[Fate/Zero] Queen of the Fairy Kingdom
When deafening thunder roared from outside the castle, the forcibly broken barrier caused Irisviel's magic circuits to groan, nearly causing her to faint.
"So... you actually want to break through head-on?" Irisviel murmured, and then a slender yet powerful hand lifted her up from the ground.
The Knight King, noticing something amiss, rushed to Lady Snow White's side. "Are you alright, Irisviel?"
"It's nothing, just a bit unexpected. I didn't expect to be greeted by such a rude guest."
"I'm going out to take a look. Try not to leave my side."
In the event of an enemy attack, the safest place would undoubtedly be beside the Knight King. Artoria, moving with Irisviel's speed, headed towards the balcony surrounding the high hall to investigate. Just as they were about to take a step, another cold, clear voice came from beside them:
"What splits the clouds is a bull riding on lightning, and the brute who drives the chariot is as imposing as his fiery red hair."
The island witch's tone was like a long, frozen mountain range in the dead of winter, with the syllables falling from her tongue wrapped in a layer of sharp frost.
"...It seems the enemy is Rider."
"I think so too."
Upon entering the hall and recognizing the visitor by the moonlight streaming through the window, the towering figure of Iskandar, the Conqueror, came into view, leaving them speechless with astonishment.
"Hey, King of Knights! I've come here specifically to see you, why aren't you out yet?"
"..."
"Oh, Saber. I heard you built a castle, so I came to see—but this castle is rather shabby, isn't it?" Iskandar lazily turned his neck, making a cracking sound from his cervical spine, and then said, "There are so many trees in the courtyard, it's really inconvenient to get in and out. I almost got lost before I reached the city gate. I've already cut down some of the trees for you, so you should thank me. The view is much better now."
Artoria, now back in her armor, looked troubled. "Rider, you..."
Seeing this, Iskandar first looked Artoria up and down, then frowned. "Hey, King of Knights, don't you have any modern clothes? Why are you wearing this tacky armor from head to toe?"
The red-haired giant was wearing a T-shirt with the game's logo printed on it, his muscular legs encased in well-worn jeans. His Master, Waver Fairvet, had half his body hidden behind Rider, while looking up at Irisviel and his group, his tense expression conveying the thought, "I really want to go home."
On the other hand, Waver also noticed the unfamiliar Servant next to Irisviel and couldn't help but exclaim "Huh?" and subconsciously checked the other's stats.
"Hmm—I remember there were seven Master-Servant pairs participating in the Holy Grail War, or was that lady a spectator to create an atmosphere? Looking at it this way, she is indeed wearing a formal dress." Iskandar rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger, squinting as he openly observed the silver-haired Servant.
"Conqueror King, the woman before you is the Queen of the Fairy Kingdom. Out of consideration for both of you being kings, you are exempt from the formality of kneeling before her. However, this does not mean that you are exempt from any inappropriate words. You should be careful with your words and actions."
Like Artoria donning armor before her enemies, Morgan wore a formal blue and black long dress with a decorative ribbon embroidered with solemn gold patterns hanging from the waist. Her slender feet, standing on elegant heels, were encased in black velvet boots with blue patterns. The clean lines from bottom to top were hidden by the layered sleeves extending from the lace vest and the white sleeves.
The dark veil beneath the blue-black crown blurred her beautiful face, but it could not conceal the imposing aura brewing in her icy eyes.
The snow-capped, pointed mountains, like a frozen wasteland, reigned majestically, their chilling presence sweeping away all life from the land.
It was incredibly similar to the Morgan le Fay in Artoria's memories, yet it felt strange to her.
This stems not only from the subtle resilience hidden beneath that aloof demeanor, as if burdened by the weight of time, but also from the nation Morgan speaks of—
"Fairy Kingdom... So you're the legendary Fairy Queen, Titania?"
—A key word uttered by Iskandar brought Morgan back to his senses after he had lost control.
Upon realizing the identity of the newcomer, Morgan, whose mind was now dominated by a surge of anger, couldn't help but feel caught in a dilemma.
Morgan believes he is completely innocent and the biggest victim.
It was a rare glimpse of a crack opening in King Arthur's wary heart, a chance to get along well with Artoria, but tonight's surprise attacks repeatedly disrupted her tender moments with her sister.
Even a saint in the world cannot remain calm and composed, can he?
In particular, Iskandar's flippant remarks—even if they were a cunning trick by the Conqueror—truly offended Morgan, forcing her to adopt a regal stance to defend her dignity.
"Wait, Titania is just a character in a literary story, right? So fictional characters can become Servants? But if that's the case..." Waver tugged at Iskandar's cloak, posed a question, and then fell into deep thought, muttering to himself.
Upon hearing this, Morgan raised a slight brow beneath her black veil.
