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The knights in the hallway stirred uneasily.
“The High Priestess is a demon? But didn’t she say she was summoned by Lady Coventina?”
“Good heavens… Since when…?”
The shock was so great that some knights clutched their heads.
It was a stark reminder of just how immense the temple’s influence had been across the continent.
‘Well, considering how many people tried to pull Excalibur solely because of an oracle…’
Unlike the knights struggling to process the truth, Aide stood frozen, unable to grasp the situation.
The uneasy atmosphere lingered even as a stretcher carried Tristan away. Perhaps out of consideration for her, a white cloth was draped over Tristan’s body as she was carried out.
Even though she was of common birth, she was still a knight—was that why?
The expressions of the royal knights were grim.
“The Count Ruddle has truly been through the wringer. First his son, then his daughter, and now even his vassal…”
Morgana lifted her head and glanced around the hallway. The shattered corridor windows bore clear signs of deliberate destruction.
Tristan’s hands, resting on the stretcher, were mangled from the glass shards.
‘She called for someone, tried to let Mangeum escape.’
Was this her last shred of conscience?
Even without seeing it, Morgana could guess what Merlin must have whispered to persuade her.
‘He must have promised to spare Isolde.’
Had Tristan really wanted to save Isolde so badly, even at the cost of making an enemy of the royal palace?
‘Even if Lady Isolde were revived, she and Tristan could never be together anyway…’
A strange feeling settled over her.
It was both unsettling and bizarre.
As Morgana stared at the broken window, lost in thought, Kellive approached after finishing his conversation with the knights.
“I’ve sent the knights to search for Mangeum. They’ll find her soon, so you should return to the banquet hall. Or would you rather go back to your room?”
At his considerate question, Morgana smiled and shook her head.
“Hmm, no. I should help look too. Mangeum’s diet is quite peculiar, so they’ll need me.”
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In high society, there’s a saying, ‘If even one person knows a secret, within an hour, the rumor spreads across the entire kingdom.’
By the time Morgana returned to the banquet hall, there was no one left who hadn’t heard the rumors about Merlin.
“Did you hear? Apparently, the temple has fallen into corruption.”
“Then, surely even Count Ruddle couldn’t have…?”
“Wouldn’t that be the case? They say even the knights of his household were killed.”
“It’s hard to believe. The oracles were always accurate, and when the High Priest was born, wasn’t there a pillar of white light rising into the sky?”
“That’s exactly why it’s corruption! Who would’ve thought they’d forsake the gods.”
They were so engrossed in their chatter that they didn’t even notice Morgana’s return.
The temple’s honor had hit rock bottom.
The oracles had never been favorable to Avalon to begin with.
From another perspective, this was an opportunity for Avalon’s nobility to overturn the prophecies. It was as if they had finally found a pretext—they unleashed long-suppressed grievances.
“If the one who speaks for the divine will was the High Priest, then what in the world has the Goddess Coventina been doing…?”
“What has she done? She bestowed Excalibur upon Avalon, didn’t she?”
Unbelievably, at the mention of Excalibur, the vast Great Hall fell into silence.
Only murmurs could be heard in the stillness.
“It’s written in the scriptures… If Excalibur falls into the hands of the unworthy, the Lady of the Lake will reclaim it…”
In an instant, the nobles’ gazes turned toward Morgana.
For some reason, their eyes gleamed brightly. Perhaps it was the chandeliers, but the light was so dazzling that it was impossible to see the banquet hall clearly.
Uncomfortable with the awkward silence, Morgana smiled and gave a light nod.
“Everyone must be quite startled by the commotion?”
At those utterly ordinary, unremarkable words—Waahhh!—the nobles erupted.
“Lady Morgana! The Goddess Coventina has chosen you! Excalibur has returned, just as the scriptures foretold!”
“Only now have we understood its profound meaning!”
Morgana was instantly swarmed by the nobles rushing toward her. She raised both hands to calm them, but the sight of Excalibur in her grip only excited them further, sending them into a frenzy.
“The Heavenly Servant!”
“The Lady of the Lake!”
“Excalibur has returned!”
Woooh!
The wave of cheers left Morgana utterly dazed.
It was as raucous as the triumphant return of knights from war.
They looked ready to hoist her onto their shoulders and parade her around right then and there.
Lancelot, arms crossed, watched the scene as if it were someone else’s affair, even whistling nonchalantly.
