once upon a time there lived a happy woman, when she was 13 she was raped and at the age of 14 she gave birth to a baby boy. She was lonely so she kept the boy and raised him to be good and kind to others. The woman let her brother move in with them. everything was fine until The woman found out a seceret she tried to hide it from her brother but he found out and killed her. Her child was devastated and became closed off to other people. The brother met a woman and fell in love with her, she had 2 sons and they got married. Later the woman fell ill and died, The child was then forced to do all the household chores, take care of everyone and never allowed to speak. this child's name was Levi

Levi sighed as he finished sweeping, he didn't hate cleaning, in fact he took great joy in it, he just hated his life. The only things that didn't piss him off were his friends around the village Hanji, Erwin, and Petra. Hanji was a doctor, Erwin worked as captain of the royal guards, and Petra was a maid in the castle. Levi had a job other than a slave, on his day off he would go to the bar in town and serve drinks for some cash.

"Slave!" Levi scurried to the dining room where his uncle was. "get me some bread, eggs, and milk" Levi nodded

"don't forget to feed the chickens!" his cousin added.

"and milk the cow! also I need a bath today!" Demands and orders were thrown around at Levi and all he could do was nod and try not to hit them. Levi got the milk and fed the chickens, he got them breakfast but tripped over his uncle's foot and spilled food over all of them.

"you fool you stupid fucking fool!" Levi stood up and bit his lip. "you never listen! Maybe slashes from the whip will fix that!"

"No please! It won't happen again! Please!" Levi begged as he was dragged away to the basement.

his uncle whipped him 4 times then another 5. Levi winced but never cried, he would never show them he was weak that was what they wanted.

"you. only. have. one. more. chance. before. I. throw. you. out!" he gave a slash between each word. Levi was let free and was sent to bed.

Levi didn't go to bed like he was told, instead he grabbed the bandages and wrapped his wounds. Levi wanted to taste freedom but knew he had to make sure no one saw who he really was. He grabbed a cloak from the closet and a mask to keep himself hidden he had to blend with the night but it was only noon so he would wait until he could be free.

meanwhile at the castle

Prince Eren sighed as his father went on and on about someone to marry. Eren nodded but his mind was elsewhere dreaming about being free and not here.

"we need to find you a wife! Maybe even a husband! As long as you find someone!" Eren's thoughts stopped

"wait, A wife or husband?" Eren asked suddenly.

"Yes as long as you find someone!" Eren smiled widely. "get going boy! You have French lessons!" Eren walked with more of a spring in his step. The prince sat down but found his teacher wasn't there. Eren shrugged and opened his notebook and doodled with his quill, he knew he had a life of luxury and anything he wanted was given to him but he still rembered that day.

Eren was 7 and was walking through the garden when he saw a boy maybe about 10 looking at an apple from a tree, he was trying to get it down but there was a fence he had to jump to get to it. Eren climbed the tree and got the apple down and handed it to the boy. Eren saw steel grey eyes watching him those eyes were unlike any he had seen. "your eyes!" The boy looked away after taking the apple "no, not in a bad way, they are beautiful!" The 10 year old blushed but didn't say anything. "you should go" Eren said as he heard his babysitter catching up to him. "promise to come back?" they boy nodded and hid in the brush when an adult came and dragged Eren away.

Eren was pulled out of his thoughts as a bell rang dismissing him to dinner. Eren ate alone as he usually did since his father was always busy. Eren checked the time and made his way to the garden and waited for his friend.

Levi gave a sigh of relief it was finally time. He slipped on his green cloak and put the hood up. He put on the black mask and tied it at the back. Levi jumped out his window that was luckily on the second floor and a pile of fresh hay caught his fall. Levi dusted himself off and got on his black steed and rode into the woods.

Eren saw a letter and knew it was his friend's handwritting. He offten did this left a note telling the prince to meet him somewhere or a note saying he couldn't come. Eren was surprised by the crusive handwritting since only royals knew it.

Eren grabbed a cloak and mask so if he ran into anyone they wouldn't know it was the prince. Eren grabbed a brown horse and rode into the woods keeping his green hood up and tied the silver mask on. He kept his head low.

Levi got off his horse and sat down by the river waiting for his friend. Seconds later hoofbeats were heard until they stopped. Levi felt someone tap his arm. He turned and there stood the brunette with emerald eyes.

