章 128: Chapter 128: Deception and Destiny: The Truth Revealed
The grain merchants, once hopeful, soon realized the full extent of Camelot's cunning malice. Not only was their grain practically stolen, but even necessities like food and water were denied to them. The docks, while open, were more like a prison, preventing them from leaving unless they accepted Lott's terms.
In the end, every one of the merchants reluctantly sold their grain at the insultingly low price Lott had offered. There was no choice; if they didn't, they might never make it home. Once the grain was unloaded, however, their ships were allowed to depart freely, without the threat of "pirates" they'd been warned about earlier. The merchants left Camelot dejected, crying over their losses, while Lott and Morgan laughed all day, celebrating their success.
Camelot's granaries were filled to the brim, all for a fraction of the cost. Lott, reflecting on his actions, knew that this manoeuvre would make the French nobles despise Camelot, but he remained unconcerned. After all, these nobles were fickle and weak, more prone to bowing in submission than mounting a serious retaliation. Lott mused to Morgan, "They'll call me a monster when they hear of this, but the moment our army shows up, they'll welcome us as co-rulers of France."
He knew that true revenge required strength, something the French nobles simply didn't have. Even if they mustered an army, Camelot's forces could crush them easily, as Lott's greatest concern was the looming threat of Vortigern.
Meanwhile, Vortigern, nursing his grudge after his previous defeat at Lott's hands, had been hard at work. His palace in Wales, built with the assistance of fairies, was magnificent, far surpassing the size and grandeur of Camelot's. Although there was an uneasy alliance between Vortigern and the fairies—both using each other for their ends—it was effective. The fairies constructed palaces, while Vortigern trained his human soldiers, preparing for the inevitable war against Camelot.
Vortigern, ever the strategist, kept a close watch on Lott and Morgan's movements. His spies reported that Camelot was gathering resources and readying for battle. The influx of grain had tipped Vortigern off that Lott and Morgan were preparing for an attack. Knowing a confrontation was near, Vortigern summoned one of his fairy allies, determined to be ready when the time came.
Back in Camelot, Lancelot had returned to the court, where he was met by Morgan. She greeted him with praise, but Lancelot was uninterested in her compliments. What he desired most were the things he had left in her care—his sword and the contract binding him to her service.
"Can I have my things back?" Lancelot asked, eyeing his sword longingly.
Morgan smiled and casually tossed the sword to him. Lancelot caught it, relieved to see it unharmed. With his weapon in hand, all that remained was for Morgan to release him from the contract.
As Lancelot inspected his sword, he noticed Galahad standing nearby, watching him with a conflicted expression. Unlike before, when Galahad's gaze had been filled with anger, there was now something more complicated behind his eyes.
"Why does he look at me like that?" Lancelot wondered aloud to Morgan. "Do I know him? Have I done something to offend him?"
Morgan paused, then replied, "Do you want to know the answer?"
"Of course."
Morgan looked at Lancelot, her expression serious. "You are his father."
Lancelot blinked, taken aback. For a moment, he laughed, thinking it was a joke. "That's impossible. How could I be his father?"
But as he met Galahad's gaze, something in the young knight's eyes made him stop. "Are you serious?"
Morgan nodded. "Yes, you are his father."
Lancelot shook his head, baffled. "That can't be true. I'm—" He hesitated. "I've never been with anyone. How could I have a child?"
Morgan, now uncertain, glanced between Lancelot and Galahad. "You're telling the truth?" she asked, her confidence wavering.
At that moment, Galahad stepped forward. "I'm not from this time," he explained. "I come from the future where I was born. For reasons beyond my control, I've travelled back to this point in time."
Lancelot was stunned. "You're from the future?" he repeated, struggling to process the information.
Morgan, too, was taken aback. She had uncovered an unexpected secret, one that was even more astonishing than she could have anticipated.
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