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Chapter 76 – Sign Of Holy War (IV)

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IV. The Shape Of Love Part III

When they arrived there, in the chapel, Guinevere and Arthur listened to the guide from the Pope about what they should or should not do, also how to do the steps in the blessing ritual, ceremony, the marriage vows, etc. Morgan, Lancelot, Merlin, and Escanor stood in guard nearby. Once the Arch Bishop joined them, both Arthur and Guinevere kneeled in front of the blessed alter where the Pope and Arch Bishop gave their blessing for them.

When they had finished the protocols, Guinevere asked them all to leave her alone in the chapel "I want to stay here for a while".

Morgan and Lancelot said they would go back first. Merlin and Escanor would stay with Arthur outside where the young King wanted to talk with the Pope and Arch Bishop. There was something that Arthur wanted to ask them, he said. Once she was alone in the chapel, Guinevere caressed the blessed alter in front of her, thinking that finally, she could fulfil a promise from her pact with King Uther Pendragon.

"Finally, I've come this far. Wait for me, father, mother. It won't be long until I can break your curses, no matter what the cost".

Guinevere lifted her hands in a praying position, kneeling on the ground "please forgive me, Father. For I have sinned greatly".

Of course, she referred to her biological father. She did not want to put her faith in Gods, especially not after the Gods cursed such a cruel curse on her parents and tried to kill her. She never bothered to pray to any God because the prayers from the likes of her

"What kind of Sin you've done?", Arthur walked close, sauntering casually until he stopped behind her. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, Arthur hugged her from behind "let me shoulder your Sin".

"...you could not, my Dear, and you would not able to. For I have sinned greatly", looking behind over her shoulder, Guinevere smiled sweetly and kissed his cheek, cupping his free cheek with her other arm "…I feel like I've sinned because of how ungrateful I am. Even if I have this handsome specimen of all men in the Human Clan, I still hope something more".

Even if Arthur blushed slightly from her compliment, he pouted "what? Please, don't tell me that you've got an eye to another man?".

"of course not, Dear", Guinevere chuckled, wrapping her arms around his torso and leaning her head on his chest "…I just hope that your father and my parents who had passed away years ago would be able to present at our wedding day. After I lost my parents in that catastrophe, other than Sir Meliodas and Godmother, King Uther is the figure of a father for me as well".

That day, when King Uther Pendragon passed away, he smiled peacefully as he breathed his last. He asked Arthur and Guinevere to lead the Camelot Kingdom someday, side by side, as the King and the Queen of Camelot Kingdom. Arthur cried a little before he wiped his tears away and kept a brave face in front of everyone, feeling the burden of the Crown on his shoulders. Guinevere had cried a lot, more than Arthur had, in the funeral. Holding each other's hands, they let go of the deceased King Uther together.

Running his fingers on her hair, Arthur kissed her eyelids tenderly "…yeah, I hope so too. I want to show them as well, that I love you deeply with all my heart".

Holding the back of her head, he tipped her head back before they kissed passionately.

King worriedly floated in front of Diane who strangely had been gloomy "Diane, what's wrong? You can tell me everything, you know? Tell me, what makes you upset like this?".

After she had dismissed herself to her group, Diane had been moping in this secluded spot and burying her face on her intertwined forearms. When she finally looked up, Diane sniffled with teary eyes "…it was my fault, King! I was the one who threw Gilthunder after we fought in the White Dream Forest".

After Diane recited what happened in the White Dream Forest, that Gilthunder was landing at a random church, resulting in the innocence villagers died as casualties.

Dangling her legs, Neiva sat on the tree branch nearby "well, even if you didn't mean to kill them… frankly speaking, you indirectly killed that Bianca girl's parents while Gilthunder deliberately ignored them, leaving them to die. It's the fact".

When Diane cried harder, King growled "Neiva! Do you have no blood or tears? Should you say it in front of her? Also, since when did you arrive here?".

"Di, the casualty is the common thing in the war. Would you stop fighting because of this? No, right? In case you forget, my mother lost her life when she gave me birth and I lost the chance to be raised by my biological father due to his curse, but I don't want to stop fighting", a pair of grey-feathered wings sprout out of her back. Flapping her wings, Neiva floated in front of Diane and touched her nose "for now, I will fight to break the curse on my father. I believe as long as we still have something to protect, as long as we have a reason to fight, let's just focus on our further battle and do not let your past and guilt burden you. You might have caused the casualties unintentionally, and you felt guilty of it. But do remember this. With your ability, you can protect and save as much as living beings. Until someday, the time will come when the numbers of the people you saved are much greater rather than the people you've killed. That is the only thing you can do to atone. Wouldn't you want to atone your Sins with your beloved one?".

