"I understand, Your Highness."
Rei remained as calm as ever, as if Morgan's command were no different from her simply asking how his day had been.
This, however, displeased Morgan.
"Hah, Rei, is that all the reaction you have?"
"Does marrying me truly seem like such a trivial matter to you?"
"Your Highness, my feelings are far from indifferent."
Rei expertly maneuvered the reins, ensuring that neither of them felt the slightest jolt as the horse moved forward.
"I simply cannot find the words to properly describe them."
"And how do you intend to prove that?"
Morgan was relentless.
"I have no way of knowing what truly lies in your heart."
"Your Highness, I cannot prove it."
Rei tightened his embrace around Morgan.
"But I can remain by your side."
"So, in the days to come, I will show you—little by little."
Hearing this, a flicker of satisfaction crossed Morgan's face, but it quickly faded back into composure.
"Rei, you should know—I am not marrying you out of love."
"I understand, Your Highness."
Rei responded with the same unwavering devotion as always.
"I am your possession, a piece on your board, a knight sworn to serve you."
"But even so—this is my greatest honor."
"Are you not the least bit disheartened?" Morgan murmured.
"You are merely my plaything."
"Not in the slightest, Your Highness. Your decisions have always been my guiding path forward."
[Morgan did not reply.]
[But you could feel her leaning just a little closer against you.] [The wheat fields, born of Morgan's enchanted seeds, swayed with the wind, golden grains drifting like soft rain.]
[As they scattered into the breeze, Morgan's voice broke the silence once more.]
"Rei, have you never experienced regret?"
Morgan gazed at the bountiful fields before her as she asked.
"I have."
"Then tell me—when?"
"When you wished to hear my 'good morning,' yet I left before you awoke. To this day, it remains my greatest regret."
"And besides that?"
"Failing to kill Vortigern for you."
"Other than that."
"Hmm… failing to locate the hidden heir."
"…Aren't all of these my regrets?" Morgan suddenly realized.
"Yes. Because they are yours, they are also mine."
"…Hah."
Morgan nudged Rei's side lightly with her elbow.
"Rei, a man like you deserves to be used by me for a lifetime."
"And I would gladly accept it, Your Highness."
"You're such a fool."
Though she scoffed, Morgan's hand found its way over Rei's.
"Without me, who knows how many women would deceive you and break your heart?"
[The two of you held the reins together.]
[It was a display of undeniable intimacy—anyone who saw it would immediately recognize the extraordinary bond you shared.]
[Of course, this remained true only if there was someone to witness it.]
[For now, you were alone.]
[This was your moment—just the two of you.]
[Morgan's warhorse strode forward, carrying you both toward the farthest edge of the wheat fields.]
"Stop here, Rei." Morgan commanded.
"I wish to step down and take a look."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
Rei dismounted first, then assisted Morgan down with practiced ease.
She descended with effortless grace, landing elegantly upon the dirt path between the fields.
"Rei, take me to the best-growing section of the fields."
"Understood, Your Highness."
At Morgan's request, Rei took her hand and led her to the most flourishing patch of wheat.
This was the most fertile land, blessed with the richest soil and the most abundant water source.
Compared to the other fields, even an untrained eye could recognize its superiority.
Morgan stepped forward.
She plucked a stalk of wheat, examining it carefully before selecting a few grains from the head.
"Rei, come here."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Open your mouth."
"Ah—"
Morgan pressed her fingers, still dusted with the wheat grains, against Rei's tongue.
"Rei, eat them."
Rei nodded and closed his lips around her delicate fingers.
But Morgan, with playful intent, lingered—her fingertips teasing against his lips, stirring gently within his mouth before she withdrew them with an amused, satisfied expression.
"How does the wheat taste?"
"…A little bitter."
"Anything else?"
"…Dry."
Morgan's delicate brows furrowed—never a good sign.
"Rei, the situation is more troublesome than I expected."
"My magic alone may not be enough to reverse the land's decline."
"This is not your fault, Your Highness."
Rei took the wheat stalk from Morgan's hand and sampled a bit more.
He smiled and said:
"And yet, Your Highness, there are still grains among them that are sweet and full."
"Noticing flaws is important, but please do not forget the beauty that has blossomed because of you."
"Your magic has been a great blessing to us. I hope you won't let this trouble you."
Morgan let out a quiet scoff.
"Hah. Rei, are you saying this just to keep me from feeling sad?"
"Your Highness, didn't you order me to marry you so I wouldn't have to suffer at the hands of wicked women?" Rei replied with unwavering deference. "It seems our intentions are the same."
"Rei, you do know how to turn things around on me, don't you?"
Morgan turned toward him, her fingers—still dusted with wheat—hooking beneath his chin.
"But tell me, are you not afraid that I might be one of those wicked women?"
"I am not." Rei answered without hesitation.
"If you were truly a wicked woman, Your Highness, I imagine I would have been long dead and buried."
"Even if we consider the possibility that you are a so-called 'wicked woman'… the fact that you've spent so much time on me would only prove that your ability in that regard is somewhat lacking."
"Rei." Morgan's eyes locked onto him. "Are you implying that I have no charm?"
"I apologize, Your Highness. That was not my intention."
"No, that was your intention." Morgan crossed her arms.
"I'm upset now."
"I shall punish you."
"You are to serve as my horse attendant for the entire day."
Though they both had far more pressing matters at hand, Rei knew this was an unspoken excuse for a moment of respite—one he had no reason to refuse.
And he understood that Morgan felt the same way.
Even if, by nightfall, neither of them would have a good explanation for where this day had gone…
What did it matter?
"As you command, Your Highness."
"Mm. Mount up."
[You and Morgan returned to horseback.]
[There was no destination, yet neither of you felt the need to address it.]
[You knew that today, there would be many pleasant discussions—of weddings, of the future.]
[What you did not know was that tonight, the two of you would stumble upon a secret.]