Summary: The Royal King's Guard will lay down their lives and dedicate their hearts to return you unharmed to Mitras Castle where you will marry and become Queen. The Marelyan Cult who believe you are the key to perform their ritual will do anything to obtain your body and unlock their most powerful weapon. You just want to win the heart of a certain Knight.
Megan's Note: Hi I have had this idea in my head since before joining the AOT fandom. It was just going to be a personal story between me and Harry Styles, but It fits better with the AOT world!
This is my first multi-chapter fanfic. Eventually I'll post this on AO3 Also fun fact I don't like the title but can't think of anything else LMAO. I'm also planning on writing my first smut I'm so excited and nervous!! Thank You <3
made an ao3 account recently if u prefer to read this fic there
Why don't you like the title Steel Heart? I think it's badass. It's my favorite Hange fic and I run to read the chapter when I get the update notification!! I stop WHATEVER I'm doing. You changed lives with Knight Hange Zoe
Im so sorry for the late reply
I forgot I said that. Thank you for reading<3<3 I only said that cuz at the time I couldn't think of a name when posting my first chapter. I thought Heart of Steel is too over done and on the nose, and I even thought of something like Heart of Gold. But eh I just stayed with Steel Heart which is funny because I was in a store and found out that's the name of an actual book LOL!!!
Thank you so much for your kind words and im glad ur enjoying my fic<3<3 :P
I actually do write for Levi still, just not as much as I write for my hange fic. I have written some Levi smut one shots and put them on my ao3, but I put it under anonymous. Have a good one <3
I have been reading Steel Heart since your first post I absolutely love the crazy plot and the twists you wrote Your story is layered and intense in the best way. Knight Hange is delicious and I eat it up How much did you plan before writing the story?
Hi!! forgive me for the late reply I am barely active on tumblr<3<3 Which is why I need to post the last 5 chapters but its on my AO3 haha
Thank you so much for your kind words :P I am very much a person that loves call backs, intricatly laced details, and cause and effect kind of stories!!! I am very much excited to share the rest of my fic that's been begging to get out of my head. Chapters 41 and 42 are just restlessly waiting to be written. :D
to answer ur question I actually day dreamed about steel heart before it like existed as a fanfic. and I barely wrote a chapter back in december of 2023 it was originally with Harry Styles (this was when I was straight) and I called the story The Red Ward. Then never touched it until March of 2024 (when I was thinking about dumping my ex bf) and in April I thought about possibly writing a fanfic and during this time I was writing one shots on tumblr for both Levi and Hange. Then in July i decided to rewrite my first chapter and make it into a Hange story.
From there on I had the beginning and end in mind and the section of the story where Y/N gets abducted and taken to the temple. Some plot points evolved as you write and fit perfectly into what you already want and some things I took out. But I would say I had about 80% of it ready.
I had a lot of the story planned and I am so excited to finish this fic and share how much I'm going to lace up loose ends!!!!!!!! Whooo Thank you for reading I started my fic with 0 readers and nothing but drive so thank you for ur support<3<3<3 again I am so sorry for the late reply but thank you so much<3 :D
Summary: The Royal King's Guard will lay down their lives and dedicate their hearts to return you unharmed to Mitras Castle where you will marry and become Queen. The Marelyan Cult who believe you are the key to perform their ritual will do anything to obtain your body and unlock their most powerful weapon. You just want to win the heart of a certain Knight.
Megan's Note: Hi I have had this idea in my head since before joining the AOT fandom. It was just going to be a personal story between me and Harry Styles, but It fits better with the AOT world!
This is my first multi-chapter fanfic. Eventually I'll post this on AO3 Also fun fact I don't like the title but can't think of anything else LMAO. I'm also planning on writing my first smut I'm so excited and nervous!! Thank You <3
made an ao3 account recently if u prefer to read this fic there
Hi July 1st 2024, I posted my first chapter of Steel Heart on tumblr. (sorry tumblr Ill post the last 4 chapters lol). Then I decided to get an AO3 and on July 11th (my dad's birthday <3) I received an invitation!
1 year, and 38 chapters later and I'm almost done with it<3 I seriously appreciate all the kind and supportive comments, while I was learning how to grow as a writer. I'm always trying to improve and be better. I can not wait to share how Steel Heart ends :P
Thank you for enjoying and reading the story when it was a diamond in the rough<3 I will rewrite earlier chapters now that Donna Tartt, author of the Secret History, has helped me improved my writing immensely. :D
Megan's Note: (After Steel Heart I will not be posting long fics on tumblr) King Regent is a title for a stand in king! School and work have been Eiffel Towering me, but at least I have As and money to spend on Hange merch!! So excited to write the rest of the story! Posted: 3/4/25
Word Count: 8.2k
Mud gathered around the paths of the garden due to the heavy rainfall. It relentlessly fell on Mitras Castle and the city. Dark, angry clouds covered the sky and harsh drops of water pelted the windows. Each day since the Queen passed, the halls remained dull and lifeless. The candles burned quickly and the torches died off, leaving the floating smoke dissipating into the solemn halls.
Without anyone advertently saying it, you knew all eyes were on you. All the news spread to the districts, and each citizen expected you to emerge to the throne. The weight of the responsibilities anchored you to your bed. While laying in the silk sheets and fluffy pillows, you rotted away and mindlessly stared through the windows of the french doors leading to the balcony.
You stayed locked in your room, avoiding everybody.
