𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐦. 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

𝐘/𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐒 her dress was getting tightened. She didn't understand why she had to attend a baby shower for someone she didn't know, but her mother told her it was crucial to their image for them to attend. Her ladies in waiting were encouraging her. "Your grace will do wonderfully." One of them told her. "Yes yes, and you may find your prince charming there." The other added.

"I surely do hope so. You all know how impatient my father is getting for me to marry. It just isn't fair. I don't just want a marriage of convenience that's only good for the kingdom." They finished with her dress and began on her hair. Her ladies in waiting were with her from the age fourteen until now at the age of eighteen. "Well your grace, you mustn't give up on love. You are a very charming young lady." Her lady in waiting insisted. "Yes, because it is much more romantic to grow old together." The other chimed in.

Y/n sighed, "Thank you ladies. You always manage to say the right things." The two's cheeks were dusted pink from the praise. "Don't thank us your grace, it's what we're here to do." The other hummed in agreement. They finished with her hair and slid on her shoes for her. After y/n stood up, they put jewelry on her. The two had gotten used to y/n not asking for makeup as she always said, "I impress no one by caking my face in powders and creams."

She walked out of her room with her ladies in waiting, following close behind and went to the solar. Y/n chatted with the two girls and awaited her parents. At the time her parents finally arrived, she departed from the girls and entered the carriage with her parents. "Now remember darling, smile." Her mother reminded the forlorn maiden. She sighed as she forced a smile to appease her mother.

All this was for what? Image. Anything she did, anything at all, was tied to her image. It was a dreaded curse she couldn't escape. As soon as she almost broke the surface the chains she was bound to, pulled her deeper.

They exited the carriage, her going first and her parents trailing behind. Y/n wore a smile on her face, but her eyes told a different story. As they entered the hall this baby shower was said to be in, hundreds of noble faces and fans were seen. The orchestra played music that told tales of past lovers, forgotten memories, and things that could have been. It was like the music was playing the people and not vice versa. Some people were dancing while others were keeping a prying eye, watching to see someone make the tiniest of mistakes.

The judgement in the hall was suffocating, and it was as if the fake smiles and laughter covered the eyes behind. Y/n had gone straight to sit at the back as her parents socialized. "Y/n is that you? Oh how you've grown." A lady she had never met approached her. She curtsied and gave a bashful smile, "Ah it's nice to see you too." Nothing was as it seemed in that hall. Everyone tried to outdo each other, embarrass each other, while forgetting why they had gathered in the first place.

As the lady walked away y/n could feel the stares, but as she turned it was as if no one noticed her presence. That's how these events went. She went to grab a drink and bumped into a princess. "Ah please forgive my mistake." She curtsied, but as she looked up she was in awe. It was as if time itself had stopped for these two. She looked into the maiden's stygian eyes and her eyes flickered to her lips. She had noticed the black haired girl's ruby necklace. She had never felt this way before. But she didn't even know what feeling it was, let alone describe it. Heavens no.

Time resumed and the unknown princess bowed, "Do not apologize princess, it was my mistake." Y/n snapped back into reality and gave a small smile, "It would seem we were both at a fault. Would you like to sit with me?" She offered. The princess gave the tiniest of nods and stared into y/n's e/c eyes, "Yes princess... I'd like that very much." She whispered as if in a daze.

The pair sat down and talked. It felt like they had known each other for all eternity. "As you can tell I'm not very interesting." The princess now known to be Mikasa Ackerman chuckled softly. Y/n grabbed her hands, "Well I find you rather intriguing Miss Ackerman." And there it was again. The feeling of time stopping. As they gazed into each other's eyes, she felt a connection. They both did. She just couldn't recognize what it was.

"Mikasa! I've been looking all over for you!" A brunette man beamed. "Hello Eren..." Mikasa turned to him and y/n had noticed her demeanour had changed and it now looked forced. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" He pressed on, "This is-" "Y/n L/n of Trost, pleasure to meet you." He kissed her hand in greeting. This man was most likely Mikasa's spouse. He grinned, "Eren Yeager of Stohess, the pleasure's mine." He turned back to Mikasa, "Ready to go?" And she smiled and nodded.

"It was wonderful meeting you Mikasa." Y/n gave a smile and Mikasa returned the gesture. "The pleasure was all mine." And with that Mikasa and Eren went back into the crowd and y/n was lonesome once more.

It wasn't long until her parents beckoned for them to unite, then take their leave. As they were in the carriage y/n's face unconsciously formed a smile as she thought of the princess she had met that day. She wasn't anything like any of the other princesses she had seen and was much less femenine. Which was to be expected as the soon heir to be the leader of the Scouts. It seems they were both under the same pressure to marry and y/n assumed the man that approached her was the suitor Mikasa mentioned.

Y/n hoped to meet again and her mother noticed the change from when she entered and now leaving. "You seem to be in a better mood darling. Did something happen?" Her mother inquired. "Nothing much. I believe I just made... a friend."