“Hmm? Did you say something, master?” “…Nothing.” Rintarou turned away with a sigh. “Hrrm…” From the side, Luna glared at them in an incredibly ornery mood. She pouted like a child. In fact, she didn’t find this amusing at all. Not one bit! Rintarou did seem cold when it came to Emma, but…ever since Emma had reunited with him, she’d been smiling happily at Rintarou, blushing softly. With slightly misty eyes, she was glancing at Rintarou and gauging his mood almost as though she were a girl in love. “Whaaat, master? Are you a student at Camelot International High School, too?!” “Basically. But I just transferred the other day.” “Oh, your uniform… Wow, I’m so happy. We’re going to the same school!” It was so obvious that Emma had special feelings for Rintarou. To Luna, it was as if Emma was making a pass at her belongings, and that didn’t sit well with her in the slightest. On top of that, something else also grated on Luna’s nerves… “…Hmm? Were they friends in their past lives? Why does he remember her even though she’s been wiped from his memory? Hrng… Hrm…” “Uh. Um…Luna? H-how about we just cool our heads a bit…?” Sir Kay called out to her lord, who was maximally unhappy, as though trying to console her. “Wh-who cares if Rintarou has feelings for another girl?! As a sisterly figure, I would rather have a rotten heretic find some other girl. That would take care of him! It would be a blessing for the sake of your future, Luna—” Thud! “—You know what? Just ignore me!” When Excalibur was thrust into the ground at her feet, Sir Kay dejectedly recanted. Next to Luna and Sir Kay’s little exchange, there was another conversation happening at the same time. “Um… Master… There’s something I wanted to ask you…” Emma seemed to struggle to broach the topic. “What is it?” Rintarou asked. “Well… If you’re here, it must mean that…you’re also part of the succession battle, right?” “Yeah, that’s right. I’ve got my reasons.” Then… “Hey-yo, Emma! It’s been so long! I haven’t seen you since the afternoon! It seems you’ve really helped out my vassal, Rintarou… You know. My. Vassal. Rintarou.” Luna placed extra emphasis as she swooped in. “Luna…” Emma looked at her coldly and spoke to Rintarou with great misery. “I thought that was the case based on the situation, but…it seems you are on Luna’s side.” “Well, that’s right… But I’ve been thinking lately that I might’ve made a grave mistake.” “Well, well, well! I wouldn’t have guessed someone who transferred today could have been a King participating in the succession battle! No, sirree! Not even in my wildest dreams!” Everyone watched Luna as she brought out a giant thumbtack from out of nowhere and taped it to the palm of her left hand with cellophane tape. “It must be fate that we’ve found out about each other at an early stage! Nice to meet you, Emma!” Luna offered her hand to Emma for a handshake, looking absolutely breezy. The needle of the thumbtack was in line with her left hand… “What are you, a kid?!” “GAAAAH?!” Luna nearly fainted in agony as Rintarou immediately locked her in a cobra twist. “Y-you cretin! How dare you attempt that on a King! A crime of this nature calls for the death penal—” “Oh? And how would a corpse execute the death penalty? Ah, hey!” “Owwie! Yow! Wait—stop! I’m sorry! AAAH!” Like a married couple in a familiar comedy skit, the two of them exchanged barbs. Emma stared intently at them…seemingly unsatisfied as she gloomily narrowed her eyes. “…Why would my master like her?” “…Ha-ha.” Taking notice of her lord’s behavior, Sir Lamorak secretly grinned. “Well… Nice to meet you… Cough! Gah!” Luna had somehow escaped from Rintarou’s grip and once again came to stand in front of Emma. She hadn’t taken notice of Emma’s or Sir Lamorak’s behavior. “Well, we’re both trying to become King Arthur, so let’s fight fair and square moving forward—” This time, Luna offered her right hand for a handshake… Slap! Emma unexpectedly hit Luna’s hand aside. “—Huh?!” Everyone on Rintarou’s side was perplexed as Emma looked at Luna with cold eyes. “…I am not convinced.” “Say what?” Luna blinked at Emma’s denunciation. “For you—of all people—to make my master into your vassal… I just can’t accept that. You’re Luna Artur, the ‘weakest candidate in the King Arthur Succession Battle.’ Yes, I know you. You’re infamous.” “!” “He is…an amazing person. I think that the only person my master should serve as a vassal…would be the ‘true King’ who will rule over the world.” “Wh-what are you trying to say?!” “Luna, I’m trying to become King in order to save the world. The destruction of the Curtain of Consciousness will eventually come…which will bring on the Catastrophe. I’m fighting in this succession battle with the aim of becoming King Arthur so I can save the world on the verge of ruin when it comes to it.” Emma flipped her battle flag spryly and pointed the tip of the sword at Luna. “…And why do you seek to be King, Luna?” “What?! Isn’t that obvious?!” Luna screeched, thrusting out her chest to give a majestic declaration. “To become King of the world and brag and boast and live large! Duh!” “Oh, come on! Why can’t you at least say something better for show?!” Rintarou howled, turning to the skies. “What? But it’s the truth.” “I saaaid! There’s this thing called ‘saving face’! Keep your real thoughts to yourself! That’s what normal people do!” With the two of them having that exchange in front of her, Emma gripped her sword tighter. “I knew it, Luna. You aren’t right for my master,” Emma said in a voice thick with enmity. The tension returned. Sir Kay unsheathed her sword, and Sir Gawain protected Felicia behind his back. “Hmph… What’re you trying to say?” At the premonition of something lethal coming, Luna narrowed her eyes and put her hand on the hilt of Excalibur at her hip. “The King of salvation needs the best vassal possible. But you’re a big doozy! You don’t need a superior vassal like my master. It would be better if he was at my side…” Emma glared intensely at Luna, and then as though she were holding her breath, she whipped around to face Rintarou. “Master! I beg you! Please do not join forces with that girl! Instead, lend me your strength! Just like the good old days when you taught me!” “—Ngh?!” At Emma’s sudden entreaty, Rintarou could only blink. “I know! I was immature and uncertain about my own strength back then! I know that’s why you got fed up with me and left! Am I wrong?!” “Well…” “But I’m strong now! I followed your teachings and became powerful! I could be a great King now! I am a fitting King for you to serve! Please lend your strength to me—not Luna! I need you…!” Emma implored. Rintarou was left speechless. “Okay. If that’s what you want, my beloved liege, then leave it to me. ” No one could react in time. In a split second, Sir Lamorak had come to a suitable distance and swung down at Luna’s neck. Not Luna, Felicia, Sir Kay, Sir Gawain, or even Emma—not a single one of them could react to Sir Lamorak’s sharp movements. Well, all except Rintarou. “WHY YOUUU—!” “AHHH!” Rintarou had quickly moved in front of Luna to cover her, stopping the claymore that Sir Lamorak swung with his pair of swords. If Rintarou hadn’t jumped in, Luna’s head really would have been sent flying. The impact of the interlocking blades swept through the area around them, sending Luna, Sir Kay, Felicia, and Emma away like leaves scattered in the wind. In a moment, the tension in the battlefield had been heightened to its max. “Wha…? Sir Lamorak…?” Emma hadn’t been able to process any of this as she watched in a stupor. “I’ll kill Luna and steal Rintarou for you. That’s God’s will.” With an expression that was a mix between delight and madness, Sir Lamorak glared at Rintarou passionately over the interlocked swords. “O res mirabilis! Manducat Dominum pauper, servus et humilis. Oh, what wonder! Heaven hath provided a master as provisions for which to feed the vulgar and lowly servants… Amen.” In hushed tones, Sir Lamorak almost sang that psalm in Latin before smiling sinisterly. “Merlin… For the sake of my King, I’ve decided to kill yours. If you’re opposed, why don’t you fight me for her? With your whole soul… If you don’t, I’ll kill her.” “You’re not making any sense… Are you serious…?!” “Why, of course. Though if you ask me whether I’m sane, I may have trouble answering.” Sir Lamorak returned her blazing-crimson gaze to Rintarou. For some reason…, Rintarou thought, Lamorak wants a match to the death against me… Looks like I really can’t avoid a fight with her…! “See! Look! Hurry and bring it out! Bring out that black power from earlier! If you don’t, we’ll keep this going without it!” “You…don’t have to tell me…!” He had already drawn the seal of the evil-eye pattern on the backs of his hands. It didn’t matter that his entire body had been ravished from the short period of time that he had activated his Fomorian Transformation earlier. He couldn’t be swayed by that. Without hesitation, Rintarou once again invoked his Fomorian Transformation. “W-wait! Please wait, Sir Lamorak! I—” Emma was about to say something. “I know, Emma! How much will you pay to buy Rintarou’s freedom?!” Luna had shouted. Their faces scrunched up in confusion—and time locked in place. “Excuse me?” “Geez! We can’t fight that strong and scary Jack head-on! If you want Rintarou, then take him! As his owner, I will allow it!” “Hey… Hey? …You serious?” Rintarou’s face was strained, and he was at a loss. “…Are you…sure…?” Even Sir Lamorak’s pupils had constricted, and she froze. “Emma, don’t you want Rintarou?! And you know what? He’s on sale for a limited time! Let’s say…four hundred thousand yen! And then we can pretend this never happened! How’s that? Tee-hee!” Luna sported a foolish grin as she attempted to curry favor with Emma. “……L-Luna?” Rintarou opened and closed his mouth as he gawked at her. “Ah-ha! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Luna Artur! That was a good one! I see! That’s your angle, eh?! You really had me there!” Sir Lamorak started laughing loudly as though she couldn’t stand it anymore… “Everyone, please get back to your senses!” Finally, Emma had collected herself. She looked exhausted. “Sir Lamorak, please lay down your sword! I have told you this multiple times, but our battle is—” “Riiight! It was a joke. I’m reflecting over my bad behavior.” Sir Lamorak easily drew her sword away, turned her back to them, and moved away from Rintarou. “You’re always—always—going too far with your jokes!” Emma turned to Luna next. “And you, Luna! What in the world do you think you’re doing?!” “What did I do?” “You don’t have the confidence to rule the world or the drive or the sense of justice! I mean, you just tried to sell my master for money to save your own neck!” Emma stood before Luna and sharply stared at her. “But it’s totally Rintarou’s fault that we’ve been targeted by this scaaary knight. This seems like the best choice. Plus, we’d get some money out of it.” With a shameless attitude, Luna continued to brush aside Emma’s disapproving stare. “So? What’ll you do? Are you going to buy Rintarou or not?” “As if I would be able to accept that offer?! Do you take me for an idiot?!” On Emma’s forehead were twitching blue veins as she seethed. Pure, unbridled rage flashed over her face. “Did you hear that, master?! This is the true face of your King! Why do you serve her?!” “Shut up! Rintarou is mine! The way I treat my belongings shouldn’t concern you.” “………Ha-ha-ha.” On the other side of things, Rintarou’s face was strained, and he seemed troubled as he looked between Luna and Emma. For a while, Luna and Emma continued their argument like fighting children… “Fine! In that case, I’ve got an idea, too!” Finally, Emma took her sword—her Excalibur—and pointed its tip at Luna as she declared, “We’ll have a contest for my master, Luna!” “—Kh?!” As they all stared at Emma in astonishment, Emma informed them dispassionately. “You received the Dame du Lac’s request today, too, I imagine. In that case, someone is making holes around this island to interfere in our succession battle and to harm civilians… And we’ll need to handle the culprit when we find them. We’ll have my master judge our capacity as Kings as we try to complete this objective. According to those results, we’ll have my master choose… whether he wants to be with me or you, Luna.” “Uh-huh?” Luna must have been expecting Emma’s response because she broke out in a fearless smile. “I’m sorry, master… I made you the prize for a bet without asking…but please let us do this! Please give me a chance!” Emma ignored Luna and turned back to Rintarou as she lowered her head to him. “I…just want you by my side! I’ll prove myself! I’m different from before! I would be a suitable lord for you now! So—” Emma desperately implored him, not caring how she looked. “…Hey, hey. What the heck do you think you’re saying…?” Rintarou shrugged as though he had given up…when Luna butted in. “…Okay, fine! I’ll take you on that challenge!” Luna beamed, puffing out her chest. “…Ha-ha. What the hell is happening?” At that point, all Rintarou could do was smile dryly as his face twitched. “Wha…?! Luna?! Are you in your right mind?!” Felicia, Sir Kay, and Sir Gawain were in shock. “A battle to prove our quality as Kings? Ha-ha, I’m down for that. It’s not as though I’d lose to you. I mean, Rintarou will choose me, no matter what. I don’t think this will be a real battle, but I’ll take you on! I’ll show you what it means to be on a whole other level!” “What arrogance! What conceit… I knew you weren’t suitable for my master… I’ll prove that my abilities as King greatly surpass yours.” Everyone anxiously watched Luna and Emma staring each other down. Then, Luna gloated as though victory was hers. “Are we set? Until we conclude this battle, we’ll say that our sides are at a truce. How does that sound? We won’t interfere with each other… Are