Frida didn't make any sudden moves. She stood still, reverent and cautious.
Given her current state and the overwhelming difference in strength, either the white-haired youth or the bandaged girl could kill her effortlessly.
At the very least, staying still might buy her father and siblings enough time to escape…
"But like I said, that was something experienced by the future Eren. The current Carla is still very much alive."
At that moment, Byakuya spoke.
Grisha's anguished cries suddenly stopped. His entire body froze in place.
"A-Alive...? She's still alive...?"
"Yeah. Karla, Eren, and Mikasa— they've all taken shelter in Trost District."
Noticing Grisha's disbelief, Byakuya repeated himself.
"They're really safe? That's… that's wonderful… Thank you…"
Grisha was overwhelmed with relief. Tears streamed down his face as he clutched his head and sobbed.
"I'll let you meet them soon. But first, there's something I need to take care of…"
Byakuya's gaze shifted to Frida.
Looking at her, he couldn't help but notice just how much she resembled the future Eren, the long-haired version.
This was no coincidence. When Eren inherited the Founding Titan from Grisha, he also absorbed fragments of Frida's memories and habits— even his facial features gradually began to resemble hers. It was subtle at first, but even the long hair was a reflection of that influence.
Feeling Byakuya's eyes on her, Frida tensed up slightly.
"Eto" Byakuya called out "Go round up the remaining members of the Reiss family."
"Okay~" Eto chirped back.
With that, her body twisted and grew as she entered her kakuja form.
The ten-meter-tall One-Eyed Owl reemerged, towering and monstrous.
Grisha and Frida both flinched at how effortlessly the bandaged girl transformed into this beast again. Their mastery of titan powers paled in comparison.
But even so, neither had heard of a Titan like this among the Nine.
Before either of them could process it, Eto closed the distance and effortlessly captured the Reiss family members.
"Ah! Let me go!"
"Save us! Frida, help—!"
Eto was careful not to squeeze too hard, mindful of the fragile humans in her grip.
Ignoring their screams, she returned with the squirming nobles and gently placed them beside Byakuya.
The children clung to Frida in terror. Rod Reiss and the middle-aged woman were just as panicked as the kids.
"W-Who are you?! What do you want from us?" Rod finally summoned the courage to ask.
Byakuya responded coolly, "It seems you're confused. If we hadn't stopped the Attack Titan, all of you would already be dead."
"Your lives are in my hands now. Do I really need to explain what I intend to do?"
Rod was silenced.
He didn't dare say another word. If Frida's Founding Titan couldn't stop these people, what hope did he have?
"Even if you play the part of noble figureheads" Byakuya continued, "You are, in truth, the ruling power within the Walls. From now on, you will serve me."
"In return, I won't harm you. But if you defy me—well, you can imagine the alternative."
Rod hesitated, but in the end, he nodded. There was no other option.
Rod might have posed as a visionary — always searching for someone strong enough to resist the First King's ideology and fight against the titans beyond the Walls.
He passed the Founding Titan down to his brother Uri, then to his daughter Frida. In the original timeline, he even plotted to have Historia devour Eren to reclaim the Founding Titan.
But in the end, Rod was a coward. Always hiding behind others. He feared death and responsibility—his treatment of Historia and her mother was proof enough.
It wasn't until he had no heirs left and was cornered, crippled by Historia herself, that he finally remembered his duty as a member of the royal bloodline—crying out the names of his predecessors: "Father, Uri, Frida…"
And then he transformed into that grotesque 120-meter-long titan… a creature more pitiful than fearsome.
But he still never succeeded in reclaiming the Founding Titan. He was killed as a pure titan, never having fulfilled his purpose.
"I can't do much" Frida finally said, her voice soft but firm.
She feared that she'd be ordered to use the Founding Titan to fight those outside the walls. She knew she couldn't do that.
Before inheriting the Founding Titan, Frida had wanted to rid the world of the titans beyond the walls. But once she learned the truth—the sins of the Eldians and the weight of history—her resolve wavered.
The royal blood in her veins ensured that she could never oppose the First King's will or the Vow of Nonresistance.
Even Zeke, in the original timeline, only bypassed that vow because his royal blood came from a different lineage—his mother, Dina, hailed from outside the Walls.
"Don't worry," Byakuya said. "I won't ask you to fight. I'll take care of that myself."
"…Alright."
Frida didn't expect him to be so understanding.
"You may return to your prayers or do whatever you please. When I need you, I'll find you."
With those words, Byakuya turned his gaze back to Grisha.
The man looked shattered, his mind overloaded from everything he'd witnessed.
Byakuya approached him.
"You want to see Eren, right? Come with me."