The sun slowly sank, and the dusk light bathed the streets of Camelot in a warm golden hue.
The people cheered, showering flowers in celebration of the king's triumphant return.
King Arthur's birth was legendary, and today his speeches carried even greater inspiration.
At the crowning ceremony, the 10,000-strong Saxon army had played their role perfectly as the villains of this epic, bringing the original ceremony to a dramatic close. Yet their king, wielding the force of thunder, had swept away the invading enemy, winning a great victory and making this day one that all of Camelot's citizens would remember for generations.
They had defeated the Saxons.
For Camelot's subjects, it was more than a mere victory.
King Arthur had proven his identity and ability as the chosen monarch.
Camelot had shown that facing the Saxons did not mean defeat.
Yes, the Saxons were fearsome — but they had been defeated by us. We had King Arthur!
Arthur rode stiffly on his horse, waving awkwardly to the crowd, his tense posture making onlookers wonder if he might accidentally harm the most docile and strongest horse Camelot could provide.
He reminded himself repeatedly not to be nervous, not to embarrass himself in front of so many citizens — for all his prior efforts would be in vain if he did.
He wanted to project the grandest, most glorious image possible to quickly calm the people's hearts.
"My king, please relax a little, or even I won't be able to calm the horses," Agravain said, leading the horse in front of him, sounding slightly exasperated.
Naturally, he was proud of his king — that had never changed.
Still, it was clear Arthur could benefit from more practice riding horses.
"Even if you say so..." Arthur admitted, "It's really hard to wave and not fall off at the same time."
"Perhaps try holding on with both hands. That might help. Compared to other war horses, your horse is quite docile. As long as you don't spook it, it's fairly easy to control."
"It's rare that I lead the troops to victory personally. I don't know if I'll have another chance. If I don't show a friendly image now, how can people trust me?" Arthur said stubbornly, responding to the enthusiastic crowd.
He felt like a monkey in a zoo.
No — at least zoo monkeys can throw tantrums. He was more like a new monkey in a circus, thrust on stage by a whip before any training, struggling awkwardly to please the audience.
And this was only barely effective.
If Agravain hadn't thoughtfully taken the reins before entering the city, Arthur might have been in even more trouble.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, Lord Agravain. You should be riding a warhorse like Lord Gawain, leading the soldiers and basking in glory and cheers. But instead, you're stuck holding my horse. I'll compensate you later. What do you want?" Arthur asked cautiously.
He knew Agravain didn't care much for honor — if he volunteered to hold the horse, he must have questions.
"You know I don't care about that. But if you want compensation... King Arthur, how do you plan to deal with those captives?"
"What do you think?" Arthur smiled.
He was still sizing up every knight.
Talents were scarce in Camelot.
Nobles must not be reused, no matter their attitude.
Those manipulated by Morgan had lost all reason, becoming puppets.
Those won over by Arthur all had their own agendas, helping only temporarily for profit.
Hostile nobles were, of course, out of the question.
At this point, only knights could be trusted.
But knights were also nobles — only they valued chivalry more.
In this era, knights not only cultivated military strength but needed comprehensive skills in many areas.
Almost all knights were talented in both civil and military service, except for Gawain — the "gorilla."
That made Arthur regretful.
Human energy was limited.
To spread himself thin across many areas meant knowing a bit of everything but mastering nothing.
If one focused on their talents and gifts, specializing in a certain field, their skills would soar.
Take Gawain: his knowledge was basic — just enough military strategy, and reading and writing. After that, he could devote himself fully to martial arts and become an unparalleled general.
That suited him perfectly.
As for Agravain, his martial talent was excellent, though his overall outlook average.
But his potential was vast.
Whether government affairs, executions, or covert operations — he was extremely fit for roles like assassin or spy.
Thus, Arthur was grooming him to become Camelot's first special operations leader.
"I think they should all be executed," Agravain said coldly. "That will intimidate the Saxons and neighboring tribes and send a warning — that the king can be both gentle and iron-blooded. That will keep nobles and schemers in check."
"How cruel, Lord Agravain! That is hardly the way of a knight."
"I don't care about being a knight. As long as it improves Camelot, I will adapt to any role," Agravain replied without concern. "Besides, the tasks you've assigned me this past month violated the spirit of chivalry."
"Is that your way of complaining about me?"
"Not at all."
"Don't worry, Lord Agravain. Your suggestion has pros and cons. It solves Camelot's urgent problems quickly, but it's too cruel and wasteful." Arthur shook his head.
If he accepted Agravain's proposal, he wouldn't have to spend so much time here building a glorious image.
"What do you think of pardoning the Saxons and making them citizens or soldiers? That would win you a good reputation and demonstrate kindness."
Agravain hesitated.
"With me, if you have opinions, just say them. I'm not petty — at least, not like Morgan."
At that moment, Arthur realized he'd gotten carried away, and looked around.
He sighed with relief when he didn't see the familiar foolish figure nearby.