Knight of the Heart chapter 4.
Things were looking to be interesting, thought Mordred as she walked around the halls of Chaldea with Gudako and co. The Crimson King could only marvel at the technological advancements this facility has to offer. And it was amplified even more with the expert's explanation as provided by Doctor Romani and Miss Da Vinci. However, as much as it intrigued her to explore and tinker with these new advancements, her mind was constantly plagued by another topic entirely.
"And if you look here, this is where the Knights of Camelot come together and train." Miss Da Vinci explained as the door to said room opened. "We modified this room to look exactly like the training grounds Camelot had centuries ago. Oh, would you look at that? Sir Mordred is over there training with Lily. Why don't we go say hello, if that is okay with you Prince Mordred?"
Ah. The Red Prince blanched. I didn't think we'd see each other so soon.
While the Red Prince had no qualms concerning her alternative selves (the surfer self of her simply weirding her out if anything), the so called Knight of Treachery unnerved her. 'A Berserker hiding behind the class of Saber,' was the description Prince Mordred had for her alternate. The Knight had it all: the pain, the horror, the agony, and the tragedy. Yet somehow she's still a Saber class. The Prince that was once King concluded after meeting her Knightly self that they would not get along well.
Of course, there was more to it than that. The Red Prince was far too observant to ignore the tells and signs. The scathing tongue, that murderous glare, and that ever present desire to just shove Clarent up her chest told Prince Mordred that the Knight of Treachery did not like her in any shape or form. It probably stemmed from the fact that she was chosen by her (-their?) Father as King, while the other one…
'...Let's ignore that pigsty for later…' Prince Mordred thought. Other than her alternate self, the realisation that the Fall of Camelot is destined to become one with Proper History is already depressing enough. Moreso compounded by the fact it was of her own doing. Well, Sir Mordred's doing.
"Mo-san! Lily-chan! We're here to visit~!" Gudako exclaimed as they approached the pair. Lily was ecstatic to see Prince Mordred again, while Sir Mordred was… at least she's not burning the Red Prince with her deathglare.
"It's so great to see you again, Prince Mordred." Lily said as she clasped the hands of the surprised Red Prince. "Mo and I were just sparring when you came. Have you come to see the training grounds yourself? I can show you if you want!"
"I… uhm." the Red Prince stammered at the beaming sunshine that was Lily. It's very hard to keep her act straight around the girl before her. She was just so… bright! And it's not something she was used to seeing with someone that kind of face. It sends shivers to the spine. A quick look towards the Knight of Treacher - who quickly darted her eyes away - showed that the Red Prince was not alone in this. The realisation made bile rise in her stomach. It doesn't help when they both shared the same frown when Gudako, Da Vinci, and Romani chuckled at the sight.
"Do you not wish to see? I know that we can't show you the stables because Sir Archer is fixing it up still but I can still help you out in the other parts. Well, if you want that is." Lily said with a hint of sadness. She understands that the Red Prince might not want it because of her own reasons, Lily can just offer it at another time. Both Mordreds present opened their mouths in protest at this, however. Neither desire to upset the young version of their father.
"Father, that's not what I-!"
"Father, wait a mo-"
…
Both Mordreds looked at each other for a brief second before the Red Prince regained herself. She then addressed Lily with a sigh of exasperation.
"I would be happy if you showed me around… young Father." Prince Mordred said. Completely knowing the gossip that pervaded that group that came with her. This is going to be awkward, both Mordreds thought.
Later… in the Dining hall…
After eating the food made by the Red Archer alongside the Camelotians, Lily and the other child servants who coincidentally were there in the cafeteria, the young ones went out of their way and started playing games with Percival. The Holy Knight obliged them since he was moved by their sincerity in making the party for him that was dubbed "the bestest one ever!" not so long ago. Or so Jack the Ripper and Nursery Rhyme told him. But he kept a keen ear to the Crimson King's story. A story that currently captivated not only the Knights of the Round and Kings of Knights present, but also their Master and the rest of Chaldea's staff present. The master was so engaged with the story that she unknowingly asked every single question everyone interested in the Red Prince wanted to ask.
"So Mo-san. What was your childhood like?" Gudako asked with starry eyes that shone in excitement. It was quite endearing to the Servants in question. To which the Crimson King couldn't help but feel sheepish at the question.
