C381

A heaviness settled in her heart as she thought about the implications.

And at this moment, the blanket covering the three of them gently wriggled, as if someone was moving it with great caution.

The two girls who were conversing turned around, and four watery eyes fell upon Gray, who had carefully lifted the blanket.

"Um..." Gray timidly spoke up, shrinking her head back, "Uh, sorry. I... I couldn't hold it in, I need to go to the restroom. Did... did I disturb you?"

"Not at all," Illya and Miyu shook their heads.

"That's good to know," Gray sighed in relief. She still appeared troubled as she added, "Um, I'll lift the blanket again when I come back, so if I disturb you, I'm really sorry."

"Don't worry about it, pretty silver-haired onee-san," Illya said with a warm smile, "Right, Miyu?"

"Yes, please don't mind us, Gray."

"Th-thank you for understanding."

Gray let out a sigh of relief and quietly left the room.

Illya said with a hint of concern. "That silver-haired pretty onee-san always appears so cautious."

Miyu nodded in agreement, adding, "Indeed, I've noticed that too."

But Miyu understood the feeling all too well. Even though she was a visitor from a parallel world and had no loved ones in this world, she already considered herself cautious enough. But Gray seemed even more careful and timid, as if she was constantly afraid of offending anyone.

After Gray left the room, she didn't actually head to the restroom. In truth, she wasn't in a hurry to use the bathroom, nor was she feeling sleepy.

She had ended up eavesdropping on Illya and Miyu's conversation. However, it wasn't intentional; she had merely been discreetly observing the King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon, who stood by the window, lost in thought as she gazed outside.

Due to her low self-esteem, Gray wasn't particularly adept at engaging in direct communication with others or being talkative. Instead, her favorite pastime was observing people from a distance.

During the reincarnation ritual when the King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon, pushed her away, allowing Gray to forge her own path in life, Gray found solace in secretly observing the very person who had given her existence a fresh purpose.

Through her discreet observations, she couldn't help but notice a peculiar aura around the King of Knights whenever she looked at the Eternal King. There seemed to be something special and significant between them.

Gray couldn't help but feel uncomfortable whenever she observed the interactions between them. It was as if pink bubbles were emerging from them, creating a tinkling sensation that made her avert her gaze.

However, her curiosity got the better of her when, after returning to the room, the King of Knights stood by the window in a seemingly dazed state. This piqued Gray's interest, prompting her to come up with an excuse to leave the room and secretly follow the King from a distance, carefully observing her every move.

To her surprise, after leaving the room, the King of Knights went straight into Ritsuka's room.

Gray couldn't help but wonder why Artoria went to the princess's room. In her mind, she referred to Ritsuka as "the Princess."

The reason behind this title was rooted in Artoria's connection to the Knights of the Round Table, and Gray's body having been used to resurrect King of Knights Artoria Pendragon. As the younger sister of the Eternal King, Ritsuka naturally earned the title of "Princess" from Artoria.

As Gray was about to leave to follow the King of Knights, the unexpected happened—Artoria emerged from the princess' room, resulting in a collision between the one following and the one being followed!

"Gray? You're still not asleep."

"N-no, I... um... I need to use the restroom," Gray nervously stammered, her face flushing slightly.

After the accidental collision, she actually felt the urge to go.

"Oh, I see," Artoria's blue eyes stared at Gray with a gentle smile forming on her delicate face. "Then go ahead, and after that, you can have a peaceful sleep."

"Uh... um... I'm afraid of the dark, and I'm also afraid of ghosts... so, so... can you..." Her face blushing as she timidly asked, "Can you... come with me?"

"Of course," Artoria nodded with understanding.

She walked alongside Gray into the restroom and waited outside while she took care of her needs.

"Uh... are you still there?"

"I'm here. I'll be here the entire time. Don't be afraid, Gray."

"Mmm..." Gray buried her head.

The presence of someone who genuinely cared about her made Gray's heart tremble slightly. It was a feeling she had always yearned for but never quite obtained.

