Being in the Survey Corps, Isanna couldn't remember the last time she ever felt like an actual girl.

In the last 14 years of her life, she had either spent her days away in the smelly-yet-barely-tolerable barracks or out dirtying her hands while slaying titans in expeditions.

Now as she stood in front of a body mirror in their temporary quarters in Wall Sina, wearing a sleeveless, night-colored allover sequin sheath gown with plunging v-neckline and a rather seducing slit that showcased her leg, it took Isanna few moments to recognize the feminine features gracing her figure, deeply accentuated as the dress hugged her curves. The person reflected in the mirror didn't look like her at all.

I actually feel like a woman for once, Isanna thought as she moved her body here and there to appreciate the rare sight. The long curls of ginger of the wig cascaded down her back, stopping just above her waist.

She just knew Hanji had enjoyed herself when she shopped for their disguises earlier afternoon. Imposing attires were not easily acquired back at Wall Maria, but it seemed clothing shops in Wall Sina were different.

"Mrs. Jackson, are you ready?"

Isanna rolled her eyes at Hanji's voice. Baldrick had told them that he was going to write their names in the guest logbook in fake surnames, and the hyperactive woman had been getting deeply engrossed in their guises.

"Ready to kick some noble lord's ass, yeah," Isanna replied just as the door to the room opened and Hanji sauntered in wearing her own evening gown of the night.

Hanji was clad in a sleeveless v-neck sequin tank sheath dress with mesh insets, intricate glossy patterns expertly decorating the almond-colored gown as light glows shimmered when hit by light. While Isanna wore a pair of two-inched red heels, Hanji partnered her attire with three-inched sandals of the same color as her dress, and her brown hair was tied up in her usual ponytail but in a more elegant style as small curls framed the sides of her face.

"You're still wearing glasses?" Isanna cocked her head to the side as she surveyed the younger woman. If Hanji exerted more effort to actually look this good back in their barracks, she'd have the rest of the guys at her beck and call. Too bad she spent most of her time in their small dusty mess of a library, perusing over books and going days without bathing.

The brunette nodded with the grin. "I can't see shit without my glasses, so I have to," she mused as she examined Isanna, "hot damn, girl, no wonder they call you a goddess. You better get some with squad leader Eyebrows tonight."

"Cut it out, Hanji," the girl retorted as she crossed her arms, before a thought crossed her mind, "why are Erwin and I the only ones to wear shitty wigs? How about you and Mike?"

"The two of you are too famous for your own good; a well-known soon-to-be Commander and the Scouts' War Goddess strutting around a young lord's engagement party will just call for unwanted attention."

"Tsk." Isanna grumbled at the thought of having to wear a wig for the rest of the night. Nevertheless, she accepted the explanation.

"Anyway, come on," Hanji's voice was lacing with excitement as she pulled Isanna by the arm, "aren't you excited to see your boyfriend? Let's go!"

An involuntary blush crept on the raven-now-ginger girl as she allowed to herself to be dragged. "He's not my boyfriend!"

"Right, right, sorry. I meant your husband."

"Hanji!"

::

"They're taking quite a while."

Mike said as he glanced at Erwin but received no response from his friend. The two blonds were waiting by a carriage outside the building, the evening stars swimming in the night sky and accompanied by a crescent moon. The night temperature wasn't that cold, thankfully, so the wait was bearable. Still, they needed to be at Baldrick's party soon.

The two gentlemen were clad in elegant tuxedos; white dress shirts tucked inside neatly-ironed black slacks, and black jacket and a dark necktie over their top clothings with pairs of formal shoes. Their hair were styled slicked back with minimal gel kudos to Hanji (she said it was for fan service purposes).

Mike peered at Erwin, whose natural blond strands were now covered in a wig of black hair, slicked back with a few tufts of rebellious locks hanging over his forehead; just like him, he had the first top two buttons of his white dress shirt unfastened. That Hanji really went all out with Erwin's disguise - even shading his eyebrows dark to match with his hair (because leaving them as dark blond would be weird as hell). The man was currently focused on cuffing his white formal gloves that were pulled over his fingers, a cool, impassive look in his blue eyes as he did so.

