"Later, really don't say anything!"
Holding the spear that Artoria had entrusted her to retrieve, Mélusine couldn't stop nagging.
"Don't mention a single word, understand?!"
"You've already said that many times."
"Just one more reminder!"
Mélusine stared at Ian, her eyes filled with worry.
"I really don't want..."
"To be misunderstood by Artoria."
Continuing down the corridor, Mélusine and Ian soon saw the throne room.
At this moment, Artoria, as King Arthur, had just finished listening to the reports from her ministers.
She had long since shed the childishness she had when she first arrived in Camelot.
In its place was a more serious and respected appearance.
"Mm, you may all withdraw. I will make my own decision."
As Artoria said this, the people gathered before her withdrew one after another.
Soon, she noticed Mélusine holding the spear, and Ian by her side.
"Sir Ian, Sir Mélusine."
"Let's talk somewhere else."
The library of the Camelot royal court.
Countless bookshelves stood here, all filled with various kinds of books.
A little sunlight shone in through the window, illuminating the dust motes floating in the air.
"Mélusine."
Artoria, walking at the front, took down a book and spoke quite calmly.
"Did you retrieve the spear so quickly?"
"It seems it wasn't a difficult task for you."
"..."
Recalling the moment she was in a desperate situation, Mélusine's face turned a little pale.
She shook her head, refuting Artoria's words.
"No."
"It wasn't easy at all."
"My King—"
"Just call me Artoria. In private, there's no difference between us."
"Oh, Artoria..."
Mélusine looked at the spear in her arms.
"This time, I almost didn't make it back."
"..."
"What happened?" Artoria turned around.
Her expression was still calm, as if she had developed a personality where nothing she heard would surprise her.
"Well..."
Mélusine glanced at Ian beside her.
She didn't know if she should tell the whole truth.
After all—
If she were to go into detail, the matter would essentially become "his mother attacked me."
Regardless of whether such a description was good or bad, it would definitely have an impact on Ian.
However, before Mélusine could think of a tactful explanation, he spoke up himself.
"My mother attacked her."
"..."
"..."
Both Mélusine and Artoria showed expressions of surprise.
Of course, their reasons were naturally different.
Mélusine was surprised that Ian had confessed everything himself.
While Artoria was surprised about the attack itself.
"Where did the attack happen?"
The King of Britain asked, skipping the phase of doubt.
"At the place..."
"Where I retrieved the spear."
Since it had come to this, Mélusine no longer held anything back.
"Artoria, I saw his mother, a dragon even more massive than Ian."
"The moment we met, I was treated as her enemy. I almost died there."
"..."
Artoria's expression darkened slightly.
"If that's the case, then something else must have happened that allowed you to escape with your life."
"Could it be—"
Artoria took Ian's hand.
"He was the one who saved you, wasn't he?"
"..."
Before she even had a chance to confess, Artoria had seen through everything.
Mélusine could only nod in agreement.
"Yes, he was the one who saved me."
"Otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to bring this spear back."
"Is that so?"
Artoria turned to look at Ian.
"I knew it was you."
"But in that case, you must have fought against your mother. Is that really alright?"
"It's fine."
Ian looked directly at Artoria.
"I... I like Britain very much, and the people here."
"So, even if it means confronting my mother, I will not hesitate."
"Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."
Artoria placed the book in her hand back on the shelf and then walked in front of Ian.
She took his arm and said softly:
"My Knight of the Round Table must be forever loyal to me."
"..."
Hearing Artoria's words, Mélusine felt a cold sweat break out.
She could feel that Artoria's obsession with Ian was definitely not that simple.
If...
She found out about all the intimate moments she and Ian had in private...
Gulp.
Mélusine's throat moved slightly.
This is too terrifying!
Just then, Artoria's gaze fell upon the slightly guilty-looking Mélusine.
"Mélusine, you will be loyal to me as well, won't you?"
"I will!"
"I will forever be loyal to the Knights of the Round Table!"
"Hmm..."
Artoria nodded.
"In that case, there are some things I think I should no longer hide from you."
"Do you... know about the recent situation in Britain?"
"It has woken up."
Ian suddenly offered this assessment.
"Woken up?"
Mélusine was a bit confused by this assessment.
"What do you mean?"
"The land is breathing, the lakes are breathing, and the trees are still breathing," Ian added.
"Huh?"
Mélusine tilted her head slightly.
It would have been better if he hadn't added that; his clarification only confused her more.
Fortunately, Artoria quickly began to explain.
"Ian means that the situation in Britain is improving."
"The grain harvests are no longer poor."
"The output from the rivers is also steadily increasing."
"The trees are growing very fast. Things that used to take several months to grow can now be done in about a month."
"This..."
After arriving here, Mélusine had taken the time to properly understand Britain's current state.
"A dying land."
The petite knight had given such an assessment.
But everything Artoria was mentioning now was a complete reversal of that deathly state.
"Isn't that a good thing?!"
A light of hope appeared in Mélusine's eyes.
"Since the land of Britain is recovering, does that mean everyone will live better and better lives?!"
"Yes..."
"..."
Artoria's tone made Mélusine sense that something was amiss.
But this time, it was Ian who acted first.
"What do you want to do?"
Ian took Artoria's hand.
"Tell me."
"I'll help you."
As if she had been waiting for Ian to say this, or as if she had known all along that he would, Artoria was silent for a moment, then smiled.
"It's actually not that complicated."
"I—"
"Want to expand Camelot."