𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍; 𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍

34

"Royal Cemetary? Quite the odd question to ask of me on such a lovely day, has something come up?" You smiled and eyed the flower in his hand as you watched him laugh. He fanned your worries away with his hands and rubbed the back of his neck.

"It... was only a question of course.."

"Ah..." The tenseness was in the air as the two of you stood silent staring at one another with small smiles. It felt incredibly awkward as Eren finally coughed out a reply.

"Would... you like to go on a small walk with me Venus? It won't take too much of your time, I assure you." You nodded with a smile.

"That sounds quite nice, though it can't be for long. The tasks I am given won't do themselves now will they?" Eren chuckled. He slipped his coat off and gently placed it on your shoulders, a small smile formed on his face as he sighed in contentment.

"I suppose you are quite right."  As the two of you walked, you both stayed silent. So silent, that even the crickets residing in the green grasses could be heard. It wasn't a sense of awkwardness this time, instead, it was a silence of content happiness. Not a word needed to be said to portray how happy you both felt in each other's presence. In fact, it seemed as though, the both of you yearned for such a moment, but Eren decided to break such silence for the news must be spoken.

"Venus..." He finally spoke up and stood under a tree. The tree was beautiful as green leaves dangled down and whistled and shuddered in the windy airs. It was a weeping willow tree. The same tree that once hung the bad people of their very lands like dangling strange fruit. Those same winds blew through Eren's messy brown hair. "I do apologize again, for everything I have seemed to put you through."

"My lord... you mustn't worry about such things the past is the pas-"

"Then what of the future Venus," Eren spoke with a smile. "What of us? I hate that you speak to me so formally, enough with my lord! Your Highness! Goddammit, even My Prince! Just damn it all. Why Venus I suppose..."

"You suppose what Eren?" He looked over as you spoke his name and he smiled.

"My apologies... I got ahead of myself, I hate that I do such wretched things." You sighed and slowly walked over to him sat down against the weeping willow, and looked up to Eren with such admiration, and beckoned for him to sit beside you as you patted the lush grass next to you. Eren at first hesitated, letting out a heavy sigh, giving in, and sitting beside you. The coat he gave you still resided on your shoulders.

"No apology is needed... but there must be a reason you called for such a walk?"

"I suppose your right." He chuckled. "Venus, my father wants me to marry a noblewoman for the good of Eldia." Your smile dropped, the news felt like a dagger to your heart. You silently looked off to the side and up toward a window, squinting your eyes you caught a glimpse of a knight, but paid no mind to it and looked back toward Eren.

"Do you love her, Eren?" You gave him a soft smile. He jolted at such a question and locked eyes with you. He felt his face heat up and slowly he shook his head no.

"I'll be damned if I marry that woman. I have no love for her. No need for her. All my father sees in that marriage is power. Power and token for his goddamn lands and he does not even realize it is at the cost of his own son's freedom."

"Your father knows what's best for you Eren..."

"GODDAMMIT VENUS!" He yelled and gripped your chin. Forcing your gaze to look straight at him. "I'd rather be hanged than marry that woman... I'd rather die in a war than marry that woman. I would much rather... spend my time... with you instead of.... That woman." His voice slowly softened as he released his grip from your chin and looked away. You were silent and slowly scooted your body closer to his and leaned against him. Your head rests on his shoulder. Eren held his breath as he watched you hold out your hand to him.

"You need a nap don't you?" Such a statement made Eren laugh as he held onto Venus's warm hand with his calloused one.

"I can't seem to get enough sleep these days my dear..." He chuckled and looked off toward the garden. "Perhaps... we should have more days like this yes? The two of us under this very tree and speak about what life provides to us each day... ah, yes pure bliss." You chuckled under your breath.

"That woman was a beast hm?" Eren scoffed and leaned his head down on yours.

"She was a bloody ass of a woman, but what else can I expect from a noblewoman who has been silver-spoon fed all their damn lives."

"Let's not think of that then... I do not need the prince blowing up once more." Eren cackled in response.

"I feel as if I'll lose my head if I speak of her anymore..." You looked down at Eren's hand and sighed. You watched as he tightly gripped the rose, you had the ask.

"And the rose?" Eren shuddered and looked at the rose in his hand.

"It was for my mother... I was meaning to finally go to her grave."

"Goodness Eren." She sat up. "When was the last time you had gone?" He chuckled and wiped the tears that began to escape his eyes.

"Thirteen years ago Venus..." He chuckled and finally got up to his feet and held out his hand to help Venus up as well. "I was hoping you could come with me so that we may both pay our respects." Venus nodded in compliance and walked alongside him to the cemetery. "It has been so very long since I have been to this part of the kingdom... it pains me and I am sure my mother's spirit hurts knowing that I willingly refused to visit her after all these years." The two of you walked, looking down at the tombstones of forgotten Kings and Queens throughout the many years of Eldia until the two of you stood in front of a tombstone you knew so well of.

"Eren... regardless of the pain you have felt... the years that were lost." You began to clean the tombstone as it read 'With beauty and grace the beloved queen of Eldia, Carla Yeager'. "You still came to see her, y'know? Even in death, she holds beauty." You stood back up and watched Eren lay down the rose. He looked up at you as the two of you exchanged glances, warm smiles caressing both of your faces. "Eren... I want you to know that she is most definitely so very proud of you." Eren chuckled with a smile and rubbed his fingers against the stone where his mother's name was etched into it.

"Thank you... Venus." You nodded in response.

"The two of you need space Eren, you know where to find me." You bowed to the tombstone in respect to Carla, his mother, and Eren himself as you slowly drifted away from the cemetery to go back to your duties. Leaving Eren and his mother alone.

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒦꒷

𑁍┊-TiredBunBun