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Chapter 52 – Calm Before Storm
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Boar Hat
Yesterday, when Meliodas came back, he saw them (Isolde, Tristan, Lancelot, and Morgan) frantically wanted to go back to the Camelot Kingdom because they heard the news from Elias about how the princess was poisoned.
"Arthur must have panicked. We should go back to Camelot right away!", Morgan lifted an orb above her palm "Lancelot, ready?".
Isolde and Tristan urged "wait, we're coming, too!".
"since this is poison, I can handle it. And don't forget, the princess has the divine protection and blessing from the Lady of The Lake. A mere poison will not kill her", Nel Hativa lifted her hand and mumbled, tapping her chin thoughtfully "well, probably...".
Tristan and Isolde protested in unison "and you're not so convincing!?".
Nel Hativa tried to convince the clearly troubled couple "lovebirds, just relax. You two have to stay here with the others and wait for our news. Princess would want you two to stay here if I were her. Next morning, I will come back here to tell you the news and the next steps you two should do, okay? For now, just focus on your mission. You two have to stay as our spy. Princess' order above everything, remember?".
Isolde wanted to argue back, that she was gonna be the Great Healer for Her Highness and she couldn't afford to let something happened to the princess when they were away from the Castle, so she should go back to heal her and make sure she was okay but Tristan tried to convince her (more like trying to convince himself too) that the princess would be alright since it was not the first time that 'dangerous things' like this happened to her.
Before they went home, Nel Hativa hugged Gowther who had been clinging to her like a puppy. Heck, she even considered bringing him home with her because he begged her to stay with him longer but the Dragon Sin told her to just come back here tomorrow.
"oh, I barely forgot", Nel Hativa tapped her fist on her palm. She turned to Diane and lifted her finger which shining with the sparkle of red light "as I promised, this is my gift for you, Diane. You deserve to get this for your kindness and for your help to me as a friend".
After the red light from her finger struck Diane's head, Diane dropped to her knees on the ground and started crying.
"Diane, are you alright?", King frantically asked and waved his hands before glaring to Nel Hativa "just what are you doing to her?".
Diane seemed not able to listen to him, blinking away more tears. Covering her mouth and stifling her sobs, Diane choked "no way... Matrona is... still alive?".
"I am one of the Death Gods, remember? I can see the record of people who still alive and die. Normally we aren't allowed to show that list to anyone", Nel Hativa smiled "but~ it's alright to tell you about whether your friend is still alive or not. Also, my gift is not only that~".
Looking at the suggestive smirk plastered on his so-called sister figure's face, Meliodas narrowed his eyes "Neiva, what are you plotting this time, again?".
Nel Hativa smirked suggestively and whispered, "oh, nothing~ only doing my hobby~".
When King tried to soothe her and waved his arms in front of her crying figure, Diane pulled him into her embrace before she was crying harder.
Elias gawked. As Lily's adopted son and a Fairy, he could read someone's mind and he knew what Nel Hativa had done to Diane after he read Diane's mind. He gasped, covering his mouth "oh, my".
King blinked his eyes in confusion "what's wrong, Elias?".
Elias covered his mouth, shaking his head. Behind his palms covering his mouth, Elias smirked smugly. His Aunt was really cunning~ oh, how he wished he could tell his older brother, but he thought this would be fun and telling his older brother would kill the fun, so he decided to not tell him. Not to mention, this could be considered as a punishment for King, so Elias decided to just let it be, watch and observe. For now.
After regained his composure which only needed a second after he shook his head, pretending as if nothing happened, Elias smiled innocently, one of the gestures that expertly he learned from Lily "nope, nothing important at all, brother!".
Ah. Knowing her son and reading his mind, Lily smiled but before she could say a word, someone shouted from a far distance "QUEEN?!".
Lily flinched and snapped her head "Spriggan!? Silky?!".
Silky didn't give Lily the chance to talk, she lunged into her and hugged the startled Queen. Spriggan cleared his throat and apologized, formally introduced themselves before scolding Lily for being so careless, because she didn't go back to the Enchanted Woods immediately since her body had started weakened which in result, it made his wife, Silky was worried sick. Lily apologized to them but when Spriggan dragged her to go back to the Enchanted Woods, Lily stared to Meliodas with her pleading looks and Meliodas caught her gesture, so Meliodas wrapped his arms around Lily's waist to hold her back.
