Hey, welcome back!
I have to say that this update may have been delayed a bit, but that contributes to the extra scenes I put into it.
Now past chapter I made mention and tribute of voice actor Keiji Fujiwara, who acted on both Code Geass and Attack on Titan as the original voice of both Claus Warwick and Mr. Hannes. He had lend his voice to many characters over the years. Those being Maes Hughes (Fullmetal Alchemist), Leorio (Hunter x Hunter), Axel/Lea (Kingdom Hearts), Hiroshi Nohara (Crayon Shin-chan), Mato/King Fiore (Fairy Tail), Mewtwo (Pokemon) as well as multiple roles in the Gundam Franchise. He also had gone to provide the Japanese Dub for The Joker (The Dark Knight 2008), Megatron/Dinobot (Transformer Prime/Beast Wars) and most of Robert Downey, Jr's roles such as Tony Stark/Iron Man (MCU) and Sherlock Holmes. And so many more...
Before he passed away in 2020 due to cancer. His performances still live on...
#62
The Birdcage
Elegance.
That was the first thing he and his friends saw when the large doors opened for them, before they finally entered the glistening white hall.
Already nobles of Inner Walls and the higher-ups have already gathered throughout the hall. It was when their group had made entrance, that almost all the occupants' attention fell on them.
"Pinch me."
"Huh?" the pony-tailed girl glanced at her shaven-head friend.
"Please, pinch me."
"What for?!"
"Pinch me… or bite me with those insane pack of teeth you have, potato girl!" the shaven-haired boy started chuckling nervously. "Just to make sure… that I'm not dreaming!" He made nervous deep breaths. "If I am and I'm realizing it… then I'm going to throw up!"
"You do that…" an older voice… coming from the one several inches shorter… "And I'm going to make you wipe the floor with your tongue, you little brat."
"Dah!" the clean-shaven boy gulped. "Right, sorry, Captain!"
"Just cut it out, will ya?" Horse Face in his new suit chided, before he looked at the hall with awe. "I just can't believe it… to think… just six months ago… we were hanging about in the dusty cabins of the Cadet Corps…"
"And now we are invited guests walking inside the capital in Mithras…" the blonde boy said with equal feeling.
"And were not even MP's…" the clean-shaven head boy grinned. "But as Scouts."
"Strange, but true…" the bespectacled woman in a suit shared. "For a long time… the Survey Corps hasn't had this kind of favorable light."
"Just don't get used to it," the captain reminded with a cold stare. "Just because we got ourselves a big win in the past week… doesn't go the same for everyone."
"Why's that, Captain?" the blonde asked.
"Take a look at your right," the captain gestured, making everyone in the group to spot a several nobles and soldiers… discreetly glaring at them, before they went to mask it. "Some of them are pissed. They're pissed with how we practically staged a coup against their old boss… and now that we have a new queen… they know the influence and power they coddled for so long… is practically slipping away."
"Hmph…" the captain grimaced. "Either that… or they dread that they may be interrogated by Zachary. And I don't need to tell you brats… of the way he interrogated Lord Aurille…"
…
"Geez, you sure like to cheer things up your way, don't you, Captain?" the bespectacled commander grinned.
"Shut it, Four Eyes…" he scoffed.
"I think it's not all of us…" the boy said, all his friends looking at him. "They might as well be glaring at me. And they have pretty good reason to…"
It was because of who he was. What he had in his possession. The part he played in bringing up the new crown.
And the part his father had played… which he had only discovered not too long ago.
…
And he couldn't forget about Stohess…
"If they are having thoughts of wanting harm you… then I won't let them…" the raven-haired girl, with a small horizontal scar on her right cheek stated with a glare. She stood quite close to the boy. "You just stay close. You're safest around me."
"Oh, would you cut it out?" the boy groaned annoyed. This was one of her times doing it again. "You don't have to baby me every second. We're not even on the battlefield."
…
"Come on, let's not batter up so much, right now," the clean-shaven haired boy said. "We're here to celebrate. Relax. At least that's what we can get… for once in a while."
"Well," Horse Face patted his stomach. "I know something that can get mind off." He glanced at the direction of what appeared to be the food table set up. "And it looks like…"
"MEAT!" the potato-girl started drooling at she spotted just meters away… either by her good eye or the smell. "MEAT! I need it! I must have it!" She raised her hands… now shaking for… "MEAT!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Horse Face exclaimed when the girl pounced towards the table. "Slow down!"
"Oh, for crying out loud!" the clean-shaven boy facepalmed.
It would be a while before the new queen arrived to make her announcement, for now, the boy and his two friends could only walk about while hearing the constant whispers of the guests around them.
"I heard the Reeds Company is going through a complete overhaul."
"That is maybe thanks to its new management."
"Not sure if that Flegel Reeves is as competent as his father was."
"I heard he played a part in helping the Scouts expose the old government."
"It was because some of the MP's killed his father."
"Good grief."
"They and several merchant companies are putting their faith in the Scouts."
"You don't actually believe they can reclaim the Wall. That's always been a pipe dream."
"Stocks have been running to an all-time low. Citizens in Wall Rose are already struggling."
"Oh, and what about that generous donation of rations sent out by the king not so long ago?"
"King Fritz is no longer the king. Practically he never was."
"And what of the status of the old lords? I heard their families may be stripped of their past titles and banished from the interior."
"Maybe worse than, considering the rumors I have hearing… of Premier Zachary has been doing in his spare time."
"Say no more, please."
"All this happening in a week?"
"Well, the Fall of the Outer Wall happened in less than a day…"
"I dread to think what would happen next?"
