Summary: His true intentions will remain from his deepest soul until that faithful day will come.
Notes: It's not easy to brainstorm for my next chapters, But here goes for nothing! Sending love for the upcoming final season in the AOT Anime.
Chapter 19: Pawn
Mandy
When they arrived at the dungeons with a stomach twisted at the smell. It was a foul-smelling place, reeking of earth, dead bodies, and stools. Now all she could see were the two prison empty cells. Without the assistance of a torch hung on the barred walls, everything here would be a pitch-black void. A rat bolted as soon as the light touched the ground. She's even wondering what the rat was eating.
She recently let MPs beat her up to demonstrate her inability to fight. She thought she wouldn't make it out alive when they apprehended her and imprisoned her at the stables. Thank you to the man who helped her with her wounds and even fixed her dislocated jaw. But that doesn't mean she can put her trust in him. As a result, she escaped. She now has to go through all of this again just to get inside Mitras.
She purposefully allowed herself to be captured in a public place where many eyes were on the MPs so that the soldiers would be hesitant to harm her in an open area. Otherwise, their reputation will suffer.
She sighed and exhaled. She can't be locked up here and let them beat her up again. She'd had enough of these jerks. She'll make sure she'll be able to flee this time, and she'll let them taste her ferocity. The frontman came to a halt and looked at them. They've arrived. She noticed the bars and the cold empty cell next to them. The two MPs stood behind her, cuffing her hands with a thin rope.
"Do we have to put her here?" the man in front of them inquired as to if this was his first visit to the location.
"Yeah, we'll wait for Frigoz; she needs to be detained before we let her meet the Queen," the man behind Mandy said.
"I-I don't think this is right. You beat her up and drag her down here, and you treated her as if she wasn't a relative of the Queen," the young man responded.
Oh, he's so sweet. Mandy pondered. She's guessing that this guy is younger than her, and she can tell by the expression on his face that he's not like the other guys. He's not a hostile person, as all he could appear to be now was perplexed.
"Shut up. What if she's plotting to kill the Queen? Rengar just wants to make sure she's telling the truth," the man behind her said. The one who cuffed her hands with this sloppy rope around her wrist.
"But haven't you already beaten her?" the young man asked.
"Listen, kid, three weeks ago, there were ten MPs guarding the Queen's chamber at night, and they were all killed by this woman who managed to sneak into the building. They detained her and tried to make her speak, but she didn't. She stayed long under Rengar's care, but she managed to escape and survive with all those wounds. Now, she's here again. How do you think she's not that harmless?
the bearded man narrowed his eyes as he shared the details. Oh, that night. Mandy remembered it. She killed those MPs just to get near Historia's chamber. But then that damn Frigoz arrived and entered the room.
She can't believe what she saw.
Inside the room was a blonde girl standing at his back, wearing just a towel, then that old man entered.
She wondered.
What does an old man do in a young girl's chamber at night?
Is this how Historia grew up? A whore?
That's disgusting! She's disgusting.
Once a whore always a whore. Then a moment after, Historia came out and met Levi Ackerman outside that night.
And they were flirting?! Historia reached for the short man's shirt as if she was asking him about something, and Mandy can sense something between them from that moment.
Seriously, is this the kind of life she was living?
A whore Queen? She didn't see that coming. After all the news that she heard about Historia, that she slaughtered his dad just to regain the position of being a royal, is her role?
"Do you have any proofs about that?" the young MP asked.
"Rengar recovered the knife on her hands that night." the MP that was leading them joined the conversation.
"but killing that number of MPs might cause you to face the death penalty. w-why is she still alive?" the young man showed fear in her now.
"I don't know. Frigoz wants to meet her."
Right now, The frontman immediately handed the key to the man beside her, she stared at it secretly by just moving her eyes. Then they opened the cell. She won't seat on that filthy floor inside the cell. It smelled like something was rotting in here for years. And he wants to puke.
The Mp behind her suddenly grabbed her hair that made her arch, she yelped in pain and hear her sound vibrating in the entire place. She recalled how her body trampled to the ground a few weeks ago, and then now, she just gained her strength, she needs to protect herself. As her head laid back, her sight leveled to the Mp who grabbed her hair, the MP with a mustache. "We better make things exciting here, don't you think?"
Mandy's eyes widened as she stared at the grinning Mp in his middle forties.
fun? she remembered how they tortured her last time, these bunch of losers aren't the same flock when she was captured the last time, but she thinks that she will end up the same way, and she's not that dumb just to come back here to have some more.
Those MPs across the hallway that night deserve to die. All of them die for ruining her life.
"Gregg, stop playing around will you. You know that she's not that dumb. Be careful " The other old MP spoke and pulled the bars open with the clinking sound of the keys to keys
.
She needs to move. Kill someone if needed.
Her eyes widened with complete hostility while looking at the bearded man. He's ugly and disgusting as a pig, and there's no chance for him to put his hands on her.
With a quick move, the rope that was cuffing her hands loosened. she moved her feet angling them properly so she can steady her next offense. With a body rush, her strength was overflowing inside her, with a determination to take someone's life.
