A Talk About What Comes Next

As Arthur stepped down from the carriage at the castle, he was greeted by Morgan wearing a chilling smile.

“Welcome back, Prince Arthur. It seems you performed some rather flashy healing out there.”

“Yeah, I showed them just what my healing power can do.”

Was she mad…? Arthur replied cautiously, slightly tense. Healing citizens of another country without permission might have been a bad idea. How could he explain it?

His mind flashed back to his previous life’s long lecture sessions. Maybe he should say, “My stomach hurts, I need the restroom,” and make a run for it—he was just about to bolt when—

“A thank-you letter has already arrived. The Saintess had nothing but praise for you. Well done, Prince Arthur. With this, the Church will be on your side. Just as planned.”

“Ah, ahh…”

Relieved, he let out a quiet sigh. So she wasn’t mad after all.

It’s hard to tell with her—she smiled when she was angry and when she was praising people… Also, what plan was she talking about?

Arthur decided not to ask, figuring it’d just get complicated, and nodded along.

And once he learned he’d been praised, Arthur naturally got full of himself. Because of their shared past, he always tried to assert himself when dealing with Morgan.

“I didn’t just help those villagers. There was also some monster near the village called a Cockatrice. I took care of that too. It had some weird poison, but it was no match for me—”

“Whaaaaaat!? Did you say Cockatrice!!? That’s one of the Five Great Calamities! You fought that monster!?”

“Uwoooaaa!?”

Arthur flinched as Morgan suddenly raised her voice. She’s way too emotionally unstable… As he recoiled slightly, help arrived.

“Please calm down, Lady Morgan. Prince Arthur went to aid the Saintess, who had gone alone to investigate the Cockatrice. The way he rescued her from danger was truly heroic.”

Pling-pling~♪ With the strum of a lyre like a bard singing of heroism, Tristan walked in.

Apparently, his weapon doubled as a musical instrument. Weirdly impressive.

“I see… So you fought it to gain a favor from the Saintess. But still, Prince Arthur, please don’t overexert yourself. This country’s future rests on your shoulders.”

Morgan nodded as if convinced, then glared at Tristan, who still wore a smug smile.

“I assigned you as a bodyguard to ensure nothing happened to Prince Arthur. So why was he the one fighting?”

“Oh dear, how harsh. But facing a Cockatrice was too much for me… Besides, I knew Prince Arthur would handle it with ease. Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Arthur nodded eagerly. He didn’t actually know what kind of monster it was—he’d just heard it tasted good. But he played along, sensing that was the smart move. More importantly—

Wait, this guy was one of Morgan’s people!?

He remembered all the street food and antics they’d shared. He glared a silent “Don’t you dare say anything,” and Tristan gave a knowing nod.

“Rest assured, Prince Arthur. I haven’t told anyone about how your face was smothered in the Saintess’s generous bosom while you swooned.”

“…Hah?”

“I mean, you were totally lovestruck, weren’t you?”

Arthur replied with a flat look, unimpressed. What is this guy talking about? Morgan let out a bizarre squeal in the background, but he ignored it.

In any case, staying here longer would just cause more trouble. Arthur started to head back to his room—but then remembered something he wanted to say.

“Hey, Morgan…”

“What is it…?”

She sounded oddly displeased, which made Arthur hesitate, but he continued.

“That thing you once told me—‘Don’t just follow others blindly. Think for yourself and take action.’ I think I finally understand what you meant. Thanks.”

“Eh…?”

He’d never understood it in his past life—hadn’t even tried. But she had kept repeating it to him all this time.

And now, because of those words, Arthur felt like he’d changed a little. So, though it was frustrating—really frustrating—he thought it might be okay to acknowledge her wisdom and offer thanks.

“I’m glad… If my words became your motivation, then I’m truly glad.”

Morgan smiled as she spoke. Somehow, her smile looked much softer than usual.

“He’s a wonderful man, isn’t he, Prince Arthur…”

“Yes… He truly is.”

Morgan nodded at Tristan’s words as she watched Arthur disappear down the hall. He was a mysterious man. Not long ago, he’d seemed like a hopeless idiot prince, no matter what anyone said.

But recent events revealed that was all an act. She hadn’t even noticed. Morgan now felt ashamed of all the nagging she had done.

“But… My words really meant something, didn’t they…?”

Maybe it was just a kind lie to make her feel better. But if her words had genuinely moved his heart, she was happy.

“Perhaps I should formally accept that proposal…”

“Oh? You mean the marriage proposal with Prince Arthur?”

“Yes… I may not be enough for him yet, but I want to support him on his path of conquest.”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

Tristan nodded with a smile at Morgan’s words. His insight into people was sharp, and if he wasn’t objecting, then Arthur must’ve passed his judgment.

Then, perhaps it was time for her to seriously prepare to stand beside him in shaping Britannia’s future.

The neutral Avalon now supported Arthur. This would bring a major change.

But before that, there was one thing she needed to confirm.

“Say… what exactly went on between Prince Arthur and the Saintess?”

“Eh…?”

Sensing danger, Tristan tried to flee—but it was too late. Morgan had already grabbed hold of his cloak.

He regretted the foolish things he said just to tease Arthur and watch Morgan’s reaction.

Meanwhile, in his room, Arthur took a break, then reached for the “Good Deeds Notebook” stored deep in his desk. Following what was written in it, he had earned more Good Deed Points this time.

Well, the result with Elaine had been kind of ambiguous, but she did seem grateful at the end. So he probably succeeded in getting the message across.

Thinking that, he opened the notebook.

“Successfully built rapport with Elaine and boosted her motivation. As a result, more people were saved through the power of Jerusalem, earning +20 Good Deed Points.”

“Saved a village and defeated the Cockatrice responsible for the trouble. +10 Good Deed Points.”

“With a total gain of 30 points, your future has shifted. Additionally, due to the large amount of points gained, two new route options have appeared.”

“YESSSSSS!! THIRTY POINTS GET!! I still don’t really get this whole ‘rapport with Elaine’ thing, but whatever. Now, what’s my future look like?”

Excitedly, he looked to the pages describing his future. Toward the end, he saw that although a revolution still occurred and he was captured…

It now said that thanks to opposition led by the Saintess of Jerusalem and others, he received a life sentence instead.

“That’s… an improvement, right? Just one more step?”

Thinking so, he turned to the final page—only to find a new, unbelievable line added.

“Poisoned to death in prison.”

“Hah…? What the hell is this…?”

Arthur let out a dazed voice. If it had been the guillotine, he could understand—it reflected the people’s will.

But poison? That was… assassination.

Which meant someone had deliberately arranged for Arthur to be killed.

As the horrifying truth set in and sweat dripped from his brow—

Knock knock. A chilling knock echoed through the room.