Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

51. The Party Of Ignominy

Reader's POV

I was about to arrive at yet another stuffy party.

Everything in these parties was good, from the food to the wine, from the music to the decorations...

...except the guests.

Once the carriage stopped I walked to the entrance of the annex of the estate which was owned by the noble family that was Hannah's fiancé's.

When I reached solid marble ground, my guards gently put down the end of my cape on the ground and went back to my carriage where they were to wait until I came back.

I stepped ahead and toward the gates which led to the huge banquet hall that the party was to be held in and I looked at the man who had been assigned the job of announcing the guests as he bowed after looking at me.

"Your Highness, I shall announce you now."

"Very well."

The guards who were in charge of guarding the gate and opening it for guests were also bowing before they held their heads up and opened the gates and I walked through while I was being announced.

In this Empire, it was a law to always announce members of the Imperial Family when they were attending with a specific tune of the trumpets and trombones that was always required unless another tune was played and that was approved by that Imperial family member beforehand. Besides the Imperial Family members, it wasn't necessary to announce anyone but hosts often announced their close friends or higher members of the aristocracy to not get on their bad side.

I descended the stairs while keeping my straight posture as the people downstairs acknowledged my presence.

And seeing Hannah's face was priceless since she probably thought that I wouldn't attend, let alone in an outfit that was grander than hers.

But I do have to deal with the gossip of not arriving with Mikasa.

Huh, what do I do?

I was thinking about that before I spotted a certain light haired brunette with short hair glancing at me.

Or no, staring at me.

Ah, shit.

Annie, where are you?

Save me.

But first, I have to greet the hosts.

And I hope that Annie can save me before Hitch tries to drag me away.

"Princess, Lord Kefka" I greeted Hannah and Franz once I had descended the stairs, "My congratulations on your engagement."

"Your Highness," Hannah's smile faltered upon knowing that even when my reputation had been damaged a little because of the incident, she was still not at my level and even though I could call her 'princess' and not use her honorifics, she couldn't do that to me, "Thank you for attending. Your Highness typically doesn't acquaint yourself with my parties so if I may ask, to what do I owe the honour?"

"I wanted to see my dear sister's party. Getting engaged at such a young age, I wanted to see that you were alright," I mentioned Hannah being younger than me and still getting engaged so early, "Besides, I follow His Majesty's presence. He is the sun of our Empire, after all."

"I see," Hannah didn't look too happy, after all, I was better dressed than her.

"Please enjoy the party, Your Highness," Franz did his best at a weak smile before leaving with Hannah to greet other guests.

And that's when I saw Hitch.

Rushing toward me.

I turned around in the opposite direction to try and run from her and luckily I saw Annie.