AUTHOR'S NOTE:

For those who are confused when reading this, please read the summary in the last part to better understand the situation we are in right now. thank you and enjoy!

Normal POV

That very morning...

Balton was restless. How could he do that to Elizabeth? It was the first time that he had ever layed a hand on Elizabeth...more importantly, slapping her. Never has that happened before. All night, he couldn't sleep properly. The memory of his daughter crying on the floor, looking at him not as a father but as a stranger. He has changed..completely.

The guilt was eating him. No matter how much he tries to forget about it, the red hand mark on her cheek will never disappear from his thoughts. Part of him thought that it was for the best. He needed to make Elizabeth see that this was for her own good. He could not afford to loose another daughter. What Balton does not know was that he already lost Veronica and Elizabeth with just one big mistake. But his pride was too high to even noticed it. they say 'Mother knows best' but since he was the only parent they had left, it's 'Fathers knows best' and that statement is proven wrong here.

It was already morning, and still Balton did not get any proper sleep at all. Stress was getting to him. so many thoughts running around his mind and emotions were thrown at his heart like crazy. He couldn't properly think straight. He was tied between apologizing to his daughters or letting his decision be. He has to choose one, in the end, the other will soar while the other will fall. No one knows what the future holds. Balton wishes that whatever happens, it won't turn out bad. He hopes that Elizabeth and Veronica could just give this marriage a chance. Though he knows that it will be a slap to his face since he forced them to do it. Guilt was written all over his face.

His morning routine was interrupted when a maid ran into his room without permission. "M..Master Balton...Princess Elizabeth is missing!" his eyes went wide at the information. Balton immediately ran to Elizabeth's room. He searched everywhere for any clues.

He found out that she wasn't missing because of abduction. She was missing because she ran away. her closet was disorganized and one bag wasn't with the others. She ranaway.
"Sir, what do we do now?" asked one of the guards. Balton grew mad. How could Elizabeth be so careless? She could be running through danger right now. worst case scenario, she could be in hte hands of Lancelot right now.

"I know where she is. Get the car ready!"
"Hai!" replied the guard. Balton made a call to Dreyfusard. Balton told him about what happened and immediately, Dreyfusard said,

"Let Javelot find her for you. It would be great for him to meet his future bride..." the way Dreyfusard said 'future bride' made Balton want to vomit. He began to doubt his choice, was it right to marry Elizabeth to Javelot?
"alright...let him retrieve her." He agreed. Dreyfusard ended the call.

"Sir, we're waiting for your orders. Where to?" says a guard.
"Javelot Clout will be assisting you men to find Elizabeth." He instructed them.
"do you happen to know where she would be going Master Balton?"

"Leonez..." Thus the search began.

Elizabeth's POV

I ran. I ran out of Preston's house. I don't know what just happened but It hurts. I had to deal with loosing Margarett, now I have to deal with...my heart being broken. Both experiences hurt...so much. I'm running...I'm sobbing...I'm running and sobbing.

When Preston said that, I couldn't believe his words but as I thought about it deeply, my mind replayed to the very first time Zeldris and I met till the day we split. I remembered everything. It was so clear me. It hurt to remember.

Preston said I looked like Liza. He even describe to me her appearance. I realized that I've been a Liza duplicate all this time. I remember it all.

Is that the reason why he fell in love with me instantly?
like I said before, Zeldris and I hardly talked. We never did anything romantic. We never got along well. I always get scolded by him. We never got to know each other properly like our likes and dislikes. He just fell for me completely.
was it because I was Elizabeth? Or was it because I looked like Liza?

Zeldris never goes with me without me wearing that pink wig he gave.
was it truly for my protection? Or did he just miss being with Liza?

I wear that wig all the time.
was it to keep enemies away from me?or did he just want to see and touch Liza?

That time he asked me on a date.
was he asking me as Elizabeth? Or was he asking me as Liza?

When he kissed me, I was wearing the wig.
when it fell off, he pushed me away.
Did he pull away because my cover has been blown? Or is it because he wasn't kissing Liza anymore?

At Preston's house, that wind charm with the carvings ' Zeldris I. X Elizabeth L.P.' ...I thought it was me and him. It was actually Liza's full name.
Zeldris Ire X Elizabeth Liza Prechious.

Prechious...it rhymes with PRECIOUS. She sure is Precious. So precious that Zeldris didn't even bother telling me that he already has a girlfriend.

