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Editing completed 6/7/2017

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"I said keep your mouth shut, foreigner."

A low sigh escaped my lips as I turned my head to my now completely stitched arm. It really does sting... the Prince's gaze lingered on me for a few extra seconds, but he quickly turned away with a loud click of his tongue.

"To take your life... how amusing."

Is that praise I hear? A complement maybe? A small smile graced my lips but the Prince quickly added:

"A real shame you cannot follow simple instructions."

I lowered my head, ignoring the Prince's insult and reflecting upon Reiner's words - he had indeed worried me, but I'd decided to bury his meaningless chants at the back of my mind. The fire occurred many years ago... I must let go.

"If it's not to bold of me... could I visit Reiner briefly? I'd like to check on his condition."

The Prince rose from his chair and crossed his arms, casting the General a deadpan stare.

"I must be present if you wish to speak with him."

The Prince met eyes with me and curtly nodded his head.

"You too, brat."

I half bowed, but winced at the stitches moving inside my fresh wound.

"Don't move, you idiot. Forget bowing for an hour."

I nodded my head, swiftly rising to my feet and taking my usual place beside the Prince. General Pixis nervously cleared this throat, looking ever so slightly embarrassed.

"I'll agree to your conditions... oh.. I don't know your name..."

The Prince furrowed his brows before roughly speaking his title. General Pixi's seemed awfully embarrassed for being unaware of Prince Levi's first name for such a prolonged amount of time.

"Names Levi. I don't allow many to speak my title. I'll let it slide just this once, General..."

General Pixis smiled warmly and bowed deeply, a sign of extreme respect. I tensed up at the Generals drastic change of character - he had been so cruel when his regime first started. Had Reiner changed his emotions?

"We'll walk to his room."

General Pixis nodded his head and wiped a small droplet of sweat away from his forehead. Bowing seems to hurt his back...

                               |~~~~|

The Prince stood behind a large wooden door with a sentence carved above a wooden arch. Guest area - guests of the King.

"You've put Reiner in such a high authority room... I'm grateful, Levi."

The Prince sighed loudly and opened the door with the pale palm of his hand. Reiner's here to prevent maids entering and to stop Reiner requesting to leave, that's why.

"It's to benefit myself, that is why the boy was placed here."

The General smiled gently, mumbling:

"A ruthless Prince indeed."

The Prince entered as I followed behind him, the room had been huge, with a large four poster bed in the centre of the room. Reiner's awake, winding bandages around his chest.

"A fine evening, General."

Reiner greeted his Master formally and politely, seeing Reiner so friendly was a rather strange sight.

"Don't strain yourself Reiner, I've come to see how your feeling..."

General Pixis stood at the side of Reiner's bed and studied the wound which traveled across his chest, all stitched and bandaged. My cuts were indeed thin...

"Say, why are you here, (Y/N)?"

I bowed gently, my eyes darkening to a glare, even back in Chi we'd always been rivals - friends... yet rivals...

"I've been requested to be here."

Reiner sat up with an an amused grin, casting his eyes to the Prince, who stood against the wooden door in complete silence.

"By the murderer?"

I clenched my fists, deep frustration burned within my eyes as the General scolded Reiner, attempting to silence him.

"Reiner... don't show such blatant disrespect."

Reiner clenched his huge tanned hands with a snarl, meeting eyes with the Prince - who still remained silent.

"Being in his presence disgusts me. I want to throw up just looking at him."

I thought about to drawing my sword, only General Pixis suddenly slapped Reiner across the check. Did... Reiner just get... slapped by an old man? I felt my lips twitch up into a smirk at Reiner's dumbstruck expression as a chuckle sounded at the back of my throat.

"Shut your damn mouth, (Y/N)."

Reiner looked beyond pissed, yet upset that he angered and shamed his Master. I turned my back on the two, focusing my attention on the Prince who leant against the wooden doors.

"What happened?"