AGAIN
It's time for her revenge!
"oh you looked so pissed--" the beardy man was cut out of his words as Mandy's finger dug deeper into the bearded MP's pair of eyes and blood splurt out on the side of his eye socket and her fingers and her face. Her face was in disgust as The MP screamed at the top of his lungs, she searched for the round eyeballs inside and pull them out of his eyes with a few nerves detaching his eyeballs.
Blood splashed on her face.
The two remaining MPs screamed as Mandy pulled her hands with blood and the filthy two eyeballs fell to the ground.
The eyeless MP kneeled and screamed that its voice rang in the whole underground hallway, and it could reach the top of the dungeons. She stood erect on the ground quickly and faced the two guards with a determined look in her eyes.
If one of them will attack her, she will not hold back and kill them already.
"What are you waiting for, attack her!" The other MP ordered the young frontman and pushed him towards her, she can't believe that they were full of cowardness in times of assault from an unexpected prisoner. They lacked training in fighting with people!
Well, that's because they underestimated her
.
The young MP was forced to move forward but all that was written on his face was freight.
"I- I don't want to fight you!" He pleads.
She saw his face. He's young, with black short hair, small eyes with weary features. Thin posture, with a hint of slackness.
"Move." She flatly said to the man then shoved him aside, she raised one foot and hit the other MP's chin who was about to get his gun.
Blood spurt out of his mouth when her toes hit him hard, the MP flew hitting his head on the wall. With a fist, Mandy positioned her body into combative mode after shutting down two MPs. She glanced to the only remaining MP who was now shaking and making a step back towards the stairs.
She gave him a dark look, thinking that she should not spare one of them. When
"Go, run." The young MP blurted out. She narrowed her eyes, studying the man's words. He will let her get away?
Just when she tried to run, a hand gr bed her hair and pushed her to the ground. Her head hit the ground then the eyeless man went on top of her.
"You son of the bitch!" He screamed while his hands went around her neck, choking her so tight. Mandy felt how his big hands tightened around her neck, squeezing her skin in between until she felt his head go smaller. "Die! Die! You son of a bitch! I will kill you before you die!!" Her hands grabbed his arms trying to pull them away in opposite directions, but he was so strong and so heavy on top of her. She opened her mouth and it was like her body was sinking as he choke the life out of her. Her face is tightening and soon she will be lifeless.
until she felt like her nerve endings will blow up, this must not go on, or else she will die.
Then unexpectedly someone took the torch and hand it to the eyeless MP's face.
Mandy's weakening eyesight saw the fire drawn on the MP's beard and to his uniform and the MP felt the fire burning his chest and towards his hair and face.
He screamed and loosened his grip on Mandy's neck.
on the other hand, With great strength on Mandy's legs, she kicks the MP's stomach, causing him to fly back sideways! When the air came into her lungs at last, and blood went back to her head, she sat on the floor coughing while horrified at the burning person in front of them. The fire was burning the guy as he was screaming, shaking on the floor.
"Nooo! Help me! Help me! I'm on fire!!!!!" His scream was deafening, as he cried his life out in the fire. She thought that it was like she was in a torture house, his screams were very out of this world as the fire ate his flesh and it looks like it will hunt her all her life. it's horrifying to hear as he danced his body to the ground without his eyeballs.
Mandy roamed her eyes around quickly, observing the surroundings.
there were the burning MP, the other guy who was out of consciousness on the floor, and the young MP that was wimping at the corner of the place.
She's catching her breath
"I said run!! Before the others come for you." The young man screamed at her. She frowned and felt all the pain that there been through will finally get her to where she was going.
"How can you let me go that easily?" She painfully replied, her hands and toes were aching because of her attacks. She's used to harming other people, but now, it's a matter of life and death if she won't act.
"Because I believe you." He replied, lowering his face. "You won't kill the Queen, will you? Now go. Before I change my mind." He turned to her with a frowning gesture. Maybe he's hesitating to let her go, knowing that he may carry the burden of the consequence.
How can he be so naive?
He doesn't see her as a threat to the Queen because he believed in her? What kind of speech was that?
She stepped towards the stairs while looking at the young man. She's studying his features carefully, she just can't believe that an MP allowed her to escape after all the trouble she made. Is this happening? Will she see Historia now? Did her plan work? She started to run as soon as she walked right past him. And stormed towards the steps.
She will run as fast as she can and find Historia again. They already met this morning, but she has to run away because the MPs are coming after her.
It was dark as she ran the stairs until she saw the light.