"wait up. Not so fast, Spriggan. I still want to catch up with my daughter. Not to mention, I believe my daughter still has something to talk with me", looking up, he raised his eyebrow "right, Lily?".
Lily sheepishly smiled "sure, but I need to clean up first".
Spriggan narrowed his eyes, sending heated glares to the people that he sensed as humans here "...very fine, but you only have time until before the dusk, Queen. We will make sure you have to arrive back on the Enchanted Woods before the night due to your health. Please, understand. From the first place, you are not allowed to leave the Enchanted Woods too often, no matter how you miss your father, and especially not being surrounded by humans like this".
After Spriggan went to wait Lily on the outskirt of this woods near the Boar Hat with his wife, Elias apologized to them all in Spriggan and Lily's stead "Spriggan, he has been... having harsh times with Humans, that's why he acted that way to the humans. Not only Spriggan lost his wings and horns, Silky, but his wife also lost her vocal cord and she's no longer able to speak after humans slit her throat. I remembered Silky said it happened before they married, and the one who saved Silky's life was Spriggan. Otherwise, Silky would have died that time".
Elizabeth was horrified "it's terrible!".
Diane hummed approvingly "well, I can understand why this Spriggan hates humans".
Before Lily went home, the girls in the Boar Hat were having fun on this early evening with...
Taking a bath together.
At first, it was only Tristina and Lily (for sister's bonding time) but Elizabeth wanted to come. Lily who could read people's minds, asking her to come with them. Obviously, Veronica would want to come with them and dragged Isolde with her. As a friend, Diane wanted to join because Elizabeth joined them too. That was how they could spend time taking a bath together. Lily had to go back to the Enchanted Woods this day, right away, in order to recover her magic power, thus she wanted to cherish the time she could spend with her father and her little family here.
Veronica had to admit, she rather regretted it after looking at Diane's, Isolde's, Lily's and Elizabeth's body that couldn't be compared to hers "damn it. As a woman, I totally lost. No wonder Tristan is madly in love with Isolde, she's just like an Angel. However, for someone who already has two sons, Lily is... I admit she is so beautiful, no wonder the Fairy King Dahlia willingly descended down from his throne for her. But... to think even my little sister Ellie is sexier than me...".
(note from Author, Tristina died when she was 9 years old in which her body was put into the ice coffin by Nel Hativa and Merlin in order to prevent the necrosis, so her body wouldn't be rotten. Physically, Tristina looked like early-teenager when in fact, she was as old as Tristan, but due to her young physical, Veronica and the others didn't think of her as an adult and thought of her more like a kid).
Lily closed her eyes and cleared her throat. With slightly flushed cheek, she gracefully tilted her head and smiled "thank you very much, I will take it as a compliment, princess Veronica. However, just to remind you, I am a widow with two sons".
Veronica turned bright red "you read my mind?!".
Lily chuckled "oh, not intentionally. It's just sort-of the function in my body and I can't stop it".
Tristina swam to the middle of the lake "you said it in your mind out loud like that, obviously, we could hear you, you moron".
Veronica started swimming to chase after the physically-younger (in fact, MUCH older) girl "just say it if you want to have a fight with me, Tina!?".
"my, my, people will wonder who is the older one between me and big sis Tina if she still pretended to be childish like this", Lily shook his head before turning to Isolde with a sweet smile "speaking of which, Isolde, congratulations for you. I heard my older brother proposed you and you accepted it. However, why do I feel like you don't look happy and excited?".
Isolde trailed off before she recited about her dream last night. In her dream, she was pregnant and she was having a vacation with Tristan on the beach. After walking side by side and holding hands, Tristan who wore a white long-sleeves shirt lifted her off of the sands and kissed her, but still be careful with her bulging stomach. She wore a white dress that time, she laughed brightly and told him that she loved him, she told him how he had made her the happiest woman alive.
