"Is this my child?"
Looking at the pink-haired girl in her arms, a new light appeared in Mélusine's eyes.
It was an excitement that surpassed even the moments she spent with Ian.
So—
Even in the room Morgan had prepared for her in advance, she couldn't help but shout.
"How can she be so cute!"
"Ian, come look quickly!"
"The baby, our baby!"
Mélusine's excitement was clearly contagious to Ian.
He quickly sat down beside her and nodded gently.
"Our child."
"Dummy!"
Mélusine gave Ian a light push.
"At a time like this, you should be more excited than me!"
"This is... our offspring!"
"Should be excited...?"
Plop.
Mélusine was pushed directly onto the bed.
"Eh, what are you doing?"
"Didn't you say I should be excited?"
Looking at Mélusine holding the child in front of him, Ian retorted.
"Isn't this being excited?"
"..."
Mélusine blushed.
"You don't have to be that excited."
"At least... put the baby aside first."
"Otherwise, it'll be weird..."
Although having a child was indeed a very exciting thing, compared to the current situation, it seemed...
Just as Mélusine was preparing to obediently submit, a knock came from the door.
"Mélusine."
"..."
It was Artoria's voice.
The newly risen excitement instantly subsided. Mélusine looked at Ian before her and said softly:
"Artoria is calling us."
"Go bring her here."
"Okay."
Getting up from in front of Mélusine, Ian walked towards the door and opened it.
The moment the light from outside shone in, Artoria had already thrown herself at Ian.
It was a sight the people of Camelot would absolutely never have the chance to see.
After a long, tender moment, Artoria reluctantly let go of Ian and looked in Mélusine's direction.
"Mélusine, are you and the baby alright?"
"..."
Mélusine quickly picked up the baby, whom Ian had just put down not long ago, and nodded repeatedly.
"Y-Yes, we're fine!"
"No problems at all!"
As Mélusine spoke, she looked at the little baby sleeping soundly in her arms.
"It's just..."
"There's something I don't quite understand."
"Don't understand?"
Artoria replied to Mélusine's words, then took Ian's hand and sat beside her with him.
"What is it?"
"Uhm—"
Mélusine looked at the child in her arms and asked softly.
"I feel like this child, Galahad, is growing much faster than I imagined. Is it just my imagination?"
Just as Mélusine said.
Even though the child in her arms had just been born not long ago, she had already grown to the point where one could tell she would be a beauty.
Besides that, Mélusine could also sense that a considerable amount of magical energy was flowing through her—something not found in ordinary children.
"Or could it be..."
Mélusine asked cautiously.
"Was this supposed to happen?"
"Mhm." Artoria nodded. "Mélusine, you're right. This is what Sister arranged."
"Don't worry."
"Galahad is a child who combines your and Ian's strengths. It's natural that she would grow faster than ordinary people. This is very normal."
"..."
Mélusine didn't answer Artoria.
But the latter knew this was a sign of her worry.
"It's alright."
"You might not be able to accept it right away, but I believe you'll understand later on."
"Is that so..."
Mélusine nodded.
"I understand."
"..."
"..."
Mélusine and Artoria looked at each other, then both fell silent.
It wasn't that they had nothing more to say to each other.
On the contrary, they now shared a very consistent topic.
That was...
...discussing what Ian was doing.
The dragon, whose thought process was usually completely different from that of ordinary people, was now incredibly quiet.
He just sat there quietly in front of the child Artoria had named "Galahad," looking for all the world like a father.
"Artoria, is he usually like this?"
Mélusine asked cautiously.
"Especially when he's in front of you."
"..."
After a moment's thought, Artoria shook her head.
"No, he's not like this, Mélusine."
"This is the first time I've seen him like this too."
"..."
Although she didn't show it on her face, Mélusine felt a little smug inside.
This was something even Artoria had never managed to achieve, and now she, relying on the child, had done it!
"You're very happy, aren't you, Mélusine?" Artoria suddenly said.
"N-No, I'm not." The petite swordswoman-mother quickly shook her head.
"No need to lie to me."
Artoria showed a kind smile.
"Just now when I said it was the first time I'd seen Ian like this, you smiled, didn't you?"
"Eh, did I?"
Mélusine quickly touched the corners of her mouth, trying to smooth away the "evidence" Artoria had just mentioned.
But soon, upon seeing the slight upturn of Artoria's lips, she knew she had been tricked.
She hadn't smiled at all—but now, her actions completely confirmed Artoria's suspicion.
At this point, Mélusine knew that continuing to deny it would just seem stubborn.
"Alright,"
"I was a little happy."
"But that's not a bad thing, is it!"
"Artoria, you must like seeing a different side of Ian too!"
"I'm not blaming you, am I?"
Artoria smiled calmly as she watched Ian stare at the sleeping little girl.
"I... quite like seeing Ian like this."
"Right, right! You definitely like it too! But speaking of which..."
Mélusine's gaze also shifted to Ian.
"His reaction is indeed a little strange..."
"It doesn't feel like he's looking at a child."
The moment Mélusine's voice fell, Ian turned his head and looked at his two "wives."
"What's wrong, Ian?"
"Is something wrong with Galahad?" Artoria asked.
"..."
Ian didn't hesitate and spoke directly.
"Her name... doesn't seem to be Galahad."
"Then, what is it?"
"Mash? I heard a voice like that."