Lady Nanaba gave you space, figuring you were mourning your mother. However, you were dreading the power you were destined to inherit. Apparently, the King Regent was distraught, too. He had been locked away in his chambers and didn’t want to see nor speak to anyone besides his personal guards, according to Nanaba.
You thought it was a testament to how much he loved your mother. Though you didn’t know him well, you assumed he was tending the wounds that scared him by the loss of his soulmate. The Queen—who everyone adored and admired—died alone.
Sasha and Annie tried to bathe you, but you refused.
A few days ago, while you lay in bed, Sasha adamantly suggested that you be washed so the servants could change your sheets. While they scrubbed you, jealousy festered in your chest. You watched as Annie meticulously scrubbed your arm.
According to Doctor Grisha Yeager, your mother loved Annie like she was her own daughter. Annie spent time with your mother. Annie was close to your mother. Annie wasn’t sent away to live far from your mother. A burning ache in your chest spread and engulfed your body like flames. While you sat in the tub, you basked in the fire that burned around you—enduring pain only you felt while others were blissfully unaware.
“Your Majesty?” Sasha asked, her voice distant. Your eyes narrowed on Annie. She dipped the sponge into the bath water and squeezed it, letting it drip back into the tub. Annie’s impassive blue eyes stayed on the water, and then she ran the sponge along your left leg.
“Annie . . .” You spoke and how you said her name almost sounded like a call or a demand for her attention.
“Yes, your Majesty?” She scrubbed the skin around your ankle. Without blinking, you waited for her to look at you—for the full attention that you felt you deserved. Each second she focused on your skin, you clenched your jaw. When Annie finally gave you her attention, she noticed the harsh look in your eyes and the sharp eyebrows that scowled at her.
“Is it true you’re Marleyan?” You seethed.
“Yes.” Annie returned her attention back to your legs. She didn’t falter nor flinch at your question. Annie didn’t seem embarrassed or afraid that you knew. she didn’t react how you wanted her to. You could feel the sponge Sasha held waver unsurely and then return to scrubbing your breasts.
“I was told you were close with my mother?”
“Yes—”
“Why? How could you be?” She craned her head toward your glaring stare that dared her to challenge your temper. After all, you were the Queen, and she was nothing but a mere Marleyan girl.
Sasha picked up the obvious distaste for Annie’s position with your mother and nervously rubbed the sponge over your stomach. She kept an eye on Annie, spectating the tension simmering between you and her. Annie’s unyielding eyes remained locked on yours. Who was going to cut away first?
In a moment of blinding jealousy and rage, there is no other desire than to be correct—to have things our way. While you already held the highest status on the island, you still wanted to diminish another. It’s a desire we crave and sinfully validates us . . . even at the expense of our typical kindness.
“I was your mother’s lady—”
“Doctor Yeager said my mother loved you like a daughter. So why? Why did you get to grow up with her?” Your impatience was thin and the envious fire scalded your body. No matter how hard you tried to project your pain onto Annie, it was you who was scorched by the devastating fact that you could not change the past or live a life with your mother.
“It’s meaningless to think I am Marleyan, your Majesty.” Annie’s voice didn’t have a trace of submissiveness or fear. “I was born in the temple and my father took me and fled when I was old enough to run. It was pointless to try to unchain my mother in the darkness, especially when every woman is begging to be freed.” A lump in your throat formed, but your pride demanded you maintain the stern expression you’ve been directing at Annie. “We were dirt poor for years until your mother’s carriage ran over my father many years ago. She took pity on me and employed me, and I send my earnings to the doctor, helping my crippled father walk again. Is there anything else you would like to know, your Majesty?”
Her tone was oddly distant and detached. You said nothing else. It was the only moment you didn’t wish Hange was with you. They would have seen a character you didn’t want them to witness. A stewing instigator who wanted to remind Annie that she wasn’t the Queen’s daughter, only to find out Annie didn’t seek the position or the attention.
Later that day, while you lay in your clean silk sheets, the guilt finally set in after the pride was swallowed. Annie was a product of the horrors that went on in the women’s ward.
Your mind trailed to the memory of the single flame that illuminated the darkness. Silhouettes of women sitting on their filthy beds with glowing, desperate eyes looking at you and Levi flashed in your mind. A jolt shot through your body as the memory of their hands reaching for you—reaching for their sliver of freedom. Their pleas were suffocating and you squeezed your eyes shut and buried your face into the silk, pink pillowcase, hiding from the memory.
When you gathered your thoughts and opened your eyes, you first noticed the rays of light shining through the windows on the french doors leading to the balcony. Light was a privilege that the women in the temple didn’t get. You sighed disappointedly as you watched the dust moats float in the rays. Your heart ached at the stupidity of your feelings.
You mourned what could have been with your mother. Not her. You hardly knew her. It wasn’t fair for you to be angry or jealous with Annie and you owed her some compassion and an apology. If Annie was closer to your mother than what she led on and with what Doctor Yeager said, she was most likely secretly distraught. Later that day, you apologized to Annie and though she didn’t seem like she needed it, you hoped she knew you meant it.
A few days later, Sasha and Annie tried to get you out of bed for your mother’s memorial service. According to Nanaba, the King Regent also refused to leave his room. She didn’t speak to him personally, but his number one guard, Floch Forester, told her the King Regent didn’t want to speak to anyone but would be present and punctual for the memorial.
