"There is something wrong with my family," I muttered, releasing a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"You're just realizing that?" Levi stared at me incredulously.

i mean...

I KNEW

BUT

"WHY IS EVERYONE SO TERRIFYING???"

I WAS LOWKEY UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT HISTORIA WAS JUST LIKE . IDK A COMPETENT GARDENER AND ABSOLUTELY STUNNING

NOT THT SHE ??

IDK HAD A WAY TO MANIPULATE THE PRESS AND HAD A SMALL ARMY WAITING IN HER WING OF THE PALACE

"You're just as bad."

"You keep on saying that and it's starting to freak me out-"

don't let it get 2 u y/n

men cannot begin to understand the true extent of your girlbossery

ofc it would be terrifying to witness something you don't understand

"I'm beginning to think that Historia is even more of a girlboss than I am," I murmured, my head in my hands. "The country will be fine if she's in control."

WORST COMES TO WORSE WE ANNEX THE DUCHY AND BECOME OUR OWN INDEPENDENT NATION

"You're thinking in extremes again, stop it," Levi flicked my forehead. "It went well, let's end it with that."

wow ........ that's very funny..... coming from the guy who made me all worried in the first place

"You of all people do not get to say that," I pointed out. "I'm glad that it went well, I was worried for a second that we were going to have to fight our way out."

"I would've been able to protect you."

"Are you sure about that? Because I was worried that I would have to pick you up and run away."

i know you're plenty capable at defending us but-

that would've been super treasonous

even if we could potentially claim self-defense i don't rlly think anyone would believe us over the angelic historia

"I'd like to see you try," Levi scoffed, the two of us continuing to leisurely wander through the palace gardens.

"Don't act so sure of yourself-" I stopped abruptly in my tracks, wrapping my arms around him and attempting to lift him up.

DON'T FAIL NOW Y/N

"Told you so."

"This is all your fault for not having an ass to leverage off of."

failure is not an option and when it is it's never my fault <3

"Oh really? Like this?" Levi wrapped his arms around me, picking me up easily.

NO FAIR

"My superior genetics make it easier for you, it has nothing to do with your physical strength," I rolled my eyes at him, teasing.

and honestly, now that i'm up here and looking-

"You're even flatter from above."

"I'm putting you down."

"You're lucky you're married to someone who never lies <3 it's important for you to hear the truth sometimes."

i love you <33

"Where to?" Levi adjusted his grip on me to a princess carry.

fitting

"Do you want to go somewhere you've never been before?" I asked, staring at his side profile.

"In the palace? I thought you wanted to go home?"

i do but-

"Something tells me we won't get a moment of peace like this for a little bit, let's use every second of it."

the engagement party is soon-

the minute we get home we'll have to start making preparations

so until after that is over and we've (hopefully) come out on top

we'll have to make as much as we can out of moments like these

that's what's really important

"Lead the way."

The two of us ended up in front of the small overgrown building I had spent my entire childhood in.

it looks worse than i left it

"I've been here before," Levi frowned, setting me down, "didn't you say we were going somewhere new?"

"You only lurked around my dining room- come on- I'm giving you a tour," I grabbed his hand, leading the way up the cracked stone steps.

it's worse than i remember

"It's just as dusty as before," Levi grimaced a little, running his finger along a bookshelf. "I can't believe you lived like this."

"I'm just bad at cleaning what can I say?" I chuckled, looking around for a lantern.

the vines covering the windows make it look really cool from the outside but it just means it's dark in here

"I'm baffled that they let a princess live in a place like this," Levi muttered, "I almost doubted your status when I first saw it."

wow .

"And of course you changed your mind as soon as you saw how gorgeous I am- immediately recognizing that I was in fact a princess on that alone."

"Something like that."

"I can't help that I'm beautiful."

"Beautiful enough to be neglected in a corner of the palace."

"Oh whatever, you were charmed by it," I paused, "and anyway- my mom is dead it's not like I had anyone to support me like the other princesses do."

power in nobility comes from family

both historia and the first princess have strong maternal families that back them

so it only makes sense that i never had much- my mother conveniently died without any relatives aside from me

"You're very pretty Y/N but-" Levi stopped in his tracks, looking around, "beauty means fuck all when you live in a pigsty."

WOW .... OK

"Be more superficial."

"What are you showing me again?"

RIGHT! I WAS GOING TO SHOW YOU AROUND

"Be patient- it's my turn to be scary and mysterious about a house."

LET US NOT FORGET HOW OFTEN LEVI WALKS AROUND BEING ALL OMINOUS AND REFUSING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS

WHENEVER HE SHOWS ME A SECRET ROOM IT'S A TOSS UP OF WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A ROMANTIC BALCONY OR A TORTURE CHAMBER

MY TURN NOW

"I'll follow your lead."

"This is what I really wanted to show you," I led him up the stairs, still holding his hand. "You've never been up here right?"

"No- I haven't."

"Welcome to my room," I announced pushing the door open with a flourish, to reveal the sparsely furnished interior.

"Should I clap?"

"You should be weeping with joy."

"It's-" he looked around, "...cute."

"You're being nice so that you won't hurt my feelings."

there are no feelings to be hurt

"Maybe."

"I hate you."

"Love you too."

"I didn't really take you all the way here to show you this," I walked over to the large dresser, pulling open the top drawer. "I'm surprised no one came and took anything from here."

it's a nice surprise

"You came here to show me the inside of your dresser?"

"I came here to blow dust in your face."

"I feel so loved."

"Come here so I can give this to you," I beckoned him closer, pulling a small silver pin out from the drawer. "I didn't bring it with me to the duchy because it didn't really have any sentimental value to me, even more so because I was going to lose it when I became your wife-" I fastened it to his lapel. "Wouldn't it be a fun thing to wear to a certain engagement party?"

"It certainly would," Levi looked down smiling fondly.

"I thought so."

The two of us left arm in arm, a silver peony, the seal I had used when I was just a princess glinting on his jacket.

________________________

he's hers! she's his (and also hanji's and also petra's and and and)

publishing early bc im going to be somewhere @ 6:00 <333

- ami