Lady Elizabeth Liones, third princess in line for the throne of the Kingdom of Liones, let a sigh slip into her water filled crystal glass as she surveyed the crowded ballroom before her. Women adorned exquisite gowns of all colors and styles while twirling around on the highly reflective floor as their partners gracefully danced them in time to the slightly upbeat sound of the band. Vibrant masks concealed their identities, as was the theme for this evenings gathering, with the more extravagant guests flamboyantly displaying their wealth with exotic feathers lining their eyes. She had never really been fond of these dances as the younger suitors always tried to woo her with sickly sweet words and overpowering cologne, some even going as far as to propose marriage arrangements with her father, King Baltra. Being the overprotective man he was the King usually immediately turned the men down, explaining to his youngest that they didn't meet his standard. She knew it was because he couldn't bear the thought of his final child becoming married and being whisked off to another kingdom.
Glancing around the room she noticed a few young men from neighboring kingdoms glancing her way, giving charming smiles as they caught her wandering eyes. A grimace graced her lips as she quickly set down her glass while they made their way over to her, ladies swooning at them as they passed. A servant quickly swiped the glass away in preparation for their visit leaving the woman wishing she had another few sips as her mouth began to dry out. Elizabeth was thankful she had kept her mask on, vibrant cerulean eyes studying them with little interest as delicate fingers tucked stray silver locks behind her ear. The man leading the trio oozed with blatant haughtiness while winking at a gaggle of women, his brazen flirting a warning sign for the princess. The two tagging behind him seemed to be nothing more than his lackeys judging by their eyes constantly dipping down to the heaving chests of the female variety. She straightened in her chair with a deep breath as they climbed the stairs at her feet.
"Your Highness, a pleasure to see you tonight," He greeted with a bow, his lackeys following suit. Elizabeth merely nodded at their gesture with exhaustion dragging at her mind. His sugary words made her want to gag though she held it back with a snap of her fan that covered her mouth, fanning herself lightly. It was beginning to get a bit stuffy in her heavy ballgown.
"Good evening gentlemen. I hope you are enjoying yourselves tonight?"
"Of course Lady Elizabeth, we immensely enjoy every ball thrown in Liones. Though your radiant presence always makes these affairs more worth the while." Elizabeth held back a scoff as an easy smile slipped onto her features. Could he try any harder? They always started off sweet then progressively made their intentions clearer by the end of the conversation.
"I am flattered, Sir…?"
"Havenworth, Cornelius Havenworth, Lady Elizabeth. These two are my companions, Ignious and Lathanial." The two men bowed once more.
"A pleasure to meet you all. Forgive me for not standing, I am a bit worn from this evenings activities." Elizabeth replied warmly as her eyes darted anywhere but on the men in front of her. Cornelius merely slipped an amused smile.
"We would not want you to strain yourself, Your Highness, so please continue to rest. Though I would like to chat with you for a moment if you could spare?"
Elizabeth barely contained the exasperated groan catching in her throat. Apparently he was going to try harder. As much as she wanted to deny his request, it wasn't appropriate of a Princess to outright deny a potential suitor. "Of course."
Ignious and Lathanial quietly slipped away, reintegrating themselves into the bustling crowds as Cornelius settled himself into a nearby chair with wandering eyes slipping briefly from her own to admire her…apparel. The princess let the tiniest of disgusted shivers run through her body as he opened his mouth and began talking. She tried to listen, truly, but he was going on and on about the same thing all the others did; enticing her with ideas of kingdom unification, hinting at marriage and how many children they could, would have. The man was nearly twice her age, rapidly approaching his thirties while she had yet to turn sixteen. He even had the audacity to grab her hand and stroke it while telling her how she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, how no other woman compared to her goddess-like appearance. Princess Elizabeth Liones was a patient woman through and through, but this man had clearly intended to push his luck from the very beginning and she had had enough for one evening.
"Forgive me Lord Havenworth, I must excuse myself for the time being." Elizabeth gently withdrew her hand from his oddly frigid grasp and stood, lightly smoothing out the golden fabric adorning her body and giving a curtsey. "Please, enjoy the rest of your evening."
"Of course, Lady Elizabeth. I do hope you give my offer some thought. I shall bring it up with your father as well before our departure." Cornelius crossed an arm over his chest and bowed, giving her one last glance before walking down the steps to rejoin his mingling friends.
With a heavy unladylike sigh Elizabeth briskly made her way as far from the suffocating room as she could, grasping the thick layers of silken fabric as she made her way down some stairs behind the thrones. She quickly waved off any servants that tried to approach her, giving them a flash of a smile before continuing on her way. As she reached an empty hallway the princess quickly checked all around her before shifting the front of her dress up and flinging off her pinching heels with a grin. The little devils had been hurting her feet for hours and the cool breeze of the night begin to soothe their aches. With two fingers she grabbed them up and swung them lightly as she walked barefoot, toes wiggling at their newfound freedom. Thankfully the hallways remained empty seeing as nearly all of the staff were busy tending to the guests and her father was meeting with other kingdom leaders to discuss trade routes, leaving Elizabeth to wander at her leisure. At least until the Holy Knights came to drag her back into the party. Guila was nearly a bloodhound with her keen sense of locating the princess with ease.
