After a mont of silence, Morringan allowed Bernard so ti to adjust. Bernard, on the other hand, was calm and shy. Unexpectedly for Morringan, he behaved almost like a child.
But according to Seth, he was a monster on the battlefield. Despite feeling bad, Morringan couldn't help but like Bernard's sincere smile. Accepting soone older than herself as her son was strange, though.
"Since you're my son, that makes you a prince," Morringan said with a gentle smile. Bernard, however, still felt odd as he hadn't gotten used to the situation yet.
Being the stepson of soone as legendary as Morgana was peculiar. Only a while ago, he thought he had co here for a completely different reason. But contrary to his expectations, Morgana had summoned him because he reminded her of Mordred.
Bernard knew Morgana's legend. She was often depicted as an enemy to her own kin, a fanatic, and even a demon. At least, that's what the Church's books said.
But the truth wasn't like that. Morgana had been vilified because of the Church's malice. Bernard even knew that Morgana's heritage from Drachenreich had been erased from history.
Bernard frowned. Morgana had been targeted by King Arthur and exiled from her own lands simply because she was one of Drachenreich's people.
"Mother," Bernard said, stamring slightly. He was still struggling to adjust. After all, he suddenly had a stepmother.
"Will you tell the truth?"
"What do you an?" Morringan raised her eyebrows in curiosity, wondering what Bernard wanted. Bernard turned slightly and t her gaze. "I want to know the truth about King Arthur and Albion."
"If I tell you, you might end up hating . Do you really want to hear it?" Morringan said calmly. Bernard nodded seriously, "Yes, I want to hear it. I promise, I won't hate you."
Morringan sighed, a false sadness crossing her face. "Alright. I just hope you don't end up hating , Bernard."
She then thought of the books she had read and what Seth had told her, beginning to explain.
"I was Uther's eldest stepdaughter," Morringan said calmly. Bernard frowned. "I thought you and Arthur were siblings by blood."
"No, we're not," Morringan replied, fully embracing the role of Morgana. "I'm actually the daughter of the King of Cornwalt, who ruled over the lands of Drachenreich."
"What do you an?"
Morringan smiled at Bernard's reaction and continued, "My father was killed by Uther, my mother was assaulted, and our lands were seized. Then, I was sent to Avalon, which was still the realm of the Fae at the ti."
Bernard's eyes widened, and he took a deep breath. He couldn't even recall hearing anything like this before. The Morgana, always depicted as a villain, had lived such a harsh life…
And even their lands had been forcefully taken. Bernard genuinely felt sorry for Morgana.
"Avalon is the dinsion where King Arthur exiled certain races, right?" Bernard asked curiously. Morringan replied, "There isn't just one Avalon. There are two."
"What do you an?" Seeing Bernard's curious expression, Morringan smiled and patted his head. "The Avalon of the Fae is a sacred and beautiful place. It was a realm of learning, with teachings on magic, enchanted plants, history, and much more, even beyond what the golden age could offer.
The other Avalon is a prison. A vast dinsion outside the universe, whose existence is a mystery."
"Wow," Bernard smiled, finding it fascinating. A dinsion outside the universe? How intriguing.
"That's where they will remain imprisoned forever," Morringan said calmly. Then she said sothing that surprised Bernard.
"But it's also possible that they might not co here but end up in another universe."
"What do you an?"
"Simply put," Morringan smiled faintly, "Arthur didn't banish them entirely; he only exiled them from this realm and sealed the dinsional rift leading here. However, there are still rifts leading to other universes."
"Dinsional rifts?" Bernard was hearing this term for the first ti. Morringan herself had only learned it from Seth.
"A dinsional rift is a rare spatial gateway that opens when the barriers of the universe weaken or collapse."
"The universe has barriers?"
"Yes," Morringan replied calmly. "If a universe's cornerstone deity dies and there's no other deity to assu the cornerstone role, the universe's barriers collapse, putting it in danger."
This was one of the most crucial pieces of knowledge Seth had shared. The Goddess of Light was actually a false cornerstone deity protecting this world. Surprising but true. The identity of the true cornerstone deity was still unknown.
"I feel sorry for them. I hope no one has to face such a fate."
"I hope so too…"
Morringan sighed and continued her story. "Let carry on with my tale."
"Since Uther refused to acknowledge as his heir, I allied with Vortigern to take his throne."
Knowing this was already ntioned in the books, Bernard wasn't surprised. Morringan continued calmly, "But as expected, Vortigern betrayed . He was untrustworthy from the start."
"Still, I began to rule the continent. My Age of Chaos was better than Arthur's so-called Golden Age," Morringan said calmly to Bernard.
"Wasn't King Arthur a good ruler?"
"He was a good commander but not a ruler," Morringan clarified, adding a hint of mockery to her tone. "During my ti, cri rates were almost nonexistent. I valued people's freedom, and prosperity reached its peak for 60 years."
"Can you believe it? During my reign, there were 85 billion gold coins in the treasury. I achieved that in just 60 years," Morringan said with a faint smile. "But during Arthur's so-called 10-year Golden Age, that treasury dwindled to 50 billion gold coins."
"You must be joking!" Bernard was shocked and stood in disbelief, wondering where all that money went. Morringan laughed. "Arthur was constantly at war. He dealt with rebellions and endlessly funded the army, while the people grew poorer, yet they still loved him."
