Enjoy~

Editing completed 6/7/2017

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Petra's words hurt my racing heart as I remained in a low, painful bow.

"I- I can't believe this... of course I won't sentence the foreigner to hang. I couldn't do that to you, Levi. I'm no murderer."

The Prince crossed his arms, flickering his gaze over to me with a dismissive click of his tongue.

"Tell whoever you'd like - it'll cause trouble, but people will forget over time."

Petra smiled weakly, lowering her head in defeat. She's given up... I'm sorry... I didn't mean for this to happen...

"I won't, but I'd like to stay away from you... both of you from now on."

Prince Levi nodded a single time as Petra remained hesitant for a second, parting her lips to deliver the final blow.

"I'm disappointed is all... goodbye."

Once I heard the tapping of heels fade across the palace tiles, I slowly leant back, wincing at the sharp pain travelling across my right shoulder.

The silence slowly crushed my sense of panic, now just feeling guilty and upset over Petra discovering my... 'punishments' that way. I'm sure the Prince wished for smooth sailing... but his ship has hit a rock. A big one. Prince Levi sighed loudly, turning to face me with a strange warm glare - a gentle light grey.

"Hn."

I shyly averted my gaze, his lack of emotion over the whole ordeal worried me slightly. He's  yet to explain my so called 'punishments.

"Follow me."

Prince Levi clicked his fingers as I began to follow behind him like usual - my heart most definitely hadn't calmed over being caught, but my heart also felt emotionally weak to his presence as well.

The two of us travelled down the hallways in silence, only to turn a corner and discover Reiner with his back against the golden palace walls - asleep. I slowly crouched down beside him, gently poking his left check.

"Nuh?!"

Reiner's large body sprung to life, his eyes widening upon seeing my face so close.

"(Y-Y/N)? What the hell?"

Reiner sleepily rubbed his eyes before sensing a dark, yet well known presence glare fiercely before him.

"A fine evening we're having, your majesty."

Reiner calmly greeted a future king like peasants would on the streets. Prince Levi looked rather displeased, pointing towards the empty hallway.

"I said to guard Lady Ral. Not sleep on my palace floor."

Reiner rose to his feet, adjusting his messy clothes with a small sigh. Such disrespect...

"I haven't slept since I arrived in this kingdom. Forgive me."

Prince Levi clicked his tongue, dismissively walking down the hallway with a frustrated sigh. He's upset... naturally I would be too if something like that happened to me...

Reiner walked beside me, yawning and wiping intense fatigue away from his eyes. He looks tired... how long does General Pixis need away from Reiner?

What on earth is he doing? The three of us turned left, passing underneath the marble archway, arriving inside the throne room. I noticed several servants preparing large velvet curtains and small white roses across the palace walls.

"The ball decorations are being readied..."

The Prince seemed displeased, collapsing into his golden throne with a loud exhale, running his hands through his raven hair.

"Yikes... he looks bad, (Y/N). Something happen while I was asleep?"

I shook my head, frowning.

"No. I think he's tired."

Reiner shrugged his shoulders as the two of us stood either side of the Prince's throne; making the Prince look a lot more threatening than usual. A few minutes went by, only to be disrupted by a guard dressed in all black holding a little white envelope, sealed in hot wax.

"Good evening, your majesty. A letter addressed to Reiner Braun has arrived."

The guard bowed formally and extended the letter out for the Prince to receive.

"Who's the sender?"

The guard lowered his eyes to the letter.

"The sender is General Pixis from Village Danba..."

Prince Levi dismissed the guard - who bowed politely and quickly turned to leave. A letter from General Pixis? Maybe he's finished the task that doesn't require Reiner by his side...

Reiner slide a small knife down the side of the envelope and quickly scanned the letter - his eyes shining brightly upon hearing news from his master. Only he froze, his eyes widening.

"(Y/N).... look."

Reiner handed the letter towards me as my eyes scanned the familiar Chi symbols.

My Reiner:

I hope you're serving Prince Levi well just like I told you too... keep an eye on that (Y/N) for me - she's a lovely lady.

I'd like to inform you of a old poster circling Chi. Once the fire broke out and Marco sadly past away... do you remember when the village blamed you and (Y/N) for his death?

Claiming the two of you conspired to eliminate him... well people have started spreading those posters around again. I hope you stay safe and ignore those pesky rumours.

