The days flipped by page by page.
In the blink of an eye, winter turned to spring.
Clothes went from heavy to simple, and shoes went from warm to cool.
Artoria put down the pen she used for government affairs and gently closed the document in her hand.
The entire year was thus gently closed by her on a single afternoon, coming to an end.
Time was passing, never stopping.
In the blink of an eye, a year had passed since Artoria became the monarch of Britain.
During this year, Artoria went from being flustered at the start to being skilled and proficient now.
Recalling the things that happened in between was enough to make any listener feel sad and shed tears.
If it weren’t for the fact that Artoria possessed the bloodline of the Red Dragon, supplemented by the blessing of the holy sword’s scabbard, she would have long since died of overwork at her post.
If this were her past life, she could already predict the headlines of those tabloid news stories.
Shocking!
A national monarch actually died suddenly at their desk in the middle of the night.
Is this a loss of morality or a distortion of human nature?
—It’s just too tragic.
She had always thought the future she faced after becoming King was death, but she didn’t expect it to be endless overtime.
She had clearly transmigrated!
She had clearly become King!
Why was her colorful new life in another world making her live like a miserable corporate slave exploited by a black company?
As expected, no matter where one goes, one cannot escape the fate of being exploited.
“Sigh…”
Artoria sighed softly and tilted her head back to stretch her neck, which had become somewhat stiff from constantly looking down.
Hearing the cracking sounds in her ears, her thoughts couldn’t help but wander.
Although this year had been very hard—waking up earlier than a rooster, sleeping later than a dog, and working harder than a donkey—
Her hard work over the past year had not been in vain.
During this time, Artoria gradually reclaimed the powers that should have belonged to her but had been fragmented.
Coupled with the implementation of a series of policies targeting the country’s current situation, the Britain of today could be said to be worlds apart from the Britain of a year ago.
The lifeless Britain had finally regained its vitality in her hands.
It really wasn’t easy.
As for those insatiable nobles, relying on her powerful military force, she suppressed those who needed suppressing and disciplined those who needed disciplining.
In the end, she had managed to get them to behave submissively.
At least on the surface, the nobles appeared to follow her lead, but what kind of behavior they exhibited in private was hard to say.
After all, they were a pack of ungrateful wolves…
Artoria stretched and then opened her mouth to let out a yawn.
Thanks to her efforts over the past year, the stack of official business on her desk had decreased from a mountain to a small hill.
It seemed that before long, she would be able to sleep an extra hour every day.
This was truly exciting.
As expected of me—the ultimate worker!
She could get off work early today, Artoria thought with a cheerful mood.
She stood up from her chair, a relaxed smile on her face.
‘Ah~, should I go for a walk in the garden later?
The roses are blooming beautifully this time of year.’
Thinking of those delicate roses, her hands didn’t stop as she draped her cloak over herself.
Just as she was preparing to leave the office.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps approached from outside the door.
Artoria’s relaxed expression froze, and she frowned as she looked toward the door.
In a moment, there was a knock at the office door.
“…Come in.”
With her permission, a handsome young man with long beige hair pushed the door open and entered.
The one who entered was her trusted court steward, Bedivere, known as the Silver Knight of the Violet.
“Sir Bedivere, what matter do you have to report?”
Hearing King Arthur’s slightly majestic inquiry, Bedivere respectfully performed a knightly salute and then presented a secret letter with both hands.
Please have a look.”
“Scotland?” Artoria was stunned upon hearing this.
“Yes, my King,” the knight named Bedivere said respectfully once more.
“There is absolutely no mistake.
This was delivered by the first knight under the King of Scotland with the utmost haste.”
This really is a ‘perfect’ time…
Artoria let out a resigned sigh, then unfastened her cloak and sat back down at her desk.
After doing all this, she then said to Bedivere, who was waiting respectfully to the side:
“Bring it here.”
Taking the letter handed to her, Artoria frowned and quickly read through it from beginning to end.
I see…
This is truly troublesome.
She took a deep breath and put down the letter, her mind racing as she pondered over something.
Time passed minute by minute.
After a long time, Artoria finally ended her deep thoughts and made a decision in her heart.
“Bedivere.”
She called out softly to the court steward waiting quietly nearby.
“Go and inform our knights, and while you’re at it, call those idle nobles.
Have them wait for me in the main hall.
I have some important matters to announce.”
“As you command, my King.”
Bedivere gave a respectful salute and turned to leave upon receiving the order.
Watching her trusted butler disappear before her eyes, Artoria once again turned her gaze back to the table.
The letters on the table remained open; from this angle, she could clearly see every word written in them.
Artoria gathered the scattered letters and looked out the window.
A clear breeze blew gently, lightly swirling the green leaves outside; the season of rebirth hummed with a gentle rustle of trees.
This really is…
“A good time for war.”
Yes, that’s right.
War!
That letter was actually a plea for help from the King of Scotland.
Between the lines, it was filled with the intent to have King Arthur send reinforcements, hoping Britain could help them defeat the invading Ireland.