It's the exit.
as she stepped outside the off-white corridor, she has to run towards the west wing where the Queen roams around every day. her feet made a sound as she ran on the concrete ground, guards and maids might catch her so she have to be cautious, sweat bathed her temples and neck as she passed the doors and large picture frames, her black hair was a mess, she has blood on her clothes, anyone will see her will surely be suspicious towards her, so she better finds a way to blend in.
until she reached an open door.
she glanced behind to look if the MP went after her, but he was not there. she pushed the door open and a divider with lots of clothes filled her sight, it was a dressing room.
with desperation and freight within her nerves, she went inside and slammed the door to hide. there were lots of clothes inside here, and she can choose whatever she liked to wear. she found a sink just right beside the window and decided to wash her face and her hands, as soon as the water ran out of the faucet, the white sink was filled with red water. she reached for a black fabric that was on the ground and smelled it. it is clean and would be perfect to use as a wipe on her face. her face wounds have healed and thank walls, she looked presentable again.
she cleaned up fast and one by one she took off her clothes and wiped her body in front of a mirror. it seems that no one was planning to come here. with speedy gestures, she immediately grabbed a maid's uniform and wore it. she has no time to waste.
now she's done, and it's time to go out. a rising tension formed in her stomach as she plot her plan. the Queen's quarters are at the West wing
after a couple of minutes, she's done fixing herself and stands in front of a mirror. a black-haired woman was staring back at her in a maid's uniform.
And only hell knows what will happen to her if anyone will catch her here.
So she opened the door and act casually, she walked calmly in the corridor, until she reached the stairs.
Great, the Queen's quarters are just one staircase away.
She walked through the corridors and on the stairs, remembering every direction just like last time. The only difference right now was that there were no MPs.
Until she reached the door which she believes was the quarters of the Queen.
At last, she's here.
She moved towards the door and heard that someone was talking inside the room.
"What about last night?"
It was a deep voice of a man.
Her eyes widened again.
Another man was inside her quarter? At this very moment and early in the morning?
"We agreed to forget about it, Captain."
It was Historia.
"You can't tell anybody about last night." It was the guy.
About last night?
Mandy wondered as she moved her ears away from the door, it was because someone was walking towards the door.
What happened to them about last night? And who was the guy?
"And I have one last thing to ask."
Mandy tried to listen as their voice were that loud to hear outside the door.
"What?"
"You can ask someone else in the scouts to assist you. But don't call for me; I'm too occupied to deal with your shits, Your Majesty. Hope not to see you around, I'm done here."
a scout. It's Captain Levi.
Before the door opened, Mandy managed to distance herself from the door. She went to the other door of the queen's chamber and acted like she was about to open the door.
Then the door from the Queen's chamber opened up and a man went out from there.
Mandy's eyes cast towards the short guy with black ravened undercut hair. He's wearing a black suit and black pants as he closed the door, and glances at her with an intimidating look. He's fierce-looking with a horrifying presence.
the humanity's strongest scout fighter. Slew hundreds of titans with one hundred percent of survival tactics. He came from the underground city and a well-known thug.
And he's a great obstacle for her to kill Historia Reiss.
He's the number one candidate who can protect the Queen from being killed.
She heard about him at the black market, he got a price on his head for being humanity's strongest. The Queen's head also follows as the most in-demand in the black market.
"Eavesdropping, I see." He spoke out of nowhere.
Mandy turned to him in surprise.
What the hell?
She can see his face.
And she can also see his face in a blush pink tone.
Did something happen last night between him and Historia? Why is he inside her quarters?
"I d-didn't know you were here, S-sir." She didn't understand this feeling of being afraid. "I didn't mean to." Just by the look on his face, she can sense superiority and bitterness. It was written all over his dark glaring image. She can't control it, she was not like this before. She was never afraid of anyone until she met this guy.
She heard that some of the thugs underground were afraid of him. Just like her, he killed countless MPs before. But even if they have this common hatred of the military movement before, it doesn't hide the fact that there was something about him that scares the shit out of her. She felt nervous. Like at any moment, this man may kill her for killing a lot of MPs in this place.
Mandy didn't move as she choked her words. She can't say a word and doesn't want to meet his eyes. She felt like at any moment, she will get caught as an intruder.
This is bad.
"Got a business with the Queen?" He said and eyed her sideways with that grimace. Mandy just gulped hard and looked at the floor. How intimidating. So the rumors are true, the Queen and the Captain we're seeing each other.
"Frigoz told me that the Queen needs to go to the dining. The food awaits." She said in a hard and determined voice. a casual presence will cover up the tensed muscles underneath her clothes as she lies to him.
she killed the MPs again. and now she needs to deal with Historia's lover.
all of a sudden the man turned to her with a serious face, his expression changed with a hint of suspicion and Mandy can feel something.
"What?" his voice was firm and scary.
Mandy tensed as the man slowly studied her with his eyes. she can feel him inspecting her every appearance with a hint of threatening demeanor. he paused at a silent pace and shook his head like she said something wrong.
did she say something wrong this time?
"Tch." She heard him making that small sound.
*
Gideon
He entered the farmhouse through the back door, holding a bunch of herbs in his hands. . he placed it on the top of the dining table inside the kitchen. The sweat made his shirt damp from behind and his skin sticky despite it being still early in the morning, his brown long sleeve made it worse as he removed his thick gloves, which were covered in soil and dirt.
