This is Jane/Ris

The moment Hange Zoë, former Miss Humanity, Nifa's roommate, and biology Ph.D. student walks into Levi’s backstage, he knows this woman is an incarnation of a walking disaster. 

It is not because of how disheveled she looks with the messy long hair, wrinkled yellow blouse, and gray suit pants. Nor for the fact that she has a clear mud stain on her side, stating it is from a stumble she had when Levi points it out 

("Oh, I had a fall before I ran to grab my things to run here! Nifa said it's an emergency, that you need rescue?! ")

It is because she is a diva. A  CRAZY DIVA who thinks the world revolves around her and cannot stop letting people know she owns a one-of-the-kind Birkin bag by refusing to put it down. 

“…But Ms. Zoë, it’s impossible for us to work on your hair if you don’t put your bag down.” Petra's voice is starting to crack, as she tries to pry away the black Birkin 40 Hange Zoë that has been tightly clutched on for the third time. But the former pageant queen still refuses to let go. Because, obviously, it is too important!

The explanation? "I can't" and “can't afford to lose or ruin it.” are all they can get. 

And there's more.

"Also, please don't touch." Hange Zoë supplies, as she gently pushes Petra's fingers away from the smooth leather.

"I don't think you'd like to touch it."

That is it. With a small stump on her heel, Petra, one of the most mild-tempered people Levi has ever known, looks almost ready to snap.

Almost.

"Maybe you can...um...put it down to the floor here, where you can see," the hairstylist tries again. 

"I can't leave it. Not when there are so many people walking around."

"Well..." the hairstylist begins, but her partner Olue decides he's not having it any longer.

"No one's going to steal it, you know," the young man counters with a click of his tongue. Unlike Petra, he is never the kind to conceal his displeasure, a quality Levi has been secretly approved of.

"Oh, no! Please don’t be offended. I didn’t mean it like that." Hange Zoë gives them an apologetic smile. But her fingers are still tightly locked onto the Birkin. 

"I just don’t feel comfortable having it out of my sight."

“Put it here!” Petra suggests, hands patting on the dressing desk in front of her. “You can still see it sitting here.”

"No. The desk is too narrow,” she says hesitatingly. “It may fall. And the light above is way too warm." She places her hand on the dressing desk. "This surface is hot from the light. Imagine how hot the black leather can get after 5 minutes…"

“That’s enough! Give it here.” 

Before either Petra or Oluo can say anything, Levi simply barges between them, ready to snatch the Birkin and shake some sense out of this woman. But to his surprise, he doesn't even have the chance to touch the bag because Hange immediately jumps off the chair and knees him on the side to dodge his grasp, all the while the bag safely sitting in her arms.

"Hey!" She yells, backing away until she hits the working table in the middle of the room, holding the bag against her chest. "What are you? Crazy?"

"If you’re so concerned about that Birkin , you shouldn’t bring it out in the first place.” Levi scolds. “Crazy diva !”

“Diva?” Hange’s eyes narrow. “Interesting.” She smirks. “You called me a diva. Because you think I care too much about the bag. Because the bag is a Birkin.”

“And you dare to say that you don’t? ” Levi counters. “All I see right now is a pageant queen who cares too much about her fucking bag delaying our work. You’re acting like a child, rude to the staff, and-”

“It’s NOT about the bag. It’s about my BABIES that are carried inside,” she shouts, silencing the entire room.

Babies?

“What do you mean by babies?” the designer asks, slightly alarmed as he stares at the overstuffed Birkin.

“Whoa? No! I mean…my work…my research subjects, okay? My thesis might depend on it for all I know. I just need to find an undisturbed place to put it down! Your whole backstage is in chaos so I can't…”

“Chaos?” Levi deadpans. Is she serious?

Glaring at the woman in front of him, Levi’s eyes located on the Birkin again.

“What's inside?” he asks, trying to make out the content inside the bag by its shape. 

The question immediately freezes Hange Zoë.  

“I’m sorry?” Her arms around the bag become tighter.

“What’s inside the bag?” Levi asks again, raising an eyebrow as suspicion rises. “What kind of research is it that makes you so nervous? 

“Because I don’t wanna…It's none of your concern-” 

"It is when you bring it to my atelier and make a FUCKING SCENE!" Levi shouts, hearing his own voice echo in the room, as the entire backstage falls into silence with only murmurs humming among models and crew.

"Well…" The woman in front of him begins, tilting her head as if she's ready to fire back, only to be interrupted by a very unassuming and somehow clueless Eren.

"Hange?" The young athlete appears out of nowhere, looking annoyingly cheerful. "What are you doing here?" He asks. Levi shoots him a deadly glare.

"You know her?"

The younger man flinches a little. "Ugh...yeah! She's my dad's Ph.D. student. Doing research in his lab and giving lectures in our general biology course."

Levi smirks. The thought of Grisha Yeager, the revered biology professor and one of the most polite and agreeable people Levi has ever known, is associated with this absurd person, sounds like a bad joke from a tacky sitcom…

And then, something suddenly occurs to him.

"Remind me." The designer starts, glaring at Eren as he senses his self-control begins to slip 

"What's Professor Yeager's research subject? "

"Whoa? Dad?" Eren blinks. " He does experiments on fruit flies."

