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Chapter 19 – It's You
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Not too long after Tristan left with Elizabeth, as expected, Meliodas kicked the door, sauntering to his daughters and Zeldris "where is your mother?".
Zeldris crossed his hands before his chest and scoffed "hmph, looking for your woman who ran away from you?".
Guinevere raised her eyebrow "uncle, you're not leaving to find the fragment of Commandments?".
Ignoring the heated argue between Zeldris and Guinevere, Lily answered "if you're looking for mother, please don't worry, father. She just left and Tristan came with her to make sure she'll safely arrive on Boar Hat".
Meliodas hissed incredulously "you didn't stop your mother, instead helping her to run away?".
"you know how stubborn mother, right?", Lily sighed "father, do you think we can stop her when she has made up her decision? I believe that I, Tristan and Guinevere fully know it, like you do. What we can do only to make sure she's okay, that's why Tristan chose to stay with her, only until mother is safely with the Sins and he will go back here".
"oh, and I already told him the exact locations the remaining fragment of Commandments. Perhaps he'll take a rather long time to go back here", feeling heated stare from Zeldris, Guinevere smiled innocently "what is it, uncle? Is there something in my face?".
Zeldris shouted in irk "if you KNOW then you have to tell me so I can gather it easier and faster! Why did you not say anything about it?!".
"you didn't ask", Guinevere stated the matter of fact cleverly with far too innocence smile "come on, uncle, where's the fun of it if I told you beforehand? If you can find the fragment of Commandments easily without effort or hardship, it won't be fun at all~".
Zeldris facepalmed, thinking this woman truly grated his nerves and contemplating to slash her. Just if Meliodas weren't here and she weren't Meliodas' daughter, he would slash her already.
"you're sadistic as always...", Lily deadpanned and shook her head, thinking how this was her life with her beloved sister. Blinking her eyes, she just remembered of her mother's plan and she told Meliodas about it before asking "so what you're gonna do about mother?".
"nothing they try to do will be a problem. If we gather call the Commandments and I become Demon King, it will all be over...", realizing his daughters' discomfort, Meliodas reassured "Gwen, Lily. This is not only for your mother, but also for your sake as well. You two just found your happiness with the man you loved, wouldn't you two to break your curses so you two can stay with them?".
"of course, we do, but...", Guinevere fidgeted the edge of her sleeve "...you and mother...".
"...I understand, but...", Lily understood about her sister's dilemma, feeling and thinking the same. She suddenly felt the urge to throw up and covered her mouth "kh... nausea...".
"wait up! Don't vomit here and now!", Zeldris carried her to the bathroom and went back to Meliodas, carrying Lily before handing her over back to Meliodas "seriously... she is your daughter but why should I be the one who have to help you to take care of her?".
Lily sighed in content when Meliodas carried her bridal style "thank you, uncle, father".
"you okay, sis? Nausea again?", Tristan landed, folding his wings "you seem under the weather lately. On the opposite, Guinevere seems spirited instead".
Guinevere puffed her cheeks "told you, I'm just pregnant, not helpless".
Meliodas handed Lily to Tristan "how's Elizabeth?".
Tristan reassured that Elizabeth was safe so he went back here before he snapped his fingers, revealing two little ball-like demons with razor-sharp arms "though in the halfway, I caught these ones who had tried to hurt mother. I merely caught them because I hope you can tell me who dared to try to bring harm on mother, father".
Meliodas could detect these demons belonged to Chandler as he obliterated them "remind me to give the punishment as remainder for Chandler".
Lily lifted her hand "count me in".
Guinevere gladly volunteered "let me assist you".
Meliodas approved "let's do it next morning, then".
"father, I don't think uncle Estarossa is trustworthy and I can't believe him at all. Especially not after I saw him killing you mercilessly that night", Tristan stated the matter of fact "rather than collecting the fragment of Commandments for you, I think he will most likely do it to keep it for himself".
Meliodas deadpanned "you're probably right".
Zeldris smirked "ha, you have such smart kid".
Tristan shouted in disbelief "if you knew, then why did you let him?!".
Lily smacked him on the head "don't shout near my ear! My head's ringing!".
"sorry, sis", Tristan offered his help to go looking for the fragment of Commandments as well "sounds like a pain in the ass for me, but I also can't let him doing as he please".
"sure", Meliodas accepted his aide, carrying Lily "don't worry about your sisters. No harm will befall on them as long as I'm nearby".
Lily wondered as she leaned her head on her father's shoulder, too tired "why do I keep dragged and carried back and forth, I wonder?".
