The arrival of King Uther brought the wedding ceremony between King Lot and Morgan even closer.
Within two days, the rites for Lot and Morgan were held in his castle.
Wedding ceremonies in this era were far simpler than in previous lives. Britain had not yet fully embraced the faith of God, so the ritual primarily served to have the nobility bear witness to the union.
Flowers adorned the entire castle, and the maids had scrubbed every corridor and room spotless.
Under the expectant gazes of the assembled guests, Lot and Morgan made their appearance.
Lot wore a white formal suit, a finely decorated sword slung at his waist. His tall, straight posture and handsome features made him seem more radiant than the children of gods from legends. By his side, hand in hand, stood Morgan.
Clad in a white wedding dress with a flowing veil, her lovely face wore a faint smile throughout.
Both Lot and Morgan were of exalted status, and their striking looks—a perfect match of beauty and grace—earned them a chorus of blessings.
They're so well-suited.
This was the unanimous thought among the nobles.
After a series of rituals, the two were formally wedded as husband and wife.
Throughout the process, Morgan couldn't help but listen to the endless stream of thoughts running through Lot's mind.
[I'm married? I actually married Morgan!]
Hmph, it's just marriage. What's the big deal?
No need to be nervous.
I, Morgan, am not nervous.
Not nervous.
I'm not nervous.
Feeling nervous isn't like me at all.
[Next, we'll have several children together—Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris, and Gareth.]
Hey, that's four already!
We just got married today! How are you already planning to have so many?!
Do you even plan to let me rest?!
And why so many boys' names? What if they're all girls?
...
At first, it was tolerable, but soon Lot's thoughts spiraled into far less dignified territory.
[That wedding dress is seriously stunning! Should I convince Morgan to keep it on tonight? Uniforms… are just too irresistible.]
[Mmm, Morgan's legs are so long, white, and slender—perfection!]
[That blushing face of hers… really stirs up some ideas!]
[White stockings—eternally supreme!]
A 21st-century shut-in's daily exposure to certain images far surpassed what people in previous centuries saw in their entire lifetimes. Thus, the sheer shamelessness of Lot's mental ramblings was beyond imagination.
Morgan listened, her fair cheeks flushing pink.
You horndog!
So lewd!
Pervert!
Absolute degenerate!
I really want to bite you!
The guests, oblivious to this internal exchange, simply assumed Morgan was bashful.
But then again, with Lot being so handsome…
It's understandable. Very understandable.
Amid the good-natured laughter of the crowd, the wedding ceremony concluded smoothly.
Afterward, King Uther informed Lot that he and Morgan should meet him the next day to discuss important matters, then departed with Merlin in tow.
Now, only Morgan and Lot remained.
"Well… shall we retire for the night?"
Lot said to Morgan.
[Damn, I'm so nervous—equal parts anticipation and dread. What if I end up hurting Morgan?]
Morgan glanced at him.
It's not just you! I'm so nervous I could die!
This is my first time too!
What's it even supposed to feel like?
But she couldn't afford to show weakness now.
Hmph, I'll overpower him with sheer presence!
"Yes, let's rest."
Morgan replied, struggling to keep her composure.
With that, the two headed for the bedchamber.
Though they barely knew each other, they'd already reached the point of marriage.
So, marry first—love later.
Lot wrapped an arm around Morgan's slender waist, pulling her close.
After a few steps, Morgan spoke up:
"From now on, I'll govern Orkney alongside you."
"Of course. You can take full charge if you'd like."
Lot agreed without hesitation.
He'd never been particularly fond of administrative duties, so having someone handle them was ideal. Besides, he suspected Morgan's later obsession with opposing King Arthur stemmed from having too much free time. Keeping her occupied with governance might prevent future schemes.
With that thought, he turned his gaze to Morgan.
But tonight—tonight—the priority was their first time together.
[Finally… time to pluck the cabbage!]
Morgan hadn't caught his earlier musings, but this last line, brimming with intense emotion, rang crystal clear in her mind.
I'm about to be defiled by this horndog!
…Huh?
Wait.
What's a "cabbage"?
...
[Did I end up hurting Morgan last night?]
[It was my first time—zero experience. Was I too rough on her?]
Morgan was jolted awake by these thoughts.
"Of course it hurt! Try it yourself and see! What kind of monster are you?! …Still, at least you've got the decency to worry. Better than some heartless cad who'd ignore his wife's feelings."
She mentally lambasted Lot upon hearing his guilt-ridden reflections.
But one thing puzzled her:
How was Lot so skilled despite being a virgin?
Where did he get that experience?
Had she not heard his inner monologue, she'd have assumed he'd seduced every maid in the castle.
But if not…
Is he some kind of natural prodigy at this too?
So weird!
Cracking her eyes open slightly, she found Lot studying her face intently.
"Good morning."
She greeted him with sleep-laden eyes.
"Mm, good morning."
Lot gently pinched Morgan's petite nose.
Though only a night had passed, the bond between them had deepened.
Slipping free from his arms, Morgan quickly added:
"Let's get up. Didn't Father say he needed to discuss something with us?"
She was eager to attend to official matters.
Her father's summons yesterday had seemed urgent.
(Of course, she also feared Lot might want another round—that she couldn't handle.)
She even surreptitiously tuned into his thoughts again, confirming he had no such intentions… for now.
After dressing, Morgan used a touch of magecraft to soothe her aches.
Then—
The two set off together to meet King Uther.