A/N: I'm back with another chapter. It was kinda heard to write since the tone of the last arc is so different. But don't lose your tits yet, I pulled through somehow.
Anyway, I gotta answer some reviews if I don't wanna get assassinated by one of you:
Dimihd: (:D
Bucio: The intense part was kind of a joke lmao. Still thanks for the review.
Lugal Kug-ga: Oh no no no. Morgan is very bad news. So rest assured, she does not have a role in this story yet.
Now that's done, letsa-go!
Illlyasviel
Being princess aren't all flowers and romance. One must endure many hardships to become and effective ruler. Illya especially, as she volunteered as Shirou's advisor. She has more duties too… like answering annoying tea party invitations.
Just like one that she is forced to go through right now. She was invited to Countess Flannel's tea party along with other ladies of high standing. There were five of them in total, herself included. The venue was the countess' salon at the commercial district. It was a popular spot for the ladies of the high society, many women form rich families come and go every day of the week at the salon.
Illya sipped tea as she observed the noble ladies chat to their heart's content, briefly answering when asked, and smiling using her practiced princess smile that she usually wears for diplomatic reasons. She would very much like to be plucked out this situation and be put at Taiga's place near this establishment.
She currently could not contact Shirou for some help either. As the mental link only works at certain distances. Sure she could send familiars to just do it with that. But that method requires total concentration, and concentration is the one thing that she currently does not have at this moment.
Back then, she liked the concept of talking with noble ladies. Elegantly talking about the current news, politics, likes and dislikes, the current gossips at the palace and many more. But in practice? She could barely stomach those slimy bastards during sessions with Shirou, let alone talk about politics in her supposed free time.
And there was Countess Flannel. There's this… pseudo tradition within the noble ladies of the capital. Just before or after a young lady debuts to the high society, they will be invited to an initiation in the guise of a tea party. They will be tested and insulted there to harden their tolerance. 'Honestly, it's just an excuse for them bully away their insecurities.' Illya thought, rolling her eyes mentally.
"Anyway, princess. Are aware of the Tower Master's upcoming visit to the capital?" One noble lady asked.
Ah, yes. The Tower Master, the Archmage. As she remembers her experience with the game, he was the person to identify the heroine as special in a way, a very important figure who she concludes as on the level of the upper echelons of the Clock Tower. "Yes, I was informed a week prior." She answered.
"Ah, yes of course. How foolish of me." The noblewoman stuttered. "Well, is it not bizarre that he finally answered an invitation after so many years? I have heard the he is quite reclusive." She relayed to the princess.
"Yes it is, actually." Countess Flannel interjected. "I was unsure at first when we were suddenly told to prepare ourselves for his arrival. Such a person is attending the king's birthday? I had thought that he had cut himself off the public eye completely." She looked at the princess arrogantly. "I would assume that for the princess, it was quite the shock." The countess spoke in barely masked disdain.
Illya sighed internally. It has been just over a year since she regained her memories. For the public eye she is just a new figure stepping in the spotlight. Some nobles had tested her during court sessions, questioning her capabilities as princess regent. They did not leave empty-handed. "Despite sending him the letter myself. I quite surprised when actually answered, it seems sending it through magic was the right decision."
This made the ladies raise their brows in unison. The frail princess? Studying magic? It was impossible to think about.
"Y-you practice magic? Your Highness?" It was Flannel who took the lead as usual.
Illya nods in anticipation. "Yes, I do. In fact, I could show you what I could do if you would permit me."
"There is no nee-!" Countess Flannel tried to stop her.
"Yes! Please do so, Your Highness!" But she was interrupted by one of her cronies, much to Illya's excitement.
The princess responded with a mischievous smile. "If you insist– Then I shall indulge you!" With a grin full of confidence, she waved her hair backwards. Masking the way she plucked strands of her hair.
Not a moment later, birds began to manifest in the room. The nobles were in awe of the sight. It looked like glass from afar, but if one looks closely, they would notice that it was made with strings.
"D-doves?" One of them spouted.
Illya shakes her head. "No, storks."
"How beautiful… What do they do, princess?" They questioned, in awe.
'And here comes the kicker.' Illya thought mischievously. "Simply put. They kill people." She spoke casually, making all of the group flinch. "Ara?" She unknowingly said in Japanese. "Why so shocked? I am a mage, one way or another, I would have to find ways to protect myself." Illya said, putting a single finger in her chin. "Would you like a demonstration?"
Countess Flannel waved her two hands in refusal. Her plan breaking down. "No- There really is no nee – kya!" She jumped away in fear as blast of energy came her way, shot by the magical stork.
"Oh my! I apologize." Illya spoke sarcastically. "I seem to have damaged the floor of your establishment." The princess approached the countess with a gentle step while wearing a thin smile. She touched the trembling noblewoman's shoulder. "Worry not, Countess. I shall pay for this transgression."
Illya stood up and straightened her body, looking at the Countess' eyes is utter contempt.
Countess Flannel. The unwritten person in-charge of the initiation of young nobles…was scared. She sensed that the "apology" was not an apology at all, but a warning. They were just supposed to intimidate and embarrass the princess. 'The information was wrong… she's the farthest from being delicate.' She thought, fearing for her life.
