AN: Alright! Sorry if I'm a bit late in updating like I promised but my laptop died again and I haven't moved my files yet so I'm starting this chapter from scratch. Little bastard just won't stop making my life harder. Anyways, in the previous chapters, I made you guys vote for the OC love interest of Celeste. 1 voted no and 2 voted yes. Majority calls for it. Worry not; he won't be that major a character. Okay, while we ain't exactly at the start of the Finale arc, we are getting close to it and after that, this story is done. Also, Thanks to those who reviewed and followed. I really appreciate them. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

CHAPTER XLIII:

VISIT TO SINA

A day after they arrived, Celeste was sleeping in her bed. They still had 3 days of leave left so she can sleep in whenever she wants. Of course, something will happen that will prevent her from getting more sleep.

"Celeste, get up! Commander Irvin is going to be arriving any moment!" The familiar voice of Eren yelled from the other side of the door. Celeste groaned in annoyance and rubbed her face.

"Alright, I'll be there!" She replied. She heard his footsteps walk away and Celeste got up from bed and made a beeline for the bathroom with her uniform. Once she's done with her business, she headed for the dining area. Everyone was having breakfast and talking.

"Morning." She greeted them as she sat down in front of her food.

"Good Morning, Celeste." Armin greeted as he handed Celeste her phone. She was glad to see the thing was still in one piece. She ate her breakfast and a couple of minutes later, The Commander walked in.

"Oh, good, you're all here." He said.

"The hell are you doing here?" Levi asked him with an annoyed tone.

"I am so glad you asked, Levi. There's a noble in Stohess. His family has supported the Scouting Legion ever since the war started. He's requesting my presence." The Commander said.

"And you're here because?" Celeste asked.

"He wants to meet the Special Operations Squad as well. We're staying in Sina for the day. We'll be back tomorrow at the most."

Celeste and Eren groaned in annoyance. Needless to say, none of them are exactly fond of Sina. It was full of stuck up nobles who care about nothing but themselves, their statuses, their titles and their wealth. Plus they'll most likely run into the Military Police and none of them are exactly fond of them as well.

"Perfect. A day with a stuck up noble. Just what I needed." Celeste said as she buried her face in her hand.

"Oh by the way, his son is in the 109th, Celeste. Maybe you know him. And right now, he's in the Police." The Commander added.

"Hypocrite." She said in between fake coughs. She knew her mother caught that remark because she looked at her sternly. But seriously? His family supports the Legion but he's safe in the Police.

"Anyways, I doubt I know him." Celeste added. She never had any friends from the 109th. Some were too scared of her that they steered clear away from her and some didn't like her and would often beat her up. She'd end up with a bruise or two while they'd end up rolling in the floor in pain. Of course, there were some that would help her in patching up her injuries but that's about it.

"I suggest you finish up here." The Commander said. With a sigh, they immediately started packing once they were in their respective rooms. An hour later, Celeste was in a carriage supplied by the noble with her parents and The Commander. Eren, Mikasa and Armin were stuck in a different carriage. Celeste was playing with a ball to alleviate her boredom. She kept bouncing it up and down repeatedly until it got to the point that Levi snatched it in mid air and pocketed it.

"Hey!" She whined but Levi ignored her. Her mother was reading while Commander Irvin was formulating a new plan for the next Expedition so they'd obviously be of no help in getting her ball back. And so, Celeste spent the majority of the trip, bored out of her mind. Finally, they arrived in Sina and for once in her 19 years of existence, Celeste was actually glad to be outside.

"Celeste, come here." Petra called for her. She immediately approached her.

"What?" She asked.

"Alright, I know you really don't like nobles but can you at least try and behave yourself?" She requested. Really? Not even 5 minutes, she ain't even doing anything and she's already being told to behave.

"Try and show some respect and if you run into any of them, PLEASE do not pick a fight with the Military Police. If not for yourself, please behave for your mother here. Your father is hard enough to deal with." Her mother begged her. She was doing the puppy dog eyes without even knowing it. Unfortunately for Celeste, she shares the same weakness as her father.

"Fine." She answered. They entered the noble's house and they were directed to the sitting room. There were two people there; one was a man with green eyes and black hair but it was obvious that they were starting to gray with age. The other person was a boy about the same age as Celeste. While he had the same eyes as the man beside him, he has red hair. He had stubble in his face, a bruise by his mouth and eye and he was wearing the Military Police Uniform. She realized that the boy was Richard Hartley. One of the trainees from the 109th and 9th in their class because he was weak in hand to hand combat. She remembered him because while he feared her, he showed her some kindness by helping her with her wounds and he was quite the fanboy, always claiming that he was in awe with her skills. Especially when they got paired up in hand to hand combat training.

