C254

"By the way, which noble family does the child belong to?" Shirou asked.

"It belongs to Lady Polina," Artoria replied.

Shirou furrowed his brow. "Why does the name sound familiar?"

Kay chimed in, "My king, don't you remember? While we were staying at the estate, there was a lady who sought my father's affection. She used to visit Sis and me often, but at the time, you were not in the mood for conversation, so you didn't interact with her much."

"Oh, I remember that lady," Shirou said, nodding in recognition. "She used to come by with apples for Artie."

Merlin cut in suddenly, his voice rising in anger. "But her husband is a scum! He abandoned her and their child and fled to a foreign country! He's a cold-blooded, ruthless man who doesn't even treat people like people. I've wanted to kick him to death for a long time! That bastard, that scumbag!"

Shirou furrowed his brow, looking puzzled. "That lady seemed to have high standards. How could she end up with such a terrible choice?"

Merlin's face contorted with anger. "I wanted to slap that man the moment I saw him! Knock him to the ground, kick his butt, hit him over the head with a wand! And then grab his hair and yank it hard! Finally, I would stomp on his belly and tell him what it means to respect and treat people properly!"

Agravain spoke in a calm voice, interrupting Merlin's tirade. "Master Merlin, your performance is over. Our king has come here to inspect the successor, not to watch your antics. He has important matters to attend to, and we must not disturb him."

Kay's face was clouded with gloom. "That's right. The man may be terrible, but he's not worse than you, Merlin. You used my name to seduce women, and we need to have a serious talk about that."

Merlin shrank back, "This... this..."

Shirou turned to Merlin, a puzzled expression on his face. "Merlin, when did you become someone who could feel indignant for others?"

"As an incubus who mimics your personality, I also have a sense of justice!"

He narrowed his eyes, suspicious. "That doesn't sound right. Tell me, have you been hiding something from me?"

Merlin hesitated for a moment before confessing. "Yes, I have. That child is actually ours... I entered your dream that day, stole your essence, and then..."

Shirou's expression turned cold. "Kay, kill him."

Kay didn't draw his sword right away. Instead, he turned to Gawain and said, "Gawain, I need your help."

"As a knight of the king, it's my duty to defend his honor. Even if the offender is Merlin himself, I won't hesitate to take action!" Gawain drew his holy sword, ready for battle. Together, he and Kay chased after Merlin.

Merlin was sweating profusely as he fled, his arms flailing. "Wait, wait, wait! Can't we talk this out? I didn't mean to cause any harm!"

Shirou kept his eyes on the paperwork as he asked, "What's the kid's name?"

"He doesn't have one," Artoria replied, still sorting through the documents for Tintagel's development.

Shirou looked up, surprised. "His father didn't even give him a name?"

She nodded. "That seems to be the case."

"Typical of a scumbag. He didn't care about his child's welfare even before he was born."

Agravain spoke up at that moment. "My king, you should rest. You're returning tomorrow."

Shirou nodded, standing up from his seat. He paused for a moment, then turned to Artoria. "You've done an excellent job this year."

She bowed her head. "It's all thanks to your guidance, my king."

...

As he lay in bed that night, Shirou couldn't shake the feeling of hesitation that lingered in his mind.

Despite Morgan's lineage and noble status, Artoria's potential as a ruler had surpassed hers, meeting all of Shirou's assessment criteria.

But there was something else that troubled him. he sensed that Artoria was hiding something from him, something that she had yet to reveal.

Artoria had always been straightforward, and it was impossible for her to conceal her thoughts or feelings. However, Shirou didn't mind this; in fact, he welcomed it.

However, Shirou couldn't shake the feeling that Artoria was too straightforward for her own good. As the heir to the throne, it was crucial for her to be able to hide her intentions and play the political game when necessary.

"If only she were a little more cunning," Shirou mused to himself.

He knew that Artoria's honesty and integrity were admirable qualities, but in the world of politics, they could be a hindrance. Shirou hoped that with time, Artoria would learn to balance her straightforward nature with the necessary cunning to navigate the complex web of politics that awaited her as a ruler.

There was a knock at the door, interrupting his thoughts. 

"Knock, knock, knock."

Shirou got up to answer it, and was surprised to see Artoria standing outside.

"Is everything okay, Artie?" he asked, curious.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "My king, there's something I need to tell you. I've been keeping a secret from you, and I'm sorry."

"I had a feeling that you were keeping something from me," Shirou said with a smile, gesturing for Artoria to come inside. "Come in."

Artoria walked in and saluted with a knight's gesture, kneeling on one knee before her king.

Shirou sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her expectantly. "So, what is it that you've been keeping from me? If it's not related to state affairs, you don't have to tell me. I respect your personal privacy."

She hesitated, looking up at Shirou's face before speaking. "I... I want to give up my right to the throne."

Shirou's eyebrow rose in surprise. "Why is that?"

After a pause, he said, "Don't tell me you have some silly idea about me sitting on the throne forever."

She took a deep breath before explaining her reasoning. "Your knights won't be a burden to you. You've been here for too long, and it's time for you to return home and see your family. Besides, I believe that Morgan is better suited to inherit the throne than I am. I have no desire to become King. If possible, I would like to stay here. However, I understand that this might be disappointing to you, after all the time and effort you've invested in me..."

"I understand," he said, nodding in agreement. "If you've made your decision to give up the throne, I approve. After the war is over, I will grant you Tintagel and the surrounding territories to govern as a lord. However, you must not cause any trouble for Morgan."

She nodded in understanding. "I won't, Your Majesty."

"That settles it, then. But we still have one final battle to fight. Don't let your guard down."

"Yes..."

Artoria left the room, leaving Shirou to relax on the bed. As she walked out, she glanced back at her king for a few moments before slowly closing the door behind her.

Once outside, she exchanged a glance with Agravain and Merlin, who were sitting nearby, before turning to leave.