Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

66. A Promise Made

Reader's POV

"Did the outfit arrive?"

"It did," Reiner answered as he tightened my corset. It hurt but I didn't wince. I was used to it.

Reiner didn't say anything.

"Why are you so quiet?" I questioned.

"Y/N.... I don't know what to say. Why did you do that?"

"Why did I do what?"

"Let Furlan out of the dungeon. Why did you do that?"

"You're asking me that a week later?"

"Y/N.... I didn't know how to ask. No one did. But the question is eating me up alive. I need to know why. I need to know why you of all people would forgive the man who tried to kill you."

"Forgive?" I scoffed, "I didn't forgive anyone. I haven't told you this yet, have I? Isabel's alive. And those two are her friends."

Reiner gasped.

"Yes. Really. They have known her for thirteen years."

"T-that means...," Reiner hesitated to finish the sentence.

"Yes," I confirmed, "Isabel didn't come with me because she didn't believe me when I told her I could help her? Bullshit. She didn't come with me because she chose someone else over me. She chose a life in hell with them over everything I could give her."

"Then why did you let Church boy out of the dungeon?"

"Because she wouldn't be happy to see someone she considers family being kept in prison."

"But she chose someone else!"

"Everyone did," I answered, "Mother, Father, Christa, Isabel and them...."

"Who is 'them'?"

"I don't know."

"What?" Reiner was confused as he tied my corset and I turned around to face him.

"You look like you want to say something."

"Y/N," Reiner looked sad, "Don't let...don't let anyone make you a second choice. Those who do...don't deserve to be around you. Keep them away from you."

"Reiner," I hurtfully laughed, "I can't. It hurts too much to not choose them because I need them. I say that she didn't choose me but that's okay because it was her decision and not mine. She didn't want to choose me. I couldn't force her to."

"Y/N...."

"Do my hair," I sat down in my dressing chair once Reiner was done with my corset and shirt, "Where's Mikasa?"

"She's in her room. She's still hurt by your decision. She thinks it's because of what she did."

"I told her that it's not," I sighed, "Why won't she believe me?"

"You know what she's like," Reiner began my intense hair styling routine, "But if I'm honest, I don't understand your decision."

"I wished to discuss this at a meeting but if you insist on knowing, I'll tell you," I revealed the reasoning behind my decision, "Erwin told me that Marcel had left behind a letter. It said that the Empress had found out that Levi was an Ackerman and that she wanted him back. It's the same intel Annie gave me from her 'spy' in her palace. If I take him to the Imperial Family Dinner then I can show them that he is useful to me and she won't be able to ask to take him back and give me a replacement. And besides, publicly, Mikasa is my lover. It is inappropriate to bring lovers to the Imperial Family Dinner. The only ones who can attend are people who have Imperial blood in their veins, are adopted into the family or the Empress. Only one guard is allowed. And now that I have announced Mikasa as my lover, it would be rude to treat her as a guard."