A/N: Thank you to all who read the Prologue. I'm sorry for any mistake I may have overlooked. Everything I post is not edited and un-betaed.

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Тhe Royal Decree
Chapter 1

"You have got to be shitting me," Levi Ackerman growled lowly for the nth time that day. The paper in his hands crumpled under his forceful grip. The frown on his face was more prominent than usual.

No matter how many times he read the letter, the contents didn't really change. They have already talked about the arrangements and had agreed -and disagreed- with a lot of things. He didn't like it one bit, but who said he could do anything about it?

Humanity's strongest wasn't having a nice day.

The woman behind the desk just sighed, having read the document earlier. The sun glared harshly against the window, silhouetting Hange's form. The sound of the new cadets' roughhousing could be heard from the fields outside.

The Survey Corps' gallant effort in ensuring humanity's advancement had inspired quite a large number of military trainees to lend to their cause. Their current numbers didn't reach the total number of soldiers who died a few months prior, but they made up for that with new weapons and intel.

Hange and Levi worked closely with the Reeves company who offered their services to assist the Survey Corps in any way they can. Together, they developed new technology that could help crack the mystery behind the titans' existence even for just a little bit.

The two superior officers decided to keep the information they gained Grisha Jaeger's basement a secret from everyone outside the corps while they pieced together all the data. Who was the Beast Titan? Why did he want to kill all the people inside the walls? Was he Marleyan or Eldian? Are the titans really people that got thrown out from another land, far from the only civilization they have known all their lives? Are Grisha Jaeger's notes even trustworthy?

All those questions needed answers but everything is at a standstill until they find out what the hell is happening with Historia in Mitras for her to decree something so absurd.

"And we thought humans were the least of our worries," the short man continued as he paced around the office, the clutter was at the back of his mind for once. "What is the Queen thinking?"

"Humanity's future, apparently," Hange answered wryly. "I wonder how the recruits-"

The door was thrown open and six teenagers stumbled through the doorway before Hange could finish her sentence.

"Commander!" Eren gasped between harsh pants, they probably ran back to the Headquarters from town.

"The Queen-...she-...everyone-..." Armin tried to explain but failed miserably while he caught his breath.

Then, when everyone seemed to have recovered, they all started talking at once. Sasha, with her exaggerated hand movements and facial expressions. Jean yelling unintelligible things. Connie stealing furtive glances towards Sasha while mumbling about loud gluttonous brunettes. Eren trying to reason out why this was the stupidest thing Historia could have done. Mikasa blushing quietly at one corner, the only one in the group not making a sound. And Armin drawing out calculations and the pros and cons of the Royal Decree.

Everything just added to the superiors' headaches.

Hange shifted in her seat and the sun reflected on her specs as she rested her chin on intertwined fingers. Levi, in turn, just frowned at the babbling bunch in irritation.

"Oi, you brats!" he yelled over the commotion, effectively shutting them up.

"Heichou! We did not see you there."

The Captain directed his glare towards Sasha who cowered in fear.

Eren's eyes drifted towards the Captain's hand where a crumpled paper was held, the royal insignia slightly damaged from the abuse.

"So you already know about the Royal Decree!" he told the shorter man.

And everyone started talking once again.

A tick formed on Hange's forehead and she slammed her palm in irritation before abruptly standing up. "ATTENTION!"

The six rookies, ingrained with three years of harsh military discipline, ceased all activity and snapped into a crisp salute. They all faced the suddenly-imposing Hange Zoe who walked in front of her desk to stand beside Levi.

"As you may have already heard, Queen Historia has ordered every unmarried person to find a partner and be married in two months' time. You have freedom to choose whoever you want to marry. But, if the deadline is over and you still haven't found anyone, the government will find some random person for you and you'll have no choice but to spend the rest of your lives with a stranger," the Commander paused and stared the six younger soldiers down. "Now, I know that this is absolutely ridiculous and you might think that Historia has become..." She brought her pointer finger up to her temple and moved it in circular motions. "But it is also necessary. The human population has plummeted to critical level and most of the remaining ones are the elderly or still unable to bear children. Somehow, I can see some rationality in the Queen's decision."

She adjusted her glasses which started to slide down her nose. "In addition to that, for a whole year women will have minimal work. That means no expeditions outside the walls, no harsh training exercises, and no dangerous stuff. In short, it will be a boring 12 months for us." She even pouted for show. "And as for specifics like honeymoons, maternity/paternity leaves and the likes, we can talk about all that when the time comes. Let's cross the bridge when we get there, they say."

The Commander struggled to rein in her snickers at the horrified expressions on the brats' faces. 'Oh, shit. Don't tell me, they haven't touched up on the birds and the bees before they got sent off to military training!?'

Levi's uninterested gaze swept over the teenagers. "So now, what you little shits have to do is pair up, get married to whoever and give birth to more brats."

His words prompted a lot of different reactions from the group. Mikasa uncharacteristically blushed furiously as she thought of different scenarios only she knew. Sasha wondered if she could marry a potato. Armin inwardly panicked because he wasn't close with any other girl except Mikasa, but everybody knew Mikasa would pair up with Eren. Connie still kept stealing glances at Sasha. Jean imagined getting married to Mikasa, but everybody knew Mikasa would pair up with Eren and he never really stood a chance against the titan shifter.

"N-No way..." Jean started to protest.

"Or would you rather be charged with treason?" the shorter man challenged stoically. "You know the Queen's word is law. If you defy her, you'll go to prison."

"H-How about...single blessedness?" Jean finished lamely and suddenly the ground was more interesting.

Levi tsk-ed and ignored Jean, opting to stand beside Hange to lean on her desk. He was mindful not to touch the coffee stain on the desk. He mentally catalogued the newly-found stain to be scrubbed later. Hopefully, Sasha and Connie brought back the right kind of cleaner.

"So..." Armin started with uncertainty, fear coating his words as if the Commander and the Captain were titans. "W-Who... Who are you m-marrying, C-Captain?"

The world stood still. And a few birds could be heard squawking from a distance.

Levi raised a delicate eyebrow at the teen genius and it made Armin feel like he was the most irrelevant bug that the Colossal titan could squash by just breathing on him.

Oh, the irony of that thought.

Everyone waited with bated breath for the Captain's answer.

He moved his arm and stuck his thumb towards the direction of the smirking Commander. "Who else, but this Shitty Four Eyes?"

A/N: Yo! Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Give me your thoughts and suggestions...heck, I'd even accept (and answer) any questions you may have!