Chapter Text
It appeared that Levi was in quite bad fortune that day.
He was sure that he had precisely followed the guard’s direction, but somehow, it did not lead him to the throne room.
Rather, it led him toward a lush courtyard that seemed to be quite secluded.
As he walked closer, he started to notice the breathtaking view of the area. The shrubbery and the trees decorated the yard in a pleasant shade of green, whilst the sky was shining above it in a soft shade of blue.
He also noticed several butterflies fluttering above the colourful blooming flowers, which added to the picturesqueness of the area. A striking contrast to the cold and mighty appearance of the castle from the outside.
It almost felt like he was entering a hidden paradise—a forbidden one.
He knew right away that he should not have been there.
Levi tried to retrace his steps and recall what the guard had told him earlier in the hope of solving the problem he currently had.
It did not take long for Levi to realise that he only had himself to blame for such an ill-fated situation of him being lost.
He should’ve taken the left turn on the first intersection when he was on the west hallway, but for some reason, he took the second intersection.
Levi had never been to the palace before, and so he should’ve known better than to go in alone. He could not believe he had to admit it, but he regretted not taking the journey with Kenny—who had departed to Highdawn a few days ago for some business with the other lords.
His logic told him to go back to where he came from, but his sentiment said otherwise. Levi did not understand exactly the reason why, but he found himself being enthralled by the mythical scenery of the courtyard.
It was odd. He never cared for plants. Despite his land of Fyre Garden being dubbed as the realm’s most beautiful island, Levi was indifferent.
Until that day.
Levi stepped into the courtyard ever so carefully as he did not want to accidentally destroy anything. He convinced himself that he would just look around for a short moment before returning to his main objective.
But then, as he was walking toward an area where the white lilies were blossoming, he suddenly heard a sharp yelp coming from above him. He lifted his head, and he immediately noticed a sparkle.
A sparkle that fell from the sky.
In just the blink of an eye, without him even processing what just happened, his hand already moved to catch the object. When he realised what he had done, he swiftly inspected the item. It turned out to be a shiny gold brooch with a big ruby stone that was shaped very similarly to an apple.
“Good sir, did you catch it?”
Levi looked up once again, and that was when he noticed a lady.
The lady was leaning against a window on the upper floor of the building, and she appeared to be slightly perturbed.
Right away, he could see that she was no ordinary lady. The elegant, deep purple dress and the matching rounded hood that she wore indicated that she was of noble birth.
The rounded hood covered most of her hair, but from the front part of her hair that was visible, he could see that it was brown with a slight reddish highlight.
Levi had never seen the lady before, but when he looked at her face shape, her curved nose, and her lips, he was struck with a sense of familiarity.
Yes, he had never seen the lady before, but he had seen the King several times before.
The lady’s features were softer, but it was very clear that she resembled the King very much.
It was no doubt in his mind that the lady was none other than the crown princess.
“Your Highness,” Levi took off his cap and bowed respectfully to the princess. After that, he showed the brooch to her direction and asked, “Is this what you’re searching for?”
“Oh, I’m afraid I can’t see it very clearly from here,” she explained. “It’s a brooch, is it not?”
“Yes.”
“Then, yes, it is mine,” she continued. “Is it broken?”
Levi looked at the brooch and said, “No, I don’t think so, Princess.”
A smile bloomed on her face as she heard his answer.
“Ah! That is so fortunate,” she exclaimed. “Thank you so much for catching it for me, good sir. Please, wait for a moment. I will come down there swiftly.”
No, that could not be.
The thought of the princess walking all the way down there just to fetch a brooch—whilst he did nothing—was abominable. Therefore, when he inspected the wall and noticed some stones that were protruding from the rest, an idea suddenly came to him.
It was an absurd idea, but he knew it would work.
“I believe there will be no need for you to come down here, Your Highness,” Levi explained. “Rather, allow me to be the one who brings this to you.”
“Oh, I will be all right, sir. I do not want to trouble you any further.”
“No, it is not a trouble at all, Your Highness. It will not take me long to be there.”
“Pardon…?”
“Just stay there, Princess,” Levi said, and without wasting another second, he walked to the wall and began climbing the stones.
“Sir?!” The princess exclaimed. “What are you doing?!”
“Climbing.”
“I am aware! But, isn’t it dangerous?!”
“It’s not, Princess. No need to be afraid,” Levi replied imperturbably.
“I’m not afraid! I’m worried that you will fall, sir!”
“I’m flattered, Princess,” Levi said as he nimbly moved his body against the wall, “but please rest assured that I know what I’m doing.”
“… Very well, then,” she murmured, though her voice still sounded a bit doubtful. “Please, be careful.”
