Oh! You think I’m being sarcastic? Not in the slightest. Angrès is the true victim in this. After all, he never once wavered in his loyalty to his king.
Serving under Uther, Angrès accepted the king’s decision that Caliburn would choose the next king. For years, he’d watched as his king deteriorated, something many other nobles noticed as well. Were it not for Caliburn, they would have likely had a war between the upper-classes for who would succeed him. Add on her quick drawing and ascension to the throne stabilized the situation for the moment, and he couldn't be happier with the result.
Angrès wholeheartedly supported her, seeing her optimism and willingness to learn as something that could aid in becoming an even greater ruler than her father. However, he still saw the other nobles, dissatisfied with how the king was chosen alongside the different knights she took into her court. Who did this king think they were? They may bear Uther’s blood, but they were raised out in the wilderness among commonfolk. How could they ever expect them to follow someone like that?
Angrès, being a Count with connections throughout the kingdom, kept an eye on these less than joyful nobles, watching them carefully for any sign that they may be planning something. Strangely enough, this was unneeded, as they literally approached him with a proposition.
They knew he couldn’t stand the new king just like them. They knew Uther should have picked someone like him to be his successor. It was obvious to everyone who really had the power in Britain. Why shouldn’t Angrès, loyal servant of Uther, a Count of such prestige and impeccable reputation who was beloved by the people, not be the ruler?
Clearly this was a load of horseshit.
Angrès couldn’t believe it. Did they think he was a fool? Some naïve simpleton that rose to status by chance or kept it through family reputation? Did he really give off the impression of someone who could be puppeted?
Really. The nerve!
Angrès, still realizing the dangerous situation he was in, agreed with their assessment. Of course. Why shouldn’t he be king? It only made sense a nobleman who knew what he was doing should be in charge. How had he not seen it before?
It was then that Angrès’s grand plan began forming in his head.
Clearly, much of the current nobility in Britain did not have Britain’s best interests at heart. They needed to go if Artoria was going to transform this country into something truly beautiful. Something that could last. First, the rot left over from her father needed to be taken care of. Unfortunately, he couldn’t simply kill off the nobles. The king, even if it was for her own good, could never accept something like that, and Angrès wouldn’t want her to. He needed her out of the way.
Then came news that the king would soon be going to Brittany. The other nobles took note of this as well, and they saw a chance. So did Angrès.
When the king searched for one to rule Britain in her stead, all the nobles said it should be Angrès. A noble, compassionate, chivalrous man who no one could say anything ill about. Surely, he could maintain Britain while she was away.
With the king gone and their puppet installed, they could amass their forces in preparation for her return, catching her off guard and eliminating in one fell swoop. A good plan, if not for the fact their “puppet” had his own scheme.
Gathering soldiers, informants, and assassins, Angrès made them aware of what the ultimate goal of his plan was. They were only allowed to know and take part if they were completely devoted to the king, if not him. Those he approached understood.
Once the king had left, he executed his plan. Using his perceived allegiance to the nobles and his informants to uncover all members of the conspiracy, he gave his assassins their targets, waiting until he was certain he’d discovered them all before sending out the kill order.
As they rapidly begin falling, Angrès sent out a messenger to Brittany to inform Artoria of a revolt, spearheaded by Angrès, that had already claimed the lives of several loyal subjects. Using his soldiers, Angrès began his “revolt”, further corroborating the claims he’d sent to his king.
His informants disbanded and assassins disappeared, and, as the king began her return home, he asked his men one last time if they were with him. They could simply leave or surrender to the king. They refused. He thanked them for their loyalty.
Retreating to his own castle with his men, they prepared themselves for their last stand. However, when only he and four men remained, he made a deal to save them, believing enough lives had been sacrificed to drive it home. His was the last one required.
And so, poor Angrès presented himself to the king, claiming selfish, pompous reasons for his actions that led to the deaths of so many. Even seeing the pain and regret on his king’s face, he held firm. This was how it would end, and he knew the king was better off for their sacrifice.
Angrès and his rebellion, so loyal to their king they were willing to break her heart to protect her.
Now, you may ask the obvious question.
“Merlin, if you knew all this, why didn’t you tell her?”
For the very same reason Angrès didn’t. Which would hurt the king more? Or, rather, which would benefit the king more? Learning she would have to execute a man who killed many rebellious nobles for her sake alongside leading several extremely loyal subjects to their deaths, or executing a power-hungry traitor who murdered several of her supporters when they wouldn’t accept him as king and lead several more traitors to their deaths?
I think we both know the answer.