At last, the day of Artoria's wedding had arrived in Camelot.
The streets were swept clean by the citizens, looking brand new.
Although rumors of an illegitimate child still echoed among the common folk, under the "watchful eyes" of Barghest and Mélusine, no one dared to delve too deeply into it.
Not to mention.
Barghest, the "source" of the rumor herself, now stood completely on Artoria's side.
Flowers bloomed on every street and alley, and celebratory wine was placed in all sorts of locations.
"The King is getting married today, huh—"
Barghest yawned, looking somewhat bored.
Mélusine, on the other hand, nodded.
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing."
Barghest sighed.
"I just feel it's a little unreal."
"The King... she seems completely different from how she was at the beginning, doesn't she?"
"It just feels... there's an indescribable sense of dissonance."
"People change."
Mélusine lifted the goblet in front of her.
Glug, glug.
She drank a lot of wine.
"The King is different from us. She's human, after all. It's perfectly normal for what she thinks now to be completely different from what she thought before, isn't it?"
"But speaking of which—"
"Barghest, haven't you been called the King's 'adopted daughter'?"
Mélusine frowned slightly.
"At a time like this, why aren't you with them?"
"I actually wanted to go with them."
Barghest scratched her head.
"But she told me it wasn't necessary."
"Not necessary?"
"Yes, she seemed a little worried that I would be attacked because of this."
"This..."
Barghest's words took Mélusine by surprise.
However, before she could think too much about it, the crowd outside began to surge.
Clearly.
Artoria's wedding was about to officially begin.
"Shorty, then we should—"
"Don't call me shorty!"
Mélusine glared at Barghest.
"Call me that again and I'll break all your teeth."
"But... we really do need to go and see."
Soon, the two of them left the tavern.
The streets were teeming with people.
Barghest grabbed Mélusine directly and began to push through the surging crowd.
"..."
Although she wanted to say something, seeing that she was indeed making progress, Mélusine could only swallow her anger.
Finally, the two of them reached a spot very close to the front.
Their efforts were naturally rewarded with a fortunate result.
Artoria had just made her appearance.
She was wearing a beautiful white wedding dress and, with Ian's support, walked step by step to the edge of the castle balcony.
It was an absolutely beautiful sight. Even Barghest and Mélusine, who were supposed to be "love rivals," felt their hearts skip a beat upon seeing her.
"The King... was she always this beautiful?"
Barghest said in a daze.
In the past, in the eyes of this big doggy, Artoria had always been a figure of heroic spirit, not beauty.
But now...
That didn't seem to be the case at all.
She... was too beautiful!
Barghest couldn't help but shiver, while Mélusine beside her had a look of admiration in her eyes.
After that night when Artoria had granted her the name of "lover," her respect for this King had grown.
It was precisely because of this.
During this period, although Mélusine felt a desperate need for a taste of Ian just to get by, she had restrained herself.
At the very least...
Don't do that kind of thing before the wedding!
Although Mélusine sensed that this was likely Artoria's tactic of playing hard to get, she was willing to endure it for a while because of the King's forgiveness.
"So beautiful."
Mélusine clutched her chest.
Unlike Barghest—
She had known from the beginning that Artoria was a beauty in the making; it was only because she had to put on a majestic appearance in the past that she seemed so unapproachable.
So...
Has she finally gotten the chance to show her true self now?
Artoria was unaware of Barghest's and Mélusine's thoughts.
At this moment, her eyes were only for Ian beside her.
"Let's go. Let us see everyone—"
"Alright."
Holding each other's hands, Artoria and Ian came to the very front together.
Facing the countless gazes of anticipation, the King of Camelot spoke softly.
"Everyone."
"I am very pleased that you could all gather here for my own selfish desire."
"You have used the most precious thing in your lives—your time—to witness my happiness."
"I will remember this forever."
At this point, Artoria raised Ian's hand.
"He, along with me, will forever protect all of you in Camelot."
"I swear on the name of King Arthur, all who are present today shall receive a happiness equal in length to my own life."
"Woohoo—!"
Below the castle, applause and cheers erupted.
And at this moment, Artoria gave Ian a gentle, meaningful look.
"Let's show everyone that."
"Alright."
The dragon's body temperature continued to rise.
Then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he manifested a pair of wings.
They were wings that matched his immense size, adorned with complex patterns, and at the same time, they shone with vibrant color.
This was naturally a shocking sight.
The citizens cried out in surprise.
Even Barghest shouted along with them.
"What is this for?"
"..."
Mélusine remained calm.
She replied:
"The King must have a profound reason for doing this."
"I-is that so?"
Barghest waited cautiously.
And it was indeed as she said.
After Ian had transformed into a form that was a mix of dragon and man, Artoria gently kissed his cheek.
After the gentle touch, she continued:
"Everyone."
"Actually, there is one more thing I want to tell you all today."
"Our efforts seem to have received a response from Britain. Beings like Ian will become more and more numerous in the future."
"But—"
"There is no need to be afraid."
"They are not so different from us, and they even possess the strength to protect their own homes."
"We should accept this fact and form good relations with them."
"Camelot will become a nation of dragons, but it will never abandon the hope of humanity."
"With this power, we will eventually cross the seas of stars and become the most powerful existence!"
Artoria's ambition was fully revealed at this moment.
She was not limited to Camelot, but wanted to make her country even more prosperous and powerful.
The legend of the Red Dragon, at this moment, began to change.
"Slaying the White Dragon was just the beginning—"
"We will only grow stronger."
Barghest felt her blood boil.
She couldn't help but shout.
"My King, I support you!"
The sentiment spread from one to ten, from ten to a hundred.
Artoria's wedding had also turned into an inspiring speech.
However—
No one had expected.
At such a moment, a figure somewhat similar to Morgan, but appearing even more crazed, would walk... no, it was more like she passed through the crowd like a shadow.
When she reappeared, she was already standing in front of Ian.
"Father—"
Under Artoria's astonished gaze.
The girl named Baobhan Sith unfolded wings similar to Ian's.
"At last..."
"I've found you, hmm~?"