"sup, I've gotta take you to Peronia right away. Sleep", Meliodas patted her head. Before his daughter could protest a single word, he cut her off "and no protest. I know you don't like the experiment or body-check because it sort-of reminded you with how Merlin put the experiment and medical check up on you, but with your condition now, we have no choice left".
Zeldris scoffed "when it comes to your children, you sure spoil them rotten".
Meliodas rolled his eyes at that "and for as long as I live, I don't remember you have ever wanted to get any gesture of affection from me but if you want me to spoil you, you could just have told me".
Zeldris turned his back right away and spread his wings "I'M LEAVING!".
After Zeldris left, Meliodas wondered "...why was he mad, I wonder?".
When Tristan laughed it off on the background, Guinevere asked "...older sister, is it what people call as 'Tsundere'?".
Lily hummed "yes, it is".
"okay, I think I'll have to leave now", Tristan wiped his tears and gathered himself. Spreading his wings, he patted his sisters' head "don't miss me as long as I leave, 'kay?".
Lily grumbed "just go before I kick you".
In fact, Tristan led Elizabeth to the entrance that bring them to the underground shelter where Arthur, Lancelot, Isolde and many people of Camelot waited with Nanashi as their guard. As they planned, after Zeldris released the brainwashed people, the Sins brought all the brainwashed hostages and people of the underground shelter back to Capital of Liones, leaving Arthur and Lancelot who chose to stay after they heard about Lily and Guinevere were still on the castle with Meliodas. To make sure they would be okay, Isolde and Nanashi would stay with Arthur and Lancelot after Tristan went off to find fragment of Commandments before Estarossa and Zeldris did.
Staring off to the commotion this night from his chamber, Lily tightened her fist on her chest "Arthur, I hope you don't do anything stupid outside, please".
On the outskirt of the Capital of Camelot, Arthur looked up, staring to the starry night "Lily, wait for me".
They sneaked out to the Capital of Camelot Kingdom next day but they were confused by the distortion of place and time here. It didn't take too long time for Isolde to find Peronia and confronted her.
Isolde cupped her cheek and smiled as she crouched behind Peronia "why, hello~ do you think I don't realize that you have manipulated our way?".
Peronia yelped "wha—!? Who are you? Why did you not get affected by my magic?".
"for your second question, I'm a Succubus. Dream, illusion and mind manipulation are included into my expertise so yeah, I'll know and not get affected. For your first question, I'm Isolde, Tristan's wife", Isolde snickered at her reaction before clutching her neck "now, you have options. Lead our way to the castle, or to be more precise, to where the princesses, Lady Guinevere and Lady Lily stay. Secretly, of course. So we can retrieve them back secretly or...".
Peronia choked "or what?".
Looking behind over Peronia's shoulder, Isolde smirked devilishly, pointedly staring to Cath in form Primate Murder "I guess I will just feed you into that beast as its meal, then~".
Peronia shrieked in anguish, telling her she would die either way on Meliodas and the others' hands if she helped them so Isolde demanded her to tell her everything she knew. Thinking it was safe enough to just leave Arthur and Lancelot with Nanashi and Cath, Isolde decided to go find Tristan after Peronia told her that Tristan went looking for Estarossa (in order to stop his crazy uncle, actually) and collect the fragments of Commandments before his uncle did "what are you thinking, Tristan? You can't possibly help your father, right?".
Looking to Cath in form Primate Murder and Peronia, Isolde smirked "ah, you can just eat her, Cath".
Zeldris came back to the Castle of Camelot and he didn't know how to respond, looking to Lily who sat on top of Chandler's back like riding a horse with Guinevere kept tickling Chandler's foot with the feather in her hand while Meliodas casually ate and drank the food and drinks on the table nearby with clearly annoyed Cusack who brightened on Zeldris' arrival "...care to tell me what are you doing?".
Guinevere blinked "playing with him".
Lifting her head from the book she read for a while, Lily clarified "isn't it clear? Punish him. Well, we would use knives or daggers to stab him after hanging him on the wall if our mother were injured last night, but thanks god Tristan was there to protect her. Since father told us to do as we please, we punish him with our way".
"nah, otherwise, I believe father and sister would want to use him as the board to practice our shooting daggers", Guinevere lazily swung the feather in her hand before offered "anyway, welcome back, uncle. Want to eat or drink? My sister cooked it and I brew the tea! I assured you, it won't taste terrible like our father's".
