Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

56. The New Assassin

Reader's POV

"Hmm, even though it is December, it is quite hot. Say, what do you think about this weather?" I asked the assassin whose name was Lan. The name sounded strangely similar to one I had heard in the past few days.

"I think warm weather is great, Your Highness," Lan passed me another one of his charming smiles but he couldn't fool me. It seemed like he was a good actor and manipulator but he was no match for me because I was still the most prominent prince in the Empire and essentially a manipulator as well. All aristocrats were manipulators because in essence they were all politicians.

"Really?" I crossed my legs as I comfortably sat in my garden chair at my garden table along with Lan as he refilled my glass of red wine after I had already finished a bottle and was starting to feel a little tipsy, "I like the Winters better."

"I see," It seemed that Lan was having a difficulty speaking to me which was natural because anyone could look at him and his background and see that he hadn't spoken to someone with such a high station before and the second reason was that the person he was talking to was not talkative and kept their mouth shut even more when they were drunk.

The reason I did that was that I had no filter when I was drunk and would spew profanities at the Empress or someone else and also, I could reveal my secrets so I found it better to not speak at all.

"Is it because of Your Highness's attire? It must make Your Highness feel hot," Lan began to say but shut himself up because he thought that he may have crossed a line.

"Hmm, you're right," My drunk self didn't mind what Lan said, "It is because I feel hot. And because of those unsightly bugs."

"Right...," Lan didn't know what else to say as I finished the glass of wine Lan had just poured me and smoked my cigar at the same time.

"You know what? I'm sick of this shit. I wanna do something un-princely."

Lan looked shocked at my words.

"Wanna spar?" My gaze turned to Lan as he gulped in nervousness.

Cute.

"I-it would be an honour, Your Highness."

"Alright," I got up from my chair that I was sitting in as I held on to my glass, "One more glass and we'll begin."

"Yes, Your Highness," Lan poured me wine as I drank it in one go and put the glass down and walked away from the table a few steps.

"Let's begin."

"But Your Highness-"

"These are not the sparring grounds? Yes, I know. I am not that drunk. But I just wished to do something other people would deem inappropriate coming from a prince."

"Okay, Your Highness," Lan didn't show me the slightest bit of temper as he started to pull his sword out of his scabbard but quickly caught mine when I threw it at him.

"Use it," I commanded as I backed up a few steps to create space between us.

"Your Highness, you are not wielding a sword."

"Come on. The greatest swordsman in the Empire does not need a sword to win a match. Just duel with me. If you win then of course, you can kill me but if you lose, I will ask you a question and you have to answer truthfully no matter what," My mind was searching for an answer to a question that had already been answered once but I did not trust the original answer and made irrational decisions to attain that answer.

Lan was about to say something before I interrupted him, "Now don't say all that about how you are not here to kill me. I know the truth and so does everyone else."