The news the knight delivered felt like a lie.

 

“…Even though the Marquis of Wright made all those excuses and kept hounding them, the Elder Council still decided that Lady Morgana is the successor to the throne!”

 

Arthur froze solid, forgetting even to blink.

 

He had thought that once he became a knight, he could proudly stand by her side.

 

He had thought that once he received a title, he would finally meet the conditions to be by Morgana’s side.

 

But every time, she soared to an even higher place.

 

A contradictory emotion, joy mixed with a suffocating feeling, wrapped around Arthur’s entire body.

 

He grabbed the shoulder of the excitedly chattering knight with a strong grip.

 

“Where are the commanders right now?”

 

“Huh? The Elder Council just ended not long ago, so they’re probably giving their report to Lady Morgana and staying in the main building?”

 

Before the knight could even finish speaking, Arthur dashed across the training ground. He needed to confirm the truth.

 

He couldn’t even remember how long it had been since he had run hard enough to be out of breath.

 

His chest felt tight and suffocating from the frustration.

 

When Arthur reached the front of the main building, the knights guarding the entrance asked stiffly.

 

“What is your reason for visiting?”

 

“That is…”

 

“Do you have a prior appointment?”

 

Arthur moved his lips but soon closed his mouth.

 

The main building was where the royal family resided, so except for those with permission, no one could come and go freely.

 

He had no appointment, and he was merely a knight of commoner origin who couldn’t even voice an opinion in the Elder Council.

 

He looked up at the grand, beautiful, and ornate main building filled with sculptures.

 

Morgana was up there in that high place.

 

This distance was the difference between him and Morgana.

 

‘Just… even if it’s only conveying my true feelings.’

 

He wanted to tell her before she rose even higher.

 

Unable to enter the main building, he had no choice but to wait at the entrance for someone to come out.

 

Standing silently at the entrance, he stared at the building with a hardened expression for what felt like forever.

 

“He’s persistent…”

 

Even the knights guarding the entrance shook their heads at how he didn’t turn his gaze even once.

 

After a long while, Caradoc finally came out of the main building.

 

Arthur took a step forward to make his presence known.

 

“Commander.”

 

“Oh, it’s Arthur. What brings you here?”

 

“Are you coming back from seeing Lady Morgana?”

 

“That’s right. Actually, I had something to tell you as well. About the restoration of the Pendragon family. It will probably be approved within this week……”

 

“I wish to see Lady Morgana.”

 

Arthur stated his true purpose before Caradoc could finish speaking.

 

Surprised, Caradoc simply looked down at him quietly instead of answering.

 

Arthur pleaded earnestly once more.

 

“Could you please give me just one chance for a private meeting?”

 

“Arthur…”

 

Caradoc let out a sigh and lightly placed his large, thick hand on Arthur’s shoulder.

 

“A private meeting is fine, but I think you should know this.”

 

He looked around and then went back into the main building.

 

Following the glance that seemed to say “follow me,” Arthur trailed behind him.

 

Standing at the rather quiet entrance of the main building, Caradoc confirmed no one was around before explaining in a low voice.

 

“Do you know who Lady Morgana’s mother is?”

 

His heartbeat pounded violently in his ears from the anticipation of possibly meeting Morgana.

 

It was closer to anxiety than expectation.

 

Feeling an inexplicable restlessness, Arthur repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists as he answered.

 

“I vaguely remember hearing she was a commoner of Brittania.”

 

“Correct. Then do you know how Duke Uther fell out of His Majesty Vortigern’s favor?”

 

“I know he submitted a petition claiming someone was casting curses within the capital.”

 

“It was Lady Morgana’s mother who made that report.”

 

“…”

 

His heart sank with a thud.

 

Caradoc rubbed his chin awkwardly and continued with some embarrassment.

 

“I just heard this in the office as well. Since you will soon become the head of the Pendragon family, I’m telling you in advance.”

 

He knew the process his respected father had gone through to submit the petition. He had heard early on that a commoner had died during that process.

 

It was true that he had felt a faint sense of guilt toward the woman whose face he didn’t even know.

 

But…

 

“Does Lady Morgana… also know?”

 

He had never even imagined it was related to her.

 

Caradoc patted Arthur’s frozen shoulder again comfortingly.