Chapter 1 Levi Ackerman

If there’s anything Levi Ackerman has learned from his career as a fashion designer throughout the years, it is that:

1.) When it comes to hosting a runway show, you can never believe anything will be alright until you personally check on it. 

2.) If you think you have checked everything, check again.  

3.) Once you’re confident enough to dare believe that everything will go smoothly, Fortuna herself will make sure you learn a lesson by sending someone to screw things up, in the most unexpected way.

And that is exactly what is happening right now.

“What do you mean she cut all her hair?” Levi hisses to Miche, one of the show producers. The broad man is equally dumbfounded, doesn't even bother to reply. “We specifically told the modeling agency we want long hair models. How on earth…” 

Levi finds himself losing words, unable or unwilling to comprehend the rather unique situation, whether it is the state of the said model’s recognition skills or the fact that they need to find a replacement NOW, in the middle of Fashion Week when literally all decent models in the city had been booked out!!

Four hours before the show is set to kick off, they are already screwed. 

Terrific.

“I’ve already called other agencies to see if they can send someone,” Nanaba, the other show producer, speaks up while she’s staring at her phone. "But don't get your hopes up, Levi. From the photos they sent me, those available either do not have long enough hair or just don't look the part. Maybe we should settle with what we've got, you know? I mean... I'm sure we can still create a fitted look with the headpiece or..."

“That would be unfit to the narrative, and you know it!” Levi fires back, gritting his teeth while looking around the packed backstage. The whole place is in clutter. A necessary evil he is willing to put up with for making a show. But at the moment, with one model short, the mere sight of Nifa, his lead make-up artist, using the working table instead of one of the dressing desks to show other make-up artists the final look, is enough to drive him crazy.

Slowly, Levi breathes in, and out, forcing his shoulders to relax. A rustle catches his attention. Beside him, Mikasa, his intern, and little cousin, is pulling the racks of showpieces to the middle of the room before she and other dressers can start dressing the models. Just as he had instructed 5 minutes ago. 

"Do we really only need long hair, Levi? It’s nearly impossible for us to find someone who not only has waist-length hair but also can fit into the dress and walk the runway," Mikasa says, blinking at him. as she always does since she was a little girl when she senses Levi is about to lose his temper. 

"Well… Petra and Oluo said they can try extensions or wigs,” Armin, the marketing intern who reports directly to Erwin -- the brand’s co-founder and CEO who’s in charge of anything but design -- hesitantly suggests. The boy doesn’t dare to look at Levi’s face when he speaks, “I mean, they are confident that the audience won't notice."

"But I will," Levi sighs in defeat. He glances at Mikasak, the even edge of her inverted bob sticking out like a sore thumb to his eyes. When his little cousin decided to cut her long hair last year, after starting her first term in fashion school, Levi was happy for her. The style suits her. But at this very moment, he really misses her fuzzy locks.

"Do you have any friends from school whose hair is long enough and is willing to walk the runway?" Levi asks Mikasa and Armin. The two interns stare at him, shaking their heads

"Walk the runway? Lots! Long enough hair? One or two. But no one can fit into the dresses." Mikasa shrugs, settling the last rack right in front of Levi, before walking to the dressing desk nearby to grab her phone.

"I can think of one person who’s thin enough and has long hair," Eren says as he sits at the dressing desk suddenly decides to make his presence known, kicking to swivel the chair around to face them. The tin foil Petra and Oluo put on the crown of his head to give his shoulder-length hair a silver highlight shines brightly under the warm lighting.

Levi scowls, knowing the boy’s about to say something dumb, and only Mikasa when he's making that face, something only Mikasa would laugh. 

“Who? Do we know her?” Mikasa asks, giggling as Eren puts his hand on her waist. Levi closes his eyes for a second, swallowing whatever he wants to say to the lovebirds.

The only reason he tolerates Eren in the working environment is because Miche and Nanaba, as well as Erwin , think it’s a good idea to have a rising soccer player on the runway as an athlete cameo. To attract more youth attention. As Erwin puts it.

Focus , Levi says to himself, We have a problem to solve . 

“Aunt Kuchel,” answers Eren. Levi rolls his eyes.

Without a word, the designer turns on his heels and walks away, physically extracting himself before he has a chance to hit his cousin's stupid boyfriend. 

But Aunt Kuchel’s on holiday in Buenos Aires, Eren! Mikasa exclaims. 

Shaking his head, the designer blames himself for agreeing to let Eren walk on the show. 

As if I haven't had enough of his stupidness in my private life. The brat.

“Hey, Nanaba!" Then suddenly, another voice catches Levi’s attention. 

"How’s the replacement search going? Any luck?” Nifa, Levi’s trusted lead make-up artist whom he has been working with since day one, speaks up as she finishes demonstrating today's look to the make-up team.  

“No. Why? Oluo and Petra are trying to figure things out with headpieces…” Nanaba replies with a rather uncertain tone which Levi is too familiar with. She only speaks in that way when they are trying to salvage something.

Is there really no other way?

