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“Your Highness, if you do not open this door right now-“ Frustrated knuckles rasped loudly against the wooden door. “Eren? Are you in there? The King requested your presence in the dining hall and asked me to come and fetch you.”
No response.
“Princess, if you do not answer the door, I will just let myself in.” She sighed, reaching down for the handle. As she pushed down on it, the door swung open effortlessly.
“Your Highness?” She poked her head around the corner, peering into the room. It was quiet, almost like no one was here. “Princess?”
The door shut softly behind her. Mikasa eyed around Eren’s well-decorated room, she wasn’t in her little corner with all her bookcases and that cozy little sofa. She wasn’t sitting at her desk, papers left scattered all over it, completely discarded since the last time Eren had bothered to touch them. She stepped into the large walk-in closet, so big that it’s a nearly the same size as her bedroom, but of course no sign of Eren there either.
Out of the corner of Mikasa’s eye, she spotted something, the window was left wide open, specifically the one that required a key because of how often Eren would sneak out through it. Every time that window was left open, it spelled trouble, Eren was likely off the palace grounds and possibly in town … again.
Mikasa rubbed her hand against the back of her neck. “Shit,” she sighed. “Of course… How did she even get the key?”
Without another word, she turned on her heels, threw the door open, and started her way down the long winding corridor that led out of the Princess's room.
“Where could she have run off to this time?” Mikasa muttered with a sigh, “Let’s see, last time I found her in the town library pestering Armin about a book, I suppose I could check there first. But if she isn’t there…”
She made her way through the maze of hallways and corridors that made up the palace. Right as she was about to open the front entrance, hurried footsteps came up from behind her.
“Oh! Mikasa, was Eren in her room?” The Queen, Carla, said, worry evident in her voice as she came up to the girl. “We’re having guests tonight and you know how she gets.” Carla sighed, “I need to make sure she’s ready in time for dinner.”
Mikasa had lived in the palace for a long time now, ever since she was nine years old. Her family had lived in the small forest that surrounded the palace. One afternoon she’d been out playing in the yard when a girl showed up. A girl wearing a very, very pretty red scarf.
The bushes rustled just ahead of where Mikasa was sitting in the grass playing with her dolls. She looked up, but didn’t see anything.
“Hello?” she called out, her little voice tinted with fear. “Is someone there?”
It was quiet for a moment longer.
Then, leaves crunched and the bushes rustled again as a girl stepped out. She was about the same height as Mikasa, maybe a tad bit taller, but what caught Mikasa’s little eyes immediately was the pretty red scarf she wore.
The girl stepped forward. “Hi!” she greeted loudly, almost too loudly compared to the quiet of the forest. “Why are you sitting in the grass?” she asked as she crouched down next to Mikasa.
“Oh, I was just… um… playing with my dolls.” she replied shyly, “My mom made them for me…”
“…Could I join?”
After that day, it became a rather common occurrence for Eren to sneak out to visit Mikasa. Surprisingly, Mikasa’s parents never really questioned where this girl came from. They just knew that she occasionally appeared to play with their daughter. Which, truthfully, they did appreciate. Mikasa didn’t exactly have many friends.
One afternoon, Eren snuck out to go and see Mikasa again. But this time, when she arrived in the clearing out front of the girl's house. Mikasa wasn’t outside, and the front door to the little cabin was wide open. Voices rang out from inside, Unfamiliar voices.
She stepped closer to listen in, they were arguing that much was clear.
“Damnit! You were only supposed to kill the husband, you idiot!”
“Well, it’s not my fault she was fucking crazy!”
“Can you two cut it out!? Grab the girl before she starts running damnit!”
Eren ducked down into a bush by the front door, the small hunting knife, the one her brother had given her just in case she kept sneaking out as she had been, was burning a hole in her pocket the longer she listened to these awful men talk about her friend like that. Should she run home and alert the guards or …
Inside, Mikasa had frozen in place. The sight of her parents dead on the floor had completely broken her. She didn’t react to anything at all, not even a peep out of her as the awful men bound her wrists together.
She was cold, so, so cold.
The sounds of shouting hit her ears. Followed by a loud thud of someone hitting the floor and followedby the same sound yet again.
Finally she dared to look up. Someone was walking towards her, but it wasn’t just anyone it was…
“Eren..?” she whispered, watching as the other girl crouched down to untie her wrists. “What are you… doing here?”
”I wanted to come over and play but I saw the door was left open and heard those weird men talking to each other so I figured something was wrong .”
Carefully Eren helped Mikasa stand. She guided her to the front door, making sure to cover her eyes on the way out. The damage was already done, Eren knew this, she’d already witnessed her own parents being murdered right in front of her. But Eren doesn’t want her to have to look at the gruesome sight again.
The rest of that night was a blur, all she knew was by the end of it she’d ended up safe at the Palace with a warm, soft, red scarf wrapped around her neck. She remembered how the Queen had fretted over her, the way she was so upset over what had happened to her even though she was just some strange girl their daughter would sneak out to see.
