Word count: 2800 words
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It was a beautiful morning, Meliodas lay sprawled across the lavish bed beneath the soft crimson sheets, his arm serving as a pillow for the silent figure resting beside him. Makima, ever composed, lay still with her head tucked gently against his shoulder, her eyes closed but her presence sharp as ever, both of them were completely naked.
Morning light filtered through the long, arched windows, casting a golden hue on the polished stone floor and dancing across the intricate carvings on the ceiling above.
He stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind far from blank.
A week had passed since the princess ascended to the throne. Of course, he knew one week wasn't truly enough for her to wrap up everything. Preparations, stabilization, paperwork, commanding, it all took time. But thanks to the convenient explanation she offered to the people, blaming the bloody palace incident on her brother's 'rebellion,' she was off to a clean start.
The murder of the royal family was painted as a tragic act of desperation from a jealous brother. People ate it up. They wanted a hero. They wanted to believe in her. And with her already shining public image from her past acts of kindness and policy suggestions, they got what they wanted.
The only difficult part was the military. Soldiers were skeptical, and generals even more so. But that's where the Obsidian Chains came in.
With their subtle pressure and show of power, the military was kept in check and tamed without even realizing it.
As for Brain, he had done his part perfectly. Meliodas trusted few, but Brain had proven himself. Now he was back under the Obsidian Chains' banner, just in time for the next stage of things.
The casino was another little triumph. It had started operating three days ago, and the noblemen were already sniffing around it like dogs at a feast.
The thrill of risking their riches, the illusion of control, the drunken euphoria of barely winning or crushing defeat was addicting for them. Slowly, commoners would find their way in too, some out of curiosity, others out of greed.
It didn't matter. Either way, their pockets would empty and line the Chains' coffers instead.
And then there was Osk. He was so happy receiving his five elven women. Meliodas even tossed in a sixth one to make sure their first business deal started with a smile.
Beside Meliodas, Makima shifted faintly. Her eyes opened slowly, golden irises glinting in the light. She looked up at Meliodas without moving from her spot.
"You're deep in thought," she said softly.
Meliodas turned his head toward her with a grin. "Good morning to you too."
Makima didn't smile, but there was a faint, almost imperceptible softening around her eyes.
"You've accomplished a great deal in a few days," she said. "Enough that most would spend a year trying to match it."
"Most aren't me," he replied, brushing a strand of her hair away from her face. "And I don't have the luxury of time."
Makima tilted her head slightly. "The Queen. Will she be available now?"
"She should be," Meliodas answered. "A week was generous. I got business to attend to."
Makima rested her chin lightly on his chest. "Are you planning on doing 'that' now?"
Meliodas stared at the ceiling again, a slow smirk creeping across his lips. "Yes. It's time."
Without waiting another second, he rose from the bed, tossing the sheets aside. His body stretched casually in the morning light, completely unbothered by his nakedness.
At the end of the room, Rem stood silently near the door like a perfectly poised statue, hands folded neatly in front of her, her head bowed. The moment her master moved, her senses sharpened and she instinctively stepped forward.
The sight of Meliodas rising, completely bare, made a faint blush appear on her cheeks, though she quickly suppressed it.
'This isn't new. I've already dressed him plenty of times,' she told herself. 'Still… the sight of master's naked figure is truly... arousing.'
She approached him gracefully, her eyes lowered respectfully as always. "Will you be heading out, Master?"
Meliodas turned slightly, looking her way with a lazy grin. "Yeah. I'm going to meet the Queen. Let's go formal today."
Rem bowed deeply, hiding her face behind her blue bangs. "Understood."
She walked to the wardrobe, opening it with a light push. The doors parted with a gentle creak, revealing rows of finely tailored clothes. She selected his formal blue attire embroidered with silver lining along the collar, matching blue trousers, and a long coat bearing the Obsidian Chains crest subtly sewn inside the inner lining.
She brought the clothes over in order, beginning with the shirt.
Meliodas stood still, arms slightly raised as Rem dressed him, her fingers swift and efficient, fastening buttons, adjusting seams, smoothing folds.
She handled him with the grace of a seasoned maid, but her mind wasn't fully at peace, stealing glances at his body sometimes.
She tied the cuffs on his sleeves gently, then took a step back and bowed again. "You look perfect, Master."
Meliodas adjusted the collar slightly with his fingers, then cracked his neck. His smirk turned sharp, focused. "Makima, go prepare yourself as well, and let's go see our dear Queen."
As Meliodas was about to leave the room, he peeked his head one last time. "Oh, don't forget to bring Shoko too."
.
.
.
The black carriage moved smoothly through the cobbled roads, pulled by two large, dark-maned horses bred specifically for the Obsidian Chains.
