Levi stood behind Hange's chair, watching Willy closely as he leafed through the papers. The king's face slackened with every new revelation on the pages. Finally, he pushed a button on his desk. The door opened, and his aide came through.

"Contact the joint chiefs of staff and Dr. Carr. Have them come see me at once."

"Even the ones in Liberio, Majesty?"

"Tell them it's a Rose Falcon," Willy said. The aide lifted one brow.

"Yes, sir." She left. Levi frowned.

"A what now?"

"There are certain code words I've developed with top Marleyan brass over the years," Willy said, shuffling the papers. "Rose Falcon is a scenario in which we can topple Erwin Smith."

"And. Er. What about Paradis?" Hange sounded jumpy. Even after having bathed (thank god) she still looked scroungy from the weight loss and the months of stress.

"The island won't fall." Willy looked secure. Levi itched to ask how the king could guarantee that, but he kept silent. He wasn't much of an intuitive guy, but he had gut feelings about people. Over time, Willy had proven himself the type to keep his word, even if he was a little slick while he went about it. "There may be a way to beat Erwin without killing him."

Levi's heart thudded hard. He couldn't understand his own feelings. Was he furious, afraid his chance to end the king would vanish? Or was he glad, because he always would want to keep Erwin alive? Erwin Smith could fuck his wife, kidnap his kids, and even then a part of Levi would always want to go to him.

So fucked up.

"Dr. Zoe?" Willy smiled, stood, and extended his hand. "Welcome to Marley. I can't tell you the great service you've done humanity."

"Er. Thanks." She shook nervously. "It's not really doctor. I don't have a degree or anything. But if you're looking to prove your gratitude—"

"Fast tracked citizenship to avoid extradition? Of course. In fact, I want you on Carr's team as they develop the hyperfusion bomb. It would be good to have the weapon's inventor on board."

"Yes." Hange sounded uneasy. "I'm starting to wish I hadn't invented it, though. No; I really wish I hadn't."

"I have no intention of ever using them," Willy said.

"He told me that once," she grumbled. Erwin.

"If all three members of the Alliance have hyperfusion power, and if Erwin Smith lacks the Founding Titan, then our powers are equal and can do equal damage. Erwin will have to fall in line with Kiyomi and me. We can get him under control."

"You'd be the first," Levi muttered.

"I intend to be."

"But what if Erwin does nab the Founder? What then?" Hange looked concerned.

Levi shrugged at Willy. Up to you, he basically said.

"You've more than earned our trust, Ms. Zoe." Willy sat back down. "As a result, I'm going to give you top secret information of the most critical kind."

"I don't know why you have to follow me everywhere," Giulia grumbled. They sat on a park bench while Kuchel played on the swings. Petra rolled Oruo's carriage back and forth while the baby fussed.

"This is hardly everywhere," Petra said.

"You keep showing up to dinners Willy doesn't even know about." Giulia glowered.

"Willy does know about them. Whoever your latest fling is, he doesn't care. Just so long as there isn't anything more going on."

"It's easy for you to judge me, isn't it?" Giulia slid her sunglasses back on. Her gardenia perfume was eye-wateringly strong today. "You don't have a damn clue what it's like."

"I guess not." Petra smiled in at Oruo. The baby blew a spit bubble at her. Petra laughed, charmed as ever by any little thing the child did.

"I was supposed to marry someone else," Giulia blurted out.

Petra stopped rolling the carriage and looked at the other woman.

"What? Who?"

"Michel. Just a boy. Only a simple boy." For the first time ever, Petra saw Giulia give a warm, real smile that wasn't directed at her children. "My family was Marleyan high society. We all despise Eldians, of course, but it's the dream to marry into the Tybur family. Wealth and power beyond measure. Meanwhile, the Tyburs were always looking to expand into new, lucrative businesses to grow the base of their wealth, and it just so happened my father owned oil wells out in the midlands. Willy's father wanted to corner that particular market, and so they agreed that his son and heir would marry my father's eldest daughter. Well." She shrugged. "It made sense at the time."

Petra waited. She was patient.

"My older sister Serena was supposed to marry Willy, and that meant I could do what I wanted. I had my choice of society men, of course, but that's not who I fell in love with. Michel was so…" Her lips trembled. Petra knew that twitch, when you were struggling not to cry. However many years on, this story still hurt. "You know, maybe one thing I hate about you and Levi being so disgustingly happy together is that it reminds me of what I used to have." Giulia looked away sharply to get herself under control. "But self pity's never attractive."

