Year 843

"Sit up-" My mother grumbled under her breath.

Readjusting myself in my seat, "Mother," I started. "I cannot sit any straighter, please." A little whimper came from my lips while I mumbled back.

"Oh, hush! You'll never be wed! And I'll never get grandchildren!" Forcibly she gripped my shoulders, pushing them back and pulling me up in my chair in front of my father, everyone sitting at the table stared at the two of us.

My parents had taken me to a high ranking government party with a few of the most well known noble families within the Eldian Empire like The Reiss Family, Lord Rod and his daughter, Historia.

Historia was about my age; eight. Long blonde hair, like golden rays of sun and her eyes like ice. I envied her. I was jealous of her.

Historia from across the table gave me wide eyes, full of shock mixed with embarrassment and pity for me, the same with all the other lords, ladies, commanders, and the young Queen who sat at the head of the table by her father and step sister. My mother had choked up a laugh, letting go of my shoulders, sitting back in her chair, then adjusting her dress like nothing happened while looking down at my lap out of the same reason. My throat was becoming hot and scratchy and tears started forming at the corners of my eyes.

I was saved by the butlers and maids who brought us our dinner, placing it in front of us, taking the silver lids off our dishes to reveal our first course. Tilting my head back up to look at my food and the people at the table, I managed to hold in my tears before placing the napkin on my lap and taking the proper dining utensils.

After our four course meal, everyone sat at the table, talking about inner government stuff, the new cadets, just boring stuff that the men mainly talked about, not the place for women to interject in even though the men had some very disagreeable ideals and opinions. My father and the rest of the men were drinking and some were having a cigar.

Slightly I turned my head towards my mother, "May I please be excused?"
"Yes." With her hand, she signaled me to be excused. Her voice was full of disgust.

Taking the napkin from my lap, placing it on the table, I then got up, announcing my leave, "Please excuse me." My voice half choked out, walking out of the room, shutting the door behind me silently.

Pressing my back to the door and looking up towards the ceiling, the tears finally decided to let themselves out before my feet started running down the extensive hallway towards the stairs that went to the tallest tower in the castle.

Kicking open the door, the cold night air struck me immediately while the full moon lit up the sky and buildings. I stood there for a minute to adjust myself to the cold before coming to the edge, peering over the short wall blocking me from the drop. My hands pinched the sides of my dress, lifting up the skirt so I could step on to the ledge.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A kind, gentle voice snapped me out of my moment, making my head whip back.

A tall blonde was leaning against the wall, somewhat covered by the darkness. His hair was a lighter blonde than Historia's hair, almost white. When he stepped out of the darkness, revealing his Survey Corps uniform, ODM gear and everything. This man looked very familiar like I've seen him before.

Rolling my eyes, I didn't mean to be rude to this man but I really didn't want to live anymore, "Why shouldn't I?! Give me ONE good reason why?!" I threw my hands up, questioning him.

The man walked forward, his arms crossed, "Because you're too young, too full of life, just please come down from there, Miss," He extended his hand to me. "Please, just take my hand." The man sighed.

For a minute, I thought about taking his hand, saving myself but I didn't know what my life would be like when I returned back to my parents, the same or different. Reaching for his hand, there was a crumbling sound beneath me, the wall that I was standing on was about to give way. My eyes became wide as my head snapped down towards my feet at the crumbling wall, then back up at the man before plummeting to my death. My nails scratched the stone as I fell. A stone from the tower wall had caught my dress and ripping a large section of the skirt as a fell screaming and squirming around, trying to save myself.

For a brief second, I had looked towards the starry sky before I met death and saw the man reaching for me. He was using his ODM gear while he fell to catch me. Our hands met, pulling me up into his arms while my hands wrapped around his waist, clinging to the harness under his jacket.

The wire that was attached to some part of the tower kept the two of us swaying for a while. With one hand, he was still hanging on to the controller grip, which also is the hilt of the swords, and his other was wrapped around my lower back, trying to keep me from falling. My heart was still racing as my breaths became heavier while I stared at the ground which was a distance away from us.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't look down."
Looking back up at the man, he gave me a worried but sympathetic smile, "Th-th-thank you."

"You're welcome Miss, just be more careful next time, I won't always be here to save you." He joked, trying to lighten my mood.

"Yeah, thank you. I'll try to." My laughter was a weird stutter while my cheeks heated up at the man.

Using the ODM gear, he pulled the two of us up, back to the top of the tower. He helped place me down on my feet first before climbing up. He was much taller, an older than me. He looked about eighteen.

"My name is Erwin Smith, 13th Commander of the Scout Regiment." Erwin gave the military salute, he truly was a genuine soldier.

I giggled, "It's nice to meet you, Erwin Smith," Pinching the remaining fabric on my skirt, I bowed to him, like a lady, even though I never was a proper lady. "Céleste Frieda."

He then took my hand and placed a gentle kiss on the top, "A beautiful name for a beautiful Miss," Once again I was blushing in front of a man, a very handsome man, "May I escort you back downstairs?" He then held out his arm.

Smiling, I linked my arm with Erwin's, "Yes you may, I would enjoy the company for a little while."

Erwin had escorted me downstairs, back to my parents and the others, back to dinner. Erwin had knocked on the door before entering, kindly opening the door for me to walk into the room first. Everyone stood up and their painted expressions say everything that they were thinking, including my parents.

Erwin then stood behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders, "I found this one outside, she fell off the ledge of the tower if I wasn't there to save her."

In a flash everyone rushed towards me, my mother furious about my dress more than me almost committing suicide, everyone was talking at the same time so I couldn't understand everyone. Historia was cupping my cheeks and pulled me into a close hug. My mother was on her knees sobbing over my dress and now she paid so much money for it. Erwin stood close by me, never leaving my side. Every now and again, I would turn my head to look at Erwin, he would always give me a comforting smile and stoke my hair to comfort me.

Before Erwin left, I had promised him to visit me and write to me because I owed him someday for saving me. A life for a life.

"You promise?" I smirked, holding out my pinky.

Erwin chuckled at the adorable gesture, bending down on one knee to look me in the eyes properly, "Yes, I promise." He wrapped his pinky with mine.

"You promise what?"

Erwin took a deep sigh, "I promise that I'll visit you under your favorite tree whenever I can and write to you whenever I can" A smile spread across my face and we shook our pinkies.

Erwin then stood up, adjusting his green cape, he then took my hand again, kissing the top before leaving.

Authors Note:
4/4/24: Hey readers! I hope you enjoyed the prologue! Please let me know what you think of the story so far. I really appreciate all the likes and comments I get. I go through every single comment and I enjoy reading them, so please leave a comment if you like something or if you see something that needs to change, please leave a comment! :)

Overall, yeah, Céleste is interesting right? Interesting backstory that will tie into the main plot later... don't worry ;) Also Erwin... such a ladies man and the prince for a damsel in distress, love him. Mother is definitely a villain, I know I don't like her very much :/

Also I have 0 clue why or what is going on, I have the Wattpad app on both my phone and tablet, for some reason I can upload pictures at the beginning of the chapters right above the title of the chapter but when I publish it and view it as a reader. It doesn't show up? The only way it can show up is if it's actually in the text. :/

If anyone has advice or could give me some help, I'd love that :')

Anyways! See y'all in the next one!