Eren P.O.V
"Sir, we are here to dress you for the day." Two voices said simultaneously as I woke up.
I yelped and scrambled backwards, nearly falling off the bed."Uh... what?" I asked, still breathing heavily from the scare. "We have come to help you get dressed." They repeated, and I smiled sheepishly.
"No, it's fine. I think I'll manage-" They suddenly appeared behind me. "Nonsense." They replied as I was dragged to the closet. I yelped as they took off my nightwear and started to ask me to step into dress pants, as they pulled on a shirt. I sweat dropped but did as I was told to get this over with.
It was a white dress pants that went to my feet(of course), and the white was light blue that had long sleeves and they wrapped a white cape around my shoulders.
I sighed as I was being drowned in the overly big cape and slipped on a pair of black shoes.
"Done." They said after they managed my hair, and I grimaced at how hard it was to walk without tripping on the cape, or getting it muddy. Then, before I could even get another word out, I was shoved out of my room and given a slip of paper.
I growled at the shut door before sighing in exasperation and looking down.
Sunrise - Eat breakfast with royal family
After - Etiquette lessons
Lunch - with royal family
After - Meet at Prince's study
Dinner - eat with royal family
Sunset - Come back to room
I sweatdropped at just how tiring all of this sounded, but I dreaded eating with the royal family the most. I barely had any etiquette, to begin with, so how was I supposed to make a good impression on them when I'm not even sure I can hold a fork right?
I grimaced before two guards were suddenly beside, making me yelp in surprise. "Your highness, we were assigned to assist you throughout your day." The one on the left said. I smiled and shook my hands in the air."No need for such formalities! Just call me Eren!" I exclaimed, and he nodded. "Of course your highness." He said, just as stern as before.
I frowned and sighed before standing up straight and popping my back. "Let's just get this over with."
-+~•~+-
I awkwardly stayed silent as the royal family conversed, and I watched the princess.
She seems so... empty... I wonder what's wrong with her...I couldn't help but see the gloom in her eyes as if she knew her future but hated every part of it.
I sighed as I stared at the food in front of me, my appetite suddenly reduced to nothing."Will you not eat?"I shot my head up and met the gaze of the king himself, and I got really shy real fast."I-I um... I'm not very hungry. Forgive me..." I spat out in a timid voice, my face aflame as the entire table's focus was now on me.
"No, that's quite alright." He said with a welcoming smile, and it made me wonder how such a horrible man can disguise himself so well.
Then I looked beside me, to see Levi just staring resolutely at his food, his gaze not even wavering. I bit my lip and sighed before staring at my food once more, wanting this to be over and done with.
I've been saying that a lot lately...
-+~•~+-
"No! No! No! You put your pinky under the cup so that you can avoid a harsh 'clink' sound!" Mr Molbit exclaimed as I set my cup down on the table for the fifth time.
I sighed before trying to do as he said, but it hurt my pinky and felt uncomfortable, so I moved it away at the last moment involuntarily and sure enough, a clink echoed through the room."No!" Then he whacked me on the head with a rolled-up stack of papers. I yelped and he sighed.
"Petra was far more sophisticated than this." He murmured, but I still heard. I sighed and tried again, this time fighting the uncomfortable feeling in my hand, and I did it right.
He raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Good. Now let's learn what the different pieces of silverware mean." I grumbled in annoyance but nonetheless followed him to a table as he pointed out the different silverware."Alright, so we have three different types of forks, three types of spoons, and two types of knives as well as two plates. Do you have any idea what they mean?" I shook my head.
"Alright, so the silverware at the top of the plate is for dessert. That's the dessert fork and dessert spoon. Then on the left of the plate, we have the other two forks. The smaller one is the salad fork, which is only to be used for salads. Then there's the dinner fork, which is for your entree. Then we have the right side, which is for..." ( I tuned him out in boredom before thinking about how it's gonna be like when I meet with Levi after lunch.
I'm still furious with him. After all, it only took him a day to completely forget about me and move on to Petra, so why should I care?
I sighed knowing that I do, all too much."Are you even listening?" He asked, and I yelped. "Of course!" I exclaimed in surprise, and he gave me a 'seriously?' face before I flushed and looked down."Sorry..." I muttered, and he sighed. "Look. It's not that hard to act poised. That's exactly all you have to do. Act." I looked up in confusion."Listen. Pretend that you've been a prince all your life. You've had everything handed to you on a silver platter and nothing has ever gone the wrong way. Do you see what I'm getting at?" I shrugged.
"I guess." I replied, and he sighed."Just pretend to know what you're doing. They won't know you're faking if you do it well enough." He said kindly, and I nodded with a smile. "Yes, sir."
-+~•~+-
I awkwardly shuffled out of the dining hall after lunch.
It was awkwardly silent the whole time until Princess Mikasa slammed her spoon on the table in frustration about something unknown to me before announcing her leave.
I sighed as I neared the corner to Levi's study, suddenly hating myself more than a person should.
After all, I had the power to reject this visit if I wanted, but my mouth stayed shut for some reason that I couldn't understand.
Thank Freckled Jesus the guards will be with us the whole time. That fact gave me a little reassurance, and I took a deep breath as I approached the large oak doors.
I smiled at Isabelle and Furlan, who winked in return and opened the door, and next thing I knew, I was inside his study.
He looked up in disinterest before realizing it was me and shooting up."I-... I- um..." I grit my teeth and glared daggers at him before sitting in the chair next to his coffee table. Then I watched as the guards started leaving.
HUH?!
I shot up and ran to them. "Um... are you not staying?!" I asked, trying to act cool but utterly failing."Of course not. His Majesty wants you both to spend quality one on one time with each other as if to get to know one another before the wedding." And with that, they left.
