Chapter 91: Birthday Present?-1-

Leaving behind the rugged mountain ranges of Pictland and its biting northern winds, Arthur’s army, marching beneath the banner of the red dragon, finally made its splendid return to its homeland, Logres.

As the triumphant host passed through the opened gates, the people of Logres greeted them with thunderous cheers, scattering flower petals in celebration.

It was absolute praise for their young conqueror, who had subdued Ireland and Pictland in only a few short months and returned after completely pacifying northern Britain.

But deep inside the castle, the scene in the office was quite different from the fervor outside.

"...So you’re back."

From behind a wall of parchment documents piled up like a mountain, a man with dark circles hanging nearly to his jaw rose up like a ghost.

It was Kay, Arthur’s stepbrother, who had overseen the affairs of state as Logres’s regent and chief administrator while Arthur had been away.

With a gaunt face, he glared at Arthur resentfully and grumbled.

"Why the hell did it take you so long? You said you’d finish quickly and come back. Were you trying to drown your dear brother in a sea of paperwork and kill me?"

"Haha, sorry. Still, I did swallow up all of Pictland before coming back. It’s only natural I’d be a little late."

As Arthur approached with an awkward smile, Kay’s hollow gaze shifted to Morgan following behind him, and then to the newborn baby sleeping softly in her arms.

"...You."

Kay’s brow furrowed fiercely.

"I sent you off to war, and you came back with another one already made?!"

"No, don’t misunderstand. She is a child, but not my biological child, and also my niece... Her name is Gareth."

"Ah, that’s enough."

Reason quietly pulled down its shutters inside Kay.

"I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. I don’t want a single word of that horrifying Pendragon family tree in my ears. If I hear any more, I feel like it’ll shave years off my life."

At the sight of Kay waving his hands in utter disgust, Arthur and the Servants let out quiet laughs.

He complained constantly, but Kay’s work ability was truly exceptional.

Though he looked frivolous and full of grievances on the surface, he had controlled administration and supply with perfect precision through bone-deep effort to fill Arthur’s absence.

"You really worked hard, Kay. Thanks to you, I was able to fight without worrying about the rear."

"As long as you know that. I’m seriously on the verge of being worked to death, so don’t come looking for me for a while. I’m taking leave. I’m going to soak in a hot spring and sleep like a corpse for days."

"All right, get some real rest. I’ll approve unlimited leave for you."

Just as a smile of relief finally spread across Kay’s lips, the office door opened and elegantly dressed women stepped inside.

It was Guinevere and Isolde.

"I am glad you returned safely, Your Majesty."

Guinevere greeted Arthur with her characteristic bright yet graceful smile. Isolde also bowed demurely, showing her delight at his return.

"I heard the two of you helped a great deal."

At Arthur’s praise, Kay nodded and added his own words.

"That’s right. If not for them, I might really have bitten my tongue and ended it. Guinevere handled relief for the people and management of the inner court perfectly, and Isolde thoroughly oversaw the soldiers’ hygiene with her knowledge of herbs and medicine."

"I merely did what ought to be done."

Guinevere answered modestly.

Then Arthur’s gaze settled on a maid standing quietly behind Guinevere.

A woman in a plain maid outfit, her face bare of makeup, standing silently with her head bowed.

It was Gendievre, Guinevere’s half-sister, who had once posed as a false Guinevere, tormented the real one, and tried to deceive Arthur.

"...It seems you haven’t caused any trouble."

Arthur’s voice sank a little colder.

At that chilly tone, Gendievre quietly dropped to her knees.

"Thanks to the mercy Your Majesty bestowed upon me, I serve Lady Guinevere day by day with a heart of atonement. I am in no position to dare harbor ulterior thoughts."

She truly seemed to have lost all her venom; her attitude was devoted and humbled.

Arthur looked at her somewhat differently now, but he quickly drew a firm line.

"I am glad to hear you are sincerely reflecting and serving faithfully. But that does not mean your treatment will change. The sins you committed in the past have not vanished."

"I know. The very fact that you did not take my head, and that I am allowed to breathe and work at my lady’s side, is already an excessive miracle and mercy to me."

At Gendievre’s heartfelt submission, Guinevere carefully approached Arthur and spoke up for her in a small voice.

"Your Majesty. Please do not be too cold toward her. Thanks to how sincerely she attended me at my side, I was able to focus on affairs of state. Whatever else she may be, she is still my only sister."

