Hi cuties! I wanted to let you know that in this scenario, Queen Caroline died after her body succumbed to an illness. In the real version, she and Dreyfus' and Zaratras' wife died during a formal tea party when they were attacked by monsters. That's all! Please review! Loves!

Pookiepoodle x

On a sunny autumn day, the entire kingdom of Liones was silent, something unusual in this usually lively place. The shops had closed and the children were not allowed to play in the streets. The laughter and gossip normally heard in the marketplace was replaced by frowns and quiet whispers. It was a somber mood, fitting for the scene.

This was because today, the funeral of their beloved Queen Caroline was taking place.

The whole kingdom had been shocked to hear that the Queen had passed away in the middle of the night. It was common knowledge that she was not a well woman, often not able to attend many festivities, but the sudden nature of it all was too much for the people. She was a kind woman who'd helped many of her kingdom's most vulnerable, organizing charities to aid those in need.

For the royal family, it was unbearable. Each family was processing the grief differently.

King Bartra had taken to sitting in his chambers for hours, simply staring out the window. He refused meals and wouldn't allow anyone to enter his rooms. Instead, he simply sat, remembering his beautiful wife, her smiling face everywhere even now.

Veronica had turned her grief into anger and was now regularly seen sparring with Griamore, who looked worse for wear. He didn't complain, however, as he understood that she needed this. If anyone complained or told her that she wasn't being "ladylike", she simply lashed out, pulling out her prized possession. A steel sword her mother had gifted her with a diamond at the hilt. She was seen often polishing this gift, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall onto the blade.

Margaret now wore a stony expression as she glided around the halls aimlessly, like a ghost. When asked if she was alright, she would nod, but everyone knew that she obviously wasn't. She continued her daily routine, however she was no longer truly there. Rather, she was going through the motions, like a hollow puppet. She never cried during the day nor did she smile. But at night, she would soak her pillow with quiet sobs.

For the youngest princess, her emotions were clear to anyone who saw her. Elizabeth was a sobbing mess, often excusing herself from dinners and such to cry in solitude.

The service was lovely with everyone in the kingdom attending to pay their respects to the late Queen. The Queen had been placed into the royal tombs, her mahogany coffin shining bright in the sunlight before it was placed into the dark. The family wore black and seemed to be calm, but Meliodas knew better. They were numb with grief. As everyone left, many offered their condolences to the family and telling them how brave they were, that it would get better.

Meliodas hated it all though.

Seeing Elizabeth like this broke his heart.

Later, after everyone had paid their respects and returned to the castle, Elizabeth was nowhere to be found. Meliodas had been keeping an even closer eye on her since her mother's death but in the midst of the day's events, he'd lost track of her.

"Has anyone seen Elizabeth?" Meliodas asked around, only to be met with sighs and pitied looks. The princess was often disappearing these days, reappearing later with red puffy eyes.

"I believe she'll be in the tower," a small voice said weakly behind him. Meliodas turned to see a pale Margaret standing there, a ghost herself. She was looking down at the ground and seemed much younger.

"Thanks, Maggie," Meliodas smiled lightly, before rushing off. Climbing up the old tower, he began to hear Elizabeth's cries and he sped up, darting up each creaking plank. When he reached the tower room, he was greeted by a heart wrenching scene.

Elizabeth was rocking back and forth on the dusty wooden floor, sobbing like a banshee as she clutched a piece of fabric close to her chest. Her hair was down, covering her face in a haunting manner.

"Elizabeth," Meliodas breathed softly, attempting to move closer. Once he got closer, he saw that the piece of fabric was actually a handkerchief, one of Queen Caroline's many. It was embroidered with little roses and had Q.C stitched onto the fabric.

"It's not fair," Elizabeth gasped between sobs, looking up at him. His mind went blank for a moment as he saw the raw grief in her expression.

"I know," Meliodas murmured, crouching down next to her. He began to stroke her hair, in a feeble attempt to soothe her.

"I… I shouldn't even be this upset," Elizabeth exclaimed, her body shaking," I'm … so… selfish…"

"What are you talking about?" Meliodas asked, genuinely confused. Why was the young girl punishing herself?

"I'm not even her real daughter," Elizabeth sniffed,"Yet Maggie and Veronica are able to not cry every five minutes."

"Everyone has different ways of dealing with grief," Meliodas replied," We've been over this before, remember?"

"Yes," Elizabeth whimpered, snuggling into him, hiding her tear stained face. He sighed and held her tightly.

"Veronica is taking hers out through aggression," Meliodas continued," but I've seen her after her sparring matches. Shaking and still full of sorrow. Maggie's no different. I can hear her cries at night as well."

"How do you know so much about this?" Elizabeth sniffed, looking up at him. Meliodas looked away for a moment.

"I lost someone very important to me," Meliodas said softly. Elizabeth looked up at him with wide eyes.

"How did you react?" Elizabeth asked quietly.

"I was angry," Meliodas confessed," at the world. Everyone. Then I learned that anger doesn't solve all your problems.

"Does it ever hurt less?" Elizabeth asked," the pain?"

"Yes," Meliodas lied, holding her close. He couldn't bear to tell her that everyday his heart ached. That he wanted to die.

They sat in silence, each mourning in their own way.