(Spy-These are the Interlude chapters after volume 2 and between 3)
Several days later, in London, Guinevere's group arrived without fanfare. However, with Sakura, Rin, and Kayneth there to greet them, the surface calm belied the turbulent undercurrents already stirring in the shadows.
At London Airport, Guinevere, dressed in a simple dress, stretched lazily. She watched the ongoing cold war between the King of Knights and Lady Morgan, then turned and extended her arms toward the quiet, hesitant Sakura.
"Sakura, let's spend more time together from now on, so I can truly earn the title of 'Big Sister' you've given me."
Smiling, Guinevere stepped forward and embraced Sakura, who wore a matching white dress. Her right hand gently stroked Sakura's silky black hair.
Guinevere could sense that Sakura's Falsification was gone, yet the shadows lingering in her heart had not returned. The Old Man of the Jewels had accomplished this through methods beyond her comprehension.
A small debt owed, Guinevere thought, but it doesn't matter. I'll repay it in full when the opportunity arises.
As she held Sakura, Rin watched her with an even more complicated expression. Compared to Sakura, Rin had spent more time with Guinevere—both when she was kidnapped by Kiritsugu and after Tokiomi was left in a vegetative state and Guinevere took her in.
Moreover, Sakura had already taken Guinevere's surname—though Guinevere herself had taken her partner's.
The name "Pendragon" carried a historical weight far heavier than "Tohsaka." It was a burden so immense that it had transformed Sakura, making her quiet, reserved, and a target of envy, yet also fiercely self-reliant.
But would Sakura be willing to give it up?
For the sake of the Big Sister who had accepted Kariya's request and truly given her a path to a better future, Sakura had no intention of dishonoring the Pendragon name.
Moreover...
"Tokiomi Tohsaka... he truly married a fine wife and had two children. Even though he's not completely dead yet, people are already proposing to his wife..."
Kayneth, dressed in his familiar long blue coat with his slicked-back golden hair unchanged, spoke. As a Lord of the Clock Tower, his Holy Grail War hadn't ended in defeat; he had merely withdrawn at Guinevere's suggestion. Upon returning to the Clock Tower, he was praised for his pragmatism.
Of course, only those who could see the future or observe parallel worlds knew just how incredibly lucky Kayneth had been. It was as if all his misfortune had been absorbed by his Lancer-class Servant.
Still holding Sakura, Guinevere gestured for the King of Knights to try holding Rin. Ignoring Morgan's disapproving glare, she smiled at Kayneth.
She knew what he was implying—he was seeking her opinion. But Guinevere had no desire to interfere, especially since, in her heart, she already believed Tokiomi would never wake up.
"Kayneth, let her develop freely. But if she truly chooses to abandon the Tohsaka name, the person she chooses must not be a deceiver."
"Your Grace, I understand."
Nodding, the two completely ignored Sakura and Rin's opinions. Of the two sisters, Sakura remained silent, while Rin bit her lip, unwilling to let her mother leave her too.
"Big... Big Sister, may I call you that?"
"Of course, Rin. You can call me the same as Sakura."
"Big Sister, my mother..."
"Rin, I am an outsider. You are your mother's daughter. Do you understand what I mean? Besides, you were the one who firmly resolved to inherit the Tohsaka House and willingly accepted your father's Magic Crest."
Rin was intelligent; she needed no further explanation from Guinevere. She simply curled up in the King of Knights' arms, inhaling her pleasant scent.
The King of Knights' new body, forged by the Holy Grail, smelled of the pure, clear essence of new life—a very innocent allure.
Except...
"Lia, when will you share a bed with me again? Look, even Sakura doesn't mind. She's even nuzzling my neck."
As they spoke and walked, the group arrived at two waiting limousines.
But these cars belonged neither to the Clock Tower nor the El-Melloi Family. They were assets of the current British Royal Family.
Strictly speaking, the Pendragon bloodline has died out, and subsequent kingdoms bore little relation to the Pendragons. Yet, the Legend of the King of Knights remains one of Great Britain's most beloved tales to this day.
And yet... Morgan's bloodline, as well as those of many knights, endured.
For instance, the handsome young man currently opening the car door would have to call Morgan his great-great-great... grandmother.
"Heh, Sister. So you really are that old."
"Foolish sister!!!"
"After becoming a Heroic Spirit, my time froze. It's been fifteen hundred years since my death, but that doesn't make me fifteen hundred years old! You, on the other hand, have lived all this time—you're actually that ancient!"
The King of Knights' cowlick twitched, bobbing up and down. Given the chance, she was growing increasingly fond of such lighthearted jabs. She was trying to shed the burden of her royal status and become more lively. She had even made a pact with Guinevere to enroll at the Clock Tower under concealed identities for a while.
"Sister, what do you think of Guinevere's new book?"
"I don't think much of it. If it's drawn like that, I'll be portrayed as a completely wicked older sister. I'd rather stick with the current 'grand love quadrangle' narrative."
"Hmph, that's precisely why I'm wary of you!"
Their banter was superficial, but their expressions turned serious. Even setting Lancelot aside, the entanglement between the three of them was an inescapable knot.
The first stop on their journey was Mordred's tomb.
That child had called them "Father," "Queen Mother," and "Mother."
"Hey, Sister, why don't you just settle down with Master Merlin?"
"Guinevere, have you lost your mind? The mere thought of that old bastard makes me sick."
"Ah, surely it's not that bad?"
"That's because you don't know. He's been locked away in the 'Tower' all these years, claiming he'll only come out once all the Artorias are saved. But every faerie knows he got a computer and internet access long ago! He spends all day online, scamming people under the guise of 'Magi☆Mari'! And if scamming people wasn't bad enough, why does he have to do it while pretending to be a beautiful girl?!"
Guinevere's mouth twitched. The King of Knights listened, utterly dumbfounded. She couldn't believe her already-despicable Master could be so utterly shameless. Yet, seeing the sheer contempt on Morgan's face, she couldn't bring herself to believe Morgan was lying.
"Sister, do you think Master Merlin really has a 'Mari' form?"
This time, it was Morgan's turn to wear a strange expression. She didn't answer, merely falling silent as she sank into thought.
Before long, Sakura and Rin fell asleep in Guinevere's and the King of Knights' arms, respectively.
After a considerable while, several cars arrived at Mordred's gravesite. To Guinevere's surprise, the area had been developed into a tourist attraction.
"Before development began, the Clock Tower summoned Prince Mordred's Heroic Spirit to ask for permission. She said she loved this peaceful and prosperous scene and wished for her tomb to always be bustling with people."
Hearing this and recalling the unchangeable Battle of Camlann, Guinevere felt a surge of guilt.
The person she had wronged most in her life was this 'rebellious' daughter who had willingly shouldered her fate.
Stepping out of the car and walking forward, Guinevere's smile gradually faded.
"In any case... if I get the chance, I'll cook thousands more meals for her."