Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

15. Killing Your Sister

Reader's POV

We all bowed down in front of Father. Whether it was a prince, a princess, a guard or a messenger, everyone bowed in front of him.

Even the Empress.

She had no other option. You had to bow in front of the Emperor no matter who you were. You were only exempt from this rule if you were the Emperor of another Empire which had equal standing with the English Empire like the French Empire or was more powerful like the Eldian Empire.

Not even a king could stand tall in front of an Emperor.

I was on one knee with my head bowed down like the other princes while the princess gave a curtsy while bowing their heads as the Empress did the same but kept her head a little higher but bowing nonetheless. The personal guards and imperial messenger bowed like the princes did whether they were male, female or non-binary because none of them wore dresses but uniforms and didn't do something like curtsies.

"Rise," I heard Father say as I slowly rose my head, "All Imperial messengers are dismissed," he announced as Floch and other messengers left to go about their day and get other work done, leaving the others out with Father who glared at everyone, attempting to find who killed Udo and his mother.

Now, he didn't especially care about them but killing someone from the Imperial family was a grave crime even if the culprit was another member from the Imperial family. He just did this because it was his duty as Emperor. Or maybe he just wanted to eliminate people from this game of thrones but either way, he did this. He could get someone to investigate this matter but these were members of the Imperial family and mere investigators didn't have the authority to get answers out of people with such high social standing causing him to do this himself.

Father rose from the Imperial throne and slowly made his way toward us and then passed us and stood in front of Zofia with his hands behind his back, as she raised her head to look him in the eyes and gulped in fear.

"Can you think of anyone in this room who had a grudge against Udo?" he asked her.

So it has begun.

"Yes, Your Majesty," she answered, avoiding eye contact but Father's firm gaze made her look back into his eyes so he could tell when she was lying.

"Who are they?"

"Her Majesty, Princess Gabi, Prince Griez, Prince Boris, Princess Christa and Princess Hannah, Your Majesty" Zofia replied, trying to regain her composure.

Griez is the sixth imperial child, Boris being fourth while Hannah is fifth. Christa was the seventh imperial child and was also the only person who was also my mother's child. Christa appeared kind on the outside while she plotted numerous schemes on the inside. Despite being my mother's other child from my father, we had been each other's biggest rivals until two years ago when we finally decided to talk to each other and reconciled. We had become acquaintances and were at a healing point in our relationship.

"I see," Father replied plainly, "Which one of them had the biggest grudge?"

"Princess Christa, Your Majesty."

"Why?"

"They had a public fight at Lady Stratmann's coming to age party last month, Your Majesty."

Father whipped his head around and turned his back to Zofia, all eyes on him as he made his way to Griez, looking in his eyes while yellow sparks flew around Father's head and he gave him a dismissing look and he repeated the process with Gabi. He then repeated the process with Boris. After him, he made his way toward the Empress as he glared at her while she glared back. Yellow sparks flew around his head and when nothing happened, he looked beyond annoyed.