"Wow, Bedivere, who is that beautiful young lady?" I couldn't help but express my surprise.
Right there, in my future residence, specifically in the courtyard, stood a beautiful blonde-haired girl.
She was petite, with soft, delicate features, and her attire resembled that of a princess.
She sat serenely, surrounded by servants, as she enjoyed a cup of tea in the cool breeze of the garden.
My voice had been loud enough for them to hear, and I noticed the whispers that followed, with no intention of hiding them from me.
"How cruel."
"Is that King Arthur?"
"How could he not recognize his own wife, Lady Guinevere?!"
"She's my wife? Me? Lucky me, indeed," I thought as I nonchalantly approached her.
Guinevere, hearing my approach, looked at me with a brightened expression, signaling the servants to give us privacy.
"Leave me alone with the king," she commanded softly, and the servants, along with Bedivere, bowed and left us to the peaceful cool breeze of the morning.
I took a seat across from my future wife, feeling the gentle wind on my skin.
"Hey, beautiful, how about we go on a date?" I asked, cringing inwardly at my attempt at flirting, but I endured it as I offered the beauty before me a chance to go out together.
She was, after all, my wife—wasn't she?
I didn't think she would mind.
"What is a date, King Arthur?" Guinevere asked, her voice curious, her eyes gleaming with interest.
"A date? Well, it's when we go outside together, have fun, play, spend time together as a couple, eat a meal, and share stories to get to know one another better. I've never really been on one, but I think that's what a date is supposed to be."
"Then, how about telling me a story, King Arthur?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement at the mention of a story.
It seemed Guinevere truly loved stories, as most men and women do.
They all love a good tale.
Feeling confident in my storytelling abilities, I cleared my throat and smiled.
"How about I tell you the story of the Three Founders of Japan, Guinevere? It's a tale of how Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu conquered the world, told from the perspective of a cuckoo."
"What is Japan, and who are Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu, my king? I have never heard of them before," she asked, her face marked with a clear hint of confusion as she awaited my response.
"Japan," I began, "is best imagined as something akin to our very own Britannia, Princess. However, it lies far beyond the horizon, a distant island situated far to the East. Those three figures—Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu—are comparable to figures like me, Vortigern, and King Lot, for they, too, were men who thrived on ambition. They dreamed of uniting and conquering their land, just as we dream of uniting and ruling over Britannia."
I explained this in a way that was simple and easy to understand, and I noticed how her eyes brightened in comprehension as she nodded gratefully.
"I understand, my king," Guinevere replied with a glint of admiration in her eyes. "It seems you are about to tell me a tale of great importance, one that you've clearly studied in depth."
Studied? Researched? What in the world?
That tale wasn't something I painstakingly researched.
It was simply told to me by my old history teacher.
Anyone who doesn't know this must have had terrible grades in school.
"Ahem..." I cleared my throat, brushing aside her assumption. "Let's begin the story, Guinevere."
I coughed lightly and set the scene.
"In a faraway land, isolated on the distant island of Japan, there existed a time before the unification of the nation by three great founders, who sought to conquer and rule over Japan. These three powerful leaders gathered before a bird trapped in a cage—a bird called the cuckoo. The cuckoo was renowned for its beautiful singing, but on that day, it refused to sing, and the leaders grew disappointed. Do you know what each of the three founders suggested when asked by their retainers how to make the cuckoo sing, Princess?"
She shook her head, intrigued.
"Nobunaga," I continued, "was the first to respond. His answer was simple and brutal: 'Kill it.' This was the essence of Nobunaga's approach to conquest—direct, ruthless, and without mercy. Just as he would show no compassion to the cuckoo, so too would he crush anyone who dared to oppose him. That is the kind of man Nobunaga was—aggressive, warlike, and utterly unforgiving in his pursuit of power. And that is how he began his conquest of Japan."
"Then what about Hideyoshi and Ieyasu, my king?" Guinevere's interest was greatly aroused as she eagerly inquired, her voice filled with a hopeful tone.
"Hideyoshi wanted to force the cuckoo to sing, while Ieyasu preferred to wait for the cuckoo to sing on its own. When compared to Nobunaga, Hideyoshi was more inclined to use threats and force, while Ieyasu was patient, choosing to bide his time and strike when the moment was right. This is the fundamental difference between the two of them," I responded vaguely.
In truth, I knew far less about Hideyoshi and Ieyasu compared to Nobunaga, and I was too embarrassed to provide any detailed explanation, so I kept my words intentionally vague.
"And what about you, my king?" Guinevere asked again, her curiosity clearly piqued. "If you were in the presence of these three men, how would you handle the situation with the cuckoo?"
"Me?" I paused before answering.
"I would release the cuckoo and set it free. It should be allowed to soar to greater heights and enjoy its freedom. If the cuckoo does not wish to sing for me, I will not force it to do so." I said nonchalantly, as though the matter were of no great concern to me.
"You will make a truly great king, my husband." Guinevere knelt gracefully at my feet in response to my words, kissing my hand in a display of deep reverence, leaving me momentarily at a loss for words due to her sudden, tender gesture.
"I will ensure that my father offers his full support to your cause," she continued, her eyes filled with determination. "This is my vow as your wife, my promise to you as your queen and your partner."
"You will conquer Britannia, husband. I, as your wife, will make certain that your path to victory is smooth, and I will stand by you every step of the way."
"I hope that Britannia will be like the cuckoo—set free, allowed to fly higher, and to sing its song freely in the skies." She added.
"They will, my lady," I vowed, feeling the weight of my promise deep within me.
"I will never let anyone down," I continued, determination surging through my veins. "I will fight, fight, and fight again until we secure the future we want."
"Just like the cuckoo in the sky," Guinevere added with a soft chuckle, her laughter warm and reassuring.
"Yes," I agreed, my laughter joining hers, "just like the cuckoo in the sky."
Together, we laughed, and the garden was filled with the sound of our shared joy and unspoken understanding.
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