Ian's personality wasn't the type to indulge in pleasantries.
After all, his true form was a one-of-a-kind dragon.
So—
When she heard Ian say this, Mélusine's first reaction was excitement.
And then...
...it was doubt.
"Did you... did you teach him to say that?"
Almost as a knee-jerk reaction, Mélusine directly asked Habetrot.
"Meow?"
Habetrot looked at her, confused.
"What are you talking about, meow?"
"The one he's asking for is you, so why would you ask if I taught him to say it, meow?"
"Is your head on straight, meow?"
"..."
Habetrot's words brought Mélusine to her senses.
That's right.
If Habetrot had been the one to teach him, how could she, the tailor, not know anything about it and still look so surprised to see her?
"Then, did Morgan teach you?"
Mélusine still couldn't quite believe she would have such an opportunity.
"I... I just saw her a moment ago."
"..."
The moment the words left her mouth, Mélusine felt a bit foolish.
Since the Morgan she just saw had been so unfriendly, how could she possibly have gone out of her way to tell Ian to get her a wedding dress?
Then, the answer is obvious!
It was Artoria!
Ian would listen to her, and considering she had taken Artoria's side before, this could very well be her chance to get a wedding dress!
Yes, that must be it!
Mélusine answered, full of confidence.
"Artoria taught you to do this, didn't she!"
"Eh, really, you don't have to give me one!"
The moment she said it, Mélusine felt something was wrong.
Because Ian was looking at her, and with a kind of gaze he had never used before, sizing her up, as if to say, "You're so weird."
"Wh-What is it?"
Growing flustered under his stare, Mélusine covered her chest.
She found it seemed to have become the focus of his gaze, a focus from which he showed no sign of looking away.
"It's nothing."
"I... just wanted to ask you a question."
"What question?"
"Why... don't you think that I wanted to say this myself?"
"..."
The moment Ian asked this question, Mélusine felt her heart stop for an instant.
Because she truly had not considered that this would be a request Ian had made on his own initiative.
It was as if...
...she had never considered that she would be included in the category of "his bride."
"Because... that's impossible, right?"
Mélusine took a few steps back, putting some distance between herself and Ian.
"I..."
"I am not worthy of enjoying something like this, nor have I earned the right."
"Ian, stop messing with me."
"How could I... possibly have a wedding dress?"
"That's where you're wrong!"
Ian didn't answer Mélusine, but Habetrot spoke first.
"How could any girl not be worthy of enjoying a wedding dress!"
"You take that back right now, meow!"
Speaking with the tone of someone who was truly angry, Habetrot used her height advantage from Ian's shoulders to give Mélusine a sharp bonk on the head.
"Ow."
"You little—!" Mélusine clutched her head, her expression one of annoyance.
But Habetrot wasn't scared in the slightest.
Using her perch on Ian, she continued her assault.
"See? It hurts! Now take back what you just said!"
"Every girl has the right to wear a wedding dress!"
"But that doesn't mean you can wear one just because you want to!" Mélusine retorted. "Don't you... don't you know that Ian is already married to the King?!"
"For a married man to be giving wedding dresses to other people... isn't that strange?!"
"Well..."
"I don't care!"
Habetrot waved her hand dismissively.
"I only know one thing—"
"And that is, you can choose not to wear a wedding dress, but I will defend your right to wear one!"
"Besides, Morgan is getting one too, isn't she?! What are you so worried about!"
"..."
With that one sentence, Habetrot confirmed the "love triangle" that Baobhan Sith had just mentioned to Mélusine.
"No, this is absolutely not okay!"
Mélusine's face flushed slightly.
"Isn't this an extramarital affair?!"
"This is... this is too much!"
However—
"So, do you want a wedding dress?"
It was as if Ian hadn't heard any of the preceding conversation between Habetrot and Mélusine.
He brought the focus of the topic back to the most practical matter at hand, and the one that Mélusine cared about most.
"Wait, didn't you hear what I just said?"
"I heard."
"But, I still want to ask—"
"Mélusine, do you want a wedding dress?"
"It's fine if you don't want one. You can just say so. I won't have any objections. Mhm... I'm just asking."
Ian's tone was extremely casual as he spoke.
If it weren't for the startling words "wedding dress," Mélusine felt she would have thought he was asking "what did you have for lunch today."
"..."
"Can I answer however I want?"
"Mhm."
"No matter what the answer is?"
"Mhm."
"You won't get mad after I answer?"
"Mhm."
"Even if you get mad, you'll forgive me?"
"Mhm."
"Then—"
"Stop!"
Habetrot rapped Mélusine on the head again.
"What are you doing!"
"Asking once or twice is fine, but this is endless! What are you trying to accomplish?"
"Time is precious, can't you do something meaningful, meow!"
"..."
Mélusine's throat bobbed.
The simple word "yes"—she didn't know why she just couldn't say it.
But—
"I understand."
"That means 'yes,' right?"
"Eh?" Mélusine looked up. "I... I didn't say that!"
"But I think you mean yes."
"I don't..."
"No, you do." Ian repeated. "And it's the kind of 'yes' where you want it very much."
"..."
Mélusine didn't dare refuse again.
She was worried that if she kept this up, she might really lose the opportunity.
"W-Well, since you're giving it to me, I'll reluctantly accept it! You're the one giving it, you hear, it's not that I want it!"
"Such a tsundere..."
Habetrot muttered under her breath.
But as a professional-grade tailor, she hadn't forgotten her main job.
"Well, in that case, we might need Ian's help with something."
"His help with something?"
Mélusine had a bad feeling, and that feeling quickly became reality.
"That's right."
Habetrot gestured with her hands.
"Someone will have to help collect your three sizes."
"How else am I supposed to make it?"