(A/N: A portion of this chap was missing, so I had to delete this and re-upload it)
...
3rd Pov
"You disappoint me, Reina" a voice cut through her heart.
Wilhelm looked down at her granddaughter with wrath and hated, he slapped her.
Reina looked in disbelief, a seething pain embraced her cheek.
Her tears threatened to pour down.
"You monster! To steal your own grandmother's blessing! You killed her! You killed my Theresia! You vile demon spawn!" hearing the hurtful words spat by her grandfather, she stood alone.
She looked around for comfort, for help. But all she was met with accusing glares, disappointed looks.
She looked on the ground, her eyes devoid of light.
"Never show your face to me again!" Wilhelm said one last time before turning around and leaving.
She fell on the ground breaking into a crying mess, however her tears were ignored, her pleas were ignored.
She was blamed for stealing her Grandma's blessings in the middle of the battle against White Whale.
From that day onwards her relationship with her family deteriorated.
…
"You defeated me… So easily" Heinkel looked at her in disbelief.
Reina nodded, having accomplished something that she only dreamed of looked at her father with eager eyes, wanting his praise, but all she got was a curse.
"You Monster!" she froze, wondering if she had heard it wrong.
She looked at her father to see him looking with hatred, she trembled and fear took over her.
"W-Why?" she asked, her heart was unable to bear his look.
"Why you ask? WHY YOU ASK YOU FILTHY MONSTER?!" he screamed, his voice stunned her, tears started pouring out of her eyes.
He slapped her, however instead of her falling on the ground it was his hand which was hurt.
"You monster! You took away something that belonged to me! I was supposed to get the Blessing! I was! Then because of you, my mother died! I doubt if it was because of you my wife got in coma as well!" he spat, his every word cut through her and she became a sobbing mess.
"I- I apologize, please forgive me, please forgive me" she repeated again and again, however her words made Heinkel only colder.
He had sparred her after drinking a lot of alcohol, and now in his current state his anger was magnified.
He grabbed her by hair, and slapped her, again, and again, and again, until his hand was bleeding.
For Reina, each slap broke her heart, even if it barely hurt her.
"See this?" he showed his bleeding palm "You did this, you hurt me. You are but a monster! I regret that you are my daughter"
He spat at her and left her alone, she laid on the ground frozen, her father's saliva reeking with alcohol on her face.
That day, Reina Van Astrea lost her only support.
…
Years passed by, however her relationship with her family only deteriorated, due to Heinkel's and Wilhelm's habits, everyone started assuming it was Reina's fault, whether Theresia died or Lounna got the Sleeping beauty curse.
Maids started mocking her at her behind, they snickered and cursed her for all the wrongs she had never done.
Because of Reina's Blessings, she of course knew what they spoke behind her back. It broke her, she wanted someone to save her, she was but a girl, burdened with responsibilities that were pushed on her.
In the end, she became the strongest sword saint of Astrea family in entire history, as the Child loved by the world, she was granted countless Divine Protections by Od Laguna.
However, in the end she was but a Sword Saint, the girl Reina Van Astrea, has died somewhere.
Her gaze was always polite; however it was a mask, that hid her pain.
She didn't have any friends, in the original because of Reinhardt, Reina's male counter part's different personality, he managed to preserve and even managed to get Felix and Julius as his friends.
But Reina was a woman, so Felix and Julius being male didn't take the initiative to get close to her, and in the end she was labelled by them as monster as well.
Of course they didn't meant harm by that, it was just Reina had a divine Protection that granted her healing prowess surpassing Felix's and her strength utterly crushed Julius.
Thus, there formed the sad girl known as Reina, who was only respected because she was Sword Saint.
No One loved her for the girl she was, only because she was strongest Knight in the Kingdom, whose task was to accomplish things for the Kingdom, whether good or bad.
…
Today she was on patrol, despite it being her off-day. People loved her, only because she was Sword Saint, no-they just loved the Sword Saint, the Divine Protection.
The girl named Reina Van Astrea was utterly despised by everyone, no one loved her.
However, to ensure at least her grandma's legacy isn't soiled, she tried to be the best Knight.
Thus, she was on patrol.
Her face stoic, no one tried to start a conservation with her, why would they? They feared her, and admired her- Only the sword saint was admired.
'Every day is the same' she thought, her eyes dull, when she found a black-haired boy in the middle of the road.
He was muttering something about dying and getting stronger, while holding a pouch of Holy Coins.
'Hm?' she wondered if he was in trouble, and decided to check it out.
"Excuse me Sir, are you in trouble?" she asked him as she reached near him.
He turned towards her, a blush formed on his face before he looked away and coughed.
'Did he just blush?' she thought, a spark blossomed in her eyes.
"Sorry Miss, I was just in middle of my thoughts- Anyway you?" he looked at her with some similarity in his eyes.
"Reina, my name is Reina and I am a Knight" she said, she could deduce from his tongue and his hair that he wasn't from Lugunica so she introduced herself.
"Oh, So Miss Reina, how may I help you?" he said, a visible tint of red in his cheeks.
"I found you muttering about dying… If you are in some trouble then let me know, as a knight it is my duty to help people" she said, while involuntarily her Divine Protections activated.
"Help? Me?" he looked in dilemma, and then looked at her and sighed.
"I won't lie- I need help" he said and she nodded expecting to ask him to help her.
"But I refuse your help" he continued taking her by surprise.
"Why?" she asked, curious. Every time she had tried to help someone- no one refused her, ever.
"I mean, how can I put a girl like you in a danger? As of now my mind is free of guilt- But if I involve you in my shit, nope- I won't put a cute girl like you in danger" he said and then blushed realizing the last lines he said.
She was stunned, and realized he didn't know her. He didn't know, she was the MONSTER, the sword saint.
'Damn it! My Natsuki Subaru side is too shameless!' Natsuki cursed himself.
Meanwhile Reina debated if she should tell him the truth, in the end she couldn't.
She knew if she told him the truth, he will accept her help, spell out loving words, behind the mask of fear and disgust.
"What is your name?" she finally asked, her eyes with a glint stared at him.
"I can't give you my real name, I apologize, I really really apologize" he said.
Her eyes dimmed and he said "But you can call me Zero"
She nodded and spoke "Zero… So, Sir Zero?" she froze, as she felt a warmth on her head- her heart started pounding.
He was patting her and the moment he realizes he too froze.
'Fuck it Natsuki Subaru! It's all your fault' he cursed himself.
He could feel it; something was wrong with her. It was as if she had given up the hope of living.
His senses were keener so he quickly realized it and involuntarily started patting her, as to lessen her sorrow.
As he tried to withdraw his hands, she grabbed it, her eyes widened realizing her mistake and she quickly let go of him.
"I apologize- I don't know what came over me" he apologized.
"Why? Why did you do that" she asked her voice cold.
Her froze and wondered if he was going to die again, in the end he spoke the truth.
"Well, you are very cute- and I sensed you were sad, so I did it" he replied while preparing to regress.
"I- I am cute?" Reina blinked her eyes innocently.
'He didn't call me monster' joy erupted in her heart.
However, it was soon replaced by sorrow 'Of course he doesn't know I am the Sword Saint, if he knew then he would have feared me'
She knew majority of common people feared her because of her position, and the fact that she had been responsible for her grandma's death.
"Anyway, I should be on my way. Thank you for trying to help me, however this is something that I must do myself" Subaru said.
To be continued...