The wheels barely made a sound as they glided through the morning mist.
On each side of the carriage, the Obsidian Chains crest was engraved in shining dark silver. There was no need for fanfare. The mere presence of that symbol was enough at this point.
Inside the carriage, Meliodas sat comfortably in the middle bench, legs slightly apart, hands spread next to him. He wore the formal suit Rem had dressed him in, staring out the window as buildings passed.
On his right sat Makima, composed and perfect as ever, her red eyes calmly studying nothing in particular. To his left, Shoko leaned slightly against the corner, quiet and contemplative.
As they reached the final street leading to the castle, the royal guards standing at the gate spotted the crest immediately. One of them narrowed his eyes and nodded to the other. Without hesitation, the gates began to open with a deep groan of metal.
There was no need to verify. Word had been sent from above. The Obsidian Chains were guests and always welcome to the castle. This was expected.
Inside the grand throne room, Queen Renner stood waiting, clad in an elegant lavender gown that gently touched the floor, her long golden hair resting like silk down her back. She received information about the guests being in the castle, and she entwined her delicate fingers in front of her as she waited.
At her side was Climb. As always, he stood loyally, eyes focused forward and expression calm.
When the heavy doors opened and the three guests entered, a small chorus of whispers rose among the soldiers lining the walls as they recognized who was there. Renner raised her hand slightly, silencing them with a mere gesture.
Her heart beat faster. 'He's here.'
Meliodas stepped in first, eyes already locked on hers. Makima followed just behind him, her every step precise, her face devoid of emotion. Shoko was last, quietly observing the room.
The guards didn't move. No one dared to. The air was different now. He brought a pressure with him, even when not releasing it.
Renner smiled gently, stepping forward with practiced grace. "Meliodas-sama. Lady Makima. And my lady. You honor us with your presence."
Meliodas nodded slowly, then smirked. "You look alive. That's good. Was worried the weight of the crown would crush you."
Renner let out a soft, melodic laugh. "I assure you, I'm much sturdier than I look."
Makima's eyes subtly scanned the room. She noticed the positioning of every guard, she did not see some people she expected here. "I did not see any nobles in the castle." She commented.
"It is as you said Lady Makima, I decided that nobles shall not be needed in the castle. I even massively decreased their responsibilities on the whole domain." Renner explained.
"You've made impressive progress in a single week," Makima said. "I assume they Kept asking questions?"
Renner nodded, still smiling. " That was one of the reasons that led me to this decision, Nobles must be good dogs at the disposal of their master, not question his decisions or voice their opinions, the kingdom only needs one queen to make decisions, not dozens of nobles."
Meliodas chuckled lightly. "Well said. That's why I like you."
'That's also why I don't trust you,' he thought. Someone like her would dispose of anyone she did not find any more use for, like her father for instance when she got the chance.
Renner kept her breathing steady. She could feel the weight of his gaze.
Meliodas was smiling, relaxed even, but she never forgot what he really was. What he and his group had done. The way his one subordinate dismantled her brother's rebellion with ease...
She feared him.
But she would never let that show.
"Please," she gestured toward the seats prepared just across from the throne. "Sit. Let's speak."
Makima remained standing.
Shoko did too.
Only Meliodas stepped forward and sat down, crossing one leg over the other, looking up at the queen with amusement.
Renner walked back to the throne and sat down, maintaining her regal posture. Climb, as always, stood beside her with calm eyes and silent loyalty.
"You've come today for business?" She asked.
"Of course, I would never come here just to see your fake face," Meliodas said. "I gave you a week. Now it's time we move forward."
Climb did not like the disrespectful comment directed to his queen, but he was instructed to never interfere in their business, even the guards stationed around were ordered the same thing.
Makima's voice was calm but direct. "We have certain expectations. It's not just about the crown. It's about stability. Obsidian Chains invested in that stability. We'd like to see the returns."
Renner kept her smile intact. "Naturally. And I'm grateful. Without you, I wouldn't be sitting here."
'And that's the problem, isn't it?' Renner thought. 'I owe you everything. I can never be free of you.'
Meliodas leaned forward slightly. "There's always something else, Queen. But let's start with that. Step by step."
"Very well," she said at last. "Then let's work together."
Meliodas' eyes glinting. "Yep."
And somewhere deep inside, Renner felt that familiar shiver again, the one she tried so hard to hide.
He leaned back casually in his seat, one arm draped over the backrest, his foot tapping lazily.
"Anyways. There's one last thing for you." He said.
Queen Renner blinked.
Her back straightened ever so slightly, though she kept her face composed and pleasant. Climb, sensing something shifting, narrowed his eyes just enough for Makima to catch it.
"One last thing…?" Renner echoed, her voice polite but guarded.
