"Liens, what is the meaning of this?"
Sovell instinctively pressed a hand over Artoria's, signaling her to remain silent while he handled things for now.
King Liens, meanwhile, looked perfectly composed. He stepped back, raised his head toward the battlements, and answered:
"Nothing much. Since Your Majesty the King of Knights is here today, there is no need to trouble a servant to carry my message-
I, Liens, descendant of Heracles the mighty, King of North Wales.
Hereby challenge Britain's King of Knights, His Majesty Arthur Pendragon, and the valiant commanders serving under you."
After Liens finished speaking, silence lingered on the battlements for three full seconds.
At last, the young "boy" wearing the Lion Head Helmet—the king herself—slowly opened her mouth, adopting a curious expression as she broke the silence:
"Oh? A challenge?"
"Indeed, a challenge. In the days since your arrival, both your army and mine have suffered considerable casualties in battle.
As the saying goes, compassion has no place in military command. Yet, thinking on it now, were they not all someone's son, someone's husband, someone's father..."
Watching Liens below the walls put on a show of anguished remorse over what he called "needless sacrifices," Sovell felt the corners of his mouth twitch.
If this bastard really cared, what had he been doing all this time?
Of course, Sovell kept that complaint to himself. The man was making a grand public speech, mourning his fallen soldiers. If Sovell undermined him now, public opinion might not take his side.
With that in mind, Sovell returned his attention to Liens below. As it happened, Liens finally reached his point:
"Therefore, I hereby challenge Your Majesty the King of Knights-
You and the commanders under your command;
Against me and the commanders under mine.
We shall fight on foot in