Her body began making its way to her favorite resting spot within the entirety of the castle grounds, a place that she had known since she was little and that no one else knew how to enter. Whenever she needed space from the large balls held nearly every other week or the endless meetings she was dragged into as other kingdoms offered for her hand in marriage, she would come and sit in the garden at night for hours. Or at least until her second oldest sister, Veronica, came storming out to find her with the threat of locking her in her room for a week if she didn't show herself.
The air was crisp and refreshing as she swung open the garden access doors, making sure they didn't slam shut and alert anyone nearby, before practically skipping down the stone pathway towards her nook. The garden looked otherworldly with all of the small lanterns illuminating it, the low burbling of the large ornate fountain adding perfectly to the effect. The brightly glowing moon was slowing ascending across the sky as countless stars sparkled like diamonds around it, a sight that always mesmerized the princess. Elizabeth let out a happy sigh as she skimmed her fingers in the fountains water, the cool water a refreshing shock to her nearly overheated system. Summer had ended and the Autumn season was just getting into full swing and she was thriving in it; she had always been drawn to the season with its vibrantly colored leaves and perfect temperature during the daytime, often skipping boring lessons to bask in the weather. Her father chastised her of course, though he usually ended up staying outside with her to enjoy the weather as well.
Resting herself on the marble bench in the small sitting area Elizabeth let out a heavy sigh. Many suitors would ask for her hand every time a ball was held in Liones and it was beginning to tire the teen out. Yes, it was her duty to accept one of them and run off to help grow a kingdom, but she had very little interest in doing something so…traditional. She wanted to find her own love not someone twice her age who already had previous wives who became too dull for them, demanding male heirs to the throne in order to keep the bloodline going. It just didn't seem like a very happy lifestyle and the princess would do whatever it takes to prevent it from happening, even if it meant throwing away the royal title and leaving the castle. Looking up to the moon glowing brightly in the night sky Elizabeth wondered what the world outside of the thick stone walls of Liones looked like. Did every town and kingdom look the same or were they completely different? How did people survive out in the open world? A cold wind brushed past her and she let out a small shiver. It would be best to make her way into the hedges to block the harsh chill until she was ready to return to the eager suitors.
Just as she was about to begin weaving her way through the tall hedge maze to reach her spot, voices drifted from the opposite direction growing ever closer and she froze. Nobody else was supposed to be out here, so how did they slip past the servants and the Holy Knights stationed everywhere? There was no way she could run back inside without alerting them, yet if she moved they would also notice her. Panic gripped her chest as she struggled in deciding where to go.
"Where did that damn brat get to? He'll regret making a fool out of me!" A man growled loudly, cursing as he searched the garden with agitation. "There's no way I lost that fight!"
"I'm pretty sure he ran out this way. There's only one other way out of here and the boys are watching it. You search the grounds, I'll get the cliché hedge maze." Another man responded, earning a grunt from his partner. "Who thought these stupid things were a good idea anyways?"
"Rich people with plenty of time and money."
"And poor taste!"
Elizabeth's hands flew to her mouth and her eyes went wide. She was trapped in the garden with no escape back into the castle. There were no guards nearby either for at least another fifteen minutes, knowing their schedule by heart for years now, so the only choice she had was to go to her spot and hide until they left. She quickly twirled around and sprinted into the maze, shoes clenched tightly against her palm. They could be used as a weapon if need be, though she knew they were far stronger than she was and it would only serve to anger them more.
"Hey, something moved over here! Whoever you are, you better come out now!" An eep! of surprise slipped from her lips and she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth, chastising herself for revealing she was there. "I'm coming in there!"
The princess quickly weaved her way through the hedges, eyes wide and darting behind her constantly. She could hear his footsteps growing closer and her breath hitched in fear. Her fingers were cramping around her heels and she briefly tempted throwing them as a distraction to get the man away from her long enough so she could find her nook. The fabric of her dress caught on an untrimmed branch, the material ripping loudly as it became entangled in the hedge. Elizabeth quickly fumbled her fingers over the branch, yanking as hard as she could to free the fabric from its gnarled grasp, yet it wouldn't budge. The footsteps were maybe seconds away and she was trapped by a stupid branch in her frenzy to escape. Dropping her shoes to yank with both hands, Elizabeth teared up at the thought of being alone with a complete stranger who could do unspeakable things to her. It was a stupid idea to come out here during a ball when there were so many people in the castle and she mentally berated herself over and over for it.
Just as the man's heavy breathing reached her ears, a hand slapped over her mouth as an arm wrapped around her waist and jerked her backwards hard, freeing her from the hedge. Branches and leaves scraped at her dress and exposed skin as she was pulled through the hedges before landing against something warm with a muffled grunt. She tried to struggle free from her captors grasp but it was an iron grip around her.
"I won't hurt you, but you need to stay quiet or they're going to find us both." A low voice hissed in her ear and she tensed up, eyes wide as the pent up tears slipped down her face. With a slow, shaky nod she agreed and the grip over her mouth loosened a bit.