"I told him that I love him and whatever Sin he has done, I will shoulder it along with him so at least, he shouldn't bear the weight of the world on his shoulders again. I hope he can be happy, feel relieved, and has the will to live his life after he gets the weight on his shoulders off, but instead, he immediately refuses my offer, telling me that I can't do it. It feels like he sends me away when he told me that I can't shoulder his Sin because it's likely I'm gonna die if I do it", Isolde frowned as she hugged her legs and leaned her chin on her knees "I wonder if he truly loved me... or he only thinks of me as Lady Isolde's substitute? His late wife, I mean".
Through telepathy, Lily asked Veronica and Elizabeth to not say anything because yes, just like they predicted, Isolde's past-life memories started to back. It was only a matter of time until she regained all her past-life memories and the curse activated. Isolde was 24 years old this year, after all. About time for her curse to activate.
Tristina lifted her fist "remind me to smack that moron's head when we're back, Lily. He deserves it because he makes our soon-to-be sister-in-law feeling sad".
Lily nodded and tossed her fist to Tristina's tiny fist "will do. I will assist you".
"no, no, no! Please, don't do it! I told you about this, not to make you punish him!", Isolde exclaimed and waved her hand "I'm happy that not only he returned my love, but also proposed me. I would never dream of asking more than this. I'm content with our relationship now, but... I just hope he can believe me more".
Elizabeth squeezed and encouraged Isolde to have more confidence in herself "I understand that".
Veronica crossed her hands before her chest, referring to Meliodas "speaking of confidence, shouldn't you start to think twice before you set your eyes on that man?".
Tristina innocently smiled "oh, I believe your sister will not want to listen about it from someone who finally becomes the official couple with her Knight. Should I tell her about what kind of dirty things you and Griamore have done?".
After Elizabeth looked horrified and blushed furiously, Veronica fumed "Tina!? Just tell me if you want to pick a fight! You don't have to tell it out loud, right? Also, don't say something that can make people misunderstand it? We just confessed our feelings to each other, hugged and kissed, that's all!".
All of them (except Veronica) laughed after that. From the corner of her eyes, Elizabeth admired Lily and Isolde. They were so beautiful. No wonder Tristan and Dahlia were madly in love with their women. They were just the spitting like an Angel. Elizabeth felt attached to Lily in particular. She felt this strange nostalgic feeling of Lily as she admired Lily's beauty. Long straight silver hair cascaded down her shoulders which she must have inherited from her mother, the Emerald orbs with rounded eyes like a doe which she must have inherited from her father.
"Sir Meliodas must have been proud of her. She's the perfect image of the Queen. I wonder how Lady Bethany, her mother looked like...", Elizabeth felt the strange unfamiliar twinge of pain on her chest, again. This happened when she remembered the fact that "what's this supposed to mean, I wonder?".
Tristina popped her head behind Elizabeth after she burst out of the water, her long hair floating on the surface of the water "people usually call it jealousy, mom".
"KYAAA?!", Elizabeth squealed and turned her head, caressing her chest "Tina, you scared me!".
"Sorry, it's already an old habit of me, ever since I became a ghost", Tristina said without any hint of remorse at all "speaking of which, when I was a ghost, I'd found out several useful abilities that could be handy in certain circumstances".
"to scare away the flies or moths who dared to 'approach' to your father, you mean?", Isolde shook her head in disbelief "Sir Tristan indeed told me about your bad habit. Although, he tolerated it as merely 'mischievous attitude' of his twin sister".
Tristina smirked mischievously "oh, in fact, it's not only my father. I even 'scared away' the flies and moths who dared to 'approach' my dearest twin brother. I remember there were a LOT of women whom I successfully scared away~".
Elizabeth laughed nervously and Lily facepalmed.
Veronica, Diane, and Isolde thought "what a frightening child".
"although you are the exception, Isolde. You are too precious for him, and for me, that's why I give my blessing to you for your relationship with my brother and I never scared you away", Tristina lifted her thumb to Isolde who chuckled "go for it, girl. Fight".
Diane gulped, pointing herself "um, but you didn't scare me away?".
"what's the point of it? You're taken with that Fairy King, after all", Tristina shrugged "not to mention, you're not my father's type. From the first place, I already knew you have no hope and father wouldn't even look at you as a woman".
