The Lake Where the Princess Was Born

[You confirmed that you heard Morgan correctly.]

[She did express her desire not to return to the royal court for the time being, and her attitude was quite cautious.]

[You realized that she was worried that her request would disobey King Uther's order to return to the capital.]

[You decided to reassure her.]

"Okay, princess." Ian reined in his horse.

"Then let's not go back for now."

"Will this be okay?" Morgan asked cautiously.

"It will be fine." Ian replied as gently as possible.

"If there is any problem—"

Ian patted the horse under him.

"Just say they are too tired."

Morgan knew that the man in front of her would never deceive her.

She nodded.

"Then let's go, Ian."

"Yes, princess."

[You temporarily delayed your plan to return to the royal court with Morgan.]

[You know that this is disobeying King Uther's order.]

[But you know Morgan's mood better now.]

[You can't watch her return to the royal court in such a depressed mood. You know that would be quite painful for her.]

[You and Morgan deviated from the original road.]

[You two came to a forest, and a clear lake appeared in front of you.]

"Ian."

Morgan pulled the reins on her hand, stopping the horse under her.

"I'm tired. Let's rest here for a while."

"Understood, princess."

Ian, who received the order, stopped his horse first, then got off it, walked to Morgan, and served her.

"Please be careful, princess."

"Yes, I know."

With Ian's help, Morgan gracefully got off the horse.

Two excellent war horses produced in Britain were docile and clever. Without Ian's urging, they had already begun to lower their heads and eat the grass on the ground.

"Ian."

"Yes."

"What do you think of this place?"

"Well..."

Because of Morgan's words, Ian began to examine this forest.

It was a lush green forest, with many tall trees growing here, and evergreen branches falling from the canopy like a girl's drooping hair.

The sun passed through the crown-like green leaves, casting patches of light and shadow on the forest path.

Flowers bloomed on both sides, embellishing the green grass.

Not far away, there was an elegant lake.

The sparkling lake was so clear that you could see the bottom. There was no impurity in the clear lake water. If you were not careful, you might mistake it for jade.

"Very beautiful." Ian answered truthfully, "I have never seen such a scenery."

"Then what about compared to me?" Morgan asked suddenly.

"It's beautiful."

"Why!"

"Because no matter how this forest changes, it is still within the scope of what words can describe." Ian looked at Morgan and said.

"And you, princess, cannot be described by any volume of poetry."

"Heh."

Morgan sneered.

"That's quite a compliment. Did you learn this from your experience lurking under Vortigern?"

"No." Ian shook his head.

"Princess, if it's a compliment, I will say it more nicely."

"But in my heart, you really cannot be described by external things."

Hearing this, Morgan turned her head away.

"Forget it... I won't argue with you about this kind of thing."

[Morgan no longer discussed with you which is more beautiful, herself or the lake.]

[She walked in front of you, which was unusual, as if she was taking you somewhere.]

[You followed.]

[Finally, you stopped by the lake.]

[Morgan made an unexpected request—she wanted you to wash her feet here.]

[You did not refuse her, but carried out her request very seriously.]

[The moment you touched her feet, you felt something strange.]

[You realized that she had also cast magic on herself.]

"It's completely different from what you imagined, right?"

Looking at Ian, who took off his armor and went into the lake to wash her feet, Morgan asked, supporting her chin.

"Yes." Ian nodded very sincerely.

"Princess, it is indeed completely different from what I imagined."

"It makes my heart flutter."

Although Morgan's feet were often touched, this was the first time she had done it herself.

It was a fair and soft foot, without any wrinkles or scars.

The skeleton of the toes supported the beautiful skin, there was no dirt between the toes, and the inner instep was slightly gathered together because of Ian's grasp, but it still did not lose its due uprightness.

The position of the ankle presented a complete arc.

Ian felt that it would not be an exaggeration to call such feet a work of art.

"Is that so?" The corners of Morgan's mouth raised an imperceptible arc.

"Then do you know that it was born from this lake under your feet?"

Ian quickly reacted.

"Princess, is this where you were born?"

Morgan did not answer this question, but the slightly nostalgic expression on her face was enough to explain everything.

"Answer me, Ian."

"Now that you know this kind of thing, are you still moved by it?"

"Of course." Ian replied without hesitation, "Every day is like this, every night is like this."

"You're lying to me." Morgan stared at Ian under her, "No one would want a princess born in a lake."

"But I never deceive you, princess."

Ian pinched Morgan's feet and gently stroked the jade-like skin.

It was a kind of delicacy and smoothness like touching milk, without any stagnation.

Obviously, Morgan's magic has maintained it to the best moment, so that her beauty will not become old with years and wars.

"If this is where you were born, I will be happier than any other moment."

"Because your birth has brought blessings to this place, the lake water is clear because of you, and the trees are lush because of you."

"You are the owner of this forest. They, like the knights of Britain, are grateful for your arrival."

Hearing this, Morgan was silent for a while.

Faced with Ian's praise, she was not as happy as usual, but looked very sad.

The slender eyebrows on her beautiful face drooped slightly, like a tragic song at the end of a play, and the indigo eyes covered by her willow eyebrows were revealing bursts of loneliness.

After a long while, she seemed to have recovered, and said to the man in the lake in front of her in a no longer proud voice:

"Ian, what if I was destined to be abandoned by my father? I have never had the possibility of becoming a king."

"Will you... still be my knight?"