Chapter Text
Rumor has it that Stohess Manor was very much cursed.
Though tenants resided in the surrounding land, none ever dared to step foot into the private property of the viscount.
Seldom did a servant go into the village to purchase goods or request for a letter to be delivered. Even then, they spoke nothing of their master nor of the goings-on within the estate. They always arrived silently then left immediately once their task was done.
Some of the villagers have been living in Stohess for decades but they claim that they have seen neither hide nor hair of their lord.
Despite this, they still pay their taxes as was their duty. In turn, their requests left in the letter box by the manor gates are always addressed promptly. They rest assured that they and the estate have not been abandoned.
Still, they cannot help but wonder about the person to whom the land belongs.
Wild speculation has brought forth tales of how the master was not even mortal; that he was some accursed werewolf who preyed on those who dared to trespass on his territory. This, in particular, is what kept people from venturing beyond the gates.
Belief in the occult was strong not just in the area but across the whole kingdom. The fear of being attacked and eaten by some monster was fairly common.
A few other tenants scoffed at this though and brushed it off as silliness. Instead, they asked if they had a mistress rather than a master. The owner of the general goods store would quickly disprove them by saying that the servants never once purchased anything suitable for a well-bred lady.
And so the cycle repeats itself as questions about the viscount remain unanswered.
These were the stories that she overheard the afternoon she passed through the village. She didn't find them at all surprising as she'd heard them before. Likely, everyone and their grandmother in the Kingdom of Paradis were familiar with the rumors. This included her and the people back in Shiganshina which was a great ways away from Stohess.
Because of this, she began to question the sanity of her foster father who sent her to this place. Did he not worry about her safety? Even her adoptive brother Eren could not understand his reasoning.
But she was greatly indebted to Lord Grisha Yeager. He took her in and raised her as his own after she survived the massacre of her family. So, she spoke not a word of complaint and went on her days-long journey to meet the infamous viscount.
On the road and on the boat, she had been quite calm, firmly believing that she was making the right choice. Anyway, her maid and closest friend, Sasha, would be with her and together they could endure anything.
But then a carriage came to fetch her at the quay and the accompanying footman informed her that she couldn't bring along Sasha.
With all the fury of a sun at noon, she demanded to be brought to the manor swiftly so she could tell the viscount exactly what she thought he should do about the stick stuck in his rear.
Fuming, she burst out of the carriage when it finally stopped at the foot of wide stone steps. Sasha, who she shoved into the carriage with her, held onto her arms to stop her but she wanted none of it. They tousled a bit as they slammed open the door.
Two men who had been deeply conversing at the foyer turned to the people who interrupted their discussion. One was wearing a forest green cloak with the hood tugged over their head. The other seemed to be the butler given his livery.
"What is this, Eld?" asked the shorter man in the cloak.
The butler cleared his throat and straightened his stance.
"Milord--"
"I demand to speak with the viscount," she said with her chin held high.
"Who's asking?" drawled Forest Green Cloak.
"Take me to him."
"Like I said, who are you?"
"I do not have time for this, Shorty."
"I'm sorry but do you mind repeating what you just said?"
"I said--"
The butler--Eld--cleared his throat loudly and turned to her.
"Milady, may I present Lord Levi Ackerman of Stohess."
Levi sighed and gracefully removed his hood.
His silver eyes glinted in the light as he glared at her from under his lashes.
"Your Lordship, this is Lady Mikasa of Shiganshina--"
"And what do you want coming here uninvited?" Levi spat at her.
Mikasa was a bit taken aback by what he just said but she just smiled bitterly at him.
"Why, I'm here to marry your pitiful self!"