"He will stay here."
"Also, during this time forbid anyone from approaching the bedchamber."
After giving those orders, Artoria took the boy's hand and strolled along into the depths of the bedchamber, "I have some things I want to talk to him about alone."
———
'So tell me, which decent person talks business in the bedchamber?'
When Artoria's words were heard, although the two guards kept respectful expressions on their faces, the slight twitch at the corners of their mouths revealed the storm raging inside them.
Mordred standing beside them was equally shocked. In her original expectation, even if she were to be placed under soft house arrest in the palace, she should still have opportunities to approach Alvin.
But now, she could see him, yet it felt like the King was a bit protective, not intending to let anyone close to Alvin.
Watching Alvin's departing figure, Mordred opened her mouth as if to say something, but when the words were on her tongue she swallowed them again.
No matter how rebellious she normally was, Mordred clearly understood her situation. Even if she called out to Arthur now it would probably be useless. She would have to think of another way.
Mordred trailed after the two guards with her head down.
Nearly ten minutes later, when they passed a garden, Mordred suddenly noticed a figure flit by.
It was the aide who had just been cleaning up the "battlefield" for Artoria.
She looked up instinctively, "Ariel?"
"Miss Mordred, long time no see."
Ariel's gaze lingered on the blond single-tail girl for a moment, then she smiled and greeted politely.
Mordred stared at Ariel for a while and then asked, "You also followed the King out?"
Ariel nodded without denying it and smiled, "I came to report today's work to the King."
She had returned to the palace alone after tidying up the aftermath. She had just finished sorting today's documents and was about to deliver them to the King.
"If there's nothing else, I will take my leave," Ariel added, though a faint smile remained in her eyes, 'Truly worthy of being the King. Just one outing and she captured one of Morgan's most important forces.'
'The rebellious knight Mordred, though young, in terms of combat strength is in no way inferior to most Round Table knights.'
'Once she grows a bit more, she will certainly be an extremely troublesome enemy.'
'Catching her this time is, for the palace, also a good thing.'
Reading Ariel's eyes, Mordred quickly understood what she was thinking, and a mocking smirk rose at her mouth.
"Hey, then go in and report properly, if the King is in the mood to listen."
Ariel paused, then shook her head and said softly, "You underestimate the King, Miss Mordred."
Apart from Guinevere, Ariel was probably the person who knew Artoria best now.
Whenever it concerned work, even at midnight, the King would get up to handle it.
Luckily Artoria was the red dragon. If this were any other realm's leader doing the same, they would have dropped dead long ago from overwork.
———
After parting from Mordred, Ariel walked elegantly into the bedchamber.
The long corridor was especially quiet, only the sound of her footsteps echoed.
'What are the guards doing today, how is there not a single one of them here?'
Ariel frowned internally. As the King's aide, the King's safety was of course part of what she had to consider.
But in the time she was out, the guards in the bedchamber didn't even rotate? That was unacceptable.
She walked along the corridor toward the inner wing and soon reached the top floor of the bedchamber.
At the end of the top-floor corridor she saw a closed door.
At the door stood a young man quietly, as if waiting for something.
Ariel was slightly stunned, confusion passing through her eyes.
This child looked somewhat unfamiliar, not someone from the palace.
'Also, how is he here?'
Sensing the woman's gaze, Alvin turned and raised his hand to greet.
"Are you here to report work to her?"
Ariel returned a polite smile, "How did you know?"
"You're holding such a large stack of documents. I assume you must be her aide," Alvin pointed to the papers in her hands.
In fact at first Artoria didn't have an aide. Later Alvin mentioned that having someone assist with paperwork could greatly increase efficiency.
And the first person to serve as Artoria's aide had been Alvin himself.
Because of that, in the original CGs there were many special plays.
After all, when there are matters, a secretary handles them; when there are none, the secretary still has tasks.
"You look a bit unfamiliar. Are you a guest from outside the palace?", Ariel kept smiling but was secretly on guard.
Today there wasn't a single guard visible inside the bedchamber; nobody knew if this person was summoned by the King or had slipped inside, though the latter seemed unlikely.
If he had intruded, he wouldn't be standing so openly by the King's resting door.
