Aberration Into Affection (Ereri/Riren)

Chapter 20: Aberration

Recap: Well, like always, more secrets have been exposed that were hidden within the walls of the castle. Gracelyn has been sent home due to an odd event with Eren that was watched by none other than the prince Levi. Just when Eren thought he was gonna be in trouble as well, his date was moved up to an earlier day, and....The boy was kissed later on that night. Who knows how long Eren's luck streak will last.... Or will it?

Shiganshina 1879

"Eren's Room"

Was sleep an option that night? Hell no! How the hell could Eren had slept when Levi kissed him! Him of all people! What did this mean? Did he win now? No....Levi actually made it pretty clear after the kiss that he hadn't won.

Actually, after the kiss, Levi just sent the brunette back to his room and things hadn't been said since but now being the next day, it was time for the date and things were most likely gonna be extremely awkward now that the boy thought of it.

After a good ten minutes of thinking of what if's and how's, his maid burst through the door with a cheery expression, breaking off Eren's thoughts. Calla. She of course was happy, knowing today was his date with The Prince and had everything prepped and made the moment he told her.

"Know what time it is?!" She exclaimed

Eren groaned and sat up, already heading towards the bathroom before she could begin rushing him around. "Yes. I know. Set my outfit on the ottoman and I'll be out shortly!" He said in return before shutting and locking the door behind him.

Shiganshina 1879

"Levi's Room"

"Your highness....The paper has arrived today." A feminine voice said as she entered the room with a stack of neatly folded newspapers on a silver platter.

Lorene. The head maid.

"Thank you..." Levi mumbled, turning and grabbing the paper from the platter and quickly scanning it. After only reading the headline, his heart lurched, the calm and cool eyes of his turning worried and frantic.

"Make sure not a single one of the contestants get one of these....Especially Eren..." He said sternly to which Lorene nodded.

"Also, have Vicki send up my clothes....Thank you." And with those final words from Levi, Lorene left him to read the paper that just might mess up everything.

The Headline:

A Staged Kiss? Get more details on how the king spiced up the competition by making The heartless Prince kiss someone with no feelings behind it!

Article:

One of the contestants- who shall not be named- had witnessed a speaking between both The Prince and King about the blandness of the competition and quote "You must get the game pieces wrapped around your finger. The end result will be much better" Says The King. Surprisingly, Prince Levi agreed to kissing one of the girls (or boy) simply to get better publicity! What do you think Shiganshina? Does Levi want a person to rule with or a toy to play with? So far, from what we have seen, it is all a joke to mess with innocent contestant's emotions!

The article had Prince Levi enraged completely. This was...

True. All of it was true.

However.

It was extremely over dramaticized. Yes, he was supposed to kiss someone but someone of his choice. Someone he felt close enough to kiss and well....

It was Eren.

There was nothing to worry about though. Lorene was taking care of it and things would be okay....Right? Well, that is what the male hoped.

Now....There was indeed something he had to do. Levi tried to think of it but Vicki -the head seamstress- came through the door with a special outfit.

Equestrian clothing.

Shiganshina 1879

"Rickety Trail"

Eren didn't know why this place called such an odd name but from what he was wearing, he figured it was for none other than horseback riding.

Originally, the plan was to meet in The Secret Parlor but things had been switched up last minute, causing him to end up out here in riding boots and the rest of the gear but the helmet he was supposed to be wearing was off on the side for the time being.

Not like he was complaining, the tight and leather clothes made him feel hot.

After only a ten minute wait, none other than Prince Levi came down to the start of the trail, stuffing a pamphlet of some sort of papers into his pocket, quickly walking to the brunette.

"Um....Good morning Eren..." The male said awkwardly to which Eren chuckled and nodded.

"Yes, goodmorning to you too!" He responded.

Levi stood in silence for a few moments before speaking again "Oh! Yes...Horseback riding, would you like to come choose your horse?" He asked, already walking to the barn only a few yards away.

Without even responding, Eren followed with a constant smile, happy to simply be out here.

After arriving at the stables, Eren practically squealed at the cute horses, all standing perfectly in their stalls. He had wished he could ride all of them but one caught his eyes. A horse with a white main and deep blue eyes at the very end. It had a name plate nailed to her stall and read out Rebekah. What a beautiful name for the horse.

Very simple though, so it was perfect for him.

Levi on the other hand, walked to a specific stall and unlocked the gate, allowing a large black horse with green eyes to slowly walk out, huffing out a bit of air from it's nostrils.

"That one is so cool! Is that your own horse?!" Eren exclaimed, copying Levi and letting the white horse out of it's stall and immediately putting the leash thingy on it. He didn't know what it was called.

"Yeah..." The Prince muttered in return, already leading the horse out onto the fields, the brunette following.

Both males got on their choice of horse once they were back to the trail, Eren practically exploding with excitement. Back in the village, he seen very few animals other than the occasional homeless cats and dogs that he fed scraps of food to. He was an animal lover!

"Come on. It's a long trail so we must stay at a good pace..." Levi said, already leading his horse down the Rickety Trail, Eren immediately going behind him.

~

At some point, Levi paused his horse, getting off and motioning Eren to do the same.

Eren did as told and got off the horse, looking around the area which was absolutely breathtaking.

"This...I-It's amazing, Levi!" The brunette explained, causing Levi to nod. After a few moments of looking up at the sky which was in perfect view from this point, he began to walk his horse over to the tree and tie it up so it didn't run away.

Then it slipped.

The newspaper. It fell from his back pocket and Eren smiled, going over to pick it up for the raven.

"Oh, is this the paper? We didn't receive one this morning..." Eren said, his eyes scanning over the paper, causing Levi to whirl around with nothing but worry and regret in his eyes.

However, Eren's had began to fill with tears.

"It...It was fake? It was all a lie?" Eren said in a hushed tone.

~~~~~~~

Have a happy Thursday! And hey....If something isn't happening for you right now, doesn't mean it never will! Peace yall