"Andy! Thank you!" Derek's smiling face suddenly appeared in her mind.

The vampiress' hand stopped mid-air. Why had she thought about the dead boy soldier now? Why did she remember his innocent smile?

Ah.

Betrayal.

How easily she had betrayed the child. Like how she was betrayed by Proteus. A serpent double-crossed by another serpent.

She clicked her tongue and clenched her fist. What Proteus said made sense. She was aware that what she had done in Aurum was treason, but she did it only because she believed it to be the best thing to do for her kingdom... no, she had done it only for herself. To be Queen, at last.

Was that truly a terrible thing? To do something that would delight you and make you feel satisfied?

She stared at Proteus. The vampire had always been loyal to Aurum and its peoples, even to the humans. He was much alike the idiotic Scouts in this world--risking their lives for their flimsy ideals. How could they offer their very being for the sake of their beliefs? For the lives of others? How could they be so... selfless?

How strong was Proteus' conviction that, for a moment, he had forgotten all Andromeda did for him and decided to end her evil?

She could not understand.

And, maybe, she never would.

"Drink! Drink! Drink!" This time, it was James' memory that haunted her mind.

Feeling light-headed, she shook her head and turned her back at Proteus. "Stand up and dry your blood tears. The others might see."

"M-my lady, you've forgiven me?" she heard him ask in disbelief.

"Fool!" She answered, "I know nothing of forgiveness."

But the vampire was already swept with joy. "So, you're willing to come back with me and save Aurum?"

Andromeda faced him again, eyes squinting. "I no longer care about Aurum. I do not wish to come to the aid of the kingdom that cursed and exiled me."

"But, how about your family? The royal family's dead, Your Highness. Don't you want to avenge them?"

"Avenge them? I wanted them dead, anyway."

"Even your father?"

"Especially my father." She remembered Aurelius, the giant of a vampire who called her "my pearl" while caging her inside the walls of Cruor Castle. Andromeda flipped her black hair. "Now, excuse me, I need to eat supper with the other fools."

She ignored the simmering turmoil within her and decided to stay grounded. She reminded herself to stick to her plan. She must be the Queen of this terrible land. There was no room for confusion inside her beautiful head.

As the vampiress was about to exit the room, Proteus mentioned, "Princess, wait. Erwin suggested something."

+0+0+0+0+

Levi was tempted to burst open the door and enter Erwin's room. An was taking too much time talking with some stranger the Commander said was someone "important" to the woman. Who the fuck was it?

"Hoi, Erwin, spit out everything you know." His brows were deeply furrowed and his eyes bore into the other man's.

But Erwin was unfazed. "Better that you hear it all from Andromeda, herself."

"How the hell did you meet that "important" bastard anyway?"

That elicited a reaction from the stoic. The Commander frowned and his expression became hard. "He is not a bastard and he has a name. Proteus. He knows Andromeda and has been searching for her. I saw him when he got lost inside the castle."

"Fine. This Proteus." The name rolled uncomfortably on his tongue. "Who is he really and why is he looking for An here?"

Erwin closed his eyes, refusing to answer more of Levi's questions. He said instead, "It seems you're more curious and talkative than usual."

Levi was tired of this. All this dodging of questions. When he talked to An about her lost memories, she'd always either evade the question or state a riddle. What the hell? He's got enough of this bullshit. What was everyone hiding? And why hide it?

At last, the wooden door opened and he saw An walk out with Proteus. "Do you remember something?" he immediately asked her.

The woman promised, "I'll tell the Scouts everything during supper."

Levi believed her.

+0+0+0+0+

All eyes stared at Andromeda and Proteus as they entered the dining hall reserved for the Scouts attending the week-long celebration in Mitras. The vampiress knew it was rare for these humans to see two very beautiful beings stand side by side. Proteus and she both sat at the table reserved for the squad leaders. She sat by Levi's side while Proteus settled beside Erwin.

"And who is this pretty creature?" Hange smiled as she eyed Proteus.

The vampire squirmed a little under the intense gaze but was able to respond. "M-my name's Proteus. I'm Prin-- I mean, A-andy's childhood friend." As soon as he called her by her new nickname, he glanced apologetically at Andromeda.

"Oh! So you know about Andy's past!" With Hange's words, the attention of every Scout in the room was once again glued to their table. "Andy, have you finally regained your memory?"

The vampiress swallowed her food and answered, "Yes. I now remember. I'm a Chief's daughter. Proteus and I are from the tribe of Detlef in the north of Wall Sina."

"The Detlef tribe? Aren't they a myth? A tribe so secret no one has seen any of their members in years." Hange looked disbelievingly at her.

Erwin supported her lie, the very lie he concocted and told the vampires to tell everyone. "They are secretive but they do exist. I read from the books some scholars wrote that they've been secretly sending the children of their leaders to different societies to learn."

"I don't get it. Why would the Detlef Chief's daughter be found outside Wall Rose? Deep inside a forest?" the bespectacled woman asked.

"My uncle did that to me," Andromeda was quick to answer. "He wanted to be the next Chief, but he couldn't win a fight against my father, so he took his anger out on me and hired bandits to hurt me and smuggle me out of the gates outside Wall Rose."

"And how did you survive?"

"Luck." She reached out to touch Hange's hand. "If you'd found me a second later, I would've been titan food."

"It seems it was not yet your time to die, Andy," one of the squad leaders said.

Andromeda smiled and so did Hange. The Section Commander regained her cheer. "This is a good night! Right before your oath-taking as an official member of the Scout Regiment, you remembered your past! Let's eat and immediately head to the backyard."

