Heaven has always been fair. While bestowing upon Horndog that genius intellect, it also gave him a heart that loves to slack off.
Morgan mused silently to herself.
She was genuinely pleased to see Lot regaining his motivation.
Morgan believed that as long as Lot took action, everything would turn out fine.
Blinking her eyes, she said to Lot, "By the way, don't forget I told Artoria that she could only draw the Sword in the Stone because of my blessing. You better not expose ."
"Understood."
Lot nodded.
He no longer paid much attention to the fact that Morgan referred to Artoria as "she."
Since Morgan already knew Artoria had the ability to draw the Sword in the Stone, it wasn't surprising that she also knew the King of Knights was a girl.
Perfectly normal.
[I wonder how that old swindler rlin reacted when he heard the news. Lot here loves seeing that bastard's ugly expressions.]
Listening to his thoughts, Morgan also felt like laughing.
Indeed, since rlin had always been her adversary, seeing him humiliated was quite satisfying.
"Speaking of which, I'd really like to know where he is right now. Should we go find him?"
Morgan suggested to Lot.
"Hmm…" Lot was about to agree, but then he recalled the intelligence reports on rlin's recent whereabouts and imdiately shook his head. "Forget it. That old lecher is probably holed up in a brothel at this hour."
"Disgusting."
That was Morgan's evaluation.
At the sa ti, she shot Lot a wary look and placed her hand on his waist, ready to twist the flesh 180 degrees at any mont.
"Lot, rember you must not follow his example."
Sure, Horndog's once or twice a day was already a bit much for her.
But that didn't an she'd let her Horndog lust after other won.
"Why would I ever imitate him?"
Lot replied, torn between laughter and exasperation.
[What kind of scumbag would even think of other won when they have a wife as beautiful and capable as Morgan in every way?]
Hearing this, Morgan nodded in approval.
Exactly. I'm this stunning and this competent.
"Let's not waste any more thoughts on that old fraud. Co on, after all this commotion, I'm getting hungry."
Truth be told, Morgan had been starving for a while now.
Watching Artoria devour food with such gusto would whet anyone's appetite.
The reason she hadn't eaten in front of Artoria was mainly to maintain her dignity as queen and future monarch.
She was also afraid of becoming the straw that broke the cal's back.
If word got out that "The Queen and Knight Artoria ate so much they worked several chefs to death," no one would care about the actual quantities.
They'd just spread rumors that the queen was a glutton.
In this era, Britain's crops were perpetually scarce. Having a gluttonous queen would be terrible for her reputation.
But now, with just Lot around, things were different.
The amount the two of them ate was just a chef's normal workload.
No one could possibly associate her with being a glutton.
At this mont, Morgan felt a twinge of relief.
"Thank goodness my little sister didn't beco Britain's king. If she had taken the throne, Calot would've been dubbed the Kingdom of Gluttons."
If the food given to Artoria was quantity over quality, then Morgan and Lot's als were all about refinent.
The chef prepared several delicate dishes, paired with freshly baked pastries, and the two began their lunch.
Now that only Lot was present, Morgan no longer had to maintain her regal facade.
Skilled in using chopsticks, she picked up a stir-fried vegetable and took a bite, simultaneously nibbling on a pastry.
Lot watched her dotingly as he bit into a piece of bread.
Sigh… What a sha.
[I really want to eat rice again. But it's just too far away.]
Britain simply didn't have rice paddies, and Lot missed it dearly.
"Rice? What kind of food is that? Does Horndog like it? Hmm, I'll make a note to ask around. I must fulfill my Horndog's desires."
After eating a few bites nowhere near her little sister's appetite Morgan no longer felt as hungry. She turned to Lot and said, "Mmm, Lot, you wouldn't believe the expressions on those nobles' faces today…"
She then recounted in detail how Artoria had drawn the Sword in the Stone and presented it to her.
"Those nobles must've pissed themselves by now."
Lot couldn't help but laugh.
"We're eating right now."
Morgan shot him a glare.
"Fine, fine. I ant they were terrified."
Lot imdiately raised his hands in surrender, which satisfied Morgan.
"So, do you think those nobles will submit after my bluff?"
Morgan continued.
"If all the nobles were united, of course not."
Lot thought for a mont before answering.
"Then what should we do?"
Morgan seed to grasp his implication.
"Divide and conquer. Those nobles don't all seek the sa benefits."
Lot explained.
"Unite so, crush others pit the feudal nobles against each other. That's the real strategy."
[Feudal nobles are even more spineless than capitalists and far more easily blinded by imdiate gains.]
[Relying on them to be the pillars of the nation? Impossible.]
Though Morgan didn't fully understand, she silently committed his words to mory.
Lot's words must hold wisdom.
Those nobles can't be trusted.
Our faction needs to grow stronger.
