Not even Leon had time to react when Guinevere suddenly kissed him.
His lips were taken by surprise, caught off guard.
Although Guinevere possessed magical powers, she was physically weak—just an ordinary woman with no combat training.
Therefore, Leon had never felt the need to be cautious around her.
Unexpectedly, in her drunken haze and confusion, Guinevere's first action wasn't to use words to ease the pressure that had built up over so many years, but rather to use actions to end her own loneliness.
(Who could have imagined this… Well, I suppose it's not entirely impossible to think of.)
Leon's eyes trembled; he didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
Guinevere was now around twenty-seven years old. In this world, women who remained unmarried past the age of twenty were considered "leftovers." Guinevere, however, had married the King of Knights before that.
But the King of Knights was not a man, but a woman—naturally, she could never provide Guinevere with that kind of satisfaction.
As the wife of the perfect King of Knights, Guinevere had to maintain a flawless image.
Both in public and in private, she was expected to remain loyal to her "husband."
And in this world, there were no such things as toys for women.
So, in simple terms…
For nearly ten years, Guinevere had never had any sexual experience.
(It's about time that changed.)
Leon found it a pity.
Looking at such a breathtaking beauty so close to him, feeling the soft touch of her lips—no man alive could remain completely calm.
Almost unconsciously, he embraced Guinevere.
But in the next instant, he snapped back to his senses. His violet eyes turned cold and cruel. He removed Guinevere's slender arms from around his neck and pushed her away.
"Eh~ Damn it, I almost let myself get carried away…"
Leon exhaled deeply and shook his head.
Guinevere, now on the floor, still looked dazed. Fortunately, the cold-hearted prince had only pushed her lightly.
He picked her up again, channeling his magic into her body, neutralizing the alcohol that had loosened her instincts, allowing the chains of reason to lock her mind once more.
After a while…
"I… what's wrong with me…?"
Guinevere had regained her senses.
She shook her dizzy head.
Then the memories began to return.
Had she fallen asleep like an ordinary drunk and woken up the next morning, she might not have remembered what had just happened. But Leon's magic had erased the effects of the alcohol—so Guinevere's memory was perfectly clear.
And then—
"What did I just do!!?"
Guinevere was completely horrified.
She had just exposed her husband's greatest secret!
And she had kissed the prince!
Her whole body felt like it was about to explode, and Leon could almost see Guinevere's soul flying out of her in panic.
"I never thought you, Prince of Palettia, would do something like this to me."
Guinevere now looked like a wounded deer, trembling and shrinking back, staring at the hunter before her with a mixture of hostility and fear.
But Leon simply shrugged, expressionless.
"What exactly did I do?"
"Please, don't play dumb, you… uh…"
Guinevere froze, suddenly unsure of how to accuse Leon.
Objectively speaking, Leon had merely been drinking with her, talking about King Arthur.
Whether it was revealing Arthur's true gender or the kiss that followed… both were entirely her own doing in her drunken confusion!
Perhaps Leon had calculated this outcome from the start, but even if the matter were brought before a judge, the verdict would almost certainly place the greater blame on Guinevere.
In other words, she couldn't even imagine the consequences if this became public.
"Waaahhh… How did it come to this?"
"Wow, why are you crying now?"
Leon watched her sobbing and was momentarily at a loss for words.
This beautiful queen appeared to be a mature, alluring woman—but in truth, she was just an innocent girl at heart.
She didn't even realize that the handkerchief she was using to wipe her tears belonged to Leon himself.
"All right, crying won't solve anything. Queen Guinevere, let's discuss what happens next."
"What do you want to do?"
"Well~ I feel like I can do whatever I want right now. After all, you've just told me all the King of Knights' secrets."
Leon spoke with a mocking cruelty.
Guinevere's face turned pale.
Indeed, Leon now possessed information that could bring Arthur's reign to ruin.
If the truth about Arthur's gender were exposed, Britain would plunge into the greatest civil conflict in its history.
Countless forces dissatisfied with Arthur's rule would seize the chance to raise the banner of rebellion.
And Guinevere's very reason for coming here was to secure supplies—proof that Camelot was already suffering from a food crisis.
If a massive rebellion erupted now, not even the King of Knights could save them.
"Prince Leon, I'm willing to do anything—just please, don't make this secret public."
Guinevere trembled in fear, finally dropping to her knees to beg Leon for mercy.
Leon didn't take it seriously—he helped her back up.
He wasn't the type to be swayed by a beauty kneeling before him. Though a part of him felt a certain sense of triumph, another part felt guilty.
Besides, this position was far more suitable in another kind of situation.
And… he wasn't about to abandon his ideals just because a stunning woman knelt before him.
"Why shouldn't I make it public? In the end, it doesn't matter. Britain and the other nations will be destroyed sooner or later anyway."
"What did you say…?"
"According to my prediction, even if I do nothing, Britain will collapse within three years at most."
Leon shrugged as he spoke.
The barren land had reached its limit. Although the King of Knights was working tirelessly to extend its life, its end was inevitable.
Naturally, Guinevere didn't believe him.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! As long as King Arthur protects Britain, it will never fall."
"King Arthur… I know him very well. No—in fact, I should say that all of his deeds are truly those of a perfect King of Knights."
Leon's eyes reflected admiration.
No selfish desires. No personal ambitions. No mistakes, no defeats.
The King of Knights desired only what was necessary.
A ruler so perfect, it was almost beautiful.
"But that's exactly why it's impossible. If she were the ruler of any other land, she would indeed be the perfect king to protect her nation. But Britain's lands are too barren—they cannot create anything new. Sooner or later, everything will end."
King Arthur was too noble, too perfect.
She had no desires of her own.
"Guinevere, you used the word 'protect.'
"She only protects the people, rather than leading them toward progress. That makes her the Queen of Knights—not a true queen."
Leon's tone was indifferent.
"A king without desire will only bring stagnation. All she can do is protect the people—but she cannot lead them out of the darkness."
Guinevere was left completely speechless.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."