Before I Leave You

consequence

As Levi escorts you out the door, you find the driver your father assigned to you for the charity event waiting dutifully outside your car in front of your house. He's one of your father's men, no doubt, and looks a few years older than you, but not by much. You've never met him before but your father trusts him enough to drive you across the city so you don't question his background or skillsets.

On your way to the car, you notice Furlan and Isabel are nowhere in sight, much to your surprise. You were half expecting them to be waiting in a car of their own, ready to tail behind since they're known to never stray too far from Levi's side.

But alas, this is an exclusive event, and they are no exception. As for the lack of presence from your own circle...Well, this you find less surprising. Your father has most likely assigned them to jobs outside of the city — not wanting any of them to interfere or provide you with the means to sabotage tonight's event. Otherwise they'd be at your side or on the lookout somewhere nearby — as you reckon Furlan and Isabel to be currently doing despite knowing they shouldn't.

—

During the drive over to Mitras, where Lord Reiss is to host his charity event, Levi informs you that the money being raised tonight is to help rebuild the hospital recently hit by an alleged Marleyan terrorist attack near one of the lower sectors. Although signs of a gas leak were ultimately presented, the tension between Paradis and Marley has only escalated since then, and the threat of war has become all the more real.

The king refuses to entertain any notions of war, and because of this, so has the high class.

Not that it matters.

Even if they were to take it seriously, and a war were to break out between both countries, the king of Paradis and his nobles would still be heavily shielded from the worst of it. The fact Lord Reiss is focusing on the rebuilding of the hospital for his cause this evening paints him as compassionate and honorable, but the man is known for taking advantage of situations such as these to flaunt his wealth and powerful connections (to the royal family in particular). Which makes him the worst of them all.

As your driver pulls up into Lord Reiss' estate a while later, there is no doubting the nobleman's strong ties with the crown nor of his lavish and extravagant taste. Exhibit A: there's a bloody pair of peacocks roaming his front garden, of all things, and exhibit b: there's a pond with a fountain in the center for the bloody birds to drink from.

You and Levi exchange glances in the car at the sight of them, stifling in your laughter.

Rich people.

The driveway up to the manor has a circular design so vehicles can drive in and out without trouble, but there is still staff directing incoming vehicles to the drop off area all the same. Your driver drives up to where they indicate for him to station while you and Levi step out of the vehicle.

"Lay low," you hear Levi tell the driver from the door. "We're not here to cause trouble."

You hum in disagreement as Levi closes the door behind you. "That's yet to be determined."

Without waiting for him to reply back, you commence up the stairs to the manor, ready to get this over with. But Levi easily catches up to you and takes his place at your right, hooking your waist with an arm to secure you back at his side.

"Don't stray," he hisses at you in warning, taking the lead up the stairs. "We're here together, love. Remember that."

You tsk irritably. "So I'm on a leash now?"

Levi clenches his jaw beside you as you reach the front of the stairs. "If that's what being engaged to me feels like to you," he says bitterly, "then yes."