Chapter 62

PROLOGUE The Brief Encounter That Started Everything King Arthur, fabled knight, the one to unite all of Britain. Inside the opulent gardens of Castle Camelot, his residence, which was like a physical symbol of his power and authority… “Siiigh… How boring…” Under an open parasol, a young lady—beautifully dressed—rested on a garden chair. Her chin was propped up under her hand as she let out a sigh. Her black hair was radiant like obsidian, skin white as snow, features defined, body curvy. This striking girl went by the name Morgan le Fay. King Arthur’s half sister. “Boring, boring, boooring… I finally managed to sneak past my elder sisters and reincarnated for nothing.” Morgan looked out at the garden, uninterested, eyes clouded over. Light streamed down on the expansive grounds; bloomed flowers carpeted the garden plots, which staged trimmed shrubs, shapes arithmetically calculated. Lords and knights of all types would be overcome with emotion if they could chance upon the garden belonging to the great king, but it did nothing for Morgan. She’d grown tired of it. Called into this world by humanity and born in a nonhuman form, Morgan had become bored of her role as designated protector of the mortals. She’d thought reincarnating into a human shape and indulging in worldly pleasures might solve her woes. But even when she shed her duties as a keeper to scorn, control, tempt, fool, trap, and toy with humans, it just didn’t do anything for her. There was no fun to be had. Nothing was interesting. It left her feeling hollow. The world looked ashen to her, lacking in all color. Not that she would ever entertain the idea of devoting herself to her role without question like her two older sisters. What was the point of a duty that had been thrust upon her? She’d grown weary—or like she couldn’t find any meaning in her own existence in this world. “Siiigh… Boooring. Maybe I should just kill myself. Maybe I’ll die and rejoin my sisters on the other side?” Morgan kept sighing…and then she saw two knights in the distance walking down the garden path. Arthur, her half brother in the real world and the king of Britain. And…a young knight, a fresh recruit to the Round Table. Average looks, average military feats, average background. He neither excelled in domestic affairs like Sir Kay nor negotiated well like Sir Dinadan. His most defining characteristic was that he had none. “I recall his name was…” To a striking, high-class lady such as Morgan, he was a human weed. The knight was conferring closely with King Arthur. Come to think of it, this wasn’t the first time she’d seen this. It seemed King Arthur trusted this average knight. “Hmm?” Morgan watched him, indifferent…until a beguiling smile crept onto her face. She stood up. If Arthur’s trusted knight had an affair with his older sister… Hee-hee-hee… I’d love to see the look on Arthur’s face. Maybe I’ll stop being so bored. This had been Morgan’s motive at the time. When you get used to extravagant meals at the palace, you start to crave junk food… I imagine even someone boring can keep me entertained for a night. She was just going to flirt with him. Morgan gloated as she stealthily followed King Arthur and his knight. She waited until he was alone, and then she called out to him. “…Yoo-hoo. Excuse me, you gorgeous specimen.” She smiled, lavishing him with her wiles and grace that had bewitched many men. “I must admit…I’ve wanted to approach you for a very long time. Won’t you talk with me? Please, Sir Accolon…” “S-sure…? You want to talk to me…?” That knight—Sir Accolon—blinked at Morgan. This was the first encounter between Morgan and Sir Accolon, the most ordinary knight of them all.