Crumpled Freedom [Attack on Titan fanfic | Levi Ackerman]

Prologue

-Year 830, Wall Sina-

The beaming of the sunlight gently rises up from the horizon, nudging the dreams of mundane to disappear and wake everyone from their slumbers. Servants that work in the Tsukino Mansion had been up for a few hours prior, some rushed to the kitchen where they'll be preparing breakfast for their master, who will probably wake up anytime soon to prepare for his daily work.

A slightly panting blonde maid rushed through the corridors with lightning speed, as she had once more slept in again, halted in front of a large door with floral designs. She pushed open the door discreetly, peeking through the ajar gap to find that her young mistress has yet to wake up from her slumber. Letting out an inaudible and relieved sigh, she let herself in and shut the door silently. She slowly makes her way to the private washroom located across the large Victorian style room, quietly doing so that her young mistress won't be jolted awake by her clumsy actions.

The assigned maid had prepared some warm water running onto the bath, pouring some skin shampoo in the process, hoping to finish her first daily routine before the young mistress awake. Just when she turned around after the bath was filled with water, the said child mistress was already standing behind her, rubbing her eyes in an unlike-lady way.

Surprised by her mistress's action, a sharp yelp came from her mouth, jolting the young mistress from her drowsy state. "What is it, Polly? Was my sleeping form really that horrible that you had to yell? It almost burst my eardrums." The mistress spoke with a calm tone, albeit annoyingly whilst both her hands were covering her ears.

"Er - er no! My apologies, young mistress. The bath is ready for you as you wished." The child mistress hastily nodded and spread out her arms so that the blonde maid could strip her white lacey gown off her small fragile body.

She stepped into the bath without delay as Polly filled her hands with various types of shampoo and rubbed her hair in a gentle way, "Polly, is my breakfast ready?"

"Of course, young mistress. American breakfast as you requested, would you like to have it in your room or proceed to the dining room with the master?" Polly stated, now rubbing the young girl's forearm.

"Polly," The young mistress started, "How many times do I have to remind you? There's absolutely no need for formalities when there's just only the two of us."

"Understood, Melody-sama."

"As what you had said earlier, how come otou-sama still hadn't left for work? It's already eight in the morning! He's usually up by two hours prior from now, what happen?" Melody then got out of the bath, while Polly dried the water off her skin and wrapped it around her petite form, and led her out of the washroom.

"Don't you remember what today is, Melody-sama?" Polly took out a pink dress from the closet and showed it to Melody, which she nodded in approvement to wear that for the day.

"What is today, may I ask?" Melody allowed her maid to assist her in dressing, Polly simply kneeled down in front of her and help her straighten the stunning dress. "Why young mistress! It's your birthday today."

"Well, should I remember this particular day when all my days living in this large mansion was to attend lessons like the violin, dancing, and how to be a proper lady!" Polly was taken aback by Melody's sudden outburst in the morning, but she was not surprised as most of her days are only allowed to step foot within the mansion, only the mansion that her parents own.  Polly led her towards the dresser, and applied simple makeup on her face, making her hair in the process.

Polly was Melody's assigned maid since their adolescent days, since then, Melody had considered her as her only friend. The young mistress never had the chance to befriend someone else, due to her rare opportunity to go outside. She spent her days growing up learning violin, dancing and piano. All lessons were signed up by her very own mother, with intentions to train her into becoming a proper lady.