The raven-haired master was silent until now, thinking about her wish. Truth be told, he could understand why Artoria might have such a wish. In the end, Lelouch had to admit that the chance to fix everything was appealing. Nonetheless, it wasn't something he could allow himself to admire.
"...King of Knights. I know why you might think so and want to change your life-" Saber's eyes sparked with the hope that someone understood and shared her view as Lelouch continued. "Your way of Kingship isn't wrong or right. None of the Kings here is absolutely right but it doesn't mean their way of the rule was wrong. King Iskandar," he turned to the huge man who was silently drinking. "Your words might be true but they cannot be applied to Artoria's rule since her nation was on the verge of destruction. Britain of that time needed a protector. Someone ready to defend them from all dangers since they couldn't do it on their own. It was Artoria's responsibility since her birth. However, this responsibility has become her burden as well."
'Japanese needed someone to lead them, someone, to give them hope and a chance to fight against Britannia. It wasn't my responsibility but I did this anyway. I didn't lead them for the sake of their nation but rather to achieve my own goals. It seemed a fair trade, they would give their cooperation and loyalty while I gave them back their country.' Of course, there were many challenges and problems. Lelouch as Zero got betrayed but like Iskandar said this failure was the result of his actions. Maybe if Lelouch was more open with his followers at that time he could have avoided it but it doesn't matter since he achieved his dream.
"That might be true, Lelouch. But nobody should live in regret by their own choice. Saber can't accept the fate of her people and her ideals make her think that by sacrificing herself she will make them a favour." Lelouch knew that Avenger had a hidden meaning behind her words. His servant was questioning his decisions in his past life as well.
'However, unlike Artoria, I didn't die for the sake of my people. I hated Britannia ever since I and Nunnally were left to die in Japan. Even as emperor, Britannia was nothing but another resource to use to achieve my goal. I died for the sake of people I cared about. I died to give them, her, a world where they can make a change from scratch. I destroyed the old world and made a new one so they could improve it. We have different circumstances but I can see what made Artoria go on and become the King she is. And yet I do not regret my choice, there are a lot of moments of my life I will forever mourn but I won't regret my journey because I know I made a difference.'
"Avenger, you and Artoria had a somewhat similar history. Both of your nations were in chaos and someone needed to stop it. However, your difference is that Artoria was chosen to bear this responsibility while you made the choice on your own. As you said to earlier, anyone else could have done it but you wanted to make it yourself, Avenger. You wanted to create a new system according to your desire. None of the kings here can criticize Artoria's rule more than they are willing to criticize their own." His servant didn't say anything, no one did.
Rider wanted to argue but was stopped by Gilgamesh.
"The boy is right. Only I can criticize your Kingship. Besides, you wouldn't be able to change Saber's mind anyway. Stubborn people like her won't change their mind until they see the consequences of their actions. Saber, your wish is both foolish and ridiculous at the same time. Coming here just to listen to it was worth it." laughed Gilgamesh. "Your tragedy makes excellent comedy."
Artoria frowned upon those words.
"There's nothing hilarious about my wish, it-"
"Your wish is wrong, Artoria."
The blonde woman froze as she looked at Lelouch who calmly smiled at her with a sad smile.
"W-what? But you said-"
"I only said that your Kingship couldn't be criticized. You are the King that people needed at that time. However, you wish to remove yourself from the history and fate of Britain. That's wrong. You are saying you must make the sacrifice for your people but to me, it seems like you are trying to run away from your failure."
'C.C asked me if I'm ready to continue my path no matter what. I said yes. I suffered, I lost so much but I continued to move on. There were moments in my life when I was at my weakest. When I wanted to hide away and pity myself but I didn't. People around helped me and I moved on...Could I desire the same wish as Artoria does?'
"No matter how bad you might think of your rule, no matter how many people died during your reign, wishing to remove yourself from history won't fix anything, Artoria. You will just make all the sacrifices you and people who followed you meaningless. Their deaths, their wishes. Are you ready to get rid of them so easily? What about the Knights of the Round and all the connections you made? Don't they mean anything to you?"
"I-I!"
"You never thought about this, Saber." Iskander said with an angered tone, "You claimed that a King needs to make sacrifices for his people and yet you forgot how much your people sacrificed for you. Your friends, comrades, your followers. All of them fought for you and you just want to spit at their memories like that?!" Rider slammed the wine barrel near him. "I cannot accept such a wish, Saber! I'm the King who ruled to inspire my friends and who will never forget their sacrifices! If you can cast away the lives of those who followed you so easily then I won't let you win this war no matter what! I will do whatever it takes for the sake of their memories."
Saber was stunned, unable to utter a word as she looked around. Avenger looked at her with disappointment. Lelouch had a sad smile but said nothing while Gilgamesh's face was more serious.
