Arrogant, tyrannical, obsessive, and believing oneself to be the center of the universe… this was the being known as Gilgamesh.
Appearing in drag was an experience she had never had before. Having silently blamed Siduri countless times in her heart, just as Female Gil (Gil-chan) was about to leave the restaurant, the voices of Siduri and Ryuya arrived.
'These two, why so fast?'
Just moments ago, she was complaining about Ryuya being too slow, but now she was grumbling about his sudden arrival… a perfect display of capriciousness. Gilgamesh was truly stuck between staying and leaving.
"Ryuya-sama, let's eat here."
Due to Ryuya's reclusive lifestyle in recent years, and with Siduri wearing a veil, the people of Uruk didn't recognize the man they longed for, the Sun-Crowned King, and the Chief Court Priestess.
Although some noticed Ryuya, the two proceeded to the second floor of the restaurant, where they came face-to-face with Gilgamesh, who had just stood up to leave.
"..."
Staring at Ryuya and Siduri standing before her, the proud King of Heroes was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Cecilia-sama, you're dining out today too?"
Looking at the flustered King of Heroes, Siduri stepped in once again and secretly sighed, 'The King is really bad at this'.
"Oh, Siduri. I... was bored today, so I came out to look around."
Somewhat calmed by Siduri's gentle tone, Gilgamesh muttered, 'To hell with it'.
She then tried hard to recall the demeanor expected of a woman. However, having long forgotten such graces, her every movement retained the habitual bearing of her male self, an air of heroic vigor that was impossible to conceal.
"Siduri, who is this?"
The moment he saw Gil-chan, Ryuya was also struck by her beauty. He had never seen a woman as stunning as Gilgamesh in this form. Purely in terms of appearance, Ryuya felt the girl before him surpassed even the likes of Artoria and Morgan, and perhaps only Tiamat could compare.
It wasn't about who was more beautiful, but the woman before him carried a faint, elusive divinity and nobility, as if she were a born king.
Well, Ereshkigal and Ishtar could also be compared, but the former was too pure, and the latter was a fool… both could serve as units for measuring intelligence.
For example, Artoria had three Ishtars' worth of intelligence in combat, and ten when it came to eating. Ten!!!
"Ryuya-sama, this is Cecilia-sama, a member of the royal family. In terms of status... she is the King's younger sister."
Having already discussed Gil-chan's name and identity with Gilgamesh, Siduri introduced her while gesturing for Ryuya to sit down.
"Cecilia-sama, this is Ryuya-sama. You must have heard the King mention him."
"Since we've all met here today, how about having a meal together?"
Noticing that the usually composed King was nervous to the point of awkwardness, Siduri felt exhausted.
"Gil's sister? That guy has a sister?"
Studying Gil-chan, Ryuya noticed she shared Gilgamesh's golden hair and red eyes, and the noble, kingly aura about her...
'Probably from spending so much time with Gilgamesh.'
He smiled, not thinking much else of it, and proactively extended his hand, "I never knew Gil had such a beautiful sister. After knowing him for so long, he never mentioned you. Nice to meet you, I'm Ryuya."
"I am Cecilia, Gilgamesh's sister."
Repeating Siduri's words like a parrot, Gilgamesh sat stiffly in her chair, feeling incredibly flustered.
[Through Siduri's introduction, you met the girl named Cecilia. You saw many similarities to Gilgamesh in her and remarked that the siblings must be very close, as Cecilia seemed to know many small details about you, obviously told to her by Gilgamesh.]
[Initially, Cecilia was somewhat nervous, and Siduri often had to initiate conversation. But as time passed, you gradually grasped her personality and found that Cecilia was remarkably similar to Gilgamesh… not just in life details, but even in speech and mannerisms.]
[You soon became familiar with Cecilia through conversation, and the lunch hour passed.]
[Stating that you had afternoon affairs to attend to, you and Siduri left the restaurant and returned to the palace.]
["Ryuya-sama, what do you think of Cecilia-sama?"]
[On the way back, Siduri casually inquired about your thoughts on Cecilia.]
["Ah? Cecilia? Gil's sister. Her appearance, figure, insight, and knowledge are all impeccable. She's just picked up some bad habits from her brother… her demeanor is a bit too masculine."]
[You laughed and replied easily.]
["Then, regarding Cecilia-sama... I mean... is there any possibility..."]
[Seeming somewhat hesitant, watching Siduri beat around the bush, you understood her meaning.]
["Siduri, Uruk is currently in a phase of striving forward. I have no mind for romance. If meeting Cecilia was something you and Gil arranged, then I'm afraid I must apologize."]
["Moreover, when it comes to matters of the heart, I believe in mutual willingness. Even if I like someone, she might not feel the same about me. Pursuing women... I find it less important than building Uruk."]
[You didn't outright reject Siduri, nor did you agree. Regarding Cecilia, whom you had only met once, your impression was that she was a very nice, excellent girl.]
[As a king, your perspective wouldn't be troubled by concerns of a harem or rivalry. Isn't it normal for an excellent king to have multiple queens? As long as both parties love each other willingly, the number of lovers isn't an issue.]
[Your main reasons for declining Siduri's suggestion were as follows: First, this was your first meeting with Cecilia. While you found her pleasant, you didn't know enough about her to consider marrying her immediately.]
[Second, as a king, there's nothing wrong with pursuing what you desire or courting a girl you like. With Morgan initially, and now Tiamat, although they held favorable impressions of you from the start, your proactive approach was essential. The real issue is your current busy schedule… you're occupied with Uruk's development and eager to return to Tiamat.]
[Chasing after other girls while your beloved awaits you? You wouldn't disregard feelings so lightly.]
[Thinking this, you suddenly turned to Siduri, who seemed deep in thought, and said, "Siduri, in my view, love is a matter between two people. It absolutely cannot be changed by others' intentions."]
["I don't know what you and Gil think about my relationship with Cecilia, but for now, we are just friends. If our relationship changes in the future, I will naturally confess to her proactively. But for now, let's forget it… I'm not in the mood."]
["Rather than worrying about me all the time, you should worry about yourself. What if Cecilia and I really get together, and you're still alone? Hahaha..."]
…
…
…
A/N: This is how I see the protagonist viewing relationships:
First, he is a king. A king does not hesitate or waver. If he likes someone, he pursues them, if they are friends, he interacts with them, and if they are family, he treats them well.
Morgan and Tiamat were both pursued actively by Ryuya. Merlin, Artoria, and Vivianne he regards as family.
But when Ryuya discovers that a family member has feelings for him, he will also proactively shift to treating them as a lover, changing his attitude. The confession scene with Artoria made it clear… upon realizing the King of Knights he raised as family loved him, Ryuya would try to see her in a new light, with a lover's perspective.
Regarding the harem and rivalry: in future settings, when female leads from different simulation worlds meet, there will inevitably be some clashes. Ryuya can control the overall direction but might also allow some leeway for the girls to engage in some cute competitions.
After all, he's a king. He wouldn't be bound by a harem of one or two, nor would he dare not confess. The issue with Yukino is that Ryuya purely sees her as a younger sister, which will be resolved later.
Currently in Uruk, after his relationship with Tiamat, Ryuya wants to resolve Tiamat's crisis first. As for Ereshkigal, Ishtar, Siduri, Gil-chan, and the soon-to-appear Enkidu, these will follow the plot's flow, and the overall direction won't change.
After all, he can't have Tiamat waiting for him in the Underworld while he flirts in Uruk, right?
Even though it's a simulation, each run is a life Ryuya personally experiences, so the character setting can't collapse.