He tried to wipe his face carefully trying to avoid his swelling cheeks, due to a slight injury that he gained last night. Good thing that Wena and Pedro were already sleeping by the time he arrived. He doesn't want to show himself to them while wiping his nose from bleeding.
He didn't expect that he'll have a match against one of the ladies.
Anna stopped cursing at him last night when Diana warned her to stop, he was well aware that the two maids were not just ordinary people like the three of them came from the same fraction before.
He admits to being part of that movement in the past, but he made every effort to avoid becoming too well known after leaving the Reiss family. Kenny helped him hide his identity and made him a training commandant, for the next anti-personnel squad. And Diana was one of his students for six faithful months. But after that, he has to leave the regiment and hide. Or else He'd be a shitty smiling skeleton right now, he hid everywhere so that Uri will not locate him. if it hadn't been for the help of that loyal person who sacrificed himself to save him, he will be good as a silent corps under the walls. Just like that Teacher's faith. Years after, even though he was relieved that the Anti Personnel Squad had been defeated by the Survey Corps and Rod had been killed, there were still people who wanted to hunt him down. Maybe the past may not have been over for him because issues about him were still investigated by some shady people in the monarchy. Until one time he received another help from an unlikely hero.
"Oh great. Soils on our dining table, very impressive old man," Gideon's deepening thoughts punctuated when Wena entered the kitchen with a jar of water in her hands, her brows furrowed as her gaze was drawn to the objects Gideon had placed on the table. He rolled his eyes away as the woman placed down the jar with a loud thud like she intentionally did that for him to understand that she was not in the mood.
"I'm preparing herbs for some exotic refreshment later, so stop complaining," Gideon said as he grabbed some of the herbs' small branches. He expertly separated the roots and leaves so that he can classify them. He tried to keep his face down to hide his wounded face.
Well, at least Wena went straight to the other corner. she was doing something at the kitchen sink, and Gideon was busy classifying his herbs and arranging them in the center of the table.
since he began to enjoy making organic beverages and other things, he admitted that he disliked dirt, but it appeared that he had mastered the art of arranging various roots, twigs, and leaves on the table, which was in a state of disarray. The soil was everywhere, and some of the plants he brought were dug up from the silky mud ground of the farm.
"So you're making another herbal tea and bringing them all to the orphanage?" Wena asked dryly as she washed dishes.
Gideon grunts in annoyance, thinking Wena was too ignorant to understand his specialty. She usually complains about almost everything and only occasionally agrees with his statements. Even when the royal doctors arrived, she almost refused to have her health checked and just went about her business inside the farmhouse with a scowl on her face. She only eats vegetables with fewer add-ons like meat in it, and her cook all tastes nothing. Drinks a lot of water and works on house chores all the time. She lives in a very repetitive boring routine. No wonder Pedro became sick at an early age because of his wife's attitude. She usually complains and almost can't appreciate everything around her.
"Not all of them. Some of these are for us. Pedro needs more organic food and teas for it will help his weak heart heal." Gideon pulled out a little three-inch earthworm from the root of the plant that he had in his hands and threw them on a small fabric bag that was placed at the side of the surface table. He gathers all the earthworms into the bag which already had filled with four or more earthworms.
"Did you pick a fight last night? Your nose looked like it was already deformed." Wena commented in a hash and lack of sincerity. Gideon immediately winced away to avoid her eyes, but it seemed that it was too late because Wena already stood in front of him. Examining his face.
"Don't mind it. It was because people nowadays have tiring habits of jumping to conclusions. I got companies like them last night," Gideon explained.
Then Pedro entered the kitchen as well and sat in front of him. "Well I did not expect you to chase girls even at that age, you know." Pedro reaches for the pot in front of Gideon. "Is this new?"
Gideon just nodded.
"I rather eat worms for that. Much beneficial than looming around with some chick." Gideon scoffed.
"Disgusting." Wena just murmured.
"Why of all the things, you preferred earthworms? Haven't you tried chasing beautiful women before?" Pedro laughed.
"I had. But unfortunately, she's gone. Probably she's living like an earthworm by now. It's been years."
Pedro shook his head and smiled. "Earthworm, it sounded weird when you say it, who could eat it when they are so disgusting."
"Why not? They are high in protein and amino acids. It's the main ingredient of the tea that you're holding." Gideon slyly threw back the thought to Pedro and smirked.
The old limping man suddenly froze and in just a blink of an eye, he spits the tea that he just sipped from his cup, dumping the beverage into Gideon's herbs.
"What in the world?!" Wena scolded her husband whose eyes were bulging out from her sockets while eyeing the wiggling worms on the bag.
Gideon just wiped his wet hand to his pants and just laughed out loud while Wena hit her husband on the arm.
"Please clean up the table later for our lunch, Gideon. Worms don't belong on our table. And stop spitting your tea at the dining table, you're too old for that Pedro!" she eyed Pedro.
"I'm just kidding. Of course, I'm throwing these filthy worms to the field. They're good for the soil, ya' know." Gideon continued making his hands busy on the herbs while Pedro was acting like he was going to puke.
