Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

5. Discipline

Levi's POV

What sort of shitty test was this? I had fought more than 50 guards and they still kept coming. At this point, it was just getting boring. I was just about to speak up when the prince entered the training grounds, clearly distressed and gave an order for us to cease fighting.

"I think I made it very clear that no more than 10 guards should fight. Why did you continue?" Said the prince, trying to act as calm as possible but anyone could tell that he was furious.

Everyone stayed silent.

"Answer me," he said silently, and everyone except me and the brat behind him shuddered.

He turned to me before anyone could answer, "My apologies, some people seem to have forgotten how to follow rules. That clearly created a problem for you." He apologised but you could see on his face how hard it was hurting his ego. I accepted it nonetheless. It was extremely rare to see someone from the Imperial Family apologising to a commoner, especially if the mistake wasn't their own but their servants'.

"Bott, give Levi his uniform," he used my first name since I didn't have a last name, "show him to his quarters and get back here immediately. I expected better of you."

A young boy with above average height and a broad build flinched at the prince's command. He had black hair, light brown eyes and freckles. He came forward and ushered me to follow him. What was up with these people? First, I follow Marcel around all day and now this guy. It was getting extremely annoying. Nonetheless, I had to follow him because I didn't know my way around the palace and I had shit to get done.

"Hello, my name is Marco," he said nicely, facing me once we were well out of the training grounds and walking on the pathway right through the garden towards the palace.

I didn't reply.

"Sorry about earlier," he turned his head to face forward, trying to explain, "I think the guards and soldiers with high ranks got mad that you were better than them and made you fight more. I wanted to say something but I'm their junior so I don't get much say."

"Why was the prince so mad?" I asked, finally saying something. I was curious as to why he got genuinely angry at his guards for mistreating an assassin.

"Well, His Highness holds a grudge against the Empress, not you. Legally, you're supposed to be his guard and work at the palace and he is someone who follows definition. Until you've actually made your attempt to harm him or his servants, he will not hurt you. He has met a number of assassins and came to find out that none of them actually want to do it but do it because they have to. He decided to look at them like normal servants until they make a move," he said, providing a rather long answer. Nonetheless, it answered my question.

"Also, His Highness cares dearly for his reputation and has made proper rules to protect it. If this were to get out-," Freckles stopped midway his sentence before continuing, "I'm sorry. Don't mind me. I hope that answers your question." 

By his words and how all the prince's guards looked at him, I could tell that they truly respected him. I could also tell that once a servant joined the palace, the prince made it his duty to protect them. That must be the reason that the Empress has no eyes within the palace.

"I see," I gave a simple answer.

We reached the main building of the palace and entered through a small door. It led to a small hallway, it was only slightly less decorated than the main one. Marco opened a door and ushered me to get inside. This time, I did because I figured things work differently here and there are rules for everyone. I got in and saw that the place looked like a dressing room. Marco got in behind me, closed the door, walked past me and opened one of the drawers. He fumbled through it, once he didn't find what he was looking for, he looked through another one and he pulled out something, a uniform. He handed it to me and showed me where the change rooms were.