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Sola-Ui, walking behind Illyasviel, her eyes filled with a touch of envy, watched the silver-haired woman's graceful movements, her gentle smile, the very picture of a gracious noblewoman.
How could she, Sola-Ui, a product of a strict, pragmatic upbringing, ever compare to Illyasviel's innocent, childlike charm?
With just a few simple social cues, Illyasviel had embraced her as a confidante, revealing everything but the most sensitive secrets.
And it was precisely because she knew Illyasviel's story that Sola-Ui envied her. Despite being a political tool, a pawn in her family's games, Illyasviel had found a loving husband, adorable children, and a carefree life.
They were both victims of arranged marriages, sacrifices to their families' ambitions, yet their fates were so different.
Despite her inner turmoil, Sola-Ui maintained a cheerful facade, chatting amiably with Illyasviel.
"Oh, we're here already." Illyasviel, noticing the dining room doors, stopped, her hand covering her mouth in surprise.
"Let's have some breakfast, Sola-Ui. Afterward, I'll have Haru arrange for your return to London. Being dragged into this war because of your—fiancé—must have your family worried."
Sola-Ui, having concealed her role in supporting Diarmuid with her magical energy, was seen by Illyasviel as an innocent bystander, caught in the crossfire of the Holy Grail War. Naturally, Illyasviel wanted to send her friend away from the impending conflict.
"Oh—um..." Sola-Ui hesitated, the thought of her family in London bringing a shadow to her face.
Worried? Her family valued her only for her magical lineage, the delicate Sophia-Ri bloodline that made her an ideal—breeding vessel. Nothing more.
In fact, had she not been engaged to Kayneth, she would likely have become a—tool for her own family.
"They wouldn't worry about me," she murmured, a bitter taste in her mouth.
"Did you say something?" Illyasviel tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face.
"Nothing," Sola-Ui replied quickly, her gaze darting away.
"But I heard something," Illyasviel said, leaning closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Sola-Ui's face flushed with embarrassment at being caught in her lie.
Just then, a buzzing sound reached their ears.
"You must have heard wrong, Illyasviel. It's just—insects," Sola-Ui said, gesturing towards a few moths that had flown in through an open window.
"Really? I heard wrong?" Illyasviel tapped her chin, then her eyes widened.
"But—there shouldn't be any insects." She grabbed Sola-Ui's hand and pulled her towards the dining room, her voice filled with urgency.
"What's wrong, Illyasviel? Wait!" Sola-Ui, caught off guard, stumbled, falling to the ground as Illyasviel dragged her along.
"Kiyohime incinerated all the insects within a three-kilometer radius last night, while she was—cleaning," Illyasviel explained, her voice a bit frantic.
"What?!" Sola-Ui's eyes widened in horror as she saw a moth, its eyes glowing red, flying towards them.
Sensing their attempt to escape, the moth, like a white lightning bolt, lunged at them, its mandibles open, its fangs bared.
Space tore open, and a hand reached out, black flames of Power of Destruction erupting from its palm, engulfing the hallway in a fiery inferno.
The flames vanished, along with the moth.
"Are you alright, Illyasviel?" A gentle voice—Haru's voice—echoed beside them.
Haru, stepping through the spatial rift, wrapped an arm around Illyasviel's waist.
Sola-Ui, staring at the rift, finally understood why Illyasviel could maintain her innocent, carefree nature, despite her family's machinations. She had Haru, a True Magic user, protecting her.
'Even the Sophia-Ri family wouldn't risk challenging a True Magic user.' A spark of hope flickered in Sola-Ui's eyes.
"I'm fine, Haru. But—those insects—were they a Master's familiar?" Illyasviel's voice trembled slightly.
"What happened, Haru-sama? Was there an enemy attack?"
"I sensed an unusual magical energy fluctuation," Kiyohime and Saber, their weapons at the ready, arrived, their faces filled with concern.
"Just a—pest. Though—it seems I'll have to—deal with the source." A three-meter tall rift opened, revealing a traditional Japanese-style house, a dark, sinister aura emanating from it.
A stone sign at the entrance bore the name—Matou.
In the worm-infested basement of the Matou mansion, Zouken stood, his eyes closed, leaning heavily on his cane.
"Eliminated, then..." he murmured.
The moth that had attacked Illyasviel and Sola-Ui had been his. Manipulating insects, imbuing them with various magical effects, was his specialty.
"I'll have to change my plans..." he sighed.
Though he'd agreed to cooperate with Kiritsugu Emiya, he'd never fully trusted him. He knew the Magus Killer would never give him the Grail.
Whether the Einzbern, Emiya, or even Tokiomi Tohsaka won, he wouldn't get the Grail.
So, he'd placed his hopes on the next Grail War. And if he could acquire the Lesser Grail, or even a fragment of it, he'd have a significant advantage.
He'd planned to implant a control worm into Illyasviel, effectively taking over her body.
Controlling her meant controlling the Grail and a Servant. And it would make that—protective husband of hers—hesitate to attack.
It was a perfect plan.
But Kiyohime's—overzealous housekeeping, incinerating everything within a three-kilometer radius of the Einzbern Castle—including his carefully planted network of Crest Worms—had ruined everything. And it had made Illyasviel more cautious.
"I'll have to abandon this location, for now." If his attempt with the control worm had been detected, the Einzbern would likely know who was responsible.
It was safer to retreat, at least until the True Magic user's arrival.
As he turned to leave, a playful voice echoed through the basement.
"Going somewhere, Gramps?..."
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