【FGO】Accomplice
Not having heard Tristan's last words clearly, Morgan asked in confusion, "Sir Tristan, what did you say?"
Her response was the silhouette of the red-haired knight caressing the body of the lyre with his fingertips.
Seeing this, Morgan raised an eyebrow. Just before she could ask Tristan to perform a piece of music immediately, the report from the Knight of the Righteousness arrived first: "Excuse me, Your Highness Morgan, Lord Agrave requests your presence."
Morgan was taken aback.
—Agarwin, the man known as the Iron Sword, the Knight of the Black Iron.
He was also the child that the vixen Morgan trusted most.
He joined the Knights of the Round Table as an assassin, but later pledged allegiance to Arthur's rule.
In other words, while gaining Morgan's trust, Agarwal chose King Arthur based on independent thinking and his own beliefs.
Between family and country, that man's heart was undoubtedly noble and incorruptible.
Morgan le Fay's training of Agarwin was not only about political guidance and power balancing, but also about some magical theories. The purpose was naturally to overthrow King Arthur, but Agarwin used all of this to assist King Arthur.
Agvin and Morgan Le Fyre were destined to break apart.
However, Morgan astutely noticed one thing: the enchantress, who was highly skilled in magic, did not impose any restrictions on Agraven. If it was because of the initial trust, then Agraven's subsequent rebellion did not lead her to punish or curse Agraven.
Is this one of the few acts of affection Morgana showed?
The British princess was lost in thought when she came to her senses and found herself standing at the entrance of the government building.
"I will wait for you here and escort you back to your room," the red-haired knight standing beside Morgan said calmly.
Morgan was somewhat surprised that Tristan would say such a thing.
From the perspective of a guard knight, there seems to be nothing wrong with it, but the premise is that he received Agarwin's request to attend the meeting, and Tristan's words are like a guarantee.
He ensured that she, Morgan, would not be treated unjustly and would return to a place of peace under Tristan's protection.
A reflexive sense of vigilance swept through Morgan's mind, and he even considered Tristan's experience and achievements as an assassin, given his background as an archer.
She suddenly felt that Tristan seemed to be too kind to her.
It's not that Morgan expects to be treated harshly, but this kind of treatment is quite rare for her.
Moreover, looking back on the past few days, nothing has happened that could change Tristan's attitude—could the lyre be so effective?
Morgan expressed skepticism.
The corridor beneath their feet was bathed in a blanket of light from the slanting sunlight streaming in through the windows, and in the British princess’s deliberate silence, an invisible pressure loomed over their silhouettes cast on the wall.
The handsome knight, bathed in blood-red light, remained serene, his eyes lowered in silence as always, like a puppet waiting to be wound up again after fulfilling its mission.
His hair, as if sculpted from rubies, was tinged with an unreal color by the sunset, adding a touch of hazy, melancholic beauty to his already handsome face.
For a moment, Morgan recalled the fleeting glimpse of gold he had glimpsed amidst the endless yellow sand when he first came into this world—a glimpse that seemed like an illusion.
Just as he was now, he silently approached her.
And what was she thinking?
—Sir Tristan will not harm me.
The subconscious reaction was interpreted as a restless desire to tease the other person, but upon closer reflection, isn't it also a kind of unfounded trust?
Just as she thought, Tristan didn't understand her, and conversely, she didn't understand Tristan either.
So what is the source of this trust?
Obviously, Tristan won't give the answer.
Artorius and Tristan, these two men, seemed to be completely honest with her, but were actually full of mysteries, which made her feel discouraged but also unable to resist her curiosity.
Adhering to the principle of remaining still until sufficient clues are obtained, Morgan, not wanting to cause unnecessary trouble, suppressed his inner doubts.
Faced with the composed Tristan, she was unable to find any fault with him for the time being, and could only solemnly reply, "Thank you, Lord Tristan."
The slowly closing doors of the government building separated Tristan's bowing profile from view on the other side of the door.
