My Inner Demons: The Rise of a Devil

Chapter 49: Sins of a Father

-Y/n pov-

I woke up to a sharp pain in my back. I saw a plump older man kneeling in front of Historia. He apologized to her for something before pulling her into an embrace. I was too out of it to react, but I knew they must've known each other somehow.

-Flashback, 3rd pov-

The Levi squad sat around a table listening to Historia as she told them her life story.

Historia: I was born on a small farmstead. The Reiss family owned it. For as long as I remember, I'd been helping out around the farm. My mother was always reading books. She didn't care for work and no one cared enough to make her. Almost every night, she would get dressed up and go into the city by carriage. That was just life as I knew it. I had no idea that what I experienced was wrong and unjust. When I started learning to read and write, I began imitating my mother by picking up books whenever I could. They taught me just how alone I was.

A young Historia picked up a book that had been discarded on the window seat of the farmhouse. She saw a picture of a woman and her daughter. The two seemed happy. The mother in the book always treated her daughter with love and kindness.

Historia: The parents in the books I read all loved their children. They talked to them, hugged them, and scolded them. I never experienced any of those things. It wasn't long before I began to crave the treatment I read about. One day, I decided to embrace my mother to see what she would do. After dropping the pitchfork I had been using, I slowly walked over to my mother. I ran and embraced her, but didn't get the reaction I'd wanted. Instead, she shoved me away and stood up, looking at me with blazing hatred in her eyes. The first words she ever said to me weren't out of love or concern but hate.

"If only you'd never been born, my life wouldn't be so horrible"

Historia: To any other child, this would have brought them to tears, but not me. I was happy because I had been acknowledged by my mother for the first time. That was also the last day I saw her for a long time. We wouldn't meet again until a few days after Wall Maria's collapse. That night was also when I met my father for the first time.

Rod: Historia, my name is Rod Reiss. I wish we could have met sooner and under better circumstances. There's no easy way to say this, but I'm your father.

Historia: That man owned the land I had grown up on. The mother I hadn't seen in years looked very afraid, but of what, I didn't know.

Rod: Now listen, you'll be living with me from now on.

Historia was allowed to bring one book but that was it. Her father seemed anxious to leave the farm as soon as possible. While they were walking to the carriage, a group of men wearing long black coats and hats appeared from the darkness. Historia's mother screamed in terror only to be restrained by Kenny.

Kenny: You know what this is Lord Reiss. Maria's fall has you acting recklessly. I suppose you thought you'd keep your secrets hidden away in safety, huh?

Historia: Let Mother go!

???: NO, I'M NOT THAT GIRL'S MOTHER, I'VE NEVER EVEN MET HER. DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH HER BUT LET ME GO!!!

Kenny: Anything to say, Lord Reiss?

Rod: I won't deny that I know this girl, because she is, in fact, my daughter. However, if my plans fall to ruin what will that mean for you?

Kenny: Choose your next words carefully old man. With Uri gone, there's no one to keep from ripping your throat open.

Rod: Should things fall through, I'll need someone to supply another heir. This woman will do fine. Spare her and I will personally guarantee you get what you seek. Do we have an accord?