Walking down the marketplace through one of Wall Rose's districts was a reprieve that the cadets get once a month. Shadis had told everyone of this tradition that Eren already knew, declaring their first district to explore was Karanes.
The day was often spent exploring and using the little allowance given to the cadets for small indulgences. Eren had a few coins in his pockets but he wasn't in a rush to spend it on anything. He quietly walked behind Armin and Mikasa, who were spending their first time in the market looking around in curiosity.
His gaze wandered to Jean, who was being pulled along by Connie and Sasha, swearing at them to let go, though his tone was more playful than his words. Eren's sight shifted to Reiner and Bertolt, who were looking around with narrowed eyes, their attention on the citizens, who glared back their disrespect. He found Annie walking behind her fellow Warriors in quiet apathy, hands tucked in her pockets. She looked straight ahead, eyes alert and glared at Eren when she caught him staring.
She held a large grudge against him since the first day. He also knew she held some respect for him after he tried to ask her for how she learned her technique, flattered by his praises, if her faint smile was anything to go by. He noted that her respect would be helpful some point into the future.
Ymir and Krista were at a stall with the former attempting to haggle the owner and the latter rolling her eyes fondly. Somehow Krista knew he was staring and met his gaze. He was met with a friendly wave and smile to which he returned and turned back to his two companions.
Armin was trying convince Mikasa to combine their allowance to buy a small cake for the three of them and when Mikasa asked Eren for his opinion, he said he really didn't care. She then refused Armin the allowance and wandered off to buy some sweets for herself.
His blonde friend rolled his eyes in amused exasperation. "Eren, I'm going buy some sweetbread. Do you want to come with me?"
"No, you go on ahead. I'll just keep exploring."
"Alright. I'll see you at our meet-up spot once I'm done. Mikasa will probably be there first. Don't make us wait too long." Armin waved as he walked ahead and out sight.
The center of the marketplace held a fountain which was to be the location of their later reunion.
Eren walked through the market with his hands tucked in his pocket. He used to have a slight hunch in his back when he was first a cadet, but through his time spent in the Survey Corps, as the Yeagerist leader and a King, he corrected it. He stood tall and firm, his face stoic and calm. His chest was puffed out naturally without trying. He commanded respect in the way he held himself, which was vital for gathering support and maintaining it.
He wore his regular green shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his black coat tied around his waist along with his black trousers. It was a new style he took after he was crowned when he enjoyed his few free days. It was a style he didn't plan on giving up.
Eren took a deep calming breath as he enjoyed the soft breeze of wind caressing his face and hair.
Time ruling and parenting had allowed him to truly enjoy the any bits of freedom he had for himself. It was spent in silence and contemplation. He rarely got any those moments and walking through the market alone was now a time he truly cherished.
He heard the sounds of giggling and saw a group of village girls waving at him to his right. They waved at him and gestured him to come over. He ignored them and set his sights ahead, continuing without stop.
"Awww... he didn't come over!"
"Too bad. He's a such cutie!"
"Did you see his abs? It's practically popping out his shirt!"
"Those green eyes are so beautiful too! What a hunk!"
"Holy fuck those biceps are hard! What I wouldn't give to have a feel!"
"Marienne! Language! But I agree."
"Look at the forearms. I wanna squeeze them badly!"
It was a strange benefit of coming back in time. His body held the same physique at his peak at age 19. He still had his 10 abdominals muscles visible at age 12 when at the time he should have only 4. He could breathe and run like he had been conditioned for years, the only difference now was his small height.
There was no explanation for it and he didn't seek to question it, just go with the flow. He could only control how he appeared in terms of fitness not appearances. Luckily, not too many in the Corps care for appearances.
The older citizens just stared at him in curiosity. Some whispered about how he didn't seem like a kid. Others wondered why he looked sad, even though he wasn't at the moment. Younger kids stared in curiosity and others shied away, seeking refuge behind their parents.
It was a vast change from what he was normally used to hearing near the end of his life.
"King Eren, welcome to our district!"
"Would you be interested in our cake?"
"I wanna be like Mista Yeaga when I grow up Mama!"
"He's so hot! Queen Historia is so lucky that hunk of man meat belongs to her!"
"He's so damn climbable ugh!"
"Breathe girl! He's almost twice your age!"
"Don't care! I know you itching to jump him, so you can't speak."
"We love you, our King!"
"Thank you for your protection!"
"Long live Eren Yeager!"
Even after a year of it, he would never be used to the praises he received. Most people would greet him respectfully without question on sight. Some took a knee while others stood straight and bowed. He was flanked by two guards any time he left the palace and it pissed him off, but he didn't want to disrespect them and make them lose their jobs.
He ended up in front of a doll market.
Eren was greeted by an elderly man.
"Hello sir. I'm here to buy a doll for my daughter."
The man smiled serenely with a bow. "Of course my king. I have a large collection for you to buy from for Princess Carla. They're all on discount for you only, savior special."
"Oh no, it's all right. I'll buy it at full price. No need."
"I insist my king. You saved us all, we all owe you our lives. Plus, your time here will increase my sales. So please, have a pick." The old man requested calmly.