"oh? Sure. It's better than having Meliodas' terrible food and Cusack's terrible tea", Zeldris sat across Meliodas and started to eat and drink since he was starving "well, I admit unlike your father, seems like you two have talent on this".
(on the background, Lily tried to halt her laughter. Guinevere smiled broadly. Cusack felt jealousy to Guinevere but felt hurt due to Zeldris' statement. Chandler couldn't stop laughing due to 'punishment' from Meliodas' daughters, Zeldris' ridicilous but the the matter of fact statement and Cusack's reaction over Zeldris' words).
"I admit it's one of good point for having daughter", Meliodas put the tea cup before looking straight to Zeldris "so, how is it?'.
Zeldris apologized because he came back empty-handed, that Belialuin daughter successfully tricked him but he had one more important news. Four Archangels had come back. Ludociel attacked him last night.
"not only Ludociel. If my memory of Holy War weren't wrong and Guinevere detected it right, the Four Archangles except Mael, which means Ludociel, Sariel and Tarmiel have gathered on Liones. Seems like mother and the Sins created the pact with them to create an alliance", Lily put the book on her lap and closed her eyes, leaning her chin on her palm "but like father said, nothing they try to do will be a problem. If we gather call the Commandments and I become Demon King, it will all be over...".
Zeldris raised his eyebrow "I thought you were on your mother's side?".
"we are on our parents' side", Lily clarified "and don't group us with those hypocrites of Goddess Clan who used our mother as weapon. True, half of mine and Tristan's blood belonged to Goddess but we do not belong to them. We belong to our parents".
"as for me, I earned my mother's power as Goddess thanks to my ability 'Blessing of Queen Bee', but it doesn't mean we are on the same side with the Goddess clan because we only stand with our parents", Guinevere looked like she was about to say something to her sister, but then she snapped her head "...I think I sense the intruders, father".
Meliodas and Zeldris stood, Cusack followed Zeldris as Zeldris followed Meliodas who walked to the particular place where they felt the intruders "Chandler, stay with Lily and Gwen. Their condition right now is not on their best to fight. In case something happened to them, I will have your hide myself".
Chandler was not pleased at all, but it was unlike he could refuse Meliodas' order. He was about to ask Guinevere and Lily to go back to their room however the sisters had run off to follow their father. Lily asked Guinevere about where and who the intruders and Guinevere told her the intruders were on the room where Arthur's Excalibur Sword had been placed. It was also the reason of why they decided to stay, Lily wanted to bring the Holy Sword Excalibur to Arthur but unfortunately, the sword was stuck and didn't budge at all, they couldn't even pull it out of its place. Only one person who could pull it out and knowing the intruders were on that place, it was clear who was the intruder here.
"Lily cried every night... after your death, every night on her sleep, she cried. They believed you, how could you betray their trust? Turning your back against us human and sided with Demons, betraying your lover princess Elizabeth and your children... my wife?!", Arthur pulled out Excalibur Sword out of its place and raised it high upright "for that, I will never forgive you, ever!".
Arthur fought against Meliodas, Zeldris, Cusack and Chandler all out. Meliodas demanded where were his daughters when he saw Chandler here and Chandler apologized, telling him that he was looking for them as well because they ran away before he knew it. Right before Cusack sent killing blow to Arthur, the sisters arrived to defend him.
Guinevere tilted her head, pointing to Cusack's face "oh, dear... uncle Napping, not that I care, but what happened to your mustache?".
"my mustache? What about it?", Cusack looked down and his eyes widened "Whaaa! What have you done to my mustache!? It was the nicest in the demon world!".
Guinevere covered her mouth "pfft!".
Zeldris covered his mouth, smothering his laughter "Gwen, don't laugh...".
Guinevere pointed out "you laugh too, uncle".
Meliodas wondered "since when did you two become close, I wonder?".
Just like the flower petals of white lily on the spring, Lily wore her white armor dress "you sure have created a big mess here, Arthur".
Looking up to see her in that white dress armor with two pairs of wings sprouted from her back, Arthur felt like witnessing a goddess came flying down from the Heaven to the Earth "Lily...".
"Invigorate", Lily crouched in front of him and took both his hands "remember what I told you before, my husband? Just because you have that sword, it doesn't mean you will be invincible, not as long as you haven't able to activate your magic power".
Arthur tried to reason of his actions this time "but your father betrayed you and—!?".
"he didn't!", Lily yelled and squeezed his hand "he didn't, Arthur... lower your sword and listen to me".
Zeldris trailed off as Meliodas turned deadly silent "...hey, Meliodas, do you have something to talk with them? Should we leave the three of you?".
