[F/Z] The King's Feast
As a Servant manifested in the world as an Archer, their soul radiates an undeniable and dazzling brilliance.
The figure that arrived under the moonlight and amidst a sea of flowers was like the king of kings. His golden armor was merely an appendage to his noble character. It was as if even the sunlight respectfully bowed and kissed his beautiful golden hair, embracing his chiseled, handsome face with dazzling brilliance, further highlighting the strong sense of self reflected in his ruby-like blood-red eyes.
In the pristine white garden of the majestic ancient castle, the moonlight, tinged with the fragrance of flowers, cast a hazy carpet of light on the brick surface, where four kings sat on the ground.
When Archer retrieved the divine sake from the treasury, the atmosphere of the banquet was elevated to a lively level by the exquisite aroma of the sake.
Raising his golden goblet brimming with Dukang wine, Iskandar let the fragrant and intoxicating brew slide down his throat, still savoring the taste, and couldn't help but ask, "And what does the wine brewed by the fairies taste like?"
Meeting the Conqueror King's undisguised gaze, the Queen, her face veiled in black, smiled and said, "The value of a treasure lies not only in the craftsmanship of its maker but also in the recipient of its offering. Conqueror King, whether your insatiable desires can withstand the allure of the fairy's wine remains to be seen."
"Oh—Queen of the Fairies, do you mean that among the kings present, none of them are worthy of your attention?"
This question successfully drew Morgan into the spotlight.
At this moment, Morgan's murderous intent towards Iskandar reached its peak, while the elegant noblewoman concealed her shattered expression from an angle where no one could see her, using a thin veil as a cover.
—I might as well just poison you to death.
Morgan thought angrily.
However, faced with Artoria's probing gaze, Morgan's syllables that rose to the tip of his tongue spun around.
"Rider, I remember the theme of this banquet was 'The Magnanimity of a King'."
Upon hearing this, the three kings realized that the so-called fairy wine contained a deeper meaning, or that it was not simply a banquet drink to enhance the festivities.
Iskandar laughed heartily, "Of course! But the greed of a king is far greater than that of an ordinary person, and so is his magnanimity and capacity. Hmph, I'm increasingly looking forward to adding the Fairy Wine to my collection, Titania."
As soon as the Conqueror King finished speaking, his neighbor burst into exaggerated laughter, "No, no... Hahaha! This is truly an astonishing farce!"
It was a hearty laugh, as if he wanted to squeeze every last bit of air out of his chest. The golden armor made a pleasant metallic clanging sound as his shoulders rose and fell, and everyone looked at the golden king with surprise and curiosity about his sense of humor.
On the other hand, Morgan had a gut feeling that this glittering guy seemed to know a lot of things.
"As a reward for making the King laugh so hard, I have a gift that's perfect for you, Titania." Archer emphasized the last name.
A reward, a gift.
These two words may be commonplace, but they become exceptionally special in the mouth of the arrogant Archer.
Could they be friends?
No, Archer's reaction was more like a playful jest. If it were a friend, he would probably make everyone aware of their relationship in a more intense and uninhibited way.
As Morgan's thoughts wandered, an object slowly rising from the golden ripples came into view of Ice Blue's eyes.
A finely carved glass butterfly rests on the mouth of a transparent bottle, its pink liquid adorned with colorful photons.
Even though she was just a noblewoman, Morgan's magical skills were not to be underestimated. She immediately understood the purpose of the contents. Then, Morgan suppressed her trembling eyebrows and realized that this golden-haired man was just watching her make a fool of herself.
Archer's move inexplicably struck a chord with Morgan, making him aware of his teasing without causing him any annoyance. This further convinced Morgan that Archer might have had a close relationship with him.
"You know each other?" Iskandar asked, voicing the common question on everyone's mind.
Morgan did not answer, nor did Archer respond.
The Throne of Heroes is not bound by time and space; once this is understood, it becomes clear that their "fate" is largely intertwined with her future and Archer's past.
Or perhaps it originated in another world.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Iskandar wasn't annoyed. He shrugged and got to the point.
Morgan had no interest in Archer's treasure or the ownership of the Holy Grail, so he simply sipped his wine and listened to their conversation.