Frustrated. Levi turns to look at the entire room. The 44 minus 1 models have begun to find their designated clothes from the racks. 11 of them, plus Eren, will walk for the diffusion line Wings of Freedom . The other 33 minus 1 are walking Levi Ackerman , his eponymous brand, with each look completed with a delicate hairstyle and headpieces, making it inconvenient for models to change clothes during mid-show. Not to mention, the clothes Levi designs for his signature line are not meant to be put on hastily.

Maybe instead of making up a plan B for the hairstyle, he should just pull one look out of the show, sending only 43 models off the runway?

The mere thought of it feels like a punch to his stomach.

“Because if you haven’t found anyone. How about I give Hange a call? It's Wednesday so she's about to finish lecturing like...” Nifa says, pulling out her phone to look at the time. "...like now."

As soon as the name ‘Hange' leaves Nifa's lips, Levi can tell that something has changed. Because immediately, Miche and Nanaba stop, eyes lighting up.

"Hange?! Yes, of course!" Nanaba cries, looking up to Miche, elbowing him. "Why didn't we think of her sooner? Of course, Hange can do this, Miche! She'll be perfect!"

"What are you waiting for, Nifa? Call her!" Miche encourages, smiling as Nifa runs to the side to make a call. 

"Well, it seems that things will turn out as you want, Levi." Miche lets out a long sigh. " I can't believe we can actually find someone at this hour. You should give Nifa a raise." 

Levi stares at the show’s directing duo and long-time friends, trying to feel their enthusiasm as Nanaba goes back to work, talking to the lighting technicians through wireless. Yet, as much as he trusts his friends, he cannot allow himself to share their optimism so easily. Not until he finds out more about this Hange they seem to have so much faith in.

“So, this Hange, ” Levi starts, walking beside Miche as the show producer goes to check if Nifa has successfully made contact. “She’s yours and Nifa’s friend?”

“Roommate,” Miche answers swiftly, arms crossed over his chest as he leans against the wall, waiting for Nifa to finish the call. “Hange is Nifa’s roommate. Nanaba shared their apartment before moving in with me. She fits all the criteria, Levi. Long-hair, 5 ft. 7. Fun and pretty. Runway-experienced . You’re going to love her!”

Love, huh? Levi can’t help but click his tongue . As much as he wants to share Miche’s optimism, his instinct doesn’t allow him to simply accept what he is told without getting further confirmation.

“If she’s that good, why didn’t you or Nanaba bring her up?” he asks, deadpan. “Neither of you thought of her earlier. And you expect me to just…“

“Because she doesn’t do this anymore! And Nana and I haven't seen her for months. Gosh, Levi! you need to have more faith in people. I’m starting to feel a little hurt!” Miche exclaims, fingers caressing his chest while making puppy eyes. 

Levi cringes and looks away. Miche snickers, taking a moment to enjoy his reaction.

“Okay, to answer your question,” the show producer continues, “I didn’t think of asking Hange, because she had retired from the limelight long ago. She’s an academic now. When we hung out, she didn’t behave like a showbiz gal. You know what I mean? But don’t worry about that. If I’m being honest, she’s more than competent to nail a runway. Overqualified , actually. And — ”

He tails off, as Nifa puts down her phone, looking up to face them.

“Well?” The show producer asks eagerly.

The make-up artist grins, fingers curl to a big OK. “Great! Let’s get to work!” 

Miche jumps to his feet, ready to resume whatever he’d left. Levi had no choice but to follow, running behind to keep up. He still has questions to ask.

“What do you mean overqualified ?” The designer yells behind the tall man. “Was she some kind of supermodel I’ve never heard of?”

Miche laughs, catching the sarcasm. 

“Not a supermodel.” The show producer smiles, turning around to face him. “You’re going to love this.”

“Well, what was she?” Levi asks. He’s already starting to feel irritated.

"Oh no! She bumped her head again." Beside Mistress Nanaba, Nifa, the young handmaiden of Lady Hange, whispered. Her words caused Brother Moblit, the monk apprentice sent by Erwin the Father Abbot, to caution Lady Hange and her husband about the harms of excessive nightly delight to bury his face in his hands. Such lack of poise earned them a deadly glare from Mistress Nanaba. The lady-in-waiting was about to scold the maid and monk apprentice but another cry from Lady Hange silenced them. This time it was even more lascivious than before, even Mistress Nanaba had to close her eyes.

Le...Levi…I can't! I'm gonna…I'm gonna...Ah! The Lady yelped as a crack of slap landed on her skin, followed by a harsh warning from her husband.

Stay still, Zoë. The man's cold, steady voice came through the wooden door like a splash of cold water, making everyone freeze on the spot, alerted.

When I told you to hold your legs, woman, you hold them. I'm not kidding. He demanded roughly. With another loud slap, Lady Hange's weak protest soon became incessant moans, chanting her husband's name like some holy litany.

Levi…Levi...nmmm…please…HAAH! Her cry pierced through the chilly night like a blade whizzing through the air, making the four people inside the waiting room cover their mouths, too embarrassed to look at one another. Through the closed door, they could tell the lady of the castle's voice became muffled, fainted cries replaced by wet noises and loud smacks from her four-poster bed banging on the wall.

