"Mass control." Gale knew it was very easy to control people through fear and love.
Zeke loved his mother, and the regret and lack of maternal love were things that made him vulnerable to Gale's plans. Family bonds were what allowed even someone like Eren to control him.
As for Pieck, she was a simple case to manipulate.
Using the enemy was something Gale had done on more than one occasion, but now he had taken it to an extreme with those two people.
He hoped to keep them on a leash, but if there was any sign of rebellion, he would not hesitate to kill them.
…
One month later, in the royal capital, at the royal residence.
Historia put on a white embroidered cloth beret, wrapped a thick mask around her ears, and deliberately wore a bulky brown cotton coat, making her look like a strange and extravagant figure.
She completely covered her blonde hair, hiding all her features except for her eyes beneath the mask to prevent anyone from seeing her face.
It was impossible for people not to recognize her if she walked around without a mask. After all, everyone in the capital recognized her because of her public appearances.
As a princess, if she appeared in public, even traffic would come to a halt.
This was not an exaggeration; when she presided over the New Year ceremony, the streets had been packed with people, and without Titans and soldiers maintaining order, her carriage would not have been able to pass through.
Wherever she went, crowds erupted in cheers for her, with many people pushing and forcing their way forward just to see her.
As a princess, her actions were under intense scrutiny; the government's campaign to turn her into a star had been a success.
She was especially successful in business.
Any product she endorsed saw its sales skyrocket, with prices doubling and demand exceeding supply.
Her personal merchandise, such as hair accessories and princess-style shawls, frequently sold out.
She was practically a gold mine for the government; at the very least, she had perfected her image management and money-making skills.
After completely covering herself, Historia looked at herself in the mirror. Perfect; there was no trace of the "princess" to be found. Although this outfit might look strange, no one would recognize her.
That was enough. She put her small mirror, perfume, comb, and headband into her pocket, left the room, and exited the mansion through a hidden back door.
A simple carriage bearing the Legion's insignia was parked there.
Historia climbed into the carriage and saw Erwin sitting inside.
Erwin's lips twitched slightly upon seeing Historia's appearance, and he turned his head away.
"Commander Erwin, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Erwin turned back with a stern expression, observing the queen's amusing appearance.
"Let's go…"
Historia nodded.
Erwin extended his hand through the carriage window, signaling the driver to move.
The horses' hooves echoed against the pavement.
Erwin suddenly asked, "Is being a princess hard work?"
"It's fine," Historia replied, turning her head to look out the carriage window.
Besides the carriages moving back and forth, there were also some four-wheeled vehicles on the roads.
These were cargo wagons with internal combustion engines, currently used only by the government to transport documents or urgent goods.
Usually, they carried small amounts of merchandise that needed to be delivered quickly. Although Titans were strong, they could not match the speed of these wagons.
In addition to the cargo wagons, there were also the "Titan buses."
Simply put, they were vehicles pulled by Titans.
Titan buses only operated during the day, traveling back and forth between various stops at fixed hours in different places, transporting people.
Titan buses could be seen through the carriage windows.
A five-meter Titan bus sped down the road.
Two five-meter Titans pulling the steel bus stopped at the next station under the direction of a giant conductor.
The conductor opened the iron doors, and people got on and off while inserting coins into the fare box.
A single Titan bus could transport hundreds of people. Although it was not as fast as a car, it was faster than a horse-drawn carriage moving at full speed.
Workers used the giant buses to get to work. Since giants could only work during the day, work schedules on Paradis Island were very strict.
Basically, all factories closed before sunset, and there was no excessive overtime.
The overall happiness level of the residents was very high.
A healthy inhabitant of Paradis could easily find a simple, well-paying job with plenty of free time and entertainment. With a little training, one could become an experienced worker or driver and earn a high salary.
Historia discreetly peeked outside.
Around the houses with their spires, young couples walked hand in hand, buying snacks from a fried chicken shop.
"How wonderful…" Historia thought with a smile on her face. "I also long to walk freely through the streets."
But she could not.
On days like this, without prior preparation, her mere presence would cause a huge commotion, even blocking the factory transportation routes.
She had not planned to go out today, but she truly wanted to meet Gale, so she tried contacting Erwin.
After traveling for a while, the carriage stopped.
Erwin got down first and then helped Historia step out.
This was the steam train station, the only train station in the capital, crucial for transporting supplies and personnel.
The station was crowded; some families were waiting, while soldiers and workers prepared to board, heading toward a mining area or a colossal Titan factory.
The station was bustling with people; Titans and workers loaded and unloaded cargo without pause.
Historia stood on the platform.
Amid the sharp whistle of the steam train, a long black dragon released white steam as it moved along the tracks, disappearing into the endless plains.
Historia waited silently, counting every day and night in her mind.
Her last meeting with Gale had been a few months ago, when he briefly stayed in the capital to plan the station and the power plant.
She had been busy attending various events at the time, and they had barely exchanged a few words before their brief meeting ended.
She kept waiting and waiting, without feeling any resentment.
After all, how could she blame someone who was doing everything possible to make everyone free?
She was his fiancée, but she was also the person closest to Gale and the only one who truly had the right to worry about him.
As queen and the person closest to Gale, no one could oppose her.
The train arrived, its elegant front appearing before Erwin's eyes.
Erwin looked at the princess, who was holding her forehead, and asked, "Is the hat too heavy?"
"My head hurts a little," Historia rubbed her forehead. "I'm fine. This has happened to me before. It'll pass in a while."
"Have you been examined?"
"The doctor said it's probably due to lack of rest. It's nothing serious, Commander."
As the two spoke, the train arrived at the station.
The train slowly came to a stop, and a soldier opened the door.
Historia endured her headache while searching for that soldier, and finally saw him.
Mikasa and Eren were also there; they had brought the Marleyan prisoners of war to the capital.
This was the final stop in the prisoners' journey to Paradis Island. These people would be examined in the capital, and the final list of prisoners to be repatriated to Marley would be decided there.