The White Enchantress A to Z

by Yoan_Amara_Khali

Summary:

Using my OCs from my 'The White Enchantress' Series, this is the collections of One-Shots, Drabbles, or multi-chaptered stories that connected with each other about what happened between Meliodas and Elizabeth with their comrades when their children join the already-screwed-up bunch. Enjoy the story!

Chapter 1: A of Astral Projection

A of Astral Projection

Gowther had to admit, the four years old Gwen was a fascinating girl. Smart one. Couldn't forget it.

"Astral Projection (or astral travel) is a term used in esotericism to describe an intentional out-of-body experience (OBE) that assumes the existence of a soul or consciousness called an 'Astral Body' that is separate from the physical body and capable of traveling outside it throughout the universe", Gwen put down the book in her hands on the table before whispering to Gowther "nee, Uncle Gowt, can you do this Astral Projection? This is kinda cool. Wonder if mommy, daddy, or one of the Sins can do it too or not?".

Gowther intrigued with her reaction "unfortunately, I can't, Gwen. I also don't know about the other Sins".

Gwen seriously learned about Astral Projection and Gowther only observed her. Who knew what kind of trouble it would lead after it?

---

The Sins said in unison "a ghost?".

Diane shivered "uh, I'm not too attached to this kind of story, so can you just tell us the details?".

King agreed with Diane "like... I mean, a real ghost? Really?".

Ban rolled his eyes in disbelief "oi, Zara, Dreyfus, Hendrickson, you seriously gather us all here just to discuss it?".

Being his day self, Escanor scoffed and boldly said "Humph, a mere ghost won't scare me".

Gowther said with the peak of interest "interesting. We never take care of the 'ghost' case previously".

Meliodas caressed his chin "so, Baltra asked the three of you to gather us, just to take care of this ghost issue... but why should you ask us? I think Hendrickson as a Druid can take care of this kind of case, not to mention this ghost also never brought harm to the Castle's occupants, right?".

Merlin shrugged and lifted her Aldan "I agree with the Captain".

"Okay, I believe you guys have heard about the rumor, right?", Hendrickson lifted the candle which it shadowed his face from below to dramatize the scary tension "rumor has it, a ghost of a little girl who wears white dress has been wandering around the Castle. When you hear the sound of a bell chimed in, she appears. She always appears around midnight, singing a requiem as she carried a doll, looking for her parents. If she knew you can see her, she would approach you to ask: 'do you see my parents?' with tears of blood streaming down from her eyes".

King and Diane shrieked in fear, holding hands with their cheeks against each other. Meliodas, Merlin, Ban, Escanor, and Gowther only stared to Hendrickson, unaffected.

Dreyfus cleared his throat "so, His Majesty asked us to investigate this ghost. Although this ghost never brought harm to the Castle's occupants, it doesn't mean that it won't scare the Castle's occupants, right? Especially the princesses".

Zaratras admitted shyly "well, actually... it's just like you said, Hendrickson was supposed to be able to take care of this kind of case. We even patrolled last night to find this ghost, but...".

"Please, don't tell us, this ghost of a little girl scared you away too?", Ban intended it as a joke, but when three adults averted their eyes with shame, Ban jaw-dropped and his eyes widened "SERIOUSLY!?".

"so, to put it simply, because you can't take care of this ghost, you asked us to", Meliodas hummed and nodded his head "I understand, but can you tell us what happened last night?".

It was a shame, indeed. At first, Hendrickson wanted to do the exorcism as usual. They waited on the spot where they heard this ghost usually appeared, but the poltergeist phenomenon happened. All things on that place were flying around and the three of them ended up knocked out by those flying things. It was a shame, really. The first one who lost consciousness was Hendrickson who got hit by a chair on the back of his head before he collapsed forward, lying flatly on the floor. Zaratras was buried under a ton of books, scrolls, and dictionaries. As the only one who was still conscious but unfortunately had no ability on the exorcism terms, Dreyfus only could carry the unconscious Hendrickson and Zaratras over his shoulders like a sack, running away from that place before this ghost could bring harm on his unconscious comrades.

"though, before I ran away from that place... I have seen this ghost even if just for a glimpse", Dreyfus described how he saw it from the corner of his eyes "for a second, I thought I saw a blonde-haired girl with blood covering her head. She wore the white dress, holding a broken, blood-stained bear doll. I did hear she was singing a sad song, sounded like a requiem. Though, I don't know what language it is and... I thought I heard her crying in misery".

This time, King and Diane hugged trembled in fear while the five others were having a serious face.

Zaratras tried to find another alternative "if any of you guys can't handle it, maybe you know someone who can help us with the exorcism?".

Merlin tapped her bicep "say, Captain, how about we ask her to come here?".

Meliodas rolled his eyebrow "which one?".

Merlin smirked cunningly "who else? An Exorcist and a Nun of Canterbury Cathedral".

Meliodas dropped his head on the table before mumbling exasperatedly "for our sanity's sake, Merlin... please, don't... you know if you invited her here, it only would end up with her trying to kill someone because of her tendency".

Ban twitched his eyebrow "what tendency?".

"tendency to kill and see the blood especially at the night", Meliodas suddenly looked like he had an idea on his head "how about asking him, then? That cheeky brat, your—".

Merlin froze Meliodas's head, elbowing him before she clasped her hands and smiled with hostile aura around her body "how about we patrol together this night and try to see if we can handle it ourselves?".

Diane, King, Escanor, and Ban had a hunch feeling that they couldn't ask her anything about it from how hostile the aura around her. Gowther noted to himself that he could ask Merlin and Meliodas about it later. Meliodas melted the ice on his head with his Hell Blaze before mumbling how she overreacting every time it came to that person. The Sins (Escanor especially) were curious about who was this person that Merlin and Meliodas had mentioned.

(actually, Merlin mentioned about Meliodas's daughter and Meliodas was about to mention Tristan).

---

Later at the night, because the Sins were patrolling on the Castle, Gwen was brought as well and she was sleeping with the princesses because Elizabeth dragged her to sleep with her.

Meliodas knitted his eyebrow because they had to patrol on the hallway near the library to the throne room "are you sure, that ghost usually appears here?".

Hendrickson nodded "we're sure, Sir Meliodas".

Zaratras explained "from the report, it seems this ghost always appears on the library, walking down on the hallway to the throne room before she disappears. She always walks on this route".

Dreyfus shushed them all "shush, do you hear it?".

While the others were confused because they didn't know what the meaning behind this song with the foreign language, the only people who reacted, no one other than Meliodas and Merlin who froze in their place. No wonder they didn't know what language was this. This song used the language of the ancient Belialuin, after all.

"hush, child~ darkness will rise from the deep and carry you down into sleep, child~ darkness will rise from the deep and carry you down into sleep~ you won't understand the cause of your grief, but you'll always follow the voices beneath~ loyalty, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty, only to me~".

"this lullaby...", Meliodas sucked in a shuddering breath "...how?".

Diane gasped "what? This song is a lullaby?".

"Captain, how could you possibly know this creepy song as a lullaby?".

Ban was totally lost at it "what is it, Captain? You know this lullaby?".

Meliodas didn't answer, he lowered his head further with his bangs masking his expression. Of course, Meliodas knew this lullaby. This lullaby was a cursed lullaby, a lullaby fulfilled with the magic spell to make a child who heard it to always obey the person who singing this lullaby to her for 49 days. The lullaby that Lilith whispered to Sophia.

To save her Captain, Merlin added in "and it seems I know who is this ghost. I can't believe this".

"what? how? Who is—?", Escanor rubbed his eyes "um, I'm not the only one who sees it, right?".

"don't worry, I've got this", Merlin came out of their hiding place with levitating herself to approach the ghost. In the ancient Belialuin language, Merlin hummed "isn't it lovely, all along?~ Hello, welcome home~".

When Merlin crouched beside the ghost who stopped abruptly after she heard Merlin's humming, the ghost turned into less scary.

Merlin smiled and reached out her hand "here you are, child. Let's go home. Time to sleep".

The ghost turned into her real form, no one other than Gwen who blinked away her tears and accepted Merlin's hand "mommy".

Gwen's transparent hand only slipped through Merlin's hand before Gwen disappeared. Merlin snapped her fingers and they teleported to Elizabeth's room. They all saw it when Gwen's Astral body came back to her real body.

As usual, Elizabeth snapped her head and jumped to Meliodas "Mel-Mel, Gwen's crying in her sleep. I wonder if she's having a nightmare?".

It turned out that Gwen had learned and practiced Astral Projection (from what Gowther observed) but when Gwen was on this 'Astral Projection' state, she was unaware of her own state, thinking this was a mere dream.

Lifting his shining finger, Gowther who had peeked into Gwen's head, went to explain "it seems she reminisced her old life when she was on the Cameliard Kingdom, thinking that she was dreaming while in fact, she was in 'Astral Projection' state and she was unaware of it. It explains why did she form to turn into that scary and her behavior in her 'Astral Projection' state. She wandered around from the library to the throne room because on the catastrophe, it was the route that her parents, the King Leodegrance, and his Queen took. The broken bloodied doll and her bloodied form were the manifestations of her state when the catastrophe happened".

"Gowther, can you use Rewrite Light to her, please? Sometimes, it's better if you can just forget the painful memory. Gwen is still too young to remember about that painful memory", Merlin sat on the edge of the bed and narrowed her eyes, caressing the sleeping Gwen's head "I will close her ability to do the Astral Projection, so she will not do it again. I apologize for the trouble she created".

Zaratras waved his hand "well, we know it's unintentionally, Lady Merlin. No need to apologize".

Hendrickson mumbled "still, I wonder why she attacked us yesterday night?".

Dreyfus shrugged "who knows? I'm more amazed at the fact she could attack us in that state".

Gowther answered "it seems she thought the three of you were the assaulters, thus she attacked you in an attempt of her self-defense".

Elizabeth gasped "wait, so the ghost is Gwen?".

Meliodas nodded before he lifted his forefinger to his mouth "yes, but Ellie can't say it to anyone. It's our secret, okay?".

Elizabeth lifted her forefinger to her mouth and winked "okay".

Notes:

Okay, with my story 'The White Enchantress' is gonna reach the last Arc (The Sign Of Holy War Arc), I decided to write some side-stories. If any of you wondered 'what do you mean with the last Arc?', take it easy, you will find the answer on the next chapters of that story. I just want to add our cinnamon-roll because we seriously need it guys. That being said, I hope you enjoy the story and feel free to ask me if you have a prompt for the next letters. In case I haven't had the prompt for the letter, perhaps I will take some from my readers (if there's someone kind enough to leave the prompt you want in the review box, feel free to comment).

Chapter 2: B of Bon Appetite

Summary:

B of Bon Appetite
Bon Appetite: interjection, used to wish someone enjoyment of the meal they are about to eat
Prompt: in which Gwen tried to eat their cooks.

 

Speaking of 'food and cook' from the Seven Deadly Sins, everyone in their house would undoubtedly agree that the best cook ever was Ban. Gowther and Merlin were also doing great at the cooking, too (as long as they followed the recipes, that was it), though Gowther was rarely cooking for everyone, he mostly cooked only when he was asked to. Merlin was a different case, she usually only cooked for herself and Gwen. As the giantess, Diane usually was used to living on the wilderness, so usually, when it was her who cooking, it was only the result of her hunting that was grilled or roasted. If you asked how about King, the answer was clear. He was not known as the 'Sloth' for nothing. There was no way he would cook because he had a mindset that there was no point for him to cook when he had someone who could cook for them all. As a good child, obviously Gwen wanted to be useful and usually, she was allowed to help Ban, Merlin, or Gowther to cook something.

Until one day, Gwen asked, tilting her head innocently "but why am I never allowed to eat Daddy's cooking?".

All members of Seven Deadly Sins froze. Gowther didn't react at all. Merlin and Meliodas kept their smile on their poker face. Diane had awkwardly twirled her fingers on her hair, averted her eyes. King floated on the air, pretending as if he had heard nothing of Gwen's remarks. Escanor made himself busy with writing the poem. Ban was the only one who dared to explain it to Gwen.

Boldly, Ban squeezed Gwen's shoulders before he explained "Gwen, honey, listen to me. To eat your Daddy's food, it's just the same with you take the poison".

Meliodas smacked Ban's head "how rude of you, Ban. It's not that bad!".

Ban caressed the back of his head "it's exactly that bad!".

Looking at Ban and Meliodas's usual bantering, Merlin only shook her head before going back to her laboratory, telling them that she would finish some of her experiments so she would like them to not interrupt her unless it was emergency.

After Merlin was out of sight, Meliodas turned to Gwen with a lopsided grin "so, wanna try my cooking? I can bake an apple pie for you".

Ban, King, Diane, and Escanor jaw-dropped "Captain!".

Gwen nodded her head briefly "okay".

Escanor stuttered and protested heavily with a note that he had to bring Gwen to Merlin immediately in case her reaction was not well at all. Ban was curious but also worried. King frightened and nibbled his fingers. Gowther was purely curious and decided to observe. Diane didn't have the heart to stop Gwen from trying the Captain's cooking after looking at Gwen's hopeful eyes but she was also worried sick.

An apple pie that Meliodas had baked, served on the plate. It was looking delicious outside, but about the taste... well, let the one who ate it to judge it.

After Meliodas cut the pie into four pieces, Gwen opened her mouth to eat a slice of an apple pie "Bon Appetite".

Merlin who just arrived after Escanor told her the full explanation and asked her to come down, reached out her hands "Gwen, don't!?".

After Gwen took a bit of Meliodas's food, she flinched and froze, her bangs shadowing her eyes as she squirming.

---

Commander of a troop embedded his sword on the ground, holding the hilt of his sword tightly "good job, Knights. We have to defend our borders from our enemy no matter what—".

One of his soldiers reported "Commander, we're running out of livestock! If this goes on, before we even can defeat our enemy, when our enemy conquers us again with the reinforcement, we will...".

The Commander roared, pulling out the rotten apple near the corpses under the burned tree "you swine, stop whining around! We have no luxury in the war! Even blood and a rotten tree can be our drink and food! Rather than starving to death, I'd rather eat it no matter how disgusting it is!?".

When his Commander puked blood and collapsed backward due to his stomach injuries, his right hand instantly went to his side "Commander! Hold yourself together! Don't die!".

The Healer distressed after he treated the Commander's wound "even if we could save his life, we have nothing left to eat and drink for him! What should we do?".

---

Merlin lifted the corner of her lips upward and cautiously called "...um, Gwen?".

Surprisingly, after she ate a slice of apple pie, Gwen took another slice and started to eat "...it has a very distinctive flavor...".

Escanor jaw-dropped when he saw Gwen crying "to the point of crying?!".

Meliodas cautiously asked "...do you think it's good?".

"it's really foul...", Gwen sniffled, tears streaming down her face as she ate the third slice "but it's good in its own way...".

(Secretly, Meliodas relished of Gwen's comment after she ate his food because she said the exact same things with Elizabeth when the first time Goddess princess ate his devastating food)

Ban twitched the corner of his mouth and put the little girl's weird taste into question "err, how can you find something good in this crap?".

Diane waved her hand to Gwen who took the last slice "why do you still eat it? Don't force yourself, you'll get the stomach-ache".

"don't waste food! There are so many people outside there who could die due to starving!", Gwen cried out as she ate the last slice of the apple pie "poor the Commander and his underlings... hopefully, they could rest in peace...".

King mumbled in confusion "um, what is she talking about?".

Gowther lifted his shining hands before lifting his thumb "it seems like she's hallucinating. Impressive, the Captain's food is so devastating, to the point she's having the hallucination after she ate it".

Diane jaw-dropped "isn't it mean she just got food poisoned?".

Looking at how Gwen's face started turning to dangerously pale with the hue of blue and green, Ban instantly wrapped his arms around her torso, carrying her to the toilet "don't vomit here and now! Told you, don't eat his food because it's just the same with taking the poison!".

Merlin crouched in front of Meliodas and smiled ominously with a murderous aura around her body "never ever give your food to her again, Captain. Otherwise, I'm gonna seal you away. Understood?".

Meliodas lifted his hands in surrender and sweat-dropped "I understand".

Ever since that time, Meliodas's cooking was banned to eat by Gwen.

Chapter 3: C of Chaos

Summary:

Prompt: in which they learned about 'Chaos' and the real 'Chaos' occurred

 

Lifting the book on her hand, Merlin read it "Chaos Theory is a branch of mathematics focusing on the study of chaos—states of dynamical systems whose apparently-random states of disorder and irregularities are often governed by deterministic laws that are highly sensitive to initial conditions. Chaos Theory is an interdisciplinary theory stating that, within the apparent randomness of chaotic complex systems, there are underlying patterns (that usually known as the butterfly effect to describes how a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a large state, meaning that there is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions), interconnectedness, constant feedback loops, repetition, self-similarity, fractals, and self-organization".

"Godmother", Guinevere lifted her hand to interrupt before pointing to Arthur who collapsed face-flat on the table and Lancelot who leaned his back on the chair with his soul attempting to leave his body "these two are dying".

Morgan lowered her head further, glancing to the side "seriously? We just started the first paragraph".

Outside, Tristan leaned his back on the door, covering his mouth to stifle his laughter.

Merlin lowered her glasses and shook her head "Gwen, try to comprehend it with simpler language for them".

Guinevere tried to explain with her language "well... to put it simply, in Chaos Theory, we learn about using the mathematical toolkit, how the science of predicting the behaviors of 'inherently unpredictable' systems. One of the terms is the Butterfly Effect which speaking about how one small thing in one state can result in large differences when we try to use it on the several situations in a larger state".

When Arthur tapped his hand on his palm with the recognition on his eyes with little 'oh, I see', Merlin tried to make it far simpler for Lancelot who still lost his soul "Chaos is the inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex natural system".

After his soul went back to his body, Lancelot mumbled "why should we learn something complicated like this?".

"why not? Isn't it interesting? One small thing of change can create so many differences when you put it into the system. It's so amazing! Think about how it works if 'Chaos' is a magic power that we can use. Perhaps, we even can create the everlasting Kingdom that people have dreamed of, where war does not exist and no one needs to raise their weapon against each other in the conflict", Guinevere excitedly said with sparks on her eyes before she narrowed her eyes with mischievous glee "now, I want to do some experiment...".

Merlin smirked and caressed her chin "since it's interesting, we can do the experiment together".

"such a dream, princess", Morgan scoffed before lifting her hand "and no, don't even think about it. I will stay away from whatever experiment that you and Master want to do because I know it's not going to end well especially when I am involved there".

"what do you mean? It's not like I'm gonna use you as my guinea pig, Morgan~ I just need a little help from someone who willingly to volunteer. Tristan, perhaps?", Guinevere turned to the front door, only to find Tristan disappear, leaving Isolde stood there cluelessly "huh? Where is he?".

Isolde shook her head "I also have no idea. He just ran away like that. Something's happened?".

"I don't know what happened, but more or less, I have the clue", Gelda strolled to the room with the deadpan expression "I heard Tristan said something miserably about how he has to save his sorry ass before he's ended up as someone's guinea pig".

"It can't be helped, then...", Guinevere tilted her head before turning "Lancelot~ huh? Where is he?".

Arthur lifted his thumb, pointing to the wide-opened window "he jumped to outside a second ago and said something about how he wanted to be the bird so he could fly to the sky freely, like stressed people. It's ridiculous, though".

Usually, when it came to the experiment that Merlin or Guinevere wanted to do, especially when they did it together, Tristan and Lancelot (mostly) turned into their guinea pig, so they ran away. Arthur had no need to worry about it at all (being the guinea pig) because Merlin wouldn't do it to her adoptive son and Guinevere didn't have the heart to use him as their guinea pig.

Morgan narrowed her eyes "and it's no problem at all to use your ex-husband and his little brother as your guinea pig, Master?".

Merlin laughed smoothly "oh, come on. It's not that bad. I just want to ask them to taste the candies that I created".

Guinevere flattened "your magic-imbued candies, you mean".

Morgan and Isolde instantly backed away.

Gelda stared, unfazed.

Arthur was curious "what candy?".

Merlin smiled and lifted a leather box on her hands "good question. So, I create these magic-imbued candies that can influence whoever people eat it turns into bad people or do the Sinful things temporarily. I call this as the Sins Candy. As you see, every candy has the symbol of each Sin and when you eat this, you will be the Sin that you eat".

Morgan instantly took several steps backward. Her back pressed on the wall as she lifted her hand "I do not want to eat any of your 'Sins Candy', okay!?".

On the opposite, Arthur's face lit up, already picked a candy from the box "cool! Can I try one?".

Morgan exclaimed "Arthur!".

Too late. Arthur had eaten it already

Suddenly, Arthur wrapped his arms around Guinevere's waist before flopping his head on her chest and toppling them over to the floor, rubbing his face blissfully on her chest "pillow~ zzz...".

Isolde crouched beside them with a blushing face "...he's really fallen asleep".

Gelda looked up questioningly "Lady Merlin, what 'Sin' in the Candy he ate just now?".

"it seems he picked Sloth of the Seven Deadly Sins", Merlin said calmly "don't worry. The effect will be worn off in a day. You don't have to worry about him trying to attack you since he's too lazy to even stay wake up. Hold on in this position".

