The woman called Tiamat gripped the princess's shoulders.
"Hurry and tell me! Did the magic I gave you help my son?!"
This dream felt all too real. The rumbling thunder echoed in Morgan's ears. Even though she knew it was a dream, it didn't feel absurd in the slightest.
"Why aren't you speaking?"
Tiamat noticed Morgan's silence.
"It's a simple question. It shouldn't be that hard to answer, right? Or… are you lying to me?"
Tiamat's tone sharpened. Realizing the mother's emotions were on the verge of breaking down, Morgan quickly responded.
"No. That's not it. I've confirmed that your son has been lured away by a girl."
The moment Morgan said those words, the ocean in the dream world began to boil.
"What did you say?!"
With a roar, Tiamat instantly reverted into her dragon form. Her blood-red eyes glared menacingly, as if she might tear Morgan apart at any moment.
"Who?! Who stole my son?!"
Her draconic voice shook the dream, stirring towering waves.
"Tell me! I'll kill her!"
Her voice raged like a storm, and her sharp claws lashed out furiously. Though she only said a few words, Morgan could feel just how deep this mother's obsession for her son ran.
"It's Artoria. Tiamat, she's the one trying to steal your son."
"Artoria?!"
Upon hearing the name, the dragon mother grew even more agitated.
"Kill her, kill her, kill her, kill her! I'm going to kill her right now!"
The dream trembled again. Tiamat's enormous form was far too destructive for this space.
"No, don't be so hasty," Morgan quickly tried to calm her.
"It's not the right time yet."
"Why not?! She's trying to take my son away!"
Tiamat's claws clenched tightly.
"Are you… siding with her?"
"Of course not. If I were, I wouldn't be telling you all this."
"If you attack Artoria now, Ian won't just stand by and watch. What if he decides to fight you?"
Tiamat paused, somewhat calmer now.
"But I can't just let her take him!"
"Of course not."
Morgan shook her head.
The moment she confirmed Artoria had become Tiamat's enemy, a more dangerous plan formed in her mind.
"I have a way, Tiamat."
"What way?"
"I'll help you bring him back."
"Bring him back?" Tiamat quickly caught on.
"You mean you'll take Ian away from that girl named Artoria? You can do that?"
"I can."
Morgan recalled the way Ian had practiced his confession earlier. She was glad she didn't push him to rush to Artoria, giving her room to maneuver now.
"Tiamat, your son doesn't hate you. As long as you keep lending me your power to impersonate you, I promise I can make it happen."
"You're serious? My son… doesn't hate me…"
"I'm serious."
Morgan touched the necklace around her neck. She could still remember how Ian had leaned in to feel that familiar scent of Tiamat. This could work.
"I swear on my life."
Tiamat's fury gradually faded, and her form shifted back to that of a human.
"Then… you won't be like Artoria and try to steal him from me, right?"
"Of course not."
Morgan smiled, knowing her words had swayed Tiamat.
"Right now, I have no such intention. You can feel that, can't you?"
Tiamat stared at her as if judging a criminal. But the ocean beneath her feet began to recede.
"I believe you, Morgan. I can sense you understand my pain."
Tiamat stretched out her hand toward Morgan.
"Then I grant you this power. Go bring my son back."
Without hesitation, Morgan grasped her hand.
Crack—
Crack—
The edges of the dream shattered like broken glass. The world fell apart, and Tiamat's figure faded.
"I'll come again, Morgan."
That was her final sentence.
In an instant—Morgan woke up.
She found herself still lying on her bed, as if nothing had happened.
But the constant surge of magical power from the necklace at her neck told her it had all been real. She had truly gained Tiamat's permission—a promise as strong as any oath.
Morgan brushed her messy hair aside with a small, smug smile.
So this might be her first real chance to take something from Artoria.
And not just anything—a knight this important.
It wasn't because she liked him.
It wasn't desire.
It was simply—
To take revenge on Artoria.
To do that, she needed him. She had to claim him.
And through that—gain Tiamat's help.
Morgan kept justifying her actions in her mind—but soon realized she didn't need to. Whether it was Britain or Artoria, they had all wronged her in some way. From the very beginning, everything she did made perfect sense. No one had the right to criticize her.
"So then—let's set a small goal for now," Morgan said, gripping the necklace around her neck. That was where all her hope lay.
All of her previous preparations had now turned into weapons aimed at Artoria.
"Take Ian away from her."
"And the first step to doing that..."
"Is to ruin that carefully prepared confession."
The princess of Britain was now fully committed to her ambition.