Hearing footsteps behind me, I looked up to see Armin approaching me. "Did Jean 'kiss' you again?" he asked, a smiling playing at his lips as he finger-quoted the word 'kiss.' I nodded and felt a flush creep up my face. Looking at me, he invited me to sit down on the bench. I complied, and he sat down right next to me. Strangely, it felt better than it ever did with anyone else, even my parents.

"My mom had a fit after she found me," he commented, and I looked up. "Oh? The woman that found you on the balcony?" I asked, and he nodded. "Geez, I'm sorry about that," I said, and Armin just smiled at me.

"Don't worry about it," he commented. "I'm used to it, and I'm happy that I'm saying in the northern wing of the palace as far away from her as possible."

"The northern wing?" I repeated, and he said, "Yep. And, if I may, where are your rooms?"

The northern wing as well," I said, and I felt myself blush yet again. Even in the darkness I saw Armin' face become red, and I gave him a pat on the back, as well as a brief side hug.

Shrugging it off, I sighed. "How have you been enjoying the galas these past two days?" I asked. Armin looked at me and responded, "They were okay, but they were so much better when I started talking to you."

I smiled at the comment, reflecting on how happy I had felt these past two days, including meeting Mikasa, Eren, and Armin. "I suppose I should be thanking you," I said, "for allowing me to dance and talk with you. That was the most fun I've ever had in a long time."

Armin nodded, and we heard a lone violin in the distance. Well, maybe not so in the distance, because when I looked up I saw Erwin Smith himself, the best violinist in the palace, giving us the thumbs-up. With that, Armin smiled, laughed, and inquired, "Would you care to dance with me once more, lady?"

Without responding I beamed up at him and gently gave him my hand, which he took gently and, after allowing me to stand up, used to guide me to the center of the gazebo floor. Swaying gently with him, I was reminded why I had grown to like him so much in the first place. I placed my head on the taller boy's shoulder, slightly infuriated that I was just barely 5'1" with heels. Stupid genetics.

We continued to move just like that for the next few minutes. At one point I heard our bet cellist, Levi, joined Erwin and played a cello-violin duet of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. To say the least, I was happier than I had been in a long time.

"Lady! Are you okay?!" Armin's startled voice awoke me from my reverie and, putting a hand to my face, I realized that I was silently crying.

"Fucking hell," I muttered. Then I looked up and started spluttering, trying to correct my language. "No, wait, shit- goddammit! That's not what I meant to say at all!"

Instead of running away like I expected him to, Armin simply started laughing. "I actually like it when you curse," he explained. "The look on your face is priceless when you do."

"Really," I countered coyly. "I thought princes were all into the prim-and-proper-princess thing. And here I am, cursing the world away and dancing with someone other than my betrothed-to-be."

Armin smiled. "Not all princes are into the prim and proper thing. Hey," he said, suddenly changing the topic. "Wanna race to the steps from here?"

I raised my eyebrows and gestured at my dress. "Do you really expect me to be able to run in this thing?" I questioned, and Armin giggled a little bit. "I suppose not,"he mused. Ignoring all sense of decorum I looked at the boy, smiled, and made a run for the steps. I heard Armin yelp behind me, and a set of footsteps behind me running. He caught up with me and lifted me up off the ground, despite my protests.

"Geez, for a girl you're really heavy!" he grunted as me put me down. "Blame the dress," I quipped. "It's at least ten pounds, not including all the jewels and stuff like that." Armin laughed at the comment, and I pretended to be offended. "What? It's true!" Smiling at that last bit, I turned to give Armin a quick hug. He returned it easily, and I figured that it was a wonder that no one had spotted me yet talking to a boy other than my fiancé- except the two musicians and Hanji, but I trust them enough to keep a secret, so I wasn't worried.

I heard the sound of heels approaching us, and I looked up to see Mikasa approaching us. "The party is about to end, my lady," she warned me. "I highly suggest you depart for the ballroom now and bid them farewell."

Nodding and sighing, I turned to Armin. "We should go," I suggested, and he nodded. Nodding at Mikasa, he said, "Pleasure to see you agin, Lady Mikasa."

"Prince Arlert," she responded, and the three of us departed for the ballroom. Chatting idly, Eren joined us in the hall just outside the ballroom, and as I entered I snuck into my throne without anyone noticing. Another butler tapped me on the shoulder, signaling that it was time to say farewell, and I stood up to wave goodbye to all of the guests that weren't staying in the palace.

It took a long time, but all of the guests left. Climbing down from the throne with my arm on Erwin's, I commented to him, "Very nice playing tonight, sir." He nodded and smiling. "Thank you my lady," he responded. "Speaking of which, would you like another lesson soon? They would be very good for you."

Knowing very well that he wasn't talking about the violin, which I had practically already mastered, I nodded. "I would, but I need to check what I am doing tomorrow. I will send Mikasa to either you or Levi with the message."

Erwin nodded. "Why don't you ask her now?" he suggested, and I saw her standing right next to us. I raised my eyebrows in shock. How had she gotten here without my noticing?!

"Tomorrow you have a meeting with the commander of the military at eleven," she described. "Then you have dinner with the conductor of the orchestra at six, which should last about two hours. The best time for your lesson would be at eight thirty, and it would be recommended to last roughly an hour."

"Eight thirty it is, Sensei," I said, and nodding he left for Levi's side. Taking that as my signal to leave, I bade everyone good night and left for my rooms. Armin accompanied me, as we were staying in the same palace wing. We chatted about idle things until we reached my rooms.

"Goodnight, my lady," Armin said, and he knelt to kiss my hand. Blushing, I responded, "Goodnight, my lord."

I entered my rooms and sighed. That was an extremely entertaining party. I got changed for bed and fell asleep almost as soon as I climbed into my bed.