"Eh? It's a woman out here? Must be my lucky night. Young lady, would you come out here so I can help you?" The man snickered to himself. Elizabeth jolted at how close he was to her hiding spot, her heart racing a hundred miles an hour. "She's probably hiding nearby, take the other side and search over there. Forget about that brat for now, he probably got away."
A shadow shifted next to her and the princess jerked back on instinct before realizing it was a person, the one who had saved her in fact. She could make out very little of his features save for the golden locks and the most piercing emerald eyes she had ever seen behind a dark green dragon scaled mask with ruby red eyes on it. A finger lifted to his lips and she pressed her mouth shut before shakily nodding. He flashed her a devious grin just as he slipped through the hedges and out of sight, leaving her alone in the barely illuminated darkness. Elizabeth struggled to even her breathing out while straining her ears for any obvious sounds though all that reached her were those of the disgruntled men. They were calling back and forth to one another as they continued their search for her. She folded her legs beneath her behemoth dress, twisting her hands nervously in her lap. Oh, the trouble she would be in with Veronica and her father for sullying the gown.
Just who was the man that had saved her and why did he do it? Surely she could have used her authority and demanded them to leave, but there was the chance they wouldn't listen and that's what frightened her the most. How she wished some of the guards would patrol by and catch the men in the act, but that meant her secret nighttime adventuring would come to an end if her father found out.
A low grunt yanked Elizabeth from her thoughts and she quickly darted her eyes around searching for its source. Another one soon followed, and the princess' heart flew into her throat and lodged itself. Was someone attacking them? Or were they attacking? Where did that stranger go? She quickly shifted herself back against the hedges, yanking her heavy layers of golden dress with her. There was nothing around her to use as a weapon and Elizabeth opted for hugging her knees close to her chest, praying no one else would come for her next. After a few tense moments of silence the bushes began rustling and she slammed her head down against her legs and curled up tighter, body trembling in fear. This had never happened to her before, the castle always a safe and secure place for her to roam. She would surely getting a berating from Veronica and her father for getting herself into such a reckless situation. The rustling stopped and the princess tensed up as she prepared for the worst only to feel a warm hand gently touch her own, her body twitching from the contact.
"Are you unharmed, My Lady?"
She remained silent, feeling her mask dig further against her face almost painfully as she nestled further into her arms. Terror prevented her from looking up at him, someone unknown and potentially dangerous. He could kidnap her and hold her for ransom or sell her off to some random kingdom. Surely the guards would soon notice she was missing—
"You are Lady Elizabeth, correct?" The stranger asked, startling her enough for her head to snap upwards with wide, teary eyes.
"I-I am." The woman stuttered out as they locked eyes. He surprised her by giving her a large, boyish grin as he rolled from his crouch back into a sitting position.
"What are you doing way out here in the dark? Shouldn't you be inside dancing the night away with some prince charming?"
"I needed some fresh air. Why were you running from those two men?" Elizabeth asked quietly as she lowered her gaze to her lap, his boyish and laid back demeanor pinkening her cheeks the slightest bit. He seemed to be nothing more than a child from first glance. It would make sense for him to be playing in the hedges yet he was faster and stronger than any child she knew.
"Ah, they're just mad that I caught them snooping around the hallways when they weren't supposed to be, so I taught them a little lesson." He shrugged as she stared at him incredulously. "Turns out they don't take defeat too kindly."
"What were you doing exploring the castle hallways when everyone is to be gathered in the ballroom?"
"My job."
"Your…job?" Elizabeth tilted her head in confusion. She had never seen him or heard his voice before. Was he hired as additional security for the parties? "I have never seen you before, what exactly was your job for this evening?"
When he didn't answer right away her suspicions began to sprout. He seemed to be struggling with explaining it, his head lowering the slightest so his bangs covered his masked eyes even more. Just as she was getting ready to call for the guards, he spoke. "I'm afraid I can't answer that right now, My Lady. Just know that I am on your side and will protect you with my life."
Elizabeth pursed her lips but remained silent on the matter. It was possible he was working for one of the handful of kingdoms gathered here tonight and judging from his tense posture, it was a sensitive matter. "Very well, I will entrust you will not try anything. You did save me from being discovered by those men, so…thank you."
"You're welcome, Lady Elizabeth." The man smiled at her and her heart nearly skipped a beat. "Do you always come out here for fresh air?"
"Y-yes, it gives me a sense of peace to be out in the gardens late at night. It can be exhausting to put up with many young suitors constantly approaching and trying to convince me to take their hand in marriage." His eyebrow arched at her as a tiny smirk made its way to his lips and she quickly slapped her fingers over her mouth in embarrassment. "F-forgive me, I did not intend for it to be a complaint of any sorts. I am flattered by their offers—"
"But it gets tiring?" She nodded meekly, twisting her hands together.
"It is embarrassing to say, but…I have no interest in accepting any of their proposals." Elizabeth said softly, blue eyes shifting to her intertwined fingers resting on her lap.
"Any particular reason why?" She shook her head lightly.
"I feel that they are false promises of a peaceful and loving marriage. My sisters have luckily found partners who love and accept them for who they are, yet those who approach me are merely in it for my looks and my father's powerful reach over Britannia." It was strangely comforting to talk with the man sitting before her, though she wasn't sure why as she shared her hidden away thoughts with him so easily.
