Chapter 96: Chapter 27: Lancelot's Determination [1]

Lancelot looked at the women who all received their Ether, his Royal Guards, all sworn to fight for him and contracted to him differently than normal troops.

It wasn't like he chose them himself, but each Commander chose them together and made them swear a special oath.

An oath that meant they would never betray, forsake or distrust their King.

'It's strange though...'

'As Royal guards needed to hold a certain level of trust and affection towards the king, they swore the oath too.'

He thought about Milvar and those five female oni warriors who were always present when he dealt with Rena but were hidden, waiting for her call and order to assault him.

The final Royal Guard to be gifted approached.

With soft black fur and a small height and more humanoid feet, she moved closer with a shy face, trying to use her hime-styled bangs to hide her face.

"Meru"

Her emerald green eyes flickered from the bright lights cascading above before fluttering and focusing on his face. Lancelot watched as her soft lips trembled. The only girl in the room with a more modest chest, she stepped forward and knelt at his feet.

"My King...."

'Her voice is shaking...'

"Meru!"

"I swear to serve you with my entire being. My lance will forever strike down your foes through the bitter dark and endless light."

'This oath... she hasn't already sworn with Morgana!?'

A wide circle began to form below them as cold winds blew around the pair, blocking vision from the others.

Lumiel knew from the start as she smiled gently, escorted the other knights to stand in a tight row formation, and watched the scene. It was special to perform the oath with a Lord/King directly, as normally the commanders made a basic oath, but the King himself would have no idea.

This would be something that only the most active and beloved Royal Guards might enjoy and was a big risk for them.

Because if they were rejected, their oath and position would be forfeited without the chance to ever return to service. It was a stupid rule, but those were the bindings of those above, the masters of Avalon who decided how this twisted wargame was played.

In their eyes, a subject rejected by the King was not worthy and didn't have the right to serve as their Royal Guard.

Lancelot didn't know this because his troops were goblins, and their oath involved ale, lots of ale and profanity...

They were normally performed with a sing and dance.

'... Such a beautiful blue colour.' He thought as the beautiful sigil beneath them formed the same symbol the Frost Hares added to all their armour and crafted items.

A silvery blue frost began to form with shimmering snowflakes as they formed a dress and veil around Meru's petite body.

Because he didn't know the meaning and instead judged it based on who she was, this might have been an even more important oath for the shy and temperamental girl.

So he broke the protocol and usual norms!

Lancelot's body leaned down with his arm wrapping around her, pulling her into his chest as Meru looked stunned.

Her face seemed terrified and upset at first, likely thinking he was rejecting her, but the blue sigil and runes continued forming with their beautiful shining blue lights wrapping around them.

"Meru. I do not wish for you to sacrifice your life for me nor to become an object that only lives to fight and fulfil my wishes."

Lancelot's words carried a gentle tone while a magical trace of Ether flowed through them as he transferred the power into her body.

He didn't expect the ritual and huge spell circle beneath them to grow more vibrantly and create a small snowstorm with the Ether pouring into her.

She looked up expectantly into his eyes.

"Then what... What can I offer to attain your favour!?"

Meru wasn't smart like her sister and didn't have the explosive body of her peers or the exotic white fur of her cousin Ikumi...

She was short, flat and lacked the normal legs of a regular Frost Hare with almost completely human form apart from her toes and feet.

Lancelot could feel her emerald eyes seeking something from him.

He felt desperation and resignation.

"What would you offer if you were free, had no contract and could choose?"

His sudden question didn't change her expression. She merely glanced to the side with an ashamed look.

"I... I don't understand such things."

"Do not think of any others but yourself."

Her ears perked up before she lowered her head with a red tint to her cheeks.

"I want... no, I wish..."

She mumbled under her breath while hiding her mouth behind her furred paws.

"Meru. Please."

She didn't need to speak or show him. Instead, her soul directly sent him an image.

A fantasy?

Perhaps... Destiny?

The snow sphere surrounding them opened to show the other Royal Guards the scene as they were lost in the magical image.

It was created by the sphere of snow surrounding them, beautiful imagery of her current thoughts, but Meru's eyes were closed, as she was too ashamed to speak of her wish.

The beautiful icy white plains filled with a misty fog that hid a sea of glowing lights.

The white moonlight above reflected on the silver snow and shimmered the surface while a pair of delicate hands pulled a long cloth dress along a path towards a mysterious figure standing in the centre.

The shadowed person held out their arms.

He recognised the style and features immediately.

A tall male with handsome features, his black and red tunic with twin swords at his waist... The man was him.

Lancelot's figure in the image looked down at her before moving his hand through her hair and kissing the back of her head.

"My precious little Meru."

A voice escaped his lips.

But they were not alone; children played with large balls and spinning tops, giggling and laughing together.

