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Chapter Text

Erwin couldn't be happier.

Everything was going as he planned, falling into perfect pieces, almost completing the puzzle he was trying to solve since he was a mere squad leader of the Survey Corps.

The monarchy is in shambles.

The might of Survey Corps is celebrated as they made a show out of destroying the titan of Rod Reiss.

Finally, he could breath a little freerer, rest his mind and battered body.

The past few days hadn't been easy, getting captured for the crime he didn't commit and the tortures of the interior millitary police, only aggravated his wounds further.

He sighed and looked at his soldiers, their faces bright in triumph, partly hiding the horrors they suffered on their own.

He couldn't be prouder.

Levi could sense lightness on their uptight commander. His bruised face showed a hint of happiness, observing them from a little distance.

He approached him, feeling irritated to be the recipient of that bright blue searching gaze.

"What's now?" He asked, knowing the brilliant mind never knew how to rest.

"Now?" Erwin intoned, little distracted.

"What's the plan now, Erwin?" Levi gritted out, not interested in this Erwin when he is lost in his thoughts.

It never brought anything good.

"Plan? Ummm" Erwin hummed, face breaking into a rare smile "The plan is to feast and rest as much as we can, my dear."

Levi narrowed his eyes at the endearment for the blonde never addressed him as such outside their private quartets.

Erwin only beamed at him, his eyes twinkling in rare joy.

Rolling his eyes, Levi sighed and taking a long breath he ordered the brats to regroup and begin their journey.

A soldier found the party of Survey Corp soldiers and the future queen, Commander Erwin Smith leading them.

The street filled with onlookers, their joy and cheers boundless. The news of their victory had reached every nook and canny within the walls.

"Commander!" She saluted, the moment her eyes fell upon him "I carry an urgent message."

Her voice louder than the celebrations.

"What is it?" The captain replied instead, his voice filled with irritation.

The crowd held their breath, Another news!

"You are summoned at the great Palace" She panted, exhibition clear in her voice "There's someone who claims to be a Reiss."

Erwin couldn't believe what he heard.

A Reiss?

Alive?

A Reiss who could claim to the throne!

His well crafted plans, all of his hardwork would be nothing if that person was true and they claimed their birthright, challenging Historia.

He couldn't let that happen.

The palace loomed before them as they dismoundted their horses, handing the reigns to the awaiting stable hands.

Moblit and Hange came to greet them as they reached the main entrance, their eyes filled with urgency.

"Everyone's inside" Hange rapsed, looking at Erwin "They are waiting for you."

"Me?" Erwin inquired.

"Yes!" Hange supplied enthusiastically "She wants to speak with you first and refused to say anything further!"

The throne room looked different to Erwin from the last time he had been here, his hands cuffed, kneeling before a man who posed as the king.

His eyes took note of the occupants, their faces showing surprise, bewilderment and doubt.

Premier Zackly, Pixis, Nile, all the important people were present, staring at the lone figure who sat next to the empty throne.

She stood as her eyes fell upon him, her blue eyes, so like his, shinning with unheard tears.

The room became alive with low whispers as she walked towards him with slow steps.

He had seen this woman before somewhere. There was something about her that tugged at his memories.

The low murmur around them fell into complete silence as she stood before him, her frail hand caressing his cheek.

He stood before her, frozen in his place.

Her touch upon his face warm and familiar.

"You look just like your father." She murmured "My sun."

Erwin flinched the moment she uttered the name his father used to call him, his heart beating in his throat.

Suddenly he was a boy, standing before his father's grave, a bouquet in his hands. He refused to shed tears, to let the horrible men who killed his father know how devastated he was.

Yes, he knew that his father had been murdered. The countless wounds could never come from an accident they tried to sale.

He stood their alone, before his father's grave as the sun set in the horizons and the last soul left him be.

He fell upon his knees, biting his lips he refused to cry.

How could he allow himself the luxury of breaking down when he's the reason his father never came back.

