Einzbern Castle.
"Do you think they will like my sake?" his servant asked while carrying a bag full of sake.
After being invited to meet and discuss the war with other servants, Lelouch suggested to not go empty-handed. However, Avenger understood this as a chance to buy alcohol for herself. Now, she wasn't an alcoholic but the last time, when she had a drink, was several centuries ago and understandably she wanted to try modern sake. Lelouch didn't even try to stop her and just agreed. At the very least, alcohol might make others more talkative. However, talking will be the only thing Lelouch wanted tonight. Fighting in enemy territory while surrounded by a few servants wasn't the best scenario.
'If only I could contact Kayneth! Lancer would have been a good backup if needed.' Especially if it comes to fighting Saber.
Lelouch and his servant did as they were told and made their way towards a German castle in the forest. Thankfully Avenger remembered where it was after her fight with Caster. On their way there she sensed a huge presence of magecraft. Fuyuki forest wasn't a simple place according to her, while Avenger's knowledge in magic arts was minuscule, as a servant she could feel boundary fields that were covering the entire forest.
'Hmm, there are more reasons why Saber's master chose this place.' Lelouch thought to himself as he and his companion finally saw a castle. It was done in the old European style. The first thing that immediately caught their attention was the opened entrance door and the familiar figure inside.
"I ask you once again, Rider. Why are you here?" Saber's voice, confident and noble, just like at docks. Violet eyes soon saw the blonde servant standing in front of her master from the Einzbern family, a homunculus Lelouch reminded himself, still being little amazed by it. In the entrance stood the chariot of Rider with himself and Waver on it. Iskandar was still wearing casual clothes, Lelouch also noticed the huge barrel near him.
"Ara, Rider brought a lot of good stuff too," Avenger smirked, already knowing what was inside. "Hmm, maybe he isn't too bad after all." Lelouch stayed silent, his eyes focused on Saber
'Why do I feel this strange feeling inside me?' Just like on the docks when he saw her for the first time, Lelouch couldn't help but feel like she was familiar to him.
"Oh, come on! Saber! We come all this way to have a few drinks with you! I swear we won't cause any problems for you." Rider loudly laughed. Saber didn't attack him yet and her invisible sword was lowered, she eyed him but soon her eyes fell on a new pair of guests. Iskandar noticed it and followed her gaze. When he saw a familiar face he laughed once again. "Oh, look! Avenger and Lelouch are here too!"
"Lelouch?" The white-haired woman behind the servant raised her eyebrow. The blonde servant stared at the raven-haired master next to Avenger, unknown to others she felt something strange too. Avenger narrowed her eyes when she noticed how Saber was ogling, in her mind, her master. Lelouch on the other hand chuckled.
"King Iskandar, thank you once again for inviting us but please leave me the pleasure of introducing myself to such beautiful women." Lelouch smiles charmingly. The reaction was visible as the white-haired woman gently giggled with pink shades on her cheeks, her servant still stoic but her posture more relaxed. His servant had a blank face, not liking it. Rider laughed once again and smacked his master on the back.
"Take notes, boy! That's how you get yourself a girl!"
While Waver was glaring at his servant, the white-haired woman looked at Lelouch and Avenger. "You're here for the same reason as Rider?"
Lelouch nodded. "Indeed, my lady. We have no intention of fighting tonight."
"Or at least starting a fight," Avenger whispered before turning to the blonde servant in the room. "Sup Saber!" she smirked when the supposed Holy Maiden narrowed her eyes.
The Einzbern master thought about this situation before nodding. "Very well. As a master of this castle, I shall grant you this permission." her servant turned to her with a confused expression.
"Irisviel?"
The woman is now known to Lelouch as Irisviel smiled. "Don't worry, Saber. I have a feeling that someone like Rider won't break his promise. Isn't that right, your highness?" she asked the only male servant. Iskandar nodded.
"But of course! What kind of king am I if I can't keep such a small promise! Tonight I wanted to hear what other rulers want from the Grail. In the end, we're all here as kings, right?" Rider asked as he turned from Saber to Avenger.
Both female servants stared at each other. Saber didn't know how to feel, she knew that Avenger called herself a ruler but without knowing her real name it might have been a lie. Avenger, on the other hand, was confused if Saber was indeed Jeanne D'Arc then why was she called a king? Maybe Rider made a mistake? Or maybe Caster?
"...in that case, I'm not against this either." finally said Saber.
Her master happily clapped her hand together. "In that case please follow me."
Soon all quests found themselves inside an open garden. Lelouch had to admit that this place was very beautiful. Not as good or big as a garden in Aries Villa but still impressive. Saber carefully set on the ground while Rider collapsed near her. He turned to Avenger and waved.
