It was strange for Lott to see the figure in front of him, the resemblance uncanny yet unsettling. What exactly is going on? he wondered.
In the distance, the fairy Morgan and the patriarch of the Rain Clan were secretly observing, taking in the scene with keen interest.
As they watched, fairy Morgan turned to the chief of the Rain Clan. "How do you feel about that human? I don't seem to think he's very clever," she remarked.
"Uh-huh," the patriarch agreed, nodding in understanding. They had initially seen Lott as clever, but today felt different.
Their lack of understanding stemmed from their inexperience with love.
"Next, what are you going to do?" the patriarch asked fairy Morgan.
"Next, of course, I'm going to contact Lott," Fairy Morgan replied confidently, pointing between herself and Lott. "Look at these two people—who seem more reliable?"
"That would be Lott," the patriarch responded after careful thought.
"It's not just that," Fairy Morgan continued, narrowing her eyes. "The reason we couldn't detect the Camelot army is entirely because of Lott. He's completely different from the Lott I remember; it's almost like they are two different people."
"Okay," the patriarch agreed, finding her reasoning sound. "Then what shall we do?"
"Of course, I'll be looking for an opportunity to quietly approach Lott," Fairy Morgan declared with determination.
As night fell, the army began to set up camp. Being the main force, there was no need to gallop like before; they took their time, careful to avoid ambushes.
Lott's camp was situated at the centre, kept simple for the march. Inside his tent, there was just a bed, a table, and a few chairs. Yet in terms of food, Lott did not skimp. The meals rivalled those of any army, and the chefs trained under his strict standards.
Soon, a few dishes were served to Lott and Morgan, along with tonics to support Morgan's pregnancy.
"Ah~, so sleepy," Morgan sighed after eating. She stretched her back, fatigue evident in her eyes.
Lott noticed and told her, "If you're sleepy, then you should rest first. I'll patrol the barracks. Gavin and the others are inexperienced; I need to do this myself."
Patrolling was essential to ensure there were no weak points in their defences. Lott had always taken this duty seriously, knowing that battles could be lost from simple mistakes.
Before marrying Morgan, he often patrolled like this. Once among the knights of Orkney, he was well-respected for his diligence. But after marrying Altria and being accompanied by others, he rarely acted alone.
Now, with Galahad and the others alongside him, he needed to step up.
"Well, go ahead, dear," Morgan replied, her voice softening.
With that, Lott stepped out of the camp to begin his patrol.
After inspecting the area, he was satisfied that Camelot's army was adhering to his standards. A few minor issues arose, but they were swiftly corrected by the soldiers under his command.
Feeling that everything was in order, Lott decided to head back to the camp. Just as he turned, he spotted a figure standing a short distance away.
"Morgan, why are you here?" he asked, puzzled.
"Lott, I came here because I missed you?" the figure replied, a familiar tone in her voice.
"Isn't it enough to just come out for a walk? You miss me?" Lott approached and playfully patted her head.
"Well, of course," the figure nodded, closing her eyes in anticipation.
But instead of a gentle pat, she felt the cold blade of a sword.
"Pretending to look like her, but you aren't my wife at all," Lott said, narrowing his eyes at the fairy Morgan.
"How did you see through me?" fairy Morgan asked, surprised.
Lott grinned. "Intuition. Do you understand?" His instincts were what tipped him off. Despite her excellent disguise, something felt amiss.
"Really? That seems to be my miscalculation," Fairy Morgan admitted, her confidence wavering.
She had simply intended to test Lott's awareness, but now realized he was sharper than she thought.
"Then show me your true form," Lott insisted, curious about her magic.
With confidence, fairy Morgan replied, "This is my true face."
"You've been exposed by me; what's the point of this charade?" Lott pressed, puzzled by her insistence.
"No, I truly look like this," she asserted.
Lott frowned. "Then how can you look exactly like my wife?"
Fairy Morgan leaned closer, her eyes gleaming. "You see, I am a fairy from the Inner Sea of the Planet, and I am also Morgan."
Lott's expression shifted to one of surprise. How? he thought. Did this strange entity come to my side?
Before he could respond, fairy Morgan added, "Would you like to take a closer look at my body? You'll see the differences."
Lott immediately shook his head, refusing. "I am not interested in seeing your body at all."
He stood firm in his ethics; she might be a Morgan, but, she isn't his Morgan. He had no interest in looking at someone else's body, even if they shared a name and face.
"Let's leave it at that," he concluded, setting a boundary, determined to protect the sanctity of his relationship with Morgan.