Part of me still has faith in him. part of me wanted to believe in him. believe that he's not a liar...a cheater...a two timer. I don't want to believe that because Zeldris has done so many things for me. Things that made me smile, made me laugh, made me think differently of him. And now, just by hearing those words from Preston, everything I have ever thought about him didn't fee right anymore. No! I like him. I do. I don't want to listen to other people's words until I have proof. I wanted the truth now, I have another reason to go over to Zeldris' house. I want answers...NOW. Only he can provide me with them when Meliodas isn't around. I..I have to know.

Was everything a lie?

Was everything just an act? Just a game?...to him?

Was I...just a nobody?

After countless minutes of running (more like 30 minutes..maybe), I finally arrived at his house. Nothing changed at all on the front lawn. Everything seems normal. Before I stepped foot unto Zeldris' lawn, I was frozen. I was shaking from what lies inside once I see him. I'm not ready for the truth yet but I want to know. I need to know what he truly feels. I slowly walked to the front door. My hands were shaking. I hesitated for a moment. My hand didn't want to knock on the door yet. With a heavy heart, I knocked 3 times.

"uh..h..hello? anybody h..home?" my voice was shaky. I was trying to contain the sadness in my voice.

"coming!" yelled an unfamiliar voice from behind the door. It didn't sound like Diana. Zeldris did have another female member...Merylin was it? maybe it's her.

The door unlocked and opened. I was shocked. Her height was the same as mine, Eyes sparkled jade green, and hair as dark as magenta. She looks just like me. Standing face to face with me was my duplicate.

"L..Liza?" she seemed to be confused but then snapped out of her trance.

"can I help you?" her voice sounded ...well, how Jersey would describe it, BITCHY..I think. Her attire was messy like she just got out of bed. With the way she said it,kinda telling me that I didn't belong here, the sassy pose and the slight glare at me.

"uh..umm.." what was I supposed to say? How do I react to this? It was hard enough imagining her, now she's actually standing right in front of me.

"Liza, who is at the door?" Liza turned around. I looked behind her too. Zeldris was casually walking out the door only wearing his jeans with no top. He walked out towards us shirtless. Zeldris looked hot in his messy bed hair. I mentally slapped myself for drooling over his abs when I'm in a nasty situation.

"E..Elizabeth?" he was shocked that I was here. That's when I realized something. These two looked like they just got up from bed. A pang was felt in my heart at my dirty thoughts. I gritted my teeth. How stupid am I? Ofcourse she's his girlfriend. People in relationships tend to sleep together.

"I know who she is to you." I hid my eyes under my bangs. Zeldris's eyes went wide.
"wait...it's not what you think..." he was..in panic?
"I'm sorry for disturbing you two..." I spat then walked away. actually, I run-walk away from his house. I will not let a single tear fall because of him. a cheater, a liar, a two timer...he doesn't deserve my tears.

I was in a far away distance from Zeldris' house. As I kept on walking, I kicked anything in my sight. Sticks, rocks, cans, paper, trash...etc. anything to get my anger out. I'm angry at him. I'm angry at Liza. But mostly, I'm angry at myself. How could I fall for a guy like him? Zeldris and I never got to know each other PROPERLY. We don't hang out like regular people in love. He knows a lot about me, but I know nothing about him except this mission him and the sins are doing.

Nothing on his personal life. Nothing about his likes and dislikes. Nothing about his past. Nothing at all. Basically, I only fell for a guy who only helped me. Elaina was right before, I ONLY LOVED HIM because he did something NICE to me. I know he rescued me, took care of me, and protected me.

It pains to know that everything we did was all a lie. HE WAS A LIE. I doubt everything he said about the date before. Maybe he only DID ask me because I LOOKED LIKE LIZA. Maybe he only kissed me because I WAS LIZA. Maybe he only loved because I FEEL LIKE LIZA. My head hurts from these thoughts but my heart was hurting the most. How could I be so stupid?

Normal POV

After countless minutes of run-walking, Elizabeth was finally at ease with her mind. She was stupid enough to believe Zeldris' lies. Elizabeth hated herself for falling for a sin. They say 'HATE THE SIN. NOT THE SINNER' but it was different for Elizabeth. She hates both his sin and the sinner. It was a painful sin directed to her. The sin of leading someone who has feelings for you then messing with them by playing with their delicate heart.

Elizabeth started to wonder about what her father said, maybe it was a right decision to stay away from Zeldris? Balton said so himself. Zeldris has brought nothing but bad luck into this family...more precisely, Elizabeth's life. Elizabeth finally understood why her Father forbid her to ever see him. Balton was right, Elizabeth should never see Zeldris ever again. There was nothing to hold on to for Elizabeth. She was done with all of it. With a heavy sigh, she dropped everything.

