Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

11. Questions

Levi's POV

What the hell? What kind of guarding was this? I'm getting frequent breaks and days off. Is the prince trying to avoid me? How the hell am I supposed to assassinate him if he keeps avoiding me like this? Is he scared of me because of yesterday?

Tch, whatever.

Though, that gloomy brat was stronger than I had anticipated and the prince is said to be stronger than her. I need to practise a little more if I want to complete my mission. If it's my day off, I'll just go to the training grounds. I'll enjoy the privilege of getting a specific area to work out till I have the chance in case I'm not able to fulfil my mission.

I got up from my bed in the small room that I had been given. Surprisingly, I wasn't given a bed in the dormitory everyone else slept in even though I got to train with them and eat with them. They made an excuse of the dormitory being full but of course, I didn't believe that. At first when they didn't think I was capable they must've given me a separate room to prevent workplace bullying since I was an assassin, now, they are protecting them from me since I must be some sort of tyrant to them. 

Well, at least the room was clean.

I straightened out the uniform I was already wearing when that damn prince's attendant informed me of my day off. I grabbed my scabbard with my sword from the bedside table I got and tied it to my waist. After double checking that I was ready, I headed out.

Upon my arrival at the training grounds, the guards and soldiers didn't hesitate to show that my presence was unwelcome, which was honestly expected after I beat the second strongest one of their own people. I didn't care though, I just needed to find someone to spar with. The only one who would spar with me would be Marco since he didn't seem bitter toward me but he was nowhere to be seen. However, I did feel my blood rushing through my body causing me to see something very surprising.

The prince was in the training grounds.

And, he wasn't here just to supervise the training.

He was actually training with his guards, swiftly disarming them one by one when they came at him at once. I also saw that gloomy brat with some kind of medical supply under her eye where I had hurt her. She looked gloomier than usual sitting on a chair but while she stared at the prince, I could see hearts in her eyes.

Ew. 

 And as soon as she noticed me, she scowled which was understandable but annoying.

I just ignored her and looked at the prince who had his full attention on his sword and his opponents. I also noticed that the prince was wearing something different. He wasn't wearing regal clothes as usual, instead, a plain white shirt and black pants. Suddenly, an idea popped into my head. To figure out how strong he was, I could spar with him. If I get the chance, I could kill him on the spot.

As he stopped sparring because his guards wanted a break, I approached him and as soon as he looked at me, he looked ticked off. It was a sign that I was doing something significant to piss off such a powerful aristocrat. It showed that I was doing something that no one else has done before otherwise, he wouldn't be so annoyed.

"Your Highness," I bowed a little as a greeting, "It seems that all your guards are tired. Would you like to spar with me?"

He and everyone else who heard me seemed a bit taken aback by my question but the prince considered it nonetheless and even agreed to it and let me use the dual swords that I used before.

Reader's POV

I was surprised when Mikasa said that she didn't want to just sit around and chat with me but instead, she wanted me sparring, practising fighting in case of a dangerous situation. But, what was more surprising was seeing Levi at the training grounds and what was even more surprising is that he asked me to spar with him.

A servant asking a royal for sparring was unheard of and I would have done something about it if I hadn't seen the opportunity to test his strength there. I let Levi use the dual swords he used before to see him at his full strength. I switched my own sword with duals as well as I entered the area.

He entered the fighting area and got into his stance as the bell rang. He rushed toward me trying to kill me with his swords but I blocked.

"You can't kill me that easily," I made a number of false movements to confuse him but he didn't seem to be bothered much by my words or my actions. I knew that I had to be careful with this guy because he beat Mikasa and she was an Ackerman.

Ackermans were gifted with special physical abilities and he was able to beat one which was nothing ordinary. Though, I was confident. Ackermans were powerful after their rise as a merchant company but the Yeagers were no less. One Yeager per generation was gifted. Gifted with a sharp mind, strength, speed, looks, you name it. In the last generation, it was my Father who was gifted, in this generation, I hoped it was me.

Levi's POV

He was strong, stronger than me but weaker than Mikasa. He was fast, faster than Mikasa but slower than me. And the confidence he was fighting with was impeccable. Well, what had I expected, his way of talking, his words, his actions are all coated in his ego. I didn't know how his servants could still respect him. I mean, he's a rotten person. 

But he's not the only one.

In this world, most of the people are rotten. He might not be as bad as the Empress but that doesn't make him a good person. He knows what is going on in the Underground but not once has he tried to help. Of course, I'm not saying I'm a good person either. I've killed many people for my own benefit and I will kill him too, because it's good for me and my friends.

He started with false moves but I could see right through what he was doing, or so I thought before I got a cut on my left leg. I backed up for a second to breathe but that damn brat took it as an opportunity to corner me. I could see that he had no intention of going easy on me just because of his ego. He still recognized my talent and I had to admit, he was better than me at this but I wasn't one to give up.

He gazed down at me, his gaze filled with hate. After all, I did make an attempt to kill him.

This fight, it is oddly overwhelming for me. Sure, Mikasa was hard to win from but this guy was on another level. I could tell that he was putting in a lot of effort and was around the point where it would be challenging for him to beat me but as long as he didn't lose focus, he was guaranteed to win.

I thought that the hardships that I had faced merely trying to survive in the Underground had made me a strong person but this prince, he was far better than me despite living in comfort all his life. I guess I was wrong, challenges aren't guaranteed to make you stronger.

"Unexpected, isn't it?" He asked me while sparring when I didn't even know what he was referring to, "To meet someone like you like this," He finished leaving me in utter confusion.

"What's your last name?" He asked, aiming for my already injured leg as I blocked him.

"I don't have one," I answered through gritted teeth. I didn't want anyone to bring my past up. It reminded me of my mother and how I was unsuccessful in finding her.

"I suppose you're not familiar with the things above the ground. Have you ever heard of the Ackerman Family?"

I froze. For a mere second but that was enough for the prince to slash through the right side of my waist, across part of my chest, attracting a throbbing pain in my body that I was sure I had never felt before.

He pulled his sword out, "Focus," he continued before disarming one of my swords when I wasn't paying attention and then, the other one as in dual swords, a single one doesn't hold much power. He brought one of his dual swords up to my neck to symbolise his victory as his guards cheered and the gloomy brat stood up and smiled.

"You were a challenge, I'll give you that. Also," He said before getting off the sparring area, "Think about the two questions I asked you right before you got distracted."

A/N = I don't even have excuses for late chapters anymore.

8/4/2022

- Heliaxa