"I'm sure you'll—"
"Lady Elizabeth! Are you out here? Lady Elizabeth!" A feminine voice called out, startling the princess. "Please answer me!"
"It was fun while it lasted." He sighed mirthfully as he stood with ease, grasping something from the ground beside him. "I retrieved your shoes, may I?"
Elizabeth flushed but slowly nodded as she shifted her legs from beneath her and lightly pushed her feet from beneath the edge of her dress. He dropped to one knee and with a feathery touch lifted each of her feet and gently placed her heels on, his fingers lingering a few seconds longer than necessary. Heat colored her porcelain skin as he stood once more and offered his hands to pull her up. With only the slightest bit of hesitation she reached her hands up, feeling his warmth as their palms pressed together. As if it were effortless for him, he pulled her up with ease, their bodies lingering close as they gazed at one another. He was about a head shorter than her, much to her surprise, though she could feel he was strong by how calloused his palms were. Elizabeth's heart felt like it was going to burst forth from her chest as she began to get absorbed into the green depths of his eyes, an unfamiliar feeling in her chest beginning to bubble up.
"I'll walk you back to the edge of the maze, if you'll allow it." He said softly.
"Of course." She spoke barely above a whisper.
Guiding her carefully through the hedge once more he held his arm up for her to grasp onto, which she gladly did, and he began escorting her from the maze with ease as if he had gone through it dozens of times as she had. Once they were out in an open area, she took the chance to glance over him better. His suit was a little dirty, a few leaves still clinging to him, though he still matched the image of a proper gentleman in a black and white suit, a crimson tie pulling the outfit together. Black shoes clicked softly against the stone pathway as the two made their way back to the entrance of the maze. Elizabeth came to the realization that throughout all of the chaos she had forgotten one of the most important things.
"May I have your name, My Lord?" Elizabeth asked softly, looking down at him through her silver mask. "So I may thank you properly for saving me."
"Hmm, how about this instead," Confusion took over her features as he grinned up at her with a finger pointed upwards. "At every upcoming ball I'll give you a letter if you can find me. Collect all of the letters and you'll know my name."
"A game? Alright, I shall join in on the fun." Elizabeth finally mused with a grin, eager for the challenge in her droll royal lifestyle. "May I have the first letter tonight?"
"That wouldn't be fair, now would it? I'll give you the first letter at the next ball."
"What shall I call you in the meantime?"
"Good question. How about…Dragon." Elizabeth cocked a brow at the nickname, a giggle slipping from her lips before she could stop it.
"Pardon me, but that is quite the nickname, good sir." The Dragon let out a nishi laugh.
"I'm hurt, Lady Elizabeth. I worked so hard on that name and you go and sully it with your giggling." He feigned being hurt as he placed a palm against his heart and looked up at her pitifully.
"Pardon me, Dragon, I could not contain myself. I hope I can get your forgiveness for my careless slip of words."
"I suppose just this once I can do that."
They slowed as the entrance of the hedge maze appeared much faster than Elizabeth was expecting, a twinge flickering across her heart at the thought of not seeing him for at least two weeks. "Would you care to escort me back to the ball? There is still plenty of time for a dance."
"Regretfully, I have other duties to attend to, Lady Elizabeth," Dragon told her with apologetic expression, noticing how her smile fell the slightest bit. "I promise to dance with you as many times as you wish when I have time."
"I look forward to that day, Dragon." Elizabeth's smile softened as they finally stopped just shy of the hedge's edge. A few more frantic voices began joining in calling for her, the silent night becoming filled with her name. "I must go, if sister Veronica comes looking for me she will lock me in my room for a whole week."
"We wouldn't want that now would we? It was a pleasure, Lady Elizabeth, I look forward to our next meeting." He scooped up her hand perched on his arm and tenderly kissed her knuckles.
As soon as her hand slipped from his grasp he was gone like a shadow, absorbed into the darkness with ease. Oddly, she missed the sensation of his hand in hers the moment it left, and she curled her fingers inward in hopes of filling the void.
"Lady Eliza—goodness! Whatever are you doing out here looking like this? Your father will throw a fit if he sees you like this!" One of the maids finally spotted her standing there, planting her fists of her plump hips. "Come now, we will need to get you cleaned up so you can return to the ball, many a suitors have been asking for you for quite some time. Really, why did you have to run off at a time like this, Lady Elizabeth?"
"I am terribly sorry, Minda, I just needed some fresh air. I was not expecting to catch my dress on a stray branch and trip though." Elizabeth apologized sheepishly as the older woman grabbed her by the wrist and began dragging her back inside, yelling to the other servants she had found the missing princess. It wasn't a complete lie she had told but for now it was better to keep her mysterious friend under wraps.
For the first time ever she was looking forward to the next ball.
