Chapter 13. My life will end for the glory of the princess
[Morgan hears your words.]
[You think that you still hope Morgan will show a bit of reluctance on her face.]
[But contrary to your expectations, she doesn't look at you with regret, and remains indifferent as if you had just said something very ordinary to her.]
[Though you feel a little sad, you quickly accept everything calmly.]
[Knights have no right to ask for anything from those they are loyal to.]
"Ian."
Morgan deep blue eyes reflect Ian's figure before her.
"Do you know what your words just meant?"
"Yes, Princess." Ian nodded, "I understand what all of this means."
"My life will be ended by you, Princess."
"…"
Morgan was silent for a moment before slowly speaking:
"Ian, do you want to make me feel guilty in this way?"
"No." Ian shook his head, "I know, Princess, you will never feel guilty for me."
"I just want to play the last role as a pawn, as you said, so that I can burn my life until the last moment."
"Princess, I feel from the bottom of my heart that Britannia should belong to you, and there is no other choice."
[Morgan does not doubt your words.]
[She knows your loyalty to her, and she knows that you could truly do something like that.]
[But she still hesitates about one thing.]
[You're thinking about whether it's related to you, and Morgan confirms it for herself.]
"Ian, do you really think your death could bring so much value?"
Morgan's gaze was complicated.
"Are you... overestimating yourself?"
"Princess, even though you may not believe all of this, I still want to tell you."
"In the eyes of others, I have long been a claw of Vortigern. Countless knights of Britannia have died by my hands. I have long been the common enemy of all knights."
"And my Princess, you——"
Ian raised his head and looked directly at Morgan in front of him, his eyes loyal and determined.
"You are the invincible princess of Britannia; you are also the invincible blade on the battlefield."
"If you execute me, that will be what everyone expects, and every knight will rejoice at seeing this."
"When my head falls to the ground, they will raise their swords and shout your name, and the wise king will also realize that your talent is not empty words, and you will surely make Britannia continue to shine."
Vortigern said that Morgan was not fit to be king, and that she was not worthy to be his opponent.
But Ian did not believe this.
In his eyes, no one in Britannia was more suited than Morgan to take the throne.
"Ian, don't you regret it?" Morgan asked again.
"I will never regret it." Ian replied without hesitation, "Because I swore my loyalty to you, so I do not regret it."
"…"
Morgan was silent for a long time.
"I understand, Ian."
"I will chop off your head before my father and bury you in the ground at my feet."
[No one knows about the agreement you made that day.]
[Morgan set off alone with you, saying she would take you to meet King Uther for judgment.]
[No one worried about this, because in their eyes, you were a complete failure under Morgan and could never harm her.]
[Throughout this journey, with no one else involved, you and Morgan remained harmonious like a princess and a knight.]
[You held her horse for her and took care of her along the way.]
[This made you feel as if you had returned to the past.]
At night.
"Princess, here, this is yours."
Ian respectfully handed the roasted fish to Morgan.
After receiving the roasted fish, Morgan asked in surprise: "Ian, can you roast fish?"
"Yes." Ian nodded, "Princess, I was born in a common family, so I naturally know how to handle the fish I catch."
"But——"
Morgan looked at the fish skewered on a branch in her hand, then looked at the fish in Ian's hand.
"Why... is yours so small?"
Morgan sighed, though both were roasted fish, the one in her hand was much larger than the one in Ian's hand.
Facing Morgan's question, Ian only smiled and answered:
"Princess, you are the future ruler of Britannia."
"Everything in this land belongs to you, and I bring it to you as per your need. How could I be foolish enough to ask for it?"
"Allowing me to do this is my great fortune."
"Ian..." Morgan held the roasted fish, curled her legs up, looked at the fire in front of her, and slightly squinted her eyes.
"Do you really believe I can become the ruler of Britannia?"
"Princess, it's not about believing, it's about being certain."
Ian waved away the flying insects gathering around the fire near Morgan.
"You are the future master of Britannia, the king recognized by this land. All knights will feel honored to be in your presence."
"But you are the only one who says such things to me..."
The fire cast a sea of red in Morgan's eyes, tinting her eye sockets slightly white.
She seemed a bit tired.
"There will always be someone to be the first, and there will never be a last."
Ian expressed his understanding this way, with light in his eyes, as though he was confiding in a future that had already become a reality.
"I'm just fortunate that the princess has recognized me as the first. My death will bring you more loyal followers."
"But all of that—"
Morgan turned her head to look at Ian beside her, and saw a face that still trusted her absolutely, but one now full of scars left by stones.
Morgan realized that this seemed to be the first time she noticed these things—Ian truly trusted her with his life, and because of that, had endured countless mistreatments and misunderstandings.
All the words she wanted to say were swallowed.
Instead, an order was given:
"When you keep watch for me tonight, sit closer to the fire. No one will know."
"Yes, Princess."
[The fighting force of the Britannian army does not extend too far.]
[Your journey with Morgan soon comes to an end.]
[She takes you to meet King Uther to prove your achievements.]
[Morgan says she will execute you in front of all the knights to boost the army's morale.]
[You think this will make King Uther recognize Morgan importance, but he shifts his attention to you.]
[He intends to speak with you privately.]