Summary: Elizabeth always believed she would be able to marry for love. After her discussion with her father Elizabeth assumes the worst. Will she accept the man her father chooses out of duty or will she follow her heart?


Elizabeth found herself staring out the window again. Although it was just after high noon, the sun was completely covered by clouds making it seem later than it was. The gray sky fit her mood perfectly, mocking her. All day she had trouble focusing on her sister's. She felt strained and tired from not sleeping the night before. She tossed and turned unable to shut her mind off.

Her father always told her and her sisters growing up that he wanted them to live happy and normal life despite their royal heritage. He wanted them to feel in control of their own destinies by using their own morals and judgments as a guide. He never forced them to say or do anything they didn't want to do.

For instance, when Veronica would replace her long skirts for pants to practice her swordsmanship, he would express his irritation, but he never stopped her. He trusted his daughters with a significant level of responsibility and pride. That trust ultimately influenced their decision making to ensure they always kept their father's confidence. From a young age, they understood they needed to present themselves with honour and dignity. The kingdom, their people, and their duty have been what's governed them. Being the third princess of Liones had never stood in the way of Elizabeth's hopes and dreams, until now.

"Ellie, are you even listening to me?" Veronica waved her hand in front of Elizabeth's face. The three sisters were in the library lounge going over their lessons for the week. "I know you've always hated geography but can you, at least, try to focus? We have a lot to go over before our dinner with the Barron Erwin this evening."

"Don't push her Veronica," Margaret said as she started packing up her books. "I think we should end lessons early today."

"What? I'm sorry." Trying to bring herself back to reality Elizabeth picked up her copy of Britannia and Beyond and scanned the pages to find where Veronica left off. "Where were we again?"

"Ugh, Margaret's right. We can pick up where we left off tomorrow." Veronica slammed her book and pushed her chair back far enough, so she could rest her legs onto of the large oak table. "I'd rather hear about your talk with father last night."

"How do you... never mind." Veronica always had a way of finding out the biggest secrets the kingdom had to offer. "I don't want to know how you got your information, this time, but I promised Father I wouldn't tell anyone."

"Oh, but that didn't stop him from telling Margaret and me everything."

"YOU TWO KNOW!" Elizabeth shouted a little too loud.

"Shhh not so loud Ellie or the whole kingdom will hear you! " whispered Veronica. "Not everything, just the basics. Father wants you to marry his successor and become Queen."

"He spoke to us shortly after he talked to you," Margaret said with a bit more empathy than her sister. "I suspect you're not too pleased with the situation."

"I just… don't understand… why me… and why didn't father consult me first! He's never made a decision for us of this magnitude before!" Unable to control her emotions anymore Elizabeth began to cry. "He knows I'd do anything for our family and our kingdom. I'm not even related to the crown by blood. But I just don't… I can't…"

"Oh Elizabeth," Margaret rushed to Elizabeth's side and embrace her. "Don't say such nonsense. You are our Father's daughter and our beloved sister. Father always told us that if he could he would split the kingdom equally for the three of us. But you know it doesn't work that way. We're here for you and we love you. You don't have to worry. Everything will be okay. "

Elizabeth couldn't help it. She just sobbed into her sister's shoulder while Margaret stroke her head. "Oh, Ellie don't cry! I didn't mean to upset you." Veronica joined her sister's embrace and tried to soothe Elizabeth shaking body by rubbing her back. "You deserve to be Queen after all you did to save us all. But he can't just name you Queen. You'd have to marry his successor first." To this Elizabeth cried even harder. Feeling helpless, Margaret and Veronica did their best to comfort Elizabeth's until breathing returned to normal.

Margaret was first to break the silence. "You have every right to feel upset by this Elizabeth. We understand and support you so don't misinterpret what I'm about to say but…" Margaret trailed off trying to find the right way to phrase her question. Failing Margaret turned to Veronica for assistance.

"Fine, I'll say it. Why are you this upset? I can understand you don't like the idea of having father choose your husband. But we knew it was a possibility. It's not like you have your heart set on…" Veronica paused, "oh my goddess that's it isn't it!"

Elizabeth could feel her face redden answering her sister question without uttering a word.

"WHO!" Both Margaret and Veronica shouted before giggling at each other's enthusiasm. Elizabeth couldn't help but share a small smile.

