Enkidu
Chapter 9
Although he wanted to see the unknown Knights one last time, Arthur was busy with domestic affairs and returned to the country with his subordinates the next day.
Arthur was now quite popular in the country. When he returned to Camelot, he was cheered by the people. Perhaps it was because he had won a battle not long ago, but everyone was smiling when they saw him. The girls were holding flowers, waiting for King Arthur to pass by and sprinkle them on his path.
The sharpness and coldness of the gentle and handsome king would only be shown to his enemies. In the country he guarded, this unknown side of him was not seen. The unmarried King Arthur was the sweet fantasy of young girls. They always felt that the young king was more like a prince in a fairy tale, with a scarlet dream.
Enkidu sat on the back of a horse, occasionally calming the slightly restless horses in the crowd. The people did not look unfamiliar when they saw him. Instead, they laughed and threw beautiful flowers and garlands at him. They knew that he was a friend of the king and had been with him since before the king succeeded to the throne.
Compared to the declining dynasty, Great Britain, which had a wise ruler, burst out with vitality and will that had never been seen since the death of Uther Of Silla. This was also the direction that King Arthur was working towards. Even if he knew that the road ahead was uncertain, he would not regret it.
Because he had mentioned the development of the army to Enkidu, Arthur began to think about how to build an invincible elite group.
He paced on the cold stone bricks of the king's city. Sometimes, when he was dealing with national affairs, he would think of those ideas. He often asked for the opinions of his close officials, whether it was his brother Kai who was in charge of internal affairs, Euphemia, the ordinary Knights who were wandering around, or Morgan, who was living in seclusion in the depths of the castle. They all heard the news and laughed at the new king's whimsical thinking.
"Sooner or later, he will destroy this country because of his stupidity."
A woman's voice sounded in the dark stone room. Ever since she lost the right to inherit the throne, she had become more and more unpredictable. Even her blood could not understand what her mother was thinking.
"Gawain, are you listening to me?"
The witch glanced at her son from the corner of her eyes. This handsome boy was absent-mindedly looking at the curtains that blocked the sunlight, as if the patterns on the curtains were very attractive. Compared to her other obedient son, this Glorious Knights that everyone praised was the most worrisome existence.
"I think King Arthur's strategy is correct, mother."
Probably because he grew up in Rome, Gawain did not rely on Morgan. He did not need to take care of his mother's emotions like his brother Agguwen did. Even in the face of Morgan's angry face, he could ignore it and express his own opinions.
"Mother, although you are an excellent magician, your ability to govern a country is not enough. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been so flustered after grandfather's death. Can't you just leave it to King Arthur?
There is no need to curse him. "
Gawain was optimistic about Arthur's actions. From the early days of the establishment of the legion, he had been observing their movements. However, the time was not ripe yet. Gawain only watched and did not take action. If King Arthur really created a new Order of Chivalry, he would definitely join.
"What do you know?
He was the one who took away our family's throne. If it wasn't for him, you would be the next rightful king. "
Morgan's chest heaved up and down violently. She was clearly furious, but she couldn't just lash out at Gawain and curse him as she would a servant.
"He is an excellent king. He can give Great Britain a bright future. That is enough. I don't care if I can inherit the throne in the future."
"You …"
The beautiful face under the black veil was distorted. Morgan resisted the violence in her heart to not attack her son. She resented King Arthur even more for bewitching her beloved child's mind.
"Actually, mother, you don't have to care about this. King Arthur is a benevolent king. He will not kill brothers and sisters who are a threat. With your strength, other than the legendary magician Merlin, no one else is a problem. Even if you can't inherit the throne, you can still live well."
Gawain did not understand why his mother changed from her original innocent and pure image to a cold and cruel witch. He always hoped that Morgan could return to her original self, and not use others as a tool for pleasure.
"Your heart is already with someone else. You are actually complaining to an illegitimate child about the mother who gave birth to you and raised you."
Morgan's tone did not have any warmth. She looked at Gawain more like an enemy than a family member.
She did not listen to Gawain's words at all.
The pampered princess was unable to obtain the throne that should have belonged to her. The heir that father looked forward to was someone else. From the moment King Arthur ascended the throne, Morgan was destined to be ridiculed.
She was pulled from the complacent dream of the first half of her life to the cold reality. Everyone felt that Princess Morgan was not worthy of bearing the burden of Great Britain. Even if she was sinking deeper into the darkness, they only cheered to prove their point.
