Chapter 1: Recognition

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Today was similar to any other day in Liberio but the same couldn't be said for how Lisa's day went on.
She was walking back home from a journey of grocery shopping in the local Eldian markets. Both hands filled with heavy grocery bags which did not bother her in the least.
For it was the duty of maids working under the Tybur family.
Yet, she quite enjoyed the fresh air, bird chirpings and most importantly, interacting with her own people, Eldians.
The smiles covering their sad and tired eyes were always a wonder for her.
The strength Eldians hold, under all the discrimination they have to face every day and yet they still keep moving forward.
She couldn't prevent the guilt inside her from building up whenever she witnessed the conditions Eldians were forced to live in. As she was well aware of the power her family had over Marley through the shadows.
Yet, they were no helping hand to their own blood.
She sighed and decided to shake the gloomy thoughts away, maintaining her composure, she continued on her path with bright attitude, meanwhile greeting and smiling at local people, the least she could do.
She had almost reached the mansion, only a street away. However, she came to a halt when a line of injured soldiers caught her eyes.
She had decided to approach them to ask their conditions but when she saw the officer who was guarding them, she retreated from her decision.
The officer, Koslow, was a man whom Lisa never desired to cross paths with unless she was forced to. Numerous moments occurred where he had bothered her with unwanted comments and gazes.
She chose to ignore them and continue her path from the farthest side of the street possible.
She started to walk in a quick pace from the other side of the street but it didn't take much long for she had to pause again.
"Hey! Look who it is! Lisa, come over here, sweetheart! Don't you want to welcome this old man back from war?"
No, I don't want to at all.
I grimaced under my lips as I heard that taunting voice.
Koslow's horrid laugh rang louder in my ears as I neared him.
"Hello there, long times no see mister Koslow!" I forced on a smile and gave a small wave towards him.
Because I wasn't seeking another speech from Willy on how I must respect Marley military officers, I decided to play along nice, for now of course.
As I took a better look at his appearance, I noticed his broken arm; I couldn't help but feel a bit of joy.
Suddenly, without leaving me any other choice, he pulled me into a side hug; he surely knew how to make me uncomfortable.
After freeing me from his tight hug, he continued. "You can't even comprehend how much I had missed you but what can I say, there couldn't be a better treat after war than getting greeted by a pretty girl like you."  I forced a nervous laugh out, in response to his creepy compliment.
He grabbed my hand with his sweaty big hand, bringing it to his smirking lips, leaving a wet kiss on my knuckles. As soon as he let go of my hand, I wiped it behind me on my maid attire. I fought the urge to not shiver from disgust.
I averted my gaze away from him for a moment and my eyes fell on the fearful and whimpering injured soldiers.
A frown took upon my face; I could feel a pit of electricity growing inside me as anger filled me. The torturing thought that they had to lose their souls for soulless monsters like koslow was causing my hands to shake.
"What's going to happen to these injured soldiers mister Koslow?" I asked with no emotion evident in my voice as I hid all my feelings away.
"They're Eldians with PTSD. They weren't lucky enough to dodge neither the physical nor the emotional impact of the bullets and bombs raining down on them." He lets out another loud horrendous laugh. The soldiers start to flinch as they became triggered by the loudness.
I hated myself for standing there and witnessing how he cruelly exploits for his own amusement.
"Although they are lucky enough to witness Marley's kindness and be send to hospital for treatment." He glared at them with evident hatred swarming in his eyes.
One would think, it can get easier to let these hateful comments pass when it's all you have been hearing your whole life but it never gets easier, is spite, I'm not sure how much longer my patience can take it.
"The least Marley could do for its own soldiers." I sternly replied.
I could see from the corner of my eyes that he was eyeing me weirdly as he heard my response. I honestly couldn't care less.
He seemed to brush off the current topic and a smug look was replaced on his face, he continued asking.
"Forget about these pathetic evils. Tell me about yourself, how are the Tyburs treating you? Aren't you tired of being their maid your whole life?" I could feel him eying me hungrily and lustfully with no shame. I tried my best to ignore it and swallow down the disgust.
