Midnight | Levi Ackerman

Chapter 5

SASHA carefully tied the laces to the corset portion of the cream, silk gown I was wearing. She was helping Historia prepare for the coronation. Jean was going around the capital to gather an audience for the crowning and Levi... he was nowhere to be found.

"How long does this ceremony take? I want to eat something," I ask Historia, who was in a bathtub with her mermaid tail out.

"About 30 minutes for you. All the important talking is done by authority figures. It's all historical things. We will have you ready to walk into the hall by then," she comments.

Since the castle had become rubble, Historia occupied the home of a local elf. A horse was able to transport us over there and the military was doing its been to clear up the space. It was nearing midnight. Has it only been a nearly day?

"I can't wait to sleep after this," I mumble under my breath.

Historia orders me to stay in until Sasha allows me to walk to the hall. Once the mermaid leaves, Sasha whips out a tray of food.

"Do you want one?" She holds out a whole potato.

I happily accept it. It's not a meal, to be honest, but it is something that will satisfy me.

We wait for a couple of minutes before the owner of the house knocks the door. Sasha thanks the elf before leading me outside. It stopped snowing so heavily, and the lamppost provided adequate illumination. A carriage sits in front of the door and I step inside.

"Don't forget this. I don't want you to get sick. Heh, it feels nice to be friendly with royalty," Sasha comments.

I nodded and smiled at her. "Thank you," I say as she hands me over a fuzzy white cape. It drapes down perfectly and provides a great amount of warmth. "I'm still a human, regardless. Modern Paradis isn't like this."

Her eyes widen in surprise. "Really? Can you tell me what it's like? Or, how is your life actually?"

We have a peaceful conversation about my life. She was extremely invested when I told her about my barista experience and bakery job. Mentally, she was taking down notes on recipes on how to make good drinks and treats. Sasha also exchanges information regarding Titans, the diverse population, and ultimately, Levi.

My curiosity ends up winning. I am asking plenty of questions about Levi.

Sasha, thankfully, had almost all of the answers. The stoic man basically was living a double life. He, like me, walked into the ancient world and ended up becoming crowned. He was the very last member of his clan and became royalty due to his natural powers. He's been going back and forth for almost 5 years and keeping the peace of the ancient world.

He would even tell them about me and my existence. Levi was aware of me being the descendant of my mother, but he did not want me to be sunk into this world.

I haven't seen my mother since I was 18. It's been almost 5 years since then, and that's when I became more responsible for Eren. Our father was a doctor who was always away, but our mother was nowhere to be found.

When I made that connection, I was ready to know what happened to her. "Hey, Sasha. I'm probably being annoying with all of these questions, but I was wondering if-," the carriage halts all of the sudden. I turned my head to see that we were already where the castle once stood. Sasha helps me get out of the carriage.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

I didn't realize how slow the ride was, but apparently, it was the perfect pace because I heard my name being announced.

"The daughter of Clara Jaeger, the Queen of the Nightfall Light... Y/N Jaeger!"

I hear sudden clapping from the commonwealth. Soldiers and other important figures bow down as I walk down the fallen castle's throne room with Sasha protecting me. This all felt like a dream as if it were the Chronicles of Narnia.

When I approach the throne, Historia suddenly appears. In her hands is a massive crown, adorned with jewels. Next to her is Levi, who bows to me. There is an older man, I believe a general of some sort, who is holding a scripture in his hands. I stand face to face with the mermaid, and the man's voice booms once more.

"It is with great honor to introduce the candidate of princess of the Nightfall Light. If accepted, the title will shift, given this important circumstance our history is experience. Do you, Y/N Jaeger, vow to protect the civilians of the Paradis nation? To protect the lives of the humans, elves, gnomes, centaurs, and other creatures alike?" The man announced.

I nod my head and lift my right hand up. "I do."

"Do you understand with this coronation you are granted an unimaginable power and membership into the Titan Games?"

My left hand goes behind my back, with my fingers curling up into a fist. "I do."

"Do you promise not to betray Paradis?"

My right-hand strikes my chest in another fist. "I do promise to fulfill all of my promises."

The man nods and I begin to kneel in front of Historia. "With this oath engraved onto the scripture, you may accept the crown of the Queen of the Nightfall Light..."

I close my eyes and hear feet shuffling. Before I know it, the crown is placed on my head. It is silent.

I get up and realize that Levi was the one who crowned me instead. I feel my ears heat up a bit.

He looks godlike with the crown he is sporting. Just by his presence, one can tell he was a figure with power. I also noticed he had changed out of the white outfit he had earlier that was stained with Titan's blood. He wore a gray suit, opposite to the cream dress I was wearing.

As I face Levi, the man conducting the ceremony speaks again. "With a final gift from the Founder, Ymir, who bestows her honor to provide you with protection to wield."

A sword made of stone is presented to me and is placed on the palms of both of my hands. Then it suddenly begins to radiate.

"Woah..." It was a marvelous sight; I had never seen anything like this before.

The cobble sword begins to flash multiple times until it settles down on a dark blade along with a black handle. I hold it by the handle and then raise it up to the sky. As I do this, I feel a tremendous power flowing inside my body.

The ring on my hand begins to shimmer along with the blade, which has transformed into a pitch, void-like, black. It looked like it had little stars too.

"Paradis, I am pleased to introduce you, Y/N Jaeger," I hold the sword in my left hand and put my right hand into a fist, once more striking my chest. I turn around right as my new title is given, "The Starlight Princess!"

The audience cheers and everyone around me bows one more time in respect. I give everyone a smile and a determined look.

Levi steps up and stands next to me. I turn around and he pulls out some sort of harness that holds my sword. It's a bit intimate for my taste: he wraps it and secures it around my waist, before gently removing it from my hand and placing it in the holster. He kneels down, takes my hand, and kisses it. It takes every ounce of strength in me to not blush in front of everyone.

When he stands up, the speaker talks one more time. "Paradis entrusts you, Princess Y/N, along with Prince Levi, who we now bestow with his new title... the Moonlight Prince!"

God, all these terms and names are so confusing.

The audience cheers for the news. We patiently stand there until it is quiet enough for me to say something.

I clear my throat. "All citizens of Ancient Paradis," I bow my head to them. "It is my honor to restore your winter and festivities... When I return with my little brother, Eren, that is when you know, I have won. I will fight!" I stand up tall and proud, pumping my fist into the air.

All the creatures cheer happily, with some of them very emotional and comforting each other.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Levi slowly places a hand on my back, a bit dangerously close to my waist. He whispers into my ear. "Are you ready?"

I gulp. "Y-yeah."

We both face the audience and do the nation's salute once more.

"Shinzou wo sasageyo!"

Now I am one step closer to saving Eren.