Her father's love was fake. The love of the people of Great Britain was fake.
And the pure and innocent princess who once had everything had to rely on a wild boy who came from nowhere. She had to rely on his tolerance to survive. It was really … too laughable.
Morgan laughed day and night in her room. She laughed until she finally understood that laughing was such a painful thing.
She covered her face with a black veil to hide all her expressions. No one knew that the princess who would smile gently even in front of the lowly servants could no longer learn the simplest of smiles.
However, her son did not understand her. He thought that she was being unreasonable. She was clearly fighting for the rights that belonged to her.
But he was willing to accept King Arthur's rule. Whenever that name was mentioned, his eyes were filled with longing.
"I don't think so."
The mother and son who could not understand each other would hurt each other as long as they came into contact. Every time Gawain came into contact with Morgan, he would feel tired for no reason. Even if he loved this woman who gave him life from the bottom of his heart, he would often have the thought to stay away from her, just a little further away …
Gawain had his own thoughts and was unwilling to be manipulated by others. Morgan's strong desire to control often made him feel suffocated.
"Gawain, I don't want you to betray me."
Saying this in a commanding tone, Morgan's eyes that were faintly discernible along with the shaking of the black veil were extremely repressed. "If one day, I find that you betrayed me and followed Arthur, I will take away all of your protection and blessings."
The witch raised her chin slightly and spat out curses mercilessly at her own son.
The door to the princess' room opened and slowly closed.
Coming out of the depressing room, her mood seemed to have brightened up.
But Gawain knew that this was just a false relaxation.
As if he was surprised by his mother's last sentence, the cheerful Knights lost the smile on his face. He frowned slightly, like the clouds covering the sun's radiance.
He understood the pain of his mother losing the throne, but he did not want her to torture herself because of it.
Every time he tried to persuade her, it would only push them further apart. If he remained silent, he could only watch her sink deeper and deeper.
Gawain's footsteps were heavy. None of the Knights who were close to him dared to greet him. Gawain was actually not that bad. After quarreling with his mother countless times, Gawain had long been able to resolve his inner turmoil.
Unknowingly, he walked to the king's meeting room.
The meeting room was very large. It was a place for meeting guests or holding meetings. Usually, it was not used because it was too empty. It would not be crowded even if hundreds of people were there.
But Gawain, who was passing by, heard a familiar male voice.
"… You must set up a table. It's best if many people can sit at it. It's best if you can't tell who's in charge. After all, everyone sitting at the table has to treat everyone else equally, including me."
Gawain stood at the door, watching the king and his friends as they discussed.
"So, you want to make a round table."
Enkidu gestured the curve of the table. It would not be easy to make a round table that could accommodate many people.
"Yes, every seat will be marked with their names. They can participate in every major event and vote for their opinions. They are not only my Order of Chivalry, but also my friends and the strongest shield of my country."
King Arthur, who was immersed in his plans for the future, finally saw Gawain. Unlike Morgan's tense relationship, Gawain and he had always had a good relationship.
"Gawain."
Because of his guilt for taking away Sister Wang's throne, Arthur always tried his best to be tolerant of Morgan's faction. Gawain was different. Compared to the younger generation, he was more like Arthur's peer. They had the same topics and hobbies. Although Morgan did not allow them to be too close, Arthur still had a good impression of him.
"Regarding the establishment of the Order of Chivalry, are you ready?"
"You heard about it too?"
Arthur was a little embarrassed that he had made a big deal out of it. "I can't say that I'm ready. I hope to select the best Knights to safeguard the peace of the country in an equal environment and to set an example for the people. I was thinking about the rules a few days ago and asked many people for their opinions."
"That is indeed a very good idea."
It was not a polite reply. Gawain thought the same in his heart. To choose to listen to the advice of the most common Knights, this person must be a trustworthy and wise king.
"Gawain, are you willing to be the first Knights to join the Order of Chivalry?"
Arthur's sudden invitation caused Gawain, who was usually calm, to panic a little.
He was the best Knights chosen by King Arthur.
Even though he was occasionally proud of his outstanding ability in front of the other Knights, Gawain felt an unprecedented sense of happiness.
He firmly believed that the king in front of him was more suitable for the throne of Great Britain than his mother. He would bring Great Britain to unprecedented heights. It was not a pity to lose the throne that should have belonged to him.
"Yes, I am very willing."