Although makeup was fun to wear, Sasha left your skin bare. She moisturized your dull, dry skin, and she and Annie were figuring out how to make you look healthier. The skin around your eyes was crusty and raw from your anxious tears. Ultimately, they dressed you in a thick black mourning veil that hid your expressions.
The thunderous rhythm of knights surrounding you and Nanaba’s heels echoed through the corridor. While Sir Armin Arlert was your number one guard, when the queen died you gained a group of guards as you were now the most valuable being within the walls. They marched in front, beside, and behind you, ready to slash all harmed that dared to come forward. It was suffocating and sometimes difficult to see anything ahead of you with the tall, imposing wall of shiny silver armor.
Nanaba wore black dress robes, and even Sasha and Annie wore black as they followed behind you. A wave of black and silver marched outside the castle, and a sea of black fabrics worn by the court was on the grounds. They were indistinguishable.
The rain stopped, and light grey clouds covered the sky. The dewy grass and the smell of rain lingered in the air. The ground was drenched, but the rain stopped in time for your mother’s memorial service.
The many knights guided you to a place on the castle grounds with a large hill with a stone mausoleum. The wall surrounding the perimeter of the castle ground turned into a thick, long, rusty iron gate that let the public visibly be able to see the hill and the mausoleum. Guards kept them in line as they patiently and silently watched the knights and you trudge up the hill. With blotchy faces and teary eyes, they cried for the memorial of your mother while also catching a glimpse of the new Queen.
As the height of the hill rose above the crowd, you couldn’t fathom the miles of the citizens behind the length of the gate. They wore black and were willing to huddle in a claustrophobic crowd to witness the ceremony. It looked as if every citizen in the City of Mitras was among the strip of black fabrics.
The mausoleum was made of light stone with dark iron doors, intricate locks, and two symmetrical grand columns supporting the triangular stone roof. It was carved in an ancient language you couldn’t decipher and there was an odd sense of guilt, like you should have known what the words carved into the base of the roof meant.
You stood silently with Armin and Lady Nanaba for a few minutes, and your patience began to falter. You fidgeted with the black lace gloves, wondering if someone would tell you what would happen next.
As you were about to ask, it suddenly occurred to you that you hadn’t seen the King Regent. You weren’t sure if his lateness was a pattern his reputation proceeded. But as Lady Nana craned her neck to look over the guards surrounding you, she whispered under her breath.
“He’s just on time . . .” She tilted her chin in the direction of another group of guards approaching. It was a smaller group and you didn’t see the familiar blazing red hair of the King Regent’s number one guard. Perhaps it was because of the guards surrounding you or because Floch Forester might have been beside the King Regent like how Armin was while escorting you, but you couldn’t catch a glimpse of his presence.
When the group of guards trudged up the hill, it was quite noticeable there were fewer guards than what typically accompanied the Queen and her King. When the knights halted next to yours, the wall of guards surrounding you split, then the guards around the other group stepped aside, forming a larger formation around you and—
Like some adrenaline spike or grasp for protection, you clutched Armin’s hand. The movement startled him and you turned your back on the other group of knights.
“What’s Prince Marco doing here?!” You whispered harshly, and when Armin’s bewildered expression made it clear he was clueless, you turned to Lady Nanaba for an answer.
“Your Majesty, please do not fret. It is only Marco—”
“What is he doing here? He . . . he didn’t know my mother.” You said with an attempt to search for a reason that validated your dislike for his presence.
“Your Majesty, Prince Marco Bodt’s family and your parents were close . . . and I believe you should calm down and listen to what he may have to say . . .” Lady Nanaba said through a gritted smile. Without any time to rebuttal her insistence, you felt Prince Marco’s presence and as you turned to him, he lowered himself to one knee. He had his right fist over his heart and lowered his head, respectfully avoiding your gaze.
“Your Majesty,” His voice was soft. “I want to apologize for my hasty affection. I should have kept my hands to myself. I am ashamed to call myself your husband when I frightened you and I should be the man who makes you feel safe. I want to be the man you can rely on. To the other side of the Earth, I would follow you, protect you, and comfort you. You walk with springtime wherever you go and I am merely a bug.” You furrowed your eyebrows and his last part amused you, yet his humble ask for forgiveness made you stifle a laugh. You inconspicuously shot your eyes to Armin and Nanaba, wanting to see how they reacted to Prince Marco calling himself a bug. Nanaba gave you an appointed look, encouraging you to speak to Marco and Armin stared ahead, his eyes glossed over.
“Uh, that’s nice, Marco . . .” He lifted his head and had an overly friendly smile with freckles littered on his warm cheeks. His undying loyalty irked you. It was odd that he met you once, yet he was overly accommodating. You couldn’t but bitterly think of how he would act if you had different blood. “You’re not a bug . . . you’re my equal.”
“Your Majesty. I will never be your equal. But I will be your—”
“Okay, I get it—stand, please.” You began to feel embarrassed by his verbal devotion.
You stared down the hill to the gates, where citizens dressed in mourning black fabrics pressed against the iron gate. Prince Marco’s eyes attentively traced each crevice of your face, waiting and wanting to support you. His eyes burned into your skin, and his presence suffocated you. You wanted him to simply go away.
A bell tolled on the dot when the clock tower struck noon. A low, dull tone echoed a few seconds after each chime. Sir Armin stood straighter and Nanaba inhaled deeply.