Guinevere blushed furiously. She had to stay in this position? Lying on the floor, her back pressed on the cold floor without a bed, with Arthur hugged her tightly like this?

F*ck.

It felt like Supreme Deity tried to kill her slowly.

Guinevere facepalmed before she protested "in this position? For the next 24 hours? Seriously!?".

"don't worry, princess. I have brought the pillows and blankets, so you two will not get the cold. For your safety, I also will watch guard here with Tristan and Lancelot overnight, in case you're afraid that you will accidentally get pregnant because His Highness loses to his Lust. I will ask Isolde to call those two later", Gelda carried the pillows and blankets out of nowhere and lifted her thumbs "good luck".

Guinevere stared "you're dependable as usual, Aunt. Though, in this situation, I don't know if I should be glad for your help or be angry. He doesn't stir or wakes up despite how noisy we have been, even!".

"Consider yourself lucky, then. Without he knew it, Arthur picked Sloth. Imagine what would happen if he ate other Sins, huh?", Morgan caressed her hair before lifting her fingers to emphasize her counts "Wrath, obviously not good, though I'm also curious how Arthur will go with Wrath. He rarely gets angry, after all".

All women in this room thought of how cheerful the airhead-looking King and laughed.

Morgan still continued "Gluttony means we will need help from the cook of the Castle and I'm afraid that our stock for several days, or even for months will be eaten by him. Greed, let's just hope he didn't go to the street for stealing the things there or worse, he could just raise the taxes because it's the easiest way for him to earn more money from the people".

"welp, you're right. It will be a disaster for our economy state. We have to tell him to not eat those two of Sins Candy", leaning her back on the pillow, Guinevere ate the apple on her hand that Isolde prepared for her "thank you".

Ignoring her laid-back attitude, Morgan lifted three fingers "Pride, I never can imagine how Arthur will look like as a prideful man. Envy, he's got most everything, like position as a King, obviously wealth, and woman he loved, so I only can imagine that he will feel envy to his Knights who possess stronger physical strength and magic power like Lancelot and Tristan. Lust, should we point out about it? We will have to make sure the princess is not gonna get extra-marital pregnancy, so we need to put more guards, especially someone stronger than Arthur like Tristan and Lancelot to prevent him attacking her in bed".

Guinevere covered her blushing face "...I will pretend that I hear nothing of your latest statement".

---

And~ obviously, after Merlin teleported Guinevere and Arthur to Guinevere's room and explained the entire situation to the Knight brothers, Tristan smirked lopsided in irk and twitched his eyebrow up and down because of his overprotectiveness as an older brother. Meanwhile, Lancelot so openly barked into laughter.

Guinevere scowled "are you gonna help me or not? I mean, being a Sloth, he was quite a picky with being comfy and he just woke up to move us to the bed like this before he pulled me into his embrace and made me as his pillow again!".

Tristan indignantly shouted, "just kick him, already!".

With a cunning and knowing smirk on her face, Gelda stated, "actually, King Arthur had pouted with an adorable face like a lost puppy and said that he felt so comfortable to sleep with her by his side, so yes, she doesn't have the heart to send him away despite her protest".

Guinevere lifted her accusing finger "Gelda, if you want to laugh, just laugh!".

"oh, no... I just tried to hold it back... pfft...", Gelda clutched her stomach before curling on the floor to openly laugh "Hahahaha! I've never got bored around you all!".

Tristan narrowed his eyes to Guinevere and Arthur in bed before he sighed in defeat "okay, I will stay to watch guard, but let me finish my daily chores to bring the books and scrolls to the Castle's library with Isolde, okay?".

"when you're at it, brother, I will go to pick my own belongings from my room", Lancelot wriggled his eyebrow seductively with mischievous sparkles on his eyes "since we have to watch guard here, in order to prevent a couple from trying to create baby~".

Guinevere smiled too-wide and reached out her hand "want me to freeze you to get the frostbite or burn you into crisp? I still can do it~".

Lancelot made a mad dash "I'm going!".

After Tristan left, Gelda and Guinevere shared an evil smirk.

"Aunt, you have done my request, right?".

"of course, I do. Because it's interesting~", Gelda chuckled darkly "let's see how those two react later when they have to face Lady Morgan and Isolde who have eaten the 'Sins Candy' that I have slipped to their drink and food".

"what Sin they will be, Aunt~?".

Gelda smirked, "the Sins that could make them be honest with their feelings to the men they loved~ like you requested, niece~".

---

Tristan had no idea about how he could be ended up in this situation. Okay, remember it carefully. First, they had conversed about how adorable Arthur and Guinevere. Actually, Isolde had shown unusual signs on this, from how she told him that she envied them because the Royal couple loved each other and it made her feel envious of them. She really hoped that the man she loved also would return her feelings. Tristan convinced her to be more confident with herself, that she was a good woman who would make a fine wife. Then, the topic of their conversation changed into Merlin (what the hell?) and she asked if he loved her or not, thus he decided to marry her even if it didn't end well.

"well, I did, but—".

Wrong button, idiot.

Tristan was about to tell Isolde, that yes, he indeed loved Merlin, but it was no longer in a romantic way. It was just the platonic love like he had with his siblings. However, Isolde threw the horrible tantrum to him by throwing the scrolls on her hands to him.

"wait, Isolde".

"why? Why should it be my sister who becomes my love rival? Why not me? It should be me!".

Tristan was shocked, his eyes dilated before he realized his back pressing on the wall and heck, Isolde yanked him by the collar "I love you more than her".

Thanks to God, Merlin contacted him through the telepathy "Triss, it seems someone stole two candies of my 'Sins Candy'. Do you—".

Tristan responded in panic "your sister ate one of it, then! It seems she ate Envy from how she behaved".

"...did she do something?".

"Just tell me how to make her back to normal, please...".

"well, I don't think you will like it but—".

"Just tell me already!".

"what? Why did you not say something? Too surprised to know that I'm in love with you? Just say something, dammit!", Isolde growled as she pushed him hard to the wall (Tristan's artificial heart on his back got knocked rather too hard in the process but he bit back the wince of pain) before she lowering her head further and leaning her forehead on his chest "I know you only see me as your little sister and it frustrated me. Why can't you see me as a woman? Just like the way you saw my sister on the princess's Debutante last year when you dance with her...".

Tristan huffed and held back his grunt of pain before he lifting her chin up "I was just having the brain-storming".

Isolde blinked in confusion "what for?".

"how to convey my feelings to you, to the point you will not reject me".

Isolde's pupils dilated before averting her eyes. Her face blushed "you don't have to lie in front of me just because of pity. I know I'm unloved by a man who only loves my older sister so—".

"it's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard from you. Do you seriously think I will choose your older sister over you?", Tristan forced her to look straight to his eyes, lifting her chin up "if I have to choose between you or Merlin, I will always choose you over everything in this world".

"sounded sappy of you".

"yeah, but I don't mind being sappy for you. I'm just waiting for the right time to court you because there's no way I can court you when you are still immature and underage, right? Or to be more precise, I'm waiting till you're ready".

"what? So, you think I'm not ready yet compared to my sister?", Isolde felt offended and she entwined her leg around his leg "prove it. I'm ready now".

"from where did she learn this?", Tristan expertly kept his poker face despite his rocketing heartbeats before he wrapped his arms around her torso "don't cry or regret it once you realize you can't return".

Tristan crushed his lips on her lips, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She moaned in pleasure, her eyes unfocused and hazy due to the sensation of their intertwining tongue. Her pupils dilated when his hand pulled down the zipper on her back, sliding down into the bare skin of her back. She collapsed backward unconscious after she felt the hot and wet sensation on her stomach, up to her chest.

Tristan stuck his tongue out and pulled out the Sin Candy from his mouth "to think I have to crystalize and pull it out of her body with 'making out' to her... Lancelot and older sister surely will laugh their asses. Hopefully, I'm not the only victim of Merlin's Sins Candy this time".

(yes, you aren't, Triss. Don't worry. Lancelot is next)

After Tristan crushed the vile thing with burn the Sinful Candy into crisp, Tristan sighed in relief. Isolde stirred awake and Tristan stiffened, but he tried to relax. Isolde rubbed her temples, she felt like having the worst headache but when she realized that she was wrapped in the hands of the man she loved, she flustered.

Looking around, Isolde was shocked "huh? What happened? Is there an earthquake or something?".

"well, sort of", Tristan chuckled nervously and deep down in his heart, he felt relieved and disappointed at the same time (relieved, because at least, Isolde didn't remember what her tantrum under the influence of the vile candy, and disappointed, because she didn't remember their make-out and his confession. It made part of him that yearning for her but wanted to keep her safe conflicted). For now, he thought drearily, he could rest a bit. Rubbing his temples, Tristan just remembered that his back got hit a little hard just now. Perhaps, it got bruises or needed the medicine treatment, again. Leaning his head on her shoulder, he breathed to the crook of her neck tiredly "just... let me rest... for a while...".

Isolde felt the rush of heat on her cheeks before she touched his forehead. Shit. He was sporting fever. She was rather panicked, cradling his head on her chest before calling Merlin to pick them on the library through the Communication Orb.

---

Lancelot thought "Karma does exist, yeah, I'm sure of it... I guess I've just got the Karma because I laughed at my older sister's misery".

Several seconds ago, when he wanted to go back to Guinevere's chamber, Morgan came in and locked (the heck?) the door of his room. Next second, she lunged into him with flushed cheeks and a bottle of wine on her hand. She put the already-empty wine bottle on the nightstand before she pushed him to bed. She was rambling about how she hated Guinevere for being her love rival and she was too flawless. Morgan seemed to heavily drunk on his eyes. Perhaps, this was because of it.

What Lancelot didn't expect, she attacked him in bed. Literally.

With the strength and passionate desire she held (which went unaware for him due to his insensitive) for years, Morgan started their make out. She was so bold, to think she unbuttoned his shirt. When he asked her to stop, she frowned and asked if it was because of he didn't love her and loved Guinevere?

Hence, she was his older sister, for heaven's sake. How could he possibly tell her?

"no, it's not that what I mean, Lady. I mean... you're not in your right mind, perhaps you're too drunk or you ate something wrong", Lancelot tried to make her comprehend the situation "Lady Morgan, you are King Arthur's older sister. I am his Knight and I'm not allowed to lay my finger on his possession or royalty. I am gonna lose my head if I dare to do it".

Morgan pursed her lips "but I love you".

...eh?

When Morgan tried to jump on him, someone's voice said from the door "Shock Stringer".

Lancelot dropped his head backward in relief when Merlin came to save him and Morgan dropped her head on his chest, unconscious.

Several hours later, after he properly put his clothes on and he had put Morgan on her chamber, Lancelot barged into Guinevere's room and protested "actually what did you put into her drink!?".

Gelda sipped her tea calmly "only put one of the Sins Candy on her food. Lust, it seems".

Lancelot tipped his head backward and groaned "oh, I see. Sorry to ask. Should have known it".

Guinevere meant it as a half-hearted joke "did she attack you?".

When Lancelot turned his blushed face and said nothing, Guinevere squealed "SHE DID!?".

"who did what to whom?", Isolde knocked the door "ah, princess, Sir Tristan is having fever and... well, I guess it's my fault. He protected me when there's a little earthquake in the library. His artificial heart git knocked by something and got the bruises, somehow. So yeah, I'm gonna watch over him tonight".

Everyone here noted that no earthquake occurred today, but whatever.

Merlin waved her hand "be careful. Just scream if he attacks you, okay?".

Isolde waved her hand and shook her head frantically "oh, no! Sir Tristan will not do such a thing!".

Lancelot smirked "whatever, but why did your face turn red, huh?".

Actually, Isolde remembered her make-out with Tristan but she thought of it as a mere dream. It was why she blushed furiously.

"Lancelot, stop messing around with her. Remember, Karma does exist".

Somehow, Lancelot flinched listening to Guinevere's remarks before he mumbling "...yes, indeed".

---

The next day, Arthur didn't remember anything. He tilted his head "I only remember that I slept peacefully on the best pillow, so soft and... squishy?".

Actually, when Arthur stirred awake, before he realized where he was sleeping and on what position, Guinevere teleported him to his bed safely, so Arthur thought he was sleeping on the bed of his chamber as usual.

Merlin and Gelda laughed openly to that. Guinevere smacked his head for it.

Arthur winced and rubbed the back of his head "why did you do it?".

"Because you're an idiot".

"huh? What does it suppose to mean?", Arthur greeted Morgan and Lancelot but he frowned when he saw the bright red of his sister's face "sis, why happened? Do you have a fever, too?".

Morgan flustered "what? No!".

Despite his effort to convince Morgan that nothing happened, Lancelot still averted his face from her each time she turned her face to him. In fact, after what happened yesterday, Lancelot couldn't see her eyes or her face without blushing. It was the reason why he kept avoiding eye contact with Morgan. Next second, Tristan and Isolde joined them.

"next time the Lady wants to jump on you, make sure you lock the door of your room, brother", Tristan walked passing by Lancelot and Morgan. He snatched the muffler on Lancelot's neck in the process "and rather than hiding those marks with this muffler, why don't you just ask Isolde to heal those?".

Lancelot tapped his fist on his palm "oh, why did I not think about it beforehand?".

Guinevere, Tristan, Gelda, and Merlin said in unison with narrowed eyes "because you are an idiot".

Arthur shakily lifted his finger "um, Lancelot... those red marks on your neck and collarbone...".

Bluntly, Tristan blurted out "it's known as 'kiss mark', Your Highness".

Covering his neck and collarbone with his hand, Lancelot went to snatch back his muffler "older brother! Should you snatch this muffler of mine?".

Tristan stuck his tongue out "think it as my little Revenge for you".

Arthur lifted his hand in sympathy "just don't tell me who is the woman who assaulted you, okay? She must be... so desperate".

Guinevere chuckled nervously, suddenly feeling pity for Morgan when she looked at how distressed the so-called Lancelot's assaulter. Arthur didn't mean it, yeah, but his words were still hurt even though it was the truth. Deep down in his heart, though, Lancelot started to build a certain feeling (called Love) to Morgan and he didn't hate the idea of her assaulting him at all.

Notes:

...this chapter kinda makes me realize the certain idea that Arthur is a precious adorable thing. Morgan is desperate. Guinevere, Gelda, and Merlin are the partner-in-crime. Tristan is sadistic. Isolde is clueless. Lancelot is a masochist.

Chapter 4: D of Debutante

Debutante was a party that was held for the noblewomen when they reached 14 years old (let's call it's the sort-of debut for them in the social society). This day was the debutante of princess Guinevere. She had been prepared ever since this morning, even before the sun peaked on the horizon. Side by side, young crowned prince Arthur Pendragon and the crowned princess Guinevere Cameliard stood side by side in front of the grand door to the ballroom.

Arthur whispered, realizing her nervous "you're trembling".

Guinevere hissed as she fidgeted her fingers on her skirt "no, I'm not".

"yes, you are", Arthur held back his laughter before he smiled broadly and reached his hand to her "don't be afraid. I know you're nervous, so do I. Let's do this together. I won't let you down".

Guinevere pouted and reached out her hand to accept his hand "don't protest or cry when I accidentally stomp on your foot, okay?".

At that, Arthur grinned cheekily "it's an honor to dance with you, My Lady. As long as I can dance with you and keep your body close to me, I don't mind with the pain".

Guinevere blushed furiously at such the suggestive notion "such sweet-talking you are".

As the couple that was gonna be the spouse who would rule over this country, they were the stars this night. All eyes directed to them, especially Guinevere, considering this night was her Debutante.

"Despite what you said about how you were gonna stomp on my foot, your dance is so beautiful", Arthur narrowed his eyes. He hoped this moment could last forever, as he leaned down and whispered "just like your beauty".

"His Highness is really sweet-talking tonight", Guinevere smiled with slightly flushed cheeks before whispering "I guess, the fact that I just don't want to hurt your foot, Your Highness, is what preventing me to stomp on your poor foot".

Arthur blushed. How cunning of her. He wanted to tease her to earn her blush or cute pout, but in the middle of the audience like this, she always could keep her cool and damn, how loud his heartbeat. She twirled as he raised his hand before they were holding hands. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off of the ground. She gasped before he caught her body as her body fell backward, earning the collective gasps and awe chorused in the ballroom. When Arthur straightened her body and she slid her bangs behind her ears, Arthur realized her heartbeat was also beating loudly for sure, from how the deep blush crept from her neck up to her cheeks and her ears.

Arthur apologized without remorse, instead, he smirked mischievously "do I startle you, princess?".

Guinevere decided to give a little revenge and kissed his cheek "yes, but I like it".

Older sister of Crowned Prince Arthur, Morgan was watching intently from the far distance "damn, she was so flawless as usual. No misstep and not even stomping on my brother's foot".

"look, it's Sir Tristan and Sir Lancelot!".

Morgan snapped her head and from the corner of her eyes, she saw two other stars of their Kingdom, two strongest Holy Knights from the Knights Of The Round Table, Tristan and Lancelot. Everyone in this Kingdom knew that they were a best friend (only a few of them knew that Lancelot and Tristan were siblings). They were famous and known because of their strength, their loyalty to the Royalty, and obviously, handsome. No wonder the women quickly gathered around them when they walked down to the main hall on this ballroom. They only watched closely as long as Arthur and Guinevere dance. This was time to dance freely. In this chance, after Arthur and Guinevere told them to enjoy their time and both Knights joined the audience. Again, from the corner of her eyes, Morgan saw Isolde, Merlin, and Gelda who stood near the table.

As usual, Gelda didn't show any interest in men in their Kingdom despite her beauty. Gelda had been known as the 'right hand' of the Sorceress Merlin and princess. Thanks to her beauty and reputation, in fact, there were so many men who settled their eyes on her but she looked totally not interested. Merlin looked unaffected, still enjoying her wine. On the opposite, it was clear that Isolde felt jealous of the women who surrounding Tristan, but she was too afraid to move. Morgan shook her head, if it were her in Isolde's position, she would just steal him away from those annoying woman. As if she could hear her apprentice's mind, Merlin rolled her eyes to Morgan before glancing sideways to Isolde and Gelda.

"ah, I apologize, Ladies. I already have agreed to dance with only one woman tonight!", Lancelot lifted his hand and chirped with his usual trademark grin, before sauntering to Morgan "would you give me the honor to dance with me, Lady?".

Morgan didn't expect this. Sure, she would want to dance with him, but she didn't expect him to come to her first. Well, she shouldn't have slipped her lucky away from her hands, right?

Morgan put the wine glass in her hand on the table before accepting his hand "sure".

As for Tristan, he was not too good with being friendly when he wasn't up to like Lancelot, so he was still surrounded by the women. Merlin sighed and she thought it was time for her to move.

After she put the wine glass on her hand, Merlin gracefully approached Tristan, running her fingers on her hair with the usual lopsided smirk on her lips, only this time, it felt more tempting, in a seductive way before she wrapped her arm around his shoulder "wanna dance with me for a song, gentleman?".

It was not a secret that Tristan and Merlin were once husband and wife who divorced, but people still wondered how close they were. So, when Merlin approached him and invited him confidently like this, the other women only could bite their lips.

Tristan smirked and wrapped his arm around Merlin's waist "gladly, Lady".

Once they walked away to dance on the center of the ballroom, the women around them who aimed for Tristan only could bite their lips or nails in irritation or grunt in irk.

Tristan sighed in relief and whispered "thank you very much. I was saved".

Merlin smirked, "do me a favor, then".

"and this is the usual Merlin I've known", Tristan rolled his eyes "what is it?".

"just be honest with yourself and dance with my little sister. I know you're holding yourself back due to her sake, considering your ages and stuff, but it won't do any good for you two", Merlin pulled him by the collar and whispered near his ear. After she released him, she waved her hand and pushed Isolde to him "goodluck~".

Gelda moved closer to Merlin "you're really a good older sister, Lady Merlin".

Merlin smiled on her glass "I tried".

Isolde looked up nervously, slightly flushed as she thinking how handsome he was. Tristan stared down as she lowered her head again and slid her bangs behind her ear, thinking how beautiful she was.

Tristan lifted her chin up so she could see the sincerity on his eyes as he reached out his hand "dance with me tonight, Lady".

Isolde smiled brightly and grabbed his hand "yes, Sir Knight".

---

"Dear diary, today is my 14th birthday and my Debutante. Nothing special about my Debutante", fond smile carved on Guinevere's face as she remembered, blushing slightly "other than the fact that I realize about how broad his shoulder, how firm yet gentle the grip of his calloused hand, how warm his chest and how loud our heartbeat when our body leaned against each other when we were dancing".

Out of nowhere, Isolde peeked her head "oh, it's exactly what I feel when I was dancing with Sir Tristan. I wonder if all girls feel this way when they're dancing with a man or it's just when we dance with the man we're interested in?".

Morgan popped her head on the other side "perhaps the latter. I only feel this way when I dance with Lancelot because I don't feel the same way with the other men".

Guinevere's face turned bright red, frantically covering her diary "KYAAA! Don't peek at me when I write my diary!? And what are you doing here in my chamber?".

Isolde teased "oh, come on, is it so wrong to have a sleepover with my niece?".

