Finale: Never giving up

"Wait, Commander Annie, what brings you here?" Two fully armed Guard stopped Annie at the sentry post in front of the Parliament Building. As the most important political center of the Paradisian United Kingdom, the Parliament Building was under extremely high security.

More than a thousand fully armed Eldia Soldiers guarded the area, and elite Survey Corps were constantly on guard at various high points around it. Anyone entering or leaving underwent multiple rounds of strict checks, without exception, even Parliamentarian of the Parliament.

"What? Can't I go in?" Annie asked calmly.

The two Guard looked somewhat troubled. "This... but Parliament has a clear order that, apart from members of Parliament and authorized ambassadors from various countries, no one else is allowed to enter the Parliament Building without a valid reason. You... it would be best if we could give you a reason."

"No reason needed, I just want to go in," Annie said bluntly.

"I'm sorry, but we may not be able to let you in."

In fact, the two Guards did not want to make things difficult for Annie. Every Eldia Soldiers knew about the young Commander-in-Chief, Yago Yago, and knew that the Paradisian United Kingdom owed its current status to his contributions. Everyone also knew Annie's identity: besides being a powerful Titan Warriors, she was also Commander-in-Chief Yago's beloved partner.

Yago's sacrifice saddened all Eldians. To be fair, the Guard only respected Annie. In the eyes of these soldiers, even just because of Commander-in-Chief Yago's reputation, they could not stop Annie from going wherever he wanted.

But this is, after all, the Parliament Building, and the operation of the entire Paradisian United Kingdom depends almost entirely on this place. Ensuring its security is also their inescapable responsibility.

Just as the Guard were in a dilemma, a voice suddenly rang out behind Annie, "Annie, come in with me, Soldiers. I shouldn't need any reason to go in, right?"

Hearing the melodious voice behind her, Annie turned around and, sure enough, Historia, dressed in a magnificent gown, stood there gracefully, followed by a number of Soldiers from the Queen's Guard.

Upon seeing that it was Queen Historia, the Guard quickly saluted, "Your Majesty!"

There is only one person who can receive special treatment from the Parliament Building: Historia, the Queen of the Paradisian United Kingdom. She is also one of the most noble beings in the Paradisian United Kingdom, and for ambassadors from various countries, being received by Queen Historia is a great honor.

As soon as Historia appeared, needless to say, the two Guard readily let her pass.

The Queen's Guard remained outside the Parliament Building, with only Ymir, Historia's personal secretary, accompanying them inside. Of course, Annie was also Guard to enter the Parliament Building at Historia's request.

As you enter the Parliament Building, everyone you see along the way bows respectfully to Queen Historia. If you happen to encounter a foreign ambassador, he will also very respectfully step forward to greet you.

Historia responded to everyone with great gentleness, her smile perfectly timed, displaying both approachability and the unique regal elegance of Queen. In short, Historia's performance as a Queen was impeccable.

Annie followed silently behind Historia until they stopped in a secluded corner.

Annie remarked, "Historia, you're becoming more and more like a Queen."

"Pfft," Annie's words seemed to amuse Ymir, making her laugh out loud. "Hey, Historia, did you hear that? Annie is praising you. Hmph, it seems our Historia is usually very well-behaved."

Upon hearing this, Historia could no longer maintain her Queen composure. Laughing, she reached out to grab Ymir, "You're mocking me! You wretched Ymir, you disrespect the Queen! I will punish you!"

Annie looked at the two of them, still in the mood to joke around, and a hint of helplessness flashed across her face.

"Sometimes I really don't understand. I feel like Paradis doesn't really need me as Queen. The country can function perfectly well without Queen. Apart from occasionally receiving some foreign ambassadors, I don't have much else to do. But strangely, the more idle I am, the more respect everyone seems to have for me as Queen. It's really baffling." Historia's little face showed a hint of playful confusion.

However, Annie and Ymir had no idea how to answer Historia's question.

"Historia, Ymir, it may be presumptuous of me, but for the sake of Yago, I have no choice but to ask for your help," Annie said earnestly to the two of them.

Ymir laughed and replied, "Well, I've been annoyed by Yago's arrogant attitude for a long time. Now, it's time for him to need our help, haha."

Historia smiled at Annie as well, "Don't worry, Annie, we will definitely rescue Yago. Eren is right, changing Fate requires everyone's joint efforts, not sacrificing one person for the sake of everyone else. If that's the case, then we will never accept so-called Fate."

"Exactly, that Yago is arrogant and likes to act on his own. He wanted to sacrifice us without our consent, changing our Fate without a word, yet he treats his own Fate so lightly," Ymir said. Scenes flashed through her mind: at Utgard Castle, exposing her Titan identity to protect Historia, being captured by Reiner and his crew, and finally voluntarily returning to Reiner with Marley, only to be silently eaten...

What? Is this my original Fate? What a hasty and boring ending. But shouldn't I thank you now? Yago, don't be so selfless, it makes me feel guilty! Ymir thought to herself.

Historia, too, felt a mixture of gratitude and guilt towards Yago. The image in her mind was not a happy one: being forced to bear children, unable to experience any happiness, and ultimately seeing Paradis Island destroyed by war. Even if Historia wasn't Queen, she wouldn't accept such an outcome. But now, the bright future of the Eldians clearly indicated that that cruel ending had been rewritten, yet the person who rewrote it was about to fall into the abyss.

"Okay, let's proceed according to plan. Connie and the others are already outside ready to provide backup. All we need to do now is find Eren's location." Annie pulled out a map of the Parliament Building from somewhere.

Just as the three were discussing, a figure suddenly entered their field of vision.

"What are you three doing hiding here so suspiciously?"