Technically, it was someone else’s affair.
“At this rate, Mangeum will get spooked and run away even if she was about to come back!”
Realizing this wouldn’t do, Morgana swiftly raised Excalibur high.
“Everyone, quiet!”
The crowd, which had been roaring moments ago, fell silent at once.
As if displeased with the reaction, Excalibur’s voice prickled with annoyance.
— If they see me, they should be cheering even louder. What’s with this lukewarm response?
Ignoring him, Morgana beamed brightly and called out, “I’m about to search for a little puppy—will you help me?”
“Yes! Just leave it to us!”
Led by the eager reply from Youngsik, servants from each household began gathering one by one.
The noble ladies who had helped search for the puppy during the banquet smiled gently and reassured her.
“Don’t worry. These people have lived in Avalon their entire lives. I’ve ordered them to comb through every nook and cranny.”
“I’m truly grateful for your enthusiastic help.”
Her thanks were sincere.
Yet, despite the sizable search party, there was still no news of Mangeum.
Even Kellive, who had been silently standing guard beside Morgana as she chatted with the ladies, grew restless at the prolonged search and occasionally shot glances at the knights.
“Did she really manage to escape the palace…?”
Just as worry began to take over—Excalibur, who had been sulking in silence as attention shifted away from him, suddenly spoke up in a snappish tone.
— That tiny fur ball’s whining is plain as day. How has no one found her yet?
Mangeum’s cries could be heard?
After quietly finishing her conversation with the noble ladies and stepping back, Morgana retreated to a secluded corner and asked again through ventriloquism.
“You heard Mangeum’s crying? Where?”
—No idea. She was really excited, though? Running around, barking, making a huge fuss.
Excited, of all things?
It was better than her being hurt or scared, but it was still utterly ridiculous.
The royal knights had been mobilized. Servants, attendants, stable hands—everyone was scouring every corner near the palace.
And yet, not a single person had seen even a glimpse of Mangeum’s tail so far.
‘Wait. Come to think of it, Excalibur could communicate with Mangeum, right?’
Morgana gripped Excalibur’s hilt with one hand and flipped it upside down, pointing the blade toward the ground.
With Excalibur now in front of her, she glared at her own reflection in the blade and asked him again.
“Ask Mangeum where she is right now.”
—Call me ‘The most handsome and dashing Excalibur in the world,’ and maybe I’ll consider it.
“The most handsome and dashing Excalibur in the world.”
The words slipped out instantly, drawing a sharp glance from Kellive, who had been standing quietly nearby.
He smiled amiably and asked, “What did you just say, Morgana?”
“Excalibur told me to call him that.”
“…You’re really indulging him?”
His face clearly showed disbelief, but Morgana didn’t care. She could say this kind of thing ten thousand times if needed.
Business was business, after all.
Even if you hated it, you had to follow the manual and say things like, ‘We love you, valued customer.’
As expected, Excalibur was very satisfied.
—Hey, Mangeum Le Fay. Where are you?
She swallowed hard and waited for Excalibur’s answer.
—Hmmm…
After a long, drawn-out hum, Excalibur replied brightly.
—No answer.
“Ugh, seriously?”
Morgana’s expression darkened, and Excalibur whined indignantly.
—You just called me handsome and dashing, and now you’re making that face, Master? You’re scratching my heart.
“If you’re such a cool Excal, you should guide me to where Mangeum is. How can you just ask once and give up?”
—Hmp!
“If we can hear the sound, it must be nearby, right?”
No sooner had she brushed aside her worries than Excalibur suddenly surged forward.
Morgana, who had been gripping the sword’s hilt, was dragged along helplessly.
“Ah, then follow me! I’ll follow the sound. You just stay behind me!”
‘Good grief.’
Morgana pressed a hand to her mouth at his enthusiastic display. If he had been this proactive from the start, she wouldn’t have had to complain.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, she clenched her free fist and cheered him on.
“Excal, you’re amazing! The best! You’re doing great!”
Encouraged by her praise, his voice grew even more determined.
—Alright, let’s go!
As she was pulled along by Excalibur, Kellive grabbed her arm from behind.
“Morgana, where are you going?”
“To find Mangeum.”
She blinked as if it were obvious, and he gave a faint, reluctant smile.
“I was right here beside you. Let me come too.”
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