Yoru quietly watched the girl who looked as though she'd suffered a tremendous blow. Though she was a king, Yoru couldn't help but feel pity for her.
A girl who was never meant to bear such burdens had drawn that sword and become king, placing a weight far beyond her years upon her shoulders.
She should never have had to sacrifice so much, and yet she had shackled herself with the heaviest of chains.
Yes... to be betrayed by the very people she trusted and sought to protect—what meaning remained in everything she had fought for?
Perhaps… she was never meant to be king in the first place.
"I say, Saber, surely you're not giving up on everything you've pursued just because of a few words from Rider and me?"
Seeing how dispirited she had become, Yoru couldn't help but speak again.
"Of course not! I will win the Holy Grail and rewrite the history of my homeland's destruction—this wish is one I will never abandon!"
As if Yoru's words had reawakened some buried strength, Saber straightened her back proudly and declared her intent.
"That's the spirit." Yoru smiled, raised the golden wine cup in his hand, and downed the last of its contents in one go.
"If you walk the path of a true king, why bother with the opinions of others? Saber, when you were King of Britain, when you sat upon that throne—were there not endless rumors and criticisms?"
As he said this, Saber fell silent. Indeed, Yoru was right. From the moment she ascended the throne, the rumors never ceased. A little girl suddenly becoming a sovereign—of course the people would resent it.
But Saber had never paid attention to such slander. She had simply focused on ruling Britannia the best she could, on being a just king without regret.
"No matter what others say or how they judge you, let them. Rider has his kingly path, and you have yours. If you've chosen it, there must be a reason. That is what a king should do. If you've decided, then there's no room for regret!"
Yoru stood up as he spoke, cleverly positioning himself in front of Irisviel, almost as if shielding her from others' eyes.
"Thanks for the fine wine, Archer."
He casually tossed the golden goblet—worth a fortune—toward Archer. A golden ripple appeared behind the Heroic Spirit, which immediately absorbed the cup.
Yoru had expected the proud golden Heroic Spirit to rant about him defiling his precious wine cup, but it seemed Archer wasn't as petty as he imagined.
It was then Yoru realized something: for those whom he acknowledged, this proud, golden Heroic Spirit could actually be magnanimous.
Like Rider. And perhaps, like himself.
Though… the constant "mangy mutt" this, "mongrel" that, still grated on his nerves.
"Of course. I've never once regretted my decision, and I will carry out this wish to the end."
At that, Saber also straightened her back, meeting Yoru's gaze without flinching.
Confidence and pride returned once again to the Knight of the Sword.
"Seriously now…" Off to the side, Rider gave a helpless laugh at how Yoru's few words had reignited Saber's spirit.
"No matter what, I can't agree with you or your kingly path, Saber. But I do admire the unwavering determination with which you pursue your chosen road, even if that pursuit seems utterly foolish to me."
"Hmph! Words are meaningless, Rider. I'll show you my kingly path with my sword!" Saber retorted without backing down.
"Now that I look forward to… Hahaha!"
Knowing he could no longer overpower her with words, Rider let out a hearty laugh.
Thanks to Yoru's intervention, the atmosphere of the banquet began to shift. Though still a bit tense, it was far more manageable than before.
"Eh?" Irisviel let out a confused, adorable sound as she realized she was suddenly being shielded.
"Be careful. A new guest has arrived," Yoru said with a soft chuckle, casting a meaningful glance at Flandre.
She nodded slightly in return. She had sensed the intruder even earlier than Yoru had.
It was the aura of a Servant—there was now a fifth presence within the castle.
It couldn't be Lancer—he wasn't one for such tactics. That left only Assassin.
Suddenly, Saber felt an intense chill down her spine. The cold alert snapped her to full awareness.
Currently, only Saber, Rider, and Archer stood in the courtyard's center. The sudden disturbance caused all three sensitive Servants to tense up instantly.
A moment later, Irisviel and Waver also sensed the change in the air. They couldn't see it, but the sheer bloodlust was palpable on their skin.
In the moonlit courtyard, strange white figures began to appear. One after another, pale faces bloomed like flowers.
The whiteness was that of lifeless, dried bones.
Skull masks paired with black robes. The once-empty courtyard was gradually surrounded by these eerie figures.
Assassins…
So the previous "elimination" of Assassin had merely been a ruse—something staged by Kirei Kotomine and Tohsaka Tokiomi.
Watching the multitude of Assassins appear, Yoru held Irisviel close and thought quietly.
Assassin wasn't a single being. Through some Noble Phantasm, he had multiplied into several.
"This was your doing, wasn't it, Archer?" Saber asked coldly, gripping her invisible sword and glaring at him warily.
Archer only gave an innocent shrug.
"Who knows? I've no need to understand the thoughts of mongrels."
Clearly, Archer had no interest in the arrival of the Assassins. He remained calmly sipping his wine.
But with so many Assassins mobilized, this wasn't something Kirei could have ordered on his own. It was undoubtedly the will of his mentor—Tohsaka Tokiomi.
Because Tokiomi had shown the proper courtesies of a vassal to the King of Heroes, Archer had acknowledged him as his Master. But the man's actions lately had only served to displease Archer further.
Though Rider had called the gathering, it was Archer who provided the wine. For Tokiomi to send assassins to a feast hosted with Archer's wine—what was he thinking?
Was he even aware that this was a slap to the King of Heroes' face?
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