The Prince on a White Horse

Sakura Matou returned to the Matou Estate from school. As usual, she was supposed to prepare dinner before her daily "Magecraft" practice.

Shirou hadn't come to school today. She wanted to see him, but still...

Until the Holy Grail War ended, it would be better not to see him.

If he found out she was a Master too...

"Didn't you go to Emiya's house today?" Shinji Matou leaned against the railing of the staircase between the first and second floors, looking down at Sakura Matou.

"That Emiya bastard's in the Holy Grail War too. If you've got nothing better to do, go find out what you can for me!"

"Got it?!"

"Yes, Brother," Sakura Matou said, though she didn't mean it.

"Damn Tohsaka! She turned me down, then went and allied herself with Emiya? Tch!"

Shinji Matou's expression twisted, but he soon recovered and looked down at Sakura Matou with an air of superiority.

"Emiya's probably so smitten with Tohsaka he can't think straight. Doesn't matter. I'll show them who's going to win this Holy Grail War."

"Sakura, make dinner. I'm hungry."

With that, Shinji Matou went back to his room. Sakura Matou listened to his footsteps fade and let out a small breath of relief.

"Sakura, come to the basement. Your lesson is starting early today."

Zouken Matou's voice came from a corner of the house. She turned and found the old man, as shriveled as a mummy, standing in the shadows at the end of the corridor. He leaned on a wooden cane and watched her.

She shuddered faintly, then said to Zouken Matou with deference, "Yes, Grandfather."

Rider appeared beside her, seemingly waiting for Sakura Matou to give her an order.

"Please let me through, Rider." Sakura Matou kept her head lowered and her hands folded before