Ouch. Though it was true, she shouldn't be this blunt, right?
Lily sighed and shook her head "older sister, although it's the truth, there are things you shouldn't have to say out loud".
Veronica twitched her eyebrow "I see, Meliodas has such sharp-tongued daughters".
Elizabeth blinked her eyes in confusion "but wait, what do you mean that Diane is... with King? Isn't she in love with Sir Meliodas?".
Diane groaned with flushed cheeks before she admitted out loud about what had made her upset. After she recited the story of her past from how she could meet with King and spent her days until he went and she lost her memory about him, Diane told them all that not only she knew about Matrona was still alive, but she also regained her memories about King.
"to be honest, I've lost hope because deep down in my heart, I know it... that Captain wouldn't even look behind over his shoulder and to look at me as a woman. I always have this feeling, that I have someone precious that I couldn't remember. I'm truly grateful that Neiva helped me to gain my memory back, so I know now that precious person is King. I don't know why and how could I've forgotten about him, but... even though people said I've moved on, really fast... I don't want to make him wait for me longer. That's why I decided I have to tell him out loud about my feelings, but like Isolde said and thought. I don't know about how does he feel and think about me right now... what if he disappointed of me now and he has no feelings to me anymore but as a friend?", Diane looked like as if she wanted to cry as she admitted she wanted to confess her feelings to King, but felt afraid and insecure because she had no idea about how King felt to her right now. After Isolde and Elizabeth had encouraged her to think positively, Diane thanked them and sniffled "ah, forget about me. I'll figure out how to deal with it, somehow. By the way, Tina, what do you mean with 'jealousy' just now, the one you spoke to Elizabeth?".
"well, I'm not in the place to say anything about it, but as my father's daughter, I've been conflicted with so many things, included whether we will have new Mother or perhaps not", Tristina rolled her eyes to Elizabeth who blushed furiously. When Lily looked like she wanted to say something to her, Tristina raised her hand "I only think logically and stated the obvious things here, sister".
Lily sighed and shook her head "sister, seriously... you have to learn how to control your emotions and be careful with your words. One of the reasons why you wanted to come back to life, it's also because you're curious about 'Love', right?".
"well, I do feel curious about it. I want to know how it feels, to have the love which can change your entire world like my twin brother and my father have", Tristina narrowed her eyes and lowered her head "but perhaps, deep down in my heart, I'm also afraid. Thus, I decided to let my body in this child form. Not to mention, this body is rather useful".
Elizabeth was about to ask her about what was her goal, her purpose and what was she afraid of "Tina, actually, what for you resurrected back to live? What are you trying to accomplish? Although it looks like you're still afraid—".
Didn't want to hear it from her of all people, Tristina quickly went out of the water "I'm done. I want to go hunting, sister. Tell Daddy and everyone, no need to wait for me because I will go home, once I'm satisfied".
When Elizabeth's protective side rose and it looked like she wanted nothing but to chase her, Lily told her not to follow her and just let her be. Looking up, Lily wondered "...it's so calm, but this is only the calmness before the storm hit us. Be careful, all of you. I really mean it".
Veronica raised her eyebrow "is it advice, Queen?".
"no, it's a warning", Lily turned to the princesses with stoic expression "from my experience as a Queen, the storm is gonna hit the Liones Kingdom".
When they all went back to the Boar Hat, they found Tristina hadn't come back yet.
"Tina isn't back yet?", Elizabeth wondered where the little girl had gone. Worry tugged her heart and she decided "I'm going to look for her".
Meliodas grabbed her wrist to stop her "Elizabeth, in case you forget, she's as old as Tristan and she can take care of herself".
Elizabeth turned to him with a scowl "yes, I know, but still... I'm worried, Sir Meliodas. Somehow, she seemed upset when she said that she wanted to go hunting after she took a bath".
Tristan put the glass on the table before going out telling them all to stay because he would look for her. Isolde wanted to come but Tristan told her to stay "no need to worry, I will come back with her. Besides, I need to talk with her privately".
Only someone who knew them like Meliodas and Isolde who could feel it. There were tensions between the twins like there was an invisible wall between them. There was still a distance between them and only them who could break it.
