"If it's the 'me' from a parallel world, she must be able to understand me..."
With this hope in mind, Saber stared intently at Lantoria, not blinking even once.
However, Lantoria's response left her deeply disappointed.
"If maintaining the proper functioning of the nation is necessary to satisfy her desires, then it's not out of the question."
Lantoria's expression remained unchanged as if she had seen it all before.
As the Holy Emperor of such a vast empire, she was surrounded by talented individuals as numerous as the stars.
As the saying goes, "In a big forest, you'll find all kinds of birds."
Whether it was subordinates like Medb, who sought pleasure, or those like Saber, who were committed and self-sacrificing, Lantoria had encountered many of both.
For Lantoria, the outcome mattered more than the process.
As long as the stability of her empire was maintained, and it continued to draw strength, bolstering its military power, Lantoria didn't care whether her subordinates were pleasure-seekers or paragons of virtue.
Lantoria's words made Saber's eyes widen in disbelief.
"But what about the people?"
"Such a foolish question," Lantoria replied coldly.
"In order to indulge in pleasure, a ruler must ensure the country's stability. No kingdom, no queen. If the ruler doesn't understand even this basic principle, then she doesn't deserve to be called a ruler. If her people can't survive, they will naturally overthrow her."
"…"
Saber fell silent. She felt something was wrong but couldn't find a way to refute it.
Lantoria, however, seemed in the mood to continue the conversation.
"I used to believe that a ruler should dedicate themselves fully to their country, until someone told me, 'Desire is the driving force of human progress.'
To shield themselves from the wind and rain, the ancestors of humanity sought out caves. To live more comfortably, they built thatched houses, wooden homes, castles, and eventually the skyscrapers of modern society.
To make travel easier, humans learned to ride horses, and invented carriages, automobiles, and airplanes..."
Lantoria paused for a moment, then concluded.
"So, for a nation to continue growing, the ruler must possess ambitions as vast as the heavens.
Whether that ambition stems from a desire for wealth, land, beauty, or even the fleeting pursuit of glory."
Lantoria's words had a profound impact on Saber.
She began to reflect on whether she had truly made a mistake.
Was it really as those knights had said—that she was a king who didn't understand her people?
Lantoria, noticing the doubt on Saber's face, wasn't about to let her off the hook so easily.
"You can hold yourself to strict standards, but can you guarantee that every knight and every noble under you will do the same? Clearly not.
They've gathered under your banner because they each have different desires. Wealth, power, beauty, and glory are among their pursuits.
You can behave like a saint, but you cannot expect others to do the same.
Why do you think those nobles and knights who once relied on you betrayed you so easily?
Was it really just because of that traitor's instigation?
No! It was because they realized they couldn't obtain what they wanted under your rule, so they sought to overthrow you and replace you with a leader who better suited their ambitions.
The traitor's rebellion, the Saxon invasion, and the famine—these were merely catalysts that triggered deeper conflicts.
The reason you failed, the reason Britain fell, was because you stood against the very class that was the foundation of your rule!"
Lantoria's words hit the mark, leaving Saber pale.
The person speaking was her parallel self, a Holy Emperor who had conquered half the world.
Their experiences were similar, but Lantoria was undoubtedly the most successful one.
This was irrefutable proof, stronger than any argument.
"I am unfit to be the ruler of Britain..."
"I must seize the Holy Grail and reset everything, choosing a new King Arthur for Britain."
As Saber wallowed in self-pity, Medb, full of curiosity, chimed in.
"Lancer, how did you conquer such a vast country? Do you have any secrets~?"
Saber immediately perked up her ears, despite having accepted her own failure and pinned her hopes on the Holy Grail.
That didn't mean she wasn't curious.
After all, this was her parallel self, and theoretically, they had the same starting conditions.
What Lantoria had achieved should, in theory, be within her own reach.
What intrigued her the most, though, was why Lanrtoria had such a great figure, while she herself was mistaken by her people and knights as a man!
