In the end, although Artoria's answer violated the question's requirement to choose only one, Morgan did not press the issue.
She simply told Artoria that after everything was over, she must return the Holy Sword to the lake, and then drove them away.
Merlin, on the other hand, had quite a few complaints about this. He felt that Artoria had unknowingly strayed from his teachings and was now growing crooked.
But to Artoria, who had been fully acknowledged by Excalibur and had found her true heart and goal, no longer confused, Merlin was simply throwing a tantrum.
After all, the King taught by the Kingmaker had completely different concepts from him.
If word of this got out, it would be quite the joke.
As for Souya and Morgan, it could only be said that after hurrying back to Camelot non-stop, the former received Morgan's 'punishment of love' because of the previous incident.
"Rival, is it? Friend, is it? Just a little acquaintance, is it?"
Recalling the way the frail Red Dragon looked back at Souya three times for every step she took with reluctant eyes before leaving, her entire demeanor practically screaming 'I covet your knight', Morgan couldn't help but grit her teeth in anger.
So, to vent her anger, the foot she rested on Souya's bare back pressed down a bit harder.
It was bad enough that you wanted both when facing the choice between the sword and the scabbard, but after choosing, you actually want my knight too?
Do you want to hold the sword in one hand, the scabbard in the other, and ride my Lamorak beneath you?!
"How despicable and greedy, Arthur!"
Morgan gritted her teeth hatefully, then stepped on Souya beneath her foot again.
"Speak! What exactly is your relationship with her!"
At this moment, Souya was in a plank position in the center of the room. On his back was Morgan, barefoot and wearing only a sheer negligee, stepping on him.
Upon hearing Morgan's words, even though he had already defended himself many times, Souya still showed a bitter smile on his face and explained to Morgan again.
"Please quell your anger, Lady Morgan. I assure you I do not have any presumptuous romantic thoughts toward Artoris. From beginning to end, my everything belongs to you."
"Heh. Then why did you not kill her at all costs when you saw her, as I previously ordered you to?"
Morgan sneered and crossed her arms. Clearly, just these words were not enough to dispel her anger.
To this, Souya remained silent for a moment before answering softly after a long while.
"I apologize, Lady Morgan. I was just... too indecisive."
That was it. Too indecisive. He deeply understood that he was Morgan's knight, and fulfilling Morgan's orders to carry out her will was the life principle of Knight Lamorak. Yet, equally because of past bonds and his admiration for the young girl, he hesitated and could not bring himself to deliver the fatal blow.
But this was Lamorak. The person who gained a physical body from a water fairy, the Knight of Radiance.
As mentioned before, after Souya comprehended the ultimate meaning of water and accepted and recognized his essence as a water fairy, he possessed a Heart of Water that was ever-clear and eternally pure.
Clear, transparent, and noble like lake water, able to see through and understand his true heart. Yet also yielding and drifting with the current like flowing water, while capable of displaying the resolve of a waterfall and the vast depth of the ocean when necessary.
His personality possessed all the virtues of water, but also water's formlessness and indecisiveness.
Such gentleness might make everyone who interacted with him feel comfortable and at ease, but sometimes, gentleness could also be the most hurtful sharp sword.
Seemingly hearing the emotions contained in Souya's words, Morgan's anger finally subsided slowly.
In fact, she knew very well that anyone in this world might betray her, but the one person who would never betray her was Souya.
Her current anger was simply because Artoria had previously shown too strong a desire for Souya in front of her. It was like a girl suddenly encountering another girl in her home who also wanted her favorite toy.
This stimulated Morgan's possessiveness.
And after gradually calming her emotions, Morgan no longer pursued the relationship between Artoria and Souya.
After all, she was just a defeated golden-haired hound.
She withdrew her foot from Souya's back and instead sat down with her legs crossed.
Feeling the softness and pressure from the skin-to-skin contact on his back, Souya did not speak, simply maintaining this posture quietly.
Morgan, resting her chin on one hand, seemed to be pondering something.
At this moment, time seemed to freeze. The knight and his Queen formed an ambiguous yet bizarre tableau.
After a long while, Morgan's soft murmur broke the silence.
"Lamorak, do you know? I have changed my mind."
"I am listening, Lady Morgan."
"I once deeply desired to become King, to become the King acknowledged by my father and the people, to ascend the royal throne etched into my very essence."
"But that was it. I only wanted to become King, but I never considered what I should do upon becoming King. Even now, as the Queen of Camelot, I only look at what is in front of me, fulfilling the promise of 'never falling', stubbornly confining myself to this city."
Morgan's tone was very soft, but Souya could hear the hidden heaviness within it.
So he did not choose to answer, continuing to listen to Morgan's narration.
"Until today, seeing that person. That frail person created by Royal Father and Merlin to compete with me for the throne, whom I always looked down upon, actually made a vow to bear the present and future of Britain."
"How ridiculous. She does not know the weight of that vow at all. How can she shoulder the entirety of Britannia with that weak body of hers?"
"...But I am also ridiculous, because I have never even dared to imagine it."
"You need not feel ashamed, Lady Morgan. Judging from your achievements today, you have already done well enough."
Souya did not want to see Morgan show signs of depression or even an inferiority complex. In his eyes, Morgan could only be the noble and elegant Queen of Camelot.
But this time, he was clearly overthinking.
"Yes, Lamorak, I have already done very well. That is an indisputable fact."
"But it is not enough. Do you understand, Lamorak? It is not enough."
As if having made some kind of resolve, Souya could feel a change in the demeanor of the person on his back. Her previously calm, even somewhat dejected tone, became serious and certain.
"Since Arthur wants to grasp the entirety of Britain, then as someone more qualified than her to be the ruler of this land, I certainly will not be outdone by her."
"Not just Camelot, I will become the King of all Britain. I will have the royal banner symbolizing my ownership planted on every piece of territory."
"The title of 'never falling' that I promised will not just be Camelot, but the entirety of Britannia."
Morgan's palm slowly stroked across Souya's back, as if patrolling her territory, or inspecting her royal lands.
"Yes, Lady Morgan. You will definitely become the King of all Britain. Long before the moment of your birth, this land was already glorified by welcoming your arrival."
Morgan's most loyal knight, Lamorak, offered his compliment.
"Heh."
Morgan chuckled lightly. There was no mockery or disdain in this laugh, only satisfaction and pleasure with Souya.
"This is only the beginning, Lamorak."
"I originally planned to let the Red Dragon and the White Dragon fight until both were heavily injured, then take advantage of the situation to reap the benefits and kill both of them in one fell swoop."
"But since my foolish and overconfident sister has made such a vow, then I will let her win. Then, when she thinks she is about to reach the peak, I will strike her down from the mountain, delivering the most painful disparity and humiliation."
"But all of this depends on whether she can defeat my Royal Uncle. I want to see if, after Merlin is forced by his vow to lock himself in his broken tower, this King Arthur can walk to the ending I have designed for her."
Saying this, Morgan leaned down close to Souya's neck. Her wet lips pressed against his ear, her breath fragrant like orchids.
"The final chapter has unfolded. Wait and see with me, Lamorak."