"Rei, what are you saying?!"
Morgan leapt to her feet, stepping away from Rei, turning her back to him.
"I order you to take back what you just said!"
But her command did not shake Rei.
He rose as well, stepping forward—right behind her.
"Your Highness, I will take back my words."
"But—"
"Will you truly never consider this possibility?"
"You wept beneath me just now, Your Highness—
So sorrowful, so bitterly…
I swear, it felt as if even the forest itself was mourning alongside you."
"Are you trying to teach me how to act?!"
Morgan spun around, her face frantic with urgency.
"Don't forget—
You are just a pawn I can discard at any time!"
"And yet now, you dare lecture me?"
Rei's expression remained solemn.
"Your Highness, I am indeed a pawn you can cast away whenever you wish."
"But at the same time, I am also your knight—
A knight who admires you above all else."
"I cannot bear to see you suffer."
(TL Note: I saw a flash of Zhongli..)
"I believe you are the one who deserves it all."
"Rei, I forbid you from saying such things!"
Morgan trembled.
He had struck her deepest wound.
"Kneel—kneel down!"
[You knew she was speaking in anger.
Yet still, you obeyed her command.]
[You knelt before her in absolute silence, as still as stone.]
[Seeing you like this, Morgan realized she had once again wounded your unwavering loyalty.]
[She wanted to make amends.]
"Rei, that's not what I meant."
Morgan turned slightly to the side, avoiding his gaze.
"I wasn't trying to… scold you."
But before she could finish, Rei spoke first.
"Your Highness, there is nothing you need to explain to me."
"I am your knight."
"Whatever you command, it is only natural that I obey."
"I hold no grievances."
Rei's absolute selflessness made Morgan feel even more guilt-ridden.
At last, she bent down herself and lifted him back up.
"I'm sorry, Rei."
"I didn't mean to chastise you…
But what you just said—
I simply cannot accept it."
"Then, Your Highness—"
Rei's gaze was sharp and unwavering.
"Can you accept a world where you are denied the throne?"
Rei may not have been the one who understood Morgan best.
But no one knew her pain more than he did.
Lies do not wound people. The truth does.
Morgan's expression twisted into one of distress.
But unlike before, she no longer let herself lash out recklessly.
"Rei… even if I cannot accept it, what does that change?"
"Then we overturn everything."
Rei's voice was resolute.
"You mean to defy my father?"
Rei shook his head.
"Not at all."
"If Britain must have a ruler—
Then why shouldn't it be you?"
"Because my father said I would never be king."
Morgan gazed at her own hands, her expression steeped in sorrow.
"Rei, you should know this better than anyone."
"But even kings can be wrong."
Rei pressed forward.
"Your Highness, can you truly accept that a child you've never even met—
Will stand in your place?"
"But what if she truly is more worthy than I am?"
"Then she will cease to exist."
Rei spoke each word with unwavering certainty.
"And just like that—
There will be no one left more worthy than you."
[Morgan was shaken by your declaration.]
[She studied your face, again and again—
Trying to see if this was nothing more than reckless bravado.]
[But she soon realized—
You meant every single word.]
[And you were utterly, unshakably firm.]
"Rei, do you know what you're saying?"
Morgan's deep blue eyes locked onto the man before her.
"I'm giving you a chance to take back those words."
"If you do it now, I'll pretend I never heard them."
But Rei showed no hesitation.
"I understand completely, Your Highness."
"Since I failed to eliminate Vortigern for you—"
"Then I will at least eliminate those who would stand against you for the throne."
"No matter how underhanded the methods—"
"I will make it happen."
Morgan sucked in a sharp breath.
She knew Rei was not a ruthless man.
Even the knights he was forced to kill while infiltrating Vortigern's ranks—
He could not forget them.
And now… he was saying this all for her sake.
"Rei… do you really have to go this far?"
Morgan touched her own hand, still feeling the remnants of his warmth.
"If you're only saying this because of fleeting desire—"
"Then I will forgive you this once."
"After all, you did waste years of your life because of me."
But Rei shook his head.
"Your Highness."
"Yes, I desire you more than anything."
"I have longed for you, wished for you to fulfill my selfish cravings."
"But beyond that—
I long for your vision.
I want to see the day you take your rightful place over Britain."
Morgan fell silent for a long while.
"Rei…"
"Do you truly believe I have that ability?"
"Even after what my father said to you?"
Rei's voice remained steady.
"Your Highness—"
"If I did not believe in you—"
"Then you and I would not have shared this moment together in this forest."
"Let me think about it," Morgan finally said.
"Rei."
"Come sit with me."
[You and Morgan sat beneath a tree by the lake.]
[You watched her deep in thought, and for the first time, you felt truly moved.]
[You continued to watch, until she turned and warned you to stop staring at her.]
[But despite her words—]
[She did not let go of your hand.]
[You realized—]
[She was afraid.]
[So you gripped her hand tightly, telling her not to be.]
[She did not have an answer for you that night.]
[Unable to sleep, she distracted herself by playing idly with your fingers.]
[Only at dawn did she finally lean against your shoulder and drift into slumber.]
[You did not wake her.]
[You simply stood guard.]
[By noon, Morgan awoke.]
[Seeing you, still watching over her, she granted you another indulgence.]
[And after a moment of passion upon the grass, you both redressed and prepared to depart.]
[You brought her warhorse to her side, tending to her as she mounted.]
[The sound of hooves fell quietly upon the forest path.]
[You reached the edge of the woods, nearing the royal capital.]
But suddenly—
Morgan pulled on her reins, bringing her horse to a halt.
"Rei."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Once we leave this forest—"
Morgan turned to look back, gazing at the tranquil beauty behind her.
"There will be no turning back."
"Are you truly willing to betray my father… for someone like me?"
Rei smiled softly.
"Your Highness—"
"As long as you have made your decision—"
"I will never regret mine."
"Is that so?"
Morgan smirked slightly, turning back toward the path ahead.
"I hope you're not lying to me."
And so, with casual words exchanged between them—
The horses stepped past the forest's threshold.
But behind them—
The once-clear lake had grown murky.
And with it, the silent manifestation of the ambition awakened within Morgan amidst their shared indulgence.