Again with a smile, the princess clasped her hands. "Would you look at that, it seems that my time has ran out!" She said, back to her cheerful persona. "If you do not mind, I shall return to my duties at the palace."
The trembling countess tried to regain her composure and curtsied to the princess' goodbye. "B-be well, Your Highness."
Illya nods. "That I will."
Shirou (A few days later)
At the king's office were two people facing eachother. The other one in his desk, wearing a disappointed expression. While the young woman in front of him looked away out of fear.
"Illya… what's the meaning of this?" Shirou asked, sitting at his chair in his office. He's heard rumors about Illya lately. They were not good ones.
Sweat dripped from Illyasviel's forehead as her posture stiffened up in fear. 'Shit, it got here already!?' She thought with a nervous expression. Her hunch was right, and she was not glad about it for a second.
"W-what do you mean, Shirou?" She asked, looking away from her brother in embarrassment. Shirou can be scary sometimes.
The king squeezed the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "You already know what I meant, Illya." News surprisingly travel fast in the capital. Illya's shenanigans did not go unnoticed for long.
"I'm… Sorry?" The princess tried to apologize, unsurprisingly just gaining a sigh of disappointment from Shirou. "B-but, she was such an ass! I just did it for intimidation's sake!" She tried to defend herself.
'Oh, boy. I forgot how immature she could get sometimes.' He thought, regret in his mind. Illyasviel, however mature she wants to be, still falls back to her childish self once in a while. It is adorable sometimes, but she just tried to kill a person.
With a heavy heart, Shirou spoke. "Intimidation or not, you still scared the shit out of the customers. If it was only Countess Flannel and her entourage, I could consider it, it is expected in their line of… unofficial work. But you didn't just break the floor, you also broke the window on your way out before dismissing your storks. The whole damned street went into a panic when it happened." He explained, having known the information from the start of the conversation.
'Oh, yeah… I kinda got overboard with that one.' Illya thought in regret, only just remembering such event. "Shirou, you gotta understand. I was just venting. It was such a pain sitting through that the whole day…" Illya explained. She does admit that doing it might have been too much, but it was so stuffy and annoying inside the salon.
"For that, I'll be cutting your dessert portions by a third for the week. That includes my birthday. Also, you'd work in my office in that timeframe… you're forbidden from visiting your workshop unless it's very necessary." He said with a cold, uncaring face.
Illya suddenly jolted. Before realizing something. 'Wait a minute… that's not so bad. I'll have an excuse to spend time with him. Although… working seems to be a pain. As long as I see him, it's a deal.' She cupped her chin, deep in thought.
"Illyasviel von Einzbern." Shirou said in a stern voice, breaking Illya out of her thought.
"Y-yes Onii-chan!" She wonders when it started to happen. Back then, she tried to stuff Shirou inside a doll. She was fully confident back then.
Maybe that's just because of her brother's naiveté at the time, but his lack of social skills made him seem more approachable… and seem less capable.
But just a year ago, when she fully awakened. She noticed that her sweet brother is still the same, albeit more mature. But there were times when he starts to resemble other people she knew. Mainly Kiritsugu and-
"Tohsaka's Archer." She whispered under her breath. It was… scary, her onii-chan was supposed to be a bit clumsy and awkward, maybe adorably naïve. But still steadfast in his ideals.
That's why he's her hero afterall. He was broken to the core, which is a fact that she knew all too well. But what broke him even further?
But back at the topic at hand. Her brother was speaking, her mind were not at the right place.
"Are you listening?" The king asked. He was looking at Illya with a serious expression. He does not seem to realize what the white-haired princess was thinking about.
Illya nods slightly. It was better to pretend than deal with Shirou's nagging. "Yep, go on." He does nag like a heartbroken housewife after seeing her husband drunk after work.
"First order of business." He pulled a document from under his desk and handed it to Illya. "My informants have found something about the cult that was responsible for the Count's death at Shelston." Flipping the document in its second page, he cleared his throat.
"Reports were… contradicting. It seems that their goal was to spread their religion as we knew. Weirdly enough, as the soldier said, it was as if they did not want people to know for some reason."
"A giant contradiction…" Illya read the document. "Didn't we discuss that their cover-ups work like magi of our world? This report just reinforces that idea." Her eyes were scanning it word-for-word, as if she was reading it out of desperation.
"Flip it a page further. They found something about your villainess." Shirou said, guiding his sister.
"Lizbeth?" The princess' eyes were darting left and right, reading deeply into the report. "It said here that a girl resembling her was seen in the Shelston trading post… didn't we pass through that checkpoint?" She asked as Shirou nods in agreement.
The king rolled down a map beside the document, the map looked clean and new, like it was printed just a few months ago. "We did, but it seems to be earlier this week. Before us. From there, we have three possible routes, to the south, the capital, the west, Dunnenham County, and the east, straight to the Lampsworth Border." Shirou explained.
"Does this case and the cult one seem to be connected?" She enquired.