'Last I checked, no shave November was months ago.' Celeste thought. The older man sent the boy away.

"Welcome. I am Lord Edward Hartley. Please sit. We'll talk about business." He said. At least, he's straight to the point.

"Of course. So what does a noble from Sina need from the Commander of the Scouting Legion and the Special Operations Squad?" The Commander asked as they sat down.

"Yes, well, I'm sure you know that my family has always supported the Scouting Legion, yes? Regards to funds and all that?" He asked.

"Yes, of course. We know that." The Commander answered.

"Well, here's the thing; I have 7 invitations to the next ball. I specifically got them for The Commander of the Scouting Legion and The Special Operations Squad. I know you can use that ball to your advantage for more funds for the next Expedition." Lord Edward said as he waved the invitations in our faces as proof. Celeste spoke up immediately.

"What's the catch?"

He stopped waving the invitations at them and had a questioning look on his face.

"How did you know that, for the first time, there's going to be a catch?" He asked. They all looked at Celeste with shock written in their faces (Levi just gave her an emotionless look). Not even Armin thought that there could be a catch to the invitations.

"You're waving those invitations in our faces like your daring us to come and rip it from your hands but you look like you want to ask something. So, what's the catch?" She repeated.

"Perceptive. I like that. I can see why you're in the Special Operations Squad. Alright, I'll indulge you. That boy you saw earlier is my son, Richard. He's in the Military Police." He began.

"Uniform was a dead giveaway but continue." Eren said.

"You see, I support the Scouting Legion but my son went to the Military Police because of the wishes of my late wife. The other members of the Military Police, especially his superiors, bully him into talking me into supporting the Military Police instead of the Scouting Legion. Of course, I can't and I won't do that because I honestly think you guys the only ones making effort to actually beat the Titans."

"What do you want us to do about it then?" Levi asked him.

"I've spoken to Commander Dawk about the issue but it seems he didn't do anything about it. The reason I called even the Special Operations Squad here is because I need permission." He said.

"Permission? For what?" Armin asked in curiosity.

"I hear Captain Levi's daughter is capable of doing extraordinary things. Things that are unusual." Lord Hartley said.

"I'm sitting right here, you know. Get to the point." Celeste snapped at him.

"Yes, I can see that. Point is, I want you to scare Commander Dawk into doing something about my son's problem. In exchange, I'll give you the invitations and funds for the next Expedition." He said. Celeste's frown was beating her dad's. Does he think she's a mercenary for hire?

"She'll do it." Levi said. What?

"Wait, wait, what?" She asked.

"Excellent. Richard will provide Celeste with details." He said as they stood up. Petra dragged Celeste by the collar. Great, just great. Not even ask the opinion of the one involved.

"Miss Ral, you look like you want to say something. Don't be shy. Spit it out. Tomorrow would be too late." Lord Edward said. Celeste turned around with a glare.

"Yeah, I do. You should've sent your son to the Scouting Legion instead."

When they were out of the mansion, Celeste was fuming and was basically ignoring everyone. Finally, they spotted Richard and she approached him while the others told her they'd wait for her.

"You, come with me. Now." She ordered him. They approached the bridge and she sat on the railing.

"So, Richard, give me the details of your issue." Celeste demanded calmly. He hesitated before talking.

"Well, I joined the MP because of my mom's request before she died. Ever since I got there, people and my superiors bully me into talking my dad to supporting the MP instead of the Scouting Legion. It got to the point where they'd beat me up. I'd fight back but I'd always lose. You know how I am in hand to hand."

"Yeah, I do. I often handed your ass to you on a silver platter." She deadpanned.

"Commander Dawk is set to arrive tonight at the MP headquarters. Maybe you could do something about it." He said. She sounded like a nanny instead of a soldier. But suddenly, a light bulb appeared in her head.

"I got an idea. And it would happen in the middle of the night." She said with a wide smile on her face as she looked at the MP headquarters.

"You look cute when you smile." He said dreamily. Celeste found the compliment weird but nevertheless shook it off.

"Come with me. We have to talk to the others." She said as she ran to the others.

AN: AND THAT IS CHAPTER 43! Okay, you guys got to meet the OC love interest of Celeste. Worry not, there'll be more moments of them together. Anyways, I am uploading this at 7:00 PM at December 31, 2013 here in the Philippines. I would like to wish all my fellow Filipinos and everyone around the world a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. Til next time guys. Stay Tuned.