Eren P.O.V
I gulped as I was led to the dressing room where I would get my wedding dress on a dress my make up applied.
Because yes, today is the wedding.
I was shoved inside the room before two maids gave me a smile and rushed me to a seat that was placed in front of a massive vanity. I warily sat down before I felt them abruptly turn me around in the chair.
I yelped and grabbed the sides to steady myself before they examined my face. Then, I was rushed to a closet with one of them and she quickly took my suit off of me before managing to shove me into my wedding dress and heels before practically shoving me back out.
I dizzily spun around like a drunk old man before plopping back down on the chair I originally sat on. After shaking my head to prevent the dizziness, I looked back up at them. They were looking at every aspect of my face and seemingly taking every feature into consideration.
"Hm... what do you think we should do?" One asked the other. She replied with, "Leave the makeup to me. You handle the wardrobe." And with that, the other rushed to the closet while the woman in front of me popped her knuckles."Don't be scared." She said with a chuckle.
That's making me more scared!
I gulped and nodded before she grabbed a brush. "Now hold still..." I tried my hardest and waited patiently until she was done with my hair.
-+~•~+-
"And... done!" She exclaimed as she finally pulled away from my hair. Then she spun me around and allowed me to look in the mirror. She had woven my hair with pieces of glitter and made my messy hair look a little more organised. I gulped as I saw how she had managed to braid the side of my hair and tie it around the back. I smiled, feeling rather cute, to be honest. "Lovely." The woman whispered behind me before nodding in satisfaction."It's time for your make up!" She announced before I was spun right back around.
Again, I yelped in surprise before she cupped the sides of my face."Hm... you won't need too much makeup, you're already beautiful... maybe... I got it!" She exclaimed before gently releasing my face and rushing to the drawers of the vanity. She pulled out a massive array of makeup supplies, and I mentally braced myself as she grabbed a makeup brush."Don't. Move."
So, I didn't.
-+~•~+-
After about an hour and a half of plucked eyebrows, lip gloss, and face powder, the maid finally took a step back."What do you think?" She asked the other maid, who had just dashed into the room with high heels in hand. "Beautiful as always!" She replied before gently grabbing my foot and sliding the heel on it.
It was as white as the dress, and luckily, the heel was only about an inch and a half tall. They wouldn't let me wear flats, so I asked for the smallest heel height they had.
At least it wasn't four inches tall.
I grumbled words of annoyance as they continued to pamper me, and I watched as one grabbed a small tiara from out of a glass box on the vanity."Now you have to be really careful about this! It's an heirloom of sorts. Every time someone is married into the Ackerman family, they wear a trinket. For the...queen? it's this little thing!" She explained a little confused as she motioned for the tiara.
I nodded, slightly flustered from how fast she had explained this, and she took it out of its container. Just as she was about to set it on my head, the door opened behind us."Can I have a moment with his highness?" I'd recognize that voice anywhere.
I froze in fear as she became visible in the background of my reflection in the mirror."I'm sorry but we are running a tight schedule-"
Petra cut her off.
"Please! It'll only take a minute." She pushed, and the woman bit her lip. I secretly grabbed a sharp pair of scissors for protection and nodded to the woman.
If she tries anything, these scissors or going in her eyes.
The maid sighed and looked at Petra. "Just a minute." Then, after both maids left, me and Petra awkwardly stared at each other in silence as the door shut.
Then she approached me. I tensed up and turned to look at the mirror as she got closer. She stopped right behind me and locked eyes with my reflection."So... you're getting married." She started awkwardly. I slowly nodded before admiring the tiara in its glass case."I was nervous when they thought I was the heir. Are you?" She asked, and again, I nodded.
Then she growled under her breath and took in a gulp of air before exhaling. "Can I just cut to the chase?" I nodded. "When I was a little girl, my mom was a maid of the royal family, and she took pride in her job and people said she was the sweetest person they'd ever met. But when she came home..." she trailed off as I heard her sniffle the slightest bit, and I turned my body around to face her, confusion in my face."To put it simply, she was abusive. Really, really, abusive. I wasn't planned, and I just happened. She hated me for it because her life was put on hold just to take care of a baby she didn't want. I was a mistake, apparently. My father was a drunkard, so he could never step in for me, but thank Maria he didn't join her. She would hit me, scratch me, yank my hair, force me to clean and whip me if I didn't do as she ordered. I remember on my thirteenth birthday she forced me to stick my hand in the fireplace while a fire was going. She was horrible." I felt my eyes start to water at her words, but she pretended not to notice.