When Meliodas nodded his head and smiled, Isolde waved her hand and smiled "Okay, good luck, then".
When Tristan was back, he carried Tristina who fell asleep with the bandages wrapped around her ankle. Isolde told them that Tristina would be alright, her ankle was injured because of the foothold but yes, she would be alright and she just needed to sleep due to overexertion.
Lily beckoned him to speak privately, just the two of them "father, may I?".
"sure", looking around, when Meliodas was sure, it was only the two of them here, Meliodas asked "I know what this is about, Lily. About your mother—".
"Alright, you don't have to tell me, father. I understand, about mother. I just... I miss her...", Lily sat on the ground and blinked to halt her tears which threatened to fall. She cleared her throat "but it's not the main reason why I come here to meet you".
Granted, Tristina woke up and because she said she wanted to say goodbye with Lily, Elizabeth carried Tristina on her arms and joined by Elias, they went looking for the father and daughter who still talked. Obviously, they overheard their conversation.
Meliodas prepared himself "tell me, what is it? Does it have something to do with your older sister's future vision?".
"well, you know... older sister is blind, but she earns the Future Vision ability and older sister said, she saw it on her future vision, that you will be betrayed by the people you trusted... and they will kill you. She didn't tell me the details... but she did tell me that you have to meet with her if you want to know the details, so just ask her about the details".
Elias frowned "...her? Wait, Lily once told me about Aunt's ability and her Future Vision frighteningly has accuracy about 99,8% to indeed happen".
Nonchalantly, Meliodas simply shrugged and threw his hands behind his head "well, well, well, not my first time to have someone tried to kill me".
"Father, I'm serious", Lily hissed with a deep frown. Geez, her father was always like this when it came to his life, but when it came to her mother or her siblings' life, he would do anything to keep it. Lily squeezed his hand and touched her chest "and as for me, I just want to tell you, you don't have to fulfill your promise to me, father. I am no longer a kid. You don't have to visit me on the Enchanted Woods with my mother's reincarnation. As long as you're happy, then it's my greatest happiness. So please, don't do something stupid and live, for yourself, not for us or mother".
"I understand", cupping her cheeks, Meliodas kissed her forehead before patting her head "don't worry too much. As a man, Dahlia fulfilled his promise to protect you and love you for the rest of his life. As a man, I have to fulfill my promise and not break my promise to you, right? I'm so proud of you, Lily".
Lily smiled fondly. Cupping his cheeks, she kissed his forehead "...I love you, father. Take care".
Before Lily left with Spriggan and Silky, Lily did something unexpected. Cupping Elizabeth's cheeks, Lily kissed Elizabeth's forehead "I bless Thee, princess Elizabeth. May God bless your path".
After Lily explained it was sort of 'blessing' that from generation to generation which she did it to Elias as well before she left, Elizabeth hugged her and kissed her forehead back "I wish you luck. May the happiness and glory always come to you, Queen Lily".
Lily could have cried of joy but she smiled brightly instead "thank you, princess. Everyone, even if my father is a troublemaker sometimes and only-Gods-who-know-what's-going-on-his-head, I leave him in your care".
Meliodas narrowed his eyes "hey, what did you mean by that, Lily?".
Diane, King, Ban, and Gowther said in unison "yeah, we already know it".
The next morning, they were shocked by Tristina's loud cries. When they went downstairs to check what happened, they saw ridiculous sight where Tristina threw tantrum to Tristan (with throwing her fists to him which failed to give an effect on him) as her twin brother who carried her and Meliodas was stuck in the ale barrels.
Muffling his laughter, Ban asked Tristan whom his hair was plucked by Tristina "care to tell me what's going on here, Kid?".
Tristan sighed in exasperation "well... long story short, Tina lost her hearing sense and I asked Aunt Neiva about what to do with it".
Earning the questioning looks from others, Meliodas explained "ah, when Tina was born, she was deaf and before she was resurrected by Neiva, Neiva made sure her hearing would work. It worked, but since last night, she couldn't hear anything, right before I, Triss, and Isolde went sleeping. Tina is a smart girl, thanks to her mother, she can understand the sign language but it's more proper if she has her hearing sense when we fight, right?".