A gentle hand was upon his shoulder, he had missed her presence in his grief. Her eyes, so like his, shinning with unshed tears.

She held him closer to her chest, rubbed  soothing circles on his back, kissed his face again and again.

"Cry, let it out" She murmured "Cry, my sun"

He couldn't hold it anymore.

Levi was looking at the exchange between Erwin and the starnge woman with narrowed eyes.

There was something strangely familiar about the two of them he couldn't pinpoint.

He saw the moment Erwin froze when she touched him, his breath quicker than normal.

Her voice was so soft that he couldn't hear her but he noticed how Erwin flinched away from her.

He decided to take control as Erwin clearly looked distressed, a faraway look in his eyes, as if he wasn't present there anymore.

He dragged the woman away from his love, reigning in his anger. His instincts screamed at him to shield Erwin, to protect him.

"Who are you?" He gritted out, between clenched teeth.

Her eyes, so like his lover, looked at him for few seconds before scanning other occupants.

"I am Elina Reiss." Her voice carrying throughout the silent room "Sister of  Rod and Uri."

She paused, observing the clear surprise upon each face.

Her eyes then fell upon the commander of Survey Corps, his face hard like a stone, his eyes betraying nothing.

"Your mother." She whispered.

Chapter Text

Erwin's mind reeled. Elina Reiss, his own mother? The revelation crashed against him like a rogue Titan, shattering the carefully constructed image of his past. "Impossible," he choked out, his voice hoarse. "My father..."

Elina's face softened, mirroring the pain in his eyes. "I know what they told you," she said, her voice laced with quiet sorrow. "Rod orchestrated everything. He feared our bloodline, its potential to threaten his reign."

His vision blurred as memories assaulted him – the grief of a child holding his father's bloodstained shirt, the whispered lies he was forced to accept. All these years, he had carried the burden of guilt, blaming himself for his father's death. "Why?" he rasped, the word a jagged scream.

"To protect you," Elina replied, her hand reaching out to touch his arm, but he flinched away. "He sent me away, entrusted me with the Reiss family secret – the truth about the world beyond the Walls."

Levi stood protectively beside Erwin, his glare unwavering. "And now you expect him to believe this fabricated story?"

Elina's gaze met his, unflinching. "I understand your mistrust, Captain Ackerman. But look at him, truly observe him. Does he not bear the resemblance?"

Levi studied Erwin's face, the shock gradually giving way to a conflicted expression. The similarity in their jawlines, the piercing blue eyes – a faint echo of a woman he had glimpsed only once in Erwin's childhood memories. Could it be true?

Erwin himself remained rooted in disbelief. The truth she offered was too fantastical, too convenient. Yet, a gnawing doubt gnawed at him. Years of suppressing memories surfaced, whispers of a different life, a mother he barely remembered.

Suddenly, Pixis stepped forward, his voice booming. "Commander Smith, perhaps she speaks the truth. Her arrival coincides with the resurgence of the Founding Titan. Could it be fate calling upon the true heir?"

The room erupted in murmurs. The potential implications of Elina's claim sent shivers down spines. Could Erwin, the man who had dedicated his life to uncovering humanity's secrets, be the key to their salvation?

Erwin fought against the rising turmoil within. He had sworn his allegiance to Historia, driven by his own ideals, not bloodlines. Could he accept this new burden, this tangled legacy he never sought?

Days turned into weeks, filled with tense debates and heated exchanges. Pixis, fueled by the hope of a united humanity, urged Erwin to embrace his potential role. Zackly, ever the pragmatist, remained wary, questioning Elina's motives and the validity of her story.

Levi, ever the silent observer, watched Erwin grapple with his internal conflict. He saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes, the struggle between duty and a newfound identity. Despite his gruff exterior, he cared deeply for the man, and the thought of Erwin being thrust into a political maelstrom gnawed at him.

One evening, as the setting sun cast long shadows across the room, Erwin found himself alone with Elina. He looked at her, searching for answers, for a connection he could barely comprehend.

