Chapter 1052 Eiji: I'm Back, Cnoc
"Just letting them leave like that? How boring."
The three had just been about to retreat.
A cheerful laugh came from behind them.
Beryl, hands on his hips, walked toward the trio.
Clear malice gradually overflowed from his eyes.
He seemed to completely disregard everyone present, apparently determined to capture Chaldea right here.
Gudako and the other two immediately became alert, readying themselves for battle.
"I said let them leave."
Eiji stomped his foot on the ground.
"Are you ignoring me, Beryl?"
To be honest.
He had just returned from the Londinium coronation ceremony, still furious about failing to help Cnoc successfully change the future.
Beryl had run right into his line of fire—served you right!
"Ugh... Gah!"
Beryl suddenly turned pale.
The ground beneath his feet seemed to have a grudge against him. A subtle force transmitted through the earth into his body, churning his internal organs into a tangled mess. He immediately vomited a mouthful of bloody fluid.
"You bastard..."
Beryl glared darkly at Eiji.
This guy again!
Always ruining his plans!
"You're the one... attacking me in a place like this, cough cough, could it be you don't even regard the Queen with any respect?"
Beryl stared directly at Eiji, blood at the corner of his mouth, yet still doing his utmost to verbally attack him.
"Beryl."
But the Queen spoke up at that moment.
"I don't believe I gave you permission to attack foreign travelers."
"..."
Beryl suddenly fell silent.
Ah.
He understood.
What obvious favoritism.
Now that the real man had returned, this fake man was no longer needed, was that it?
"It was indeed my mistake."
Beryl suddenly laughed.
He smiled deferentially toward the Queen.
"I actually did such a thing without seeking the Queen's opinion first. It seems I've lost my head."
His face was full of remorse.
As if he were already sincerely repenting.
But anyone who knew him even slightly understood.
Not a single word from this guy's mouth could be trusted!
"You've not just lost your head—you've even been disloyal to the Queen."
Eiji suddenly opened his imaginary pocket.
He pulled out a camera from inside and brought up the footage recorded back in Sheffield.
In the video, Beryl stood amidst a sea of flames, passionately describing his twisted love for Mash.
Fujimaru Ritsuka's expression immediately soured.
Her glare at Beryl turned fiercely hostile.
"As the Queen's husband, yet flirting with other women outside—tell me, is this something you should be doing, Beryl?"
Eiji looked at Beryl with a fake smile, his eyes behind the sunglasses full of malicious intent.
"You're utterly unworthy of being the Queen's husband! I ask all officials present, am I correct?"
He then turned to look at the surrounding fairy officials.
"This bastard!"
Beryl's face immediately changed.
This guy wanted to strip him of his position as the Queen's husband!
That wouldn't do.
Although he had no improper thoughts toward the Queen—in his heart, this Queen was even an extremely boring person—the identity of the Queen's husband was still very useful. At least within this Fairy Kingdom, it meant he could go anywhere unimpeded!
He couldn't let him succeed!
This guy recorded the footage from that time, which means he was present then!
Without a doubt, this was the one who blocked the two Fairy Knights, allowing Bogart and the Child of Prophecy to escape!
Beryl's mind worked extremely fast!
No, it should be said that he had long suspected whether the mysterious figure in Sheffield was Eiji.
After all, in this fairy kingdom, the probability of someone stronger than the Fairy Knights appearing twice in such a short time was already quite low. He had suspected it was Eiji all along, but lacked evidence.
Now that Eiji had exposed himself, it actually worked in Beryl's favor!
"You—ugh!"
Just as Beryl was about to speak, he suddenly spat blood again.
He seemed to realize something, glaring furiously at Eiji, but his body slumped weakly to the ground.
"Beryl? I used to find him interesting... but now, it doesn't matter."
"I always thought Beryl was unworthy of the Queen!"
"I believe the Queen and the Royal Consort are a match made in heaven!"
Some fairies were indifferent, while others quickly seized the opportunity to flatter.
Anyone with eyes could see the Queen's unusual attitude toward the Royal Consort.
Beryl was a thing of the past—now was the era of the Royal Consort!
Moreover.
Whenever they recalled the Royal Consort's devastating beauty, which could shatter their ability to think and truly be described as "a face that could topple cities," they became as fervent as if injected with adrenaline, each one vigorously supporting the Royal Consort.
Beryl?
Have I ever met this person?
"Beryl."
Even the Queen's voice grew cold.
"You, who have betrayed me, are unworthy of the title of King. From this day forward, your status as my husband is revoked. If you commit such acts again in the future, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
Beryl, filled with despair, was escorted away by the fairy attendants.
You two are really quite in sync!
The one thing he couldn't understand, no matter what, was this:
How on earth did that bastard manage to win the Queen's heart?
"Foreign travelers and Child of Prophecy, you may withdraw now. Remember this: if you ring the bells, you become my enemies. I will crush you without mercy, no matter who pleads for you!"
Ritsuka Fujimaru and the other two sighed and left the council hall.
"Officials, you are dismissed. Court is adjourned."
The scribe promptly stepped forward.
The fairy officials praised the Queen's benevolence as they filed out of the council hall one by one.
Even the scribe quickly withdrew.
Soon, only Eiji and the Queen remained in the vast council hall.
The Queen slowly rose.
She stepped down from the throne and stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at Eiji.
Eiji gazed up at the Queen and slowly ascended the steps.
He reached the throne and stood face to face with the Queen.
Eiji suddenly reached out.
His hand moved to the Queen's temple, smoothing her long hair as he gently removed her crown.
The Queen did not stop him.
Instead, she watched as he carefully took off her crown.
The veil, integrated with the crown, was also removed.
Finally, he saw the Queen's true face.
Compared to 2,400 years ago, she had matured significantly.
Her features, though strikingly similar to Artoria's, appeared more refined and mature.
To Eiji's eyes, they also seemed more weathered.
Her icy, exquisite face softened gradually after he removed the veil.
Like perennial ice that never thawed for millennia, finally witnessing the clouds part to reveal the moon.
"I'm back, Cen."
Eiji whispered softly.
The queen also reached out her hand.
She removed the sunglasses and mask he wore, revealing a face completely unchanged from 2400 years ago.
Only those eyes now held more unspoken apology than before.
"Welcome back, my husband."
The queen smiled.
Her smile remained as gentle as it was 2400 years ago.
As if time itself had rewound to that era at this very moment.
Nothing had changed at all.