"Come on, Shidou, open up—ahhh~"
Itsuka Shidou stared at Tobiichi Origami with dead fish eyes as she leaned in close—so close she was practically glued to him—one hand resting on his thigh, the other offering a spoonful of fish soup near his lips.
"Uh, Origami… I can feed myself…"
"What do you think you're doing, Origami?!"
Yatogami Tohka, the self-proclaimed rightful girlfriend, slammed the table and stood up in outrage, pointing an accusatory finger at Origami as she barked her demand.
Yet Origami's face showed not a trace of panic.
"If you're so blind that you can't see the situation in front of you, then I honestly don't see the point in explaining anything to you."
"You—! You're being way too arrogant, Origami! Get off Shidou this instant!"
"I refuse. As his lover, I am exercising a perfectly legitimate right. There is no room here for a third party."
"W-What?! You're the third party! Shidou's lover is me! Not you!"
Furious, Tohka mimicked Origami and prepared to feed Shidou as well—only she didn't grab a spoon. She lifted an entire bowl of fish soup and thrust it in front of him.
"Shidou! Don't drink hers—drink mine!"
"Try using that peanut-sized brain of yours for a second. Who drinks soup like that? What if you spill it all over Shidou?"
Origami frowned slightly. "This soup was made with Shidou's care and effort. If you waste it with your recklessness, he might end up hating you."
"I-I-I…"
Amidst the commotion, Melusine remained utterly unmoved. She simply sipped her soup, one mouthful at a time.
Hmm… not bad. It warmed her stomach nicely.
The only drawback was the sheer number of fish bones. Picking them all out was a chore. But then she remembered—no way would a few fish bones pierce a dragon's throat.
So Melusine gave up entirely and just swallowed everything—bones and all.
This bold display left Yamai Kaguya staring, stunned.
She herself was having a hard time with all those tiny bones.
"Ugh… what a fierce and unyielding creature… Even in death, it raises its sword of bones in rebellion against those who dare to eat it?"
"Mockery: So Kaguya can't even handle fish bones?"
"What did you say?!"
Kaguya glared at Yamai Yuzuru, but the latter only responded flatly, "Pity: It's not something shameful, Kaguya. You can just admit it. I won't mock you."
"You just did mock me!"
"If it's too hard, you can give me all your fish. Just drink the soup."
"Are you looking down on me?! Fish bones? That's nothing to me! Watch, I'll demolish them in seconds!"
With just a few words, Yuzuru had effortlessly triggered Kaguya's competitive streak—and yet another inexplicable rivalry had begun.
"Ouch!"
"What's wrong, Miku?"
Yuzuru's sudden yelp caught everyone's attention.
"Ugh… I burned my mouth on the soup…"
Miku cradled her cheek with one hand, while the other delicately dabbed at the corner of her eye. Her voice, melodic like a nightingale, carried just the right touch of trembling vulnerability—enough to make anyone's heart ache with concern.
"Why weren't you more careful…? Are you okay?"
Shidou stood up immediately, concern etched into his features. "There should be ice or cold water around here—I'll go look."
"No need to go to all that trouble, darling~"
Miku caught Shidou's hand just as he was about to leave, lowering the hand from her mouth and pouting sweetly.
"If you kiss it better, the pain will go away, mm~"
"Miku! That's not how you treat burns!"
Miku's blatant attempt to steal the spotlight drew fire from Tohka immediately.
Origami's eyes lit up, and she raised her bowl, taking a deliberate sip. Then she looked at Shidou and said calmly:
"Shidou. I burned my lips as well. I require a kiss for treatment."
"Origami?! You too?!"
Tohka stared at Origami in disbelief. After a long pause, she pursed her lips, unwilling to lose. She lifted the bowl and took a huge gulp of soup, then shot her hand into the air.
"Shidou! I'm burned too!"
"Wow… so this is the true power of a harem king. Color me impressed."
Sitting to the side like a detached observer, Honjou Nia smiled faintly, as if the chaos unfolding before her was pure entertainment.
"If he showed up at a con, I bet a whole crowd of mysterious people in black cloaks with scythes and torches would drag him to a cross and burn him alive. Don't you think, Lan-chan?"
"…What do I think?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Melusine arched a brow.
"I don't have any particular thoughts. It's normal for an exceptional person to attract many admirers—like how planets orbit the sun."
"Do you think Shidou is exceptional?"
"Whether it's fate or sheer luck, he's saved girls on the verge of despair—more than once."
Melusine paused, then added with a hint of pride, "That said, he's still far inferior to my Master."
The moment she mentioned her Master, it was as if an invisible tail sprang from Melusine's back and began wagging uncontrollably.
"Your Master must be really amazing if you admire them that much."
"Indeed. Besides Her Majesty Morgan, who calls herself Master's wife, there's also Gawain, Tristan… many others, all like me—hoping to win Master's favor."
"Gawain… Tristan…" Nia stroked her chin, eyes sparkling. "Those are all Knights of the Round Table from Arthurian legend… Don't tell me your Master's name is Guinevere?"
Melusine shook her head. "Master is Master. I've never heard that name."