I hope you are in good health my boy... we'll eat noodles when you return to guard my side.
P.S. feel free to leave the palace whenever you'd like- I've finished my task.

General Pixis.

I lowered the letter with a soft shake of my head. Prince Eren somehow got ahold of those posters and has spread them around Chi... he even tried to inform Prince Levi about completely false information... but received a broken nose over the whole ordeal...

"What's with the shitty faces?"

I bowed, hoping to ease the Prince's sudden discomfort. He didn't fall for it.

"If the information is important - tell me immediately. I won't have another bonfire incident."

Reiner rose the letter into the air and tore the paper in half - traditionally done in Chi. Reiner sighed loudly, letting the paper fall to the white tiles - his eyes were cold and lifeless - a similar reaction to when Marco first left us.

"A friend of ours died in the fire... many Chi villagers think me and (Y/N) conspired to kill him."

Prince Levi stiffened, his eyes lowering to the now torn paper.

"My condolences."

Reiner sighed once again, running his fingers across his trusted scabbard. Reiner took Marco's after he died... he's never changed scabbards since...

"Save em' he died a long time ago... the rumours are bullshit of course, but there's nothing me and (Y/N) can do."

The Prince removed his crown, letting the gold rest upon his knee momentary while he studied several white roses decorate his ebony palace.

"Well, I should be going. General Pixis requires me back under his service."

The Prince nodded his head, allowing Reiner to leave the side of his throne.

"It's been a pleasure, your majesty. I'll make sure to visit again."

Prince Levi rolled his eyes, but a small smirk graced his lips. Reiner turned to me, extending out both his arms with a wide grin.

"See ya, (Y/N)! Don't miss me too much."

I pulled Reiner close as he gently placed his hand onto my head, wishing me all the best under Prince Levi's rule.

"I'll miss you, (Y/N)."

I smiled warmly.

"Me too."

Reiner released me from his embrace, bowing deeply to the Prince who clicked his tongue.

"Long live the King."

My eyes widened at his words. Reiner... please be safe. I smiled at his fleeting figure, his large build disappearing underneath the marble carving.

Reiner really does care for General Pixis... I hope they live happily in Chi. I can no longer visit, but I'm pleased for Reiner. The Prince crossed his legs, his eyes remained dull and rather conflicted. The ball... I remember Petra discussing something like that a little while back... a real shame Reiner couldn't attend... he likes parties.

"The ball is merely another event of my kingdom... a tradition... people from any kingdom are invited, even Eren is free to attend."

I stiffened upon hearing his name. Such threats Eren made earlier... twenty lashings... surely we wouldn't do such a thing? Prince Levi rose his crown onto his head, the jewels sparkling beautifully under the warm sun.

"I see."

Prince Levi clicked his tongue and frustratedly began to scratch his neck - a red dot tainting his porcelain skin quickly earned my full attention. His scratching continued until he became irritable over the red mark, lowering his hand with a loud sigh.

"Damn shitty bugs in summer."

I studied the mark as closely as possible considering the distance I was standing from his throne. That mark is very small... the bugs from this kingdom are quite big... it almost looks like a... puncture?

"Are you knowledgeable on bugs or something?"

I furrowed my brows, squinting my eyes in attempts of getting a closer look.

"Did this bug bite you while I was present?"

The Prince shook his head, loosening his cravat with a scowl. I surely would of noticed a bug touching his majesty... more importantly the mark looks like a puncture of some sorts... a needle maybe?

"No."

I awkwardly cleared my throat before asking my next question.

"Could... I look closer?

The Prince tensed for a second before clicking his tongue - a small smirk gracing his usually bored features.

"I suppose so."

I nodded my head, leaning into a half bow and slowly rising my fingertips to his his pale skin - though he refused to turn his head, making intense eye contact with me.

"C-Could you turn your head a little?"

I stuttered... even my heart is racing. Prince Levi shook his head, glaring fiercely in response to my small, rather easy question.

"That is a weak gesture for a Prince to make. Especially to a woman... so no."

I let a small sigh escape my lips as I shakily lowered his cravat just below his clavicle. My fingertips grazed the red mark as he tensed and clicked his tongue silently. I assumed that hurt... but the Prince is acting defiantly.

"Does it hurt?"

I studied his red, blotchy skin surrounding a small pink dot. The mark does indeed look similar to a bug bite... but I feel as if I've seen this wound before... defiantly while I was training in Chi.

"No."

A blatant lie. I merely nodded my head, stepping away from Prince Levi with a small smile.