"When we asked Lady Neiva about what should we do, she said the shock therapy may work", Isolde carried Tristina, swaying her in her arms "then, godfather and Sir Tristan have a very clever idea to scare her".
"when they were still a child, Tristan often scared Tina that there's a monster liked to eat little girls like Tina and they came out of the ale barrel. So, as the shock therapy for her, I came into the ale barrel and scared her. It worked and her hearing sense's back", Meliodas came out of the ale barrels and he feigned innocence as his daughter bit his head "but she's mad to us right now, as you see".
Tristina plucked Meliodas' hair and cried harder, smacking Meliodas' head "Daddy and Triss are so mean! You know I'm afraid of it, right?! The first time you and Triss pulled this to scare me, I even got a fever and having a nightmare for a week!".
"there, there, nothing you need to be afraid of", Elizabeth carried and rocked her, swaying the crying Tristina on her arms which successfully soothe her "and why did you scare your sister like that when you were a child, Sir Tristan?".
"it's for her sake, too. You see, Tina is a curious girl and she would do anything to fulfill her curiosity although hers can't be compared with Merlin. Once, she was curious about the ale's taste and when she saw our Dad was even capable of gobbling a barrel of ale, she wanted to taste the ale in the barrel. Thus, like a good older brother as I am, I tried to prevent her from drinking the ale with scared her. I have no idea it would scare her that much!", Tristan pointed Meliodas with his thumb "and back to our main problem, how do you expect me to fit in the barrel now? With my height as tall as Ban, my body does not fit into the ale barrel but Dad's small body does fit, so he did it".
"who said it's a good idea to scare your twin sister like that as shock therapy for her? Help me to calm her down", Meliodas mumbled as he gave a good head-locking to his oldest son, turning to his crying daughter "Tina, don't cry. See, I punish him in your stead".
Tristan protested "discrimination, oi!".
Elizabeth smiled sweetly but somehow, her aura felt menacing "Sir Tristan, Sir Meliodas, don't scare her like that again and apologize to her, please?".
Meliodas and Tristan immediately saluted "we apologize".
This kind of reminded Tristan, Tristina, and Meliodas with 'Elsa', the 13th reincarnation of Elizabeth. She was the type of sweet woman who could make someone crying or kneeling, begging for apologies to her with a sweet smile on her face and menacing aura around her body.
When Meliodas promised to comply with her wish as an apology, Tristina stopped crying and contemplated "...I want to have a vacation together with everyone here, to the beach near the Purple Hill, after we're done with all of our complicated business on the Liones Kingdom".
"Sounds fun! I think it's a good idea, I'd like to join", Elizabeth brightened "hopefully, we all can enjoy it together!".
"say, by you mean the beach near the Purple Hill... is it the beach with white sand where the Legend said there are the Mermaids, Sirens, and Loreley?", Ban asked, lowering the liquor in his hand. When Tristina nodded her head and Tristan asked him in bafflement as to why and how Ban knew such details of that place, Ban simply said it in sing-song tone "because the third town before the beach is known as Ravens, the bandits town. It's my hometown~ I've heard a lot of stories from Zhivago, sort-of my father, including the legends on the beach near the Purple Hill about Sirens, Mermaids, or Loreley, though I don't know what's their differences. What I know, all of them are the women who have the fish-tails instead of legs, right?".
"well, I know someone who exactly can answer your question, Ban. About the differences between the Mermaids, Sirens, and Loreley", Elias floated beside him, lifting the orb on his hand "but first off, we need to discuss our next plan, regards the Junior Sins and our next mission".
The orb floated and it spoke with the voice of a young woman "Indeed. Also, Tina, I agree with you. I think it's really good to have a vacation after this mission. However, we have to finish this mission first and we need to make sure all of you alive first".
After serving the baked bread and hot chocolate for Tristan, Isolde gasped and slammed her hands on the table "that crude and dry joke, no doubt... princess, are you alright? We heard you were poisoned!".
"with all honesty, I am fine", the orb spoke with clear voice before she chuckled lightly "oh, first of all, congratulations for your engagement, Isolde and Tristan. My fiancé even offered to hold the marriage party for you two~".
