My ears rang from the consistent shouting, my eyes threatening to loosen their waterworks in front of my honourable king, Sir Kirschtein the second. Again, he'd heard a rumour from the opposing kingdom Maria, and decided to blame me, his pitiful servant for it all.
"Bertholdt you imbecile! Here I sit, minding my nerves whilst you dare approach me without consent and tell me of this repulsive news?!"
The Lord shouts so hard and loud that a bead of sweat forms upon his brow, his veins pulsing from his temple as a minuscule crowd gathers around us. I swallow hard, knowing full well that I caused no such discontent towards the King. Nonetheless, my lips remained sealed, my eyes glued to the floor whilst I forced back my stressful tears.
"Look at me!"
He screams, grasping my neck with one hand, his teeth gritting. My deep brown eyes stare wide-eyed and pathetic up at his own, a piercing hazel.
"I-I apologise sincerely, sir,"
My voice cracks under the pressure, either way sounding small and weak.
Suddenly, I am hurled to the ground, landing forcefully on my right side, whimpering softly. His Highness strode up to me and placed his left foot on my torso, snarling down at me.
"Did I grant you permission to speak, filth?!"
I shook my head quickly, shutting my eyes tight yet not holding in my emotion as a few tears slip past my eyelids. Above me, I heard the familiar sound of the Majesty scoffing at my embarrassment. My eyes drift open as I feel his weight lifted off of me.
"Show him out, Captain Ackerman." He grumbles to a nearby short black-haired man.
I glance to the narrow-eyed man, my lip quivering as I was heaved to my feet by the Captain. Without a word, he dragged me from the foyer and out the wooden front double doors.
He tosses me to the dry soil, hesitating before turning back inside.
"Levi." I manage, staring up sadly at my childhood hero.
His jaw tenses, not breaking eye contact with me. No one, besides the front palace guards are around us, so he gets down on one knee; us now eye-level with each other.
"Get out." He grumbles, his eyes softening slightly as he speaks coarsely.
My eyes widen, "Wha-? I've nowhere to go."
Levi shakes his head ever so slightly, "Just for a day or too, Bertholdt. Give His Majesty time to settle down and think through the matter."
I glance down at the dirt, thinking myself no better than the roaches that tunnel through beneath us. Taking a moment, I nod, sensing him stand up and walk back inside.
Wasting only a second, I stand shakily, dusting off my beige garments. My clothing consisted of nothing more than a tunic and belt, certainly no shoes or pantaloons. I trudged from the castle, past the guards, a slight limp in my leg where I'd fallen earlier. Simply not knowing where I would be headed, I kept stalking along, past all the merchants, hopefully to find someone kind enough to help me.