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Today has not been a good day.
If Historia has to listen to one more tax report or law proposal, she might actually scream.
Of course, she is aware of the inherent indignity of such behavior, what with her being the queen, so she holds it inside.
To make matters worse, however, she hasn’t been feeling well.
Her head feels heavy, like she might faint, and she doesn’t have to look at herself to know her eyes are likely bright with fever.
Still, she keeps going and none are the wiser for it.
Historia is thankful for this.
There are still those who are unconvinced of her capabilities as queen.
She’s determined to prove them wrong.
All of them.
Her face heats up when she catches Eren staring at her, expression worried. There’s no hiding anything from him- not when it comes to her.
She can’t maintain eye contact and so she lets her gaze drop to the papers on the table in front of her.
The words are starting to swim together.
She blinks several times, trying to clear her vision.
It doesn’t work and she only starts feeling worse.
“Your majesty?” One of the advisors is peering at her with thinly veiled suspicion.
“Yes,” she answers, trying to sort through the fog in her mind. “Of course. I’ll take that under consideration.”
“Under consideration?” he repeats, aghast. “We’re talking about the country that’s been trying to exterminate us!”
“I’m well aware,” Historia counters. She fights the urge to press a hand to her aching temple. She can’t show any sign of being anything less than capable.
Eren catches her eyes again.
His face is dark.
He doesn’t like the way these men are speaking to her.
More than that, he knows that there’s something off about her.
“You don’t look well,” someone else comments. A snide old man folds his hands on the table and regards her. “Are you sure you’re feeling up to this? Perhaps this matter should be handled with someone with a little more… experience.”
Historia narrows her eyes. “By all means,” she says icily, “bring me someone who didn’t stand by idly when the titans broke the wall.”
The man sputters for a solid moment and Historia sits back, satisfied, though the pounding in the back of her skull keeps her from fully appreciating her victory.
She allows her shoulders to slump wearily.
“If that’s all,” she says, allowing her voice to soften, “then I think we can consider this meeting adjourned.”
Historia has never been more relieved to get out of a meeting before in her life.
She stands- and realizes instantly that it had been a mistake to do so as she sways unsteadily.
She can’t faint, she understands this with slight panic. She can’t faint but it appears that she is going to.
Even if her biggest naysayers have already left, grumbling their disapproval, word of this will surely be carried back to them.
“Queen Historia-!” The words are spoken with alarm, even if she’s unaware of who the speaker is.
Eren is at her side in an instant- she hadn’t even seen him move.
He sweeps her into his arms before she can fall, disregarding her startled cry.
“I won’t let you fall,” he murmurs.
“Eren,” she whispers, horrified, though she can’t deny the racing of her heart. She wants this. She wants this so badly, but it’s unseemly for a queen, isn’t it? “they’ll know.”
Her protest is weak and they both know it.
“Let them,” Eren responds. His eyes are hooded and he regards her with affection. “They already know I’ll do anything to protect you. Let them know I love you as well.”
The faces that watch them range from baffled to amused to understanding.
The blood rushes to her face and she blushes as red as a tomato.
“Eren-” She wants to bury her face in her shoulder, hiding her face
Two faces stop her.
Armin and Mikasa stand watching the pair of them.
Armin is grinning, eyes shining- he’s happy for the two of them- but Mikasa’s eyes are dark, her face is stony.
It makes Historia’s heart sink.
She knows how the dark-haired girl feels about Eren.
Even though it’s not her fault, even though neither she nor Eren are responsible for who they love, she still feels guilty.
But then the look passes and Mikasa nods once at her before she turns away.
Historia understands.
There’s acceptance and heartbreak wrapped together in that look.
Thank you, Mikasa.
She hides her face in Eren’s shoulder and takes a deep breath, enjoying his closeness for the time being.
Eren’s protective grip tightens around her shoulders.
She’s content in the knowledge that she is safe with him, that she is his, just as he is hers, that as long as he's with her, he won't allow anything to happen to her.