”Oh you poor thing, of course you can stay with us.” Carla had spoken softly to her, pulling Mikasa into a tight hug.
She remembered Eren getting scolded for what she had done, but it was clear the Princess didn’t feel bad about it hardly at all. The men deserved it, she was right they all knew it.
That night also held a bit of a surprise for Mikasa when she learned who Eren was. Eren has seemingly completely forgotten to mention the very important fact that she was the Princess.
“No, she wasn’t in her room, Your Majesty.” Mikasa sighed, disappointment evident in her voice. “Somehow she got hold of the keys to her window and has snuck out again.”
“I see,” Carla started, her voice still gentle. “Well, as always, I trust you will bring my daughter home safely, Mikasa.”
”Yes, of course. I will.”
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Mikasa slows her horse to a slow trot, eventually stopping entirely just at the gate to the library and climbing off as she reaches over to tie her horse to the nearest post, just until she’s able to see if Eren is here or not.
The library, of course, was quiet. Some people sat scattered around, at tables, on the floor and on cushions reading.
Walking up to the counter, Mikasa cleared her throat. Eyeing Armin’s back as he worked through a pile of books that had been checked back in today.
“Armin! Hello,” she greeted warmly, waving as he turned around. “Have you seen the Princess here today by chance?”
“Mikasa! Hey!” Armin replied with a smile, “Oh, um…” he hummed thoughtfully at her question. “No, I can’t say that I’ve seen her today. Why? Did she disappear on you again?” he laughed softly, “It’s like she does it once a week at this point.”
“Yes… She snuck out… again, and I thought she may have possibly come here to see you.”
Armin shakes his head. “No, I’m sorry… she hasn’t been by in a few days.” he says as he grabbed another book to check through it.
“I see,” Mikasa said, shaking her head. “Well, thank you anyway, Armin.” She stepped back towards the doors.
“Oh! Wait!” Armin snapped his fingers, remembering something. “Maybe go check and see if she’s been by Sasha’s bakery! I remember Eren said she wanted to go by the next time she came into town!”
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“Eren? Yeah! She came by about two hours ago now, actually!”
Sasha nodded as she spoke with a little twinkle in her eyes. She set down a heavy bag of flour on the counter. A small cloud of it puffed out from the bottom.
“She bought uh… some cookies and bread, I think?”
“Did she happen to tell you where she was heading before she left?” Mikasa tilted her head like a puppy, leaning against the counter.
Humming, Sasha took a big bite out of a cookie from the batch she’d just finished.
“Mph, yeah. I think she had said something about going for a walk in the forest by the Palace?” she paused, “Wait no, the forest by the lake! Yeah, that one. I think…”
“Ah, I should’ve known,” she said, shaking her head as a soft giggle bubbled from her throat, it was a soft sound. “Thanks, Sasha. I appreciate it.”
She took about half a step toward the door before she paused. “Could I…?” Mikasa eyed one of the cookies they were still warm and slightly gooey, they looked delicious.
Sasha nodded, holding out a cookie for Mikasa. As Mikasa bit into the tasty treat, Sasha spoke up again.
“You know, Mika, if I didn’t already know that you’re her knight with the way you’re constantly chasing Eren around all the time, I’d really think you’d have a crush on her or something!” she giggled.
A deep red flush crept up Mikasa’s face and all the way down her neck.
“Imagine that though haha, you and the Princess.”
The words stung a tad, leaving a sinking pit forming in Mikasa’s chest. Deep down Mikasa knew it had to be true, in no world would someone as amazing and as important as Eren Jaeger would ever feel the same way about her.
“Right, Imagine.” She whispered softly into her scarf. Mikasa cleared her throat, brushing the crumbs off of her fingers.
“Thank you again, Sasha. I believe I know where she is now.” Mikasa stood a step toward the door. “Also, I believe something may be burning…?”
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Mikasa stepped out from behind a bush, squeaking softly as her hair got caught in a stick. Leaves crunched loudly underfoot. If Eren wasn’t in any of her other usual spots, she had to be here. Every so often, when the Princess sneaks out, Mikasa finds her napping out here, all laid out under the sun like a cat sunbathing.
“Your Highness?” She calls out for what feels like the hundredth time that afternoon, “Please tell me that you’re out here...”
As Mikasa stepped further into the clearing, a large, beautiful oak tree that sat directly in the middle of everything came into view. It was almost like a sight straight from one of those fairytales her mother would read to her when she was a child. Under the tree, she spotted Eren, curled up on the grass seemingly fast asleep.
“Finally, there you are,” Mikasa spoke softly to herself.
Mikasa crouched down next to Eren, gently reaching out and running a calloused hand through soft locks. She smiled to herself, enjoying the way the sunlight made Eren’s tanned skin shine beautifully. The way her soft eyelashes fluttered in her sleep. The way her long waist-length hair was tussled and unkempt with sleep. A soft smile, a rare sight, graced the knight's lips. Seeing Eren like this was a wonderful sight, seeing her so calm and at peace like this.
