As the white smoke slowly cleared, a golden silhouette in a skirted set of armor stepped into view.
"...Huh?"
Seeing the Servant clearly, Irisviel couldn't help but gasp. This wasn't what she expected at all.
Shichen had told her the golden scabbard would summon a king—but what appeared was a girl. A girl with a single ahoge sticking up from her head.
Despite her cold gaze, her skin was soft and pale, her golden hair elegantly tied up, and her erald green eyes shimred. Her face was naturally beautiful, and her petite fra—if not for the armored dress—might've made soone doubt she was a Servant at all.
"Shichen, did sothing go wrong?" Irisviel asked, staring at the girl.
"Nope," Shichen said with a confident smile. "She's exactly who I was trying to summon."
Truthfully, he was relieved. He had been worried the Servant would turn out to be a guy.
That would've been a disaster.
"So, who is she?"
"The legendary King of Britain. Also known as King Arthur. So call her the King of Knights."
"Wait, what? Seriously?!"
Irisviel was stunned. She knew the legend of King Arthur, of course—but she never expected this to be who showed up. The girl looked fifteen, sixteen at most.
Was history fake or sothing?
"Don't overthink it," Shichen said. "History tends to leave things out. What matters is—she really is King Arthur."
"I guess... if she really is the King Arthur, our odds just skyrocketed."
"Well… not if I'm not involved."
"You never miss a chance to brag, huh?" Irisviel chuckled.
"I'm just stating facts."
Shichen walked up to the silent Servant, stood in front of her, and extended his hand. "Nice to et you, King Arthur. I'm your Master—Shichen."
"Shichen... I understand."
The girl nodded and shook his hand. "I am Saber, summoned to your side. I will fight with you, Master."
The mont she was summoned, Saber had already absorbed all the knowledge she needed—including modern info. Thanks to the Grail, she could now operate motorcycles, planes, and just about any vehicle.
Convenient.
"Saber, huh? Alright, I'll call you that." Feeling the firmness of her handshake and looking at her young face, Shichen confird to himself—yep, definitely a girl.
And he liked her from the mont he laid eyes on her.
So when she appeared before him like this, he felt a wave of unspoken anger rise within him.
How could anyone put such a massive responsibility on a girl like her—and still say she lacked empathy?
Forget the legends. Right now, all he saw was a girl. A strong one, sure, but still a girl.
That protective instinct kicked in imdiately.
"Master?" Saber looked at him, puzzled. His grip had suddenly tightened.
"Ah, sorry…"
Shichen shook his head, let go, and turned around. "Looking forward to working with you, Saber."
Without another word, he walked off and disappeared from view.
"Nice to et you, Saber~" Irisviel ca up with a cheerful smile.
"Who are you?" Saber asked.
"I'm Irisviel. Irisviel von Einzbern."
"Irisviel… what's your relationship to Master?"
"Hmm... I guess I'm technically the mother of his daughter?" she said, scratching her chin a bit uncertainly.
"Master has a daughter?" Saber was surprised. Shichen didn't look like soone with a kid.
"So... you're his wife?"
"Nope~"
"Huh?" Saber was montarily stunned.
"I'll explain later. For now, just relax and settle in," Irisviel said warmly.
"Alright…"
"Co on, let's go." Irisviel affectionately linked arms with Saber and led her away.
"Irisviel?"
"Don't mind it~ just go with it~"
"Uhh…"
Saber tried to pull away, but couldn't. Irisviel's friendliness caught her completely off guard.
To Irisviel, Saber was just an adorable teenage girl—barely fifteen or sixteen. It felt natural to treat her that way as she gave Saber a casual tour of the Einzbern ho.
After finishing the living quarters, they headed to the courtyard.
"Midam,"
Sella and Leysritt bowed respectfully when they saw Irisviel.
"Sella, Leysritt, this is Shichen's Servant—Saber." Irisviel introduced her warmly.
"Saber," the two said with their heads still lowered, unfazed by Saber's youthful appearance.
"Who are they?" Saber asked, frowning slightly. She imdiately sensed sothing odd.
"They're homunculi, just like ."
"Ah, that explains it…"
"You're not surprised?"
"Not really." Saber shook her head, face calm.
"Wow~ as expected of a Heroic Spirit. So, would you tell more about yourself?"
"There's not much to say... I'd rather talk with Master."
"I see..." Irisviel noticed a subtle shift in Saber's expression. Understandable—after all, if her identity differed from the legend, and she was just a girl, there had to be a lot she wasn't saying.
"Do you know where he is?"
"He should be… over there."
Irisviel led Saber to the edge of the castle wall. From above, they could see Shichen outside, playing in the snow with Illya and Sakura.
The three were in the middle of a snowball fight—Illya and Sakura ganging up on Shichen.
"Dady! Take this!"
"Sorry, Onii-chan!"
Illya and Sakura hurled snowballs at him. Shichen dodged easily, sotis getting hit, but never fought back.
"You two have terrible aim."
"Hmph! Don't get cocky, Dady! Watch this!"
"Is that Master's daughter? She looks like you," Saber asked.
"Well, I am her mom," Irisviel said proudly.
"And the other girl?"
"Soone Shichen rescued. Her na's Sakura. He took her in."
"Master… is a kind person," Saber said quietly, watching the scene.
"He really is."
"But..." Saber hesitated.
"Sothing bothering you?" Irisviel asked.
"The Master I saw earlier… he seed really angry. Is it because I'm a girl? Does he think I'm not strong enough?"
"Not at all," Irisviel smiled. "Shichen's not that kind of guy."
"Then why did he look so mad?" Saber asked, genuinely confused.
"Saber… you really are King Arthur, right?"
"Yes," Saber nodded.
"Then that explains it. Your story is well known in our ti. But… since you're a girl, I bet your life wasn't easy, huh?"
"It wasn't hard. It was my duty." Saber replied blankly.
"Still, Shichen doesn't see it that way~" Irisviel smiled fondly as she looked down at the kids.
After a year of living with him, she knew Shichen well. The mont he saw Saber was a girl, of course he got mad—how could he not?
"Him? Why?"
"Simple. He was angry for you. Angry at the people who forced that burden on you."
"Why would he...?"
"Heh~ you really don't get it yet, do you?"
"Huh?"
"Because you're cute."
"? Cute? That's it?" Saber frowned.
"That's more than enough."
"Illya, Shichen, Sakura! Co on in, it's lunchti!" Irisviel called out, waving.
"Coming!"
Shichen picked up both Illya and Sakura—one on each shoulder—and casually jumped up to the courtyard.
"Dady, you're so strong!"
"Mhm! Onii-chan's the best!"
Illya and Sakura giggled and showered him with praise.
"Really? You think so?" Shichen looked delighted. Praise from kids was always honest.
"Master—"
"Hold that thought," Shichen cut her off. "I know you want to talk, but let's eat first. I think you'll like my cooking."
"Master... cooks?"
"Shichen's cooking is really good," Irisviel added.
"Mhm! Dady makes the best food!"
"I love Onii-chan's cooking too!"
Saber…
~~~
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