When Morgana stood still, dumbfounded, he responded, as if he had realized that too.
“No, I didn’t mean already, I was just asking what your plans are.”
It’s funny how he’s done a 180-degree turn from being a frown-faced, patronizing person to a fatherly figure.
Not that I’m happy about it, but it’s kind of funny.
With no intention of cultivating it, Morgana bluffed through the ceremony, since she’d still have to pretend to participate.
“Well, for starters, there’s a tea that can make the blind see, repair a dying liver, and detoxify any poison.”
“There is such a thing?”
Duke Fay’s eyes widened in surprise for a moment.
Of course, he didn’t know such a leaf existed.
If she were to mention it, he would brag about it everywhere.
It was only natural that she would be the center of attention at the succession ceremony.
If she ran away at such a time, Duke Fay’s predicament was understandable.
He managed to keep a straight face, not knowing if he was embarrassed that he had been so openly surprised.
However, he couldn’t quite hide the corners of his mouth twitching in mild anticipation.
“But it’s quite a bit of work to grow, and I’ve been exhausted lately, so…”
“If you need anything, you can always ask. You don’t have to care how heavily the Fay family has been thriving, I’ll get whatever you need.”
It certainly seemed that way. They say a rich man may perish, but three generations may live on.
‘So the Duke of Fay is the third in succession to inherit the dukedom…?’
The wisdom of the ancestors…
Morgana glanced at the Duke of Fay in the mirror, confirming it, then slipped a pair of large sapphire earrings into her ears.
Now that I have a proper appearance, I’d be happy with just about anything. I wonder why the maids worked so hard in Ropan to decorate their master.
With this face, I think they’ve put their souls into it.
At least the hard work pays off. How rewarding.
Morgana held up the sapphire necklace nonchalantly.
“It’s a little tricky to grow, though.”
“What?”
“Well, it’s a herb, after all, and the good ones are hard to find…”
Morgana trailed off as she placed it against her neck and glanced at the Duke of Fay in the mirror.
“So I’m afraid there’s going to be a lot of preparation.”
“Don’t worry, I can get you as much as you need!”
“Really, thank you!”
Morgana smiled brightly. This time, it was a genuine laugh, not a fake one.
There was no need for him to know how to grow such herbs.
The Duke would go berserk when the truth became known, but it didn’t matter.
He won’t be able to catch me anyway, having fled across the border to the palace in Britain.
Let him be as angry as he wants, and if there’s a wanted list, so much the better.
That way, when the time comes for the main plot’s purge, he has something to be furious about.
Family traitor.
Renegade of the House.
This was a title I needed to create now.
It would make escaping a little more difficult, but it was worth the small crisis in the foreseeable future to get through the greater challenge ahead.
‘Expect a lot. I’m going to run away with it all.’ said Morgana inwardly.
‘Morgana and I chatted like father and daughter after I told her about the plan.’ thought Duke Fay.
“Then I’ll send Olivia over to get the ingredients later!”
“Okay. As soon as possible… the deadline is coming up. You know that, right?”
“Of course!”
The Duke of Fay left the room, leaving Morgana to try on each accessory and ribbon before he left.
As soon as he was gone, Olivia’s eyes grew fierce.
“Why does he insist on seeing to it that you do so?”
“He’s impatient.”
Morgana wore rings tightly on all ten fingers, making undulating motions like she was playing a piano.
“A bit much to be wearing ten, wouldn’t you say?”
Soon after, she heard quick footsteps in the hallway.
“Oh, my gosh, he’s coming now!”
“Form up, everyone! Today’s weather is thunder and lightning!”
The servants knew that Fay shared people’s whims from day to day.
What he didn’t know was that they would exchange codes.
It was no exaggeration to say that every salon and boutique in Avalon’s royal capital was lined up for Fay this morning.
There was no way they wouldn’t know.
Morgana was sprawled out on the bed, doing nothing.
Through the window, somewhere in the distance, I heard the sound of glass breaking.
Soon, from someplace, I heard a woman’s scream ‘Aaaah!’ I heard a woman’s scream.
‘Oh, that’s a lovely noise.’
I didn’t have to look.
There was only one person in Fay who would be most upset if she were successful.
Morgause Le Fay.
‘Hmph, hmph.’
With a harsh snort, Morgause knocked over the bookshelf with a violent shove.
Among the powers of the Fay’s, she had an extraordinary talent with aberrant charms, and making heavy objects light was no small feat.
Morgause’s room was a mess, with things all over the place, falling and breaking.
Even the bookshelves fell apart as soon as she yanked them over.
The use of magic during this tantrum only served to get the servants killed.
Morgause turned to the servants and asked sharply once more how badly she felt.
“Is she really going to the succession ceremony? Is that what my father said?”
“Yes, yes…”
“And I, I am to stay at home?”
“That is… the Duke and Lady Morgana will attend together, and then Lady Elaine and Lady Morgause separately…”
“Who’s the ladies of this house!”
The maids cowered in horror at the vicious question.
Morgause’s eyes flashed in response.
“How, how can a bastard introduce herself as a Fay!”
Basically, it meant that the person attending with the head of the household was the most important in the family that day.
The banquet was usually attended by the next head of the household, and occasionally a child who was about to marry was introduced.
The significance of being with the head of the family at the succession ceremony was unmistakable.
And what her father intended.
Morgana was the one who came into the family and claimed everything as if it was rightfully hers.
The fact that she dared to demand money and a mansion to live in, claiming that her mother had told her when she died, was an abomination.
Morgause loved her mother, the former Duchess of Fay.
‘Even though the Duchess of Fay had said that she had given birth to fulfill her noble duty, she was still my mother.’
Even though they were divorced, I hoped we would be reunited someday.
Though I’ve heard rumors that she’s off somewhere now, romancing a harlot.
After all, the Duke of Fay had Morgana’s mother, so it didn’t matter.
‘At least she didn’t have children.’
If that thing sat down, it would surely say that my mother was a disgrace to the family.
Yet she was a noblewoman.
Avalon despises illegitimate children and looks down on those who create them.
If she heard the news, the noble mother would refuse to see Morgause’s face, let alone be reunited.
Healing power. I don’t know what the world thinks of that.
“Even with powers, they’ll find another excuse when the sword is drawn.”
What she couldn’t stand was the fact that he needed Morgana right now.
Duke Fay had come to her last night, urging and pleading.
— ‘I want you to keep Morgana in line until the succession ceremony.’
— ‘What do you mean? Why all of a sudden?’
— ‘We’ve decided to keep her as a distant relative for now, and enlist her later.’
To her annoyance, the new king demanded her.
The new king. The man himself, the one who was young, brilliant, and possessed of the beauty that everyone worshiped, wanted Morgana.
That in itself was irritating.
A king who was destined to be absorbed by Britain anyway. For someone who had so disrespected Fay all these years!
Morgause sulked and buried her face in the covers, unable to control her anger.
‘Why do the people I love drift away, and the people I hate thrive?’
I studied magic so hard, thinking that if I had powers, maybe my mother would come back.
Everything didn’t feel right.
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