"So, why on earth did it turn out like this—"
"Why, really?"
Looking at Artoria beside her, Mélusine couldn't help but have this thought.
For what reason... did I end up helping Baobhan Sith lure Artoria out here?
Just as Mélusine was currently agonizing over, Baobhan Sith had given her very specific and detailed instructions:
Before Ian and Morgan could complete their tryst, she had to do everything in her power to keep Artoria occupied.
Otherwise...
...the whole "using Artoria's bedroom" part of the plan would be impossible.
Forget it.
Mélusine clutched her head.
I'm not going to think about it.
There are just too many chaotic things happening.
The less I think, the better.
"So, Mélusine, why did you call for me?"
"There must be a reason, right?"
Standing atop the city wall, Artoria asked the very question Mélusine had feared most.
However, as the "accomplice," Mélusine still remembered the "script" Baobhan Sith had given her.
"King, I..."
"Stop."
Artoria held up a hand to stop Mélusine.
"In private, when it's just you and me, don't call me that."
"Just call me Artoria."
"I... don't like being so formal all the time."
"O-Okay." Mélusine nodded.
"Artoria, I called you out this time because of a discovery last night."
"..."
"You and Ian went out?"
Artoria latched onto the key point of the matter in an instant.
"You went out together last night?"
"..."
"Um—"
A few drops of cold sweat appeared on Mélusine's forehead, but Artoria simply smiled.
"Don't be nervous."
"I told you, you are his 'lover'. Something like this... isn't enough to anger me."
"But—"
Artoria turned her head and looked at Mélusine.
"You two didn't do it, did you?"
"I mean, not while you were out."
"..."
"No, absolutely not!"
Mélusine answered in a hurry.
"We didn't do anything while we were out!"
"You can rest assured, Artoria!"
It wasn't a lie.
Because they really didn't do it while they were out, but only after they got back, against the wall.
This...
...doesn't count as deception, right?
Mélusine started to worry.
Fortunately, Artoria seemed satisfied with her answer and soon nodded.
"Mm, that's good."
"Even if you have such thoughts, it should at least be with my knowledge."
"Otherwise, it really would be a little upsetting."
"Right, what was it you wanted to tell me?"
Seeing the topic finally return to a normal track, Mélusine didn't dare to delay and quickly continued:
"Artoria."
"We... discovered a lot of dragons."
"Dragons?"
At the mention of this word, Artoria's level of interest changed noticeably.
"You mean, dragons like Ian?"
"No."
Mélusine shook her head.
"According to Ian's own words, they weren't originally dragons, but humans. They were just transformed into that shape by some unimaginable method."
"So what happened then?" Artoria pressed.
"Did Ian... deal with them?"
"Yes."
Mélusine nodded.
"He didn't seem to like dragons like that, so before I even had a chance to speak, he had already made his move."
"And by the way:"
"I didn't intentionally go out with Ian. It's just that he suddenly sensed something, and I chased after him!"
"So—"
Mélusine's throat bobbed slightly.
"You don't need to be suspicious."
"..."
"Actually, whether I'm suspicious or not doesn't really matter, does it?"
Artoria said suddenly.
"Ian has many things he wants to do, and many things he doesn't want to do."
"I..."
Artoria looked at her own hands.
"I actually don't have as much control over him as you all might think."
"You don't have to say that, Artoria."
The other's reaction made Mélusine feel a little guilty.
"Although... it seems a lot of people are interested in Ian, at the very least, you're the one he chose to marry, and he cares a lot about your thoughts and Camelot, doesn't he?"
"I think he must love you very much!"
"Does he even know what love is?" Artoria added.
"Eh, well..."
Mélusine muttered under her breath.
"He probably does."
"Perhaps."
Artoria shrugged.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this."
"Mélusine, is there anything else you need to report?"
Artoria glanced back at the castle behind her.
"If not, I'd like to go back and find Ian."
"Today..."
Artoria placed a hand over her chest.
"...there's something very important I haven't done yet."
"Hey, um!"
Realizing that if she didn't say something more, Artoria would go back and walk right in on Ian and Morgan's tryst, Mélusine quickly spoke up.
"Yes!"
"I have more to report!"
"Then speak."
Artoria released her hand.
"Let me understand all your thoughts at once, so it will be easier to make decisions in the future."
"It's about Ian's idea for Camelot to..."
No one could have imagined.
Mélusine, standing on the city wall and earnestly explaining her thoughts, was actually providing cover for her "lover," Ian.
Why am I helping someone else have an affair?!
Mélusine couldn't understand it.
She felt like she had already given up on thinking.
----
On the other side.
In a castle corridor.
Baobhan Sith held Morgan's hand.
At this moment, her mother was blindfolded with a black strip of cloth.
"Baobhan Sith, what are you doing?"
"Where are you taking me?"
Morgan had always been a little worried about this daughter of hers, who was intelligent to a certain degree.
After all—
She could feel that when she had "created" Baobhan Sith with Ian back then, something strange seemed to have been mixed in.
She was too much like her, but at the same time, possessed an even more terrifying drive to act.
"You'll see in a moment, Mother."
"I promise—"
"I won't let you down."
With that, Baobhan Sith pushed open the door before them for her mother.
She took her hand and guided her forward.
"Mother, do you feel that?"
"You..."
That familiar touch... Morgan would never forget it in her lifetime.
She ripped off her blindfold and found herself in Artoria's room, her hand placed on Ian's chest.
"Mother, this is your proposal."
Baobhan Sith released her hand and said with a smile.