Even Artoria couldn't help but feel an urge to laugh upon hearing the nobleman's words.
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Seeing this expression, the nobleman misunderstood.
He thought Artoria was beginning to waver.
Of course. After all, in Morgan's eyes, he's just an ordinary knight and a mere tool for drawing the sword.
But if he sides with us, things will be different.
So he decided to raise the stakes. He motioned for a servant to bring forth a box.
Inside the box was a pile of glittering gold coins.
"Look, this is my sincerity. If you cooperate with us, this is just the beginning."
Trying to bribe me?
Artoria found it amusing.
How could I ever betray Her Highness Morgan?
What I seek are the principles of knighthood and delicious food.
Only Her Highness Morgan can provide these.
You lot can't.
King Lot's dining hall is the happiest place in the world.
What you offer holds no appeal to me.
Money means nothing to me.
I have no interest in titles either.
As for beautiful women…
Do I look like someone who chases after women?
And though I'm young, I'm not stupid.
I know exactly what everyone's intentions are.
Her Highness Morgan cares for me deeply.
But you nobles? You're just trying to use me.
Thus, she sternly rebuked the nobles:
"I would never do such a thing."
"Huh?"
The nobleman froze.
How could he not be tempted?
"Are you certain?"
He wondered if he had misheard
Perhaps "yes" had sounded like "no."
"Yes. I will not betray the knight's code."
And I won't betray my stomach either.
Artoria firmly refused the nobles.
"You !"
The nobleman stood up, pointing a trembling finger at Artoria.
"What?"
Artoria met his gaze with clear, unwavering eyes.
"Tch!"
The nobleman snorted angrily before storming off.
He didn't even take the gold coins with him.
Artoria silently watched them leave.
After they were gone, she realized this wasn't something she should keep to herself.
So she set off to inform Morgan
To warn her about these nobles.
"...Hmm, good. You did well."
Morgan dried her damp hair, a satisfied smile on her face.
My earlier investments weren't in vain.
My little sister is almost completely loyal to me now.
Faced with the enemy's bribery, she didn't hesitate to refuse.
Yes, she can be trusted.
"I only did what was right."
Artoria replied earnestly.
At the same time, she glanced at Morgan, puzzled.
Does Her Highness have some kind of bathing obsession? Every time I see her, she's just finished washing.
If Morgan could hear her thoughts, she would've explained:
It's not that I want to bathe so often.
The problem is, after each session, I'm drenched in sweat. Not washing up would be unbearable.
I can tolerate it, but the bedsheets have to be changed every time.
More than once, I've caught the maids giving me envious looks while laundering them.
Lot chimed in, "What a shame. If you'd pretended to agree, let those nobles rally behind you, and then betrayed them at their moment of triumph we could've wiped them all out in one go."
Turning the enemy's scheme against them that's engraved in my DNA.
Lot spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Yes, that would've been quite effective."
Morgan agreed with her husband's assessment.
Hearing the couple's words, Artoria was dumbfounded.
You can do that?
Your moral compass seems only slightly better than my teacher's!
Especially you, Your Majesty Lot. Her Highness Morgan is a mage like my teacher, so it's understandable but you're a knight!
Have some principles!
Still, she understood this was about dealing with enemies.
The nobles were their enemies.
And against enemies, any means were justified.
I can understand it, but I wouldn't do it.
Artoria decided to soothe her wounded innocence with some food.
She picked up the gold coins the nobles had left behind.
"Your Highness, these are the coins the nobles gave me. I'm turning them over to you."
"No need. Keep them for yourself."
Morgan waved it off.
Such an obedient little sister deserves some pocket money.
"I can't accept them. These were gifts from the nobles. Since I refuse to collude with them, I shouldn't keep their bribes."
Artoria shook her head firmly.
Lot interjected, "What gifts? That's ill-gotten gains. Of course we're confiscating it we're certainly not returning it. What we're giving you now is our reward. It has nothing to do with those nobles."
Artoria looked at Lot.
Then fell into deep thought.
Your Majesty Lot…
Must you be so… Merlin-like?
Morgan continued persuading her:
"You need funds to maintain your warhorse. A knight's income isn't high this will help cover the costs."
Most knights have enough for their steeds.
But Artoria, do you realize how much you eat every day?
If we don't subsidize you, you might end up eating your own horse someday.
"Mm…"
In the end, Artoria was dragged into corruption by Morgan and Lot, reluctantly accepting the "confiscated" coins.
Watching her take the bribe, Lot nodded in satisfaction.
[Ah, the joy of corrupting the innocent.]
Morgan shot him a look.
Are you the devil?
...Though I have to admit, I enjoy it too.
Teasing my little sister is oddly satisfying sometimes.
The couple exchanged a glance, their smiles deepening as they watched Artoria.
After Artoria left, Lot turned to Morgan, his expression turning serious.
"Alright, we need to consider our next move regarding those nobles. We should prepare for the possibility of them growing desperate and attempting a coup."
"Don't worry. Even if they try, I'll crush them effortlessly."
Morgan replied with confidence.
The nobleman wasn't ready to give up.
Having failed with Artoria, he next sought out Merlin at the brothel.
Though Merlin's mixed blood disgusted them, desperate times called for desperate measures.
At this point, we'd make a deal with a literal devil if it served our interests.
He tried to persuade Merlin by arguing that if Morgan became queen, Merlin would lose his position as royal advisor.
After extorting several hundred gold coins from the nobleman, Merlin flatly refused.
While I don't want Morgan on the throne, I'm not an idiot.
What use are these outdated nobles?
If they act now, Morgan will wipe them out in one stroke.
I'm not joining that doomed venture.
Besides, these nobles only cared about their own power and comfort.
What I seek is for Artoria to become king and prolong Britain's era.
This requires careful planning.
These nobles' fate is already sealed.
"These nobles will never succeed. And their assets will likely end up in Morgan's hands anyway. So rather than letting her benefit, why not let someone else put them to good use?"
Merlin chuckled, tapping the pile of gold coins.
Take the money, but don't do the job.
That's just how I roll.
Just your average white-haired swindler.
Fuming, the nobleman returned home.
What kind of people are these?
They take the money without hesitation
But when it's time to act, they back out.
Are you bullying us honest folk?
The other nobles awaited his report.
"Well? What did Merlin say?"
"That bastard refused to join us."
The nobleman spat bitterly.
He didn't mention Merlin had taken his money anyway
That humiliation was too much to share.
"Then what do we do now?"
The other nobles pressed.
"We..." The nobleman gritted his teeth. "We launch a coup. Camelot's rule must never fall into a woman's hands."
Of course, they wouldn't admit it was about their own lust for power.
They needed a noble-sounding pretext.
"Mm."
After some thought, the others agreed.
If we're going to rebel, we must act decisively.
"We move now, before Morgan can react."
The nobleman declared.
The others nodded.
Then one noble remembered something.
"Ah, a young knight from France recently arrived at my estate. He's incredibly skilled my entire retinue couldn't defeat him. He could be a great asset during the coup. I'll persuade him to join us."