Chapter 19: Composure

After persuading King Uther to calm down, Kay turned his attention back to Gwen, soothing her frayed nerves. After all, everyone present knew that King Uther had been entirely serious about having the guards dispose of her just moments before.

Once Gwen was finally convinced that the King would not harm her, the questioning resumed.

"Is there something special about these flowers?" Kay asked, gesturing toward the bouquet of lilies.

Most young women were fond of flowers, and Morgana was no exception. Kay had not thought twice about the presence of freshly picked flowers in her room, but now that Gwen had specifically brought them up, he knew there must be more to the story.

"These... these were given to the Princess by someone," Gwen said, casting a cautious glance at Kay before shrinking back slightly.

"Given by someone? What is so strange about that?" Arthur, perhaps unable to shake off Merlin, had stepped forward with the servant in tow. King Uther frowned in annoyance at the sight of Merlin; he felt a servant had no place in such a discussion. However, before he could speak, Arthur quickly interjected, drawing his father’s attention away. "Doesn't Morgana receive flowers every day? What is so unusual about this bunch?"

As expected, King Uther’s focus immediately shifted. His mind was entirely occupied by his daughter’s well-being, and he cared little for anything else, let alone a minor character like Merlin.

Kay also looked over. While he hadn't known Morgana received flowers daily, it did not strike him as odd. Morgana was exceptionally beautiful—renowned across the Celtic kingdoms as the most beautiful woman of the age—and she was deeply cherished by King Uther, who ruled a wealthy and powerful Camelot.

To marry Morgana would be to gain both status and fortune; it was no exaggeration to say one could skip twenty years of hard labor. Thus, it was no surprise that she had many suitors; it would have been stranger if she didn't. Though the thought bothered him slightly, Kay was not petty enough to blame Morgana for her beauty or her influential father.

Gwen looked at Kay again, then clarified, "Ever since Sir Kay returned, no one has come to bring flowers. After all, everyone knows about the relationship between Sir Kay and the Princess."

At these words, everyone turned to look at Kay. King Uther nodded in satisfaction. He felt this was for the best; while he didn't mind his daughter being courted—as it proved her worth—the fact that she and Kay were now officially a pair made such things unnecessary. He genuinely favored their union and hoped for their happiness, so he was glad the meddlers had vanished.

Kay had not paid much attention to this before; he only knew that the flowers in Morgana’s room were replaced periodically, never questioning their origin.

"If that is the case, then what about this bouquet?" Even though Gwen hadn't spelled it out, Kay suspected that while his return was one factor, the other likely involved Morgana’s own wishes.

Regardless, there would always be those in the world who considered themselves special. Furthermore, Kay and Morgana were not yet married, leaving room for others to hope. In the untamed lands of England during this era, attitudes toward marriage were not as sacred or rigid as they might be elsewhere. Even in later centuries, the dalliances between noble ladies and knights were common enough.

Realizing this, Kay felt a surge of quiet satisfaction. After all, what man does not want his woman to have eyes only for him, dismissing all other suitors?

"This... this is what I find so strange," Gwen continued. "Yesterday morning, when I arrived at the palace, a man asked me to deliver these flowers to the Princess, and I did. I have completely forgotten how I agreed to it, and I cannot even recall the man’s face. In fact, until just now, if I hadn't seen Sir Kay notice the flowers, I would have completely ignored the fact that they were a gift from someone else!"

At this, the expressions of everyone present darkened. Only Merlin looked confused, failing to grasp the gravity of the situation.

King Uther was the first to react, his face twisting with rage. "Sorcery! It is sorcery! Those wretched sorcerers are still trying to destroy Camelot. These vile, damnable rats have now set their sights on my daughter! Damn them! Damn them all!"

Unable to contain his fury, Uther drew his sword and roared, "Guards! Guards! Guards!"

Merlin finally realized what was happening: Morgana’s condition was the result of witchcraft. No one in the room was a fool; Gwen’s words had provided enough context.

Princess Morgana had refused flowers from outsiders for a month. Gwen would know better than anyone that flowers could not simply reach the Princess’s hands; despite the status of princesses in the Celtic kingdoms, they were not accessible to just anyone. Any delivery would have to pass through Gwen.

Yet, despite knowing of Morgana’s refusal, Gwen had inexplicably agreed to deliver the flowers, only to forget the event entirely afterward without finding it strange. The implications were chilling. When coupled with Morgana’s inexplicable illness, it was no surprise that sorcery was the culprit.

Merlin’s face paled. He knew that King Uther was about to embark on a slaughter. Uther’s intolerance for magic was well known throughout Camelot; he operated on the principle of "better to kill an innocent than let a guilty one go free." Merlin wanted to intervene, but a single look from Gaius stopped him.

Merlin was kind-hearted, but like all young people, he was impulsive and reckless—or, to put it simply, he did not know his place. How could a servant stop a King? Did he think he was right, and that was enough?

This was not a fantasy paradise; it was reality. A servant attempting to obstruct a King’s command was a death sentence. If Merlin were to do such a thing, he would likely be the first to die.

"Wait!" But before Merlin could step forward, someone else did. "My King, please, wait!"

If anyone else had dared to interrupt the King in his rage, they would have faced dire consequences, but Kay was an exception.

"Kay? Have you lost your mind? Why are you stopping me? Do you not wish to save Morgana?" Uther was baffled by Kay’s actions. By all logic, Kay should be the last person to stand in his way! Morgana was his betrothed!

"No! On the contrary, I am doing this to save her! My King, please, remain calm. We must understand exactly what is happening before we decide our next move. Have you forgotten? You taught me that one must never be rash and that one must consider all things before acting. I am merely following your teachings!"

Preaching was easy enough, but practicing it was another matter entirely. Uther’s reaction proved just that.

"Understand? Is it not clear enough? That damnable sorcerer has harmed my Morgana! He must be hanged! No! I will hack him to pieces and feed him to the dogs!" To Uther, the situation was perfectly clear; there was no need for further investigation.

"Then please, give me a few minutes! Just a few minutes! I beg of you! You know that no one wants to save Morgana more than I do." Kay remained calm and steady, refusing to be swept up in Uther’s emotional storm.

Perhaps it was the request itself, or perhaps it was Kay’s unwavering demeanor, but King Uther forced himself to suppress the violence surging in his chest and fell silent, his face still dark with rage.

Seeing this, Kay knew he had been granted a reprieve. He wasted no time and turned to Gwen. "I need you to tell me a few things. Do not rush, stay calm, and speak slowly. Be clear, and do not hold back or omit any details. Do you understand?"

In his past life, Kay had been a police officer, and investigative work was his specialty. He knew that the information provided by witnesses was crucial; a single word could change the course of an investigation. That was why he always insisted that witnesses remain calm—to ensure accuracy and avoid missing vital clues.

In this regard, Uther’s outburst had been counterproductive. Gwen was a maid, not a seasoned investigator, and she was understandably terrified. But because Uther was the King, Kay had to take matters into his own hands.

Kay used a touch of his mental energy to help stabilize Gwen’s emotions. This was not magic, but a simple application of psychological suggestion combined with his own strong mental fortitude—a trivial trick, yet highly effective.

Under Kay’s steadying influence, Gwen found herself gradually calming down, the panic receding.