章 152: C152
"Arthur..." Morgan frowned.
Under the gaze of everyone, Shirou walked slowly to the front. He looked around at the soldiers and said in a deep voice, "Put away your weapons!"
"Why should we listen to a spy like you?" King Nantes asked with a dark expression.
"A spy?" Shirou scanned the faces of the soldiers and the kings before speaking loudly, "How much longer will you continue to defame the king with baseless accusations?"
"Evidence is conclusive! Are you still denying it, spy?" King Mark sneered.
"Evidence? You call this evidence?" Shirou sneered and then looked around at everyone, pointing at King Mark and saying, "Today, whoever says he is a 'spy', from nobles to slaves, I, as the King, will make him a duke and grant him a piece of land!"
The nobles watched in silence, their expressions cold and detached. The commoners, on the other hand, were too intimidated to speak out. The soldiers and knights, although eager to act, were aware of the complexity of the situation and refrained from acting recklessly. The atmosphere was tense and suffocating, with an eerie silence filling the air.
King Mark sneered and pointed accusingly at Shirou. "Do you honestly believe that anyone would dare to betray justice--"
Before he could finish his sentence, Gawain interjected by walking up to them and rubbing his nose. He pointed his finger directly at King Mark and exclaimed, "Spy!"
"What!?"
With a fierce glare, King Mark's face turned cold as he asked, "Gawain, do you understand the implications of what you are saying?"
Gawain nodded nonchalantly and pointed at King Mark again, repeating himself. "Spy!"
The king's fury intensified as he glared ferociously at Gawain.
Ignoring King Mark's anger, Gawain turned around and patted Shirou on the shoulder, whispering, "Consider us even now."
"Thank you," Shirou whispered back gratefully. He then turned to face King Mark and sneered, "And now, it seems you are also a spy! I have witnesses and solid evidence to prove it!"
"You are accusing me without any evidence!" King Mark shouted in outrage.
Shirou sneered in response, "And aren't we both in the same situation then? Accused without proof?"
Addressing the crowd, Shirou walked up to the platform and spoke in a loud voice, "I was able to buy Sir Gawain's loyalty with a title. Can't King Mark do the same with this old man?"
"That's right... Your Excellency Arthur is a righteous person who has done many good deeds. How could he possibly be a spy for Vortigern?" the people murmured among themselves.
"You should call him Guinevere!"
"What's going on here?"
The people whispered among themselves fearfully, as they faced the menacing blades of the soldiers.
"How dare you accuse me to my face?" King Mark's fierce glare intensified.
Undeterred, Shirou stood his ground and sneered back, "I learned it from Your Excellency!"
"You are asking for death!" King Mark bellowed as he unsheathed his sword and charged towards Shirou, his anger palpable.
Artoria approached Shirou, her hand firmly grasping the hilt of Caliburn, her gaze cold and unwavering as she fixed her stare on King Mark.
"I will see who dares to touch my little brother," Morgan spoke icily, her voice laced with a threatening undertone.
Drawing his sword, Gawain positioned himself next to Morgan, ready to defend his mother.
"Everyone, please listen to me," at this moment, the old man spoke up, attracting everyone's attention. He hunched over and looked at Shirou, saying, "Your Excellency Guinevere, I am already half dead. It's really not necessary to chase after a title."
Shirou sneered in response, "But you have a son! What about his future? If you really haven't been bought, then why aren't you with Ector on his estate?" Shirou paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing as a sudden realization struck him. "Wait a minute... Ector... unless..."
The old man nodded, confirming his suspicions. "Yes, Sir Ector has already passed away."
Boom!
The news of Sir Ector's death reverberated like muffled thunder, spreading throughout the entire circle of nobility. Many were left stunned and in disbelief, unable to comprehend the loss of such a legendary figure.
Sir Ector was a renowned knight who had accompanied King Uther on his conquests across Britain. He was also known as an accomplished teacher who had trained many of the most skilled knights in the land. He was like a great tree, with many talented branches stemming from his teachings.
To hear that such a prominent figure had passed away was a shock to everyone present.
"It's impossible...It's impossible...My father's body was still healthy and strong..." Artoria's hand trembled, her gaze blank as she muttered to herself.
Shirou's expression mirrored Artoria's disbelief, as he looked at the old man in shock. "Are you joking? This can't be true..."
Shirou wasn't just acting – he genuinely felt shocked. It was as if he couldn't breathe. On one hand, he was mourning the loss of his savior, and on the other hand, he felt trapped under a suffocating weight. The giant net that had been expertly woven was clearly meant for him, a targeted attack aimed straight at his heart.
"You...you killed Ector to frame me?" Shirou asked in disbelief.
"I wouldn't harm Sir Ector. He committed suicide."
"What did you say!?" People looked shocked.
Shirou was also shocked.
Wait a minute!
Suddenly, he recalled something Ector had mentioned to him. He also remembered how Merlin would only use Kay's name to flirt, succumb to his threats, and fulfill his requests. It was Merlin's unique way of consoling Kay.
Suicide?
No.
This was Ector, keeping a secret!
He raised Artoria, not for wealth, fame or status, but for the safety of Britain!
Shirou closed his eyes for a while before asking, "Sir Ector, did he have any last words before he died?"
the old man said, "Sir Ector only cared about Sir Kay and Lady Artoria before he died."
"Wait a minute!? Why didn't he care about King Arthur?"
"Haven't you figured it out yet? Because this Arthur is fake!"
People have different opinions, and suspicious looks are becoming more intense.
"Why did you come here?" Shirou asked.
The old man replied, "There are certain things I must say. Your origins are unknown, and if you are a king, you may pose a threat to Britain. Sir Ector devoted his life to serving Britain, and I do not wish to see it destroyed."
King Mark sneered, "What else do you have to say, spy?"
The tragic suicide of Sir Ector had not discouraged Shirou but rather, had bolstered his fighting spirit. As a true knight who had sacrificed his life to protect his identity, Sir Ector's death could not have been in vain!
Sir Ywain interrupted, frowning as he stepped forward and pointed at Shirou. He turned to the old man and asked, "If this gentleman is not the real 'Arthur,' then where is the true 'Arthur'?"
The old man shook his head in response. "I don't know. Sir Ector never mentioned it to me, and I have never heard him speak of it."
Sir Ywain was taken aback and a little angered by the old man's response. "Are you saying that 'Arthur' has vanished?" he demanded. "Do not jest! I personally witnessed Merlin escort His Highness 'Arthur' into Ector's estate ten years ago!"
"The only child brought to the estate by Merlin a decade ago was..." He paused and slowly lifted his hand, pointing towards Artoria. "It was Miss Artoria!"
All eyes turned towards Artoria, causing her to feel uneasy.
"Are you saying that 'Arthur' is Miss Artoria?" Sir Ywain asked, but in his heart, he felt bitter and thought, Merlin, what the hell are you doing?
"Ridiculous!" Morgan waved her hand and her face was frosty. "Are you saying that I don't have a brother, only a sister? Do you know that you are insulting me, Morgan le Fay? During Arthur's travels, I observed him for over two months. Are you saying that my eyes are blind?"
Morgan's authoritative presence left everyone stunned. She pointed towards Shirou and declared, "Everyone! Your Highnesses! I, Morgan le Fay, assert with all my might that he is my brother, Arthur! He is the Red Dragon of Britain! He is the King of Camelot!"
Her commanding aura was more awe-inspiring than that of the kings present. Despite being a woman, her spirit and confidence left everyone astonished, and they could not help but marvel at the daughter of Uther!
...
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