"Come on, Avenger join us." Lelouch had to admit that despite Rider's appearance or role as a servant, the huge man was giving off a friendly aura. One could forget that this was supposed to be the King of Conquerors.
'Or maybe that's the charm of the King of Conquerors.'
The red-haired woman eyed both servants before raising her gaze and looking at their masters. Both Irisviel and Waver were standing at the side. Lelouch wanted to question the idea of two enemy masters standing next to each other so casually but neither of them was giving him the impression that they could attack each other like this.
Avenger turned to Rider and spoke. "Very well but I have one condition." Iskandar raised his eyebrow. "I want my master to sit with us as well."
There was a short silence as both servants looked at each other in confusion. Lelouch, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes.
"Avenger! What are you doing?" he used their mental link but she didn't respond. Instead, she smirked making Lelouch stop. "Wait..."
Rider was first to speak. "No offence but this is Banquet of Kings, Avenger. I didn't invite you or Saber because you were regular heroes."
"I don't have a problem but I agree that a regular human has no place in a conversation among kings." Saber reluctantly agreed with Rider. Avenger raised an eyebrow.
"Well, in that case, my master will have no problem being here." her eyes turned to Lelouch who now froze. "After all..."
'No. Don't tell me!'
"As a member of the Britannian Royal family, he has a right to be among kings."
This time everyone froze.
Lelouch clenched his fist. 'I wasn't the only one who was seeing her memories. She knows...she knows about Britannia. She knows about me...Does that mean she knows about Zero Requiem as well?' This wasn't good. Lelouch was from a different world and no one should have known about it. 'She said I must keep it as a secret no matter what but now..' Lelouch remembered what she told him. The Demon emperor wanted to say something, anything but stopped when he saw the expression on his servant's face.
Avenger was looking directly at him. She had a soft and warm smile on her face that Lelouch hasn't seen before. He stopped, not knowing what to do. His servant didn't say a word but for some reason, he felt like she was apologizing.
Rider turned to look at Lelouch with a surprised expression. Was this boy he was cautioned about is the future king of his master's homeland? That would answer some of his theories about Lelouch. Behind them, Irisviel and Waver stood shocked.
"Wait, she means British Royalty?!" asked Rider's master his eyes wide open, was his enemy some kind of prince form his homeland?! How was it possible?!
However, most surprised and shocked was Saber. Her expression was a pure shock as she stared at Lelouch. She had a hard time believing it. The Grail was providing her with information on what was happening with her kingdom after her death. Was a boy before her a member of the family that ruled over her lands? Did that mean that the master of Avenger was her-
"What do you think, Rider?" Avenger asked, satisfied with the reaction. "Is my master allowed to sit and enjoy a drink with us?"
Rider stayed silent for a moment, his eyes closed as he thought carefully about it. Then he said. "Very well, while not a heroic spirit I suppose he can sit and listen to us as well."
Lelouch let out a tired sigh but he supposed that now denying what his servant said wasn't the smartest idea. Avenger again smiled warmly at him as he sat next to her. 'Now, maybe I can use this to my advantage. Their masters might think that I'm related to this World's British family and think that I don't have only Avenger with me.' Both Kayneth and Waver were from Britain. Lelouch supposed that even as magi they should be worried about the idea of fighting members of the Royal Family. 'I know that this World's Royal Family is too different from mine and doesn't have as much power as the Royal Family in Britannia had. What I don't know is how much influence they have in the magecraft world.'
"Master of Avenger." Lelouch turned to Saber who never stopped staring at him. "...What Avenger said. It is true?"
"Why do you care so much, Saber?" Avenger asked with narrowed eyes. She didn't like how the blonde servant was paying too much attention to her master. "I know that you and his homeland fought each other in the past but-"
"What are you talking about?" the blonde knight asked with narrowed eyes. She placed her working hand on her heart and spoke: "Modern Britain might be different from my time but it's still a place I loved and protected no matter what."
'Wait, what.'
"Wait. But you are French right?" Avenger asked as confusion was noticeable in her tone. "You are Maiden of Orleans Jeanne D'Arc right?" Suddenly Rider started to laugh like a madman. Saber frowned but shook her head, her eyes looking at the ground.
"I see. So you have met that deranged Caster." Saber said as she stood up. "Let me clear that misunderstanding, Avenger because as King, I cannot let my pride be insulted," she said with a serious tone. Both Avenger and Lelouch glanced at each other, confused. "I'm no Maiden of Orleans. I'm a knight who fought for her country against invaders and I'm a king who was called the Once and Future King, I'm the King of Knights, the one who pulled out the sword Caliburn."
Lelouch froze, his eyes stared at her in shock. This strange feeling, all this time it was?!
'No, how she can be...'
"I'm Artoria Pendragon."
'...my Great ancestor!'