My Wives Of Simulation

Chapter 27: I'll Keep An Eye On You For The Rest Of My Life

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["Rhine, what are we eating today?"]

[It's still within the palace. Since arriving at the City of Glory, Morgan, who gradually became your friend, has begun to rediscover her youth as a girl.]

["The Scourge of Britain," "The Witch Who Brings Disaster," "Monster Among Monsters," "The Root of Misfortune," and other such titles no longer seem to have anything to do with her.]

["What are we eating? Morn, just ask the kitchen to prepare whatever you want."]

[As the light of the Nine Glory filters through the windowsill, the King of Glory appears bathed in a layer of radiant brilliance.]

[Seeing you in this light, Morgan stared at your smile in a daze. "Why are you smiling so beautifully?"]

["Morgan, what did you say? You're too soft."]

["Nothing, don't worry about it."]

[She replied in a panic, insisting she hadn't said anything. For the first time, Morgan felt warmth—warmth radiating from you. It was the kind of sunlight she, as a witch, had never been able to bask in.]

["I just made a friend after so much difficulty, so I don't have any other thoughts!"]

[Morgan tried to convince herself, feeling strange as she repeated this in her mind.]

[Why would someone—why would anyone—be so gentle with her, a witch?]

[She was clearly a harbinger of disaster, an ill omen. Even the ministers had advised you to stay away from her, yet you didn't care at all.]

[You should've avoided her, scolded her in a tone full of alienation and disdain, and driven her away with a disgusted glare.]

[But instead, you were so gentle. So gentle that Morgan didn't know how to respond.]

[She couldn't understand it, couldn't reconcile it, and couldn't ignore it. Curious about everything about you, this was the first time the girl named Morgan Le Fay had experienced such feelings.]

[She had seen too much conflict, too much disparity, and yet in you, she found an abundance of gentleness. This difference from everyone else captivated Morgan.]

[Day after day, Morgan found herself drawn to you, little by little, indulging in this strange connection.]

["Morgan, why do you always wear this dress? Why not try something different?"]

[Unlike the character often portrayed in games and anime, this era's Morgan dressed modestly. However, she always wore black dresses.]

[You couldn't help but think that Morgan's wardrobe was… a bit limited. So you arranged for tailors to make a variety of clothes for her.]

["I… I just like black."]

[Her heart raced. For Morgan, black was not a choice but a symbol. Since she was called a witch, she became a witch, and wearing black became her habit.]

[It wasn't out of love for the color but a conditioned practice.]

[She didn't know how to respond to your enthusiasm. The unfamiliar throbbing in her heart made her feel as if something new was awakening within her—something she had never experienced before.]

[Though it had only been a month since she arrived in Glory, Morgan felt an unprecedented happiness.]

[However, she found herself torn between the warmth you showed her and the malice from Camelot. The contradiction confused her, and once the seeds of self-doubt were planted, it was only a matter of time before they blossomed and bore fruit.]

[Late one night, she came to your side. The confused witch hoped to find an answer from you.]

["Rhine, tell me... did I do something wrong?"]

[As she thought back to her childhood, memories of her father, King Uther, came flooding back. Every time he went to war, he would promise her a gift, saying, "It's just a short trip," "I'll be back soon," "I'll take you with me next time," and so on.]

[But as she grew up and was burdened with the title of "witch," Morgan realized that—somewhere along the line—those promises had turned into lies.]

[More than once, she had waited for her father's return at the palace gates, only to be disappointed again and again. Over time, Morgan stopped believing in others entirely.]

[After all, if even her own father could deceive her, how could she trust anyone else?]

[People often said that the imperial family was the coldest and most ruthless.]

[It made sense. From her earliest memories, Morgan had never felt the warmth of family or experienced what parental love truly meant.]

[As she grew older, her magic power grew as well. She had believed she could become the hope of Britain—that she could inherit its mysteries and lead Camelot to glory.]

[But... because of her gender and other circumstances, she was branded a witch. Her fate seemed as though it had been preordained by some unseen force.]

[She began to wonder if she had done something wrong. Morgan thought that if only she had been weaker, if only she had concealed her talents, perhaps she wouldn't have been abandoned.]

[She tried to change herself, but when the words reached her lips, Morgan gave up.]

["Rhine."]

["I am just an abandoned princess, but I seek answers from you, the King of Glory."]

["I am, in essence, a prisoner, yet I long for warmth from you. Isn't it laughable for me to be this way?"]

[For the first time—truly the first time—she revealed her emotions to another person. By your side, Morgan poured out all the grievances and sorrows of her life.]

[She confessed the regrets and despair that accompanied her title as a witch.]

["It's quite ridiculous."]

[Without hesitation, you shattered Morgan's pride. You knew that in order for Morgan to be reborn, she needed to understand the harsh reality of human relationships.]

[Before this, Morgan had been too naïve and too quick to trust others. It was no wonder that in the original trajectory of her story, Britain betrayed her, leading her to become a bitter and wrathful witch.]

[You didn't want the girl before you to follow that path. You didn't want her to be imprisoned by fate, abandoned by the world, and forced into despair. You wanted to save her.]

["Morgan, do you know what is most ridiculous about you? It's that you trusted those people—those who claimed to care for you."]

["You should know that they only flattered you because you were the daughter of King Uther, because of your status, or because of your beauty."]

["But when their interests were at stake, they betrayed you without hesitation. From the very beginning, you should never have trusted them."]

["And now, you're doubting yourself—doubting whether you did something wrong? Instead of questioning those fools? Isn't that truly absurd?"]

[Lifting Morgan's bowed head, you gazed into her tear-filled eyes. Your voice, firm and resolute, reverberated like a bell in her heart.]

["Remember this, Morgan Le Fay: you are not defined by others. You are yourself. You are Morgan."]

["They exiled you because you are too powerful and too exceptional. Their actions stem from jealousy, not from any fault of your own."]

["Only the strong are envied, Morgan. You are not wrong!"]

[Looking into your piercing eyes, Morgan felt a fire ignite within her. It burned through her immaturity and hesitation, leaving behind the seeds of determination.]

["What should I do, Rhine?"]

["What should I do, Rhine?"]

["What else can I do, Rhinehard?"]

[Her voice, filled with exhaustion and vulnerability, seemed to tremble with the weight of her soul. She looked to you, desperate for an answer. All Morgan wanted was a pillar of support.]

[Or... a reason to abandon everything from her past and start anew.]

["What should I do?"]

[For you, what kind of feelings do you hold for Morgan?]

[Is it hatred for tragedy? Love for a friend? Possessiveness for beauty? Or perhaps a desire to give this girl, abandoned by the world, a home?]

[All of them.]

[Suddenly, you laughed, looking at Morgan before pulling her into your arms without hesitation.]

[With the soft touch of her body against yours, your voice became a guiding light in the dark world she had known, dispelling every doubt that had clouded the witch's heart.]

["From now on, Morgan, all you need to do is trust me. That's enough."]

["After all, I'm your only friend, aren't I, witch?"]

["Rhine, you..."]

["Hmph."]

[Hearing your answer, the dim light in Morgan's eyes rekindled, shining brightly once more.]

[As the moonlight outside the window bathed the two of you, Morgan moved decisively, taking the initiative.]

[After another brief and tender moment of contact, she lingered as if savoring the closeness you had just shared, her lips curling into a soft smile.]

["Rhine, from now on, I will only keep my eyes on you."]

["Only you, my one and only friend, for the rest of my life."]

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