Meliodas crossed his arms "no need, Lily and Guinevere can handle it. We can just observe for now".
Just like she did to Zeldris, Guinevere was using her ability to show it to Arthur, about what happened to them lately.
Arthur knew how hurt it must have been for Lily, so he chose to lift his sword "for the sake of your tears, Lily... I have to fight him back and snap him out of whatever state he is in".
"that's a good look on your eyes. So, you still want to take us on, all by yourself?", Meliodas walked forward "despite how is your wife, my daughter feeling?".
"stop this, you two!", Lily stood and spread her hands to the side, looking straight to Arthur with her back against Arthur, standing in between Meliodas and Arthur "don't make me have to choose between you and my father, Arthur".
Arthur didn't want to do this but he had to "but in case you have to choose, which one you will choose?".
"I don't want to do this, Arthur", Lily pulled out her sword and stood in stance "but do you think I will let you slay my father in front of my eyes?".
"smart girl", Chandler clasped his hand "clearly, you're cleverer than your husband, Lady Lily".
Just like her mother, Lily wouldn't want to fight when it was unneeded and she tried to persuade him "Arthur, I beg you... why should you do this? No one asked you to... somehow, someway, we still can figure out another way together, right?".
"there is", Arthur explained that before he went here, he met with the Archangels who joined Elizabeth. The Four Archangels, Ludociel told him about the curses on Lily's family including how to break the curses "he told me... your grandmother will break the curses on Lady Elizabeth and her children if I, as King of Camelot, can kill the Demons who stay on my Castle to lead the Demon Clan... without I know the Demon leader is... but I have to... even if he is your father, Lily".
"Arthur, I know you don't lie at all when you said you always looked up to my father and wanted to be like him even if he's a Demon. That's one of your quality, to not discriminate people just because of their race... one of reasons why I love you...", Lily clenched her fists on her chest "that's why, if you love me too, stop this! You shouldn't have to do this just because of me, Arthur! Why should you—".
Nanashi and Lancelot went to Guinevere's side when they heard commotion here. Thanks to Guinevere, the Demons didn't attack them for now. Although, they where shocked when Arthur cut Lily's words off with kissing her.
"I have to, because I love you and above everything else, I don't want to lose you. I can't afford to lose you", running his fingers on her hair and leaning her crying face on his shoulder, Arthur hugged her and lifted his sword "Sir Meliodas, you do this for the sake of the woman you loved, princess Elizabeth. I do this for your daughter, my wife".
"I do understand", Meliodas lifted his hand and stood in his stance to fight "however, if you're clever enough, Arthur... I don't think Goddess Clan is believable".
"so honor and noble...", Lily lifted her head and pushed him backward, pointing her sword "maybe I can't say anything if you do this only for the sake of our people and our Kingdom, but because you do this for me, then I can't let you be... above all else, I'm pregnant! You can't possibly take them all only by yourself, you could be killed! If you died, I and our children would forget you! Would you ever want that to happen?".
"what kind of joke this is? This kid, a human, is Lady Lily's husband and she's bearing this human's child?", Cusack scoffed before he burst out into laughter "what a great news?! First, he has three cursed children with that filthy goddess as a mother and he also let his daughter to marry with this kid, having weak human as his son in law? Oh, wonder what kind of child will be born from her, the half-goddess half-demon with human?".
"it's not funny at all, Cusack!?", Chandler scolded his partner before swinging the wooden staff on his hand up and down "it's not Lord Meliodas' fault but hers!".
The realization hit Zeldris when he remembered how Meliodas spoiled his first daughter "...oi, you do realize that she's pregnant, right?".
"considering I already have three children with their mother", Meliodas shrugged "obviously, I do".
Arthur refused to step backwards "Lily, lower your sword. You can't stop me".
"then I will make you", Lily threw her sword to the side and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, kissing him for long time, long enough to make Arthur unconscious due to out of breath. Out of breath herself, Lily dropped to her knees, kneeling on the ground and cradling Arthur on her lap "welp, I don't know one of mother's techniques would success".
"that's what mother called as 'how to shut your man's mouth' technique", Guinevere chirped "but I don't know you're bold enough to kiss him in front of our father like that".
Ignoring the disbelief stares from Zeldris, Cusack and Chandler, Meliodas sighed and reached out his hand to Lily "can you stand?".
Lily didn't budge, looking straight to nothingness "you know I'm pregnant".
