After the Round Table meeting, Guinevere remained unaware of Merlin's actions.
But even if she had known, her determination would not have wavered in the slightest.
Relentlessly forward, striving onward with every ounce of her being, clinging to the few fragments of the future she recalled...
Change, enemies, natural disasters... Anything that threatened to alter her destiny and that of the King of Knights became her immediate target. She would declare war without hesitation, determined to shatter any obstacle with her full strength.
Thus, even after sending a letter to Lancelot and following Merlin's unexpected return, Guinevere maintained her rigorous training regimen. On days when she wasn't overwhelmed by duties, she devoted half her time to the Training Ground.
Her commitment to enhancing her combat skills never faltered.
However, as another half-month passed and Morgan declared it was time for pregnancy signs to appear, Guinevere had to adjust her training regimen.
That day, Morgan cast the False Pregnancy spell on her. Together with the King of Knights, Guinevere announced to the Round Table:
"Yes, Guinevere is pregnant."
"I can assure everyone that the child to be born will undoubtedly carry the bloodlines of both Guinevere and myself. Its conception was indeed aided by my sister's Magecraft!"
Back in the Throne Room, nearly all the Round Table Knights of Camelot were present. From the shock on their faces, the King of Knights and Guinevere understood...
How many had already seen through the King of Knights' true gender?
But with the King of Knights' assurance and the revelation of Morgan's involvement, they no longer doubted the child's legitimacy. Instead, they harbored an indescribable mix of emotions about the Queen's pregnancy.
"Queen, are you sure you still want to spar with us?"
"Queen, you should abandon the idea of inspecting the realm for now. Rest and recuperate—that's what truly matters."
"Queen, don't rush the Church matters. We must wait until Merlin's rumor-spreading phase proves effective before we make our move."
"Queen, even though we know this pregnancy is a ruse—a truth known only to a few of us—if anyone dared to harm you, we'd all gang up on them!"
-
Guinevere was indeed "pregnant." With their heightened senses, the Knights could hear a faint, distinct heartbeat within her womb.
This inevitably changed their attitude toward her.
Daily sparring sessions in the Training Ground came to an abrupt halt. Even Gawain and the others, who later learned of her False Pregnancy, refused to engage her in combat.
As for the Kingdom's administrative duties... Guinevere had never participated in them to begin with.
In the end, Guinevere could only practice swordsmanship alone, though the Knights insisted she reduce her intensity. After preparing meals in the kitchen each day, she would endure Lady Morgan's taunts during the meager three-person dinners.
"How's the 'pregnant' treatment? I experienced it four times! Everyone fawning over you, afraid you might break or shatter. And you're still not satisfied?"
During these dinners, Morgan no longer wore her veil. Though she maintained a veneer of hostility, a cruel smile would occasionally flicker across her face, especially when mocking Guinevere.
Slumped at the table, listless, Guinevere felt utterly out of sorts. After a lifetime of spending her mornings clashing swords in the Training Ground, she was suddenly confined to practicing alone.
She pressed her lips together, gritted her teeth, and glared resentfully at Morgan. What was supposed to be a simple Illusion Magic to make her look pregnant had transformed into a full-blown Magecraft spell for "False Pregnancy." Guinevere could even feel something moving within her womb—as if a living mass were stirring inside her.
Morgan hadn't actually let "Mordred" in. With a snap of her fingers, she dispelled the illusion, and the sensation vanished from Guinevere's perception.
This Magecraft required daily replenishment and updates, but could be temporarily canceled when no outsiders were present.
"Alright, Guinevere, you wanted to learn Magecraft, didn't you? How have you been finding the books I gave you? Now you finally have the time to study properly."
Morgan continued to smile, her amusement growing with Guinevere's discomfort. Yet her smile remained elegant, befitting a noble lady.
In recent days, Guinevere's training regimen had shifted, primarily incorporating the fundamentals of Magecraft.
Sparring sessions were replaced with solo practice, and her visits outside the Royal Palace dwindled. Guinevere found herself with more free time, which she used to study the Magecraft books Lady Morgan had provided.
From Morgan, Guinevere learned her first cardinal rule of Magecraft—one that resonated with her memories from her previous life:
Magecraft must remain shrouded in secrecy. The fewer people who possess the same Magecraft, the better.
To trace Magecraft back to its origins in this world, one would find a singular source: True Magic. Those who mastered this singular art were known as Magicians.
However, as time passed, more and more Mages and technological advancements replicated aspects of True Magic. No matter how difficult it once was to achieve, any former True Magic that could be replicated was downgraded to mere Magecraft.
If this magecraft continues to spread, making it easily accessible to more people, it will cease to be magecraft at all.
This is why Mages instinctively guard their secrets jealously. Only when driven to desperation by the Holy Church do they consider preserving their knowledge and banding together under the protection of Camelot.
"Lady Morgan, I've read your book, but I understand very little of it."
Magecraft has its own complex system of knowledge, with countless runes and symbols that require a teacher's guidance to decipher.
Morgan's expertise lies primarily in water-related magecraft and human alchemy. She even boasts that she surpasses Merlin in crafting minor artifacts like transformation potions and sleeping draughts.
"Excellent! I'll teach you myself, hand in hand. But as my student, you must achieve perfect scores in all related courses within the allotted time."
When teaching students in the Magecraft Department, Morgan doesn't impose such stringent demands. Her current expectations are reserved solely for Guinevere.
As her words hung in the air, Guinevere's expression grew even more strained. Seated between them, the King of Knights, oblivious to the tension and focused solely on her meal, suddenly chuckled, drawing both their gazes.
"Sister, you shouldn't be too harsh on Guinevere."
"Foolish sister, who asked for your opinion?"
With her chin held high and a disdainful expression on her face, Morgan's eyes no longer held their usual hatred. It was precisely this absence of hatred that left the King of Knights even more bewildered, causing her to abandon her defense of Guinevere and resume eating.
She knew that the two women were actually quite close. Morgan's continued hostility toward Guinevere stemmed from the latter's overly forceful attempts to mend their relationship.
"Speaking of which, Guinevere, how far do you want to take your Magecraft studies? Master Merlin taught me the basics and fundamentals of Magecraft back in the day, and I can teach you that part too. Also, which branch of Magecraft are you planning to study?"
"How far? Which branch?"
For the former, Guinevere naturally wanted to delve as deeply as possible.
As for the latter, after staring at countless arcane symbols until her head swam, she realized she lacked any innate talent for Magecraft. She also knew that advanced Magecraft calculations were even more complex than the advanced mathematics of her previous life, and that the experimental workload far exceeded that of research students in her past world.
And back in her previous life, she had always struggled with science. Now that she had been reincarnated...
"I want to learn Magecraft that doesn't require extensive calculations—something that can enhance my physical strength, stimulate my mind, and aid me in close-quarters combat."
Indeed, Guinevere only grasped the fundamentals of Magecraft. She knew she was still best suited for being a brute.
Her swordsmanship had already reached a plateau. Perhaps Magecraft could provide the boost she needed to break through.