He probably didn't plan to learn some multi-red assassin move.
After all, the boy looked only about fifteen or sixteen and surely had nothing to do with assassin business.
Alvin pondered and then nodded with a smile, "You could call me a guest from outside. She told me to wait here for a moment."
'Guest from outside?'
Ariel's eyes flickered with curiosity then she seemed to realize something. She asked softly, "You are a Clock Tower transmigrator?"
She knew the King went out today because of a transmigrator. Artoria had left through a back door, so Ariel had not seen Alvin or Mordred.
Still, combining all that had happened today, she could guess some things.
But, with so many transmigrators appearing in the Camelot Empire, why was this particular child summoned?
Ariel collected her thoughts, smiled politely at Alvin, and walked to the door to knock.
Crash!
At that moment, the sound of running water came from inside.
Ariel's hand froze. Her expression first showed confusion, then quickly turned lively.
'The King is bathing?'
'But why have a young man wait at the door while bathing?'
'Really, why would one take a bath to receive a foreigner?'
Just as Ariel's thoughts buzzed in chaos, the water sounds slowly stopped.
She vaguely heard the sound of a bare white foot stepping on wooden floor.
"Ariel? You came just in time. I have something to tell you," Before Ariel could get her thoughts straight, a lazy, seductive voice drifted from inside.
"You all come in."
When King Arthur's voice, tinged with laziness, reached her, Ariel's expression immediately lit up brilliantly.
The first thought that popped into her head was, 'What on earth is the King thinking?'
Since Ariel first started working here years ago, she had always held a deep reverence for this King of Camelot.
Through history, how many politicians who appear diligent to the public truly devoted themselves?
Camelot has many territories, and each great noble tries to appear close to the people. But Ariel, familiar with political darkness, knew the nobles' true faces.
Yet, Artoria had always been consistent inside and out.
Although she was the King, she never used her power for personal gain.
Everything Artoria did was for Camelot.
Even so, a saying circulated in the palace: the King doesn't understand people.
Yes, in a sense Artoria really didn't understand people.
Because she was impartial and stern, anyone inside or outside the palace who violated rules would receive appropriate punishment, even those nobles the late emperor dared not touch, she had made trouble for many over the years.
Two great noble families had even been rooted out entirely.
Some nobles bore grudges and spread rumors that the King didn't understand people, even making up other lies.
In Ariel's view, if the King wished, she wouldn't need to be so tired. At least she wouldn't have to do everything herself.
Giving nobles a little face would also make life easier.
Often Ariel wondered, 'Is the King a robot?'
Using absolute logic and cool methods to handle affairs, never worrying about gossip.
Even Ariel, who at first just wanted a decent job, had come to admire the King and be influenced by her.
Perhaps that was why the Round Table knights followed the King; they were drawn to that rare radiance.
However.... 'What is going on now?'
'In the past the King had never summoned anyone to the bedchamber.'
'Moreover, this young man is not even a palace official but a foreigner from the outside world.'
Though stunned, Ariel, who had long served at the King's side and had seen many scenes, calm quickly and smiled at Alvin, "Since the King summoned, let us go in."
She did not know what the King intended, but whatever she did there would surely have reasons.
Her duty was to act on orders.
Alvin followed the dramatically thinking aide and when she opened the door he looked up.
Soon he saw the tidy, elegant bedchamber and the voluptuous blond beauty inside. She wore a simple white camisole dress, her full red lips slightly pursed, golden hair falling casually about her face, adding a mature imperial charm.
Compared to the usual lofty Artoria, she was more homely now, and her ample bust was stunning.
'Indeed, grown-up Lily's appearance and figure are no less than the King's. The King carries a mysterious older sister charm; Lily leans toward noble elegance. In the Type-Moon world her looks would rank top two.'
Alvin bowed his head slightly, mindful that others were present and he should show the courtesy of an outsider.
Yet he felt some relief.
Compared to the Type-Moon Artoria, this Artoria had one major difference. Because of Alvin's "raising" plan, her combat power now was far more terrifying than in Type-Moon history.
And, she was big. Big in many senses.
"Ariel, do you want to say something?"
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