"Hurry up, then come to my room and serve me, understood?"
The maid merely bit her lower lip in silence. Her fingers lightly tightened around the hem of her dress as she lowered her head, hiding the uncomfortable expression on her face.
"Yes..."
Her voice came out low and resigned.
After answering, she slowly turned to leave the room. However, before she could even take more than two steps, a horrifying scream echoed behind her.
"AAAAARGH—!"
The maid froze instantly.
She turned her head in fear.
A black, venomous curse was slowly spreading across Scott's body like rotten roots crawling beneath his skin. The veins in his arms and neck bulged violently, turning dark and grotesque.
Every pore of his body seemed to be pierced by thousands of invisible needles at the same time.
Blood began to gush out.
The red liquid splattered violently across the room, staining the floor, the walls, and even the maid's face.
The girl widened her eyes in complete terror.
She could not understand what was happening.
"M-My lord...?!"
Scott collapsed to his knees, clutching his own chest while coughing up blood violently.
"MORGAN—!"
The man's eyes were completely bloodshot as he screamed like a madman driven insane by pain and hatred.
"I CURSE YOU!"
His face twisted with resentment.
"I curse you to be hated by the world forever! To be called a witch for all eternity! You deceitful creature...!"
"The world's opinion?"
A calm, indifferent voice suddenly came from the doorway.
Morgan slowly entered the room, her heels echoing softly against the blood-covered floor. Her black dress swayed elegantly as she walked, and her expression remained tranquil.
She shrugged with absolute indifference.
"So what?"
There was not the slightest emotion in her voice.
It was as though Scott's screams were nothing more than meaningless noise.
Morgan then slowly shifted her gaze toward the man writhing on the floor before looking at the maid frozen in fear in the corner of the room.
Her face was completely pale.
Morgan approached her slowly and gently caressed her cheek with her fingers.
"From now on... you will be the leader of this territory."
The maid's eyes widened in shock.
"M-Me...?"
Morgan calmly continued:
"Scott was killed by the Saxon leader after betraying his promise and conspiring with the enemy."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Understood?"
A chill ran down the maid's spine.
She immediately realized that this was not a request—it was an order.
"Yes...!"
She nodded frantically, almost desperately.
"Yes, I understand!"
Morgan smiled in satisfaction.
---
Soft sunlight streamed through the bedroom windows, slowly illuminating Arthur's face as he let out a tired yawn and opened his eyes.
"I really wanted to keep sleeping..."
Arthur slowly rubbed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
Just thinking about continuing the investigation of the traitor that same day was already enough to make his head start hurting again.
However, he had no choice.
It was a problem that needed to be resolved sooner or later.
As long as the traitor remained hidden within Camelot, the Saxons' actions would never truly stop. Even if they managed to temporarily suppress the enemy attacks, nobody knew what kind of disaster might occur while that threat remained lurking in the shadows.
Arthur took a deep breath.
Then slowly exhaled.
Afterward, he got out of bed and walked toward the door.
"Morgan?"
As soon as he stepped out of the room, he found a woman casually leaning against the hallway wall, softly humming an unfamiliar melody.
Her long hair flowed elegantly down to her waist, shining beneath the morning light. Her pale skin contrasted sharply with the black dress she wore.
She looked relaxed.
"You seem a little exhausted."
Morgan raised her gaze toward Arthur with a gentle smile and delicately brushed a few messy strands of hair away from his face.
Arthur shook his head.
"It's nothing... I just didn't sleep very well."
"You're worried about the traitor, aren't you?" Morgan let out a soft chuckle, as though she had seen directly through him.
Arthur was slightly surprised.
Can she read my thoughts or something...?
"We've been together for more than four years," Morgan said calmly. "I practically raised you. Just by looking at your expression, I can already guess what's going through your mind."
As she spoke, she pulled a small red bottle from her sleeve and handed it to Arthur.
"Here."
Arthur instinctively took the small vial.
"What is this?"
"It seems to be the blood essence of three rare monsters."
Morgan answered casually.
"It strengthens bones, muscles, and the entire body."
Then she raised her hand and lightly tapped Arthur on the head.
"Don't you want to grow up already?"
Arthur observed the liquid inside the vial.
Even without opening it, he could feel an alarming magical pressure emanating from within.
"There's an extremely powerful energy inside this..."
He raised his eyes toward Morgan.
"You should keep it."
Arthur handed the small vial back to her.
"You've already given me so many things... honestly, I'm starting to feel a little bad accepting even more."
"Are you rejecting me?"
Morgan asked with a calm smile.
Arthur fell silent.
"..."
Then he sighed in defeat.
"Alright, I'll accept it."
Morgan smiled in satisfaction.
Arthur silently stored the small bottle away.
"Actually, helping you grow properly also benefits me, so there's no need to be so polite with me."
Arthur remained silent for a few moments.
He still did not completely understand Morgan's intentions.
However, thinking rationally, it made sense.
As King Arthur, he naturally needed enough strength to protect himself. After all, there would always be people around him with ulterior motives.
"After all..."
Morgan delicately brought a finger to her lips.
"If your stamina is too low, you probably won't be able to satisfy me in the future."
Her blue eyes gleamed with dangerously seductive intent.
Arthur: "???"
His brain completely froze for several seconds.
"Very well, let's leave that aside for now." Morgan's smile faded slightly. "I have something important to tell you."
Something serious?
Arthur immediately focused his attention on her.
Morgan calmly walked toward the window at the end of the hallway. Sunlight partially illuminated her face as she slowly turned around.
"In five days, I intend to hold a masquerade ball in this palace."
She crossed her arms.
"We will invite all the important tribal leaders and nobles."
Arthur remained silent, listening carefully.
"At that time..."
Morgan slightly narrowed her eyes.
"The Saxons will most likely attempt to assassinate you amidst the chaos."
Her voice remained calm.
"They failed to force you into swearing submission. After the failure of that ambush, they will certainly resort to even more extreme methods."
Arthur immediately understood what she meant.
"Although your situation will be extremely dangerous..." Morgan continued, "it will also be the perfect opportunity to eliminate the traitors and destroy the enemy forces that have infiltrated us."
She looked directly at Arthur again.
"At the very least, we will be able to discover which people within Camelot are secretly collaborating with the enemy."
Arthur fell into thought for a few moments.
"So I'll be the bait?"
Morgan smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
Arthur silently weighed the pros and cons before finally nodding.
"Then we'll do as you said."
It truly was a rare opportunity.
A masquerade ball would inevitably become chaotic. The Saxons would hardly let such a perfect chance to attack the King directly slip away.
And likewise, the traitors hidden inside Camelot would probably make their move as well.
"You agreed surprisingly quickly," Morgan said with a slightly surprised look.
"If we can eliminate the traitor, we'll finally be able to drive out the Saxons without future concerns."
Arthur then added:
"As for safety... with my current strength, I can handle most situations."
Morgan observed Arthur for several seconds.
"You really trust yourself a lot."
Arthur smiled faintly, though there was a trace of helplessness in his expression.
"I've always been pretty confident."
That was true.
He feared no one from his own generation.
However, when comparing his strength to monsters like Morgan or Scáthach... the gap was still absurd.
Even so, at least against Saxon leaders, Arthur believed he possessed enough ability to win.
Morgan then approached him once more.
Her smile became unexpectedly sincere.
"I'm happy that you're trusting me."
She raised her hand and gently caressed Arthur's face.
"Don't worry."
"I will protect you."
Then, after a brief pause, Morgan smiled mysteriously.
"And... just to be safe..."
Her blue eyes seemed to gleam dangerously.
"This time, I'm going to reunite you with your master."
(End of Chapter)