"Arthur wasn't the modern king the books claim he was. During his reign, it was normal for won to only sew, work nial jobs, or fight on rare occasions."
Smiling at Bernard, Morringan continued, "But during my reign, won joined the state workforce. They didn't just sew; they took on many important roles. So even beca knights. They could proudly show their identities without disguising themselves as n."
"Those tis must have been wonderful," Bernard said with a small smile. Morringan's lips curled into a thin smile. "Yes, they were."
"Arthur, without rlin, wouldn't have even known how to manage a kingdom. Unlike , he had no grasp of politics. And what happened in the end?" Morringan added mockingly, "His wife betrayed him, his knights abandoned him. It was all due to his incompetence."
Bernard didn't know whether to feel sad or pleased by this revelation and remained silent. Morringan turned to Bernard, her face showing a hint of sorrow.
"Back then, I was very aggressive, and when people rebelled against , I did terrible things to them… If I had another chance, I'd do everything differently…"
"This isn't your fault, Mother!" Bernard said firmly. "If they were selfish enough to rebel against you, it's not your fault!"
Morringan remained silent, sighing softly, yet she smiled and ruffled Bernard's hair. "Even Mordred never said such things to . You're truly a good child."
Bernard's cheeks flushed, and he smiled. Morringan then grew serious, her tone somber as she approached the main issue. "The sa thing is happening today. They're going to rebel against , Bernard. They want to kill ."
"What?" Bernard straightened up, shocked. Morringan, with a somber expression, t his eyes calmly. "Those so-called friends of yours—those commanders and generals—they've all gathered to rebel against . I'm scared, Bernard. I'm scared of being seen as a monster again…"
"I will kill them for you, Mother!" Bernard's eyes nearly sparkled, and even the veins on his face beca visible. Even Morringan felt a little intimidated by this crazed look.
Was this boy truly a monster? He could shift from being an innocent child to exuding a murderous aura in an instant.
But Morringan didn't hesitate and quickly composed herself. "Would you really do that, my son...?"
A spark of fire seed to ignite in Bernard's eyes. His killing intent began to rise, his gaze widening with madness. "I wouldn't hesitate to kill for your happiness, Mother. Let destroy those traitors!"
Morringan was slightly taken aback. Bernard had only reunited with his stepmother ten minutes ago, and yet his loyalty was this extre.
According to Seth, Bernard was a 'yandere.' He appeared pure and innocent but could beco a killer to protect his family, especially soone he loved.
Still, Morringan didn't mind. She hugged Bernard and thanked him. "You truly deserve to be my son, Bernard. Your mother is proud of you..."
Bernard smiled happily. "So, what's the plan? Mother, I'll cook a plate full of humans just for you!"
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Bernard grinned darkly, a lust for blood shining on his face. Morringan now felt genuinely uneasy. Was this boy truly innocent and pure?
"We'll neutralize them at the pre-eting party, Bernard. If you don't want to turn against your old friends, you don't have to attend," Morringan said gently. Bernard shook his head firmly.
"No, those who betrayed you have betrayed ! Today, I will bathe in their blood!" Bernard declared, his tone resolute and excited. Morringan nodded and smiled.
"Very well, then be in the hall by 6 PM," Morringan said seriously. "Now, if there's nothing else, you may go."
Bernard smiled with enthusiasm and left. Before he closed the door, Morringan added, "If you need anything, feel free to co anyti. This is your ho now."
Bernard nodded cheerfully and left. Alone in the room, Morringan was startled when a crow landed on her shoulder, but she cald down upon realizing it was Seth.
"It seems you've succeeded?"
"Yes, but..." Morringan sighed, lowering her gaze. Her expression turned genuinely sorrowful. "Manipulating soone like him feels wrong. Bernard is a good person."
"I'm sure you'll co to love him as a true son soday, Morringan." Seth looked at her seriously. Morringan rolled her eyes. "You do know I'm younger than him, right?"
This ti, Seth rolled his eyes. "Are you still bound by such rules? After all, you're an adult now."
"Doesn't it feel strange to anyone else that a 16-year-old woman adopts a 21-year-old baby-faced man?" Morringan smiled slightly. Seth gave her a dismissive look. "You're lucky. Once, a female crow with chicks flirted with ."
"Pfft, are you serious?!" Morringan broke her stoic expression and burst into laughter, leaning forward and clutching her stomach. "A—a crow hit on you!"
Seth looked at her as if witnessing sothing strange. "You just laughed. It's the first ti I've seen it. How surprising."
Morringan coughed and returned to her usual deanor. "You must have been mistaken; I only coughed."
"Hmm, is that so?"
"It is," Morringan replied with a faint smile. Seth chuckled in his crow-like way and flapped his wings.
"Smiling suits you, Morringan. It's not sothing to be ashad of, especially for soone like you."
Seth said calmly. Morringan froze, her cheeks slightly reddening. "Does smiling really suit ?"
"Of course. Your stoic, gothic aura is very alluring, but smiling adds a unique charm," Seth said kindly. Morringan felt flustered and wanted to cover her face with her hands.
"Do I really look gothic?"
"Yes. You wear black, have silky hair, an unnaturally pale complexion, and a stoic expression. You're like the Goddess of Goth." Seth evaluated her seriously.
Morringan wanted to bury her head in a pillow. She smiled shyly. Seth laughed again before leaving the room.
Morringan stayed red-faced for a while longer before reluctantly heading off to attend to her duties.
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