"What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice low.

Elina's gaze held a mix of sadness and hope. "I want you to choose your own path, Erwin. Use your knowledge, your courage, to forge a future not bound by blood, but by your own convictions."

Her words resonated within him, echoing the ideals he had always fought for. The burden of being a trueborn Reiss still hung heavy, but a spark of determination ignited within him.

He wouldn't be a puppet king, bound by lineage. He would use this revelation, not as a destiny, but as a tool to shape the future he envisioned – a future where humanity united, free from the Walls and the Titan threat.

As he addressed the council the next day, his voice rang with newfound conviction, yet laced with the shadows of doubt and grief. He acknowledged his heritage, not as a claim to power, but as a responsibility, a heavy mantle draped upon him through years of deceit and bloodshed. He spoke of unity, of forging a path forward through knowledge and strength, not the shackles of the past, his voice echoing the ideals he had always fought for, yet tinged with a newfound urgency.

His words resonated, swaying even the most skeptical. While his claim to the throne remained a point of contention, his leadership, his unwavering passion for humanity, his pain etched into his very being, shone through. In that moment, Erwin wasn't just a soldier, a commander, but a beacon of hope, a leader forging a path beyond the boundaries of blood and legacy.

The journey ahead would be fraught with challenges. Doubts lingered, not just amongst the council, but within Erwin himself. Could he, burdened by a past he barely remembered, be the leader humanity needed? Was he merely a pawn in a game orchestrated by his elusive mother, or could he truly carve his own destiny?

Levi remained a constant by his side, his stoic exterior masking a fierce protectiveness. He saw the turmoil within Erwin, the sleepless nights spent poring over dusty tomes, searching for answers in the forgotten history of the Reiss family. He saw the weight of the invisible crown, both literal and figurative, pressing down on Erwin's shoulders, threatening to break him.

One evening, amidst the chaotic swirl of political machinations, they found solace in the quiet solitude of their shared quarters. The flickering candlelight danced across Erwin's face, highlighting the shadows beneath his eyes.

"Are you alright, Erwin?" Levi asked, his gruff voice softened by concern.

Erwin sighed, the sound heavy with exhaustion. "It's a lot to process, Levi. This revelation throws everything I thought I knew about myself into question."

"You don't have to do this alone," Levi said, his hand instinctively reaching out, hovering over Erwin's.

Erwin turned his gaze towards Levi, his blue eyes searching for an anchor in the storm. "But what if I'm not fit for this mantle, Levi? What if I'm just another Reiss, destined to repeat the mistakes of the past?"

Levi met his gaze, his own eyes unwavering. "You're Erwin Smith, the man who dedicated his life to humanity's freedom. That's who you are, regardless of bloodlines or crowns. Remember why you fight, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Erwin's lips curved into a faint smile, a flicker of determination returning to his eyes. "You're right, Levi. I won't let the past define me. I'll use this, this chance, to create a future where no child has to carry the burden of lies and manipulation."

The next day, Erwin stood before the council once more. His voice resonated with newfound strength, tempered by the quiet fire in his eyes. He outlined his vision – a united humanity, free from the Walls and the threat of Titans. He spoke of utilizing his newfound knowledge, the Reiss secrets passed down through Elina, to pave the way for a brighter future.

His words stirred the hearts of many, even those who remained skeptical. They saw not just a claimant to the throne, but a leader with a vision, a man who had stared into the abyss of his own past and emerged determined to forge a new path.

The road ahead would be long and arduous, filled with political maneuverings, distrust, and the ever-present threat of the Titans. But with Levi by his side, and a newfound resolve burning within him, Erwin Smith, the man who had always dreamt of seeing the world beyond the Walls, was now on the precipice of leading humanity towards a future beyond their wildest dreams. His journey had taken an unexpected turn, but his dedication to truth, freedom, and humanity remained unwavering. He was no longer just a soldier, a commander, or a claimant to a throne. He was Erwin Smith, the beacon of hope for a new dawn.