"I've finished looking for now."

The Prince crossed his arms with a loud sigh, rising his finger in a 'come hither' motion. I furrowed my brows - clearly confused over his gesture - only he ordered another strange request of me.

"Neaten my cravat, you damn foreigner."

My eyes widened.

"Eh?"

The Prince crossed his arms, glaring at my clearly shocked and slightly panicked eyes.  Re-tie is cravat? How embarrassing... we'd be so close.

"Did I stutter? Hurry the fuck up."

I felt heat rush to my face, attempting to act unaffected by his inappropriate request. No servant would ever be allowed to touch the Prince this way... my hand slowly took ahold of his soft white cravat as I neatened the material with a shaky exhale.

Clearly my blush gave away my embarrassment as the Prince smirked at my trembling hands.

"Fold left, then under. I'm assuming people don't wear cravats in Chi."

I slowly nodded my head, following his instructions to the best of my ability, my blush travelled relentlessly up across my ears as I accidentally grazed his neck while pulling the fabric underneath.

The finishing move when neatening a cravat... I quickly stepped back, rising my hand over my face to hide my compromising expression and racing heart.

"Not bad~"

I lowered my head, feeling rather exposed to his majesty's watchful and intense steel eyes. His expression remained dull, almost tauntingly dull.

"Just what bug managed to bite me?"

I remained quiet, simply over the sudden change in question and mood just two seconds ago. I neatened his cravat in just under a minute...

"I-I don't think a bug caused such a large part of your skin to become all blotchy..."

Prince Levi rose an eyebrow curiously, clicking his tongue upon learning of a potential threat to his health.

"And?"

I crossed my arms with a small frown.

"I've seen your injury from Chi. I can't remember the cause... forgive me."

The Prince let his head hit the back of his throne with a small sigh, tracing his fingertips over the red dot - a small hiss leaving his lips.

"I'll get my wound checked by a medic... in the mean time - think fucking hard about when you first saw that wound similar to mine..."

I quickly bowed, nodding my head.

"Yes sir..."

Prince Levi rose from his throne, clicking his fingers for me to follow behind. I've always disliked that sound... a silent order given so carelessly... I trailed after, reflecting on where exactly I once saw a wound like that. Reiner was with me... or maybe Marco... we we're playing with.... blowd-

"Your majesty!"

My eyes immediately widened, my heart racing in horrible shock and immense worry over my future king.

"What is it?"

"Your injury... it's from a blowdart."

The Prince immediately stopped walking, his whole body remained stiff. He's completely paralysed.

"Blowdart? I would of seen the dart."

I lowered my head, thinking back to my medical lessons provided by General Pixis - who is fascinated by medical herbs and powders provided by the nature of Chi.

"Not necessarily... the dart is sometimes made of a small powder which dissolves on impact."

If the powder is lethal... the Prince will most definitely die.

"Tell me your fucking joking, what chemical touched my skin?"

I leant forward into a heart clenching bow, my heart aches for his wellbeing. I wasn't there to protect him. I've failed. My eyes welled with tears as I wiped my dampening checks with a small sob. I've failed.

"Forgive me. I-I don't know."

The Prince's eyes widened, studying my clearly grief stricken features with immense shock overpowering his soul. He remained still for a second, before placing his hand onto my head with a small sigh, gently messing up my hair.

"Why are you crying? I'm the one who's supposedly going to die."

I rose my sleeve over my eyes, hiding my weak resolve and salty tears with a shaky exhale.

"If the powder is lethal, I've failed you."

Prince Levi seemed calm, yet stiff with an unknown emotion. There's a test an individual can take to prove if the powder inside the dart is lethal.

I haven't got the correct ingredients needed... is there another way...? Oh! The residue on Prince's Levi's skin mixed with hydrochloric acid should show the danger of the powder!

"I think there's a way to find out... if you'd let me test the residue off your skin, we can find out the severity."

The Prince dismissively crossed his arms.

"Lead the way."

                                   |~~~~|

"Nng..."

The Prince tightly clenched his fists as I gently pressed a little cotton wool onto his dart wound - a shaky exhale left my lips as I lowered the wool into a small wooden bowl, waiting patiently for the results.

"Just keep calm foreigner. There's no way in hell I'm giving up my throne so easily."

I watched the cotton float across the cold water, a small incredibly faint tinge spread across the surface. Green... that means...

Sleeping powder?

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