“I like Scotland—”
Artoria drawled listlessly, repeating the words she had said two days ago in an aria-like tone within the room prepared for her by the King of Scotland.
There was no one else in the room besides her.
Thus, as if letting herself go for a rare moment, King Arthur, who always presented herself as perfect and saint-like in public, sat on the sofa in this enclosed space and made an expression like “aba aba aba.”
Perhaps it was because she had drunk alcohol at the banquet two days ago, but her attitude toward Guinevere that day had been unexpectedly gentle.
Moreover, she had been seeing Guinevere everywhere these past few days, and when they met, she couldn’t just ignore her, so she had to keep chatting with her about this and that.
Thanks to this, even though she had wanted to keep her distance from that princess, for some reason, the atmosphere between them had become extremely, exceptionally harmonious.
“…Is my inner self really a lesbian?”
She muttered softly.
“Being this good-looking is really too much of a cheat~~”
She simply couldn’t bring herself to put on a stern face and be mean to a beautiful young lady.
Although this young lady was the Guinevere who had indirectly caused her death, right now, she was just a pampered and considerate young girl in the prime of her life.
The difference was too great, making it impossible for her to properly relate to the history she knew.
Artoria stared straight at the ceiling with her eyes open, thinking helplessly that she had actually been quite happy these past two days.
The ancients truly did not deceive me.
Women down the mountain (Scotland) are tigers; you must avoid them if you meet them!
Master, I have attained enlightenment!
She placed the apple she had been holding back onto the fruit plate on the table.
She had intended to eat an apple earlier, but as expected, she still had no appetite.
Artoria had been busy with various things, but these few days in Scotland were a rare moment of leisure.
In this era without many entertainment activities, it was easy for her to let her imagination run wild when staying alone in the room.
“I should go out for a stroll.”
Artoria stretched boredly, shook her head, and cast away the distracting thoughts in her mind.
So…
where would be a suitable place to stroll during this hard-won leisure time?
Artoria thought of several places, but in the end, she rejected them one by one.
She really wanted to go to the garden to take a look; after all, Guinevere had said that the tulips were in full bloom recently.
However…
It would be better to go to the library for a stroll.
Guinevere had said that whenever she was bored, she would go to the garden to admire the flowers, and recently, Artoria really didn’t want to run into this little princess again.
Every time they met, she would have her favorability rating farmed by her.
Enough is enough; this isn’t one of those galgames from her past life.
This won’t do!
She swore secretly in her heart, I must absolutely defend my dignity (though I don’t really have any.
Gpg).
Women will only affect the speed of my sword drawing.
Artoria stood up, raised her fist high, swung it fiercely in the air, and let out a roar.
Let’s go!”
She looked just like a complete idiot.
Having prepared herself mentally, Artoria, like a majestic little lion, marched out the door toward the library with great spirit.
Her aura was so sharp that the people she encountered in the Scottish palace couldn’t help but exclaim.
“Truly worthy of being the famous King Arthur.”
However…
King Arthur’s great endeavor was cut short before it had even truly begun.
Just as she arrived at the library gate, Artoria saw Guinevere standing at the entrance, holding a book in her arms.
Artoria’s mind went blank.
The little lion, which had been so spirited just a moment ago, was now completely deflated.
“Your Majesty!”
A voice full of pleasant surprise came from the direction of Guinevere.
Watching the young girl trot towards her, Artoria felt a sense of helplessness in her heart.
“Good day, Your Highness.
It is truly an honor to meet you here.”
Artoria recited the social pleasantries fluently, while thinking to herself that if she had known the girl was here, she would have gone to the garden to look at flowers instead.
“Good day, Your Majesty.
Are you here to read as well?”
The young girl who arrived before her spoke with pearls of words; her voice was both soft and crisp, truly delightful to hear.
Beneath Guinevere’s long, slightly curled eyelashes were a pair of eyes as clear as morning dew.
At this moment, she opened those beautiful, sapphire-like eyes, gazing at the young King before her with a smile in her eyes.
“…”
The girl’s beauty dazzled King Arthur’s eyes.
Artoria couldn’t help but straighten her posture and answer with a resonant voice.
“Yes, that’s right!
I came here to read.”
“That is wonderful.”
Hearing Artoria’s answer, Guinevere couldn’t help but curve her eyes into a smile.
The little princess blinked her eyes with the grace of a butterfly flapping its wings, accompanied by a quiet, crescent-moon-like smile.
She extended an invitation to Artoria.
“Your Majesty, shall we go in together?”
This was a dimensional strike; no one could refuse Guinevere at this moment, no one!
The wind-swept sunlight fell into those bright, moist eyes.
Dressed in men’s clothing, Artoria looked into those eyes and finally compromised.
Walking into the library side by side, she looked at Guinevere’s fair profile.
This was how she persuaded herself in her heart.
I, Artoria, am an upright and good knight; how could I fail to meet a lady’s expectations?
…It is definitely not because of her beauty.
Definitely not!
The library was very quiet.
Occasionally, one could see a few scattered people silently reading books near different bookshelves.
When they saw the noble Princess and King Arthur, they merely bowed slightly in respect.
No one came forward to disturb them.
It must be said that this atmosphere made Artoria feel very comfortable.
She turned her head and softly asked Guinevere beside her.
“I wonder what kind of books Your Highness is looking for?”
“I really like adventure stories, so I would like to find some adventure biographies to borrow.”
At this, Guinevere’s cheeks seemed to flush slightly with embarrassment.
“Perhaps it is because I have never left the imperial palace, but I always feel that reading the words in books is like experiencing those events myself.”
After speaking, Guinevere looked up at Artoria with some embarrassment and then fell silent.
Although their eye contact lasted only for a fleeting moment, Artoria suddenly felt her head spinning and her body going weak, as if she were drunk.
As if driven by an inexplicable impulse, she heard herself say:
“Actually, I once traveled throughout Britain in my early years.
If Your Highness is interested, I can tell you about those experiences.”
Hearing this, stars appeared in Guinevere’s eyes, and her face lit up with a smile as bright as morning dew.
“Please, by all means, tell me.
I am very interested!”
— Ah.
‘Something must be wrong with my head.’
Artoria thought to herself, otherwise, how could she have said such a thing?
However…
Watching the girl’s smile bloom like a white orchid, and the joy and anticipation spreading across her face.
This scene made Artoria feel cheerful as well.
Forget it…
Anyway, everyone is happy now, and that’s enough.
Why think so much?
Thus, in the warm, jade-like radiance of the afternoon.
In the quiet library, accompanied by Artoria’s soft words, story after story unfolded like a painting in Guinevere’s heart.
At this moment, time was peaceful and beautiful.