"If this is love, then I don't want it at all." She didn't care anymore. While Elizabeth was busy kicking everything in sight, she didn't notice a car had just pulled up beside her. It was an unfamiliar car, one she had never encountered before. Two men in black suits came out of the car. Elizabeth recognized who these men work for just by seeing the badge clipped on their tuxedo. They were the Prinzesse bodyguards.

"Princess Elizabeth, we finally found you. Please come with us My lady. Your Father is very worried." One of the guards said. Elizabeth scoffed. Her father? Worried? It's hard to believe. She no longer has trust on the man who was called 'Father' to her. The guards were gonna force Elizabeth in the limo seeing as though she wasn't answering and looked like she was about to make a run for it.

But someone from the backseat of the car came out. Elizabeth has never seen this man before. She had to admit, he was definitely handsome.
"guards, calm down. Can't you see your Princess looks tired?" his voice was deep, somewhat husky but smooth. Any girl would melt just by the sound of his voice. Elizabeth has no knowledge of this man at all.
"and you are?" her tone wasn't very friendly. More like, Elizabeth was not interest at all.
"My lady.." he bowed. "My name is Javelot Clout. I was sent here with the help of the guards, to find you and bring you back home." He said casually.
"I know Sir Dreyfusard Clout and Grimm Clout..but never about you." When Elizabeth mentioned Grimm's name, Lancelot's eyes twitched in anger but instantly hid it to avoid suspicions.
"You'll know more about me once we get you home My lady..." Lancelot sure is a good actor.
"I'd rather if you tell me now...Sir." Elizabeth still wasn't over her problem.
"well to make things clear to you, I am your fiance. And you, ...are mine." Lancelot said that with a tinge of possessiveness, not enough to disturb Elizabeth. "now will you please get in the car my Lady?" he asked nicely.
"I'm not going anywhere with a stranger like you. I'd much prefer going back to Tokyo myself." Elizabeth just doesn't want to deal with this right now. she had to deal with Zeldris , now she hs to deal with this guy who is calling himself her fiance? she was about to leave, but Lancelot gripped her arm.
"please Princess Elizabeth...I'm only following your Father's orders..." Lancelot tried so hard to hide his irritation for her.

Elizabeth was about to say something but she heard her name from the distance. She turned to the side to see Zeldris straight at her. The sight of him made Elizxabeth's heart twist. She just can't deal with this right now. immediately, Elizabeth intertwined her hand with Lancelot's.
"on second thought, let's go Javelot." She pulled him in the car. Lancelot has no idea what changed her mind but as he turned his head the same direction Elizabeth did, he now knows why.

Lancelot smiled. He knew Elizabeth was Zeldris' sweetheart. He mentally smiled. This was the best revenge he'll ever have. Instead of harming Zeldris physically, he decided to torture him emotionally. By making the girl he loves fall for him. Lancelot has no interest in hunting down Zeldris anymore. He already destroyed everything from him, and now he was about to take away the person that mattered to him the most as of now.

He didn't care if Zeldris was still alive. Besides, he never knew the real reason for getting asassinated in the first place. It was an easy kill but the boy actually survived. Zeldris never knew about himself being chosen as a candidate for the 10 commandments. He never knew who was behind all of his sufferings. So it was safe to say that no matter how Zeldris tries, he will never find out who 'LANCELOT CLANCY' truly is. All Lancelot cared about was getting to the TOP and receiving his father's love and acceptance. Stealing Elizabeth from him and torturing him emotionally is just an added bonus.

Lancelot quickly went inside the car. The guards followed his actions. The car engined turned on.

"Elizabeth!" Zeldris kept on shouting.

"is it me? Or am I hearing yells?" Lancelot faked heard. He wants to confirm that Elizabeth is hating Zeldris.
"Nope...I did not hear a thing..." she tried to brush off. Elizabeth hoped that the car would finally move. Lancelot smiled in his head. He was so happy that Elizabeth was starting to hate him. 'Yes Elizabeth, hate the man that brought you nothing but pain in your life.' He kept on chanting to his head.

Zeldris was only 10 meters way from car. "Elizabeth!" he can clearly see through the open window that Elizabeth had heard him but she purposely turned her head to the other direction. In a slow motion, Zeldris could see someone sitting right next to her.

