King Anders was always told he worked too hard. His advisors said it wouldn't impact Eldia's administration if he spent his last days in peace. Despite this, he was reading reports and scrolls on his courtyard and making annotations on a separate paper. He decided to take a small break and accessed the Paths. He asked the blonde girl where the Armoured Titan was again, and the answer came to his mind. Klaus Brandt had returned to Eldia. He decided to greet him and personally inform what had happened during the meeting two days prior. As he walked out from the labyrinth made of pruned bushes and flowers, he saw a man carving a small wooden sculpture with a knife. The man's eyes, partially covered by his rather long, dark bangs, met the king's gaze.
— You better be prepared for bad news.
— What is it, Arnulf? Can't you tell me already?
— You will have to discover it yourself.
— Is that so? Well, I've always trusted your judgement. This means I must hurry.
He quickly walked away from Arnulf. The holder of the Attack Titan always had great intuition and sometimes served as an unofficial advisor to Anders. He stopped a random man on the streets.
— My king! It is an honour to be in your presence! — He said with a bow.
— Good, now serve your king. I will make sure you're sent to your family once we're finished.
Anders screamed and the man's skin briefly lit up. Light came from his eyes and mouth, followed by a small explosion. The man became a titan, rather small in stature when compared to others of its kind, but still towering over humans. His maw gaped loosely, exposing an abnormal number of teeth. His eyes stared blankly into nothing, and his emaciated body twitched occasionally. It extended its giant hand to Anders, who promptly climbed on the palm.
— Take me to the Brandt clan's castle and be careful not to step on anyone. — The king ordered.
The titan ran awkwardly, his steps echoing throughout the streets. People promptly walked out of the way as they heard the stomping getting closer. Some few minutes later, Anders had arrived at his destination, the gates of the Brandt clan's castle. The titan put him on the ground and stood static, waiting for his next order. An armoured man holding a spear approached and bowed.
— It is an honour, King Anders. Might I ask the motive of your visit?
— Klaus, Sören, and Heinrich returned. I want to see them now.
The guard made a strange expression and looked to his side.
— I'm afraid Lord Klaus is not available for visits now, my king.
— Let me through, it is an order.
The guard was sweating.
— My lord, the entire Brandt clan is preparing for a funeral and they asked not to be bothered.
— Who died?
— Heinrich Bjorn, heir to the Beast Titan.
Now Hodritz would be the heir. Anders had heard how deranged and hot-tempered the youngster was. He heard a horse neigh and turned around to look at its rider. It was Arnulf, his white tunic soiled with blood. Steam rose from a wound on his left leg. He got off the horse and limped towards the king with a small letter on his hand.
— Read this.
Anders opened the letter. It said that Heinrich Bjorn's funeral would occur at dusk.
— You just missed your messenger and a couple of assassins.
— Explain yourself.
— I decided to send you off earlier so that there wouldn't be the risk of you dying. They killed the messenger and shot me in the leg with a crossbow, but I dealt with it for you.
Anders tried to wrap his head around the situation. How come someone had infiltrated the castle? He was lucky to be saved by Arnulf. A well-aimed shot could have easily taken the Founding Titan from the Fritz clan.
— I see. Thank you for informing me. I'll be sure to commend you to your masters. — He told the guard, who bowed in respect.
— Go back to the castle, Anders, and shut yourself in the bedroom until the big day comes. We can't risk losing you yet.
He climbed on the horse with difficulty and rode away. The man turned into a titan was still waiting. "My advisors were right. I just have to make sure my daughter will be properly protected in the future." — Anders thought.
An hour later, back at the castle, Anders was tirelessly researching records and scrolls in his bedroom. He was searching for what his predecessors wrote about the nature of the titans. He heard a knock on the door.
— Who is it?
— It's me, Anders. Open up! — Said a voice he promptly recognised.
Anders unlocked the door, quickly pulled Rena inside, and locked it again.
— What's that for? Are you paranoid?
— Not yet. Now, why are you here? I'm busy, so please be quick.
Rena blushed and fidgeted with her tunic. Anders' mind was so concerned about other things that he didn't read the atmosphere at all.
— Since you're going to pass on the Founding next week, I thought that I could spend some time with you.
— I see. Now give me another quill, this one's almost breaking. — He said as he sat down at the desk again.
Rena sighed. It was better to spend time with him this way than to not see him at all. She decided to help him on his research.
— So what are you researching, love? There are so many records here.
— I'm trying to develop a superior human, an unbeatable soldier who can protect the royal family.
— Don't we already have the titans for this?
— Yes, but imagine this: an assassin comes into this bedroom, armed with a sword, a crossbow, or any other weapon. I wouldn't be able to turn into a titan, because I would kill you and ruin the castle. Do you understand what I'm saying?
— Indeed, the assassin would die, but we can never know who's on the lower floor.
Anders spent the rest of the day researching and explaining his plan to Rena. In his last days, he would create a bloodline that would share "instinct" and all the battle experience they had accumulated along the years. The perfect guardians of the royal family.