Isolde covered her face and squealed in delight and Tristan choked before Tristan slammed his hand on the table "must be Lancelot, huh?".
The said-princess chuckled "well, what do you expect?".
As Isolde buried her blushing face on her forearms, Tristan patted her head "remind me to strangle him next time we meet. However, it's a relief that you're fine. About time you show up, princess".
"as I promised, I will show up once we gather all Junior Sins members".
"wait, if you are really the leader of the Junior Sins, I think you should have introduced all of Junior Sins members to us and show yourself in front of us, not to talk to us with using a mere communication orb like this", Veronica cut her off and demanded "because, how do you expect us to believe you as our ally or enemy when we don't even know if we can believe you or not? Whoever you are, princess or not, if you really are the one that I think of, then show yourself now. Don't just cowardly hide in your Castle safely and sent your spy to our Kingdom which put them in danger on display instead".
King floated and sent scrutinize eyes "well, I agree with princess Veronica here. We still don't know if you're trustable or not".
"now, now, please don't be so mean like that to her", Elizabeth lifted her hand and talked with smoother words "princess Guinevere, right? Please, apologize for my older sister's rudeness, but we have the same position and I think it's only proper for us to know if we acknowledge each other as an ally or not. We still don't know your motives, but looking at how your underlings have reacted over the news about you were poisoned yesterday, I think you must be a lovely and endearing person. I'd like to meet with you face to face".
"...unlike me, it seems like you're not changed that much, Ellie...".
Elizabeth and everyone in this room was startled "huh?".
"first off, I apologize for my impudence, for not show myself and to send my spy instead. Due to several circumstances, I can't carelessly leave Camelot but as proof that I am not your enemy, I will send my right hand to your place. She will go to your place right away with 'someone precious' for you, princesses. Consider it as a gift for me and you may discuss our plans furthermore".
Elizabeth was clearly confused right now "wait, have we met before? Who do you mean with 'someone precious' to us that you will send as a gift for us?".
Without explanation, everything happened so fast after that. The orb fell to the floor and Elias caught it, telling them all that the communication had stopped. Next second, two familiar people appeared in the bar.
Margaret and Gelda.
Looking up with her teary eyes, Margaret covered her mouth "Ellie... Vero...".
Elizabeth and Veronica ran to hug Margaret in the bear hug "Margaret!?".
Camelot Castle
Looking down to the mirror which reflected such a heart-warming reunion between the three sisters, Guinevere smiled, she truly felt glad for them. However, Veronica's sharp words stung like the thorns on her heart. The fact that she had endangered Tristan's and Isolde's life when they agreed to go for the mission...
She shouldn't have to let her words get to her, anyway. It was not like Veronica knew, she didn't know, thus she could say it without remorse. She really missed the princesses that she thought as sisters when they grew up together. They didn't know that 'Gwen' and 'Guinevere' were the same people. She didn't know how they would react to her when they found out how changed she had. Because, between the four of them, she dared to bet that she had been the one who had changed the most. Especially Elizabeth. She was aware of the chance that not everything would go smoothly as she planned.
How they would react when they found out 'what' and 'who' she was?
Just with thinking about it, it frightened her and unconsciously, Guinevere blinked away a single tear. She wondered if this was how her biological father and her older brother Tristan had been feeling when they were around their friends who did not know about who and what they were? What if her plan to break the curse on her biological parents wasn't going well as she planned?
No. She couldn't be failed again. She should be successful. For her parents and her siblings' sake. This was only the beginning for the climax of her long-standing plan in order to break her parents, and in the process, hers and her siblings' curse.
Rubbing her temple, Guinevere leaned her elbow her the table and blinked hazily. Her Galadriel Mirror reflected her face. Panting, perspiration started covering her face. Her blue eye turned into gold with the triskelion mark of Goddess Clan. It happened again. Lately, she had trouble controlling her power. She wondered what did it mean? It seemed she had to hasten her plan to visit the Liones Kingdom.
Fou, her golden-eyed Russian blue cat licked her cheek and purred, asking her through telepathy with the concern looks on its eyes "I believe you should rest on your room, Lady".