Shirou shook his head. "No. But, Duke Nightwillow has grown reclusive lately. But I don't want to raise assumptions. You said that cult didn't exist in game?"
"No, even in the plus disc." Illyasviel answered. "Did you ask Taiga about Lizbeth? Her shop tends to adventurers, those guys seem to know a lot of stuff due to their job."
Shirou nods in affirmation. "Yeah, I've been too busy lately so we just did it via mail. She said that the adventurers were as clueless as us." He shrugged. "But rest assured, I've sent spies on those areas as well. They'll be coming the countryside for clues." He assured his sister.
"This just can't be right." A cult suddenly appearing out of nowhere. And Elizabeth Nighwillow, a very important figure that would stabilize the nation suddenly disappearing. This has to be connected, somehow. "I'll have to find connections here somehow, this whole mystery has been dragging on for too lo-!"
Suddenly, a knock was heard from the entrance of the room, interrupting the princess. "Permission to enter the king's office!" A young voice yelled.
Shirou knew the voice all too well. It was Lars Watson's, his training under Bartholomew was almost done, and was ready to take the torch as aide any day now. "Granted." He answered.
The door creaked as the aide in training opened it. His steps entered the room as he bowed to show respect. "Aide Trainee, Lars Watson. Greeting his majesty." He looked to his right. "Urk!" He flinched. "A-and her highness." Which elicited an annoyed expression from Illya.
"Stand up. Report?" Shirou spoke before it could escalate even further.
Lars nods. "The preparations for the Royal Ball has been finished. Just this morning, Head Scribe Edinburg has finished training the new scribes, and is ready to record the events." He relayed while eyeing the princess with a look of disdain… hidden disdain.
Shirou noticed it, but opted just to ask Illya later. "Is that all?" He enquired.
"Yes, Sire."
"Then, leave us be. The Princess and I have things to discuss." The king ordered.
"As you wish, Sire." Lars bowed before turning his back walking away to the door. The entrance creaked once again as it closed.
The room was silent for a few moments as they listened to Lars footsteps getting farther and farther.
Illya breathed a sigh of relief as she was alone with her brother once more. She sat back down at the sofa as Shirou gave her a quizzical look. "Lars is acting weird. This is not good." She said with a serious expression.
"Yeah, why does it look like he doesn't wanna see you?" Shirou responded, realizing what Illya meant.
"One answer: Freaking Meriel. She's doing things fast." Illya remarked. "No matter, even if she gets all of them. The other two factors would fail her."
Shirou raised brow.
"You, and Lizbeth." The child of winter answered. She stood up and put both of her hands in Shirou's desk. "So long as we keep being cautious. We'll make sure that her plans don't bear fruit. Your very existence would foil it."
Shirou nods. Agreeing with his sister. "As we speak, the Mayfields of the East are working through the paperwork to claim her, the main clan may have fallen but their cousins still exist as you said. She will debut as a noblewoman at the ball." He informed the princess.
He looked at his sister intently. "I just hope this plan of yours don't make ever more problems."
"Don't worry. I got this." She assured, fully confident of her plans.
Shirou just sighed, preparing himself for whatever scheme Illya has concocted this time around.
? (A few years back)
The place looked like a dome. It was dark in some areas, charred in the others. The sunlight pierced through its decrepit ceiling, shining upon its burnt and damp shelves full of leather-bound books. It was like an ancient library, just recently discovered.
There were two men walking its halls. Both wearing navy blue cloaks, the signifier of the royal scribes of Antaria.
"Professor, I think you might want to have a look at this." One of the pair called his partner, seemingly in a hurry. He was holding a thick red book, with a title carved in gold.
"What is it?" His partner turned and asked, approaching the scribe in subtle excitement.
"Look, it contains magic… unknown magic." He said, pointing at the book that he was holding.
"Yes, it does. This is fascinating – a discovery of the century even!" The professor howled in glee.
"But what of the title… Bizarre, it is written in common script. A Glimpse into the Kaleidoscope: The Study of Other Worlds." He opened the book and skimmed through the pages. "This is groundbreaking. Magical concepts foreign to our own, some theories are possible to replicate given enough time." The Scribe looked at his partner for confirmation. "Decision?" He asked.
"Close it for now. We will take it to the Tower Master, such discoveries should not fall into unorthodox hands." His partner answered.
"What about the royal family?" The scribe aske once more.
"Especially the royal family. Or what remains of it anyway. The capital is still in turmoil due to the death of the king and queen, the nobles are desperate. We cannot, in any circumstance, let them know of this book's existence."
"Right you are." He nods, putting the thick book in his bag.
A/N: A pretty short chapter, I know. But I don't wanna stretch it out. Anyway, I kinda want yoru opinions on this one. The Intimidation part I got an idea from Illya's personality in the HGW, cold, and kinda psychotic. I wanted to give her a badass moment from the start, just look at the title. Other reasons are: The badass runs in the Emiya Family.
The last part hints at something… Interesting.
Anyway, follow and favourite. And please review if you can. This chapter is something I was kinda hesitant to go through.
TM, out.