you okay with that?” “Yes, that’s fine by me, Luna… I’ll give Sir Lamorak strict orders, too.” “Ha-ha! Don’t come crying to me later!” “That’s what I should be saying to you!” They glared at each other in this cat fight. “This is getting…” “…weird…” Felicia and Sir Kay finished each other’s sentence as they anxiously watched the developments. “…Oh… We’ll go without fighting each other for now… Thank God…” Secretly, Sir Gawain breathed out a sigh of relief. “Oh, right, right! Sir Gawain?” Sir Lamorak turned to him. “As soon as this armistice ends…I’ll make sure to thoroughly kill you straight away… Just you wait.” “EEEEEK?! I knew this would happen!” For some reason, Sir Lamorak had been glaring at Sir Gawain with maximum hostility from the outset. Sir Gawain cowered. “Hmm…but…,” Sir Lamorak mused, putting aside the cowed knight for now to look at Luna, Emma, and Rintarou. “This…has gotten…messy,” she cheerfully muttered, unbeknownst to the others, placing her pointer finger to her chin. “…Maybe I’ll talk to her later?” After all of that had happened, they ended up splitting up there, dealing with all kinds of premonitions of trouble. Things had gone awry ever since they accepted the request from the Dame du Lac. Rintarou and the others had separated from Emma and Sir Lamorak, carrying their fatigue with them as they headed home. “…Luna! What in the world did you think you were doing?!” Sir Kay flew at the girl to scold her. Luna whistled, showing no concern at all. “I can’t believe you’d try to sell Rintarou to tide things over! And why would you accept her challenge?!” Sir Kay turned around and pointed at Rintarou, who walked at the rear end of their group. “Just look at him! He looks so pitiful and dejected!” When Luna obeyed, she saw that Rintarou was actually trudging behind them with his shoulders slumped, facing down. His sighs had become more frequent. It seemed he was terribly depressed. “Geez! I’ll have you know, Merlin can be sensitive! Sure, he’s outrageous, arrogant, and an insolent outsider, but have you already forgotten the great debt of gratitude you owe him?!” Sir Kay was genuinely upset. “But…if I didn’t…,” Luna mumbled with a semi-gloomy expression as she tried to make an excuse for herself to Sir Kay. However, in the next moment, she changed her tune. “But it’s fine! Because Rintarou is mine! A King can do whatever she wants with her vassal!” Heh! Luna crossed her arms and turned away as she spurned the lecture. “I mean, to start, what was up with you, Rintarou?! Just because she’s kind of cute and offered you a place with her doesn’t mean you can go philandering! Friends from your past lives?! Master?! That’s so stupid!” As steam sputtered from her ears, she started to turn the blame on Rintarou. “Making puppy dog eyes at another King while he’s serving me is plain disrespectful! And that’s that! He doesn’t have a sensitive bone in his body! You can treat others the way they treat you!” “You really aren’t cute. When was I allegedly ‘philandering’ with Emma?” Rintarou muttered, breaking his silence. Luna’s words had really hit home. “We haven’t chosen the victor yet. Maybe I should jump ship to Emma?” “Wha…?!” Luna seemed startled, as though she hadn’t expected that. “What’s wrong? You got something to complain about?” “Wh-what’s with you?!” The two of them glared at each other… “Th-this isn’t the time to be fighting, Luna!” quipped Felicia. “R-r-right!” Oddly at their wit’s end, Felicia and Sir Gawain intervened. “After this truce ends, we will end up in an actual battle with Emma and Sir Lamorak! If that happens, my life would be in serious danger! Sir Lamorak is out to get me!” Sir Gawain yelped. “If Sir Gawain is killed, my life would be on the line, too!” “Seriously, you two…” Rintarou breathed out as though absolutely exasperated. “A-anyway! I think we need to talk more about that Sir Lamorak! Emma is a threat, but the gravest danger is Sir Lamorak! We need to take countermeasures against her while we have a truce!” Felicia must have been trying to subtly dispel the bad air between Luna and Rintarou. She ended their argument and forcibly changed the topic. She could be rather overbearing, but there was an unexpectedly attentive and considerate side to her. Whether she was aware of Felicia’s motives or not, Luna pulled herself together and cast some doubt. “Hey, is Sir Lamorak really that strong? I mean, well, I already know she is, but I haven’t really heard much about her as a knight of the Round Table…” Sir Kay dispassionately replied, “Sir Lamorak, along with Sir Lancelot, and Sir Tristan, were of the strongest among the Round