But she sensed there was even more depth to Horndog's thoughts.
Well, we'll take it step by step.
"Mm, I see. Lot, you'll have to work harder from now on."
Morgan walked over to Lot's side.
She began massaging his shoulders.
Horndog, enjoy your massage then get to work for our family!
"Ah, I'm just here to give advice. Leave the actual work to others."
Though his wife's massage was heavenly, he absolutely refused to be roped into labor.
[I'm a bona fide British Imperial Yellow Banner man I wasn't born to toil.]
Morgan didn't know what this "Imperial Yellow Banner" ant, but she understood Lot's slacker ntality all too well.
This won't do.
Morgan decided to motivate him.
And to motivate him, she first had to motivate his "motivation."
So after a few more massage strokes, she casually nestled into his arms.
Still massaging
Just…
Not so innocently anymore.
Thus, Lot's "motivation" was ignited.
And so was his drive.
He even upgraded his earlier plans further.
While Lot and Morgan enjoyed their al and then Lot enjoyed Morgan the nobles of Calot found themselves unable to eat, their appetites gone. Even the coquettish maidservants no longer held their interest.
They were afraid.
What did Her Highness Morgan's inscrutable expression an?
Did she see through everything?
Could they really stop her from becoming queen?
Though these nobles didn't know the Sword in the Stone's true origins, they had used it to set a trap for Morgan.
They were the ones who spread the rumors, luring knights from across the land to undermine House Pendragon's prestige.
They couldn't let Pendragon blood reclaim the throne.
Especially Morgan.
With a single move, she and her husband had defeated the Savage King Vortigern whom they could never overco forcing him to flee to Wales in disgrace.
Vast territories once beyond their reach now belonged to Morgan and her husband.
If she beca queen, their futures would be bleak.
They had to prevent this.
But what was the result?
Morgan hadn't even lifted a finger.
She rely had a newly knighted youth draw the sword in her stead.
She hadn't even glanced at them.
If she truly acted, how could they resist?
By now, many nobles were already considering retreat.
Maybe… we should submit for this lifeti?
Noble houses endured for centuries.
Suffering a setback in one generation wasn't unthinkable.
Let the next generation deal with it.
So nobles began to waver.
But others refused to surrender so easily.
Power was an addiction no one relinquished it willingly.
From Lot and Morgan's past actions, it was clear they were control freaks. Uther might have cared about noble privileges, but these two wouldn't.
They'd enforce their rule with an iron fist.
We can't allow this.
So nobles steeled their resolve.
And then, they thought of soone.
The sword might have been Morgan's doing her power behind it all.
But to most, it was her subordinate, that knight called Artoria, who drew it.
If he could be turned…
Not many in Calot had actually witnessed Artoria swear fealty to Morgan.
If they could persuade him to change his story at the critical mont claiming he drew the sword alone
They could install him as king.
Then Calot would still be theirs to rule.
After centuries as Calot's nobility, they had so credibility with the people.
Propping up a re knight wouldn't be hard.
Yes. This is the way.
Thus, the disgruntled nobles conspired and set off to find Artoria.
When they arrived at Artoria's dwelling, they found her training with her sword.
After having two at buns stolen by rlin earlier, Artoria had returned to the kitchen to replenish with a basket of dumplings.
Once satiated, she imdiately resud her swordsmanship drills.
Her Highness Morgan bestowed the Sword in the Stone upon I must prove worthy of it.
Gripping the sacred blade, she practiced synchronizing with it.
I'll beco the strongest knight.
Only then can I live up to Her Highness's expectations.
And with so many enemies targeting Morgan and King Lot, I must protect them well.
The nobles surveyed Artoria's humble abode and felt reassured.
He lives in poverty.
Such people are easiest to sway.
A small price will suffice.
The lead nobleman stepped into Artoria's courtyard and greeted her.
"Knight Artoria, greetings. We co as representatives of Calot's nobility."
"What do you want?"
Since Morgan had warned that the Sword in the Stone might be the nobles' sche, Artoria regarded them warily.
The nobleman didn't answer directly. Instead, he glanced around and asked, "Do you truly live in such a crude dwelling? Does it not… displease you?"
Not at all?
I'm perfectly content here.
Artoria thought to herself.
Her standards for housing were practically zero.
A stable would've sufficed.
The nobleman's smile stiffened.
He's… satisfied with this?
Cutting to the chase, he said, "We've co to propose an alliance. Should you cooperate with us, we guarantee honors and status beyond what Morgan can offer. You'll never want for wealth again. If you desire beauty, you may wed the daughter of any noble house you choose."
"All we ask is your assistance. What Morgan can give, we can give. What she cannot, we still can."
Three seconds passed.
Artoria grasped their aning.
ow ow ow?
These people are trying to bribe with won and power?
To betray Her Highness Morgan?
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