"..."
If before she was merely stunned, now Mélusine was utterly astonished.
"Artoria, what are you..."
"Don't be nervous."
Artoria softly comforted the tense Mélusine.
"I don't have any other meaning."
"I'm really just asking if you mind this sort of thing."
"If you don't mind, tell me; if you do, please tell me as well."
"..."
Artoria was so sincere.
After a moment's hesitation, Mélusine whispered:
"If it's with Ian, I don't mind... but, at least let me know why we need to have this child."
"Mhm, that's about it."
"If you're asking about that..."
Artoria's attitude became much more serious.
"Then it might have something to do with the future of Camelot."
"Eh?"
Suddenly elevating to a matter concerning the future of Camelot, Mélusine was taken aback.
"This is related to the future of Camelot?"
"Yes."
Artoria nodded.
"Since you've already come to Ian's side, he must have told you..."
The King of Camelot touched her own stomach.
"...that I want a child, right?"
"Eh, well..."
Mélusine's face flushed slightly, but she still nodded.
"Mhm, I know about this."
Although it wasn't Ian who told her, she did indeed know.
"Wait."
Mélusine realized something.
"Artoria, do you mean you want me to try getting pregnant first, for you?!"
"Mélusine, you're indeed very smart."
Artoria smiled faintly.
"That's right, that's more or less what I mean."
"You try it once first."
"This..."
If the fact that Artoria wasn't angry with her was already beyond imagination.
Then these words now made Mélusine feel like she was dreaming.
"Artoria, are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious, Mélusine."
Artoria took the petite knight's hand.
"This is very important."
"Do you remember that I promised everyone in Camelot that I would make our kingdom much stronger than before?"
"Of course I remember."
Mélusine nodded quickly, her gaze shifting slightly to Ian.
She bit her lip lightly.
"You announced this together with Ian, right, Artoria?"
"It's good that you remember."
"So—"
Artoria took Ian's and Mélusine's hands, one in each of hers.
"Ian is the dragon gifted to Camelot by the heavens."
"And you are a miracle born here."
"If your offspring could combine these two, it would be like setting a new possibility for Britain's future."
"..."
By the time Artoria had said this much, Mélusine had already completely understood her meaning.
"Artoria, are you saying you want me to take this risk for you?"
"Mhm."
The King of Camelot nodded without hesitation.
"After all, you should know that if there are any flaws in my and my sister's ideas, it would definitely cause a lot of big problems."
"Such a risk..."
Artoria didn't continue.
After all, the words that followed were, no matter how you looked at it, too cruel.
In the past, Artoria felt she might have been able to say them, but now...
She couldn't bring herself to.
Although she was the King of Camelot, she had become more considerate of others' feelings than before.
"Of course."
"If you're unwilling, that's fine too."
"This is an excessive request in itself. I can understand your refusal."
"When do we start?"
Mélusine's reply was concise and clear.
This time, it was Artoria's turn to be surprised.
After all, no matter how you thought about it, this was already at the level of "being used."
But...
Mélusine's current attitude was clearly expressing one point, which was—
She was willingly being "used."
"You don't mind?"
"Why should I mind?"
"Is there anything disadvantageous for me in this?" Mélusine blinked her bright eyes. "I... I like this kind of thing. It's just that I never had the chance before."
"Now, you trust me and have given this opportunity to me."
"I..."
Mélusine fidgeted.
"...couldn't ask for more."
"..."
"Is that so?"
"That's wonderful." Artoria breathed a sigh of relief. "I was worried you would mind a lot. Now it seems that's not the case."
"Of course I mind a little."
"But—"
"Just as Ian said, being able to do something for Camelot is actually a very happy thing for me."
"Thinking of it that way, I suddenly don't mind anymore."
"I, too, have come to regard this place as my homeland."
"..."
Artoria was silent for a moment, then smiled happily.
"That's right."
"This is your homeland. It will always be your homeland."
"Mélusine, welcome to regarding Camelot as 'home'."
"'Home'..."
Muttering Artoria's words, Mélusine's expression was a little lost.
If her previous words could be said to be driven by "instinct," then now...
It wasn't like that at all.
"Can I... really consider this my home?"
"Why not?"
Ian suddenly retorted.
"If I can, of course Mélusine can too."
"I want to keep all of you in this home—and then... do that very happy thing."
Saying this, the dragon began to pant hotly again.
Evidently—
The one who wanted to do this sort of thing was not just Mélusine; Ian, in fact, was also being driven by his instincts.
"..."
"..."
Mélusine and Artoria looked at each other, then both burst into laughter.
"Dummy!"
Mélusine gave Ian a playful push, mumbling in a rather cute way.
"Don't say such things so directly! It's not romantic at all, and it makes you seem lecherous."
"Lecherous...?" Ian frowned slightly.
"But, I think we should be sincere with each other, right?"
"..."
Mélusine was at a loss for words.
In front of him, whatever she said felt useless.
"Forget it, I won't argue with you."
Mélusine buried her head in Ian's chest.
"So, when do we start?"
"Tomorrow—"
Artoria's gaze sharpened.
"Mélusine."
"I'll be counting on you to become the 'vessel' for pregnancy."