I Shall Be the King of Britain!
When there were finally no more legitimate Knights, the entire scene fell silent.
In fact, King Uther's verbal decree was very clear: all Knights and Knight Marquises were to try, but the problem was that the legitimate Knights had all been defeated.
If someone who hadn't even achieved a Knight title successfully pulled the sword, how would that make the Knights feel?
Thus, the scene instantly quieted down.
"Sage! You haven't tried to pull the sword yet, you should try too!" someone suddenly shouted from below, immediately drawing a chorus of agreement.
In recent years, Kayal's suggestions and King Uther's promoted policies had achieved considerable success.
At the very least, many farmers could still survive after being exploited, and this alone made many people grateful, not to mention their longing for the prosperous life in Red Leaf Ridge.
Knights could only be considered reserves for the nobility; as upright individuals, they were soldiers, very different from the nobles.
At least they didn't have the right to save the common people from distress, but seeing farmers unable to survive due to their lord's exploitation, their self-esteem would be reproached.
However, a policy coming down at least made them feel much better.
Prestige is not begged for; it's earned through tangible actions.
Those who do practical things are always more respected than those who merely boast.
"Haha..." Kayal stepped forward with a smile and announced loudly, "Everyone should know that His Majesty the King's dying wish was for all Knight Marquises and Knights to come and pull the sword.
I am neither a Knight nor a Knight Marquis.
If I were to pull the sword, it would be breaking the rules.
Everyone knows that without rules, there can be no order, and it would cause chaos! So, I will not pull the sword."
Kayal's words immediately garnered a lot of goodwill.
No rules, no order—these words were perfectly said.
Merlin was disliked precisely because she meddled too much.
Of course, a more important point was that Merlin was a woman; how could a group of arrogant individuals possibly obey her, being dictated to by a woman?
"Sage, you also come from a noble family; pulling the sword would not be a violation.
Please, pull the sword! Can you truly bear to see a Knight Marquis lead us to glory?!"
The person who said this truly had ill intentions.
What was Kayal's status?
He only received the title of a minor Sage when he was just over ten years old; he had no noble title.
It would be foolish for him to pull the sword with such an identity.
With a slight smile, Kayal did not speak, but merely retreated behind his father.
The Knights exchanged glances; their last hope was gone.
Were they really going to let a Knight Marquis pull the sword?
His Majesty the King's decree...
The Knights gritted their teeth and shook their heads: Since it was His Majesty the King's decree, there was nothing to be done.
Pull it!
As mentioned earlier, due to the large number of Knights and the immense size of the Knight Marquises, many Knight Marquises remained in their territories, except for the most favored ones.
Those who could come here were the most favored and most promising Knight Marquises!
For this reason, there were actually fewer Knight Marquises than titled Knights!
Even after a full day, not a single Knight Marquis had succeeded in pulling the sword...
While secretly feeling relieved, the Knights also became confused: What was happening?
Where should the kingdom go?
Would Camelot, without a King, simply crumble and fall apart?
{No... no, there should be one more!}
Kayal's intelligence was not impaired; he almost instinctively looked behind him, but there was nothing there.
Had she... actually deceived him?
The one he trusted most... had she actually deceived him in such a matter?!
His heart was tightly clutched, that empty feeling...
Until the woman in plain clothes appeared.
Her long, flowing hair was tightly bound in braids, revealing a capable face, and the golden bangs on her forehead could not conceal her resolute expression.
The entire arena suddenly fell silent; all the Knights involuntarily moved aside.
The woman in the dark-colored clothes, with her sleeves rolled up and a powerful aura emanating from her, walked steadily from the edge of the square, along the path cleared by the Knights, towards the platform.
"Hey, who's that?"
"No, I don't know, I don't recognize her."
"Is it some family's page?"
"No, it looks like a girl..."
"Are you kidding? There are no women among the Knight Marquises..."
"No... have you forgotten! There is one!
That woman in white armor next to the Sage..."
"Wait, now that you mention it, isn't this person that woman...?"
The Knights whispered amongst themselves, but amidst their murmurs, she had already reached the platform.
With a complex gaze, she swept over the Grand Dukes, Merlin, and finally rested on Kayal, who had his head bowed.
A hint of pain flashed in her eyes; he must be angry too... hating my deception and betrayal... But... I have things I must bear, responsibilities I must fulfill... I...
"I shall be the King of Britain! I am Arthur! Pendragon! Son of King Uther! I am the Knight King!"
She roared, a deafening shout as if declaring to the world, and fiercely pulled out the sword.
The Sword of Selection, the sword in the stone, the Sword of Victory, the Sword of Broken Steel, was drawn, radiating a brilliant light.
Her expression was serene, neither sad nor joyful, neither humble nor arrogant.
Her slender hand gently placed the sword in the stone upon her chest, and then she opened her eyes.
The aura of a King, like a tide, swept over countless people.
No one could react to this sudden turn of events.
Everyone stared dumbfounded at the young woman who had drawn the brilliantly shining sword, feeling as if their hearts were suffocating in the silence.
This was a very awkward silence... a very difficult silence... Artoria felt as if she herself was suffocating.
At some point, she, who had merely wanted to prove that women were no less than men, had surpassed men and become King.
But a Queen... was it possible?
Could these Knights accept it?
She was now so weak yet strong, resolute yet fragile, intensely missing the warm embrace of the man who had held her close...
But she couldn't, she couldn't!
She... was already King!
Is that how it is!
Kayal smiled silently.
So, this is how it is...
Is this how you bear such a burden?
You fool!
Idiot!
Kayal stood up and walked forward.
His movement in this scene, where everyone dared not move and everyone was suffocating, was as eye-catching as a colored figure suddenly appearing in a black-and-white movie from the seventies.
"You, are you my King?"
He came from behind her to the foot of the steps...
He turned back and knelt on one knee, leaning on his bronze crystal staff, smiling like the boy he was ten years ago.
"Clap, clap, clap..."
Without the slightest hesitation, his Knights, at least eight thousand of them, mixed in the crowd, knelt down.
The crowd effect spread like a tide, with the kneeling Knights extending outwards.
Until everyone bowed their heads and knelt, the four Grand Dukes then came to her sides, bringing their oaths of allegiance, and they knelt down.