"Just why won't she let me propose to Ian?"
Sitting on a bench in the central garden of the royal court, Barghest looked sullen.
She swallowed the entire piece of bread in her hand in one gulp.
"Mother, what on earth are you thinking?"
Barghest's gloom was not without reason.
Not long ago, she, her mother Morgan, and that ridiculously powerful knight had left the throne room together.
But after one turn, Morgan had taken Ian down a different path.
"Barghest, you stay here by yourself for a while."
"He and I have some things to discuss."
After tossing out that sentence, Morgan had left with him, leaving her all alone.
And now, she was in this lonely situation.
The more she thought about it, the more depressed she became. Barghest slammed her fist into the bench she was sitting on, and it instantly shattered.
Thud.
Barghest fell to the ground, smashing a crater into it.
"Ouch..."
Barghest climbed to her feet, rubbing her backside and sighing.
Although it had been less than two months since she had gained consciousness, Barghest felt that this world held no difficulty for her.
She knew the proper etiquette for a knight, and she understood how powerful a knight should be.
Therefore, she possessed an extremely powerful body, and at the same time, a terrifyingly immense strength.
Speaking of which—
Barghest touched the greatsword on her back.
It was a gift from Morgan.
"You are perfect, Barghest."
"You—"
"Are my greatest masterpiece."
With those words, she had received this weapon, called Excalibur Gallatin, from her hands.
But she didn't know why.
Looking at Excalibur Gallatin in her hands, Barghest always felt that this was not its original form.
That feeling was as if...
Some terrible resentment was entwined around it, making it impossible for her to discern its true appearance.
But even so, for Barghest, it was still a weapon to be treasured.
But then again...
Piling up the broken pieces of the bench, Barghest recalled the feeling of clashing with Ian today, and her heart couldn't help but race.
Amazing.
How could there be a knight so perfectly suited to my tastes?
Whether it was his body, his fighting style, or his attitude towards others.
It was as if he were cast from the very same mold as her.
It was no exaggeration to say that if Barghest ever needed a male companion, it would probably be someone like him.
They could have a fierce battle that wouldn't end for three days and three nights!
Pant—
Pant—
As she thought this, Barghest actually began to pant with hot breath.
She held her face in her hands, writhing her body constantly.
If anyone had passed by the garden at this moment, they would probably have seen a lovesick woman emitting a mysterious aura from the inside out.
But...
Just as there was no one else in the garden, Barghest opened her eyes and still had to face the facts.
Her mother, Morgan, completely disagreed with her actions.
She had even said, "If you dare say that again, don't consider me your mother," showing just how much she was against it.
Just why...
Why...
Barghest was very depressed. She stomped her foot, and another crater appeared in the ground.
"You'll never understand if you only look for the problem within yourself."
"Sometimes, you have to look for the problems in others."
"Hm?"
The sudden voice instantly snapped Barghest back to her senses.
She reached her hand back, taking a stance to draw Excalibur Gallatin at any moment.
"Who's there!"
"Show yourself!"
"No need to be so tense—"
The mysterious voice laughed frivolously.
"I mean you no harm. I just saw you like this and thought you looked a little pitiful."
"How am I pitiful?"
Barghest retorted without hesitation.
"You'd better explain yourself clearly!"
"Otherwise!"
"Don't blame me for being rude!"
"Aren't you pitiful enough right now?" the voice continued, unhurried. "You can't find anything wrong with yourself, yet you doubt yourself again and again."
A few flower petals drifted through the air.
"Doing this will only add to your own confusion, won't it?"
"Barghest, have you never considered that your mother might have a selfish side to her as well?"
"..."
The moment she heard those words, Barghest found that a sliver of agreement had sparked in her heart.
But she quickly shook her head.
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
"My mother is the kindest person, the one who brought me into this world, the one who taught me everything."
"How could she possibly be selfish?!"
"That's just the mother you think she is—"
More flower petals rose into the air.
"In reality, she has always been very strict with you, hasn't she?"
"Even though you feel that Ian is your dream man, she chose not to support you, but to completely deny you."
"..."
Barghest fell silent.
She actually understood that this was the source of her frustration.
If only I could propose one more time...
"Don't say any more!"
"Everything Mother does, she does for a reason!"
"I won't allow you to slander her!"
"Well, in that case—"
The voice was still in no hurry.
"Why don't you go and ask her for the reason right now?"
"You never got a clear answer before, did you?"
"If your mother is, as you imagine, a very gentle and praiseworthy mother,"
"Then when faced with your question, I'm sure she won't avoid it again."
"When that time comes, wouldn't it be better for you to come back and curse me out?"
"..."
Barghest was swayed.
After a moment of contemplation, she sheathed Excalibur Gallatin.
"You just wait right here!"
"I'm going to get a clear answer right now, and I'll be back to beat you to a pulp!"
Barghest said this and then hurriedly left the garden, running towards the royal court.
She absolutely did not believe there was anything wrong with her mother.
Therefore—
This wasn't about doubting her, but about shutting that nonsensical voice up!
But...
Before Barghest could even find out where her mother Morgan was, she encountered an unexpected scene.
As she hurried down a lower corridor, she happened to look up and see them walking along an upper walkway.
But...
That hand that had been holding a sword before, why was it now rubbing her mother's butt?