Chapter 26: My Name Is Rhine, Reinhard

Chapter 26: My Name Is Rhine, Reinhard

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Thinking of this, Morgan didn't wait for the young man's reply but instead heard another sarcastic voice interrupt her thoughts.

"Hey, isn't this Princess Morgan? It's been a long time since we last met. What are you doing here? Did you not eat enough in Camelot, so you came to City of Glory to eat and drink?"

The noblewoman who interrupted Morgan's words was dressed in extravagant attire, with a beautiful face and a voluptuous figure.

"Oh, who was it? Turns out it's Mira. What's wrong? Did Vortigern decide he doesn't want you as his lover anymore? Who are you planning to seduce in City of Glory now?"

Mira, Vortigern's lover, was also the envoy sent from Londinium in the north.

As the princess of Camelot, Morgan had once followed King Uther to the battlefield before earning her title as the Witch of the Lake. Her magic was a vital asset, greatly aiding the army.

She had fought against the forces of the humble king, Vortigern, and naturally knew Mira. Mira was a woman of a cruel and manipulative nature, skilled in magic and particularly talented in charm.

Unexpectedly, Morgan encountered her at the banquet in the City of Glory. Her previously pleasant mood instantly soured.

"Tsk… sharp-tongued little girl. I am different from you, the abandoned princess. I came to see the King of Glory bearing generous gifts from the humble king himself."

"But you? Talking about who I seduced? I think you're the one here trying to seduce this young man. How shameless."

Mira's venomous words flowed smoothly, laced with mockery. She excelled at this kind of verbal sparring, and despite Morgan's battlefield experience, she wasn't Mira's match in a war of words.

Just as Morgan was preparing to retaliate, their quarrel had already drawn the attention of others.

The envoys from various nations showed no concern and instead seemed entertained, treating the situation like a spectacle.

The ministers of the City of Glory, however, were visibly alarmed and quickly approached.

"Oh, it seems our witch princess has caused quite a stir in City of Glory.

This poor young man… dragged into the mess of an abandoned princess.

No doubt, he'll face scolding from his elders once he returns home."

As the group approached, Mira continued to mock Morgan without restraint, yet her gaze repeatedly drifted toward the young man.

After all, even from her perspective, he was an exceptionally attractive figure.

It was a pity he seemed so young—but that hardly mattered. Mira was confident in her ability to captivate such men.

Besides, as an envoy from Londinium in the north, she represented a region far more influential than Camelot, which was clearly in decline. With only one princess sent as its representative, City of Glory would naturally prioritize her standing.

Thinking of this, she watched as the ministers drew closer until they came to a stop near their table.

"Marquis Brian, Captain Gazef, greetings. I—"

"Greetings to my king."

Her words were abruptly cut short as the young man nonchalantly brushed away the hand Mira had extended toward him.

In the next instant, Gazef, Brian, and numerous ministers—who had been busy entertaining the envoys of prominent families—bowed their heads in unison. They placed their right hands over their chests and dropped to one knee, performing a solemn and uniform gesture of reverence.

"Get up."

Waving his hand to signal his ministers to relax, the young man—or rather, Elric—slowly stood up, casually using the tip of his knife to pop the last piece of pizza into his mouth.

Chewing thoughtfully, he smiled at Morgan.

"Hello, Morgan. You can call me Rhine."

"My full name is Reinhard Pendragon, the King of Glory."

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[Faced with your appearance, all the envoys were shocked.]

[Although they had heard that the King of Glory was young and handsome, they hadn't expected you to be this young.]

["You… you are actually the King of Glory!"]

[Morgan was equally astonished. She had never imagined that the friend she had been chatting with moments ago was actually the master of the City of Glory.]

["Yes, it's me. I'm the King of Glory."]

[With your arms spread wide, you even made a playful joke from later times, but it was a pity that no one here could understand it.]

[Mira, the envoy from the north, was equally shocked by your identity. However, unlike Morgan's awe, her surprise quickly turned to panic. She was visibly shaken.]

[Desperately, she racked her brain for a way to salvage the situation, but what awaited her was your cold, ruthless order.]

["Londinium, right? It seems I made a mistake allowing your delegation to come to City of Glory."]

["But since you're already here, leave something behind before you go."]

[As a king, you were merciful in one sense, allowing the northern delegation to return home. However, unlike their triumphant arrival, you ensured their departure carried a stark warning. You also sent a 'gift' back to the humble king, Vortigern.]

[That gift was none other than Mira's severed head.]

["Rhine, killing that woman like this… won't it cause a war?"]

[Morgan, puzzled by your decision, thought your actions were reckless and likely to incite conflict.]

[At her question, you looked at the witch with a curious expression, your tone filled with calm certainty.]

["Morgan, if I treat them with courtesy, would the humble king consider me his friend?"]

["No. War has always been the rule of the strong and the wailing of the weak. The distance to the truth is measured by the sharpness of the sword in our hands, and territory is weighed by the strength of our armies."]

["If I must fear even the humble king, then I'm not fit to sit on the throne of Glory."]

[Morgan was left speechless by your words. She had never been a ruler herself, and such an uncompromising, commanding outlook on leadership left her in awe.]

[Indeed, as you had predicted, the humble king in Londinium responded to the events with surprising docility. He claimed the northern envoy's failure was a misunderstanding and that Mira had offended the King of Glory, fully deserving her fate.]

[Not only that, but the humble king also sent a number of generous gifts to Glory City and personally sought your forgiveness. Clearly, he had no intention of provoking a conflict with you, at least not so soon.]

[Morgan, too, naturally became a part of your Glorious City.]

[The Princess of Camelot, admired by the King of Glory—such rumors quickly spread throughout Britain.]

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NOTE: Sorry for not uploading regularly. I recently had surgery, and I feel terrible. The constant headache is unbearable, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to leave—maybe tomorrow or the day after. I'm hoping it'll be soon.