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Chapter 50 – Unconditional Warmth Of Love

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Ordan Forest, East Of Vaizel

If you thought Tristina would comfort and soothe her little sister like 'kind-hearted and mature' older sister would do, you were wrong. In fact, Tristina only stared down at her crying little sister (who looked like her older sister instead, due to Tristina's child-like body and Lily's fully grown-up sexy body).

Thinking she had had enough, Tristina smacked Lily's head several times "Lily, stop crying already".

Lily caressed her head with tears on her eyes "older sister, you're so mean!".

"Sorry for being so mean, but if you were to stop, I would need to do it", Tristina crouched in front of Lily "you know that father wouldn't blame you at all, right? Instead, he would blame himself".

"which is why I'm feeling terrible!?", Lily covered her blushing face, hugging her knees "I was so dumb and childish... to burst out and lash out to father like that... not only our father but also my son, my siblings and father's comrades there... it's a shame of me...".

Tristina sighed and patted her head "there, there... yeah, I understand your feeling, more or less. He can be insensitive sometimes, but no matter what happened, our bonds will not be severed".

Lily sniffled "you think so?".

Tristina deadpanned and crossed her arms before her chest "...sister, should I remind you? Remember who was the one that worried sick and panicked the most when you disappeared? Who was the one looking for you the first right away after he had made sure the hunters who hurt you wouldn't hurt you and got the punishment? Who was the one hugged you once he found you the first? No one but Father".

Lily chuckled lightly "Yeah, remind me that he was also the one who barely tried to kill Dahlia when he thought Dahlia took me away and hid me, when in fact, Dahlia saved me".

Tristina grinned teasingly "and you fell in love with him~".

"a-anyway, we have to go back!", Lily stuttered with flushed cheeks before she touched her chest "kh".

Tristina blinked "Lily?".


Elizabeth was quite in a pickle to pursue Meliodas even if she was riding Hawk "Sir Meliodas, wait!".

Veronica who sat on Griamore's shoulders, smacking Griamore's bicep "run faster!".

Looking at the strange couple behind them, Hawk could laugh it off "what is he? A horse?".

Suddenly, Meliodas stopped and turned his back, running back "get down!".

Hawk stopped "huh?".

Next second, Meliodas wrapped his arms around Elizabeth's waist and toppled over her on the ground. Griamore could feel the upcoming magic power. He did what Meliodas said, shielding Veronica under his body as he was on his knees and palms on the ground. Poor Hawk, he didn't have time to avoid the upcoming attack as the green and pink arrow-light hit the ground. Barely dodging it, Hawk ran to where Griamore used his Wall to protect Veronica, Elizabeth, and Meliodas.

Hawk bit Meliodas' fringe "you should have told me and saved me too!?".

Ignoring Hawk's yammer, Meliodas pointed to the source of the attacks "told you, it's dangerous".

They saw Gowther and Nel Hativa fighting. Nel Hativa's form changed into her demon form where her horns, bat-like wings, and tail appeared.

"give it up already, Gowther", with her swirling darkness covered her body, Nel Hativa lifted her arrow, "I told you before, right? Compared to you, my magic power is advanced".

Ban who decided to help her, appeared from behind Nel Hativa "so badass~, but you don't think you sounded like a bad person here?".

"who cares about it?", Nel Hativa landed to catch Gowhter bu failed. Strangely, she smirked, "Diane, King, now!".

When Gowther jumped backward, Diane caught him and held him down. King snapped his fingers and his Chastiefol Spirit Spear form second: Guardian cushioned Diane and Gowther's fall. Diane winked and thanked King, which King averted his eyes and blushed. When Gowther started to wriggle and he screamed like he was in pain.

Looking at his state, Diane was worried "what's wrong. Gowther?".