"Giulia…" Petra tried to imagine loving Levi the way she did and then being forced to marry someone else, like Erwin. She could never have done it. She'd have escaped, or died. "So. What happened?"

"Michel asked me to marry him. I said yes. We announced to our families, picked out a date. I remember waking up every morning feeling like everything was perfectly all right. I was always happy. I thought I always would be."

"Did Serena die?" Petra asked, puzzled.

"Oh, no. That would at least be an interesting story." Giulia smirked. "No, we had a party to celebrate my engagement to Michel. Serena came with her own intended, Willy. They were chaperoned, of course. They'd met maybe three times. And it was pretty clear there was nothing "there" between them. Serena…she was never exactly pretty. Or clever. Or funny. Or anything except nice and quiet and dutiful. Which, ironically, would've suited him perfectly."

"I think I see where this is going." Petra winced.

"Yes. I got to talking with Willy. I was so happy that night. I loved everyone I met, even the Eldian. I hate to be vain, but even I acknowledge I was enchanting. Willy found out I was Serena's sister, and the next day…" Her gloved fist tightened. "The Tyburs called my father. Willy wanted me, not Serena. He wanted the one that was pretty and vivacious. As far as he saw it, this was all a business transaction. He wanted a different model." She shrugged.

"But you were engaged," Petra whispered.

"Like that stopped them. My father did try to talk him out of it for that reason, but the Tyburs made their position plain: it was me, or there would be no wedding. No business. No deal. And my family were new money; they desperately needed the social boost, snobs that they were."

"Holy shit." Petra's head spun. How could anyone…? How could they?

"I tried everything. I sobbed. I pleaded. I threatened to run away or kill myself, or both. They wouldn't let me talk to Willy, but they let me send him a letter begging for him not to do this. I begged. I pleaded with that devil." Giulia's face twisted in bitterness and fury. "And he wrote back and politely said that he would make me happy. Happier than I could dream of being."

"What? How?" Petra's mouth fell open. Willy had been good to her family, but this was…unforgivable.

"Michel was middle class. He owned a shoe shop. His 'low birth' embarrassed my parents, but I loved him. I did love him. I…" She turned her face away again. Got under control. "I didn't care. But Willy saw it the way everyone else did: I could marry an ordinary man with ordinary looks, or I could marry the handsome, brilliant, powerful and wealthy man who was at the pinnacle of high society." She chuckled. "Every woman's fantasy. That's what women really want in a man, after all: status. They told me that. Even when they locked me in my room and wouldn't let me out to see Michel, they kept fucking telling me that!" she barked.

Oruo began to sob. Giulia cursed and wiped her eyes. Petra shushed the baby, picked him up and bounced him.

"The last I saw of Michel, he was being pushed out the door of my father's house. He promised he wouldn't give up on me." Giulia sat back, that icy chill descending upon her again. "Two years after I was married, we were finally back in town. I can tell you, I couldn't rush out the door fast enough. I ran down to the shoe store, ready to find Michel. Ready for us to run away. And when I walked in, I saw him with his pregnant wife." Giulia tilted her head back and shrugged. Her voice grew dull and tired. "There I'd been, plotting my escape for two years, yearning to see him again, and he was over me in months."

"He must have known it was hopeless," Petra said gently. She didn't want to defend Michel as much as she wanted Giulia to feel less raw. "He knew you could never be together. Willy would always find you. It doesn't mean he didn't still love you."

"I just don't understand why some people's lives go so right and others so wrong." Giulia sounded hollow now. Tired. "Ah well. That's why we invented alcohol and casual sex."

She sounded forcibly bright again.

"I'm so sorry." Petra tried to take her hand, but Giulia pulled away.

"I don't want your pity. I just want you to understand why I gave the information to Hybernia. Why I was willing to sink hundreds of people, even your husband, for the sake of getting rid of that one bastard."

Petra didn't even grow angry at Giulia's reminder that she'd almost gotten Levi killed. Instead, she just sat there. She could barely think of Willy the same way now. The man could be charitable, wise, good natured and kind…and he'd also done that to someone.