…
"I don't suppose you think the Queen might take down these paintings. The King… well, Fritz did favor them."
"That one belonged to Lord Reiss."
"That painting fetched a rather tidy sum."
"Well, Art's a safer bet than gold these days."
"Nonsense, nothing beats national bonds in wartime."
"True, but Britannia doesn't seem to want to expand the war."
"It's best when both sides simply glare at each other like they are now."
"A war without fighting is more profitable than peace, I suppose."
"Perhaps I should have invested more."
"Your bankers are terrible."
"That's true."
Eren glanced around.
In the middle of the bustling crowed of noble dressed men and women, inside a lavish and gleaming golden hall. The floor was polished, gold chandeliers lined up the ceiling, drinks were being served at the bar, and on the opposite side were the fine windows showing the dark blue night outside.
He blinked twice to realize the difference.
He was no longer accompanied by familiar faces. The guests around him look so similar, yet different. A foreign place he was in.
Leila's Apartment Suite
Paris, France, Republic of Europia
Late July a.t.b. 2018, r.y. 229
Eren heard his stomach growl…
He didn't want to admit he was hungry. It caused him to enter the kitchen room of the apartment complex and open the refrigerator.
These refrigerators. They were a different mechanism he had only learnt were commonplace almost everywhere.
They could put an end to the never-ending concerns over rotten meat and vegetables.
Inside was cool and the products were decently organized.
Even so, he didn't feel it best to casually pick through Leila's food and drink. Even though she did say he was welcome to do so.
He closed the refrigerator. It has only been a day. Spending a night no longer in a cot in a square cell… but rather in a wide rectangle guest room, that came with fresh white sheets and mattress, clean carpet, white walls, and a window that had a view to the city of Paris outside.
As soft and comfortable was the bed Eren (practically the best he had laid on in a while) he couldn't help but feel… uneasy about this… arrangement…
Eren at least went over to pick a transparent glass from the cupboard, before going over to the sink…
The sink… and how… almost instantly when Eren turned over the facet just as Leila had done when she washed her hands…
Faucets and bathrooms with toilets that could instantly bring about water through a system…
Not even those in the Interior could have this kind of sanitation system.
The showers were not so unfamiliar. But they were far more advanced. And how he can turn to how warm he wanted it.
He couldn't deny it. The hot shower felt so… nice.
He shook his head, before bringing up the glass of water to his lips.
With his glass in hand, he strolled into the room that acted as the living room in the complex. At the center was a white-cushioned couch, with a coffee table in front of it, but right across from it was what caught Eren's attention the most.
The sight of a flat black screen on top of a wooden cupboard, right across from the couch.
…
Eren thought to turn it on… then he spotted a rectangular object sitting at the table.
A remote. He picked it up. They said that this is what they used to turn on these television screens.
He remembered when the tall woman had first explained to him the concept of television, or other words the 'moving pictures.' And how they were commonplace even on phones or computers.
Eren clicked on the red button that was the power button.
And like that the flat black screen turned on.
"Get 15% or more when you apply to…"
Flipped next channel.
…
"AHHHHHH!"
"Touche, pussycat!"
…
"President Walpole has given a statement to shareholders regarding the latest campaign…"
…
"Why you little!" a practically bald… yellow-skinned… and fat man growled as he started to… strangle his son?
…
Then came another channel that caught Eren's interest but wasn't loud enough.
Wait. There was also a button to turn up the sound, right? Eren looked back at the remote and spotted the '+' above the VOL.
"He's been… very well, I suppose," Leila pulled at a lock of hair. "As much I like to say so… I can tell… he has his… doubts about this. About the arrangement… and perhaps… regarding how he feels feeling like… well… under house arrest."
"Hmm…" She heard Smilas hummed. "I can see why. You know Leila, I'm still not enthusiastic… of the fact you are letting man… virtually stranger… living under the same roof as you."
"I understand, General…"
"I would be assured if you at least have Deputy Warwick to keep an eye on him."
"Claus insisted he has other things to take care of in the city," Leila reminded. "He doesn't have much time to return to Paris like before…"
"That still doesn't excuse for this kind of situation," the general reminded. "I can send one or two of my personnel to watch over…"
"It's alright, General," Leila insisted. "However…" She pondered. "I don't wish to keep him here all the time. I don't want to make him feel like he's… well…"
"You know the conditions made for his transfer, Leila," the general reminded.
"I know," Leila nodded. "I know…"
"Likewise, I hope you are not planning on spending your time watching over your new guest. You will be attending tonight?" Smilas asked. "Have you forgotten about tonight's engagement?"
"Of course not," Leila said. "But I can't just leave…"
She then thought of something.
"Leila? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing," Leila answered. "I just thought of something. Maybe for tonight… I can have…"
"ARGH!"
"Huh?!" Leila jerked back at the yell coming from the living room, before it came with…
"HELP!"
"I need somebody! HELP! Not just anybody! Help!"
Eren could only recoil back and put his hands to ears, having not been prepared by the effect of the maximum volume he turned on, and by the next channel he had flipped over.
"WON'T YOU PLEASE HELP ME! HELP ME!"
"Kruger!" Eren turned his head to see Leila entering the room. "What's going…" Her attention fell on the screen emitting extremely loud sounds that caught his eardrums by shock and was displaying four (almost identical men) playing their instruments and singing all the way…
Leila strolled closer, while covering her ears.
She said something.
"What?!" Eren said.
"WHERE'S THE REMOTE?!"
…
It was only when the young man had crouch when she spotted the remote had fallen under the table. She had to bear with the noise till she finally grabbed it and pulled down the '-' sign that was below the VOL.
…
Finally, there was relief.