She didn't mind being misunderstood or having her real name guessed. After all, neither "Titania" nor "Morgan" had any obvious weaknesses. If we were to discuss the situation where the former was bewitched... it was impossible for a love potion comparable to the craftsmanship of elves to exist in this era.
However, Morgan still felt somewhat uncomfortable being addressed by the wrong name.
Moreover, a soft laugh seemed to come from the distant ends of the world, followed by a "Hmm?" which made Morgan feel even more uneasy.
It was as if someone was being peered at through amethyst by something soft and ethereal, and the other person's gaze shifted from playfulness to surprise and then curiosity, thus casting a furtive glance.
A sense of physical disgust arose within Morgan.
Seemingly sensing Morgan's displeasure beneath his icy aura, the short-haired young mage reflexively gripped the Servant's cloak. Just before Iskandar, who had been pondering for a moment, could speak again, Artoria, who had been silent for a long time, interrupted him first: "Rider, what exactly are you here for?"
"Don't you understand yet? Of course I've come to have a drink with you—even with the addition of a queen, a banquet should be lively. Alright, stop standing there and lead the way. Don't you have any suitable gardens for holding banquets here? This dilapidated city is full of dust, it's unbearable."
The tense atmosphere dissipated with Iskandar's straightforward complaints. This king's shrewdness and composure allowed him to effortlessly adjust the atmosphere, and his innate ability made the whole process feel incredibly natural, drawing everyone in effortlessly.
Even Morgan had to admire her for this, while being happy that Artoria was protecting him, but also conflicted about missing the opportunity to reveal his real name.
Having confirmed that her opponent's intentions were not entirely legitimate, Artoria consulted her publicly acknowledged Master, "Irisviel, what should we do?"
"Is it a trap...? He's not the kind of person who would resort to underhanded tactics, is he? Could he really just be here for a drink?" Irisviel pondered for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "Could that man really be trying to win your favor?"
Upon hearing Irisviel's speculation, Morgan's aura became incredibly dangerous for a fleeting moment.
"No, this is clearly a challenge," Artoria dismissed the conjecture.
"challenge?"
"Yes... I am the king, and he is the king of a country. If he knows our identities and still wants to drink with me, then this is a 'battle' without weapons."
"Hmph, you know very well. If you don't want to draw your swords, then let's raise a glass together, King of Knights and Queen of the Fairy Kingdom. Tonight, I'm going to have a good look at your 'royal demeanor,' so you'd better be prepared." With that, Iskandar's fiery red eyes were deeply reflected in the two figures on the balcony.
"Interesting, I'm willing to accept."
Noticing Iskandar and Artoria's seriousness, Irisviel withdrew her gaze from the dignified and heroic face of the Knight King and turned it to the Fairy Queen on the other side.
Upon catching Irisviel's gaze, Morgan was actually a little flustered, but the attitude displayed by her superiors at that moment did not allow her to back down.
—It's even more impossible for her to retreat to the audience and let her sister and the King of Conquerors drink alone :)
Morgan admitted that she was indeed feeling sullen, but her desire to be close to King Arthur (her sister) was not to be compromised!
As a noblewoman (Morgan), she shouldn't have been able to sit at the banquet of kings. However, she possessed another identity (personality) as the Queen of the Fairy Kingdom. Even though that part of herself was in a dormant state (?), it gave Morgan some confidence.
The banquet was held in the garden of the castle's central courtyard.
Given that the previous battles did not affect this area, the neatly swept stone bricks are arranged in a grid pattern, and even though it is only a foothold, the elegant and graceful design aesthetics have not been neglected.
Especially the delicate white flowers, blooming gracefully, radiate a soft glow under the gentle caress of the moonlight; this scene is perfect for entertaining guests.
The evening breeze, carrying the bright moonlight, lifted the thin veil on Morgan's face, and the silvery ends of her hair traced faint arcs along the hem of her flowing skirt, making her slender figure, sitting gracefully among the flowers, appear even more delicate.
Irisviel couldn't help but recall a dreamlike land, seemingly shrouded in snow, from her hazy dream.
The country, ruled by a cruel, cold-blooded, and tyrannical queen, is actually situated on a fertile and prosperous land. The vast territory is clearly divided under well-organized governance, and the people live and produce according to their region and ethnicity, settling peacefully in the capital Camelot, far from the capital.
It was a tolerant and welcoming country that embraced different clans; it was stable, peaceful, and beautiful.
It is also a country filled with unforgettable betrayals, cruelty, despair, and ugliness.
The savior, with noble aspirations, prayed fervently but was met with bloodshed and suffering. He searched for the path to redemption time and time again amidst chaos, ultimately forced to lock that purity deep within his heart.
If it is a situation of dominance and subjugation, the more one party suffers, the happier the other party becomes.
But this rule does not apply to that land.
No matter how noble a martyr may be, no matter how virtuous they may be, they cannot absolve themselves of the grave sins of heretics who tamper with or even scorn the faith.
—Therefore, the queen killed her original self.
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