"don't let go of his hands, Diane. The reason why your mind has been unstable, you lost your heart and feelings, it's because every time you start to remember your memories, your body goes berserk and loses control attempting to reject them and this is also one of the causes. I've read your memory using psychometry", Nel Hativa brought up the heart that was once planted in Gowther's body "in order to try to revive King Baltra's sister, princess Nadja, who had succumbed to her ailing heart, you tried to give this to her but it didn't bring Nadja back to life. Overcome with shock, you threw this away in the Castle's dungeon and erased your own memories".

King felt pity for him "Gowther...".

"no... I don't need them... memories... or a heart... I don't need any of them...", with a trembling body, Gowther begged, "please... please... just break me...".

Diane head-butted him "get a hold of yourself, Gowther! Even in the most painful memories, there's sure to be precious moments as well. Remember Gowther!".

"this heart has no magic from the first place because this is only sort-of a charm that father gave to you as a gift", Nel Hativa put her hand on Gowther's forehead "your heart does exist within you from the first place, all along this time, Gowther. You just closed off your heart after you lost someone precious for you".

"I... have a heart?", Gowther blinked away his tears and his body started shining. His magic power level increased and he turned into more... humane, if you said. Sitting in front of Nel Hativa, Gowther cried and grabbed her hands "forgive me, sister... I failed... father was...".

"sup, when we met, I knew already what father's fate... he chose revenge, so be it. I and father have had our separation, so we have no regret. If I do have a regret, it's only because I couldn't find you sooner", Nel Hativa ruffled Gowther's hair and wiped his tears "what I know, you and father have successfully done a great job, so don't apologize".

Gowther hesitated "but I have to apologize... I couldn't stop father... and Mael... he...".

Nel Hativa lowered her head and looked downcast "he's dead, yeah, but he got what he planted, that's all".

Gowther frowned "but you loved him".

"was. Was, Gowther", Nel Hativa emphasized "because after I knew that jerk killed Glariza, our father's lover who supposed to be our mother, I've killed off my heart. I have no feeling to him anymore... no more... hence, I shouldn't have to fall into him from the first place. Why should I, after all... he's from Goddess Clan and I'm part of Demon Clan. We weren't meant to be together, at all".

Elizabeth squeezed her hand and touched her chest when Nel Hativa blinked away a single tear "Lady Neiva...".

Meliodas sighed heavily and patted her head "you idiot, no matter how you lie with your words, you can't lie to your heart".

"shut it", Nel Hativa quickly wiped her tears before turning to him indignantly "shouldn't you chase after your daughter? Where is she?".

Meliodas jaw-dropped "ah".

Before Nel Hativa had a chance to scold him, Tristina appeared, running to them "Daddy!".

Suddenly, Tristan and Lancelot who still fought flew to Tristina's direction and hit her tiny body.

Elizabeth gasped and flew her hands up to cover her mouth "Tina!".

Meliodas inspected his kids, where Tristan and Lancelot sat on the ground after their struggle in their fight while Tristina flatly lying on the ground after she hit the rock beside her "oi, Tina! Are you alright? Where does it hurt?".

Tristan and Lancelot stopped their fight, looking down over their father's shoulders to their unmoving sister.

Lancelot poked Tristina's head "um, older sister?".

"...sis?", Tristan tried to wake her up and shook her body, but when he rolled her body and found her blank eyes, Tristan felt his heart squeezed "Tina!".

Meliodas cradled Tristina on his hands "call Isolde, quick!".

"wait, just call Isolde in case we need to treat her wound", Nel Hativa crouched beside Meliodas "hm... it seems like her soul accidentally knocked out of her body due to the blow on her head".

Elizabeth frantically asked. She was panicked as well after looking at how pale Meliodas, Lancelot, and Tristan had become "but you can save her, right!?".

"of course, I just need to re-tying her soul to her body. It seems like because her soul hasn't fully united with her body, that's why her soul got separated this easily just because of a little blow to her head", Nel Hativa reached out her hand "Meliodas, Triss, your hand. I need someone like her family as the catalyst to tie her soul to this world. Princess Elizabeth, you too. I need the Druid's magic power to strengthen the bond of Tina's soul with her body".