He quickly halted and looked up toward the Princess. To his astonishment, she was actually keeping a close eye on him. For a moment there, Levi was unable to think of anything to reply, so he just nodded.
It did not take long for Levi to reach the window. He rested his feet on a stone lining that stuck out from the rest of the structure and balanced himself by holding onto the windowsill.
“How… How did you do that…?” She inquired as she stared at him with great amazement and curiosity.
“I just did it. Exactly as you saw, Your Highness,” he simpered. “It is quite easy.”
Levi said it only with the intention of teasing the princess, but much to his surprise, her reaction was a lot genuine than what he had anticipated.
The princess’s face lit up in admiration, and she even leaned closer toward him. He caught a soft smell of lavender, and it was when he realised the short proximity between him and the princess.
It was probably not the time for him to inspect her, but he could not help but notice that despite the way she dressed, she still looked quite young. The soft freckles that dusted across her nose and cheeks also added more sweet charm to her appearance.
If he remembered it correctly, the princess would turn nine and ten by the end of the year, which made him three years older than her.
Then, as he came into realisation that he had been staring at her for longer than he intended to, Levi immediately tried to avoid her gaze. Alas, his attempt was futile; instead, he found himself being mesmerised by her wide and attractive brown eyes that were framed by thick eyelashes.
Captivating and enchanting; it was like he was staring at a pair of a dragon’s eyes.
He thought only dragons could have such a splendid and fierce shade of iris, but clearly, he was wrong.
It appeared that the eyes were the only thing that the King did not pass on to his daughter.
“Oh, I beg to differ!” The princess said enthusiastically. “What you just did, sir, was remarkable. It is not easy! I doubt anyone will be able to accomplish the same.”
Levi cleared his throat, “Well… As I’ve said earlier. I know what I’m doing because I’m well trained.”
“Oh! Of course! You must be!” She nodded before taking another closer look at his face. “Forgive me, I don’t mean to be rude, but who might you be? I never forget a face, and so I’m afraid I do not know you, sir.”
Right. Not only had he never seen her, but the princess also had never seen him before. The extent of their knowledge was only of their names. Therefore, if he told her who he was, the princess would recognise him right away.
However, Levi did not want her to know who he was. At least not until later.
It was fortunate enough that he didn’t bother to wear an ornamental outfit or anything with his house emblem, because from the way he appeared, he just looked like any other well-dressed man of some minor noble house.
“Forgive me for my lack of manners, Your Highness,” Levi said politely as he started to weave his story. “I’m… I’m a squire for Sir Zacharias. You’ve probably seen me around with the other castle guards before, but you most likely didn’t notice me, Ma’am.”
Levi could only hope that his friend would not mind having his father’s name borrowed. It was the only thing that Levi could think of that would not arouse suspicion. After all, Sir Zacharias was a respectable knight who was also a Commander of the Highdawn Tower—a military institution for the palace.
“Oh! So, it means we’ve met!” She gasped. “My apologies! I can’t remember! I should’ve paid more attention.”
Levi was quite taken aback by her response. He did not expect her to apologise for something that he assumed she would find insignificant.
“Whatever is your name, good sir?” The princess continued.
Oh no.
When he made that story, Levi did not think that the princess would even bother to ask for his name, hence why he did not prepare it.
“… My name?” Levi repeated.
“Yes, your name,” she smiled. “I want to know your name, sir.”
Levi, in his desperation and his lack of creativity, spoke of a name that he could only think of at that moment.
“… Johannes.”
His middle name.
“I see! Johannes, is it? It’s very nice to meet you. My name is Hange Zoë,” the princess said amiably. “What house do you hail from?”
“With all due respect, Princess… I prefer not to say it,” Levi replied calmly. “I wish to be known by my personhood, and not by my house.”
“Oh, I understand,” she nodded. “I do not doubt that with your talent, you will be knighted very soon, sir.”
“It would be an honour.” Levi then reached for his pocket and handed her the brooch. “Almost forgot. Here you go, Your Highness.”
“Oh! Thank you!” Her smile grew wide as she accepted the brooch. After she made sure that it was not broken, she turned to look at him appreciatively, “If it wasn’t for you, I’m sure this brooch would have fallen to pieces. So, once again, I thank thee, good sir.”
“Rather than thanking me, I believe you should thank your fortune instead, Princess. I just so happened to be in the right place at the right time,” Levi remarked indifferently. “Although, if I may offer a piece of advice, I think you should be more careful when handling such a precious jewel, Your Highness.”
“Oh, believe me. It was an accident,” she let out a sigh. “I only wanted to inspect it, but it slipped from my grip when my cat suddenly tried to jump to the windowsill.”
