Night.
The stars shone in the skies of Britain.
"The stars are so beautiful tonight—"
Artoria said, looking at the sky.
After pulling out Caliburn, the Sword of Sure Victory, she had become the de facto heir of Britain.
But since it was her first day, there were naturally no overly tedious affairs to attend to.
"Ian, what do you think?"
"Mm, they are indeed very beautiful."
The boy nodded, looking at the scene in the sky.
"But it's a bit of a pity I can't smell them."
"Why do you talk about the scent of everything..."
Artoria muttered.
"Today, was it because of the scent, too?"
It would have been better if Artoria hadn't said anything, but the moment she did, Ian looked directly at her.
It was a piercing gaze.
His eyes were filled with a single question.
"Why did you stop me?"
Of course Artoria wouldn't fail to understand his meaning, especially when Ian was so incredibly direct.
She quickly began to explain.
"Ian, I know that here in Camelot, there are many things that smell bad to you."
"But it's better to do less of what you did today."
"That mage named Merlin, although I don't like him very much either, but, what you did today..."
The scene of Ian beating Merlin replayed in Artoria's mind.
"It's easy for everyone to misunderstand you as a bad person."
"I... don't want that to happen."
"After all, you're not as terrifying as you look on the surface at all, you're a very gentle person."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
Although she had pulled out Caliburn, the Sword of Sure Victory, Artoria was not without her own selfish desires.
She would protect the people she cared about, and Ian was a prime example.
However, that didn't mean simply indulging him.
Defending him in public, communicating in private, this was the balance Artoria had found for herself.
"That guy, his scent is very similar to the one in the dream."
"Eh?"
Ian's sudden words made Artoria freeze for a moment.
But she quickly understood.
There was only one dream that both she and he existed in.
And that was...
The dream that came with the voice.
The dream that called for her to pull out the blade.
"You mean, that hand—"
"Was Merlin?"
"Mm."
Ian nodded.
"So, I couldn't help but make a move."
A trace of unease flickered in the boy's eyes.
"Did I... do something wrong?"
"..."
Now it was Artoria's turn to be embarrassed.
She disliked Merlin's sloppy style, so she had subconsciously thought Ian's reason was similar.
But now it seemed—
That wasn't it at all!
If Merlin really was the one who had deceived her with those words in the dream, then Ian had done it entirely for her sake.
No wonder the others couldn't stop him...
Because he wasn't throwing a tantrum at all, but...
The more Artoria thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt.
And at that very moment, Ian misunderstood her unease.
He hugged her and began to apologize softly.
"I'm sorry."
"I... didn't know I couldn't do that."
"Forgive me, Artoria."
"Next time, I definitely won't do it again."
"..."
The warmer the boy's embrace, the more embarrassed Artoria felt.
She knew she had wronged him.
"Um, Ian, if that's the case, aren't you afraid of really being seen as a problem person?"
"I didn't think about it."
Under the moonlight, the boy was direct and sincere.
"I just thought of you, and couldn't help but do it."
"..."
Now she was truly speechless.
Artoria felt a warmth in her heart, but at the same time, she felt guilty for being unworthy of this devotion.
What should I do...
After thinking for a long time, the young woman cautiously raised her head.
She looked at him, asking shyly yet seriously:
"It's been a long day."
"You must be thirsty now, right?"
"Do you want to... do that?"
She revealed her shoulder under the moonlight.
Artoria didn't know why she had so naturally thought of this way to comfort him.
It was clearly an incredibly shameful thing.
Letting a member of the opposite sex smack their lips at her, and then even bite and gnaw...
But at this moment, Artoria hoped he would agree, so that the guilt in her heart could be lightened a little.
Then she would have the courage to explain things clearly later.
However—
Artoria saw the last thing she wanted to see.
He shook his head.
"Today, I don't want this."
"Eh?"
Artoria grew anxious.
"Why?"
"Isn't this what you like the most?"
Artoria pulled the clothes on her shoulder down a little more.
She knew that if she didn't handle this now, she would probably be sleepless for the whole night.
But speaking of which...
Does this count as seduction?
The boy's answer continued.
"Because—"
He leaned in close to her ear.
"I wanted to try this today."
Listening to Ian's earnest yet absurd words, the temperature of Artoria's cheeks instantly rose by several levels.
If you could take the top off her head, she felt that steam would definitely be sizzling out from inside.
"You want to 'eat' from a different place?"
"Mm." The boy nodded.
"Then why does it have to be—"
Artoria glanced between her legs.
"That place..."
"Because Artoria smells delicious all over."
Ian was still stating his reason with utter directness.
"But, that place from before, and this place now, smell the best."
"It smells so good—"
"It must be delicious."
"..."
Anyone else might have been acting like a pervert.
But Ian wasn't.
For him, the world was cleverly personified by the vague concept of 'scent'.
Feeling his anticipation, Artoria hesitated for a moment, but finally gave in.
After all—
She really had wronged him a little today.
"Then, come here."
Artoria fixed the shirt on her shoulder, and instead began to untie the thin sash at her waist.
Before that miraculous encounter, she probably never would have dreamed she'd see a day like this, right?
The offering the young woman presented to the dragon was as white as the moon, as if it had become one with the star-filled sky.
"Be quiet... don't let us get caught."
"It smells sweet."
"Ngh... slow down!"
"How come you don't have that thing down there?"
"That thing?"
"Mm, that thing—the one you told me not to point at you."
"That thing depends on luck! Not everyone has one like you!"
Artoria said something that even she felt was ridiculous, but in return, she was met with Ian's completely doubt-free gaze.
She felt her heart pounding.
"By the way..."
"Do you really not like girls?"
"Hm?"
Ian looked up.
"Girls?"
"Never mind, it's nothing!"