Bedivere's Problem
Morgan felt a tinge of embarrassment. She was aware of her limitations; her vision could be unreliable, and if she had taken matters into her own hands, things might have turned out as badly as Segouzi had predicted—not only would the throne be lost, but her children might also choose to betray her.
Morgan glanced affectionately at Lott, wanting to express her love. However, Lott was lost in thought. It seems that I have educated her well. It's my credit that my wife has become the person she is now. It's a pity, though; if she had become a good wife and mother earlier, it would have been even better.
Morgan, feeling a bit irked by Lott's introspective mood, said, "Well, Lott, believe it or not, I can make Bedivere loyal to us."
Lott looked sceptical. "You do? I don't believe it."
Morgan challenged him, "If you don't believe it, we can bet on it."
"Alright, let's bet," Lott agreed.
"Then you just wait to lose," Morgan said with a confident smile. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, "I can't lose. Do you know why I've never failed in life? It's because I'm married to you."
With that, Morgan kissed Lott on the cheek. It was a warm, moist kiss that conveyed her affection. Taking his hand, she said, "Since we can't visit Gawain today, let's take a nice stroll around the city."
Despite being a mother, Morgan retained her youthful spirit, leading Lott forward with a lighthearted enthusiasm. Lott, equally in the mood, followed her with a smile.
Behind them, Altria trailed with the knights. Although aware that Morgan was a skilled magician and Lott was quite capable in combat, Altria thought a guard was still prudent. She sighed internally, Can't they hurry up? I want to go home and eat! Yet, Morgan and Lott seemed far from done with their leisurely activities.
They had prepared the exam questions and were ready for the upcoming test. Bedivere, having rested for two days, arrived early at the examination room. The exam was divided into two parts: one focusing on knowledge and the other on martial skills. Candidates could choose one or both parts.
Bedivere found this approach novel. In this era, noble positions were usually assigned based on status and favour, not merit. Thus, Bedivere saw this test as a rare opportunity.
Entering the examination room, he was greeted by the red-haired invigilator, who struck him as quite decent. Tristan, observing Bedivere, thought, This knight seems unusual. If he performs well, I must find a way to recruit him to the Knights of the Round Table. Even with just one arm, his strength must be considerable.
Bedivere decided to take both parts of the exam. He started with the literature portion. The first question was:
"There are several chickens and rabbits in the same cage. From the top, there are 35 heads. From the bottom, there are 94 feet. How many chickens and rabbits are there in the cage?"
Bedivere's expression turned tense. Why did they set such a difficult problem as the first question?
In the palace of Chalk City, Morgan was curious about the exam questions. She asked Lott about the difficulty of the literature problem, noting that she had struggled with it.
Lott observed Morgan's calculations and sighed at the disparity in mathematical knowledge between the East and the West. He explained, "This question tests not only their abilities but also their character. It's not essential to solve it completely. It's about how they approach the problem."
Morgan, puzzled, asked, "How does the way they answer determine their suitability for positions?"
Lott, holding Little Gawain, replied, "By examining their process, we can assess their potential roles. If they solve it, they might be suitable for administrative positions where they can oversee operations and detect issues. If they question authority or fail to provide satisfactory answers, they might be suited for diplomatic or clerical roles."
"What if they don't answer at all?" Morgan asked.
"Then, if they do well in the other parts of the exam, they might serve as clerks in the army. Such individuals are likely honest and less likely to misuse military intelligence," Lott explained.
Little Gawain, feeling uncomfortable in her mother's arms, pouted and looked pleadingly at her father. Lott reassured her, "Don't worry, Little Gawain. Your mother and I are just making sure everything is in order."
Morgan, smiling at Lott's explanation, said, "Looks like we might be recruiting a good knight."
Lott, surprised, responded, "You think so?"
Morgan nodded, "I have a keen intuition. He seems like a very good knight."
Lott was impressed by Morgan's perceptiveness. My wife's insight is remarkable. Even though she's in a different world line now, her ability to discern talent is outstanding.
As they continued their walk, Morgan felt a mix of pride and amusement, while Lott reflected on the unexpected changes in their world.