When Morgan opened her eyes again, she found herself back on her throne. The cold jade throne and the empty hall were so familiar, unchanged for over a century.
Her previous experience felt like a dream, yet Morgan knew she had indeed been summoned elsewhere. The servant named Jiang You had sought her assistance, offering information in exchange. Judging by Jiang You's knowledge of her attitude toward Baobhan Sith, he truly possessed the eyes to see through this Lostbelt.
One particular remark Jiang You made deeply troubled her: "You wouldn't want to see Baobhan Sith's severed head being brought to meet the fragments of your scattered body, now would you?"
Morgan felt as if Jiang You's words were a glimpse of her own demise.
It was time to verify the truth of the intelligence. What exactly had Baobhan Sith learned from Beryl that warranted this special warning?
"Summon Fairy Knight Tristan (hereafter referred to as Fairy Tristan) to my chambers. And have Beryl wait outside."
Hum~ hum~
Fairy Tristan beamed when she received Morgan's summons. It had been ages since she'd had a private audience with her mother. Most of the time, Morgan was preoccupied with state affairs, and their meetings were strictly business. The thought of seeing her mother soon made Fairy Tristan hum a cheerful tune, twirling on her toes like a dancer as she skipped toward the Royal Palace.
"Don't get your hopes up too soon," a bespectacled man with a relaxed demeanor called after her. "Who knows what you've done this time to displease Morgan? You'd better reflect on what you might have done wrong lately."
Hearing his words, Fairy Tristan's spirits immediately plummeted.
"Beryl, can't you ever say anything nice? I've been trying so hard to meet Mother's expectations and become a proper princess lately."
"I can't help it," Beryl replied. "Morgan's always been this strict."
Beryl smiled wryly at Fairy Tristan. "Don't worry, I'll speak on your behalf. After all, I am the queen's husband."
"Even though Mother has never objected, I sense she doesn't truly see you that way."
Fairy Tristan gazed at Beryl, the person closest to her besides her mother. Beryl had always been by her side. It was precisely her mother's indifferent attitude toward Beryl that had sparked different thoughts and emotions within her.
As they approached the Throne, a centaur knight guarding it blocked Beryl's path.
"By order of Her Majesty the Queen, only Fairy Knight Tristan may proceed. Lord Beryl, please wait here a moment. The Queen will summon you later. For now, please pass the time in the side hall. We've prepared pastries and fruit."
"Looks like I can't help you after all," Beryl said, shaking his head helplessly. When parents dismiss others to speak with their child alone, it's never a good sign—either they're discussing life-altering matters or delivering a "talk" about love and relationships.
"Morgan must be furious right now," Beryl mused.
Fairy Tristan also sensed that Morgan's insistence on a private audience, while dismissing Beryl, meant she was about to be scolded. The thought of seeing the disappointment on Morgan's face was more unbearable than death itself.
"No!"
Despite her inner resistance, her body compelled her toward the throne, to face Morgan.
"Mother."
Despite trembling, Fairy Tristan completed the ritual bow and greeted Morgan.
"There's no need to be afraid. I summoned you here today merely to test your progress. You've been at Beryl's side for quite some time. Have you learned anything?"
Morgan beckoned Fairy Tristan closer.
"Spells, sorcery, that sort of thing?"
This question, seemingly born from genuine concern, immediately perked Fairy Tristan up. She felt compelled to prove herself to Morgan; earning her approval would be far more exhilarating than collecting a hundred pairs of exquisite high-heeled shoes. Nodding vigorously, she exclaimed, "Yes, Mother! I have! I'll demonstrate right away!"
"Beryl has been truly remarkable. Though he couldn't master this sorcery himself, he went to great lengths to teach it to me."
Though Fairy Tristan's goal had always been to become a ruthless fairy, her innate nature was difficult to suppress. Even now, she couldn't resist speaking favorably of Beryl before Morgan.
As she spoke, Fairy Tristan spotted a centaur knight standing guard nearby.
"You! Come here!"
After Morgan nodded, the centaur knight approached the throne, the poor fellow oblivious to the fate that awaited him.
Fairy Tristan extended her palm toward the knight, sinister magical power swirling at her fingertips. The chilling aura made even Fairy Tristan shudder, but to better showcase her skills, she amplified her magical output. "Mother, please watch my performance! This is a spell capable of separating and manipulating souls..."
"Enough!" Morgan snapped, her voice sharp as she glared at the spell.
"But... Mother, I haven't even—"
Fairy Tristan was bewildered by her mother's sudden shift in attitude. This expression was completely foreign to her—nothing like the usual disappointment. This was pure, unadulterated anger.
"I said, stop!"
Morgan slammed her staff against the ground, unleashing a torrent of magical power that forcibly disrupted Fairy Tristan's spell.
A searing pain shot through Fairy Tristan's hand as Morgan's magic surged into her body in reverse, forcing her to cough up a mouthful of blood. Yet, inexplicably, she felt a strange sense of relief. She had no time to ponder this before overwhelming feelings of remorse washed over her.
"I'm sorry, Mother. I'm so sorry."
She didn't know what she had done wrong, but she dared not ask Morgan. All she knew was to apologize.
Morgan grasped Fairy Tristan's hand and meticulously examined her body with magical power before finally exhaling in relief. Now she understood why Jiang You had emphasized what Fairy Tristan had learned from Beryl. This was a soul-rotting curse, undeniably powerful, but with an even greater price: the user's soul would decay alongside their flesh, gradually losing all senses. Rather than a curse, it was more like a malevolent hex.
Beryl had lied to Fairy Tristan when he claimed he couldn't use it. He hadn't failed to learn it; he simply didn't dare use it!
Morgan's sudden display of affection left Fairy Tristan utterly bewildered. She felt as though she had plunged into Hell one moment and soared to the heavens the next. Was her mother's capricious temperament yet another lesson she needed to learn?
"My daughter, I have a task for you to undertake personally."
Morgan bestowed multiple layers of Divine Protection upon Fairy Tristan, eager for her to learn something. "Can you handle it?"
"Mother, leave it to me!" Fairy Tristan declared, pounding her chest. She would fulfill Morgan's instructions without fail, perhaps even earning praise.
"Excellent. Then—"
Morgan's gaze shifted toward the side hall, her eyes burning with murderous intent. She would gladly sacrifice the entire Faerie Realm for Fairy Tristan, yet someone dared to threaten her most cherished possession.
"—Go and kill Beryl!"