"of course I do", Meliodas dropped one knee beside her and leaned his elbow on his thigh, looking to the side "in fact, I wanted to find Arthur so I could give you back to him. After all, you belong to him already ever since you've married with him".
"then why should you even try to break my curse? For mother, I understand and I know you only want the best for us, but what's the point of breaking the curses on us when in the end, you only will leave us?", Lily looked straight and demanded with tears streaming down her face "so tell me why, why, father? Even if you know you will no longer able to stay with us in this world, why did you still choose this path? If in the end you only will leave us, your children and mother... Why don't you just let us be? Just let us and mother be, like we just a mere stranger for you?!".
Damn, she was so emotional and in turmoil. Depression, stress and damn hormones of her pregnancy set her on the edge, feeling so distraught. She felt like she was cornered, as if her father would push her to the corner with those scrutinize, emotionless, unreadable blank eyes.
"stupid question. You ask me why? Because it's you, my daughter", Meliodas opened his eyes and for a moment, his eyes went back to Emerald orbs before he wrapped his arms around her head "maybe you don't realize it, Lily, but when you smiled brightly on your wedding with Arthur, when you hugged me as you cried from your deepest heart after I resurrected... your face looked just like your mother and I thought that you've grown so big into beautiful woman, just like your mother".
Lily cried harder and clenched her fist on his back "kh... father...".
"there's no turning back for me, Lily", Meliodas apologized "this place is no longer place for you two. Go away, continue your life with your husband somewhere. You and Arthur are too young to die here and now".
Meliodas smacked Lily's nape with the side of his hand before telling Guinevere to leave this place "go back to Liones Castle and find your mother, bring your sister and Arthur with you. Take care of them, Lancelot and if I don't be mistaken, Sir Nanashi".
"you have intentionally wanted to send us away from the first place, right?", Guinevere smiled wryly "not that I can protest about it, as long as we're still alive... but you know big sister will not be pleased at all with this, right?".
"even if it only will make her crying, you will not stop, will you? Sir Meliodas...", Arthur had regained his consciousness ever since Meliodas hugged Lily who cried harder. Cradling his wife on his arm, he asked him as he pointing his sword to Meliodas' neck "no, I mean, father in law... I wonder why should we end up like this. Do we really have no choice?".
Looking behind over his shoulder, Meliodas smirked bitterly "I guess so".
When Merlin decided to go alone to the Camelot Kingdom, Escanor heavily disagreed "I'm against it".
Merlin walked out of her room after she gathered her Sacred Treasure and Melascula in the vial "if you don't want to help, that's fine, I'll go alone but I have to—".
"I'm not telling you to not go", Escanor clarified and grabbed her biceps "I'm telling you, even for you, it's too dangerous so please, take me with you. I will help you to save Guinevere, King Arthur and Lily because they are precious people for you, right?".
Merlin smiled and hugged him "why do you always know what you have to do to make me glad?".
"sorry if we interrupt", Elizabeth cleared her throat, pointing to flushed King and Diane who covered their face "but our presences are demanded on the Castle".
Escanor and Merlin immediately broke the hug, but next second, somehow, someway, they got the very same vision in their minds before Merlin grabbed Escanor's wrist, telling him and their comrades that this was an emergency and they disappeared. When Merlin and Escanor arrived on Camelot, they were shocked to see what happened in front of their eyes. Lancelot hugged Guinevere from behind, holding her back as Guinevere cried out and desperately reached her hand out. Lily hugged Meliodas, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as Arthur's Excalibur Holy Sword piercing through Meliodas and Lily's torso and going through their heart.
Arthur released his grip on his sword and dropped backward "Lily, why...".
Meliodas choked and grabbed Lily's shoulders "why you...".
"stupid question... because it's you, father...", Lily coughed, tasting the coppery of her blood. Cupping his cheeks with her bloodied hand and leaning her forehead on his, she smiled despite the flowing blood from the corner of her mouth "do I need a reason... to save you? Just like mom... I only... wanted you to live... and be happy with mother...".
Lily fell backward and closed her eyes as she slipped off of his hands after Meliodas pulled out Holy Sword Excalibur from their body. Throwing the sword to the side without care of where it landed on, Meliodas only looked down to where Arthur caught Lily on his arms as his wound started to heal "you wanted to break the curse on my daughter with killing me, just like the conditions you receive from the Goddess Clan. You fool to even think you can save her that way. In the end, you ended up killing her with your own hands, Arthur!".
No matter how many times he asked her to open her eyes again, she didn't respond. Hugging her tightly, Arthur screamed "NO!".
