Chapter Text
Eldia.
A kingdom fortified by ancient walls, inhabiting vast land and humble citizens. Green meadows spanned for hundreds of miles, forests here and there, filled with creatures both known and unknown. Gardens cared for by dedicated souls, loyal to the nature of their country. Rivers with crystal clear water that ran from wall to wall, countryside to city. The pristine state was a travellers paradise, and as of recently, heaven to its own kind.
The capitol lay in the centre of the walls, surrounding a grand castle that was home to many knights, merchants, and maids. Even the outer rooms of the castle were home to hard working citizens, such as yourself. But today, you weren’t just staring at the castle from the outside. No, today, you finally got a chance to work inside.
“I’m off!” You shouted throughout your busy little home, warm from the forge and kiln that sat in the back. “I’ll be back in the evening!”
“Wait!” Your mother called out, rushing from the back room with wet clay covering her hands. “Let me give you a hug!”
“You’ll get her dress dirty, dear,” Your father yelled from over the forge, stopping his hammering on his latest sword.
“A little clay will wash off compared to that grease on you!” she retorted, holding her hands out as you hugged her instead.
“Alright you guys, promise not to make too much of a mess today?” You beckoned as you backed towards the door. “I’ll see if I can bring back some leftovers for dinner.”
“Be safe dear!” Your mother replied as she resumed her stance over the mound of clay.
“Don’t be late!” Your father added, hammering away.
“Stick to the promise!” you called over your shoulder as you headed out the door, running into the busy castle town streets.
There was quite a bustle in the community today. One of the head chefs inside the castle had fallen temporarily ill, creating an opening for a new cook for a limited time. You secured the spot in no time after having worked a few odd jobs around the castle as an adolescent, but it wasn’t until you stepped out onto the street that your new position really struck you.
“Off to the new job, eh?” Daz, a local farmer called. You walked past his stand, grabbing an apple and chucking a coin his way.
“Indeed! Thanks for breakfast!”
“Good luck, (Y/N)!” He replied as he stashed the coin away.
“(Y/N)!” multiple voices shrieked, followed by four young kids crashing straight into you.
“Hey guys, I’m in a bit of a rush right now, can we talk this evening?”
“Awwh,” Falco, a young blond, whined.
“She has official duties today!” Zofia, one of the more sophisticated ones, defended.
“But we won’t get to see her all day!” Udo cried anxiously.
“Hey! If you meet the king, tell him his Princess Gabi is waiting right here outside the castle for him!”
You burst into laughter, ruffling at the girl’s hair, earning a pout.
“Of course I will, Princess Gabi,” you joked, pushing past them to reach the inner gates. “You four stay out of trouble!”
“Yes, Miss (Y/N)!” They called, voices drowned out by the loud chain as the gates lifted.
It had been a long while since you’d seen the inner castle. The courtyard was as pristine as ever, but the sudden change of bustling streets to a silent open space left your ears ringing. You viewed the large marble fountain in the centre as you walked towards the main entrance, almost tripping over the small set of stairs that led to the open doors.
“Name and occupation?” A stoic, rigid man asked, holding a wooden board with parchment atop.
“(Y/N) (L/N), it’s my first day as a chef.”
“Ah, yes, follow this young man here to the kitchen.” You nodded at the directions, smiling at the boy who stood just in the centre of the hall. He turned, beginning to walk further into the dignified castle.
The walls were taller than you could’ve anticipated. A large, atmospheric, and elegantly carved ceiling hovered over you as you made your way further in. Giant velvet tapestries covered most of the walls, aside from intricate portraits and potted plants. You smiled to yourself noticing your mother’s pottery lined across the halls.
“You’re quite early. Trying to make a good first impression?” The boy leading you asked.
“Purely coincidental,” You responded with a gleam, finally reaching the kitchen.
“Here we are,” He stopped, holding the door open to reveal around four cooks, each already busy with their daily tasks. “My name is Armin. If you have any questions, I’ll be in the staff office today. Feel free to stop by with any inquiries.”
“Thank you, Armin, I’ll be sure to ask a few later on.”
“My pleasure, (Y/N). This is Niccolo, our head chef. You’ll be following his lead today.”
“Understood, thank you.”
With a polite smile, Armin left the vicinity, leaving you with your new coworkers, and hopefully, friends.
“(Y/N), glad to have you on our service!”
“The pleasure is all mine, Niccolo!” You responded, shaking his outward hand before he waved you over to the island in the centre of the kitchen.
