(3rd Person's POV)
Two years into her journey to kingship, Morgan Pendragon faced her first assignment: a solo mission to Toto Village, tasked with resolving a mysterious issue. King Lot, her husband, offered only one directive: "Go alone and help them."
Initially puzzled by the solitary nature of her journey, Morgan speculated that King Lot intended for her to recruit a small force from Toto Village to address the problem. Upon arriving and consulting the village chief, she learned that bandits had kidnapped numerous children and women.
However, when Morgan sought support from the villagers, their response was far from encouraging.
"Support? You're the supposed king of Britain. Hire your own force!"
"Yeah! We expected King Lot to send a formidable army, not just a pathetic woman."
"Maybe we should have asked fairies for help instead of relying on this wannabe king."
Enduring a barrage of curses and mockery, Morgan, frustrated by the villagers' scorn, decided to confront the quest on her own. Without relying on flashy spells or magecraft, she infiltrated the bandit hideout, taking down every single bandit and liberating the kidnapped victims.
Exhausted and bearing cuts from the intense ordeal, Morgan had used enchantment spells to enhance her speed and strength, taxing her body. Despite growing stronger from King Lot's rigorous training, she longed for some well-deserved rest.
Morgan's perception of the villagers took a dramatic turn as their disturbed and resentful mentality emerged.
Out of nowhere, a rock struck Morgan's forehead, eliciting a pained hiss from her lips. Her gaze landed on the tearful man who had launched the assault, demanding, "Where is my wife? She should be here!"
Unable to meet his gaze directly, Morgan replied, "I couldn't save her…"
"Liar! She should be alive! You killed her!" Accusations flew as another rock was hurled at her.
More voices joined in, each carrying their own tale of suffering.
"My daughters were humiliated and beaten for nights! Why didn't you save them earlier? Their lives are ruined because of you!"
"Yeah! She's utterly useless! My son was harmed too!"
Soon, a storm of pebbles and rocks rained down on Morgan, leaving her bloodied and in agony. Yet, beyond the physical pain, the profound anguish came from the betrayal she sensed from these ungrateful individuals.
"Why? Why must I bear the blame for everything? I've rescued them, yet all I receive is scorn," Morgan lamented, frustration seeping into her words.
Finally, pushed to her limit, blood rushed to her head, igniting a fierce glare directed at the crowd.
"They're all worthless."
---
(Titus's (Lot's) POV)
I strolled happily toward Toto Village, eager to celebrate Morgan's triumph in her inaugural mission. To ascend to kingship, a leader must start from the ground up—forge bonds with strangers, persuade them to follow, and even be willing to fight and sacrifice for the cause. It's about instilling a sense of purpose and accomplishment in those who follow.
With Morgan's intelligence and years of training, I was confident she could assemble at least a modest army.
However, the scene that unfolded before me was nothing short of horrifying.
"Help me! There's a witch— AA!" A desperate mother sprinted toward me, her figure engulfed in flames. In a matter of seconds, she transformed into nothing more than a silhouette. Even the infant in her arms, wailing for a brief moment, succumbed to the blaze.
In mere minutes, what was once a village of 200 people lay in ruins, not a single soul spared. The screams echoed loudly before gradually fading away.
Amidst the chaos, Morgan emerged. Despite her exhaustion and visible bloodstains, she appeared disheartened. From the exterior, she seemed like an ordinary person, but in her eyes, I glimpsed a darkness and rage I had never witnessed before.
"It seems milord is angered with me. Aren't you going to strike me? Beat some sense into me?" Morgan's voice carried an emptiness that chilled the air.
"No, I won't. Your failure is on me, not you," I replied, my gaze fixed on the ashes of the mother and child.
"Good. It was just a waste of time," Morgan retorted, poised to depart, but my question halted her.
"Do you feel anything?"
"… I do not. They do not deserve to exist." With those words, Morgan departed.
Tears welled in my eyes as I walked, gently caressing the charred remains of the mother. My hand seared with pain, but the ache in my chest was greater.
Even in the face of certain death, the mother had attempted to shield her child and failed. All because of my oversight.
Yes, it was my error, overlooking a single flaw in Morgan's character. A flaw that would undoubtedly unravel everything in the end. A flaw that rendered Morgan Pendragon, Morgan Le Fay, the witch.
"Morgan, if that's your game, then I'll play along." Fury sparked in my eyes as I resolved to let Morgan face the consequences of her actions.
---
(3rd Person's POV)
Morgan found herself led to a farmland by King Lot, who took the opportunity to explain various farm animals like goats and sheep to her. Perplexed, she wondered why he had suddenly brought her here. Was he angry with her?
"No, I am not angry at you, Morgan. As I've mentioned, what happened in Toto Village was my mistake, and I won't ever blame you," King Lot reassured her with a smile, presenting Morgan with a charming baby lamb, barely a month old.
Gasping at the sheer adorableness of the lamb, Morgan couldn't resist the impulse to hold the soft, endearing creature. Although she had seen sheep before, this was the first time she had cradled such a delightful ball of fluff.
Realizing her own childish joy, Morgan shook her head, turning to King Lot for an explanation.
"I've noticed the immense pressure you've been under. The exhaustive training and administrative duties are weighing heavily on you. So, for the next few months, I want you to focus on raising this little one. I'll assign you some court tasks and lend you books to concentrate on as well. Plus, you can take this little lamb with you wherever you go," King Lot explained, his words offering her a respite.
Morgan's eyes brightened. Initially hesitant about being pulled away from her responsibilities, she understood her husband's intent. She needed this time off; the looming conflicts demanded mental readiness, and this break would allow her to fortify her strategic skills.
