Decided to go ahead and post the second chapter so we have more than that boring introductory chapter. This will give you a better feel for the mood and such of this story.
WARNINGS : FEM!Eren x Prince!Levi for starters, there will be some violence, some language, other possible genderbends (still debating), maybe some lime in later chapters?, some characters will be [possibly very] OOC (Carla and Grisha are prime examples) - that's all I have for now, may add to later.
Attack on Titan / Shingeki no Kyojin belongs to Hajime Isayama, not me :)
The brunette grew annoyed as her mother kept fidgeting with the collar of her dress. "Mom, stop it's fine," she eventually said.
Carla halted in her movements and glanced nervously out of the carriage window. "I just want to make sure you look your best," she murmured.
Eren gave her a small smile as she leaned forward to place a hand over her mother's, "And I appreciate it, really, but I honestly don't think the collar will be like you remember considering how long it has sat in your closet."
The other woman huffed, "It's not like I asked it to get worn down by time.."
She laughed a bit at the response.
"This is why we need a driver," Grisha called from out front, "so I can hear all the conversations that leave my two favorite ladies a giggling mess."
"Some talks are not for a man's ears, darling," Carla said, offering her daughter a sly grin.
Eren merely smiled innocently. "Whatever are you talking about mother?"
They shared a short laugh.
"In any case, we are nearly there, there sure are a lot of carriages there already."
Secretly, such knowledge made Eren optimistic. If there were a lot of choices, then surely she wouldn't be picked. She wasn't unattractive by any means but she had a rebellious and unladylike side that turned many suitors away. It irritated her that many of the men that came to the Ceremony had it in their heads that women were property, not partners.
Her thoughts were broken by the carriage lurching to a halt.
Carla reached over to cup her cheek tenderly with a gentle look, "This will be the year, Eren. I can feel it."
Not knowing what to say, she merely offered a weak smile in return.
The complex that the Betrothal Ceremony took place in wasn't grand by any means, at least not in comparison to the country homes that some Lords owned in the area. It was, simply put, a huge barn that didn't look like a barn. Rather than hay and animals, chairs and tables were found. Rather than a loft, a stage. Rather than finding the colors red and brown, there was an overwhelming amount of white. It was a boring yet oddly elegant structure.
Per the usual routine, Eren was escorted behind the stage area, which was closed off by large curtains, and lined up in preparation for the presentation of the brides. Why they couldn't just refer to it as, 'Here are unmarried women, pick who you like as they stand in a line', she'd never know.
Peering around at some of the other women and girls that had gathered, she only found a few repeats. Some got betrothed to men in everyday life and wouldn't show, others have up if they became too old, while many were chosen as brides by men who hardly knew them. The whole thing was idiotic and reeked of objectification.
She dutifully straightened her dress, knowing her mother would hang her should she come out looking less than perfect. Her hair had been pressed after her bath that morning and hung relatively straight, her bangs framing her face and bringing out what some said was her finest attribute: her ocean colored eyes. The dress she wore was one of her mother's finest ones, and while it was simple, it was elegant. The blue green of the dress helped bring out her eyes and contrasted nicely with her long brown hair - as her mother would've claimed.
"Here again, Jaeger?"
She gave a sigh as she turned with distaste, "I could ask you the same, Ymir. What, did that Lord figure out what a handful you are?"
Ymir smirked, "Some men can't handle exotic creatures like myself."
The brunette let out a fake gag at her words.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Lord and Ladies," someone cried into the room, "welcome to this year's Betrothal Ceremony!"
There were polite claps from the audience, who sounded much larger than Eren had anticipated. It would seem there were many bachelors seeking housewives.
"Before we begin with the presentation of this year's ladies, we wish to welcome not only Lord Dok from Trost, but also our esteemed guests: the King, Queen and their son, Prince Levi!"
Eren rolled her eyes as many of the girls straightened and began whispering to one another. Mentally she tipped a hat to her father for having called the Prince's appearance.
"Without further ado, your choices for this year! Ladies, if you please.."
The first girl, who couldn't have been over 16, walked out with her head held high. The line began slowly but surely moving their way into the stage. When it came her turn, Eren pasted a fake smile on her face and made herself relax. The other girls all bowed when facing in Levi's direction, but she didn't. Instead Eren did a small twirl and winked at him, looking directly into his steel colored eyes. She didn't miss the mild surprise that reflected in his gaze for just a moment.
That's right palace brat, she thought, I won't be bowing to you today. Nor any day soon.
The Ceremony continued on as it usually did, some girls were laid claims to already, the actual matter of betrothing them to the respective men came after the ceremony. When they weren't claimed immediately, the announcer would go down the line and introduce each of them, telling of their backgrounds and any hobbies they may have submitted.