I sweatdropped and 'hmph'ed before crossing my arms and sitting back down on the chair."I'm not talking to you." I muttered, and he sighed. "Well, why not?" He asked, and I scoffed. "Why do you think?!" Then he smirked, his stupid, stupid, smirk that made me flush red, and he chuckled. "For someone refusing to talk to me, you seem to talk a lot, "I growled and sighed.
"Just shut up and leave me alone." Then I grabbed a book and pretended to be invested in Utopia's economic system.
Too many numbers, too many decimals, too many everything
I growled, knowing that being in Levi's presence was making me flustered beyond comprehension. I eventually sighed and set it down before staring out the window, hating everything at the moment.
My head rested in my palm as I puffed my cheeks, and stared at the plain blue sky and blinding sun. "It's a nice view, huh?" I heard a voice say from behind me.
I yelped and whipped around, seeing Levi right beside me. I growled and continued to stare outside, not responding to him.
I heard him sigh before he spoke."Look Eren, I didn't mean it. I know it looked like I did but I just-" I slammed my fist into the armrest. "I'm done with your bull crap! I'm leaving!" I shot up out of my chair and rushed to the door, trying to hide my blush that appeared because of his close proximity.
I grabbed the doorknob before I felt myself being pulled away by my hips. I growled and whipped around to punch him when he softly cupped my cheek with one hand and kept the other firmly on my waist.
I froze, realizing just how hard I had initially fallen for him, and utterly hating myself for it. I settled for growling and trying to pull away.
I faltered when I barely moved an inch. I tried to pull away but was met with the same result."Please let me explain-" I cut him off again. "I don't want to hear any more lies! Was that story about Zane a lie too?! Did you just say it so you could play with my emotions?! After all, how am I supposed to know everything we did together wasn't a lie too?! You didn't seem to mind dropping me for Petra in two seconds flat, now did you!" He growled as I said this, and I couldn't help but feel utterly scared in his gaze. "I didn't. Lie."
Next thing I knew, I was spun around like a ballerina and I fell on the couch with an 'oof'. Then I felt a weight on top of me and opened my eyes to gasp as Levi set himself on top of my body.
His hands firmly held my wrists onto the couch cushions, and I growled."Let go of me, you idiot!" I cried out, but he growled right back. "No, you're the idiot!" I froze as he spat that out, and I grit my teeth. "You're an idiot for thinking that I lied to you about anything! I love you Eren!" He yelled, and I froze.
He...
"You're lying!" I replied and showed him my tear-filled eyes. "She's so much better! She's prettier, smarter, thin, funnier, and she's just better! She's a she, I'm surprised no one has said anything about that yet! How am I supposed to think that I'm enough when you had her by your side for weeks! I'm just a useless piece of trash that anyone can throw away and forget about in two seconds-"
"Shut up!" He screamed right back, and I grit my teeth as a tear rolled down my face. "Stop saying dumb crap like that! You're a total idiot for thinking that!" He paused and stared into my eyes, his grip slightly loosening."When I met you, I thought you were a nobody and I'd never see you again..." he paused and dipped his head downwards. "But then you..." I felt something drip onto my chest, meaning he was crying. "You and I kept meeting, and the more we did, the more I fell in love with you. You smiled brighter than the sun itself, your jokes made me all fluttery inside, and you were just... perfect. You're beautiful inside and out, which is something Petra couldn't ever be, and you're even smarter than that dumb blonde. All she ever did was hug onto my arm like a ditzy teenager. I don't care what people think about us be two male, honestly who gives a shit about that. Petra had nothing on you, and it makes me mad when you think of yourself that way... so don't, because it isn't true..." he finished, and I bit my lip, wanting to believe him so, so, bad.
"Then why was it so easy to forget I existed and act like the love of her life. I hoped for even the slightest bit of resentment, but you seemed to love her wholeheartedly..." I muttered, and he looked up, meeting my gaze and making me blush as I noticed that his hair had fallen slightly in front of his face.
"When I told my father that I didn't want to go through with the wedding, he threatened to send me away to live in Trost after we married and take my personal maids as prisoners until I cooperated, and he'd... hurt them until I complied..."I was crying heavily at this point, my mind processing everything.
There's no way someone can come up with all of this right on the spot...
I sniffled and looked up at him before smiling. "I'm sorry... I was scared that you didn't..." I whispered, and he looked down at me, his hands still wrapped around my wrists and my body still firmly held under his. Then he softly let go of my right wrist and placed his free hand on my cheek. His fingers were cold, and I shivered as they made contact with my skin, but then warmth erupted down my body as he placed his soft lips on my own.
I kissed back as he let go of my other hand, and I strung my arms around his neck instinctively. He placed a hand on my hip as we pressed against each other, and I savoured every moment of this as long as I had it.
Eventually, the kiss got hungrier and more intense as I ran my fingers through his midnight black hair. Then I tried to flip us over, but I forgot we were on a couch. We fell into a jumbled heap on the floor, and I fell on my side with a yelp, hearing him grunt as he made contact.
We were both on our sides facing each other, and I couldn't help but giggle.
Then he looked down at me as I laughed, and he eventually did the same. Our chuckles turned into side hurting laughs, and my eyes brimmed with tears as he held onto me. I calmed down eventually and snuggled into his chest, making him set his chin on top of my head and wrapping his arms around my waist.
"I'm sorry..." I whispered, and I felt his chin shift, hoping that he was smiling. "Forget about it. You had a right to assume things..." he replied, and I smiled."I love you..." "I love you too."
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