"...I'm alright, Fou. Just a bit tired", Guinevere sighed in relief, patting the cat. She looked down at the map on the table, the plan of the reconstruction of the Cameliard Kingdom "I have to help Arthur about this, not to mention I, Morgan, and Arthur still have to finish the plan of our 'surprise gift' for Lancelot. Do you think he will like it?".
"oh my, what happened to you, princess? Seems like we visit you in the wrong time, considering how pale you look like".
Guinevere sucked in a deep breath and snapped her head. Standing abruptly, she felt dizziness getting the best of her. She was sure she had locked the door of her private library and the only people who could come here (like Arthur, Merlin, and Escanor) were still busy in the meeting room. Who dared to disturb her? How could they enter this room from the first place when she had locked the door and she made sure the guards outside to not let everyone enter except for the people she had given the consent like Arthur, Merlin, Escanor, Lancelot, Morgan, and Nel Hativa. When she supported herself with her hand on the table and her back leaned to the edge of the table, vaguely through her hazy mind, she saw there were two people in armor had entered this room without her consent. Well, the former, the one who had greeted her sounded like an old man who wore golden armor. The latter wore a dress and silver helmet with a hole to show her eye.
Tucking her mirror to her skirt, Guinevere lifted her chin up and poised her posture "I apologize I don't recognize who you are... Who are you? How could you get in here? No one is allowed to get in here without my consent".
Helbram caressed his chin and hummed approvingly "I see, It seems all those exaggerating rumors about you... not all of those are wrong, it seems. The beauty of the goddess. Grace as the dancing flower petal. Delicate like the glass. Poise and refined just like a princess should be. Not just an Apostle of the Goddess Clan, but a direct descendant of Goddess Clan! I believe it from the triskelion marks of the Goddess Clan on both your eyes! It's an honor to meet you, princess".
Guinevere lifted her hands to cover her eyes. Shit. Why should it be at the time like this?
"bah, all of it kind reminded me of the wench who has bewitched my beloved one's heart. Poor thing, he should have realized it sooner, that he is not the one destined to her", Vivian snarled before going to her daydream "oh, but now with that woman is gone, I finally have the chance to get his heart! What should I do only to pour my love potion to him~".
"I see, so you were jilted. I'm sorry to hear it. I wonder if you are a virgin harlot or simply a pathetic woman who obsessed over a man you can't reach", Guinevere said flatly although deep down in her heart, she didn't feel sympathy at all to her in fact, totally ignoring Helbram's full-hearted laughter and Vivian's irritated yell. She closed her eyes and sighed before she opened her eyes as she regained her composure. Thankfully, the triskelion marks disappeared but her bangs covered her blue eye so it was only her green eye that could be seen. She lifted her hand to the door with a stern face "now, I give one last chance for you two, leave before I call the guard".
Helbram scoffed "the guards? We can take you away before your call even reach them. Don't worry and don't be afraid, princess. We just need your blood. We only need to take a little~ and we will send you back here as long as you behave yourself. Well, that's if my Master intended to send you back, and you will not be ended in his laboratory as his guinea pig".
A mere idea brought the shiver down her spine but when Helbram reached out his hand, a golden-eyed Russian blue cat slashed his cheek and bit his hand.
Guinevere exclaimed in relief when the cat jumped into her hands before she lifted her skirt and ran to the door, hoping inwardly she didn't need to wear such dress that made it hard to run this day "Fou! Good job. Let's go!".
"ouch! That damned cat hurt my handsome face and bit my hand!", Helbram dramatically exclaimed, "catch her!".
"oh, I'm afraid, not so fast, princess", from the corner of her eyes, Guinevere saw Vivian disappeared and reappeared right behind her. Vivian touched her shoulder and gleefully said, "you will have to come with us".
"KYA!?", Guinevere hugged Fou tightly before she was out cold after Vivian put the sleeping spell on her "...Arthur, forgive me...".
A/N:
Uh-oh. It started. Perhaps I will add the conversation between Tina and Tristan on their way back home, including the reason why her ankle could be injured from the first place. The next chapter will be the conversation of everyone in the Boar Hat. Stay tuned~
Also, if you think Gwen will be the damsel in distress, then trust me, think twice *evil_smirk
