"Thank goodness..." Arthur finally let out a long sigh of relief, as though an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders at that very moment.
Ever since the possibility of a traitor among the tribal chiefs had surfaced, he had been carrying a constant unease in his chest. Morgan's personality was far too extreme, and Arthur knew that better than anyone. If she truly decided to act on her own, she might eliminate every suspect before any investigation could even begin.
That was why hearing that answer genuinely reassured him.
Morgan watched his reaction for a few seconds before letting out a quiet sigh. Her eyelashes lowered slightly as she cast Arthur a sorrowful, falsely wounded look.
"It truly hurts to be seen that way by you..." she said softly, almost melancholically. "So that's how you've always viewed me?"
That expression looked exactly like that of a woman deeply hurt by the distrust of the person she valued most.
Arthur immediately felt guilty.
"…I'm sorry." He chose to apologize without hesitation.
After thinking about it calmly, Arthur realized he might have been unfair. Morgan was already feared by practically everyone around her. Others distrusted her, avoided her, and even her own children kept a certain distance from her.
If even he started doubting her like that, then who would be left to believe in Morgan?
Hearing his apology, Morgan's lips slowly curved into a small, satisfied smile.
"I'll let it slide this time..." she murmured softly. "But next time, earning my forgiveness won't be so easy."
As she spoke, her fingers slowly slid along Arthur's neck, touching the exact marks she had left there earlier.
The cold, smooth sensation of her fingertips made Arthur's shoulders stiffen involuntarily.
Morgan lifted her gaze and stared directly at him. Her lips moistened subtly before she continued:
"Originally, I intended to transfer the mark to you little by little..." she said in a calm, seductive tone. "But now it seems I need to accelerate the process and strengthen you as quickly as possible."
She slowly released Arthur and pointed toward the large bed nearby.
"Alright. Go lie down over there."
Arthur remained motionless for a few seconds.
The Mark of the Goddess of Death...
But Scáthach had clearly said that it was a lie.
His master's words echoed once again inside his mind, making him hesitate.
Arthur parted his lips slightly, as though he wanted to ask something. In the end, however, he remained silent.
The relationship between Morgan and Scáthach was already terrible enough. If he brought up this subject directly, it would probably only worsen things between them.
"What is it?" Morgan tilted her head slightly, watching Arthur continue standing in the same spot. "Why are you still standing there?"
Her eyes showed genuine confusion... or perhaps it was simply performed extremely well.
Strange.
Why was this child being so disobedient today?
Before, a few words were enough to convince him to cooperate.
Ah, no.
More accurately...
A few words had always been enough to make him obediently comply.
Morgan narrowed her eyes almost imperceptibly.
Someone had clearly said something to Arthur.
The instant that thought crossed her mind, an extremely cold glint flashed through her blue eyes. However, the killing intent vanished as quickly as it had appeared, immediately replaced by her usual serene smile.
"What's wrong?" she asked again in a gentle tone. "Is there something else you want to tell me?"
Arthur carefully chose his words before answering:
"Morgan... after thinking about it more carefully, I don't think I need the Mark of the Goddess of Death."
He slightly averted his gaze before continuing:
"I'm satisfied with my current strength... so maybe there's no need for it."
Morgan slowly narrowed her eyes.
"...It seems Scáthach told you something."
No wonder Arthur had suddenly started acting so cautiously.
So that was it.
Everything came back to that woman.
Scáthach.
Noticing Arthur's silence, Morgan immediately confirmed her suspicions.
Even so, she showed no irritation. On the contrary, she simply raised her hand and gently patted the boy's head.
"Your master is not a goddess," she said calmly. "So it's natural that she doesn't fully understand the nature of these marks."
Morgan then slowly took Arthur's hand and raised it in front of her.
"Look at this mark."
Arthur lifted his eyes and once again saw the dragon-shaped mark present on Morgan's body.
He nodded silently.
"This is the Mark of the Goddess of Death," she explained patiently. "When I transfer it to you, part of my power will be inherited by you as well."
Then she moved her face closer to his, staring intently into his eyes.
"If you were not the King..." Morgan murmured, "I would never give you something this precious."
Her voice carried a strange intensity, almost possessive.
"Now lie down."
She smiled faintly.
"You know very well that if I truly wanted to do something to you, you wouldn't be able to resist in your current state."
Morgan then brushed her fingers along Arthur's face.
"But I've never done that. Because I trust you."
Do you intend to disappoint me?
Under Morgan's continued insistence, Arthur finally gave in and sat down on the edge of the bed.
After several seconds of silence, he raised his eyes once more.
"Can't... you transfer this mark some other way?"
Morgan stared into Arthur's eyes for several moments.
Then she slowly shook her head.
"No." Her voice sounded almost disappointed. "As I already explained, the transfer occurs through the exchange of bodily fluids."
She leaned even closer.
"Therefore... this is the only possible method."
As she spoke, Morgan sat beside Arthur on the bed. Her fingers slowly traced along his face while a dangerously seductive smile appeared on her lips.
"Or perhaps..." she murmured softly, "you would rather exchange fluids with your sister through a kiss?"
Arthur instantly froze.
"…Uh..." He looked away briefly before answering in defeat: "Let's continue with the original method."
"What a shame..." Morgan sighed theatrically. "I was planning to teach you how to kiss like an adult."
Her voice carried almost genuine regret.
The woman's fingers slowly pressed against Arthur's chest as she brought her face closer to his. Her other hand traveled along the boy's neck, touching the marks left from the previous night.
"Found it..." she whispered.
Morgan's previously cold eyes gradually began to light up with excitement.
Just the thought of finally being able to "taste" that delicious cake seemed to put her in an excellent mood.
Arthur, on the other hand, began seriously doubting the story about the Mark of the Goddess of Death again.
Did that thing really exist...?
Morgan's gaze looked far too aggressive for someone supposedly just transferring power.
Even so, Arthur remained silent.
As Morgan herself had said, if she truly wanted to do something, he probably would not be able to stop her in his current state.
So... maybe she really was telling the truth.
Probably.
Arthur slowly closed his eyes as he felt Morgan's cold fingers glide along his neck, searching for the marks she had left earlier.
"Hmm...?"
Suddenly, Morgan let out a small exclamation.
Arthur immediately opened his eyes.
Morgan's fingers had stopped precisely over the mark on his neck.
"Morgan?" Arthur called out in confusion.
The atmosphere in the room had changed completely.
Arthur rarely saw Morgan with that kind of expression.
Her eyes were icy.
No.
Far more than that.
The woman's normally gentle and serene eyes now seemed filled with terrifying killing intent.
Morgan remained completely silent.
She stared at Arthur with overwhelming intensity.
Or rather...
She was staring at the marks on his neck.
The red mark Morgan had previously left there was still visible.
And right beneath it...
There was another mark.
Much fainter.
Almost imperceptible.
But unmistakably another lip mark.
Morgan's previous excitement slowly vanished.
Her smile gradually disappeared.
She raised her hand and firmly grabbed Arthur's face, forcing him to look directly at her.
It felt similar to carefully storing a precious cake inside the refrigerator, planning to savor it later...
Only to discover, when you finally intended to eat it, that someone had already stolen part of the cream.
And even worse.
The disturbed section was absurdly close to the part you intended to taste.
That was not merely provocation.
It was a declaration of war.
A blatant provocation.
"...Who was it?" Morgan asked slowly.
Her voice was colder than Arthur had ever heard before.
The jealousy in her eyes was almost tangible.
"Lily wouldn't do something like this..." she murmured.
Then, slowly, her eyes dangerously narrowed.
"Who did this?"
---
(End of Chapter)