Before becoming the King of Knights, she too had experienced the carefree days of youth as a girl.
"I thought you wouldn't be interested in such things."
Lantoria flashed a faint, amused smile.
"How could I not be~? With such a vast kingdom, you must be living a luxurious life, meeting all sorts of heroes and nobles, and surrounded by so many excellent men in your magnificent palace. It's so enviable~"
There was no pretense in the envy on Medb's face.
But the content of her words? Well, that was classic Medb.
As her Master, Waver looked as if he had just swallowed a fly.
"Do you want to know?"
"Of course!"
Medb sat up straight, looking as if she were ready to listen intently.
The others, though not as exaggerated, also perked up their ears.
After all, the love of gossip is deeply ingrained in human nature; it's only a matter of degree.
"There's no real secret. It's just that I have a wonderful son."
Lantoria calmly lifted her teacup and took a sip.
"Huh!?" x5
Five pairs of eyes instantly widened in disbelief, staring at the composed Lantoria.
"Are you joking?"
Medb asked, her face full of skepticism.
The others, especially Saber, had the same look of feeling toyed with.
However, Lantoria's face remained serious, without even a hint of a smile.
"A capable heir is, in many ways, the most crucial cornerstone of a stable rule.
And my son happens to be the most capable heir in the world."
At the mention of her son, Lantoria's face showed a rare expression of pride.
What followed was a completely different side of Lantoria that the group had never seen before.
A Son-con who seemed to know only how to brag about her son.
In her description, her son was practically a paragon of perfection—skilled in both martial and intellectual pursuits, with a keen understanding of state governance.
His achievements included developing a nearly village-like territory into a renowned hub of commerce.
He advanced naval trade and military power, allowing Britain to become the Empire on which the sun never set, centuries ahead of schedule.
He built a powerful crossbow corps and a heavy cavalry corps, defeated the seemingly invincible Roman Empire, fought from France all the way to the Mediterranean, and turned the entire Mediterranean into the inland sea of the Britannian Empire.
In short, according to Lantoria, her son was the true hero behind the scenes of the Holy Britannian Empire, with achievements far surpassing a certain lazy and scheming Flower Magus, Merlin.
Originally, everyone saw Lantoria as a cold and aloof goddess emperor. But now, she had turned into a doting mother who couldn't stop bragging about her son.
The change in tone was so drastic that it was hard for anyone to accept!
Ryou was especially taken aback, noticing that while Lantoria was introducing her son, she kept looking directly at him the whole time, with eyes full of warmth and affection...
What the hell? Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not your son.
Ryou muttered to himself but didn't dwell on it—until...
"Lancer, are you mocking us!?"
Saber exclaimed in shock and anger.
Though she had made up her mind to perform the ritual of choosing a new king and selecting a more suitable ruler for Britain, she was still a person with a strong sense of responsibility, and her heart remained tied to Britain's fate.
She had hoped to hear some secret that could help Britain grow and prosper.
But instead, she was given such an absurd answer that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
For a moment, Saber genuinely thought Lantoria was playing a joke on everyone.
Unexpectedly, Medb had a thoughtful expression on her face.
"I think Lancer's words make a bit of sense..."
Saber stared at her in disbelief.
Weren't we supposed to be in this revolution together? How could you betray me like this!?
Medb, however, continued seriously.
"An outstanding heir is indeed one of the cornerstones of stabilizing your subordinates and citizens. Moreover, the more capable the heir, the easier it will be for the ruler."
As the saying goes, "Three people spreading a rumor can create a reality." Saber, who had been steadfast in her beliefs, was now visibly shaken upon hearing Medb agree with Lantoria's point of view.
She even began to seriously reconsider the idea.
Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, the fall of Britain—Mordred did play a huge part in that...
The thought of Mordred made Saber's blood boil.
Why is it that my heir turned out to be that traitor, while other people's sons are so exceptional!?
And so, the tea party reached its conclusion in a rather strange atmosphere.
However, just then, a teasing voice came from the rooftop.