King Baltra had of course scolded his youngest for running off and coming back dirty and wearing a torn dress, but he also understood why she did it and let her off with a slap on the wrist. Many kingdoms were bringing their of age sons with them to the balls in hopes of building a treaty between kingdoms and arranging a marriage to forge a stronger bond with some of the offers laid out on the table seemed nearly perfect; trade would become stronger, stronger military, funds for expansion to the kingdom, food and shelter for the needy and poor. A deep frown adorned his aged face. Every single letter he had read mentioned taking the hand of Elizabeth and returning her to their hometowns in order to build up their own kingdom or to start a new one. It was a sensitive topic for him, as all of the rejected suitors and their respective kingdoms knew, and it sank his heavy heart. Margaret, his oldest daughter, had already taken one of his Holy Knights, Gilthunder, and the two were planning to wed sometime in the near future. Veronica, his second, seemed to have her eyes on her personal knight who was also part of his Holy Knights, Griamore, which indicated the same was happening with her as well.
He knew he was being selfish, but after the death of his wife Caroline his protectiveness of his girls increased tenfold. It was difficult, there was no denying that, having to raise three young girls who had always looked up to their mother for guidance. Ultimately it was up to Elizabeth to decide what her heart desired despite the heavy pushing from several larger kingdoms skirting the Northern edge of Britannia. Their treaties would bring prosperity to both of their strongholds while lowering the risk of being attacked by an envious king, something that often worried him deeply. There had been rumors that some kingdoms to the West were slowly beginning to build their armies and merge their forces into one unstoppable military. He had sent a specialized group of knights to handle the mission years ago, yet it seemed their names were showing up less and less on his documents lately. It was evident they were still performing their duties though their reports were becoming slimmer as more time passed. The captain of the team had finally checked in a few days ago after months of no contact, surprising even his generals who hadn't heard anything of his return, before saying he was taking off again and would return within a week.
Baltra rubbed at this face tiredly. The creeping urge in the back of his mind was telling him that another war was becoming unavoidable at this rate, something the lands of Britannia hadn't seen for hundreds if not thousands of years at the scale it was becoming. There were scuffles here and there, kingdoms falling before rebuilding, humanity returning to normalcy, but a massive war such as this hadn't been seen in eons. A knock on his door dragged him from his thoughts as he waved to his guards to let them in. The heavy wooden doors creaked open as he continued reading the same lines over and over on the documents.
"King Baltra."
The familiarity of the voice made the old King look up, his dull eyes suddenly brightening up. "Come in, come in. You may leave us now." He ordered the guards who nodded before pulling the doors shut behind him. "You are home early, Captain. How did everything go?"
"We finished our mission earlier than expected. I hope that's not an issue." The Captain crossed his arms over his armored chest as he moved closer to Baltra.
"Not at all, please, take a seat." The knight did that letting out a deep sigh as he sunk into the couch cushions.
"I don't know where you find this furniture, Baltra, but it's definitely the best couch I've ever sat on." The King chuckled deeply.
"It amazes me how you never change, Meliodas. How was the mission?"
"Well," Meliodas started as he sat upright, leaning against his thighs with a heavy expression. "It's as we've confirmed. The Kingdoms of Salazar, Lichen, and Danafor are beginning to merge their military forces, though at a much faster rate than we expected. It will take time for them to train their men and gather enough supplies to traverse here so I'd say maybe three months at the max, possibly sooner if they get outside help."
"Even Danafor?" Baltra sat up straighter in surprise. The kingdom was said to have been destroyed years ago by a neighboring city in a power struggle. "Have they rebuilt the city over these years?"
"It's become more of a village than anything with fewer citizens and not much of an army, but my sources say there's another kingdom offering them money, food, and supplies if they hand over every abled man to fight. I haven't been able to get a name out of anyone though I sent one of my knights to check out some more leads."
This was quickly becoming a massive upheaval against the largest kingdoms in all of Britannia and the knight grit his jaw tightly. There had to be someone behind the scenes pulling the strings on this performance as the sudden rebelling made little sense without the idea. Information was trickling in through his connections on a constant basis and he was slowing piecing the three year puzzle together. Most of the Holy Knights in the kingdom believed that the most infamous group of knights serving King Baltra had perished in a conflict far in the East, rumors spreading that they suddenly turned on the people out there and began massacring them left and right. While they were wrong about the made-up stories, it provided an excellent cover for them to work undercover without worry.
"I should have known they would try to band together in order to start a war, there must be something we can do to at least stall them until I can convene with the other generals. Anything else?" Baltra stroked his beard thoughtfully as the news weighted heavily on his mind.
"Caught two Uribetians snooping around the castle with a few goods in their pockets during the last ball, taught them a lesson they won't soon forget." Meliodas snickered to himself as he remembered the very one-sided fight. "Something tells me they were looking for more than valuables to pawn off in the markets. You still have it locked away?"
"Of course. No one has attempted to gain access to that area according to my knights."
"Hm." The knight hummed, deep in thought. "Any new knights in the castle?"
"I will—"
A knock on the door interrupted them and an attendant slipped in with a bow, her eyes kept to the ground. "Pardon the intrusion, Your Majesty, Lord Havenworth wishes to speak with you regarding an important matter. I am afraid he did not tell me what it was about, but he is insisting it is of the utmost urgency."
"I will send for him when I am ready, thank you." Baltra dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand. "That damned man will not give up on his proposal of Elizabeth and every year for the past three I have denied him over and over."
