บท 29: Artoria’s Arrival
"Are you certain you wish to cooperate with that human, Princess? If we need this place, why shouldn't we simply take it? Why do we need to live under their roof?" Fina-blood Svelten asked, his tone betraying impatience.
If you were unaware of his identity, Svelten was one of the Dead Apostle Ancestors, personally knighted by the Eclipse Princess.
He had a far more impulsive personality compared to another of the Princess's knights, Rizo-Waal Strout, who was notoriously stern and strict.
As Strout glared at Fina-blood Svelten, the tension between the two was palpable.
"We shouldn't question the Princess's plans, Svelten. She must have her reasons for doing so," Strout interjected, his voice unwavering in its loyalty.
"Let him be, Strout." The Eclipse Princess waved off her subordinate's doubt with a patient demeanor and offered an explanation. "You must understand something, Svelten. Do not become too attached to this place. This land has never been suitable for us, and in truth, it is quite hostile. Behind King Uther's forces, there are more than just his men. Alaya is betting on him, ensuring that he will defeat Vortigern and bring an end to the Era of Mystery. And it's not only Alaya. Merlin, the Great Fairy, and countless unseen forces wish for his victory, including the Mage Association."
"He is fortunate then," Svelten muttered, a hint of resentment in his voice.
"No, it is far from fortune. He is not lucky. This island was cursed from the very beginning. He will undoubtedly be discarded once the Counter Force has drained him of his usefulness." Altrouge Brunestud shook her head, firmly dismissing Svelten's assumption.
"After all, he's merely human. I highly doubt he will last long in this game."
"Hah... What a pity."
"Ahem... Since this place is unsuitable for living, why are we here at all, Princess?" Strout coughed, unable to suppress his curiosity any longer.
"We will lie low for now. Do not draw too much attention to ourselves. We are not as powerful as we once were. After Father's demise, the only True Ancestors left are me and my sister, while the rest were slain by Pope Leo I. Once Britannia is distracted, we will make our move to the North. There, vast stretches of unclaimed land await us, ripe for the taking," the Eclipse Princess explained, her voice calm but filled with a steely resolve.
There were some things that the Eclipse Princess chose not to reveal to them. She had heard that Cath Palug was nearby, and she desired nothing more than to forge a contract with that elusive creature. The last news she had received placed Cath Palug on the Holy Island, which was currently under the rule of Fairy King Oberon.
As long as Cath Palug became her pet, she was confident that she could compel Gaia to refrain from interfering in their affairs. At the same time, she believed she would become powerful enough to deter anyone from considering the eradication of the Brunestud bloodline.
She would never allow anyone to meddle with them ever again, not after the incident with Pope Leo I, which had brought them to the brink of extinction.
"No, it's not as unoccupied as you might think. I've heard that Attila the Hun possesses powerful enough forces to be threat for us, Princess," Svelten interjected, his voice breaking through her thoughts.
Strout, unable to hold back his irritation, swiftly kicked Svelten in the leg, causing him to yelp in pain. He shot a glare at Strout, his expression filled with annoyance.
"What was that for?" Svelten growled.
"Silence!" Eclipse Princess snapped, her annoyance now directed at the bickering pair.
The room fell into a tense hush.
Even Svelten, despite his earlier defiance, bit his tongue and silently endured the throbbing pain from the kick.
"As for your concerns about Attila the Hun," she continued, her voice dripping with confidence, "she won't last much longer. The Counter Force has already set the wheels of her demise in motion, and soon, you will witness it for yourselves. When everyone falls, it will be our time to seize their territories, one by one." A wicked grin spread across the Eclipse Princess's face.
"Now," she commanded, "let us set sail for Holy Island and meet this Oberon. If he refuses to greet us with the respect we deserve, we will kill him and burn his kingdom to the ground. Consider it an opportunity to make Uther indebted to us."
Of course, that wasn't her true goal. Her real purpose lay with Cath Palug. She would burn and kill anyone who dared stand in her way of claiming the creature.
...
"What kind of man is my father, Sith?" Artoria's voice carried a tone of curiosity mixed with a hint of apprehension as she posed the question.
Should she tell the truth?
Should she say that her father was a lecherous, twisted, dishonorable man who stood as a negative example of humanity?
The temptation to utter those words was strong, almost overwhelming.
Yet, she knew far too well the consequences of speaking such damning truths, no matter how deserved they might be.
The one who had asked the question was none other than Artoria Pendragon, daughter of the current King Uther. Not her queen, no, but Artoria herself, who regarded her now with a curious expression.
The young princess's eyes were wide and innocent, devoid of the impure thoughts that plagued her wretched father.
Uther, that pervert king, whose lecherous mind was forever clouded with carnal desires, seemed to want nothing more than to devour her with his gaze whenever he laid eyes on her.
Artoria's face bore a striking resemblance her queen, Morgan.
Was Igraine, the mother of the queen and Artoria, also blessed with a similar face?
Unfortunately, Sith would never know, for she had never had the chance to witness Igraine up close.
The Queen of Camelot had passed away long ago, shortly after giving birth to the girl who now stood before her.
They were seated in the palace garden of Camelot, a place that held an air of serenity despite the tension hanging in the air.
The table beside them was adorned with teacups, though neither seemed particularly interested in their contents.
Artoria, dressed in the white armor of a knight—a garb reminiscent of Artoria Lily from anime Fate—looked regal and yet so young.
"Have you not heard the rumors yourself, Lady Lily?" Sith's voice held a hint of exasperation as she spoke. "Your father is exactly as the rumors describe him."
Baobhan Sith almost rolled her eyes, but she refrained, keeping her expression composed as she answered the question that had been posed to her.
Artoria, surprisingly, did not question her words.
Instead, she nodded with an almost proud determination, as if her faith in her father's nobility was unshakable.
In her mind, King Uther was a savior, a man of noble character. The people of Camelot had acknowledged this despite his ruthlessness, for they saw his harshness as a necessary evil. His cruelty was justified in their eyes, for they despised the Saxons so much that they would gladly see their flesh torn from their bones.
"Then..." Artoria began to speak, but her words faltered as the sound of footsteps approached from a distance.
Her gaze shifted toward the source of the noise, and her heart began to race with a nervous energy she couldn't quite suppress.
It was her father who now stood before her, accompanied by the Sage Merlin. King Uther's presence was as commanding as ever, and though his expression was calm, there was an undeniable intensity in his eyes.
"Merlin, Sith, if you please, I wish to have a private conversation with my daughter. Could you grant us some privacy?" King Uther's words were polite enough, but his tone left no room for argument. It was clear that this was not a request, but a demand.
Both Merlin and Sith nodded, stepping aside to allow father and daughter their moment alone.
Without a word, they left the garden, leaving Artoria to face her father in the tense silence that followed.
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