Eren took note of several sets of interested eyes trained on her. But she waited patiently. She was rather sure when they read off her paper, it would turn away many if not all of them. Her father might be a rather prestigious blacksmith, but there was usually rumor about that any children of blacksmiths were untidy and uncleanly. Both of which she thought absurd.
Sure enough, as soon as they read the short snippet her mother had submitted about her, half of the eyes began searching elsewhere at the other girls, no longer interested. She did however fail to notice the rising interest that laid in the Prince's eyes.
At one point she glanced up at him, feeling a shiver when she noted he was blatantly staring at her. Her gaze shifted but she could still feel his eyes looking at her. It was a bit unsettling.
Eren kept stealing glances at man for the rest of the ceremony. His eyes had not traveled to any other woman, but surely he wasn't actually thinking of asking for her hand. She scowled a bit, more like demand for her hand. He was a Prince and probably believed that anything he even remotely wanted should be his. The thought left a bad taste in her mouth.
Her scowling earned her a disapproving glare from her mother so she took in a sigh and made herself relax once more.
The butler she had seen when the Prince had come for his sword appeared once more at the shorter man's side. He bowed a bit as Levi murmured something to him, gray eyes still looking her way.
An odd sense of nervousness hit her. Surely the Prince couldn't actually be considering her a possibility. That would be her luck.
The Ceremony closed, all but three girls had been claimed. Eren was one of the three.
Carla and Grisha came up to her afterwards with sad yet sympathetic expressions.
"There's always next year," her mother said weakly, "I was just so sure this would be the year."
She nodded mutely; not being able to help her feeling of having failed them.
Grisha patted her shoulder, "Well, let us get home. It's been a long day."
Just as they were about to exit the complex, the butler from before - Eld was it? - stopped them. "Pardon the intrusion, but my masters request your presence," he said cordially. He paused for but a moment before leading the three to a private, closed off room. He opened the door and ushered them in quickly, shutting the door immediately after.
The three Jaegers stood in stunned silence as they realized they were in the presence of the King and Queen.
"Ah, I'm glad Eld was able find you before you could leave, do pardon our lateness," the King addressed them, almost as friends.
It was Grisha who finally found his voice, "It's no trouble at all sire, what is it that you require of us?"
The Queen then spoke, "Not us, but our son. You see, Levi has taken a particular interest in the young Miss Jaeger - Eren I believe your name was?"
She nodded, "Yes, my lady Queen."
Carla silently thanked her lucky stars that her daughter's manners were still intact. Then she realized exactly what the Queen had said, "Wait.. Prince Levi has his eyes set on my Eren?"
"Indeed so, I find it remarkable myself," the King replied kindly, "she is the last of twelve that have been selected as possible brides for my son. But Eren is also the first that Levi has ever hand chosen; the others were selections made by my wife and I."
Queen Kuchel gave Eren a motherly smile, "So what say you, my dear? Will you come with us to the palace and have a chance at becoming Levi's bride? You're allowed to refuse."
Suddenly the decision was hers and she didn't know what to say. Personally she wanted to refuse, she hardly knew the Prince; he was a stranger to her, a cold one at that. A glance at her parents made her reconsider, they looked so hopeful that it hurt her to even think about refusing. Ultimately, it wasn't like she was agreeing to marry the man, she was just in the running to possibly be his bride. Eren straightened a bit as she addressed the Queen, "If Prince Levi would have me present, then I will come."
Immediately she wondered what she had just signed up for.
Both the King and Queen offered her smiles. "Splendid, we shall have a carriage come for you and your items in a day's time," the King spoke warmly.
It hit her how sudden that was. She'd have a one more day with her parents. Eren felt her breath leave her as she watched her parents shake hands with the King and Queen, thus sealing her fate.
"I'm surprised you accepted," came a smooth voice right behind her.
Though internally she shrieked, she kept her dignity and turned expectantly. Prince Levi stood there with crossed arms, leaning against the wall. His steely eyes were on her like he was trying to figure out a problem. Eren puffed her cheeks a bit and mocked him, crossing her arms. "Guess that's more we don't know about each other," she bit out softly, "let's just add that to the pile, shall we?"
He gave a smirk then.
Somehow she felt as though she had played right into his hands… again.
Prince Levi pushed off of the wall and grabbed one of her hands, much to her surprise. "I have a feeling our time together shall be well worth the trouble, Miss Jaeger."
She shuddered at the way he had said her name, it evoked a very unfamiliar feeling within her.
With that he planted a solid kiss on the top of her hand, smirking as he did.
Her heart pounded in her ears. What on earth was wrong with her? The feeling of his lips pressed onto her hand reverberated in her mind, even once he had removed them and dropped her hand. Eren's eyes were wide as he merely smirked once more before disappearing.
Just what had she gotten herself into?
Yay chapter two. Again, I felt you guys needed something to get into the story. The next chapter won't be up for awhile because writing problems. Ehehe - R&R to tell me your thoughts.
~Ghosties