"What you did will never be right," Petra said briskly. "You killed innocent people. Nothing excuses that." She watched as Kuchel came running over to them, skipping gleefully. Petra laid Oruo back in his carriage. "But I am very sorry, for whatever it's worth. I understand why you have all those…er, male friends. You deserve to find something that makes you feel good."

Giulia hmmphed. "It is what it is, I suppose."

And that was the last she said on the subject. Petra just sat there, watching Giulia from the corner of her eye. If that had been her, what would she have done? She could never have given that man four children. She could never have kept from running away. She could never have played a smiling society wife to perfection, the mask only slipping on rare occasions.

Giulia was much stronger than she'd known. In a way, Giulia was much stronger than Petra could ever be.

"Well, aren't they darling together?" Giulia smiled a bit as Kuchel waved at Oruo in his carriage.

"Yes."

"Your little boy truly is original, isn't he?"

Today Kuchel had insisted they dress Oruo in a frilly pink dress with strawberries on the front. They'd also tied a giant bow around his head. Oruo snarled as Kuchel tried tapping his little nose.

"Yes. Well, he's too young to know what he's wearing, and it makes Kuchel so happy." Petra beamed.

"Strawberry princess. Straaaawberry princeeeeeess," Kuchel sang.

Oruo started rocking back and forth, howling and spluttering with rage. The noises grew downright bestial.

"I don't think I've ever heard a baby…hiss before," Giulia said, a hand pressed over her heart.

"On second thought, maybe I should rein this in a little," Petra muttered.

She tried to keep quiet, but it was so difficult. Petra arched her back as the sensation pulsed through her skin. She gasped softly, bit her lip to keep from moaning. Afternoon sunlight slanted through the bedroom windows. She looked down her naked body to where Levi's dark head was stationed between her legs. He gripped her thighs as he kissed her clit and stroked it again and again with his tongue.

"Hmm." She squeezed her eyes shut as the orgasm drew nearer.

"Like that?" he breathed. He looked at her with lust shimmering in his eyes, a wicked smile on his lips. He kissed her soft inner thigh, then returned to flicking his tongue across her swollen bud as she watched. The sight was so erotic she had to stare at the ceiling as the waves of pleasure began to build.

"I like it. Oh god. I like it so much," she whispered. She twitched as his tongue thrust deep inside of her. "Oh. Oh."

"I want you to come for me," he whispered. He kissed her opening, sucked her clit into his mouth.

"Aahhhh."

Her body convulsed as the orgasm detonated inside of her. She rode it out with his tongue thrusting within her, until finally she lay spent and flushed, naked against the sheets. Levi knelt above her, looking smugly pleased as he wiped his lips. His cock was hard and more than ready for her. Petra sighed, and looked up at him with half-lidded eyes.

"Was that good?" He stroked himself a couple of times as he looked at her supine figure.

"Amazing," she breathed.

They had trained for an hour in the homemade gym upstairs. Afterwards, they'd rinsed off in the shower, and even though the kids and Hange were home, Petra had found she was far too horny to do anything other than fuck him. He'd been more than happy to help with that.

Levi laid down on top of her, kissing her deeply. She tasted herself on his lips, shivering as his tongue stroked hers. He was such an expert with that tongue. Once she'd proven to him that she took very good care of herself—cleaned herself thoroughly—he'd come to love going down on her. He seemed to love the control it gave him, how expertly he could make her come, or not come. He loved to listen to her muffled cries, her heated gasps.

"You've been a good girl today," he muttered. His teeth grazed her lower lip. "You did so well in training."

"Do I get a reward?" She brushed her nose against his.

"Yes," he hissed, and sank deep inside of her. Petra sighed as she wrapped her legs around him and felt him thrust, his every movement effortless. She grinned as she heard the wet, almost obscene sounds of their bodies merging. She thrust her hips back against his. They moved in perfect union. "Good. So good. You fuck so perfect," he whispered in her ear. "I'm so proud of you. Such a good girl."

"Fuck me, sir. Fuck me," she pleaded. Petra ran her fingers through his hair, down his muscled back, all the way to the dimples above his ass. He growled as she squeezed him, animal-like. Levi was already picking up the pace, his cock getting so hard inside of her, ready to burst with—

"Hey, Levi!"

Hange banged on the door. He froze on top of Petra, the both of them staring into each other's eyes with looks of horror and fury.

"What?" he croaked.