Notes:

...review?

Chapter 5: E of Emotions

Summary:

“Emotion is proof that we are alive. It is the very thing that gives value to our lives, and emotions exploding is the purest art”—Magician Gowther, the Commandment of Selflessnes.

Meliodas was the firstborn son of Demon King and Elizabeth was the firstborn daughter of Supreme Deity. Both of them were supposed to be enemy, so how they turned out to be a lover? Well, it had something to do with their younger sibling, more or less, indirectly. Sophia of Demon Clan. Meliodas’ little sister, and Lucifer of Goddess Clan, Elizabeth’s little brother.

---

Meliodas was on the courtyard with Chandler and the brutes of the Ten Commandments who loved fight a.k.a Galand and Derieri (assisted by Zeno, Karmadios, Aranak, Greyroad, and Monspiet) to discuss their plan on the next battle.

Along with Cusack and Lilith in tow, Zeldris barged into the courtyard “brother! She’s missing!”.

Meliodas who rarely showed emotions, snapped his head “WHAT!? Didn’t I tell you to make sure she will not able to get out? What those useless guards do?”.

Rajine (Derieri’s older sister who was just appointed by Meliodas to serve Sophia as her bodyguard) bowed her head “my greatest apologies, prince. It seems the princess successfully sneaked out of her room when the guards exchanged their shifts”.

Lilith groaned in frustration “argh! That little girl of mine! When we told her to stay put and having total bed-rest, she disappeared instead!”.

“perhaps the princess was bored. If she fully recovered, perhaps we would let it go this time, but...”, Rajine didn’t mention it out loud, but as someone close enough to her, she worried. Turning to her sister and her crush, Rajine asked “Derieri, Monspiet, can you help me looking for the princess?”.

Derieri realized that her older sister quite liked the princess though she didn’t understand why, she still obediently complied with her request, tagging Monspiet along with them. Lilith dragged Zeldris and Cusack to help her look around the Capital. Meliodas simply asked Chandler to detect where the lost girl and when they found out that Sophia sneaked out of the Castle, Meliodas exasperatedly asked them all to wait on the courtyard and only sent the reinforcement in case they needed it if Meliodas didn’t come back with her until sunset.

That day, both Meliodas and Elizabeth didn’t have a plan to meet, neither they expected to bump into each other. Just like how Meliodas realized that his little sister sneaked out of the castle and went somewhere (to wherever as long as she was out of the suffocating monitor from their subordinates), Elizabeth realized it too, thus both official successor of Demon Clan and Goddess Clan were spying on their younger sibling. As expected, when they met each other, they were shocked to find their sworn enemy with an equal position as the successor of each other’s respective clan.

Meliodas snarled venomously “…you?”.

Elizabeth gasped “you!”.

As expected, Meliodas lifted his hand that surrounded by Hell Blaze and hissed “what are you doing here? Go back home, goddess”.

Elizabeth scoffed “I believe it’s my line. I refuse to leave just because of your threat”.

Meliodas stood in a fight stance “by force, then?”.

Elizabeth tilted her head and wondered why every demon she’d met should be this hostile? Especially when they knew about her identity as Supreme Deity’s daughter and the sole princess of the Goddess Clan. Speaking of which, Elizabeth remembered her little brother, Lucifer told her about the sole princess of the Demon Clan, Sophia. Elizabeth wondered why the hell Lucifer was quite attached to her. Was it his sympathy, or empathy, to Sophia? Remembering her intention, the reason why she had to come here from the Celestial Realm to the Britannia in the human Realm of all places from the first place, Elizabeth lifted her hands in surrender.

“Listen, I have no intention to continue our fight, and neither I planned to fight against any member of the Demon Clan, including you, for today. I simply came here to find my little brother. I heard there’s a festival in the human village nearby”, Elizabeth shrugged nonchalantly “I sensed his presence here. Knowing my little brother, I bet he would want to go to the festival. So, let’s decide the time and place of our fight later, but for today, just let me go”.

Such a laid-back, carefree Goddess. Well, if not because of his important task to find and drag Sophia back to home, he would laugh it off. Wait. Something was off. Now he thought of it, it was odd.

Meliodas frowned and lifted his forefinger “...wait, what did you say?”.

Elizabeth blinked in confusion “let’s just postpone our battle because I want to go to the festival with my brother—”.

“—not that, the reason why you came here”.

“because I sensed my brother’s presence here?”.

When Meliodas unexpectedly blanched, Elizabeth was curious and asked “everything’s okay?”.

Meliodas ignored her and hastily left Elizabeth to find his little sister. Elizabeth cluelessly followed him and they entered the woods where they felt the presence of their younger siblings. Later, Elizabeth also could recognize Sophia’s presence, though it was faint because her presence was still too weak.

“I swear if something happens to my little sister—”.

“I can assure you, neither I nor my brother will bring harm to you or your sister. At least, not today”.

When they got out of the woods, they arrived on the grass field at the plateau. There were the ruins of a war-torn village. Looking around, Elizabeth asked if he knew this place and Meliodas simply snorted.

Elizabeth curtly asked, “what’s so funny?”.

Meliodas crossed his hands before his chest, sharply retorted “very funny, to think you don’t even know that this village was one of Demon Clan’s territory which am

Elizabeth remembered that she didn’t join the force, but her brother did “I am quite a pacifist one. As long as it is unneeded, I’d like to stay behind and mostly, it’s my brother or the Archangels who do the work”.

Ignoring her, Meliodas hastened his pace to where he felt his little sister’s presence. Elizabeth followed him in tow.

Meliodas curtly told her to back away “why do you follow me instead?”.

Elizabeth sounded appalled “oh, please. I do not follow you, Sir. I only walk to where I feel my brother’s presence”.

Again, ar first they argued with each other over something, simply a small particular thing such as the honorifics. That, before they realized that their younger siblings’ presence came from the same direction. Exactly from the same place.

They felt like having a heart attack when they saw what occurred in front of their eyes. They found Sophia and Lucifer, indeed. Sophia still wore her nightgown, V-neck sleeveless red dress revealing her arms and her neck down to her collarbone which still cladded in bandages. Her long wavy red hair reached her hips, tangled in between Lucifer’s knuckles. Lucifer was bare-chested, leaning Sophia’s head on the crook of his neck, seemingly she was fast asleep on his lap. With her ear on his chest, Sophia could hear the loud thrumming of his heartbeats as she slowly opened her eyes. It took three seconds for Sophia to process the ridiculous circumstances they were in before she shrieked and her face as red as her hair, flustered.

Sophia immediately broke the hug “W-W-What are you doing? Your clothes—”.

“tch”, Lucifer gathered his clothes from the stump of a tree nearby after leaning Sophia on the tree bark “morning, sleeping beauty. Think about how panicked I was when I found you unconscious here in front of these graves and your body was so cold. I had no choice but to take off my clothes and share my body heat while healing you in the process”.

Sophia pulled out her dagger, pointing it to Lucifer from behind “it doesn’t explain what’s your intention and what happened to me while I was unconscious”.

“All jokes aside, nothing happens. I swear in the name of my mother, Supreme Deity”, putting on his shirt back, Lucifer shrugged and lifted his hands in surrender, flapping his wings “with all honesty, I don’t have a hobby to attack or kill an ambulatory patient. Put down that dagger, will you? I truly mean it, I am not here to bring harm on you”.

She knew he was right. Even when she pointing her dagger to his neck like this, he didn’t show any hostility towards her (which unusual, considering how she usually got it from Goddess Clan members or whoever hates Demons or hate her). Putting back the dagger to the sheath on her hip, Sophia thanked him before skeptically asking.

“and what the prince of Goddess Clan is doing here? I think you are not the type of someone who would look for war-plunder”.

“pillage is not my thing. Usually, I’d like to kick the heathens who dare to try to take something from the dead when I’m the leader of the task-force. It’s not like we can find something precious here, either”.

Sophia cursed herself inwardly. How the hell she could collapse unconscious here and not wake up immediately even if there was an enemy nearby? On top of everything else, the said enemy helped her twice, even.

Lucifer snapped her out of her reverie by asking her about what she wants to do here “given of what just happened to you, I think you should have brought some guards with you”.

“it’s none of your business. Thank you very much for saving my life previously and this time either. If you may, you can leave me alone”, Sophia walked away but when she realized that Lucifer followed her instead, she snapped “why do you follow me instead?”.

“because I’m bored and I don’t have something important to do back at home, so I think I just need to stick close with you, to make sure you’re safe”.

Sophia relented because she knew, Lucifer was the type of man with his words. Once he made up his mind, he wouldn’t back away. It was just the type of man he was. So, she let him stay with her with one condition. 

Lucifer was not allowed to say anything about whatever he witnessed this day (especially of her) to anyone. They had the deal, and they only walked silently until they reached the graveyard of Demon Clan members.

Sophia knew she was not allowed to use her magic power, especially not in front of her enemy, but just for this once, she didn’t care. She touched the grass field beneath her and closed her eyes. The red waves of magic spread through her arms to the earth and instantly, the various flowers grew beneath her. Of all various flowers from all kinds, Sophia picked some pink and purple flowers before she put the simple bouquet on one of the gravestones at the graveyard.

Lucifer whistled, looking around to the flower garden that Sophia just created “so, this is your magic power that I’ve heard? The Eternal Beauty, a blessing of your father, the Demon King, as the gift for your birth in the Royal Family”.

“he only gave it because he pitied me and it’s only sort-of compensation from him to me, because of losing his chance to raise me in my childhood. That’s what he told to my mother and everyone…”, Sophia smirked sarcastically “but I do not think so. Perhaps, he thought I will be grateful towards him and to keep me in control, he gave this magic power to me as his gift, so I can serve him. Long story short, he wanted to use me as his tool, just the same with how he treated my brothers”.

“I understand you will feel suffocated, but still, what’s your importance here?”, Lucifer picked one of the purple flowers that he slipped on her earlobe “whoever they are ten feet underground here, they must be someone important for you, to the point you even ignored your health to come here all the way”.

The wind blew strongly to the point her hair flew backward, but she felt like the wind as if caressing her cheek. Sophia narrowed her eyes and said mournfully “…she truly was…an important person for me…”.

Turning her head to the graves, Sophia lowered her head and recited. She was raised by a couple, the Magician Gowther that she thought as her father, and his lover, Glariza that she thought as her mother. Glariza was the part of the Succubus Clan who lived in this area. One day, when Sophia and Gowther went to the Castle, this village was ambushed by the goddesses.

“I couldn’t even meet her in her last breath, to say goodbye or to tell her how much I love her as my mother figure. Compared to my biological mother...”, Sophia crushed the red rose on her palm. The rose’s flower petals fell from her hand along with the blood coming from her palm, trailed down her forearm “just like what people said, the roses have thorns, and their thorn can hurt you”.

“Stop hurting yourself like that”, Lucifer pulled her bleeding palm, healing her hand with his Invigorate. Looking down at the poker-faced woman in front of him, Lucifer covered her eyes “you shouldn’t have to bottle up your emotions”.

“...I can’t”.

“Why? Because you think it will abase yourself?”.

“because I can’t afford to show my weakness. If they ever found out about my weak side, then it would bring dishonor on my mother’s pride”.

“I don’t understand. Why should you care about your mother when she didn’t treat you properly?”.

“you’re probably right. People said I’m supposed to hate her, given of everything I’ve been going through, but... No, I do not hate her. I do not love her either. I hope nothing of her as my biological mother now”, Sophia reached out her hand upward, as if she could try to reach the bright blue sky above “I think I’ve been broken somehow, somewhere, deep down in my heart. It’s so strange to me. I have been feeling like there’s a void in my heart after I lost Glariza. However, strangely, no matter how sad I am, I can’t cry”.

Lucifer knew some people could not cry instead when they felt down on their saddest moments. The answer was simple. She could no longer cry because the grief and sadness were unbearably overwhelming. Sophia’s eyes dilated when she felt Lucifer wrapping his strong arms around her body, hugging her from behind with so much gentleness, as though she was the finest art made of the finest glass and he was afraid that he would break her.

“every people have their breaking point and the moment of weakness, so it’s fine to cry, Sophia. Just because you cry, it doesn’t mean you are weak”.

“Why should you care? It’s none of your business”.

“you’re probably right. At first, I was only thinking that you have resemblances with my older sister, no offense, but then... After our first meeting, your tears haunted my mind. The sadness, grief, and loneliness on your eyes struck my heart as if it was me who got hurt as well. The warmth of your body and the emptiness I felt from my hand that touched your neck that day, I could remember it and feel it linger on my hand as if you stung it with weird electricity, the feels of your touch remained vividly, strongly”, Lucifer told her how he thought he wanted to see her again and here they were, standing face to face. Cupping her cheek, he didn’t miss her stunning expression this time, running his finger to twidle with her locks “...I’ve been thinking, what should I call this emotion?”.

“oh”, Sophia breathed and for a second, it was so brief, to the point that whoever saw the familiar knowing recognition on her eyes would mistake it and think they only imagined it, Sophia tilted her head in confusion manner “I have no clue as well. Perhaps, I can ask my adoptive father, Gowther to help you for a bit of advice”.

“thank you, then. I hope he can explain to me about what should I call this emotion, because why...”, Lucifer looked down at his palm “...why do you make me miss your presence when we are apart, make me want to meet you and touch you like this?”.

When she realized he also felt the same way as she had been, Sophia felt the heat on her face and, she was sure that the reason why her cheeks blushed and her face felt hot so sudden, was because she was sporting high-fever. No, she didn’t feel this way because of being affected by this man’s presence or touched by his gentle words and actions.

Okay, she probably had, because what she just had gotten from this man, it was something she had been looking for.

Yearning for.

Addicted of.

Love.

Lucifer grabbed her wrist and pulled her. With his hand on the back of her head, he shoved her face to his chest “I do not see a thing. Forgive me. I should have found you sooner. I wish you could get to know that you are not alone”.

In her mind, she suddenly remembered Glariza. It felt like looking at Glariza who smiled brightly to her as she told her, giving a motherly peck on her forehead “I love you, Sophia. Please, don’t cry. I’d love to see you smile. That’s why you should be happy with someone you love”.

The next second, Lucifer caught her body that collapsed backward “Sophia!”.

Unconsciously, deep in her slumber, Sophia mumbled painfully “please, don’t leave me... I’ll be a good girl, so please... don’t throw me away...”.

Wiping her tears, Lucifer gave a light peck on her wet eyelids “you always cried when we met lately”.

“hands off of my sister”, Meliodas pointed his sword to Lucifer’s nape “you have had enough to feel her up”.

Looking behind over his shoulder, Lucifer thought finally they came out of their hiding place. Lucifer had realized their presence from the first place, unlike Sophia. Not that she could be blamed. After all, she was still too weak, thus she didn’t feel their presence.

This and that were the different matters, though.

Lucifer retorted, leaning her head to his chest “if you are her older brother, then take good care of your little sister. Just because you’re her older brother, it doesn’t mean you know everything of her and understands everything about her”.

For someone as passionate and compassionate as Elizabeth, Sophia’s miserable state only strengthened her wish to stop the war. However, for someone referred--demanded emotionless, Meliodas only could answer blandly when he was supposed to be offended “you are probably right. However, I do not understand a single thing of something called emotions. I am not sure either about how or what should I do to make her react like how she opened her heart to you”.

Just like that, they separated their way. On their way back to home, Elizabeth didn’t mention anything about what he felt towards Sophia (luckily). Instead, she declared “brother, we have an important mission from now on”.

Lucifer perked “what is it?”.

“First, we have to teach everything we know with all might about emotions to Meliodas. You don’t have to worry. I will do most of that job meanwhile you have to persuade Sophia to join us for the sake of stopping the war between us with the Demon Clan. In case we have no choice...”, Elizabeth smiled “let’s figure out about how to kidnap those two from their Clan”.

It sounded like a crazy plan. Yes, indeed. Whoever heard her words, they would think that she was insane but not for her brother.

Instead, Lucifer shook his sister’s hand “I will assist you”.

Meanwhile, Meliodas who carried unconscious Sophia bridal style on his arms, feeling the goosebumps on his nape before looking down “oh, you’re awake?”.

“...brother?”, Sophia hoarsely mumbled and leaned her head on his shoulder tiredly “...I’m sorry...”.

“for sneak out of the Castle, or make us worried sick?”.

“everything”.

Meliodas knew he had to do this, so he said convincingly “listen well, Sophia, and don’t make me repeat it in the future. You are the sole daughter of Demon King, the princess of our Clan, but above everything else, remember what’s the most important thing: you are our sister. Do you think... how panicked I and Zeldris were when we found out you were gone? Don’t do something reckless, especially not when you are still unwell. Tell me or Zeldris, or ask whoever nearby on the Castle when you want to go somewhere. Zeldris may not show it openly, but he does care about you, so do I. We will not want to lose our sister”.

“...yes”.

“wait, why did you cry? Geez, what a crybaby”.

“I know right...”.

Even so, despite his protest, Meliodas let her cry until she fell asleep. Perhaps, she finally felt relieved over something. Though, the fact that the trigger was a certain Prince of Goddess Clan, it was unnerving. Meliodas told himself to keep his guard on for Sophia, especially when Lucifer was around her. Meliodas bet Chandler & Cusack as their mentors would get a heart attack if they ever knew about what he and Elizabeth witnessed. Perhaps, he could ask Lilith and Gowther to put some magic charms or magic protection for Sophia to prevent someone from trying to kidnap her. Later, when Zeldris came with Meliodas to check on her condition, both brothers gave a baby Red Drake for her that Sophia gave the name ‘Blair’ and she made the Red Drake as her familiar. Though, when Sophia gave a light peck on their cheeks as her thanks, it was cute to see Meliodas froze in shock and blushed Zeldris flustered.

Chapter 6: F of Familiars

Summary:

Familiars (sometimes referred to as "familiar spirits" or "animal guides") are believed to be supernatural entities that would assist witches and cunning folk in their practice of magic.

After the Sins’ mission on the Edinburgh, Gwen found a new sample in her adoptive mother’s laboratory. Leaning her chin on the edge of the table, Gwen asked “...mommy, what is this?”.

Merlin snapped her fingers to send a particular magic book to her adopted daughter “find the ‘Familiar’ there”.

“Familiar, the supernatural entities that would assist witches and cunning folks in their practice of magic. They would appear in numerous guises, often as an animal, but also at times as a human or humanoid figure, and were described as "clearly defined, three-dimensional… forms, vivid with color and animated with movement and sound" by those alleging to have come into contact with them, unlike later descriptions of ghosts with their "smoky, undefined form[s]", Gwen put down her book, lifting her head to Merlin “so, this eyeball is your familiar?”.

Looking at the little Gwen who pointed her forefinger to his direction, Orlondi snarled “oh, don’t give me that, you tiny girl! I am one of the nobles Vampires—Oof! Stop that!”.

For your information, the reason why Orlondi had stopped his words midway, was because Gwen who irritated to him, lifting the cage where Orlondi was put by Merlin and right now, Gwen shook the cage violently with an innocent smile as if she did not do something violent “what are you talking about, Mr. Eyeball? I can’t hear you right~”.

Merlin smirked in amusement “honey, you will not able to hear him if you keep shaking his cage like that. Also, perhaps you should learn about how to keep your mouth, Orlondi. My dearest daughter is quite sensitive, you know?”.

Gwen huffed and puffed her cheeks “think of it as a punishment from me because you called me as ‘tiny girl’, eyeball”.

“seems like my little girl hates it when people call her as ‘tiny’, huh?”, Meliodas lifted Gwen off of the floor “but worry not! You will grow into a beautiful woman before you realized it!”.

“Dad!”, Gwen laughed brightly. Looking straight to Merlin, Gwen waved her hand to her as Meliodas brought her out of Merlin’s laboratory for her next lesson with Gowther. Wrapping her arms around Meliodas’ shoulders, Gwen swung her legs up and down “Daddy, I want to have the familiars like mommy, too. Do you think I can have them?”.

Meliodas grinned and patted her head, running his fingers through her hair “of course, honey! You will, once you get bigger and older”.

---

12 Years Later...

On their peaceful days in the middle of their supposedly chaotic journey to find and stop the Ten Commandments, Elizabeth asked “say, do you have familiars?”.

Guinevere asked, “to whom you asked that?”.

Elizabeth sheepishly admitted “no one in specific particular! Feel free to answer it, all of you. I’m simply curious. I only know that Tristan has 11 familiars that he referred to as his pet like Raven, Shapeshifter, Jormungand, and Griffin that I’ve seen once on Necropolis. I wonder how about the others in our group”.

By Elizabeth meant with the others here, was meant the children of Meliodas (and hers, though she couldn’t have possibly known about it for now, sadly).

Tristan added “and as for the others 7, they are Unicorn, Pegasus, Cerberus, Fenrir, Minotaurus, Yeti, and Goblin”.

Elizabeth turned to the others “do all Magicians have familiars?”.

Guinevere nodded, caressing Fou who perched on her shoulder “due to necessity, mostly yes. For example, I have Fou as my familiar. She is quite strong, so I don’t see the necessity to add my Familiars for now”.

Howzer turned to Tristina “and? How about you, Tina?”.