“Your cat?”
“Yes,” she then picked up something from the floor before revealing a black cat who stared at him with a pair of bright yellow eyes, “this cat.”
“I wasn’t aware that the princess owns a cat.”
The princess held the cat as if they were a baby and rubbed the head of the feline before answering, “Well, what can I say. A princess’s life is a mysterious one, even to her own self…”
Levi noticed a shift in her expression. There was a slight crack in her happy disposition that he was able to catch before she hid it.
It probably was not his problem or business to pry, but for some reason, Levi felt it would be wrong to ignore her melancholy.
A princess like her should not have been left all alone in her tower, concealing all her problems, all by herself.
Therefore, Levi braced himself to ask.
“Was that the reason why Your Highness was staring out of the window?”
The princess stopped rubbing the cat, and the smile finally fell off her face. She turned to look at him, and unlike before, she did not try to hide her sadness from showing.
“Yes. You can say that…” she murmured.
Levi pressed his lips together, pondering whether he should press on or leave it be. However, the moment he saw her eyes start to glisten, Levi decided to continue.
“If Your Highness doesn’t mind me asking… What is it exactly that is bothering you?”
The princess put her cat back on the floor before she leaned against the window again, closing the gap between them.
“It’s… It’s about my betrothal, or at least the plan for my betrothal,” she explained fretfully. “My father wants me to marry the heir of the Fyre Garden.”
The betrothal. Of course. It was precisely as he thought. Although he did not expect the princess would be so troubled by it.
“What about it, Your Highness? Do you not want to marry the heir?”
“Whether I want to or not, it does not matter,” the princess replied decisively. “If the King and the realm require me to marry, then I will marry. It is my duty as a crown princess and as the future queen, after all. I must ensure the stability and the strength of the nation.”
Oh.
That was not exactly the response he expected.
It was both impressive and tragic to hear such a declaration of responsibility be said by such a young lady. A lady of her age should not think about such a thing yet. She should have had more years to just be her.
“You said that, Your Highness, yet it is apparent to me that you were not exactly eager about the prospect of the union.”
“Well… It is my responsibility, but that does not mean I am not perturbed by it…”
Levi did not reply, especially not when he noticed her slight apprehension. Instead, he stared at the princess in a silent encouragement, gently nudging her to continue.
“I worry,” the princess muttered softly, almost like a whisper. “I worry that the heir will not find me agreeable or suitable enough to take as a wife.”
“… Whatever do you mean, Your Highness?”
“I worry he will not accept the union because he did not find me interesting enough… Even if in the case that he did accept it, I worry he would just disregard me throughout our life, or even worse, hate me.”
Levi furrowed his brows. “Why do you assume the heir will treat you as such?”
“Because I don’t think any men would want to be seconded by their wife.”
“… That is ridiculous,” Levi scoffed. “Men who are like that are pathetic and selfish.”
She smiled weakly, “Then, do you think the heir would not be like that?”
“I’m not sure I have the answer for that, Princess… That is one for you to judge.”
“Yes… You are right,” she said as she fidgeted with the brooch. “I just… wish I could have at least half of what my parents had with each other… It does not have to be a grand show, I don’t think I can do the same for him anyway. I will try to serve him as best as I can as his wife, and as long as he tolerates me, that will be more than enough for me. I will be content.”
For a princess who should have been allowed to have a big wish—bigger than what common folks could even afford to think—her wish was very minuscule. He was not even sure it could be categorised as a wish.
Why would she settle for only something as piteous as that?
His mind immediately brought him back to the event that transpired several days ago in Fyre Garden.
A letter bearing the royal sign of the Great Kingdom of Elythyia arrived at the door of Fyre Fortress at an early morning.
The letter was sent by King Gerasimos and addressed to the Lord Ackerman of Fyre Garden—which happened to be Kenny, his uncle.
The King wrote about his intention to visit the Fyre Fortress and to have an audience with Lord Ackerman.
It was not unusual for the King to request an audience, but most of the time, he would just summon Kenny to the palace in Highdawn. It was rare for the King to set foot on their island. The King would only come if he needed something from their house, and by something, it would be their dragons.
After all, House Ackerman was the only dragon-riders family that was left in the entire world. The other dragon-riders’ houses perished during the War of the Crimson Sky, a war where the dragon houses fought each other for their lands. The only big house that did not join the war was the House of Ackerman.
At least that was the case until a ruling house of the small Elythyia Kingdom, the House of Zoë, approached their house for an alliance to end the war. The king of that era wanted them to work together because he knew the great power that the House Ackerman actually hold in battles.