Eren sighed softly, taking out his small bag of coins. "Alright. Can I get that one on the top right corner?"
"An excellent choice, my king. Here you go!"
Walking away with a new doll in his hand, Eren felt guilty.
It made him sick that people would praise him for saving them if it meant the slaughter of billions. The attention would follow him until the end of his days.
He was a monster, a devil, behind the mask of a hero, the angel of Paradis.
He found himself in front of the market.
The display of dolls hung, taunting him of a lost past, a lost daughter, a lost wife, a lost life.
"Are you lost young man?"
The same man who sold him that doll stood before him, looking 9 years youngers. The white of his hair that Eren was used to seeing was now a dark grey.
"No. I was just leaving." Eren turned to walk away.
"Daddy! I wanna buy this one!"
Eren turned to the source of the sound to see a middle age man with a young blonde toddler on his shoulders.
The father smiled softly, chuckling. "Ok sweetheart hold onto my hair while I get my bag."
The Yeager family wandered through Karanes District on their own.
Historia practically begged the guards to take the day off just like they are doing, much to their protection's reluctance. Apparently her daughter was more convincing than the queen herself when Carla told them to "Leave Mummy and Papa alone!".
The two guards supposed to escort them barely escaped with their lives.
"Papa, I wanna buy this one!"
Carla was on his head gripping his hair tightly. His hand was intertwined with Historia's as they approached a stall.
It held a variety of trinkets for little children. Carla had her sights locked onto a small miniature windmill fan if her pointing finger was any indication.
"Fine but this is your last toy of the day, your mother and I are on a budget." Eren said firmly, his bag in his left hand nearly full from shopping in other stalls.
"What's a bud-get?"
Historia looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Babe, she's not 12, let's spoil her a bit more. No harm."
"No wonder she loves you more than me." Eren scoffed, nudging her shoulder slightly with his. The motion wobbled Carla slightly, causing her to grip his hair tighter and laughing with glee.
"Oh don't be such a crybaby." His wife fake-pouted and stuck her tongue out at him. She let go of his hand to open her arms for Carla. "Come to mommy, love!"
"SWITCHIE!" His daughter practically leaped off his shoulders and onto Historia. She caught her and rubbed their heads together, nuzzling her daughter's nose affectionately. Both grinned with fervent delight.
The action always set his heart running faster than normal. He smiled softly at his two most precious people.
When they stopped at the stall, the owner greeted them with a formal bow. She was a young girl, her brown hair held together by a bun.
"My King. My Queen. Princess Carla. It's an honor to have you here! My name is Iza." Her voice was reverent, just like the rest that greeted them before they reached the stall.
"None of that, dear. Just call me Historia and the goofball next to me Eren. Do you run this place on your own?" Historia said softly, adjusting Carla in her arms. Of course her suggestions of ignoring formalities were ignored, they never worked no matter how much she asked anyone.
"No my Queen. I'm on shift for the day. My parents are taking the day off." Iza gestured to the shelf holding various assortment of small toys. "What would you like to buy?"
"Spin. Spin." Carla excitedly pointed to the fan.
Iza smiled and grabbed the small windmill, handing it to Carla. "Here you are. Anything else?"
"We would also like th-"
"No thank you. That would be all." Eren interrupted his wife, placing the correct amount of coins on the table before dragging his wife away by her free hand, her other arm holding a distracted Carla enraptured by her new toy.
"That was rude." Historia chided softly. "We didn't even say goodbye."
"I didn't want Carla getting any more ideas and if we stayed longer, and Iza would most likely offer discounts."
"Ok, good move. I still feel bad though." Historia sighed. Eren placed a kiss in her hair.
"Me too. The ends justify the means though. I rather she gets the correct amount than having her praise of us cloud her judgement. Even if we are rulers, I don't want special treatment." He whispered softly. "Just you and Carla."
Historia stood up on her toes, gifting him a soft kiss. "Same here. You two are my world. My devil and my angel." She whispered back against his lips.
"Mummy, mummy! I want kissies too!" Carla asked excitedly.
"Of course my love!" The worst girl in the world smothered her daughter in kisses and love.
Eren smiled and squeezed Historia's hand, which squeezed back in response.
"Young man. Young man!" The doll owner called.
Eren blinked twice.
"Sorry, what did you say?"
"You're crying young man. Are you ok?"
Eren placed two fingers on his cheeks, which was moist with tears and glistening in the sun.
"I'm ok."
"You looked at that father and his child and froze. You weren't responding. When they left, you were crying. Pardon my rudeness, but where are your parents?" The question wasn't malicious. The old man sounded concerned.
Eren wiped away his tears. "They're gone. Titans."
A minute of silence.
The man had left and came back, handing him a doll. "My condolences. On the house."
Eren stared at the figure in his hand.
The same one he bought for Carla.
"Eren, what did you buy?" Armin asked as they stood in front of the fountain, ready to leave for the barracks.
He was chewing on one his sweetbread from his bag while Mikasa sucked on her candy from hers.
"Nothing important really. Just some toys."
"Can we play with them?
"No, I think I'll hold onto them, store them in the box with my dad's key."
Eren walked alongside his two precious people, his bag holding a doll and small windmill.