"Tell us, Elizabeth! Is it Lord George's son Sir Garrick? You danced most of the night together at Sir Braxton and Lady Lucy's engagement gala last year!" Veronica beamed.

"It isn't Sir Garrick is it Elizabeth?" Margaret said with a knowing smile. Elizabeth looked down at her knotted fingers unable to meet her sister's gaze. "It's Sir Meliodas isn't it?"


Elizabeth told her sisters everything. From the moment, she stumbled into the Boar Hat, to her brief encounter with Meliodas that morning. She told them how she slowly began to develop feelings for him after he promised to help her save the kingdom and how every time she was in danger he put his life at risk to save her.

"What should I do?" Elizabeth said sighing after she finished her tale. It was the first time she actually voiced her true feelings out loud. "I think I'm in love with Sir Meliodas… but I don't want to disappoint Father!"

"Well, what can't you live with? "Asked Veronica. "Going against father's wishes or following your heart?"

"That's just it Veronica! I don't know if I could live with either!" Elizabeth cried. "If I disappointed Father I'd never forgive myself, but I don't think I can deny my feelings for Meliodas any longer."

"Wait, Elizabeth, so Meliodas had a meeting with father this morning?" Margaret asked.

"Yes, in the throne room."

"The throne room?"

"Yes Margaret, weren't you listening?" Said Veronica with a slight annoyance.

"When did Father tell you he made up his mind on his successor? I don't remember him telling us. Do you Margaret?

Elizabeth couldn't remember her father mentioning exactly when he said he made this decision. She felt so overwhelmed at the time recalling it now was hazy.

"It has to be very recent. Father was fairly ill while the Knights had him locked in his room. It couldn't have been before the banquet we had in honour of the Sins." Margaret began pacing the room voicing her thought process. She was trying to find enough proof to support her theory.

"Why not? " Elizabeth asked.

"In Father's speech, that night did he mention anything that would have hinted towards who he might select as his successor?"

"Not that I recall." Elizabeth watched her sister pacing trying to connect the dots, but Veronica was quicker. "You don't think father asked Meliodas here because he wants to name him as his successor? That's cruel Margaret, especially for you."

"He did just save this kingdom from complete inhalation, Veronica. It is a possibility…"

Elizabeth perked up. Although the thought crosses her mind she didn't entertain it much. She believed it to be unreasonable. Hearing it from her sisters, however, gave her hope.

Veronica cut Margaret off. "Aren't you forgetting that up until the battle with Hendrickson everyone believed the Seven Deadly Sins to be the most horrible and dangerous criminals in the kingdom? While many now know the truth, others are still doubtful. Ten years of believing someone's guilty of such a horrid crime doesn't just go away overnight. It would upset too many people and that's not what the kingdom needs right now."

Veronica was always level headed and rational. Elizabeth felt her heart shatter. "Veronica's right Margaret." She didn't even realize she was crying again until her tears fell into her lap. Stop crying Elizabeth and pull yourself together!

As she dried her eyes her resolve became clear. "I just have to accept my fate. I mean I don't even know if Sir Meliodas feels the same as I do. I can't defy Fathers wishes and risk everything for the possibility of love." With that, Elizabeth stood on shaking legs. "Please excuse me. I don't think I'll make it to dinner. Please inform Father that I've retired for the evening and send my regards to Barron Erwin."

"Elizabeth wait!" Margaret tried to follow her, but Elizabeth slammed the library door before she could follow.

"Let her go, Margaret. She needs some time to process alone."


It was dark in Elizabeth's room when she opened her swollen eyes. Rolling onto her side, she could feel her pillow was still wet from her failed attempted to hush her weeping. Her body felt tense and she ached all over. Elizabeth tried to relax her muscles to ease her pain. It was obvious it was going to take time for her body to recover, both physically and emotionally. Taking slow deep breaths Elizabeth closed her eyes trying to find sleep again.

Her stomach growling in a hungry protest broke the silence in her room. At least, my hunger pains can be easily fixed, Elizabeth thought to herself as she pushed off the warm covers to crawl out of bed. Despite her brain telling her body to move Elizabeth stayed sprawled on her bed. The part of her mind that told her to get up and go to the kitchen was being ignored by the weight Elizabeth felt on her chest.