Looking at King who nodded with an understanding smile and reached out his hand to her, Diane cried and resolved to herself. She would atone for her Sins for causing the casualties, be it intentionally or not.

Margaret gently touched his bicep "Gil, it's not your fault. You should have known it. I know, if you could, you would help them but you could not because Vivian watched over you".

Burying his face on his intertwining hands, Gilthunder felt frustrated. The resentment and desperation cry that Bianca had thrown at him, was very similar to the feeling he had towards Hendrickson and Dreyfus for killing his father. Tightening his grip on his intertwined knuckles, Gilthunder remembered his resolve. Wasn't it the reason why he would leave to atone for his Sins?

"…Margaret, after what just happened, I think there's more reason for me to atone my Sins", Gilthunder squeezed her hand and looked straight to her "after Gwen's marriage ceremony with King Arthur, I will leave the Capital".

Even if it was to protect Margaret and deceive Hendrickson and Vivian, it did not change the fact that Gilthunder had hurt countless innocent people. Gilthunder felt he had no right to call himself a Holy Knight. Thus, he decided to leave the Capital and wander the land of Britannia on his own feet, to help people who were suffering from all he could give, in order to atone for his Sins.

Margaret smiled with those understanding and resolve on her determined eyes "…I see. I understand, I will not stop you. Besides, I guess it will be so much fun, to travel this land and spend a little time alone together, before I ascend the throne".

"Yeah, I guess so", Gilthunder snapped his head "huh? Margaret, forgive me. I don't quite follow. I told you that I'm leaving the Capital and I don't mean to bring you with me. Ah! Of course, I will be happy to spend more time together with you when we travel, but my journey may be dangerous!".

"yeah, I know it, but I want to. I've been thinking about it", Margaret giggled when she saw how funny his expression "do you know, Gil? When I was taken under Gwen's care in the Camelot Kingdom, I got to see what kind of a Kingdom that Gwen will rule over, together with Arthur. I really envied her. She's still an independent Gwen we knew, but at the same time, she's also the future Queen of Camelot that everyone looked up to. I never really want to be the Queen, but I think it's good to be the kind of a Queen like Gwen".

"Gwen really gave a big influence for you, huh?", Gilthunder chuckled and gave up "alright, you won. However, I think we have to prepare ourselves when we face King Baltra".

Margaret tilted her head, leaning her head on her knees with a sweet, enchanting smile "if my father wished me to ascend the throne, I would… but for now, I want to live my life as I please, to spend my time with you, as long as we can. We've been away even if we're so close, for so long. Don't you want to travel and spend more time with me?".

Cupping her cheek, he brought his face closer to her "you should have known my answer".

Veronica and Griamore had been watching over them, hiding behind the bark of the tree.

Veronica tucked her hands behind her head "well, I guess we needn't worry about your cousin and my sister anymore, right?".

Griamore concurred with a lopsided smirk "…right".

After Meliodas revealed how Melody's mother passed away, he concealed all thought he had "as I said, my daughter, Melody is a helpful girl. If you wished so, she would try to help you bring your parents back. However, she might lose her life. Do you wish so?".

Bianca horrified "of course not!".

"then never bring it up in front of her", Meliodas scowled, walking away "losing her mother is enough for me. If I lost her too…".

When Meliodas left them, with Elizabeth in tow, Hawk wondered "oh, but I wonder about one thing… what would happen if you dipped your body to the Holy Water and what is its efficiency?".

"you don't know? The Holy Water is infused with the Goddess-like Holy Magic Power. Only the chosen one who possessing the Goddess Clan power like the Apostle of the Goddess Clan, or the Saintess like Lady Melody who can infuse the Holy Magic power to the water. When the evil beings like the Demon touch the Holy Water, their body will melt and be purified…", Bianca trailed off before lifting her hands "…the pig can talk!".

Hawk retorted incredulously "and you just realize it now?".

Ah. The Sins just understood now. No wonder that Gelda, Meliodas, and his children could not get in touch with this Holy Water.