Eren let himself fall back on the cushions of the couch, while Leila wiped her forehead.
"I… sorry…" He rubbed his head. "About that…"
"For what?" Leila inquired.
"For that… whatever…" Eren sighed. "I just… didn't expect it to… hit that… loud."
Leila turned to the now mute screen. "Oh, I see you turned the volume on… a bit too high… especially when on the music channel."
"Music channel?" Eren asked.
Leila pulled up the remote, and turned up the volume, but not definitely as high as before, and allowed the screen to bring up the singing of the four men.
"Hmm…" Leila smiled. "It seems I came worried over you handling John, Paul, George, and Ringo…"
"Who?" Eren glanced at her. "Them?"
"Yes."
"Are they supposed to be…" Eren glanced at the four men… and how they look so similar to one another. "…are they supposed to be brothers?"
"What?" Leila then giggled. "Well, it may look that way… but if that was so that would have prevented them from breaking up their band in the first place."
"Their band?"
"Yes, their band. The Beatles."
…
"Why they chose to call themselves after bugs?"
…
"You never heard of the Beatles before?"
…
Eren gave her a look.
"Is something wrong with that…?"
…
"Uh… no…" Leila shook her head. "It's just… well… I would be foolish to blame anyone who hasn't." She fiddled with the remote. "That's if… you're into different artists…"
"I know music bands," Kruger interjected. "I'm not out of the loop."
"Well…" Leila shrugged. "Maybe you are if you haven't heard or listened to them."
With that she turned on the volume back… this time properly.
"When I… say that something! I think you'll understand!"
"I wanna hold your haaannnddd! I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAAANNND! I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND!"
…
"She's got a ticket to ride! She's got a ticket to ride! And she don't care!"
…
Several minutes of listening to (perhaps Kruger's first time hearing the quartet who walked down Abbey Road, to which Leila could only take delight in why tapping her feet to the rhythm) she went to flip to another music channel… but this time was…
"Wait that's…" Kruger's eyes widened with recognition when…
"You ain't nothing but a Hound Dog! You ain't nothing…"
…
"Oh, I see…" Leila observed. So, at least he knows Presley.
They went over in listening another song after that, before long…
"And she said Brandy, you're a fine girl! What a good wife you would be!"
…
They were almost losing track of how much time in the hour they were spending going over the different channels to watch.
"Hello!" the weird, yet ridiculously blue puppet with googly eyes popped in between large yellow bird and an elephant who were going over a plate of…
"COOKIES! NUM! NUM! NUM! NUM! NUM!" He then proceeded to throw his face and hands on the plate…
…
And then going over to…
"WHY YOU LITTLE!"
"Ack! Uck! Argh!"
"You call that saying Grace?!"
…
…
…
"Alright, I think that's enough of that for now," Leila quickly flipped the channel away; Eren noticing a look of discomfort on her face after that. "For today at least."
"A party?" Eren asked.
"Yes," Leila nodded as she sat across from him as they were back in the car. The driver was already driving them through the city once again. "It's a celebration for the success of the Narva Retreat."
"And… you want me to join you?" Eren raised an eyebrow. "For real?"
"Well… there are reasons why…" Leila crossed her leg over the other. "The officer did say you would need to be within reach… due to your… tracker."
Eren had almost forgotten about the infernal device that acted like a leather leach tied to his wrist.
"So, you're not really inviting me." He lowered his eyes. "You're just having to drag me along…"
"Of course not," Leila shook her head. "There is a choice. I can put to have you stay in range while still remaining at the apartment… but then again… you will have to be there all alone when I'm gone."
Eren shrugged.
"On the other hand, I think it's best that you didn't."
"Then why bother asking?" Eren sighed. "You really think it best… bringing a stranger to a party. You worry if I may spoil the fun?"
"No, in fact, it's not going to be much either tonight," Leila explained. "It's only drinks and talking. I'm just attending since it's part of my duty to make appearances."
"If it's tonight, then why are we out while it's barely after noon?" Eren glanced at the window.
"There's a lot prepare before we go tonight." She leaned. "It's time we did a few errands."
(Stories – Code Geass OST)
Various people in the plaza had stared at them, most especially as Leila's uniform stuck out. This was Eren's first time in the plaza.
The floor was flat concrete and other paths were of cobblestone. Left and right were various shopping centers, restaurants, and accessories.
"I don't really need this…" Eren said as he had sat down… when a man was measuring the size of his feet.
"I wouldn't recommend going with the shoes you have," Leila said, as she stood by. "I mean no offense, Monsieur Kruger."
"So, how does your feet wear feel?" Leila asked as they both walked down the street.
"Well…" Eren glanced at the fine brown leather shoes below. "They feel… right… at least… not too big… or too tight."
"That's splendid to hear," Leila smiled. "I think this calls for something to snack on."
They stopped by a nearby vendor, where the owner was giving out a sort of sweet treat in a wrapper. The treat was like that of a waffle filled with white cream and berries.
Leila then noticed Eren still staring at the waffle still in his hand, till she spoke to him. She brought the waffle up and took a piece out of it. Eren glanced again at the treat, and finally leaned to take a bite. Leila noticed at how he became surprised by the taste of it, and was almost turning red by how it tasted.
"Hold still, monsieur," the tailor pleaded as he tried putting a measuring tape around Eren's waist… who still looked uncomfortable with this.
"Please, Monsieur Kruger," Leila said, as she stood by the tailor taking in Eren's measurements next to the mirror. All taking place inside one of the finest tailor shops in this part of Paris. "The good man here is trying to make it easier for your new suit."
"Why bother getting me a suit for?"
"You're not expecting to go just like that?"
