"This looks very expensive, Erwin." I touch the four-leaf clover pendant inside the jewelry box. It's white gold, the edge rimmed with diamonds. The chain on which it hangs is thin but gold nonetheless. On each side of the necklace is a drop earring with the same clover leaf pattern.

"Nothing in comparison to your priceless company, angel." He kisses my neck again.

"I don't know if I can accept this, baby. Are these real diamonds?" I stand up and face him.

"Yes, of course. Nothing less for you, angel." Erwin touches the side of my face, careful not to disturb the hair or the makeup.

"I can't accept this, Erwin." I laugh, hoping he'll see the humor in my rejection. But his face is expressionless, which makes me feel a little guilty. "This is very expensive. You'll regret giving it to me."

"What does that mean?" His bushy blonde eyebrows bunch up.

"I meant... If you spend all your money on someone you just met, you might look back and regret it if... if it doesn't work out."

Erwin's smile dims further with every word I say. "You doubt my devotion to you, angel." He closes the lid of the box with a sigh and decides to put it away on the wooden dressing table. Taking a step back, he adds, "I can't force you to wear it but it will make me happy."

The door shuts behind him as he walks out and opens only a second later, ushering Levi in. "What did you do?" He immediately asks with his signature frown.

"Why are you assuming I did something?" I look at the box in front of the ornate mirror, biting my lip.

He clicks his tongue. "There's G-U-I-L-T tattooed on your forehead." His eyes search my vicinity to locate the problem, lands on my bare neck and immediately glosses over to where the blue box is. "You don't have to wear it if it makes you that uncomfortable. He'll come around. But he'll probably buy you more expensive shit in the future because he's whimsical, especially when it comes to people he cares about, and also because he has a lot of fucking money. So... gear up to break his heart every time or just take the stuff."

"What if he stops caring about me a few days later?"

"Return them, like a sensible person. This is not the end of the world, you know."

I sigh. "I think that's the longest you've ever spoken to me for." The box and I watch each other expectantly. Really, it's not the end of the world. If a rich, older man wants to spoil me, why not just let him? I mean, if it makes him happy, what's the harm?

I can hear my mother's bones turning in her grave as I open up the box to admire the incandescence of the necklace, the way the diamonds shine. Stunning. Precious. It's impossible that he thinks I deserve this. "Were you just standing outside the whole time?" I ask Levi.

"Yes. You're in my charge tonight so I go everywhere you go."

"In your charge?" I turn to him and I'm sure he can tell how disgusted I am by those words. "Why do I need to be in someone's charge?"

Levi pushes his hands inside his pockets. "Just being cautious. You're a new face, after all, and nowhere in your file did I see a self-defense training or a visit to the shooting range. It's safe to say that you need a bodyguard."

I scoff. "Why you?"

"Maybe Erwin wants us to get along."

I hum. "That's more than likely actually." With utmost care, I extract the necklace and latch it around my neck, then hook the earrings onto my lobes. "Shall we go then?"

Erwin is nowhere in sight in the next room. Historia, Connie and Sasha herd around me to gawk and praise the thing around my neck that probably costs much more than what I make in a year. Words like beautiful, gorgeous, and their synonyms are tossed around across the room while I search for my boyfriend. Levi saves me. "We should leave."

"I'll see you guys at the party. Thanks, Historia, for... everything." That's all I can manage before Levi yanks me away by the wrist.

A bettle waits for us in front of the house with a middle-aged man in the driver's seat. He skitters out of the car to hold the backdoor open for us. "Captain!" He nods at my bodyguard and then does something weird - with his left hand folded behind his back, he holds his right fist to his chest.

"Oluo." Levi acknowledges him but doesn't return the elaborate gesture, only moves out of my way as I head butt-first into the car, careful not to crease the gown.

As Oluo pulls back into the driver's seat, I wonder if he's as old as he looks, or is it a certain someone's sense of style he copies that ages him up. When I look back at Levi, it makes sense. The same undercut, the same cravat, the same weary eyes. The two don't look like they're related so Oluo must be an underling who has made the captain his religion. That reminds me.

"Why does everyone call you captain?" I ask Levi as the sedan starts to wind down the route Erwin's Bentley was struggling to cross.

"Just some made-up position Erwin gave me." He shrugs.

"Aren't all positions made up?" I giggle, coaxing another sigh out of my companion.

The bungalow looks completely different when we arrive at its backdoor. Hange's design has splayed out in an elegant array of lights and flora that snakes over the arch above the entryway and around the pillars on both sides. Looking back through the rear of the car, I still can't make out what material the decorations are but it's all very pretty.