Wait. Something was off.

How could Melody keep in touch with this Holy Water? Later, they thought it had something to do with the kid's mother and perhaps, not all their Captain's Demon blood was flowing through their vein.

Tristan frowned "whatever you want to talk with her, I don't think it will be good, princess".

"it's not your decision to be made, Sir Tristan. It's him", Guinevere smirked, "it's up to you, do you want to follow me or not?".

Ban decided to follow her.

Back then that night, on the attic "yo, Cap'n".

Meliodas blinked his eyes "what is it?".

Ban scratched his nape "well, I apologize first, for I'm about to ask you the most sensitive topic, but… will you confront your youngest daughter for… you know, like the one you did with Merissa".

"for her suicide attempt?", Meliodas said bitterly before he shook his head and chuckled humorlessly "Nah, I could do it with Merissa, but… with Melody? I contemplated to do it at first, but the more I thought of it, I don't think I can confront her about it. I don't even have the right to do it from the first place, after all".

Ban had wondered the reason for his Captain's different choice. He thought it was because Melody was the youngest daughter and the Captain was the type of father who spoiled his youngest daughter the most, but he was wrong. When he had met Melody for the first time, Ban thought he could understand why his Captain decided to refrain himself from confronting his youngest daughter about her suicide attempt. There were red pinkish scars on her body. It was barely visible, but Ban realized the scars around her wrists and her ankles. The most visible scar was the one on her neck, right above her vocal cord. Ban only could wonder how, why, and who dared to do it to the Captain's youngest daughter who looked so frail. She looked as fragile as the glass, and Ban was afraid that he would break her if he touched her, that she would fall like the withering flower.

Guinevere's barely audible whisper distracted him from his reverie "cooperate with me for a while and just pretend to be my escort".

They arrived in front of a chapel. Two Templar Knights crossed their spears to block the door before asking their identity.

"princess Guinevere Cameliard, the bride of King Arthur Pendragon of Camelot Kingdom. I wish to pray here before meeting with the Saintess", Guinevere gracefully lifted her chin, pointing to Ban "and he is my escort".

Both Templar Knights lowered their spears and allowed them to enter, closing the door behind them. Guinevere turned on the light on the candles, walking to the wall beside the chapel. After she pressed the hidden button on the wall, a door to the hidden passageway opened.

"come this way", Guinevere led the way, walking downstairs "I believe you have so many questions regards my family".

"oh, you can't blame me, from how many secrets that your mysterious family have, but what intrigued me the most lately~", Ban drawled, slipping his hands into his pockets "is your mother".

Guinevere raised an eyebrow and chuckled "perhaps, you can ask uncle Escanor about it. Good luck".

"no, no, no. I don't refer to your Godmother. She is the last woman I can stand with and want to understand. I referred to your biological mother", Ban stopped when Guinevere halted abruptly "of course, I don't refer to the dead King and Queen of Cameliard Kingdom who adopted you, because you said it yourself, that the Dragon Sin of Wrath Meliodas is your biological father. I believe Merlin is not your biological mother either".

Guinevere slowly turned her head, looking behind over her shoulder with a cold glare "stop beating around the bushes and just ask me, what do you want to know?".

You could say that Ban was gambling now "Princess Elizabeth Liones, is she your mother?".

For a split second, there was a flicker of something indescribable in her eyes which extinguished as fast as it appeared. Guinevere giggled sweetly and covered her mouth "oh, my. What are you talking about, uncle Ban? Ellie is my friend and she's FAR younger than me. Well, people think we're the same age, though".

Oh, trying to act innocent now? Ban didn't buy it "I see you have been an expert of 'acting innocent' like your father and being a manipulative woman like your Godmother, but you can't fool me, Gwen. I have been meaning to ask ever since I have this speculation".

Guinevere caressed her chin, still feigned innocence "oh, my. It's so mean of you. What speculation do you have and what makes you think about it?".

"a speculation that Elizabeth Liones is your biological mother's reincarnation".

Ban didn't know why and perhaps it was so mean of him, indeed. Her expression stiffened and she froze on the spot as if she just caught red-handed.

