Chapter 41: After All, She Taught Me This Herself
Noah's understanding of Morgan largely stemmed from memories acquired through simulations.
The same held true for his knowledge of Merlin.
After King Uther's death, Vortigern, Merlin, and Morgan gave the impression of three factions with diverging ambitions vying for the throne following the late king's passing.
Morgan was Britain's First Princess, Merlin was King Uther's most trusted minister, and Vortigern was Uther's most outstanding relative of the same generation.
However, in Noah's view, these three did not represent competing factions for the throne, but rather three distinct attitudes toward Britain's inevitable demise.
Vortigern, needless to say, embodied the will to preserve the island at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing everything.
Morgan and Merlin's positions were more complex.
According to the original course of events, Merlin—who consistently opposed Vortigern—did not hold a completely contrary stance to hers. The one whose ideology fundamentally opposed Vortigern's was actually Morgan!
Morgan represented the will to ensure Britain's continued existence, even if it meant abandoning the island itself.
This was why, upon learning that Noah had drawn the Sword in the Stone, she relinquished her claim to the throne and instead asked Noah for an advisory position.
Thus, in the original timeline, Morgan supplied nearly half the members of the Knights of the Round Table, and after confirming that Arthur could not lead Britain past its inevitable destruction, she instigated Mordred's rebellion.
Even after the destined destruction had passed, while other remnants of the Age of Gods either vanished into hidden realms or became constrained, Morgan remained active in the world for a long time.
Lord El-Melloi II's storyline mentioned arrangements made by Morgan.
She was truly the one whose ideology ran counter to Vortigern's.
As for Merlin...
He was simply an amusement-seeker.
He merely watched as the future unfolded step by step, finding entertainment in the process.
Just as his Clairvoyance could only perceive the present, Merlin himself existed firmly in the moment.
If Vortigern's goal was to push the island back into the past, transforming it into a hidden realm to escape inevitable destruction, then Morgan sought to propel Britain into the future—beyond its fated demise.
Meanwhile, Merlin was a pleasure-seeker living entirely in the present.
These were the three of them, representing Britain's three attitudes toward its inevitable destruction.
Thus, they employed three entirely different approaches.
Therefore.
Just as Vortigern ceased to be a problem after Noah acquired the "Will of Britain" designation, so long as Noah demonstrated sufficient capability and magnanimity, Morgan would likewise pose no trouble for one capable of leading Britain into the future.
In fact, compared to Artoria—who had some history of conflict with Morgan—Morgan would offer even greater support to Noah!
So when Noah saw Morgan enter his study, he immediately set aside his work, stood up, and walked to her side.
"Lady Morgan, you've finally arrived. I had already prepared the appointment for the advisory position, so after you rest from your journey, I'll have Kay host a gathering in my name. This will allow Camelot's knights and nobles to recognize your return, and I'll also take the opportunity to announce your role as my advisor."
As Noah spoke these words, Morgan maintained eye contact with him.
Morgan was no longer the same person who once stood at the pinnacle of Camelot Castle. During her transformation into a witch and throughout her exile, she had encountered far more darkness than what the First Princess would ever have been exposed to.
Thus, she now considered herself somewhat skilled at reading people.
This ability allowed her to perceive that Noah genuinely felt happy about her arrival—without the slightest hesitation or conflict. His words were truthful, containing no deception.
If the sense of trust during their remote communications hadn't been so palpable before, now Morgan found herself genuinely moved by Noah.
This caused her attitude toward him to soften slightly.
"You are now Britain's King," she began, "There's no need to address me as 'Lady' anymore. Just call me Morgan."
After saying this, she once again looked at him with her eyes—the only feature not concealed by her veil—maintaining their eye contact.
"Noah... or perhaps I should call you King Arthur now."
When Morgan reached this point, Noah waved his hand dismissively, much as she had done earlier.
"Please don't call me King Arthur... Morgan, just continue calling me Noah as you did before."
Hearing this, Morgan offered no refusal and simply nodded.
"Then, Noah, you must understand—I am King Uther's eldest daughter, and I've inherited the island's power that originally only King Uther could wield. Although I'm no match for Vortigern, if I were to lose control in my current position, with Merlin absent, likely no one in Camelot could stop me."
"Aren't you afraid that my exile might have filled me with resentment toward Britain, that I might suddenly run amok here?"
Morgan spoke these words directly.
Though deeply touched by Noah's trust, her experiences over the years had indeed made her more suspicious than before.
Moreover, she wanted to hear Noah's perspective.
She didn't oppose Noah becoming King, but that was conditional upon him truly being a qualified, thoughtful ruler capable of leading Britain toward its future.
Faced with Britain's inevitable doom, who sat on the throne mattered little to Morgan.
As long as that person could guide Britain toward its future, that would suffice.
Ah... and under this primary condition, preferably not that sister of mine!
Such were Morgan's thoughts.
And Noah had anticipated this line of questioning.
Or rather, in his simulated memories, he had encountered similar issues numerous times.
Therefore, without any hesitation, he directly voiced his response.
"Rather than saying I'm not afraid, it's more that I know you wouldn't—you could say you're the person I trust most in this world. We've known each other for a long time, you understand me and I understand you... You love Britain far more than Merlin does, and you want to see Britain move toward the future even more. It's just that you're somewhat easily misunderstood, so someone like you wouldn't do such a thing. I firmly believe that."
Huh?
Noah's words made Morgan freeze for a moment.
Morgan knew very well this wasn't the answer she wanted to hear, so she should have sneered coldly right then, displaying her threat to force Noah to ponder deeper questions.
But...
Although Morgan's rationality said this, her emotions made her completely incapable of doing so.
After all, for nearly ten years—no, possibly over a decade—whether it was Uther, Merlin, or many others, the words she heard most often were...
"You can't do it."
"You're not capable."
"We don't believe you can lead Britain toward the future."
Morgan became a witch to prove to King Uther that she could.
In the original course of events, her rejection of Artoria was also to tell Merlin, "You and King Uther misjudged me back then!"
It could be said that for over a decade in the past, and for decades to come, what Morgan needed most was precisely such words of affirmation, such words of trust.
Setting aside Britain, setting aside being the first princess, setting aside being the heir to the island's power—what the girl named Morgan truly yearned for was this small, seemingly insignificant, yet immensely important affirmation.
So Noah's words left Morgan standing there, stunned.
Noah, looking at Morgan in this state, smiled and continued.
"If not for you, I wouldn't have the confidence to defeat a powerful enemy like Vortigern alone. So, Morgan..."
At this point, Noah picked up the appointment letter he had prepared long ago, naming Morgan as his assistant, and directly handed it to her.
"Let's lead Britain toward the future together."
Noah said this, but Morgan didn't respond immediately.
First, she snorted loudly, then stammered for a long time without managing to say anything. She just let out a second, slightly softer snort, sounding somewhat flustered. After that, her voice grew quieter and quieter, until it eventually turned into a faint—"Hmm."
Morgan's words were always this awkward, but the appointment letter Noah handed her was practically snatched away the moment she let out that first snort.
After a long while, she finally gave a quick nod to Noah, then turned and ran off.
Noah watched Morgan's retreating figure—she didn't even bother to close the door behind her. Though he had seen this scene several times before, it always made him want to laugh a little and find this side of Morgan somewhat endearing.
After Morgan left, Fou jumped onto Noah's shoulder, and Mary's voice echoed in his mind.
"You're quite the smooth talker, aren't you?"
Hearing Mary's words, Noah kept his eyes fixed in the direction Morgan had left and softly replied, "Hmm... After all, she's the one who taught me that."
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