Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

80. Take Away My Dreams

Reader's POV

"Be confident. You're doing nothing wrong," Reiner muttered to himself as we exited my chambers and walked through the palace halls, "Be confident. You're doing nothing wrong."

"Calm down," I spoke.

"Don't tell me to calm down," Reiner snapped, "You're a professional actor since you've got noble blood. Think about me!"

"You're a good actor too," I whispered, "You do remember how many times you snuck me out of the palace and to the market, right?"

"That was different! I don't know how you're walking so confidently when at any point, we can come across Mr. Niccolo or Mr. Marlowe or worse, Mr. Smith. The guards haven't seen you for a week so they might report it to them or something!"

"Don't act suspicious then," I sighed.

I ignored the shocked gazes of guards and servants as I made my way to the main palace gates. Preparing a carriage wasn't necessary this time. There was another way out which was preferable right now because if I sent Reiner to prepare the best carriage I had, Erwin would most certainly be notified by the person in charge of preparing them.

"Are you sure about this?" Reiner asked once more, "About going and going with...him."

"Trust me," I faced forward, "I know what I'm doing."

"I hope so," Reiner muttered.

We walked on ahead quickly because our timing would decide how all of this would go. If we were a second too late then we would both die by Erwin's hands. We had to get this right.

I walked into the front yard confidently, toward the grand carriage that had brought a problem in a long list of mine to this palace, pretending that nothing was wrong with my body. My presence stopped the guards who were about to inform Erwin of his arrival in their tracks. If I was here then there was no need to get Erwin.

"What brings you here, Your Highness?" I smiled, my rage fueling underneath the mask of my gentle facade since I had to use honorifics. There was no getting past it. He was more powerful than me now. For now.

"Ah," Falco breathed, surprised that I had shown up before the guards had left to fetch me, "You left rather early at the dinner and your guard said that it was a health issue. He couldn't have been lying because despite the dinner being the most unpleasant night in the year for all of us, someone like you would never leave early."

"Your point being?"

"I stopped by on my way to the party to check on you," Falco's expression didn't change, "We can't afford to lose you."

"That's a curious thing to say considering our positions," I tilted my head.

"It seems that you are on your way to the party too," Falco got to the point, not caring for snide remarks and insults only looks could bestow, "Care to join me?"

"Hmm," I was confused, "That was the last thing I was expecting to hear from Your Highness. If I may be so bold, may I ask what the occasion is to invite me to journey with you?"

Falco remained silent for a moment before responding, "I have something I wish to discuss with you."

"And what may that be?"

"The current setting isn't most suitable for that conversation. I insist that you come with me."

"Very well," I nodded, signalling to Reiner to go in the back carriage with Falco's guard as I went in the front one with the man himself.

In the corner of my eye, I noticed Aether, wagging his tail at me in the distance, I smiled at him before I noticed Levi in the background. He looked at me for a moment and nodded in acknowledgement before turning away. It took two seconds for him to turn back at me with widened eyes, realising that I should not be there. Two more seconds and he was running towards me, spewing profanities that attracted the attention of all the guards and servants around. I winked at Ath and he knew what to do. He turned around and launched himself onto Levi, crashing him onto the floor and making him stay there. Levi was strong but he couldn't rival the raw strength of a hunting animal.