Staring at the other three people under the flickering fire, Mistress Nanaba raised from her seat, leaning towards the door to the Lady's chamber. The loud banging continued as the Mistress' scowl grew deeper.

"I can't listen anymore. He's going to hurt her." She muttered, ready to push into the Lady's chamber, but was stopped by Sir Miche grabbing her by the arm. She gasped, furiously slapping the knight on the shoulder, caring nothing about saving her husband's face in public.

"Ouch! Nana!" Sir Miche hissed, barely keeping his voice down as Mistress Nanaba turned to push on the door. He was quick to stop her, pulling her away by the waist. But the act soon earned him a solid blow on the lower abdomen from the mistress' elbow. 

Grunting in pain, the knight bit his lip as he tried to remain silent. This is why I shouldn't have married a swordmaster's daughter, Sir Miche thought. With a flex of his arms, he threw Mistress Nanaba over his shoulder, swiftly shoving her back into the chair. "Calm down, wife!" He hissed, refusing to flinch or back down as the Mistress raised her leg to kick him on the chin. "If you barge in now, the Lord will never forgive us. Men don't take humiliation like that lightly, especially a man from the Ackerman clan ."

"That sword for hire is not our Lord yet!" The Mistress spit, but Sir Miche immediately stopped her.

"He is bound to be when you stood in on behalf of Lady Hange for the nuptials to take place, my dear. Not to mention the marriage has clearly been consummated." Sir Miche shook his head, pointing at the shut door as he stretched his hurting leg to ease the pain his wife had inflicted. 

"Let's not fool ourselves, Nana. The only thing keeping Ackerman from taking the title as our Lord is a formal acknowledgment from the King. With his uncle being King Uri's favourite, Abbot Erwin had said that the royal document is probably already on the way."

"Ugh!" Mistress Nanaba rolled her eyes. "I hate this!" She uttered, head falling into her palm to prevent herself from fainting as another weak moan from Lady Hange came through the closed door, followed by the Ackerman's hoarse snarl and a series of wet slapping noises. 

Levi…Levi…slow down…please…my love…please… Lady Hange begged, but the slapping noises didn't seem to ease at all. 

"O holy St. Monica…' The Mistress whined through her finger. "When our Lady asked me to be her stand-in at the wedding, I thought it was because she wanted to have the marriage annulled at some point, that she would find a way to get around it. She didn't want to marry him, you know? I never saw her so devastated when she sent me to her wedding. I told her to call it off if marrying Ackerman upset her so much. But she refused. We need the Ackerman troops to stand a chance fending off the winter raiders from the sea. She said, so I did what she asked, stood in her place and sealed her fate with that brute of a man…" Mistress Nanaba stopped, pinching between her eyebrows as another moan from the bedchamber demanded their attention, this time from both of them.

At the corner of the waiting room, Brother Moblit made a sign of the cross and started to mutter something in Latin. His small and weak prayers sounded exceptionally ridiculous compared to the blatant calls of coitus from the couple next door. Mistress Nanaba exchanged a look with Sir Miche, turning away from the pathetic monk apprentice. Next to Brother Moblit, Nifa the young handmaiden let out a yawn, bending down to reorganize the sheets and blankets inside the extra-large basket by her feet. She was bored as the Lord and Lady behind the closed door showed no sign to end their endeavour.

"Well, if I'm being honest, it's quite impressive," Sir Miche started, eyeing the chamber's hardwood door. Mistress Nanaba shot him a deadly glare.

"I mean…I can see why you're worried about our Lady, Nana. But..." Another desperate moan from Lady Hange escaped from behind the door. Sir Miche flinched, moving further away from the Lady's chamber. Thank God I only need to stand guard by the Lady's chamber once a month, Sir Miche thought to himself.

"I'm just saying that you worry too much, my dear. They are only married for two months. It's natural that they are still passionate with each other…"

"Sixty-five days." Mistress Nanaba interrupted. Sir Miche immediately looked down at her.

"Pardon?" 

"I said they have been married for sixty-five days," the Mistress said, standing up once again to walk towards the Lady's chamber. Sir Miche immediately followed, afraid she'd tried to barge in again. But this time she only halted by the door, as the noises from the other side seemed to be quiet down.

"And apart from the first two weeks Lady Hange refused to see him, tonight is the exact fortieth night they have spent together." The Mistress said, letting out a sigh. "You know what that means, don't you?" She asked her husband. Sir Miche's jaw dropped, confused.

"Does…that mean anything other than they are madly in love?" the knight questioned, a remark echoed by another loud bang from the Lady's chamber, followed by Lady Hange’s weak, incoherent mumble.

"Ah, my sweet, darling fool of a knight." Mistress Nanaba tutted, shaking her head to resist the urge to pinch the bear-like man in front of her. "How could you still be so blind after siring my children is utterly beyond me. For forty days Ackerman has come to our Lady, sharing her bed without the hindrance of her monthly . You don't need to be wise like Abbot Erwin to figure it out, do you, my dear Sir?"

