Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

83. The North Terrace

Levi's POV

It was a surprising and honestly, refreshing view to see the prince like that. He-err-she looked scared out of her life. She and her attendant, quite literally, were close to jumping off the balcony and already would have if each of them weren't busy trying to push the other to face Eyebrows and defend them.

"I'm sorry," The prince murmured, "Don't kill me, Erwin. Please don't kill me."

"I was forced!" Reiner raised his hands in surrender, "I was threatened! I had no choice!"

"Liar!" The prince glared at him, "Now you go and throw me under the carriage!"

"I told you that you have to take responsibility!" The attendant argued back.

"Enough," One word from eyebrows was enough to send both the prince and her attendant into pure, immediate silence, "We'll discuss this later. Right now, we're heading back."

"Not yet-"

"I didn't ask," Eyebrows crossed his arms, "Don't make me drag you back to the palace."

"Why?" The prince argued, "I'm alive and well, aren't I? I managed to make it here and survived for so long. A few more hours won't hurt. And why do you get to decide-"

"You're not alive and well. I heard some stimulants were missing from Marlowe's office. I assume that was your doing?"

The prince gulped, "R-Reiner's been doing drugs."

"What?!" He was shocked before he turned to eyebrows, "Mr. Smith, you have to believe me! That's a lie!"

"What kind of friend are you?!"

"I almost died bringing you here! What more do you want from me?!"

"We're heading back!" Eyebrows repeated himself, shouting this time, silencing the younger two of our group immediately again.

"Levi!" The prince finally acknowledged my presence after a pause, probably as a last resort, "Help me!"

"Like hell," I scoffed, "You sent your dog after me."

"Wolf!"

"Whatever. I'm not helping you."

"I'll pay you-"

"For fuck's sake," I frowned, "I don't want your fucking money."

The prince grit her teeth and glared at all of us as if we were a bunch of traitors and backed herself against the handrail of the balcony. Reiner held onto her because he clearly didn't trust her to not be jumping off.

"I'm not going anywhere-"

"What's going on here?" A voice of authority snapped us out of our weird little situation as we turned to see the Emperor standing right behind us. No words were spoken as the prince bowed down and the three of us followed suit. We rose at his command.

"I have some business with my son," He crossed his arms as he turned to the prince, "Get over here."

The prince seemed paralysed by fear to say the least but gulped it down and followed the Emperor with an expression of perplexity, "If you'll excuse me."

I looked at Eyebrows and his expression was far from pleasant when he looked at the Emperor. His hatred was justified because the prince meant much to him and it was the Emperor who had caused her pain; the fact that Eyebrows would despise him wasn't surprising.

"Reiner," He turned to the attendant while the prince was gone, "This will have consequences."

"Mr. Smith!" He flinched, "She threatened me!"