The Night We Met

Part I: Chapter VII

"Ellie, are you okay?" Diane asks.

A million thoughts came to me. I'm a queen? I'm a descendant? I'm a—

"Elizabeth, are you alright?" Miss Jericho asks.

I snap back to reality, posture my arms and nod politely. Miss Jericho raises her eyebrow, but shrugs it off anyway. Opposite of my seat at the dining table was Merlin, the exact same Merlin who revealed to me that I'm the Queen of Gods and Goddesses. I'm still trying to comprehend what just happened yesterday.

    Yesterday, Merlin and I visited her lab and travelled to the Demon Realm. I learnt about the Golden Valley's past, the Pre-Holy War, but not so much about the Holy War itself. All I know was that the Goddesses and the Demons fought each other. But that's not the only thing I'm worried about. Who's left of the Golden Valley? Where are these realms of goddesses and demons? Am I the only goddess left?

And most importantly... who's the Demon King?

    After brunch, we all went outside to the daylight gardens to hang out. Liz healed after her attack, and Meliodas and Escanor finally came back after a two-day intense training. I gathered my sketchbook, my art pens and my brimmed strawhat. I folded my sunglasses and slipped them on my yellow sunflower dress.

Everyone else was waiting for me outside. Liz was still groaning at the fact that she had to move to Merlin's room, but thankfully Escanor calmed her down. Diane and Elaine was playing a hand game called 'Concentration', and Meliodas, Ban and King were talking about 'who's the strongest'.

I stepped out of my room and followed my fellow orphans. They waited for me at the doors, the arch to the daylight gardens.

    "Wow, Ellie! You look awesome!" Diane compliments.

    My cheeks fluster and I thank Diane for her compliment. We all walk towards the gardens and underneath the purple orchid showers. A pile of sakura petals sit silently in the corner, followed by an oak-created bench and gleams in the steaming sunlight. I sit down on the bench, my yellow dress flowing and swimming through my legs.

    I open my sketchbook and retraced my lined artworks of scenery. A nostalgic feeling pressed against my heart, making it wonder and ponder about the outside of the orphanage. For example, was I a good queen? Or was I just used as a pawn in a chess game?

    I start drawing the daylight gardens. I draw the pond, the orchids, the sakuras and even my friends playing hide-and-seek on the zen bridge. I cast shadows behind my models and redraw structures of faces. I sketch small lines in the shadows of deep darkness, hidden by a cast of trees, concealed by the sun.

    "That's a wonderful drawing," a familiar voice approaches.

    It's Miss Jericho. She must've noticed the others and not me when they were playing. I smile at Miss Jericho, and thank her deeply for her compliment.

    "Why don't you play with the others?" she asked. I knew she was going to say that. Why wouldn't she?

    "I like some peaceful time... alone." I respond. She nods her head and gives me a gift.

    "This is my welcome gift to the orphanage. It's a bit late, yes, but it's yours." Miss Jericho offers.

    I unwrap the ribbon tied around the box, and carefully open the gift. It had two earrings in it, both royal blue and a hint of Liones. Liones was a kingdom I found about in one of my books, The Heir of Liones. I never knew I would appreciate it until now.

    "Thank you... but, I don't think I deserve it. I mean, I am 'Elizabeth of the Dead Father', after all." I say to Miss Jericho, pushing back the gift.

    "You deserve it, Elizabeth. Of course you do." Miss Jericho smiles. She leaves the bench and waits for me to wear my new sapphire earrings. I remove my emerald earrings and place it in the hole of the jewelry box. I lock my earrings in place and dangled with them. It was perfect.

"Thank you. I will be sure to treasure this forever more." I accept the gift.