Elizabeth pointed herself in surprise "Druid? Me!?".

It was a half-lie, though. Nel Hativa only needed the bond between Tristina with them as her twin and her parents, the more people joined the stronger the bond would be. The problem was, Tristan himself was already half-die due to his status as an Undead a.k.a Homunculus, that was why Nel Hativa needed Meliodas and Elizabeth this time too.

When Tristina opened her eyes, she sat up immediately "Woah, just barely! I thought I'll go back to the afterlife".

Tristan hugged her "don't joke like that, you moron!?".

Pointing to Lancelot who laughed and teased her and Tristan, Tristina pointedly accused "don't laugh! Whose fault this is, do you think?".

Lancelot bowed his head "I apologize".

After Tristan apologized and released her, Isolde arrived with Morgan in tow "someone's injured?".

"well, you see...", Elizabeth was about to tell her. From the corner of her eyes, Elizabeth was shocked when she saw the blood came out of Tristina's head "Tina, blood! You're bleeding!?".

Tristina blinked and touched her forehead, only to find her palm smeared by blood "oh, I am".

"it's not 'oh I am', right?!', Veronica pushed Tristina to sit on Elizabeth's lap, waving her hand to ask Isolde to come closer "Ellie, hold her while Isolde treats her wound! Are you sure you're not feeling hurt or anything?".

Tristina shook her head, as a result, her blood splattered to the ground "nope, strangely".

Elizabeth cradled Tristina on her hands before giving another candy to her "don't shake your head like that with that bleeding head. You will get the headache".

Isolde poured the disinfectant to her handkerchief before tapping it lightly to the wound on Tristina's forehead "how could you get injured like this from the first place?".

Meliodas lifted his forefinger "Lancelot, Tristan, as a punishment for hurting your sister, you have to eat my food".

Lancelot and Tristan shrieked "NO!?".

Ban laughed out loud "a great way to punish your kids!".

King looked around "by the way, where is Lady Lily?".

"Dad, I just want to tell you that Lily's body shrunk, her horns and her wings also disappeared. Isn't it mean her body started weakened?".

Meliodas snapped "why don't you tell me sooner!?".

Tristina pointed Tristan and Lancelot "I would have, had I not get knocked by these fools".

When they had gathered Lily's body and all of them went back to the Boar Hat, while Meliodas brought Lily to his room, his other kids waited outside. Tristan and Lancelot had their lover in their arms to calm their heart down while Tristina was still carried by Elizabeth who still felt worried about her due to her wound and a little accident that knocked her soul out of her soul. Even if Tristina persistently told her she was alright already, Elizabeth didn't budge so Tristina only could let her be.

Elizabeth remembered that Elias, Lancelot, and Morgan had been working for Guinevere "she helped us a lot and we need to know if we can trust her as our ally. Let us meet with princess Guinevere, right away".

"Sorry, not possible", Elias lifted his hand "the princess was poisoned and everything is a mess on the Camelot Kingdom right now".

Nel Hativa, Morgan, Lancelot, Tristan and Isolde shrieked in shock "WHAT!?".


Capital of Liones Kingdom

Gilthunder leaned his back on the door of his room in his house, feeling tired. He had reported about what happened to Margaret from outside King Baltra's chamber. It was needed, not to mention he was still under supervision. He hoped the King's health would not be declined due to this lie. His movement was still watched by Vivian, he could tell it. Only inside building, for example, in his house like this, he could feel relieved because that creepy crow only could watch over him from outside. Before closed the curtain, Gilthunder saw the moonlight beautifully shining.

Gilthunder closed his eyes slowly, ached for her presence "Margaret, I love you. Good night".

The next morning, never Gilthunder felt relieved like this when he saw Elias and Jericho (actually, Castor and Pollux who disguised as Elias and Jericho) on his garden. They got rid of the crow, Vivian's creepy familiar.