Tristan flatly said as he waved his hand “Howdy boy, trust me, you would not want to know because she does have familiars, but considering her status as a black magic user, mostly her familiars are kinda... Creepy”.

Tristina deadpanned, sounded mockingly offended “hey, at least I do not have as much as familiars like you. After all, I only have Dullahan, Gremlin, Lich, and Banshee as my familiars”.

King stared to Tristina incredulously “...Tina, Gremlin aside, your familiars are all related to the dead beings. No wonder Tristan said that your familiars are kinda creepy”.

Merlin added with a knowing smirk “for your information, Gremlin can be dangerous sometimes. Especially when they are hungry. There was once a case of an old house belonged to certain nobles, haunted by Gremlins who ate the occupants of the house in the end”.

Hawk hugged Tristina and shrieked “why the hell you have those creepy creatures as your familiars?!”.

Tristina tilted her head and smiled innocently “is there something wrong with that?”.

Hawk snorted “Pugo! Should I knock some senses into your head?”.

Gilthunder waved his hand to Hawk, lifting his thumb to where Meliodas stood behind the counter with a pair of knives ready on his hands “uh, Hawk, I think you better stop pestering Tina too much. Otherwise, I have a hunch feeling that Sir Meliodas there will try to cook you”.

Meliodas whistled innocently “hm? What are you talking about, li’l Gil? I just wonder if we can cook roasted pork for our dinner tonight. Should I butcher the nearest pig?”.

“Pugo! Momma!”.

They laughed at the usual antics before Lancelot glanced to Meliodas, leaning his elbows on the counter “well, as a Knight, I don’t need a familiar, naturally. I was just lucky because the Lady of the Lake gave the Sacred Treasure with a Holy Beast within it, perhaps you can count my Alicorn as my familiar”.

To answer Elizabeth’s curiosity, Merlin explained “normally, familiars are the creatures live on the different realms with us, mostly like fairies, mystical beasts or spirits. We use familiars for our necessity and reasons. For example, Lily as the Fay Queen has some of her clan members as her familiars, using them as her Knights—”.

Meliodas added “—or just like Melody and Merissa. The difference is Melody who has the Nature Spirits as her familiars, using them when she needs them and treats them as her friends. Merissa who has the Sea Monsters like Kraken or Leviathan as her familiars only think of them as her pets”.

King shouted as his eyeballs looked like about to pop out of its place “what kind of a person who has such the dangerous beasts as her familiars, Captain?”.

Meliodas simply stated “my daughter. She is the Mermaid Queen, remember?”.

Elizabeth tilted her head after learning more things about the familiars from Merlin “I see... But I wonder, does it mean Cath is not King Arthur’s familiar? Also, why does Guinevere only have one familiar?”.

Arthur lifted his thumb excitedly “Cath is my friend and mentor, after all!?”.

Guinevere, on the opposite with her husband, told her friend calmly with a sweet smile adorned her face “it’s not that simple, Ellie. When we have a familiar, it means we have a pact with our familiar. We can get their aide, indeed, but we also have our obligation and responsibility towards them, like taking care of them, feeding them, or to fulfill what they want from us as their master. For example, Fou indeed agreed to be my familiar, but as the exchange of her service, I need to feed her with my magic power”.

Fou nuzzled its head against Guinevere’s cheek “the magic power of my Mistress has such a delicious taste, after all!”.

Elizabeth chuckled nervously before turning to Gelda “then... How about Lady Gelda? I’ve heard once that you are Lady Merlin’s familiar?”.

Gelda shrugged “well, I officially am. Although, I serve Queen Guinevere more often rather than Lady Meelin due to necessity. Formally, you even can say that I am Queen Guinevere’s familiar ever since I swore my loyalty to her instead of Lady Merlin”.

Meliodas stopped wiping the glass and perked at that “oh? I just know that. When did you do that?”.

Gelda shook her head in a distressed manner “when she was a child, not too long after she got kidnapped. Seriously, she was a handful child. Well, knowing who her parents are, no wonder. I quite enjoy it, though, helping Tristan and Lady Merlin to raise her. She asked me to take care of her dearest adoptive daughter who constantly and easily could get into trouble, somehow”.

“Aunt, you are so mean! Do not talk as if I’ve always constantly gotten into trouble!”.

Gelda deadpanned “yes, you are”.

Guinevere puffed her cheeks, pulling Gelda into her embrace “geez, I forgive you because, for me, you are my favorite aunt, not my familiar”.

Gelda stunned for a second. Briefly, she could catch a glimpse of a faint smile adored on Meliodas, Lancelot, Tristan, Tristina, and Elizabeth’s face. Even Arthur smiled fondly. Gelda might have lost the entirety of her family (she didn’t note Orlondi as a family even if technically, they were still related by blood). Not like it was a problem for her. After all, Vampires even were considered as the unworthy low-life beings after their clan supposedly was extinguished by the hands of the Demon King’s Executioner (her lover). Even if she was separated from her lover, these people--an exiled family of all Clan, considered her as their family.

Family.

That was what they were, had been, and always would.

Gelda smiled in contentment and hugged her back “what am I going to do without you? Well, it can’t be helped, I guess”.

Gelda and Meliodas exchanged glances. They both knew these peaceful days wouldn’t last long. They needed to stop the Ten Commandments and Demon Clan’s invasion. To stop the Holy War that once stopped. Not over yet, only stopped for these past 3.000 years. Feeling the warmth of Guinevere’s body, Gelda inhaled her sweet scent and noted to herself. No matter what happened, she would protect this child that she had raised like her own. Soon, she had to meet with Zeldris and in case she failed to persuade him, she had no choice but to confront him, as Guinevere’s familiar. Until that day, she would stay by their side.

Chapter 7: G of Gamble

Summary:

In which the Melizabeth kids have a gamble about the reunion between their lovely Aunt Gelda with her lover and their uncle, Zeldris.

Notes:

Double update in a dqy? Why not?

This happened not too long after Galand’s brutal attack on Camelot. After Guinevere called all her siblings, they supposedly had an urgent meeting on the round table at the underground (secretly, of course) about their next step to stop the Demon Clan’s Invasion. Other than the seven of them (all Meliodas and Elizabeth’s impeccable children), there were also Merlin and Gelda in this room. Everyone in the Camelot must have However, even in this urgent situation, these brave kids still had enough time to do something unexpectedly unnecessary after their brief meeting.

Gelda stared at the seven people who sat on the round table, wondering why on the earth they put money pouches with various degrees in front of them “...what are you doing? Shouldn’t you guys go rest before we disperse and start our journey to stop Demon Clan’s invasion? Not to mention, you all need to rest. You haven’t fully recovered yet after our battle against Galand”.

Lancelot waved with a sing-song tone “wait a minute, Aunt~ after we finish this one”.

Tristan deadpanned “and to answer your question, as you see, we’re having a gamble right now”.

Tristina added innocently “we are having a gamble about how you two will react to each other when you and uncle Zeldris reunite again!”.

Merlin laughed, covering her mouth “pfft! I can say nothing to that”.

Gelda facepalmed “...what on earth you all have a gamble for?”.

“Alright, but before we start our gamble...”, with all seriousness, Guinevere pointed out “Merissa, you are not allowed to use your Clairvoyance to see the future about it because it means you’re cheating”.

Merissa lifted her hand “...okay, I won’t”.

Lily narrowed her eyes “older sister, you haven’t witnessed the future about it yet, right?”.

Merissa laughed innocently “of course not, sis!”.

“let’s make it short. I’m sleepy...”, Melody told them through telepathy, yawning behind her palm “also, since there are the seven of us, it’s okay to have some similarity, right?”.

Guinevere smiled and put the blank paper in front of them “that’s fair. Also, to make it short, let’s just write the conditions of our gamble and how much the cash we put into the wager”.

Gelda groaned in annoyance “go to sleep already, kids...”.

In the end, they wrote the conditions of their gamble (about what would happen between Zeldris and Gelda in their reunion) and how much the cash they should pay later in the blank paper which they entrusted to Merlin who would keep it somewhere.

---

Several months later, on the Boar Hat tavern...

Meliodas tilted his head and trailed off “...what are you doing, kiddo?”.

Yep, in front of Meliodas, there were sitting all seven of his flesh and blood on the round table where a white paper on the center of the table. Guinevere smiled brightly in amusement to the point Arthur felt his heartbeat beating harder after looking at his lovely wife’s smile. Tristan grinned lopsided, clearly amused. Tristina casually sipped her tea, as if nothing happened. Merissa crossed her hands over her chest and mumbled about how much the money pouches she should give this time. Lily glanced sideways to Lancelot with concern on her eyes. Melody cupped her face, leaning her chin above her palms with her usual blank looks that staring into nothing. Lancelot flatly planted his face on the table.

Elizabeth touched her chin and murmured “I don’t know. Our kids have been like that since... About 30 minutes ago, perhaps?”.

“so~ I won the gamble!”, Guinevere said cheerfully, turning to her siblings who won the bet as well “along with Melody, Tristan, and Merissa”.

Lancelot plopped his head on the table “half of my salary in a month...”.

Melody patted Lancelot’s head “there, there, should I share half of my share to you?”.

Tristina huffed and put the money pouch, leaning her head on her palm “well, I already expected this since I have bad luck. It’s okay, though. After all, I don’t need to pay too much money”.

Merissa simply stated as she sipped her tea “I don’t care whether I won the bet or not. It’s only my way to have fun with my siblings and I can care less about how much money I’ve got or lost when gambling”.

Lily narrowed her eyes in suspicion “I bet you must have witnessed the future, right?”.

Guinevere didn’t even try to hide it “it can’t be helped at all, sister. Not Merissa’s fault, if she witnessed the future with her Clairvoyance before we have a gamble. Not my fault as well that I saw through her heart with my ability”.

Melody smiled innocently “I simply choose what the Spirits told me”.

Lancelot slammed his hands on the table “it’s cheating!”.

“do not think so. Everything is fair in love and war. We were in the middle of a war and we were having a gamble about love, so it’s fair”, Tristan tipped his head backward, sipping his ale “I’m simply lucky, though”.

Now they were curious. The Sins plus Hawk and Elizabeth were particularly curious about what they argued about before Merlin and Gelda filled them in.

Lifting the paper from the table, Gelda shook her head “they even wrote their gamble here along with how much the money they put into the gamble. What a bunch of carefree kids. Typical of your kids with Elizabeth”.

Elizabeth smiled and slightly blushed while Meliodas took the paper from Gelda’s hand before they started to read it.

Gamble - How Aunt Gelda and Uncle Zeldris will react to each other when they meet again.

Guinevere (500 gold coins) - Lovers Quarrel, started by Aunt Gelda slapped the bewildered and shocked Uncle Zel.

Tristan (350 gold coins) - Aunt Gelda slapped him twice hardly and cursed him for being a jerk.

Tristina (100 gold coins) - a bear hug.

Merissa (800 pearls) - Lovers Quarrel (with a note that they will have their reconciliation soon).

Lily (300 gold coins) - being lovey-dovey and kiss torridly

Melody (250 gold coins) - burn him into crisp for being a dick.

Lancelot (400 gold coins) - kidnap her to have a secret rendezvous somewhere.

Meliodas and Elizabeth exchanged glances before turning to their children, giving a weird look (for Meliodas) and concerned gaze (for Elizabeth), worrying about their children’s state of mind.

Were they for real?

Merissa was the crazy richest of all her siblings, no wonder she put the highest amount (using pearls, even, not gold coins). Guinevere was in second place, followed by Lancelot (he was just reckless), Tristan (who had such a stroke of luck when it came to the gamble), Lily, Melody, and Tristina on the lowest (as expected of Temperance).

Meliodas narrowed his eyes “...son, I’ll tell Morgan about this, and let’s see how she will react”.

Lancelot immediately grabbed his father by his shoulders “please, don’t. I’ll never hear the end of it”.

Morgan appeared out of nowhere with a strained smile on her face “too late~ let me give you a session of the lecture so you can learn better. In my room. That, if you want me to forgive you, idiot”.

Lancelot bowed and obediently followed her “yes, ma’am”.

Ban couldn’t help but wonder “...I can’t tell if he’s pleased with it or not, but I can tell for sure that he will be a hen-pecked husband”.

Elizabeth squeezed her youngest daughter’s shoulder “Melly, honey, why did you write that your Aunt Gelda will burn your uncle?”.

Melody smiled brightly “because it’s the fact! Not to mention, he deserved it!”.

Gelda snorted at that and Meliodas openly laughed his heart out, unlike Elizabeth who facepalmed.

Gloxinia ruffled her head, trying hard to not laugh “now, now, I wonder to whom she takes after more like, her mother or her father?”.

Meliodas smacked Gloxinia’s hand and snatched Melody away from him “hands off of my daughter. Also, since when did you come here and what for?”.

Gloxinia waved his hand “come now, Meliodas~ are you still mad with me? I thought there’s no harsh between us anymore”.

King narrowed his eyes “Lady Lily, you...”.

Lily covered her blushing face “I just thought of that after reading the novels that my husband once brought because I was soo bored in my pregnancy”.

Diane cooed “oh, it’s so sweet of him!”.

Gowther tilted his head “but I’m curious now, from where he got those novels for you and what kind of novels he’s gotten?”.

Escanor stuttered as he tried to evacuate Merlin away, carrying her bridal style “um, excuse us. I think you guys need to retreat now”.

Looking behind, only now they realized the ominous dark aura of Hell Blaze coming from, no one other than Zeldris, the Executioner.

Meliodas nervously scratched his cheek “uh-oh...”.

“These kids, seriously...”, Zeldris roared “GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE, BRATS?!”.

Tristan snatched Tristina and Elizabeth to hide upstairs “let’s retreat for now”.

Guinevere calmly observed the situation “duh, this is why we should do the gamble secretly and make sure the object of your gamble clueless. Otherwise, they would get mad if they felt offended like this time”.

Arthur carried Guinevere bridal style, running away “honey, you also have to run away! Have some self-awareness of your safety, at least!”.

“hm... I indeed will get into the trouble if I get caught”, Merissa knocked the window and opened it “Drole, if you may”.

Former Giant King, Drole offered his hand “here, jump to my palm”.

After Merissa was safely secured outside under Drole’s protection, Melody ran to hide behind Gloxinia. Peeking her head out of her hiding place, Melody said tearfully “...uncle Zel is so scary”.

Gelda pouted and crossed her hands before her chest “Zel, you scared her too much. Apologize to her, otherwise, you sleep in the den tonight”.

Hell Blaze around Zeldris died down and after he did what Gelda asked, Zeldris moped because Gelda ignored him and chose Melody who clinging on her leg instead “...she loves her niece more”.

King peeked his head out of under the table where he hid with Diane and Gowther “...wonder if the males in Captain’s family, Demon King aside, is going to turn into a hen-pecked husband”.

Hawk mumbled in awe “I am more amazed by the brave Vampire Lady Gelda”.

Meliodas patted his shoulder in sympathy “trust me, Zel, it happens to the woman who loves children. You will understand about it when you two have your kids!”.

Looking up, he felt touched “brother...”.

Turning his back, Meliodas asked Gloxinia, Drole, and the remaining Sins “now, who want to join me? This time, let’s have a gamble about how long it takes for my brother to have kids after their marriage?”.

Drole facepalmed as Merissa laughed brightly on his palm “Meliodas, seriously...”.

Gloxinia glanced sideways to the little girl near his legs “...your father is always something”.

Melody tilted her head curiously and tentatively asked, tugging his hand “say, Gloxinia. Is my father always like this?”.

Gloxinia nodded his head and squeezed her soft hand nervously “yup, he always is. Anyway... Why the hell I feel the heat on my back?”.

(The answer was, because Tristan glared to you for holding his little sister’s hand, poor Gloxinia).

Zeldris clutched his older brother’s neck with a vein bulging on his head “I’m gonna seriously strangle you”.

Tristina contemplated “...mommy, should I freeze uncle or ask my sister to turn him into a statue before he tries to kill Daddy again?”.

Elizabeth shook her head fervently “no, honey. Your father won’t allow it. Also, it won’t happen again. Now, with our curses broke, your uncle won’t dare to kill your father because it means he will die for good. That’s not what your uncle would want to”.

Guinevere flatly declared with resolve on her eyes, mumbling quietly “yup, besides... before it ever happens again, I just need to purify him with my Omega Ark”.

Elizabeth raised her hands “honey, please don’t...”.

Tristan rolled his eyes “fret not, mother. Thanks to older sister, because she’s like this instead, ironically we can survive”.

Zeldris let Meliodas go, suddenly having a goosebump on his nape “what? Why on the earth I felt like someone just aimed for my life?”.

Chapter 8: H of Hangover

Summary:

Prompt: when the discussion about their alcohol-tolerant was brought up, the drinking contest between the family occurred and obviously, they all had the hangover the next morning. How messed up it had been when the Melizabeth kids drunk, though

People had their alcohol tolerance at various levels, including Meliodas and Elizabeth’s kids. Meliodas told Elizabeth when the latter asked about it. At the end of the National Foundation Festival in the Boar Hat, they were having a celebration and that was when Elizabeth asked him. At first, it was only her, but the others interested and joined them.

Lancelot was a heavy drinker, but compared to his father and older brother, you still could count him as a light drunker. Well, probably.

Melody, the youngest daughter, was not allowed to drink because of her status as a Saintess. Not that she craved to drink alcohol, ever, (not when she didn’t even understand the reason why people tended to drink something as dangerous and intoxicating as alcohol) so it was not a problem for her.

Lily could be a heavy drinker, but she never crossed her limit because she was afraid that she would act unladylike or cross the boundary in her tipsy state, so she would stop to stay sober.

Elizabeth nodded her head with an excited spark on her eyes, “then, how about the other four?”.

“well, my oldest one is a clever girl. She knows how to handle her alcohol, just like Lily”, Meliodas briefly glanced sideways to where Gelda sat with Merlin and Escanor, “I think her caretaker knew more about it”.

Feeling his gazes on her, Gelda sat on the counter and leaned forward to Meliodas, lifting her thumb “oh, would you look at that? I guess the young King is going to be a hen-pecked husband”.

They directed their gazes to where Guinevere and Arthur were drinking together, both were drunk and red-faced. When Arthur lifted his shaking finger, commenting about how could she not even tipsy, she grinned wickedly. Guinevere put her hand on her temple and cast Invigorate spell to sober herself up.

“before I lost it, I simply used the Invigorate magic spell. It’s really handy, you know? After all, with my Invigorate magic spell, I can heal whatever kind of wounds, including poison. I just need to use it and I can drink for the rest of my life~”.

Arthur flopped his head on the table, “it’s cheating, Gwen…”.

“Now, now, someone needs to stay sober, to help you back to the bed”, Guinevere teasingly poked his cheek “now, shall we go back to our bedroom?”.

Arthur wrapped his arms around Guinevere’s waist, toppling them to the floor. With his head on her breasts, Arthur mumbled sleepily, “pillow… squishy and soft…”.

Again?

Earning the mad laughter from others, Guinevere facepalmed, “…I guess I should get used with this. I bet he would make me as his pillow every night once we get married”.

Back to the main topic, after Guinevere and Arthur retreated to their bedroom using teleportation, their conversation about alcohol tolerance continued.

Meliodas caressed his chin thoughtfully, “perhaps, you can say that Triss is the closest to me. He has a high-level alcohol tolerance, almost as high as mine”.

As they were speaking about this, Tristan and Escanor were having a drinking contest. Isolde was ready to prepare the apple, pills, elixirs, and potion for their hangover (which they would get for sure next morning). On the other side, Merlin as the one who triggered this ridiculous competition between his ex-husband and newly official lover felt amused.

That was when Hawk realized, “oh, how about Tina and Merissa? I barely saw them drinking”.

Elizabeth pointed to where Merissa was busy with her daughter, Meghan who sat on her lap while Tristina was busy helping the waitresses, “well, I guess they’re just not drinking that much? Not to mention, Meg keeps asking to play with Lady Merissa and Tina is busy with the waitresses”.

The next second, Tristina called out “Hawk! Help me with the carrying, could you?”.

“oh, now you mention it…”, Meliodas grinned mischievously as an idea popped in his head. He waved his hand to Tristina who just put the tray of empty mugs on the counter “Tina, would you give this to Merissa?”.

“chocolate? Sure. Can I have one, too?”, Tristina sniffed the chocolate’s smell and she cringed with an awkward, restrained sheepish chuckle “ah, on the afterthought… no need”.

“in case she will refuse, just ask her to open up her mouth and throw it to her mouth”.

Tristina chirped, “okay! This is gonna be fun~”.

Hawk narrowed his eyes and glared at Meliodas accusingly, “…what’s wrong with that chocolate?”.

Ban sauntered with a bottle of Aberdeen Ale in his hand “did I miss something?”.

After Elizabeth told him about what they were talking about, Meliodas added, “just see. One thing for sure, I will never poison my children, right?”.

Like Meliodas instructed, Tristina asked Merissa to open her mouth and Merissa cluelessly did it, “like this?”.

Tristina nodded her head as she threw the chocolate “here we go”.

After Merissa munched ‘whatever delicious thing’ that her sister threw into her mouth and swallowed it down her throat, Merissa asked cluelessly, “hm... it’s sweet. What was that?”.