The king promised to give House Ackerman a high title, a vast property, and autonomy to govern their own land if they won the war. Tempted by the offer and drained by the ongoing war, the head of the house eventually agreed to lend a hand.
The alliance formed between the two houses alongside other prominent houses eventually succeeded in ending the War of the Crimson Sky.
Consequently, the House of Ackerman was granted a title and a verdant island just west of Highdawn, which they called Seagrass Island. Ever since then, House Ackerman had been the ruling lord and the keeper of the remaining dragons, and they were soon known as the Lord of the Fyre Garden.
If there was one thing that separated the House of Ackerman from the other dragon-riders’ houses, it would be their unwavering bond and protection to their dragons. Because of this, the lord of that era forbade the descendants of his house from being too involved in the politics of the kingdom out of fear that it would endanger their dragons.
Regardless, that did not stop the royal family from seeking their help and their dragons, especially in times of crisis or political unrest.
Hence, if Levi had to guess about the reasoning behind King Gerasimos’s upcoming visit, it would probably be for something similar. Although he could not tell what exactly.
As much as he tried to keep his distance from the court, he still tried to keep himself informed about the political affairs of their kingdom, and as far as he knew, he was not aware of any issues that would warrant the King to ask for their dragons.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to join me this time, kid!” Kenny remarked insouciantly as he threw away the letter into the fireplace.
“Me?” Levi inquired, baffled at the sudden request. Kenny did not usually ask him to join the royal meeting, and Levi himself had no interest in being directly involved with the royal family—at least not until he would inherit the title.
“Yes, you! Who else?” Kenny said sardonically. “I will ask your mother to be present as well.”
“Hang on, now. Why would you invite us?” Levi protested. “It’s between you and the King. It has nothing to do with me or Mother.”
“Oh, no no no,” he laughed. “It has everything to do with you.”
“… You’re not making any sense.”
“Listen, runt. I’ve been alive way longer than you, and I’ve worked with that king for years. I know what he’s planning to do,” Kenny said. “Trust me, that king will not be coming here for our dragons, yet.”
Levi clicked his tongue. “You are still not making any sense, Kenny.”
“Oh, I will. Believe me, I will, and when it finally comes to that, you will have to kiss my arse.”
“Oh, fuck off!”
Levi thought that Kenny was only messing around with him—as he usually did—but when he brought it up to his mother, he realised that his mother seemed to understand what Kenny was implying.
However, his mother would not tell him what it was exactly. She claimed that she might be wrong, and it would be safer to just hear what the King had to say.
Therefore, Levi begrudgingly attended that meeting with Kenny and his mother.
He had only seen the King on several occasions before, and most of them were during official events. Levi thought King Gerasimos was a reasonable king who could be fierce when the situation demanded it. He governed with an iron fist and absolute power; it was no surprise that no one dared to cross him.
However, Kenny once said that the King was actually a soft one, and Kenny described it as the one and only weakness of the King.
Levi was not sure what it all meant until the King finally revealed the motivation behind his visit that day.
Inside the main hall of the Fyre Fortress, the King sat on the noble chair—a throne—for the lord of House Ackerman, whilst Levi and the rest of his family stood in front of the monarch.
Ever since the King arrived, Levi felt that the air in the manor had grown heavy and cold. No one seemed to want to speak before the King, which led them to a game of waiting.
Fortunately, before Levi grew even more impatient, the King finally spoke.
“I come here today, to this great castle of the House of Ackerman, with one proposition,” the King said, in his usual commanding tone, “a proposition that I am sure will benefit our houses.”
“A proposition that will benefit our houses?” Kenny smirked, “I am listening, My Liege.”
The King smiled, as if understanding the move that Kenny was playing, and said, “Yes, I proposed for the unification of our houses, Lord Ackerman.”
“Unification? Oh…” Kenny raised his tone excessively. “How shall we do it, Your Majesty?”
“We shall do it by marrying my daughter, the crown princess…” The King paused slightly as he turned toward him before saying, “… to your heir.”
Oh…?
Oh!
So that was what Kenny meant by it.
To say he was surprised would be an understatement of the century. If it was not for Kenny’s sudden, erratic laugh, Levi would probably got lost in his own rumination.
“This again?!” Kenny howled in his own amusement. “Oh! This reminds me of the time when the late king proposed the same idea to my late father. Do you remember that, My King? Do you remember when the late king wanted to marry his daughter, Princess Glykeria, to me?”
“I do, Lord Ackerman. I do,” the King sighed in a slight annoyance.
“I never thought you would follow after your late father’s footsteps, Your Grace,” Kenny scoffed. “I thought you would be different.”
