“Father has power too. Something like a curse…”

 

“It wasn’t complete power, was it? That’s why he was cast out by Her Majesty of Avalon as well.”

 

Barton simply refuted Elaine’s claim.

 

Step, step… 

 

He approached slowly and looked at the two sisters, his lips curving into a casual smile.

 

“I heard that Lady Morgana is coming to Avalon anyway. Why don’t you go and ask her?”

 

“You’re telling us to go bow our heads to Morgana?”

 

Morgause jumped up with a stunned expression, horrified. But Barton shrugged and answered as if teasing them.

 

“It’s certain for now, isn’t it? The story of her breaking curses is famous, and we all know she has power.”

 

“You’re crazy. Asking her for help? I’d rather die.”

 

“It won’t be you who dies, my lady. It will be the Duke.”

 

The meaning behind his calm words was chilling.

 

Contrary to what he said, Barton shook his head as if regretful.

 

“I stayed in the family because it was somewhat entertaining. If the Duke passes away, I’ll have no choice but to leave as well.”

 

“You’ve served the Fay family for generations, where do you think you’re going!”

 

“Isn’t it fair to say that the true successor to the Fay family is now Lady Morgana, who has become King of Britain?”

 

Morgause clenched her fists so tightly they trembled because she had nothing to say.

 

He wasn’t wrong.

 

Unlike Duke Fay, who had faint power, the two sisters had none at all.

 

The title of the Lake Fairy’s family felt utterly hollow. Without Duke Fay, the family had no path but gradual decline.

 

The new King of Avalon was already close to Morgana.

 

The family had maintained its position because of its close ties to the royal family, but now that true power had appeared, it had long since become a house with nothing left to expect.

 

Barton smiled as if he had finished saying what he needed to.

 

“This is advice from your steward. Think about it carefully, my ladies.”

 

The bodies of the two sisters, who had only ever looked down from above their entire lives, trembled finely with humiliation.

 

💫

 

“Then let’s prepare at the Avalon royal palace first and then depart.”

 

Morgana, who had changed out of the cumbersome succession ceremony attire into a simple dress, picked up her robe and stood up from the sofa.

 

Once they decided to go together, everything after that went smoothly.

 

Knock, knock. 

 

Along with a knock on the reception room door, Olivia’s voice rang out.

 

“Lady Nimue has ar-arrived.”

 

Behind her voice came the overlapping sound of Mangeum squabbling with him.

 

“King!”

 

“What, kid? You’re noisy.”

 

“King king! King!”

 

“Ah, I don’t want to go with this guy.”

 

She had expected Nimue’s grumbling reaction, but for some reason, Olivia’s response seemed very strange.

 

Morgana looked at Kellive, who was rising with her, and ordered,

 

“Come in.”

 

“Lady Morgana, that is…”

 

With Olivia’s troubled voice, the door opened, and Mangeum came running toward Morgana with a pitter-patter.

 

She caught the leaping Mangeum in her arms and lifted her head. Behind Nimue, familiar water-colored eyes clearly appeared.

 

Nimue shrugged as if he had done nothing wrong and subtly stepped aside.

 

At the same time, Arthur’s firm voice earnestly requested,

 

“Please take me with you as well.”

 

Had he heard the news about going to Mount Badon?

 

Morgana glanced sideways at Nimue, who was innocently whistling and pretending not to know.

 

‘So you told him.’

 

Arthur entered the reception room with a stiff expression and repeated the same words.

 

“Please take me with you.”

 

“Um, Arthur, do you know where we’re going?”

 

He answered without the slightest hesitation.

 

“I don’t know. But I know you plan to go to Avalon.”

 

Only then did Nimue shout shamelessly as if to prove a point.

 

“See? I didn’t tell him everything.”

 

Morgana set Mangeum down on the sofa and answered Arthur.

 

“Britain also needs trustworthy people. So, Arthur, please stay and protect the royal castle.”

 

“I was appointed as Your Majesty’s escort. Why are you telling me to stay in the palace?”

 

“Because you are also a knight of Britain.”

 

Morgana, who had put on the robe she was holding, looked at him straight and continued.

 

“Mordred went to Avalon, but he might try to circle back to Britain while I’m gone.”

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

“It’s not that I’m leaving Arthur behind. I’m entrusting you because I trust you.”

 

His lips tightened as if he couldn’t accept it. His gaze that briefly brushed past Morgana’s shoulder seemed directed at Kellive behind her.

 

But he didn’t press further.

 

When she turned her head, Kellive had already unfolded a magic circle like a door in the air, creating a white wormhole.

