章 3: I'd Rather Be Executed
Merlin shook her head. "I am afraid it is not, Mordred."
She looked at him and announced in an emotionless voice.
"Just as the letter implies. You, Mordred Pendragon are to be put in the frontlines against the Tear in the North. That is the punishment his Majesty, High King Arthur Pendragon has decided for you."
"I have eyes, Merlin. No need for you to say it out loud.", I grumbled and put the letter back in the envelope.
This is bad. From the new memories and information ingrained into my brain, the chances of surviving against the Tear is an abysmal ten percent.
Heck, even surviving a month there is considered a miracle.
And my father wants me to fight on the front lines? He's telling me to die a brutal death!
"I'd rather be executed.", I told Merlin.
She shrugged, "I don't think you can do anything. The High King's orders are absolute. Even begging him is futile now."
It was as if she read my mind.
I can already hear the bells ringing for my funeral. Is this punishment for all the evil I had committed in my past life?
Ah. I am screwed.
I sighed and looked at Merlin in defeat, "Very well. I will go to the North."
She was surprised by my answer. I can understand her reaction. The old Mordred would've started throwing a tantrum and would be begging on his knees.
But now, Mordred Pendragon is dead and I, Mordred the Treacherous Knight have inherited his body.
I have already died once. It was peaceful but that's it. Nothing else.
To be honest, it was empty and quite boring.
I don't care if this is punishment for my actions but for some reason, I was given a second chance.
I was given a chance at redemption. So I will take it. I will live this life for myself and for Mordred who passed away in pain and loneliness.
Thanks, kid, Now let me take the reins.
"So. When do I leave?", I asked Merlin.
She shook herself out of her shock and cleared her throat, "As soon as possible. I would suggest you have your breakfast before departing."
"How nice. You are allowing me to have my last meal."
She frowned, "Just what happened to you?"
"Like I told you, I matured. That's all. Please inform His Majesty that I will depart soon after breakfast.", I replied.
Merlin narrowed her eyes, not at all convinced by my vague answer but she nodded, "Very well. I will inform him."
With that, she left me and I closed the door. I walked to my comfortable bed and collapsed on it.
This is quite the mess I am in.
According to the letter, I have to serve in the North for three years, a year for each heir I beat up.
I closed my eyes and started to come up with ways to survive. As I said, surviving a month against the Tear is considered a miracle.
Even surviving for a year will make you a veteran. And I'll be in that hell for three years.
Great. Just great.
And even if I survive in the end, there is no guarantee that I will recover mentally from it.
"Thanks, Dad. You are such a caring parent.', I muttered.
My door opened and a servant brought in my breakfast, "Your breakfast, Mordred."
I frowned at his arrival. How rude!
He didn't even knock on my door and just entered as he pleased. Even Merlin showed that basic courtesy. And how dare a servant address me so casually?
Even if I am a Failed Prince, I am still Royalty! For goodness sake!
Unfortunately, this is not the first time. These guys have been rude to Mordred for a long time, judging from his memories.
Seeing someone as privileged as me having a hard time gives them sick satisfaction.
And since Mordred lives separately from the main palace, the ones there are not even aware of this behavior, and even if he complained, things never changed.
The rude bastards assigned to this world's Mordred are crafty enough to make it seem like they are doing their jobs and they even dared to blame him for the things they committed.
And the worst part is, The High King believes them!
Yeah! My father considers a mere servant more trustworthy than me, his son.
These bastards let Mordred die from his sudden illness. They didn't contact the main palace. Heck, they didn't even pick him up when he collapsed.
The servant brought in my food and without even setting the table, proceeded to leave.
Oh no you don't.
The old Mordred may have tolerated your impudence due to his fear of the servants but I am different.
You are a servant and I am your master. It's not the other way around.
"Wait. Put my breakfast on the table.", I ordered him.
He turned around and gave me an uninterested look, "Do I have to?"
"It is an order from the High Prince.", I said with some authority.
The servant stiffened. Maybe it was the way I spoke or how the air around me changed. I just stared coldly at him.
"Should I repeat myself?", I asked in an icy tone.
He momentarily flinched at my gaze. With a begrudging look, he set my table for breakfast.
After he was done, he called for me, "Your table is ready, Mordred."
I didn't move from my place, "I am sorry. What did you say?"
His eye twitched, "Your table is ready."
I just looked at him without uttering a word.
I could see that he was gritting his teeth, "Your table is ready, Your Highness.", he forced the last part out like it was something unpleasant.