"Saber, a King should lead his people with pride no matter the consequences. If you are dissatisfied with your rule so much, it must mean you were never meant to be a King." The Golden Archer took a sip before his face became darker. "Wasting sacrifices, your people and friends made for you so casually. If I weren't in a good mood tonight I would have killed you for such foolish words." Lelouch could tell that this aspect of Artoria's wish was angering Gilgamesh.
'Who can blame him...Forgetting all the pain and suffering your loved ones experienced because of you. That's something I will never allow myself. If I do that I will be no different from Charles...' The thought of becoming similar to his father, to see everyone around him nothing but a means to achieve his goals, made Lelouch sick. That was something he could never allow himself.
"...Can your wish even be granted?" asked Avenger. Other servants turned to her with a questionable look. "I'm not too experienced in magecraft but even I can understand that some wishes cannot be granted or allowed."
"Huh, I almost forgot about that." Gilgamesh commented before looking at his cup. "Maybe it is due to the alcohol. But the Barbarian woman is right. Such a wild wish as yours Saber might not even be able to be granted." he smirked when he saw the panic on her face.
'I almost forgot about that too...'
"What are you talking about, Archer?" Artoria tried to make her voice sound powerful but she got desperate.
"Fool. Do you think that either Alaya or Gaia will allow you to have such a wish?"
Lelouch watched as Artoria's hands started to shake. Her eyes lost its previous spark and now she was looking at the ground as the realisation hit her.
'...Even if she managed to defeat all servants and claim the Grail, her wish would still not be fulfilled. And yet seeing someone who had good intentions for her country like this isn't pleasant.' The Master of Avenger thought if it was worth trying to cheer up Saber but decided against it. It wouldn't help her.
Suddenly, Avenger jumped from her seat and stood next to him. Before Lelouch could ask what she was doing he heard a scream that belonged to Waver. Turning towards the master of Rider, Lelouch saw Assassin. And then another, and another and so on. The entire garden was filled with them as they surrounded the Kings and their masters. Lelouch turned to see that the master of Saber went to Artoria who was prepared for a fight.
"Hey, Archer, are they with you?" asked Rider with a calm yet caution voice. Gilgamesh looked irritated.
"Tokiomi, don't you have any shame." Lelouch immediately remembered his talk with Kayneth about the head of the Tohsaka family and Kirei, master of Assassin.
'So Archer is his servant. That means Berserker's master is from the Makiri family.' his thought was interrupted as one of the Assassins spoke.
"We are one divided into many."
"An army and also one."
"A servant with many shadows."
Waver was terrified. "This is their ability? A servant with separate bodies for each of their personalities."
"No wonder they didn't care about losing some of their own," commented Avenger. "Say, master, do you want to see fireworks? One word and they all will be dead." She licked her lips with anticipation.
Lelouch stayed silent looking at the three other kings. If Gilgamesh was a servant of Tokiomi Tohsaka, it should have meant they are on the same side and yet he knew nothing about it.
'...If they wanted to kill any of the masters they could have done it already. They aren't as strong as four servants together, so the open battle is pointless unless they are here to test us...to see the noble phantasms of servants here.' Lelouch's eyes went wide for a second before a wicked smirk formed on his face. 'Very well, let them have their way. But my Avenger won't be the one using her secret weapon.'
"King Iskandar. What do you think?" Rider turned to him with a curious look. "Maybe the Assassins come here to enjoy a drink too?"
"Hmm, you might be right." nodded Rider.
"Wait! Are you really going to invite them too?!" shouted Waver but Rider already stood up.
"But of course. A King's words are meant for all to hear and absorb. Doesn't matter if it's friend or foe. Hear me Assassins! Any of you who come to speak with come forth and take a cup." Iskandar smiled as he raised the cup in the air. "This drink is as your blood!"
One knife immediately hit his cup as it fell on the ground, spilling the red drink. The Assassins around them started to laugh among themselves. Lelouch made a gesture for Avenger to sit down, without a word, his servant realised what was going on and with a smirk joined her master, eager to see a show.
"Very well. Like I said, this drink is as your blood. If you are willing to spill it, you must be ready for your blood to follow it." Rider said with a calm tone as a powerful wind started to circle him. In one moment Rider's appearance changed to combat attire. "Archer, Avenger, Saber. I have a question for you. Does a King always stand alone?"
Gilgamesh stayed silent while Saber spoke as she covered herself from the wind.
"A King must indeed be alone. Always."
Avenger narrowed her eyes but said nothing.
"No, no. You obviously don't understand this. I suppose I just have to show you all right now exactly what a real King is all about when with adversity like this one."
As Rider said this light covered the entire garden and everyone in it. Lelouch closed his eyes but when he opened them he froze from what he was seeing. Suddenly he got nostalgia feelings and memories of C's world. Instead of the night sky, it was day. Instead of the garden in the castle, it was an endless desert. He turned around to see all the Assassins standing before Rider.
"Now, let me show you the power of the King of Conquerors!"