At an undisclosed location within Waham.

There is a commotion at Zeke’s secret base. Everyone seems busy as they all are packing up. Sheets of parchment that are stacked on wooden crates are constantly being taken out and loaded on a well-built carriage. Beside the carriage, there are a dozen or so wagons all-ready to depart.

A man inside the base is busy instructing everyone on what must be done.

“Hurry up people, it takes a long time to the Royal Capital. We need to depart as quickly as possible so that we don’t end up bumping with the Law enforcement on the way. They should arrive here by tomorrow afternoon, so we’ll have plenty of time to use an intersection road. Has the important information we’ve gathered already loaded up?”

“Yes sir.”

“And the ‘cleaning up’ operation? Were there any problems?”

“No sir.”

“Good.”

The man giving orders smiles at the completed tasks. This man’s name is Rowen. A second in command of Zeke who handles administrative task. As the commotion only drew higher, a door is kicked open and immediately everyone falls quiet. Footsteps thud the wooden floor slowly as droplets of blood follow.

It is Maeve holding Eren’s head by its hair. Everyone tenses up and gulps. Maeve throws the head on the floor, and it rolls towards Rowen’s feet.

“Job done. Now where is Zeke?”

Rowen could tell from Maeve’s expression that something is on her mind. He lets out a sigh.

‘What did you do, Zeke?’

“He’s in his office. Could you… be gentle with him this time.”

Rowen looks at Maeve with sympathetic eyes. Maeve doesn’t answer him and just walks towards the office.

Rowen’s eyes return to normal and starts shouting.

“And can someone clean up this mess. We don’t really need the head so just burn it.”

“Yes sir.”

“And turn off the magic traps within and around the building. Even though they won’t work even if they are discovered, we don’t want them leading to us.”

“Yes sir.” shout the men.

One man who is looking at Maeve opens his mouth slightly.

“Sexy.”

He is an average man with no worthy qualities about him.

“I think your definition of sexy and terrifying are flipped, Trevor.” Says one of the men.

“Hmph. You guys don’t know how to appreciate true beauty.”

Everyone tenses up from those words. There is no doubt that Maeve is beautiful in a sense but after witnessing her kill so many people over the years, the people under Zeke have come to fear her. Except for one, Trevor.

“If I could marry her…”

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“Shhh if you don’t want a bullet between your eyes.”

Luckily, they are whispering so there is no way Maeve could hear them. But for some reason, Maeve’s corner of her mouth rises.

Before entering the office, she first knocks on the door.

“Come in.”

She opens the door and enters, closing it after. Zeke is outside on the balcony staring out into the night sky. He has his elbow of his left arm rested on the wooden rail supporting his cheek.

“You finished quicker than I thought.” Says Zeke.

“How long are you going to criticize me?”

“It was that obvious, huh?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice when you tried your mind tricks on me only to get me to be angry?”

“I wasn’t underestimating you, okay. I’m sorry.”

Zeke, who barely apologizes, ever, apologized to Maeve. Silence befalls them. Maeve breaks the silence by asking a question.

“How old was it?”

“Huh?”

“The child. How old was it?”

Zeke’s eyes narrow as if his eyelids are heavy. He answers.

“Ten or eleven. Between that age.”

Silence befalls them once again before Maeve speaks.

“I was never a fan of you doing such dangerous missions all on your own. I’m still not a fan. It’s too risky to put yourself in the field like that. And… I hate it when you make yourself suffer like this. Why do you put yourself through this?” asks Maeve with sorrow filled eyes.

She continues, “The only thing you need to do is order me. I’m your bodyguard after all. I am your blade.”

“And what would I be if I did that? A leader who only gives orders and not involves himself with the rough parts of this kind of business.” says Zeke.

Maeve is startled by it, but Zeke continues.

“I’m your leader. Everyone in this building is my responsibility. I can’t allow you guys to take all the blame, all the sins.”

Zeke has killed more than 10 children. 13 to be exact. But if the number were to be combined with the number his subordinates killed under his order, then a little over 50 children have been killed.

The reason why Zeke killed the children wasn’t just to tie up loose ends or avoid future revenge problems. The real reason, which a few people knew, was to spare the children from the worst pain one would encounter. And that is waking up to a house filled with everyone you knew, including your family, dead. He did that so they wouldn’t go through that. Which is why, he always killed them without pain.

Of course, Maeve is one of those few people.

“I’ll carry all the sins and resentment.”

Hearing those words from Zeke, she can’t stop her mind from reminiscing. In her memory, all she could see was Zeke getting himself beat up by a couple of adult men. Behind him was her who was on the ground bruised all over. They were 8 years old at the time.

After the men finished beating up the unyielding Zeke, they left.

At an alleyway.

Zeke sat with Maeve down on the cold ground. Both were injured and Zeke got the worst of it. As he was busy tending to her injuries, she asked him.

“Why? Why did you save me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I disobeyed your orders, didn’t I? If I hadn’t gone alone and waited just like you said, the plan could have worked.”

“But you did disobey me.”

A vein pops on her forehead as she shouted at him.

“Exactly! You should have left me for dead and continued-“

“Then you would have died.” Zeke had cut her off. “If you died, how would I be able to keep my promise to you of a life of pure bliss.”

Maeve was stunned. After all, Zeke made that promise when he was 5. She didn’t think he took it seriously or even remembered it.

“And besides, I’m the leader here. If my subordinates mess up, then the fault is on me, isn’t it?”

“…”

Maeve was speechless.

“That’s why I took that beating instead of you. After all, I’m responsible for all of you guys. So, I’ll take on your pain. I’ll take on all your sins.”

As he said that, a bunch of children around the same age as the two appeared out of the darkness of the alley. They were under Zeke.

Maeve’s eyes sparkled at Zeke’s words as she burst out in tears. Zeke who was startled and confused by Maeve’s sudden outburst stopped treating her and asked.

“Ah, does it hurt somewhere? Are you hungry perhaps?”

The kids laughed at Zeke who was confused on what was making Maeve cry.

“Hey you guys. Stop laughing at me okay.” Zeke said that whilst looking at Rowen and the other kids.

Although those moments were supposed to be cold, being with them warmed Maeve’s heart.

“Come, we still have to go to Naomi’s place.”

Maeve is thrown back to reality by Zeke’s order. She nods to the order.

“So, what do I owe?” asks Zeke.

“Whatever do you mean?” Maeve acts ignorant to his question.

“Come on, just tell. You’re not going to steal my Golden Crystal again will you?”

Maeve keeps quiet as she leaves the office. Zeke is following.

“Come on. Please tell me. I hate the suspense.”

Everyone inside the building chuckles as they heard Zeke’s pleading. They all think the same thing as they see the two.

‘The leader seems like himself again. Thank the Goddess.’