"why here?" Eren asked sitting next to him.

"why not here" Levi answered picking up a rock and skipping it across the water. Eren did the same.

"can I know who you are?" Eren asked turning to Levi. Levi shook his head "why not?"

"y-you wouldn't like the real me" Levi answered scooting away a little.

"how do you know? Maybe I will, we have been friends for years!" Levi shook his head again "can I ask basic questions not personal?" Levi shrugged.

"sure, but I get to ask questions as well" Eren nodded.

"favorite color?" Levi looked Eren in the eyes

"emerald" Eren nodded. "yours?" Levi tossed another rock.

"blue" Eren smiled, "what is your name?" Eren asked lifting up another rock close to the one Levi grabbed.

"Levi, yours?" Levi bit his lip, he moved a little closer to his friend

"Eren, Levi huh? I like it, isn't it French?" Levi nodded.

Eren hugged Levi allowing them to both to be warm. Levi leaned into the touch it felt nice to be touched kindly. They stayed like this for a while.

"can I ask something else?" Levi nodded.

"would you like to come to the ball my father is having?" Levi felt his breath stop. Levi knew Eren was the prince but he didn't know if it an invition as his escort or just someone there. Levi nodded. "great, you need an invite to get in where do you live?" Levi shook his head. "fine, I will give you one, stay here" Eren grabbed an envolpe from his bag along with some sweets. He handed a baked treat to Levi along with the envolpe.

"thank you, this has been fun but I have to go" Levi stood up and got on his horse putting the letter in his pocket.

"Wait one more question," Levi nodded "do you...like me?" Levi smiled

"of course I do! you are my friend after all" Eren shook his head no.

"more than a friend?" Levi turned red

"u-umm I- I have to go see you!" Levi rode to his tiny village as Eren went to the castle.

it was almost runrise when Levi finally got into his room. It was the same dark cold, damp place it always was. Levi sat by the fireplace and hummed while he sewed the last few stitches into the blanket he had been making. Footsteps were heard then the door slammed open.

"get up! chores need to be done! The list is on the table!" Levi stood up and hurried to the kitchen. He was thankful that today he didn't have to make breakfast. Levi and the servants of the household tool turns cooking. Levi picked up the list and and read. The first thing to do was take care of the farm animals.

Levi put on his cloak and grabbed animal feed and spread the chicken feed around, he got the eggs, fed and watered the horses, milked the cow, fed the goat, and cleaned the stables.

it was about noom when he finished with the animals. He came back in and checked the list. Next was sweep the house. Levi got his broom and swept. There wasn't a lot of dirt since he did this daily.

Levi finished his chores and finally had a moment to breath. He opened the letter and read.

you are invited to the royal ball! the prince welcomes you with open arms! the desination is at the palace, please dress nicely! the time and date will be friday at 5:30 it will go on till the prince chooses someone to marry! we hope to see you there

Levi's cousin took the note from him and read, he gasped and handed it to his brother than to his father.

"a ball, well we must go than, where did you get that?" his uncle asked gripping Levi by his hair.

"It was in the mail!" Levi rubbed his head when his uncle let go.

"you stupid boy, did you think you could actually go? The prince would never be that stupid as to let you, a slave into the castle" Kenny grabbed Levi by his arm and dragged him to the stables. "boys! get ready!" he slammed the door shut, locking it tightly. "I should have sold you a long time ago!" His uncle grabbed a long metal pole that had been resting on the fire. "your mother was fool to keep you!" Levi was on the ground, eyes widened at the sight of his uncle. Kenny set down the pole again then turned to Levi. "you aren't going to sit still? Fine!" Kenny grabbed Levi clearly stronger and took the rope nearby tying his hands behind his back.

"please, I haven't done anything wrong!" Levi pleaded but his pleas were silenced as a cloth was shoved in his mouth to keep him quiet.

"you stupid fool! You have done everythimg wrong! You were born! along with that bloody witch, I was always cast aside because of her! but when she became pregnant with you! Our parents threw her out, I was supposed to be an only child!" He picked up a metal pole, not as long as the other one. It had words at he bottom of it in a circle. He drew closer to Levi. The teenager was in tears he knew there was no escape, there was no way a hero could save him from this fate.