 

“You know better than anyone that Lady Morgana isn’t the type to resent you over something like that.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t worry. Lady Morgana even said she would appoint you as her escort knight on the day of the succession ceremony.”

 

After giving those supposedly comforting words, Caradoc left the main building again.

 

“Sir Lancelot will guide you soon. Things are going to get busy for a while.”

 

Completely unaware, he gave a warm, reassuring smile and left the main building confidently.

 

Arthur, still frozen in place, could not move a single step. 

 

He slowly leaned his head against the wall as if collapsing. Because he had clenched his fist so tightly, his nails dug into his palm, leaving red marks, but he didn’t feel the pain.

 

“Ha…”

 

Even after letting out a self-mocking sigh, the tightness in his chest did not ease.

 

It was hard to breathe. He kept his mouth tightly shut and took deep, trembling breaths.

 

“From the beginning…”

 

He had been someone who could never stand by her side from the very beginning. He knew he had dreamed of reaching high places, but he hadn’t realized he couldn’t even dare to approach.

 

Bang!

 

Arthur slammed his clenched fist hard against the wall.

 

Still unable to relieve the frustration inside, he undid the buttons tightly fastened around the chest of his apprentice knight uniform.

 

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the fabric at his chest, but the suffocating pressure remained.

 

“Haha… ha…”

 

Lord Actor had always said he respected his father.

 

That was why Arthur naturally missed Uther as well.

 

Even as a very young child, he could not hate Uther, who had warmly and sincerely worried for him and assigned him knights.

 

But now, just a little.

 

“I resent you, Father.”

 

He hated him.

 

💫

 

“Huff, huff.”

 

Harsh breathing echoed through the passageway leading to the underground prison where deep darkness had settled.

 

Occasional painful groans sounded as if he was clenching his teeth.

 

Mordred pressed hard on his wounded neck with his small hand. His body was already soaked with flowing blood. His pale, young face was filled with venom.

 

“This damn holy sword…”

 

Holy relics were completely incompatible with him, a demon.

 

Especially the holy sword with the strongest divine power, even a graze caused severe internal injuries.

 

It was fortunate that this was his long-prepared stronghold; otherwise, he might have been annihilated on the spot.

 

He walked laboriously down the narrow passage, supporting himself against the wall as if crawling.

 

Sensing a presence, two holy knights frowned, trying to see through the darkness.

 

“Who goes there!”

 

Before they could draw their swords, dark smoke tightened around their necks.

 

“Agh, urgh…!”

 

Unable to breathe, they flailed as their swords clattered to the floor. Before long, no sound came from the two holy knights.

 

Thud! 

 

Like puppets with cut strings, the holy knights collapsed to the floor, their shadows completely gone.

 

The black smoke absorbed their shadows as if swallowing them.

 

At the same time, a faint color returned to Mordred’s face, which had been struggling to walk just moments ago.

 

“Ha, not enough.”

 

Still pressing hard on his neck where blood kept dripping, he looked around.

 

“Where are you, you damn thing?”

 

Bang! 

 

The black smoke opened a nearby door, but it was empty. The next door and the one after that were the same.

 

Finally, when he reached the end, a grotesque laugh leaked through the crack of the door.

 

“Pfft, I knew it would turn out like this.”

 

At the mocking voice, Mordred’s eyes flashed.

 

“So you were here, Merlin.”

 

Black smoke seeped through the tightly closed iron door as if it were infiltrating.

 

Inside the solitary cell, small sparks crackled, making Mordred frown.

 

“How tiresome. There’s a holy relic here, too.”

 

Coughing up blood, the tightly locked solitary cell door opened with a clang.

 

Inside, the emaciated Merlin was curled up in the corner, laughing.

 

“You actually returned the body to Excalibur after separating them. I thought you would die. How disappointing.”

 

“Shut up. Hand over the souls you’ve collected.”

 

“Then take me with you to where the Holy Grail is.”

 

The laughter completely vanished from Merlin’s face as her hollow eyes rolled and she tilted her head.

 

“Then I’ll give you the collected souls.”

 

Mordred grimaced fiercely and glared at her. Wiping the blood from his mouth with his arm, he ground his teeth and answered.

 

“Arrogant half-breed.”

 

“Thank you for the deal.”

 

Merlin crawled out of the solitary cell.