"Enjoy yourself. Pay no heed to others," King Lot chuckled, patting Morgan's head before departing.
Surveying the lamb before her, Morgan declared, "What a charming little fellow. I shall name you Cavall."
"Mee!" The lamb joyfully cried out, licking Morgan's cheek in delight.
"Hehe~! You're so adorable. Definitely cuter than my brutish sister," Morgan chuckled, embracing the lamb affectionately, as if it were her own child.
---
(Titus's (Lot's) POV)
I was observing Morgan from a hill, enjoying her exuberance as she played with her newfound companion.
"She looks so delightful when she smiles," I reflected, watching my wife engage cheerfully with the lamb.
Apart from occasional conversations with Medb, she didn't have many friends. Years had passed without her taking any leave, leaving her rigid and excessively burdened.
My decision to encourage her to take some time off seemed justified. However, as I considered her age, thoughts of her approaching puberty crossed my mind.
"She must be reaching puberty. Perhaps I should engage in some 'plays' with her," I contemplated, stroking my chin while considering various intimate scenarios bed.
At 18, it was natural for her to experience burgeoning sexual needs. Addressing these desires was crucial to prevent hindrances in her personal and professional growth.
While grooming her for leadership, I also desired to ensure she had her human needs met. Unlike the approach with Artoria that Merlin made, maintaining a marital relationship with Morgan was crucial in shaping her into the leader I envisioned.
It was at that moment I sensed a presence approaching me, and without even looking, I greeted the person.
"Welcome, the Magus of Flowers. How are your balls doin'?" I inquired casually.
"Well, I am better now. Not that it happened for the first time," Merlin replied. "Speaking of my balls, how did you know about my spell?"
"Hmm, I think your future self called me and told me how to handle you."
"That's... very highly unlikely..."
Yeah, I could sense that whoever spoke to me wasn't Merlin in the slightest.
"So, how do you like my plan?" I asked Merlin, glancing over at Morgan.
"Morgan Pendragon, eh? Her stars still look disoriented but much brighter than even Artoria's. I can tell that the World is slowly changing its attitude towards her."
"So, your prophecy changed? I mean, you do have clairvoyance, right?" I inquired. Merlin had foretold the clash between the white dragon symbolizing the Saxons and the red dragon symbolizing Britain. He prophesied that after their battle, a mighty king would emerge, uniting Britain after defeating both the Gauls and Romans.
Here, the red dragon represented Artoria, and the white, Vortigern. Since I had altered the fundamental course of events, I wanted to know if he could now perceive a different prophecy.
"I think you're mistaking me for some omniscient being," Merlin shook his head.
"Then..."
Merlin gazed at the sky, sighing, "I can't see anything for now. Still dark."
It meant that this reality remained shrouded in the eyes of the world. Until or unless we followed the path of King Arthur, this world would continue as mere fantasy.
"Have you reconsidered for Morgan? We could still follow the path of King Arthur, as in my prophecy."
I glanced at Merlin, who wore a smile.
"Merlin, you're truly not human and incapable of loving any single person."
"I'm aware," Merlin remained nonchalant.
"You knew that despite King Arthur's actions, his ultimate demise was inevitable. Yet, you're inclined to stick to this fate. I wonder how Uther could trust you with the fate of these isles. Ah yes, Uther himself isn't exactly human to begin with."
"And does His Majesty believe he can change an evil fairy?" Merlin's smile held a tinge of darkness in her eyes. "I don't think we're headed for a different outcome."
I wanted to retaliate against this remark calling my wife an 'evil fairy,' but I restrained my anger. He was right; things seemed to be following the same path. Morgan might inevitably reach the same conclusion as Artoria. In fact, even before Vortigern, Morgan might potentially bring havoc, massacring Britons herself.
"I have just one last trump card to alter her fate."
---
(3rd Person's POV)
Morgan wandered through the castle halls with her beloved companion, the adorable lamb Cavall, when she overheard a conversation.
"Did you hear? I saw His Majesty, King Lot, smacking the head maid's backside."
"Really? That's nothing new. I just hope he doesn't target us."
"Yeah, he's really creepy."
It wasn't the first time Morgan had heard disparaging remarks about her husband, King Lot. After all, he already had a reputation as a somewhat unsettling figure. But only Morgan knew the truth. It was all a fabrication. In reality, he was the gentlest soul in the castle. Despite maintaining his enigmatic and unapproachable persona, those who knew him closely adored King Lot.
Should Morgan correct this misconception about her husband? The answer was a resounding no. If King Lot didn't attempt to clear his name, why should Morgan bother?
"Che," Morgan clicked her tongue in annoyance. Even though she didn't hold a strong attachment to her husband, she felt a pang whenever someone spoke ill of King Lot.
"Mee!" the lamb in her arms cried out and began licking her hand.
"Ah, hmm~! Let's feed you first," Morgan chuckled, kissing her companion. The lamb had grown considerably, nearly a year old, yet Morgan still cherished carrying it around.
Disregarding the maids, she headed toward the farm, where she spotted King Lot standing alone.
"Morgan, come to the shed," King Lot stated, walking inside without waiting for her response.
Morgan, oblivious to what awaited her, followed suit. A growing sense of dread and anxiety gnawed at her as she entered.
Various knives and tools lined the shelves, and dried blood stained the floor. It was undoubtedly a slaughterhouse.
"Morgan Pendragon, today you will make one of the toughest decisions of your life."
"N-no…" Morgan's disbelief was profound.
The door behind her shut automatically, leaving her trapped.
In that moment, King Lot tossed a knife before her and spoke, "The lamb in your arms, kill it right now."
===
Bonus coming soon!