Maybe Lily is Saber after the events of FSN? She's learned to let go of her past, and embrace just being her own person. Summoning timing is weird in Fate, so I think that could definitely be a possibility.
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Now that I think about it, after reviewing the Fate route, that after she pulled out the sword, there was a time when she had to unite the country and then came the Saxons and 10 years of warfare. The Lily is, in my opinion, the manifestation of her innocence and hopes before the emotion of protecting people was lost in place of the King. The "the King does not know human emotions" could come from a knight that joined her in that warring period, never knewing her other side of personality.
I really like the "Lily is kid Saber" thing because it kinda puts the whole "Saber used to be a different person before she became king" thing into perspective. Like we were always told about how idealistic she was or whatever but never actually saw it.
Also makes her seem more mature by contrast.
It was clearly emphasized that saber was not regretting having no real childhood in fate route.
Get on with it, I might have better things to do.
*Checks schedule*
ah, dammit....
I think I like it, though I am honestly not sure if I like it because wrecking everybody's gen canon gives me inordinate delight...
or if because now I have this image as saber as a 90's animaniacs style hero, running around and clumsily helping people out, with Kay playing the much put upon straight man running around behind her trying to keep everything in line.
Basically, Lily is Mindy and Kay is buttons in my mind now.
I don't really see your point then. It's definitely mentioned in Fate route that the pre-king Artoria was a lot different from who she became so I don't see how showing her contradicts anything.
Unless you think she instantly mentally transformed into an adult upon pulling out the sword instead of naturally maturing over the next 20 years.