But of course this couldn’t last forever. They needed to return to the palace before the Queen tore the entire kingdom apart to find her.
“Your Highness, wake up.” She gently shook Eren’s shoulder. “Eren… Eren! Wake up.”
“Mm…? Mikasa?” Green eyes blinked open, staring right at Mikasa. “Mh…” she yawned, fists coming up to rub at her eyes. A small smile spread across Mikasa’s face again, Eren is just too cute. “What time is it…?”
“Eren,” she started, her voice low and calm, but the underlying firm tone sent shivers down Eren’s spine. “You have got to stop sneaking out like this! It was cute when we were kids, sure, but it’s not safe! At least tell me when you do it so I don’t have to spend all day hunting you down!”
Eren moves to sit upright, stretching her arms up and over her head.
“Yeah, but it’s more fun this way! You get to go on a little treasure hunt, and the treasure is me!” she giggled, picking her bag up off the grass. Eren patted the ground next to her. “Sit! I bought some snacks from Sasha so that when you found me we could have a cute little picnic!”
Shaking her head, Mikasa laughed softly. She moved to sit down.
“Fine, but we should be quick. The queen is worried sick about you, you know!” she sighed, reprimanding Eren, poking her finger into the girl's cheek. She moved to sit with her, back against the trunk. “So what all did you get?”
“I got both of us cookies, aaannnd some cheesy bread!” Eren said with a smirk, holding her bag right up.
The two ate in silence for a time, enjoying the quiet sounds of nature around them as they munched on their cookies and bread. Mikasa feels Eren shift next to her and suddenly the girls head was laid against her shoulder. Mikasa smiled softly, laying her head down on top of Eren’s. Mikasa ended up with about half her final cookie left, Eren had already finished hers. She held the cookie out towards Eren, wordlessly offering it to her. Leaning over Eren ate the cookie right out of the knights hand, pulling a small giggle from Mikasa.
Mikasa yawned, letting her eyes droop shut for just a moment, leaves rustled overhead as the wind blew softly.
“I still think it was stupid of you to become a Knight, you know.” Eren’s voice cut through the silence, “My parents were fine with you living with us.” she mumbled, she reached up and cupped her cheek. “I worry about you.”
“I know,” she nodded, leaning into Eren’s touch. “But I worry about you too, especially when you run off.” she lifted her head up off of Eren’s shoulder, turning to look at her. “You’re always sneaking off and not telling anyone. I get it, you just want to go out somewhere without a bunch of guards following you, but you have them for a reason, you have me for a reason Eren… I just want you to be safe, okay?”
Eren leaned up, pressing a gentle kiss to Mikasa’s forehead.
“I like when you say my name, it’s so much less formal and stiff.” she said, a pout spreading across her face.
“Well unfortunately, Eren you are the Princess so I do have to be a little ‘formal and stiff’ with you.” A small, fond smile touched her lips.
“Ughh don’t remind me.” She grumbled, her voice thick with disappointment.
“My parents do really love you though, I really don’t think you had to do this, you know? I get it, you might feel like you owe them for everything, but you don’t. I promise.”
Mikasa hummed, turning her head to stare out at the lake, watching two swans swimming side by side.
“Hey Mikasa?” she started, grey eyes quickly met green. Eren seemed nervous, her eyes breaking their gaze. “Do you… ah, what do you…” she paused, a dark blush creeping up her face.
“…Never mind.”
“Are you sure…?” She prodded, tilting her head as Eren looked away.
“Yeah, it’s nothing.” Rising to her feet Eren groaned, stretching her arms high above her head. “We should probably go. Before my mom hunts us down out here.”
Mikasa watched as Eren packed her things up. She stepped forward right as Eren was beginning to walk off. “Eren wait.” with hurried steps she came up before the Princess and grabbed her hands, holding them gently.
And then, she leaned in and pressed a quick, sweet kiss to Eren’s lips. As she pulled away she rested her head against the girls forehead. “Now I’m ready.” Mikasa stepped back, a light blush dusting her cheeks. It was very soft, at least compared to Eren’s beet red face.
And then Mikasa stepped away, leaving Eren flustered and completely stunned by what just happened. Snapping out of her daze, she quickly followed after Mikasa. Eren’s hand landed on her shoulder and spun her around, and pressed their lips together. The kiss was brief but sweet. When they finally pulled apart both of their faces were bright red.
“Um…” Eren started, staring anywhere other than at Mikasa, “Yeah, yeah I’m ready now.”
They know they should talk about all this, but it’s growing late. The sun is setting and the forest will be veiled in darkness shortly, the Queen may just about kill both of them if they don’t return soon.
Eren nodded her head towards the pathway, “You brought your horse right…? I kind of walked all the way here… So…”
A fond laugh bubbled up from Mikasa’s lips, “Of course you did.” She shook her head, “Yes, yes, i brought my horse, don’t worry.”