“From what I’ve heard, you’ve worked around the kitchen a few times before to pick up some shifts, so I have no qualms with letting you have your own way around. These are the recipes for today’s meals. We’ll be starting with lunch, as the king has already eaten his breakfast,”
“Oh, should I have come earlier?”
“No, don’t worry about that. He eats just at the break of dawn, it would’ve been cruel to call you in so early. Let’s get started, shall we?” Niccolo asked, mashing his hands quickly to make room for you by the sink.
“Let’s!” You followed suit, wiping off with a clean towel before moving towards the fresh ingredients. As you busied yourself, the other cooks introduced themselves. They were mostly middle aged women aside from Niccolo, but they seemed quite sweet and very talkative.
“I hope the king is doing well,” one of the ladies started off. “He hasn’t left the west wing for a few days.”
“I’m sure he’s fine, Eileen. We’d be among the first to know if he had fallen ill,” another replied sensically.
“I heard he’s been rather depressed as of late,” the next mentioned, quieting her voice down. “Something to do with an heir.”
“An heir? But he’s unmarried,” the first retorted.
“Not only that, but he shows no interest in any of his options.”
“He’s been on the throne for nearly five years, Eleanor! Don’t you think it's about time he found a wife?”
“A queen, you mean?”
“That’s enough, ladies,” Niccolo reasoned, “I doubt all this talk of marriage is helpful towards his current state. Are you finished with that yet, Berta?”
“Oh, yes,” the woman responded, taking out a fresh loaf of bread from the stone oven.
“(Y/N), how are the vegetables coming along?”
“The soup is almost finished, but I was thinking I could add a little,” you stopped mid sentence as you looked around the kitchen with a concentrated gaze. You popped your tongue as you saw a fresh sprig of thyme and rosemary, throwing them in. “Do you have any nutmeg?”
“There isn’t any nutmeg in the recipe, dear,” Eleanor mentioned as she scanned over the recipe.
“I know, but it’s a nice warm touch for autumn.” You responded, grabbing a mortar and pestle.
“Here,” Niccolo responded, grabbing a few whole nutmegs from a basket. “It’s refreshing having some new perspective on the food.”
“Thanks, I guess,” you responded, crushing the nutmeg into a fine powder before adding a pinch into the large pumpkin soup.
“But, if the king disapproves, that’s on you,” Eileen muttered.
“I’ll gladly accept my fate, thank you very much,” you laughed in response, stirring up the simmering soup before pouring it into the golden rimmed bowl. Niccolo plated a few slices of the fresh bread and some cheese before placing a silver cover over the tray, leaving the kitchen with a playful wave.
“That was bold, you know.” Berta nudged your side as you began to plate some smaller dishes for the other nobles.
“What, some nutmeg?” You chuckled.
“Changing the recipe, dear,” Eleanor added. “It’s been over two decades since we’ve made any adjustments to the book.”
“Are you serious?” You dropped the ladle, turning to the women with an anxious stare. “I didn’t realise how serious it was...”
“Calm down, sweetheart,” Berta chimed. “King Erwin is much kinder than his father was. Worst case scenario, he’ll ask that we don’t do it again.”
“(Y/N)!” Niccolo burst back into the kitchen frantically. “The King wishes to speak with you.”
Berta, Eileen, and Eleanor gasped, your heart dropping out of your chest at their reaction.
“What was that about the worst case scenario?”
--
Dread had plenty of time to work its way through your mind as you followed Niccolo swiftly and silently through the west wing. Although just as stunning, this corner of the castle seemed much colder. A lonely air suffocated you as your anxious thoughts ran amok, reaching their climax once Niccolo stopped at a set of large red doors. He placed three solid knocks against the wood before giving you a worried, pitiful glance.
“Come in,” a strong voice called from inside. You swallowed your pride as two guards opened the doors from inside, Niccolo rushing in to bow.
“Your Majesty,” he began, “This is (Y/N), our newest cook. She is taking over for Elias.”
You shuffled in behind Niccolo, curtsying with your head hanging low.
“Thank you, Niccolo. If you’ll leave us, please.”
Niccolo nodded before bowing again and taking his leave, followed by the two guards who left as they closed the door.
Silence filled the grand room. Well, you imagined it was grand, but you couldn’t bring your eyes to leave the luxurious carpet beneath your feet. You could just see the King’s legs in your periphery, watching as he moved slowly from his standing position to sit at the large table in the centre of the room. You could see his body face the other way as he sat, encouraging you to lift your head to observe the massive dining hall.