-
Given that Agrave had requested a meeting through the Knights of the Cleric, Morgan arrived in more formal attire—wearing the crown and veil of the Queen of the Fairies.
Therefore, when Morgan set foot here for the second time, she secretly observed the figure standing by the long table under the cover of the black veil.
The Iron Knight, with black hair and gray eyes, wore a suit of jet-black armor. His deep features exuded a cold and imposing aura, and his handsome face was accentuated by the creases between his eyebrows, making him appear even more sharp and shrewd.
He was a man who, at first glance, would be associated with the word "fierce".
"According to Gao Wenqing's report, you have appeared in the world as a princess of Britain. If that's the case, I would like to confirm whether you are willing to assist the Holy City, that is, the Storm King's arrangements."
Morgan was caught off guard by the direct approach, which was devoid of any unnecessary pleasantries or embellishments.
-- Yes, a bit fierce. Although there's nothing wrong with being decisive and straightforward, at least show some respect for the "Princess of Britain"?
Despite Agvin's imposing manner, Morgan remained unfazed.
Her composure stemmed from her confidence in her (magical) abilities and her understanding of Agarwin.
Even if he hates the other party, he can still cooperate with them in order to continue the ideal state. This is Agravan, an indispensable political officer of the Knights of the Round Table and Camelot.
Similarly, as long as he was certain that he was not an enemy and could provide assistance, Agravan would not make things difficult for himself, a trait that Morgan had to admire.
Agravan is a knight who pursues "truth," and the core of this truth is nothing more than the absence of falsehood, deception, or trickery.
As long as this rule is followed, he's actually quite easy to talk to.
Therefore, Morgan could not understand the Chaldea group's alarmed reaction when they mentioned Agarwyn.
—Agwen is clearly easy to get along with.
In response to Agwin's question, Morgan believed that, in her view, actions speak louder than words, so she threw the question back at him, saying, "I believe my actions have already demonstrated my stance."
"So, what magic do you possess in the northwest garden and at the main gate?"
Morgan felt inexplicably proud as he looked at Agwen, who was scrutinizing him.
—Look, he did his research beforehand and even noticed her little tricks. No wonder he was once taught some basic magic tricks.
Then the pink petals beneath the veil gently curved, "to protect Camelot."
Upon hearing this, Agraven frowned and said meaningfully, "Your Highness Morgan, I think you wouldn't make such a mistake."
"Lord Agwen, the Holy City is not our homeland, Camelot." Morgan revealed the true meaning behind Agwen's words, then continued, "But you are clearly more attached to the stability of Camelot than anyone else, and the reason that keeps you here is not hard to imagine... Is it Camelot that you want to protect, or the people who live here?"
"..."
Morgan watched Agravan fall silent, his mind racing with a myriad of thoughts.
—Perhaps I could tell Agravan everything? If it's this child, perhaps he'd be willing to cooperate with my plan.
To reiterate, Agravan was Morgan's most trusted child.
The same applies to the British princess.
The reason is simple: Agravan has very clear things he cares about and doesn't mind taking any means to achieve them.
"A people living in peace under the king's protection, guarded by the Knights of the Round Table, and with a witch named Morgan residing here—is this not Camelot?" Under Agraven's increasingly sharp gaze, Morgan continued, "Lord Agraven, I am the Princess of Britain, and therefore my purpose is to protect Britain."
Princess and king are different identities. The former does not represent the power that the latter possesses. Most importantly, the woman standing before him is based on the aspect of being a "princess".
Morgan made it almost explicitly to Agwen that she had no desire to rule Britain.
Before long, the quick-witted Agvin understood Morgan's statement.
Just before the black-haired knight was about to respond, Morgan added, "However, there's still one thing missing: the 'Holy Sword' isn't here."
Morgan, who had met people at the Mesopotamian observatory, knew the reason, but she didn't say it aloud because she hadn't yet revealed her blueprint to Altolistan.
Morgan's main reason for choosing to keep it a secret was that she couldn't guarantee Altoris would agree to the plan.