"Come on Elizabeth. If you could walk around in that heavy rusty armour to help this kingdom, you can leave this bed to feed yourself." Reluctantly she slowly sat up, dragged her legs to the edge of the bed, and forced herself to stand one foot at a time.

Needing a light source, Elizabeth reached for a match and a candle on her bedside table. Looking around the room she called home most of her life, Elizabeth felt for the first time like she didn't belong here. Although she didn't know Meliodas, Hawk, and the other sins for very long, she missed being with them. She wished she had the time to get to know Gowther and Merlin better, but that didn't seem possible now. The small room she shared with Meliodas on the second floor of the Boar Hat felt more like home now than this lavish palace suite.

Leisurely, Elizabeth made her way to her bedroom door and slowly opened it enough to stick her head out. Most of the palace should be in bed sleeping by now so I shouldn't run into anyone. As quietly as she possibly could Elizabeth shuts her door behind her and made her way to the kitchen.

Accepting the fact that she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again, Elizabeth decided to bring her scone and tea to her favourite place in the palace. The sunroom in the east wing had always been a place of refuge for Elizabeth. Half the walls were made completely of glass providing a beautiful view of the gardens. In the morning, the sun would light up the room with a radiant gleam. By mid-evening, the fireplace bathed the room in a radiant glow that always seemed to ease Elizabeth no matter her mood. She hoped that the embers in the hearth would still be warm enough to restart the fire without any real difficulty.

When she opened the door, she was surprised to see a roaring fire with a few lamps lit. Her sister Margaret was sitting in one of the chairs facing the fireplace.

"I was wondering when you were going to show," Margaret said putting her book down.

"Margaret, what are you doing awake? It's so late."

"I could ask you the same question." With her hands clasped firmly in her lap, Margaret smiled at her sister. This was the Margaret Elizabeth knew and loved. Her kindness and gentle demeanor were palpable. "I saved you some dessert, but I see you already found yourself something else to eat."

"You were waiting for me?"

"When something's bothering you, you always come here." Margaret's tone was light but certain. "I knew tonight would be no different. When the servants confirmed you hadn't left your room since you retired this afternoon I knew it would be only a matter of time before you came here. Want to share this strawberry tart with me? It has extra honey… just the way you like it."

"Are you trying to cheer me up with pastries?" Elizabeth couldn't help but smile.

"Only a little." Margaret returned her sisters grin and motioned for her to join her by the fire.


After their plates were empty and Elizabeth's tea was finished she could feel her body relax.

"Clearly you know me better than I know myself. Tarts and honey are much better than day old scones."

"I'm glad…" Margaret paused before asking how her sister was doing.

"I'll be fine in a day or two." I hope.

"You know you don't have to lie to me."

"I'm positive!" Lie. "Really!" Lie. I'm sure Sir Meliodas will be leaving soon. That was probably true. "He told me before I asked for his help that he was trying to reunite the Seven Deadly Sins and he still has one more to find." This was true. "He kept his promise to help me save the Kingdom so he's probably moving on any day now…"

"That's where you may be wrong my dear Elizabeth."

"Why?"

"After the dinner with the Barron, I asked Father about his meeting with Sir Meliodas today."

Elizabeth had to remind herself to breathe. "What did he say?"

"He said it went fine. I could tell he wanted to avoid the subject, but I didn't give him an out. You should have seen Veronicas face!" The idea of her usual timid sister pressing their father for information must have been a sight to see. "I asked him what gift he presented to Sir Meliodas. After a long pause, he told me he offered him a promotion."

"A promotion?"

"Yes, but when I tried to ask for more information Father announced he was retiring for the evening and left."

"A promotion?" Elizabeth repeated. Margaret's news took Elizabeth by complete surprise.

"I'm assuming he wants to help rebuild the order of Holy Knights. With Griamore studying to become one of the next Grand Masters and Gilthunder went to atone for his actions…" Elizabeth could hear the sadness in her sister's voice although it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Oh, Margaret! I'm so sorry! Here I am brooding about someone who probably doesn't return my feelings while the love of your life has left your side to right his wrongs!"

"He'll return to me when he's ready, I know he will." Elizabeth reached for her sister's hand and squeezed. "The real question is if Sir Meliodas will stay and accept Father's promotion."


Next, we'll see Meliodas' reaction. Let me know what you think! R&R!