Dozens upon dozens of guards emerged from the castle. Four times the amount surrounding yourself. They filled out and marched simultaneously toward the hill. The bell continued to toll haunting chimes. Once the guards marched into view, the citizens behind the wrought iron gate whispered and shushed each other. A shiny white casket brighter than anything you’ve ever seen was at the center of the hundreds of guards. A spray of white lilies, carnations, and orchids was mounted at the top of the casket.
The first knight you recognized holding the casket on his shoulders was the Queen’s number one guard, Keith Shadis. His bald head is what made you confident it was him in the distance. Walking alongside him was the familiar red hair of Floch Forester, who was with the King Regent. The King Regent wore the opulent gold crown atop his greying hair and black uniform. The other knights holding the casket were Erwin Smith, Premier Zachary, and Hange . . .
Your breath hitched.
Hange . . .
They carried the white casket on their shoulders with a stern expression and marched up the hill to the mausoleum. You could feel your heart pumping out of your chest at the sight of Hange. There was an antsy feeling compounding in your mind. The need to be close to them.
In their uniform, they looked broader. Despite the circumstances surrounding them holding a casket, it was quite attractive how effortlessly Hange carried the weight. Their strength and the fact that they were appointed one of the few to bear the casket alluded to the respect and high regard they held.
Hange stared strictly ahead, and as you saw them draw closer, you hoped they would spare a glance. The black lace veil gave you a sense of privacy, shielding your eyes and letting you admire Hange from afar. You longed to meet their brown eye, to see their beauty and the window into their soul.
When the knights holding the casket came to a halt in front of the entrance to the mausoleum, the air went still and you held your breath, waiting for something to happen. It was then you noticed the King Regent was motioning you toward him. Floch’s eyes bore into you and it dawned on you that the King Regent beckoned you to be by his side. The guards surrounding you split before you, giving you a clear view of Hange. Their hair was neatly tied back and their uniform fitted them in a way that outlined their toned arm muscles. You tried to hide your blush and your smile, especially in the circumstances of the memorial.
Upon walking toward the King Regent’s side, your heart pounded, realizing you would walk directly in front of Hange. You brought your shoulders back and stood taller than usual, hoping your posture was perfect. All eyes were on you as you crossed toward King Regent and when you glanced to the side, Hange’s warm eye traced your movements.
It sent a jolt through your system, knowing you had their full attention. Your chest fluttered, and you stifled a smile, trying to remain neutral, but it was hard with the ounce of Hange’s attention. Was their heart pounding as hard as yours? To the same rhythm? The seconds of them watching you stayed on your mind, engulfing and greedily wanting nothing else to occupy your thoughts. Even as the memorial continued.
Your heart swelled when you realized Hange was joining you and the King Regent in the mausoleum. Hange carried the casket down the steps into the cool underground stone where guards were already standing along the walls. There were flickering candles lighting the darkness, and when Hange set the casket on a stone catafalque, they took a step backward and happened to be standing next to you.
You could feel their warmth as they radiated next to you. The pull of their soul was like a magnet, attracting you and compelling you to touch. It was then you realized how hard you were balling your fists. With the release of your hands, you stretched your fingers, aching and pleading to feel Hange’s skin against yours. But you didn’t dare to glance at Hange.
It was harrowing to be so close to Hange while the King Regent and Prince Marco were in the underground mausoleum, giving their last moments of silent farewells.
An inevitable thought conjured in your mind. Your conscience slipped and fell into the thoughts of Hange lying in the casket. Your imagination fed you images of Hange with pale, cold skin, with their eyes closed and body brittle, lying in an open casket. Soulless and gone.
A pinching pressure settled behind your nose and the lifeless, unresponsive thought of Hange made your stomach drop. There was no beauty in death or the peace that people connotated. Only Hange’s utter stillness.
You blinked your eyes, trying to blink away the tears that were gathering, but then the invasive thought of you shaking Hange’s body, trying to wake them, crossed your mind. Hange’s head was slacked and jerked due to your desperate plea to wake them. Their soul was gone and their body was left, leaving you behind in total darkness.
Warm tears poured from your face and you so desperately wanted to cling to Hange for comfort, but it was too brash, like the King and Prince Marco could detect your bond with Hange from a single touch. You sniffled and brought your hands up to your eyes, shielding yourself from the intrusive thoughts of Hange being dead. You sobbed and could feel the overwhelming loss of your soulmate.
You turned to your right, leaning into Armin while gasping for air. Then, as you felt yourself against a small frame, you noticed how hard you were shaking. The image of Hange lying in the casket returned, but another impulsive image had blood seeping from gashes in their abdomen. The inside of the casket, lined with white satin, was stained with Hange’s blood. The body that encompassed their soul perished and blood covered their face and trickled down their neck.
Your chest heaved, and you worried you would throw up. Arms wrapped around you, and then you realized it wasn’t Sir Armin Artlert next to you. It wasn’t Prince Marco, either, but Annie. The awkward realization sunk into you. Annie was a stoic, quiet girl, and how you felt about the horrid images of Hange could be how Annie felt inside about the Queen.
You let yourself stay in Annie's arms, and she awkwardly held you. Her arms were stiff around you, and the odd moments of comfort were preferable than exposing you and Hange.
You caught your breath and Doctor Grisha Yeager’s words ran through your mind. His three three three technique. You pulled away from Annie and wiped the hot tears from your cheeks. Annie looked slightly concerned and her blue eyes traced the flush of your face and the tremble of your hands. It made you clasp your hands together and slowly return toward the casket.