Meliodas lifted his fingers, earning the confused looks from others “in three seconds…”.

Tristina said innocently, “whisky chocolate from father”.

Meliodas lowered one finger “two”.

“oh, you—”, Merissa looked like want to smack Tristina (or Meliodas) but she handed Meghan to her little sister, Lily instead “—just carry her”.

Meliodas lowered one more finger “one”.

Merissa instructed, “make sure you put me on the bed, in the same bedroom with my daughter”.

Meliodas lowered his last finger “zero”.

The next second, Merissa fell asleep, curling into a ball on the table.

Ban sputtered, “she fell asleep just because of a whisky chocolate!?”.

Meliodas explained, carrying Merissa bridal style. Giving instruction to Tristina to bring Merissa and Meghan to the bed upstairs, “even soda water is enough to make Merissa drunk. I guess it’s because she is a mermaid. Their alcohol tolerance is low”.

Ban twitched his eyebrow “seriously?”.

After they put Merissa and Meghan on the bed upstairs and went back to the bar, Elizabeth apologized because she thought it was her fault for being curious, that Merissa had fallen asleep.

Tristina waved it off “eh, don’t mention it. It’s Dad’s fault. He’s just having fun teasing us, his children. I guess Merissa just will want to smack my head tomorrow, for feeding her the whisky chocolate. Or to head-lock Daddy’s head, since he’s the main culprit”.

Elizabeth chuckled nervously “…I guess I’m the part of this”.

Feeling thirsty, Tristina took the glass with beautiful colors on the table. There was a slice of orange on the edge of the glass, and cherry inside the glass. Sniffing its smell, she thought it was just juice. At least, until they heard Merlin said “huh? Tina, that’s my wine”.

Tristina hiccupped and froze. Her body was squirming with her bangs covered her expression before she collapsed backward. Though, before she fell flat with her back on the ground, Howzer caught her, but they felt confused when Meliodas warned “Howdy boy! Watch out!”.

Lifting Tristina on his hands, Howzer was about to ask “huh? What do you—?”.

The next second, Tristina wrapped her arms around Howzer’s shoulders and kissed him. On. The. Lips.

The stunned spectators gasped and Meliodas facepalmed as he explained “sorry, I’m late to warn you. When she’s drunk, Tina will turn into the ‘little devil kisser’. She will kiss whoever nearby, no matter it’s a girl or a boy. That’s why I never allow her to drink”.

King shouted indignantly, frantically waving his hand “tell us sooner, Captain! Also, is it alright to let your daughter kiss another man in front of your eyes?”.

“well, well, well, it’s not like she truly wants to do it intentionally from her heart. After all, she’s drunk. I can't help it because it’s her who started it when she’s drunk”, Meliodas shrugged before he cracked his knuckles and smiled with an ominous aura, “but~ it will be an entirely different case if it’s the man who started it”.

Before Meliodas could kill him, Gelda halted him “wait, something’s strange. I never saw Tina drunk previously. However, you and Tristan clearly said that Tina passed away when she was only 9 years old previously. She was only a child. How could you know about how she behaved when she’s drunk?”.

“oh, remember when I told the story about how Tina was curious about the taste of an ale? She sneaked out of her room and went to the storage room. She found my ale, and she—”.

Ban chuckled “—tasted it? Man, who knows that she has it on her?”.

“—not only she tasted it, Tina even soaked wet, bathed in ale. Tina accidentally fell into a barrel of ale when she wanted to taste it. Tristan who found his twin barely drowning, kicked the barrel to the side and knocked her out of the barrel. However, when Tristan scolded her for being so reckless and helped her while calling us, Tina ‘attacked’ him. Now, you understand how I could know about it, right? I have to admit, I was quite panicked as well when I knew what happened, but the ridiculous situation revealed in front of my eyes that night was quite enjoyable to watch”.

Tristan smacked Meliodas’ head, clearly drunk in his rambling, “think about how did I feel that time! First, I thought I’ve gotten the heart-attack because she was barely drowning, only turned out that she attacked me, her twin! You and mom weren’t helping at all! You two laughed at us instead! Well, that’s before mom dragged us, telling that we would get a cold if we didn’t dry ourselves…”.

“in the end, they’re even, huh? Though, it seems Tristan’s alcohol tolerance is still higher compared to Escanor. Well then”, Merlin shrugged, gathering Escanor’s body in her arms, “do you need help, sis? I’ll bring Escanor back to my laboratory”.

“no need!”, Isolde chirped as she dragged Tristan, lifting her thumb “I can handle myself”.

Tristan purred as he leaned his face on the crook of Isolde’s nape, “where’d you go?”.

Isolde sighed and shivered delightfully, mewling, “err, let’s just sleep, okay?”.

The next day, no doubt, several of them were having a headache.

Guinevere casually sipped fresh water and started to cut several apples, “why should you drink too much if, in the end, you grumble when you’ll be having a hangover in the morning?”.

Howzer lifted his shaky finger “we don’t want to hear it from you… cheater…”.

“whatever”, Guinevere shrugged and carried the tray which filled with two glasses of milk and freshwater, also a plate of apples and slices of bread “I will have breakfast in my bedroom with Arthur. He’s suffering a hangover as well”.

“What a good wife you will be—OW!”, Ban caressed his nose where Guinevere’s shoe had landed “it hurt, li’l Gwen!”.

Guinevere rolled her eyes nonchalantly, casually putting back her shoe “whatever”.

Chapter 9: I of Incest

Summary:

Little disaster because a kid read a wrong book

Notes:

...I don’t need to explain the meaning of it, right?

In the middle of the broad daylight, the Sins and Gwen (6 years old) were enjoying their vacation on this Summer holiday. They were busy doing whatever they wanted. Ban prepared the lunch, cooking in the kitchen. Meliodas was busy repairing the roof with Diane and King. Merlin locked herself in her laboratory as usual. Escanor sat on the couch, writing a poem while waiting for lunch. Gowther and Gwen were busy reading books. It was so hot outside. When Diane, King, and Meliodas came back after repairing the roof, Escanor welcomed them with a tray of orange juices. Because he was a doll, Gowther didn’t drink the orange juice and Gwen preferred the milk. Suddenly, their peace was interrupted by Gwen who asked them an unpredictable question, right after Ban finished cooking and prepared the utensils on the dining table.

Lowering her book, Gwen called “Daddy?”.

Meliodas wiped the sweat on his head with a dry towel, lifting a glass of orange juice from the tray like Diane and King did “yes, what is it, dear?”.

Climbing down from Gowther’s lap, Gwen walked to the dining table. Sitting on the chair, she asked innocently “Dad, I want to ask you something but I’m not sure you will answer it or not, neither I know how you will react. Is it okay to ask?”.

Gwen was usually talkative like this. She was a child with high interest to learn something new. It was unusual for her to feel doubt when she wanted to ask something like this.

Meliodas was so curious, so he encouraged “well, we wouldn’t know if you didn’t ask, Dear. What do you want to know? Just ask about it”.

Innocently, like an angel, Gwen asked out of the blue “what is the meaning of ‘Incest’ and do you know the real example for it?”.

When Gwen asked about it, everyone here was drinking the orange juice (except Diane and Escanor). Her question was successfully shocking them. Escanor, Ban, King, and Meliodas instantly choked and spurted their drinks.

Wiping his mouth, Meliodas grabbed her shoulders and asked sternly with a strained smile etched on his face “Gwen, Dear, from where or who you learned it exactly?”.

Meliodas tried to not scare her, really, but the ominous aura surrounded his body was enough to make the Sins shuddered. Gwen blinked in confusion. Thankfully, she was unaware of his hostile aura.

Lifting the pink-covered book in her hands, Gwen answered “from this book”.

Meliodas took the book and read the title of the book loudly and clearly, so the Sins could hear him “...Every Night, He Turned Into a Beast...”.

Ban swore he could puke the blood here “who the f*ck would dare to give that kind of book to her?”.

Thankfully, King was fast enough flying closer to Gwen and closed her ears.

Meliodas kicked him in the gut and sent him flying “bad Ban! You should not curse in front of a kid!”.

Gwen tilted her head “nee, uncle King, why did Daddy send a flying punch to uncle Ban and why do you cover my ears? It makes me unable to hear anything, right?”.

King sweatdropped “you better don’t know it”.

Escanor snatched the book from Gwen’s hands “let me check it”. 

After Escanor checked the book thoroughly, and it was ‘that kind of book’, he told Gwen to not read it anymore with a red face. After Gwen demanded the answer about why was she not allowed to read the book, Escanor tried to persuade her, reasoning “you’re still too young to read this”.

“who is not allowed to read what?”.

They collectively stiffened and froze when they heard Merlin’s voice from behind.

Turning his body around and hiding the book behind his back, Escanor stuttered “Me-Merlin! Nothing, it’s—”.

Merlin snapped her fingers and the book appeared in her hands. Flipping the pages of this book silently, Merlin didn’t speak at all, neither she showed any kind of expression. Closing the book, Merlin lifted the book on her hands with a lopsided smirk “what is it, Escanor? I never know that you like this kind of book”.

Escanor flustered “Lady Merlin, you’re misunderstanding!”.

Merlin covered her mouth and chuckled “I know. I’m just kidding”.

“what people usually call this situation? ...ah”, Gwen tapped her tiny fist on her palm “mommy, do you just seduce uncle Escy?”.

Too shocked by her lovely and innocent adopted daughter’s question, Merlin dropped the book to the ground and froze. Ban and Meliodas laughed their head off. Lifting the book from the floor, Merlin snapped her fingers.

Gowther caressed his chin, looking at Ban and Meliodas whom heads planted on the roof “I guess this is what people usually call ‘Karma does exist’, no?”.

Diane didn’t even know what to say when she usually would be angry at a time like this, but since her opponent was Merlin and both the Captain and Ban were at fault, well… “…I guess so”.

King lamented “we should repair the roof again, huh?”.

Diane winked “don’t worry, King! I will help you”.

King stuttered with a red face “o-okay!”.

Merlin carried Gwen from her seat and started to lecture her, tapping her nose “now, Gwen, first of all. The word ‘seduce’ is an unbefitting word for a child around your age because it’s strange to hear it coming from children around your age, especially a girl. You may use that word when you’re older, about teens. For now, the word ‘tease’ is more befitting. Understand?”.

Gwen saluted “okay, mommy”.

Lifting the book in her hand, Merlin asked with a thin smile on her face “good. Second, I need to know from where did you get this book and why did you read it?”.

Gwen said innocently, lifting her hands excitedly “I took it from Big Sis Margaret’s desk! Don’t worry, mom. I have asked her permission first. I didn’t steal it”.

At that, Escanor asked, “how many books on princess Margaret’s desk, Gwen?”.

Tapping her forefinger on her cheek, Gwen tried to remember before she thoughtfully said “about four or five?”.

Meliodas leaned his chin on his palm “maybe she just took the wrong book?”.

Merlin tucked the book in her grip, carrying Gwen with one hand “I will be right back”.

After she snapped her fingers, Merlin disappeared with Gwen, using her teleport to go to the Castle perhaps.

---

Meanwhile, in the Castle...

Elizabeth popped her head through the door “Mar-Mar, are you not coming with us?”.

Behind Elizabeth, Veronica deadpanned “Sister, let’s have lunch together already. Why don’t you continue looking for the book later, after lunch? Actually, which book you’re looking for?”.

Margaret didn’t answer them, still rummaging her usually-clean-and-organized room. Oh, God. To where did that book disappear? She was sure, she had put it on her desk until...

Margaret gasped and popped out of her blanket after she was looking for the book on her bed under the blanket “don’t tell me...? Gwen mistook it as the fairy tale book she wanted to read and took it!”.

“It seems so”, Merlin appeared, carrying Gwen in her hand, the other hand lifted the book “I was sure you would not deliberately give this to my daughter”.

Margaret, Veronica, and Elizabeth startled “KYA! / WOAH!”.

Of course, Elizabeth was the fastest to recover before she approached the Sorceress and her daughter “Gwen! You came! How about having lunch with us?”.

“Ellie!”, waving her hand, Gwen brightened before she apologetically and politely refused “ah, I’m so sorry, Ellie. Uncle Ban has prepared lunch for us. How about we have lunch together next time?”’

Merlin reached out the book in her hand “she’s right. We came here just to return this. Don’t worry. I’m not telling King Baltra”.

Margaret timidly accepted the book and nodded her head slightly with a red face “ah... Thank you very much, Lady Merlin. I apologize for causing trouble for you”.

Gwen pouted, tugging Merlin’s sleeve “eh? But mom, I haven’t finished reading it yet and I’ve just gotten into the interesting part!”.

Margaret flustered “ho-how far have you read it?”.

“When the Lady just entered the chamber for her ‘First Night’ after the heated argument between the Elders. Some opposed the marriage because it’s Incest, they said. I’m still confused about the meaning of some words, though. Like Incest, First Night, and Mat--”.

Merlin quickly covered her daughter’s babbly mouth “...I will take our leave now, I guess”.

---

When Merlin came back with Gwen only and the book that caused the entire troublesome problem was nowhere to be seen, the Sins thought it was over, after Merlin’s brief explanation about what had happened in the Castle. Gwen said nothing after she was getting an intense repetitive persuasion from Merlin, Meliodas, and Escanor. They thought it was over. However, they were wrong.

“ah, you haven’t answered my question, Daddy!”.

Pretending to be innocent in front of her, Meliodas feigned “which question, Dear?”.

Gwen deadpanned “Dad, I know you aren’t a forgetful person and you must know which question”.

“tch”, Meliodas clicked his tongue out before lifting his forefinger “okay, I will answer... after every member of the Sins has answered it”.

Merlin raised the cup of her coffee to her lips “what is the question, anyway?”.

Ban snickered “your daughter innocently asked the Cap’n, what is the meaning of ‘Incest’ and do you know the real example for it?”.

Merlin choked, but she elegantly wiped her mouth after that “...well, since my daughter is the one who asked it, I will answer it first”.

After explaining what was the meaning of Incest to Gwen who turned bright red-faced like a tomato, with a slight flush on her face, Merlin answered “and for your latter question, yes, I do know the real example of it. It’s my nephew. He married with my little sister, his Aunt who was technically younger than him”.

King spurted his drink “come again?”.

Meliodas said nothing. He knew all too well  who  exactly she was talking about.

Gowther casually said, “oh, right. You can count it as an Incest”.

Ban raised an eyebrow “dang it. Your sister must be a unique woman like you”.

Escanor coughed awkwardly, slightly blushed “she must be a lovely person like you”.

Diane nodded vehemently “we never knew it, neither we have heard about it previously, ever”.

Merlin narrowed her eyes, putting her glass on the table before twiddling her finger around the edge of the glass “because they passed away already”.

Silence.

Trying to break the tension, Gwen prodded the others to just answer her question “how about Daddy and the others? Uncle Ban or uncle Gowther?”.

Gowther lifted his forefinger, pointing to himself “I do know a few cases of Incest, but most of the stories I knew, it’s from the novels. I never came to experience the case personally”.

Ban leaned his chin on his palm and answered lazily “well, as for me, I don’t have a family. Only the shitty parents that I don’t even bother to remember, a dead little sister, and a man who raised me to the point that I consider him as my father. Same like Gowther, I never personally met the Incest cases”.

King admitted “well, you see... A fairy usually is born from a flower. Being a Fairy, we never bothered to marry and simply spend our time peacefully in the Forest. I don’t think that marriage issues such as Incest are ‘a case to bother about' in my Clan”.

Meliodas and Merlin exchanged glances in silence. If only King knew what happened to Melody and Elise…

Diane tapped her chin “well, for me… as long as I lived in the Giant Clan, my Clan members only think about how to be the strongest fighter, so I guess it’s just like what King said, the marriage issues like Incest is not our thing as well. Though, I’d love to marry someone I love!”.

At the end of her statement, Diane winked to their Captain who mumbled flatly (ignoring the heated gaze from King) “good luck, then”.

Escanor indirectly mentioned the Incest between Royalty members from the previous generation in his destroyed Kingdom, telling that it happened in his family from the previous generation without telling his real identity as the exiled prince.

Gwen stared at Meliodas expectantly with her doe-like eyes “how about you, Daddy?”.

Meliodas casually answered, “oh, it barely happened to me”.

Merlin calmly sipped her coffee, fully knew the entire story.

Escanor’s eyes looked like about to pop out of their place.

Ban dropped his mug, his ale poured down his mouth like drooling “are fricking kidding me, Cap’n? Like, seriously?”.

Diane fumed “HOW COULD IT BE?!”.

King waved his hands, frantically “Diane, please calm down!”.

Gowther flatly added, “that’s right, Diane. If you went berserk here and now, our house would not survive. Not to mention, Gwen will most likely be in a danger too”.

Diane held herself back because she was thinking of Gwen. Thank you, Gowther.

Gwen gasped and covered her mouth “how could it happen?”.

Meliodas was not the type of someone who would willingly share the story of his past open-heartedly. So, when looking at Gwen who stared at him with clear concern in her unique eyes, he would feel bad if he didn’t answer. Not to mention, it looked like Diane was going to throw a tantrum when no one, or specifically Gwen, was not there and it would be safe to just go berserk. Welp. It seemed like he had no choice.

“well, you see... There was a woman, the daughter of my father’s acquaintance. She visited our house constantly with her father and in our early adolescence, my father tried to arrange an engagement for me with her, then my Aunt came and told us not to do it. Of course, my father asked why and...”, Meliodas leaned his head on his chin, elbow on the table, contemplating to continue or not “...it turned out that she was my father’s illegitimate daughter with my aunt. In another word, I and my half-little-sister barely got married”.

It would be better if they just stopped. However, Ban being Ban boldly asked “so, you barely got married off with your sister. How did you and your sister react?”.

“of the fact that we’re siblings? I accepted it gladly, of course. After all, she’s just like a little sister of mine, before I knew she’s indeed one. Though it was an entirely different case for her”, when the others had their suspicions on the implication of their Captain’s words, from the way how his conversation was going, Meliodas clarified “well, she found her true love later on. What happened between us, it was not a problem anymore”.

Gwen asked in curiosity “where is she now?”.

At that, Meliodas froze for a second before he smiled ruefully “...she passed away years ago when she gave birth of her daughter, not too long after her lover’s death on the battlefield”.

Oh. No wonder their Captain never talked about it. Because of how Gwen burst out into tears after that, feeling sorry for Meliodas and his dead sister, then being followed by their Captain’s unusually eerie silence and gloomy mood, no one in the Sins dared to talk about it anymore. 

Meliodas that day thought of his little sister, praying  “Sophia, little sister, may you rest in peace along with your loved one. You don’t have to worry about your daughter and us”.

Without they knew, Fate had its own way and could be cruel sometimes.

Notes:

I got bored so I posted this.

Chapter 10: J of Jack In The Box

Summary:

J of Jack In The Box
Noun. a toy in the shape of a box with a figure inside on a spring that jumps up when you open the box.

Kids and toys were inseparable. It was in common sense to give the toys for the children, especially for the children in their childhood. Neither Meliodas nor Elizabeth (the Original version) had experienced the ‘normal’ childhood, so they had no clue about it.

Thankfully, Elizabeth’s reincarnation version had a much better experience, so they could follow their instinct as the parents. One of the famous toys in their family (other than a wooden sword and ball) was ‘Jack In The Box’. Sometimes, you could change the figure inside the box. The first one who did it to their children was no one other than Merlin who tried to scare Tristan. Instead of being scared, Tristan got excited instead, just like ordinary children would when they got a new toy. What Meliodas and Elizabeth did not know, Tristan had an idea to scare her sister like the one Merlin had tried to do. It happened around the time when Tristina had interested to taste the ale. Secretly, Tristan got into an ale barrel and closed the lid. This idea came to his mind because he thought, with scaring her like this, she might have stopped trying to taste the ale. 

From the little hole on the ale barrel, Tristan saw Tristina looking around. After Tristina opened the lid, Tristan jumped and—.

FLOP.

After Tristina collapsed backwards with her back on the floor, unmoving, Tristan realized that his twin was unconscious and he jumped out of the barrel “huh? Tina!”.

Tristan tripped in halfway and fell forward with his face flat on the floor. Even if his forehead felt hurt after he bumped the floor, Tristan crawled and shook his twin’s body “hey, Tina, wake up! You’re joking, right?”.

When Tristina didn’t wake up, he carried her frantically “Mommy! Daddy!”.

After Lilith and Merlin checked her, they told them about the main reason why Tristina had collapsed unconscious. It was not because of too shocked, but because she got hit on the head by the ale barrel’s lid which she had dropped when Tristan scared her. She even got a fever and having a nightmare for a week. Of course, Elsa (Elizabeth 13th) had given a stern scolding for him who had scared his sister.

When Tristan moped on the corner after he got scolded, Meliodas approached him, telling him that his mother didn’t mean to scold him too harsh “your sister is still ill, thus she’s worried sick”.

“I know, it’s not that I’m not angry to mom… especially not when I had caused this…”, even now, his mother was busy taking care of his twin. Tristan sniffled, wiping his tears “because… sometimes, it felt like mommy loves Tina more than she loves me… I just wanted to scare her a little… I didn’t mean to hurt her… I’m so sorry, Dad… I’ll apologize to mother later too…”.

