MELODY MUSKETEERS (M911 & TTM)
028. ATONE FOR SINS

Melody enters Niko's mansion with a housekeeper escorting her to where Niko is currently.

Niko is in the indoor pool of her favorite place. He is swimming at the moment. Melody watched Niko who was swimming. His movements were very fast even much faster than his own brother, Athos.

Melody continued to pay attention and felt that Niko looked happier when she was in the pool. He was so focused that he did not see Melody standing there.

Finally Niko saw the whereabouts of Melody who had been standing for ten minutes not far from the pool. He immediately walked out of the pool and approached Melody.

"Why didn't you call me?" Niko asked as she walked towards Melody and opened the head covering with her swimming goggles.

"I don't want to bother you." Melody replied with a slight smile looking at Niko.

"You want me to teach you how to swim? I guarantee you'll be able to." Niko unzipped her swimsuit and wiped her face from the water.

Melody nodded in response.

"I don't want to, I'm glad I can't swim." Answer Melody. "You okay? I thought you were really sick."

"No, I'm just looking for your attention." Niko answered blatantly. "You're worried about me, aren't you?"

Melody was silent and would not answer.

"All right, I'll change clothes first. Have you eaten? We're having lunch, I'm hungry." Niko. "Wait at the dinner table or want to come with me to the room?"

Melody immediately walked over not wanting to respond to Niko's joke.

Not long after Niko came to the dining table after changing clothes. Melody who was already sitting at the dinner table noticed Niko who looked very pale and made her really look like a vampire.

"Your face is pale, are you okay?" Melody asked Niko who was sitting in the single seat beside her right. "Have you taken any blood-boosting medications?"

"All I need is to suck your blood, not some blood-boosting drug." Niko replied as she glanced at Melody seductively. His hand took out some medicine from his coat pocket.

"You often stay up said your housekeeper who drove me earlier. Stop staying up late, you better get enough sleep. Because you're not a real vampire who doesn't need to sleep." Melody.

Seeing Melody's attitude made Niko sculpt. Melody was so attentive to him with her words. He feels weird. Niko knew that Melody was a stubborn cold girl but today her attitude looks different. It reminded him of Tasya's question about why Melody agreed to marry him.

"Melody, do you still not love me?" Look Niko.

"I told you it would be very difficult for me."

"Then I won't marry you."

Melody was stunned to hear Niko's words. His feelings were confused to hear it. He felt relief when he heard it but seeing the look on Niko's face made him not have the heart to feel the relief. Niko seemed to be holding back her sad emotions when she said that, as seen from her stiffening face.

"I realized, this feels weird. You agreed to marry me when you didn't like me at all." Said Niko not looking at Melody and just looking ahead slightly lowered her head.

"Why is that a problem now?" Look Melody.

"What's the reason you agreed to marry me?" Niko turned to Melody and looked at the girl sharply.

Melody thought that she couldn't answer all of that because she felt sorry for Niko. She also couldn't possibly say if she did it to make her three sisters change their attitude towards that poor Niko. He also won't say if he wants to marry Niko because he wants to redeem Aramis from her.

"Because you're handsome and rich." Answer Melody. He remembered the Lion's words earlier. So Lion thought that Niko would ask Melody about it.

Niko laughed a little at that. To him it was a cliche answer, as he also answered the same thing when Tasya asked him.

"Then what about your dreams?"

"I don't need anything else after marrying a handsome, rich man." Answer Melody. Although saying that actually Melody felt sadness in her. He still wanted to achieve his dream, even he had planned to audition, but it seemed like he had to bury his dream. "Niko, I'm going to marry you."

"What about Lion?"

Once again Niko's question makes Melody try to hold back her tears. He did not want to look doubtful by showing his sadness in front of Niko.

"Why are you asking me about it? Isn't this all about the Lion?"

"Is it true you've been on a date?" Look at Niko lekat. "You or Lion never told me about it."

"Because it's not a date, Niko." Answer Melody. "My brother gave Lion the ticket and asked him to take me to the amusement park. We don't think it's a date."

"Then how do you feel about her? You didn't answer correctly the last time I asked about your relationship."

"Is that important now? I told you I'd marry you, just focus on making me love you."

Niko laughed when she heard it. He felt very strange with Melody's reply. Everything he asked was almost answered exactly the same as Lion's answer yesterday. But it was not a problem for him, his goal was just curious not to convince himself.

"Yes, I just want to know, I also have no serious intention of not getting married to you." Niko answered with a cold smile at Melody.

Melody just stared at Niko's words.

...***...

Earlier at school, when the bell rang home, Lion met Melody who was about to move from her seat. Melody felt strange as the Lion approached her again. Although at rest he said he would be normal again to Melody but for the girl was not that easy.

"Go to his house, you must see him." Lion. "When a brother commits a mistake to someone, it is the duty of the other brother to make up for it."

Melody is surprised, it turns out that Lion already knows that he knows what Aramis did to Niko.

After saying so Lion immediately walked away leaving the confused Melody. Melody thought about whether she should see Niko or not, but what Lion said was true. Although he felt sad when he heard the words of Lion, but even that was his decision to make amends for his brother.

In a taxi heading to Niko's house, Melody suddenly receives a message containing footage from Lion. Melody listened to the recording with earphones. The recording when Niko asked Lion yesterday.

Melody felt a pain in her heart upon hearing all of Lion's answers. Although he had heard everything, it still hurt him.

On the recording there is something that makes Melody curious. The words Lion spoke in Russian. Which he did not understand, and Niko also answered him in Russian as well.

...***...

Lion is in a giant trampoline playground jumping. Lion reopened the recorded message he sent to Melody, a lollipop in his mouth.

He realized that if the recording he sent was wrong, he should have sent a recording that had been cut into pieces. But he sent us the original footage.

"You're so stupid, Lion." Lion muttered after that laying himself on the trampoline. "A new problem will arise if he knows what it means."

Lion spread his hand over the trampoline and exhaled with the lollipop still in his mouth.

...–NATZSIMO–...