Your sniffles echoed off the cool air of the mausoleum and Prince Marco wiped a tear he shed from his eyes and he swallowed thickly. The casket where the woman who gave birth to you and longed for a relationship with you was pristinely clean and the gold-encrusted along the edges were shiny. A pit of sympathy and guilt coiled in your chest. There wasn’t enough time with her and she was so sick. It was only after she was gone you wanted to spend more time with her. The Queen was fragile and gone too soon. Besides her being your mother, it was rather confusing to know if it was valid or not to be upset by her passing. You knew her so little compared to the others in the room. The Queen’s death created the notion of needing to spend time with the ones you hold dearest in the world.
Your eyes flickered to the King Regent, looking at the stone flooring of the mausoleum. Perhaps it was because he had grieved in private, or maybe he was a man who didn’t like to express his emotions openly, but you noticed the King Regent didn’t shed a single tear. You blinked and rationalized that he was a private man. If he and the Queen were soulmates how was he so composed? If Hange were being laid to rest, you wouldn't be able to hold yourself together.
━━ ⊱ ⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆ ♡ ⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ ⊰ ━━
The Coronation Day was like a shot of adrenaline coursing through your veins from dawn to twilight. Even the sky was overbearingly bright where it flooded light into each window in the castle. There was a distinct sense of unrelenting force that ceased to be disturbed or stopped. From how Lady Nanaba woke you with the cheeriest attitude to the way, Rai hopped and followed you around the room. Sasha had a joyful smile as she eagerly started getting you dressed for breakfast, and you swore you saw Annie smile slightly when you joked with Sasha that you would feed Armin to her instead of having the grand breakfast Sasha speculated you would eat.
She was not wrong. When a servant opened the doors to the dining hall, the long rosewood table had a spread of dishes and various fruits beautifully arranged. Normally, you sat alone at the table and put a plate of greens on the floor for Rai. As your eyes scanned the decadent breakfast before you, it was then you noticed the King Regent and Prince Marco at the head and foot of the table.
Prince Marco stood at the sight of you, and Rai tugged forward on her leash, enthusiastic about eating soon. The King Regent stayed sat and leaned forward, plating his breakfast without acknowledging you. Both their presence made your appetite disappear.
You forced yourself to eat the slices of smoked salmon and the various vegetables while avoiding both men’s eyes. It was awkwardly silent besides the food munching and the silverware clattering against the plates. Despite being nearly full, there was no dent in the amount of food displayed on the table. It was odd how the kitchen prepared a feast for what seemed to feed possibly twenty or so people, but it was like it was for show or decoration.
The fruit was ripe and meticulously placed on a triple-tiered serving tray, and the smoked salmon slices were on a long silver tray that looked like it came from an entire three-foot-long salmon. If it were appropriate, Sasha might have dined with you.
The King Regent kept glancing at Rai disapprovingly as she chewed her food. She tended to flip the tiny saucer you placed leafy greens and vegetables on. According to Armin, bunnies preferred to eat off the floor because the posture helped their tiny digestive system. The saucer clattered every few minutes as Rai would aggressively move it out of the way of her food. By the fourth or fifth time, you could tell the King Regent grew frustrated, especially when he huffed and dropped his fork against the plate.
You leaned down to grab the glass saucer off the ground, but as you were about to place it on the table, the King Regent’s low voice petrified you.
“What manners do you have?” He questioned, barely mustering the interest to reprimand you. “Do not set that on the table.” The King Regent swirled the glass of wine and tilted his head back, swallowing the contents of the glass. It may have been the first time he fully addressed you and it left a sliver of unease. You weren’t sure if you deserved his shortness or dismissiveness, but his words made the room feel suffocating. You couldn’t eat anymore. “You better be a virgin.”
Your eyes grew wide and the King Regent’s demanding statement sucked the air out of your lungs. The hair on your neck stood and it felt like all eyes were on you. A burning sensation sparked in your chest and you struggled to breathe, feeling as if the memory of tying your souls with Hange was exposed and the King Regent could read your thoughts. You flushed and stared at what was left of your breakfast.
“I am, your Majesty.” Prince Marco spoke well through the awkward, thick air. You furrowed your eyebrows and glanced at the King Regent, who directed a stern expression toward Prince Marco. It was then you realized his statement was for Marco. “I can assure—”
“We will check,” The King Regent's heavy chair scraped against the floor. “Only a pure man will marry my daughter.” He said under his breath and his uncomfortable declaration lingered in the air. Was that his way of looking out for you?
Floch Forester, Keither Shadis, and his guards filed out from against the perimeter of the dining hall. They formed around the King Regent and a wave of courage coarse through you. You stopped yourself before you could dare ask the question, and it was odd that you wanted him to return to the table. A pleading voice begged you to ask him to stay and finish breakfast with you.
As the doors closed with a heavy thud and the thick air dissipated, it felt easier to breathe. You sat silently with Prince Marco and the enormous breakfast left of the table. Servants began to take the dishes, flatware, and cups the King Regent used and you found yourself confused.
Why did you feel the need to keep trying to connect with the King Regent when he was distant and cold? What sane person wanted the attention of one who did not care to dispense it? You stabbed a slice of salmon with the tongs of your fork. The King Regent’s grief must have driven him to be angry and isolated. Even isolated away from you—his daughter. There was a sheer ounce of hope that you’d possibly grow close to him after the death of your mother. But he didn’t reach out to you or seemed friendly. Why . . . ? Why is there a need to try? Any attention is good attention.