“I am different,” the King remarked firmly. “I am not my father, Lord Ackerman. I do not come here only for my own gain. As you might already know, the House of Ackerman is one of the royal family’s greatest allies. We respect you for your values and power, hence why it has always been my intention to strengthen our alliance through a marriage.”
“Oh, please, My King. We had heard similar words being spun repeatedly to us. Your Majesty was not the only person who came with that proposal. Your ancestors had asked the same question to my ancestors for decades now.”
“You are mistaken, Lord Ackerman. I—”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” Levi suddenly interrupted the King, which made everyone in the room turn toward him, but Levi did not mind them. He stared directly at the sharp green eyes of the King and asked, “Allow me to clarify. By strengthening, do you mean strengthening the alliance or strengthening the kingdom itself?”
“Levi!” His mother reprimanded him quickly, but Levi could only look at her apologetically before returning his attention to the King.
Meanwhile, his response earned him a chuckle from Kenny.
“Exactly, My King,” Kenny said, his tone laced with a hint of mockery. “As my nephew had pointed out. I am sure we all know that this marriage is not actually about us, the Ackermans. It’s actually about our dragons, is it not?”
Even despite the blatant show of disrespect by Kenny, the King still appeared to be calm and collected as he answered the question.
“It is both, and other thing.”
“What is the other thing, Your Majesty?” His mother asked politely.
“It’s for the crown princess,” the King explained steadfastly. “I know the House of Ackerman does not involve itself with the intricacies of the court’s affairs. However, I am sure that all of you are aware of the things that people have been saying about the crown princess.”
Right.
The people in the realm were not very pleased with the crown princess. He still remembered the disappointment and the dissatisfaction expressed by the folks when the King named his ten-year-old daughter as his heir only several days after Queen Hannah’s passing.
They believed that the King was rushing things for no reason in particular. He was still young; he could marry again and sire another offspring. Nevertheless, despite the protest from the people and the advice from his trusted men, the King still stood firm with his decision.
As a matter of fact, he published a decree and held an investiture for the crown princess when she turned twelve to further legitimise her position as an heir.
The investiture was held privately—considering she was still very young at the time—and could only be attended by the ruling lords of the realm and by several prominent political figures in the court.
Levi remembered that when Kenny returned from the investiture, he curiously asked Kenny about his impressions of the crown princess.
Kenny described her as a mighty one.
Compliment was not Kenny’s forte, and so to hear him describe the princess in an incredibly positive light, Levi knew that Kenny was genuinely impressed by her.
“I do not doubt that my daughter will become a great queen,” the King continued. “I’m sure that she will prove everyone wrong… However, the path that she is going to take will not be easy or pretty.”
There was a slight shift in the King’s demeanour, a crack in between his prim presence, a vulnerability that did not fit a king. He hastily regained his composure, but it was already too late. Everyone had already seen it.
The King cleared his throat and said, “That is why—considering what lies in front of her—I took it upon myself to propose this union. I do not want the princess to face her future with some weak lord or prince. I want the princess to have solid support. I want her to have someone dependable and strong; someone respected and feared; someone extraordinary and powerful. Someone exactly like the men from this house.”
Levi let the words pervade his mind. He never once looked away from the King. He watched the King in silence, like a hawk, and that was when he noticed that the person in front of him was no longer talking as a king.
He was talking as a father.
The King stood up from the chair and walked to stand amongst them. His build was almost as tall as Kenny, but his demeanour was gentler, almost vulnerable. He stared at each and every one of them, but his gaze lingered on Levi.
“Please, I am asking you to at least consider it, to give it a thought. You don’t have to decide it today,” the King pleaded. “I know my daughter’s spirit is unbreakable, but the throne is a very lonely and dangerous place. Even the strongest one is not susceptible to its pressure.”
The King gently put a hand on his shoulder, which startled Levi, but his green eyes quickly grounded Levi back.
“She will need someone to be by her side…” the King muttered, and it almost felt like they were the only people in the room, “… and I believe you are the right person for her.”
If Levi listened to his ancestors, he knew what he had to say to the King. Moreover, even without looking at his mother and his uncle, he could tell what they wanted him to say. Indeed, Levi already had his answer the moment the King first spoke about it.
However, what ended up coming out of his mouth was something very different from what everyone had been expecting about—even himself.
“Very well,” he answered. “I will give your proposition some consideration, Your Majesty.”
“Forgive me, Princess,” Levi said as he stared at the princess, who looked very solemn and down. “But have you tried to talk to the King about these concerns that you have regarding the union? Perhaps His Majesty would reconsider or try to work something up for you.”
“Oh, no! I wouldn’t dare,” she replied immediately. “I don’t want to add anything more to his plate… Besides, I do want this union to happen—for the sake of my father.”
“For the King?”