Gideon turned his eyes to Pedro.
"You're overreacting, Pedro. You're a farmer. How could you puke on worms?" he snapped the old man?
"You better stop taking your words back. I know you're telling the truth. You're going to mix the worms with your herbs." He wearily replied in disgust.
Gideon thought that he was lucky to be around these people. They seemed normal compared to the people who surrounded him many years ago. He felt sick thinking that he dealt with not just ordinary people before, they were too demanding and competitive, full of mind games and tactics, and most of all.
Science.
His mind was already covered with rust just by dealing with power and beliefs. But one has always remained in his mind.
His true intentions will remain from his deepest soul until that faithful day will come.
That faithful day.
"Gideon."
Gideon snapped out of his sudden flashback and turned to Pedro who was sitting across from him.
"You said that you will be taking the herbals to a friend. Are you still making money out of it?" Pedro asked.
Gideon was holding a herb in his hand and paused when the man asked him about it.
"Yes. But right now, I'm not going to sell it. I'll be out to search for another kind of herbs. And I will meet someone later." He said.
"Oh. I wonder how much did you earn from that. It seems that you enjoyed earning on those herbs." Pedro "Who is the friend that you are going to meet?"
Gideon gave him a flat gaze and subtly pulled out the small branches of the herbs. What the hell came into Pedro's mind? Why is he curious about his way of living?
"Well, honestly, I just left my previous job so that I can stand my merchandise of herbs. I worked indoors for ten years without following my own free will to sell my products until I decided to go out. And it's not that bad." He just stayed his sight on his work... "Until a friend came to me and offered me a place here. First I refused, but... I find it, particularly for my good."
"Is that why you volunteered to serve the farm, because of the herbs?" Wena spoke and sat across him as well while looking at the plants on top of the table.
Gideon went silent for a while when he pulled out a five inches earthworm from the root of the plant. The two of them were looking at him like kids that are interested in knowing what magic he had kept in his hat.
Why would he tell the hell about his business?
After pulling out the wiggly creature from the roots, he paused and eyed the couple across him and gave them his cold dry gaze. Tired as he was always is, he refused to answer them for a while.
This couple wouldn't understand him even if he tells them how he ended up here, it would do nothing good for them anyway
"No." He simply answered. "It's because of this."
He raised the earthworm onto their faces and found their eyes widened.
With a careful move, Gideon brought the worm to his mouth and place its head inside, meeting it with his tongue.
He watched their expression. Then he placed the worm inside his mouth, gulping its brown body like a noodle until it made a sound between his lips.
And chew it.
The couple got terrified while looking at him in disgust, as he chewed every nerve of the worm inside his mouth.
"Chewy." He said while nodding his head as he felt the taste of the worm inside his mouth. "You should try it."
Pedro stood up and went to the sink and threw up while Wena got up and silently stormed towards the other room.
Pedro threw up big time behind Gideon.
"Shit!!" Pedro cried out loud and ran after her wife in terror.
Gideon watched them run in disgust as he finally swallowed the worm in his throat.
Now that he was alone in the room, he stood up and rubbed his hands together to remove the dirt on them. He went to the sink and washed his hands, after he felt the cold water pouring him, he moved to wash his beard. There was little soil in it.
His beard was long already, and he wanted to shave it right now. But still, it's not time.
So he just snorted and drank water on the faucet, gulping every oz to his throat. It tasted like soil. Then he laughed in a low manner imagining the Rals running out of the kitchen. They were truly terrified about what he had just eaten. Gideon was now finished with his task on the sink. And went back to the table and sat.
He just smiled and again, pulled out a worm from the filthy roots of an ephedrine poison plant.
"You don't deserve to know a mere no one like me. . ." He murmured to himself and proceeded with his herbs.
"Then why don't you tell me who you are?"
Gideon froze when a voice from the back door rang in the place. He turned around and faced a blonde, tall man, wearing a brown jacket, with a white shirt as an inner. He's wearing this green cape, and black trousers, with a fixated and serious expression on his face forties.
The old man's brows raised as he saw the man who came unannounced. Gideon was slightly amazed about his resemblance to Gideon's good friend and he bet he always knew why the brilliant man came to see him.
"Commander Erwin. " he stood up from the table in surprise and smiled at him. "That was a straightforward question. Come in." He stood up attentively as the Commander entered the room. He raised a brow in amazement.
"I think I deserve to know you, I'm sorry to interrupt you this early. I failed to talk to you last time we went here." The commander smiled at him with a solid grin on his face. The smile didn't even reach his eyes.
"Nothing to worry about, I know that you want to talk with me in private." Gideon
"You didn't expect me, But we need to talk, Mr. Vader. Just like what I promised in our exchange of letters, we will talk after assuring that your residential here is permanent.." The Commander said.
Gideon wiped his hands on his trousers to remove slight soil while looking at Erwin. "You mean we need to talk right now?"
he knew that Erwin won't help him for coming here to the garden without something in return of course. so probably he's here to make use of him.
