Unexpected

Chapter 3

Eren really hated being attacked. You can't live life if you're dead. 

Though, he almost thought he was going to die at the hands of that man. "Thanks... Annie..." He whispered, running through the halls, trying to get to the main hall as soon as possible.

For all he knew, that man could be running behind him, but he didn't think so. He remembered the first time she used that technique on him. She had broken his ankle that didn't start healing for a week. Even if that man was strong, the kick was bound to make him slower than usual and send intense pain through his leg. 

Finally, Eren reached the hall and immediately made a bee-line towards Historia and Mikasa. He made sure he didn't cause a scene, but it was really hard not to. Mikasa looked up from her chat with Historia and stood up.

"Eren, your face has a cut, what happened?" She asked, dabbing the wound with a napkin. Eren was shocked to hear that his face had been cut, he didn't feel it. Or remember it. Historia and Mikasa looked at him, wanting an answer.

He took a deep breath before replying. "A man tried to assassinate me," he said simply. Historia gasped a little and Mikasa's eyes hardened, gripping the sword on her side. "Who?" Mikasa asked, making Eren a little scared.

"I-I don't know. He looked like you but was shorter than me. And I used that technique so he should be a little slow..." Eren trailed off. Mikasa scanned the crowd, looking for anyone that fit the description. "Don't you think he's making his escape right now?" Historia asked, also standing up as well next to Mikasa. 

"Maybe, but Eren's protection is my number one priority. I have to make sure he isn't here." Mikasa replied, not once taking her eyes off the sea of people. "Mikasa, he's probably still in the halls-" Eren began saying until a random scream was heard from outside. The three of them immediately rushed outside to find a hyperventilating woman. 

"T-That carriage almost killed me!" A woman screeched. She pointed to a now distant carriage going far away. Various people tried comforting her, but she was still in shock. 

King Reiss looked distressed but cleared his throat to grab everyone's attention. 

"In light of the... predicament that has happened," He said, glancing at Petra who had a cut running along her arm, "I urge you all to go home immediately. I thank you for coming, but your safety is more important."

Everyone had no problem following his orders. Within half an hour everyone excluding Prince Jaeger, Mikasa, Petra, and Historia, left. The king had disappeared which left the five to themselves.

Mikasa was treating Petra's wound while asking her questions. 

"Did a short man who looks like me do this to you?" She asked, wrapping up Petra's cut. Petra nodded. "Yes, how did you know?" Mikasa glanced at Eren. "The same man tried to assassinate Eren. Shortly before the commotion with the carriage, he came back to the hall with a cut on his face. That's how we learned of the situation at hand." She responded, returning to Eren's side.

Petra looked down at her feet and frowned. "Well, I believe it's safe to assume that the man was the most likely person in the carriage," Historia said, putting her hand to her chin. Eren nodded in agreement. "I doubt that he was fast enough to start up a carriage, though. He probably had someone with him." Eren commented. 

"The thing that matters is that you're safe, Eren," Mikasa added. Eren smiled but it seemed a little tired. "You don't have to worry so much about me, Mikasa. I can handle myself perfectly fine." Mikasa, in return to his comment, gave a frown of doubt. 

"If that man knew of the technique, he could have easily blocked you and killed you. That is your only attack that is strong enough to take down an assassin." She said flatly. Eren's eyes glinted a bit but he stayed quiet as she continued.

"And what if he had a bow and arrow? He could shoot you from a far distance meaning you would be completely defenseless because you couldn't have hand-to-hand combat." She finished, crossing her arms. Eren's eyes were on fire with fury.

He wasn't mad at Mikasa, at least not entirely. He was mad because the words she was spitting out were once true a long time ago. "Well, I'm sorry that I can't help but being a big target for assassination." He said bitterly. Historia watched the whole ordeal unfold with the suspicion that Mikasa's words had a different meaning to them. 

"Mikasa...I'm sorry, it was my fault. I let him be on his own. If I had been outside that door, I could have alerted you right away," Petra staged-whispered. Eren's gaze turned soft and Mikasa's stance relaxed a bit. 

"It's fine, Petra. I understand why you let him out of your sight." 

Petra felt a bit better knowing she hadn't angered Mikasa, but still felt a pool of guilt in her stomach. "Okay..." 

Historia sat up from her chair and made sure her posture was tall and proud. "Well, I'll make sure that four of my guards go with you on your way out. I believe home might be the safest place for Prince Jaeger." She suggested. 

"There's no need for guards. I'm capable of protecting him myself." Mikasa said, getting up from her seat as well. Eren doing the same. ''Ah, what about King Grisha? Wasn't he a bit behind you two?" Petra asked.

Mikasa and Eren glanced at each other. "We weren't being completely honest with you..." Eren trailed off, scratching the back of his neck. "He didn't really want to come...so he made us tell you that excuse and if you asked again to say that he couldn't make it or something like that," he said sheepishly. 

Historia smiled and held back a laugh. "I don't like attending these things myself. And I'm the host." She said cheerily. Eren smiled back while Mikasa... Mikasa just smiled internally. 

The two said their goodbyes and left to their carriage so that they could go home. When they left, Petra sighed.

"If only we could have spent our entire time in the gardens," Historia said. Petra nodded in agreement. "Might as well get you ready for an early retire."