When my side of the door opens, a hand appears. I immediately grab it, thinking it's Erwin. But it's a calloused palm with the rough fingers of someone who probably does a lot of lifting in the gym. Noticing my hesitation, the person bends to look inside the car at me.

"Hi, I'm Miche." He says with a slight smile. His face is hard like a fossil, a thin line of hair running along his jaw and over his lip. His nose is sharp, but a different kind of sharp than Erwin's. He doesn't have the hook, and his eyes are a lot less brighter than my boyfriend's. Like, he's seen things, done things, believes he doesn't deserve the light.

I step out. "I'm Niji." Miche is tall tall, probably even taller than Erwin. I feel tiny. But then I look at Levi and everything is alright again.

"Oh yeah, we know who you are." Another voice startles me. It's a woman's voice - a pretty, petite, short-haired woman with one of the most beautiful pairs of eyes I've seen. Blue and foxy, like a water nymph.

Miche introduces her. "That's my beautiful wife, Nanaba." Ugh, another green flag!

She's dressed in a dark blue bodycon dress that sits around her curves so beautifully, I can see her abs. Both she and her husband are blonde, giving me a major bi panic. "Hi, nice to meet you," is all I can manage.

Looking around, I spot only luxurious cars filling up the parking area. Lines of convertibles, cars with broad hoods, all in sleek, smooth colors. I feel poor, if not for this magnificent dress. Which reminds me, I should probably pay Historia for the dress and everything. I'll have to do it in Erwin's ignorance otherwise it will open up another can of worms.

"Let's go upstairs." Levi tugs at my elbow.

"Is Erwin there?" I ask instinctively, making Nanaba and Miche giggle at me. "Hey, that's rude!"

"Sorry, Niji, we just find it really cute." Nanaba steps up beside me, linking her bare arm through mine. "We've never experienced this with Boss so please, please let us enjoy it."

What does never mean?

"Won't you head upstairs with us?" I ask.

"We're on parking duty until nine. We'll meet you after that." The way she slides her hand down my arm, it gives me shivers, even through my dress material. She holds my hand before squeezing it. "We're so glad you're here."

Levi drags me into the elevator and presses a button. There are no numbers or signs on the switches; how will I ever make it out of here on my own? Hopefully, I wouldn't need to. "Levi, why does everyone sound like they've been hearing about me for years?"

"Do they? Are you sure you're not just reading into it?"

"Are you trying to gaslight me?"

"You talk too much. Listen, I think they're just curious because of who you're related to. A lot of us knew Dr. Castillo."

"And, yet, you didn't know he had passed away six months ago? That's odd."

The doors open and a gust of wind almost hurls me backward. Thankfully, the skirt of my dress is too heavy or we'd have had a Marilyn Monroe situation on our hands.

As Levi and I step into the open space, we're embraced by a pinkish aura. The chandelier overhead washes a soft golden light over everything in the room, everything nitpickedly chosen to match the Grecian theme of this promenade. White curtains on all the walls are lined with twinkling fairy lights to keep shadows from creeping in. Arrangements of peonies and white roses sit around glasses of water kept only to float candles on the meniscus. A larger round table is set in the middle of the room, just under the chandelier, designed maximally with a miniature sculpture of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, flowers and votive candles all around it. The white tablecloth has already been stained by a careless wine drinker. Levi and I notice it at the same time, our collective clicks of tongues bringing us a little closer.

"That way." He extends his hand toward my left, pointing toward the balconies, the gateway for the breeze. I follow him closely, snaking past unknown faces, hoping I soon see the one I crave the most. Levi stops at the door. "I'll be here. Tell me before you're going anywhere. Anywhere, you get it?"

"Yes, ugh!"

"Hey! None of that. I have your phone." He flashes it out of his pocket and inside in a second. "I'll throw it out if you misbehave."

"Feel free. Your boss will probably buy me a new one if I guilt-trip him."

For the first time since I've met him, Levi smiles. Smirks, but hey, it's a start! "He's out there."

The wind cuts my cheek as I step out on to the balcony, salty and cold, threatening to expose my skin under my skirt. A few men are standing around, smoking, in their blazers and tuxes, somewhat elevating the temperature around.

"Angel." There it is, the voice I was craving, the sweetness I was missing. Instantly, I'm wrapped in his arms, squeezed against his chest. His eyes rove over my face, down my neck, stops when he notices the locket, and finally softens. "You're wearing it."

Tiptoeing, I peck his cheek. My lipstick stains his skin so I smooth it out. "I'll do anything to make you happy."

