Chapter Three
Family Tree
"Mother, please stop looking at me like that."
"Then start talking."
Wallace sighed at his mother's words, wondering if this was karma getting back to him for not saying anything. He glanced around the room, watching his bother glaring at him with fury on his eyes, his mother simply staring with cold façade and his best friend is the only one confused in the situation, which Wallace found to be the best reaction out of the three.
Sophia had gone back with Ymir toward the backyard, leaving him alone to face the fury of the guests that had arrived at his house. Had it be any other day, he would not mind it much, but right now he feared being killed by his own mother's eyes, which seemed to want him to turn into ashes or beg for forgiveness, and Wallace didn't know which one was worse.
He shifted his body into a more comfortable position, throwing one of his legs over the other as he intertwined his finger, trying to stay as composed as possible. William blinked at him, knowing that Wallace was about to be in business mode, and he too positioned himself into a more business-like position.
"Then, what do you wish for me to tell you?" Wallace inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Why are you adopting that girl into the Tybur family?" Madam Tybur asked, voice soft but cold. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and her eyes had a shadow cast over them.
"I thought I could anything I wished to do as long as it didn't harm the family, mother," Wallace commented, watching the glare from his brother worsen, and he gently waved off Larry. "Don't worry about it, Larry. I still think of the family first and foremost before anything else."
"You aren't acting like it," Larry growled. "Do you know what scare we had when that notice came to the manor?"
"I can only imagine."
"Wallace," interrupted the elder woman, catching the attention of everyone around. "I know that you are responsible enough to not harm our family, but I wish to know why exactly do you want to adopt that girl. You could have adopted anyone from the warriors that didn't have any significant family, or even a Marleyan to get better in the eyes of the Marleyan higher-ups, but you chose an Eldian orphan girl, of all people. Explain."
When she puts it like that, I can see their point of view. Wallace thought before clearing his throat. He knew exactly how to explain everything. "She is the one father and grandfather were looking for."
That statement alone changed the atmosphere around the room. Madam Tybur's eyes widened, a soft gasp coming out of her lips. Larry's eyes hardened, but looked away, mumbling something under his breath and William seemed to finally understand something due to what Wallace said, the black-haired man looked at his best friend and spoke.
"Was she the reason your father was rarely around?" William asked. "He was looking for her?"
"Correct." Wallace nodded. "Now that I've finally found her, I can start the plan that the Tybur Warhammer holder was always preparing for."
"Plan?" Larry was not intrigued. It was the first time he ever heard of this. "What is this plan you are speaking of? For God's sake, please don't let it be something outrageous that can harm the Tybur's reputation. . ."
"Don't worry about it, as I told you, I think of family first and foremost." Wallace retorted, a smile quirking on his lips. "Ymir will be the key to restoring the Eldians reputation, at least those inside of Marley, and finally be free from the restrictions and discrimination impose on us by our ancestor sins."
Madam Tybur sighed. "Even if you want to do that. How do you think the rest of the Eldians will react? An Eldian girl named Ymir under the protection of the Tybur family, no better yet, how do you think the rest of the Marley will react to her?" She questioned.
Those were good questions, but Wallace was already prepared to face any criticism for his actions, as he will ensure that they do not harm his family in the slightest. He had the plan, his only course of action was going along with it, and adapt accordingly. Wallace also had a spy within Marley, whose face and name he knew nothing of, but his family had trusted that spy ever since Karl Fritz left for Paradise.
"I already have my actions to take in mind, mother," Wallace commented. "I know what I must do, and what I have to do if things go south. The only most important thing is that Ymir doesn't fall in the Marleyan higher-up's hands, for she is the pathway toward a better tomorrow."
Silence came, and Wallace entered into a staring contest with his mother, who promptly said.
"Bring her here."
Wallace blinked. "What?"
"Bring 'Ymir' here," Klara said.
Wallace nodded his head, knowing what his mother wanted to do. He walked to the backyard, where Sophia was looking over some books with Ymir, who seemed enthralled in the picture inside of the book. To his surprise, Ymir looked up to him, with Sophia copying the motion right after the girl. He nodded his head, and Sophia stood up, Ymir grabbing her hand, and they walked toward the living room.
As soon as Ymir stepped inside of the living room, Klara Tybur fixed her eyes on the freckled girl. Sophia threw a worried glance at Wallace, who simply waved her off, and the maid nodded in acknowledgment. Ymir tilted her head and looked up to Wallace, who kneeled in front of her.
"Look, Ymir," He softly said, patting the head of the girl. He pointed at his mother. "She is my mother, and she wants to meet you. Do you think you can walk up to her?" He asked, trying to convey what he just asked through the tone of his voice.
Ymir looked confused, but she looked between Klara and Wallace, as though looking at the similarities between them. Then, she pointed at herself and then at Klara, and tilted her head once more.
Wallace nodded.