At kind-hearted Guinevere’s request, Arthur gave a faint smile and nodded.

"If that is truly what you want, then all right. I’ll continue leaving management of the inner court to you, so handle it as you see fit."

After finishing his reunion with family and close retainers, Arthur spread out the great map of Britain lying atop the stacks of documents.

"I won’t be waging any reckless wars for the rest of this year. First, the highest priority is stabilizing the administration of Pictland and Dál Riata under the laws of Logres."

Arthur’s eyes shone toward the very center of the map.

"Once our foundations are secure, from next year onward I’ll conquer the remaining central region. Then I’ll raise a vast and beautiful new capital in the heart of Britain and proclaim this country’s name as Logres."

It was the grand ambition of a young conqueror, heralding the birth of a true empire.

Waiting until all of Britain was unified would take too long, so conquering the central region would be enough. He could build the new capital, and while doing so, unify the east, south, and southwest.

If that happened, all that would remain would be Vortigern of Londinium in the southeast.

In a sense, this was where it truly began. Northern Britain had posed no problem. They had been wolves seeking hegemony.

But the rest of Britain, including the central lands, was different.

They were people who valued chivalry. They would not be conquered as easily as Pictland, Dál Riata, or Ireland.

They were not the sort to kneel from mere fear or force alone. They were troublesome people, the kind who would not offer true loyalty.

And beyond that, the Saxons who constantly invaded from outside would be no different.

In truth, this was the real beginning.

Even though he already possessed territory several times larger than Britain proper, the hearts of the people remained the greatest obstacle.

At times like this, Arthur found himself wondering whether he could not simply keep only the Irish, Gaels, and Picts as his vassals.

Even so, only a proper unification would open a truly new age. Complicated matters would arise along the way, but that was what he had to bear as the emperor who would usher in a new era.

In any case, with his declaration, a peaceful daily life came at last to the fortress of Logres, if only for a time, allowing them to forget the blood-soaked wars.

Time passed swiftly, and the day approached when festival bells rang throughout all of Britain.

It was the first birthday of Mordred, Arthur’s beloved biological daughter and the princess of Logres.

The streets of Logres were decorated with splendid banners and flowers, and the people were granted abundant meat and wine.

Inside the castle banquet hall, surrendered petty kings and influential figures from Ireland, Dál Riata, and Pictland, along with nobles from allied nations, had all gathered to enjoy the grand feast.

"Pretty!"

Mordred, the star of the day, sat on Arthur’s lap, clapping over and over in delight.

Watching that sight with eyes dripping honey, Artoria fed her fruit she had personally cut.

It was just as that peaceful, warm banquet reached its height.

"Your Majesty! A guest has arrived outside requesting an audience."

A gatekeeper knight approached carefully and made his report.

"A guest? Haven’t all the lords invited today already arrived?"

"Well... an old man of unknown name says he has brought a special child to commemorate the princess’s birthday."

Arthur nodded with interest, and the tightly closed doors of the banquet hall slowly opened.

As everyone’s attention turned toward them, a mysterious old man in a worn robe pulled low over his head entered, leaning on a staff.

And behind the old man was a little girl who looked about three years old, walking forward hesitantly.

"Great King Arthur. I have come a long way to offer my congratulations on the princess’s birthday."

"Who are you, old man? And who is that child?"

The old man had an air about him that was far from ordinary. To Arthur’s eyes, he seemed like some powerful figure concealing his identity.

Or perhaps he carried the bearing of a once-renowned knight, like Ector.

When Arthur asked, the old man bent at the waist and gently ushered the girl forward.

At that moment.

Arthur’s heart dropped.

The girl had pale lavender bobbed hair that lightly covered one eye, and in her large, clear violet eyes, fear of the unfamiliar surroundings mingled with innocence.

"This child was born with the destiny to become Britain’s great shield. A child chosen by the heavens."

In a kindly voice, the old man spoke the girl’s name.

"This child’s name is... Galahad."

"...What?"

But Arthur only stared with eyes wide in shock at the three-year-old little Galahad before him.

'Galahad?'

Arthur’s pupils shook like an earthquake.

'No, but why the fuck is Mash here?'

At this utterly unforeseen twist of fate, Arthur, the invincible conqueror who had subjugated Britain, could only clutch the back of his neck as a terrible headache struck him on the spot.

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