“You are adorable.” You heard Prince Marco cooed. He was leaning over and had a kind smile on his face. His freckles enhanced the kind features he had and when he turned his face toward you, a wave of annoyance struck you. Rai was on her hind legs and her paws were on Prince Marco’s thigh. Her head was craned toward him and she was sniffing the air around him, wriggling her nose. Rai’s innocent curiosity for Marco annoyed you and you wished she didn’t find Marco interesting. “I have been wanting to meet your pet bunny,” Marco scratched the base of her ears. “What is his name?”
“She’s a girl.”
“What is her name?” Rai was clearly enjoying the attention he was giving her.
“Rai . . .”
“That is adorable. Rai means lighting.” You narrowed your eyes suspiciously toward Prince Marco. He was now stroking Rai’s back with a gentle palm. “You must run fast. Almost as fast as lightning, huh?” He cooed at Rai again.
“Did someone tell you to say that?” Someone must have warned Prince Marco to say that in front of you to get you to like him more. He froze and furrowed his eyebrows.
“Excuse me?”
You stood from your chair and begrudgingly walked to the foot of the table. His friendly eyes watched you draw closer. Rai didn’t mind being in Marco's presence, and you tugged on her leash gently, trying to get her away from him.
“Someone told you to say that to get me to like you, right?” you said with no attempt to look at him.
“I-I I do not know what to say. No one told me anything—”
“I know Lady Nanaba did. She probably told you to try to get me to like you or something.”
“Are you okay, Y/N? You’re wheezing—”
“Stop being so nice to me!” Your chest heaved and you aggressively picked Rai off the floor. She writhed in your arms, hating the way you carried her. Prince Marco stood from his chair and then you realized how hard of time you were breathing. Your bottom lip quivered and Rai, being difficult in your arms, tipped the brink and refused to cry in front of Prince Marco. The frustration only conjured more tears. Prince Marco was overly nice and it annoyed you that he was devoted to you, despite barely knowing you.
There was a suffocating feeling of judgment as you returned to your room. As if each guard silently scrutinized you for being annoyed with Prince Marco over him adoring your rabbit. Their unspoken thoughts weighed on you as you tried on wedding gowns in the afternoon. You could barely focus on the white dresses and the adoring comments from Lady Nanaba, Sasha and other servants.
The seamstress, a gorgeous girl with short, dirty blonde hair named Hitch, praised your beauty with each dress you tried on. There had to be over twenty different styles, lengths, fabrics and necklines. She could tell you were apprehensive over the marriage and began to get frustrated with how you repeatedly told her you loved each dress. Despite Hitch wanting to know which dress you preferred, it was difficult to say you disliked a dress when apparently she was the designer of the gowns.
Over the two hours, you narrowed down five dresses for Hitch to tailor perfectly to your figure. The haze of lace fabric disappeared as you walked down the corridor to your room.
The sun was still delightfully shining, but you felt numb. The overwhelming number of duties on the list paralyzed your consciousness, making you feel like you were floating through the day. You watched everything going on around you while your thoughts were too exhausted to thread a monologue.
You were a young child again. Hearing Fairy Godmother Christa and Ymir arguing at each other. They were screaming at each other about something you could vaguely remember. All you remember was curling in your closet, hearing your heart thump against your chest and waiting for their tempers to settle. The day after that evening you started having school in the cottage and you didn’t see the children your age anymore. You were safely isolated.
It didn’t occur to you until Lady Nanaba mentioned it, but when you marry Prince Marco, he would be the supreme command of the military and the King’s guard would be his. She added that later, there would be a meeting after dinner with The King Regent, Premier Darius Zachary, the head of the Royal King’s Guard and the Scout Regiment, Erwin Smith, the Commander of the Royal King’s Guard, and Prince Marco.
You had a moment of ease when Sasha and Annie dressed you for your coronation ceremony. Annie was twisting your hair into an elegant updo that brought attention to your rosy cheeks. Knowing the coronation day was monumental, they were extra meticulous with your appearance. One that may only occur once in some people’s lifetime.
“Thank you for inviting me into the mausoleum.” Annie’s quiet voice pulled you out of your empty thoughts. You sat at the white wooden vanity and glanced at her through the mirror. She twisted the rest of your hair, avoiding your eyes.
“Uh . . . yeah . . . no problem.” You thought Annie would say more, but when she was finished pinning your hair, she walked away from you without saying another word. She approached Sasha, who sewed the last crystals into the dress skirt.
It was a long white dress with bell sleeves and white crystals on the bodice and the skirt that reflected blinding light. The vision of the dress was to make you glimmer to the crowd in an ethereal, almost unreal way. Sasha was enthusiastic about the dress, especially because the weather cooperated and the sun's rays shined over the City of Mitras.
“Your Majesty!” Nanaba’s cheerful cadence came from your bedroom and the tune carried until she entered your dressing room. She held a small paper-wrapped box. “This was just delivered to you. The first of your many gifts for your coronation day!”
“For me?” You enthusiastically hurried to Nanaba.
“Yes, your Majesty.” She handed you the box.
“Who is it from?” You tore off the paper, revealing delicate red ribbons tied into a bow, securing the cover onto the base of the box.
