Chapter 10: Your loyalty is unknown
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Ian turned back and saw Vortigern standing outside the curtain, the moonlight shining on him like gauze, giving him a touch of white.
The eyes that had shared the same years with King Uther were now filled with complex emotions.
Ian knew that Vortigern in front of him already understood that he was here to assassinate him tonight.
"When did you find out?" Ian asked coldly.
Now that he had been exposed, he was no longer silent.
"Well...if you want to talk about this," Vortigern walked into the tent alone—he was not afraid of Ian, who was trying to assassinate him. "Perhaps it was when you said you wanted to kill the enemy but didn't swear allegiance to me."
Only then did Ian realize that his cleverness had not escaped Vortigern's eyes.
He saw everything.
"Vortigern, you have no right to ask me to do this. I will only be loyal to..."
Before Ian could finish his words, Vortigern interrupted:
"King Uther's daughter named Morgan, right?"
"Your successive defeats were only to please her. You didn't even let her know about it. You just silently took on all the blame."
"Ian, do you think this is really worth it?"
There was no blame in Vortigern's words. It sounded more like an elder sage advising his younger generation.
Ian knew this was an attempt to shake his resolve and immediately replied, "It is!"
"There is nothing wrong with a knight bearing the infamy for the one he swore allegiance to!"
"But if the person you swore to chooses to sacrifice you just for their own selfish desires," Vortigern looked directly at Ian, "Do you still think this is okay?"
"Private desire?"
"Yes," Vortigern sighed deeply. "You are a princess but are at the front line in person. You have never been in command but have won victory after victory."
"If you look at the whole situation, you can see that there is a big problem—all of this is just to show off in front of her father."
"I should have been grateful for this foolish act that led the British army to an irretrievable end, but I didn't expect that my brother's mind had not been dulled by age and he saw through it all."
"It's a shame."
[Vortigern's calm narration made you completely understand why Morgan appeared on the front line of the battlefield.]
[You are thankful for King Uther's wisdom, for not being deceived by his daughter's tricks.]
[But your loyalty remains to Morgan.]
"No, His Majesty transferred the princess away for other reasons!" Ian countered, "It's definitely not what you said!"
"Is there any reason that could allow my brother to transfer a general who has achieved such great accomplishments from the front line?" Vortigern pointed out the problem mercilessly.
"Is he worried about his daughter's safety?"
"But if that were the case, she wouldn't have been allowed to go to the battlefield in the first place."
"…"
Ian was silent.
In fact, he had already felt everything that Vortigern said just now.
But--
That's Morgan.
The one you swore allegiance to.
No matter what she does, I should accept it!
[You draw the blade Morgan gave you and stab at Vortigern.]
[As a former British knight and now a minion of the White Dragon, your attack is fierce and swift.]
[The talent Combat Continuation++ has been replaced with Determination++: You have started the operation to assassinate Vortigern. You have a premonition that you will die here, but before that, your attention will be completely focused on assassinating Vortigern.]
[But just like when you first met Vortigern, as a humble king, he has an intuition beyond imagination, and your attacks are unlikely to be effective against him.]
[You break out from behind the curtains and come to the center of the camp, attracting a large number of soldiers.]
[Talent Agent++ activated.]
[The dark clouds cover the bright moon in the sky. Everyone except Vortigern mistakes you for Morgan because of the sword in your hand. No one questions it.]
[Vortigern's strength is far superior to yours. While he avoids your attacks, he constantly counterattacks. The wounds on your body are increasing.]
[Talent is activated at the cost of life.]
[The pain from the wounds sobers you. You realize how dangerous the humble king Vortigern is. He might become a stumbling block for Morgan in the future.]
[So even if you die here today, you are determined to do something more for her.]
[Your body begins to exert capabilities far beyond normal, which shocks the soldiers who want to help.]
[Vortigern has seen your strong will to survive, but has never seen your courage when determined to die.]
[Taking this opportunity, you finally leave a scar on his face.]
[But that's all. Vortigern reacts quickly and you are soon knocked to the ground.]
"Stop."
Vortigern stops all the soldiers who want to approach.
"All of you, get out of my way."
No one dares to disobey the White Dragon King.
In the dim night, Vortigern bends down, looks at Ian lying in a pool of blood, and sighs.
"Young man, no, I should call you Ian."
"You know what? If you had entered the tent without your sword just once, you would have realized that it was a trap I set for you—I never rest there."
"But I didn't wait for you to realize that it was my trap."
"You know what? I feel like we could have been better kings and subjects if we had the chance."
Pfft--
Ian spat a mouthful of blood on Vortigern's face.
"That is absolutely impossible! I will only swear allegiance to the princess!"
"Kill me, Vortigern!"
"…"
Vortigern was not angry at Ian's behavior.
On the contrary, he became more regretful.
Vortigern wiped the blood from his face.
"Ian, your loyalty makes me admire you, but your stubbornness makes me pity you."
"I won't kill you."
"Because your actions will bring you consequences more painful than death."
"Withdraw from here!" Vortigern raised his hand, "We will open up a new battlefield and overthrow Britain!"
"Oooo!"
[Vortigern does not deliver the final blow to you.]
[He leaves with his troops.]
[You quietly ponder his words in the pool of blood, but you can't agree with them at all.]
[For you, Morgan is your entire soul.]
[Your consciousness gradually becomes blurred, and Morgan's figure appears in front of you again.]
[You close your eyes, ready to leave this world with the afterimage in front of you.]
[And at this moment, you hear a familiar sound.]
[It is the sound of the British horn—they are coming.]
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