Chapter Text
The grand ballroom of the Stohess Imperial Hotel hummed with the high-register chatter of high society. Crystal chandeliers hung like frozen waterfalls from the vaulted ceiling, casting a brilliant light over silk gowns, tailored tuxedos, and crystal flutes filled with vintage champagne.
For nineteen-year-old Rosalia Ackerman, the room felt less like a celebration and more like an overwhelming sea of gold and velvet. Standing at barely five feet tall, she was nearly swallowed up by the towering figures around her. Soft, golden-blonde waves tumbled past her shoulders, framing a delicate face dominated by striking rose-pink eyes that peered nervously at the crowd.
"Stay close, Rosalia," her father had murmured half an hour ago before being drawn into a tight circle of estate investors. He had meant well, bringing his daughter along to expose her to the social circles that aligned with her new university life, but he had quickly been claimed by business talk.
Rosalia tucked a stray lock of fluffy blonde hair behind her ear, her soft hands smoothing down the skirt of her pastel dress. She took a quiet breath, attempting to steady the slight flutter of anxiety in her chest. University classes were manageable; high-society galas were a different beast entirely.
What she needed right now was a sense of grounding. She needed Levi.
Scanning the room over the shoulders of laughing executives, Rosalia began to navigate the perimeter of the ballroom. Her older step-brother, Levi, had accompanied them tonight, partly out of familial obligation, but mostly because he detested leaving Rosalia unescorted in crowds like this.
Ever since her father had married Levi's mother years ago, Levi had taken on a fiercely protective, if quiet, role in her life. Stepping around a decorative marble pillar, Rosalia kept her eyes peeled for a familiar stoic silhouette. Because she was looking past the crowd rather than directly in front of her, she failed to notice the couple turning the corner.
The collision was soft, but the outcome was immediate.
Rosalia bumped into a tall, polished woman clad in a sleek burgundy cocktail dress. The dark red wine in the woman’s glass sloshed violently over the rim, splashing directly onto the silk fabric of the woman's dress and leaving a small damp stain on Rosalia’s sleeve.
"Oh– watch where you're going!" the woman snapped, her voice carrying an edge of sharp annoyance as she looked down at her stained gown. "This dress is custom!"
Rosalia’s pink eyes widened in instant panic. Her cheeks burned red, and her voice caught in her throat. "I-I am so sorry! I wasn't looking, I-"
"It's quite alright."
The voice that cut through the tension was deep, smooth, and utterly composed. Rosalia looked up, and kept looking up. Standing beside the annoyed woman was a man of staggering presence. Broad-shouldered, meticulously groomed, with sharp blue eyes and a jawline that looked carved from stone, he commanded the space around him without raising his voice by even a decibel. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, wearing a tailored charcoal suit that fit his tall frame perfectly.
Erwin Smith gently placed a reassuring hand on his date's arm, quietly defusing her frustration before she could say another word. "It was an accident, Victoria. The ballroom is crowded tonight."
Erwin reached into his breast pocket, producing a pristine white handkerchief, and stepped forward. He did not look at Rosalia with anger or condescension. Instead, his piercing blue gaze softened slightly as he took note of the girl’s trembling hands and wide frightened expression.
"Here," Erwin said softly, offering the handkerchief to Rosalia first to let her dab her sleeve, before gently taking Victoria’s glass to hand it to a passing waiter. "There is no harm done. Accidents happen in rooms this full."
"Erwin, my dress-" Victoria began, but Erwin offered her a mild, steady smile that brooked no further argument.
"We will have it taken care of promptly," Erwin reassured her gently, turning his attention back to Rosalia. He bowed his head slightly, his voice full of easy authority and gentlemanly courtesy. "Please, do not let it distress you. Enjoy your evening."
Rosalia clutched the silk handkerchief, her heart hammering against her ribs, not just from the embarrassment, but from the overwhelming calm authority the man radiated.
"Thank... thank you," she whispered softly, offering a timid nod before stepping back and disappearing into the flow of the crowd as quickly as her short legs could carry her.
Erwin watched her retreat for a brief moment, noting the unusual shade of her pink eyes and the soft, almost ethereal contrast of her golden hair against the sharp lines of the ballroom. There was something familiar about her composure under stress, even in her shyness, but he couldn't quite place it.
Ten minutes later, Rosalia finally spotted the man she was looking for standing near the quiet alcove near the balcony doors.
Levi Ackerman stood with his hands tucked casually into his trousers, sipping a glass of iced water with a faint scowl as he surveyed the room. Despite wearing a formal tuxedo, he retained the immaculate, lethal posture of his military days.
"Levi," Rosalia breathed out, stepping beside him.
Levi’s dark eyes shifted downward immediately, his expression softening instantly as he looked at his younger step-sister. "There you are. Where's your father?"
"Talking about real estate with three men in navy suits," she said softly, leaning slightly toward Levi's comforting presence. "I got a little lost in the crowd."
Levi gave a low huff, his gaze sweeping over her to make sure she was fine. "Told you this place was full of idiots. You look like you saw a ghost. Did someone bother you?"
"No, I... I just bumped into someone. It was my fault," she admitted quietly, touching her sleeve where the tiny wine mark was barely visible. "A tall gentleman helped settle it."
Before Levi could ask further, a low, familiar voice spoke up from behind them. "Levi. I didn't think you'd actually show up tonight."
Levi turned, a faint glimmer of genuine recognition cutting through his usual stoicism. Standing there was Erwin Smith, now free of his previous companion.
"Erwin," Levi acknowledged, offering a brief, firm handshake. "I could say the same to you. I thought you were done with these political dog-and-pony shows."
"Business demands an appearance now and then," Erwin replied with a subtle smirk.
The two men had served together years ago in the military before transitioning into their respective civilian careers- Levi into private security consulting, and Erwin into corporate strategy and investment. The mutual respect between them remained absolute.
Erwin’s eyes then traveled downward, stopping on the petite blonde girl standing closely at Levi's side. A momentary flash of recognition lit up Erwin's blue eyes. Rosalia looked up, her pink eyes widening as she recognized the tall man who had saved her from an unpleasant scene just moments prior. Levi noticed the exchange of looks, his dark eyebrows knitting together slightly. He placed a steady, protective hand on Rosalia’s shoulder, pulling her slightly closer into his side.
"Erwin, this is Rosalia," Levi said, his tone carrying a quiet warmth that was reserved strictly for family. "My little sister."
Erwin paused, a slow intriguing smile dawning across his sharp features as he looked down at the delicate, golden-haired girl standing beside his oldest comrade.
"Your sister," Erwin repeated smoothly, his tone rich with genuine interest as he held out a hand toward her. "It is a pleasure to formally meet you, Rosalia."