Sir Miche blinked, staring down at his wife's velvet truncated hennin. The dark brown color flickered like obsidian under the fire. He loved seeing his wife in headwear like this, with only a glimpse of her golden hairline showing on the brink of her forehead, demonstrating her beauty and her standing as the mistress of a knightly household. Sir Miche knew by heart, however, that Nanaba wasn't fond of any types of headdresses when she was a maid. She only became accustomed to the kind of simple headpiece when she was expecting their first child, as she constantly felt cold under the chilly breeze in spring.

"O my Lord in Heaven…" the knight breathed, eyes widening in disbelief. "Are you telling me that Lady Hange could be pregnant already? Is it why you're so anxious that they are still…oh dear…" Sir Miche stopped, staring at the door as a loud crack like a vase smashing to the floor escaped the Lady's chamber. “What is happening now?”

Mistress Nanaba and Sir Miche looked at each other, before turning to see Nifa and Brother Moblit. The four of them stared at the door, uncertain about what they should do next. Until Ackerman's voice raised in the Lady's room.

Zoë, I told you to stay back. He chided. Mistress Nanaba clenched her hands on his condescending tone.

But Levi…I just want to see… Lady Hange said hesitantly. Yet her husband didn't allow her to finish.

Stay back or I'll make you stay back, noble Lady. The man demanded.

"Seriously, who does he think he is?" Mistress Nanaba scowled. She was about to reach for the door but the handmaiden Nifa had already run up, intercepting her before punching on the door.

"My Lady? It's Nifa." She called, fist knocking heavily on the hardwood plank. "I heard something broken. Do you want me to clean it up?"

She stopped. No response from the couple inside.

"My Lady?" She asked again, but only a muffled voice raised this time. 

"It's ominous to leave broken things overnight. I want to clean it up. Please, may I come in?"

No response. Nifa took a deep breath, looking up at Mistress Nanaba. The lady-in-waiting gestured to her to try again.

"My Lady? Do you hear me? Are you feeling alright? Waah!" Nifa didn't get to finish, as the door in front of her suddenly flew open. Startled, she jumped up, nearly crashing into the man ahead. Levi Ackerman stood at the door, disheveled and flushed, donning only a wrinkled tunic, staring glumly at the small crowd before him, clearly unimpressed.

"Master Ackerman," Nifa curtsied to him. "I asked my Lady's permission to clear the broken fragments…"

Without a word, Levi simply gazed at her.

"Master Ackerman, I need to - "

"Fine. You may come in." Stepping aside to let Nifa in, Levi huffed as he saw the large basket Nifa was carrying with her. "While you're at it, do change the bedsheet, too. And leave a clean nightgown on the table for Lady Hange, as you're so well prepared." 

Nifa didn't say a word, hurrying inside to her tasks. Levi's attention turned to the mistress who was staring intently at him.

"What about you, Mistress Zacharias? Here to see if the Lady gets any new scratches again?" He smirked, and couldn't help to torment the mistress who was so hostile to him.

"What if she does?" Mistress Nanaba challenged, tilting her head to look down at him. Annoyed, Levi let out a sneer but was unmoved when the mistress pushed past him, running inside to see the Lady. He then began to look at the two men remaining outside.

"How about you two? Sir Miche, care to join your wife to tour around Lady Hange's bedchamber?" Levi asked, lips curling as Brother Moblit flinched at his question. 

"No, I'm fine. No need to indulge me with your art of ridicule, Master Ackerman ." The knight chuckled, leaning forward to stand against the door frame, towering over the man who was set to be the Lord of the castle, smirking as the smaller man narrowed his gaze.

"Very well," Levi said flatly, unfazed as Sir Miche kept looking down at him. They stared at each other for quite a while, until Nifa began to carry the shards and changed bedsheets outside with Mistress Nanaba holding a ripped nightgown in her tow. As soon as the two women stepped out of the chamber, Levi swiftly shut the door, ignoring Mistress Nanaba's protest that he should go back to his own quarter so that the Lady could properly rest. 

Turning to look inside, Levi found Lady Hange, still tucked in the armchair under the thick blankets he had wrapped her in before they were interrupted. Her beautiful brown eyes shone like stars under the flickering light, sparkling as she looked up at him. She smiled, blushed heavily as he approached and kissed her on the lips, face burning like a warm field under the midday sun. 

"You need to talk to Mistress Zacharias, my love. Or she'll think that I'm torturing you every night." Levi murmured, licking slowly on the shell of her ear, causing her to throw her head back, overwhelmed by pleasure.

"Ah-hmmm…." The Lady moaned, breathing out slowly as Levi hoisted her up, cradling her in his arms to walk the bed. 

"Quiet, Zoë." Levi hushed by her ear as he gently lay her down on the changed sheet. "Keep your voice down or your ladies will try to get in again. As much as I enjoy making them blush when I make love to you, it's getting a bit exhausting when people always blame me for corrupting you."

"Aha!" Hange chuckled, reaching out to pull her husband into her arms. "But you did corrupt me, Master Ackerman. If I am to tell Nanaba everything, I would have to start from the beginning, telling her that the reason I made her my stand-in at the wedding was because I fell madly in love with a stranger in the woods, and couldn't trust myself to say the vows at the altar. Can you imagine how she'd react if I told her that?"