How?

Easy, Elias shot it using a catapult to kill the bird and Jericho roasted it. Good job, twin doppelgangers.


Camelot Kingdom

Margaret should have expected it. When the crying princess lunged into her, she barely toppled her over but luckily, Margaret could brace themselves in time. Looking down at the younger princess who crying in her arms, she remembered Elizabeth and it was just like the old-time when the little Gwen would stay for the night with them. However, even she could feel something of her changed. Of course, what did she expect? It had been 10 years, after all.

Patting her head, Margaret asked, "want to talk about it?".

Guinevere shuddered and choked back her tears, shaking her head. Persistently, she hid her crying face as she leaned her face on Margaret's shoulder and sniffled "no, I'll stop crying right away, just... let me hug you like this... for a while... big sister...".

Margaret smiled as she leaned down to kiss her forehead, somehow feeling glad she still called her as a big sister "sure. Glad to hear you still called me a big sister".

"...I'm sorry...".

Margaret blinked in confusion now as she felt her body shuddering in her arms "huh? What for?".

With tears streaming down her face, Guinevere apologized "because... I was there with you when uncle Zaratras was... I'm so sorry... I should have remembered but I forgot about it instead... I have forgotten it for these 10 years when you and big brother Gil... I should have been stronger so I could save you faster...".

"Gwen, calm down and listen to me", cupping her cheeks, Margaret herself teared up, "everyone, back in the Capital of Liones thought you died that day. For these 10 years as long as I and Gilthunder thought you're dead already, we couldn't get rid of our guilty, for him who dragged me out of that place without saved you... and for me, who unable to protect you and let your hand go that day... but after knowing you're still alive, we're glad and relieved. It's more than enough for me, knowing you're still alive, safe and sound. Not only you saved me, but also Gilthunder. That's why you don't have to apologize. We owe you and you have our thanks, instead".

Guinevere choked back her tears "big sis...".

Margaret kissed her forehead before she smiled fondly "thank you, for survived and came back to save us, li'l Gwen".

Guinevere hugged her and cried in relief before she fell asleep in Margaret's embrace. Lying on the bed that large enough for them, Margaret looked up and saw the moonlight outside the window.

"Gilthunder, I missed you", Margaret closed her eyes slowly, feeling drowsiness get the best of her so sudden "Good night".


The next morning, Margaret woke up and found Gelda with several handmaidens. Gelda told Margaret that every her necessity would be served by Gelda and Guinevere's handmaidens.

Gelda explained to her as she led the way to the throne room where Arthur and Guinevere were having a private meeting with Merlin and Escanor "because princess Margaret is our honorable guest and the princess thinks of you like her own older sister, it's only natural for us to serve you honorably. You can ask whatever you need to us without doubt as long as you stay here and feel free to tell us if there's something that makes you feel uncomfortable, princess".

"I'm grateful for Camelot people's hospitality here, Lady Gelda", Margaret followed her, "I think just being allowed to stay here is enough, but where is Gwen... I mean, princess Guinevere".

Gelda smiled and offered "you may see the princess in the throne room as we're leading to that room. She's still having the private meeting with the King and Lady Merlin who worked as our advisor, and I bet they would want you to join them regards what happened in your Kingdom".

Margaret sighed "sure".

Suddenly, before they entered the throne room, right before Gelda knocked on the door, they heard a young male's voice shouted from inside along with a loud bang that sounded like someone banging his hand on the table "NO!".

It was from Arthur. Margaret and Gelda exchanged glances before they moved to the side as Arthur slammed the door behind him, walking outside.

Guinevere chased after him, yelling "Arthur, listen to me! We haven't finished!".

Without looking back and with a deep frown on his face, Arthur only walked faster "Oh, yeah? I think we have finished talking about it and I don't want to talk about it anymore!".

Looking to Merlin and Escanor who stood in the front door of the throne room, Margaret asked, "...what happened?".