Kenny pressed the hot metal onto Levi exsposed shoulder taking in the sound of muffled screams. He did it once again to his thigh. Levi's cries of pain filled the small stable. Levi knew this was used to mark horses and it looked like it hurt, boy was he right.

Levi's body fell limp when finally he stopped. the metal was hot enough to burn him 4 times before it cooled. the burning pain stayed on his skin. These scars would never fully heal.

Kenny untied Levi and took the cloth out of his mouth Levi was heavily breathing, sweat trickling down his skin onto the floor. His uncle went to the door and unlocked it. He turned to Levi, "I exspect you in bed by midnight" Kenny opened the door. "don't ever think about going to a ball ever again" Levi nodded closing his eyes panting.

Levi limped to his small damp room, he wanted to sleep but he had to see Eren again to tell him the truth, he would wait till after midnight since his uncle would most likely check on him so Eren would have to wait a little simce they met at 11 he could wait. Levi stood up and left his room not bothering with closing the door. he went to his uncle's room knowing not to knock. "knocking is for important people, next time you knock I will feed you to the hounds" his uncle's voice rang in his ears.

"what is it? I told you to go to bed, did I not?" Kenny put down his book. "if it has to do with a chore, fine, you can even take the horse for a run, but boy if you aren't back by the time I wake up! I will hunt you down and personally break your legs!" Levi gulped and nodded closing the door and hurrying to his room for his cloak and mask.

Levi quickly put on his cloak and limped to the stables tying the mask on. His horse was overjoyed to ne let out for a ride. The black steed stood still as Levi put on the saddle and bridle. He made sure it was scure before scribbling a note for Eren. He needed to hurry otherwise Eren would have to go to bed and wouldn't be able to see him.

Eren was doing a simlular thing as Levi, sneaking away to see his crush. Tonight he was going to tell him about everything. He put on the same attire as he had on before and climbed out his window to the stables. Everyone was asleep so once he hit the ground he didn't need to be as cautious. Eren went to the garden looking for the note, whem he saw a small paper he grabbed it and quickly read.

Levi wanted to meet him at the apple orchid in town, he told him to hurry and that he was ready.

Eren didn't know what this meant but was curious either wayhe got on a black and gray Pinto and went to the apple orchid. Of course he was the last to arrive since Levi lived closer to it.

Levi stood high in a tree watching the birds fly past and feeling the wind brush through his hair. He turned when he heard a horse neigh in the distance. Levi took a deep breath and hopped down. Eren and his horse pranced into veiw.

"Before you say anything, I want to asl you something" Levi bit his lip nodding to Eren. "I already know who I want to marry but they have to be at the ball" Levi nodded again. "Please, Levi be my one and only?" Eren asked opening his arms to Levi. "I know we don't know much about each other but I want to, I want to see the real Levi"

Levi backed away turning to face the moon. "I can't let you see that part of me" Levi pulled the cloak closer making sure his shoulder was hidden from view. "you wouldn't like it, maybe it is best if you marry someone else, someone who gives a damn about their life" Levi bit his top lip trying not to cry.

"no! I know I barely know you but I want to I want to know the good and bad part please" Eren moved in front of Levi. "please whoever is hurting you I will make them pay, I want to be there for you" Levi watched as Eren moved closer their mouths inches apart. "I love you Levi" Eren closed his eyes and connected their lips in a kiss. Levi slowly closed his eyes and kissed back. They both wanted this for so long it felt like a dream.

After so time they pulled apart Eren rest his forehead against Levi's staring into his steel eyes waiting for him to react. Eren pulled it a step farther and took Levi's mask off.

"what the hell!" Levi covered his face so Eren wouldn't see. "why did you do that? Give it back!" Levi tried to grab it back but Eren held it higher so he couldn't reach it.

"Levi, I don't want to love someone for their past, how they see themselves, or even for their shoe size" Eren cupped Levi's cheeks. "I want to love them for who they are, and I love you" Levi closed his eyes.

"You are so fucking stubborn." Levi chuckled. "Fine, I will marry you but I have to stay with you until the ball, get to know what little I can of you, ...and your mask" Levi untied Eren's mask much to his pleasure. "Comes off as well"

Levi and Eren were married and as for his uncle and stepbrothers they were exiled out of the kingdom then murdered in their home by band its.

The prince and his husband lived happily ever after