There’s no such thing as money without a price.
Just as in her past life, her mother had openly demanded money in exchange for love. When you give something, you always want something in return.
That’s why the relationship between Tristan and Isolde was so fascinating.
That inexplicable bond where they risked their lives for each other, without any exchange.
Morgana stared at the tree bursting with gold ingots, her gaze so full of longing it seemed to drip with regret, and muttered,
“With all these money trees lying around, why hasn’t anyone taken any until now?”
She touched the golden leaves with her hands, stroked them.
The shimmering leaves, glowing as if lit from within, were utterly dazzling. From between her tightly pressed lips, a low, pained groan escaped.
Excalibur, unable to bear seeing Morgana tremble like that, let out a scoff.
— If you want it that badly, just take one! You’re blinking so hard you can’t even pretend otherwise.
“No. I can resist. I can do it!”
With a snap, Morgana turned her head decisively, her face twisted in misery as she forced herself to walk away.
If she stayed any longer, she might really sneak one away, so she deliberately focused elsewhere.
Morgana shouted toward the forest brimming with gold.
“Kellive, where are you?!”
The forest remained thick with fog, except where Excalibur had cut through. His voice was nowhere to be heard.
💫
Kellive stared at the empty space before the bridge.
The spot where Morgana had vanished. He lightly rubbed his fingertips over his eyelids and murmured.
“I made it gold to match, hoping she’d think of me when she used the magic stone.”
Yet here he was, thinking of her because of the stone. With a faint smile, he opened a portal right in front of him.
“Seems like it was a failed gift.”
After all, unless it was real gold, could it ever truly catch her attention?
Kellive stepped slowly into the portal.
At the bridge, he looked around after crossing to the other side.
The thick fog obscured his view. Not even a trace of presence could be felt.
“Morgana, can you hear me?”
Only his voice echoed through the impenetrable haze.
They had clearly crossed to the same place.
Instead of calling out again, Kellive silently reached out a hand.
A magic circle unfolded around his palm, swiftly drawing in the fog.
Yet, no matter how much the fog was absorbed, it seemed endless, as if continuously replenished, leaving not a single speck of change in the surroundings.
“This won’t get us anywhere.”
Just as he withdrew the magic circle—
A familiar voice called out to him from ahead.
“Kellive, why are you so late?”
In an instant, the fog parted, and Morgana appeared before him. With a radiant smile, she approached.
“The fog is too heavy. At this rate, I might lose you without even realizing it.”
Giggling, she stretched out an empty hand.
“Want to hold hands?”
Her innocent eyes gazed up at him expectantly.
“…Hah.”
Kellive stared quietly for a moment before letting out a faint laugh.
Instead of taking her hand, he brushed his own face with his palm.
“Was I… ever like this?”
At his muttered words, Morgana tilted her head. Her violet eyes locked onto his face, unrelenting.
“What’s wrong? Are you hurt? The mountain air isn’t agreeing with you, is it? Should we go back?”
The rapid-fire questions made the corner of Kellive’s mouth twitch.
With a bitter smile, he replied, “Morgana, you wouldn’t ask to hold my hand. Not until I offered to guide you. You’re the type who insists on doing things alone.”
It was almost irritating.
Something as simple as this could easily be done out of goodwill, yet she refused to accept anything from him without reason—as if bound by some compulsion.
Before him, the perfectly identical Morgana tilted her head in confusion. Her expression made something deep within his core boil over.
It was the kind of look that wore him down, sometimes leaving him no room for composure.
With that very expression, Morgana asked again, “What do you mean?”
“You’re not Morgana. An illusion, are you?”
Kellive smirked as he shot back the question.
This was no ordinary mist. The energy surrounding them was of a different kind from magic.
If he had to define it, it was closer to divine power.
The figure resembling Morgana smiled nonchalantly and took Kellive’s hand.
A cold energy lingered against his palm, always tightly wrapped in black gloves.
“Don’t be so guarded. I won’t hurt you, Kellive.”
“…”
For a moment, his throat tightened. While he failed to respond, the figure of Morgana playfully pursed her lips.
“Even if you’re hurt, even if you show weakness, I won’t look down on you.”
“Enough.”
“So it’s okay to hold your hand. You wouldn’t push me away just because you’re wounded, right?”
Kellive’s forced smile stiffened.
The figure of Morgana raised her hand and brushed it across his face. Her crescent-shaped eyes and clear gaze, free of prejudice, looked up at him—so much like her.
He couldn’t let himself be fooled.
Kellive stretched one arm to the side.
A rift opened in his palm, and with a swift motion, Tyrving materialized in his grip.
“I can just kill it.”
He clenched the hilt of the sword tightly. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to strike.
Because it resembled Morgana. And— “Kellive, it’s okay.”
Because it was looking at him—just him. Not at magic, not at the King of Avalon, not as a means of escape.
Just Kellive Avalon, as he was.
He had to cut it down.
He had to…
A creaking sound came from his gloved hand gripping Tyrving, the leather crumpling from friction.
He bit down hard on the soft flesh inside his mouth.
It was too sweet—too hard to break free from.
The moment she saw Morgana looking at him with that ridiculous expression, he couldn’t help but realize.
He let out a hollow laugh. With no one around, it was the first time her bare face was visible.
Kellive smiled, his brow furrowing slightly.
“I guess I can’t do without Morgana.”
Far more than he’d thought, he had been yearning for her. The moment this realization struck, a loud voice boomed from behind.
“Kellive!”
Whoosh—the mist cleared.
Things that wouldn’t easily vanish when he dispelled them with magic now scattered away as if by a miracle.
At the same time, a strong force gripped his arm at lightning speed.
A warm glow, like an embrace, spread from her hand through his entire body. When Kellive turned around, wide-eyed, Morgana was staring at him in shock.
“Are you okay? Why do you look so out of it?”
It was the real Morgana. That warm kindness, laced with concern, even as she refused to give him a corner of her heart.
This was the Morgana he knew.
“Kellive? What’s wrong? Are you cursed or something?”
Flustered, she circled around him.
As she meticulously checked his hands, arms, and face for injuries, Kellive suddenly yanked her arm.
A startled breath hitched in her throat—then, in an instant, Kellive pulled her into his embrace. Wrapped in his arms, her small frame stiffened.
“Kellive? What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere? If you got injured looking for Mangeum, I can heal you.”
Kellive’s demeanor was unlike his usual self.
Morgana, who had known him all this time, could tell immediately.
‘This doesn’t feel like a curse…’
With his head slightly bowed over her, she could hardly move.
Unsure what to do, she clutched at his clothes—then Kellive buried his face against the nape of her neck.
Soon, she felt the faint movement of his lips against her shoulder.
“Just… stay like this for a moment.”
A soft voice whispered to her, tickling her senses.
“Just stay like this for a little while. Then I’ll be able to get up soon.”
“You’re really not hurt, are you? I thought there was nothing dangerous over there, just money trees…”
“It was dangerous.”
Kellive let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh. He had expected this.
Something had felt off from the moment he picked up his sword.
Morgana, gripping his crumpled sleeve, flailed in panic.
“What’s dangerous? Where? What is it?!”
“You’re the most dangerous one, Morgana.”
Kellive lifted his head again, looking down at her with his usual gentle smile. But his gaze was deeper than usual.
For some reason, the way he stared straight at her made her feel awkward.
So awkward that she forgot what he had just said.
Flustered, Morgana stuck out her lips slightly and rubbed the back of her neck.
“Honestly, why do you suddenly act so normal again?”
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