Blissful Distraction [Attack on Titan Fanfiction]

Childhood - Chapter 1: Toxic

Wall Sina is filled with the richest, snobbiest, and greediest people on the planet. It didn't take long for me, Delphinium Hale, to understand that. Growing up in a grand estate in Sina, I was exposed to the ways of these bastards. I found this way of life like a disease that infected the nobles and the rich peoples of Sina since birth.

The protection of the innermost walls gave me, and many others, an illusion that everyone was rich and happy. It was only natural since it was what I grew up with. I lived in a beautiful house with my mother and father. In each room hung a brilliant chandelier bedazzled with crystals which reflected the sunlight. There was a stained-glass window in each room that each depicted flowers.

My mother, Deanna, was obsessed with flowers. This was obvious in more ways than just the stained-glass windows. The most obvious way was how the house was decorated. She had multiple vases in all of the rooms, and kept them well watered. She kept the most marvelous garden in the neighborhood. There were flowers ranging from daisies to orchids that lined the pathways. This obsession even shone through in my name.

However, I don't like flowers. For one thing, I was quite allergic to most flowers. Allergic reactions would range from sneezes to hives and breathing problems.

It wasn't only my allergies that made me hate flowers, it was the smell. Many would argue that flowers smell sweet. However, with so many different smells coming from all the different flowers, the garden smelled like a mess to me. It made me want to gag. I had no idea how my mother was able to spend so much time in the garden. I would feel nauseous just by walking through the front pathway.

Unlike my mother, I grew a liking to birds and butterflies. I would always stare at the creatures soaring through the sky and dream that I could, too. Quite silly, isn't it? To my mother, they were annoying creatures who wouldn't go away even if she threw a rock at them. She would complain that the birds were too loud, and butterflies creeped her out.

Yet, I can't help but feel fascinated by them. I remember I would set crumbs on my balcony and wait inside my room to see if birds came. If they did, I would sit inside and attempt to draw them before they flew away. If a butterfly landed onto a flower, I would endure the flowery stench in order to draw it. My friends called me a little artist. My cockiness had the best of me and I believed them. But what more do you expect of a child?

However, since I was allergic to most flowers, being so near to any flowers would cause some reactions. This was a price I was willing to pay to see the patterned wings up close.

If any of my friends asked why I loved to be near butterflies if they only bring me harm, I would shrug and say:

"I guess I like things that are bad for me."

I was blinded by how beautiful the world looked from my balcony. The mansions in my neighborhood were just as beautiful, but definitely less floral. I never once thought about anyone outside my world until later. I was aware that there were more worlds outside mine, but they were merely an existence. All I saw was the beauty of the decorated buildings and the elaborate clothing.

I knew of how selfish that the people of Sina acted, but I always saw it as normal. However, my view changed as I began to understand more about the world.

The inner walls were filled with people who were the most inhumane humans one can meet.

Unfortunately for me, both of my parents were screwed up people.

My mother, was the exact opposite of a motherly example. She believed that a girl should only be seen, not heard, and that her only purposes should be to marry, give birth, then die.

Other girls in the neighborhood were given tutors for advanced education and musical talents outside of school.

At home, I had to endure my mother's way of training me to be ladylike. She would teach me how to do the chores (which was usually given to the maid to do for other households), how to properly dance if invited to a ball, and how to sing to captivate boys. However, she taught these factors in the most extreme ways possible.