"Such an interesting tea party—why didn't you invite the two of us?"
Ayame smiled mischievously, looking down at everyone, while Anastasia stood coldly beside her.
The two uninvited guests stood on top of the castle, gazing down at the group.
Saber immediately summoned her magical armor and stood protectively in front of Irisviel.
But what happened next was beyond everyone's expectations.
Ayame suddenly grinned wickedly and shrieked.
"Attack!"
In the next instant, the castle courtyard was suddenly covered with countless black shards of ice.
Everyone was forced to scatter.
Unexpectedly, Ayame and Anastasia focused their attention on Waver and Medb's group.
A thick ice wall formed around Waver and Medb, encircling them.
Then, both Ayame and Anastasia leaped down from the roof, landing directly in front of them.
"You've got some nerve!"
Medb was so furious that she laughed.
Anyone would be upset if they were treated as an easy target.
Medb arrogantly shouted:
"I am Medb! The Queen of Connacht! Now, witness the power of the Celtic warriors!"
With that, she pulled out a small knife and slashed her wrist.
Drops of blood fell to the ground, transforming into Celtic warriors clad in leather armor, wielding weapons.
"Looks like we've been underestimated," Waver said as he pulled a cigar from his coat, lit it, took a deep drag, and blew out a smoke ring before snapping his fingers.
Boom!
Eight stone pillars suddenly descended from the sky, surrounding Ayame and Anastasia.
The Five Element Eight Trigrams Formation!
A massive pressure immediately bore down on the two of them.
However, despite Medb and Waver's relentless tactics, Ayame and Anastasia didn't attack right away.
It was as if they had everything under control, letting the two of them exhaust their efforts.
Watching this unfold, Waver couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease.
This might be bad.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side, another battle had already begun.
The first to strike… was Nguyen Ryou!
While Ayame and Anastasia were targeting Waver's group, a murderous intent flared in Ryou's eyes.
Taking advantage of Saber's attention being drawn to the ice wall, Ryou launched his attack.
His target was the bewildered lady!
"You!"
Saber's face twisted with intense fury, and without hesitation, she swung her sword at his neck.
Clang!
Sparks flew as her holy sword was blocked by a lance that glittered like starlight.
The one who blocked Saber was none other than Lantoria herself!
Saber stared at Lantoria in shock, her eyes asking, "Why!?"
Fully armored and seated atop her steed, Dun Stallion, Lantoria offered no explanation.
The Holy Lance in her hand held firm, blocking Saber.
"Move aside!"
Saber shouted in anger, raising her Excalibur toward Lantoria.
Still seated on her horse, Lantoria remained unmoving. Her stance was clear.
With gritted teeth, Saber stopped holding back and charged at Lantoria, sword raised.
As Excalibur came crashing down, Lantoria's expression didn't change. She raised her Holy Lance and swept it across.
The spearhead slammed into the flat of Excalibur's blade from the side.
Clang!
A thunderous crash echoed like a great bell.
Saber felt her arm go numb, her grip on Excalibur faltered, and the sword almost slipped from her hand.
The terrifying force had redirected Excalibur to the side.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of Lantoria blocking Saber, Ryuo charged straight toward Irisviel.
Bang!
A deafening gunshot rang out from a distance.
Among the magi present, only one was known to use modern firearms—Kiritsugu Emiya.
Seeing his wife in danger, Kiritsugu, who had been hiding in the shadows, couldn't hold back any longer.
But it was all in vain.
A 7.62 × 51mm bullet, powerful enough to turn a normal person's head into tomato paste, hit Ryou right in the face.
And yet, the bullet was deflected… deflected...
With an endurance rating of A-, not even bullets, let alone cannon fire, could harm him.
As Ryou closed in on Irisviel, Kiritsugu seemed to panic, frantically pulling the trigger alongside Maiya Hisau.
But Ryou, like a human tank, deflected all the bullets.
Finally, he took his last step, and Irisviel stood gracefully before him.