Each had small fuzzy bodies with a similar shape, emerald green eyes as hers, and fluffy ears that flopped around, but also demonic wings and Lancelot realised... they were not hare beast-kin, but his offspring, children that she gave him.

"This... This is my selfish and useless dream." Meru muttered, still seeming to be lost in this dream, unaware he could see it... The lips of the future Meru in his arms speaking.

"Then I shall make it real."

He pulled her closer and whispered into her ear.

"But we won't start right away. You must live the life you deserve, explore, learn new things, and decide what you want."

Lancelot didn't wish for her to exist and become an object. He knew that each of his troops might have a dream or hope that one day, he wanted to let them enjoy a life that wasn't just fighting or building his future kingdom.

She didn't even have the time to realise that this was her oath to be his Royal guard and future consort.

No...

This was his oath and her dream.

An act that would anger and cause the rulers of Avalon to despise and see him as a blight that needed to be removed one day.

This was the moment that Lancelot made his way of choosing his Royal Guard, with Meru being the most trusted member to him.

As such, the bond would grow between the two of them.

When his dream finally came to fruition, her first task was to help him build a safe kingdom for all those born on it to thrive.

Her dream and wish was for a family.

So why not his own?

***

The unbelievable scene faded before it returned to Meru with her arms wrapped around his back as she suddenly looked up with her mouth wide open and dilated pupils.

A small sigil was imprinted on her chest just out of normal view, but right now, her cleavage was visible, showing the marking of his shield with two swords.

'I can feel her existence, different from the system used for summoning... Meru's heartbeat... her anticipation and embarrassment... All of it is so clear...'

Lancelot was just as confused and stunned.

He had never felt this way no matter who he was with, be it Morgana, his most trusted Commander or the goblin commander from his past life! Sёarch* The ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"L-Lancelot?"

'What is this feeling? Why does everything related to the summoning and Lord system feel so dull and muted... As if an invisible cloth is limiting my feelings and the sensation felt towards them?'

It was like he touched Morgana and the others with his hands, wearing gloves and a thick layer of armour.

Yet with Meru, they were like two slimes intermingled, able to completely merge and share their feelings, and her emotions flowed into him.

"What's the matter, Meru?"

His voice was gentle, feeling her desire to be hugged tightly and comforted, likely still thinking it failed due to the lack of system support or feedback.

"Did I fail?"

He kissed her head and ran his fingers through her hair as the ritual was complete.

"How do you feel?"

"Warm... Your arms are so big and soft... Wait.."

Meru's eyes opened, and her body felt weird.

Like something was there... something extra that made her feel warm, comforted and secure.

She reached for it, and suddenly, a warm flame filled her body; it was Lancelot. She could feel his presence, his feelings and affection towards her, as it grew and overflowed her.

Meru didn't understand the true meaning. She thought Lancelot's arms and warmth felt too comfortable, so her body relaxed and fell into his arms completely at ease.

He looked down.

'Such a silly girl...'

Her expression was calm and happy.

While the others looked on in confusion, Aria and Nel, the succubi, were stunned because it was engraved into their race memory... Their ancestor and the former King of Avalon, Morganna's father, created a treasured ritual.

The true ritual of oath.

She wasn't rejected, and her soul and spirit were the safest it's ever been since the first night Lancelot was summoned by his summoners and their magical ritual.

The group stared silently.

They saw her wish, saw him accept it, swear to grant it and created a magical connection...

Lumiel knew of the true oath, but she never realised it could be performed by a no-named lord and less Demon King at that!

'Ah... So that's it.'

Lancelot looked at her and smiled, 'Maybe something to symbolise this act might be better?' His hands wrapped around her soft, chubby cheeks, squishing them together.

"A kiss is required for my new Royal Guard..."

Meru's eyes widened before she closed them and nodded.

"Anything you desire."

Their faces met.

All their nervousness, expectations, and thoughts disappeared.

The only thing left was the beautiful bliss and warmth flowing from her lips as the two shared the purest kiss, a simple action that bonded them and bound the souls together.

They didn't care if their oath was witnessed or what anyone thought; it was a dream she couldn't explain, and that was okay.

Her entire existence and happiness revolved around a single point.

The promise was that Lancelot, her King, would be her lover, friend and protector until her final days.

With a brief parting of the lips, a moment of uncertainty passed, but as his face leaned down again, the warm embrace and feeling of tenderness pushed her forward, allowing her to return his gesture without restraint or doubt.

An innocent, chaste and sweet moment created an unbreakable bond between the pair.

Meru couldn't help the feeling that made her shiver and want more. Nor could she describe the sensation and warm pleasure as she pressed against his body.

While Lancelot looked at his Royal Guard and planned to take them and fight a battle that would test them to the limits of each person.

The mountain behind them was home to a lesser drake.

To become strong enough for Morgana's Ultimatum, Lancelot would leave nothing to chance.