Night gently blanketed the castle of Liones.
In his arms, Meliodas carried a sleeping Tristan, the boy's peaceful face resting against his chest. He quietly opened the door to the young prince's bedroom and gently laid him on the bed.
A paternal smile brushed his lips.
"Sweet dreams, my son."
Then, he left the room, silently closing the door behind him, and made his way to his own chambers.
When he pushed the door open, he found Elizabeth, clad in a light nightgown, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Exhausted, Meliodas collapsed beside her without a word.
Elizabeth leaned into him, placing a gentle hand on his chest.
"Your mind seems elsewhere… You're still thinking about him?"
Meliodas stared at the ceiling for a moment, then replied:
"Even if I understand his choice… I really would've liked to have Zephyr with us. At our side."
Elizabeth gave him a tender, teasing smile.
"You said it yourself: he made his choice. But who knows? Fate is full of surprises."
A soft chuckle escaped Meliodas.
"Yeah… you're right."
They embraced in a quiet moment, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
---
The next morning, in front of the grand palace gates, Zeldris was preparing to return to the Demon Realm.
Meliodas approached and said:
"Take care of Gelda. And… of that damned throne."
Zeldris sighed with his usual exasperated look.
"And you, try not to bring chaos here. See you, big brother."
"Yeah."
Zeldris spread his dark wings and took off into the sky, his silhouette slowly vanishing into the horizon.
---
Two days passed. Then a week.
Meliodas had returned to the infernal routine of kingship: audiences, meetings, councils, ceremonies… The King of Liones didn't have a second to breathe.
One day, slumped on his throne, he muttered to himself:
"Seriously… I should've stayed on the Isle of Renewal. Chopping wood. Drinking at Boros' tavern."
But he straightened up with renewed resolve.
"No time for regrets. I'm a king… and a father."
As he wandered through the palace halls, trying to catch a moment of peace, raised voices echoed near the outer gates.
"Let me through! I need to speak to the king!"
A knight blocked the entrance.
"The king is busy. Without an audience, it's impossible to enter."
"I KNOW your king!" shouted the voice of the stranger.
Intrigued, Meliodas approached.
"What's all this noise about now?"
As the doors opened, he saw a man struggling against two guards.
Meliodas stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened.
"…Zephyr?!"
The face of his long-lost brother was filled with urgency, with desperation.
"Meliodas… I need your help."