Maria Carlstead

Maria Carlstead (マリア・カールステッド) is a character in the light novel Attack on Titan: Before the Fall. She is a member of the Garrison, and is close friends with Angel Aaltonen and Sorum Humé, whom she is engaged to.

Appearance
She is a young woman with dark, shoulder length hair, tied up into a braid in the back. She has bangs that just barely brush past her eyebrows, accompanied by a strip of hair along each side of her face.

Personality
Maria is caring yet slightly mischievous, as shown when she teases Angel about his hair; and cares a lot about Sorum, her fiancé. She occasionally makes sarcastic remarks while talking to Angel.

Story
She visits Angel Aaltonen while waiting for Sorum Humé, who is on an expedition with the Survey Corps, to return. After small talk, the two hear the sound of the Liberty bell, which signals the return of the Survey Corps. She eventually spots Sorum among the other surviving soldiers. She calms Angel who, after hearing the sound of cannons atop Wall Maria, begins to worry about what might have went wrong.

Some time later, Maria is with both Angel and Sorum before the latter two are set to go out on an expedition to try and capture a Titan. She expresses some worry about their safety, but Sorum drunkenly states that he will protect Angel and make it back home. Sorum reveals that Maria is pregnant with their daughter, slightly embarrassing Maria and surprising Angel.

The day of the expedition, Maria wishes Sorum, Angel and the others good luck as they leave. After the survivors returns back, Maria is devastated to hear from Angel that Sorum sacrificed himself to save Angel. One week later, Angel visits Maria and they reminisce about happier times. Angel tries to say Sorum gave his life to save many others but Maria cuts him off, certain that it was a noble sacrifice. When Angel asks what she will do now, Maria affirms that she will stay in the Garrison to protect their home. She asks Angel the same question, and he responds he will develop a weapon to fight the Titans.

Trivia

 * The names of Maria and her daughter Rosa are most likely based off of the names of the two outermost Walls, Maria and Rose.