"It could have never been better. They treat me with utter respect and it's an honor for me, to work for them." With a sincere smile, I gave the statement I had been taught to offer, leaving no holes for suspicion.  I am only a maid, no more, no less.
As I was still speaking to Koslow, from the corner of my eye, I hardly caught the injured soldier with long hair stiffen for mere second when the Tyburs were mentioned. I didn't concern myself much since I wasn't certain if I had even seen correctly and on the other hand; Tyburs never had a great reputation among Eldians.
"I'm extremely happy to hear that dear. It would be a great shame if I couldn't meet you anymore." He smirked again, he was very much aware his only way to bothering me was through all the ceremonies the Tybur family invited the Marley military to.
"I cannot say the same Koslow." I murmured under my lips.
"What was that sweetheart?"
"Nothing" I gave him a sinister smile.
As I felt Koslow moving closer to me and becoming too comfortable, I took a few steps back and decided to check on the injured soldiers' conditions which allowed me to shift farther from the officer.
All the soldiers averted their gaze from me as they seemed to be in a nightmarish state in their heads. But something particular about one of the soldier's caught my eyes.
The same soldier, with the shoulder-length black hair; his armband was tied on the wrong arm unlike the others.
I came to a halt.
It could only be an innocent mistake but how can an eldian not be aware of this lasting rule, unless he is not from around here...
'Our enemies have crossed the sea; we should even watch our own backyard.'-Willy's warnings on Paradis infiltrating Marley kept playing in my head.
I kept reminding myself, I had to always be cautious as the person who inherited the war hammer titan but I decided to brush off the inconvenience, for now.
I realized as I had dozen off I was staring at the poor soldiers, making them uncomfortable. I blushed and muttered a quick sorry then walked towards Koslow again.
Yet I could feel the burning gaze of that particular soldier on my back...
"Unfortunately mister Koslow, it's time to say farewell. Sir Tybur is awaiting my return very soon." I lifted my hand as I glanced at the wrist watch I had on and then gave Koslow a bright smile.
I was genuinely happy for being able to not see his smug face anymore.
Not even waiting for a response from him, I turned to leave, but Koslow gripped my wrist and pulled me back, making me drop one of my grocery bags. I glared into his eyes, baring all the hatred I had for him in my eyes.
"Come on; give this old man what he has been waiting for years." He whispered in my ear as I could smell him reek from alcohol. I didn't have the patience for his man-child behavior anymore.
"Sir, for your own safety, it's better to let me leave this instance if you don't seek trouble from either me or the Tybur family." I harshly pulled my wrist away from his grip.
Everyone was well informed if they disturb either the Tybur family members or the employees; there will be inevitable punishment waiting.
And yet the public was oblivious to the fact that I am part of the family.
"Very well" I could hear him fuming next to me. I guess he didn't enjoy being talked down by a low-life Eldian maid such as myself. I smirked; satisfied in the quite power I held over him.
I lowered myself to pick up the fallen grocery bag. But again, I was interrupted by koslow's hand gripping my arm.
God, give me the strength to not use my titan power this instance.
I gave him a sinister smile, "what is it this time, sir?" giving all I got to be polite.
I could see his breath shortening from anger but he kept that dumb smirk of his on, I definitely struck a nerve.
"Excuse me for interrupting you again but how can I let nobility like you, princess, carry all these heavy bags? Let this peasant, help you carry them. One leg, come here and put that one leg to good use! You need to learn sooner or later how to live on with it, ain't I right?"
Koloa walked to the mysterious soldier with long dark hair and pushed him towards me, making him fall right in front of me.
Although I had my doubts about the particular soldier, I didn't find the given offer from Koslow fair at all.
I was about to reject the cruel suggestion and bent down to help the poor soldier but Koloa forbid me by standing in my way and with an evil grin and said, "I insist."
We both knew very clearly no matter the amount of power one could have in this world, it will always be taboo to show any form of kindness to an Eldian.
"And fix that arm-band of yours. Damn, he lost his brain in war too." Koslow yelled at the fallen soldier.
I glared harshly into Koslow's eyes as he averted his gaze and picked out a cigarette from his coat pocket and lit it then blew smokes in the face of injured soldiers, making them cough.
