Once a person has something on their mind, they change in an instant.
For example, right now—
The moment she felt her dream was connected to Ian, Artoria found that the idea of getting a good rest was simply impossible.
How could she possibly sleep now!
Artoria just lay there, her head turned to the side, staring wide-eyed at him on the other bed.
The sky wasn't fully bright yet.
Should I take this chance to check on him?
The moment the thought popped into her head, Artoria found her body had already acted on its own.
By the time she came to her senses, she was already sitting by his bed.
Ian slept peacefully, in a way that you could never imagine him trying to bite someone.
Artoria couldn't help but become curious.
If—
If that dragon really was him, why did he get so angry?
I don't get it.
I don't get it at all.
Artoria felt that no matter how she thought about it, she couldn't figure it out.
Forget it.
I should go back.
Sitting this close feels a little weird...
Artoria rose quietly, preparing to return to her own bed to see if she could get a little more sleep.
After all, rest time was precious.
But just at that moment—
She found she couldn't move.
Because Ian had grabbed her hand.
"Don't go—"
"Hm?"
Artoria thought he had woken up, but she quickly realized he was sleep-talking.
And in the next moment, she heard those familiar words again.
"So thirsty..."
"I'm so thirsty..."
Before Artoria could realize the danger, she was pulled towards his chest with a strength that didn't seem human at all.
"..."
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
The young woman could hear her own heart pounding.
She wanted to struggle free, but found she couldn't budge at all.
"Ian, wake up..."
Artoria placed her hope in her words, but quickly found it was useless.
It was an almost identical scene.
Only this time—
She was the one on top, and the person below was Ian.
Again?!
Artoria began to regret her earlier bout of curiosity that had led her over to Ian's side.
But just as the young woman felt her doom was upon her, she heard some unexpected words in the next moment.
"I won't hurt you."
"I promise—"
"Because Artoria is a very important friend to me."
"Eh?"
If before he was simply learning the concept of a "friend," then the Ian now was earnestly expressing his own thoughts.
Although it might just be sleep-talking—
It was still 120 percent serious.
He valued her.
That's why he would say he "won't hurt" her.
Mm...
So he knows what he's doing is wrong.
Once she understood his motivation, Artoria found that she wasn't so resistant to Ian's actions anymore.
After all—
If she thought about it from another perspective.
If she had an incredibly strong impulse towards only one person, but at the same time had to protect them...
That would actually be agonizing, wouldn't it?
He hadn't said anything before, and now he only dared to mumble a few things in his sleep.
He's probably afraid I'll be disgusted, right?
That must feel so suffocating...
"..."
Artoria glanced at the door to the room. After confirming that it was unlikely anyone would come in at this hour, she made a decision.
The young woman undid the first two buttons of her nightshirt.
And so, revealed in the light of dawn, were her fair shoulders.
And...
The one thing he needed.
"Just for a little while, okay..."
Artoria leaned down.
She didn't know what to call this act of hers.
But...
It didn't seem as hard to accept as she had imagined.
A little satisfaction in his sleep, that's reasonable, right?
As if smelling the aroma of food, Ian soon latched onto that small, cute curve.
"Ngh—"
Artoria covered her mouth with both hands.
I overestimated myself.
Being suckled and not being suckled are two completely different things.
This tingling, numbing feeling, who could stand it—
But even so...
Artoria also noticed something.
Even in his sleep, Ian was keeping his "promise."
He wasn't hurting her in a beast-like way, as he had before.
Of course...
In its place was an even more wicked act.
But the embarrassment didn't stop there.
As the first ray of sunlight entered the room, Artoria realized Ian's eyes had opened at some point.
"Eh!"
"When did you wake up!"
"..."
Ian released her.
"From the very beginning."
"Ehh—!"
Artoria's face flushed crimson.
"You..."
"Don't go with that guy."
At this incredibly awkward moment, Ian suddenly said.
"There's something wrong with that guy's scent."
"Hm?"
Artoria blinked.
"That guy?"
"Yes!"
"The one who told you to become king!"
Ian's rare agitation instantly confirmed one thing for Artoria.
Her intuition had been correct.
"So—"
"That dragon really was you, wasn't it?"
"..."
"Do you hate it?"
Ian looked at the Artoria before him.
"I... I was planning to tell you later."
"But, this time, it was just too urgent, so..."
"I'm not upset, you know."
Artoria cut Ian off.
"I can feel that you wanted to protect me."
"That's also why you got so thirsty, right?"
"Mm."
"I knew it."
Artoria smiled.
"If you're a dragon, then everything makes sense—"
"Surviving a fall like that is perfectly normal for a dragon."
"However..."
Artoria looked directly at Ian.
"I still want to become that king."
"Because everyone is truly suffering."
"I... want to put an end to all of it."
"But that guy is a bad thing—"
"I know, and I believe you."
A light shone in Artoria's eyes.
"So, I won't be fooled by him."
"But, if becoming king can save everyone, then that truly is the future I hope for."
"..."
Ian was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
"I understand."
"In that case, I will respect your choice."
"Eh?"
"By saying that, do you mean you'll accompany me on my way to becoming king?"
Artoria asked with a smile, only to be met with an incredibly serious gaze from him.
"Mm."
"I will protect you."
"I will protect you forever."
"..."
The young woman's cheeks flushed red once more.
If the last time was from embarrassment, then this time...
...it was genuine heartfelt emotion.
However, that feeling didn't last for long.
Because Ian soon couldn't resist his dragon instincts anymore.
Slurp—
"Be gentler! Not so hard! If Brother Kay hears, we'll definitely be in trouble!"
Artoria couldn't believe she no longer felt repulsed by this.
"Then, Ian, since that's the case—"
"Will you do something with me?"
"..."
The boy looked up.
He was asking what she meant.
Artoria didn't keep him in suspense, she said quickly:
"Come and practice swordsmanship with me."
"If you're a dragon, it'll be super effective!"