Table. Because she left the picture rather early, she’s not that famous in the modern day, but…in the legendary era she was called Lamorak of the Red Shield or Lamorak of the Rothschild.” “The Rothschild…?” “Yes. The origin of her name is her Rothschild—named Gunimo, for action; Philiotaio, for resistance; and Ramheid, for balance. They are the three shields, artifacts of her illusory armor. Those shields can automatically protect her from enemy attacks with the equivalence of her own skill in close combat. In other words, when you battle Sir Lamorak, you’re going against her and her three shields, which are essentially three more of her.” She was already a difficult enemy, but to handle three additional selves? “Wh-what kind of hack is that…? Isn’t that stupid?” Luna’s face twitched. “Even without that Rothschild, Sir Lamorak’s valor by itself… There’s a story that goes like this,” Sir Kay told Luna gently. “In the past, in the age when we were alive, the admired path of the knight was divided among the Round Table. Basically, ‘Sir Lancelot’s road lived of loyalty,’ ‘Sir Tristan’s road lived of love,’ ‘Sir Lamorak’s road lived of valor’—” “And for me, ‘Sir Gawain’s road lived of justice.’” “You’re not included in this one,” Rintarou snapped, interjecting. “Urgh?!” Rintarou had kicked over Sir Gawain, who had nonchalantly inserted himself into the story. “What’s with you guys? I swear, it’s like you just don’t feel at home without showing off to everyone?” Rintarou complained. “Ow?! Sorry! Don’t step on me, Rintarou Magamiiiiiiii!” Sir Gawain shrieked pitifully as Rintarou stomped all over him. “A-anyway, Sir Lamorak’s valor is real! In which case, she might be an even stronger enemy than Sir Lancelot… You must center yourself, Luna. Please.” “B-but there’s something else I want to ask about Sir Lamorak… She was kind of looking at Sir Gawain funny… Why?” Luna uttered in suspicion. “Oh… That…” With disgust, Rintarou looked down at Sir Gawain squished under his heel. “It was back in the age of legends. There was a tournament at Surluse. This idiot waited until Lamorak was dead tired after winning multiple rounds. While Lamorak was on the way home, he tried to launch a four-person surprise attack on her along with Gaheris, Agravain, and Mordred. They essentially mobbed her and ended up beating her to death…” At the same moment, Luna and Felicia froze. “…Uh, for real?” Luna asked, turning her eyes to Sir Kay. “…Unfortunately, yes. At the time, it was a serious matter,” Sir Kay awkwardly replied, turning her eyes away from Sir Gawain. “Wow, you’re the worst…” Felicia looked down on Sir Gawain, who was under Rintarou’s heel, as though she were looking at grime… “Y-you’ve got it all wrong! Please listen to me! I had my reasons! Do you know what that perverted slut of a little girl did to my mother…? Ah! Felicia! Please don’t forsake me! Please don’t abandon meee!” Sir Gawain’s eyes were filled with tears as he clung to Felicia’s feet. “So about Sir Gawain…,” Luna started. “Was he this hopeless in the past?” “Yes, incredibly. He was King Arthur’s nephew, so that really might have gotten to his head.” Sir Kay let out a sigh. “Huh? But…about that…” “Is something the matter, Luna?” “Yeah… It’s about Sir Gawain and the others… About how Sir Lamorak was killed being mobbed by four people… Something about that bothers me…? I wonder what it is…?” She tilted her head quizzically, clearly lost in thought. Sir Gawain was continuing to desperately make excuses for himself to Felicia. At the sideline of all the commotion, Rintarou was looking up at the night sky. “Well, regardless of that… Emma, huh? I can’t believe that little chickling would end up being a King…,” Rintarou muttered to no one in particular, then sighed. “Well, anyway, Rintarou!” Luna had made a beeline for Rintarou when her conversation wrapped up. “…What?” “We ended up changing the topic, but…you know what I’m thinking, right?” Luna seemed somewhat hesitant… “Rintarou… Y-you’ll pick me, regardless of the results of our little contest, right? You won’t actually ever leave me in the dust, right?” “Who knows? I wonder what I’ll do.” Rintarou laced his hands behind his head and sarcastically curled up the corners of his mouth. He didn’t even turn to Luna as he spoke. “It’s not like you’ve appointed me to an important position or anything. You might even end up coming across another King who’ll buy me for a really high price… It all depends on the circumstances, I guess.” “Whaaaat?! Y-you’re kidding, right…?” Luna exclaimed, but Rintarou had only a faint grin. He neither confirmed nor denied her question. It seemed that