"Yes." He seriously replied. "What happened to your face by the way?" He asked with a steady and calm tone of voice. Gideon turned around and faced the table again, with a little sigh.
"Nothing. Just met stubborn kids and they beat me." He laughed. Erwin placed his arm on the table while smirking at him.
"What did you do this time?" Seeing that the commander enjoyed the view of his cracked face, Gideon felt at ease laughing in a low husky voice. He's very grown-up.
"I just served a tea, then suddenly, one of the maids drank it. I didn't know that one of their friends will beat me to death when they thought. . ." Gideon didn't finish his words when the commander filled the next word.
"That you poisoned the Queen?" The Commander exposed his perfect wide smile. Such perfect teeth to be hidden under those serious calculating expressions of his. Gideon bet that Erwin doesn't smile very often and his eyes got thinned giving Gideon a genuine grin. Gideon laughed too.
"You remind me of your father, kid. You know, I already lived to get beaten like that. Most people were so ignorant about the effects of an organic drink. But when they understand that it was not that serious, they tend to ignore that they have beaten an innocent old bastard." He implied. "They didn't care to apologize, for mother's sake."
"That was tough." The blonde man commented while eyeing his herbs. "I heard that you gave something to Nile so that they will produce a child." Now Erwin's smile faded and just stared at the table. As if the thought was killing the remaining joy inside the Commander's heart.
Gideon stopped moving his fingers and glanced at Erwin with guilt.
"That kid. I heard he had a hard time producing a young with that woman, Mary, right?" He murmured as he can still remember Nile Dok's face. "but I remembered how your father begged me to make an organic drink for your mother to normalize her ovulation and --" He remembered it so suddenly.
"I find it way more effective because I came into this world." The Commander smiled lightly. "But I didn't come here to talk about that. I spent many years writing you a letter and I just met you recently. So I came here to ask personally about my father's disappearance, for one last time, I beg you to tell me..." The commander's tone switched into a serious tone.
Gideon didn't move even a single brow in his eyes and stayed on his seat. His hands were steady holding the stems of the herbs.
It's not yet time Gideon. Don't tell them. Someone whispered in his mind. And he gritted his teeth.
Then he calmed down.
"Do you want to play board games?" Gideon blurted out as he stood from the table at a quick pace. Giving the kid a tired look on his face.
"I bet I don't have time for that." Erwin replied while looking at the blankness of the air like he was in deep thinking.
"Trust me. You will find it way more useful to know my answers." He smiled.
The Commander smiled at him... "Fine. Give me three answers if I win."
Then Gideon nodded and stared at Erwin.
"You are your father's son, kid. Nice to meet you after ten years." He smiled at him.
"You think you can hand me more tips for my next expedition? Just like old times?" Erwin smiled.
"Yeah, if you win kid. Whatever you like."
*
MANDY
"There you are!" A voice just rang in the air and broke off the silence between him and Levi. Her shoulders slightly jerked in surprise as she didn't expect that someone would come and interrupt the Captain's growing curiosity about her.
A man coming from the other side of the hallway showed up and Mandy's eyes widened as she saw the young MP from the dungeons approach her side and placed his arms around her shoulders like they have known each other for a long time. The Captain didn't budge and just retained his razor-sharp stare slicing its way to Mandy's tensed heart.
"Mandy! Frigoz said that you have to wait for your cousin at the library. How can you disguise yourself as a maid you dimwit." The MP acted and locked her in between his arms.
What the hell is he doing? He will reveal that the Queen's cousin?
"Hey." The small man beside them spoke with an irritated voice. The both of them looked at Captain Levi who was glaring at them
.
"Are you trying to play around with me?" He asked with a serious voice.
"Captain Levi, this is Mandy. The Queen's cousin. She's here to visit her." The Mp tried to lighten up his tone of voice as if everything that happened a while ago were nothing. But Mandy felt wrong about this, why did this MP come to them in the first place?
Mandy just shut her mouth and didn't try to talk in front of the prying eyes of the man. But now that this young MP spilled her true identity, Levi's face was in complete wonder right now, and placed his hands on his side with furrowed brows.
"You shouldn't talk gibberish with me you brats." He said in a warning tone. He won't believe us easily of course And Mandy was anxious as well. "I heard that the Queen's cousin is in the dungeons." His tough voice crawled to Mandy's skin as he told them that he knew something.
Mandy held her breath. She's assuming that at any moment, they will be cornered by this man.
"Y-yeah. She is. But I took her out because you know, everyone's overreacting you know. She's not a threat and Frigoz will make sure about that today. Bye!" The young MP took Mandy's arm and pulled her away. They ran in the hallway while the MP was holding her hands tightly.
"What the hell!" She snarled to the man while he was dragging her away and looked back towards Captain Levi.
They turned to another hallway and another and another one until Mandy felt like they were finally away from the most dangerous man standing at the Queen's door.
When they are finally away without Captain Levi's presence, she pulled her hands off from the grasp of the young MP who saved her from getting caught.
