Chapter 5: The Knight's Move or Retreat Must Be Decided by the Princess
[Your intuition was right.]
[Morgan really does have something she wants you to do.]
[This is another turning point in your fate.]
"Ian."
Morgan gently moved her foot, her toes sliding from Ian's forehead down his nose, grazing his lips, and finally resting on his chin.
As Morgan had said before, she didn't care about Ian in front of her, even though they once shared a physical connection.
She lightly lifted her toes, pushing Ian's chin upward, forcing his head to tilt back further.
From this angle, the beautiful legs hidden beneath the princess's evening gown were fully exposed to the loyal knight's gaze.
But Ian knew that what awaited him was certainly not something simple.
"Answer me, Ian. Do you recognize this sword?"
Morgan indicated the long sword embedded in the ground.
Ian nodded and replied, "This is your sword, Princess, but it seems like you seldom use it."
When Ian mentioned "seldom use," a fleeting flicker of displeasure flashed across Morgan's eyes.
However, she quickly continued:
"Ian, lift it."
Understanding that Morgan didn't like disobedience, Ian immediately raised the sword bearing her name. With his years of training, this was no challenge.
[Morgan seems to have placed a spell on this sword.]
[Talent "Agent" has been activated: You have been granted Morgan's name, and at some point in the future, someone may mistake you for her.]
[Talent "Life Trade" has been activated: When wielding Morgan's sword, you can surpass your physical limits, but in exchange, your life will become as fragile as a candle in the wind.]
[Morgan believes you know nothing about Magecraft, so she doesn't hide the flow of mana on the sword.]
[This makes you feel a bit saddened.]
"What's wrong?"
Morgan lightly nudged Ian's chin with her toes, asking.
"Does touching my sword displease you?"
"No, I would never dare to be dissatisfied with you, Princess." Ian answered, "It's just that I don't understand why you've given me this weapon."
"Ian, I think I've already told you. You have no right to ask about things I don't intend for you to know, correct?"
"Apologies, Princess."
"Never mind." Morgan changed her tone, "I don't wish to argue with you over this. There's something more important to do now."
After saying this, the cold princess slowly lifted Ian's chin and spoke in a commanding voice:
"Ian, stand up and satisfy me."
[Obeying Morgan orders, you can only do what she allows you to do.]
[At the same time, she does not permit you to act recklessly like you did the first time. Everything must be under her control.]
[Your freedom is controlled by her under the guise of being a princess, like the rising sea that must fall again.]
[This is just the beginning.]
[Over the next month, she repeatedly called you to her side, continuing her actions to control both your mind and body.]
[Her behavior became bolder with time, and there was one occasion when you opened the door only to find her naked]
[But you didn't feel that Morgan was trying to seduce you, nor did you think she was a licentious person.]
[You could feel the coldness in her gaze each time, and you realized you had never heard her inner thoughts. Just as she had once said, this princess had never liked you.]
[Everything was part of a plan that she didn't want you to know.]
[You didn't know how long this life would last, but you endured, becoming a knight whom she could control with her mind whenever she pleased.]
[But at that moment, things began to take a new direction.]
In the dungeon, Ian was imprisoned, every breath filled with the familiar smell of dampness.
He had been kept there by Morgan for over three years.
Every day, Ian saw Morgan visit him alone, but she never spoke a word. She silently slit her finger and made Ian kneel to lick the blood as it dripped.
Sometimes, she even let Ian suck on her finger, gently moving it inside his mouth.
This cold princess still viewed Ian as nothing.
[You disappeared, but no one cared.]
[Because the royal family of Britannia had just welcomed the birth of a new member, and the entire kingdom was celebrating with joy. Compared to that, the disappearance of a knight was nothing.]
[Furthermore, Morgan had no intention of letting anyone search for you, and naturally, no one brought it up again.]
[The traces of your existence seemed to have been erased, leaving only Morgan as the last witness to your presence in this world.]
[For some reason, since the birth of King Uther's son, Arthur, Morgan had started visiting you more often, and the number of times she made you lick her blood increased as well.]
[Talent "Energetic" has been upgraded to "Energetic+": Morgan's blood flows through your body, allowing you to retain vitality, never tire, and fight endlessly.]
[Talent "Agent" has been upgraded to "Agent+": At some point in the future, you will be mistaken for Morgan, and no one will doubt it.]
[During this time, Morgan finally began to speak a few words to you.]
[Through her words, you learned of the existence of the cowardly King Vortigern. His appearance seemed to have come sooner than you expected, and his existence was shaking the foundations of Britannia.]
[A few days later, from Morgan, you learned that King Uther had been keeping an eye on Vortigern for a long time and had always been preparing to lead a campaign to eliminate this troublemaker, something she had known beforehand.]
[On the night before the campaign, Morgan came to find you again.]
Clink.
The prison door, which had held Ian for many years, creaked open. Morgan stood there, holding a glass of wine, its alluring fragrance filling the air.
"Come here, Ian."
Without hesitation, Ian approached, still the most loyal knight to Morgan, obeying her commands just as he always had in the past.
"Princess," Ian said respectfully, kneeling on one knee before her.
Morgan looked at Ian, her expression complex.
"I never thought that, after all these years, you'd still be the same… Ian, I give you permission to start hating me from now on."
"But I won't allow myself to hate you," Ian replied.
"You are the one I swore my loyalty to. Everything I have, I follow your commands. Even if you imprison me to the point of death, that is a fate I must accept."
"You…"
Morgan hesitated.
She then shifted the topic: "In that case, Ian, do you still remember how to use a sword?"
"The etiquette of a knight cannot be forgotten," Ian answered quickly.
"If that's the case—"
Morgan lowered her head, gazing at the knight who was dutifully kneeling before her. Each word she spoke was firm.
"Ian, it's time to set out."
"I—order you, kill my father enemy, Vortigern."