Chapter 76 - Apologies

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Hours passed since they gathered everyone else deep in the forest. Although the first few minutes were wasted from glaring at each other, they were able to start a calm conversation while Hanji was making stew. Only Vien and Levi were staying on the wagon behind the trees, listening from a distance

The other medics were also seated beside the rest of them, Aaron listening to their conversations, and Eric who was just clueless to what everyone was talking about. After changing a sleeping Levi's bandages, she slowly got up and went to sit beside her best friends

She noticed that both of them had the same look on their faces - she sighed. They still weren't over Francis, just like her. Vien puts her arms around their shoulders, and pulls them closer to comfort them

A few minutes later, Yelena calls her out "You woman, you were their Lieutenant Colonel, right?"

Vien rose her brow "I thought you knew that, didn't everyone know?"

"What were your intentions when you snuck inside Marley's barrier?"

"She didn't" Reiner interrupts in a low voice "She didn't snuck inside"

"What? Didn't they say that she was caught by the militaries for infiltrating the offices?" Yelena asks

"I-it was all just a lie, Zeke and I abducted her that day. All that sneaking in, bombing the city, and her plans to assassinate the military officials. We made it all up in order to strengthen the Marleyan's hate on Paradis. And Vien had to go through all of that because of us, I can't believe I agreed to Zeke during that time"

The rest of them were only left in shock by Reiner's statement. The warriors, they couldn't believe it. All this time they saw Vien as a scout who was sent by Paradis to launch an attack in Liberio, that they didn't know she was brought there against her will. She wasn't even a titan shifter, so did they abduct her just because they wanted to? The horrors of it made them glance at Vien, but the blank look on her face didn't change a bit

Gabi and Falco also had the same agaped expression, so what she said back then wasn't a lie? They remembered Vien telling them before, but their feelings were outweighed by betrayal that they didn't believe her. Now that Reiner admitted it himself, everything was crystal clear now. She wasn't lying

"I'm sorry, Dr. Vien" Reiner mutters

"So are you saying you abducted her and made up lies just so that their hatred for Paradis will grow? You fucking bastard!" Eric exclaims, about to lunge at Reiner. But Vien held his wrist to stop him

Vien looks down, saying "It's okay"

They all turned their heads towards her with baffled expression, including Eric who scoffs at her "J-just like that?!"

"I have no time left to be bothered about the harsh past anymore. Just like every single one of us here, because of holding grudges against each other, we forget who the real enemy is. Why do we bother to show which race is better? We are all devils who fight for survival. We have family, and people we want to save" Vien looks down, with her fists tightly clenched "We all have the peaceful futures we dream of. So how do we have the energy to fight with one another, when we have bigger problems around us??"

"Y-yeah haha what she said. Way to go Vien" Eric pats her shoulder

She stood up, and gave a weak smile as she reassured the rest

"But of course I can't change your beliefs, just like in every situation, all I do is share my thoughts" Vien chuckles, before she walked away

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