Princess Ackermann

XIX: Left Behind

"At last, you have returned, dear cousin." Historia said, pretending to be grateful, but distaste was tempting to leave her mouth. Mikasa smiled and sat up. Jean continued to stare at the lovely Princess.

"I thank you all. And I'm sorry for being lost for so long. How long has it been...? Mm. 12 years."

"The tragic accident of the Royal Ackerman Family was unprecedented. We are glad you survived, Princess Mikasa. And now that you're back, order and peace will come back to the country." The Councelor spoke.

"We offer this dinner, to you, Most High,"

Mikasa smiled. "Uncle Rod, how is your family?" The Princess asked the Reiss Lord. "The Reiss? Oh, we are very much doing well. Historia was willing to accept this task of finding the Princess of the East, along with Prince Jean of the North."

"Father, we barely even found her-"

"Come on Historia, thanks to me, we were able to find her. It was a little unexpected." Jean said proudly, and Historia scoffed. "Yeah, thanks to your oh-so-flirtatious air."

"People have called me Serhilda, it must've been the name people gave me when I lost my memories."

The Lord of the Teiber, the Emperor of the Southern Kingdom - Willy Teiber, said, "And what happened to them? Who took care of you?" Mikasa trailed off. "The Rals took me in."

"Where do they come from?" Willy asked.

"They're from a village in Wall Rose called Hermina. I believe they found me by the rock from which I've hit my head." Mikasa lifted her bangs, presenting her scar.

The people in the room gasped.

"If you were there, the future of the Eastern Kingdom will fall!" The Queen of the North exclaimed, along with the people. "Yes. However, it's in the past now. My Lords, My Ladies, My dear Pope, and My Counselors,"

"Let us discuss the future."

+•+

"Petra! Petra! Look at this!" A little girl came running to the young teenager. The teenager bent down and smiled at the little girl. "It's a rose! It's a rose! Look, it's so beautiful!"

Petra chuckled and tucked the rose on the little girl's ear. "Little Serhilda, you are beautiful! More than the rose itself!" Petra made a cheeky smile. "Haha, thank you so much!" Serhilda chuckled and gave the strawberry-blonde a soft hug.

Suddenly, Serhilda ran out of her arms and to Levi. "Levi! I want to play again!" The teenager rolled his eyes. "Some other time, Serhilda." He said, but the little girl tugged on his sleeves. "Pretty please...?"

"Serhilda, I have work to do. You can play with Petra."

From a distance, Petra stood up, folding her arms, grinning while the wind blew her hair and dress. Levi stared at her openly and how she shot him a persuading grin.

He then looked down at the little girl who made a pleading face. He sighs. "Alright, come on." Levi said, earning a loud cheer from the little girl. She was then running towards him, from which he sped up as they were chasing each other.

Petra chuckled and watched the two as they played. Back in the cottage, Mr. Ral watched the kids and their joyous laughs. Well, except for Levi, but it seemed like he was having fun. Glad they're enjoying themselves...

Petra sat on the couch, feeling depressed. She was sipping her tea when Levi - who recently woke, came in. "Petra. Why're you up so early in the morning?" He said groggily. She didn't look back at him and simply said, "I couldn't sleep well."

He sat down beside her, pulled her closer, and rested his head on hers. "Tell me." She sighs and puts down her teacup. "I miss Serhilda..." She mumbled. "It just... it just happened so sudden..."

"We can't do anything about it. It's time we move on. Clinging onto things that happened in the past won't help."

"But Levi! Those things in the past weren't just things! They were memories-" She looked at him through the eyes, "-fun-filled memories. It's what put smiles on our faces."

"Petra, I know it's hard, but we'll get over that eventually."

"No, Levi! Don't you remember when we'd sneak out of the cottage every night to lay down on the grass, looking at the stars together? All three of us?"

He was silent. "Did you remember when we'd go hunt for roses because she wanted one? I still have that flower crown she made for me 6 years ago."

"Petra-"

"Do you still remember when we would play together? Did those things meant anything at all to you?"

He sighed. "That's the past. Serhilda's no more. She wasn't destined to stay here, because eventually, she'll return to her Palace. She's the Princess of the East, she will have duties to fulfill."

Petra looked down in sadness.

"And besides... who's to say she'll remember us?" Petra gasped. "Serhilda was the girl with no memory of her past. Mikasa is the girl that is out there, being a princess."

Despite those harsh, but true words, Petra knew it was inevitable. Eventually, when someone loses their memories, it's bound to come back again.

However, that would depend on their accident, or their injury. Some just lose them forever, and she knew it was selfish to wish that Serhilda shouldn't have remembered.

Serhilda shouldn't have remembered...