After completing his daily duties, Arthur finally returned to his room, carrying with him the silent weight of a long and exhausting day.
He slowly lay down on the soft, spacious bed, and the moment his body sank into the sheets, the accumulated fatigue enveloped him completely, like an inevitable tide.
As he stared at the ceiling immersed in darkness, his pupils gradually lost focus. The emptiness around him felt heavier than usual, and without realizing it, a sense of loneliness began to seep into his chest.
The question Artoria had asked earlier that day returned to his mind, bringing with it memories he had not invited.
During the day, when he was busy with meetings, strategies, and training, such thoughts rarely reached him. But now, in the absolute silence, everything seemed to come alive again.
Old memories surfaced one after another, far too vivid to ignore.
If they were still in the Land of Shadows… he would probably be talking to his master right now, wouldn't he?
Perhaps Nessa would be hiding somewhere in the room, secretly listening to the conversation, naively believing she hadn't been discovered. And when everything ended, she would inevitably be dragged out by their master without ceremony.
Those scenes felt so close… and yet so distant.
Arthur closed his eyes for a moment and gently shook his head, trying to dispel the growing sentimentality.
Thinking about it now won't change anything.
What truly matters is the present.
What I need to do now… is give everything I have to drive out the Saxons.
If Morgan can establish enough authority in the eyes of everyone, she will be able to rule Britain. And with Lily by her side… it will be difficult for anything to go wrong.
When that day comes…
Perhaps I can finally return to a carefree life.
Upon reaching that conclusion, the sadness surrounding him lessened, replaced by a faint sense of relief.
He let his body relax completely and closed his eyes.
A wave of dizziness struck him almost immediately, and little by little, his consciousness began to dissolve.
"Sleep peacefully… you will have good dreams."
A soft voice echoed faintly in his ear, accompanied by a light, refreshing fragrance and a gentle sensation resting against his arm.
But Arthur was already overtaken by sleep. Heavy, deep, irresistible.
Without the strength to react or even open his eyes, he fell into a deep slumber.
---
In the moonlit room, a figure remained silently by the bed.
Morgan lay there, watching Arthur, her eyes fixed on him as if trying to engrave every detail into her memory.
After a few moments, a soft sigh escaped her lips.
"It's difficult… to provoke someone like this."
Her voice was low, almost a whisper lost in the night.
After all, Arthur had only managed to pull the sword from the stone because of a geis.
But after that… she had imposed no further restrictions.
Which meant only one thing:
He remained there… of his own will.
Morgan's fingers gently traced Arthur's face, outlining his features with care.
Her gaze softened.
"No wonder my sister likes you so much…"
He could have fled.
At that moment, when he pulled the sword from the stone, it would have been easy to escape Britain. With someone like Scáthach by his side, not even she would have been able to stop him.
And yet… he did not leave.
Without a doubt, he had considered the future of Britain… and his own choices.
If Arthur had run away, the ceremony to choose the king would have been held again.
And inevitably… Artoria would still have become king.
He had likely already foreseen that outcome.
And even so… he chose to stay.
"This child… is far better than the previous ones."
Morgan murmured quietly, almost to herself.
He notices the looks… the judgments… hidden within people's expressions.
Even Gawain and Agravain show caution toward her.
Agravain… had even come to hate women because of her.
And yet…
Arthur had never looked at her that way.
…Though that was also because she had never forced him to do anything he hated.
And never would.
Her fingers traced his face again, her tinted nails faintly reflecting in the dim light, giving her a seductive and dangerous air.
"I won't force you to do anything… ever."
Because, in the end…
Only he and Lily still looked at her without disdain.
If even those two were to turn away from her—
Then she would have nothing left.
A heavy silence settled for a few seconds.
Then, a faint smile appeared on Morgan's lips.
"So… I can't return you to Scáthach."
Even if his mind still wandered to his master…
His body was here.
And that… was already enough.
"I can't wait any longer…"
Her voice grew softer, more intimate.
"Even if I have to wait until you grow up to… fully savor you…"
She leaned slightly closer.
"For now… I can at least have a taste, can't I?"
The surroundings began to distort.
A white mist slowly spread, enveloping everything.
---
Arthur suddenly opened his eyes.
Everything around him was covered in dense fog.
His body… wouldn't respond.
"Sleep paralysis? Or is this some kind of ghost?"
The thought arose instantly in his mind.
"Is there really such a beautiful ghost?"
A sweet, melodious voice echoed before him.
His eyes widened as he saw the figure above him.
"Morgan?!"
Morgan was lying over him, smiling charmingly.
"How did you get in here unnoticed in the middle of the night?"
"What do you think I'm doing?" she replied, lifting her gaze with a teasing smile.
"…No… this is a dream, isn't it?"
Arthur quickly realized the inconsistency around him.
The fog, the strange environment… this wasn't his room.
Morgan smiled brightly.
"Yes. You're dreaming."
Her voice became even more alluring.
"So… you can do whatever you want."
"I'll give you… everything you desire."
There was something hypnotic in her tone.
Arthur's eyes began to lose focus, as if his consciousness were slowly being drawn into a sweet, seductive abyss.
"But you said you can't move… because of sleep paralysis."
Morgan tilted her head, observing him carefully.
"So… let me help you."
She moved even closer.
"This is a secret between us."
"A reward… and also a punishment."
An electric sensation ran through Arthur's body.
And then his mind went blank.
---
At some undefined moment, Arthur abruptly opened his eyes.
The room was silent.
He blinked a few times, trying to regain focus.
Then, suddenly—
"Did I… really dream about that…?"
He ran a hand over his face, clearly unsettled.
"I think I'll take a bath…"
If Morgan found out…
She would definitely mock him mercilessly.
No… that can't happen.
But in the end…
It was just a dream.
There's no way she could know.
No reason to worry.
Convinced of that, Arthur stood up, wrapped a towel around his body, and left the room, closing the door behind him.
The room returned to complete silence.
For a few seconds… nothing happened.
Then, a crow hidden beneath the bed began to writhe.
Its form slowly distorted… until it took the shape of a woman.
A soft, satisfied laugh echoed through the room.
"You've grown quite a bit…"
Morgan stretched slowly, her elegant silhouette lengthening under the faint light.
"…in every way."
She walked to the window, gazing out into the night.
She inhaled the cold air deeply… and exhaled slowly.
A seductive smile appeared on her lips.
"Sooner or later… you'll run into my arms and say that I'm the most beautiful woman in the world."
"…that not even your Master can compare."
She let out a quiet laugh.
"But until then…"
Her fingers lightly touched her own lips.
"A little taste… is already enough."
Her smile deepened—mysterious and dangerous—as the silent night seemed to guard all her secrets.
(End of Chapter)