Gelda calmly stated the matter of fact "as you see, lover's quarrel".

Margaret couldn't help it bu to ask in wonder "and for what reason?".

Merlin explained, clearly looked annoyed "considering the latest incident where she was poisoned, she offered Arthur to consider to take the concubine and obviously, Arthur is mad".

When Margaret thought they needed to stop them, they saw Guinevere grabbed Arthur's wrist, asking him to wait. Arthur turned his back, pulling her by her wrist before pushing her to the wall. After trapped her in between his hands, Arthur hissed out "it was the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard from you... you always said you're alright even if the fact is, you aren't. What happened? Why would you suggest such a thing if you know how do I feel? Actually... what do you think of me?".

With her back pressing on the wall, Guinevere looked up calmly "...as I said before, it's for the sake of our Kingdom".

"but not like this!", Arthur burst out before he closed his eyes, lowering his head further. Arthur sighed heavily before leaving "...unless you fully explain your reasons to me, I will not hear whatever you ask me regards that ridiculous idea of yours and don't hope I will ever listen to you about it, not until you want to speak about it".

After Arthur left to calm himself down with Escanor in tow, Guinevere dropped to her knees, sitting on the floor. Guinevere covered her blushing face and tightened her whitened knuckles on her chest. Her heart was beating uneven loudly, remembering how close his face just now and how stupid she was, to think about how handsome he was although he was mad. To think she could feel and think that way of him in such a situation, it was such a dumb of her.

Meanwhile, at the same time in a different place, Arthur sank on the floor and ruffled his hair wildly, telling himself about how rude his action was and how stupid his words. Even so, in such a situation, how could he still think about how cool and beautiful she was when she confronted him calmly with such a calm demeanor? Thankfully, Escanor didn't say anything, fully realizing the turmoil inside him. Escanor only told him to calm his head down before he tried to talk again with Guinevere. Arthur agreed and went to the balcony of the fort where he usually watched the stars on the sky at the night with her.

When Escanor came back, he saw Margaret helped Guinevere to stand "are you alright, Gwen?".

Guinevere nodded, blushing furiously "yes, just... I was too shocked that he would do it".

"oh, pushing you to the wall and such, you mean?", Margaret chuckled when Guinevere squealed "I got it. If I were you and Gil did it to me, I also would react this way to him".

"I know he wouldn't like this idea... but still, isn't it normal for a King to take the concubine or remarried in case something happened to the Queen?".

"yes, it is, but from what I see...", Margaret poked Guinevere's nose "he's mad because you even asked him to consider taking another woman when in fact, he's madly in love with you. Perhaps, he thought you don't love him or something, that's why you can ask such a thing to him".

Guinevere gasped "of course it's not that!".

Margaret smiled and touched her mouth "then talk to him".

Guinevere hugged Margaret and kissed her cheek before running "thank you very much, big sister!".

After Guinevere left, Margaret chuckled as she touched her cheek "that part of her never changed. How cute of her".

When Guinevere found Arthur, he stood on the balcony with his hands on the fence.

Guinevere wrapped her arms around his torso, hugging him from behind "...I think I don't deserve such love from you, that's why I told you to consider... to take the concubine...".

"Hell no", Arthur turned his back "and why not?".

It took all her nerves to not yell but Guinevere couldn't help it and she burst out "because of me, my Kingdom has perished into nothingness!".

Arthur remembered Assassin's words but he chose to believe her. Asking her to calm down, he grabbed her shoulders "how could it be possible? You were only 3 years old when Merlin found you in the ruins of Cameliard Castle as the catastrophe happened in your Kingdom. How could it be your responsibility when you are the only survivor there?".

Guinevere told Arthur to come with her and they went to her chamber. In her chamber, she put secret documents of her Kingdom (that she got from Merlin) on the table.

"This is...", Arthur read the documents with scrutinize eyes "incredible... With this artifact, whatever our wish, we can make it come true".