"You're thinking he has ulterior motives." Meliodas read through him easily. He would start watching the man a bit closer from now on for Lady Elizabeth's sake more than anything. Persistence like his meant there were hidden agendas beneath the surface.
"I know he does yet there is no way to prove it and accusations flying needlessly will only bring a negative impact to Liones. While his treaty agreement has been combed through with fine teeth and has approval from the generals, the way he obsesses over her is not natural." The King rubbed his forehead as a headache was beginning to rise. "I fear the day she leaves the castle and goes into the wide open world. Caroline would have encouraged her to go, to explore and live her life, but she has loved an extremely comfortable, sheltered life within these stone walls and has little to no skills to survive this wild world—"
The door abruptly slammed open and Meliodas shot to his feet with sword drawn as he placed himself in front of the King. A well-dressed man strolled past the flustered servant with a purpose, his narrowed eyes set on the Baltra with determination. "King Baltra I insist—"
"Not another step." Cornelius Havenworth stopped abruptly as he found the tip of a very sharp sword less than an inch from his throat, the knight before him glaring dangerously up at him. "A single movement and your neck will be pierced through."
"Lord Havenworth, you were advised to wait until I came to retrieve you. Do you show no respect for myself or the city of Liones? You have been pushing my patience to the very finest thread and if you continue to do so with such egregious behavior I will have no choice but to forbid you from entering my kingdom ever again. Do I make myself clear?" King Baltra finally snapped as he slammed his hands down on his desk loudly, the servant flinching as she hesitantly waited by the door, hands squeezed tightly against her chest.
"…Forgive me King Baltra, I meant no disrespect," Lord Havenworth spoke through a clenched jaw as he glared down at Meliodas, the knight tensed and ready to attack. "I just received word that troops are beginning to move from the South headed West, their numbers gradually increasing as they pick up any men they can in the passing villages. King Berengar has also sent an urgent message; the city of Arvendon has fallen overnight."
Meliodas' eyes narrowed the slightest bit further at the information, something about it seeming off. Arvendon was a kingdom known for its boastful military presence and high, nearly impenetrable walls yet they fell overnight all of a sudden? None of his own knights had reported such an incident despite them stationed throughout Britannia. Was it nothing more than a ploy to distract King Baltra?
"What? How could Arvendon fallen so easily? Where is King Berengar?" Baltra demanded as he moved from behind his desk to stand in front of the immobilized lord.
"Safe, thankfully. He managed to escape and is reportedly headed towards Liones as we speak. It will take him a week of constant movement though I believe he shall arrive by the evening of the next ball or so." Havenworth swallowed hard as his neck began straining from avoiding the sharp metal. "Would you kindly remove your sword from my throat? My neck is beginning to cramp up."
"Your Majesty?" Meliodas asked without tearing his eyes from the sweating man. Baltra hummed lowly, debating if he should have his most trusted knight stand down or if the persistent pest of a man deserved to suffer for a few minutes more.
"Release him. I will enact an emergency meeting with the generals right away."
"Understood." The knight slashed his sword out to the side rapidly before slowly sheathing it, taking note of the color leaving Lord Havenworth's face at the movement. "I will take my leave now."
"Thank you, Captain. We will continue our discussion at a later time, feel free to stay as long as you wish within the castle." Baltra moved to grab documents from his desk as Lord Havenworth turned to shoot the knight a dirty look and Meliodas merely smiled at the man with his hands latched behind his head casually.
"I believe I will, Your Majesty, and I am looking forward to even more balls."
Elizabeth could hardly contain her excitement as the night of the party was finally drawing nearer, the ballroom beginning to fill up with extravagant gowns once more. The princess twisted the deep blue silken fabric of her dress in between her hands anxiously keeping an eye out for the mysterious Dragon. Would he show up within the crowd in plain sight or was it to become a game of cat and mouse? She hadn't been this excited since she was a young girl being allowed out of the grounds, with supervision and Holy Knights, to accompany her father in a welfare check amongst their loyal subjects.
"Elizabeth, that dress looks simply amazing on you." Margaret leaned over and whispered in her sisters ear, lightly resting her hand on her arm. "I am sure every suitors eyes will be on you tonight."
"Thank you, Margaret, I adore yours as well. That lilac color suits you very well, I am sure Lord Gilthunder will enjoy it." Elizabeth returned the compliment with a smile, grasping her sisters hand.
"As he is taking it off of her," Veronica quietly tossed in from Elizabeth's left, both girls flushing at the vulgarity of her words.
"Oh? And I am sure you are expecting Griamore to do such a vulgar thing to you as well tonight? Veronica dear, what happened to my kind, sweet, innocent sister that was replaced with such a dirty-minded woman?" Margaret teased back, the youngest sibling placing a hand over her mouth as her face turned bright red, wide eyes darting between her bickering sisters. Veronica merely scoffed and turned her head with the faintest tinting to her cheeks as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Ladies, please ensure you mind your manners tonight." King Baltra gruffed at them, the three immediately straightening up in their seats. "Elizabeth, please do not repeat what happened last time. It does not look good to the many suitors if you are constantly disappearing then returning covered in dirt and tattered gowns."
"Yes, father." Elizabeth bowed her head in embarrassment, cheeks aflame.