They did.

Believing what the vampiress told them, the soldiers congratulated Andromeda for regaining her memory. They accompanied her to the backyard which was lit with torches. Erwin stood at the center of a small wooden stage and Andromeda stood in front of him. She clenched her right fist and put it on her chest as she recited the words the Commander told her. Once done, the crowd cheered. Just like that, the vampiress became a true Scout.

Now a part of the Scout Regiment and inside the royal castle within Wall Sina, she was closer than ever to her desired throne.

When the soldiers went back to their rooms, Andromeda remained in the backyard and sat on the stage, feet dangling as she watched the moon.

What gullible creatures the humans in this world were. They easily believed her lies. She guessed that was a good thing. They would easily become her servants and blood bags.

She sensed someone approaching her and realized it was Levi. The man sat beside her and said nothing. For a long time, they looked at the night sky. Andromeda wondered if even he bought the farce Erwin formulated. Levi was smart, but when it came to people and things he cared about, he tended to follow them blindly.

"I'm officially a Scout now," she said. At least, that was one truth.

"You'll still need to clean."

Andromeda almost smiled. She crossed her arms near her chest and looked at the man. "I swear I'll be a Commander and then you won't be able to order me around anymore."

"Good luck, then," was his answer.

"You don't believe me?"

Finally, Levi stopped looking at the sky and stared into the vampiress' eyes. "I do."

He said the words with so much honesty that Andromeda's breath hitched. Never had she been so trusted. She--a manipulating liar.

Avoiding his loving gaze, she asked the man, "Tell me about yourself." For some reason, she wanted to hear something real from him. More of it. "What were you when you were a child? Where are your parents? How did you become a Scout?"

"Okay," Levi instantly complied. "I don't talk too much about my past, but I'll tell you." He pointed downward. "There is a dark, smelly city under Mitras, the Underground. I was born there and lived there for many years." Then, he told Andromeda about his childhood, his struggles, his days with a man named Kenny, his gang, and his plot to kill Erwin. "When Farlan and Isabel died and I saw how terrifying those freaking titans were, I became lost. I became unsure of whether to trust my own instincts, own decisions, or whether to trust others. It was with Erwin and the Scouts that I felt my life move again. Erwin is a good leader. He sees things others don't. With him and the Scout Regiment, maybe my skills will be of use."

Maybe he won't be as lost as before; Andromeda thought that was what he was thinking. She smiled and trained her eyes back at him. "I see. A born soldier in search of a duty and a King to follow, that is who you are." Stretching her arms upward and feeling a fire burn within her, she said, "Alright, then, when you get tired slicing titan necks, and there are no more necks to slice, you may follow me then."

"Follow you to where exactly?"

"To where I can give you the world."

He gaped and, then, smiled too. "No shit. You're one confident woman."

"Of course, I am. I am a future--"

"Queen."

A short period of silence engulfed them. Andromeda was the one who broke the ice. "Yes. And I'm serious, Levi," she swore, "I can give you the world. And more."

The man's eyes sparkled. His body leaned closer to the vampiress and he whispered breathily, "Tempting."

"I know I am."

+0+0+0+0+

Proteus carried the box of chocolates with both his hands. He was excited to share them with Princess Andromeda. There were no chocolates in Aurum and he was sure she would be so delighted once she tasted these delicious treats.

"Maybe, she's inside the library," Erwin suggested. The man insisted on accompanying him. Actually, he'd been refusing to leave Proteus' side since his and Princess Andromeda's reunion.

"You must be right," the vampire said and they both went to the library. But the Princess was not there. Where could the royal be? "Excuse me," he asked a soldier passing by, "have you seen A-andy?" It would take a very long time before he'd be used to saying the Princess' nickname in this world.

The soldier paused to think and then replied, "Have you checked the backyard? I think someone saw her sitting on the stage."

"Really? Thank you!" Proteus took Erwin's hand and led him out. "Come on!"

They dashed toward the backyard and to the wooden stage where he, indeed, saw Princess Andromeda. The royal was leaning forward, toward someone's... body... and... her head was--

Kissing!

She was kissing a man!

In shock, Proteus gasped loudly and dropped the box of chocolate from his hands.

The lovers heard him. Instantly, the two parted as Princess Andromeda broke the kiss. Her face was flushed and she looked stunned. Eyes wide, she stood up. "P-proteus!" She looked at the human soldier she had been intimate with a few seconds ago and said a quick, "See you tomorrow," before running away.

After witnessing the Princess leave, the dark-haired man shot daggers in Proteus' direction.

"I-I-I'm sorry! I was just startled." He placed a hand over his mouth. He couldn't believe it. "I never thought the Princess would have this kind of relationship with a human. She'd always thought your kind to be below her."

"What the fuck are you saying?" The man exclaimed, eyes dark and brows deeply furrowed. "Princess?"

"Yes. Princess Andromeda."

"Levi." It was Erwin who spoke next. "Don't tell me... you still don't know?"

The human soldier looked genuinely confused. "Know what?"

"She's a vampire," the blond Commander answered.

"What kind of bullshit is that?"

The Princess didn't tell him yet? But she seemed close to him. Oh, maybe she didn't have the time to do so. Maybe she was finding it hard to find the right moment when she could share their secret with him. This human was the royal's lover, so it would be an honor for Proteus to tell him all about the Princess and himself. "Okay," Proteus told him, "I'll tell you everything."

"Erwin?" The man asked the Commander.

"Don't worry, Levi, now you'll know the truth."