Hello all! I have officially finished school today! Woo! At least, until the fall DX But that means I have a glorious two months to write, and hopefully I'll be able to finish this story by then! I'm sorry it's taken so long, there's a couple of things in this chapter I had to be 100% sure about before I posted it. Thank you to the many followers, reviewers, and people who favorited! I can't thank you all enough, you all motivate me to keep writing!

enjoy! 3

inky~

Diane stood her ground as the king let loose his anger. It wasn't the first time she'd seen it, but it's not something anyone would get used too. Her only comfort was that it wasn't directed at her, and he was relying on her help. Once he left the room, the power he commanded slowly faded. The shoulders of the council started to relax, and Diane went to clean up the broken chair, ignoring Fraudrin slamming his fist onto the table.

"Don't fuck with me!" He screamed, glaring at the doors the king left through. "We look weak living like this for so long! Back when we were in Britannia, screams of agony filled the air, not annoying fucking birds! The moon always shone red, the rivers flowing with blood, and fear filled your lungs, not revolting flowers that can be destroyed by a fucking wind storm!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, practically growling. Diane imagined him as a rabid dog, foaming at the mouth.

"Calm down, Fraudrin. You don't want the king to hear you." A petite young man sat a few chairs down, his features so graceful he almost looked like a girl. "I understand your frustrations, but now is not the time to rant."

Fraudrin turned towards him and Diane stood with the broken chair pieces. "Gloxinia. I know you are just as frustrated as I am. Living like this for 3,000 years..."

"Yes, our pride as the demon clan is being swept aside like dog shit, and yes, my blood boils watching him walk on us like a dirt mat, but now is not the time." He hissed through clenched teeth.

Diane left the room, the last servant to leave. Hopefully her position as a maid made the council not even bother with her, but she still couldn't help but worry and look over her shoulder. The bloodlust in their eyes made Diane understand it wasn't just those two, but the entire council, the entire Ten Commandments were against the King. Diane rushed down the hall to the garden where she knew she would find him, and the incinerator for the poor chair still in her hands.

Xxx

Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears as she listened to a pig talk about himself. "So hawk, you're a captain?"

"Yes! I am the amazing captain of the leftover's clean-up! It's a hard job, and my life is on the line every day, but I have great pride in my work!" His chest puffed out, his nose so high Elizabeth couldn't even see his eyes anymore.

"I-I see. You work very hard huh?"

"Alright master, let's let them eat before my food gets cold." Ban said, grabbing the pig and shoving him under his arm. "Enjoy, Princess, Captain." He said with a smirk that made Elizabeth a little uncomfortable.

"Thank you, Ban." Elizabeth said with a smile. She knew that Meliodas trusted this man, and she would try as well.

Xxx

As Ban left, all Meliodas could focus on was one sentence he had said.

'Enjoy, Princess, Captain.'

Just one change to that sentence.

'Enjoy the Princess, Captain.'

Meliodas looked at Elizabeth, who was drinking her tea, her pink lips delicately kissing the cup as she sipped. She sighed in content, a small smile gracing her small face.

What was it about her that drew him? Meliodas had seen women far more beautiful than Elizabeth, smart, powerful, experienced women. Yet this young one caught and held his attention and wouldn't let go. His hand itched to hold hers, his lips ached to brush against hers, and his body craved to be against hers. It was all her.

Meliodas barely tasted the food as he ate, his brain tossing and turning over this problem. Should he let his instincts guide him this time? It's been a while since he had done that, and he definitely had to charm her somehow. Would she even notice? Would she want to stay here? Would she even fit in? They were demons after all, and most stories told by humans were true.

But then he looked at Elizabeth.

Taking a sip of his tea, he looked at the flowers, and then the one he put in Elizabeth's hair. Yes, he thought. Yes to all of the questions in his mind. He would make sure she notices, make sure she would want to stay, and make sure she felt comfortable and fit in. He would carve a space into the world for her if he needed to so he could have her by his side, and once that happened, he would never let go.

Xxx

Elizabeth sat uncomfortably while she ate. Meliodas hadn't spoken a word to her since Ban left, and every time she had tried to start conversation, he would just nod and hum. His eyes were glazed over most the time, as if he were pondering over something. Elizabeth wondered if it had anything to do with her problem, and eventually just let him be. She felt his eyes on her a couple times, and she tried not to look back at him, but his gaze was like fire. Like the sun peaking through leaves and hitting you directly, scaring away the shades chill.

By the time both of them were done with breakfast, one maid started walking over from the far side of the garden. As she got closer, Elizabeth noticed it was Diane, and waved a little too eagerly.

