"Here is this week's potion."
Morgan placed the small vial into Arthur's hand.
Arthur tightly grasped the small bottle and glanced at the clothes hanging outside. Thanks to the weather, they looked almost dry.
"Then I'll go change and come back, Morgan." After bidding her farewell, Arthur took a step forward to leave the palace.
Morgan silently watched Arthur, then let out a sigh. "So I really am just a tool, huh? Once you get what you want, you discard me without mercy… How unfair, sniff sniff…"
Arthur came to an abrupt stop and turned around, only to see Morgan wearing an expression as if she were about to cry. Although there was no real sadness in her eyes, her face carried a melancholic look—one that was incredibly captivating and made hearts flutter.
"Morgan, do you need anything else?" Arthur asked helplessly.
"Let's talk. After all, you're a god. If you have any problems, you can tell me. Maybe I can help you."
By the time she finished speaking, the sadness on Morgan's face had completely vanished, and her gaze was fixed firmly on Arthur.
It had to be said—there was a reason this woman was called a witch. She understood people's hearts extremely well, or rather, she was exceptionally good at manipulating them.
At this moment, she took advantage of Arthur's sentimental nature and kept him there.
"If I don't go back now, Lily will ask again why I'm so late today, and the time to return to the Land of Shadows will be delayed quite a bit…" Arthur hesitated for a moment.
To be honest, talking with this woman was exhausting. It wasn't that he disliked Morgan, but she liked to flirt with him whenever she had the chance, and he couldn't resist—something that was truly draining.
"Your control over magic has steadily solidified over these four years. I taught you premonition some time ago…" Morgan said softly. "If you can please me, perhaps I can teach you other skills as well?"
Just as Arthur was about to make up an excuse to leave, he quietly turned back after hearing those words.
It's exhausting, but it's worth it…
"Sit here." Morgan enthusiastically pointed to the seat beside her. Just like last time, Arthur sat down next to her.
It's strange… Why does she enjoy teasing people so much? There shouldn't be any real benefit for her.
Arthur looked at the woman beside him and pondered inwardly.
"What are you thinking about?" Morgan immediately noticed his furtive gaze and smiled. "You can tell me. We're just chatting."
"Why do you like teasing me so much?" Arthur couldn't help asking.
"It's enjoyable," Morgan replied naturally. "Don't you find it incredibly satisfying to see other people looking embarrassed or shy?"
"No… I just can't understand you."
Morgan looked Arthur up and down several times. "It seems like you have something on your mind. Tell me—maybe I can help."
Arthur looked at Morgan with some surprise.
She can even tell that…?
But Arthur quickly shook his head. "You can't help me with this. It's something I have to deal with on my own."
He was simply worried about when he would be able to catch up to Scáthach. Today's battle had been a heavy blow. He hadn't expected that, even after so much training and with the dragon's essence, he would still be so far behind his master.
Of course, he knew very well that this was a matter of experience and that he needed time to mature. He still had a long road ahead, but even knowing that, he couldn't help feeling frustrated.
"Oh? Something even I can't help with?" Morgan grew even more interested. "Tell me." A charming smile spread across her face. "Believe me, I can do almost anything in this world."
Arthur hesitated for a moment, then looked at Morgan again.
"Tell me quickly," she urged. "Don't you want to learn other skills?"
Under Morgan's half-coercive, half-seductive tone, Arthur had no choice but to briefly explain his concerns.
"I see. You're worried about not being able to keep up with Scáthach?" Morgan smiled, her beautiful eyes examining Arthur. "You really care about your master, don't you?"
"Of course. My master raised me," Arthur replied evasively.
"Is it simply because you like your master and want to repay her kindness?" Morgan asked.
"Mm." Arthur nodded.
"Really?" Morgan repeated.
Arthur asked, with a faint sense of guilt, "What do you mean?"
"Well… you should figure that out yourself." Morgan simply smiled, showing little concern, and gently placed her delicate hand on the back of Arthur's. "Don't worry. I'll make you very, very strong—as long as you do things my way."
"As for Scáthach, you don't need to worry. You can spend more time with me if you want." Morgan's seductive voice echoed in Arthur's ears. "Leave everything to me. If one day it's discovered that you're having an affair with the princess of a neighboring country, you can leave the Land of Shadows, and I'll handle the consequences."
