LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 16: Chapter 16. The Lake Where the Princess Was Born
Chapter 16. The Lake Where the Princess Was Born
[You confirm that you didn't mishear Morgan words.]
[She truly expressed the desire not to return to the palace at this time, and her attitude was quite cautious.]
[You realize that she is worried this request might contradict King Uther order for her to return to the palace.]
[You decide to reassure her.]
"Alright, Princess," Ian says, gripping the reins of his horse.
"Then we won't return for now."
"Is that okay?" Morgan asks, her tone still cautious.
"It will be fine," Ian replies as gently as possible.
"If there's any problem—"
Ian pats his horse.
"Just say they're too tired."
Morgan knows that the man before her would never lie to her.
She nods.
"Then let's go, Ian."
"Yes, Princess."
[You temporarily postpone the plan to return to the palace with Morgan.]
[You know this goes against King Uther orders.]
[But you understand Morgan feelings even more now.]
[You cannot let her return to the palace in such a melancholic state, knowing it would be a great pain for her.]
[You and Morgan leave the original path.]
[The two of you arrive at a forest, and a clear lake appears before you.]
"Ian."
Morgan grips the reins tightly, causing her horse to stop.
"I'm tired, let's rest here for a while."
"Understood, Princess."
After receiving her command, Ian halts his horse, dismounts, and approaches Morgan to assist her.
"Please be careful, Princess."
"Yes, I know."
With Ian's help, Morgan gracefully dismounts from her horse.
The two warhorses from Britannia, both gentle and intelligent, automatically bend down to graze on the grass without needing Ian's guidance.
"Ian."
"I'm here."
"What do you think of this place?"
"Mm..."
At Morgan's question, Ian began to observe the forest more closely.
He saw a lush forest with many tall trees, their branches and leaves stretching out from the treetops, drooping like the long hair of a maiden.
The sunlight filtered through the emerald green leaves, forming scattered patches of light and shadow along the forest path.
Flowers bloomed on either side of the path, dotting the lush green grass.
Not far away, a tranquil lake appeared.
The water sparkled with light, so clear that the bottom could be seen, as pure as jade; if one wasn't paying attention, they might mistake it for jade itself.
"Beautiful," Ian honestly replied. "I've never seen a sight like this before."
"So, how does it compare to me?" Morgan suddenly asked.
"It's also beautiful."
"Why?"
"Because no matter how beautiful this forest is, it still lies within the realm that literature can describe." Ian looked at Morgan and said, "But as for the princess, your beauty cannot be expressed by any poem."
"Hah."
Morgan gave a cold laugh.
"Truly flattery, did your time under Vortigern teach you this?"
"No." Ian shook his head.
"Princess, if it were flattery, I would do much better."
"But in my heart, there is nothing that can represent you but yourself."
Upon hearing this, Morgan turned away.
"Fine... I won't argue with you about this anymore."
[Morgan no longer debated with you about who is more beautiful, her or the lake.]
[Her behavior became strange as she walked ahead, seemingly wanting to lead you somewhere.]
[You followed her.]
[Eventually, you stopped by the edge of the lake.]
[Morgan made an unexpected request — she wanted you to wash her feet here.]
[You didn't refuse, but seriously followed her request.]
[At the moment you touched her feet, you felt something unusual.]
[You realized that she had actually used Magecraft on herself.]
"Completely different from what you imagined, right?"
Morgan rested her hand on her chin, watching Ian as he removed his armor and stepped into the lake to wash her feet, then asked.
"Yes." Ian nodded sincerely.
"Princess, it is completely different from what I imagined."
"It moves me."
Although Ian had frequently had to touch Morgan feet before, this was the first time he was tasked with such an action.
Her feet were pale and soft, with no wrinkles or wounds at all.
The bones in her toes supported her smooth skin, and between her toes, there was no dirt. The arch of her foot slightly bent due to Ian's grip, but it still maintained the necessary upright form.
The position of her ankle formed a perfect arc.
Ian felt that these feet could truly be called a work of art.
"Really?" Morgan curved her lips slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"Do you know, it was born from the lake beneath your feet?"
Ian quickly realized.
"Princess, is this where you were born?"
Morgan didn't answer the question, but the nostalgic expression on her face was enough to explain everything.
"Answer me, Ian."
"Now that you know this, are you still moved by it?"
"Of course." Ian answered without hesitation, "Every day, every night."
"You're lying to me." Morgan looked directly at Ian, who was kneeling at her feet. "No one would need a princess born from a lake."
"But I would never lie to you, Princess."
Ian gently rubbed Morgan feet, softly caressing her smooth, jade-like skin.
It was soft and smooth, like touching the surface of milk, with no disturbance.
Clearly, Morgan Magecraft had preserved her feet to perfection, ensuring her beauty never faded with time or battle.
"If this is where you were born, I would be more joyful than ever."
"Because your birth brought blessings to this place, the lake became clear because of you, and the trees became lush because of you."
"You are the master of this forest, like the knights of Britannia, thanking your presence."
Upon hearing these words, Morgan remained silent for a long time.
Contrary to her usual joy when receiving Ian's praise, she looked incredibly sad.
Her delicate brows lowered, like a sad song at the end of a play, and her blue eyes hid a deep loneliness.
After a long while, Morgan seemed to regain her composure. With a voice lacking its usual pride, she asked Ian, still standing in the lake:
"Ian, if I, the one always abandoned by my father, someone who could never become a king..."
"Would you still be my knight?"
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