Chapter 221 - 221: A King’s Duty

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Saber's emerald eyes, filled with an unwavering conviction, met Haru's gaze.

"I wish to save my kingdom. I wish to change Britain's fate."

A heavy silence fell over the courtyard after Saber's declaration. Kiyohime and Hassan, not being kings themselves, remained indifferent.

But Gilgamesh and Rider—their faces were masks of shock, as if they'd misheard her.

Haru, though he'd already known her wish, looked at Saber, her beautiful face etched with a desperate longing, and felt a pang ofpity. He remained silent.

Saber, confused by his reaction, frowned. Her wish, though perhaps unexpected, was straightforward. Surely, it warrantedsomekind of response—praise or criticism. But no one spoke.

"D-did I hear that correctly, King of Knights?" Rider, his voice filled with disbelief, finally broke the silence. "You wish tochange fate? To alter history itself?"

Saber's gaze shifted to Rider. She nodded. "Indeed. No matter how difficult, the Grail, with its power, can grant any wish."

"So, the fall of Britain—that happenedduring your reign? While you were king?" Rider stared at her, his eyes wide with shock.

"Yes. And I cannot forgive myself. It was my fault—my failures that led to my kingdom's destruction. I regret it. Deeply." Saber's voice was firm, her resolve unwavering.

"hahaha... cough..." Gilgamesh's laughter, sharp and mocking, echoed through the courtyard.

The sound, more insulting than any words, made Saber's blood boil. To have her most cherished desire, her deepest regret, mocked like this—"What's so amusing, King of Heroes?" she growled, her teeth gritted.

Gilgamesh, ignoring Saber's anger, clutched her stomach, her laughter subsiding. "A king revered by their people... their name etched in history—and youregret? Ha! Howlaughable. A hero's banquet—it always attracts a few clowns. And you, Saber, are the most amusing of them all."

To Gilgamesh, Saber's regret was absurd. A king, a legend, admired and celebrated throughout history, someone who'd achieved what most could only dream of—regretting the fall of her kingdom?

Empires rose and fell. It was the natural order of things. A king who clung to suchsentimentalnotions—was a fool.

"You would—denythe history you created?" Rider asked, his brow furrowed, his gaze fixed on Saber.

Saber, her conviction unwavering, nodded. "Indeed. Is that sosurprising? Soamusing? I was a king, and my kingdom fell. I mourn its loss. Is thatwrong?"

Gilgamesh burst into laughter again, her body shaking.

"I-I can't breathe... Haru, thisKing of Knights—she-she regretsserving her country?"

"There's nothing wrong with that," Haru said, his voice calm, his chin resting on his hand.

"Hmm?" Gilgamesh's laughter ceased, her expression shifting to one of confusion.

"Are youagreeingwith her, Yahweh-sama? Condoning herself-pity?" Rider asked, his voice laced with disbelief. For Yahweh—the God of the Bible—God of Gods, who denied the legitimacy of any other God, to agree with Saber'shumansentiment—it was unexpected.

"The King of Knights is aknightfirst, and a king second. Self-sacrifice for one's country—it's a knight's duty. There's nothing wrong with that," Haru replied with a smile.

Saber nodded, her voice firm. "Indeed. A king should be willing to sacrifice everything for their people, for their kingdom's prosperity."

"No. You're mistaken. Yahweh-sama's words apply to aknight, not a king. A king's duty is different," Rider said, his voice deep and resonant, a king's authority in every word.

"A knight may sacrifice themselves for their country, but akingcannot. It is the country, the people, who sacrifice for their king. Do not confuse the two."

Gilgamesh nodded in agreement, her eyes fixed on Saber, a spark ofinterestin them.

"What?!" Saber, unable to contain her anger any longer, her voice rising, "That'styranny! Both of you, Iskandar and Gilgamesh, your way of ruling—it'swrong!"

"Perhaps. But we are both kingsandheroes," Rider replied calmly, acknowledging her criticism without a trace of shame.

"And Saber, if a king regrets their reign, their decisions—then they were apoorking, worse than a tyrant."

Rider's words struck a nerve. Saber's brow furrowed, and her voice, sharp with indignation, echoed through the courtyard. "Iskandar, your empire—it was divided into four kingdoms after your death. Do you notregretthat? Do you not wish to—change it, to save your kingdom?"

"No."

Rider's answer was immediate, his voice firm, his eyes meeting Saber's, his expression unwavering.

"If my decisions, and the actions of my people, led to that outcome, then it wasinevitable. I may mourn it. I may shed tears. But I will not regret it."

"How..." Saber stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. They were both kings whose kingdoms had fallen after their deaths, yet Rider's lack of regret—it wasunfathomable.

"And I would never seek tochangeit! To alter history would be an insult to those who lived in my time, to the legacy I built."

"That's your perspective. The people—they would disagree. They would choose to be saved," Saber retorted, her voice filled with a quiet conviction.

"Enough," Haru said, interrupting their debate. He picked up the golden flask and refilled their goblets, then spoke, his voice calm.

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