“look, I won’t scold you, neither I’m angry with you, so don’t apologize to me. No need to apologize to your mother as well”, Meliodas shushed him, carrying him. Patting his back, Meliodas walked out of the room, swaying him in his hands “just apologize to Tina and promise me, do not do it anymore to her, okay?”.

Rubbing his eyes sleepily, Tristan leaned his head on the crook of his neck “…okay”.

“Also, the most important thing, never think that your mother loves Tina more than you because we love you equally”, Meliodas ruffled his head and grinned “how about you sleep with Daddy tonight?”.

Tristan nodded sleepily before he fell asleep because he was too tired. Pulling the blanket up to cover his chest, Meliodas sat on the edge of the bed and kissed his son’s forehead “good night, son”.

---

It seemed like the ‘Jack In The Box’ toy had turned into a tradition (sort-of) running in their family.

When Merissa was born, this time Tristina was the one who curious. Even as a ghost, Tristina was including the ‘Physic Ghost’, the kind of a ghost with magical power. Tristina still could use her telekinesis to move the inanimate things. Using her telekinesis, Tristina moved the ‘Jack In The Box’ to Merissa’s bed. 

After Merissa opened it and a clown figure popped out of the box, Merissa (still a baby) startled and cried “MA-MA! DAA!”.

Both Meliodas and Elena (Elizabeth 45th) rushed into the crib where their baby was crying and they were shocked to see a bunch of pearls around their baby.

“from where these pearls, I wonder?”, Meliodas lifted one of the pearls on the bed “this is a REAL pearl, even!”.

“ah, I haven’t told you, have I?”, Elena carried Merissa, trying to calm her down “it’s our baby’s tears, Dear. The tears of Mermaid Clan members will turn into pearls”.

After they found out the reason why their daughter was crying, Meliodas grabbed the toy and rushed outside where Tristan sat on the bar “oi, Triss. Did you the one who brings this toy and make your sister cry?”.

Tristan felt offended “I promised you that I will not do it again!”.

Tristina sheepishly admitted, “ah, actually… it’s my doing this time”.

Meliodas scowled and narrowed his eyes “so, it’s you this time?”.

“Just want to see her reaction”, Tristina shrugged “who knew that the baby would produce the pearls when she cried like that? Think about it positively, Dad. You just got a bunch of pearls”.

Meliodas put his hands on his hip “oh, yes, because your sister cried. Do you think I will be happy about it?”.

Screw it. Tristina flinched because she thought there was no escaping from their father’s scolding this time.

---

Because her mother, Bethany (Elizabeth 69th) passed away on her birth, Lily grew up without knowing her mother’s figure and Meliodas raised her. It came to his mind suddenly that day. How would she react to the toy?

When Meliodas offered the ‘Jack In The Box’ to Lily, Lily stared at it for a second before she clapped her hands and giggled.

“Dad”.

Meliodas flinched, looking behind with a robotic motion before he smiled innocently “what is it, Triss, Tina?”.

Tristina and Tristan exchanged glances.

Tristan started “you forbid us to do it…”.

Tristina finished “…yet, you do it as well”.

---

When Melody, the 6th child was born, Elise (Elizabeth 99th) got the ‘Jack In The Box’ from Merlin “to be honest, Merlin, I never saw this kind of toy beforehand. What is this?”.

Merlin smirked curiously “well, why don’t give it to her?”.

When Meliodas and Elise gave it to her…

…the child blinked before she ate it.

Elise frantically waved her hands “Dear, it’s not food! Don’t eat it!”.

“that’s right! You’ll get a stomachache!”, Meliodas lifted his daughter, patting her back “now, vomit it out!”.

PTOE!

After she vomited it out and started to cry because of her father’s smack on her back, Meliodas sighed in relief and Elise cradled her in her hands to calm her down.

When Tristan heard about it, he barely dropped his mug “…what figure it was this time till she could eat it and it fit in her mouth?”.

Tristina deadpanned “…a butterfly, made by the beads”.

Meliodas grumbled “whatever. From now on, let’s just ban that toy”.

Tristan and Tristina nodded their head in agreement. When they had a younger sibling, they would not give that toy again.

---

Or not.

When Meliodas came home and found both Liz (Elizabeth 106th) and Lancelot stared down to the floor, Meliodas frowned. There was something on the floor and whatever it was, the shape could no longer be seen.

Pointing to the ruins on the floor, Meliodas asked “what is this?”.

Liz shook her head in amusement and explained “well, the old man Cain gave him a gift, a toy named the ‘Jack In The Box’. You know, the one people usually use as a tool to prank other people. Our son was too startled and he grabbed the wooden sword nearby, and…”.

Wandle, the parrot who had perched on the lodge, laughed “ka-ka-ka! He destroyed it into the pieces! He destroyed it! Using the wooden sword!”.

Lancelot scratched his cheek “um, did I do something wrong? Sorry, I did it in a reflex, Mom, Dad. I feel bad for uncle Cain who brought it to me. Should I apologize to him later?”.

Meliodas squeezed his 7-years-old son’s shoulders “no, son. Good thing you destroyed the evil thing. Next time you see it, don’t doubt to destroy it”.

“and thanks to this, we know that you have a talent in swordsmanship”, Liz grinned and ruffled his head “shall we start your swordsmanship training soon?”.

Lancelot excitedly beamed “yes!”.

“oh, come to think of it…”, Liz turned to Meliodas, clearly confused “why did you call that toy the evil thing? Do you have a bad experience with it or something?”.

Well, Meliodas knew she did not remember, but he could not help it, especially after the incident with his youngest daughter “…well, sort of”.

---

Meliodas thought Lancelot was savage enough, to destroy the toy immediately because the kid was too startled. To think this girl would be more savage…

Meliodas crossed his arms before his chest, feeling the curious gazes and amusement gazes of the Sins behind his back “…Gwen, care to explain to us, what exactly you’re doing right now?”.

Gwen blinked her eyes innocently “research. Well, you know, like the one mommy usually do”.

Yep, when the little girl found the ‘Jack In The Box’, her eyes immediately sparkled before she ran to Ban, asking him to give her the screwdriver, wrench, scissor, pencil, and paper. After she had fun to disassemble the toy into pieces, she drew the spare parts on the paper using her pencil.

Running to Merlin, Gwen asked, “mommy! Can you teach me how to repair this and how to produce it more?”.

Merlin took the paper, praising her for her good sketch “and what will you do with it?”.

Gwen excitedly chirped “oh, I’d like to create some of it and fill the box with the magic spells that we can use as a weapon! Perhaps, we can fill Ice magic that will freeze someone when they open the box or the cool one like the  Exterminate Ray  that Mommy was using to fight against uncle Ban!”.

The six remaining Sins shuddered, especially Ban. How could a kid like Gwen think about such an idea to create the weapon?

Kinda the opposite with her comrades, Merlin was impressed by her adopted daughter’s brilliant idea “uh-huh. Good idea. Then, after we create one, what will you do with it?”.

Gwen grinned devilishly “I will give it to Vivian!”.

Merlin smirked devilishly and grabbed her hand “come, I will teach about how to make one and let’s fill the box with a magic spell to freeze someone.  Ice Coffin  magic spell will be enough”.

Gwen jumped excitedly like a rabbit “yay!”.

Meliodas waved his hands “wait, wait, wait, Merlin!”.

Ban snapped “oi! You can’t be serious to teach your daughter about how to make a weapon!”.

Notes:

One advice from me, be careful with the toys around kids, guys. My niece could have choked to death if she really ate the marbles, but her mother successfully snatched the marbles before she ate them. Also, I am serious when I wrote that a boy can be savage to the toys and the curious girls can disassemble the toys because that’s what my little brother and my niece did.

Chapter 11: K of Knock-Out

Summary:

In which Meliodas teaches his children about how to 'knock-out' their opponent, especially the men.

Meliodas stared, really stared down to his little brother "...say it again?".

Zeldris sounded exasperated, running his fingers on his hair "I said, brother... Gelda is pregnant—".

Meliodas jumped the bar and said out loud to his comrades "guys, let's have a feast together tonight to celebrate my sister-in-law's pregnancy!".

Zeldris smacked the back of his brother's head "you idiot! I don't come here just to have you held the feast for us! Even if I expected this to happen...".

Meliodas grinned and lifted his hands "oh? Then, what for? Also since you have expected this, you can just accept it!".

Gelda who had seated by Elizabeth's side laughed brightly when Zeldris groaned in annoyance.

"We have chosen their names. If the baby is a boy, we will give him the name 'Zen'. If the baby is a girl, we will give her the name 'Griselda'. The thing is, even if we still need to wait 9 months later, Gelda said she thought our babies will be the twins and we need to prepare two names, just in case", Zeldris eyed Meliodas and Elizabeth curiously when Gelda sat beside him and Elizabeth moved to sit beside Meliodas "what about you two? I mean, when Elizabeth was pregnant with Tristan and Tina".

"one thing for sure", Elizabeth tilted her head, cupping her cheek "it was so difficult...".

Gelda felt pity for the goddess when the lifeless gloom on her eyes appeared "was it that hard?".

Meliodas crossed his arms before his chest and nodded his head vehemently. Turning his head, his eyes turned gloomy as well "she constantly woke up or yelled in surprise because either Tristan or Tina kicked or punched her from inside. I could've sworn that I might have gotten heart-attack of my seven hearts, nearly every day".

Mael chuckled nervously "at least, it's gotten better after they were born, right?".

Neiva laughed, clutching her stomach "no, it's worse, even. Because of the ones who were born no one other than these trolls".

Zeldris facepalmed "...I guess I can relate from how my brother behaved. Kinda the opposite with how Cusack trained me, sometimes Chandler got into trouble because of your father".

Meliodas deadpanned, sounded appalled "don't say it as if I'm the troublemaker ever since I was a child".

Zeldris snorted "because you are! Compared to me, you've constantly gotten into the troubles but it could not be helped at all, especially considering how Chandler spoiled you rotten!".

"…I can't imagine it…", Lancelot shivered at the mention of that old Wizard Demon "that old bastard spoiled rotten our Dad, that is".

"oh? Kind of the opposite with you, I can imagine it from how he constantly tried to kill Mom", Tristan munched his bread before a vein bulged on his head "I'm not quite satisfied on how he died, though. I haven't fully taken my revenge on him".

Tristina narrowed her eyes "…you've burned him after our sister slashed him into pieces and you still haven't satisfied yet?".

Hawk flopped his front legs on the table "by the way, Meliodas".

Meliodas stopped wiping the glass in his hands and replied "what is it?".

"being your children, no wonder they are strong, yes", Hawk nodded his head in acknowledging "but do you have sort-of deliberately, you know, train your children to make them into the excellent fighters like you?".

Meliodas deadpanned "of course not. That low you think of me?".

King scratched his cheek "well, knowing how strong your kids, no wonder Hawk thought like that, Captain".

Mael chuckled dryly "then again, knowing who are their parents, no wonder".

Zeldris caressed his chin thoughtfully "but considering how my brother spoiled his children rotten, I think he trained them well, only to the point they are capable to defend themselves. So, the question is, how hard they train themselves after they got the basic learning from their father".

Merissa cheerfully admitted, "oh, we simply trained harder to get far stronger, strong enough to the point we're able to beat The Commandments' sorry asses!".

Lily facepalmed "forgive my sister's foul mouth, uncle. She took after our father in this part".

Tristina pointed the main culprit "also if you want to find someone to blame, you may ask our oldest sister. She was the one who told us to train harder, to the point we can fight against the Commandments when the time comes".

"oh, I think you should be grateful to me?", Guinevere smirked lopsidedly with a cold gaze on her eyes despite the thin, sweet smile on her lips "after all, it is needed to protect our family and we can survive thanks to our hard training".

"…".

Zeldris and Mael promised inwardly to themselves, that they should never make her into their enemy, ever, again. They wondered how hard they trained themselves in the past, to the point these children were capable of 'kick their sorry asses', she said.

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Guinevere's neck, rubbing her cheek against the crown of her oldest daughter "well, it can't be helped, I guess. Let the past be the past. However, just remember that you needn't train harder from now on, okay? I don't want to see any of my children push themselves too hard, especially my sweetheart baby girl~".

Guinevere blushed hardly "Mom, please… I'm practically an adult, over 3.000 years old, who is trapped in a 16-years-old body. For how long you're planning to treat me like a baby?".

Elizabeth contemplated before she grinned, teasingly "forever, perhaps? Give it up! You were still a red baby when the last time I saw you, after all!".

Arthur snickered when Guinevere groaned "just listen to your mother and let her spoiled you rotten, Dear".

"But uncle, how could you refer it as 'spoil us rotten'?", Lancelot narrowed his eyes, incredulous "okay! It might be the case for my sisters, but it's entirely different for me and Triss! There's just barely not a single day without earning and healing the bruises, scratches, or bumps in my body once I started my swordsmanship!".

Zeldris rolled his eyes "nephew, compared to how the Demon King and our mentors trained us in our childhood, Meliodas spoiled you guys rotten. Trust me, you would not want to know how those evil beings trained us hard, especially your father considering he's the heir. Have you ever gotten your ass kicked and got thrown into the cliff, just to learn how to fly?".

Meliodas deadpanned "Zel… should you mention it?".

Now, Zeldris mentioned it...

Meliodas ruffled the heads of his children who trapped him in a bear hug "kids, I know you guys love me like how I and your mother love you so dearly, but it's cramped".

Zeldris and Gelda snickered at the sight of Meliodas were squished by his children in a bear hug. Melody hugged him on the front. Tristina hugged him from behind. Both Lily and Merissa wrapped their arms around his torso from his right and left. Meanwhile, Lancelot and Tristan wrapped their arms around Meliodas' neck from left and right, leaning their head on his head.

Guinevere stared and reached her hands "…there's no room left for me to hug you, huh?".

Meliodas grinned cheekily "what? You wanna join, too?".

Melody shook her head "I am not giving my place!".

Tristina added, "me either! Sorry, sister~".

Arthur spread his hands to the side "okay, you can come to me, then! Don't be shy!".

Guinevere flatly said, "stop, it's embarrassing".

Earning her refusal, Arthur moped in the corner "…she loved her father more rather than me".

Looking down at her handsome husband who moped on the floor, Guinevere sighed, thinking about how her husband could be so childish sometimes. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Guinevere hugged him from behind "don't be silly. Of course, I love you. Otherwise, I would not marry you. I'm just… shy. I'd rather spend our time together more privately".

At her notion, Arthur blushed furiously before hugging her, burying his head on the crook of her neck and purring "I love you!".

Guinevere blushed furiously and ruffled his head, rolling her eyes to her siblings "yeah, yeah, I know it. I love you, too. And don't laugh, kids!".

Her siblings openly laughed her off, commenting about how ridiculous and cute they were as a married couple.

Meliodas suggested to his little brother and sister-in-law "oh, I know it's the different case with Demons but… normally, I let them train after they entered 5 years old or so when they're strong enough to hold the wooden sword. I let them choose what kind of weapon they want to use, but mostly they choose the swords. Before they started the training, you can just enjoy your time to play with them".

Zeldris nodded his head before asking out of curiosity "do you have any difficulty when you trained your kids? Especially the girls, since they are harder to train compared to the boys".

At that, Elizabeth covered her mouth and tried to hold back her laughter. Meliodas kept his poker face.

Oh, Zeldris knew this kind of reaction. This was the reaction of his brother when he didn't want to talk about it. It only made Zeldris curious even more. Since his older brother did not want to spill it out, then Zeldris only had certain someone to talk to.

Turning his head to Melody, Zeldris gave her the candy "can you tell this uncle of yours about how you and your siblings trained with your father?".

Meliodas lifted his hand "no, wait—!".

Gelda covered his mouth "oh, don't kill the fun, brother-in-law~".

Even Ban joined her to hold the Captain down "that's right~ Alright, Melody, bring it on!".

Already eating the candy, Melody spilt out as she munched the candy "well, as for me, I trained with Aunt Merlin and older brother Triss. I didn't have the chance to train with my parents".

Because her parents passed away when Melody was only 3 years old in that tragedy. Of course, she did not want to continue. Similar things happened to Lily and Merissa as well.

Gloxinia patted Melody's head and directed the conversation "and how about your siblings?".

Merissa took the grapes and ate them "well, I have the instructors in the Palace, given by my Grandfather. The former King of Mermaid Clan, not the old bastard one".

Lily shrugged "Spriggan and father taught me".

Melody pointed out "you better ask older sister Gwen. She knew everything about us, just barely".

Still being trapped in Arthur's arms, Guinevere conceded "because I've been watching over my sister. It's not like I can do anything there when my body's time was still being frozen. Also, chocolate".

When Zeldris raised his eyebrow in confusion, Gelda threw the chocolate to her "here your bribe".

After munching the chocolate, Guinevere explained that both Tristan and Lancelot indeed started their training faster compared to their sisters, due to being born as a boy. Lancelot did not have a complain, because no one of his siblings was around him. Tristan was a different case. Tristina kept clinging to their father, begging to him of permitting her to train. In the end, Meliodas gave up and he let his son train with Tristina.

Surprisingly enough, Tristina could win against Tristan that day.

Elizabeth sighed, cupping her cheek "think about how shocked we have been when we found our oldest son collapsed with his head flat on the ground".

Tristan rolled his eyes and crossed his arms before his chest "…I don't want to remember about it again, you know?".

Howzer asked in awe "how could you win against your brother?".

"well, I guess it's faster to practice it", Tristina had said flatly before she looking around, asking Mael to stand "this is just the example".

Mael raised his hands "eh? Wait!".

---

Three seconds later…

Looking down to where Mael collapsed forward with his face flat on the floor, Neiva rolled her eyes, leaning her chin on her palm "…just the example about how you beat him?".

Yep, Tristina showed how she could win against Tristan by using Mael as an example. It turned out that Tristina stomped on his foot before she jabbed his jaw and elbowed his midsection. As the closure, Tristina raised her fingers in a peace sign, landing on the floor "last, I kicked his manhood and just like Mael right now, my older brother collapsed, flatly lying on the ground".

Hawk raised his ears and jaw-dropped "don't say it so naturally when you did something terrible just now!".

Tristan squeezed Howzer's shoulder when he realized how the latter's face paled "one advice from me. Do not underestimate her. Even if she has an appearance like a young, little girl, she is a man-killer".

Tristina deadpanned "I don't quite feel pleased by that ridiculous title".

Zeldris remarked in shock "from where did you learn that deadly movement?".

When all her daughters pointed to him, Meliodas innocently turned his head, totally ignoring the heated, accusing gaze that he earned from his little brother.

Chapter 12: L of Lingerie

Summary:

Prompt: Woman, lingerie, and their First Night.

 

Guinevere squinted her eyes, hardly believing her eyes "...What is this?".

Right now, on the bed, Morgan put the black transparent undergarment with laces a.k.a. sexy Lingerie.

Gelda covered her mouth and turned away, but from how her body shook, you could clearly tell that she was laughing, only trying hard not to laugh. At least, Isolde still had the decency not to laugh, but she truly had to stop faking her laughing fit into a coughing fit because it sounded concerning.

Morgan grinned broadly and clapped her hands, brilliantly declaring "Lingerie, of course! Why should you ask?".

"That's a wrong question. My bad. I mean... Yes, I know this is lingerie, but what I truly want to know is...", pointing to the vile thing which her sister-in-law had brought to her, Guinevere twitched her eyebrow in disbelief "Why do you bring this to me, Morgan?".

"What else? Of course, for you to wear it! Consider it as a gift from me, sister-in-law", Morgan winked and lifted her thumb before holding her hand "Wear it in your First Night with Arthur and attack him!".

Guinevere fumed, horrified "Hell no!".

Morgan put her hands on her hips "What's the problem? Master always wears similar clothes like this".

"Just because my Godmother wears lingerie-like clothes literally every day, except for the formal events where we need to wear decent clothes, yes, it doesn't mean that I will wear one!".

"So, you admit it that Master wears the indecent clothes".

"I have no right to complain about it when Tristan, her ex-husband, couldn't change her taste, right?",

Gelda and Isolde could not hold it back anymore. They totally lost it and laughed out loud.

Guinevere hissed "And don't divert the conversation! The main problem right now is me! Why should I wear it in front of Arthur in my First Night?".

Morgan shrugged "You are newlyweds, genius~ being a good sister-in-law, it's only obvious that I should help you two. Otherwise, you two only will spend your First Night cuddling only".

Guinevere flinched and blushed furiously.

Morgan narrowed her eyes "And I can see your brain working. You've planned to cuddle only, right?".

Silence. She did not even deny it, which meant that it was right.

"It can't be helped. Wear this, now!".

"No! I don't wanna!".

That was how two women argued and fought till Arthur came into this room with Lancelot and Tristan in tow.

It was a disaster.

Here was how it happened.

Too engrossed in their fight, Morgan and Guinevere wrestled and struggled on the bed accidentally tossing the lingerie which coincidentally landed on Arthur's face.

When Arthur peeled the lingerie from his face, he froze and was too speechless. Unable to say anything.

Lancelot doubled over on the floor, clutching his stomach and rolling on the floor in a fit of mad laughter.