“Yes… My father, he… he loves my mother, and so I know he will never remarry. Nonetheless, I am not a fool. I understand that the realm needs more than just me. I am a weakness to this kingdom; I am my father’s weakness…” The princess paused; her jaw tensed. “Therefore, in order to make myself more useful to the realm and to my father, I need to secure the line of succession with my children and secure the kingdom’s alliance with House Ackerman. Perhaps, by then, people will finally stop pestering my father, and they will have more faith in me.”
“Do you think people have no faith in you?”
“Of course they don’t,” the princess murmured dejectedly. “They do not care about what I am capable of, no matter how much I tried to show them, because at the end of the day, I am not a man.”
“Princess, as far as I know, the rule in this kingdom states that as long as they are a legitimate eldest child of a monarch, they should inherit the throne.”
“But a female should only inherit if there are no eldest males before her.”
“Yes, which made Your Highness’s claim eligible,” Levi said resolutely.
“No matter. People still would rather have a king than a queen!”
“Then, those people are foolish,” Levi exclaimed. “They should rather want to have a great ruler. It should be what they care about and not the sex of their ruler.”
A small smile appeared on her face, “Well… I hope I can be a great ruler like my ancestors.”
“I believe you can, Your Highness,” Levi replied right away, without even giving it a thought. It was almost as if he had that answer already on the tip of his tongue. He never thought he would ever say such a thing about their monarch, but he did, because he genuinely believed it.
“Thank you…” She whispered appreciatively. “That is very nice of you to say, sir.”
“Don’t mention it,” Levi cleared his throat as he started to feel a strange sensation spreading in his chest. “… Speaking of the Ackermans, are you afraid of the dragon, Your Highness?”
“Afraid? No! Of course, not!” She replied eagerly, her eyes sparkling with interest. “On the contrary, I adore them! I would watch them if they happened to pass by our sky.”
Levi raised his eyebrows, intrigued by her response. “You do, Your Highness?”
“I do, yes! I think dragons are the most interesting creatures to ever exist in our world, but also the most mysterious. Despite their ancient existence, we still do not know much about them.”
“Well…” Levi shrugged. “It can’t be helped. The Ackermans are very protective of their dragons.”
“Which I understand!” She responded ardently. “If I were an Ackerman, I would also do the same.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“Yes, because if they were not taken care of, it is not impossible for them to become extinct. Especially considering the number of dragons that were lost during the War of the Crimson Sky…” She shook her head in sympathy. “Furthermore, I believe that since people tend to see the dragons as a creature of destruction, it actually serves as a double-edged sword for the dragons. It does keep the dragons safe, but at the same time, it endangers them from people who want to harm or exploit them. So, I understand why they are very protected by the House of Ackerman.”
Levi was astounded. Most of the time, people questioned his house for being so passive. Most people assume that with the power of their dragons, they could easily dominate the whole world. However, people tend to overlook the close bond that his house shares with the dragons ever since they first bound their blood with the dragons in ancient times.
The dragons were their family, and so no matter what happened, they would never endanger the life and well-being of their dragons.
“… Now that I think about it,” the princess said thoughtfully. “I suppose the dragons will be my consolation if I have to marry the heir. After all, they only let selected few to be around their dragons.”
Her answer sparked his curiosity. “Answer me this, Princess: why are you so interested in the dragons?”
“I think it’s because of my mother,” she explained fondly as she looked at the apple-shaped brooch. “She used to tell me stories about dragons. You see, her nurse was actually from Fyre Garden, and so my mother grew up hearing stories about that land.”
“Oh, the Queen did?”
“Yes! Hence why it has always been my dream to see a real dragon up close someday.”
“But what would you do if you saw them, Your Highness? I mean, you do know you can’t ride them, right?”
“Well, yes, I know that. I’m not born as a dragon-rider after all. However, that does not mean I can’t study them, right?” She explained good-naturedly. “I did not lie when I said how interesting the dragons are, and because of that, I want to learn more about them.”
Learn?
That would be new.
“Pardon me, Princess, but why?” Levi inquired. “Why would you bother yourself with the dragons if you can’t even ride them?”
“Because it will also become my duty, will it not?” She replied staunchly. “If I marry the heir, then my role is not only as a future queen of Elythyia, but also as a future lady of the House of Ackerman. Therefore, it is imperative for me to learn and understand everything about the dragons so I can take care and protect them—just like how I will treat my subject.”
For a moment, Levi forgot that he was several feet away from the ground because he was too enchanted by her words. It was as if she took his soul out and put him under her charm. He could not even think of anything intelligent for a response.
Rather, as strange as it sounded, he suddenly thought of Kenny. Particularly about what Kenny said regarding his decision to not marry.
