~ CHAPTER START ~

Third Point of View

Arturia sighed for the nth time.

"Your Highness is not amused, I assume?" Naruto asked.

Suddenly, she remembered what her father had said.

"Naruto doesn't have a place to stay, so I suggested letting him stay here for the meantime. However, he doesn't want to feel like he's taking advantage of my kindness since staying here would be too much to ask. So, he suggested something." King Uther said.

"What is it?" Arturia asked.

"For now, Naruto will be your knight. I know you don't want or need one, but this is a deal between us. It's a give-and-take situation. He'll stay here and he'll be your knight."

"But-"

"I know you don't want a knight, but this is for your own sake. As you can see, monsters are starting to appear. It would be better if you had an accompaniment. Naruto beat a huge monster's ass, and I can see that he can protect and keep you safe. I only want what's the best for you."

"But Shi-"

"Shirō is not here to protect you. He's out there doing his own job."

Arturia sighed in defeat, "Alright"

"Is this your first time having a knight?" Naruto asked her.

"I don't need a knight." Arturia said. Arturia never had any knights, she doesn't know why but it feels wrong to have any knights. So she always decline her father's offer, this time she couldn't decline him.

Naruto smiled foolishly and asked, "And why is that, Your Highness?"

"I... I don't know. I don't know why I don't want any knights. It annoys me." Arturia said. "And I don't know why I am telling you this. You are casually talking to me, too. Despite calling me in honorifics. You seem comfortable around me."

"Your Highness, you seem comfortable around me," Naruto arrogantly said. "That's a good thing, Your Highness. You just met me now, but you are opening up already."

Arturia turned her back on him, hiding her flustered face. "Anyway, I should go back now."

Naruto watched Arturia get inside of her chamber with a smile on his face, 'Lover, I'm back.'

Time Skip

Arturia, in her black cloak attire, sneaked out once again to check the Information Shop. It's been 4 days already and she just got this day to sneak out without being notice by her personal knight. Luckily, she succeed.

Seems like luck is on her side, Information Shop is currently open. She excitedly went inside as the door bell chimed.

"Welcome to I.S, what can I do for you?" The woman asked.

"Hi, I'm looking for information about the Abyss Hole." Arturia politely asked.

The woman nodded as she looked to search for it.

"What year?"

"1089"

The woman excused herself for a moment to search it. Arturia took her time to roam her eyes around the place.

After a few minutes, the woman returned, carrying two newspapers.

"It's actually a classified information to prevent from scaring people. Lucky for you, the owner kept it. We were told to give it to someone. Mr. H believed that someone in the future will look for this incident. He said, "If that day came, give this to the girl in black cloak in the future." That's what he said. Here you are, lady in a black cloak. It's yours already."

Arturia thanked her and took the papers.

The woman took this time to let Arturia read in peace while she minded her own business.

"Abyss Hole appeared inside the Palace? A lot of people were taken down to the underground."

"Insider said, 'I saw it! I saw it in my own eyes! The princess was taken down too! But she's here, how can that happen?"

'Princess?'

"One of us was taken...but who? Jeanne? Morgan? Me? But that's impossible, I can't recall any of it at all." Arturia mumbled in distress. She didn't notice that someone had come into the shop.

"What made the princess frown like that?"

Arturia flinched when she heard a voice behind her, near her ear. She turned around, seeing her knight smiling widely at her.

"You can't run away from me, Your Highness."

"I have something to do, you know?"

"I know, but you should've brought me. What if something happen to you? It's dangerous." Naruto reminded her.

Arturia sighed, "I'm sorry, I won't do that again."

Naruto glanced down the papers before taking it.

"Abyss Hole?"

"Yes, Ayako wants to use it for her history project." Arturia said. She's not lying because Ayako wants to use it.

"You're helping her?"

"Yes." She lied.

"You could have asked me." Naruto said coolly before taking a seat across her.

"You know this incident?"

Naruto nodded and smiled, "I know it more than anyone else."

"Enlighten me."

Naruto winked at her, "Nah~"

"Naruto!"

"No, Your Highness. That part is too painful for me. I don't want to remember it." Naruto lowered his head.

"A-are you also there? Were someone taken away from you?"

Naruto looked back and smiled bitterly, "My life."

"Let's go now. His Majesty might notice that you're gone." Naruto quickly added.

"But-"

"No more buts, Your Highness." Naruto offered his arm to escort her.

"Come home with me?"

"Fine" She groggily said and accepted his offer. "Just this once."

Naruto smiled widely. She took the papers with them before leaving the shop after saying their gratitudes.

A deep sigh left her mouth.

"What happened to you?" Naruto asked the girl beside him.

"I don't want to go back yet." They stopped for a moment. A poster caught Arturia's attention.

"A theater play?" Arturia eyes lit up. "It's Hadestown, Naruto! Can we watch that?"

'You're still the same, Lover.'

This is the Arturia he knows.

"Of course." Naruto responded. 'I will do anything for you.'

"I can't believe it, they'll gonna perform it and I'm gonna see Hadestown!"

'Lover, you've been in Hadestown before. The real one, actually.'

Not far from their place, a man is watching them with a contented smile.

"You know you're defying the fate, right?" The voice said but the man just gave it a smirk.

"Oh, am I? How could I? Why is the fate so mad? Why don't they just enjoy watching their love? Don't you see it? Their love is so beautiful. I couldn't help it."

"You're insane, H."

"No, I'm inspired."

"That's so sad. It's so sad. Reading or watching it still hurts." Arturia ranted.

"They sang so well. They did amazingly, too. I am amazed. I'm glad I was able to watch it with you, Naruto. Shirō wouldn't watch it with me."

"Why? Your p-partner doesn't like Orpheus and Eurydice?"

Arturia shook her head, "Not really but Shirō likes the story of Icarus more and he's really busy."

"Oh! Now that I've thought of it. The Lantern Festival is coming soon. Since you don't want me to sneak out, how about attending the festival with me? Shirō won't be here that day."

"I will"

"Good to know. You're not that bad."

"Of course. I oath to protect you, Your Highness." Naruto said.

"..When I started being a knight, I made an oath to myself and that is to protect the one I love, and my love is you."

Once again, she heard that voice, which was oddly familiar.

"Your Highness? Are you okay?" Naruto asked her once he noticed that she spaced out.

"Yes, I'm good."

"We need to get you back now." Naruto said. Arturia obediently nodded and went inside the carriage.

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~ END OF CHAPTER ~