“Many shops and families are sending gifts for you. They are currently being inspected and you and Marco can open them later. However, this came from within the castle. I presume this gift may be from Prince Marco . . .”
Within the small white box lay a decadent swan brooch. The neck of the swan had an assortment of two-carat diamonds set in platinum. The body of the swan was seventeen carats of aquamarine stones. The swan glimmered in the light, and you furrowed your eyes, wondering how Prince Marco could have known you would like this.
“Wow! That is so gorgeous!” Sasha squealed. “How romantic!”
A small folded piece of paper was in the corner of the box. The ink from the pen was bleeding through the paper, and upon unfolding it, the small written note confirmed your suspicion.
I owe you a day of tea in the garden
Your heart swelled at the note and you couldn’t contain your joy. Hange gifted you the swan brooch. You brought your hand up to toy with the swan locket. A smile burst onto your face and you knew you were blushing at how Sasha and Nanaba adored your reaction to the gift.
“This is actually from Hange.” You turned to the vanity mirror and placed the swan against the lapel, seeing how perfectly it looked.
“Commander Hange Zoe?” Nanaba asked.
“Yes,” You smiled and noticed how the glimmer of the sheer brightness of the diamonds matched your white smile.
“You’re quite close with Hange Zoe, aren’t you?” Her question made you freeze in your reflection. Was she on to you, or was Nanaba merely asking an innocent question? It was quite confusing and you wanted to walk around in Nanaba’s mind to understand if she was stringing connections together. You were supposed to protect Hange Zoe . . . at all costs.
“Have you seen what the inside of a body looks like?” Your deflecting question startled Nanaba. She parted her lips but was stunned into silence. “Do you?”
“No, your Majesty.”
“I do . . .” You stared into the colors of your eyes and hoped they didn’t see right through the smoke you cast into the room. “I’ve seen men get murdered in front of me and I’ve seen dogs rip their skin off . . .” You looked away from them, hoping they thought it was too hard for you to go on. “ . . . I’m close with all the knights. However, Hange and I had a tighter bond compared to the others. Hange and I shared a tent and they were the only other woman in the camp. I felt safest with them. So yes. I’m close to Hange. They saved my life multiple times and just know Hange and I will always have something no one will understand.” Lady Nanaba and Sasha remained silent. “All the knights deserve everyone’s respect and everyone should know that they will always have a place in my heart.”
“Yes, of course, your Majesty,” Nanaba said. “It would make sense you are soft for the knights. They are our most courageous people in the castle.”
“Your Majesty, I’ve been meaning to ask . . . who was the blonde knight that was employed to work in the kitchen?” Sasha stood from her seat on the sofa and walked the completed dress to you.
“Niccolo?” The curiosity piqued your interest. “Why?”
“I have never seen him before.” She didn’t meet your eyes.
“Well, he was one of the Marleyan spies,” You glanced at Annie and then cut your eyes back to Sasha. “He . . . betrayed the cult leader and helped Hange Zoe and Levi Ackerman find me in the temple . . . without his contributions, I don’t think Hange would have known where to rescue me . . .”
“That’s very courageous of him . . .” Her fond voice made you shoot her a questionable look. “That’s extremely brave of him to turn his back on the cult in order to help you.”
“Yeah . . .”
“So, is he a good chef?” Sasha asked.
“He was good . . . why are you so interested in him?” You quirked your eyebrow.
“Just wondering,” Sasha shrugged. “Try on the dress! I think it is going to look dazzling in the sunlight.”
It was exhilarating and overwhelming that you couldn’t remember most of it. Only flashes of vague memories heightened your senses and yet it was the moment that everything was leading up to. All the deaths and all the losses were for the very second you walked up to the edge of the platform wearing a royal cape your mother wore on her coronation day. After all this time, the day finally arrived.
The Coronation Ceremony took place on a raised platform so high in the sky that the citizens of Mitras looked like ants below. The platform was like being on the edge of a cliff overlooking a valley of cheering citizens. People lined the streets all the way to the wall, and the screaming below was like a chorus of nonstop thunder of excitement. Being so high was nearly like flying.
There was a slight breeze that billowed a red velvet cloak that had white fur along the edge. It was heavy and thick, yet the wind created a glorious gust of the cape.
Sasha’s vision surpassed her vision for the citizens below. The rays of the sun reflected blinding, glimmering specs of light. The sun was in your eyes, but the citizens thought the rays shined only for you. To them, the heir to the throne was a precious angelic goddess. The coronation was unlike others seen or described in the past. To them, they saw a figure of a goddess ascending the throne.
When you knelt on your knees and Pastor Nick placed the opulent, heavy golden crown atop your head, the crowd screamed the loudest. They threw flowers in the air and citizens were waving and jumping excitedly. Your heartbeat was in your throat and you were shaking with the overwhelming amount of adrenaline. Your hands trembled as you held the gold staff and the gold orb. Tears dripped down your cheeks from the fear of falling and the overdrive of your senses. Your tears glimmered in the rays of the sun. To the citizens crowding in the streets of Mitras, they would dramatically retell the story that the ruler of the walls cried diamonds.
Behind you, a trail of colors flew to the sky and then suddenly, a loud bang made you hysterically scream and grab onto Pastor Nick. Colors and lights cracked in the blue sky. The explosions became powders of color, bursting into decorative, colorful designs. Pastor Nick calmed you down by explaining how the fireworks were part of the celebration. The explosions sounded familiar, like those in Shiganshina, Karanese District, and the temple. Upon realizing your life wasn’t in grave danger, a smile grew on your face as you adored the show that was for you.