Kenny claimed that he remained unmarried because he could not find any lady in the realm that is befitting to be the matriarch of their dragons. At first, Levi thought his uncle was only exaggerating, but once Levi himself came around in society, he realised that Kenny was telling the truth.
It was no wonder that their house was very strict about the criteria of a spouse, because it would be a disaster if the position fell into the wrong person.
Levi himself had met various ladies from various great houses around the realm, but he had not found anyone who could fulfil that position. He even started to doubt if he would ever find anyone at all.
However, that doubt was gone when he met the princess.
“You’ll need someone formidable and courageous,” his mother once said. “Someone with a kind heart and a brilliant mind. Someone who can love our dragon the same way we do… But most importantly, it must be someone whom you truly care for and trust. Why? Because the dragons can feel it. They will feel what their master feels.”
There was no doubt in his mind. If he had to choose someone to be the lady of House Ackerman, then he would choose her in a heartbeat.
He just knew that the Fyre Fortress would welcome her with open arms and the dragons would adore her right away.
Knock! Knock!
The sudden knock on the door broke Levi out of his reverie. He and the princess glanced at the door at the other end of the room.
“Your Highness,” called a voice from behind the door. “May I come in?”
“Not yet! Please wait a moment,” the princess yelled in the direction of the door before turning her gaze back to him. “Forgive me, sir. I don’t want to cut our conversation short, but I’ll have to change for my next lesson.”
“I understand, Your Highness,” Levi nodded.
She smiled tenderly, “I had a pleasant time talking to you, Sir Johannes. Thank you. I hope we will see each other soon—and this time I will not forget.”
“Yes, I will be waiting for that time, Princess.”
After saying his farewell to the princess, Levi swiftly made his way back to the ground. He bowed politely at her before he finally excused himself from her sight.
The real reason why Levi was in the palace in the first place was none other than for an audience with the King.
It had been exactly seven days after their first talk in the Fyre Fortress, and after knowing that Levi would give the proposition consideration, the King eagerly invited him and Kenny to visit him in the palace so they could talk about the plan for the union again.
Thus—since it was the King who requested it—they had no choice but to comply.
Initially, Levi felt that seven days were not enough for him to think about it thoroughly. Despite the King’s reassurance that he did not have to decide right away, Levi could still feel the pressure from the court, which wanted him to make haste.
The King’s intention of inviting them to the palace was to present them with some offers and agreements about the suggested nuptials. The King hoped that the clauses and proposals that he had prepared would help Levi in his decision-making endeavour.
However, ever since the beginning, Levi had always thought that the session would be unnecessary. He did not care much about those things. It was not what he wanted to seek from the union. Therefore, he found the upcoming meeting to be a waste of his time.
Even after he arrived at the throne room, with the King sitting on his elegant chair and his uncle standing nonchalantly at the front, he still thought the meeting was unnecessary.
Albeit it was for a different reason.
“Thank you once again, gentlemen, for giving me your valuable time. I do not want to waste any more of your time. Therefore, allow me to go straight to the main agenda,” the King said before he made a gesture to his aide. Right away, the aide handed the King a thick manuscript. “Since I want this union to benefit both of our houses, I have prepared several offers about the union that I want to propose to you. I will also take into consideration any of your requests, if necessary, it—”
“I will do it,” Levi exclaimed.
Silence.
Levi glanced at the King and his uncle, who looked at him strangely. Levi quickly realised that he had just voiced what he had been thinking since he arrived at the throne room. Unprompted.
“Oh, pardon me, Your Majesty,” Levi quickly clarified. “I meant to say that I will do it, I will take Princess Hange to be my wife.”
Silence.
He was not sure what it was about his answer that made everyone in the throne room stare at him as if he were a ghost. He felt like what he said should not be that unusual.
“… You will?” The King inquired with a hint of doubtfulness in his tone. “Is this true? Will you truly wed the crown princess?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Levi replied calmly.
“No! Hold on!” Kenny raised his voice, interrupting the conversation that Levi had with the King. Kenny swiftly approached him, a deep frown carved on his face. “You will wed the princess? Since when?! How?!”
“Since now, I suppose,” Levi shrugged. “I have thought about it, and I have decided that I want to wed the princess. What is so hard to understand from that?”
“Oh, no! No! No! No! I don’t remember we have spoken about this,” Kenny objected, his tone harsh. “I am the one who has the final say in it.”
His tall figure loomed over him, but it did not bother Levi much. His decision was absolute and unchanged.
“You are the head of our house, I don’t doubt that, but it seems you’ve forgotten that I will assume the same position as you in the future,” Levi elucidated. “Since this involves the future of the house, I do believe that I get to have the final say about who my bride should be.”