One day I will crush his skull with my bare hands.
I looked down at the soldier who struggled to stand back up. After a few seconds at last he stood up and with more struggle, he picked up the grocery bag while he held his arm support in the other. Without another word toward Koslow, I started to walk past him.
I walked in slow pace so the soldier could keep up with me. And I could still feel his gaze on me like a hawk. What was he after?
I was feeling nervous because my suspicions about him only kept growing, so through a few quick glances I checked his appearance.
He had messy shoulder-length black hair and a slight growing mustache, as well as bandages that cover his forehead and left eye and the missing foot. He definitely had experienced some of the most traumatic events in war but still kept moving forward with all the struggles, not that he had any other choice.
But is that all there is to this man? Only an innocent injured soldier who doesn't know his right and left? Another Eldian who dislikes Tyburs?
I brushed off my thoughts when at last we reached a street that was out of sight from the evil officer. I turned in the narrow street and he followed after me. I took a deep breath, letting go of all the anxiety battered up inside me then took the grocery bag from him and put it on the ground.
I dropped my head, the guilt not allowing me to glance into his eyes, but I could still feel his burning gaze on my face. "I hope you can forgive me for what I put you through back there. Here, you can have this-"
I was suddenly interrupted as I felt his warm fingers on my chin, he lifted my face.
I was about to push his hand off and put him in a lock for daring to touch me without permission but soon stopped. My whole body went numb when I noticed his eyes. My hand dropped back to my side.
The shiny teal green eye...  Do these eyes belong to the same person father mentioned in the letter? But how could my father know? It can't true but still his eyes are very mesmerizing, emerald green eyes which are so empty yet determined...
My train of thoughts was interrupted when I heard his deep monotone voice.
"I recognize your face but I'm not sure from where. What's your name?" he was murmuring more to himself than me but I still heard his words as his eyes were focused on my features, studying my face deeply.
A frown took upon my face, my heartbeat began to increase.
His mistakes about the armband, flinching at Tybur's name... it all made sense now.
But I didn't want to accept, how could my father predict the future? Does this mean...
It had to be him.
I took a deep breath and gained back my composure. I still had to keep up my guard.
The time had come, I must accept my faith.
I pushed his hand of off my chin and stepped back.
"We have not met before until now. I'm Lisa Phoenix, nice to meet you." I confidently replied with a soft smile as I brought my hand forward for him to shake.
For a second, he glanced at my hand then up to my face. I attempted to not expose any emotions I was feeling at the moment.
I had to lie about my last name as I always have in my 20 years.
I had to convince him I am not who he witnessed from those stolen memories...
I furrowed my eyebrows innocently as I waited for a response from him.
He appeared to be confused and annoyed, our meeting had put errors in his perfect plan and the same could be said for me. His eyes were screaming from exhaustion, the same eyes that worked like poison on me.
He passed me an emotionless glance then turned to walk back to where we came from, leaving my hand hanging. He gave up on questioning me.
But I wasn't done yet.
Before he could move any farther I held his arm. He stiffened under my arm; he was ready to attack me at any moment if I commit the wrong move. He stopped walking and slowly turned his head and glared at me.
I let go of his arm and sincerely smile at him. I walk until I am standing in front of him as his eyes follow my every move, the smile still on my face.
The grocery bags forgotten, sitting a few meters from us.
I stepped closer to him. I was staring up into his eyes, curious about the emotions swarming in them.
I slowly lifted my hands to prove I have no ill intention, although his body was still on high alert and his eyes were focused on my eyes.
I began to untie the armband then tied it on his left arm.
After I was done, with a warm smile I stared into his shinning teal eyes and softly said.
"It will cause you less problems if you tie it on the right side, Eren Yeager."
A.N:
Hello to anyone who chose this fan fiction! It's been awhile since I had this idea of a fan fiction about Eren Yeager in my mind and recently I decided to give it a go. I hope anybody who is reading the first chapter enjoys it! <3
Sorry if there's any kind of error in my writing, English is not my main language. :(

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⏰ Last updated: Mar 19, 2022 ⏰

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