Nightfall.
The weather was unexpectedly pleasant. Artoria and Ian walked through the village, where the land had temporarily regained life thanks to Morgan's magic. The rekindled bonfires added a touch of hope to the village.
But despite this warmth, Artoria couldn't calm the unease in her heart.
Was her relationship with Ian really a problem?
She wanted to deny it, but a voice in her head kept repeating the same thought.
"Artoria."
"W-What is it?" she asked, flustered.
"You…"
"I…"
Her heart pounded in her chest.
Did he notice something?
But—
"Your eyes are beautiful. You're the most beautiful girl in Britain I've ever seen."
"…What the heck!" Artoria pouted.
"That kind of generic compliment isn't going to make me happy."
"Really?" Ian scratched his head. "I learned it today. Thought you'd like it."
"You…"
She hesitated. Her instincts told her to be happy.
But that persistent voice in her mind rejected it.
Become king.
The king that everyone expects.
The king he expects.
Her thoughts clashed inside her head again—just like when she was deciding whether to save him or not.
"Artoria, are you unhappy today?" Ian asked suddenly.
"Of course not!"
"I'm happy!"
To prove it, she spun around in front of him.
"See? I'm totally fine."
She didn't want him to worry.
Even when her mind was a mess, that remained unchanged.
But what she didn't expect was—
After she said that, Ian took her hand.
Their palms shared the same warmth.
"Ian… what are you doing?" she asked cautiously.
She could tell tonight wasn't about food. He wanted to do something different.
She felt both anticipation and fear.
"Let me think…" Ian recalled Morgan's advice and took the next step.
Holding her hand, he leaned in. Their eyes met.
His gaze was intense. Honest. No pretense at all.
Flustered, Artoria instinctively looked away.
"What are you doing? You're acting weird—nothing like your usual self."
"Why aren't you looking at me…" Ian mumbled.
He gently turned her face back toward him.
"There. That's better."
"What are you doing—mmph!"
Ian lightly pinched her cheek. Artoria resisted.
"Just say what you want already! If someone sees us…"
"That would be weird."
"I like you, Artoria."
Ding.
The air turned deathly quiet.
After a moment, Artoria finally blinked and spoke in a daze.
"What did you say?"
"I like you, Artoria."
"Say it again—"
"I like you, Artoria."
Ian held her face gently, eyes locked onto hers, his tone serious and unwavering.
This was Morgan's scripted confession method.
"If you care about someone, tell them directly."
Ian had fully embraced that principle.
But—
Artoria's response was unlike Morgan's expectation.
Of course, she understood this was a confession.
A heartfelt one, timed with the land's rebirth.
But…
This isn't right, is it?
It's not the right time to accept a confession.
Even though she really liked this foolish, battle-loving dragon… this couldn't be right.
The knight-princess reached for her weapon—the golden sword, Caliburn.
She was a king.
A symbol of Britain's future.
If she let herself indulge in his love now, she'd be betraying the sword.
"That's right, Artoria," the voice in her head said clearly.
"Refuse him. Wait until you've truly become king. Then revisit these feelings."
"You can do it, can't you?"
She wanted to be a king.
To protect everyone.
She had vowed to do that the day she drew her sword.
She wasn't wrong. She just hadn't yet lived up to the title of king.
For the first time, the girl withdrew her hand from the boy.
"Ian, not now."
"I…"
"There's still a lot I need to do."
"Your feelings for me… it still feels too early."
"I…"
She couldn't bring herself to say anything that might hurt Ian, but she also couldn't interact with him like she normally did.
Because she still wasn't a true king.
"I'm sorry."
That was the only answer the girl could give in the end.
Then she turned and walked away.
Only Ian was left standing there.
He looked at the hand Artoria had let go of, and something seemed to change in his eyes.
He turned around, ready to follow in the direction Artoria had left.
It had always been like this—
So it should be fine today too—
"If you follow her, she'll start to hate you."
Morgan stepped out from the shadows on the side of the road.
"She already said it's not the right time, didn't she?"
"If you still chase after her now, it'll make you seem childish."
"But Artoria told me 'sorry'."
Ian looked toward the direction where the girl had walked away.
"Why would she say that?"
"Maybe because she's not in love with you yet. In other words—"
"She might not care about you that much."
"…"
Morgan's words struck a nerve in Ian.
The boy clutched his chest and said softly,
"It really hurts."
"So strange… it never did before."
"That's because you were rejected."
"So now you're feeling pain."
Morgan walked up to Ian.
With a grace surpassing even Artoria, she took the hand of the strange knight before her.
Seeing the confusion in his eyes, a flicker of pride flashed across the princess's gaze.
It was the look of someone who had finally won over Artoria at something.
"Come on—"
"If you can't get Artoria's attention tonight…"
"Then how about mine instead?"