Princess Ackermann

XX: The Prince's Seal

The Prince of the North had just woken up. Today is 4 days before his last day in the Eastern Kingdom. But before that, he needed to do something he needed to do for a long time.

Confess his feelings to Serhilda, or rather — Mikasa. Even if Mikasa lived inside the Serhilda he knew, he'll make her know. He'll make her know.

He'd been wanting to consider to take her hand in marriage in order to preserve the future of his Kingdom and hers. His family promised tranquility and order to the country if they sealed their marriage to unite and strengthen both kingdoms.

The Kirschtein Royal Family had set up this rule in the mid 16th century.

It was only then in the 15th to 16th centuries that those 4 kingdoms fought endlessly and ruthlessly to strengthen their empires. Their wars have threatened its inhabitants and civilians that it almost produced a mass exodus of people and animals.

However, the Pope had finally convinced them after suffering from corruption, to agree and forge unity with all kingdoms, as one nation. Together, the four kingdoms rebuilt society and strengthened their relationship with the other kingdoms.

The Pope during that time was powerful. Until the Ackermann family, whom they had a Princess for an offspring named Mikasa, dirtied the system of royalty in the Eastern Kingdom once again.

They relived old cultures, unforgettable pasts, and weren't as soft-hearted and calm as one thought. They were hard and rigid in the worst ways possible that their country was forced to obey their cruel ways.

At that time, poverty rose in the East. That was until the sudden accident of the Ackermann Royal Family was spread all across the continent. Villagers, nobles, and knights were informed. Even knights who had left during the reign of Mikasa's parents.

3 weeks after the accident, he and Princess Historia of the West came together to aid on their quest to search for the missing Princess of the East. But within and after 12 years, they came back to settle matters in their own lands.

Strangely enough, he came across a village girl named Serhilda. He thought her beauty stretched far beyond the colors of the ocean, because of her calm black eyes. Her skin was as bright and rosy as porcelain, freshly-groomed. Her lips were very pink, and her whole appearance resembled a rose.

He'd never seen a civilian this pretty and promising before. Not to say he never admired other women, but, he knew she was different. She had something other women didn't have.

When her identity was revealed to be Mikasa — the long-gone Princess of the East — word hasn't reached yet of her return to the Palace. So far, only the monarchs, her foster family and possible friends knew of this.

The time to make this public was near. However, this will be the day he will ask her to marry him and mold the future of the Northern and Eastern kingdoms into their own hands.

The people will adore and look up to them, and not only that, he gets to be with the woman he loved and admired for the longest time (he could think of) in his life.

Jean got up from his bed and as usual, the maidens came to groom him. The maidens quickly rushed to his room and began undressing him, though he wanted to dress himself since he was afraid his princely features would make the ladies faint. Arrogance bound him.

Historia didn't care, and she never will, since she thought he was too obnoxious and vain as a human being. Sometimes he wondered if she even liked disliking people because of simple things.

+•+

The moment Jean stepped out of his room, fully groomed, so did Mikasa and Historia who were fully groomed as he is. Mikasa looked bright in her pink gown. Her hair was tied into twin buns, with little curls running down the sides. Her bangs still covered her forehead and she walked with poise down the stairs.

He was left staring at her for a while, until Historia smacked him to snap out of it. He mentally cursed and went downstairs in an upright manner. The Princess lifted their gowns and proceeded in the same manner as their feet found its way down the marbled floor.

The maidens were standing and forming a line across the hallway. The butlers who stood by the dining hall door gladly opened it for them. The ushers helped them to their seats and began setting their breakfast on the table.

"Did they make it back safely?" Mikasa asked. "Who's they?" Historia questioned. "I meant the Lords, Ladies, the Pope and the Counselors." Historia scoffed. "I made sure they came back to their kingdoms safely. There's no need to worry." Jean said and gave her a smile.

"Oh, thank you, Prince Jean." Mikasa smiled in return. Jean nodded and the trio began their prayers.