ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʟᴇꜱꜱ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ | ᴢᴇʟᴅʀɪꜱ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ | ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴇᴅɪᴛɪɴɢ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ ᴛᴡᴏ

Escanor chuckles at this as he lowers his finger and says, "Laughable!" 

"Holy crap," I murmur when I see that Escanor's sacred treasure is slightly cracked but he himself has obtained no injuries. Escanor lets out an irritated grunt and then throws his weapon behind him.

"You've dropped your weapon and aren't begging for your life," Zeldris states. "Then you've given up, haven't you?"

"Divine Sword Escanor!" Escanor yells as he brings down his hand once again, pressing down on Zeldris.

"I don't understand you," the Demon Prince admits. "This is a fated war between the Demon and Goddess clan that's been going on for eternity. What reason would a mere Human like you possibly have to risk their life and fight in this war?"

"Everything I'm doing is for the sake of a friend," Escanor answers. 

"You call the cold-blooded Meliodas a friend?" Zeldris growls. "Ridiculous!"

My heart shatters when I hear this and I watch in horror as his magic forcefully pushes Escanor backwards.

"There's no way he thinks the same of you!" Zeldris shouts. "He's not capable of real friendship!"

Raising my hand in anger, I am about to intervene when the Sin of Pride strikes again but this time successfully breaks through.

"You won't get away," he says firmly. "Divine Spear Escanor!"

My heart stops as the attack injures Zeldris and causes him to choke out blood with his head thrown back. Before I can stop myself, I rush towards him and then hover over his face, my eyes filling up with tears.

"Darkness!" Grandad calls out and my shadows scream out in delight.

From the corner of my eye, I see Ludociel zips toward us but I quickly whisper, "Erupt."

Ludociel gracefully dodges my shadows that explode from the ground and he immediately flies back when Grandpa appears in front of Zeldris.

"Young Master Zeldris, please leave the rest of this battle in our hands," Grandpa says.

"Yeah, sure," Zeldris mutters as Cusack heads towards the leader of the four Archangels. "But that wasn't my powers just now. It was so much like hers, but there's no way she can be here."

My insides curl with guilt but I say nothing to indicate that I am right next to the youngest son of the Demon King. Instead, I smile softly as I examine his bruised face, my hands twitching to just touch him.

As the brutal battle continues up ahead, Zeldris staggers to his feet and I try my hardest to not reach out and help him. If he knew I was here, I am positive he would immediately send me back to wherever I was before. And that is the last thing I want to deal with right now.

The two of us instantly divert our attention to Cusack and Chandler who Merlin continues to mercilessly attack with a special magical move. I clench my hands as I helplessly watch the two Demons who raised me writhe and howl in pain.

Once they are freed from the attacks, I notice the signs of Grandpa using his Resonant move on the Sin of Gluttony and I flinch at this. But nothing happens for the next couple of seconds. Oh, of course. Merlin was blessed by the Supreme Deity so such moves will have absolutely no effect on her.

"What's wrong?" Grandad asks Grandpa as he stands up. "Hurry up and break that brat's magic already!" But when Cusack doesn't respond and just blankly stares ahead, Chandler murmurs, "This is bad. At this rate, he'll—" Lightening envelops Grandad's body again and he screams out in pain.

I turn to my side to see that Zeldris has rushed ahead. "Don't push your luck!" he snarls. "I possess the power of the Demon King. Your magical powers aren't even worth fearing!" 

He coughs lightly and then places a hand on his forehead, face contracting with pain. Taking this as an opportunity to attack, Ludociel dashes towards Zeldris but I quickly raise my hand in their direction. 

"Blockade," I say as my shadows shield Zeldris and send Ludociel off course. My shadows swiftly whip around and push Zeldris backwards to make it seem like he has been knocked out.

Ludociel starts to laugh insanely. "Victory!" he says loudly. "We put an end to the long-running Holy War. I almost can't believe it! After all this time, we finally won! Are you watching me, Mael? Look at what your brother accomplished and be proud!" He whimpers and then suddenly grabs the side of his head with both his hands. "But why? Why can I only recall the face of Mael's killer? Why Estarossa?"

I wheeze out in shock as I come falling down to my knees. "What the hell?" I hiss and clench onto my stomach. 

You're a Demon.

Yeah, I am. Are you going to kill me now, Archangel?

I have to. It is my duty to the Goddess race—

Duty? Do not make me laugh. Killing those who stand in your way, you love it, don't you? You do not need the excuse of being a soldier. You will blindly do what you believe is right.

I don't expect you to understand, Demon.

Why? Because I am a creature of the darkness? 

You look very familiar. Who are you?

I am offended. You don't recognise my wonderful face? My name is (Y/n) of the Dark Shadows.

You're the one who is always by his side, the leader of the Ten Commandments.

Correct. I already know who you are but it would be rude if you yourself did not give the introductions.

Mael. My name is Mael.

Though the circumstances are bleak, it is a pleasure to meet you, Mael.

Estarossa, so this entire time you were Mael the Archangel. No wonder I hated you so much.

Falling forward on the hard ground, I slowly push myself up on my elbows and weakly raise my head to see Zeldris's lips quivering, his dark eyes gleaming with rage.

My entire world stops as the youngest son of the Demon King breathes, "Mother is still alive."