READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 2: 2. My Lady, I Can't Bear to See You Sad
[The princess's chamber is wide open, allowing you to catch a glimpse of the inside from the outside. A fragrant aroma of fine wine fills the air in the room.]
[With a wicked thought sprouting in your mind, you step into Princess Morgan's chamber.]
[You see her, heavily intoxicated, lying on a noble-patterned golden silk quilt, her pale pink lips still stained with drops of red wine.]
[You are stunned, for you have never seen Morgan in such a state. In your memories, she was always aloof and difficult to approach.]
[You step closer to her and make a decision that will change your life.]
Although the scenes replaying in Ian's mind might have been mere words, he could feel himself constantly receiving the memories brought by these actions.
The luxurious wool carpet in the princess's chamber;
The rich scent of fine wine lingering in the air;
And Morgan, lying on the bed, breathing heavily with a whiff of alcohol—all of it felt incredibly real.
After exhausting all possible thoughts, only two words remained: great and magnificent.
Yes, it was indescribably grand. If the girl Ian had met in Chaldea was a baseline of sixty points, then the Morgan before him would be a perfect hundred. Ian couldn't believe that anyone could ignore her presence.
This must be what people call a fateful encounter.
After this reflection, everything continued.
[You touch Morgan's hand and can't bring yourself to let go, even though Morgan, drunk as she is, senses your action.]
[Morgan awakens, but in her drunken state, she does not immediately stop you. Instead, she asks you an absurd question.]
"Am I beautiful?"
Morgan's questioning voice echoed with her returning awareness. She gazed at the knight Ian, dressed in armor, with her deep-sea blue eyes.
At this moment, Morgan didn't seem to care why Ian was here, nor did she intend to question his audacity for what he had done.
She only desired to know the answer to her question.
"Am I beautiful?"
Although his actions were overstepping, Ian answered honestly.
"My Lady, regarding your question, my answer is that you are very beautiful."
"There is no one else in all of Britain who could compare to the charm you exude."
Everything seemed so natural and inevitable.
[Innate Affinity activated.]
[Morgan believes your words without question, but sinks into even deeper sorrow. She seems particularly displeased with being referred to as a place of comfort.]
[Morgan pushes your hand away, curling up on the bed and hugging her knees, saying nothing.]
[You sense that all of this is somehow connected to the grand banquet.]
[You decide to risk everything and ask.]
"My Lady, have you encountered something troubling? If you would confide in me, perhaps there might be a way to resolve it."
Hearing this, Morgan lifted her head.
In the prime of her youth, she looked at the reckless knight before her and suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"Are you trying to atone for your transgression?"
"My Lady, I do have that intention," Ian admitted. "But more than that, I want to understand why you are so sad."
"That's none of your business," Morgan coldly responded.
"You foolish knight, do not overstep. The fact that you're still standing here is thanks to the great King Uther and that cursed wine."
"But, my Lady, I am not overstepping." Ian touched the cross sword at his waist.
"This is the duty of your loyal knight—to serve and protect you, my Lady."
[Morgan, upon hearing your declaration of loyalty, remains silent for a long time.]
[She is moved by your words, seemingly wanting to say more, but ultimately choosing to remain silent.]
[There is a certain hesitation in her heart.]
[You wait for a long time, realizing that you cannot remain passive.]
[You decide to encourage her, prompting the intoxicated Morgan to confide in you.]
[You succeed.]
[Now she's going to ask you a question that will decide your fate.]
"I ask you," Morgan stared at Ian, her gaze still filled with hesitation.
"You said just now that as a knight, you pledge your loyalty to me, correct?"
"Yes, my Lady," Ian answered without hesitation. "To serve and fight for you is the greatest honor I can achieve as a knight."
These well-practiced words of oath were second nature to Ian, as though he was born knowing them.
It was a memory ingrained in him—for in this simulation, he was already a knight who had lived many lives.
These words of loyalty were something he could recite effortlessly.
"Then—"
Morgan glanced around. In the grand room, it was just the drunken her and this audacious knight.
Moonlight streamed through the glass window, shattering into a colorful light curtain on the floor.
A cloud passed by.
The room plunged into darkness.
Morgan's voice echoed in the dark:
"But if, at some point in the future, I no longer hold Britain, and another king sits on the throne—"
"Would you still swear your loyalty to me?"
Ian never expected Morgan to say something like this at that moment. He froze, unable to respond immediately.
The clouds parted.
Morgan's face reappeared in the moonlight—a face nearly on the verge of collapse.
"As expected, everything is just an illusion… I never truly owned anything," the princess's voice was filled with sadness and melancholy.
[Because of your moment of hesitation, Morgan sinks into endless sorrow.]
[You realize you've made a grave mistake and want to make amends, but it's all in vain.]
[Morgan begins to spiral into deep self-doubt, bordering on madness.]
[You do not know what happened at the banquet that caused her to end up like this, but you know that things can't go on like this. You try to find a way to temporarily relieve her from this pain.]
Looking at Morgan, who alternated between cold laughter and sobbing, Ian knew he couldn't just stand by—her sadness stemmed from his hesitation, so he had to be the one to end it all.
With a few clangs, the knight's armor fell to the ground, producing a crisp sound.
"You foolish knight, what are you doing?!"
Despite her madness, Morgan retained a minimum level of sanity.
But Ian did not stop there.
He took a deep breath, as if heading into battle.
"My Lady, I can't bear to see you sad."
"Even if it means I might be executed by you afterward, I still wish to do everything I can to ease the burden in your heart."