66 Chapter 35: Pendragon, Rescue with Disappointment

After Lucius left the room after carrying Clamest out with him, He told Parci to watch over Faith before he left. Faith's next step was Perci, and how to break his curse there was away.

Tears fell from her eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Parci asked in shock.

"N-no! I certainly did not cry! Which eye of yours saw me cry?!"

She denied furiously, making it all seem real.

Perci looked at her funnily.

"Well, I saw you cry with both my eyes."

"I wasn't crying!"

Sure enough, any man or Knight can't take the sight of a women's Tears. Most men of this age still seem to think women are weak. Arthur's persistence of it is an example.

She continues to act as she curled up and buried her head between her knees, similar to how ostriches hid themselves. She lowered her head; a teardrop soon rolls off her cheek and to the floor.

The surrounding was quiet. Suddenly, Faith saw a gray sleeve held out right in front of her eyes. She then heard a voice whose owner spoke up with a helpless tone.

"I don't have a handkerchief with me. You can use my sleeve instead."

Faith lifted her head up in disbelief. A pair of gray eyes gazed at her with sympathy. He switched to his good persona now, that's good.

"I have already received compensation for my services. Thus, I will never go back on my words."

"Percival, haven't you thought of controlling your dual personalities before?"

"What?" he said surprised that she knew his true name. Percival stared at her with a puzzled look.

"Someone once told me, heaven and hell are but divided by a fine line. The boundary can easily be crossed. Everyone has a multifacet persona... Angels and demons are just what we humans label as an absolute black and white. An angelic man does not necessarily mean a kind-hearted person. A devilish man does not necessarily be a depraved person either. Perhaps one day, you can overcome this curse entirely. Why not try now?"

Percival kept quiet and darkness hid his silhouette.

"I do not think I need to change myself."

Percival interrupted her mid-sentence. He lifted his head back up, his eyes have already changed its expression. He now wears a cold sneer.

"You dare wipe your face on my sleeve? You want to die?"

"Hey, you're the one who offered. Now you're whistling a different tune."

She pouted but, in her heart, she signed now "I'm a little hungry now... Can I have some food?" All she had was tea and nothing else.

Percival sneered at her question.

"Your fate will be decided tomorrow! Making food for you is a waste of resources!"

Faith thought for a moment as she just remembered that Lucius had muted their conversation. So, most of what they said to each other couldn't be heard.

At the foot of the castle wall, stood Arthur with his army. The frigid wind blew past his silver armor and ruffled his golden hair. The winds from the distant mountain range only serve to add to the tension in the air.

He started towards the wall, the lonesome, rising sun illuminates his regal figure. He slowly raised his hand, a signal to order his knights to storm towards the castle.

"Lancelot, once we break down the castle gate, I leave rescuing Fay to you."

He reminded the knight next to him before he truly gives the charging signal.

"Your Majesty, I will act according to plan to save Fay. Please do not worry."

The knight dutifully replied.

The king smiled at his knight's reply. He was about to command his troop to charge until he heard Kay's frantic yell from the back.

"Your Majesty, look! Isn't that Duke Lucius? Why is he here?!"

Arthur followed Kai's gaze and looked towards the castle wall. He too was surprised at what he saw.

There stood a man in black clothing. Beneath the dawn, he bears a regal and domineering aura. His long, black hair draped over his shoulder. At first glance, the man's appearance bewitches those who saw his figure.

Yet, the beautiful silhouette belies a murderous aura, similar to an enchanting, blossoming flower with hidden poison.

"Long time no see, King Arthur."

Lucius parted his lips and raised its corners. He then revealed a wry smile at the blonde-haired man below.

"I see. So you're the main perpetrator behind this."

Arthur quickly recovered from his initial shock, and accurately deduced the whole situation.

"Saxon is now under the Roman rule. If you're smarter than this, stop your useless struggle and accept our rule too."

His eyes flashed a cold, calculative expression.

Arthur merely chuckled at Lucius's suggestion.

"Be it Romans or the Saxons, I will drive you out of Avalon! Just accept the cold facts, Lucius! You can no longer defend this castle!"

"Before that, you might want to take a look at a cute young lady we have here."

He then beckoned towards his subordinate.

"Withdraw your troops, King Arthur... Or I'm afraid you won't see this young lady any more."

Following his cold words, enemy troops appeared with bows in hand. One by one, the bowman's nocked their arrows and aimed true at the girl brought forth by Percival. Each arrow now pointing directly at the black-haired girl with a black stare.

As soon as he saw Faith on top of the castle wall, he blanked out. The surrounding air stills to Arthur. It was deadly quiet to the point that even snow gently floating down can be heard. Then, he heard an array of long swords being unsheathed, his clothes fluttering in the wind, and his frantic heartbeat.

"Lucius, do you even uphold a knight's chivalry anymore? This is despicable!"

Kai yelled in anger at the black-haired man. Terry patted Kai's shoulder to calm him. He looked towards the silent king, before turning to see

Lancelot with his lips pursed as he stared without blinking at the castle wall. His hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

"King Arthur, if you do not decide now, I will hurt this young lady right here."

As he spoke these words, he gestured towards Percival. The dual persona man wasted no time to press a dagger to Faith's neck.

"Percival! Stop this instant! Do not harm a hair on my Fay!"

Gawain who kept quiet finally raised his voice. He unsheathes his sword and pointed towards Percival.

"As long as you promise not to hurt her, I will give you half of my assets!"

Percival was surprised at his exclamation, but he quickly recovered. He then retorted,

"I might love money, but I still have my own principles."

Lucius glanced at Faith's blank and emotionless stare. She is waiting but, he could tell for some reason that she was disappointed. That gave Lucius conformation, he closed his eyes and opened then again to face Arthur with a smiled wickedly. He pulled Faith towards him, dragging the girl to his side. It may have looked rough, but he was actually gentle.

"Is it that hard to decide, King Arthur? Well then, I guess you can say goodb--"

"Duke Lucius."

Arthur interrupted him mid-sentence.

"I promise you."

Lucius made sure to capture the true disappointment in her eyes.

"Alright. To prove your sincerity, order your men to lay down their arms. Of course, that includes you too, King Arthur." As he watched Arthur due what he says. "Are you sure you will not join me" he whispered softly so that only she would hear.

"No, I won't"

"And yet he has clearly disappointed you."

"…"

"But I still don't understand why you are. Is it not a noble thing to save the person you love"

"True, it is noble. To save another, but at this point, his risked his soldiers' lives, I am but one person. He chooses to fight to save one. Forgetting about the lives taken in the process."

Lucius was stunned even he didn't think about it like that.

Saving someone is noble but as a King, he risked the lives of his soldiers to save someone for his own selfish desires, what does he earn other saving her life. Granted Faith's is strong but what if Faith was a normal useless girl. He risked lives to save someone who wouldn't benefit the country. To the rest of the world but was but a weak and foolish girl.

It takes more than just noble morals to be a King. Even Rose was more aware of that.