Chapter 86: A Knight’s Heart (rewrite)
A Knight's Heart
Guinevere stood on the castle walls, her eyes locked on Altria as she fought bravely below. The battle raged on, yet Altria seemed invincible, effortlessly cutting through enemy forces. His every movement was precise, fearless, and undeniably heroic.
"Father, I like people like this," Guinevere thought to herself, her heart racing. She admired the way Altria embodied the ideal knight—handsome and fearless. Though his beauty was striking, it was Altria's strength that captured Guinevere's heart.
In Guinevere's mind, a story began to unfold, one she had read countless times in the old tales. She imagined herself as the trapped princess, locked in a tower, helpless as enemies swarmed below. Then, a heroic knight—Altria—appears, cutting through the waves of enemies to rescue her.
"What a knightly tale," Guinevere thought, watching Altria break through the enemy lines. Her heart raced faster as she saw Altria fight, her emotions swinging from joy to fear. She found herself clutching her hands tightly, fearing for Altria's safety when she was surrounded by enemies. But when the battle was won, Guinevere's heart fluttered, and a soft smile crossed her lips.
"Father," she whispered to herself, "I think I'm in love."
After the battle, Guinevere wasted no time in approaching Altria, her heart pounding with anticipation. She needed to know—was this brave knight married? To her relief, Altria was not, and Guinevere couldn't help but smile sincerely, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from her heart.
Beside her, King Leodegrance looked on, his expression heavy with concern. He was old and wise, and no emotions or thoughts were hidden from him. He saw the admiration in his daughter's eyes, and though the castle had been saved, Leodegrance felt as though he had lost something far more personal.
When Guinevere seemed on the verge of declaring her love, Leodegrance quickly intervened, coughing loudly. "Daughter, come and greet King Lott and Queen Morgan," he said, hoping to divert her attention.
Guinevere, reluctant but obedient, nodded. "Oh, alright," she replied, though her heart was far from willing.
As she greeted Lott and Morgan, Guinevere couldn't shake the uneasy feeling they gave her. Although they were just as striking in appearance as she was, there was something about them that filled her with distaste, though she couldn't quite pinpoint the reason. Perhaps it was Lott's battlefield tactics—while Guinevere believed in facing an opponent directly and winning with honour, Lott had used cunning strategies, attacking from behind. Worse still, he had used Altria as bait in the process.
"How cruel," Guinevere thought bitterly, her disapproval of Lott growing.
Sensing the tension, Leodegrance quickly stepped in again. "Let us not stand here any longer. I've prepared a banquet inside the castle. Please, come and rest," he said, motioning for everyone to follow him.
Lott agreed, and they all made their way to the castle. As they rode, Guinevere could hardly take her eyes off Altria, her heart brimming with admiration. She kept asking Altria about her background, eager to know more about the knight who had captured her heart. Though Altria was reluctant to share much at first, she couldn't be rude to the only daughter of her ally. Eventually, Altria spoke of her lineage and upbringing, explaining her connection to her adoptive father and righteous brother.
Guinevere listened closely, committing every word to memory. Lott, riding alongside them, observed all of this in silence, thinking to himself.
Guinevere, in this world, is from a noble lineage. As long as Altria remains either a man or someone with the attributes of a lily, there won't be any tragedy in the future, Lott mused quietly.
But Morgan had also noticed the budding affection between Guinevere and Altria. She frowned in concern.
"This is troublesome," Morgan thought. "I had assumed Guinevere had no interest in men and that I could marry my sister off safely. But now… it seems like this could lead to disaster."
Morgan knew she couldn't allow the marriage to go forward. It would only bring heartache and tragedy for both Altria and Guinevere. Yet, there was a part of her that couldn't help but think about the dowry—one hundred and fifty knights.
"One hundred and fifty knights?" Morgan's eyes widened at the thought.
On one hand, her sister was too precious to give away, but on the other, the offer of such a powerful dowry was hard to refuse. Morgan found herself in a dilemma. She looked from Lott to Altria, then to Guinevere.
"Is there a way to get everything I want?" she wondered. "I don't want to give up my sister, but I also want those knights."
Morgan glanced at Lott, hoping for some clever plan to emerge. In some ways, he was lacking in cunning, but that's where she came in. She resolved to talk to him later that night, perhaps after a few glasses of wine. They would figure something out together.
Inside the castle, King Leodegrance did everything he could to ensure his guests were well entertained. The banquet was filled with rare and delicious food, prepared with great care. Yet, as Lott, Morgan, and Altria ate, there was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm. The dishes were nowhere near as fine as what Lott could prepare himself, and they struggled to pretend they were enjoying the meal for the sake of politeness.
Leodegrance noticed this and grew concerned. What's wrong? he wondered. Have I not done enough to host them properly?
Despite his doubts, he soon had a more pressing concern to deal with—his daughter. Guinevere approached him when they were alone, her eyes serious.
"Father," she began, "I like the knight Altria."
Leodegrance sighed. He had expected this, but hearing it still made his heart sink. "Are you sure?" he asked, trying to sound calm.
"Father, do you believe in love at first sight?" Guinevere asked, her voice unwavering. "When I first saw Altria, I knew. I felt it in my heart. I want to marry her."
Leodegrance shook his head. "You don't even know her," he argued. "You've only seen him on the battlefield. You have no idea what he's like beyond that. How can you be so sure?"
"I've already gotten to know her," Guinevere insisted, her conviction clear. "I believe in him. I'm sure he's a good person."
Leodegrance sighed deeply, trying one last time to reason with her. "But he's just a knight, Guinevere. She has no lands, no wealth. If you marry her, you'll have to live without the comforts you're used to."
But Guinevere only smiled, placing her hands on her hips. "That doesn't matter, Father. I'm prepared for that," she said confidently.
Leodegrance blinked in surprise. His daughter had always been spoiled, yet here she was, claiming to be ready for a life without luxury. "Are you sure?" he asked, still doubtful.
"Of course!" Guinevere replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Altria may not have money, but you do, Father. You'll support us, won't you? After all, you only have one daughter. You can let Altria inherit the throne in the future!"
Leodegrance inhaled sharply, shocked by his daughter's boldness. "You expect me to support you both?" he thought, his heart aching. Is my daughter this... filial?