THE BASTARD, eren yeager

𝐱𝐱𝐱𝐢𝐯, a price to be paid

THE BASTARD
chapter thirty-four

[Name] had been reading one of her favorite excerpts from Ovid's Metamorphoses, the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, when Pieck approached her. If [Name] hadn't spent so much time with Pieck over the years she wouldn't have caught the palpable rage hidden behind her slack expression, or the way her hand trembled slightly as she held on to her fan.

She would be lying if she said she wasn't slightly surprised that Pieck would choose to speak to her in such a public setting. Despite the relatively small crowd gathered in the Great Hall today, some people were already sneaking glances at the two women from afar.

[Name] sighed and began closing her book, and it was her knight who greeted her, "Lady Pieck,"

"Ser Colt Grice," Pieck spoke, her voice unusually tense, as she tried to settle her shaking hands on top of her skirt. "I've come to have a word with the Queen."

Colt looked to [Name] and she only gave him a reluctant nod.

"Come forward, Pieck." [Name] gestured, and she felt the air grow thick as Pieck stepped towards her. "Quite the serene day we're having, aren't we?"

"Serene day? You and I both know I am not here to speak of such unimportant matters." Pieck's mouth trembled as she bit back what she really wanted to say. "You're sending my boys away... to be cupbearers and squires."

"Indeed," [Name] smiled, before she stood from her couch. "I see such great potential in them... especially Henry, quite an assertive young man. I'm sure he will make a great knight one day. Will he not, Ser Colt?"

"I'm certain he will, your Grace." Colt nodded, and
Pieck closed her eyes. It seemed as though it was the only thing keeping her from fainting right then and there, as her face flushed red with fury.

"You're mocking me." Pieck seethed, doing her best to keep her voice even. "When we both know that you waited to finalize the arrangements whilst the King was out hunting with his council. You knew he would've never let you do it whilst he was here."

"Let me?" [Name] went up to cover her laugh. "I'm confident that my husband will come around to my perspective when he returns. Cupbearers and squires are high positions of honor, your children will be well cared for when the time comes."

"Honor? Is that how you justified your choices this time? I let you arrange marriages for both Henry and Lucienne, even though the decision should've been mine... But if you think I will passively watch as you take the rest of my children away from me and toss them into the lion's den, you are sorely mistaken."

More people had crowded around them now, and their stares were no longer subtle, from the corner of her eye she even saw Eren looking back at her with worried eyes. He stepped closer towards them.