"I refuse to imagine anything regarding Mistress Zacharias. But one thing for sure, no matter what you tell her, she'll probably blame me for everything and hate me even more. Then she'd have Sir Miche murder me and stage an accident." Levi laughed, sneaking his hands through the blankets to feel her warm, soft skin. Letting out a satisfied sigh as he breathed in her scent.

"No." Lady Hange shook her head, burying her face into his neck. "If I told her I had fallen in love, she'd figure everything out. She knows me well. She'd know it's impossible for me to love another so quickly after I broke it off. The only reason I could accept a husband I had been reluctant to marry so quickly, was because you were the stranger I fell in love with in the first place, Levi. The stranger who loved and left me, just like I loved and left him."

"And...she will certainly murder me for breaking your heart." Levi smiled at her, trying to joke. But he didn't see anything funny about it.

"Hmm..no." Hange shook her head again, whispering against his lips. "You didn't break my heart, Levi. I was the one who let it break . That was why I couldn't work up the courage to go to the wedding myself. Because I didn't want to face the consequences of my choice, even if I kept telling myself it was for the best, that I have a duty for my people and my family's legacy… " she tailed off, swallowing hard as she searched for the right words.

"Zoë…"

"Please let me finish. I…I've wanted to tell you this since I found out you were my husband," she muttered, pulling away to look at him in the dark.

"I'm grateful that I didn't go to the wedding that day. Because…if I had seen you at the altar, I wouldn't be brave enough to marry you as if nothing had happened. Not after I gave up on you in the woods. Then I might have lost you again. It…doesn't make any sense, doesn’t it?" She asked, fighting back tears. Levi felt his heart tighten.

"Zoë, don't cry. You know I can't bear to see you cry." He whispered to her, caressing her cheek with his finger. But Lady Hange didn't cease weeping, letting herself sink into the sadness of the day they were forced to be parted. 

Levi didn't know what to do. All he could do was to stay close, holding her still, trying to find words to console her.

"If you must know, my love, the day of the wedding." Wiping her tears dry, Levi flipped them in the bed to press her back into his chest, kissing her shoulder as he began to recall that bitter day not so long ago. 

"When I went to the monastery, I was ready to call it off, jilt the bride at the altar if I had to.  Even if my uncle would definitely have my head for it." He snorted, feeling his wife turn in his arms to look at him.

"I arrived early to speak to Abbot Erwin. But as soon as I got there, he told me that Lady Hange had sent a knight's wife to be her stand-in without giving any explanation. It was quite a shock for them, really. Under normal circumstances, I should have felt insulted. But that morning, after I just bid you farewell the night before, I was…relieved to learn that the bride didn't care for the marriage as well. So I decided to go along with it. Because I knew such an arrangement was beneficial. The wife I was to marry wouldn't expect much from me. So I could find some peace. Does that make me a terrible man?"

"No, Levi." Hange shook her head. "I was expecting the same when I signed the marriage contract. We did what we were expected, tying the knot because it was mutually beneficial. That was just how it should work." She turned, snuggling in his arms, voice as weak as a kitten. 

"That is why, I still can't quite believe how blessed I am, marrying my first and last love without knowing it. Nothing can explain it other than destiny. To have you again after I had given you up. It feels unreal. It’s terrifying. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning alone, I get scared thinking about how I may lose you again."

"I'm not going anywhere, Zoë," Levi murmured to her ear, rolling her over to straddle her naked body. Parting her thighs, he looked her in the eyes as he rubbed his hardening manhood against her core. "If I do, I'll come back to you, to this castle. No matter where I go, I will find a way back. That I promise." Hissing out the last words, Levi thrust forward into her warmth, rocking back and forth with everything he had, making her scream.

"Hmmmah! Aw! Levi…Oh! HAAH!" Lady Hange moaned as waves of pleasure slowly lapped her soft insides, drowning in all the senses. 

"Husband…. please go slower…I'm gonna…um…AH!" She yelped, clawing his back, legs kicking as another spurt of orgasm rocked through her. Falling back onto the feather bed, Lady Hange blankly stared in the direction that was her husband, too dazed and drowsy to see anything. She reached up, feeling his firm grip on her hands, guiding them to rest by her ears as he set a steady pace thrusting into her.

"Levi…I'll lose it again…you need to take it easy or I…urgh!" She screamed, punching the bed helplessly, biting her lower lip. Leaning forward, Levi kissed and licked on her throat, sending another shiver down her spine. 

"Don't hold back. Give it to me, Hange." He whispered in her ear, hips never stopped snapping. Immediately the noble Lady tensed up, her insides clenched and her legs spasmed, hooking around his waist to urge Levi go deeper. 

"Levi…HAAH!" With a shaking cry she finally blacked out, reaching another peak, utterly spent and limp beneath him.

"I love you, Lady Zoë Hange." Probing his tongue through her lips, Levi shut his eyes, resisting his own release as he kept moving slowly inside his wife, muffling all the sweet nothings coming from her. 

