entangle (levi x reader)

95. gahnospinel

"We're allowed to be here but-" Isabel glanced nervously out the window as our carriage pulled up to the Forster mansion, "-it's a bit unusual for a noble lady to be conducting an investigation- on paper you're just here to retrieve something that you left behind."

ok-

"Will we be allowed to wander?"

"Oh yeah no problem," she waved me off. "I'm with you- and the duchy has more than enough money to bribe some of the capital guards standing watch."

that's fine then

"Or well-" she frowned a little, "don't worry about it too much but try not to wander off alone- who knows how the staff remaining in the house feels about you."

true we're just going into his office to look through some documents-

its already suspicious enough

i don't want to create any unnecessary drama

"How is it in there-" I asked, trailing slightly behind Isabel as she escorted me into the house.

honestly i'm a bit nervous to go back into the office

not that anything will happen just-

i don't have any good memories of the place

"It's been cleaned up since that day," Isabel continued to push forward. "A lot of things were taken for the investigation-"

she's right

i don't remember much anyway

a lot of that moment was a blur

"Are you-"

is it weird of me to ask?

i feel very comfortable around farlan but

isabel and i really aren't that close

"Hmm?"

"Are you ok? Not with everything- just- with going into the room."

isabel was actually there when it happened-

"That's fine," she pursed her lips slightly before flashing me a smile. "I've been back a couple of times since he collapsed. If anything I'm surprised you're ok with being in the room with him-"

"You've been back?"

"I was helping with the investigation," she nodded.

i knew she was busy but

come to think of it

she never came in to see levi

"I'm sorry," I paused, "you've been working really hard- you haven't even had time to visit him."

after this she should

"Oh... it's ok- I uh-" she pushed open the office door without hesitation, I found myself paused just outside the doorway, gathering myself. "I wanted to be busy, don't apologize."

"Still- Levi obviously means a lot to you," I released a breath, stepping into the room, "I don't want to keep you from seeing him."

i feel bad about it

she's just as entitled to her emotions as i am

i think it would kill me to not be able to watch over him

"I'll go speak to Farlan about what we find when we get back- if you want some time alone with Levi you should take it." I glanced around the room.

it's a little bare

"Sure," Isabel still seemed a bit hesitant, "what are we looking for exactly?"

"Oh! Documents- anything pertaining to the forest or the marquisate."

farlan wasn't lying when he mentioned that a lot had been confiscated

"You should check the drawers over there-" she pointed to a large cabinet behind the desk, "I'll stay over here in case someone tries to enter."

"Alright," silence fell between us as I flipped through unorganized stacks of paper.

i wonder...

"Isabel?"

"Yes?"

"Is something wrong?"

the way she responded to my offer for some time with levi was a bit strange

"What?"

"Is something wrong? You seemed a bit put off when I told you to spend some time with Levi," I continued to look through documents. "I don't want to push you to do anything it's just-"

it seemed a bit off that you hadn't come by to visit

"You shouldn't worry about it," Isabel didn't deny anything.

i see

"Please let me worry, it's the least I can do."

and i feel a little useless right now

"It's embarrassing I just-"

im sure it isn't that bad

"I won't judge you," I shot her a reassuring look.

"I think I'm scared."

"You think?"

"Yeah I-" she clenched her hand into a fist, "I'm supposed to be his guard- I'm supposed to protect him and yet-"

i get it

"I'm scared of seeing him like that- there are differences between us but he's always been my big brother you know? If I see him lying there it means I've really failed- I don't want to have any memories of him looking weak like that."

we're all hurting

"I'm sure he would appreciate it," I pulled out a folder, idly looking through its contents. "I'd like to think that anyway."

"It's bad isn't it? I should really go see him but I can't-"

im the same if you think about it

"I don't think so- I think you're impressive." I answered, honestly. "I'm scared too- I'm really scared that he's going to disappear and I won't be there."

that i'll have to learn second hand about the death of a loved one

again

i don't think i could go through that

"Then- why are you here? I should be the one looking- you should be back with Levi?" She took the folder out of my hands.

i have to do this too

"Farlan is right, nothing will change if I sit there," I shot her a smile. "I think with my father I got too used to waiting for the inevitable to happen- by the time I finally started to act it was too late. That isn't going to happen with Levi, I'll make sure of it."

"I believe you."

"Let's go together when we get back, let's show Levi what we found together."

"Found?"

"Mhmm-" I pointed to the file she was holding, "I wonder why marquess forster has development plans for the forest in his office?"

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the summer needs to end slower ):

- ami