After all, that would be an act that almost betrays human reason.
Even though King Arthur accepted the curse of the Holy Grail, he still retained the belief in saving the world. How could he possibly agree to her rebellion against the history of humankind?
In general, Morgan was pleased that the Storm King possessed the "justice" she was familiar with, but she was also worried that the Storm King's justice negated her "ideals".
However, this concern does not exist when facing Agraven.
Her icy eyes met Agravan's equally cold gray pupils, and she saw a storm churning deep within them.
Camelot, which could coexist with Britain, was undoubtedly their shared ideal state.
Especially after returning from the Temple of the Sun King, she doesn't have much time left to operate and desperately needs an accomplice who can keep her secret.
Therefore, the British princess slowly spoke: "Lord Agwen, please hear me out—"
...
…
As Morgan pushed open the heavy doors of the government building, before he could recover from his jumbled thoughts, Tristan's figure suddenly came into view.
—A faint, almost invisible light flashed and disappeared.
In an instant, a dizzying sensation, as if everything in her vision had turned into a tangled mess, overwhelmed Morgan's mind. She lost her balance and fell to the ground!
A corner of the black veil hanging beneath the crown was lifted, revealing her pale face against the polished marble tiles.
Like a butterfly caught by a strong wind, it fell into a fragrant thicket covered with thorns.
The British princess fell into the knight's arms with a sigh of relief. He adjusted his position so that she lay back in his outstretched arms, and her hair, dyed crimson by the night, brushed past her eyes with this movement.
Under Tristan's silent gaze, Morgan's eyes moved upwards from the ends of his drooping hair until their gazes met, one in gold and one in blue.
After assessing the rate at which her magic power was draining, she finally spoke slowly, "...That was truly unbecoming."
Just moments before, Morgan had confidently explained the details of the layout to Agravan, and when Agravan asked, "Is your magic enough to keep those 'clocks' running?" she replied, "Don't worry." Now, however, she appears in such a disheveled state.
Morgan thought he was able to handle the magical output, but it seemed that without external support, it would be quite difficult.
"How are you feeling?" Tristan's words of comfort drew Morgan's attention back to her.
As a dark glint flashed in the red-haired knight's calm, unwavering golden eyes, Morgan was reminded of the feelings he had had not long ago.
Scenes from the past flashed through my mind: Tristan's indifference, his silence, his indulgence, his advice... and finally, his assurance.
Morgan suddenly had a question: Did Tristan and Agravan know each other?
That's probably not the case, so his assurance must have come from a place of gentleness.
—A gentleness that Lord Tristan would not normally display.
If that's the case, perhaps she can ask him...
She could never let go of the child.
It's not that I haven't tried to forget the other person's existence, nor that I haven't tried to ignore everything about the other person.
But every time she convinces herself that she has nothing to do with the other person, she becomes more concerned about the child.
Wanting to know more, wanting to understand more, yet hesitant, as if afraid of something, cautiously.
Suppressing the discomfort of her nearly depleted magic, the British princess revealed her inner softness to the guarding knight, asking in a soft, melodious voice, "Lord Tristan, that child... what does Lord Mordred think of me? Is she disgusted by my presence here?"
Tristan was taken aback at first, then a bitter smile curved his eyebrows, as if he had finally ushered in a long-awaited moment.
When Tristan closed his eyelids again, those emotions that shouldn't have been revealed seemed like an illusion.
"...Gao Wenqing said that you appeared in the world as a princess of Britain, so for Lord Mordred, you must feel more of a 'strangeness' than disgust. If you were 'Princess Morgan,' King Arthur's knights would never have disliked you."
As if comforted by this gentle reply, Morgan slowly closed his eyes. "Thank you, Lord Tristan."
Tristan did not respond further.
However, just before Morgan was plunged into boundless darkness, a clear, regal voice rang in his ears:
"Thank you for your hard work, Lord Tristan. It is indeed only at this time, when she is at her weakest, that this magic can be effective."
—...Arthur?
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