Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

29. Immaturity

Reader's POV

"Are you done?" I crossed my arms as I looked at an exhausted Mikasa and Annie as they panted, not wanting to be the one that gave up. Bertholdt was begging me to get the ladies to stop but I refused, saying that it would be better if they fought it out once and for all and never bothered me again. And I was also curious as to who would be the victor.

So far, Mikasa was using all of her Ackerman strength to defeat Annie but she was no less. She was using extremely complex martial arts moves that she taught me over the years to be able to strike Mikasa as I watched the interesting fight, identifying all of Annie's moves to test my knowledge as Bertholdt continued begging me to stop them as I was the only person there who had that much authority.

"Not yet," Annie breathed as Mikasa wiped some blood that she had coughed up, off her mouth. Everyone in the training grounds had paused their training to see the match that they had been wanting to see for years but didn't know if they'd ever get the chance. Someone went and got servants who didn't train to watch the fight as well as guards who were supposed to be on duty and soldiers from their own palace who preferred to work out in their special training grounds near their palace but sometimes chose to come here to see their guard friends.

When Mikasa and Levi duelled then no one knew what to expect so the reaction was different and when Levi and I duelled, everyone already knew what the outcome would be so there wasn't this kind of excitement where people were taking notes and taking pictures with the palace camera that they had stolen from Erwin's office. They were betting on their choice with actual money as no one even noticed that the master of the palace was present.

"Make sure to return the camera to Erwin's office and get some pictures for me too," I ordered as the guards that had stolen the camera froze, realising that I was there but one was brave enough to stutter back an apology and that they heard my orders and would follow them.

"Come on. Just stop them already," Bertholdt pleaded as I shook my head.

"If I stop them then this will happen again."

"Yes but the one that wins out of the two of them will oppress the other for the rest of their life. And you said that Ms. Ackerman already lost to the assassin. What if she loses again? You said that she was already upset!" Bertholdt argued.

"That won't happen," I answered.

"But then Annie-"

"Don't worry. She won't lose either. I've known both of them for years and I know the way they fight. They are direct opposites and wield the same amount of power in their own way. They'll either both give up at the same time or pass out at the same time," I said simply as Bertholdt had his mouth hung open in shock before I grabbed a chair and comfortably sat down to witness the once in a lifetime fight.

Bertholdt sighed in defeat and begrudgingly dragged a chair next to mine and sat down.

"I'm going to the North next week," I announced, making the decision on the spot.

"You're what? But isn't the New Year's Banquet coming up? And what about the annual Imperial Family dinner?" Bertholdt was shocked.

"I'll only stay there for a week so there's no need to worry. I'll be back in time for even Hannah's engagement party."

"Are you sure? What if you're late?"

"I won't be. I have important things to discuss with Mr. Kenny Ackerman. I can't miss that."

"If you say so," Bertholdt fidgeted.

The fight between Annie and Mikasa lasted for an hour before both of them passed out. It was unusual seeing a fight last that long but since both of them were equally powerful and talented in martial arts and both were very strong, the fight lasted long.

"Carry them to the infirmary in the Central Palace," I ordered the workers who were beginning to shuffle out of the training grounds after the fight ended as they noticed me for the first time and shook in fear upon me seeing that they were skipping work. However, I couldn't care less at the moment because I too was too invested in seeing the fight that I was skipping my work.

The workers nodded as two pairs parted from the group to carry the ladies. That was before another pair joined in to help the pair that was carrying Mikasa because if truth be told, she was rather heavy.

"How will Annie go back to her estate now?" Bertholdt as always was worried about the girl he liked as he asked me questions while following me out of the training grounds.

"She can still go back. It depends on when she wakes up. But she's welcome to stay for a while. And you are too. Always."

"Thanks," Bertholdt nervously scratched the back of his head, "You know that I would invite you too but-"

"Yeah. Yeah. I know. You don't have a separate palace so you can't have guests over without permission," I completed Bertholdt's sentence for him before asking, "So, are you staying? I need to have Erwin make appropriate arrangements for you."

"Sure," Bertholdt agreed to my offer of staying the night here along with Annie just as he had many times before.

After that, I stopped a servant walking past to deliver Erwin a message that my two friends would be staying the night and as soon as the servant passed to deliver the message, an awkward silence which was getting more and more common as the days passed, befell us.

"So when are you going to confess?" I started a friendly conversation that I was sure would melt the ice.

"Confess what?" Bertholdt froze.

"Confess your feelings to Annie that you like her," I entered my personal library as Bertholdt, who was silently following behind, deeply blushed and started stuttering.

"Y/N, we talked about this!" Bertholdt accidentally let my real name slip and I quickly put my hand over his mouth to shut him up but accidentally harshly slapped him.

"Sorry! Are you okay?" I held a scared Bertholdt who was trying to run away by his shoulders to take a look at his face.

"You're...too...harsh," Bertholdt managed to mutter out.

"It was an accident! Do you want to see Marlowe?! I'll take you to Marlowe!" Before Bertholdt could even answer, I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to Marlowe's office where he seemed to be writing reports on the usage of his medicines and he seemed plenty frustrated upon seeing us.

"I don't get paid enough for this" Marlowe pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance before standing up to attend to his duties and lecturing me, "This has happened way too many times now. Your Highness should control your strength a bit more."

"Right."

And then, the doors of Marlowe's office opened once again to see two people carrying Annie's weight, most of which was her dress and another four people carrying a passed out Mikasa.

I awkwardly laughed once they laid the ladies in the beds and left to do their duties as Marlowe, who looked beyond furious, glared at me.

"Your Highness?"

"Yes?" I looked to Bertholdt to help me but he just looked away.

Damn traitor.

"Did they fight?"

"Yes."

"Could you have stopped them?"

"Yes," I looked down at the floor, receiving a lecture as if I was still the little kid under his care.

Before Marlowe could say anything else, Reiner made his entrance in the office and started talking loudly in the place where it was supposed to be quiet.

"Holy shit! I heard that these two went at it but I refused to believe it until I saw it myself! So who won? Some were saying that Mikasa did while the others said it was Lady Leonhart! Some even said that it was a draw!"

"REINER!" Marlowe's anger was transferred towards Reiner.

And I later found out that Bertholdt wasn't looking away but looking through the window to signal Reiner to come over here and save me.

A/N = Tomorrow's my birthday!

December 6, 2022

- Heliaxa