Eren sighed.
"Alright," the tailor got the measurement of Eren's waist. "You came in at the right time today, Miss Malcal." He addressed Leila. "We have something that might do quite nicely for your friend here."
Palais des Tuileries
Paris, France, Europia United
Late July, a.t.b. 2018, r.y.: 229.
Eren pulled at the collar of his new suit. As much as he was annoyed to admit it, the tailor did quite a good job. The fabric and lining of the coat and trousers… were done better that the last time he had worn a suit like this… to a similar kind of party in the past.
He had forgotten to tell his thanks to Leila, who was…
"A drink, monsieur?"
Eren was backed out of his thoughts when a female voice called out to him. He glanced to look at her, and saw that she had a fair face accompanied by her short orange hair, blue eyes, and long rabbit ears…
…
What the hell?
Eren blinked twice to make sure the uniform the waitress was wearing was real. It looked more like… some sort of… costume? Her legs were covered in tight leggings, and she wore a strapless blouse that bared her shoulders. All accompanied by the fake white rabbit ears… and fake cottontail attached to her rear.
…
"Monsieur?"
"Uh… sure." Eren graciously took a glass. "Uh… thank you." He then took another for his companion.
The rabbit-eared waitress smiled, her cheeks almost reddening. Before she departed, she turned to give the man a wink.
He turned to look at Leila… who had been leaning against the wall next to the window for almost the past half hour… reading into that small book of hers. Looking completely ignorant of everything around her.
Or even what was being whispered.
"Look at her."
"A military uniform, here?"
"Ugh… that Malcal girl."
"The young lady we heard so much about?"
"She's practically the guest of honor. She's been called the Hero of Narva."
"Her? She's looks barely having got out of school."
"Well, so far… for all the right places… she's looks to have filled them all quite nicely."
…
Eren instantly felt the pressure over the glasses he carried almost crack… almost turning back to see who it was to spit those words out… and then…
…
…
"You know… I find it ironic," Leila glanced from her book at the figure approaching her. "For someone who went through the trouble of having this accompany her to this kind of… party tonight… it looks apparent that she would prefer rather do some late night reading."
…
"Why, Monsieur Kruger… you actually do possess a sense of humor after all," Leila closed her book, and graciously took the drink he offered her.
"Well, maybe I would prefer to read with a book in the corner than to wander aimlessly through this thick-headed mass," Eren gestured to the dense suffocating crowd of tuxedos, stylish dresses, and… a few pairs of bunny ears popping up…
"Have you ever attended parties like this before?"
"Well… in a way," Eren admitted… to some extent. "Though, I'm not a fan of this kind."
…
"Are you sure this is the right party you talked about?" Eren asked. "I thought this had to do with… what happened with the Narva Retreat."
"I'm afraid so," Leila sighed.
"If that is really the case… I find that hard to believe," Eren replied. "Because I have been hearing nothing but art, banking, money, and… how your uniform is standing out from the rest of them."
…
"How charming of them, thank you for notifying me of that, Monsieur Kruger," Leila made a small smile, but it faded when thought of the current situation. "I supposed they would… as if they would care much of what happens on the battlefield or how it operates. None of them are soldiers."
"So, what gives them the right to make merry for Narva?"
"It comes with the successful return of our 15,000 soldiers who had been stranded in Narva," Leila explained. "Public backlash has severe lately regarding the many casualties happening on the frontlines… so…" She glanced at her glass. "With this mission's success… it has given relief to most people…"
"Well, good for them," Eren scoffed. "I didn't know such elite had such hearts."
"I wish I could say otherwise. In hindsight, what led to Narva… it all started with the recent campaign to finally take back Saint Petersburg… only for that to have failed… which was why the regiment had to retreat."
"Is that so?" Eren scoffed. "Then I'm surprised they're not whining and blaming the military for that mission's failure. Not that they have any right to… they don't look like soldiers."
"Unfortunate, but true," Leila sighed. "Look around… I may be the only designated soldier here..."
Eren noticed how her face was becoming down as she stared at her drink, almost with a look of…
Shame? Guilt?
Somehow, her coming here was a contrast to how straightforward and better at the start of the morning to when they went out doing errands in the city.
…
As far as Eren has gotten acquainted with her in the past… day… she didn't give that kind of ill quality.
Why bother coming to this kind of… party?
Why when you would already expect it to be filled with…?
"Leila!"
Then another voice interrupted him… coming from the crowd.
"Is that the one and only Miss Leila Malcal?!"
The new voice was directed towards the pair. Eren could see two older men waving as they came through the crowd and approached them.
The first was the shorter of the two, though wider of waist. He had brown hair that was brushed back, plus the French mustache above his lips.
The second was a head taller than his companion, while also being far leaner. His face was oval shaped with hay blonde hair brushed back.
Both men were dressed very distinguished in black tuxedos.
"Leila! Why didn't call us to tell you would be coming?!" the first man addressed Leila as he smiled. "It's been a whole year since we have seen you!"
Now it was clear to Eren these two weren't just random.
"It has been too long. It's good to see you, Daniel," Leila addressed the first man with a small smile, before looking over to the taller one. "You, too, Stefan."
"Leila, why did you decide to wear that uniform to a perfectly good party?" Daniel addressed his sister's state of dress with a bit of disappointment. "You know how Mama stressed in teaching you on what to dress for such special occasions. I would have thought you put aside such boorish attire."
"My uniform is considered formal attire, thank you, Daniel." Leila closed her eyes, resolute.
"I see your tone is the same as always, Leila." The man named Stefan complimented with a smile.
