Arthur had once again appeared on the streets of Camelot.
Dressed in thick clothing and holding the reins of Dunstallion, her delicate features now carried a softer, more refined charm.
She gazed around with curiosity—an expression only seen on those who hadn't set foot in the city for a long time.
Rei immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Why had Arthur come to the city at a time like this?
[Sensing the anomaly, your first instinct is to avoid Arthur.]
[But it is as if fate itself intervenes.]
[Arthur begins asking passersby for information.]
[In an instant, all coincidences align into inevitability.]
[The crowd moves in a strangely coordinated manner, parting just enough to create a path between you and Arthur.]
["Lord Rei, you say?"]
["Isn't that him right over there?"]
["Ah, it really does look like him!"]
[Arthur thanks the bystanders and quickly rushes toward you.]
"Lord Rei!"
A familiar voice called out from behind him.
The distance was far too close—there was no way to pretend he hadn't heard.
Rei turned around, greeted by the sight of an elated young girl.
"It really is you, Lord Rei!"
"..."
Arthur's excitement was directly proportional to Rei's growing headache.
His mind was consumed entirely by the King's Selection—he had no time or energy to deal with anything else.
But—
The mask of hypocrisy must always remain intact.
"Oh… long time no see, Arthur."
Rei glanced around at the gathering crowd and forced a smile.
"Let's talk somewhere else."
At the Tavern
[You have someone take Dunstallion to the finest stable in the city.]
[You bring Arthur to the largest tavern in town.]
[All eyes are on the two of you until you slightly unsheath your blade, causing them to quickly avert their gaze.]
[You want to get rid of Arthur as quickly as possible.]
"Order whatever you like, no need to be shy."
Rei's smile was perfectly crafted, concealing the countless times he had entertained the thought of killing her.
"Hmm…"
Having learned her lesson from before, Arthur showed far more restraint this time. She no longer devoured her food like a beast and even maintained a certain degree of decorum.
"So, Arthur, why have you come to the city this time?" Rei asked casually.
"Are you selling apples again?"
"No, no, no!" Arthur shook her head vigorously. "That part of my training is over! I don't have to sell apples anymore!"
"And besides—"
She reached for a small pouch at her waist and placed it on the table.
Inside were golden stalks of wheat.
"Lord Rei, I saw so many wheat fields on my way here. Did you order them to be planted?"
"…More or less."
"I knew it!" Arthur beamed. "I knew Lord Rei was listening to me!"
"..."
Though Rei understood she didn't mean anything by it, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
He swiftly changed the subject.
"By the way, where's Kay?"
"He hasn't been to the city much either, has he? Shouldn't he have taken this opportunity to come along?"
Hearing this, Arthur turned her head slightly, murmuring under her breath:
"I came alone on purpose."
"Because my brother, while he is a good person… is too nosey."
A brutally honest reason.
So much so that Rei wasn't sure how to respond.
"Then—"
"Arthur, why exactly did you come to the city this time…?"
As Rei finally broached the main topic, Arthur's excitement grew slightly more intense.
"Lord Rei, you must have heard about the legend of the Red Dragon, right?!"
"..."
A flicker of displeasure crossed Rei's face, but he quickly concealed it.
"Oh, I've heard of it. Supposedly, whoever pulls the sword from the stone will become the new King of Britain."
"That's right!" Arthur nodded earnestly.
"Which is why I want to give it a try!"
"Arthur, are you saying you want to become the new King of Britain?"
"That's not exactly it…" Arthur fidgeted with her fingers anxiously.
"Lord Rei, you gave me Dunstallion and a sword, allowing me to become a knight."
"And if I'm a knight, shouldn't I at least attempt something like this?"
"But Arthur, up until now, not a single person has been able to pull that sword from the stone."
"It's fine!" Arthur replied with a smile. "They are them, and I am me!"
"As a knight, isn't it impossible to retreat before even trying?"
[You know Arthur is someone who does what she says.]
[More importantly, you know just how impossible pulling that sword out truly is—you yourself attempted it once in the dead of night, when no one was watching.]
[By all logic, a girl like Arthur should have no chance of drawing the blade.]
[And yet, you can't shake the feeling that logic will be overturned.]
[This wouldn't be the first time.]
"Lord Rei."
Arthur's voice pulled Rei back from his thoughts.
"Sorry, I was distracted. What is it?"
"It's just—"
Arthur's expression turned slightly tense.
After a brief hesitation, as if summoning all her courage, she finally spoke:
"You seem like you don't really want me to do this."
"..."
"That's not true." Rei smiled slightly. "As a knight, your willingness to take on such a challenge is commendable."
"Why would I ever not want to see you try?"
[You lied.]
[But Arthur didn't seem to notice.]
[Instead, she seemed to take your words as encouragement.]
[She adjusted her posture slightly, tidied her hair, and looked at you with clear determination in her forest-green eyes.]
"Lord Rei, actually, there's one more thing I want to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I like you."
Arthur's face flushed red, but her voice was unwavering as she said it.
"Arthur… are you joking?"
She shook her head.
"I'm not joking."
"After you left, I thought about this very seriously."
"And in the end, I realized that whether it was the 'me' I recognized, or the 'me' that you recognized—there was no difference in this matter."
"So—"
Arthur gazed at Rei, her eyes filled with the purest sincerity of a young girl in love.
"Will you come tomorrow to witness me draw the sword?"
"I want to attempt it without regrets—while under your gaze!"