Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

12. Another Chance

Levi's POV

What's your last name?

What's your last name?

What's your last name?

What's your last name?

What's your last name?

"What the fuck?" I asked myself as I got up from my bed, the same question in the prince's voice ringing in my head ever since I came back from the palace infirmary after getting my leg and chest treated.

Why did he care so much for my last name?

And besides, what happened to me after hearing the name 'Ackerman'? I completely froze though it is unknown to me why.

I recall hearing it before, a long time ago. Where did I hear it?

Where?

I know I read about it in one of the 6 month old newspapers we get down there but I got the same reaction then so I must've heard it before.

"Tch."

I have no chance of beating the prince in a sword fight. Even if I wasn't distracted by what he said, his talents outshine mine. The most I can be is a difficult to beat opponent and that's when I, myself am fully focused instead of the shit I did today.

I checked the clock on the wall for dinner time and got up from the cloud-like bed I had been given. I know that they wouldn't give their best mattresses to someone like me. That would be stupid. But even this was luxury compared to what I got in the Underground.

I straightened out my uniform and headed to the dining hall as my room door clicked shut behind me. When I entered the dining hall, it was strange.... The dining hall which was usually so damn loud was only filled with quiet chatter. I wondered why but not enough to ask anyone. I just grabbed a plate and took some food and sat down on the far corner of the hall where no one else was.

At least there is one good thing about this job.

I get to eat proper meals.

Just as I was about to take the first bite of my food, I saw a group approaching me at the corner of my eye. How I knew that they weren't here for a fight like the guys the day before yesterday was because I saw that Marco was one of them. Though, the horseface was also following behind. There was also a bald guy and a red headed girl who had a potato in her hand that she was eating while walking.

Marco approached me and politely asked, "Can we sit with you?"

No.

"Do whatever you want," I replied.

Taking that a yes, they sat down even though my tone made it very clear that I didn't want them here.

"Today you got your ass kicked by His Highn-," the horseface's mouth was slapped shut by Marco who didn't want to pick a fight with me.

"Ah, let me introduce you to my friends," Marco realised that he hadn't done that yet. He pointed to the horseface, "This is Jean," the cue ball, "This is Connie," and then to the potato girl, "This is Sasha and she's also the wife of the head chef of the palace."

The last part was unnecessary but ok.

Now, I want to know why you are talking to me.

"We're here because we thought that you might be lonely here by yourself," he said as if he just read my mind.

Well, I was lonely because I was missing my friends. I don't know how you being here would make a difference.

Upon not replying to them, our table was filled with an awkward silence. It didn't last long though because a guy with brown eyes and hair came running into the hall and shouted, "The rumour is true, it has been confirmed by His Highness himself!" There were many gasps of surprise throughout the dining hall. I connected 2 and 2 together to figure out that the dining hall was quiet today because everyone was discussing the rumour. All I have to figure out now is what rumour was it and why was it so important that the prince himself needed to confirm it.

As if reading my thoughts again, Marco told me about the rumour making my job much easier for me.

"I suppose you haven't heard about the rumour yet," Marco asked as his friends just remained in their trance, seeming very shocked upon hearing the news, "Apparently His Majesty, the Emperor's last consort alive, has been killed along with her son, the eighth prince."

Well, that certainly is shocking news.

"The Empress is constantly gaining more power," Horseface muttered through gritted teeth, then, he glared at me, "Don't you work for her?!" He shouted at me, his question was more of a statement than an actual question. His loud voice also gained the attention of most of the people in the dining hall to our conversation.

"Not by choice," I replied coolly as the chatter in the dining hall died down due to whatever reason. I wasn't lying, I wasn't working for the Empress because I wanted to. It was because I needed to get my friends out of the shithole they were living in. And, I couldn't even take the prince's offer anymore since it's deadline had expired.

"He even admits it," Horseface shouted for everyone to hear.

Right then, the whole dining hall became eerily quiet and my blood started boiling. Not because of my anger towards Horsefaces's words but because of a restlessness in my blood that urged me to notice something. I ignored it and decided to reply to Horseface and just when I was about to, a familiar voice behind me did instead.

"Calm down, Jean," The voice said and Horseface actually shut up for once. I turned around to see who it was and I almost jumped out of my skin.

It was the prince.

This would be the reason that the dining hall suddenly became quiet.

And the reason that my blood was moving strangely.

"Yes, Your Highness," Horseface replied meekly as the prince sat down right beside me.

Why is he here?

Everyone in the dining hall was quiet but none of them looked uneasy. This indicated that he came here often.

"What is it? Am I not supposed to be here?" He asked me.

"Of course not, Your Highness. This is your palace, you can go anywhere you want," I replied, looking away.

"That's what I thought," he scoffed.

The prince sure has a talent for pissing me off. Though he's strong enough that I can't attack him.

"Don't mind me," The prince announced as the chatter unmuted and he turned to me once again, "Not by choice, huh?" He indicated to what I said earlier, "I think I gave you a choice," He talked about the offer he gave me a day ago.

"I made the wrong decision," I admitted.

"What makes you think that?"

"I can't complete my mission now," I said, meaning his strength was far greater than mine.

"You couldn't do it then either, what changed now?" He asked as the others on the table tried to figure out what we were talking about.

"I became aware of that," I told him. I was being honest. I couldn't win against him. I could die fighting but that wouldn't help Isabel and Furlan one bit.

"If you got the offer again, would you accept it?"

I was surprised by his words but surely, he wouldn't just give it to me, would he?

"Why yes, Your Highness." I answered.

He smirked, pleased by my answer and got up to leave but not before saying, "Then show me that you are worthy of getting the offer a second time."

A/N = I posted the last chapter ages ago. I'll try my best to post more often.

15/5/2022

- Heliaxa