Ban relished the sensation of knowing the truth "and what makes me think of it? You can't blame me. After all, isn't it obvious? You, your siblings, Isolde, the Cap'n and Merlin are quite fond of the princess. Yes, she is a lovely person, but when it comes to the love interest of your father, your siblings do not show a good reaction, unless the Cap'n chose princess Elizabeth. I also have caught a glimpse of how Tristan, Tina, and Lily's mother looked like. Though, I still need to see how Merissa, Lancelot, Melody, and your biological mother, to proof my speculation. However, their mother that I already knew, they have so much resemblance with the princess. Not to mention, you and your siblings also have some resemblances with both the Cap'n and the princess. The most obvious thing, the fact that the Cap'n loves her. So, I concluded that perhaps, Elizabeth Liones is your biological mother's reincarnation".

He expected her to be angry, mad, or offended, telling him to just mind his business and not to interfere in whatever problems their family had. So, when she laughed in mirth or satisfaction? He did not expect it at all.

Guinevere clapped her hands to give applause and smiled sweetly, sarcastically "well, well, well, I am surprised. For someone stupid with a birdy muscled-brain, you are unexpectedly smart and perceptive enough to realize our family's greatest secret".

Usually, Ban would be offended, but he was not in the mood right now "so... the princess is really...".

Turning her back around, she continued walking with a gesture for him to follow her "since she was a child, Melody loves painting and her hobby is drawing. Not only the big painting of Lady Medusa, our late grandmother from father's family, but she also drew the paintings of our biological mothers who gave us birth. Melody is a lovely girl, like our mother. The reason why she drew the paintings of our family because she wanted us not to forget them. To prevent our mother from witnessing the paintings of her past-selves, father didn't forbid her to draw the paintings, with one condition. Her paintings must be collected in one place, underground in the secret room where only our family members can enter".

They arrived in the grand ballroom-like, a spacious room with the dim light of the candles. Guinevere pulled the rope beside the red curtains. The red curtains spread to the side, revealing seven paintings of the women with so many physical resemblances, to the point people might mistake them as siblings.

The newest painting was a Holy Knight woman cladded in silver armour, holding the sword. She had red short hair and piercing blue eyes, one eye covered by her bangs.

"that is Elizabeth 106th, the one we called 'Liz', Lancelot's biological mother. She was a spy and a former slave who worked to the enemy of Danafor Kingdom. I guess you already knew her story, a little".

Each time Ban's eyes scrutinized the painting in front of him, Guinevere explained who 'she' was at that time, like her nickname, her occupation, etc. Ban decided to start from the First painting.

As Ban expected, Guinevere's mother was a Goddess. Elizabeth's Original version, she said.

"Demon Clan and Goddess clan members had called her as 'Bloody Ellie' because her mother, my maternal grandmother, Supreme Deity had been using her as their ultimate weapon in the war against Demon Clan".

Ban glanced sideways "...from what I remembered, Tristan said that she passed away on your birth?".

"…half of it".

Guinevere frowned deeply, Like the hell, she could forget that day. When her grandparents found out that Elizabeth was pregnant, they cooperated to kill her parents and cursed them. If it were not for Merlin and Isolde's efforts to keep her alive, aided by Lilith, she would never be born into this world.

Ban decided to not pester her. Wise choice. He observed the painting instead. In the First painting, Elizabeth had her wings folded, sleeping peacefully with a content smile. She wore a white dress, was holding the baby in her chest. Looking at this painting, Ban thought with a slight smirk, "unlike her obnoxious nickname... 'Bloody Ellie', she said? She seems like the perfect figure of a Goddess and a loving mother in my eyes".

Ban could not help but smile fondly at the lovely painting in front of him "your sister is really an excellent painter".

Guinevere smiled fondly "dare to say it in front of my father and prepare yourself because he will boast about his children proudly and once he starts, it's hard for him to stop".

Ban barked out laughter "oh, I'd prefer not to! It sounded like the Cap'n I knew, indeed".

The Second painting, Tristan and Tristina's mother. Elsa, Elizabeth 13th. He had caught a glimpse of her in the incident with the Dawn Roar and Dale in that Forest, from Tristina's memory. She wore a black dress, a black hat tilted on the side of her head with a veil covered half of her face. Her black hair tied into a bun and her blue eyes seemed like holding the untold painful story of the past. One of her hand grabbed the fan.

In the Third painting, Merissa's mother, Elizabeth 45th, Elizabeth Syrena or 'Elena', had long wavy red hair that reached her hips. Her lower body was a green fish-tail. The colours of her tail looked like the Emerald Orb with the black and pinkish pearls glittering on it. She smiled brightly, sitting on the rock when she saw singing.