"You mentioned that leaky faucet in the guest bathroom? Well, I think I got it fixed!"

"Thanks, Hange," Petra groaned. Levi stayed on top of and inside her, looking more murderous with every passing second.

"No problem! But you know, we could talk about getting in a new sink. I don't think this one fits into the—"

"I'm in the middle of something, Four Eyes!" Levi snapped.

"Oh. Oh. Shit, sorry! Sorry…" They heard Hange pad away, heard her speaking in a sing song voice. "See, Oruo? We're not gonna go in there right now." Then they heard the baby's guttural growl. The Ackermans looked at each other.

"This is why we should only have sex in the middle of the night, with the lights off, as fast as possible," Petra said in her most deadpan manner.

"Shut up, Petra."

She smiled as he got back into the rhythm. It didn't take long until they were both damp, and breathing hard, and happy.

When he was finished, Levi rolled off of her. Petra cuddled against him, pressed her cheek to his chest as he smoothed her hair.

"I don't want this to change," she murmured.

"How can it? Unless you think I'm gonna stop loving you," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Which'd make you a fucking idiot."

She playfully smacked him. "Erwin has to come for Hange at some point."

It had been almost two weeks. Willy had heard nothing from Erwin. He thought that the silence was a little too complete.

"Willy has a plan." Levi sounded determined to believe in it.

"If you think you can trust him that much." She sighed deeply.

"This about Giulia?" Levi hugged her. "That was a shit move on his part." He'd been mildly horrified when Petra told him what Giulia had admitted. "They're both paying the price for it now. I've never seen two people hate each other more."

"I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if they'd forced me to marry Oruo and leave you behind in the barracks." She huffed. "What my life would have been."

"But it never would've happened. Unlike Giulia, you'd climb out a window and hitchhike back to me. And unlike Michel, I'd never leave. I'd break in and steal you if I had to." He kissed her forehead. "It's like Erwin said once." He sounded bitter, but sincere. "When you let other people start to make your choices for you, then you're already dead. You're just waiting to die."

"I guess we're both stubborn characters," she said.

"Fucking right we are. One of the things I love about you."

"And that I love about you." She kissed his nose. They lay there, relaxing in each other's arms. She stared into the depths of those cold eyes, and saw the smallest flicker of light. Only a few in this world could bring out that warmth in him. "Even if it may have ended up destroying the world," she said, laughing a little, "thank you for choosing me after the midwinter ball that night."

"Impossible not to." He nibbled along her jaw. Petra's toes curled in pleasure as he kissed down her neck. "I can't imagine a world where you actually died in that stupid titan forest."

No. She couldn't either. But if Eren were to be believed, it had happened in the 'right' timeline.

The world might end because Petra had survived.

She still didn't know how to feel about that.

"But, but I wanna put it on him!" Kuchel pouted, holding up a peppermint striped doll's dress. "He's still little enough!"

"Sweetheart, I don't think Oruo likes dressing up like that," Petra said gently. The Ackermans and Hange were seated around the breakfast table. Petra sat with Oruo on her knee, the baby dressed in a blue and white striped onesie. He looked much happier, and also glared murderously at Kuchel when she showed him the candy cane dress.

"But he's my dolly!"

"No. He's a baby. Everyone's allowed to do whatever they want with their own body," Petra said gently. Oruo blew a ferocious raspberry. Honestly, sometimes she really felt like he understood everything.

"I mean, the kid's still too little to know," Levi said, sipping tea. Petra made a face at him. Levi loved both his children, but Kuchel had him wrapped around her finger.

"If he wants to wear dresses, he can. But he'll let us know if that's what he wants. Okay, honey?"

"O-kay." Kuchel sulked as Petra gave her a kiss. She sat down and immediately brightened as she ate her waffles. Petra noticed that the baby reached out for his sister.

It's almost like he wants to strangle her. Ha! Petra tried to smile. Ha.

"How's work going, Hange?" Petra asked, passing the syrup. Hange smiled brightly. It was good to see the life back in her eyes. These past couple weeks, they'd done what they could to help her overcome her grief and her trauma. Petra had heard the woman's muffled crying coming from the guest area upstairs, and would go up to sit with her. Hange would apologize, try to quiet down, but Petra didn't mind just sitting and talking a while. One night she awoke to find the bed beside her empty. She'd discovered Levi and Hange at the kitchen table, drinking tea in silence. Levi wasn't much of a hugger or talker, but he was there when you needed him. The most reliable man.

