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It was a beautiful night which befit a glamourous party. The two dazzling Royals waltzed in the middle of the dance-floor to the amusement of all onlookers. Of course, theses onlookers had no idea neither partner wanted to be there in the first place.
Prince Armin of Eldia and Princess Mikasa of Hizuru had wed just a week ago and the people of both kingdoms were still celebrating the glorious union of their marriage. Rather, they were celebrating the marriage alliance between two powerful kingdoms.
Armin couldn’t complain. It really was a good thing, their marriage alliance. With the backing of the Hizuru Dynasty, they could now get the advantage on the powerhouse Kingdom of Marley. In every way, this decision would benefit both their people, who had been subjugated by Marleyan rule in one way or another.
And it wasn’t like he didn’t like Mikasa. They had been dear friends since childhood. Despite being the princess of Hizuru, she was also part Eldian on her father’s side, and would visit Armin’s kingdom often. They had formed a strong bond in the days since, especially after her mother and father had died in a violent attack. No, he had no problem with Mikasa. Under normal circumstances, he’d even enjoy dancing and flitting around with her.
But his affections didn’t lie that way. Indeed, both he and Mikasa had other people they’d rather dance with tonight.
For Mikasa, it was, surprisingly, a lowly kitchen maid (who tended to eat all the spoils rather than prepare them.)
For Armin, it was the third member of their trio, Eren Jaeger, his loyal guard. They had also been friends since childhood, and he’d known Eren even longer than he’d known Mikasa. The three of them had been an unstoppable force around the castle, and as time went on, Armin became fond of the knight-in-training.
But, as prince, he had a duty to fulfill. And that duty included political marriages.
It didn’t stop Eren and his trysts, however.
All too often the Crown Prince would disappear to some quiet corner of the castle with his beloved knight. In the low lamplight, Armin and Eren would tear through the many books that lined the Libraries walls and read until both their eyes were heavy and postures sagging. Sometimes they’d be hidden in the gardens, laying atop each other with nests of hastily-made flower crowns atop their heads. Armin’s favorite times, however, were when they were in Armin’s room together after a long day of posturing and smiling and meetings and treaties. There, they were truly alone. Though Eren had his own quarters, he rarely ever used them. Indeed, Armin’s true spouse slept with him every night.
As they danced, Mikasa gave him a knowing smirk, aware his mind had wandered off to his true lover. Armin shot her a look back as if to remind her of where her own affections lie. Armin saw her shrug minutely as if to say what can you do? Armin laughed softly. One good thing about having Mikasa as his politically sanctioned wife was that they could read each other well. Subtle shifts in eyes or small gestures between the two meant they could hold entire conversations under the noses of both their royal courts.
It especially helped now, as they were supposed to be a happy couple, just married. They needed to keep up the pretense of it being in a happy and loving marriage for the people, until the news of their marriage wasn’t so fresh in everyone’s mind.
But already he was getting tired of dancing. From the very slight sag in her posture, Armin could tell Mikasa was ready to call it quits as well. Just one more dance, a few cursory glances, and a ton of thank you’s to their esteemed guests and they could be on their way.
It went by at the pace of molasses, but finally the two of them left ballroom hand in hand. Once the doors closed, they both sighed in relief and let go. They didn’t exchange words, both worn out from their performance, but Armin knew Mikasa wasn’t mad or upset at him as she moved down the hallway on her own all the way to her bed chambers. Armin went the opposite way, taking the long route to his own bedroom. He was worn out as well, but he found walking on his own gave him time to sort out his thoughts and calm himself down.
He sighed to himself as he walked. He really wished he could dance in the open with his love with no worries or repercussions. He wished he could pull Eren out in the middle of the ballroom floor and dip him for all the world to see. He wished Mikasa could sit back and enjoy the party with her love, Sasha as they talked over their food and Sasha stole all the hors devours off pristine ceramic plates. But they both had an act to keep up and a promise to both their countries to uphold. As the eldest he would be given the throne in due time, and he was expected to have a wife to keep up appearances. He didn’t even really want the throne if he was honest, and he wouldn’t mind giving it to his sister, Historia. Though, he’d hate for her to have to break off her relationship with the pretty and tall female guard she’d been seeing.
As he walked, he thought to himself. Maybe he could abdicate to her once he was crowned. Maybe she could do away with the old marriage laws. Procuring an heir wouldn’t be easy in that case. Maybe she could find a surrogate. Or adopt even. It wouldn’t be a blood lineage, but Armin hardly thought blood lineages mattered as long as one could properly take on the responsibility.
