[Once again, you have watered the princess's garden.]
[But she signaled that it was far from enough.]
[Your whispered goodnights to each other were spoken in utter defeat.]
[Together, you spent a wonderful night.]
[The next day arrived.]
[Morgan, rarely, woke up before you.]
[But you knew that her usual habit of sleeping in was simply because she wanted to hear your morning greeting first.]
[However, this time, you were curious to see what she would do upon waking first.]
[You chose to feign sleep.]
Morgan sat up and looked at Rei, who was still "fast asleep" beside her.
Her deep blue eyes shimmered with gentle warmth.
"Rei?" she called out tentatively.
Naturally, a person pretending to be asleep wouldn't respond.
Morgan didn't press further.
She reached out, her fingertips brushing across his weathered face, her expression touched with emotion.
Her delicate, soft fingers moved slowly over his old scars, as if she were a devout pilgrim paying reverence to sacred ground.
"It must have hurt when you got these scars… what a reckless fool."
"What kind of knight throws his life away so thoughtlessly…"
Her words were full of disdain, yet her touch only grew gentler, as if trying to erase the wounds from his face with just her fingertips.
"Because there is someone as resolute as you, Princess, there must also be a knight as reckless as me."
"This is fate."
Rei turned his head to look at Morgan, who sat beside him.
"Good morning, Princess."
"..."
The tender hand that had just been caressing his face suddenly twisted his cheek in punishment.
"Rei, you were pretending to be asleep, weren't you?"
"Ah… as expected, I can't deceive your sharp eyes, Princess."
"Of course not—you're mine. My pawn. How could any of your actions escape my notice?"
Morgan pinched Rei's cheeks harder and kneaded them as a form of punishment.
"I'll let you off today."
"Get up now—I have something to show you."
[Though you found Morgan's secrecy a little suspicious, you followed her orders without question.]
[You dressed yourself in casual attire and stood before the mirror, assisting her in putting on her opulent robe as she remained bare before you.]
[She twirled in front of the mirror and asked if she looked beautiful.]
[After receiving your affirmation, she was finally satisfied and ended the ritual.]
[She took your hand and led you out of the chamber where you had spent countless passionate nights.]
[Hand in hand, your display of affection became the center of attention within the palace halls.]
Rei didn't care whether the gazes cast upon them were envious or resentful.
After all, even if no one was watching, he knew with unwavering certainty that he would always stand by Morgan's side.
"Princess, where are we going?"
Instead of answering, Morgan posed a question of her own.
"Rei, before you fell asleep last night, you told me that Father has been completely defeated, correct?"
"…Yes."
Rei carefully chose his tone.
He understood Morgan's deep desire for the throne—so Uther's abdication was a necessary step in her ascension.
But with abdication came death.
Rei couldn't be sure whether Morgan would feel sorrow over this.
The sight of her weeping by the lake once had been painful enough—he had no desire to witness it a second time.
[However, the situation wasn't as complicated as you thought.]
[Morgan was far more decisive than you had imagined.]
[Upon confirming the news, rather than appearing mournful, she seemed almost relieved.]
It was hardly surprising.
A woman who had dedicated her life to seizing the throne could hardly be expected to hold deep reverence for the king.
Especially when that king had once exiled her from Camelot.
"Rei, this means we'll soon be welcoming the retreating soldiers from the front lines, correct?"
"Yes."
Rei glanced around cautiously before lowering his voice.
"Princess, I already dealt with a group of them on the way back."
"I know."
Morgan tightened her grip on Rei's hand, her expression as cold and composed as ever, as if he had merely commented on the beauty of the morning sun.
"I can still smell the blood on your sword."
"But Rei, you don't have to handle such matters anymore."
"I'll use magic to correct their memories instead."
"I understand, Princess."
Rei was well aware of one undeniable truth.
His fate and Morgan's had become irrevocably intertwined—just like their bodies in the dead of night.
And this was something that would never change.
[Morgan did not stop after giving her explanation.]
[She held your hand and led you deeper into the royal court.]
[The number of people around you dwindled, and the atmosphere grew increasingly quiet.]
[The last time you felt this sense of seclusion was when you and Morgan committed blasphemy upon the throne.]
[You realized that wherever she was taking you next must hold a significance equal to that of the throne itself.]
"We're almost there."
Morgan, walking ahead, paused momentarily.
She reached out and subtly adjusted the angle of a particular book on a nearby shelf.
With a soft rumble, the bookshelf split apart, revealing a hidden passage dimly illuminated by candlelight.
Morgan tightened her grip on Rei's hand and stepped inside.
At the end of the passage lay a chamber filled with an assortment of strange and mysterious objects.
"Rei."
Morgan gazed at the room before her, her expression unusually enraptured.
"Do you remember when I asked you what name you would like for a child?"
"Of course, Princess." Rei smiled slightly. "You told me you liked the name Gawain. And I told you I liked it as well."
"Yes."
Morgan took Rei's hand and placed it against her abdomen.
"Then do you also remember how many times you've released your desires here?"
"More times than I can count, Princess. Your body enthralls me so much that I can no longer keep track of such things."
"It doesn't matter." Morgan smiled coolly. "Because you will continue to do so."
"In the acts that bring me pleasure, you never fail to satisfy me."
"And so—"
Morgan looked directly into Rei's eyes.
"You will forever be under my control."
"Soon, we will have a child named Gawain."
"He will call you Father and me Mother."
"He will inherit formidable strength under my magical blessings and display the prowess of a knight under your swordsmanship."
"His blade will be wielded for our cause until the day a new king of Britain arises."
"Rei, I have never loved you, but I command you to accept all of this unconditionally."
Hearing her decree, Rei gently kissed Morgan's hand.
"It is my greatest honor, Princess."