Work had also helped the woman. Hange had been put in charge of an elite team of scientists, tasked with replicating the hyperfusion bomb as quickly as possible. A couple nights she hadn't even come home, remaining locked in the lab.

"It's great. I think we're close!" Hange took a bite of waffle, then sipped her coffee. She, like Petra, had come to prefer coffee to tea. Levi acted betrayed whenever he saw them with a coffee press. "The biggest issue will be manufacturing enough to be a good deterrent for Paradis. We're at a disadvantage there."

True. Erwin was sitting on the world's supply of the Titania crystal. He had the greatest source of energy of all the Triple Alliance. Marley had a good stockpile of the crystal, but nowhere near as good as Hizuru. Before Willy reached out to Kiyomi for more supplies, he wanted to deal with Erwin. He had to do this carefully.

"If we have enough bombs to wipe Paradis off the map," Levi said darkly, "we should be fine."

The adults were silent. Kuchel, who understood none of this, tried offering a piece of waffle to Oruo. He turned his face away from her.

"It won't come to that," Petra said. She hugged Oruo, who gurgled. "Erwin may be crazy, but he's still a smart man. He won't push for war."

"I hope not." Hange tried to smile and failed. "You didn't see him on Paradis these past months. He's just…gone." She took up her cup, but didn't drink. "I'm honestly afraid what he's done now that I'm gone."

"At least you took the research with you," Levi said. Hange shrugged.

"I couldn't take all the ancient texts. He still has all the crystal. He could still do damage."

Silence descended on them again. When the phone rang, Petra jolted. Oruo screeched, annoyed at being jostled.

"I'll get it!" Kuchel raced out of her seat. They heard her pick up the phone in the hall. "H'lo? Uh, Ackerman residence," she said, just as Petra had taught her. Petra smiled. Good girl. "Uh huh. Okay!" Kuchel came racing back in. "Papa, Misser Tybur's on the phooone." She plopped back into her seat and started singing a song about baby mice to Oruo, who took a swipe at her. Kuchel giggled; Oruo growled.

Levi went to take the call. Petra lifted up her baby and looked him right in his soft, grumpy face. Immediately, he beamed. She rubbed noses with him, and he kicked his little legs. He was just like his Papa. Her adorable little bundle of rage.

"Thanks, Willy." Levi hung up and returned. He stood in the kitchen doorway and stared at the table. His face looked tight.

"What is it?" Petra asked.

"Erwin's coming to Valle. Tomorrow. He wants a meeting." He looked at Hange. "With you present."

The brunette took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Needless to say, I'll be there," Levi said.

Petra touched Hange's hand.

"I'm coming, too."

"You don't have to," Levi said. He frowned. "I don't want that bastard getting near you."

"Papa, bad word." Kuchel waggled her finger.

"I like to face my problems." Petra frowned. "I can get Mrs. Bonetti from downstairs to watch the kids for a couple hours."

Levi nodded. He didn't try to argue. He knew that when she had her mind made up, there was little point.

"Then we'll all stand together." He sat back down. "Against him."

No one had much of an appetite anymore.

"I can't remember the last time I felt this sick," Hange muttered. She and Levi were standing next to the water fountain, watching Willy and Petra as they chatted near the king's office door. "I don't think it was even this bad the first time I went outside the walls."

"He can't get to us." Levi just kept his eyes on Petra. Erwin would never touch her. Not while Levi lived.

"I hope he let Connie's mother stay alive," she said softly.

"My guess is he needs Connie's support, and since the kid had nothing to do with your plan Erwin'll just take the loss." Hopefully.

The phone rang on the assistant's desk. She picked it up, then said to Willy, "He's here."

Levi's heart never picked up pace when he was in battle, or killing thugs. But now he heard his heartbeat in his ears. Once again, there was that itch to kill Erwin. Right next to the longing to see him.

You chose your family over him.

But could you ever really let go of something like that? Someone who had been your world for a while? Fuck, you had to try.

Everyone assembled in Willy's office. The king sat behind his desk, while Hange and the Ackermans took seats flanking the Tybur king. They all watched the door. They heard muffled voices. The door opened.

Levi held his breath.