Tristan was not different. He clutched his stomach and laughed out loud, slamming his palm on the wall repeatedly.

Giving mercy to the newlyweds, Merlin appeared to take control of the situation. She ordered Gelda, Morgan and Isolde to get out, dragging Tristan and Lancelot who hadn't recovered from their laughing fit in the process, leaving Arthur and Guinevere in the awkward First Night.

After he had fully discerned the situation, Arthur blushed furiously and handed over the lingerie in his hands "Uh... should I wait outside while you wear it or should I just take a bath?".

Fou deadpanned, wagging its tail as it sat beside Guinevere "You have taken a bath, my King".

Guinevere blushed furiously and waved her hands "That's not mine! It's... I mean, yes, Morgan gave it to me as a gift, but I'm not gonna wear it!".

Arthur snapped his head, so fast you could hear the crack "You're not gonna wear it?".

Guinevere turned even redder even if people thought it was not possible "Uh, do you want me to...?".

"Yes", Arthur blurted before he amended it, waving his hands with the red face as red as tomatoes "Ah! No, no, no, no, no! I'm indeed curious with how do you look like in this, b-but if you're uncomfortable, no need to force yourself!".

Silence.

Awkward.

Fou glanced back and forth between her Master and the King of Camelot before going to the window "My King, My Lady, just talk first from heart to heart. I'll sleep outside. Good luck".

Once it was only the two of them, Arthur timidly sat beside her and wordlessly handed the lingerie to her. Scratching his cheek, Arthur clarified "Um, you see... I'm not too... picky, of what you're gonna wear in bed. I mean... You will have to take it off, in the end, so...".

"...How about I wear it for...".

"Huh?".

"How about I wear it for the foreplay and making out before... as you said, I take it off?".

Intertwining his fingers in her fingers, he squeezed her hand "...Would you prefer to turn off the light? Anything. If it makes you comfortable".

Guinevere nodded her head, cheeks flushed "Um. The moonlight is sufficient".

---

The next morning, the news spread that surprisingly, the young King of Camelot was a beast in bed.

Morgan twitched her eyebrow "Glad to know that my gift is useful, but it didn't last long, huh?".

Guinevere groaned and flopped her head on the pillow, lifting her forefinger and middle finger in a peace sign "Blame your brother... he ripped it in one go...".

Merlin pressed the warm bottle on her hips and her back "Should we massage you as well?".

Guinevere whined, "Yes, please...".

Isolde came bringing the lavender oil "Leave it to me!".

Gelda lifted the poorly ripped lingerie "...I guess we can't do the laundry for this".

Morgan waved her hand "Just throw it into the trash can. I can buy and give the new ones for her".

Guinevere shouted in protest "No need!".

Lancelot came bringing the flower bouquet "Congratulations for no longer virgin—Oof!".

Guinevere threw a pillow which Lancelot could have avoided if only Tristan did not hold him back in place, squeezing his shoulders.

Lancelot rubbed his face and protested, turning his head behind "Brother! That's so mean of you!".

Tristan lifted his hands in a placated manner "You deserved it".

Chapter 13: M of Market

The first one Meliodas and Elizabeth—precisely the reincarnation number 13, Elsa—brought their kids to the market, the twins Tristan and Tristina were fully spirited. Despite what Elsa and Meliodas said, Tristan and Tristina wandered all over the market like the curious kids they were. It was similar to Lancelot. Being Meliodas and Elizabeth's—the reincarnation number 106, Liz—youngest son, it was hard to ask Lancelot 'behave'. Just like Tristan and Tristina, Lancelot was curiously wandering around the market. The people thought it was so cute of them, thankfully. They let the kids wander around in the market freely. It was not like the kids went conquering, after all.

They could not entirely say the same with the other four children, regretfully.

Being the Mermaid, Merissa could not even leave the sea and was stuck in the Oceanus Kingdom. It was not like she did not know what the market was. In the Oceanus Kingdom, there was a market as well. Not to mention, when Merissa went to the 'land' to check on her family, she could use magic to change her tail into a pair of legs and she could walk around the market with her siblings or one or both of her parents.

Not that she could do it for a long time, though.

Unfortunately, her human legs got tired easily and she could not stay on the land outside the building for a long time due to her blind eyes. Unless she wore sunglasses or a wide parasol to block the sun.

Usually, it was Meliodas or Tristan who would need to carry her back to the house.

Otherwise, she would refuse to go back because she still wanted to have an adventure a.k.a. having a light trip around the market. Still, Merissa had no idea about how did it feel to wander around the market with her parents in her childhood.

Merissa smiled and waved her hand "Oh, come on. Don't make that face. I'm not alone in this".

If you asked Lily, she only would smile and answer "I lost my mother in childbirth. Should you ask me whether I have ever experienced how it feels to wander around the market with both your parents?".

...

Okay, let's stop the dry talk which could have made us cry.

Back to the main topic. Although she didn't get the chance to spend her time wandering the market with her parents like Merissa, Lily had fun wandering around the market with Dahlia and her sons, Oberon and Elias.

At least, Melody still had the chance to wander around the market with her parents (well, when they were still alive before the tragedy happened, that was it).

So, how about the oldest daughter who was being unborn for a while, Guinevere?

---

Guinevere was only 4 years old (physically, plus mentally still stunted due to not fully awakened yet) when she was living with the Sins and was still using the name 'Gwen'.

After Merlin adopted her, it would be the first time she wandered around the market with the Sins.

Holding her dolphin doll, Gwen blinked her round eyes curiously "Market?".

Meliodas offered to carry her considering how the children around her age were still having stubby or wobbly legs and had difficulty walking around for a long time "Uh-huh. We will go to re-fill our daily necessities. Wanna go looking around the market?".

She looked hesitant and curious at the same time. Nervous, even.

Looking at her, Escanor encouraged her "What's wrong?".

Gwen asked innocently "What is the Market?".

Ah. Considering that Gwen had once lived in the Cameliard Kingdom as the sole princess, no wonder she never left the Castle and still did not know what the market was. After Merlin had explained what the market was, Gwen's eyes lit up in curiosity and she nodded her head excitedly.

It was cute.

Gwen was a curious child. She would point or stare at the things in the market which made her curious but fortunately, she was not the disastrous type. The proof was, that she would not touch the things in the market as Tristan or Lancelot did. For that, Meliodas was grateful.

Carrying Gwen on his shoulders, Meliodas looked up at her "Do you have fun?".

Gwen nodded her head and beamed "Um! I like wandering around the Market with everyone!".

Meliodas chuckled, holding her thighs "Nishishi! You can always come with us when one of us goes to the market, then!".

When they were mature, it would be a nostalgic, endearing memory.

Notes:

Prompt: Meliodas and Elizabeth with their kids went to the market. Simply that.

Chapter 14: N of Nickname

To say that the nicknames were needed in their family would be an understatement.

Not only did they have more than one son and daughter (heck, Zeldris and the others would admit that it felt like having the heart attacks of their seven hearts when they found out how prolific and fertile those two were, which was an understatement, considering Meliodas and Elizabeth had seven kids) but having a birth mother who reincarnated for 107 times also made having the nicknames their topnotch priority.

Their mother was, had been, and would always be Elizabeth.

The question was which Elizabeth she was?

The next question would be which kids or which ones?

So yes, the nicknames were needed.

One day, Diane asked, "Say, I'm curious. How do you decide their names and nicknames, Captain?".

King pondered "Now you mention it... there are seven kids of the Captain with princess Elizabeth and there are more of princess Elizabeth's reincarnation".

Tristina munched her meat steamed bun "The reincarnations, you mean. There are exactly 107 in a total of our mother's reincarnations, after all".

Meliodas crossed his hands over his chest "Well, you can say that it's almost by instinct. Though, yes, I admit that part, I gave nicknames for Elizabeth's reincarnations to differ them, especially for the ones who have given birth to our kids. It's always Elizabeth who gave the names and nicknames for our children, though. I let her pick".

Guinevere caressed her chin, tilting her head "As for me, you obviously know it. My birth mother is the 'Original' one, Goddess Elizabeth. Though, I'm curious. Has mother already planned to give the name 'Gwen' for me, Dad?".

Meliodas grinned "She does. And what do you think about your mother's nickname, Dear?".

Guinevere smirked "The Bloody Ellie does sound cool".

Elizabeth cleared her throat "Both of you, seriously... this father-daughter really...".

Ban guffawed, clutching his stomach,

Elaine giggled "Oh. How about the others, then?".

Tristan tucked his hands behind his head "Speaking about our names, I don't really know what's the meaning behind our name. What I know, is we barely shared the same name".

Tristina pouted "Well, Mom and Dad indeed debated about whether should they name me 'Trista' or 'Tristina' or 'Tristana'. Something like that. Though, thankfully, they chose 'Tristina' in the end. My nickname is 'Tina' because obviously, they could not call me 'Triss' as well. It's brother's nickname".

Lancelot blinked his eyes curiously "Come to think of it... How did mother get the nickname 'Elsa', anyway?".

Elizabeth blushed furiously and turned her head away.

Meliodas pulled his mouth into a thin line.

Surprisingly, Merlin snorted, so unladylike of her.

Tristan waved his hand "Oh, I heard it from our Aunts and Uncle. You see, it happened because of their first meet".

Tristina snorted and laughed in between her wheezes before she elaborated "Mommy Elsa kicked our Dad's crotch in reflex... and Dad stuttered Mom's name... El... Za... like that... thus, it sounded like 'Elsa' and that's how Dad called Mom's 13th reincarnation".

Elizabeth stuttered "I-I thought that it was a boar and I was gonna get attacked!".

Lancelot slammed his fists on the table "So you tried to defend yourself?".

King guffawed as well "With kicking his crotch? Seriously!".

Ban drawled in between his wheezes "It's a miracle that you've still got kids afterwards!".

Merissa bluntly blurted out "It's not our fault that Dad is prolific and Mom is fertile".

Elizabeth fumed "Merissa!".

They laughed out loud.

Meliodas grinned mischievously "You should be grateful that we don't produce children for each of Elizabeth's reincarnations".

Mael pleaded "Stop".

Zeldris shuddered "It's creepy, Idiot brother. Aren't the seven of them enough?".

Ignoring her lover's remarks, Gelda asked "Back to the main topic. How about the others? The history behind their names and nicknames, we mean".

Yeah, thank you very much, Gelda.

Merissa tilted her head "Oh. I guess mine and Lily's mothers have something to do with their full names. My mother's name in that reincarnation is the Princess Mermaid, 'Elizabeth Syrena', which was why her nickname was 'Elena'. It's similar to Lily".

Lily hummed "As for me, Mother's name was 'Elizabeth Titania'. This, Dad and everyone, called her 'Bethany'. About our nickname... well, I guess the name 'Lily' is short enough and doesn't need the nickname? Though, sometimes my siblings or Dad indeed called me 'Lil' as my nickname".

"Well, I am not too picky with my nickname. When I was called as 'Cordellia', my nickname was 'Delia', 'Dell', or 'Cordell'. After I forbid everyone to call me 'Cordelia' and asked to call me by the name 'Merissa', my nickname is either 'Rissa' or 'Merry'. I needn't tell you why do I not want to be called the name 'Cordellia' anymore, right?".

Because it would remind her of her dead first love and deceased lover. Because it would remind her of her Sin. It was left unspoken.

Drole said helpfully "Of course. It can't be helped if you don't want to be called a certain name".

It was a similar thing with Melody. Before she changed her name, her nickname would be 'Mede' or 'Med' from 'Medeia'. After she changed her name to 'Melody', her nickname would be either 'Melly' or 'Mel'.

Gloxinia ruffled Melody's head "I think it's cute. Kinda reminded us with Meliodas. However, why did you guys call Elizabeth's reincarnation 'Elise' in that time?".

Meliodas explained, lowering Gloxinia's hand from Melody's head "Other than the Saintess of Solon and the Herbalist, Elise was also the organist in the Cathedral. She would play the organ in the church or Cathedral and the most famous song she played was 'Fur Elise'. Thus, I called her 'Elise' in that lifetime".

Diane clasped her hands "Whoa... you're so talented, Elizabeth!".

Last, Lancelot casually tucked his hands behind his head "Nothing special, I guess. Other than the fact that Dad was the Grand Master of Danafor Kingdom and Mom was the Knight of Danafor, who was the former spy and slave from the enemy Kingdom who got the assassination task. Oh, if it were not for Mother Liz, I guess we would be starving. Dad's food sucks".

Meliodas smacked his son's head "You should be grateful that your nickname is either 'Lance' or 'Lan' and not the ridiculous one such as 'Lanny', you brat".

They laughed again at the duo father-son.

Well, every name and nickname had its story, indeed.

Notes:

Prompt: In their family, nicknames are needed.

Chapter 15: O of Owe

Summary:

Prompt: in which Ban remembered his talk with Merlin about their fight in the Edinburgh mission. Ban thought of it as a promise to have a friendly brawl. Merlin had no choice but to deal with him.

Notes:

This story took place about 12 years ago, after 'the Vampire of Edinburgh' case and before 'the SDS Vacation', so yes, they hadn't met with Tristan. Gwen is 'physically' 4 years old here. You can read my story 'The White Enchantress' to understand the full story~ have fun

Ban barged into Merlin's laboratory, again "Merlin! Let's have a fun fight! You owe me one, after all. Come on!".

Merlin sighed, she didn't have time for this. She was rather enjoying giving the finishing touch to some of her experiments with Gowther's and Gwen's help. Just her luck, here the immortal remembered their conversation despite his drunkness state. She had hoped he would just forget it due to his drunk state, and yet, he remembered and kept demanding to have a friendly brawl with her. She seriously didn't have time to babysit him, babysitting Gwen was enough.

Without looking behind, Merlin was about to answer "Look, I don't have time to—".

"Mommy is gonna have a fight with uncle Ban? Why? Do you have a...", Gwen trailed off, thinking the right word for the situation before patting her tiny fist on her palm "What people said with... eto… um... ah, lovers quarrel?".

Merlin instantly dropped the flasks in her hands and froze.

Ban literally slammed his fists and forehead on the wall. Damn it, if not because of Gwen's cuteness, Ban could have yelled to her right away, but he held it back. Not to mention, dare to yell indignantly to an adopted daughter of the greatest Sorceress all Britannia? It was not a good idea, not under her mother's watch. Even an idiot with a muscled brain like Ban knew better than to shut his mouth rather than yelled to the little Gwen. Otherwise, Merlin was gonna freeze his mouth, for sure.

Looking at their reactions, Gowther pondered curiously "Hm, I wonder... should I laugh or be shocked? Usually, people laugh or be shocked at a time like this, right?".

Gwen blinked her eyes innocently "Why not both?".

"Gwen, sweetie~ listen to me, honey~", with a vein popped on his head, Ban squeezed her shoulders and smiled with a menacing aura "In the name of all shitty creators of this f*cking world where we live on, I already have someone I loved and of all women in this world, no offence, your mother is the last woman that I'll get interested with".

Lifting her hand, Merlin snapped her fingers and froze his head "No curses in front of my daughter".

Gwen puffed her cheeks and pursed her lips "But I'm curious, Mom! People around us always wondered about why mommy adopted me when you even haven't married yet. Do you even have someone you love?".

"Well, I guess...", Merlin scratched the back of her earlobe and quirked a thin smile "...Uh, I just haven't found the right person in my life, perhaps?".

If not because of those sad-looking eyes, Gwen probably would pester her further but because she didn't want to see her sad-looking eyes again, Gwen decided to drop the topic. She tilted her head and tried to divert the conversation "Then, how do you have a fight with uncle Ban?".

"No, Gwen, actually—".

"Actually, I and your mommy will have a fight, witnessed by the other Sins but other spectators can join to watch our fight in the courtyard of Liones Castle", Ban cut her off with his usual stupid grin on his face, patting Gwen's head "For your question, no, honey~ it's just a little friendly brawl, like the one I usually have with your Daddy~".

If Merlin sent the deadly glare to him, Ban wouldn't care about it from how the Undead simply averted his eyes and whistled nonchalantly.

"Come to think of it, I never saw how mother fought using magic before. I also could rarely see uncle Ban's regeneration because Daddy always told me to not see it, it's gruesome he said", tapping her forefinger to her chin, Gwen hummed thoughtfully before lifting her face to Merlin. Looking up to Merlin with her doe-like big, round eyes, Gwen stared at Merlin with sparkles of expectancy on her unique eyes "Mommy, I'm curious!".

Which meant she wanted to see their fight.

Crap.

When Gwen used this trick (she learned it from Meliodas, damn him, to think he would teach something cunning to her), Merlin didn't have the heart to say 'no' to her.

Merlin sighed in defeat and squeezed her shoulders "...Let's do it tomorrow, then. With one condition, you have to stick close with the Captain for your safety, got it?".

"Yes, mommy!", Gwen saluted, before she went out bouncing up and down excitedly like a bunny "Dad Mel! I've got great news!".

Ban grinned broadly "You sure spoil her a lot~".

Merlin closed her eyes and argued back "Not quite right. On the afterthought, I think this will be a good chance to know the limit of your regeneration".

Ban twitched the corner of his lips listening to it in disbelief "What? So I'm your guinea pig now?".

---

Merlin twitched her eyebrow in annoyance. Indeed, Ban told them that other spectators would be allowed to join, but she didn't expect to see nearly the entire Castle occupants come to witness their fight. The princesses, the Three Misfits, Vivian, Gwen, and the Sins were sitting on the fence to watch the fight from a safe distance along with the other Holy Knights or maids. Even King Baltra was escorted by Dreyfus, Zaratras, and Hendrickson when they watched their fight from above on the fort.

Diane clearly cheered for Merlin "Beat him, Merlin!".

King decided to stay on the same side with Diane, so obviously, King also cheered for Merlin. Gowther decided to observe in silence while Escanor shyly cheered for Merlin as well.

Settling Gwen on his lap, Meliodas cheered "Good luck, Ban! I will laugh it off when you get your sorry ass kicked by Merlin!".

Gwen only clapped her hands and laughed brightly. Elizabeth sat beside Meliodas because she wanted to stay near Gwen, she said. Veronica and Margaret sat near Elizabeth, obviously. Vivian surprisingly sat near Gwen and Meliodas (not too surprising, considering she sat right behind Gilthunder) because Gilthunder, Howzer, and Griamore decided to sit near them.

Ban drawled "Cap'n, it's so mean of you~ why everyone here thought I'd get my ass kicked by Merlin? Is there no one who cheers up for me?".

"There is!", Gwen lifted her finger upward to where the Fairy Ghost Elaine floating "Can't you see her? Up there".

Meliodas tipped his head backwards and blinked his eyes "What you're pointing at, Gwen? Nothing's there".

Gowther lifted his shining finger "Of course you can't see it. She's pointing to a ghost. She's not lying at all when she said she saw someone up there, Captain".

Everyone stared pointedly at Gwen (even Griamore was on the verge of tears because of scared) before Meliodas touched her shoulders "Sweetheart, next time you see a ghost, just don't tell us, okay?".

Gwen tilted her head innocently "But how can I possibly know they're ghosts or not?".

"I will teach you about it later", Merlin noted to herself about how many things she had to teach to the little Gwen before she pointedly lifted her finger to Meliodas "Make sure she's safe, Captain. I don't want her to get scratched at all".

"Oh, worry not, mom! You don't have to worry about us. Just focus on your fight, mom!", Gwen chirped and she snapped her fingers with a cunning smirk on her face "Perfect Cube".

Everyone here was amazed when Gwen could create the Perfect Cube that encased Merlin and Ban in it. Yep, they knew that she was a prodigy child but she was only a four years old little girl, for heaven's sake!

Merlin lifted her shaking finger "You... since when did you...".

Gwen blinked "Eh? I saw mommy using it once and I simply practised it".

Even Vivian couldn't do it yet. It made the 17 years old teenager frustrated, sulking on the ground "...To think I lost to my Master's four years old child...".

Meliodas ruffled her head and praised "Wow! Aren't you a genius?".

"That's my girl", Merlin appeared in front of them to hug and kiss Gwen's cheek, earning Gwen's delightful giggle, before Merlin reappeared inside Gwen's Perfect Cube right in front of Ban "Shall we start?".

Ban rubbed his hands with an impish grin on his face, jumping up and down excitedly like a child.

Zaratras came out of nowhere and acted as referee, lifting his hand "Fight, start!".

Howzer turned to Gilthunder "What is your father doing here?".

Gilthunder facepalmed "Father".

Griamore noticed "Even my father and Hendrickson also joined".

Elizabeth noticed "Our father, too".

Veronica shook her head and sighed loudly after listening to Margaret's stifled laughter "Seriously".

When Ban lunged at Merlin with a fist, Merlin cast the magic spell to stop his movement "Frozen Coffin".

Not giving a chance for Ban, Merlin launched another magic spell "Fire Storm".

The frostbite and burns on Ban's body healed immediately before the Fox Sin used his Sacred Treasure. Merlin dodged it easily and snapped her fingers "Endless Whirl".

When Ban was trapped in the centre of the wind, Merlin who had been floating in the air, dropped to her knees on the ground.

Gwen gasped "Mom! What happened?".

