"..."
This was something Mélusine had never expected.
Baobhan Sith, who usually spent her days teasing her, was now actually showing an attitude of asking for her advice.
"Who are you?!"
"Get out of Baobhan Sith, you're definitely not her!"
"..."
Baobhan Sith put her hands on her hips, striking the pose of a little princess.
"What do you mean? What's this about 'definitely not me'?"
"Hurry up and tell me, what on earth is this 'scent'..."
"Now that's the right tone—"
"Hey!"
Baobhan Sith wanted to scold Mélusine a bit more.
But she hadn't expected Ian to pay for the drinks and return so quickly.
Just like that, she lost the chance to continue.
"I'll find you later."
After saying this, Baobhan Sith walked out arm-in-arm with Ian.
Leaving Mélusine alone to ponder what she had just said.
"..."
"Should I go meet her?"
Mélusine scratched her cheek, and in the end, decided to give Baobhan Sith a chance.
After all, her payback was more or less complete, and it was about time she found out what she wanted.
And so—
...
That same night.
As promised, Mélusine arrived at the castle's ramparts.
Usually, the one waiting for her here would be Ian.
But now, she was waiting for someone else.
"..."
"You actually came."
A familiar and somewhat irritating voice sounded. Mélusine turned around and saw Baobhan Sith.
However—
Unlike her usual arrogant attitude, at this moment, she seemed somewhat dejected, one might even say regretful, as if she had been utterly defeated by something.
"Well, you asked. How could I say no?"
Mélusine retorted irritably.
"What if you pulled some trick on me? Wouldn't I be in Artoria's sights again?"
"..."
Baobhan Sith didn't say much, but walked to the edge of the rampart.
She looked up at the sky above, and as if she had figured something out, she said softly:
"Sorry. I apologize for everything I've done before."
"..."
Mélusine was stunned for a moment.
After taking a full minute to make sure she hadn't misheard Baobhan Sith's words, she finally spoke cautiously.
"Wait, you... you must have been possessed by some unclean spirit, right?"
"Why..."
"Why would you say something like that?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Baobhan Sith turned and glared at Mélusine. "What do you mean, 'why would I say something like that'?"
"Because this isn't like you, Baobhan Sith."
Mélusine said bluntly.
"In my eyes, you're picky, you love to tease people, you have a terrible temper, and you're impossible to figure out."
"For you to say sorry to me now, do you really think I wouldn't find it strange?"
"You..."
Mélusine's words made Baobhan Sith's cheeks turn bright red.
It was clear she wanted to refute every word the other had said.
But in the end—
Baobhan Sith didn't do so. Her angry expression, as if touched by something, gradually faded, and she instead appeared somewhat rational.
"Is that so?"
"So that's why I'm so unlikable?"
"..."
"You're definitely not right—give me the real Baobhan Sith back!" Mélusine said once again.
However, when she found that Baobhan Sith was ignoring her, she realized that such words might have been "immunized" against by the other.
After thinking it over, she walked to Baobhan Sith's side and asked:
"Seriously, why are you suddenly like this?"
"So downcast... as if you've suffered some extremely heavy blow. Is... is this really the usual you?"
"..."
"Because I've discovered... that he doesn't like me at all."
Baobhan Sith looked at the starry sky before her, reaching out her hand as if she wanted to pluck the bright stars from the sky.
Of course, that was impossible.
But that sorrow was palpable, and it reached Mélusine.
"So, what exactly happened to you?"
"Is it just because Ian can't accept you, because he can't sense a 'scent' from you, that you've become like this?"
"..."
Baobhan Sith gave no answer, as if Mélusine's guess was completely wrong.
But Mélusine knew that this kind of silence was the best proof that she had hit the mark—after all, given Baobhan Sith's personality, if she had anything to refute her with, she would have said it long ago.
"You... care about him that much?"
Having figured out the situation, Mélusine's courage grew considerably.
"You absolutely have to make him sense your 'scent'?"
"What else is there?"
Baobhan Sith retorted.
"You all... you all have that scent, don't you? Why am I the only one who doesn't! It's not fair! Why on earth!"
"I... I want to get close to him like you all do, too!"
"..."
The moment the words were out, Baobhan Sith realized she had lost her composure.
She turned her face away and didn't say another word.
However—
What Baobhan Sith didn't know was that for Mélusine, this attitude was more than enough to understand.
Because there was a time when she had felt the same way.
That...
...feeling of unease all over whenever she saw Artoria and Ian together.
Phew—
"I never thought the day would come when I'd understand you so well, Baobhan Sith."
Mélusine smiled faintly.
"You really don't have to worry about it so much, you know?"
"Your mother, Morgan, was once deeply disliked by Ian—"
"R-Really?"
Baobhan Sith clearly didn't know about this.
She turned back, looking at Mélusine with disbelief.
"But, didn't Ian say he cared about mother? Otherwise, how would I exist?"
"That came later."
Mélusine wagged her little finger.
"Back then, she had to sneak around to see Ian every single time."
"To be honest with you, the sordid things she did back then... are beyond your imagination, Baobhan Sith."
"..."
Another moment of silence.
But Baobhan Sith could already vaguely sense the meaning behind Mélusine's words.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"You..."
"Don't tell me you want me to be like my mother?"
"I didn't say anything—" Mélusine shrugged.
"But, if you're willing to try..."
A glint of wisdom flashed in the petite swordswoman's eyes.
"It's not like I can't help you like before, Baobhan Sith."