Mask

8

-Elizabeth's POV-

I bowed as I walked into the library where I would meet the next rulers for the fairy and giant clan.

They was already sitting and chattering quietly.

"P-Pardon m-me I'm a b-bit late." I apologised and did a small curtsy. They nodded as I went to sit in one of the armchairs.

It was completely quiet, making me ask "I-If you don't m-mind, w-what were you talking about before I came?"

They was still quiet, staring at me.

"What's with you and the eldest son of the demon king?" Diane asked, giving a smile as her eyes lit up in curiosity.

"Oh... u-umm... w-we are friends... kind of..." I mumbled, feeling my cheeks burn as I looked down at my hands in my lap.

"Friends?! We found the two of you laying in bed at least half na-"

"I-It w-w-was a-all just a mistake... p-please f-forget i-it..."

"What? Has he done anything to you since then? Has he hurt you?"

"N-No, I-I just consider h-him a-as a friend... I-I shouldn't have done a-anything like that with him..."

"Oh, bu-"

"Princess Elizabeth!" I heard a monotone voice as the door to the library opened. I looked back to see the youngest prince walking towards me.

"I-Is something wrong young-"

"What have you done to my brother?!"

"W-what are you t-talking about?" I asked. He looked up at princess Diane and prince Harlequin before grabbing my arm and forcing me out of the library.

"W-what's h-happening?"

Once we were alone in the corridor, he said "My brother is a crying mess in his room because of you! What did you do to him?!"

"W-what? I-I have to go to h-hi-"

"No! I want to know what you done to him!"

"N-nothing, I-I promise. I-"

"Don't go near him again! Understand me?!" He asked, letting go of me. I nodded, feeling shocked the quiet prince could get so angry...

He stomped away as I heard "Princess Elizabeth? Are you okay?" as the door opened. I looked at Diane and Harlequin, with a small nod.

"I-I have to go..."

"We heard it!" Diane spoke, making me stay.

"W-What?"

"We heard what the youngest prince told you... What happened? Do you need any help?"

. . . . .

With a sigh, I knocked on Meliodas' door. Like the youngest prince had said, crying could be heard from inside.

It immediately became quiet when I knocked and a second later, we heard "Come in..."

Looking back and Diane and Harlequin a second, I opened the door and stepped inside with them following.

"Where you crying?" I asked, walking up to him. He looked at me, standing up from his bed.

"P-Pardon me I forgot about the gathering." He said and bowed... Looking back at Diane and Harlequin, I said "Maybe you could leave us alone?"

Harlequin nodded, but Diane gave me a sad look. They both went out though and closed the door after themselves.

"You were crying Meliodas..." I said, walking up to him.

"No... I weren't..." He mumbled, looking away from me. I walked up to him, going to take off his mask when he stepped back, grabbing the mask and making sure it was on.

"We are alone, you can take it off..."

"I can't. You don't love me... you don't want me, so I can't show you my face..."

"I have already seen it and you are my friend. You can take it off. I want to see it..."

He shook his head, saying "Last time I took it off, two people who weren't supposed to see saw it. If father got to know that, he would be so angry. He would never let me meet anyone again until I become king..."

"But it won't happen now. I promise. Princess Diane and Prince Harlequin is watching the door."

"I don't want to take it off. If it weren't anything else, then please leave."

I stared at him a couple seconds before saying "If that's what you want..." and then I left. Diane and Harlequin was waiting for me outside and they both looked at me with worry.

"What's happening?"

I forced a fake smile, saying "He wasn't really crying, he had just hit his toe on something and was in a little pain. This was just a big misunderstanding, but he wants to rest, so should we continue this gathering without him?"

They both looked at me before nodding.

"Let's go back to the library, yes?"

. . . . .

As it was time for bed, I decided to knock on Meliodas' door to make sure he was okay. It only took a minute before he opened his door, wearing a black sleeping outfit, also one that covers his whole body.

"Hey, I wanted to know if you are okay..."

He gave a small nod and was about to close the door when I said "Wait!"

"What is it?" He asked. Looking out in the corridor, making sure no one was here, I said "Listen Meliodas, I know-"

"Don't call me that."

"What? But yo-"

"I have been thinking and maybe you are right. Maybe I shouldn't see you the way I do and act like I should. With that said, you can't see my face, you can't say my name and you can't see me as more than an acquaintance. I'm not going to be informal with you anymore, I'm not going to be with you more than needed and I'm not going to have any feeling for or about you. If it wasn't anything else, I wish you a good night, princess Elizabeth." He said and closed the door after himself.

I was just speechless. I saw him as just a friend... but now I have lost him...

Feeling small tears in my eyes, I went to my room for sleep.