In the Fourth painting, Lily's mother, Elizabeth 69th, Elizabeth Titania, Bethany had flowing long straight white hair. She had a pair of horns on her head and a pair of wings on her back. Her wings were different from Lily. Her wings were just like the beautiful sun at the dawn. She was holding a lance and she looked fierce with the Crown made by the thorny vines of roses.

When he was about to see the Fifth painting, Ban just realized something was wrong "wait... Tristan and Tina are twins. There's supposed to be six paintings only, if it were just like you said, that Melody drew the paintings of your mothers, only who gave you birth".

Guinevere snickered "took you quite a long time enough to realize it".

Not only that, Ban scrutinized all the paintings. The other five looked more decent and newer compared to the Fifth and Sixth paintings. The Fifth and Sixth painting strangely looked older and there were traces of the burns or… blood.

"this one is Melody's mother, Elizabeth 99th, Elizabeth Nightingale, which we usually called as 'Elise'. She was the one who gave birth to Melody biologically and was known as the Saintess of Sarpedon Island, Melody's predecessor", Guinevere pointed to the Fifth painting before moved to the Sixth painting "and this one—".

Ban moved to compare the Fifth and Sixth painting.

The Fifth painting was a painting of an Elf, kneeling in front of a chapel and lifting both hands in a praying position. Her hair was purple, but her blue eyes were still identically the same. Her pointy Fairy-like ears were visible. On the blessed alter in the chapel, a white bundle of a baby lying there. A single tear visibly cascaded down the mother's face. The transparent wings were visible on her back.

The Sixth painting was a painting of a princess who was ready for her marriage. She wore the white wedding dress with a veil attached to the tiara on her head, holding a bouquet of white lily. This one had long straight white hair threaded with blonde-hair, but what caught his attention the most, was her heterochromia eyes that identical to Guinevere's eyes.

"—is Elizabeth 100th, Elizabeth Cameliard. We called her 'Lizzy'. She's one of the princesses in the Cameliard Kingdom from the previous generation who was sent to the Argonauts Kingdom of the Sarpedon Island as the bride for Jason, one of the princes".

"let me guess, your father was a Holy Knight or Mercenary that time who kidnapped her before she could marry the prince?".

"well, I guess it will be faster to explain it by showing it to you. After all, like the wise people said, Experience is the best teacher", Guinevere caressed her chin and lifted her bangs "Truthfully, I don't want to show this to you. It was so gruesome and it's also the Dark Side of our family's history, but I'm afraid you will do something stupid, so this is a needed measure. Even if it means I have to show you the unforgivable Sins of the detestable human beings…".

Ban felt the shivers crawling on his spine. This was entirely different from Elizabeth's Goddess power or Meliodas' Darkness power. This strange presence came from Guinevere who closed her eyes and lifted her bangs. Next second, the symbol of the dark sun appeared on her forehead. She opened her eyes, her heterochromia eyes changed into a pair of golden eyes with the triskelion symbol of Goddess Clan. The white of her eyes changed into the pools of darkness and it seriously creeped him out when she smirked devilishly.

Guinevere wanted to test her true power and she decided to use Ban as her victim "Chaos: Activate".

Their surrounding suddenly blackened and Ban thought he was left behind under the deepest sea of the Darkness. That, until he witnessed what happened in the past.

Of Melody's past, precisely. When she hadn't changed her name yet.

Merlin, Tristan and Isolde came to the Boar Hat with Tristina and Howzer to check on Gelda. They even brought some sweet treats for her, like the pomegranates etc. Suddenly, they felt it coming from the Canterbury Cathedral, the trace of tremendous magic power, even if just for a second. Merlin, Tristan, and Tristina who were sensitive to this kind of magic snapped their head. Meliodas, Melody, Lancelot, and the Sins were still in the Canterbury Cathedral. If Merlin and the others in the Boar Hat could sense it, for them who much closer to the main source of this magic, of course, would sense it.

Arthur stopped walking and turned back "…Guinevere?".

A/N:

Give applause for the King Arthur, handsome specimen of all men in Human Clan LOL

He's such a sweet cinnamon roll that I can get an overdose of sugar here.

Gwen, it's so mean of you. Even if it's to test your power, should you make Ban into your guinea pig? You really take after Merlin, huh?