"This is the result of the long-research from magicians and scientists on my Kingdom from generation to generation. In my father, King Leodegrance's reign, they had everything they needed to create the Holy Grail, the sacred artifact to grant people's wish. However, when my father, the King knew what should he give to create the Holy Grail, he decided to destroy these documents".

Arthur was shocked "why?".

"because the catalyst to create the Holy Grail... to bring Holy Grail into existence, they would need an offering. They need someone who can become the vessel for Holy Grail, someone who possessed the pure and impure magic power with innocent soul", Guinevere sucked in a deep breathe "of all people on the Cameliard Kingdom, I was the only one who fulfilled the conditions, the most perfect vessel for the Holy Grail".

Arthur gasped and turned pale "they couldn't possibly—!?".

"they did", Guinevere sat on the edge of her bed. She closed her eyes, inhaling a long, deep breath and she continued after Arthur sat beside her "I was... I didn't know why and how... I still could remember this... what I remembered, my parents refused to give me as an offering to create the Holy Grail but the magicians and scientists... they kidnapped me and... on the underground... they tried to do the ritual... which didn't end well...".

Guinevere told him what she remembered after she was poisoned by the Assassin. On that tragedy, she was used as the vessel to create the Holy Grail. That was what they planned, but when they tried to use her and the ritual started, something strange happened. Instead of being the 'Grail', Guinevere's magic power activated and she accidentally opened the door to the Celestial Realm and Purgatory. Enough to let Supreme Deity and Demon King come into their Kingdom.

Looking down to her hands, Guinevere said with shaking voice "I didn't know why and how... what I know, after that, everything turned into hell... both Gods created the catastrophe and spread the epidemic which killed and ruined my Kingdom... again, I have no idea of how and why... I didn't get infected at all, and I ran away to find my parents... they got infected but I healed them, only to get to see them... before godmother found me...".

"Stop!", Arthur hugged her tightly "you needn't continue".

"that's what happened, Arthur", Guinevere touched his shoulders and broke the hug. On the verge of her tears, she tried to smile encouragingly "...I really mean it when I said that I don't deserve such love from you. Perhaps, someday... I only will leave your side and bring misery to you... that's why, before it's too late, I...".

Arthur didn't let her finish her words. He cut her off by pushing her to the bed and kissing her. Her eyes widened before she gave in to the warmth of his body, his affection and passion, his love. Closing her eyes, she dug her fingers on his back as he kissed her longingly. Due to the need for air, they broke the kiss.

With tears streaming down her face, Guinevere sighed in content and blushed furiously, looking up to see the strong determination on his eyes "...Arthur?".

Arthur cupped her wet cheeks, wiping her tears "when I was asking for your hand... when I asked you to marry me and up until now, I don't have any single intention to let you go, ever. Don't you think I will ever let you go, not a chance".

Guinevere closed her eyes and slowly smiled "...you idiot".

Lancelot barged into her chamber and rolled his eyes "without locking the door? Really?".

Morgan popped her head from behind Lancelot's back "Just great, we came home right away when we heard you were poisoned and I found my brother attacked his fiance on her bed without locking the door and it's still the daylight. At least, you can lock the door and do it at the night, you moron".

"but they're still lucky, I guess. If it were Tristan, I bet he would want to beat Arthur right away", Nel Hativa chuckled but she raised her eyebrow when she realized the visible tears track on her face "wait... why are you crying, princess?".

"Morgan dear, close the door~", after the three of them came in and Morgan closed the door behind her, Lancelot pulled Arthur's collar "you... what are you doing to my sister, young boy?".

Arthur lifted his hands "I can explain".

Lancelot cracked his knuckles "oh, sure~ you have to. Otherwise, I'm gonna beat you black and blue".


A/N:

Okay, I'm so sorry because it took this long for me to update the story. I have been busy with the school and just have enough time to write and update this because the school was sterilized and we have an early holiday due to epidemic. For those who read, favorites and follows this story so far, thank you very much~