“Your highness,” someone called, breaking Armin out of his deep thinking. Looking around he realized he was nearly to his room, just a hallway and a right turn away. He hadn’t realized he’d been so close, too lost in thought.
He looked around for the person who called him, and smiled when he saw his handsome knight, clothed in his fancy regalia, really only used for big events and parties. Eren Jaeger was smiling, walking towards him at a leisurely pace. His hair was pulled out of his face in a neat bun that was both for function and aesthetic.
When he was close enough to the prince, he reached out his hand. “Could a lowly knight as I ask His Majesty for a dance?” he asked cheekily.
Armin rolled his eyes with fondness. “It would be my honor,” Armin responded, taking his hand and curtsying like a maid. In one swift motion, Eren pulled the prince to him, grabbing onto his waist and beginning to lead him in a waltz. As prince, it was typically Armin who took the lead in the dances, but he found he didn’t mind relinquishing the lead for his beloved.
They waltzed in the hallway in a fluid and practiced manner. When they were kids, Eren had been a bit of a klutz, tripping up himself and Mikasa when they’d been partnered together. Back then, when they wanted to dance for fun, it was Armin who tended to lead simply because Eren would often trip and step on toes without someone to guide him. Now, he twirled Armin with a practiced ease, leading the dance in such a way one might mistake him for nobility and not common-born.
“I thought you were busy keeping guard for the ball,” Armin said as they continued their waltz.
“I was, but after you newly-weds left, there wasn’t much of a ball left,” Eren explained. “Besides, Levi took pity on me. I think he knew I’d want to be here with you rather than watching those stuffy old hags gorge themselves on wine and cheeses.”
“Hey now, those stuffy old hags are part of the court. They have quite the sway still.”
Eren snorted. “Don’t act like you care. You want them out of office just as much as I do.”
“I mean, yes, but you can’t just say it out loud,” Armin said, mockingly affronted.
Eren just laughed. “Right. Wouldn’t want to start a national incident because the duchess of the boonies got insulted by royalty for her tasteless gowns and inability to fix the wealth inequality in her district.”
Armin laughed openly at that. This was nice. Dancing and laughing in the hallway with his lover beat all the eyes watching him in the grand ball-room as he acted out a role. Here, he was just Armin, dancing with Eren, the man he loved. It was just that simple.
“Get a room.”
The two men broke away and Armin looked down the hall where Mikasa stood, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her face. She had changed out of her giant and intricate ballgown and into her much more casual, but no less beautiful, night-dress.
Eren barked out a laugh. “Jealous?” he asked playfully, pulling Armin closer to him by the waist. Armin felt himself blush. It was amazing how Eren could still have that effect on him after all these years.
Mikasa scoffed. “As if,” she said. “I can guarantee you I’m a much better dance partner than you, Eren,” she teased.
“Hey!” Eren said indignantly.
Armin sighed. If he didn’t stop them, they’d be shouting teasing insults at each other for hours.
“You know,” Armin started. “I thought I saw Sasha waiting at a table in the kitchens when I passed by,” he told her.
Mikasa’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes shone in interest. Armin knew she’d been dying to see her lover since the dance started. She wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity like that.
“Fine, I’ll leave you two alone,” Mikasa acquiesced, “but I still think you should get a room. Wouldn’t want some drunk noble to come stumbling through the hallway to see you two staring lovingly into each other’s eyes.”
“Duly noted,” Eren responded. “If that’s the case, then,” he grabbed Armin’s hand, spinning him so that they were chest to chest, “off we go!” And then he began moving them both in an upbeat dance, moving them through the hallway.
“Eren!” Armin squeaked. “What are you doing?”
“Dancing!” he exclaimed. “We’ll dance merrily all the way to our chambers!”
“Eren!” Armin shouted, which turned into a laugh as they twisted and turned and danced. Armin hoped Eren knew where he was going, because Armin was simply too dizzy with glee to tell up from down and left from right.
Whether Eren knew where he was going or not, they made it to their room, both men breathless and laughing. They took a minute to catch their breath, occasionally getting into rounds of giggles when they made eye contact.
“Well, Your Highness, was it fun?” Eren asked
“Eren please. We’re alone in our own room. Don’t be so formal,” Armin chastised lightly.
“Alright then,” Eren said. “Was it fun, my love?” he corrected.
Armin surged forward and kissed him fully on the lips. The contact was soft despite both their fervor, and he felt Eren hum with pleasure through their kiss.
They broke apart after a moment, and Armin stared lovingly into his true spouse’s eyes. Eren stared back, the same amount of love and adoration reflected back.
“With you, always,” Armin said.