"Boys, sorry to keep you waiting!"

The two men turned to the source of Hanji's voice as the said woman exited the building and traipsed down the front steps, excitedly waving an arm around like a kid who had just seen her mom as she made her way towards them.

Mike was about to ask her where Isanna was when the said girl stepped out of the building, the fire torches situated near them and the twinkling light from the night sky giving light to her curvaceous form. In that instance, Mike remembered how popular the girl had been back when they were training cadets - and for a very good reason. He shot a discrete glance at his friend to see his reaction. And he was not surprised; his perceptive eyes did not miss the brief flash of surprise in Erwin's normally-stoic eyes, his lips ever-so-slightly parting whilst slowly lowering his gloved hands after cuffing it as he intently watched the girl that was now in a ginger wig stepping down the short flight of stairs.

It was amusing to see Erwin showing emotion other than his blank face, Mike noted. The man looked like he was caught in a trance.

Isanna bit her lip as she tried to push back unnecessary thoughts when her sights landed on Erwin who was standing by the carriage. Despite the absence of his bright blond hair (she mentally thanked the gods even though she was an atheist, the spirits of the saints, and Hanji for his new fresh look), she would recognize him anywhere, no matter what.

Thankfully, she managed to reach the carriage without making a fool of herself.

Isanna swallowed a lump in the back of her throat as she stopped in front of Erwin, who had still not teared his eyes from her as well. She couldn't pinpoint the reason for his intense look, but the space between his brows had slightly wrinkled.

I need to say something, the girl thought as she racked her brain for something - anything to shatter the thick silence between them. She wasn't about to go with the plan tonight with this awkward air, absolutely not.

Surprisingly, Erwin was the first to break the barring stillness.

"You look lovely," he said.

AKSJDHAJSFGHAHJ

Isanna bit the inside of her cheek, subtly clutching the sides of her dress with her sweaty fingers in an effort to contain the nervousness distracting her from within.

"When have I not?" She shot back almost immediately, mustering a haughty tone to mask her inner feelings and hoped she sounded sassy enough. She saw his lips lifting up into a small smile at her wit, causing butterflies in her stomach.

"Indeed," he smoothly replied before Erwin slowly lowered his torso in a slight bow, folding an arm behind his back while his right palm lifted upwards in a gesture of an escort. "May I do the honor of escorting you for tonight, Lady Herrmann?"

Isanna tried her best to fight back a blush. She wasn't about to be defeated by him that easily. Deciding to humor the man, she lifted and put her hand in his palm, feeling the soft fabric of the glove. "You're taking this disguise rather seriously, Smith."

Erwin didn't reply, but the next thing he did took not only Isanna but also Hanji and Mike by surprise. He gingerly raised Isanna's hand with his own and placed a soft kiss on her knuckles. The warm sensation of his lips pressing on her skin coursed through her body, drowning out the light chilling night air, and she almost jerked her hand back in a startle if not for the fact that she'd looked weird if she suddenly did that. Isanna couldn't believe that with just that one gesture, Erwin already had her weak in the knees.

Her eyes darted towards Mike and Hanji, who, although looked just as shocked as her, didn't bother to hide their grins. Curse them.

Maybe they were already getting late to the party, or maybe she just wanted to save Isanna from potentially embarrassing herself, but Hanji decided to do her friend a favor and grabbed their attention as she clapped her hands once; she was still grinning, though.

"Alright, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, we'll be late to the party, so we should get going."

Erwin had already fluttered his eyes back open and peered at Isanna through his eyelashes - with the girl noting his intense gaze - before he finally pulled back and lowered their hands but still kept his hold on her. Isanna didn't know whether to be disappointed or be relieved.

"Goddamn it, Smith," Isanna cursed with a squint of her eyes at him, "you're really taking this too seriously."

Erwin chuckled at her reaction and helped her up the carriage first, picking the trails of her gown and making sure she wouldn't slip. "That's Sir Jackson to you."