"But Mr Smith... he was so kind to me. He stood up for me and looked after me. He was the closest thing to a parent I ever had. He played with me, cooked for me, and treated the wounds my mom gave me. He may not seem like it to you, but he is actually one of the sweetest people I've ever met. I'm guessing he was cruel to you because he was forced to take care of you, and kids on the streets are seen as embarrassing to us maids and servants." I bit my lip, and she kept going. "And then... you were there. You took up all his time, and he couldn't do anything but take care of you, and in the process... he seemed to forget about me." She softly smiled at the floor, looking undeniably hurt by the fact.
I wanted to reach out for her and hug her, but I held myself back."Anyways, my mom never stopped hurting me, and eventually, dad left. He didn't even leave a note or anything, just one day we woke up and he wasn't in the house, or in Shiganshina for that matter. Mom's beatings got worse. She blamed me for it. All of it." Her bottom lip quivered and she took a deep breath to compose herself. "Then, one day, in the middle of winter, I ran out of the house after she had beaten me senseless, and curled up into a ball at the edge of the castle gates. And then someone saw me and helped me. It was Levi." She paused and sat down on the floor. "He clothed me, got an enchantress to treat my wounds, and all he asked in return was for me to play with him for a day. We had so much fun, but then I left. I know it seems childish, but back then, I quickly started to fall in love with him." I gulped as she continued. "So when I started to notice how you made him flustered, and how he warmed up to you so fast, I was so unbearably furious that I took all my anger out on you. Not only that, but I only started bullying you because of how you took Mr Smith away from me without even meaning to. I felt like I was completely left behind and that no one would even care if I left. It was so hard, and I was just a kid... I was so mad that I just would hurt you in any way I felt necessary to cope with my pain... you just finally got everything you wanted... but then I got what I wanted. Even though it was only for a week, I've never been happier. I finally got to marry the only man I loved, and when I saw you watching us from the ballroom doors, I couldn't help but want to rub it in your face." She paused and then she looked up at me, tears streaming from her glistening eyes.
I set the scissors down as she sniffled."I'm so sorry... I just never knew how to cope with the grief and taking it out on you wasn't right. I knew that, but it was all I had to make myself feel better... I shouldn't have and I'm sorry. No amount of excuses can make up for all I've put you through, and I just... Oh, Maria... I'm such a horrible person, aren't I?" She asked, and I didn't want to respond.
She gave me a soft, show-stopping smile as tears continued to stream down her face. "It's fine. I already know the answer." Then, she slowly stood up and walked towards the door. "I don't expect your forgiveness, but if you can find it in your heart to understand what I went through and maybe realize why I did what I did, that would be enough. I truly am happy for you your highness." And with that, she left me alone, a tear streaming down my left cheek as I reached out for her. "Petra!" I called, and she turned around briefly. "I-I can't imagine what you went through, but in a way I understand. I'm not sure I can forgive you just yet, but at least I know that this wasn't entirely your doing." I replied before standing up and bowing to her.
She froze, her fingertips turning white from clutching the door so hard before she started to cry even more. "Even as you look me in the eyes you still manage to understand me..." she trailed off before she composed herself rather quickly and gave me a bright smile. "Thank you. You truly are the kindest person I've ever met."
Then, she shut the door, leaving me flustered and shocked. Then, the two maids from before entered the room, and the one who had done my make up saw my face. "Crap! Why'd you cry?! You're ruining the powder!" She exclaimed as she hurriedly wiped the tear and grabbed the makeup brush before redoing my face.
I didn't know if I could forgive her, but I knew one thing for sure. At least she apologized. It lets me know that she isn't the completely cold-hearted person I had learned to fear.
-+~•~+-
I gulped as the piano played, and the two little girls ran down the aisle once more, throwing petals in every direction. Then there was Sam, whose eyes were gleaming with pride as he walked around with ease and stood beside his father at the other end of the room, the rings on the pillow he held with outstretched arms.