"Though if you were to need a break for some fresh air, that would be acceptable as long as you do not dirty yourself." He turned and smiled at his daughter without an ounce of seriousness. She quickly nodded and returned the smile.
"Your Majesty, we have received word that King Berengar has arrived at the gates." A knight as silent as the night crouched down next to the ruler with a neutral expression. "His room has already been prepared."
"Thank you. Please guide him to his quarters and I will speak with him as soon as I have a moment, Slader." Slader nodded before slipping behind the curtain as if he had never been there. Rarely had Elizabeth seen the man yet the only times she did was when urgent issues arose.
"Father, what happened to Lord Berengar?" Margaret asked quietly as the chatter in the room began to grow louder.
"No need to worry yourself, child, just enjoy your evening." Baltra reassured his daughter.
Once the crowd finished filtering into the gran hall the King stood and cleared his throat, a hush falling over the room. Elizabeth anxiously scanned through the make-up covered face as she searched for her Dragon. Wait…her Dragon? When did he become hers when they had only met one time prior? Heat rushed to her face and she opened her fan to cover her face as Baltra gave his short opening speech. Margaret and Veronica shared a curious look with one another at their sisters odd behavior.
"I wish you all a wonderous evening of dancing and merriment." King Baltra finished his speech as the orchestra began to play. Elizabeth stood to go mingle as her princess' duties dictated when a hand grasped either of her arms, the elder sisters smiling brightly as she looked between them with confusion.
"Come, dear sister, let us chat for a bit." Margaret cooed while guiding Elizabeth down the stairs with Veronica mirroring her action.
"You seem to be a bit preoccupied, Ellie, care to share what is on your mind?" The middle sibling asked innocently.
"Perhaps a young man is waiting to sweep you off of your feet?"
"Our Ellie is growing up so fast, isn't she, Margaret?"
"Indeed she is, Veronica. I do believe I see someone eagerly awaiting your arrival, Elizabeth."
The princess' eyes widened as they hit the bottom of the stairs. Did they know? She hadn't told a soul about the meeting with Dragon and there was no evidence anyone had been with her in the garden. Was there a chance the two men chasing her newly found friend had reported the incident? Her heart dropped heavily into her stomach. There would be no escaping with both sisters locked onto her arms.
"Lady Elizabeth, you look stunning this fine evening."
She looked up in surprise as her heart shot into her throat with hope. It quickly withered and crumbled as she looked into the face of Cornelius Havenworth, a practiced smile gracing his features. While she was relieved her late night rendezvous had gone unnoticed, the princess was now having to deal with a bigger issue. She nearly revolted at his sight yet the strong grip keeping her in place prevented any plausible excuse to be used.
"L-Lord Havenworth, a pleasure to see you once more. I was not expecting to see your presence tonight." Suddenly her elder sisters were nowhere to be seen, leaving the princess alone with the sole Prince of Celnair Keep. The orchestra smoothly transitioned into a fast waltz as if sensing the change in atmosphere.
"May I have the first dance of the evening, My Lady?" Cornelius asked with a bow, others all around them matching partners before looking expectantly at the prince and princess.
"It would be my pleasure, My Lord." Elizabeth responded kindly as she offered her hand to him. As much as she wanted nothing more to do with the man before her, it was an obligation as a princess of Liones to lead the first dance of the evening. A quick glance revealed Veronica and Margaret were nowhere on the dance floor. Traitors.
He pulled her too close for comfort, his hand squeezing tightly against the nook of her waist. The overwhelming smell of his cologne made her eyes burn and she blinked rapidly as they watered up. "I have missed you terribly, Lady Elizabeth, since our last time together." Cornelius started as he began leading the dance. "I did have the opportunity to speak with your father a few nights ago regarding my proposal. Now that you are nearing the ripe age of sixteen I believe it is the perfect time to settle ourselves down and have children."
"I-is that so? Surely that is moving rather quickly." She still had a few months before turning sixteen, what was his rush for? And ripe? Such pompous and disturbing thoughts from a man nearly twice her age, she thought bitterly.
"You shall become the perfect queen for me, Lady Elizabeth. I am all alight with excitement for our big day. Shall I begin preparations immediately?" Cornelius' breath hit her face as he began closing the distance between their lips.
"F-forgive me, My Lord, but I do believe that arrangement has not been fully approved by my father. His word is final." Elizabeth blurted out as she leaned away from him, pushing against his chest to keep him back. "Father would not approve of your aggressive approach right now, so please—"
"Elizabeth, dear, please understand that the deal is practically a signature away from being finalized. Do you not wish to marry me?" The prince purred as he yanked her back against him, pinning her in an iron grip. His dark brown eyes narrowed as he waited for her answer, a sinister look appearing within their depths.
"P-please, you are hurting me…"
"Lord Berengar, I have found Lord Havenworth for you!" A voice called out over the pounding in her chest, Cornelius tensing immediately before quickly forgoing his grasp on Elizabeth and slipping into the throngs of people without another word.
