Chapter 87: Altria's Dilemma: The Proposal and the Retaliation (rewrite)

King Leodegrance clutched his chest in thought, contemplating his situation. After a moment of reflection, he came to a rather pleasing conclusion. If he could manage to persuade Altria to join his side, perhaps he could prevent his daughter from leaving him. Leodegrance only had one daughter, and naturally, he felt she deserved to be pampered to the utmost. He envisioned giving her everything he possessed in the future. He reasoned that Altria, being just a knight and not a king like those in Camelot, was no significant threat. Thus, he resolved to find a way to recruit Altria, ensuring that his daughter would remain by his side. Delighted by this thought, King Leodegrance couldn't help but laugh.

...

With this plan in mind, King Leodegrance sent for Altria. At that moment, Altria was engaged in finishing her meal. Despite the food being far from delicious, she ate diligently, adhering to the knightly principle of not wasting food.

When she was summoned by King Leodegrance, she was puzzled but complied. Morgan and Lott, who were also dining, noticed the king calling for Altria and exchanged curious glances.

"What's going on?" Morgan asked.

"I have no idea," Lott replied.

"Should we go and see?" Morgan suggested.

"Let's go," Lott agreed.

The two decided to follow discreetly.

...

"Your Majesty, King Leodegrance, is there something you need from me?" Altria inquired upon arriving before the king.

She also glanced at Guinevere, who was sitting next to Leodegrance and was staring at her with a somewhat intense gaze. Altria felt a bit uncomfortable under Guinevere's scrutiny.

Leodegrance cleared his throat and addressed Altria directly. "Knight Altria, I would like to ask if you are interested in leaving Camelot to serve me instead?"

Altria was taken aback. "Huh? What are you talking about?" she asked, her expression one of confusion. "I'm doing well under Lott and Morgan. Why would I consider joining you? I'm not entirely foolish!"

Leodegrance continued, "If you come to my side, you will receive greater status and more benefits than you have in Camelot. Your position here would be much higher."

As he spoke, Guinevere's hopeful eyes were fixed on Altria, silently urging her to agree.

Without hesitation, Altria rejected the offer. "I refuse," she said firmly. "What you offer cannot match what I have at Camelot. Besides, the food here is not as good as what I'm used to."

Leodegrance seemed slightly surprised by her decisive response. He then added, "I'll be straightforward. I want to marry my daughter to you. After my death, this country will be yours. While it may not compare to Camelot, it is still a significant realm in Scotland. You would become king of this land, which is far better than being merely a knight in Camelot."

At this point, Guinevere's face lit up with a shy yet eager expression. She looked at Altria with anticipation, hoping for a favourable response.

Altria, understanding Guinevere's emotions, felt even more distressed. "Sorry, I can't agree to this," she said quickly. "I'm a woman. How could I marry another woman? It's simply impossible."

...

Morgan and Lott, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, were both displeased. Morgan, being a skilled magician, had used her abilities to listen in, while Lott relied on Morgan's account.

Morgan's anger was palpable. "Can you believe this? We came here to confront him, and instead, he tried to poach my general! This old fool is infuriating."

Lott nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's quite irritating," he said, though he had some misgivings. "But, considering what we want, Leodegrance is only attempting to attract Altria to improve his position. His real concern is about the relationship between us."

Morgan touched her nose thoughtfully. "Indeed, it is a bit harsh. While we can manage without his money and weapons, it's the alliance we seek—one that places us as the dominant force, not just an ally."

Lott agreed, saying, "Yes, it's more about establishing control and ensuring our dominance in the region. Even if he were to acquire Altria, it's beneficial for us as long as we manage the broader picture."

Morgan was particularly concerned about Guinevere, who was Morgan's only sister and Lott's sister-in-law. "Guinevere is very important to me. I cannot allow her to be taken away like this. Besides, Altria being a woman means she cannot marry Guinevere. It's a complete non-starter."

Morgan then nudged Lott with her elbow. "We need to come up with a plan to retaliate. How dare he make such a move against us!"

"Of course," Lott agreed.

...

As Altria fled the room, she muttered to herself, "This is frightening." She was deeply unsettled by the idea of marriage and the situation she found herself in.

When she emerged, she noticed two pairs of eyes watching her from the shadows. Her heart raced, and she instinctively drew her sword. However, upon recognizing Lott and Morgan, she relaxed slightly.

Though she was relieved to see them, Altria was concerned about their reaction. She had rejected Leodegrance's proposal, but she worried about how Morgan might respond to the matter being known. She understood the gravity of Morgan's anger and hoped it would not lead to severe consequences.

To her surprise, Morgan approached her calmly, without the expected fury.