"It's nothing special of the sort. I was raised right by my mom, Guinevere and was taught the lessons of Knighthood and Chivalry by Lancelot. I was even tutored by Father for a couple of years before he… I mean, before I became King." The Red Prince said. Completely failing to hide the brief pause in her answer to everyone except for the Master and Mash.
"Oh! Nice, nice. Any memorable moments?" Gudako pressed on. Which caught the Crimson King off guard as she widened her eyes.
"Well… I don't think it's really that extravagant-" Mordred trailed on but was interrupted by Gudako.
"N-no! Uh, I mean. Nothing about you is boring Mo-san. I just wanted to know what your life was like. That's all." Gudako exasperatedly tried to correct. Laughing sheepishly as she scratched the back of her head in embarrassment.
"Well, if you want." The Red Prince acquiesced. Causing the remaining people in the room to lean in a little to hear the story better.
"When I was a little girl. I used to go running around playing 'catch-me-if-you-can' with my mother. Well, it was more like, 'run while mom barely catches up.' I was as fast as a horse. I could weave through the guards trying to catch me like a hawk!" the Prince then acted out the scene in her head. A swift jerk to the left and a sudden shift to right caused laughter and joy to ring about the cafeteria as they found themselves entranced by her charisma.
"But it always ended in Lancelot catching me. He always lifted me up so that I couldn't run anymore." the Prince sighed in nostalgia. "He once said that I'm a long way from outgrowing him - it's the only way he'll stop picking me up like a child. I guess he wasn't wrong, no?" she ended with a hearty chuckle to which the whole room replied in turn. It was amazing how her charisma just shone through her like a brilliant light. The whole crowd loved her.
Well… except for one.
"Why are you back here again?"
"Shut up and hand me a beer."
Archer looked on the practically sulking Knight of Treachery with a feeling he hadn't quite expected - exasperation with a hint of pity. He knew well enough of the Knight's rather explosive tendencies to hide it though. As he gave the beer to her, he couldn't help but remark bluntly at the scene in front of him.
"Looks to me that your counterpart is quite the showstealer." Archer said as one of the Red Prince's well timed jokes brought the whole room into another heap of laughter. Something about her falling off a horse as a kid? Archer could only hear snippets from how the room was buzzing right now so, that's the best he could gleam from her.
"Well ain't that fucking amazing." Mordred garbled out as she took a whole swig at her beer. "She's got everyone's attention that fast. Heh, like that's hard."
"The resident delinquent of Chaldea being jealous of herself…" Archer was about to scoff when the death glare came once again. Looks like he struck a chord, he thought.
"She's not me. She's nothing like me nor will she ever be me." Mordred growled with disdain. And while fury predominated the emotion in her eyes, the Knight of Treachery practically wore her heart on her
sleeve. Well, according to the more perceptive servants at least. With Archer being one of them. And what he saw, he did not like. Because that would open a can of worms he dare not wish to get involved in.
"So you think." Archer said as he took the empty mug and refilled it with a lighter kind of beer. "But if there's anything I am willing to say about this whole situation, it's that you two are bound to get into some trouble with how you're acting right now."
"No way in hell. I'm avoiding her like the damn plague. Don't want to fuck with her at all." Mordred said before gulping down on her mug. It was… sweet? She then realised the difference in taste and slammed the thing on the counter.
"What the hell, Archer!? Why'd you switch it?" Mordred complained.
"I am simply acting on your wish." The Bowman nonchalantly replied as if it was all obvious to everyone. "The only reason why you'd be in trouble is if you're too drunk to understand what your doing. I'm helping you, in reality."
"Bullshit." Pointed Mordred. "You just ran out of the good stock, haven't you?"
Archer sighed and simply lifted the barrel and shook it in front of the Knight. The Knight then howled at her correct assumption.
"Hah! I knew it." Laughed Mordred. Her fanged smile showing up after a long while of scowling. It was endearing to see, thought Archer.
"Archer-senpai. Mo-chan. Why aren't you eating with us? Come on here! I've got a place just for the two of you." The two then heard Arturia Lily call out to them from the other side of the room. The two of them looked at each other with mild apprehension. Both were hesitant to go there for varying reasons but it all vanished at the face of the expectant lily servant. Seeing that they can't win, they obliged.
Little did they know how much of a shitshow that decision had brought both of them.