The princess stood there in stunned silence as she tried to process what just happened. Her side and wrist ached sharply from his strong grasp and she glanced around the room to notice no one had witnessed what just happened, their attention elsewhere as they danced the night away without a care. With a shaky breath in she turned and weaved through the dancing couples, eager to get away from them all. He was a cold, heartless monster just as she had thought, wanting nothing more than her for her father's power and control of Britannia. Tears welled in her eyes and she hastily wiped them away before slipping through one of the balcony doors and into the chilled air. She thanked her lucky stars there wasn't another soul in sight as she slipped around one of the massive pillars and leaned against it as she let her body slide to the smooth, cold marble flooring, azure dress quickly pooling all around her. Elizabeth let her pinned up hair rest against the stone as she struggled to contain her tears, the only comfort of the evening the rising moon and shimmering stars.
How could her father agree to such a thing? He had always protected her from his persistent proposals since she was twelve so why stop now? Was Lord Havenworth blackmailing them? Threatening the kingdom of Liones if her father didn't abide by his requests? A few tears escaped down her face and Elizabeth allowed them to as her hands remained resting numbly on her lap. She didn't want to marry a horrid man like that. Just the briefest glimpse of his controlling nature solidified her answer regarding the matter tonight. The princess would need to speak with her father in the morning about the incident but for now she needed to take a few moments to herself.
"Lady Elizabeth, what happened? Are you injured?"
Elizabeth swiped at her eyes with the backs of her hands, sniffling as she tried to stop the tears. With a shaky exhale she turned to see who was speaking. Blue eyes widened as the person she had been waiting nearly two weeks for was crouched down beside her in a black tux, concern etched onto his face. "D-Dragon?"
"I need to know, did Lord Havenworth hurt you? I can have the situation handled if he did harm you in any way." Dragon reached down and clasped his hand over hers while intently searching her face. His fingers grazed over the tender wrist and she instinctively flinched away from it. He loosened his grip and returned his hand to his side with curled fingers.
"N-no, I am fine, thank you. I just…got a bit overwhelmed by his declaration is all." Elizabeth said quietly, turning her head away from him. He didn't need to know what just happened especially when it was her problem alone. Besides, it's not like he had the authority to kick out the Prince despite her wishes to have him banished.
"I'm sorry he ruined the night for you," Dragon spoke quietly as he took a seat next to her and leaned against the pillar. Elizabeth shook her head slowly.
"It was nothing, really, though I now fully understand the honest side of that man who hides behind a pleasant mask."
"Were you afraid?" She rolled her head to look at him. He kept his gaze over the castle grounds, eyes swirling with an emotion she had never seen before. It was hard to decipher if it was concern…or brewing anger.
"Perhaps a bit," She admitted lightly. "He has never settled well with me. For nearly three years he has been pursuing me and father has shut him down every time. But if what he says is true…then the treaty is one signature away from us becoming King and Queen."
Dragon remained quiet as his jaw clenched tightly. He had a suspicion the sneaky bastard would try something like this, forcing Baltra to agree to a treaty in order to snatch Lady Elizabeth away. When he had followed him shortly after that meeting it became clear something was up as he slipped into Lord Berengar chambers in the middle of the night. He did not reemerge until nearly dawn with papers shoved neatly into the inside of his suit pocket, eyes constantly darting around for peering eyes. It wasn't quite enough information to convict the prince of conspiracy against Liones, yet it was more than enough to raise flags for the knight and Baltra.
"Since I found you do I get the first letter of your name now?" Dragon looked up at her in surprise, thrown off by the sudden question. Apparently he had spiraled a little too far into his thoughts and hadn't noticed her attention on him. She waited patiently with amusement dancing in cerulean eyes.
"Didn't I technically find you? I should get a reward for finding you first, My Lady." He looked up at her with an arched brow as she sat there perplexed.
"Was that part of the agreement I missed?" Elizabeth questioned him with pursed lips though the edges were curling upward. "I could have sworn that part was not in there, My Lord."
"Hmm, how about we add it in then? To make things more exciting?" Dragon suggested with a grin as he watched the princess contemplate the idea.
"I will accept the challenge then, good sir. What would you suggest as a reward for finding me first, Dragon?" Lady Elizabeth waited anxiously as he placed his hand against his chin in thought, heart thumping rapidly against her ribcage.
"How about…you spend the day in the city with me if I win before you do. Sound fair?" He finally decided and Elizabeth felt her face heat up at his eager expression. Butterflies fluttered around in her chest and it nearly took her breath away.
"I am not allowed to leave the castle grounds alone. I would need my father's permission and a group of Holy Knights to protect me. The idea sounds lovely, it truly does, but I do not see my father allowing me off the grounds." She said sadly as the smile slipped from her face.
"I'll take care of the small details, don't worry about it. Do we have a deal?"
"Yes, I will agree to your terms, Dragon." She agreed, shaking the hand extended to her with a small laugh.
"Well, Lady Elizabeth, the night is still young, and I do believe I owe you as much dancing as you can handle. How does that idea sound?" Dragon asked as he stood up, brushing his suit off before extending a hand to her with expecting eyes. Elizabeth slowly reached her hand up to his and relished in the calming warmth emitting from his palm as his fingers wrapped around her own with a bright smile adorning her lips.
"A night of dancing sounds wonderful, My Lord."
Chapter has been modified since original posting.