Kenny was visibly irritated by his remark, but Levi knew that Kenny would not say anything back, not when Levi was bringing up an indisputable point.
“If you are still unsure, then you shall listen to His Majesty’s offers. Perhaps it will convince you,” Levi suggested as he made a gesture toward the King, not caring if it offended or disrespected the King.
“You know it’s not simply about that!” Kenny said through his gritted teeth, putting emphasis on each word. “This is our house we are talking about.”
“Do you assume I made the decision without considering our house?”
“Were you?” He challenged condescendingly.
“Of course,” Levi replied firmly. “Just as I believe that Princess Hange is suitable for the position of our future queen, I also believe that she is suitable for the position of our future lady.”
“You believe?” He scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. Levi turned to look at the King, to gauge his reaction, and it appeared that the King was holding back his retort. Levi gave the King a look, silently telling the King that he had everything under control.
Levi shifted his attention to his uncle and said, “Since you do not trust my reasoning, then I propose that we let the dragons see the Crown Princess. You do know they are the best judge of character, right?”
Kenny’s face contorted in a twisted way as he switched from confusion, to anger, to shock, to annoyance, to astonishment, and eventually to acceptance—albeit begrudgingly. Levi had never seen him lose his composure before, and so the sight amused him greatly.
“Fine!” Kenny said before turning toward the King. “You heard him, Your Majesty. I shall invite you and the princess to visit our humble abode. If the dragons accepted the princess, then I have nothing against this union.”
The King was—understandably—perplexed by the sudden turn of events. Even if it was the outcome he wanted, Levi knew that the King did not expect it to go so smoothly. It was clear from his expression that he still had his qualms.
“Are you sure about that, Ackerman?” The King asked carefully. “Will that be your only condition?”
“Oh, don’t take it very lightly, My Liege,” Kenny stated with a smirk. “Our dragons are not easily pleased with someone who is not from our blood. In fact, dragons are most vicious with strangers, especially those who are not an Ackerman.”
“Be at ease, Your Majesty,” Levi quickly said. “I will ensure that the princess is free from harm.”
The King smiled at him, “I really appreciate it. Thank you.”
“I want to be clear with you, My King,” Kenny continued pompously. “The dragons would only be one of many conditions for the union. I still want to hear what Your Majesty has already prepared regarding the offers.”
The King scoffed, “Of course. As expected of you, Ackerman.”
“I am just your obedient servant, My Liege,” Kenny said half-mockingly.
“Yes, you are,” the King said sarcastically with a smile before turning to Levi and suddenly asked, “How about you, lad? Do you have any conditions for the union?”
Conditions?
Levi did not really think about it at all; it did not even cross his mind. All he wanted was to take her as she is. Therefore, he did not think he would need any conditions.
Unless…
“Yes, there are two, Your Majesty,” Levi replied curtly.
“Your King asks you to speak of it.”
“Thank you, Your Grace. My first condition is: I will only proceed with the union if Princess Hange agrees to do it on her own volition, and not because of anyone’s persuasion or because Her Highness was forced to by someone—and by everyone that includes you as well, My King.”
The King raised his eyebrows. “Will that truly be your first condition?”
Levi nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
The King took a long look at him. Levi could not discern what the King was feeling through his expression, but it appeared that the King was pleased by it.
“Very well, I accept that first condition,” the King said with a smile. “How about your second condition?”
“In the case of the princess accepting this union, then I want to wed her in the tradition of my house, right on the ground of Fyre Garden.”
“Oh… Fuck me!” Kenny groaned loudly. “You are really serious about this.”
“I am. I never said I didn’t”
“You’re a driveller,” Kenny scowled.
“A traditional Ackerman wedding, you say…” The King muttered. “I think that can be arranged, but we do still need to hold a royal wedding.”
“We can do that after,” Levi said.
The King frowned. “I’m not keen on the idea of the royal wedding not being the main ceremony.”
“Well, that is my condition. I want to marry the princess in my land. The royal wedding can be a symbolic ceremony.”
“You are quite persistent about this one,” the King remarked, folding his hands.
“No wedding is legal and accepted by the House of Ackerman unless it was done in our tradition and our land,” Kenny chimed in. “If you want this union to happen, then you must do it our way.”
The King did not reply right away. He closed his eyes and massaged his temple, seemingly to be in deep thought, and stayed like that for several moments. Eventually, the King opened his eyes and looked at them with a great resolve.
“Very well, I accept your second condition,” he stated squarely. “Do you have anything more?”
“No,” Levi replied. “That is all from me, Your Majesty. Thank you.”
- Chapter 1 End -