan."
Leodegrance was troubled by his daughter's decision. He thought to himself: First, his daughter might be emotionally distressed; second, it seemed more severe than just a fleeting fancy; and third, Morgan was scheming.
"Daughter, if you join the Knights of the Round Table, you will be part of her manipulation," Leodegrance warned.
"Manipulation? Will Her Majesty Morgan prevent me from being with Altria?" Guinevere asked anxiously.
"No, she won't stop you from marrying Altria," King Leodegrance reassured her after some thought. He was confident no one could stop his subordinates from marrying.
"So, what's the problem?" Guinevere asked.
King Leodegrance's mind raced. He worried that if Guinevere joined the Knights of the Round Table, she would become part of Camelot, which might affect his own family's interests. He shared his concerns with Guinevere.
"Oh, so Morgan's manipulation is like this!" Guinevere realized.
"Yes..." King Leodegrance said, relieved that his daughter understood.
"But Altria is a staunch supporter of Morgan. Why would I betray Morgan when she won't betray her?" Guinevere replied.
Leodegrance's expression froze. "What do you mean?"
Guinevere continued, "Don't worry, Father. I will win Altria's heart and make sure we do well in the Knights of the Round Table. I will prove myself through my deeds."
King Leodegrance thought silently to himself, "From what I see, it seems like you're the one being swept along rather than you doing the sweeping."
The following day, King Leodegrance observed Morgan and Lott with suspicion. Morgan, covering her face with a fan and looking triumphant, seemed to be enjoying herself. Lott, puzzled by Morgan's demeanour, stared back.
Morgan chuckled inwardly, "Lucky dog, come on, I am at a loss here, but you give me revenge."
King Leodegrance, angered by Lott's stare, tried to use his intense gaze to intimidate him. As they exchanged heated glances, Altria entered the room.
Altria noticed the tense atmosphere and quickly addressed the matter. "Your Majesty Lott, King Ryan is mobilizing his troops again. He intends to challenge us once more."
Both Lott and King Leodegrance turned their attention to Altria. While King Leodegrance was worried, Lott's expression turned excited.
"Just waiting for them to come," Lott said with enthusiasm. He instructed, "Distribute all the items I retrieved yesterday to the members of the Knights of the Round Table. Each should take a few. Be cautious with them and follow my lead."
Lott was referring to the RG-60TB temperature-pressure grenades he had acquired, eager to use them in battle.
Morgan observed Lott with curiosity. She wondered why he referred to himself as a rabbit and if he enjoyed such compliments. Her thoughts were interrupted by the task at hand.
The RG-60TB grenades, known for their power, were distributed among the knights. These grenades were filled with cloud explosives, equivalent to 550-660 grams of TNT, making them ten times as powerful as ordinary grenades.
Lott was confident. "These grenades are the most powerful invention by the Red Bear. They'll be very effective. Remember, the knights of the Round Table are elite fighters, and their throwing skills are almost as precise as a professional athlete's."
Looking at King Ryan's army assembling below the castle, Lott instructed, "Follow my orders and throw these grenades at King Ryan's troops when I signal."
"Yes," Altria responded nervously, taking a grenade.
Meanwhile, King Ryan surveyed his soldiers with a sense of satisfaction. Despite the defeat the previous day, he remained confident. He thought, "What if they have powerful knights? They used a sneaky attack. I still have the numbers on my side."
As preparations continued, the stage was set for another clash, with Lott's grenades ready to make an impact.