Meliodas frowned and prepared to close Gwen's eyes when it was needed "Ban was using his Snatch, huh?".

Escanor yelled when Ban approached Merlin, swinging his hand "Ban! Don't you dare to punch Lady Merlin or I will be your next opponent?!".

"Oh, come on. Escy~ how do you expect me to fight if I don't knock down my opponent?", Ban scoffed and lifted his fist "Don't worry~ I won't punch your face since you're a woman".

Someone cloaked in the fort snapped his fingers "Hell Blaze".

Ban yelped when Hell Blaze (the one that he remembered he had seen from the Captain when Ban had tried to steal the Captain's sword) lit up surrounding Merlin's body, protecting her. Remembering that this fire even could leave a scar on his body, Ban backed away "What the—!?".

"You underestimate me, Ban. I'm not known as the greatest Sorceress of Britannia for nothing", Merlin smirked cunningly, her piercing golden eyes were gleaming sharply before she lifted her Aldan and shot one of her best magic spell attacks "Exterminate Ray".

They gasped when Ban's torso entirely perished, only leaving his body from his hips down to his legs that collapsed back to the ground. Thankfully, Gwen's Perfect Cube was quite tough, to the point it even could hold the impact of Merlin's attack. Before Elizabeth and Gwen could see it, Meliodas covered their eyes.

Gwen protested "Daddy, why did you cover my eyes?".

Elizabeth asked in confusion "And why did you cover my eyes too, Meliodas?".

Meliodas trailed off "...Trust me, you will be happier if you don't see it".

Hendrickson lifted his hand and acted as referee this time "And the winner is, no one other than Lady Merlin!".

Zaratras protested "Hendy! Why did you steal my role?".

Dreyfus rolled his eyes to his best friend and his brother "I don't get what you're fretting over, brother".

Gwen lifted her hands up, bouncing up and down excitedly as she still sitting on Meliodas' lap "Yay! Mommy won! Mommy won!".

Meliodas chuckled "Hey, careful there".

Once he fully regenerated, Ban stood up and protested "WHAT WAS THAT?!".

"Exterminate Ray, the beam light that can literally exterminate whatever it hit", Merlin smiled smugly and caressed her chin thoughtfully "So, it took about two minutes and a half minutes for you to recover when half of your body perished. Interesting. Your regeneration is quite fast".

"No, Mer, seriously", Ban covered his eyes and shook his head before he yelled with his eyes widened and it looked like his eyes were about to pop out of their places "You just launched that attack on me?".

Merlin shrugged "You are an immortal. It's unlike you're gonna die just because of it, so it's fine".

Ban grumbled about how an ordinary person could die instantly if her opponent were not him.

"Frozen Coffin, Fire Storm, Endless Whirl...", Gwen recounted the magic spell that Merlin used and she trailed off a moment before turning to Merlin "Mommy, what's the name of the magic spell that you used to protect yourself? The cool dark fire one!".

Merlin smiled and tilted her head, now she was curious about what her adopted daughter was up to "It's known as the Hell Blaze. What is it, dear?".

"Which one of... okay, I've decided!", Guinevere wriggled her fingers as she contemplated before she made up her mind and reached out her hands "Exterminate Ray".

Even Merlin gasped, quite panicked when the spark of blue hue ray appeared in front of Gwen's hands "Captain!".

Thankfully, Meliodas had an excellent body reflex. He wrapped his arms around Gwen's torso before he pulled her backwards, both lying flatly on the ground when Gwen launched her Exterminate Ray which was slightly smaller than Merlin's. The cloaked figure who was sitting on the fort only could stare at the sky and the fallen debris of the fort. Luckily, Gwen's Exterminate Ray only scratched the edge of the Castle's fort and no casualty in this accident, but still, they needed to repair it.

Merlin scolded Gwen sternly (though people could tell that she was trying to be soft and gentle to her) "Next time, don't practice the dangerous magic spell unless I allow you and you only can practice it under my watch, understand?".

Gwen sniffled in the middle of her tears and she rubbed her stinging cheeks where Merlin had pinched her rather hard, sobbing "...Understood...I'm so sorry, mommy…".

Deep down in her heart, Vivian cursed her Master inwardly because of how light Gwen's punishment compared to when Merlin punished her "when it was me, I got a heap of works and tests!".

Meliodas carried Gwen, stroking her back soothingly "There, there, don't cry, sweetheart. I'll buy your favourite apple pie, okay? For now, just take this. Open up! Aah~".

When Meliodas showed chocolate in his hand, Gwen stopped crying abruptly and opened her mouth. Meliodas chuckled because he successfully stopped her tears as the little girl was busy eating the chocolate.

"I try to not spoil her rotten, Captain. And here you are, spoiled her rotten, senseless...", Merlin shook her head before levitating herself "I will repair the fort for now".

On the corner of the fort where no one could see them in this blindspot, Merlin landed and smiled fondly "You are the one who launched the Hell Blaze to protect me just now, right?".

The cloaked figure waved his hand "Don't misunderstand it. I just don't like it. A gentleman shouldn't punch a woman like that. I dropped by and I saw something interesting, but because I saw him barely punch you in the gut, I decided to interfere".

Merlin pursed her lips and crossed her hands before her chest "But I think it's unfair to interfere in the middle of our fight".

"Everything is fair in love and war", Tristan smiled, turning his head as his hood was off of his head "Just think of it as I'm doing a favour for my ex-wife, or should I say, sister-in-law".

"This side of you is one thing I can't ignore", Merlin hugged him and gave a light peck on his forehead "Thank you, brother-in-law. I owe you".

Tristan rolled his eyes "And what was that for?".

Merlin lifted her forefinger to her lips "I bless thee".

Tristan shook his head and sighed, waving his hand "About time for you to stop treating me like a child, Mer".

Chapter 16: P of Pregnancy

Summary:

Prompt:
Meliodas and Elizabeth reminiscenced about how hard the pregnancy is going on for Elizabeth(s). Can be counted as the continuation of the chapter ‘K of Knock-Out’.

Not only the Sins and the Captain’s family, but the Three Misfits and two other Princesses with their guards (a.k.a. Dawn Roar) also joined the feast.

In the middle of the feast which Meliodas held in the Boar Hat tonight to celebrate Gelda’s pregnancy, Gilthunder asked out of the blue “I’m curious... How were you doing when you were pregnant with your children, Elizabeth?”.

Zeldris and Gelda were curious as well. Well, to be fair, not only them. Even Mael, Lucifer and Sophia who were out of the window also felt curious.

Lucifer squeezed Sophia’s hand “I admit even I am curious. I don’t want to risk Sophia’s life again after she carried only one child from me, after all”.

Sophia smiled sweetly and kissed Lucifer’s cheek “Neiva, our beautiful daughter is enough for us”.

Neiva blushed furiously as Mael encouraged her before she hugged both Sophia and Lucifer “Both of you must stay with me for a long, long time. Okay?”.

They were relieved because Lucifer and Sophia could be together with Neiva, their daughter now.

Back in the main business.

“Well, I can tell you one thing for sure”, Elizabeth answered with a sweet smile, but you couldn’t miss the faraway look on her eyes as she sighed “It’s been difficult”.

Merlin smiled as she sipped her orange juice (she had been in a strict diet due to her pregnancy as well) “It is an understatement”.

“I can say that the calmest ones in their pregnancy is probably Lily”, Meliodas patted Lily’s and Guinevere’s head “Well, we can count our li’l Gwen as well, but sadly we never get the chance to... you know the story”.

Dolor and Gloxinia flinched. Of course, they should have realized it when Elizabeth and Meliodas met them under the rain that day and asked them to leave the Commandments and come with them. At that time, Elizabeth was already pregnant and they were going to leave Stigma for their child’s sake. Unfortunately, Supreme Deity and Demon King found them and cooperated to punish them, even involving their descendants in the tragic Fate.

Both the former Giant King and former First Fairy King wondered if it would have been different, had they agreed to come with them?

Guinevere waved it off and tried to lighten the mood “No need to count me in. Anyway, being a Spirit for a long time, I’ve been watching over our parents and I’m confident to say that the hardest pregnancy our mother has gone through would be when she was pregnant with Tina and Tristan”.

Oh, right. Didn’t Meliodas say that he nearly got the heart-attack of his seven hearts nearly everyday because of it?

Meliodas started rambling about how hard it was when Elsa—Elizabeth no. 13—was pregnant with Tristina and Tristan. Not only it was difficult for her to move (since she was not only carrying one child but two at once), but she constantly yelped or screamed because one of the duo kicked her from inside. It only got worse after they were born.

“Suprisingly, Triss was a bit calmer compared to Tina on their early ages as an infant, but once he could start walking, he never stopped moving. Tina turned calmer compared to her twin brother after they could walk... as long as she doesn’t get into a trouble, that’s it”.

Sophia laughed and patted Tristina’s head “I can imagine it!”.

Tristina pouted “I don’t think so”.

Tristan chuckled nervously “Well, we never know. I mean, looking at how hard Isolde was pregnant with Irina and Iris, I can’t disagree”.

Howzer patted Tristina’s back reassuringly after looking at how his lover was sulking “At least, I believe it’s worth it. Don’t they have an amazing son and a beautiful daughter like your brother and you?”.

Tristina blushed and gave a light peck on Howzer’s cheek before she hugged him “Thank you”.

Griamore and Gilthunder teased him senselessly as they saw Howzer’s blushing face before Howzer shooed them away, tellimg them to just busy themselves with their lovers.

Being his Mama’s boy, Elias asked, intrigued “How was Lily doing when you’re pregnant with her?”.

Jericho chuckled endearingly, thinking about how cute her lover was.

Meliodas and Elizabeth smiled before they recited about how was Bethany—Elizabeth no. 69—doing in her pregnancy. Zeldris and Gelda listened attentively because she was expecting. It would be helpful to listen to the experienced mother.

Elizabeth admitted “Compared to her siblings, Lily is... so quiet inside me. Too quiet, even”.

Meliodas hummed and nodded his head feverishly “Sometimes, either I or Bethany must check with our magic if our child is still alive or not... She barely moved! I can even count how many times she kicked her mom, less than my ten fingers”.

Dahlia chuckled and wrapped his hand around Lily’s waist “No wonder, she is a good child. She must not want to cause trouble for her parents”.

Lily blushed furiously as Elizabeth doted on her as well.

Gloxinia couldn’t help but to ask, pointing to Melody “What about her?”.

Lancelot added, pointing himself “And me?”.

Meliodas said hesitantly “Ah... Elise has a terrible mood-swing in her pregnancy when she’s pregnant with Melody”.

Elizabeth chuckled awkwardly “Well, I remembered that I indeed have a terrible homesick and constantly cried when I was pregnant with Melody”.

Sophia, Lucifer, Mael, Gloxinia, Dolor, Zeldris, and Gelda remembered how crybaby Melody was before they remembered the polar side of her ‘Dark Side’ as ‘Medeia’ and her ‘Light Side’ as ‘Melody’.

Brrr...

One thing for sure. They wouldn’t want to make her upset and angry, to the point making her ‘Dark Side’ as ‘Medeia’ appear.

Ban seemed to get the same idea with them as he chuckled awkwardly “Damn~ she’s got it ever since she’s a damned fetus, huh?”.

Meliodas successfully covered Melody’s ears as the latter munched her red-bean steamed-bun like a squirrel (Cute! They thought in unison) and Meliodas threw his shoes which landing flat on Ban’s face “Bad Ban! No cursing in front of my daughter!”.

Melody blinked her eyes innocently and continued munching her food, blissfully unaware of her father’s fight with his best friend.

Guinevere tried to hold back her laughter “As for Lancelot... I think it’s the second hardest pregnancy for Mom”.

Lancelot disagreed “Don’t lie!”.

Elizabeth said remorsefully “It’s true”.

This time, Elizabeth recited about how was she doing as ‘Liz’ in her pregnancy with Lancelot inside her. She constantly craved for the spicy foods or the food which hardly could be found at night. She often got kicked at a random time, often waking up Meliodas beside her at midnight. She even had the moodswing which caused her to constantly angry at the people around her, mostly Meliodas (or Tristan, if he’s so unlucky to get involved in it). Lancelot was a hyperactive child ever since he was in his mother’s womb.

Meliodas sighed in defeat “Usually, she only calmed down because Merlin persuaded her. So, Merlin often stayed. Since Merlin stayed, Tristan joined as well”.

Morgan laughed out loud when Lancelot planted his face flat on the table’s surface before she was patting his head “Give it up, Love. Truth is always bitter, that’s why people prefer the sweet lie”.

Lancelot groaned “My entire life is a joke, huh?”.

Tristan commented off-handedly “No wonder he’s so hot-blooded and short-circuited”.

Lancelot raised his fist and sat up abruptly “That’s it! Wanna fight?”.

Tristan smirked “Bring it on. I’d like to see you try”.

Isolde smacked them on the head with a sweet smile “Both of you are just the same”.

Morgan shook her head “Just finish it with an arm wrestling this time and don’t ruin father-in-law’s tavern, will you?”.

Meliodas patted Isolde and Morgan on the head “Both of you are really a good girl. It’s a wonder why would you two fall in love with my sons of all people”.

Lancelot protested “Discrimination, oi!”.

Tristan deadpanned “It’s a wonder as well why would Mom fall in love with you”.

Meghan was curious as well, tugging his pants “What about Mommy, Grandpa?”.

Meliodas explained as he pampered his cute grand-daughter “Oh, your Mom was quite docile. Though, Elena turned into a vegetarian. She only wanted to eat fruits and vegetables. Of course, it’s not like I can feed her with fishes but still, she doesn’t want to eat meat at all”.

Merissa smiled proudly “I have a beautiful skin thanks to that, no?”.

Veronica grumbled “I want to feel upset and angry at your narsistic behavior, but I can’t even deny that you’re indeed beautiful”.

Neiva admitted jealously, squishing Merissa’s soft cheeks “Well... I can’t even deny it. You don’t have wrinkles or blemishes at all”.

Zeldris concluded “You have a bunch of troublemaker children”.

Meliodas smirked “Wait until your kids are born and let’s see how you will handle them”.

Before they fought, Gelda wrapped her arm around Zeldris’ neck and pulled her into her embrace “I’m sure that you will make a great father”.

Zeldris blushed and buried his face on her breast, ignoring his older brother’s and his older brother’s friends’ jeering.

They couldn’t wait for their children to born.

---

.

Omake

.

Ban called out “By the way, did Merlin cause trouble for you in her pregnancy, Escanor?”.

Escanor shook his head and was about to deny it when Merlin suddenly was holding his wrist “She didn’t—Merlin?”.

Merlin clutched her stomach and grimaced in pain “The water... broke...”.

Escaner paled “EH?”.

Meliodas turned deadly pale as well “The child is going to be born! She’s giving birth!”.

Elizabeth, Sophia, and Isolde immediately stood up before they gave the instruction for everyone. It turned out that Merlin was giving birth to a healthy daughter and they named her ‘Gawain’.

Escanor cried his heart out as he carried their daughter “You did great, Merlin”.

Merlin chuckled tiredly “I will sleep for a while, I guess”.

The Sins and everyone gave their congratulations for Merlin and Escanor because they had a beautiful and healthy daughter named Gawain now.

Chapter 17: Q of Quest

Summary:

Prompt: Quest between the two girls, Elizabeth and Gwen a.k.a. Guinevere Cameliard to never let go of each other’s hands in their bonding time.

In their childhood, when they were only children who know nothing, they happened to get lost when they were playing hide-and-seek with the Three Misfits, Veronica and Margaret. Actually, it was a little punishment from Gwen for Veronica as well. It happened not too long after the Queen’s death. They just found out that Elizabeth was actually not related by blood with Veronica and Margaret. Veronica was being mean to Elizabeth. So, as the punishment, Gwen set the trap to spook Veronica. It succeeded, of course.

In the process, as Gwen ran from Veronica, Elizabeth pulled her hand to hide behind the bushes. Once they thought that it was safe and Veronica was away, Elizabeth didn’t let go of Gwen’s hand like what the younger had requested. Instead, Gwen pulled her and dragged them to somewhere else. Holding each other’s hands, Elizabeth and Gwen arrived on the hill where the wind blew their hair in the middle of the sunny day with the bright, blue sky above them. The grass rustled beneath their feet.

Panting, Gwen asked hoarsely “E-Ellie… let’s rest… I’m tired…”.

Elizabeth apologized as Gwen flopped to lie down with her back on the grassy ground “Sorry, Gwen! I was too… distracted…”.

Gwen only laughed it off and waved it off as nothing “Well… I guess when you’re upset, you will want to scream to the top of your lungs or simply run as far as you can like you did”.

Elizabeth flinched “…You know?”.

“Isn’t it obvious?”, squeezing the older girl’s hand, Gwen grinned “What’s wrong? You know you can tell me everything as a friend. I will listen to you”.

Elizabeth pursed her lips before she sniffled. Gwen was startled and sat up abruptly. Elizabeth recited about what happened between her and Veronica in between her hiccupps. So, long story short, Veronica was being mean to Elizabeth after they learned that Elizabeth was not King Baltra’s biological daughter and the late Queen adored her as if she was her own.

Lifting her sleeve, Gwen stomped “That’s it! I’m gonna smack her on the back of the head and make her eat dirt!”.

Elizabeth held her back “Gwen, no!”.

Since Elizabeth refused to let her hit Veronica even if just once, Gwen had an idea “Why not giving her a hard time to find us in our hide-and-seek, then?”.

Elizabeth accepted because she was still upset and she still wanted to stay with Gwen. In their search of a difficult place to find and hide, the rain suddenly poured. They were lucky because they found a cave in the wood. Because they were feeling cold, they cuddled against each other after Gwen lit up a fire using her magic spell.

“I wonder if they will find us”, Elizabeth said, looking at the dark sky sadly “At least, Lady Merlin, Sir Meliodas and the Sins must be looking for you, Gwen. You’re lucky to have them as your family”.

“But you are my family too, Ellie. You’re a bit older than me, so you can be my sister”.

“…I can?”.

“Uh-huh. Just like today, if there’s something upset you, you can tell me everything. Aren’t we close, very close friend who are just like siblings?”.

Elizabeth beamed “Yes!”.

“Elizabeth! / Gwen!”.

Elizabeth and Gwen brightened as they saw Meliodas and Merlin coming to pick them “Mel-Mel! / Daddy! Mommy!”.

Meliodas checked if they were injured before he sighed in relief “Gosh, you scared us. What if you got kidnapped?”.

Merlin frowned as she checked Gwen’s temperature “Did you get lost? You’re a bit warm”.

As expected, Gwen caught a cold the next morning because she made sure Elizabeth warm enough but she forgot about herself.

Elizabeth gave a get well soon gift as she visited Gwen “Gwen, get well soon… so we can play together again…”.

Gwen chuckled before she replied hoarsely “I will”.

---

When they were older, they also held each other’s hands in their quest within the Death Trap Labyrinth after they got separated from their lovers. In the middle of the Labyrinth, the earth suddenly split before another wall appeared. Just like how Meliodas pulled Arthur, Guinevere pulled Elizabeth before they were separated.

Guinevere believed that Arthur would be fine since he was safe with Meliodas. Turning her body, she sighed “I guess we have no choice but to find a way out of here first to reunite with our lover”.

Holding Guinevere’s wrist, Elizabeth asked “Are you okay, Gwen?”.

Guinevere squinted her eyes “Of course, I am. Why do you ask?—Ah...”.

Remembering what happened in the Boar Hat before King left, Guinevere sighed forlornly “I showed an unpleasant sight in front of you guys, huh?”.

“Don’t mention it”, Elizabeth shook her head before she held the younger’s hands “Gwen, just like how you were there for me, I am here for you as well. You can tell everything to me. Aren’t we close friends who are just like siblings?”.

Guinevere smiled thinly “Is it that obvious?”.

“You looked so upset, back then. You rarely showed your emotions openly after we reunited. I admit, you’re much more mature compared to us. It’s harder to see through you or to understand what’s going through your mind, sometimes. Perhaps, you just inherited it from Lady Merlin. However, I want to believe you—I trust you. I know, some things haven’t changed”.

Squeezing Guinevere’s hands, Elizabeth smiled “You are still the Gwen I know who loved and cherished Lady Merlin and Sir Meliodas as her parents figures”.

Guinevere froze. Merlin might be her mother figure who raised her and Meliodas was her father, but—

“I might not be as reliable as Sir Tristan and his siblings, but still, I am here for you as your friend. I can listen to everything you want to talk. Don’t doubt to ask me for anything, okay?”.

Guinevere hugged her.

—Elizabeth was her mother.

She couldn’t call her ‘mother’. Not yet.

However, if what Merissa saw in her future sight came true, then they would...

“...Thank you, Ellie”.

Elizabeth wondered if she only imagined it because why did it feel like Guinevere looked like ready to cry when she was clearly smiling?

Holding each other’s hands, one did not know their true bonds as mother-daughter, one was shouldering the Sins and Virtues on her shoulders. They walked side by side.

It was only several hours before the Time of Judgment and they would lose someone they loved.

What would they get once they let go each other’s hands?

Would it be Glory or Destruction?

Only they would know the answer once they finished the Quest to find their true self.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 3 of The White Enchantress