The King's Queen

Chapter 25

Levi's PoV

I washed the dishes, finding myself humming while thoroughly scrubbing the surface of each plate.

"You look happy," Kenny commented as he took his time with his coffee on the dining table. He had been staring at me, studying my every move after Eren left.

Eren and Jean didn't spend the night here, when the sun started to set, they said their goodbyes. Overall, everything went well. Eren and I talked. I learned a lot of things about him and it piqued my interest.

And Eren felt the same, he's going to visit me again next week. And next week's the fireworks festival. It's perfect.

"I'm always happy when I'm cleaning," I shrugged.

"Not that type of happy, I mean happy," Kenny emphasized.

"I have no idea what you mean," I shook my head as I busied myself putting away the dishes.

"You seem to get along with that fella, care to share?"

I paused, thinking if it's a good idea to share my thoughts with my uncle. Maybe it's not bad. "We spend the rest of the day by the river in the forest. Jean went out for a swim as well as Eren."

"So, Eren was his name."

"Yeah and he's... not bad," I didn't notice that I was smiling. But who wouldn't? Eren was nothing but a child when he was swimming his heart out in the river, it was adorable.

"Interesting."

"You know what," I turned to face him. "Just say what you wanted to say, you're leaving me hanging here."

"That brat. He's not human."

I blinked at him. Not human? Eren seems fine to me. I'm aware that they are other magical races in the vast lands but I never saw one personally, if so, then they mastered blending in with humans. "How could you be sure?

"He had a magical aura around him and so as Jean."

"Jean?" I gaped at him.

"Jean casted a spell on their carriage."

"I don't understand," I took a seat at the dining table.

"In your eyes, you see a very extravagant carriage with strong Arabian horses. While on my side, I saw a standard looking carriage and plain horses," Kenny took a sip of his coffee.

I pondered at my uncle's input, glancing down at the charm around my wrist. "So?"

"That means, they are hiding something. That brat, Eren you say? Could be a Duke or something."

"Oh..." That's all I could musted. Eren did say that he got a lot of responsibility and expectations on his shoulders. And that he'll be taking over his father soon. The reason why he barely got out of his home because his father was trying to protect him. He's an heir. "That makes sense now, Eren did mention something about responsibility and expectations."

"I suggest you stop exchanging letters with him."

"What?! Why?" I exclaimed. I don't understand why Kenny doesn't like Eren, he didn't talk to him or get to know my penpal to just order me to stop.

"Because I said so!" Kenny stood, and for the first time he gives off his Alphan scent, forcing me to submit.

"No!" I stood, not allowing him to push me around. "Just tell me why!"

Kenny glared at me before sighing and he sat back in his chair. He knew that I won't easily back down. "Levi, did your mother told you something important?"

I frowned, digging into my memory in hopes that I could recall my mother's words. "I do remember Mother told me to live and take flight."

"I see," Kenny nodded with a small smile. "Do you know what she means when she said, 'take flight'?"

"Be free? To not be tied down by someone, by the law, and self?" I flinched when Kenny suddenly laughed.

"That's a good one shrimp, but she means more than you think."

"Really?"

"I knew why you were able to survive in the streets, how you survived the plague. Of course, your obsession with cleanliness helped as well as your quick thinking," Kenny explained.

"Just say it already!" I slammed my palms on the table. I had enough of Kenny's stalling.

Kenny sighed. "You are not human, Levi. You're a fairy."

I blinked at him, stopping a laugh from escaping my lips. "Pfft, a fairy. You got to be kidding me."

"Your father was a fairy too," Kenny continued and my smile dropped. "I thought it was all right since he's our kind. But I was wrong."

"What?" I gaped. "But you said that my father put mother under a spell and..."

"A fairy can cast spells and conceal them. I knew he casted a spell on Kuchel because after a month later, I saw your mother's wings on the black market."

My breath hitched as fall back to my chair.

"Fairies like us have wings but they are not meant for flight. Their purpose is to attract a mate or collectors. Your father was a bastard, he tricks his own kind, ripped out their wings, and sell them to the highest bidder. He was caught and hanged a year ago before I found you," Kenny explained, his fist tight, ready to punch.

"Mother was sick not because of the plaque," I breathe.

"That's right. Levi, listen to me. I know that you are fond of this Eren but I just wanted to protect you. I feared that what happened to Kuchel will happen to you as well."

----

I lay on my bed holding Snowflake tightly. I stared at the ceiling while I digest what my Uncle just told me. I closed my eyes, recalling the days when I was still living in the street when I'm still together with Isabelle and Farlan.

*It was snowing, but I know that spring would finally roll in. It's a new year and I'll always pray that things will be better for us.

Yet the underground was never different. Everyone was surviving. It was our only choice.

"Big bro!"

I turned towards her voice, smiling as I did. Yet the smile didn't last. Instead of seeing Isabelle smiling with Farlan on her side, I saw men behind them with swords aimed at their throats.

"No!" I tried to help them, I really did. I don't even know these people, they just came in and forced me to come with them. When I refuse, they would take my friends hostage.

"Do everything I said, or I'll kill them."*

My eyes snapped open. Those people, they knew that I'm not human. I recalled that they were trying to bribe me to come with them but I refused. I do remember them talking about wings and how much it would cost a fortune. I beat them all up after, saving my friends but I never knew what they wanted from me.

"That's why," I sighed. It made sense. I took my time to mourn for my friends. I miss them. But I'm here, safe and with my uncle, I knew that they were happy for me.

Kenny said that I'll be able to see my wings if I slowed down my heart and empty my mind. Closing my eyes, I concentrated.

And when I opened my eyes, the room was illuminated with the lightest blue and gold. It was magical yet concerning.

I sat up and glance over my shoulder. My eyes widen. Would Eren rip them off and sell them if he knew?

----

edited 02/12/21