Bloodline

The arrival of the three caused a stir.

The knight carrying the Sword of Selection, Cailbur, was clearly the new king of Britain. Only a new king would be followed by the two people behind him.

But many people had their suspicions.

Merlin aside, would Anno, a nobleman and a master swordsman, use the new king to control the country?

Such suspicions were unavoidable. Anno had wielded great power in Camelot, and he had been ruthless in his methods. Though he had never overstepped his bounds as a subject, that did nothing to prevent malicious speculation.

But the nobles were clearly more concerned with something else.

A nobleman shouted, "Knight, how did you draw that sword?"

Arthur remained calm. "I grabbed it and pulled it out. It was that simple." His voice rang out, clear and strong.

Then a crowd of nobles and knights began shouting questions at Arthur. He picked out a few of the loudest voices and answered them.

Then one knight shouted, "You're not of the Pendragon bloodline. What gives you the right to take that throne?"

At that question, the entire square fell silent, waiting for Arthur's response.

Among them was Morgan le Fay Pendragon, secretly watching from within the crowd. In her eyes, the triumphant Arthur on the platform was a thief who had stolen the kingdom.

Arthur furrowed his brow and was about to speak when he felt a hand press down on his shoulder.

He turned his head. It was Merlin.

"Your Majesty, please allow me to explain." Merlin's expression remained as gentle as ever.

Arthur paused, then nodded.

"Knights, perhaps you don't all know the king's real name." Merlin stepped forward and spoke clearly. "The king's name is Arthur. His full name is..."

Merlin narrowed his eyes, wearing a foxlike smile. "Arthur Pendragon."

The nobles below erupted in an uproar.

"Pendragon? His surname is Pendragon?"

"When did His Majesty King Uther have this child?"

"That's impossible!"

A high-ranking noble stepped forward and challenged him. "Mr. Merlin, you say his surname is Pendragon, but as far as I know, His Majesty King Uther had no child named Arthur."

"Yes, His Majesty King Uther kept Arthur's existence secret," Merlin said. "King Arthur is the child of King Uther and Queen Igraine. There can be no doubt about his pure bloodline. At King Uther's command, I took him to Sir Ector's home to be raised from birth. Not long ago, Anno and I found him and brought him back." As he finished, he glanced at Anno.

Anno nodded at the right moment. "There's no doubt that King Arthur is descended from King Uther. Several great nobles can attest to it."

Several close advisors from King Uther's reign recalled the afternoon fourteen years ago, when a baby girl had been taken away in secret. They stepped forward one after another to testify to King Arthur's identity.

At that point, most of the nobles and knights accepted King Arthur's lineage, whether they truly believed it or merely said they did.

The square filled with whispers.

Only one person stared in disbelief at the triumphant Arthur and the two people beside him, grinding her teeth as if she could shatter them.

So that was it!

So that was why her dear father had refused to pass the throne to her!

He had chosen his heir long ago. She had never stood a chance.

With a heart full of disappointment and resentment, Morgan le Fay slipped away from Camelot Square.