 

Beyond the wormhole, which was slightly larger than Kellive’s height, the interior of Avalon’s royal palace was clearly visible.

 

“Ready, Morgana.”

 

At Kellive’s signal, Nimue walked forward confidently, passed through the wormhole first, and grumbled.

 

“Humans are always the problem. We could just whoosh and go, but instead we have to do this complicated magic travel.”

 

Raves and Gawain followed after him. Kellive then stepped forward and extended his hand.

 

Just before taking his escorting hand…

 

Arthur asked,

 

“Will you come back?”

 

She couldn’t understand why he was acting as if she might not return once she left.

 

Morgana, holding Mangeum in one arm, took Kellive’s hand, passed through the wormhole, and smiled brightly.

 

“Of course. I’ll be back soon, Arthur.”

 

With her words, the open wormhole closed.

 

Instead of the reception room where Arthur had just been, the empty reception room of Avalon reminded them they were in a different place.

 

They had only taken one step, yet the location had changed to Avalon’s royal palace.

 

Thud… 

 

Nimue, who had sat down on the sofa first with an arrogant air, asked haughtily as if annoyed,

 

“So, why did we come to the Avalon royal palace instead of going straight to Mount Badon?”

 

Morgana was startled by his insolent behavior, but Nimue simply looked at her blankly and asked,

 

“Why is your expression like that? I am the great Excalibur. Are you saying I should use honorifics with mere humans?”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

There was no further explanation, but Kellive calmly accepted his rudeness. His adaptability was remarkable.

 

Kellive smiled brightly and answered kindly.

 

“We need some preparations regarding the Holy Grail, just in case.”

 

“Oh? There’s a human who knows about the Holy Grail that even I, the great Excalibur, don’t know about?”

 

Curiosity flickered in Nimue’s previously dismissive eyes. Kellive nodded at Raves.

 

Raves, who had been standing there blankly, not understanding, was tapped on the shoulder. He clutched his forehead with a refined, seemingly dizzy face and left the reception room.

 

“Sigh. I have to go make another ridiculous request to the Magic Tower. Such is my fate.”

 

As he staggered out, Kellive added kindly,

 

“Just get them to enter the palace. Use every excuse you can think of.”

 

“Yeees…”

 

With Raves’s fed-up reply, the door closed.

 

Morgana blinked and asked,

 

“Why the Magic Tower?”

 

He guided her to a seat, then looked at her as she sat and smiled warmly with his eyes.

 

“Aide is serious about destroying things. Just in case, I think it’s better to have him wait in the royal palace.”

 

“Ah, that’s true…”

 

It would be good if they could secure the Holy Grail first, but things in the world rarely go as planned.

 

Since he had previously destroyed the black magic in the British royal palace, his skill was trustworthy.

 

For some reason, he gently stroked the unusually quiet Mangeum’s head, met her eyes, and smiled.

 

“His personality is quite unique, so I think he should help Raves. I’ll be back soon, so wait comfortably.”

 

“Okay.”

 

After he left, a maid entered as if she had been waiting, pulling a tray with tea.

 

She looked startled at Nimue’s posture, but soon pretended not to notice and calmly set down the desserts.

 

Knock, knock. 

 

Along with a knock, a slightly troubled voice came through.

 

“Your Majesty Morgana, I’m sorry to disturb you while you’re busy.”

 

“Um, it’s fine. Come in.”

 

She had some free time while waiting for Kellive anyway.

 

At Morgana’s reply, the door opened, and a servant with a helpless expression entered, bowing deeply.

 

“The thing is… the young ladies of the Fay family heard that you had entered the palace and are requesting an audience with Your Majesty.”

 

Morgana, who had been drinking tea, asked in confusion,

 

“Elaine and Morgause?”

 

“Y-yes… I told them several times that it was impossible, but they said they wanted to apologize and have something to tell you.”

 

Morgana knew the two sisters’ stubbornness well.

 

Even if the servant refused, they would keep insisting—she could picture it clearly.

 

‘An apology? That’s unexpected.’

 

The few times she had met them, the two were not the type to lower their heads even for the sake of pride.

 

They hadn’t even acknowledged their wrongdoing in the first place.

 

Had something changed in their hearts?

 

She glanced lightly at Nimue, who was crunching on cookies indifferently. Sensitive to her emotions, he answered nonchalantly,

 

“You’re going to meet them.”

 

He really picked up on things even when she didn’t say anything.

 

Morgana smiled awkwardly and nodded at the servant.

 

“Alright. Bring them in.”