Erwin entered. He was starting to look even more distinguished as he grayed, while Levi just looked like a sour, aging woman. He ignored that.

"Well, Hange," Erwin said. His voice could have chilled water.

"Well, Erwin." She frowned. Petra laid one hand on Hange's arm for comfort.

"Sit down, Erwin." Willy steepled his fingers as Erwin took the seat before the desk, and looked at them all one by one. He wore a cream linen suit, exquisitely tailored. He looked like any rich Marleyan gentleman out for a stroll. Erwin locked eyes with Levi for a moment. The world seemed to haze around them.

Levi. I expect you to follow me.

Levi bared his teeth. Erwin smirked.

"This will be a brief, frank conversation," Erwin said to Willy. "Give me Hange Zoe. Return the information she took with her when she absconded from Paradis. Destroy any copies of that information you might have made. Do this, and I won't take any action against Marley."

Willy reclined in his chair. "Remind me. What information did Hange steal?"

Erwin narrowed his eyes. "The formula for a rejuvenation serum," he said slowly. "Along with ancient texts instrumental to titan science."

Levi clenched his fist in triumph. Erwin didn't know about the bomb yet.

"Ah yes. They've both been most helpful." Willy smiled as Erwin struggled with his temper. "You look a bit flushed. Care for some ice water? The day is scorching."

"I'm simply uncertain why a bodyguard and a housewife need to be present at this important meeting," Erwin said.

Petra looked like she was ready to throw hands. Levi caught her arm. They didn't want Erwin knowing she was a spy on Willy's payroll, anyway.

"Just couldn't wait to see your fucking face," Levi replied.

"These three are some of my closest confidantes," Willy answered. They all watched Erwin almost give in to his fury. Once, he'd stood with the three of them against Willy. Now, it was reversed. "They've become my friends."

He enjoyed needling the other king. The White King.

"You should know that their friendship is exceedingly fair-weather."

"The bar for our friendship is pretty low," Petra said. "You just can't be a monster."

"Oh, yes. You can say that very smugly, can't you?" Erwin's rage was starting to bubble over, though he kept himself under control. "Better a monster than a whining mediocrity."

"Shut the fuck up," Levi growled. Willy held up a hand, and everyone fell silent.

"This is between us, Willy." Erwin leaned forward. "You and Kiyomi have played me for a fool for far too long."

"Is that so?" Willy gave away nothing.

"Kiyomi helped the Ackermans escape. You gave them protection. You do the same to a woman who blithely betrays her king. There's no honor in these people. Thieves. Whores. Traitors. Every one of them."

Levi had never wanted to punch anyone as bad as he did now. But he stayed sleek and silent. He was a good dog; he waited for his master's signal.

"These people came to me in fear for their lives, Erwin. You even kidnapped Mrs. Ackerman and were ready to force her into a bigamous marriage. She had to abandon her beloved son in order to keep not only her family safe, but the world as well. She knew you would burn and pillage until you found him." Willy looked seriously angry now, though he was quiet. "And Hange has given me a written testament saying that she was forced to perform experiments that amount to crimes against humanity. All because you want to extend your life span—when you agreed years ago that you would not seek an extension."

"It's difficult to believe you're a father," Erwin replied. "There is nothing human in you, Willy. Your veins are ice."

"Better cold and humane than someone with a beating heart who transforms innocent victims into monsters with no agency," Willy said softly.

"Most are not innocent."

"Most."

"Enough!" Erwin barked. He seemed poised and ready to spring up and attack them. Petra gripped Levi's wrist. He held her.

"You turned Nile into a titan," Petra murmured. All eyes turned to her. She was shaking with rage. "He saved my family, and you did the worst thing you could possibly do."

"Yes. He sacrificed himself for you, Petra. Let that sit on your conscience."

"You weak, evil fuck," Levi growled, getting to his feet. And Erwin's eyes sparked, because he'd gotten the reaction he wanted. The excuse he needed to make this physical. He could always transform if he wanted, take out the building and city block if he felt 'threatened.'

"Sit, Levi." Willy frowned. Levi wavered, but sat. He knew it was right, but hated it.

"My terms," Erwin said to Willy, "are that Hange Zoe and her information be returned to me, all copies of said information destroyed, and in return I will not carry out an immediate assault on—"

"No," Willy said simply. Erwin paused; in all the years Levi had known him, the man had never been thrown off during a strategy.