"Hmm…" Eren almost felt his mouth curved. Another thing to learn about Leila… she was resolute with how she dressed and how she kept her hair… uncaring of what others had to say about it.
It was then both men finally took notice of the young man staying close to Leila.
"Ah, Leila," Daniel said, his gaze meeting with Eren's. "May we ask… who is this young man here?"
"Oh, my apologies," Leila gestured to Eren. "Monsieur Kruger… I would like you meet to my older brothers. Daniel and Stefan Malcal." The two men nodded with friendly smiles towards Eren.
Her brothers. Is that so?
Eren could tell by the atmosphere of familiarity there was between Leila and the two older men. Yet, even as he glanced from Leila to them… he saw barely to no resemblance between them. They looked far older than Leila… unless there was something else…
"Daniel, Stefan," Leila smiled. "This gentleman here is…"
"As I live and breathe!"
…
…
And like that, whatever cheerful atmosphere was building within this suffocating party was being utterly disturbed when Eren heard that new voice, yet unfamiliar voice cutting in. Before he turned, he witnessed the look on Leila's face. She had frozen expression, that being made by the return of a voice that was both familiar… and uneasy.
He turned to glance at the source… only to look in… what?
In front, was that of the male voice coming from another fairly dressed man. His tuxedo being a dark blue with a pristine white shirt underneath. The man was of a height on par with Stefan's… if not taller. He had a shaggy mop of brown hair, and a pair of green eyes.
Yet, it wasn't anything disheveled with the man's appearance, but it was of the two figures on both sides that made Eren almost gap with… cringe? Disgust?
The two figures being women. Two attractive women, one blonde and the other brunette. And both were clinging to each of the man's arms while wearing flashy dresses. Well, the dresses were by far too revealing.
Before long, the man shook the brunette's grip on his arm, before he pushed the blonde girl away (almost very rudely), now focusing his gaze upon Leila.
"If it isn't our little sister."
…
Another one? How many brothers did Leila have? Eren narrowed his eyes. Sure, he looked younger, but there was still no chance of detecting anything of lineage between them. And the smug and wry look he was sending towards Leila…
"Ioan…" Eren looked to see Leila's expression still looking uneasy and… apprehensive? "Hello…" She barely spoke that out… almost sounding nervous as to what the taller brother would reply back.
Eren didn't like the feeling of this.
"To think my little sister has come back home… now a Lieutenant Colonel!" He made a clap. "You really done it Leila… I mean…" He chuckled. "When he got the news… Father was practically fuming back at home."
"Is he then…?" Leila said, looking unsure. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" Ioan waved off, before he turned towards Eren. "Ah! I don't think I had the pleasure. Who is your new friend… Leila?" He gave her side eye inquisitive look.
Eren didn't deter as the taller man had his gaze on him.
"This is Monsieur Eren Kruger," Leila said. "I invited him here as my guest tonight."
"Oh? Invited, hmm?" He almost chuckled before he faced Eren again. "Excuse me, allow me to introduce myself. I am one of Leila's older brothers. Ioan Malcal, third oldest of the Malcal Family."
…
Eren was barely impressed.
"Nice to meet you," he blankly stated.
"Oh, my good monsieur," Ioan instantly took Eren's free hand and shook it. "The pleasure is all mine!"
…
"Oh!" Ioan lifted his face to meet with Eren's. "…and just for further classification and no need to be confused…" He gave a wry smile. "My dear sister… also happens to be my fiancé."
…
What?
…
Leila gasped, before she glared straight at Ioan.
Ioan noticed Eren making a raised look and grinned at this. "Oh? Surprised, my friend? Leila didn't care to tell you? Or did she think that would ruin any fun she was having with you?"
Eren felt the fingers of his free hand start to curl.
"Let me tell you a story of how it all began," Ioan patted Eren's shoulder. "A long time ago, the Malcal Family was gracious enough to adopt her…"
The man suddenly extended his to grab that of Leila's wrist. "Leila has been the golden apple of our father's eye." The woman tried pulling back, causing the man to keep his hold on her tighter. "He thought to adopt her into the family… and saw how convenient it be that we would be married."
Ioan shrugged Leila back, causing her to drop her glass to the floor. Before she could regain her bearings, her brother had caught hold of her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
"The thing is I have no interest in marrying the likes of you," he sneered with contempt. "But—HEY!"
"Ioan! Get a hold of yourself!" Stefan had stepped in to pull Ioan away by his shoulders and away from Leila.
"Brother, you are drunk!" Daniel pleaded, looking very nervously. "You are not acting very…"
"I'm not finished yet!"
The drunkard… was able to break out of both his brothers' hold to quickly grab hold again of Leila's wrist before she could get a distance from him.
"Ioan…" Leila glared as he held her wrist in a vice. "Let go…"
"Let go? Let go?!" the drunkard let out with almost a laugh. "Telling me what to do now, huh? I was just thinking of maybe… I just keep you as my mistress!"
His grip turned harder.
"Ioan…"
"I'll have you as my girl on the side!" the man's stupor and delusional chuckling was getting worse.
Leila glared even harder.
"That would suit you perfectly, Leila, that way I can—ARGH!"
Ioan released his grip from the girl… who had to stomp her heal on his shoe… causing to back up and kneel in pain.
…
Both Daniel and Stefan backed up… fear clearly building up upon their faces.
"Oh, no…" Daniel almost whimpered.
"Grrr!" Ioan groaned before he glanced up to meet Leila, who glared back with her hands balled into fists…
Before long, Ioan glared back with full force.
"You… you little bitch…" He rose up at full height and strolled towards her, raising his hand. "I guess I going to have to teach you for…"
He swung his hand…
…
Another glass of drink clattered to the floor.
