"You have to get me pregnant as much as possible, okay?" (T/N: Bro...)
Mélusine never dreamed that she would one day say such a thing to Ian.
No matter how you looked at it, didn't that sound exactly the same as "Please, come X me"?!
Just the thought of it made Mélusine feel so ashamed she wanted to tremble.
But—
It didn't seem that hard to accept.
At least, when she thought of the person in question being Ian, this kind of "seduction" didn't seem like such a big deal.
"Pregnancy... to what extent do we have to go?"
Ian suddenly asked such a question.
"Eh, well..."
Mélusine pursed her chin and thought for a moment.
But she quickly realized that this might not be very demure.
"H-How would I know!"
"It's... it's my first time being asked to get pregnant too! Why are you talking as if I know everything! I wouldn't know about these things!"
What Mélusine didn't expect was that, right after she said this, Ian picked her up completely.
The petite Mélusine, in front of the strong dragon, was like a cute doll.
"I'm sorry."
"I shouldn't have asked that question."
"You don't need to be so nervous..."
Mélusine mumbled while being held.
"If neither of us knows, we'll just have to study it until we figure it out."
"That way, there won't be any problems."
"And—"
Mélusine turned her head to look at Ian behind her.
Her icy eyes now only reflected his figure.
"Instead of a so-called apology, I actually prefer practical action, you know."
"You want me to enter, don't you?"
"Don't be so direct!"
Even so, when Ian actually lifted her skirt, Mélusine was happier than anyone.
Damn it...
When did I fall this low?
I don't know!
But I don't want to think about it anymore!
....
Mélusine's secret pregnancy plan was in full swing.
No one could have imagined that in the depths of the king's palace, Mélusine, who usually seemed so hard to get along with that she was called the "Ice Knight," would willingly debase herself to such an extent.
Three times a day, just like meals.
During her breaks, she could barely walk steadily, her body constantly filled with the dragon's magical energy.
"Shorty, what's wrong with you?"
"Why are you touching your lower back all day? You look like you're hurt."
Barghest couldn't help but ask this question while drinking with Mélusine.
After all, from her perspective, her old partner had been acting a bit differently these past few days.
Her spirits were better, and she talked more.
The only strange thing was that she was always touching her lower back, which looked very sore.
But—
Despite this, Barghest could still hear the happiness in her words.
"Well..."
"Children shouldn't ask so many questions."
Mélusine swirled the wine cup in her hand, then drank it down with a gulp.
"This is an adult's problem."
"Huh?"
Barghest felt like her hair was about to stand on end.
"What do you mean, 'an adult's problem'?!"
"You say that as if you've done a lot more than me!"
"Well, I have done quite a lot."
"At least—"
Mélusine made a gesture with her thumb and index finger.
"—a tiny bit more."
"Mélusine, you better tell me what's going on!"
"I won't."
Mélusine smiled.
"You'll find out eventually anyway."
"No, just tell me!"
"Won't tell, won't tell!"
....
Meanwhile, on the other side of Camelot.
Artoria and Morgan were standing atop the castle, gazing into the distance.
"I really didn't expect you to do this, Artoria."
Morgan rested her hand on the wall, her expression as playful as ever.
"To actually find Mélusine to test it for you."
"Heh."
"I really did underestimate you, Artoria."
"But Sister, you don't object to this, do you?"
Pulling her gaze back from the distant border, Artoria turned to look at her sister, Morgan.
"If you really disliked it, you wouldn't have let Ian go to her, would you?"
"..."
"It's not that I don't dislike it."
Morgan sighed softly.
"But I think, compared to letting you take the risk first, it's indeed much better to have Mélusine try first."
"Besides, Mélusine's existence did make me think of a problem."
"A problem... not quite suitable to bring up with Ian."
"There's something like that?"
Artoria clearly looked interested.
"Sister, at this point, you should be able to tell me what it is, right?"
"..."
"I was thinking..."
Morgan looked at the tree in the distance that was already growing straight towards the sky.
It was an object that could never be created by human hands.
"Could Mélusine's birth be related to that 'tree' we can't comprehend?"
"You mean, Mélusine brought the 'tree'?"
"No."
Morgan shook her head.
"I don't think that's likely."
"But the relationship between that tree and her is probably much more intimate than we imagine."
"So, this is actually a test—"
"Whether we..."
"...can utilize the power from that 'tree', Mélusine might give us the answer."
"Sister, you really do love Britain."
Artoria couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"Father not choosing you back then... that was probably a very wrong decision, wasn't it?"
"No." Morgan shook her head once more.
"On the contrary, I'm now very grateful for how things turned out."
"If Father and Camelot had chosen me from the start, you and Ian would never have met."
"And if you two hadn't met, then we wouldn't have this kind of unity now."
"Although the current Camelot isn't perfect, at least—"
"I like it very much."
"Sister..."
The corners of Artoria's mouth turned up slightly.
"That's true."
"No one knows what the other choice would have led to."
"But, Sister, are you just going to let Mélusine get pregnant naturally? Won't that be a bit strange?"
"Of course it won't be that simple."
Morgan replied.
"Since she's mentally prepared, we have to respond with something in kind."
"Wh-What do you mean?"
"Artoria."
Morgan's eyes sharpened.
"Don't you want to see how an outstanding child receives all sorts of blessings?"