Altria looked at the lavish surroundings with a hint of anxiety. "Those ingredients look expensive. If we're expected to pay for them, my family won't be able to afford them. Sir Ector, my adoptive father, is a poor low-class nobleman. If we had to make up for it, I might have to stay here as a servant."
Altria's fear of becoming a servant weighed heavily on her. She was determined to become a knight and didn't want to resign herself to a life of servitude.
Morgan, noting Altria's concern, gently inquired, "Nothing to worry about. We were just curious. By the way, what is your family background?"
Morgan held Lott's hand as she spoke, her tone soft and inviting.
Altria, despite her worries, looked up at the opulent Morgan with a sense of longing. "My adoptive father is Sir Ector."
"What about your biological father?" Morgan asked with genuine curiosity.
Altria shook her head. "I'm not sure."
Morgan didn't press further. Instead, she turned her attention back to Kay and Altria, extending a surprising offer. "So, would you be interested in joining us? If you do, Lott will personally knight you both."
The proposal of being knighted directly left Kay, Altria, and even Lott taken aback.
Morgan's unexpected offer elicited mixed reactions. Recruiting Altria? This wasn't what I expected.
Morgan sensed Lott's surprise and found it curious. Why is he so stunned? It's unusual for emotions to manifest so strongly.
Altria and Kay, however, were elated. Kay saw the opportunity to become a knight, while Altria, who was unsure of her future as a knight, was thrilled at the prospect of immediate recognition.
Kay responded with a composed tone, "We'd like to discuss this with our father first. If he agrees, we will gladly serve Your Royal Highness Morgan."
Kay's calm and respectful response impressed both Lott and Morgan. Lott privately admired Kay's demeanour and saw potential in him for future responsibilities.
Morgan, satisfied with the response, said, "I look forward to your decision."
After bidding farewell to Lott and Morgan, Kay and Altria headed to find Sir Ector.
An Encounter with Merlin
Before they could reach Sir Ector, they encountered Merlin.
"Why the rush?" Merlin asked, having observed Altria closely before but losing sight of her when Lott arrived.
"Teacher, His Royal Highness Morgan wants us to become her knights!" Altria exclaimed with excitement.
Merlin, usually stoic, couldn't suppress a twitch of his mouth at this news.
Kay added, "We're going to discuss it with our father. This is great news, and it turns out that the predictions were off. What you told us before was wrong!"
Merlin, though seemingly indifferent, smiled at Kay's enthusiasm. "No one can predict the future with certainty."
Kay asked, "Should we accept the offer?"
Merlin pondered briefly before responding, "It's hard to say. It depends on what you think is best."
Kay and Altria decided to consult Sir Ector. Merlin's advice to them was tinged with humour as he added, "King Lott's food is excellent. If you serve him, I'll come to visit for a meal. Maybe you could arrange that for me."
Kay rejected the idea with a firm stance. "A true knight doesn't steal food. We'll uphold the code."
Altria agreed, emphasizing the importance of maintaining knightly principles.
Merlin, feigning sadness, bid them farewell and provided directions to Sir Ector before leaving.
A Concerned King
Merlin made his way to King Uther, who noticed his hurried approach. "What's the matter? Is something wrong with Altria?"
"There's a minor issue," Merlin replied, his demeanour calm.
King Uther, concerned for his daughter, asked, "What is it?"
"Your daughter is about to become a knight under Morgan's command," Merlin revealed.
King Uther was momentarily stunned. "What? This is not what you predicted."
"It's a small deviation from the expected," Merlin responded nonchalantly.
King Uther, still processing the news, asked, "What do you suggest we do next?"
Merlin's response was thoughtful, leaving King Uther to contemplate the implications of this unexpected turn of events.