"What? I just helped you." The MP was still catching his breath as they stood somewhere in the building.
"You think you are helping? By spilling some suspicious information to the Scout's most wise soldier? Did you even know what you are trying to say to him? Where you are putting me in this crap situation?" She cried out loud as her tears went out one by one.
He's ruining her plans. How unfortunate she was!
"Well, I suggest that you go home and never come back." The MP showed anger toward her despite her youthful appearance and petite posture. But somehow it gave Mandy the realization that it was the best thing to do. "You're just messing around here and keep ruining your reputation. What are you trying to prove right now?"
"I just want you to leave me alone. Whatever I am trying to prove was none of your damn business in the first place. So I don't need you following me around!" It's true, why can't he just go away? Why did she follow her and get in between them?
"You will just end up getting screwed by those powerful beings." The MP snarled at her.
"I will warn you, get out of my way or I will not have a choice but to kill you too." She looked at him straight in the eyes as he was glaring at her as well. He was just standing with his hands on the sides and we were calm. While Mandy's fisting her hands in anger for dragging her away from Historia's location.
"I wouldn't mind if you kill me right now. But I would like to give you another chance to escape. Go home before the others will catch you because as we speak, the dead bodies at the dungeons were already discovered and everyone in this area will be forbidden to walk outside. So I suggest that you walk calmly and get to the back gates carrying a pile of baskets from the dirty kitchen."
Mandy sighed in irritation.
"it will help you go out of the gates not being questioned." the boy continued.
She was not cornered or even being caught, but this young MP was telling her to escape. She don't understand why he was doing this, but thanks to his help, her plans were now ruined.
"I wish to stay here if possible." she honestly pleads. hoping that he will try to support her at this.
"that will be difficult," he replied.
Mandy sighed in disbelief. so he wanted her to leave? after the struggle that she has gone through just to get near here again?
"What's the point of helping me? why don't you just leave me alone?" she snarled as she can't say it louder
this MP is starting to get under Mandy's nerves.
"I want you to leave peacefully. so you won't die after you have taken the lives of others."
Mandy gritted her teeth. this is not right, how can he be still talking shit like this to her?
"Leave me alone if you won't arrest me. I will stay hidden until midnight. so don't get in my way." she started to walk away from him.
He's annoying already. if he's not gonna stop her and force her to leave, then she won't do as he says.
Mandy fixed her maiden dress as she flounced away.
the MP didn't follow her.
She turned to another pathway and it seemed very quiet. She felt cold followed her back, crawling in line with her spine. She didn't look back as she walked normally at speed.
Once she gets close to Historia, she will cut off her head and claim the price on the black market.
There are doors at the sides of the hallways nothing different from the architectural design from where she expected the west wing. she wondered what could it be inside these doors, is it bedrooms? Music rooms? She doesn't care. What she needs right now is to hide.
Then she saw an open door in one of the rooms, she stepped to check inside and discovered that it was an office. Maybe it's a good place to hide.
As she walked inside the empty room, she heard little footsteps from behind. her heart pounded wishing it wasn't a danger and proceeded to enter the premises. but before she could roam her eyes around, she sensed that someone was standing behind her.
she immediately turned to confront the person nearby but a hard object just went to her stomach.
A punch.
Then her face hit on an item of soft clothing. A cloth that a person wears and to her surprise, it was a uniform of an MP. She landed on its shoulders as she unconsciously placed her hands on her shoulder to support her.
Her guts tightened as she can't move her body from the heavy impact. Until she notices the same height as an MP, the same hair color.
"What the.." she uttered as she was struggling to keep her body standing, it was getting heavier as the person again moved his arm.
mandy immediately knew that it will send another punch as she tried to make another sound.
But
The person sent another heavy blow to her abdomen that lifted her back.
She drew blood from her mouth as she slowly melted down the floor. The person didn't even catch her from falling.
Her body is aching in great pain again
.
"I'm sorry Miss." Mandy heard as the young MP was looking down at her.
as her consciousness slowly embraced the darkness of the pain she saw another tall man standing behind the MP.
but she's too weak to see his face. She laid on the floor gripping her stomach as the pain was impaired all of her body. The next thing she hear was running steps in the hallway. There were many of them and they all stopped at the door from where she fell.
"Good job, brother I know that you can use violence than talk things out." she heard as she closed her eyes.
"She's all your, Rengar. "
"We got the culprit. Inform the Queen that she cannot leave her quarters." The man named Rengar ordered.
"Captain Levi is inside the Queen's living room as we speak, Sir." It was a voice of a woman.
"Great. Tell Frigoz and Nile about this. We will keep this person away from Historia."
the words echoed in Mandy's ears as she completely went asleep on the cold marmole floor.
And all went black.
*
Gideon
An hour later
Commander Erwin stood up from the table with a serious face. Gideon knew that the blonde man was hiding his frustration as he can no longer win the game.