he actually was sulking. “Wh-wh-what is wrong with you? To have an insolent attitude toward your King! That’s disrespect!” “Hmph!” Luna and Rintarou’s argument had once again come to a boil. I beg you two to please make up soon… In her heart, Felicia prayed. But all she could do was sigh. On the other side of things— “I’m sorry for making a rash decision, Sir Lamorak.” After they had broken away from Rintarou’s group, Emma apologized to Sir Lamorak next to her on their way home. “I agree with you that the most efficient way to win the succession battle is…to systematically battle the other Kings until they’re all eliminated… I know that way is better, but I…” Emma was filled with distress. Sir Lamorak grinned. “It’s fine. That’s fine for you, Emma.” Her demented behavior from the battle had disappeared. Sir Lamorak carefully handled Emma. There was deep love and affection in her every expression. “All you should do is go down the road that you believe is just for a King. At times, you’ll be troubled. I know times will be trying…but regardless, you need to abandon your life to your faith and take the path of thorns… That path is incredibly sacred and holy. Like Jesus Christ, who took the burden of all humankind’s original sin upon himself as he endured the sufferings of the cross, and Joan of Arc, who sacrificed herself until the very last at the stake… I responded to your call and decided to serve you because you are noble like those saints… Amen.” Sir Lamorak drew a cross on herself with her right hand and offered her prayers. “Sir Lamorak… Thank you so much! I’m so happy you’ll be with me!” Emma’s face suddenly became bright as she smiled happily at Sir Lamorak. To Emma, Sir Lamorak was certainly a reckless, problematic knight, but…she was also the greatest and most trustworthy Jack that Emma could ever ask for. As long as she was with Sir Lamorak, Emma knew she could get through the battle until the very end. And if my master also joins me…then I’ll…, Emma thought absentmindedly. “Hey, Emma, my King,” Sir Lamorak said, sounding as though she was poking fun at Emma. “Because we’ve finally come upon this opportunity…you should make sure you make a good catch.” “Catch… What? What am I supposed to catch…?” “Why, that’s obvious. Merlin… Rintarou Magami.” “…Huh?” “Is it that hard to understand? While we can’t have a direct battle in this truce, this is your chance. It doesn’t matter where this battle goes. Shouldn’t you recruit him as your ally?” “Er. Um… Sir Lamorak? J-just what are you trying to say…?” “Listen, Emma…” As Emma continued to be perplexed, Sir Lamorak gently stretched and brought her mouth up to Emma… She breathed into Emma’s ear and whispered as though playfully nibbling on it. “When it comes to men… If you do it with him once, he’s all yours.” “Whaaat?!” Emma’s face turned bright red from this ridiculous advice. Sir Lamorak chuckled at Emma’s naive reaction. “Well, that was half a joke. In the end, he’s choosing the King he will serve himself, right?” “—Ngh?!” “In other words, you merely need him to choose you. Don’t use all your energy on this challenge or whatever. It would be faster for you to get him to like you. For boys and girls alike, I know people would want to be by the side of the person of their affections, right?” “A-affections?! N-no, it’s not like I was trying to—It’s just that I can’t stand having my master accompanying that scummy girl!” “Be honest with yourself, Emma,” Sir Lamorak said, as though admonishing her beloved child. “You like him, don’t you? Merlin… Rintarou Magami.” “Uh!” “Though you are naturally docile and gentle, you were upset… Isn’t that right?” When that was pointed out to her, Emma’s face turned redder. She opened and closed her mouth. Eventually, she gathered her courage with resolve. “Y-yes… I…do like…my master… And I-I’ve always liked him…!” “Oh, how cute. It’s so nice being young.” “I—I have everything that I have now…because of my master. I want him by my side. I want him to look at me as though I were the only girl for him… I want him to always guide me…” Emma smiled—euphorically and yearningly—and looked into the distance. Sir Lamorak watched Emma and let a smile play across her lips, too. She continued to smile, filled with affection and joy. “Ah, well. It’s for the sake of my revered lord, after all. I suppose I will help.” “Th-thank you so much, Sir Lamorak!” “Ha-ha, petite et dabitur—ask and you shall receive… This is all also God’s will. Put your best foot forward, my King.” As Emma turned a pure smile to her, Sir Lamorak grinned back—eerily and more luridly than anything else…
Chapter 21
25 min read