Everyone was so well dressed and glamorous. Even though as the bride, I was supposed to look the most amazing, yet I still felt incredibly insecure. Even as I stood in the room, wearing the biggest, whitest, most elegant dress I had ever seen, and the most incredible dress there, I still felt as if I wasn't good enough.
I took in a deep breath as the music suddenly stopped, and the two doors in front of me opened as the song changed. I felt my face flush red as everyone stood up and watched me. I froze the slightest bit before raising my foot and taking a step forward.
And then another, and another, and another, and another, and...
-+~•~+-
Third Person P.O.V
As everyone in the crowd gawked at the person walking down the aisle, the man whom he was betrothed to couldn't help but feel both flustered and prideful that this was the man he would be marrying.
He must be so excited! A woman in the front row thought to herself.
I bet he's dreaming of their bright future as we speak! A man exclaimed in his mind in the fifth row.
He must be so happy! Another man thought from the end of the room.
He must be deep in thought about their love! A girl spoke in her mind as she stood in the seventh row.
Don't trip don't trip don't trip don't trip..! The grooms-bride(?)shouted in his mind as he walked down the aisle, bouquet in hand.
Much to his relief, he finally reached the steps, and gracefully walked up to them, his small heels clicking with every step she took.
Then, he was at the top of the platform. With a flustered face, he slowly turned to look at his soon-to-be-husband, and nearly swooned at how handsome he appeared to him.
He had been forced by his mother to smile, not that that was going to difficult, seeing as how she had actually managed to discover their relationship.
And yes, there was squealing.
So. Much. Squealing.
He flushed an even brighter red that he feared it would be visible through his thick veil. Even though he couldn't see his face, he thought the boy looked absolutely stunning.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..." the two couldn't help but tune out what the man was saying as they tried to process what was happening. The bright-eyed boy looked past his betrothed, and locked eyes with his three best friends.
Isabelle had tears streaming down her face in an inhuman way, but it was kind of sweet in a sense. Armin watched with satisfaction on his face as his friend married the man they loved, and he couldn't be happier for him. Furlan stared at the two with a soft smile, knowing that Eren would be happy from now on, and that's all he'd ever wanted for the poor boy.
Then the couple turned to look at each other. By some crazy twist of fate, they managed to find each other, and now, they both stood in front of the other. On a platform, in front of a huge crowd.
And they were getting married.
Married.
The thought seemed so impractical for the man. He couldn't believe he was getting married. He'd thought about it before, but marrying someone never appealed to him. He had always believed that he was all he needed and that he would be enough.
But as he stared the boy straight in the face, he could happily disagree with that statement. Then, the boy snapped out of his daze as the priest spoke to him. "Do you, Eren, take Levi Ackerman to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold until death do you part, in sickness and in health, as long as the two of you shall live?" He stared at the man across from her. He admired his midnight black hair, eyes made of multiple blues and greys, and pale skin.
But all he saw was perfection. Then, without a hint of doubt, he spoke. "I do." The priest gave him a smile before looking at Levi. "Do you, Levi Ackerman, take Eren to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold until death do you part, in sickness and in health, as long as the two of you shall live?" He stared at his lover across from him.
He looked at his beautiful messy brown hair that was done differently, yet still perfect and stared at his almost glowing green and blue Caribbean eyes and soft tanned sun-kissed skin. But all he saw was perfection.
Then, with complete and utter confidence, he spoke. "I do." The priest gave them a toothy smile before continuing.
-+~•~+-
Eren P.O.V
"Go now in peace and live in love, sharing the most precious gifts you have - the gifts of your lives united. And may your days together belong on this earth. I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may now kiss."
I felt my heart lurch into my throat in nervousness before Levi's hands made their way to the bottom of my veil. He pulled it up and over my head, revealing my face.
The maids had convinced me to pull my bangs out my face, I could easily see the blush that spread across his face.
Then he slowly leaned in, and I did as well. Then, as our lips were almost a centimetre apart, I felt my stomach fill with warmth of happiness.
So this is what it's like to be in love?
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