Kokomi's strategic talent was far greater than Leon had initially imagined.
"Although everything I taught her about planning came from some of the greatest military books ever created, they're also extremely difficult to master and use with real proficiency. The mere fact that she managed to absorb and apply all of that in such a short amount of time already proves that this girl's talent is truly extraordinary."
Leon said that while holding a strand of Kokomi's long hair, slowly running his fingers through it as he observed it with genuine curiosity.
The soft texture surprised him.
No...
Perhaps "surprised" wasn't enough.
That softness could easily rank among the top three—perhaps even take first place—among everything he had ever touched in his memory.
And that only increased his regret.
Suddenly, Leon felt a strange pain in his heart.
It really seemed like he wouldn't be able to keep her as an ornamental fish in an aquarium inside his room.
It was sad.
Very sad.
Doing something like that would simply be wasting the absurd potential of a true genius.
If her talent lay on the strategic battlefield, then she should be sent to the place where she would shine the brightest:
The battlefield.
Besides...
Leon was almost certain that Esdeath would adore someone like her.
"If you pass this test, I'll give your clan members on Watatsumi Island a place to live. And remember to tell them to work hard and not be lazy."
"Yes! I'll tell everyone!"
Kokomi nodded quickly, her face carrying an extremely serious expression.
In truth, during that period, the people of Watatsumi Island had practically fallen completely in love with the Kingdom of Palettia.
After all...
It was too rich.
Too peaceful.
Too perfect.
In the past, the island where they lived had been even poorer than Britain itself.
They constantly had to face the Shogunate's forces, being oppressed in every possible aspect.
They had lived under the pressure of the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree.
Surviving alone had already been difficult.
But compared to that...
The Kingdom of Palettia literally looked like a paradise above the heavens.
Practically unlimited food.
National power so absurd that nobody dared provoke them.
Along with countless magical technologies that had never been seen before.
People even said that the mysterious magical devices called "Model 200s" had been created by Prince Leon and Princess Anis, allowing even ordinary people to use tools that should have been impossible.
To Kokomi, that seemed like divine magic.
No...
It was even more unbelievable than that.
"I swear that my people and I will never betray the Kingdom of Palettia or Your Highness Leon. We only ask for permission to live in your utopia. If we break this oath, then may the entire Sangonomiya Clan meet a terrible end."
"...Ehh... right."
Leon blinked a few times.
This girl was absurdly serious.
He truly hadn't expected her to make such a heavy and absolute oath like that.
Beside him, Euphilia simply wore a satisfied smile.
Perhaps Leon didn't fully understand.
But she did.
After all, she frequently visited other countries.
Once someone experienced life within the Magical Kingdom of Palettia...
It became practically impossible to want to leave.
If Palettia and the territories conquered by Leon were compared to Heaven itself...
Then every other place could be considered hell.
In the past, countless kingdoms had sent hundreds of spies into Palettia.
But the results had been utterly ridiculous.
Seventy of them met Leon after living there for a week and voluntarily confessed their identities.
As for the remaining thirty...
They betrayed their own kingdoms and decided to work as double agents.
Although Leon had not officially ascended the throne yet...
The king had practically already handed him all existing authority, keeping only the royal title.
In fact, even the throne itself looked like something he would immediately hand over if Leon asked.
For years now, Leon had already been fully managing the Kingdom of Palettia.
C.C. and the others still found all of that completely absurd.
Leon himself spent his days causing chaos across the world, conquering territories, resolving crises, developing technologies, handling internal affairs, and somehow still finding time to create completely unnecessary problems.
It was absurd.
Absolutely absurd.
Anyone from the outside would never imagine that this earthly paradise had once been practically identical to any other kingdom just a few years ago.
Overall...
After spending several days in Palettia, Kokomi and her people no longer wished to live anywhere else.
They could endure hell.
But only because they had never seen the light.
Now they had finally found their utopia.
And nobody wanted to return to darkness.
"Thank you for the reward, Your Highness. I'll take my leave now."
Leon lazily waved his hand.
"Go, go."
He made a casual gesture while watching the little mermaid priestess leave.
Shortly afterward...
Heavy footsteps echoed.
Mordred entered wearing her full armor.
Leon immediately noticed something.
Her behavior had changed.
She wasn't as loud and impulsive as she usually was.
For the first time, she seemed nervous.
Like a candidate about to enter a decisive exam.
"Are you nervous, Mordred?"
"...No, Your Highness."
Mordred clenched her fists tightly and displayed an excited grin.
"I'm excited!"
Although her body still trembled slightly, the flames burning in her eyes satisfied Leon.
"So you're finally getting the chance to face the King of Knights in a fair battle."
"Then... can you win?"
"Of course I can!"
Mordred's eyes blazed.
"After all, the blade that brings down a king always belongs to the rebel! I'll use this battle to prove the king was wrong!"
There was no hatred in those eyes.
No anger.
Only fanaticism.
Determination.
In the past, the King of Knights had denied her existence.
But now...
She would use her sword and the blood of that king to prove her own worth.
She would use the King of Knights as a stepping stone to engrave her own name into history.
Leon stared into those shining green eyes.
Even if she was only a shadow of that king.
Even if her life was short.
Even if she carried a face that was not originally her own.
Mordred had decided to destroy her own fate.
Leon slowly removed the cloak from his shoulders.
Then he placed it over hers.
"In the name of Palettia, I command you, Mordred..."
His voice echoed slowly.
"Do not lose this battle."
Mordred's eyes widened.
Then she slammed her clenched fist against her chest.
"Your knight, Mordred, accepts your orders!"
"I will definitely bring back victory!"
At that moment, her heart was overwhelmed by intense emotion.
How fortunate she had been.
Meeting Leon might have been the greatest blessing of her life.
And at that moment, she silently swore:
Even if she had to burn every last drop of blood in her body...
She would fight for that man.
With the cloak fluttering behind her, Mordred advanced toward the battlefield while gripping Clarent.
On the other side...
Artoria silently observed everything.
"I never imagined it would come to this..."
Her eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
She had never imagined that her words of rejection would create this result.
As expected...
She truly was a king who didn't understand people's hearts.
"So... do you regret it, King of Knights?"
Mordred smiled.
She had waited for this moment far too long.
"...Even if I regret it, I cannot change the past."
Artoria slowly raised her sword.
"All I can do is continue moving forward. Mordred... I will show no mercy."
"Hah!"
Mordred smiled fiercely.
"That is exactly what I desire, King of Knights!"
The two stared at one another.
Behind them stood thousands of soldieWrs.
But in the end...
The battle would still be fought by only two people.
Artoria carried the weight of everyone's expectations.
A mountain called faith.
While Mordred...
Carried Leon's blessing.
And the fighting spirit inside her heart burned like fire.
(End of Chapter)