•

The estate owned by the Lovof family was expansive, boasting of acres of land filled with trees and planted gardens of a variety of species; there could be seen in the near distance a farmstead nearby a fenced spacious lawn where the cattle was being held, and just beyond the looming gates was the grand mansion, a cobblestoned pathway leading up to the entrance while lanes of finely-trimmed bushes graced the sides, forming mazes of greenery.

Isanna could make out silhouettes passing by the light seeping through the windows of the mansion, a jovial air and occasional laughter erupting from inside the structure.

As the group of four stepped down from the carriage that had brought them, Isanna's short surveying of the area was interrupted when Erwin grabbed her arm and looped it on his own. "Keep an eye out for Nicholas Lovof," he whispered lowly in her ear, no signs of the earlier teasing he had given her just minutes before.

The butler that was assigned in checking the guests' logbook scanned through the notebook after Hanji introducing Mike and herself as 'Mr. and Mrs. Denver', and Isanna and Erwin as 'Mr. and Mrs. Jackson'.

Just as they had planned, the four were easily ushered inside and were greeted by the bright luminosity emitting from more than one chandelier hanging at the high ceiling, providing light across the vast space that were packed with people of noble background. The chattering of conversations buzzed and bounced against the walls, some women with refined gowns giggling while elegantly fanning their faces as some men conversed in casual topics; it was a party composed solely of aristocrats.

But amidst all the grandeur, Isanna's attention was focused on the line of exquisite meals that were prepared on a long table by the side, the delectable aroma easily drifting and reaching her nose.

Now that is real Mitras food.

As if Erwin could read her thoughts, he lightly pulled her nearer to him and lowered his lips to her ear. "Don't get distracted."

Isanna looked at him in the eye, jutting out her lower lip and mustering what she thought was her best 'puppy-eyed' face at him.

Erwin sighed, knowing full well how much of a big eater she was. "Go help yourself. Just remember our purpose in coming here."

Congratulating herself for persuading him, Isanna stalked towards the table filled with all sorts of fancy delicacies with sparkling eyes of hunger. Of course, she was mindful of her actions as she tried the food, observing how the other nobles ate theirs; she didn't want to look out-of-place with her commoner table manners, especially since she wasn't supposed to attract attention.

This lamb chop is heavenly, Isanna marveled at the meat dressed in sauce on her plate as she chewed on a piece, wondering how much of a five-star Michelin was the cook that prepared it.

While the girl was so engrossed in eating, she failed to notice the inquisitive looks mixed with interest that she was receiving from the other guests; one of the young lords had already walked over, donning what he knew was a gentlemanly smile.

"Good evening, my lady," he smoothly greeted as he stopped to casually lean against the table of food beside Isanna, who didn't seem to notice him at first as she was too preoccupied in appreciating the way the meat melted deliciously in her mouth.

After realizing a random stranger by the corner of her eyes, Isanna swallowed the food and placed the empty plate back on the table before she turned to the man while studying him. Since she wasn't familiar with how elites addressed each other, all the girl could give as a response was an impassive nod.

The man chuckled. "You don't talk much, do you?"

Isanna blinked at him. "Oh, I do. Just not to you."

Taken aback at her boldness, the man with the spiky dark hair stared at the girl as her words dawned on him, before he released a small chuckle, bemusement glinting in his eyes. "I'm taking it that you don't come to these parties that often?"

Isanna wanted to inform him that grand parties such as this was foreign to the Survey Corps, but opted not to for obvious reasons.

"I'm not a fan of crowds." But I like the food that comes with it.

The man hummed at her words, nodding to himself. "No wonder, else I would have recognized a beauty such as yourself."

Isanna couldn't help but mentally blanched; she knew all too well she wasn't the first woman he had complimented that night.

A classical melody had began to flow inside the space of the mansion, and both turned to see a small ensemble by the corner playing a harmonious tune of different instruments as several pairs stepped to the marbled floor in a slow dance to waltz.

Isanna wrinkled her nose in a cringing embarrassment. People in Mitras did shit like this? In an engagement party?

"Would you care for a dance?" She brought her attention back to the man - mind you, she still had yet to know his name. 