"I love you, Levi Ackerman." Still dizzy under the blissful haze, Lady Hange could only hum, feeling her husband's slow, tender moves. Through her half-closed eyes, she saw lights, shadows, from the fireplace, and the tiny crack of her chamber door. Beyond Levi's husky groan, she could hear people outside her bedchamber talking, probably considering knocking on her door again. For a brief moment, Hange felt sorry for them. Because by the penetrating gaze Levi cast onto her, it was clear that he intended to take full advantage of this long, autumn night.

"So? How was it?" It was close to noon, inside the hallway of Castle Hange, Nifa, the young maiden was cornered to the wall, surrounded by two, no, three older women who refused to give her any chance to escape.

"How was…what?" Alarmed but unfazed, she held the clean lingerie of Lady Hange tightly against her chest, determined to play fool till the end. She may be just a lowly handmaiden, but she'd be damned if she allowed these busybodies to use her for the gossip they wanted. Not to mention Mistress Nanaba would no doubt have her flayed if she dared to let anything of Lady Hange's bedchamber affairs out.

"Oh, don't you play the fool with us, girl. You have been waiting at the Lady's quarter almost every night. You must know something," a woman pried. Nifa blinked, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Nifa blurted out, eyes searching for an escape route to slip away. But being the shortest one among them, she was hopeless. 

"I couldn't see what was happening…nor did I really care…Hey! That hurts!" The handmaiden flinched as one of the women slapped her on the arm. Furiously, she glared up, ready to raise her knee to kick a way out.

"Come on! Don't you pretend you don't want to know, Nifa. We all know the sex of our Lady's child will be of utmost importance for Castle Hange's future! Now, either you be a good girl and tell us what you saw or we'll - "

"Or you will what?" Slapping away the woman's hands on her arms, Nifa pushed through the barricade of the three nosy women to rush down the hallway. "I already told you I saw nothing. If you're so into the fashion the Lord had taken when he did nature's work, go to the bastion and ask him yourselves!" She spat, sprinted around the corner to make her way to the stairs to the Lady's quarter.

But her efforts were soon interrupted, for another stern call suddenly raised from behind, demanding the young handmaiden to cease advancing.

"Halt." Mistress Nanaba Zacharias' voice sounded like a looming summer storm. "What is going on here?" By the manner she deliberately withheld her pattern of breathing, Nifa could tell that she must have been listening to them for quite a while. Turning around, she bit her inner cheek, secretly pleased that she had revealed nothing regarding Lady Hange's privy matter. So if the Mistress decided to let her anger fly, at least she wouldn't be at the end of it.

"Mistress." Blinking, Nifa greeted the lady-in-waiting with a nod, noticing the mistress standing at the other side of the hallway had a water jar covered with clean linen in her hand. "Do you need me to carry the jar for you?"

"No, thank you, Nifa." The mistress breathed, shifting on her feet slightly as if she was keeping the jar away from the women. "Lady Hange specifically asked for water from the fountain, I shall bring it to her myself."

"Very good, mistress," Nifa said.

"And why didn't any of you answer my question? Why was Nifa cornered while fetching the Lady's clothes?" The mistress asked again, eyes narrowing at the people behind Nifa.

"Oooh...We were talking about whether the Lady is carrying a boy or a girl." The woman who had hit Nifa on the arm cut in, oblivious to Mistress Nanaba's clenching jaw. "Do you know, Mistress?" she asked, approaching the knight's wife while the mistress merely stared intently at them.

"Know what?" Flatly, Mistress Nanaba asked.

"Well…" the woman started, grinning as she made eye contact with the mistress. "You must have heard the wise words from our elders, mistress. If the father was facing east when the child was conceived then it'll be a boy. If west, the child will be a girl." 

"And here’s another one. If the father feels a bit unwell after the act of conception, then the baby will be a girl. If it's the mother who feels slightly ill, then it'll be a boy!" Another woman supplied. 

"We have been asking this girl if she saw anything but she's too simple to tell." The third one nudged Nifa from behind. Nifa rolled her eyes at the word "simple". Stomping her foot, she wanted to turn and poke her back. But Mistress Nanaba's raising eyebrow stopped her, as Nifa knew it was a sign that the lady-in-waiting was about to snap.

"So…you believe that it is perfectly fine for a bunch of wives to gossip about the lady's condition." Mistress Nanaba stated, taking a step forward to make the women flinch away. But to her surprise, they seemed to be determined to get to the bottom of it. 

"Oh, it wouldn't hurt if we're able to know, would it? Besides, as a new mother, we think the Lady would love to know about the baby's sex…" A woman said.

"Knowing the baby's sex also allows us to better prepare the Lady for the confinement.' Another waded in.

"Not to mention the postnatal food. Our Lady's is bound to due in the next spring. If it's a girl child she'll need more apples and pears. We can store and pickle more beforehand."

"And I think the Lord would like to know, too, wouldn't he? It's his firstborn after all."

"Firstborn for the Lady. Not necessary for the Lord, though. He's an experienced handsome man. Who knows what he had been up to before he got here!" One of the women giggled.

Standing with her back to them, Nifa couldn't help but swallow nervously as the three of them continued to tattle about the Lord's possible experience and what he may do to determine the baby's gender, as well as all the signs he and the Lady had already shown to the world. In front of her, Nifa could see Mistress Nanaba's scowl deepen. She was ready to scold but a look of panic appeared on her face. 

