"Saber."
Shichen walked over with Est at his side, his expression softening as he looked at her.
"Shichen..." Saber's voice was quiet, but the look in her eyes hit him hard.
Her normally composed, beautiful face was locked in an expression of pain—too deep to cry, too heavy to hide.
Sure, Saber might be too kindhearted to put all the blame on Lancelot, but she wasn't the one truly at fault here. She just couldn't bring herself to kill her own knight.
And the truth was… as a woman, she probably did feel like she'd failed her queen, Guinevere. She couldn't give her the happiness she wanted. Platonic love only went so far—especially when the queen's desires were completely normal.
From Shichen's point of view though? It was entirely on them. The queen and Lancelot's affair was betrayal, plain and simple—a crime that couldn't be forgiven. If it had been up to him, Lancelot's head would've rolled on the spot.
Now Lancelot was gone, but Saber still stood frozen, sword arm extended in the position she'd stabbed him.
"Onii-chan, take care of Artoria, okay?" Est said gently before vanishing into a glowing mark on the back of Shichen's hand.
Looking at Saber's downcast face, Shichen sighed, stepped forward, and pulled her into his arms.
"If you need to cry, just cry. You'll feel better."
"I can't…" Saber shook her head against his chest, her voice steady. "This is something I have to do. I'm going to win. I'll take the Holy Grail and make my wish come true."
For a moment, Shichen almost told her the truth—that the Grail was corrupted. But right now, she wouldn't believe him. Better to let her see it for herself at the end than start an argument now.
"Alright." He tightened his hold around her small frame, resting his chin lightly on her head. "Then I'll help you win."
They stayed like that by the shore for a long time. Saber never moved, letting him hold her in silence.
It was only because Shichen didn't want Irisviel and the others worrying that he finally led her back.
"Shichen, you're back!"
Everyone was in the living room. The moment they saw Shichen and Saber walk in, unharmed, they rushed over.
"Dad! Are you okay?" Illya ran straight into his arms.
"Onii-chan," Sakura said softly, right behind her.
Shichen chuckled, scooping them both up. "How could anything happen to me?"
"Mm-hmm! Dad's the best!"
"I believe in you, Onii-chan."
"You two don't look like you believe me at all."
"Hehe~"
"Well, if you're fine, I'm going back to my room," Frieren said casually before disappearing into her room without a second glance.
Watching the door close, Shichen's mouth twitched. Yeah… he was definitely going to have a word with her later.
"Shichen, what's wrong with Saber?" Irisviel asked, noticing the change in her.
"Nothing serious. She just fought an old friend."
"Old friend? Not… Berserker?"
"Mm. Lancelot."
"Lancelot?!" Irisviel's eyes widened. His name was practically legendary—there were few who didn't know it.
"And?"
"She took care of him herself."
Saber's expression tightened. Without a word, she turned and left for her room.
Once her door closed, Irisviel gave Shichen a light smack. "Do you have to be so blunt?"
"What, should I just pretend it didn't happen? Saber's not weak, and she needs to face the truth head-on."
"Still, you didn't have to say it like that."
"He deserved it."
"And why's that?"
"Alright, I'll tell you her real story."
It wasn't exactly the same as the legend, but close enough.
A short while later, Shichen had finished telling Irisviel everything.
"I didn't realize… Saber had been through all that." Irisviel leaned into him with a sigh.
Illya and Sakura had already gone off to play games—he'd kept them out of earshot. Some things weren't for kids, especially not those two troublemakers.
"Being a king isn't easy," Shichen said, holding her.
"True… but I still think she's a good king."
"Maybe. But to me, she's more like a commander."
"Hm… I guess that makes sense."
"Wow, that was fast."
"I'm just agreeing with you." She smiled faintly and tucked her head against his chest.
Breathing in her soft scent, he tightened his arms around her. "She doesn't need us worrying. That's all in the past now."
"And what are you going to do about her?" Irisviel asked, knowing full well about the Grail's corruption.
"I'll keep her here. When the time comes, I'll tell her the truth."
"I figured as much…"
"Jealous?"
"No. I know exactly what kind of man you are." She shook her head.
"Oh? And what kind is that?"
"You're—"
Before she could finish, he kissed her.
Up close, those soft, sakura-pink lips were impossible to ignore.
She froze for only a second before wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him back fiercely.
They stayed like that for a long moment, neither caring if anyone saw—not that anyone came.
When they finally pulled apart, Irisviel was breathing hard, her chest rising and falling beneath her sweater.
Shichen, perfectly calm, held her gaze. "So… about that 'reward' you promised—what is it?"
"Eh?" She blinked, then remembered.
"It's… uh…"
Her face flushed red.
"You didn't actually think of anything, did you?"
"N-no…" she admitted. She'd said it on impulse, just hoping he and Saber would make it back.
"So you lied to me?" He raised a brow, pretending to be annoyed.
"I…" She couldn't meet his eyes.
"Does the reward still count?"
"…I guess."
"'I guess'? What's that supposed to mean?"
"It counts. I just… don't know what to give you."
"Then I'll decide."
"Alright… what do you want?"
"At a time like this, what do you think I'd want?"
"Huh?"
He didn't explain—just picked her up and headed for the bathroom.
"Shichen, what are you—" She instinctively clung to his neck.
"Come take a bath with me. Just the two of us."
"R-right now?" Her voice trembled.
Even without experience, she knew exactly what he meant.
She was nervous, a little scared… and strangely excited.
"Can't waste the opportunity."
He carried her in, closed the door, and put up a barrier.
"W-what if Illya or the others come?"
"They won't. I put up a ward, and Illya and Sakura just fell asleep."
"And Saber and Frieren?"
"They're not coming either."
"I…" She had no comeback.
He carried her to the wardrobe, set her down, and began helping her undress.
"Let me help—that's part of the reward."
"Eh?" She froze as he carefully removed each piece of clothing. She wanted to protest, but her body wouldn't move. Her heart was pounding in her ears.
Even at his unhurried pace, she was soon completely bare, her pale skin glowing under the bathroom light.
He couldn't take his eyes off her.
She clenched her fists at her sides, unsure what to do with her hands, feeling more self-conscious than usual.
Stripping quickly, he swept her back into his arms and stepped into the bath.
Steam rose around them. Testing the water with his foot, he lowered them both in.
She clung to him tightly, skin pressed to skin.
Seating her in his lap against the pool's edge, she shifted—then froze. Now she could feel it clearly.
"Feeling playful, huh?" he teased.
"I-I am not!" she shot back, face crimson.
"Iri." His tone dropped, serious.
"W-what?" she asked softly.
"Do you want to?"
"Not that it matters if you say no~"
"Then why ask!" she huffed.
"You're beautiful," he said suddenly.
"Really?"
"From the heart."
"I… I do." She surprised him by leaning up to kiss him first.
He kissed her back, holding her close as she pressed against him like she wanted to disappear into him entirely. Her earlier nerves had vanished—now she was even more eager than he was.
The sound of splashing water filled the bathroom, waves lapping against the sides until a faint trace of red swirled in the water.
"Iri, you—"
"Don't worry about it… I'll explain later," she said breathlessly.
"Alright."
Soon, her soft, melodic voice filled the steamy air, the rippling water accompanying her like music.