The King's Castle, Camelot.
In the dining hall manifested by Naoki, mimicking the image from his empty memories.
Naoki, Morgan, Artoria, and the three Fairy Knights were now gathered here for breakfast.
The entire Camelot had no outsiders. From its founding two thousand four hundred years ago until now, no fairy besides these six had ever entered.
It started with Naoki, Morgan, and Melusine; then Baobhan Sith joined, followed by Barghest, and finally Artoria.
In the vast Camelot, only these six resided.
"Ugh… Naoki… feed me…"
Sitting on Naoki's lap, Melusine tugged at his sleeve like a child not fully awake.
Melusine was the strongest dragon, yet despite being the strongest, she had one flaw that couldn't quite be called a weakness: extreme difficulty waking up in the morning. For two thousand four hundred years, nearly every morning Naoki or Morgan had to wake her.
And even after waking, she would only eat breakfast if Naoki fed her.
Though it had been so long since Naoki saved her, and she herself had changed much, the one thing unchanged was her dependence on Naoki.
Watching her father feed Melusine, Baobhan Sith unconsciously bit down hard on the spoon in her mouth.
"Grummmph! Father… I want to be fed like that too… It's too unfair that only Big Sis Melusine gets treated that way…"
"Tristan, calm down a little."
Barghest softly reminded Baobhan Sith: "Her Majesty Morgan is here."
"It's fine, Barghest." Morgan, seated beside Naoki and eating calmly, answered flatly. "Harmony between father and daughters is very important for a family. Baobhan Sith need not hide her thoughts."
"Thank you! Mother!"
Hearing Morgan approve, Baobhan Sith's eyes sparkled. Her gaze toward Naoki grew more aggressive, and sensing this, Melusine on Naoki's lap immediately shot Baobhan Sith an even sharper, more hostile glare!
"This spot is mine at this time. Even Baobhan can't have it," Melusine patted Naoki's thigh, shifted slightly as if adjusting her seat, and stopped only after ensuring she was in the most comfortable position.
"Eh~~~ Big Sis, give me a little space. Father wouldn't mind, right?"
"Well… Feeding you is fine, but sitting on my lap—no."
Naoki said while tearing a piece of bread from in front of him, dipping it lightly in jam, and feeding it to Baobhan Sith.
"Ugh~~~~ Thank you! Father! One more!"
"Another? Don't you have the same portion in front of you?"
"The one Father feeds me is way tastier!"
Baobhan Sith emphasized hopefully. Naoki could only sigh and feed her again.
Across from Barghest, Artoria—who was also quietly eating breakfast—unconsciously glanced at the milk-dipped bread in front of her.
"Hm? Your Highness Lia, do you want to be fed by His Majesty too?"
"Uweeh?"
Called out by Barghest, Artoria yelped with a flushed face. Then the others turned toward her in the corner.
"Eh… N-no. I'm not Big Sis Baobhan or Big Sis Melusine. I have hands; I can eat by myself."
"Why say it like I don't have hands?" Baobhan Sith pretended to pout. "Lia, you'd know how good it feels to be fed by Father if you tried."
Artoria turned away slightly embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed faintly: "That… When I was little, Father and Mother fed me every day. Honestly, if fed again now… it's kinda embarrassing, feels like I'm still a kid."
"Ah, yeah, understandable," Melusine nodded. "After all, age-wise compared to Naoki, Lia is basically a baby."
Naoki was 2455 years old; Artoria was only 16. Converted, Artoria wasn't even a newborn yet.
"That means Your Highness Lia is actually still at the age to be fed and raised by His Majesty, right?"
"Uweeh? Barghest, what are you saying! I don't need feeding! Childhood aside, I'm grown up now!"
While protesting, Artoria puffed out her chest, instantly freezing Baobhan Sith and Melusine's expressions.
(Damn, if only my body wasn't fixed…)
(Lia's grown this much without noticing. So fairies really can't grow, truly…)
Seeing the Fairy of Paradise who could grow over time, a uniform surge of envy rose in both their hearts.
Watching the scene before him, Naoki's expression and gaze softened.
Though he had few real feelings toward his memories—and knew they were just empty shells—compared to the relationships he knew from those memories, the current situation was undoubtedly far better.
Artoria and Baobhan Sith were close sisters, Barghest no longer had to devour lovers repeatedly because he kept her, Melusine wasn't toyed with by Aurora of the Wind Clan, and Morgan was no longer alone bearing everything… Compared to the prototypes in his memories, the current state was, for Naoki, far, far better.
This beautiful state—
(In the end, do I have to destroy it with my own hands… It's a bit regrettable.)
Naoki still harbored slight doubt about the goal always in his heart.
Right then, in the real-time feed captured by the surveillance Magecraft he controlled across all Britain, a sudden event occurred that mildly surprised him.
(This… Hehe, they've finally come. The first meeting after two thousand four hundred years.)
(My past self, and—my past.)