"That's better.", with a satisfied smile of superiority, I stood up and sat down on the chair before my covered breakfast. I saw the servant smirk from the corner of my eyes when he revealed my food.
I narrowed my gaze at the 'breakfast' I was served, "What is this?"
"Bread and soup, Your Highness.", he said as if it was the most obvious thing.
I glared at the servant and he flinched, "Is this all there is for my breakfast?"
He nodded and gave an exasperated sigh, "Yes, your Highness. Unfortunately, the Dawn Palace is facing a shortage of ingredients."
Lies.
There is a constant supply of fresh ingredients that are brought into the Dawn Palace, where Mordred has stayed since the day he was born.
It is just that these guys indulged themselves with the finest things and brought him the scraps. This has been going on for years, judging by my new memories.
I sighed, "Is that so? Inform the head servant to make sure this doesn't happen again."
"Very well. I will relay the message, Your Highness.", the servant said.
I know that he will never do that.
I scooped a small portion of the soup with my spoon and put it in my mouth.
I gagged and almost spit out the stuff.
This is soup? More like glorified seawater.
I broke a piece of bread and ate it. It was dry and hard to chew. This has to be the stalest bread I have ever eaten.
I glanced behind me and saw the servant smirking.
Oh, you little...
How did the old Mordred even survive eating this crap? Even prisoners eat better than this!
No wonder he has a weak body. The kid was malnourished by eating this crap every day or not eating at all.
But there is nothing I can do.
If I created a fuss, I would only be punished by starvation, the same if I refused to eat. Seems like the servant behind me is expecting one or both of those reactions.
No bloody way am I doing it, you bastard.
Besides, I am quite ravenous after twenty minutes of hard puking. So I swallowed my pride and ate my revolting and possibly final meal.
The servant was quite shocked when he saw me eating with gusto. He didn't expect this from the Failed Prince.
I was halfway into my meal when someone else knocked on my door. Seriously, Can't I have some food in peace?
"Who is it?", I asked, wiping my mouth with a napkin. Only a few people ever enter the Dawn Palace. So I don't have frequent visitors.
"It's me, Morgan.", a cool female voice replied, shocking me and the servant.
Well. This is a first.
Apart from Gawain and Guinevere, the only other person from the main palace who visits Mordred is Elaine. And she only comes to bully him until he is reduced to tears.
Arthur and Morgan had never even stepped foot inside Dawn Palace ever since Mordred, well, I was brought here.
I should get used to my new life.
So I was quite surprised when the latter was knocking on my door. I glanced at the servant and he immediately went to the door.
"Come in.", I said and he opened the door to reveal Morgan Le- I mean, Morgan Pendragon.
I need to start organizing my old and new memories.
Morgan is a truly beautiful young lady. She was dressed casually in a white full-sleeved, off-shoulder top and black jeans that complimented her tall and slim figure.
Her fair skin almost glowed in the light of the morning sun and her wavy raven black hair that she inherited from Arthur spilled over her shoulders and reached her waist.
Her scarlet eyes that glittered like rubies took in the rather minimalistic appearance of my room and her casual white shoes stood out from the dark color of my carpeted floor.
Her hands moved gracefully and I noticed that her nails were painted black. Her silver earrings that resembled crosses swayed as she walked into the room.
Whoa. My sister is a knockout.
The servant was trembling in her presence. I can't blame him.
Morgan is a genius considered to be one of the strongest warlocks in her generation and is the most powerful child of the High King.
The power she is unconsciously releasing is incredible. As expected from the strongest enchantress of my past life.
From my new memories, Morgan is known as a cold person who looks disinterested at all times but she has great respect and love for Arthur.
She also loves her family and has a warm side that is not always seen by many. Well, most of her family. I doubt I am included.
She acknowledges the strong, pushes the weak to become stronger, and outright ignores the weakest and most hopeless ones like me.
Morgan is smart, strong, beautiful, cunning, and has the right mix of ruthlessness and compassion. The perfect daughter and the perfect princess.
No wonder many consider her to be the one to inherit the throne.
Compared to a being like her, I am a dog that is just good-looking.
She looked around my room with an uninterested look. Well, my room is not as lavish as one would expect from the room of a prince. But I liked it. It is quite good.
"You have an intriguing room.", she remarked in a voice that was devoid of all interest.
I stood up and bowed with a smile, "I am quite honored by your visit to my humble abode, your Highness. I was having breakfast when you knocked on my door."
"Hmm.", Morgan glanced at what I was having and froze.
"Mordred. What are you eating?"
クリエイターの想い 
just_a_fox
just_a_fox Morgan is such a fine young lady.
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