In the letter, the King of Scotland spoke sincerely, stating that Scotland was Britain’s eternal ally.
But just that alone was not enough to move Artoria.
What truly moved her was the promise in the letter that if Britain was willing to help, Scotland would offer sufficient benefits to Britain afterward.
These ‘benefits’ were quite flexible…
The letter only roughly mentioned a few examples.
Such as a large amount of gratitude money, and concessions in future diplomatic negotiations.
There was a lot of room for maneuver, and Artoria felt this matter was very promising.
Although she knew in her heart that the ultimate benefits might not be as good as imagined.
But it didn’t matter, because after all, the most important thing was…
It was time to let her army taste blood!
…
Artoria sat majestically high upon her throne, looking down at the ministers below.
Ever since she announced her intention to send troops to support Scotland, they had been clamoring like ten thousand quacking ducks, which was quite irritating.
The knights were fine; they had long ago sworn their loyalty to King Arthur.
Now that the King had decided to send reinforcements, they had no reason to object.
Furthermore, as knights, they naturally hoped to gallop across the battlefield and make a name for themselves.
Rather than opposing, they were mostly excited.
However, looking at the nobles on the other side, most of them held an opposing attitude toward King Arthur’s decision.
“Respected King, Britain has only just begun to recover its vitality.
If we rashly send troops and reignite the fires of war now, I fear it will harm the very foundation of our nation.
I beg the King to rescind the order,” a noble of ducal rank said with feigned sorrow.
As soon as that duke finished speaking, another immediately stepped forward to continue.
“The Duke’s words are reasonable. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Furthermore, Ireland and Britain have always lived in peace.
If we send troops to help Scotland this time, will we not be making an enemy of Ireland?”
“Indeed, indeed.
Making an enemy of Ireland brings no benefit at all.
We hope the King will reconsider.”
However, the knights who supported sending troops held the opposite opinion.
Lancelot, known as the Knight of the Lake, stepped forward with a frown and said:
“Scotland is our ally, and the relationship between our two countries has always been close and friendly.
If we refuse this plea for help, we will lose an important partner in Scotland.”
“Exactly!”
Beside him, Gawain seconded: “Britain has regained its vitality, but those foreign Tribes are still eyeing us covetously.
I believe that in order to set our people’s minds at ease and to deter those foreign Tribes, Britain needs a victory right now to prove its strength.
This plea for help from Scotland is a perfect opportunity!”
“My King, please send the troops.
We will surely bring honor and victory to Britain.”
Looking at the crowd below, each holding their own views and arguing incessantly.
Artoria only felt a buzzing pain in her forehead.
“Enough!”
She shouted loudly in reprimand.
“What is this clamor?
Show some decorum.”
She sat upright on the throne, her emerald eyes radiating a natural authority.
Her bright eyes were as deep as a valley; Artoria’s thin lips were pressed tight, and her brow was furrowed.
Yet this very look of a furrowed brow inspired even deeper awe from the bottom of their hearts.
The ministers who were swept by King Arthur’s gaze all obediently shut their mouths and fell silent.
That’s more like it.
Artoria nodded inwardly with satisfaction.
“As Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain said, now is exactly the time to demonstrate Britain’s strength.
If we ignore Scotland’s plea for help now, we will not only lose a steadfast ally but also embolden those who harbor ill intentions toward Britain.”
Seeing someone among the nobles below opening their mouth to argue, she glared directly at them.
Two gazes sharp as knives made that noble dare not say another word of contradiction.
With a sneer in her heart, she continued: “Ireland previously rejected the olive branch we offered, showing their great ambition.
If Scotland falls into their territory, Ireland’s next target will surely be our Britain.
I shouldn’t need to explain the logic of ‘if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold’; you all should understand it well.”
Looking at the nobles who still showed some dissatisfaction, Artoria delivered the final blow.
“Furthermore, in the previous letter, the King of Scotland promised our country many benefits.
I believe we can negotiate these terms in detail with the King of Scotland later.”
Hearing that there was profit to be made, those nobles immediately did a 180-degree turn in attitude.
“My respected King, you are truly noble.
Sending troops to help will indeed deter those foreign Tribes and give confidence to the people.”
“Indeed, we have just reflected deeply; Ireland is truly as Your Majesty said, possessing wolfish ambitions that deserve punishment!”
Heh…
Watching the nobles perform a masterclass in face-changing, Artoria sneered repeatedly in her heart.
A pack of profit-seeking parasites; it seems it will soon be time to give them another good lesson.
Let them jump around for a while longer; once this war is over…
I’ll make sure they bleed properly.
Continuing the meeting was now pointless.
She stood up and delivered the final decision on the matter.
“Everyone, please prepare for war actively.
Do not worry; under my leadership, Britain will defeat all enemies and rebuild its glory once more!”
Artoria never considered the possibility of losing the war; after all, she was King Arthur, the wielder of the Sword of Victory.
This body is victory itself!
And so, Britain, which had been peaceful for over ten years, finally saw the clouds of war gather once again.