I felt my self instinctively lean forward into a bow, only the Prince placed both his hands onto my shoulders.

"Stop bowing. You'll reopen your stitches."

I stiffened at his touch - but quickly nodded my head, flinching once Reiner raised his voice.

"(Y/N), I wish for you to leave."

I sighed loudly, feeling rather drained by Reiner's injury to my arm and his presence in general, turning to the Prince with a glare, I repeated Reiner's request to him.

"Reiner would like me to leave. I would also like to leave."

The Prince removed his crown with a frustrated swirl within his steel eyes, yet he allowed me to leave the room. I won't be able to translate the rest of the conversation.

"I'll permit you to leave, wait for me in the throne room."

I nodded, swiftly brushing shoulders with the Prince as I admired the carving of the wooden doors on my way out.

Such a long hallway... I don't think I remember the way back. I haven't visited this area of the palace before... there's no way in hell I'm asking the Prince for directions, my pride won't allow it.

I attempted to retrace my steps but failed miserably. I remained in the middle of a hallway - deciding to aimlessly wander the golden halls. Fuck. I'm completely lost. I wonder if the Prince has returned the General and himself to the throne room considering he can't understand the conversation...

I quickly spotted a guard standing outside a small wooden door and awkwardly asked for directions.

"I'm looking for the throne room. I'm a servant of the Prince... he's requested I be there."

The guard remained motionless for a few seconds then sighed loudly - lowering his spear and gesturing for me to follow behind him.

"Damn foreigner. I'll get punished by the Prince for abandoning my post... just what rank are you anyway? You're not wearing a uniform nor are you carrying a spear."

I cleared my throat and thought intensely what my answer should be... the Prince never did formally name my position... I'll make one up.

"I'm his... uh... Royal Guard... yes that's me."

Nice save, (Y/N). A believable title indeed.

The guard visibly stiffened upon hearing the word 'royal' leave my lips as I quickly felt a sense of regret surface - unable to correct myself, my spiral of lies commenced.

"Royal? Can you wield a spear?"

"Yes I can."

I can't.

The Guard nodded his head approvingly as we arrived under the familiar marble carved arch. I felt relief flood my system. I straight up lied to that guy... I hope word doesn't get around... The Prince spotted me trailing behind the guard dressed in black and scowled fiercely at me.

"Just where the hell have you been, damn foreigner?"

I winced at the Prince's glare and bowed my head, careful to avoid the sting of my stitches.

"I forget my way back to the throne room..."

The guard saluted the Prince, turning to me with a friendly bow.

"I wasn't aware you had a royal guard, your majesty..."

The Prince furrowed his brows and parted his lips:

"Hah?"

Oh fuck, oh fuck. I quickly attempted to make the guard leave the Prince's presence.

"Well you've been very useful to me. I appreciate it."

The Prince cast me a confused look before his eyes glazed over in realisation at my lies, the look he gave me suggested I'd about to be sentenced to execution.

"Dismissed - no punishment is due - return to your post."

The guard saluted, his armour clanking ever so slightly as he turned on his heel and left. I felt my lips twitch up into a amused smirk as I hastily began apologising.

"I panicked! I told him whatever came to mind! Don't execute my neck! I need it!"

The Prince's steel glare kept me frozen in place as he dismissively crossed his arms, his crown glimmering under the moonlight.

"You are an idiot. I hadn't announced your presence to the guards yet - you've just caused confusion amongst my palace. Next time you fuck up - I'll do more than just execute you - I'll kill you myself."

I bowed my head, feeling rather tired at today's events - a wave of fatigue washed over my body as I closed my eyes for a brief second.

"You listening? Damn brat?"

I jolted up right, my eyes widening in surprise. Did I just nearly fall asleep on the spot?

"Forget it, I'll kick your ass some other time - go lie down will you - you look like shit."

The Prince studied my clearly worn out expression as I sighed gently.