He stared at Zeldris for a second. His slightly glaring eyes showed his victory on how he had won this battle. With a smirk, Lancelot closed the window of the car as it moved away from Zeldris. Just by the look he gave to Zeldris, he knows that something is very wrong here and he intends to find out what it is.

"Darn it...I'm too late." He watched as the speeding car disappeared to the streets.

"please make a left here..." Elizabeth instructed. She told Javelot that she needed to get her bag from Elaina's house to which he obliged but not without him coming along. Elizabeth sighed and let him be. It was for precaution, maybe Elizabeth would escape again.

"Goodbye Elaina. I promise I will visit soon." Elizabeth hugged her best friend.
"take care okay Elizabeth?" she hugged her tight.

"Miss Idle, you can see Elizabeth when our engagement party will be announced.." Lancelot playfully said. The two girls didn't bother him. they didn't want this moment to get ruined.

Elizabeth said her goodbyes to Elaina once more, thus they went their ways. Lancelot couldn't wait to get back home and start preparing for his plan. And when his plan finally is in place, it's only a matter of time before the 10 Commandments finally acknowledges him and make him a member of their group.

This plan was all about getting to the TOP. The top which is the 10 Commandments. The group which Lancelot oh so wanted to be in. With him being there to fill in the empty seat, he will finally have it all. Before, he was afraid that he might not be selected. But as he grew up, his ambition grew as well.

He eliminated anyone that the commandments selected to fill in that one empty seat. Over the years, he has done just that with using 'LANCELOT CLANCY' as his code name. Everything was going well, until he found out about Zeldris Ire, the former candidate, was still alive. He had to get rid of him. For fear that once he gets caught, everything that he had worked so hard will vanish.

There was an advantage to everything he has done. Perks of being a boss is that you get to boss your henchmen without questions. As long as they do the job well, they will be rewarded. None of his henchmen ever knew the true reason for committing kidnap, murder, and terrorism. What the boss says, goes. It was a very good thing that Zeldris has no idea why he was asassinated. What Lancelot knows is that Zeldris only wants to find him for revenge.

That's all it was for Zeldris. Just revenge.

Why? Lancelot laughed at that thought. All he did was just hire some Hitman to do the dirty job for him. Whatever that Hitman did to Zeldris, it reflected back to Lancelot. Heck, even Lancleot has no idea what the Hitman did to Zeldris. It's obvious to say that his Hitman died since he never lived to tell the tale. Obviously, he spilled the beans and Zeldris killed him after.

The main idea is that, Zeldris Ire is on a wild goose chase after Lancelot. No one knows him. not his subordinates, not his henchmen, not even his personal assistant, Liza; not the Prinzesses, not the commandments, not Grimm, and most especially,...not his father, Dreyfusard. And as long as no one knows who he truly is, nothing bad will ever happen. Everyone is too busy finding the suspect, even the Prinzesses. They have no idea that the daughter is marrying the suspect. Never knew failed plans turn into amazing comebacks.

SUMMARY:

1. Elizabeth doesn't want anything to do with Zeldris so she's trying to move on

2. Lancelot (Javelot) doesn't care about killing Zeldris anymore because he is more focused on marrying Elizabeth because Dreyfusard wants it to happen.
Lancelot is only doing the marriage because he wants his father's ACCEPTANCE.

3. Zeldris has no idea why he and his siblings were asassinated years ago. He only knows what the Hitman told him. So his goal has been finding who 'Lancelot Clancy' is and dispose of him.

4. Lancelot tried to get rid of Zeldris from the beginning because he fears Zeldris might succeed in finding out his identity.

5. Dreyfusard will give Lance the acceptance as a son when Lancelot becomes a member of the 10 commandments.
Dreyfusard only knows that Lancelot is working hard to get to the TOP. What Dreyfusard doesn't know is that Lancelot was being desperate and tried going to top by doing the wrong actions.
Basically, Dreyfusard is innocent. He has no idea Lancelot is a criminal. The only thing he wants is about Balton letting his daughters marry his sons.

6. Getting ACCEPTANCE wasn't the only thing that drived Lancelot to do so. He is also doing this because he knows that Elizabeth is Zeldris' sweetheart. By making her love him, he can see Zeldris' broken expression everyday.

7. No one knows who LANCELOT CLANCY truly is. That means, nobody knows what Lance truly looks like, his true identity, his personal life...nothing. Not even Liza, who is supposed to be her personal assistant.
People have no idea that the murderer is the guy who is gonna marry Elizabeth.