"I see…"
Nia let it go—for now. But her curiosity burned hotter than ever.
What kind of person must Master be to have someone like Lan-chan so utterly devoted? It made her jealous.
And it wasn't just her. Everyone had grown curious about this unseen "Master" that Melusine constantly spoke of—someone who'd even made Ratatoskr declare a full ceasefire. A true "untouchable moonlight" figure.
Only Natsumi seemed unaware—this was her first time hearing about Melusine's Master. Since no one had driven her away, she stayed nervously on the sidelines.
"Actually, I've been meaning to ask you something."
"Hmm? Ask what?"
Melusine tilted her head in mild confusion.
"By your account, your Master is already married to Her Majesty Morgan, right?"
Nia's expression twisted slightly. "But you still call yourself their lover. Doesn't that feel… strange?"
It was a question Kotori and the others had all wondered about. Anyone with even a half-decent sense of propriety would find it bizarre.
But Melusine didn't seem remotely fazed.
"Goodness. Sounds like there's been a serious misunderstanding."
Misunderstanding?
What misunderstanding?
"Do you all really see me, Lancelot, as some kind of frivolous dragon?"
Melusine swept her gaze across the room, her delicate brows knit with solemnity.
Her expression was grave. Honest. No sarcasm, no pretense—only conviction. Her face was so composed, so clear, it made one hesitate to doubt her.
Seeing that, everyone began to wonder… Was there actually some kind of misunderstanding?
After all, just because she had the name Lancelot didn't mean she'd go running off with someone else's queen…
"That's right."
Melusine declared, loud and proud:
"If you love someone, you won't mind that she already has a wife!"
Everyone: "..."
While their brains short-circuited, Melusine carried on, unwavering:
"Don't underestimate me. A dragon's love is steadfast and loyal. I won't abandon someone I love over something so trivial. I have the courage, the resolve, the will, and the strength to stay by her side—even if she's married."
"My love won't waver. Nor will my resolve to protect Master fade."
Nia remained silent for a while before speaking, her tone complicated.
"I think I might finally understand why Her Majesty Morgan gave you the name 'Lancelot.'"
"I've heard of the Knight of the Lake. They say he was the strongest, most perfect of the Round Table."
Melusine smiled with quiet confidence. "So surely, Her Majesty trusted me—believed I was the strongest and most beautiful of all fairy knights—and honored me with this name."
No, thought Nia silently, I think it's because you're both obsessed with seducing your own king's wife…
"Fairy knights?"
"Yes. Myself, Gawain, Tristan—we were all granted names by Her Majesty Morgan and serve as her knights. We are the Fairy Knights."
Melusine lowered her gaze. "In short, those two are my colleagues."
"I understand that someone as wonderful as Master will attract more and more people to her side. But… Gawain and Tristan are hard to deal with."
"Besides, I don't really have the right to say anything. Like them, I was saved by Master. I only exist in this form because of her. So I have no right to stop them from staying by her side."
Her golden eyes dimmed slightly, her smile tinged with sorrow.
Just then, a small hand gently rested on hers. Melusine turned in surprise and saw Yoshino's worried face beside her.
"…I'm fine."
She shook her head and smiled—pure and clear as spring water.
Then she took Yoshino's hand in hers, her expression tender—like moonlight reflecting softly on a summer lake.
"Sorry for making you worry, Yoshino."
"Hehe, if Lancelot-san's still feeling down, then Yoshinon says we can lend you Yoshino for a hug—just this once, okay?"
"Y-Yoshinon…"
Yoshino flushed red at the sudden offer, but she didn't protest too hard.
Seeing Melusine smile again, the others finally relaxed. The heavy atmosphere gradually lifted, replaced by a sense of ease.
They all knew—Melusine's beloved Master had sacrificed herself to save her. That shadow of guilt and unworthiness lingered in her heart, and no one quite knew how to comfort her.
Yoshino didn't either. But she said nothing, simply placing her hand in Melusine's—offering silent support.
"Damn! I let my guard down!"
Suddenly, Nia started shouting.
"A once-in-a-lifetime chance to hold Lan-chan's hand in broad daylight—wasted! Unforgivable—!!"
Everyone was already used to Nia's unhinged auntie moments by now.
Just then, Miku glided behind Melusine and gently pulled her back until her head rested against Miku's chest. Then she wrapped her arms around her from behind in a soft embrace.
"Come now, little Lan~ If you're feeling down, you can cry into my chest. My arms are always open for you."
"You sneaky vixen, Miku! I look away for one second and you make your move?! Let go! That should be my job!"
Nia instantly transformed into a raging big sis and lunged forward, prying at Miku's arms.
"Let you?"
Miku smiled sweetly, glancing down at Nia's chest… then straightened her back with pride.
She didn't say anything. She didn't need to.
And yet she said everything.
Nia saw the look, saw the message loud and clear—her temples throbbed with fury.
So what if you've got huge boobs?! So what if your cups are bigger than Kurumi's head?! That doesn't make you better than me!
"I'm gonna use Rasiel's future-recording power to turn you into a damn flat-chested ironing board—!!"