Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

67. Forgetfulness

Levi's POV

"Your Highness," I stood by as the prince's physician lectured him, "No more than two drops, okay?"

"Why do you care?" The prince was displeased, "I can put however much I want. The poison is for the Empress."

"Your Highness," He massaged his forehead, "I am willing to let you take the risk of getting caught trying to poison the Empress however if the meal is accidentally given to someone else then more than two drops of this poison will kill them. Two drops is enough for the Empress because it reacts with the drug she takes."

"I'll see about that," He rolled his eyes, "I wouldn't be too upset if someone else at the dinner was killed instead. None of them are worth keeping around."

"I give up. Do as you wish," The physician sighed as he handed the prince a box, "This is the antidote to the poison in case something unexpected happens. Please take it with you."

"Alright," The prince accepted the case with velvet coating but he put it aside on a shelf for a moment, "Now, where's Mikasa?"

"She's just...tired. Even though Reiner explained all your reasons to us and we understand, Mikasa is still not happy about it."

"That was to be expected. I'll get going now," The prince was unaffected and as cold as ever. He turned on his heel and walked away as two guards who were standing outside accompanied him by holding his cape up from the floor.

I was supposed to follow him and go with him to his carriage and to the dinner but my eyes were focused on the deep red velvet case he had forgotten behind.

A minute later, I was sitting in the most luxurious carriage I had ever laid my eyes upon. The cushions in the carriage were just as comfortable as the ones in Eyebrow's office. I looked at the prince as he stared out of the window. He seemed tired but beneath the tiredness in his eyes and hidden carefully in the pumping of his blood, I could sense the fear. I did not know what he was scared of, but I could guess, and my guess was that he was scared of humiliation from his family after what had happened only a few days ago. I knew that that was all he could be scared about for death did not scare aristocrats, only indignity did. It was the opposite for anyone in the Underground because humiliation of being on the bottom was a thing we faced everyday, sometimes even multiple times a day so it no longer affected us, the kicks in our teeth did not affect us but most of us were afraid to die after fighting every single day for that rotten piece of bread to eat so that we could live.

We were scared of our efforts to live going down in vain when we died on the streets only to fatten the rats and they were scared of falling down and ruining the reputation they have built all their lives.

The world works differently above and below the surface.

The world works differently when you have something more than your life to lose.

"Here," The prince snapped me out of my thoughts as he slipped me a piece of paper, "Take this. Give this to Marcel when you see him. Do it in private."

"What is this?"

"An order to get my cousin out of the Underground," The prince scoffed.

"Marcel?" I was confused.

"The man who got you to my palace."

"I remember," I replied, "But why would he do that?"

"The Empress's right hand," The prince answered, "Is my spy. He reluctantly joined me and only gives me clues in puzzles but that is valuable information nonetheless."

Hah?

But why the fuck did he reveal the identity of his spy to me?

"I trust you," He explained as if he had just read my thoughts, "I could have killed your friend after you saved me but you trusted me that I wouldn't. You could have let him kill me and the Empress could take care of the deal. But instead, you saved me. You chose me. I will return that trust."

Huh.

I never looked at it that way.

So I chose him over the Empress...

...and that matters so much to him.

"A lot of people would choose you over the Empress, Your Highness."

"The Empress?" The prince raised an eyebrow, "Of course they would. But that wasn't what I am talking about. You chose me over security that your dreams will come true. That was a difficult decision to make."

Has the prince always been this philosophical?

Or is the poison messing up his head?

It should be countered by now, though.

"How long will this ride be, Your Highness?" I questioned, getting bored.

"Oh, about a few hours," He casually answered.

HOURS?!

"What is it?" The prince noticed the incredulous look on my face, "It took us far longer to get to the North."

"The North is far away, Your Highness. I heard the Capital was close."

"It isn't close," The prince shook his head, "It always takes at least one hour at best. The North was quick when we think about the distance because the carriages were lighter. This is a heavily decorated one and the wheels aren't suited to the snow on the ground so we're going slow. It will take a couple of hours at best. It will easily take four or five. Besides, look at the time. I have to arrive by dinner time. Of course it will take hours to get there or I wouldn't have set out so early."

So I basically have to just sit here doing nothing?

Ugh, my head is hurting.

I put my hand on my forehead making the prince ask, "Are you motion sick?"

"What's that?"

"Are you feeling sick right now? Headache?"

"Yes."

"Then you're motion sick," The prince nodded to himself, "It happens because of the motion."

"I have used the flying gear before. Motion doesn't sicken me."

"The omni-mobility manoeuvring gear? So have I," The prince crossed his arms, "This happens in closed spaces in motion. It's snowing so I can't open the window or it will ruin my clothes and your clothes."

"Your Highness, my head is hurting."

"So is mine," He answered, "Have some self control. Do you want something to eat? It will make you feel better. We can get something on the way. We have time."

"Fine."

The prince looked straight at me and thought about my response before letting out a short laugh, "You sound like a child."

Hah?

Me? A child?

He is the immature one here. Why isn't he opening the damn window when he too is feeling sick?

"Try to be more formal when you are talking with someone you are not close with," The prince started his lesson, "It will help you in the future."

"I don't think it will." I argued.

"It will," He chuckled, "Trust me."

We were both quiet for a few moments before I reminded the prince of something, "Weren't you going to stop to eat somewhere?"

"Oh, right. Right," The prince remembered after I reminded him, "I forgot."

You are too young to be forgetting things.

The prince then knocked at the wood behind him as the small window behind him opened, revealing the coach. The prince gave him instructions as he accepted the order and closed the window back up before the prince turned to me.

"We'll be there soon."

A/N = I should NOT have taken that Chemistry course. IT'S TOO HARD.

Why can you never trust an atom? Because they make up literally everything.

September 27, 2023

- Heliaxa