Meliodas gave a lopsided grin, playful on the surface, yet it held the weight of finality. "You do this, and you'll be free to act as you please. No more debts. No more silent obligations. After this, you'll be my client, not my servant. An equals relationship."
The words hit her like a bell.
'Free?' Renner thought, her mind momentarily drifting. The word danced beautifully in her head.
Since ascending the throne with Meliodas' help, she had known deep down that the crown she wore wasn't entirely hers. She was the Queen, yes, but his shadow loomed over every step she took.
He had allowed her this position. She had never forgotten that. And it didn't bother her. She didn't mind serving him. In some way, being tethered to a being as overwhelming as Meliodas made her feel… safe. Controlled. Stable.
But now he was offering her more.
She briefly thought of the Razor Edge, the National Treasure he had claimed for himself without asking. The item that generations had guarded was a symbol of pride. She hadn't protested. What did it matter to her? As long as she had Climb at her side, the kingdom could burn for all she cared.
'But this…' she thought. 'This is more than power. This is independence.'
Still, she remained cautious. If this was the price of her crown, then it had to be significant, and whether he would honor his word or not was another question.
"What do you require of me?" She asked softly.
Meliodas' grin widened. He leaned forward, his purple eyes glinting under the light of the chandelier.
"I want to make two contracts with you, under Makima's supervision." He said
Renner tilted her head slightly, intrigued.
Makima took a single step forward, her expression unreadable, hands folded neatly in front of her. She didn't speak yet, she knew Meliodas wasn't done.
"The first contract," Meliodas continued, "will transfer any damage I receive into an illness for a random citizen of Re-Estize. I don't care or know who. It's just going to happen."
Renner's face didn't change, but her heart skipped once. She didn't speak immediately.
Meliodas didn't stop. "The second, I want one year of lifespan from every citizen of your kingdom. All of it added to mine."
Now Renner's calm mask slipped for a moment. She stared, stunned, unable to hide her confusion.
"I'm sorry but... That… Just doesn't make sense to me." She admitted. "How would I... how would anyone possibly do something like that?"
Makima, who had been waiting for that exact moment, stepped closer.
"You don't need to understand." She said softly as if she was explaining something to a child. "I'm a devil. That's what I am. Contracts are how I operate. If you accept the terms verbally, they become reality. That's all it takes."
The room suddenly felt colder.
'This kind of power does exist?' Evryone had the same question in mind.
Climb's eyes flicked toward the queen, silently asking if she was alright. Renner gave no outward sign of distress.
She processed it quickly. It was absurd. Impossible. Unreal. But then again, she had seen more unbelievable things in the last month than most people would in their lifetime.
And there was no cost. Not to her. Not to Climb.
'The people will never know. And even if they did, they would never believe it. Who would believe that a single word could drain your life away? I wouldn't have believed it myself until five minutes ago.'
And Meliodas didn't lie. Not about things like this. He didn't need to.
Renner closed her eyes for a brief second… then opened them, her expression serene.
"I accept the terms of both contracts."
The air in the room shifted.
There was no flash. No explosion. No demonic howling. But every person present, be it Makima, Shoko, or even Climb, they all felt a subtle weight drop and settle like something had just clicked into place on a metaphysical level.
Renner felt it too. A strange pressure in her chest, not heavy, just… different. Like a new, invisible chain had been woven into the air itself, connected to Meliodas and many other people.
Meliodas' expression lit up instantly.
He stood up with ease and clapped his hands once, a crisp snap that echoed like the conclusion of a ceremony.
He stretched his arms a little, looking around the room as if everything had suddenly become clearer, brighter.
"Ahhh, that feels good," he said, flashing a wide smile. "I assume it worked, right? Makima?"
Makima gave the faintest nod, a signal meant only for him.
'Everything worked,' he thought. 'She felt it too. It's done.'
He turned back to Renner, his tone light but sincere.
"Well, that's it then. You're free. You can do as you like now, Your Majesty. We'll be in touch."
He didn't wait for permission. He turned, hands in his pockets, walking toward the throne room doors like a man who had just sealed a business deal and was already late for the next one.
Makima followed wordlessly behind him. Shoko offered the queen a small bow, then moved in sync with the others.
But Renner… she stood.
For the first time since they entered, she moved from the throne of her own will, stepping down and offering a graceful, practiced bow, not too deep, but clearly respectful.
"Thank you, Meliodas-dono," She said clearly.
It wasn't 'sama.' It wasn't submission.
It was acknowledgment. Mutual respect.
Meliodas gave her a lazy little wave without even looking back.
The doors closed behind them.
And for the first time since taking the throne, Renner felt like it truly belonged to her.
TO BE CONTINUED --->
Hey everyone! Author here.
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