What made it even more ironic was that this person cared for her not because she was the physical vessel of some resurrected hero, but simply because she was Gray.

How absurd was that?

The one who was supposed to possess her body turned out to be the one who truly cared for her as a person, not just as a vessel.

After coming out of the restroom, Gray's face still flushed with embarrassment, she apologized, "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I can't believe you had to accompany me."

"Don't say that. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Besides, I have to thank you for lending me your body from time to time. Now, let's go back and rest."

"Mmm..." she nodded.

Together, Gray and Artoria walked back to the room.

"By the way, Your Highness, why did you go to the princess's room?"

Artoria's head drooped slightly, her eyelids lowering as she replied, "Looking at that child... it reminded me of my own child."

"Do you have a child?" Gray asked curiously.

She nodded with a hint of melancholy and said, "I am a woman, so of course, I have a child."

"Is it Mordred?"

She nodded again.

Gray furrowed her brow, looking puzzled as she responded, "But according to the historical records and biographies, they claim that Mordred is actually the rebellious child of the witch Morgan Le Fay. They say she drugged you and gave birth to him..."

A flash of displeasure crossed Artoria's face as she quickly retorted, "Nonsense! Mordred is mine! That child belongs to me! I don't know who came up with such rubbish, but if I ever get hold of them, they better watch out because my sword won't spare them!"

Deciding not to press on that sensitive topic anymore, Gray changed the topic and asked with genuine curiosity, "Even after everything, do you ever feel any resentment towards Mordred for eventually destroying the kingdom and... um... ending your life?"

"She never did harm me... so how could I resent her?" Artoria sounded somewhat melancholic as she continued, "I have never harbored any hatred towards Mordred, nor have I been angry with her."

"So, what kind of person is Mordred, then?"

"Mordred is just like the Princess; she is a very stubborn child. But..."

"But?"

"But Mordred easily feels lonely, so sometimes she seeks affection and clings to people. However, when you show concern for her, she gets angry and tells you to mind your own business. On the other hand, when she wants her space and you ignore her, she puts on a pouty face as if she's on the verge of tears..."

A faint smile graced Artoria's face, but it faded all too quickly as she lowered her head, a tinge of melancholy in her voice, "I guess I've never truly understood that child... I feel like I've failed as a mother."

"I see..." Listening to her words, Gray couldn't help but feel a sense of dejection, muttering to herself, "I wish I had someone like you as my mother."

Artoria's confession about her struggles as a mother struck a chord with Gray. She couldn't help but reflect on her own experiences, feeling like she had never truly understood her own parents or relatives. Treated merely as a vessel for the King of Knights, she couldn't help but feel that even the so-called "blessing" felt like it was solely for her role as a vessel, not for Gray.

No one had ever celebrated her birth as Gray; she was simply born to fulfill the role of a vessel for the King of Knights.

Her tribe treated her as such, her parents did the same, and even her adopted sister saw her no differently.

Gray felt like she was never truly needed by anyone.

Perhaps, because of this, she had grown incredibly self-conscious and afraid of reaching out to others.

"What's on your mind, Gray?"

"Oh, um... it's nothing," she replied nervously.

"Go back to sleep."

"Mmm..." she nodded in response.

As Gray entered the room and turned to glance at her, she noticed that Artoria was still standing just outside the door.

The soothing glow of the moon slipped softly through the window curtains, painting a subtle dance of pale moonbeams across Artoria's calm and striking features.

Unable to contain her thoughts, Gray asked, "Will you... will you always be here?"

She turned to her and said, "You are my Master; I will always be by your side, Gray."

Gray felt a sense of comfort wash over her. As long as this King was here, she knew she could feel safe and at ease.

Because as long as this King was here, it meant that there was still someone, one person who blessed her for being Gray.

She realized that she wasn't afraid of ghosts or the dark.

She was only afraid of being alone.

A sigh came from Add in her pocket.

Perhaps this was for the best.