The table was long, hand carved out of the finest oak. As stunning as it was, it was strikingly empty, aside from the King who faced the window from the head of the table. His coat was visibly made of the finest silk, dyed an emerald green that was just as elegant as the aura he radiated. Although this was your first meeting with him, just being in his presence seemed to calm your nerves.
“(Y/N), correct?” He asked softly, picking up the spoon from his bowl.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” You responded.
“Please, take a seat.” He gestured towards the chair beside him. You followed his order, sliding out the heavily upholstered furnishing before sitting sheepishly. You kept your eyes away from his and focused forward, glancing a bit at the soup you’d just prepared for him. “Taste this.”
“What?” you whispered, forgetting tradition and glancing right at his eyes. You took them away as quickly as you glanced, grateful that he was focused on the dish. He moved the bowl towards you and handed you the spoon, grabbing it from him with a shaky hand. You slowly dipped the spoon in, taking out a small scoop before bringing your lips to the cutlery.
Warmth filled your cheeks at the flavour. The thyme and rosemary sat perfectly alongside each other, and that comforting note of nutmeg struck a nostalgic chord within your chest. Your eyes closed at the taste, unable to decipher just what was wrong with it. Perhaps Kings have very dignified palettes, one you didn’t have.
“What do you think?” he asked, leaning his elbows on the table with his hands clasped together.
“If I may, your majesty,” you placed the spoon down on the tray, careful not to make a mess. “I think it’s quite nice.”
“Hmm,” he responded vaguely. “Do you?” You nodded, feeling a bit of a sting at your eyes. You clasped your fists shut to prevent any tears, effectively holding them back.
“I’m glad you think so, too,” The King released, standing above from his seat. Your head shot up at his words, staring at the fireplace near the table to try and process the change in demeanour. Did it even change, though?
“I haven’t had a different meal almost my entire life. It’s been the same ten or so recipes since as long as I could remember.” You turned to face him in your chair as he walked towards the fireplace, poking at the burning wood to boost the flames. “You used nutmeg, if I’m not mistaken,”
“Yes, your majesty,” You spoke out of turn, catching yourself with a hand over your lips.
“Just as I thought. It reminds me of,” he stopped his sentence, placing down the poker in the rack. He turned to you quickly, a hint of a smile on his face as you met his eyes for the first time.
Whoa.
You lost all sense in your mind as you finally looked at him properly. Clean, blond hair swept to the side, shaved underneath creating a sharp and dignified look. Large blue eyes and defined brows that just radiated courage. A chiseled jaw with high set cheekbones, and mouth with the slightest upturn. Not only was he handsome, but far younger than you’d anticipated.
You caught your jaw as you felt it fall open, offering a smile to your King.
“Ahem,” he cleared his voice, turning his gaze from you. “Follow me,” he spoke, moving towards the doors you’d entered from.
You stood quickly, staying a few paces behind as the guards opened the doors for him. He moved through the hall gracefully, almost gliding with each long step. You had to walk much faster just to keep up with him, nearly running into his back as he stopped at a room just a few doors down.
“This room was once a private kitchen for my parents. It’s been out of commission since my mother passed away twenty years ago.”
With a wave of his hand, the guards from the other room came by, one opening the smaller door to reveal a dark, cold room. Cobwebs covered the corners, lit only by the vine covered window at the back. Dozens of pots and pans sat stacked, covered in decades of dust.
“I’ll have this room refurbished by the end of this week. This will be your new workspace.”
“Oh,” you gaped, taking in the tiled mosaic against the backsplash, colours just barely poking through the neglect.
“Now, this way, please,” The King spoke, pulling your focus out of the room and back into the hall. You gave the guard holding the door a brief glance before you paced behind Erwin, moving to a set of stairs at the end of the wing. The second guard held open another door, leading into a darker, torchlit room, void of windows.
As the King moved throughout the small room, you found yourself possibly more anxious than you were before this conversation started. Large, sharpened and polished weapons lined the walls, wooden boxes holding more and more the father you ventured into the room. With a click of the door, you and Erwin were left alone with more than enough weapons to fill the hands of each civilian in the kingdom. How many possible directions could this go in?
“As I’m sure you’ve noticed, staff inside the inner castle is kept quite minimal.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” You confirmed, holding your arms to protect yourself from the coldness of the room. The King turned his focus to a sheathed sword in a glass case up against the back wall. He removed it slowly, unsheathing it for the clean blade to refract the torchlight and illuminate your features. Watching for your reaction, Erwin chuckled as you visibly swallowed your fears.
