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WITH HER UNCLE ALREADY CUFFED AND SENT TO THE DUNGEONS, THE CITIZENS OF THE EMPIRE OF AIGRAGALLA HAD OFFICIALLY BEEN FREED FROM BEING UNDER THE CRULE EMPEROR'S LAWS.

They could work on their own, for themselves. They could roam around the Walls and not only stay in one city. They could talk freely to the point that they did not have to control the loudness of their voices since the Emperor – or in this case, the former Emperor – claimed it to be 'disturbing'.

In the abbey they gathered, ready for the coronation of the soon-to-be Empress. Everyone was dressed nicely, hair neatly made with light makeup.

F/n was wearing a gold and red gown that flowed from her chest to the ground and even trailed behind her. Jewellery covered her all the way from her neck down her shoulders and upper arms.

Her shoes were also red and gold, matching the design of the dress. Her h/c hair was styled perfectly and neatly.

The group of people sang as another played slow music with their respective instruments. F/n hadn't seen anything like this before and apparently neither did her friends who were all continuously glancing around the place in admiration.

The archbishop stood in front of her, holding a piece of jewellery while his head was positioned straight forward.

She looked at the tiara and carefully observed it. It was the same one she had seen in the room filled with jewellery, the same tiara with the red gems and the twisted metal frame.

Her eyes met the archbishop's before lowering her head slightly, just like how her father taught her. He raised the piece of jewellery, placing it on her head. She stood back up and inhaled and exhaled deeply.

The singing and the instruments quieted down and F/n grew tense. She glanced at the archbishop before down at the orb and sceptre that he presented.

The woman exhaled a breath and slowly unwrapped her fingers that were previously wrapped around her other hand's wrist. She shakily raised her hands, touching the cool metal of the objects held tightly onto it before turning her body around and the archbishop started speaking.

F/n glanced at her friends who were seated on the right side of the room of people. Hange had a large grin on her face, waving enthusiastically when they met eyes. Eren gave her a toothy grin and Armin shyly waved.

Sasha looked like she just wanted to jump from her seat and hug the woman while Historia sat properly with a smile playing on her lips. Connie and Jean sat beside each other, one with a bright smile while the other looked like he was trying to be professional.

Mikasa looked beautiful. She sent her a small smile and her eyes sparkled as she watched the woman she had taken as a role model become Empress. Erwin was the one who looked most professional. He gave her a nod, telling her that he was proud of her.

Her eyes drifted from the Commander to the Captain who was seated beside him, glinting purple when they met his. He had a suit and he did not at all look different, unlike some people.

He stared at her before giving her a reassuring nod as if knowing what she was thinking. Almost instantly, her muscles loosened slightly and she felt more at ease. He subconsciously grew a smile as the archbishop said the last words of his small speech.

"I present to you forward... Empress F/n of Aigragalla."

"Empress F/n of Aigragalla," the crowd chanted as they clapped and chatted happily amongst themselves.

Upbeat music started and everyone was dancing with their partners. She looked around and spotted her friends, already approaching her enthusiastically.

"F/n!" Hange screamed, hugging her tightly as tears dramatically rolled down her cheeks, "You're Empress now, I'm so proud of you! You were just by my hip when we first met!"

"Shoulder, actually. You're just being dramatic," Levi crossed his arms.

"And you're being grumpy," Hange childishly shot back, only turning her head to stick her tongue at him.

"You did amazing just now," Historia said with a smile, "You were so good!"

"I can't believe I'm friends with an Empress!" Connie said with wide eyes.

"F/n!" Sasha called, pulling her hand as the said woman looked at the younger girl, "Let's eat together!"

"Don't pull her too harshly," Mikasa said, releasing F/n from Sasha's hold and causing the girl to pout.

"Let's all eat first and then we'll- we'll talk again," Armin suggested.

"Congrats on being an Empress!" Eren shouted before quickly following his friends.

"I still can't believe I'm friends with an Empress," Connie stated, walking away with Jean beside him.

Erwin placed a hand on F/n's shoulder, causing her to look up at him before saying, "We'll leave too. Hange."

The scientist whined but the knowing look the Commander gave her made her stop and smile widely, almost psychotically.