Once Diane got close enough she curtsied. "Your Highnesses."

Meliodas acknowledged her with a smile, "Diane! Is everything well?"

Diane smiled back a little awkwardly, and replied, "I have a matter of great importance to discuss with you, Your Highness. May we please go somewhere more private?" A flash of worry spread across Diane's face, and she looked around with a bit of paranoia.

Meliodas nodded, a serious look tightening his lips. "Of course." He turned to Elizabeth, a smile on his face. "Excuse me, Elizabeth, but duty calls." He winked, kissed her hand and was walking towards the castle with Diane before Elizabeth could say anything.

Sighing, Elizabeth slouched. Quickly straitening, she realized she had felt disappointment. Why was that? They hadn't even said a word to each other over breakfast, that was fine, but the moment Meliodas left, Elizabeth felt a great loneliness on her shoulders, enough to cause them to slump over.

She couldn't pin point why she was having these feelings, except maybe... Could she have an interest in the King of the Demon Clan and not even realize it? Was it possible for feelings like this to just sneak up on you? Elizabeth had never had any interest in a man. Not the suitors who came knocking on her door, bringing jewels and dresses spun from fabrics her kingdom has never seen. She could barely remember even one face from all of them.

Looking back to where Meliodas disappeared, she could clearly remember his face. His green emerald eyes, his round nose, his strong jaw, that boarded on childish and manly. His fluffy blonde hair that added four inches to his height, and his strong yet gentle hands that, despite his body size, were the perfect fit for hers. She could even remember his slight Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he laughed, the straightness of his white teeth, and his never chapped lips.

Ok, those last few ones were a little weird. Would people normally notice those things on a person? She didn't think so. A bright blush covered her face, as she realized she must've been staring a lot at the King. Sighing, she stood and wandered the garden for a while, passing the time she had loads of.

Xxx

Meliodas finally reached his office, with Diane in tow. Sitting at his desk, Diane took the opposite chair, finally comfortable that no one could see her being informal around the King. "So, what did I miss?" He asked.

Diane rocked nervously in her chair, "I know that Fraudrin is leading a rebellion, I believe Gloxinia is following, and I suspect the rest of the Ten Commandments are as well."

Meliodas raised his eyebrows. He had a feeling about Fraudrin, but the entire council? He sighed. "Alright. You heard from Merlin that I'm bringing the Sins back together, right?" Diane nodded. "Good. I guess I'll need your help more then I thought I would."

Xxx

With the entire garden explored, Elizabeth went for the castle next. She entered the glass doors she entered when she first arrived, and decided to explore the first floor. Passing the doors that led to the small dining room, she found another grand set, that could possibly be the center of the castle. She opened them, and immediately was blinded by sunlight.

Large windows that went up thirty feet let in the sunlight at the end of the room, which was covered in books. Three stories of book shelves covered the walls, with many more creating a maze in front of her. Weaving her way through slowly, Elizabeth was amazed at the grandeur of it all. Finally at the window, she discovered a small man with glasses reading a book at a desk.

"Excuse me?" She called to the man. He looked up after a minute, and examined her very closely, as if finding every detail.

"Yes?" He pushed up his glasses, "Can I help you find anything today?" His voice was very strange.

Elizabeth cocked her head to the side a bit, was he a demon too? He didn't really have the air of one, just like Elaine, Diane, Ban, and she was sure they're weren't demon pigs. "Are you the librarian?" A small smile twitched at the corners of her mouth.

"I am. I catalog, organize, and maintain all of the books here."

"It looks like you do a wonderful job!" As Elizabeth looked, she could see the books were color organized, then by subject, size, author, title, and possibly even by clan. "Would there possibly be a book on demons for beginners? I'm new here and would like to be aquatinted with the customs."

The young man nodded, and said, "Floor two, black row, fifth case. Title, 'Royal Customs and Traditions of the Noble Demon'." He pointed up and over Elizabeth's head.

Giving a little curtsy, she thanked him and went to go find the book. Sitting on the floor, Elizabeth read for what had to have been hours. The mannerisms were very similar to the human ones, as well as reasons for parties, festivals, and celebrations.

However, one tradition left Elizabeth very uncomfortable. The Feasting. The name was very simple, but the act sent shivers down her spine. Every year, a selected group of demons would go and suck the souls out of the other clans. Only a certain amount of souls were allowed to be taken, but the fact that it was a tradition at all scared her. If the demon clan ever broke out, would they still follow the tradition? Elizabeth hopped that if a truce did happen, Meliodas would stop the tradition.

Putting the book back, Elizabeth left the library deep in thought.