"No?" Erwin chuckled, bemused. "Why should you be so bold with me? You've plenty of armed forces, but Marley can't withstand a single one of my—"

"Hyperfusion bombs? Funny you mention that." Willy opened a drawer and tossed a schematic and some photographs onto the desktop. "Here. Have a peek."

Erwin took the papers up, looking bewildered. As he looked—as he saw that they were the schematics for a hyperfusion bomb, and photographs of Marleyan physicists assembling one—the color leached from his face. He actually slumped.

Levi knew, in that moment, that Erwin had been hit in a place and way he'd never been hit before. When the king looked at Hange, his eyes were those of a lost child. A brother betrayed by his own blood.

"You…" He shook his head. The photos spilled from his hands; Erwin didn't pick them up. "Taking the formula and the ancient texts was betraying me, Hange. This?" He brandished the schematics. "This is betraying your country."

Hange didn't flinch, but Levi saw her hand shaking in Petra's.

"I believe the Triple Alliance should share everything equally." Willy stood and leaned on the desk. In that moment, he seemed to grow, and Erwin Smith to shrink.

Levi had never imagined the day would come when Erwin looked undone. It was like watching a parent die in front of your eyes. He almost wanted to scream with horror.

"Now, King Erwin. Here are my terms." Willy sneered. "My scientists have recreated the hyperfusion bomb, and are already stockpiling enough to blow Paradis off the world's map with the press of a button. I have the formula for the serum that could promise an expanded lifetime; I have the ancient texts. I also know that you, Erwin Smith, do not possess the Founding Titan." His voice became harsher. "I know and have documented evidence of the atrocities you have committed on Paradis, and I know that Levi Ackerman is the true king of Paradis and all Eldia." Willy leaned a little bit forward. "What do you have to counter this? We've reached a mutual deterrent as regards the bomb, and you cannot access the Rumbling. The most you have are more shifters, and I'm afraid that, as you've said before, the time of the shifters' supremacy is done." Willy's face was suffused with joy; Levi realized he'd wanted to get back at Erwin for years, to make a fool of the man the way he, Willy, had once been made to look foolish. "My population is five times yours, and in addition you've lost both Ackermans. You are alone. Aren't you?"

Erwin looked as if he'd turned into a statue. He sat there, staring at Willy. Past Willy. Looking into the world of strategy, and finding nothing. Nothing to save himself.

Levi knew enough about chess to know that they called this move checkmate.

"Now given our spotted history, I might be right in attempting to stage a coup and remove you from the throne." Willy sat back down. "But I acknowledge that you are a powerful leader, and a fixture for most of your people. The new world order is still young. Therefore, I'll remain silent if you agree to my terms." Willy counted them off on his fingers. "One: you agree that, for the remaining seven or so years of your life, you remain on Paradis Island and do not come to Marley, Hizuru, or the outside world unless you have express invitation from Kiyomi or myself; two: you stop playing games with my subjects, especially Levi and Petra Ackerman and their family. In addition, you allow the Ackermans to come to Paradis unmolested when they choose, and allow their friends and family safe passage to meet them if they so desire."

"Does this include my son?" Erwin finally had a spark of life again. "Because that is out of the question."

"You'd risk open war for him?"

"I'd risk the world."

That deadly seriousness spooked the rest of them a bit. Levi could feel it in the air.

"Then I'll make an addendum when I get to condition three: you stop looking for a way to expand your life. Live out your seven years in peace, appoint a successor, and then give up your titan. In return, when your death comes, you send the son you fathered with Petra Ackerman to live with his mother and half siblings in Marley."

Erwin trembled one minute, as if taking an arrow to the chest.

Petra gave a stifled cry; tears sprang into her eyes at once. She was practically buzzing. Levi held her close. The idea of Armin coming to live with them in no way stung him now. The kid deserved better than his father.

"Do these things," Willy said, "and I will remain silent forever about your loss of the Founder, your crimes, and the truth of Levi's identity. Refuse, and prepare not only for war, but the utter annihilation of your character, and the rise of the man many will hail as the true king."

Levi flinched. Fuck, he did not want that. But if it would save Petra and the kids and Hange, he'd do it.

Erwin mulled it over a minute.

"I have an amendment," he said.

"You're in no position to dictate terms."

"I have a few personal tidbits I could share with the press on you, Willy." He gave a sour smile. "Courtesy of your lovely wife."