"Right!" she said, releasing F/n and clapping her hands, "Be sure to say yes, F/n! Good luck, Shorty! Don't be a coward this time!"

Levi restrained himself from retorting as the woman skipped away with a grin that indicated success. F/n looked at him as he paused for a moment to ready himself. He looked back at her and swallowed his stutter.

"I think it's just proper for me to offer your first dance as Empress."

The statement sounded like it had been prepared and practised before being said by the man but F/n didn't seem to notice. F/n tilted her head slightly before quickly looking around at the couples dancing.

She blinked. Dance. That was what it's called.

She glanced back at him before nodding her head and Levi subconsciously released the breath he had been holding.

He shakily raised his hand, signalling her to hold it. The woman smiled shyly, placing her hand on top of his as he held onto it. His hand was warm and her hand was cold but both were nervous to no end.

F/n didn't know how to dance but didn't want to reject his offer nor did she want to speak up about it. Levi lacked experience but knew more than she did.

The music stopped for a moment before switching to a different one. Everyone clapped and cheered as the two walked towards the centre. F/n had never felt so nervous and awkward before and Levi noticed.

He squeezed her hand reassuringly, receiving a small smile in return. She placed a hand on his shoulder while the other intertwined with one of his. His free hand landed on her waist as they moved along the music.

They twirled and danced through the night with some of the other couples dancing around them. The sky grew dark without them knowing but upon realising that their feet had grown sore, they stopped dancing.

Levi led her outside the building and walked her toward her castle. The walk was mostly silent until Levi decided to break it.

"How- How are you?" he asked, silently cursing at himself for the awkward question he blurted out.

"I'm good," she said, seemingly as though she was not minding the tension but in reality was so desperate for it to vanish.

"How did you get here?" he asked again.

"Ares," she responded.

"Ares?" he repeated, displeased.

"My horse," she added with much glee and Levi glanced away, clearing his throat in a bashful manner after feeling the tinge of jealousy.

They reached the castle's garden and seated themselves under the gazebo, the round table in the centre being the only thing separating them.

"Why did you come here?" she asked and he glanced at her.

"After you left we just... followed."

"How?"

"Your crystals," he responded, leaning against the wall cushion.

Then it was silent. F/n was just admiring the starry night sky while Levi was readying himself to make his confession. He swallowed thickly, straightening up from his leaning position before opening his mouth.

"F/n, I-"

"The tea you requested?" a servant unknowingly interrupted, causing the Captain to turn and glare at him.

He took the pot and tiny cups and placed them on the table before the uniformed man could, leaving him taken aback and for F/n glanced at him questioningly.

"Leave," he commanded.

"Y-Yes, sir," the man stuttered, giving them a quick bow before leaving quickly with the empty tray.

The man sighed deeply, pinching the part in between his furrowed eyebrows as he steadied himself. He was panicking but it wasn't obvious to anyone at all. Anyone but F/n.

"Are you okay?" she asked and he quickly glanced at her.

"Yes," he said.

"Tea?" she offered while raising the ceramic teapot and he nodded.

F/n positioned the teapot above the cup and poured roughly equal amounts of tea into each of the cups before he took his, taking a small sip of the lukewarm drink.

He placed down the cup and exhaled through his parted lips before restarting what he was trying to say earlier.

"F/n," he called, receiving a quiet hum, "I just... I just want to say thank you. You've changed me as a person... or at least that was what Four Eyes told me."

The way he muttered the last bit made her crack a grin as she suppressed her laughter. Levi wished she didn't though. He wanted to hear her laugh. It had been quite some time, after all.

"Thank you," she said, "You've changed me as well."

She didn't know how he changed her but he did. He knew he did as well but didn't say anything and instead smiled back at her. It wasn't every day for anyone to see him smile. But with F/n, he had even laughed shortly.

"I uh..." the man hesitated, breathing in deeply before exhaling softly through his nose and gathering all the courage he could get, "I admire you. I... want you to be with me"

Levi raised his head to look at her before continuing.

"Will you be with me, always and forever?"

F/n's eyes glimmered in the dark as if they were magic themselves and Levi had sunk himself deep in it. She swallowed the saliva that managed to pool in her mouth before making up her mind.

So this was what Hange was talking about earlier.

"I will be with you," she said.

"Always and forever."

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