"My Lord." With a small nod, the lady-in-waiting greeted the Lord of the castle who suddenly appeared behind the small crowd. Nifa flinched, nearly dropping the clothes in her hands. Behind her, two of the three women immediately stopped talking. One of them, however, didn't seem to notice the Lord's untimely presence.

"That's right! The Lord is a good-looking man who seems to excel in a lot of things." She continued to titter. "If that's the case, I'd say the Lady is carrying a boy. Men with experience tend to know what they are do - "

"Exactly what kind of experience do you assume I am wealthy of?" With a deep voice, Lord Levi Ackerman, husband to the Lady of Castle Hange asked, his narrowed gaze immediately sent the woman jumping.

“My Lord.” She uttered, unknowingly stepping backward to bump the other two women behind her. “Um…we’re just trying to guess whether the Lady is expecting a boy or a girl…”

“And my past life experience is related to it because…?” He asked again. Nifa and Mistress Nanaba exchanged a look, alarmed as the Ackerman Lord was clearly crossed. 

“Ugh…no…well, it’s just some random things we’ve come up with…”

“Oh, for mercy’s sake, women! Just hold your tongues and scram!” With a crack of her fingers, Mistress Nanaba finally snapped. "And if you dare to let me hear any talk about the Lady's condition again, I will banish not only you but your husbands and children from the Lady’s household. See if that makes you learn!"

With a few squeaks, the three women quickly scattered. Mistress Nanaba then turned to Lord Levi Ackerman, lowering her head to apologize on behalf of the Lady's household. Nifa was about to do the same but a curious voice interrupted her.

"Oh, no! Please don't go!" On top of the limestone stairs around the corner, Lady Zoë Hange leaned against the wooden banister as she stared down at them. Her face was flushed and her knee-length hair fuzzy.

“Come back, you three! I want to hear more!” She called for the three women, tucking on her green woolen shawl. 

Surprised, they walked back to the staircase. One of them gasped as they saw the Lady was wearing only her nightgown underneath that shawl as if she had just risen from the sickbed. But Nifa and Mistress Nanaba knew better. They knew that Lady Hange was like this because she had been tiring herself out watching over the logistics and winter fortifications despite the Lord's concerns and warning. She had ignored him so many times, that last night the Lord finally lost his patience and locked her in the bedchamber alone so she could properly repose. And when he found out this morning that instead of sleeping, she had snuck books and manuals to read on her bed, he demanded she remain in her quarters today. 

As a result, Lady Hange had refused to get dressed for today, because I, too, shall let my anger known.

“Ugh…there’s not much to hear, my Lady.” A woman uttered, glancing at the Lord who was now staring up at the woman on the stairs. Together, Mistress Nanaba and Nifa whispered a prayer, silently begging them to stay quiet as the Lord of the castle looked like he was ready to murder.

“But you’d said a lot of things, hadn’t you?” Lady Hange said, smiling brightly as she touched her pregnant belly. “About telling my baby’s sex. How many ways do you know? Is the sire's experience really related to it?” 

“Well…there were old people who said that…” The woman started. But a harsh look from Lord Ackerman instantly silenced her.

“My dear, why are you not in your solar?” The Lord of the castle asked, worried as he further took in the Lady’s thin nightgown. “You shouldn’t leave the warmth of the fire if you’re dressed so little.”

Tilting her head to look down at her husband, Lady Hange simply shrugged. Nifa took in a deep, long breath. From the way the Lady behaved, the handmaiden could tell that she was still angry at the Lord, for forbidding her to go outside. And by the scowl on the Lord’s face, Nifa guessed that he may want to have another talk to the Lady tonight.

“I was waiting for my fountain water…” Lady Hange replied, looking at Mistress Nanaba. The mistress immediately walked up the stairs. 

“I have the water here. Let’s go back in.”

“...And then I heard them talking about the baby’s sex. I have a question - ” She said, pulling up her nightgown skirt to descend the stairs. 

“Don’t come down, Hange. You’re not dressed,” Lord Ackerman warned. Lady Hange paused, a defiant look on her face. From the distance, Nifa couldn't tell if that curl on her lips was a pout or a smirk.

“I just want to ask…”

“If you walk one more step down those stairs, Zoë, I promise you, you will be sorry.” The Lord threatened. The three women flinched and looked around at one another, unsure of what to do. He was all harsh and stern. While Lady Hange, on the other hand, had other ideas.

Hopping up to sit on the handrail, the pregnant Lady smoothly slid down the stairs, landing on both feet in front of her husband with a click on the heels. Rubbing her belly, she grinned as the Lord's face went completely white. 

"So," satisfied with her husband's reaction, Lady Hange promptly turned to the three now dumbfounded women. "When you said the manner of my husband when he did nature's work had determined the baby's sex…"

"SERIOUSLY, WIFE! IS THAT REALLY ALL YOU CARE ABOUT?" 

"...how exactly do you tell which encounter was the one that actually made me conceive?" Sincerely, the Lady asked, smiling brightly as she was keen to get to the bottom of it.