#BankPads

[thedyingmoon]

💜 This I Promise 💜

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LXV. Home

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It was late afternoon when they finally arrived at the old Ral farm. And when they finally arrived, they found out that the Reeves Corporation is already tearing down the place.

"Bucky, we'll stop right here." ordered Claire as she observed how the men worked at the fields, how they dismantle the stables, how they put 'keep away!' signages around the property, and how they start tearing down the little house, itself, where (F/N) grew up.

"Grandma," began (F/N) worriedly as she gazed at the old woman's tired figure - a clear indication of her fatigue for travelling for almost a day from Orvud to the remote village near Trost in Wall Rose.

However, the old woman just held up an authoritative hand. "I'm fine." she said, then put on her wide brimmed hat to cover her face. After that, both women got out of the simple carriage they rented to prevent the snooty majority of Wall Sina elites from noticing them.

(F/N), upon stepping foot on the now chaotic land where she used to play, was beyond distraught. She was both angry and sad.

"What are you doing with my family's land?!" (F/N) said as she grabbed the shoulder of a farm hand who was helping Reeves' men.

The farmhand just looked at her with utter disdain and shrugged his shoulders as if none of those things he was doing mattered.

"Dunno, Miss." he said to her. Then, he pointed at the main man who was shouting orders left to right to his fellow workmates. "Just ask the man, himself. If you can."

But, before he could even tell (F/N) that, she was already determined to storm her way towards that man. And when she finally got there, the man acted as if he didn't even notice her.

"Excuse me!" (F/N) screamed to let herself be heard above all the noise these men were making. "I demand you to let me know what you're doing with my family's land!"

And to (F/N)'s utter disgust, the man they called 'Boss' remained unfazed by her presence.

Her shoulders dropped. She felt so humiliated upon being ignored like a foolish child. And when she looked back at her grandmother, she saw the old woman nod and turn to Rogers, who cleared his throat, strode towards the Boss, and grabbed his shoulder to finally call his attention.

The Boss turned and was shocked upon seeing the tall Head Butler who stood much taller than him.

"What do you want?" the Boss grumpily asked Rogers.

"My Lady demands you to let her know what you're doing with her family's land." Rogers answered in a clear and intimidating voice.

But, the Boss did not seem to care in the least. He just looked at Rogers in the eye and snickered at him.

"Oh, was that your master?" the Boss sarcastically said. "I thought it was just a little squirrel begging for food!"

To this, all the workers present all laughed, making (F/N) as red as beetroot.

"I've had enough of this." Claire said then strode towards the men. Rogers noticed this and tried to stop the Duchess from making a scene and failed. The Boss noticed her and looked dow upon her as if she was his own grandmother.

"How can I help you, ma'am?" the Boss uttered in a mocking voice that finally ignited the flames of anger that the Duchess was keeping the entire time.

"How much does this land cost?" she said, all the while gritting her teeth.

The Boss heard this clearly and he honestly thought that he was just hearing things. "Come again, granny?"

"I said, HOW MUCH DOES THIS FUCKING LAND COST?!" the Duchess blurted out, finally exploding in anger.

The workers, including the Boss, himself, went quiet as they watch the Duchess stand right in front of them like they're animals. The smile on the Boss' face vanished as he went closer towards the Duchess.

"Granny, dear, I'm afraid this land belongs to me now. Ral wasn't able to pay for his rent, so I'm taking these all for myself."

"I didn't ask for your opinion, I'm asking you how much this land cost, you imbecile!"

The Boss drew back in terror at the tone of Claire's voice that he finally gave in and lied,

"About two million worth of gold. But, that doesn't include Ral's rent. That's three in total."

The Boss was hoping that with the absurd amount he just gave the little old woman, she would stop pestering him. Instead, she gestured at Rogers with her gloved hand. The Head Butler nodded and took out a thick bankpad from his coat pocket and gave it to her. The Duchess took it, along with a pen that Rogers just handed her.

And then, all of them, including (F/N), watched in awe as the Duchess wrote on a single note. She took that same note and handed it to the Boss, who looked at it and,...

... froze in complete terror.

His eyebrows furrowed in anger. He pointed an accusing finger towards the old lady.

"Who do you think you're playing with? Do you expect me to believe that this is even a real banknote?!"

But, the Duchess could never be threatened.

"Well now, you really are an imbecile if you can't even read properly! Now, I demand you leave this place before I call the Police to throw you in dungeons for your disrespect! I'll have you know that I have the power to keep you there and your filthy men until you rot and die!"

The Boss clicked his tongue in defeat and gestured for his men to stop whatever they're doing and vacate the place. And when they're finally gone, Claire went to the nearest tree stub and collapsed. Both (F/N) and Rogers went towards her in alarm, but they were just stopped.

"I'm fine. I just needed a little rest." Claire breathed. Then, she turned towards (F/N) and waved her off. "You go do what you have to do, my dear."

(F/N) smiled and went towards Claire anyway. She engulfed the old woman in a warm hug and thanked her.

She felt strong enough to face this, but the moment she entered her old home, she knew that her the strength she drew was slowly failing her.

One by one, all the happy memories she had with the family who took care of her through the years went back to her, haunting her and giving her a heartache so unbearable that she almost dropped to the floor.