"I admit that your scheming tactics are impressive, Mr. Vader." Erwin roamed his observant eyes at the surroundings, his blue eyes were so emphasized with that great intelligence. Once again, Gideon was relieved that he still have his talent in board games, because if he lose, the Commander might drag him out of the garden and ask him to stand by in the scouts as an adviser or whatever the Commander may please. But again, Gideon must stay away from the military.
As for Erwin's request about giving advice, he can't. He knew that Erwin will use him as a pawn, and use Gideon's talent to shape the future just like Eren Yeager and Levi. This man knew how to find gems even in a wasteland. So he needs to be careful because he just caught the attention of the most influential person in this nation.
he can't be part of their world to help them face their crisis. He can't get involved with any regiment anymore... And he also promised that he will stand his role until the bitter end. He will stand for his purpose...
"I don't think that you fit in here, Mr. Vader, you wasted your talent by hiding from the public for so many years, you could have used your talent to help me in my expeditions before.." The blonde man smirked but Gideon can tell that he was amazed by him. "How I wished I knew about you when you were younger."
"I'm old already, how can I join you there when you already executed your plans successfully?" Gideon laughed. He knew that the blonde eyebrows will say that. The Commander was the kind of person who never let a useful pawn waste. He always utilize his connections and now he was trying to get Gideon even at his age. But sad to say that Gideon already tried to lead a regiment before. he was the former captain of the Anti Personel Squad for years before Uri met Kenny.
And there's an eighty percent chance that Erwin already knew about that. Gideon should not underestimate him.
"I mean, you could have joined our regiment after they threw you out." The Commander's eyes looked down at him with that hard meaningful gaze.
See? Erwin already knew Gideon's background, but Gideon won't say anything about his position from the past, not unless the commander will be brought it up.
"Whatever happened in your regiment from the past two months, I have nothing to do with it, Commander." Gideon placed his palm on his chin and looked up at Erwin's stern image. "Save my ass from it and blame it on Kenny the Ripper, whatever fucking name he has spreaded " He smiled.
"We already buried that with the rest of the past, Gideon," Erwin smirked without affecting his eyes. "So does this mean that I can never learn the truth about my father?"
Gideon paused.
The kid is begging and he treated him just like his son already. But he has to shut his mouth. Not today.
"I'm sorry, Commander. But I don't the game." He dryly replied keeping his guilt inside.
"I need to go." The commander moved already and change his mood. But Gideon kept his composure on the ground and just slightly twisted his body to follow his direction of Erwin.
"Send my regards to Captain Levi. I know he hates me." Gideon mentioned.
The Commander was already near the doorway.
"So how did you two deal with each other yesterday?" Erwin smiled and it lighten up Gideon's curiosity about those deep blue stares. something was telling him that he needs to measure how much did Erwin know about Gideon's past.
he doesn't trust the Commander that much but he always assumed that this man can sense anything about your identity.
"He came telling me not to call him a son. I guess he's not that used to call someone like his father." Gideon laughed all-heartedly.
it was half meant for something that he can't just admit.
"that's because he never needed one and no one dared to talk with him that casually." The Commander replied without even riding his light funny foreshadowing. but it seemed that his words meant something in Gideon's ears. and deep inside Gideon admitted that he felt excited about spilling some fun twisting story.
"Hmm. . . Yeah. anyway, go check on him today, since he brought my pitcher to the Queen's study last night. I'm afraid of what they might have done together." he smirked and glanced at the Commander whose standing in the middle of the way towards the door frame. Erwin seemed not moved about it, and Gideon thought if he ever thought about Historia for once.
"what's in the drink?" Erwin casually replied.
"the one that made your parents bring you into this world." Gideon tapped his fingers one by one on the table as he shared the info with the Commander.
honestly, Gideon didn't mean to give the drink to anyone in the orphanage at that time, he admit that he placed it on the table and just a moment after, he saw the pitcher being held when Levi went upstairs.
but the commander just turn away from Gideon and continued to walk towards the door,
"I'll be waiting in my office anytime you want to see me at the barracks. that will be the payment for being reckless with your potions."
Gideon was confused. why would the commander want him there when he knew that Gideon don't want to go there.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"to avoid Levi's anger, you have to show yourself with me in my meeting with the scouts. we'll be discussing our scheme to retake Shiganshina."
"I said I don't want to go," Gideon replied with a slight annoyance in his tone but the Commander just went out and didn't care to listen to his reasons.
"I'll send a horse tomorrow morning. be there, Captain Vader, Sir" the low but solid voice of the Commander vast in Gideon's eardrums, and he felt panic for the first time as he heard that his title was being called after for so many years.
so the Commander knew about his past with the secret movement.
Then there's a possibility that Erwin was solving his own puzzle about the disappearance of his father just by talking to Gideon today.
"Commander!" Gideon tried to call loudly but he didn't respond. he's not like in a hurry to leave him that fast, but running after the Commander would only be useless to change his mind.
"Oh my." he guessed that he will not have much choice.
he has to go anyway.
he's being pawned again after Uri threw him out.
"I don't think that I can save your son's ass this time, Frank Smith." He murmured and banged his fist at the table.