A tempting fragrance reached his nose. Arthur's eyes grew slightly dazed, until he heard the last part—at which point he suddenly snapped back to his senses and looked at Morgan far more seriously. "I won't leave the Land of Shadows."
Morgan paused for a moment, then smiled casually. "Well, I was just making a suggestion. Don't worry, I won't force you. You know I'm not the type who likes to threaten others."
She wasn't in a hurry. All she needed was to gradually win his heart. The boy was still young and confused about many things. All she had to do was give him a gentle push at the crossroads and act as his confidante.
Once he began consulting her about everything, things would become much easier.
The fact that Arthur had confided his troubles to her today meant that he had already lowered his guard considerably.
That was understandable. After all, she provided Arthur with dragon essence every week. Such a selfless goddess… who wouldn't like her?
As she was thinking this, a voice suddenly announced something from outside:
"Lady Morgan."
Morgan, who had been smiling just moments earlier, lost her smile upon hearing that voice and said calmly, "Come in."
There wasn't a single living guard in Morgan's palace; clearly, this one must have come from the royal city.
As for why he was here… she could probably guess.
Not long after Morgan spoke, a guard entered.
The guard raised his eyes and stared at the boy beside Morgan for a moment, surprise and curiosity flashing across his face.
He had never imagined encountering a human in this palace, and it seemed the boy had quite a close relationship with the witch…
"Is there something you wish to report?"
Perhaps sensing the guard's strange gaze, Morgan's voice grew colder, arrogant and commanding like that of an empress, making it hard to breathe.
Only then did Arthur truly feel the nature of the goddess called "Morgan Le Fay."
She was Morgan le Fay, the goddess of death and the daughter of King Uther. Although she usually acted frivolously and often enjoyed teasing others, her personality was far from as gentle as one might imagine.
"News from King Uther," the guard promptly reported.
"Father, is it?" Morgan's gaze turned strangely cold. "So he still hasn't dispelled his suspicions about me? What did he send you to tell me?"
"Um…" The guard seemed hesitant to speak, but after a while, he gathered his courage.
Then Arthur suddenly felt an extremely terrifying aura emanating from her. Although Morgan still wore a smile, her eyes were unnervingly cold. She stood up and slowly walked toward the guard.
"So, after all that talk, my father still doubts me?" she asked casually.
The guard raised his head to look at Morgan, then nodded slightly. "Yes."
A trace of disdain crossed the guard's mind. Did this woman really lack all self-awareness to say such things?
Perhaps the vengeful spirits were indeed related to this witch. If he were King Uther, he would have imprisoned Morgan long ago to confirm whether she was responsible.
He wasn't the only one who thought this way; many people shared that opinion. After all, she was a witch, and witches were capable of anything—so the possibility that she had summoned the undead was far from small.
"I see," Morgan murmured to herself, calmly looking at the guard.
"Mm… I suppose that's understandable, after all, I am a witch," she said casually, pausing slightly afterward.
Bang!
With a muffled thud, the guard's entire body slammed into the door. He clutched his stomach and curled up on the ground, clearly in great pain.
"Arthur was here, and I didn't want to resort to physical violence… I didn't want him to see such a violent side of me. Morgan Le Fay should be gentle and kind."
Morgan raised a finger, and the guard floated uncontrollably into the air.
With a loud whoosh, he was flung out of the palace.
"But I didn't lay a finger on you," she said with a smile. "I didn't touch you. You flew away on your own, didn't you?"
"Y-Yes…" The guard clutched his stomach, struggled to his feet, looked at Morgan in fear, then quickly averted his gaze.
"Get lost."
Upon hearing Morgan's words, he felt as though he had been granted a pardon and fled the palace in panic.
Arthur watched the scene in silence, saying nothing.
"Are you afraid?" Morgan turned to look at Arthur, her usual smile on her face.
"It's fine," Arthur replied. "I understand… It's very hard to be falsely accused, and I don't think it was you."
"Do you believe in witches?" Morgan asked.
"I don't believe in witches." Arthur shook his head, watching as Morgan's smile slowly faded, and continued.
"But I believe in Morgan Le Fay."
(End of Chapter)