𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍; 𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍

33

It had been a day since the news was brought forth to Eren and like any rational prince would react, he was very much against such an arrangement. You had not heard of it and truth be told, it was best if such arrangements were kept blind to you as you held Caroline's small hand. The two of you walked toward the royal gardens. You tended to the colorful roses as Caroline played about.

"Caroline sweetheart, please be a dear and stay by me. I wouldn't want any harm coming your way." You smiled toward Caroline who then sat next to you and smiled. "Thank you kindly my dear." As you continued de-weeding the ground where roses grew Caroline watched with eager eyes as she pointed toward an opening within the bushes.

"What's that Venus!?" She spoke up. You looked over and raised a brow. Getting on your knees you pushed the leaves and overgrown thornes aside to find yourself staring at a wilting purple flower.

"What a grand eye you have my dear! I would have never seen that dying flower." You laughed as Caroline shook her head.

"No! Not that!" Caroline spoke up with a huff, you looked at her face, her cheeks puffed in irritation as you laughed.

"Oh fine... fine... what on earth has you so worrisome?!" You laughed and Caroline pointed within the bush, peering in you took a better look and sighed in realization. Just beyond the wilted purple rose was two mantis, female and male. Caroline and you observed as the female mantis beheaded the male mantis with its own jaws causes Caroline to gasp. The female mantis continued its tirade, eating the insides of the male mantis for nourishment. Nature is quite terrifying, yet so very magical. "So that's what peaked your attention hm?" Caroline nodded as you sighed.

"What are they?"

"Mantis, an insect, they are beautiful aren't they?" Caroline shook her head. "No?" You asked with a laugh.

"Why did it do that to its friend?" You sighed softly.

"Perhaps I shall explain, yes?" Caroline nodded and you smiled in response. "Well, sweetheart, Mantis are quite the odd insects. When they find love and have a family the female will... I suppose take the head from the male."

"Like what I saw?"

"Exactly how you saw." You smiled and leaned in to pick off the wilting purple rose and slowly pulled it out of the thorny bush. To your surprise, the female mantis clinged to the wilted rose.

"Why did she do that... if she loves him?" Caroline asked, you looked over and hummed in thought.

"Well... I like to think she did that because her love, the male mantis told her too!" Caroline nodded as you continued. "She now has a growing family to feed and because of that the male mantis gave himself to provide food for his future babies... so that many more Mantises are born in the future."

"Aww... that's sad though... he doesn't get to see his babies?"

"Well... no, but he is content that the babies will be just fine!" Caroline nodded as she stared at the female mantis. "Lets put her back in her home yes?" You placed the female Mantis back into the rose bush and got back on your feet. "It is quite sad Caroline, I know, but he is happy to help his family... that is all that matters." As you explained someone behind you cleared their throat causing you to spin around as Caroline jumped for joy and ran into his arms.

"M-my lord, I am so sorry I had not seen you standing there." You gave him a sheepish smile as he picked up little Caroline and held her close to his chest.

"Venus... it is always a pleasure to see you." Eren stated with a smile. "Do not worry, I am not one to dwindle about my presence not being... recognized. I suppose I am happy to have found you in the gardens." You smiled at Eren and saw he was holding a white rose in his right hand.

"You seem uneasy?" Eren chuckled at your statement.

"I make it quite obvious don't I Venus?" You could only shrug.

"My lord, you have the kingdom upon your shoulders, that uneasy feeling is something I am not at all... I suppose worried about." You stated and clasped your hands together. "How was your studies? You were so isolated I began to worry."

"You worried about me?" Eren stepped toward you, a soft smile appearing on his face. The two of you stared in silence for what felt like forever as you felt your face heat up. Caroline giggled at the interaction and kept her head nestled on his neck.

"Of course, I worry... well my duties as your personal maid must be accomplished, I had just assumed you were busy is all."

"Oh..." Eren sighed and looked down at the ground. The warm smile on his face slowly dwindled away. "No matter, I was going to ask you for a favor..."

"Favor?" He nodded.

"I..." He looked down at Caroline and set her on her feet. "Caroline my dear, be a darling and keep my brother Zeke company. I am sure he would be thrilled to see you today."

"Yes Caroline, he did ask about you the other day, paying him a visit will surely bring his spirits up!" Caroline nodded happily and trotted off into the castle. "You best behave young lady!" You called out to her as Eren laughed.

"Such a mother you are." He smiled and looked down at the white rose he held in his hand and sighed. "My apologies for sending her away."

"My lord it is fine... I was meaning to have her continue her studies with Lord Zeke anyhow." Eren chuckled.

"Oh, Is that so? She will be a fine young lady one day... I am sure of it." The two of you laughed. "Now then, I must ask you... have you been to the Royal cemetery as of late?"

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒦꒷

𑁍┊-TiredBunBun