The sun hung low in the sky as the carriage I was in neared the central palace, Hanji sat across from me chatting idly.

it should be fine if i ask for an audience-

it sounds like he wanted to see me-

if there isn't time i can just go visit the third princess

ill do that regardless

OK Y/N!

YOU'RE THE DUCHESS!

WHATEVER HE WANTS IT DOESN'T MATTER

"Are you ok Y/N?" Hanji asked, interrupting my train of thought.

"I think so?"

"That's not very reassuring," her lips pulled into a pout. "The Duke said that you shouldn't be made to do anything you don't want to- so if you ever want to leave, you should."

you're right

"Petra and Kuchel got me all dressed up- it would be a shame to just go home," I beamed, pulling myself together.

I MEAN- WHEN I LOOK THIS STUNNING I CAN'T STAY IN

"That's true," Hanji chuckled. I wore a long flowy black dress- decorated with silver jewels so that it almost looked like the sky at night. The jewelry that I wore matched the gemstones in the dress and similar crystal hair pieces decorated my head.

AT THE VERY LEAST I'M CURRENTLY WEARING MORE THAN I'M WORTH

"We've arrived," a guard from outside opened the door helping me down from the carriage.

"I won't be able to be with you when you talk to the King," Hanji hummed, guiding me into the palace.

THANK YOU FOR WORRYING ABOUT ME

"That's fine, thank you for escorting me this far."

"Duchess Y/N," a tall man I recognized as the King's aide, Mike Zacharius, walked up to me.

WOW I MUST BE FAMOUS

I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO ASK FOR SOMEONE

STATUS IS GOOD .

I NO LONGER HAVE TO HAVE AWKWARDLY INTRODUCE MYSELF

.

"Do you have a moment? Your father would like to meet you," Mike frowned slightly, pausing as if to-

IS HE SMELLING THE AIR

DO I SMELL BAD OR SOMETHING

HWAT ????

"Lead the way then," I shook off my confusion, following behind Mike.

UHHH .

WHAT DOES HE SMELL

...

"Are there a lot of flowers at the Duke's estate?" Mike asked as we walked down long marble hallways.

WHAT

"Yes? I think so-"

There are flowers in our room and in the entryway but-

DID HE SMELL THAT?

FROM THE AIR???

THAT'S KINDA COOL-

SPARE SOME SUPER POWERS SIR

"You must have a greenhouse, lilies are not in season."

DO WE ??? I DON'T KNOW...

"Did you- how did you know all of that?" I failed to hide my curiosity, glancing up at him.

HOW

"You smell like them," he replied matter of factly.

...........

BUT HOW IS YOUR NOSE THAT SENSITIVE

DID YOU TRAIN FOR IT?

IS THIS NORMAL??

WHAT'S UP WITH YOU .

WHY ARE YOU WORKING FOR MY FATHER AND NOT AS LIKE . A PERFUME TESTER OR SOMETHING

IDK I FEEL LIKE YOUR TALENTS ARE BETTER SUITED FOR OTHER INDUSTRIES

"He's in there, go in," Mike stopped in front of two large heavily decorated double doors.

SORRY I'M STILL STRUGGLING TO GRASP YOUR SENSE OF SMELL-

THIS IS A LOT

OK BUT-

DO I SMELL GOOD???

IS IT A GOOD SMELL MIKE ???

"Thank you," I waved goodbye to Hanji and Mike before pushing open the doors.

y/n u know what you have to do

ofc- gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss

you have to combat his manipulate, mansplain, manslaughter

"I greet the King," I bowed, deeply.

"Raise your head," he responded, a faint smile on his features, "you're my daughter."

THEN ACT LIKE IT

"Did you have something you wished to discuss with me?" I walked further into the room- presumably his study.

AT THE VERY LEAST HIS INTERIOR DESIGN IS NICE

"Please, take a seat. I just meant to talk to you, it must be difficult getting used to your new home, tell me about it." He gestured to a couch, taking a seat across from me.

i mean-

it's way better than where i used to be

so-

"I enjoy it," I paused thinking over my words, "the ducal household is very welcoming."

LITERALLY ALL OF THE ISSUES IVE RUN INTO HAVE BEEN RELATED TO MY AWFUL FAMILY

WHICH 100% WOULD BE FINE IF WE HAD BEEN RAISED AS FAMILY AND NOT AS LIKE .

SHOW HORSES

"That's reassuring, would you like something to drink?"

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

"I'll be meeting with the third princess later- there's no need."

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME

IS THIS REALLY JUST A CHAT?

ITS DEFINITELY A FEW YEARS TOO LATE FOR THAT

"I feel as if I should've paid better attention to my daughter, you've certainly proven yourself."

oh

"I agree," I held eye contact with him, unwavering.

i shouldn't have said that

but i think i would regret it forever if i denied the fact that i was neglected

I DONT MIND IF THIS IS HOW I GO

"Don't feel insulted, it's just the truth," I continued, taking in his stunned silence. "Thank you for what you have done for me though."

thank you for this status that let me meet levi

"You're outspoken," he finally responded, cutting through the tense quiet.

I have to be

"Thank you."

"Truthfully I had a task for you but I doubt you're willing to accept it," he said with a long sigh and a slight chuckle.

you're probably right

"I can hear you out anyway but I won't be selling out my husband for anything."

that's a promise

you probably aren't the worst person alive-

levi trusts you after all- and it's not like you've neglected the country

"I won't push my luck," he seemed to sit on his words for a minute. "You have to go visit Historia don't you? I won't hold you back, let's talk again at a later date."

"Of course," I stood to leave, bowing again at the door.

"I won't apologize for anything I've done but I hope this won't kill future opportunities for either of us."

don't apologize i won't accept it

"You're a good ruler," I nodded at him before exiting.

but you were never a good parent

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WE ARE RAPIDLY APPROACHING 69 CHAPTERS ... HOW DOES IT FEEL BESTIES ??

- ami