You clasped your hands and were practically bouncing on your feet. It was the first time in a while you felt true joy and like there wasn’t responsibility dragging you down. The burst of colorful green, blue, red, and yellow dyes cracked and fizzled in the air. The red dye looked striking and you pointed at the daytime sky painted by the dissipated powders floating among the clouds.
“Look at the red!!!” You tugged on Pastor Nick’s robe who was holding the staff. You pointed, and a final round of rapid fireworks bursting lights sounded like a drum roll from the sky. The final fireworks looked like glitter shimmering in the air.
With a beaming smile that was sure to infect anyone, you looked back at the main part of the castle where the knights, the court, the King Regent, Prince Marco, Nanaba, Sasha, Armin, and Annie had their backs to you as they looked up at the celebratory fireworks. You glanced around for someone to share your joy with, but everyone was focused on the sky.
You walked back toward the end of the platform connected to the castle and noticed everyone had someone to share their joy with. Nanaba was with Sasha and Miche Zacharius. Eren Yeager wrapped his arm around the beautiful dark-haired girl named Mikasa. A short blonde woman was beside a tall brunette, which was clearly Fairy Godmother Christa and Ymir. For a moment, you swore you saw Armin and Annie holding hands. The King Regent clapped Prince Marco on the back. Everyone had someone, but you celebrated isolated and away from everyone as you returned to the castle's balcony.
Upon the crowd admiring the fireworks, a face appeared in the sea of hair. Hange lit up when you noticed them. They were ecstatic and gave you a casual wave with their hand barely rising above their waist. You couldn’t contain your excitement, and with nothing but sheer joy and child-like fondness for Hange, you returned an enthusiastic wave high over your head.
Hange was always watching and supporting from afar.
The City of Mitras celebrated into the night. When the sky was dark enough, there were more rounds of fireworks. Fireworks at night were more fantastic. It was a light show that lit up the castle and the town below. The fireworks whistled as they shot up and banged. Hearing the citizens cheering from within a conference room in the castle was quite outstanding.
“Shut the windows,” The King Regent ordered. The room was dark except for a few candles and the light that poured in from the fireworks booming outside. The thrills of the coronation were wearing off, and exhaustion was starting to overcome you, especially from the numerous proposals you had to sign on your first day as Queen. Your hand was cramping and you rolled your wrists, soothing the tense muscles from repeatedly giving your signature.
Four large windows appeared to open and close like doors stretched to the ceiling. The fireworks’ explosions were slightly suppressed, and the last shutting of the windows silenced the crowds’ excitement.
“Your Majesty,” Premier Zachary said, turning his attention to the head of the table where you sat. “There is one final operation for you to look over.” He passed a stack of papers to Commander Erwin Smith, who stood from his chair. He walked along the long table to your end and politely laid them before you.
“Your Majesty,” Erwin’s voice was low and mesmerizing. “It was brought to my attention during the debriefing session of the mission for your return that there was a ward in the Marleyan Cult’s temple—a women’s ward.” Erwin pushed the stack of papers closer to you. His writing was neat and his words were written in dark ink. “We have known the horrors of the Marleyan Cult and, for decades, not known where their headquarters were.
“Considering the information we gathered from the last mission, we know where the temple is and a considerable amount of the layout. With our resources and information, I propose to liberate the women in the breeding ward. With this plan, we will cut off their supply of followers, rescue the women, and expose the tragedies that the cult hides. With this operation, the size of the cult would die out and as time goes on, the Marleyan Cult will be finished.”
Your eyes trailed over the words and the echoes of the pleading women startled you like they were begging right in your ear. A flash of the scratches on the walls and the children sitting on beds polluted your thoughts. You shuddered at the reminder of the woman with her swollen stomach and the sound of the chains as the women fought against the restraints and reached out toward you.
“Y/N . . .” Prince Marco said soothingly and for once, you were grateful he spoke. “You are safe.”
You blinked your dry eyes, realizing you must have been staring at the paper. With a deep breath, you centered yourself and then Erwin Smith knelt to one knee.
“Forgive me for reminding you of the memories, your Majesty. But this is why those women need to be rescued from the temple. They deserve a better life and this plan will save them.” He had a glint in his blue eyes. Erwin was very persuasive, and you, of course, agreed with everything he told you. The women needing to be freed tugged on your heartstrings and there was a sort of pride in you being the one to sign off on the order.
“They do deserve better . . .” You nodded. You reached for the pen and with your other hand, you flipped to the last page. The candles on the table flickered and the faint light illuminated the line at the bottom that eagerly awaited for your name.
“We’ll have a few weeks to prepare, then the mission should take two weeks maximum. Overall, I plan for the troops to be back in time for the day of the solar eclipse . . .”
As you placed your pen against the front of the line, Annie came to mind. One memory in particular. The day you met her and she suggested wearing an emerald-colored dress because it was your mother’s favorite color. Then the memory of when she told you her father took her and escaped from the temple without her mother came to mind.
You glided the pen across the paper and the ink left the trace of your name. As it dried, you stared at your signature with the black ink seeping into the paper. It was the only proposal of the night that was actually making a difference. A plan to rescue others and provide the women with a better and safer life. However, this action will have consequences.
