Imperial Affairs (Levi X Reader) AU

84. Do What I Must

Reader's POV

I bit my lip to suppress heavy, shaky breathing and stayed two steps behind Father. I aligned my steps with his, looking straight ahead and not at him, completely blending into the thick atmosphere of the party. I was ashamed to think that I was afraid of what Father would do. He already took my reputation away. What more could he do anyway? Did he have a problem with the fact that after that, I had refused the trade deal between myself and the Empire and decided to exclusively sell materials from the North to the Trading Company?

But I didn't dare utter a word to satisfy my curiosity. If anyone would speak, it would be him first. Diving headfirst into this just because my pride was pushing me to was not going to help me win. I needed to play my cards right, discard the ones I didn't need and pull ones that would benefit me.

"You're worse than Finger."

Hah?

I was shocked at the statement Father released. Not only did it not make much sense, it was an oddly unsophisticated sentence for an Emperor to speak.

"I'm afraid I don't understand Your Majesty's comparison between myself and Her Majesty," I narrowed my eyes at him as he stared straight ahead, walking on with no clear destination in mind, or that's what I thought.

"Even she wouldn't be crazy enough to attempt to poison someone and then take it herself," He turned to me, "And then show up to a party a week later."

My eyes widened at his words as I stared at him in disbelief, not understanding how he could have found out. My mask of calm and collected composure disappeared for a moment but a moment only. I was getting better at controlling my expressions.

"I'm right, aren't I?" He narrowed his eyes.

"I never imagined that someone of your station could stoop so low as to plant a spy in my palace," I tried my best to keep my anger at bay, "But Your Majesty always finds ways to prove me wrong, whether it is about a spy, your care for your own child or the way you are willing to punish people for justified anger."

"Justified anger?" He raised an eyebrow.

"My anger at Your Majesty for killing my sister is just as justified, if not more, as yours at me for not dying for my Mother," I glared, "But your anger isn't fair since wasn't it you who took me to your business deal? I would have readily died for her if I could. Why does Your Majesty blame me? Blame yourself. Hate yourself."

"It seems your downfall hasn't been enough of a lesson for you."

"What more can you take away?" I grit my teeth, "What more do I have anyway?"

"I didn't take away your reputation, you chose to give it," He bit back, "You could've given up the North for a certain amount of time and yet, you didn't. You certainly talk a lot about hate for someone who took poison for me."

I paused for a moment, trying to formulate a reply. He did hit a nerve. I was bluffing. I didn't hate him. I didn't hate him because what had he done anyway? Taken away a sister who was going to stab me in the back sooner or later? Taken away the reputation that I had only built up because of him? He only took away what he had given me. But this time, I would build myself up on my own. So I would owe nothing to him.

"One last time," I answered after a moment, "I put my neck under the executioner one last time, not for Your Majesty, but to pay back my debt. I didn't die in the assassination that killed Mother and Your Majesty didn't die at the dinner. We're even."

Father scoffed and changed the subject, "The reason I brought you here was to discuss the happening at the party before I arrived. I heard there was quite an altercation between you and a baron. Is that the impression you wish to put of my Empire in front of guests?"