UWTD 376: Daydreaming?

In a remote mountain village, Adam looked at the tiny undergrowth on the eastern face. Although small, the village had a lively populace. The elder and the young, all woke up at sunrise and started their days of hard work. Even if the village only had mud and wooden houses with hard bread and soup for breakfast, the villagers laughed and enjoyed the peaceful life in the mountains.

Artoria looked at the same view, from a hidden crevice across the village, the shadow from the mountain covered her face and her expression. She noticed Adam’s arrival, yet didn’t look away from the village; she wanted to burn the image of every single person there in her eyes.

“You are going around random villages a lot these days,” Adam said, wondering if she had started a secret inspection of sorts.

“These aren’t random villages,” Artoria said, a lump in her throat. “That village right there is the one I gave up on to defend a major city. All ninety-two villagers there, from the age of fifty to newborns barely a few months old, they all died because I looked the other way.”

“The small city I visited last week, I gave that up to the invaders to fortify defences in Londinium. The savages ravaged that city and its people, and I allowed that to happen. Their deaths were as much on me as it was on the invaders.” Artoria’s face turned grim, her green eyes becoming vacant.

“There were more villages, more people that I abandoned or took from to defend the country. In my mind, I was sacrificing a few to save many. I thought that was acceptable, that I had no other choice, but at the end of my life, it all flashed before me. Every time I closed my eyes, I had to face the subjects I had abandoned. Because I was more occupied with protecting the kingdom than the people who gave that kingdom meaning.” She faced Adam, a weary smile on her fair face.

“It has been a while since I saw them when sleeping, so I wanted to come and see them myself.” The dark circle under her eyes had vanished, but the weight of her responsibility remained. But now she had the strength to carry that weight with a smile. “I swear that I won’t forget what is important, I rest enough, so don’t nag me, ok?”

“Sorry, I did something without asking.” Adam was the one who stopped her nightmares without asking.

“No need for an apology. You’ve always done what’s best for me. Because you stopped my nightmares, I could rest well and work harder for my subjects. I have nothing but gratitude for that.” Artoria smiled, this time a bright one, like the morning sun.

“It is what I have to do.” Adam extended his hand with a smile. “Now, let’s head back before the court makes a ruckus because of your absence.”

“Sure.” Artoria grabbed Adam’s hand.

The big, warm hand was familiarly wrapped around hers. The action alone was enough to turn her face rosy, but the location changed, and she found herself in her bedroom.

“Get ready quickly, only a few hours are there before the meeting,” Adam said, letting her hand go.

But before he could leave, Artoria called out to him.

“Adam, are you free after dinner tonight?”

“I should have some time, why?” He asked.

“I… will tell you later.” She said, closing the door after pushing him out.

It had been years since she came back to her past; she started again at 14 and turned 20 recently. Went from a squire to the Queen who unified the land and defeated the Saxons while being outnumbered. Now, she had built the symbol of her rule and gathered the most competent allies to bring prosperity to the land.

Adam had supported her every step of the way, but she remembered that it all came at a cost. At first, she didn’t mind the cost; her body was a small price to pay for the help he provided. But the more time she spent with him, the more conscious she became of him. The distance between them had closed down, and now it was non-existent.

He knew everything about her likes and dislikes. Being around him gave her peace of mind; he was the first person she could rely on in the truest sense of the word. Over her lifetime, she had people she could trust, but not to this level. It had exceeded the levels of normal trust, especially after the marriage. Even though it was fake, Adam had played the part of the supportive husband a little too well.

With their daily dinners and discussions, the secrets she had told him, and the time they had spent together, it all made Adam an integral part of her life. To the point that she felt her day was incomplete if they didn’t have dinner together, of course, the tasty food was a major reason, but still, she knew that something else brewed beneath the surface.

‘Is it because my body is younger that my heart is easier to shake?’ Artoria looked at the mirror, her face flushed like a young maiden.

‘Let’s not think too much, we have a contract. And now it’s my turn to fulfil it.’ Shaking her head to rid herself of extra thoughts, Artoria took a bath and changed into her court outfit.

She still wore the blue dress and a red velvet cape over it, with the maid placing a red and gold crown over her head. With her usual getup done, Artoria reached the meeting room with the usual grandeur.

Her officials, knights, and mages bowed in her presence before she started the meeting. Today’s meeting was like any other; reports of produce and any major conflicts or problems that arose in her kingdom were presented to her. She dispatched Gwain to handle the magic beasts coming down from the north, Lancelot to lead an army to the west and handle a rogue lord, and Tristan, along with a unit of mages, to handle the pirates lurking in the eastern waters.

She resolved each issue with a polished speed and keen insight. Aside from the occasional problems, no major problems had appeared in her land. Even if something did appear, she had enough military power to handle them with ease.

They didn’t have to worry about provisions as Adam had made the weather favourable for farming, making them self-sufficient. He also helped them find multiple mineral veins they could use, thus kickstarting a new stream of jobs for the people. The people in Artoria’s kingdom had enough to eat, peace to sleep soundly, and jobs to secure their future.

It all brought her back to how much he had helped her. Even if she got the Holy Grail, it wouldn’t have given her the result she wanted.

“My Liege, are you thinking about Sir Adam?” Merlin asked.

“Yes…” Artoria nodded, still lost in her thoughts.

“Well, I am happy to see that you two get along so well. But please refrain from daydreaming about your husband during court meetings.” Merlin added, a sly smirk on her lips.

“D-Daydreaming?!” Artoria broke out of her daze, her face red.

“Looks like the royal couple gets along well.”

“The day we get a prince isn’t far.”

“How blessed we are.”

With her enhanced senses, Artoria easily picked up the murmurs floating around her court. Her face flushed at the comments, but she cleared her throat, getting back in her zone.

“Let us continue the meeting.” Calming her beating heart, Artoria presided over the meeting till noon.

After the meeting, the day went by in a blur for her. Training with the knights, separate meetings with the Knights of the Round Table and Merlin, reports on corruption or suspicious movements by the lords and officials. Before she knew it, night fell, and Adam arrived at her room.

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See yall tmr with a new chapter. If you have any questions, i am now more active on discord, so feel free to ping me there.