"Do forgive my actions, but I'd like to stay by your side while the General is here."

The Prince raised his eyebrow questioningly.

"Why's that?"

I cast my eyes downwards, staring at my curved sword and frowning at the vicious inscription. 'Death to the King' I should really change that...

"He's... changed I guess. I need a grasp on his character before I leave you alone in his presence."

The Prince walked up the first few red steps and collapsed into his golden throne, removing his crown and placing it onto his lap, focusing his attention on the centre of the gold.

"Very well. Petra is due to visit me in five minutes time - it's late and the General  requested a resting hour... I granted it considering his age..."

I slowly nodded my head, taking my place beside the Prince. I could see his white cravat in the corner of my eye.

"You and Reiner do not get on by the looks of things."

I rolled my eyes, even speaking his name frustrated me. Should I of deepened his wounds? I shook my head, my fingers grazing the hilt of my sword.

"We are friendly rivals... we used to compete for who was the strongest... back when I was a child of course."

The Prince rose his crown above his head, tilting his chin in my general direction.

"I see. Childhood friends then? How quaint."

I shrugged my shoulders, feeling exposed the more the Prince discovered about my life.

"I feel now is a good time to discuss the information General Pixis informed me of while you disappeared in the hallways."

I tensed up; Surely he did not tell the Prince?

"You should of told me, foreigner. This information is valuable and could be used against my safety."

I averted my gaze, feeling rather shocked that General Pixis betrayed my trust. Then again, some of his power hungry self must still remain inside of him.

Reiner can't cure all of him.

"I don't wish to discuss it. Please."

The Prince sighed loudly, adjusting his crown with a steel glare.

"I shall bring up your intense fear of fire some other time. We will discuss this fear, I won't forget."

I nodded my head, bowing ever so slightly once Petra arrived inside the throne room, dressed in a soft red dress with large bouncy strawberry blond curls.

"Good evening, Levi."

The Prince rose from his throne to greet Petra, complimenting her attire for the night.

"Dressed elegantly as always, Petra."

Lady Ral smiled softly and held out her arms to dance once again, for the second time this week. The ball is in four weeks time... I sense it will be hard to guard the Prince with so many people around...

"You as well, Levi."

I stood beside the Prince's throne and cast my eyes to the back of the room, quickly spotting General Pixis- who remained silent. I guessed he didn't want to interrupt.

The lady on the piano began to play a formal evening song as the two danced slowly to the rhythm. General Pixis avoided my stare, I sensed his slight distress, informing the Prince of such an important fear of mine felt rather uncomfortable.

The Prince just may discover everything about me...

The royal pair twirled elegantly to the soft keys of the piano as the lady turned the page of her sheet music - entering the middle of the song. I focused my gaze on the Prince, his pale defined skin and blank stare - his appearance making him look unapproachable and unforgiving in judgment. I serve him...

"I didn't realise how late it is, Levi.. should we finish early today? You have the General to speak to as well."

The Prince halted, taking a small step back with the nod of his head as the lady ceased her song. Petra decided to stop.

"I think that's best for tonight."

I walked down the first few steps as the General revealed himself - wearing a warm smile.

"You are very elegant, your majesty, M'lady."

The Prince nodded his head in acknowledgment as Petra gently curtsied.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

General Pixis chuckled, announcing he'd decided to turn in for the night, as it had been very late in the evening.

"I shall return here in the morning, your majesty."

The Prince wished General Pixis a restful sleep and turned to face me with a sigh.

"I need my guard to be in plentiful strength now the General is no longer in my presence - I'm ordering you to return to your room for the night."

I slowly nodded my head, mumbling softly:

"Goodnight, your majesty, M'lady."

Petra smiled warmly and insisted I sleep well for the night. I stiffly left the throne room, my eyes catching sight of the pale moonlight which flooded through the palace windows.

A beautiful night sky... Chi must look so pretty.

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