It caused other occupants in the room to look at the commotion happening.
Leila gasped.
Ioan's intended slap… was stopped by another slap of the hand… by Eren.
"Huh?!" Ioan in turned gasped when Eren grabbed ahold of his wrist.
Eren's gaze slowly met with Ioan's… and they narrowed.
He then squeezed his hold.
"Gah!" Ioan almost yelped at the sudden strong pressure on his wrist, forcing him to let go of Leila, and stumble back; Eren having let go of his arm.
Ioan clutched his bruised wrist, before looking back at Eren.
"What the?! W-What was… that?!" He stumbled. "You… You…"
"Did that hurt?" Eren lifted his hand. "I didn't think I put too much pressure… it felt like… I was grabbing a twig."
Eren felt the corners of his lips curling…
Whatever expression his mouth was forming was enough to cause the drunkard's stare to quickly shift into a glare, and he started shaking with anger.
"You… you little… you son of a…!" Ioan roared before lunging with a close fist towards Eren, who remained in position when…
…
In a sudden motion, Eren blocked the incoming strike to take hold of the arm, before kicking his foot under Ioan's leg.
With a swift motion, Eren flipped the third Malcal brother to the ground with a loud thud.
The nearby onlookers gasped in shock.
"IOAN!" Both Daniel and Stefan cried out.
Leila could only gap in shock at what she was seeing.
"Dah!" the not-so-smug bastard yelped as he found himself on the ground. "You…" He mumbled. "You… You dare… You dare attack… me?! Attack me?! I… I'll have your neck for this!" He gritted his teeth, all still intact. "My father will… ARGH!"
Eren stopped… when he kneeled… and started to pull his arm the other way.
"Listen closely…" Eren leaned forward, enough for the little slime to hear his whisper. "I know we have only just met… but I know exactly what you are. Talk all you want… but you're scum. The worst kind of scum I would have expected to find in a place like this." He growled. "You're scum… when you start treating others like they're your playthings… and it sickens me." He gritted his teeth. "It sickens me… that someone like you… is supposed to be her brother… let alone her fiancé. It's disgusting…"
He squeezed even more.
Ioan started to whimper.
"You as so much as lay a hand on her… or even spout out any type of trash like that ever again… and it will be last time you will have that hand."
…
Suddenly, Ioan's face started to lose all its color, and froze in place. His shaking eyes were forced to lock back with Eren's.
One pair of small, now-shaking green eyes... were forced to stare back at Eren's own.
Eren's gaze stared deep into them… ready to…
"Eren…"
…
Eren's gaze broke from Ioan's when he heard Leila's voice. The man looked up to see the woman looking petrified at the scene before. Her look giving off something between shock… and almost…
…
Eren released his grip on Ioan.
Already, every guest close by had been staring at the scene with shock… and no doubt… fear. They, along with Stefan and Daniel, felt relief when Eren let go of the drunkard and rose up.
"Hey!" Other voices came from the other side of the hall. "What's going on over here? Is there a problem?!"
"Let's go," Eren said, before he took Leila's hand.
"Wait… what?" Eren didn't care as he dragged Leila away from scene, ignoring even the looks everyone was giving as they departed from the hall.
Information Available for Public Disclosure:
Palais des Tuileries
The Tuileries stands as the frontal palace as part of the Louvre, which is known as the capital and seat of the Kingdom of France's royalty. It now serves the present elite and upper class of Europia United for nightly celebrations and gatherings.
What had just happened?
To avoid the inevitable tension and aftermath of what had transpired inside the hall, Eren had taken Leila away from the scene before they took an exit that would bring them onto a patio just outside the glittering hall. A lavish patio that overlooked the wide central area of the Louvre.
Several minutes have passed, and it seemed things had calmed down back at the party, though Leila knew it better not to return…
That much Kruger seemed to agree… as he sat by himself at a table on the patio.
The woman kept her distance at the moment, observing the way her guest… no… her defender… sitting just casually at the table, as he looked off into the distance.
She sighed. That last thing she wished was for other people… to get entangled with the complications that was her… home life. And one of them being Ioan.
And no doubt him being drunk… would bring him to his worst…
A whole year, and it was apparent… that Ioan was not letting his resentment and coldness go…
And just like that for him ready to harass at this party of all places. Daniel and Stefan could only do so much, but that didn't mean she was helpless. She had been ready to counter… until…
Him.
He defended her… and the way he parried Ioan… before he…
Those reflexes. And the way he…
Leila recollected.
Was that… training? From military… or self-learned? From where and when… she could not say… nor would she try to question him on it. But maybe…
She went over… and slowly took a seat right next to Kruger, who barely glanced to acknowledge her.
…
Awkward silence was pregnant in between.
Unless… he felt he offended her over what he did to Ioan and that she was vexed and made ready to scold. While that was logical… considering how far he had gone with flipping Ioan (even Ioan's behavior was inexcusable) she didn't feel like it.
Instead…
"Are you alright?" She asked.
Kruger finally glanced back. "What about you?"
…
"I'm alright," she said. "It's nothing at all what Ioan did… it's just…" She looked away. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For getting you involved in that," Leila admitted. "I insisted for you to accompany me here… only for you to… if you had gotten hurt… at my expense… then…"
"You don't have to apologize," Kruger said. "And you don't have to worry much about my well-being. I've learned to take good enough care of myself."
…
"That… that move you used…" Leila tried to speak, almost feeling nervous on what else to say to him, but that didn't keep her curiosity peaked at what she had witnessed him doing… "Was that some form of martial art?"
"What?" Eren glanced at her.