No fucking thank you, Isanna parted her lips to politely refuse when an arm suddenly snaked around her waist and pulled her lightly. 

"I apologize, but she's with me."

Had Isanna not recognized that deep voice, she would have lashed out at the sudden contact, but her voice dried out at the realization that it was Erwin, whose cool gaze was now fixated on the young nobleman while his arm was still around her waist. The man's brow arched upwards at Erwin's sudden arrival, before he glanced at the girl. 

"You know this gentleman?"

"Yes," Erwin was the one who replied in her stead, "now if you'll excuse us."

Isanna caught the flash of confusion on the man's face before she was whisked away by Erwin, and it took her a moment to register that he still had his arm around her. He guided her to a spacer area, away from the crowd of nobles and the girl realized with slight anxiety that they were, in fact, on the dance floor. 

"Hold on, Erwin," she hissed at him in a low volume, "I don't even know how to dance." 

Erwin took her hand and placed it on his shoulder before he held her by the waist while his free hand took her hand in his own. 

"Don't worry," he told her, "I'll guide you."

Isanna inhaled a sharp breath as he pulled her closer to him and began slowly steering their figures across the tiled floor with the melodious waltz accompanying them. The girl tried to focus on anything else aside from his wide chest, from the muscled collarbone exposed through the unfastened buttons at the top of his suit, from the seductive whiff of his cologne, from the closeness of their bodies - but of course, the 17-year-old in her who had fallen for her best friend years ago had decided to spring back up. 

"We've heard from Baldrick that his father is in one of the offices inside the mansion, on the third floor." How she still managed to hear him amidst the loud drumming of her heart was beyond her. 

Isanna had her eyes fixed on Erwin's dark necktie because it was the only physical thing nearest to her eye level that she could latch her attention on. "Okay.. but did you have to drag me into this cringing slow dance just to tell me that?"

"Apparently, yes," Erwin replied, "there are lesser people here, lesser chances of someone catching our conversation."

"So what's your plan?"

After Erwin relayed their next course of action, Isanna nodded and began scanning her surroundings, her gaze locking onto the prismatic marbled staircase that led to the upper floor. She also didn't fail to notice the looks from the other guests, and suddenly became self-conscious as to why the two of them were suddenly now in the center of attention in the room. 

"They're looking at us," Isanna mumbled, still warily glancing at the guests. 

"They're looking at you."

Isanna blinked and snapped her gaze back at Erwin, who was already staring at her. Because of her heels, she now reached a little around his neck, thus bringing their faces closer to each other compared to their usual height difference. The girl allowed herself to be drowned into his blue eyes, irises in a swirl that was as mesmerizing as the heavenly firmament in a cloudless morning that graced the earth - those piercing eyes were the reason why Isanna's favorite color was cerulean blue. 

For a fleeting second, the girl's gaze flitted downwards to his lips before it flicked back up to meet his eyes. 

If Erwin noticed that succinct glimpse, he didn't react; his keen stare becoming more intensive by the second, she noticed.

"Is that so," Isanna muttered with an arched brow at his unwavering stare, "do you like what you see, Sir Jackson?"

Erwin seemed to have escaped a some sort of trance as he blinked at her. ".. I'm sorry," he mumbled, a conflicted expression washing over his features, "you just look.." his voice drifted away, before he finally managed to finish his sentence. 

"You just look really captivating tonight."

Isanna would have stopped their slow dance right then and there had Erwin not been guiding her. Her addled gaze inquisitively studied his face, her brows quirking even higher. He seemed to be.. disoriented about something. And it wasn't a very Erwin-thing to see. 

"Don't you start crushing on me, Smith," the girl smirked with a lighthearted tone as a way to ease the tension, not wanting for their current mission to be jeopardized just because of.. whatever was bubbling between them as of the moment. 

By the corner of her eye, Isanna could make out Hanji in the sea of people, inconspicuously waving at her to come over. 

"Mrs. Denver's calling us over," she told Erwin, "it's time to kick some noble lord's ass."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: erwin is the epitome of a gentleman and nobody can convince me otherwise 😔✋🏼