Before you could take in the situation, he held the blade by your neck, barely poking at your skin. You straightened your posture as your eyes widened, glaring at the blade held against you.
“(Y/N), are you willing to risk your life for this country?”
“I- I,” You choked, unable to lose focus on the sword. “Yes, of course! But I don’t see what this has to do with cooking!” You yelped, moving your gaze to his hand to watch for any sudden movements. Erwin’s expression stayed as hard as a rock, glaring at you for eye contact. It was impossible to ignore, feeling his gaze burn holes through your cheek. You offered him your eyes, locking onto them and letting out the breath you’d been holding.
You couldn’t make out his expression, or any of the situation, for that matter. One minute you were being promoted, the next, threatened. Your shoulders loosened, adding a bit of distance from you and the blade, but Erwin kept his position.
“I’m not going to just be cooking, am I?” You finally put the pieces together, squinting your eyes at the King as he drew back his sword.
“You’re a clever woman.” He turned back around, sheathing the weapon and placing it back in its case. “In two weeks time, I will be journeying to Marley.”
You contorted your expression, vastly confused by just about everything happening. As Erwin moved back towards the stairs, you hesitantly followed. The guards led you both to yet another room in the wing, a large office with a massive map laid out in the centre. Erwin stood on one side, letting you face him as you viewed the hand drawn cartography.
“We will be journeying from the outer walls southward, through the forest of giant trees and into Marleyan territory. It will be a week-long journey there, and possibly longer on the return.”
“Permission to ask a question, Your Majesty?” You asked as you followed his fingers across the map.
“Permission granted,” he responded quickly.
“What will you be doing in Marley?”
“That… yes…” Erwin trailed off, retracting his hand from the map as he went deep into thought for a moment. HIs eyes shut softly, but his brow slightly furrowed. “I will be meeting their Princess. We are to be wed by the end of this month.”
“Oh! That’s wonderful news, your Majesty!” You smiled, relaxing over the map.
“Yes, I suppose so,” he spoke quietly to himself before turning his attention back to the map. “Regardless, I need you to be prepared for our departure.”
“I’m sorry, our departure?” You questioned sticking your head out a bit to exhibit your confusion.
“Oh, did I forget to mention? You will be the Queen’s right hand.”
Your jaw dropped, suddenly realising the weight of your oath in the weapons room. You glanced back down at the map and began to mentally prepare to leave the walls for the first time in your life.
“With that said, until the kitchen is renovated, you will be undergoing basic training with our Knights.”
“Okay, yes, understood,” you comprehended the situation, a sensation of whiplash pressing against your mind.
“Guards, see to it that (Y/N) here makes it to the captain’s quarters and begins her training.” He spoke to the men by the door, both nodding as they held it open. You moved towards the door plain shock across your face. “Oh, and (Y/N)?”
“Yes, your majesty?” You turned again, just at the frame.
“I want you to be able to wield a sword by the end of this week. Any less, and I’ll have to reconsider your position in the castle.”
“Of course, your majesty,” You curtseyed slightly before pacing out of the room and back into the west wing, blindly following the guards that led you to your next destination.
--
The Knights of Eldia were either one of two things; horrifying or humiliating. The knights you’d come into contact with were usually the latter, holding no courage in their bones or compassion in their hearts. But that afternoon, your perspective on Eldia’s military shifted completely.
“Up! Again!” Captain Levi, a short yet intensely threatening man yelled, forcing you off of your back and onto your feet. Your work dress was completely covered in dirt, but it wasn’t something you were entirely foreign to. Having a blacksmith for a father meant that you were constantly surrounded by weapons. However, according to Levi, the two of you had very different definitions of ‘proficient’. “You’re moving too slow.”
“Hyeaaah!” You yelled as you swiped the heavy blade, clashing it with Levi’s. He quickly swept at your ankles, causing you to fall right back onto the ground.
“You’re using more energy to yell at me than to fight.”
“You make it hard not to yell…” you mumbled as you shuffled back up once again. You placed your blade out, but Levi only clicked his teeth as he sheathed his own.
“You should be fighting with the other knights, not me.”
“I’ll say!” You agreed, finally taking a moment to catch your breath. “Don’t you have anyone weaker I can fight with?”
“Infinitely so. But you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
“Yeah, yeah I get it… wait, does that mean we’re done for the day?”
“It appears that way. Follow me.” Levi moved from your place in the courtyard, leading you into the knight’s barracks. There were a few soldiers here and there, sitting around out of uniform with some bread and wine. “(Y/N), this is my squad. Introduce yourselves.”