"I'm just wondering…" Leila looked her glass, shifting when Kruger's eyes had met hers. "That move… looked something from Akido or Jujutsu."
…
"Hmph… well…" Eren shrugged. "I never really thought about what it was called."
"I take it someone taught you that?" Leila inquired. "You had a teacher?"
…
"Yeah… well… I picked it up… during training… with a…"
Leila blinked when she noticed for a brief second the change of expression in the young man's face. His face had been flowing into something of remembrance… before it twisted into a form of… bitterness. And almost… anger.
"Someone…" He continued. "From a long time ago."
…
Leila blinked.
The girl could reckon by how his face twisted briefly regarding this 'someone' that it had not been a good time for Eren. She reckoned with the way he had… almost gracefully performed that move on Ioan… looked like he may have perhaps trained with that move for a long time… or he had been trained by someone.
Who knows what other moves he had learned?
"I never knew the name of it," Eren said. "I wouldn't know if it was something you call Akido or anything else… the kind that you trained in."
"What?" Leila glanced at Eren with wide eyes. "Wha… how did you know…?"
"Well," Eren glanced away. "Your Deputy Commander was quite chatty the other day… he commented… that you were skilled in the art of… Akido. He reassured to warn me… if I had thought to harm or kidnap you… that you would…"
"Oh, Claus…" Leila could only shake her head. "Just like him not to keep his mouth shut."
Not as bad as how Anna would.
"There's nothing to be ashamed about it," Leila glanced at Eren. "You're supposed to be a soldier, right?"
"Yes," Leila nodded. "That's right."
"Hmm. Then I guess if not for me… you would have handled that lean piece of trash back in the hall," his eyes narrowed. "Considering how the strength of his arm gave way by how little pressure I was even putting." He scoffed. "His wrist felt as thin as a branch, I would have thought he was a tree."
…
"Uh…" Leila almost paused. "It's not that… I may be trained… but…" She struggled to find the right words. "It's just that… my brother… he is…"
"Your brother… or your fiancé?"
…
"I heard very well on what he was saying… but that doesn't mean I should take his word for it," Kruger said. "You can tell me what he said was true… or otherwise what he just spat out was only a pile of crap only meant to spite you."
…
"Far from it, exactly," Leila admitted.
She pushed her glass away, just as she glanced to see that Eren was looking at her.
"Was he right about what said about you… being adopted?"
She took a deep breath before exhaling.
"I was adopted."
She almost closed her eyes.
"I lost my parents… when I was only six years old…" Leila began looking out toward the garden. "Leaving me to fend for myself…"
Just talking about this again… barely feels any easier…
"That was until I was adopted into the Malcal Family," she continued. "The Malcal Family, is a huge conglomerate in the Republic. And they had been friends of my late parents.
"The patriarch… Phillipe Malcal… my papa." She looked down. "He arranged that I would be engaged to his youngest son, Ioan."
…
"And why would he do that?" Eren asked, sounding agitated. "From what I have… seen… it looks like whatever engagement you have… only looks to be causing more trouble than good."
That she could agree, and no doubt Ioan would.
Leila sighed.
"They arranged it because…" She looked at her hands. "Because of my lineage."
"Your lineage?"
Leila looked once more at the garden, till her gaze roamed pasted the fine bushes and fountain, before trailing towards the dark night sky over the city.
"It's because… of my parents. They were not of European origin. They came… they were once… aristocrats. Noble lineage… from Britannia."
…
Leila saw for a second the brief shift Kruger almost made, and noticed his eyes glued on her after she said that.
"My parents defected from Britannia and moved here…"
…
"You're a Britannian." Kruger stated.
The tone of his statement was barely neutral.
…
"Only by blood… but I was born and raised here. In the Republic." She gazed out at the openness of the Louvre. She almost smiled… before that faded when that trailed to that dark part in her life… and what came after. "The Malcal Family engaged me to their youngest son… since they wished that they would have a claim to noble lineage. That… is the reason why."
…
…
"That's it?" The tone of Kruger's response did not show he was impressed at all, nor did he try to hide it. "So, that idiot is not really your brother… it's only part of something short term… before they make the announcement to make it official?"
…
…
"I should have expected less…" Kruger glanced away. "That's what so many people… so many idiots think about." He waved his hand. "Always wanting the best of what doesn't belong to them."
"Monsieur Kruger…" Leila said.
"If you don't want it… then just leave."
…
"What?" Leila felt herself caught off guard by that.
Kruger glanced at her. "If you plan on marrying that twig man… you can go ahead. Or…" He narrowed his eyes. "If you don't… just walk out the door… and never look back."
"Monsieur Kruger…" Leila stared wide-eyed at him. "Are you suggesting to me… that I… abandon my… family?"
"You find something wrong with that? If you know that they are only your family because of your blood… then you shouldn't stay."
"I…" Leila shifted.
Just what was… with this man? First, he goes to defend… and practically assault Ioan in public, (something that she knows would call for instant reprimanding… yet didn't) and now he bluntly states to just…
As if it were so…
"Monsieur Kruger…" Leila glanced away. "I don't think you understand what you are suggesting. I know… I believe you are trying to offer me… advice. But it's not that simple…"
"It is simple," Kruger interjected. "You're a bird in a cage."
…
…
Leila gasped, and her eyes widened as she glanced at Kruger, whose face stood resolute with what he said.
"That is what they want you to feel like…" He… he was daring to continue. "They'll put a cage around you to make you feel trapped. And if that isn't enough… then they'll make the cage as comfortable as possible… just like all of this."
He glanced back… to the structure of Palais des Tuileries. To the ongoing celebrations inside, and the people going about in the golden hall.