...until the fire reached her.
"And what about the Fairy Queen? She is neither your subject nor your people, but as a participant in this Holy Grail War, isn't she also one who covets your treasure?"
In the ensuing silence, Morgan spoke in a cold voice: "I never said that I was seeking the Holy Grail."
"A queen who doesn't pursue the Holy Grail, a king who treats the Holy Grail as his own—in other words, setting aside any love for the Holy Grail, and without any desire to fulfill it, is there some kind of justice? Or some kind of reason in your actions?"
"It is the law," Archer said without the slightest hesitation. "It is the law that I, as a king, uphold."
Iskandar pondered for a moment, seemingly accepting the reason. "It's a perfect explanation; upholding one's own laws is what makes a ruler. But—I desperately want the Holy Grail. My approach is to seize it if I want it, because I, Iskandar, am the King of Conquerors."
"Then there's nothing more to say. You've broken the law, and I will punish you accordingly; there's no room for argument."
"Well, in that case, we'll have to resort to arms from now on."
Having understood the principles upheld by both sides through dialogue and reached a consensus, Iskandar and Archer nodded to each other.
Then Iskandar turned to the Queen in the black dress, "Fairy Queen, what is your royal path?"
Bathed in the gazes of three sides, Morgan merely smiled slightly, turning her head to direct everyone's attention to the Knight King, who had been silent for a long time. "Compared to me, the Knight King's thoughts are perhaps quite different from yours?"
--Aaaaaah! Don't ask me about kings, the way of the king, or the throne!! I'm just King Arthur's older sister, not the real queen QAQ!!
Morgan was deeply grateful that the dress came with a black veil, which could conceal her current panic; at least she had performed exceptionally well!
Artoria, taking over the conversation, proudly declared her wish entrusted to the Holy Grail under everyone's watchful eyes: "My wish is to save my homeland. I will use the power of the omnipotent wish-granting machine to change the fate of Britain's destruction."
During Iskandar and Archer's previous conversation, Artoria listened silently to their explanations, remaining noncommittal about the kingly path of conquest and law.
In the eyes of the Knight King, the two kings placed their own desires before their subjects, and whether they plundered or punished, their purpose was solely to satisfy their selfish desires.
Knights uphold integrity and loyalty, and as the King of Knights, Artoria cannot condone the tyrannical style of plunder and extortion.
Her beloved Britain was exhausted by endless war and trampled by rampant raiders. Even though the King of Knights exhausted all his oaths of victory and the Knights of the Round Table were all brave and skilled in battle, they could not avoid a tragic fate.
The people living on that land need a miracle; countless lives that should have been blessed with happiness should be saved.
The King of Knights loved Britain and its people so deeply.
Artoria harbored lofty aspirations and firmly believed that unwavering will and fighting spirit could respond to this wish—just as in the battles of the past.
However, Artoria's righteous speech was met with a stagnant silence.
Although Artoria did not arrogantly expect to be praised after learning about the two kings' paths, not a single word of criticism came out, and even Morgan, who was standing next to her, remained silent. This unexpected reaction puzzled her.
"—Knight King, perhaps I misheard you."
Breaking the delicate atmosphere was Iskandar, the Conqueror, who asked, "Didn't you just say you wanted to 'change fate'? Do you mean you want to overturn the past?"
"Yes, even a miracle couldn't fulfill this wish, but if the Holy Grail is truly omnipotent, then it certainly can—"
Artoria's remaining words ended with the two Servants' dejected expressions. At this moment, she suddenly realized the chasm that lay before her.
"Saber, let me confirm... that country called Britain perished in your time, right? During your reign?"
"That's right! That's why I couldn't tolerate it, that's why I felt regret, and that I wanted to change that outcome! It's all because of me..."
Before Artoria could finish speaking, a burst of laughter suddenly erupted from the audience, the laughter even more mocking than before.
"...Archer, what's so funny?" Given that this wasn't the first time a Gold Servant had mocked someone, Artoria was still in a state of mild anger.
"—A person who calls himself a king—and is revered as a king by the masses—actually feels 'regret'? Ha! How can anyone not laugh at this? Truly remarkable, Saber! You are the funniest clown!"