The black-haired girl strolled toward Klara, who was surprised by the interaction between the girl and her son. Ymir stood in front of the elder woman, and stretch her tiny arms toward her as she did a grasping motion. Larry, who was watching the scene unfold, looked like he wanted to go home, and was looking at the door as though it was his salvation while William looked at his best friend, face blank of emotion.
Klara bent her torso and picked up Ymir, seeing the girl face to face. Said girl promptly squealed in joy, and Klara felt something flutter within her heart. She knew that she couldn't be mad at the girl, no matter if her mere existence was the reason her husband didn't spend much time with the family, and seeing her like this only made her sigh with a sad smile.
"I'll approve of her." She said, to the astonishment of Larry.
"Mother—!"
Klara interrupted him by raising a hand. "My husband was looking for this girl for as long as you were born, Larry, and now that she has been found, I'll respect the wishes of Wallace of taking her into the family, as long as they don't harm the reputation of the Tyburs."
Larry made a frustrated noise but sighed in defeat at the end.
Klara turned around to face William, glaring at him with cold eyes. "And I hope that nothing of what was told here gets said outside."
"Don't worry, Madam." William instantly declared, throwing a glance at Wallace. "I won't say anything, at all. I want to live. . ." He whispered the last part under his breath.
"Good." The Tybur woman said nodding her head and glanced back at Ymir, who was looking at her with stars in her eyes. Klara then looked more closely at the clothes worn by Ymir and glared at Wallace. "Why is she wearing this?"
"Well, mother," Wallace started, getting nervous at this mother's eyes. "There wasn't much time when I brought her here, I had to take care of certain things and make sure that she will be under the Tybur care—"
"I am going to hear your excuses later," Klara interjected before he could continue. "Right now, I want to be with my granddaughter."
Wallace sighed, but smile nonetheless. He felt great knowing that at least his mother was in support of Ymir being in the family.
Now, the only thing that was left is the creation of the church as soon as it can.
That day, the Tybur family had a new addition into their ranks, and the future of Eldia was already shifting from its original path.
Six Years Later. Year 784
Ymir walked down the hallway of her house as she looked through the window at the sun shining up in the sky. The fresh air circulating through the hallways brushing against her skin as she felt the soft carpet touching her feet. A smile appeared on her face, and she looked down over to the book in her hands. She opened it up, looking over some details that were written down in recent history thanks to dad's influence, and she was glad she had this day off so she can look over the images.
Stepping into the living room, Ymir watched as the maid in charge of her appeared from the kitchen. Her blue eyes startled at the sight of the girl.
"Oh, Lady Ymir, you've woken up earlier today?" Sophia said, and Ymir was not sure if it was a question or a statement.
Ymir rubbed her arm, nervous laughter bubbling from her mouth. "Don't say like that, I don't sleep that much, do I?"
"You don't." Sophia deadpanned.
"C'mon," Ymir walked over to the maid. "Don't be like that. Besides, today is the day I'm allowed outside of the house and I also get to visit the church!"
Sophia nodded. "That's correct. Master Tybur should be arriving with all the details ironed out, Madam Tybur is coming with him, from what he has told me."
"Grandma?" Ymir asked, and then exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air. "Great!"
"I swear, Lady Ymir," Sophia sighed. "Every day you just get more energetic."
"You are just getting old, Sophia." Ymir teased, but promptly shut up at Sophia's glare. The freckled girl gulped her saliva and stuttered. "T-That's a joke, you just need to take care of your body."
Her grandmother would come to visit her at least once a month, and once a week if she had free time, which was almost nonexistent. Even then, Ymir loved her grandma dearly as remember the interactions she had with her when she had just arrived at the house and had promised her to visit places with her once Ymir was allowed out of the house.
Unfortunately, a war had broken out and the church's construction had to be delayed, which meant her ability to be able to freely leave the house had been halted, too, for a while. Ymir had never complained about it because her dad didn't have the control to know when a war was going to happen, but Ymir's mood had been soured for over a week after the news had been broken to her.
Her dad had gotten her books about Eldian and Marley, and she had read a lot about history, too, because there was nothing else to do while waiting for the tutor to arrive to teach her everything, from math to anatomy—for some reason. And Ymir was sure that the tutor hated her for some reason, though that might just have been her name doing all the work, and also that her dad had restricted the tutor from speaking about her if he wanted to live that is.
A knock caught their attention, and Ymir bolted to the door. She swung the door open, and Wallace stood on the other side of the door, with Klara just behind him.
"Hello, little angel. You are up earlier." Wallace commented with curiosity, and Ymir pouted.
"Not you, too. Sophia already told me that. . ." Ymir sighed, but then recovered. "When can I go out? I'm already changed enough to go out without anyone complaining, right?."
"Calm down, Ymir." Klara patted the girl's head. "We will go out now."
The black-haired girl nodded.
"Sophia, we will come back by night," Wallace told the maid, who nodded. He turned to face Ymir and his mother. "Let's go, it's time for Ymir to see outside of the house for the first time."
Ymir nodded excitedly, already running off.