Petra cursed. "When the hell—"

"Last year. She's determined to see you in ruins, Willy. But I also know that the information you have about me can also do a great amount of damage. Therefore, I'll keep my silence on certain intimate matters if you make one change to the terms."

Willy paled. He said nothing.

"Until my passing, Petra will not have any contact with our son."

Petra got to her feet. She looked murderous.

"No!" she barked.

"Petra." Willy gestured for her to sit. When she did, Levi held her close.

"Hang on," he whispered.

"In return, she may come to Paradis whenever she likes. Or," Erwin said, "the alternative is that the Ackermans are forbidden from coming to Paradis for the remainder of my life, save one occasion. At some time in the future, before my death, they will come to the palace and Petra will meet our son. One meeting before I'm gone."

Petra made a noise like a wounded animal. Levi held her, glared at Erwin. But Willy didn't fight it. He seemed to have intuited whatever Giulia might have told Erwin. Shit.

"Those are your choices. Which would you prefer?" He spoke to Levi then. Levi wanted to rip the bastard's face apart…

"One day," he whispered, "I'm coming for you."

"Afraid not. Not if you want your wife to see her child."

Petra shook, but remained calm. Levi saw the pain in her eyes, and his heart felt pierced.

"Pet?" He took her hand. "It's your choice."

"I…" One tear rolled down her cheek, then she was utterly calm again. "I want to see my son."

"Then it's settled. Your family has the right to move between Marley and Paradis, but you are barred until I choose the time of our little reunion." Erwin looked a little healthier now; he'd managed to do some damage.

"Why?" she whispered. "Why are you so hateful? How did a man like you become this?"

Erwin's smile died. He ignored her, but Levi could see it bothered him.

"I'm assuming Hange won't be extradited?" Erwin drawled.

"She's an incredible asset. All three of them are." Willy was cool. Detached. Kingly. "Look at this picture before you, Erwin. All of your former friends and comrades have come to my side. Tonight, on the plane home, ask yourself how this came to be. And ask yourself what you did to make it so."

Erwin looked at Levi again. Again, the room seemed to fade around them.

"Of all the betrayals," Erwin said softly, "yours hurts worst of all."

It was a shard of ice buried in his chest.

"I could say the same thing," Levi replied.

"If the theatrical spectacle is over, perhaps we could have the audience leave? We need to discuss a few specifics." Erwin stared at Willy; Levi could feel the pointed way Erwin ignored him.

"I agree. Thank you, all of you. Your help has been nothing short of tremendous," Willy said.

Levi got up and helped Petra to her feet. Feeling numb, he and the women shuffled out the door, and didn't stop walking like zombies until they'd hit the street and the rush of traffic was all around them. Petra checked her watch.

"Mrs. Bonetti's staying until five. It's four now." She looked at them. "I know it's a little early, but who needs a drink?"

"Me," Hange said at once.

They found a restaurant and sat at an outdoor table, splitting a bottle of wine. They all gulped their first glasses.

"You shouldn't drink too much. You're breastfeeding," Levi said.

"I think we can give Oruo formula just for one night," she replied, before knocking back a second glass. Fair.

When the bottle was almost gone, they stared into their glasses. Levi felt no buzz at all, but he needed the companionship that drinking afforded. Petra suddenly gave a laugh.

A startling laugh. Hange almost fell over.

"Pet, what is it?" Levi nearly inched away from his wife as she pressed her hands over her chest and laughed and laughed and laughed.

"We're free. Do you realize that?" She drummed her feet on the pavement. "We're all free. He's going to leave us alone; he's going to die in seven years. It's over. We're free. We're free!"

Hange rocked back and forth, laughing almost insanely herself. The two laughed until tears came to their eyes. Then they took up their glasses and toasted.

"Levi! C'mon." Hange yanked him up by his collar.

"Tch. Shitty glasses-wearing asshole," he grumped. But he raised his glass as well.

"To a new chapter," Petra said.

"To a life of peace," Hange said.

Levi thought of staring at Erwin's back all those years ago. The Wings of Freedom emblazoned upon his green cloak. He thought of the world they had fought for, and won. He thought of the Erwin he had once known, back before the man exchanged wings for a crown.

Levi gave a small, sad smile.

"To freedom," he said softly, and they clinked.