But, she couldn't let herself be fazed and decided to go on. She told herself that she have to bestrong, but every remnant of her old home kept hurting her.

She still couldn't believe that her father was long gone, and she was awfully guilty that she failed to go to him in his time of need. She could even still remember the words of the Doctor who wrote to her,

I'm very sorry to say that your father has passed due to an incurable illness. And for that, you must immediately come to the Trost District Hospital grounds to witness the incineration of his body. It hurts me to tell you this, but should you fail to attend, we must still incinerate Mr. Ral's body to prevent the spreading of the disease.

But, of course, that was a month ago when she was still suffering from amnesia. So, the moment she finished reading the wretched letter from the Doctor, she, together with Claire and Rogers, went immediately to the said Hospital, only to find her father already in an urn and reduced to ashes.

Tears fell down her face as she took the small, porcelain urn from her large bag and placed it on top of the fireplace, bringing her father home. Only then did she let herself collapse on the floor as she drown herself in her own tears.

Claire heard her and entered the tiny house. She found (F/N) there on the floor, still crying her eyes out. She went towards her and kneeled right beside her, despite the complaint of her aching joints due to signs of ageing.

"You did what you could, dear." she whispered gently to (F/N) as she comforted her. "Don't blame yourself."

"If only I was stronger, then this wouldn't have happened." the girl said, fell right on the older woman's arms and cried there. "I'm such a useless person!"

"Hush, dear. Don't say that. It's not your fault. Things happen for a reason. And for those reasons, we must keep on getting stronger emotionally." Claire told her as her eyes surveyed the whole room, so unlike the environment where she grew up. Right then and there, she had decided to turn things around for (F/N) to make up for her very long absence. "Dear?"

(F/N) looked up and gazed at the eyes of her grandmother.

"You have a lovely home."

(F/N) slightly smiled as she wiped her tears away. "You have a far, lovelier home. And bigger than this."

"Oh, shush! Yes, my house is, indeed, big. But, not as warm as your home. I was alone for a very long time with nothing but spiteful neighbors around me. But, you, my dear, you grew up in a very nice place where you're loved and fed and taken care of like a true family. And for that, (F/N), I will forever be grateful."

Both women smiled at each other, knowing that a strong bond was beginning to tie them together as one family.

"Grandma."

"Yes, dear?"

"Thank you so much. For everything."

Claire smiled as she wiped a single tear of happiness from her tired eye.

"I'm so glad you're back. I really am. And for that, I will turn this home into my home, as well. We'll fill it with warmth and laughter, and I will make it up to you and caref for you as long as I live."

(F/N) began crying once more, but it was no longer of sadness and mourning, but of peace and happiness.

"I love you so much, grandma."

"I love you, too, dear!" Claire exclaimed in delight, having heard, for the very first time, her grandchild saying those words. And they were about to embrace once more, but stopped and giggled as they noticed Rogers crying in a far corner of the room,...

***

Both women were awfully tired, and when they finally got back to their mansion in Orvud, they were determined to rest and relieve their stress.

But, a simple announcement from a servant left (F/N) with a feeling of total dread. She strode towards the living room as fast as she could, and there, standing in the middle of the room and waiting for her, was,...

"Captain Levi?" (F/N) muttered in disbelief.

"(F/N)." he answered solemnly.

***

Lord Shunerman and Lady Baxter were still arguing when they arrived at the doorstep of their new home in Stohess District of Wall Sina.

"And may I say!" Elvis exclaimed. "I would not have these bloody bandages around my leg and arm if it weren't for your insatiable appetite to seek revenge!"

"Shut the hell up, Shunerman!" Jacqueline nagged as she strained to turn towards her fiance' despite the pain her neckbrace was causing her. "If it weren't for MY insatiable appetite for revenge, we wouldn't be able to retrieve what's truly ours!"

"For the cost of our lives?! For the sake of all the three Walls, if it weren't for that bloody newspaper you stole from a visiting nobleman, I could still be - "

"Drinking your fat heart out? Hah! You should be thankful that I brought us here!"

"You?! The Scouting Legion people saved us from those armed men, not you! And we almost died because you kept banging on their door!"

"Shut up!"

On and on they nagged. They were still nagging as they opened the door and crossed the cold threshold of their house. Even as they light a single candle to guide their way, they were still nagging.

Until they noticed a single note on top of the glass - top table.

"Is that yours, Jackie?"

"Don't be a fool! This is the first time I entered this house."

After that realization hit them, they both stared at each other. A few moments later, they decided to pick up the note and open it. Together, they read the note that was left to them,

I' am returning this house to you. I feel I' am obliged to thank you for letting us use your house for a few months. Do not worry, we did not take anything of importance. We are also returning the documents we borrowed, and I feel that I should let you know that I have kept this place clean and without speck. Should you disgrace this house by leaving your filth around, I will personally take back the migration documents from you and kick you out of this wretched house, myself.

That is, if I'm ever going to return from our last Expedition.

Yours,

L.A.

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~ @levi4mikasa , @yepps , @chocolate-mmilk , @nerdyphantomlady , @unhappysap , @shewolfofficial , @super-peace-fangirl , @fangurl-ontgeside , and @emilyackerman78 . 💜

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💜💜💜

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#shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #levi ackerman #captain levi #this i promise #levi x reader #levi x you #chapter 65 #home

[pern-dragon]