[Facing Artoria's confession, your choices are:]
[A. Accept, tell her that although you haven't seen her as a lover until now, from this moment you will re-examine your relationship and interact with her with the feelings of a lover.]
[B. Reject, frankly admit you see Artoria as a younger sister and have no other thoughts.]
[C. Temporarily withhold an answer, go back to think it over and discuss it with Artoria in detail later.]
'I choose A.'
Without even glancing at options B and C, how could Ryuya possibly refuse Artoria?
That's the King of Knights, the Saberface, the essence of humanity, the limited edition skin you can't pull!
Well, jokes aside. The above is just a lighthearted response.
The real reason Ryuya accepts Artoria is because he knows at this moment that this girl, like in his previous life, has fallen in love with him, and he, through endless companionship, has also come to regard Artoria as someone important to him. So he won't refuse.
"Artoria... you love me?"
Staring blankly at Artoria before him, tears at the corners of her eyes, her entire body seemingly boneless and limp, Ryuya was stunned.
It seemed he had never considered the possibility that this child he watched grow up would fall for him again. For that child who once acted spoiled in his arms and studied diligently, Ryuya realized for the first time that Artoria had grown up.
Truly grown up.
She had matured, continuing everything as Britain's Red Dragon.
His silver eyes were somewhat dazed. He just stood there quietly until a hint of mist seemed to form in Artoria's eyes, and Ryuya realized he needed to respond.
Yes, regardless of Artoria's feelings for him, she was the knight he raised. Her resilience, bravery, loyalty, and honesty attracted everything.
"Artoria."
Holding Artoria's hand, Ryuya was very calm at this moment, but it was precisely this calmness that made his warmth feel even more comforting.
"Artoria, to be frank, before today, I never once thought you would fall in love with me."
Seeming to feel the trembling of the girl in his arms, Ryuya continued, "But, when you confessed to me, I think I understood some things, things about you that I failed to notice in the past."
"I can't immediately tell you I love you, but I will try to look at you seriously, not as a king, but as a lover."
"Can you... accept me like this?"
Looking at Ryuya who had spoken his true feelings, Artoria was briefly taken aback, but what followed was immense joy.
"Of course I can accept your love, Your Majesty!"
[After learning about Artoria's confession to you, Morgan and Merlin showed no surprise. It seemed they had long foreseen this day.]
[In the time that followed, your relationship with Artoria rapidly deepened. Only occasionally would you see a hesitant look on Artoria's face.]
[Besides that, Vivian also seemed to be engaged in some secret matters. From some indeterminate time, you had started to feel you no longer truly knew this fairy sister who raised you.]
[As time passed, Vortigern and Uther passed away one after the other. Rather than grand funerals, these two preferred to pass away peacefully, just like their old comrades who died on the battlefield long ago.]
[Three years later, facing the increasingly scarce Age of Gods again, you felt somewhat helpless, as you had no more methods to prevent this world's decline.]
[Under this premise, you went to seek out the Lady of the Lake, Vivian, again. Expecting her to avoid you like before, this time you found her quite easily.]
"Is, I missed you so much."
Looking at Vivian acting spoiled again, seeming careless in everything, unable to hide her little thoughts, Ryuya found this fairy seemed to have returned to how she was at the very beginning.
[Holding your hand, Vivian toured all of Avalon with you once more. Surprisingly, she also expressed a desire to go with you to see Camelot.]
[Overjoyed that Vivian was finally willing to step out, you seriously showed her around the city. However, facing Vivian's departure from Avalon, Merlin seemed to think of something but said nothing.]
[At night, after playing all day and finally resting, you told Vivian about Britain's affairs. She told you not to worry, that she had been preparing all these years and was ready.]
["Is, tomorrow, when you wake up tomorrow, you will see my masterpiece!"]
[Looking at Vivian speaking to you with great confidence, trusting her, you said it was fine.]
[You drank the tea Artoria prepared for you nearby. You fell asleep.]
'Huh?'
His intuition told him something was off about Vivian's behavior, but Ryuya was the Sun-Crowned King.
Bearing the bloodlines of both the Red and White Dragons, and even that of a fairy, his grown self had attributes all at A+ rank. He feared nothing, so he naturally went along with Vivian's actions.
But what he didn't know was that the moment he drank that tea, he fell asleep instantly.
This was clearly Vivian's doing, and it involved Artoria, Merlin, and others closest to him.
Looking at the now soundly asleep Ryuya, Vivian gently stroked the man's face. A silver tear fell from her cheek.
"Vivian, are you really sure about this?"
Looking at the fairy who was like a sister to her, Merlin knew what Vivian intended to do.
"Vivian, perhaps we have other choices."
Also looking at Vivian, Morgan was equally shocked when she first heard the plan Vivian devised. She never expected this seemingly unassuming fairy to have such resolve, and she had never truly understood her.
"There is no chance left. Britain's decline is about to reach its end. If I don't do it, then who will?"
It felt like gazing upon the very first gaze. Looking at Ryuya's sleeping face, Vivian's heart overflowed with all the experiences they had shared.
Those past times were vivid, but the beautiful days belonging to the three of them would not return.
"Artoria, are you prepared?"
The birth of the Red Dragon was never meant to be a king's subject, but had a more important plan. Vivian had told Artoria her destiny long ago.
Upon learning her own fate, Artoria did not object. She simply quietly accepted this shackle, carrying it on her shoulders all along.
"Sister Vivian, I made my resolve long ago."
Nodding, the mature Artoria also looked at Ryuya, her face full of reluctance towards her King.
"Being able to confess to him in the final moments, being able to live with him in the final moments, being able to understand his feelings in the final moments… that is already enough for me."
Speaking this far, Artoria looked at Vivian with regret. "Sister Vivian, won't you say something more to His Majesty? It was you who first..."
"No need." Covering Artoria's mouth, Vivian shook her head.
"I'm afraid. I'm afraid that when Is wakes up, I won't be able to bear leaving him. So this is enough."
Gently lowering her head, Vivian kissed Ryuya's lips for the first and last time. Looking at her beloved now sound asleep, the voice of the Lady of the Lake resonated across the sky.
"Is, I love you. For your wish, I am willing to give my everything."
"In the name of the Lady of the Lake, Vivian bestows upon you her most sincere blessing."
The body of the Lady of the Lake began to disperse. The final burst of color from the utopia named Avalon was Vivian's love for Ryuya.
"Is, may you be safe and well every year, even if we... never meet again."