“Heyo, I’m Connie,” a young man with shaved hair spoke, mouth half full.
“Am Shasha!” A brunette added on, not even bothering to stop her eating.
“Jean,” another added with a wave.
“And I’m Mikasa,” the last answered, actually getting up to shake your hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” You spoke kindly, taking the seat that Mikasa gestured towards you.
“Where’s Eren?” Levi asked, looking around the room.
“You gave him cleaning duty, boss,” Connie responded.
“Yeah, but he’s probably taking a nap somewhere,” Jean added under his breath.
“I’ll go look for him, Captain,” Mikasa offered, leaving you with a wave as she wandered further into the Barracks.
“(Y/N), you’ll be sparring with these guys tomorrow. Get to know them a bit, as we’ll all being going to Marley together in two weeks.” Levi spoke before walking back into the courtyard, leaving you with the knights remaining.
“Oh, you’re coming to Marley?” Sasha asked over her wine. “What for?”
“Um, I’m not entirely clear on that… I think I’ll be cooking for the most part, but King Erwin asked me to be the Queen’s right hand.”
“Oh! Fancy fancy,” Connie sang out. “Did you meet him today?”
“I did,” You confirmed, hoping for some alternative reaction. “Have you guys met him?”
“Yeah, the guy is kinda scary…” Sasha whimpered.
“No way, he’s a huge softy!” Jean countered. “Going all this way for a woman. What a guy.”
“You know he’s not into it, Jean,” Connie whispered jokingly, earring a small chuckle from Sasha.
“Oh?” You asked, understanding the King’s reaction from earlier a bit better. “I thought he seemed… distant about it.”
“Wait, you actually like, spoke with him?” Sasha asked.
“Well, yeah, haven’t you guys?”
The three knights stared blankly for a moment before turning their heads to each other.
“Not outside of official stuff. Only the captain really talks to him.”
“Oh…” You responded, thinking to yourself for a moment before brushing off your thoughts. “So, I’ll be sparring with you guys tomorrow. Any advice?”
“Don’t hit Sasha in the stomach or she’ll throw up.”
“Hey!” Sasha slapped Connie’s arm before continuing on her wine.
“Don’t stress about sparring. We all picked up the basics quickly, but even we can’t get past a session with the Capitan. You’ll be fine.”
“Thanks, Jean.” You smiled, relieved that you weren’t the only one struggling. “Well, I have to report back at dawn, so I’m going to head out now. I’ll see you all in the morning, yeah?”
“See you!” The three chimed back as you took your leave, exiting out into the courtyard.
Dusk threatened to spill across the sky as you stepped out, the cold November breeze sending a chill up your spine. You took in your surroundings for a moment, accepting all that had come your way in the previous hours. Not only were you commended for a minor adjustment, but this level of promotion was wild, even for the most accomplished individuals. Concern filled your heart as you thought longer about the possibilities of the next month. Could you prepare food to the King’s liking constantly? Could you fight one on one with a knight and win? Could you protect the future queen? Could you even survive a minute outside of the walls?
You brought your face to the periwinkle sky, sadly watching as the clouds moved slowly. Something about this all felt wrong. As you brought your gaze down, you spotted a figure overlooking the training grounds, lonesome in his disposition. You quickly recognised the King, observing you from afar. You shot him a smile before you walked out of the grounds and the castle itself, returning home for a night of rest.
Upon the wall, King Erwin sighed to himself as he watched you leave. His stoic expression faltered, brows creasing with stress.
“Don’t overthink it, Erwin.” Levi called to him, holding out a glass of wine. “It’ll be over with soon enough.”
Erwin took the glass from his friend, staring into it for a moment before taking a sip and continuing to overlook the castle grounds.
“Levi, is this really the right decision?”
“As of now, it's your only decision.”
Erwin sighed before taking another sip, eyes glancing at the direction you’d run off towards.
“Hey, don’t get any ideas.”
“Excuse me?” an embarrassed smile found its way to Erwin’s face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Seriously, Erwin. You’re about to get married. Now is not the time to think about unrealistic possibilities.”
Erwin nodded at the statement, laughing at himself for his brief slip in judgement.
“See to it that she’s skilled, Levi.”
“Of course, your Majesty.” Levi began to take his leave, walking along the wall before Erwin called out one more time.
“She looked at me. And she spoke to me.”
“Ugh,” Levi groaned, leaving Erwin to his own devices as he stood on the castle walls.