The Nobles' Conspiracy and Lott's Preparations
Lott, reflecting on the recent events, addressed Morgan. "What gift are you talking about? That money was stolen, and it should be returned, not kept. What we give you now is a true gift, unlike the nobles' offer."
Morgan glanced at Lott, somewhat puzzled, and then fell into contemplation. Your Majesty Lott, can we be a bit less like Merlin?
Morgan, noticing Altria's hesitation, continued to persuade her, "You need money to maintain your horse. As a knight, your income isn't high. This money could fill in the gap."
Altria, considering her expenses and the cost of maintaining her horse, realized the practicality of Morgan's argument. If she didn't have sufficient funds, she might end up struggling to afford necessities, let alone her warhorse's needs.
"Okay," Altria finally conceded.
Seeing her reluctant acceptance, Lott nodded in satisfaction. It's quite enjoyable to pull people into our plans, he mused.
Morgan shot Lott a look of reproach. Are you some kind of devil? Despite her frustration, she found a certain pleasure in the playful manipulation.
As Altria took the stolen money and left, both Morgan and Lott shared a meaningful smile. After she departed, Lott turned to Morgan with a more serious expression.
"We need to consider the nobles' next moves. They might act rashly and attempt to create chaos," Lott said, his tone reflecting concern.
Morgan, confident, replied, "Don't worry. Even if they do, I can handle them with ease."
Meanwhile, the nobleman, fuming with anger, sought out Merlin for a second attempt. Despite his disdain for Merlin's lineage, he hoped to persuade him to join their cause. The nobles were eager to secure their interests, and they approached Merlin with promises of power and wealth.
Merlin, however, was not fooled. He knew the nobles' motives and had no intention of aligning with them. "I'm not interested in joining you," he stated flatly. "I have no use for your power plays."
Merlin's loyalty lay with Morgan and the future of Britain, not with these opportunistic nobles. The nobles' attempts to bribe him were in vain.
"They will not succeed," Merlin commented. "Their properties will eventually belong to Morgan. Instead of allowing Morgan to benefit, it's better if I handle them."
The nobles, frustrated by their failed attempts, decided on a more drastic approach. "If Merlin won't join us, then we'll go ahead with a coup. Camelot's regime must not fall into the hands of a woman," the nobleman declared, hiding his true motives behind a facade of righteous indignation.
The other nobles, motivated by their desire for power, agreed with the plan. "We need to act quickly and prepare before Morgan can react."
One noble remembered a potential ally. "A young noble knight from France has recently arrived. His strength is impressive. He could be a valuable asset in our coup. I will persuade him to join us."
In the meantime, Lott had other matters to attend to. He had been preparing for a while and finally found time to go fishing in the long river of time. Despite previous unsatisfactory results, Lott was determined to try again.
He had been disappointed with the outcomes of his past fishing attempts, which included various useless items. However, he was hopeful that today's efforts would yield better results.
Equipped with a stronger fishing rod, courtesy of Morgan's assistance, Lott cast his line into the river. The long river of time, with its endless flow, offered a unique advantage—no need for constant vigilance.
Lott pondered whether to play some music while fishing, considering if it might enhance his chances. Just as he was about to test his theory, he felt the rod tug.
What could it be? Lott wondered, excitement building as he pulled up the line.