"..."
Artoria shifted her body with small steps.
She quietly asked Ian beside her.
"Did you call her over?"
"No."
Ian shook his head.
"I don't even know her name."
"..."
Artoria blinked.
She realized that seemed to be the case.
"You..."
"Want to help Artoria?"
King Uther coughed a few times.
"Morgan, you don't need to force yourself."
"This is not your duty."
"Of course I understand that—"
Morgan replied to King Uther gracefully.
"But, I also understand that whoever stands on the land of Britain has a duty to offer their loyalty to the king, right?"
"Even I am absolutely no exception."
Of course.
As she said this, Morgan felt her heart ache.
It was like making her bow her head, to admit that Artoria was better than her, more suited to be the King of Britain.
However—
Morgan knew this was just a small sacrifice.
If she could make Artoria into Tiamat's enemy, things would be much simpler.
"..."
King Uther was still hesitating.
He didn't seem to trust Morgan that much.
But Artoria spoke up at this moment:
"Um, although I don't know if it's right to say this—"
"But..."
The young woman took Morgan's hand.
"If she can help me, then please allow us to travel together."
"Please!"
Artoria's tone was very humble.
King Uther glanced at her, then at Ian, and nodded.
"I understand."
"With a knight who cares so much about your status, there is indeed no need to worry."
"And speaking of which—"
"With him around, Merlin, who was supposed to do this, probably wouldn't dare to show up either, mm... let's do as you say."
"Thank you so much!"
A few minutes later.
In a corridor of the royal court.
It was already noon.
The sun had climbed into the sky, selflessly shining down on all of Britain.
Warm light passed through the green ivy on both sides of the long corridor, casting sparse shadows.
Artoria and Ian walked ahead, talking and laughing, while Morgan walked alone behind them, looking slightly lonely.
But it wasn't that she minded.
The princess's gaze was sweeping over her nominal sister before her.
So rustic.
So short.
And her figure is so bad.
From a female perspective, you couldn't say she was completely without charm, but at least she was in the lower tier.
Where on earth did I lose to her...
The more Morgan thought this, the more her teeth couldn't stop chattering.
"Um—"
Artoria's voice suddenly sounded.
She turned her head and looked at Morgan behind her.
"About this morning, I'm really sorry."
"This morning?"
"Yes, this guy—"
Artoria glanced at Ian beside her and showed an embarrassed expression.
"Suddenly breaking into your place."
"It was my negligence!"
"..."
Recalling the way Ian had sniffed her, Morgan's feelings were actually a bit complicated.
First of all, she certainly didn't like it.
But—
Ian's slightly intoxicated look gave her a misplaced sense of being appreciated.
After all, no one had ever praised her beauty so directly before.
"It's alright."
Morgan smiled slightly.
"Powerful people always have some quirks."
"I can completely understand."
"Oh, right, I don't think I've introduced myself yet."
Morgan extended her hand towards Ian and then said softly.
"I am Morgan."
"The eldest daughter of King Uther, and also the most powerful mage in Britain."
"Meeting again, it's a pleasure to meet you. The first warrior under the King."
"..."
Faced with Morgan's outstretched hand, Ian's first reaction was not to take it directly, but...
He closed his eyes.
"Mother—"
"It's mother, right—"
He seemed to have sensed something.
Artoria was startled.
She didn't want anyone else to know Ian's secrets.
Morgan was also startled.
She knew the relationship between Ian and Tiamat, but she didn't want to expose it so early.
I haven't even made use of that hot-tempered mother yet...
Artoria's and Morgan's gazes met at that moment.
A strange tacit understanding made them ignore Ian's words in perfect sync.
"Um, Ian."
Artoria pointed at him.
"His name is Ian."
"Mm... I see."
Morgan nodded.
"..."
"..."
The atmosphere fell into a strange silence again.
Only Ian was still carefully savoring something.
He opened his eyes, and then took Morgan's hand.
Artoria was about to speak up to stop him, but was stopped by Morgan.
She gestured for Artoria not to worry about it, and then asked softly;
"What's wrong?"
"It was like this last time, too—"
"Besides the so-called 'mother', what else do you want to know?"
"I can feel it."
Ian's gaze towards Morgan softened a little.
"Besides the scent of mother, you also have a bit of Artoria's flavor."
Morgan's brow furrowed.
She actually really disliked being mentioned together with Artoria.
Only—
She also understood that her most urgent task was to gain the trust of the two of them.
Artoria was one thing, she didn't seem to have ever doubted her.
But Ian was different.
With just these two encounters, he had already perceived the deep relationship between herself, Tiamat, and Artoria to an unimaginable degree.
Then...
I'll use this to my advantage.
Morgan thought this, and then smiled.
"Is it really so easy to notice?"
"That's right."
"If we go by the past mentioned by my father, King Uther whom you just met..."
"I—"
Morgan looked at Artoria.
"Am her sister."
"Yes, I am her older sister."
Before Morgan could finish speaking, her mouth was covered by Artoria.
"Hey, hehe... Ian, wait a second."
Artoria pulled Morgan aside.
"Um, don't tell him I'm a girl—"
"Why?"
"The reasons are complicated!"
Artoria peeked at Ian's reaction.
"But, just don't do it."
"Please, sister!"
Accepting the fact that they were sisters without any issue, Artoria put her hands together in a pleading gesture.
So he hasn't realized she's a girl yet?
Morgan felt she seemed to understand the incredibly subtle relationship between Ian and Artoria.
It seems—
There's a lot of potential to exploit here.
Morgan thought this, and had another bold plan.
"I understand."
"However, what needs to be done, must be done."
"If you want to go on a journey, one thing is essential."
"Eh, what is it?"
"That would be, of course—"
Morgan looked the rustic Artoria up and down.
"To dress yourself up properly."