A Different Fate - [Rewrite]

Chapter 8:Arguments

After a short pause, she added, "He was the only Servant during the war with whom I felt I had something in common."

Gilgamesh glared at her with something she would have called frustration, if it had not been him. He stood up and made his way to the door, slamming it close behind him.

Rather taken aback by his brusque manner of leaving, Arturia frowned.

"What on earth is wrong with him?"

Illya surprised her by giggling, her eyes twinkling with laughter.

"Arturia, you were practically singing Lancer's praises in front of him. Would he really stay calm while hearing you talk so considerately about another man?"

The King of Knights gave the girl a dispassionate look. Realizing that Arturia had not understood what she was trying to hint at, the girl went into detail.

"Arturia, I think he is jealous."

He… what?

The idea was so ridiculous that Arturia almost said it aloud, but restrained herself at the last moment because she did not want to offend Illya.

Gilgamesh most certainly was not jealous.

And of Lancer of all people?

Ridiculous.

He had probably been irritated by the fact that she had talked more about the other Servants than about him. That was something far more believable.

Arturia took out the Magecraft book again. The break they had taken had been long enough. It was time to go back to studying.

As she looked for the right page, she did her best to ignore Illya's smile. The little girl was perceptive enough to see that Gilgamesh wasn't indifferent towards her beloved Arturia… and she was certain that Arturia had taken a subconscious liking to him, too…

…or, at least in her opinion, she probably would, soon.

…

*"*"*"*"*"*"*"*"*

…

Before they even realized it, about a year of rather uneventful life passed.

Illya's education was going better than Arturia expected, and every time she saw the girl to bed in the evening, she ardently hoped that Irisviel would be proud of the young woman the child was slowly growing into.

She observed the girl closely, and she could say with certainty that she seemed to be quite happy. Illya was a calm and cheerful girl, always eager to learn and always with a smile on her face.

One afternoon, however, Illya was quieter and more sombre than usual. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts, even though she was obviously trying to pay attention.

They were studying, but Arturia stopped their lesson abruptly.

The little girl had started to cry… something she had never done in front of her.

As the tears were running down her face, Illya murmured, "It's been a year since I last saw mommy and daddy… I've been an entire year without them, and I miss them so much…"

Once the sobs began, it was as if a dam broke inside her, and Illya cried in earnest.

Arturia was shocked. She did not know what she was supposed to do with weeping children… but she remembered her friend Irisviel, and thought about how much Illya must miss her… and her father, too.

Gently, the former King of Britain put a hand on the crying girl's head, a very ancient look appearing on her face. She knew what sorrow and torment were… and she allowed Illya to pour out all her sadness.