The two of them met Irisviel in a reception room deep within the castle.
The silver-haired homunculus inexplicably blushed when she saw Shirou, then glanced once at his lower body.
"Sh-Shirou, you came at just the right time."
She then put her hands on her hips, looking imposing as if she were psyching herself up--
Today, Irisviel looked less like a princess and more like a Queen, radiating a certain confidence.
"Let me get straight to the point.
Shirou, I hope you can form an alliance with me. Please convey my request to your Master."
Shirou was speechless inside: ...Isn't that a little too straight to the point?
Moreover, she had mistaken Shirou for a Servant.
But that was understandable. What Shirou had done the previous night was beyond what a magus could accomplish, so it was only natural for him to be mistaken for one of the seven Servants.
Shirou thought for a moment before saying, "Sorry, Irisviel, but I can't form an alliance with you."
"...Huh?"
Irisviel was extremely surprised that Shirou had rejected her.
"Why! Wasn't it because you wanted to seek an alliance with me that you rescued me again and again last night?"
Shirou shook his head. "Of course not."
"Ehh~~~ How could this be? Hearing that from Shirou makes me both happy and disappointed... Guh."
She staggered back onto the sofa, and the confident air surrounding her moments ago vanished because of a single sentence from Shirou.
"Could you explain why you won't accept the alliance? Is there something about me or Irisviel that displeases you, Shirou?"
Saber spoke up on behalf of her dejected Master. Of course, this was also something she herself wanted to know.
It wasn't that he was dissatisfied with anything.
It was simply that he had already formed an