"They can make the walls as comforting as possible… and all the other birds who are so ignorant… will for it… that is what they would do to tempt you to stay… even the door to the way out… is just so easy to break…"
…
"Uh…" Leila was feeling herself at loss for words.
Just what was it? What was it that this young man… this young man who she had come to take under her wing as her guest? Who she had spent the morning and afternoon shopping and strolling through the plaza. Who had to get involved with the situation she had at home?
Why was it… that she had to tell him about her adoption? About her… parents' heritage? About the engagement Philli-her papa had arranged all those years ago?
And why… after disclosing such things… to him… why was he sounding like this? What was it that made him sound so passive about a lot of things he had seen tonight? Why did he sound so on edge when he referred to them… as being birdcages… and walls… to her?
Is that what he really thinks of her? Her being… trapped?
She didn't notice when a waiter had appeared, offering a tray of bubbling drinks in fine glasses.
Eren took a glass.
The waiter left… before he could hear what Eren said next to Leila.
"If you realize… you wish to escape from it… and if you have a hard time picking the lock… I can just trample the walls for you."
…
Leila gasped.
Eren held his glass and rubbed his thumb over the surface. "I can trample it. These walls." He eyed the glass for a long time. "This birdcage... you call the world."
…
Leila could only pause after what he said. Yet, it sounded… so cryptic.
The young man before her… was something she could barely comprehend let alone solve.
And the way he looked at his glass… was as though he was staring straight through it… and staring far beyond it… and the confines of the lush palace grounds before them.
There.
Trust me, this chapter would have been far less than what was planned, yet I'm glad it was paid off with all things that led to celebration hall.
Fun Fact: The Palais des Tuileries no longer stands as part of the Louvre, but in this timeline it still stands… for now.
If you kept a close eye, then you detect which characters you recognized in the celebration in the beginning… before it transferred to the present celebration in the Palais des Tuileries.
Now, Eren is not unfamiliar with the different systems and culture that existed outside the walls, you'll understand where and who he got a basic understanding of it. But in here, he gets to experience the modern lifestyle a bit closer. While showers were functional, other sanitation and plumping systems didn't exist on Paradis. And yes, in here Eren tries out in playing the TV… and how loud the a TV's stereo's can be when all the way up. ;)
Here Eren and Leila are the start of knowing one another, but not close… yet. And first comes when Eren meets her adoptive older brothers. And one of them… worst of all in his drunken stupor… makes his presence unbearable and his resentment towards his and Leila's engagement not helping…
Instead of the simple twisting the arm to the back with the threat of knives like in the canon OVA… what Eren does is a lot over the rails. He makes it very clear who he sees as scum… and what he will do when try acting like that again to others…
And when we get to Leila telling Eren about her adoption and the reason for her engagement… he has what has to say about he thinks of the EU's elite society… and what Leila's situation is practically like…
A bird in a gold cage.
He sounds harsh about it, but he's not completely wrong, regarding on how Leila is being pressured and expected by her adoptive parents to go with the marriage. And as refined and luxurious it means to be part of the elite families going to celebrations like at Palais des Tuileries, they are shallow and crowded with politics and trivial things that keep them distracted from the reality of war. That much is how Eren is trying to describe it. He has had experience in dealing with this hierarchy behind the walls. It evens takes a lot to not call out on how he somewhat feels the same while being Leila's custody, instead of being interrogated by the E.U. military regarding him showing up in Narva.
Thanks for reading up on this update. Hope you review and wait for more.
But before we depart…
Ioan Malcal sat still, looking almost unresponsive, even when Stefan exclaimed over him, while Daniel stood back a bit.
"We get a chance to see Leila today after almost a year of not getting to see her face-to-face… and the first thing you had to do was… was… oh, good grief!" Stefan facepalmed. "Shame on you, don't you care?!"
Ioan offered nothing.
Stefan shook his head, while Daniel looked concern.
"Brother, please. Why are you still feeling silent? Are you… still hurt?" Daniel reached over to pat his youngest brother's shoulder…
He recoiled when Ioan started to shiver at the contact.
"What's wrong?"
"Uh…" Ioan finally uttered, his eyes shaking as they glued to the ground. "I... that boy…"
"Boy?" Daniel said. "You mean… Monsieur Kruger?"
Ioan shook still when he heard… that name.
"Oh, Ioan…" Stefan put a hand to his forehead. "If that young man really made you hurt… then don't be stubborn or afraid to admit—"
"That's not it!"
Both older brothers recoiled by Ioan's sudden outburst, before the latter calmed down… and glanced away.
"It's just…"
She still shook… playing back the scene… of when he had been ready to slap Leila in anger… to when Eren Kruger caught his arm… and his grip was…
And then Ioan made ready to slug him… only for the younger man… to parry with some sort of move… and flip him over on the floor… and in front of everyone.
The third Malcal brother was being engulfed by feelings of humiliation and the angry need for retaliation. And yet… his threats of his father's retribution… meant nothing… not when Eren Kruger kneeled and twisted up his arm.
And that was when he realized it…
When the younger man… growled… almost inhumanly. The threats he made… if he made that kind of move on Leila again… the tone they had… there was no level of emptiness in them. It sounded… as though the man was ready to carry out his threat…
And how he glared… with… those…
"Those eyes…" Ioan stuttered. "Those eyes… they felt… as if… they were staring right back at me. No… it was like… they were staring right through me…"
He can still picture the emerald… and almost dead gray… irises… right in front of him.
He heard both his brothers groan with worry.
…
…
"Those eyes… they were not like… those I have seen before…" She gripped his hands together. "Those… were the eyes… of a killer."
To be continued…