CHAPTER ONE:

LET US START WITH A "ONCE UPON A TIME"

It is only proper to begin a fairy tale with a "Once upon a time". However, I do believe that this is no fairy tale. For fairy tales are only conjured by a person's imagination… and I am quite sure that this is not. I swear to the existence of the sun on the sky and the earth on the ground, that I shall only recount the truest of the true tale. Also, fairy tales end up with "And they live happily ever after"… while this one, no. It did not end at all.

I am Armin Arlert and this is my final masterpiece- no. Scratch that. This is their masterpiece. This is the story that I was too honoured (or too scared) to recount for the past 60 years of my life. But now as I near to the exhaustion of my hourglass, I shall write this as my final act of rebellion.

She was the most beautiful girl in our quaint little village of Maria. Perhaps it was her unusual features that made her stand amongst the other girls.

She had the most wondrous silky hair rivaling the blackness of a starless night. Once, it went past her waist and she left it hanging and whipping with the winds. But when her foster brother made a remark on how obstructive it was, she straightforwardly cut it off to barely brush her clavicles. It didn't diminish her attractiveness though, she gained a certain air around her- an air of a mysterious young woman with the dignity of an accomplished adult. Maybe it was the way she handled situations calmly?

I was too occupied with my books to even note.

We grew up together actually. It was always the three of us- her (Mikasa), her foster brother (Eren) and I.

When she was old enough to work (eighteen summers), she started helping my grandfather and I in our bookstore/ coffee shop.

Eren's parents were dead then, and the wayward boy chose to enter the military. I believe Mikasa would have tagged along too, if not for the regulations regarding women.

So, she was rendered stuck in the province too little to be the world for her.

It was almost heartbreaking to see her gray eyes glaze over as they followed Eren's back when he left the town. Thankfully enough, she recovered after three days.

He, on the other hand, came a surprise to our lives.

One day, the province was abuzz regarding the arrival of a very important person- an aristocrat. I didn't suspect then. I didn't foresee the cruel play to be staged by fate and destiny.

Painful as it was, and still is, one could call it "kismet".

"This young lady is Ms. Mikasa Jaeger, I presume?"

He was the perfect gentleman- from looks to manners and bearing.

His entrance to the shop caused immense clamor and unrest. He- the man with neat blond hair and bright blue eyes. I would never forget those eyes for the years to come. They shone mischief and wisdom. But at the same time, they were darkened with the hollowest emotions and unexplainable schemes. They were far too cold to be that of a human's.

Deep inside me, I could have sworn his mouth quirked up ever so slightly when he met my gaze. It was a quick, passing thing… however, I felt something from it- a very foreign feeling. A foreboding feeling.

My grandfather was the first one to recover among the few people in the shop (me included).

He cleared his throat before answering, "Yes, my lord. This young lady is Ms. Jaeger."

The man turned to take in Mikasa fully. I wasn't able to decipher her feelings for her face remained as expressive as a blank slate. After a heartbeat or two, he quit staring with a generous sweep of a bow. "Ms. Mikasa Jaeger, I am Lord Erwin Smith. I've heard rumors of your charm and I believe they do the real thing no justice." He made a move to pick her hand up, but she was quick enough to snatch it back. This earned her a raise of an eyebrow. "I see that you are… not used to this."

"What is it that you want?"

Now, that was a bit rude.

"I shall be blunt. My good friend, the remaining lord of the Ackerman line had me do him a favor. He told me to pick you up, for your brother-"

"Eren!"

"Yes, Eren- Master Jaeger… is currently in the Ackerman main house."

It was all Mikasa needed to hear to come with him.

And by coming with him, the series of events that readily composed the poorly-strung tragedy started. If only we stopped it. No. If only we never allowed Eren to leave Maria… then this wouldn't have happened.

Hey guys. Twisted here. Yes. Another fairy tale base but I am not going to reveal what fairy tale/s I based this from. So yeah... I would love to read your guesses. Try your luck! See ya next chapter! Ciao!