The girl stopped in front of the gate for the house and waited for her dad and grandmother there. They arrived shortly after her, and they walked outside of the grounds of Wallace's house.
Ymir looked around, curiosity filling her entire body as she gazed over everything around her. Soon after, they reached a street where people turned around to see Wallace walking with a little girl alongside his mother.
"Is that Wallace Tybur?"
"What is he doing here?"
"Isn't that his mom?"
"Mom! Who is that girl?"
Wallace simply smiled at the people looking over in their direction, while Madam Tybur had a fan covering most of her face, but a small smile was painted on her lips. Ymir, though, was not expecting everyone to look in their direction. Even though she had been told that her dad's presence could catch an entire room of people and everyone would pay to his every word, she had never expected something like this.
People gathered around the Tyburs, though some of them were simply silent and only listening in.
"People, people," Wallace called out, a friendly smile on his face. "Please, I am currently on a simple family tour, be careful." He waved at Ymir, who was standing behind him and glancing around.
"Mr. Tybur. . . who is this?" A woman asked.
"This is my ward." He announced, to the surprise of everyone around, and the people spoke over each other.
"You have a ward?"
"Since when?"
"I swear to god, the Tyburs keep their silent and drop bombs when one least expects it."
The gossip increased, but Madam Tybur snapped her fan shut, silencing the street. "If you will, we need to finish this family walk, and all your questions will be answered at the end of the week. Now, disperse, please."
And with that, everyone around them went their way, with some of them throwing them a quick side glance. Ymir was amazed at the way her grandmother simply made everyone go away, and was too busy admiring it that she didn't notice someone running into her.
"Ow," both her and another voice said in pain.
Ymir looked at who just ran into her and saw a black-haired boy with green eyes looking at her. He looked at Wallace and panicked as he got up from the ground.
"I-I-I am very sorry, Mr. Tybur. I wasn't looking where I was going." The boy said, his voice quivering and he looked like he was about to pass out from nervousness.
"Don't worry, but I am not the one to who you should be apologizing." Wallace kneeled and pointed at Ymir.
The boy nodded, and then said to Ymir. "I am sorry."
"Don't worry about it, you weren't looking, but you should be careful next time," Ymir said, and the boy nodded once more. "What is your name?"
"Jonas Jaeger." The boy—Jonas—said, extending his arm. "Nice to meet you, may I know your name, too?"
"It's—"
"Sorry, boy." Klara interrupted, startling Jonas. "You can't know her name at the moment, but you will soon. Now, go back to your family."
Jonas complied. "Until the next time, we see each other."
"Until next time," Ymir said, and Jonas went away. "I hope to meet him soon."
"Come Ymir, we are near the church," Wallace whispered to Ymir, who nodded with stars in her eyes.
The Tyburs walked down the street and turn left, then right, and walked even further. They soon reach the building that was to be the Church of Ymir, named after both the Founder Ymir and Ymir.
"Mr. Tybur, great to see you here." A blonde man greeted them as he stepped out of the church. He looked down at Ymir and turned his head back at the Tybur man. "So this is her?"
"That's correct."
"May we shake hands?" The blonde man inquired to the freckled girl.
Ymir, for some reason, felt the need to comply with the request, as much as she felt that she didn't have to. It was a weird feeling within her heart, as though it was conflicted about something. Even so, she agreed and stretch her hand.
The blonde man smiled and grabbed her hand. Then, the sound of thunder splitting her body soon came to be.
Ymir blacked out.
Ymir woke up coughing out something, eyes burning and her whole body felt in pain. Soon, she peeled her eyes open and looked around, and confusion overtook her body as she stared at the sand dunes all around her. Panic soon followed, and she ran toward somewhere, wanting to get out of that place and go back with her dad.
Another thunder-splitting the ground sound came, and she turned around.
There, in the distance, was a white three bleeding into the sky. Its branches moving slowly, but surely, as they grew bigger and bigger and some of them even merged with closed ones. Ymir watched fascinated, any other emotions dissipated from her body as she simply looked at the majestic sight. The sand beneath her feet, and the silence drowning everything else.
It felt surreal.
"You are finally here." A deep male voice rang within that place, and Ymir turned around.
Walking toward her, was a male blonde man wearing white robes and a golden crown over his head. It was similar to a face she had seen in a book that her dad wanted her to personally remember.
"Who are you?" Ymir demanded, softly, her body tensing.
"Please, stay calm, Ymir, I wish you no harm." The man, tone calm and soothing.
"How do you. . .?"
"I have watched you grow, Ymir." The man explained, but the girl quickly shot another question.
"Can I know your name?"
The man nodded, a sad smile crossing over his face. "My name is Klaus Fritz, but you would commonly know me as the father of Karl Fritz, the king who is no king at all."
Ymir's eyes widened.
"and I've waited for this very moment to finally talk to you."
A/N: I've decided, I will show you guys the most relevant stuff for the story, and maybe later I'll do a spin-off of the in-betweens.
What do you guys think?