Reunion with the Irisviel

The mobile lift connected to the aircraft cabin, which then opened.

A young woman dressed entirely in white stepped out of the cabin. She wore a white fur hat, a white coat, and a white knee-length skirt. Her snow-white skin and long silver hair made her look like a princess straight out of a fairy tale, blending perfectly with the winter scenery.

Irisviel von Einzbern, the "Master" from the Einzbern family, looked up at the gentle afternoon sunlight and smiled in relaxation.

Behind her followed a young man. His looks were in no way inferior to the woman before him. His golden hair was simply tied up, and his black suit, styled with a minimalist touch, exuded both competence and elegance. He was a perfect complement to the woman in white, who was smiling at him.

Together, they seemed like a princess and her knight straight out of a Western fairy tale. Accompanied by three maids, they naturally drew the attention of onlookers wherever they went.

If anyone could hear their conversation, they would be even more convinced that these two were otherworldly beings—pure and extraordinary.

"I'm really happy to travel with you, Saber. No matter how much I look at you, I never get tired of it."

"Irisviel, is something strange?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it."

"…Every time you smile like that, it means something's up. I'd appreciate it if you'd just tell me honestly."

"I was just thinking that your inability to turn into spirit form isn't entirely a bad thing. Thanks to that, I get to enjoy picking out clothes for you."

"…"

The one called Saber—Artoria—sighed. Being unable to take spirit form was a serious flaw; normally, it would warrant a scolding from her Master. But instead of that, her Master actually enjoyed it? And now she had to warn her Master not to joke about it? This was completely backwards.

"Irisviel, does my outfit really blend in with the people of this era?"

"Hmm… probably. It's my first time in this country too, so I'm a bit unsure."

If a Japanese person with a normal sense of fashion were present, they would certainly have something to say about Irisviel's opinion.

Before their departure, Irisviel had specially prepared a modern outfit for Saber, picking it up at the airport store. It consisted of a navy blue dress shirt paired with a tie and a dark European-style suit. It was, without a doubt, men's clothing.

On a petite girl about 155 cm tall, this outfit would likely look odd or even amusing—but on Saber, that wasn't the case.

It wasn't a mere "handsome woman in men's clothing" aesthetic. Artoria's beauty carried a dignified sharpness that was different from typical feminine allure. Dressed in men's attire, she looked more like an ethereal and noble young man—her slender frame and pale skin evoking the image of a pure-hearted youth untouched by maturity.

"To be honest, this outfit was meant for a young man, but he left in a hurry, so I didn't get the chance to give it to him. Luckily, you're here, Saber. Otherwise, this outfit would have just collected dust."

Irisviel clasped her hands together and gave a playful smile as she admired Saber's refined appearance.

"Are you talking about that 'Shirou'?"

Artoria knew exactly who Irisviel was referring to. After all, when she had arrived, the chapel had just been repaired, and the lingering divine energy in the Winter Castle's leylines had not escaped her perception.

The young man who had practically turned Winter Castle upside down—Shirou—naturally piqued the interest of someone as meticulous as Saber.

However, the way he was described varied greatly depending on who spoke of him.

"Illya says he's kind, gentle, and a wonderful big brother. Acht, on the other hand, calls him a cold-blooded executioner. And Kiritsugu… he doesn't say anything, but the way he's wary of Shirou is as if he's facing a Master from the Holy Grail War—maybe even worse.

"Come to think of it, I never asked you, Irisviel. What do you think of him?"

"Him?"

Irisviel walked ahead, bouncing slightly as she went.

"He's a very interesting, very mysterious child."

She paused, then added.

"Yes, he's a good person."

A good person?

Saber thought seriously for a moment, then chuckled and shook her head.

For Irisviel, anyone who treated her well was a good person.

But then again, who would harbour malice toward this pure-hearted princess of Winter?

And that was precisely why Saber was willing to protect her.

With that thought in mind, the knight in the "Saber" class took a step forward and followed after Irisviel.

Unavoidably, her curiosity toward this young man named "Shirou" grew stronger.

Who exactly was he?

***

After their luggage was unloaded from the cargo hold, the maids handled everything, allowing Irisviel and Saber to proceed to customs empty-handed. However, their opinions diverged regarding their next course of action.

Artoria, being serious by nature, wanted to reunite with Kiritsugu as soon as possible, while Irisviel, for some reason, was deeply intrigued by Fuyuki City.

Under Saber's questioning, Irisviel seemed to realize that her desire lacked any real sense of urgency. After hesitating for a moment, she chose to reveal the truth.

As a homunculus created for the Holy Grail War, Irisviel had spent her entire life in Winter Castle—this was her first time ever leaving it.

Artoria was visibly shocked by this revelation.

Her own past had not been particularly happy, but for this woman before her to have been confined to an ice-bound castle since birth, living like a caged bird…

After a brief silence, Artoria signalled for the driver to stop, then stepped out of the car herself and opened the door for Irisviel.

"Saber?"

"Though this is also my first time walking in this city, it is a knight's duty to guide a lady."

The golden-haired, blue-eyed knight removed her right glove and extended a hand to the princess, her gaze full of warmth.

"Shall we?"

Blinking in surprise, Irisviel's expression brightened with pure joy as she took Saber's hand.

Leaving the isolated confines of their car, the naturally elegant woman and the dashing "young man" strolled leisurely through the bustling city.

At that moment, somewhere along the street, a white-haired, golden-eyed young man sensed something.

He gazed into the distance, his lips curving into a smile.

"I've found you…"

***

Even amid the lively city, Saber and Irisviel stood out.

The silver-haired young woman carried an undeniable air of nobility. Her Kashmir wool coat didn't seem flashy—it suited her perfectly. Beside her, a stunning "youth" walked gracefully, arm in arm with the lady. Normally, one would only see such an impeccably matched pair at a star-studded Hollywood gala.

To witness such an ethereal scene on the streets of a Japanese city—pedestrians couldn't help but stop and stare, eyes wide with awe.

Yet, despite their amazement, no one dared approach them.

The two carried themselves with an air of untouchable dignity. Though they walked among the crowd, they seemed to exist apart from it, merely observing the city's activities.

At that moment, the door of a nearby shop opened, and a black-haired girl stepped out—only to accidentally bump straight into the silver-haired woman.

"Careful there."

Irisviel said gently, steadying the girl so she wouldn't fall.

At the same time, Saber instinctively stepped forward, shielding Irisviel with a sharp, alert gaze.

A powerful premonition had struck her, warning of danger from inside the shop.

Under her scrutiny, a striking young man in a dark suit embroidered with golden patterns smiled.

Looking at the stunned Irisviel, he grinned and greeted her.

"Long time no see, my lady."

***

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