His eyes widen at my quasi-confession but I definitely surprise myself more. I try to take it back, scraping at the back of my throat to find words that'll neutralize the situation. Then he says something that makes it all better. Erwin squeezes me a little tighter and tells me, "the feeling is mutual, my dear."

"Mr. Smith," someone from behind him calls his name in a heavy British accent. "Might I have the honor of introducing myself to the beautiful lady?"

Erwin moves to the side of my line of vision, and the British comes into view. His long, golden hair flows with the wind, concealing parts of his face in a sort of breezy tapestry. Without waiting for Erwin's reply, he holds out his hand - elegant, free of bruises and scabs, unlike the other hands I've been seeing in the mafia. He's an outsider. "The name's Willy Tybur, my love."

"Nice to meet you." I shake his hand. "I'm Niji Castillo."

His grip is strong. Instead of letting my hand go, he brings it to his lips and kisses my knuckles. "You have beautiful hands. Are you an artist, or a writer?"

This is both flattering and uncomfortable. "I crochet sometimes. Does that count?"

"Of course, it does."

Wait! Tybur? Willy Tybur?

"How was your trip, Mr. Tybur?" I ask, remembering what Erwin said last night.

"Smooth travels, dear. The service on the flight was lovely." His palm smoothes over my sleeve. "Mr. Smith, is it okay if my steward comes upstairs to deliver a gift for your lady?"

"Of course, Mr. Tybur." Erwin sounds approving but I feel his hand on my back creep up to my shoulder and pull me closer. This is fun.

"A gift for me?" I make further conversation with Mr. Tybur only to tease Erwin. "There was no need."

Willy only smiles, his face glowing in the warm light of golden bulbs around the door frame. He quickly types something on his phone before pocketing it. The tail of his coat flutters behind him like that of our primate ancestors. There's something so sinister about this man, I can't pinpoint the source of my unease though. Maybe his eyes, maybe the hair, that kind of rich blonde hair reminds me of the incestuous children of Cersei Lannister.

"Can I borrow a smoke?" I look at my boyfriend. I'm much closer to his face, thanks to Historia's heels, with ample opportunity to spontaneously kiss him if and whenever I want to.

"Of course. I got you minty ones." He extracts a white-and-blue pack of my regulars and hands one cigarette to me. Inhaling the smoke from it gives me a fresh breath. Erwin directs me to a corner, a soft grasp on my waist, and stands opposite to me, as if guarding me from any prying eyes. He wants me to himself, even at a party. And I want him to myself.

I want to steal him away from all these people who look up to him, obey him like his word is gospel, fear his authority, his power. I want to hold him in my arms and let him be the carefree, lovable boy that cowers behind his strained jaw and narrowed eyes.

"There's something I want to talk to you about." Erwin's grip tightens. "This is not the right place and the right time. I just wanted to let you know beforehand so it doesn't come off as a surprise."

"What is it about?"

He hesitates, looks around. "It's... bedroom talk. I wanted to know about your preferences and let you know about mine."

"Preferences?" I take a long drag of smoke before flicking the cigrette off the edge of the balcony.

"Yes, angel. Is that okay?"

I'm not sure, but I'm definitely curious. "I... I'd love to have... that discussion."

Erwin starts to say something but Mr. Tybur interferes again. He presents a flower to me, a similar full-cupped rose that Erwin gave to me last night. "A flower for a flower." Willy smiles. He's just a tad creepy.

I accept it with as much enthusiasm as I can manage before turning to Erwin. "Is this the same flower that you gave me yesterday?"

Willy answers before Erwin can. He scoffs. "Not at all, my dear. It's from the same gentleman's garden in London but they are two different varieties. Breeds. Mr. Smith got you the Juliet rose, did you not, Erwin?"

"Ah, yes." Erwin responds, embarrassed.

"It must have been an apricot colored flower, was it not, Ms. Niji?" I nod. "That was the five million dollar flower. This is a much cheaper sister, Desdemona."

My next question to Erwin comes easily. "You spent five million dollars on one flower?"

"No... umm..."

Willy comes to Erwin's rescue with a condescending laugh. "No, dear, it took Mr. Austin five million dollars to breed that flower but it costs a lot less now."

I ignore him. "How much does this cost?" I ask, touching the clover pendant on my chest. But before he can answer, the door separating the balcony from the ballroom opens again.

A tall, slim man with soft brown hair springs his head out, looking around to locate someone in the darkness. "Moblit," Erwin calls out. The man turns and his face lights up with recognition.

"Eren's here, Boss."

A/N: If you liked this chapter, please consider leaving a vote. You wouldn't believe it but it does wonders to the writer's motivations.