Seeing Archer's laughter causing the wine in the golden cup to ripple, Morgan couldn't help but speak up: "Archer."
"What? Even though it's the miracle you've been searching for, I can't help but laugh at this attitude. How pathetic and pitiful you are to place such high hopes on it, Morgan."
Archer, who had unexpectedly revealed Morgan's real name, wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes, while Artoria frowned as if offended.
Morgan—is it Morgan le Fay? And what's with the Fairy Queen?
Curled up by the flowerbed, Webber felt his brain couldn't keep up with the plot. He had many questions he wanted to clarify, but the current atmosphere prevented him from discussing them further.
At the same time as Webber's brain exploded, the question-and-answer session between the kings continued.
The increasingly heated debate gradually turned into a questioning of accountability. The conqueror king's tyrannical rule was despised by the knight king, who believed that wrong choices and rule led to the destruction of the country. However, no life should be paid for it, and no loss of life was without regret.
"To rule in accordance with the principles of Heaven, to govern according to the righteous path—is this not what all subjects earnestly yearn for?"
"So, does that mean you, this so-called king, are a slave to the 'righteous path'?"
Artoria nodded without hesitation, "That's right, a true king is one who sacrifices himself for his ideals."
"The people learn about the rule of law and order through the words and deeds of the king. What the sovereign conveys to the people is not a phantom that will vanish with the king, but something more sublime and eternal."
Looking at the resolute Knight King, Iskandar, knowing they could never understand each other, showed a hint of pity, and finally let out a long sigh: "That's not how a 'human' lives are at all."
There is no right or wrong in the king's philosophy; it's just that Iskandar's vision of the king's way is too different from Artoria's values.
It's like describing the coldness and hardness of glaciers to the inhabitants of the desert, or depicting the scenery under the sky to the beasts of the ground.
Therefore, Artoria subconsciously did something that surprised even herself—she said this to Morgan:
"Do you think so too?"
Faced with Artoria's questioning, Morgan was unable to give a precise answer.
Living only within the same time and space, witnessing all that suffering and pain, blood and tears, Morgan heard his own voice say these words under the Knight King's gaze, which seemed to grip a rope tightly:
"If that is a wrong idea, then the people who have gathered here are also wrong. Are you prepared to deny their beliefs? Are you capable of saying, 'Because I made the wrong decision, my wishes are unrealistic, and those who follow me are all fools'?"
Not only Artoria, but Iskandar and Archer also fell silent.
"Even if it is through conquest or law, even if it is a ruthless tyranny, a king who adheres to the way of the king is bound by the principles he sets for himself, and what binds you is nothing more than the 'right path'."
Morgan, who lived as a nobleman both before and after his mother's remarriage, admitted that he could not articulate the grand principles of being a king. After all, that was the life of "Morgan Le Feuer," a life viewed through a veil of water, like reading a book and recording experiences that he had no real feeling about.
However, despite coming from different personalities, they are all part of "Morgan".
Therefore, she can understand.
She was also given such high expectations, and thus became the savior who transformed into a dragon.
Unlike Iskandar and Archer, who figured out their own path to kingship, she and Artoria were taught what kind of king (savior) they should become.
Noble and immaculate, they vowed to strive for the happiness of the people with a pure heart.
Therefore, the moment of destruction is all the more unforgettable.
Artoria had no chance to try and fail, and could not find another way to start the path of redemption, so she prayed for a miracle.
If she were in the same situation as Artoria, what choice would she make?
—The image of the Rain Witch surfaced in Morgan's mind.
"Your royal blood is everywhere, accompanied by endless suffering, but it is also adorned with noble glory."
Compared to Iskandar and the Golden King, Morgan's response was like a cool breeze sweeping through a valley, but it also slightly dispelled the illusion that had been shrouding Artoria's eyes.
Realizing Morgan's neutral stance and the deeper meaning behind his words, Artoria seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and slowly sheathed her thorns.
But the resentment that gripped the Knight King's heart had not yet dissipated, and Archer's next words caused a layer of icy coldness to rise in the former's emerald eyes.
"—As expected of a queen accused of tyranny by her subjects, she has quite a profound understanding of the way of the king."
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