Coming for your heart

Chapter 32

Levi POV

It was silent in the room. If Levi had thought that no one had dared to breathe before then they surely didn't right now.

Not a single pair of eyes was wandering through the room. Not a pair but his.

He turned around, faced the King who was standing on the platform in front of his throne, his eyes burning holes into the young man that had appeared out of nowhere. One would think he would be glad about his son's return.

Levi did not doubt the visitor's identity for a moment.

If the silver crown on his head didn't speak volumes, then the defiant raise of his chin and the challenging tone in the steps he made into the room certainly did. His coat moved like it was a part of the man, swaying around his legs and highlighting the sound of his shoe's heels. They had the same energy as the roaring thunder in the night, the smirk on his lips reminding Levi of a predator ready to kill and claim.

"So you have decided to come back."

The king broke the silence. The venom in his voice gave Levi the chills – not that he would ever admit it. The prince didn't respond. He kept walking, hands behind his back. Now and then he let his gaze wander over the crowd around them but it was clear that he thought of them as nothing more but mere nobles – too occupied with staring at him to notice the thoughtful glint in the prince's eyes.

"I am glad to finally see you."

Again, the prince didn't say a word. Levi noticed how the servant next to him straightened up with every step the prince took in their direction. Like his presence granted him some kind of power. Some kind of confidence that he had lost in the face of the king who was now nearly speechless at the sight of his own son.

If the rumors were right, he hadn't seen him for many years. The reaction of a loving father...was it supposed to be this cold? How would Levi know? His own past had shown him that fathers were shit to begin with.

The prince appeared to share that thought for he suddenly stood still. He was now in the middle of the room. Only a few meters away from Levi and the servant. He turned his head.

Their eyes met over the heads of the noble guests.

Levi knew exactly that the prince was staring at him.

When he tried to move, to shake his head, to do something, he found that he couldn't. He was a captive to the prince's eyes.

Emerald green orbs.

Their striking color more fascinating than any phenomenon Levi had ever seen.

The prince crossed the room, the smirk still dancing around his lips, not leaving the handsome boy even for a short moment. The crowd parted as soon as the prince was even a bit too close. He was the wind that drove the waves aside.

Every pair of eyes was directed at the prince, waiting for whatever he was about to do.

And never before have so many jaws dropped harder than when the prince halted in front of Levi, his hands still behind his back. Only at the edge of his vision did the note the blond servant bowing to the young man, one hand in front of his slim body, the other hidden behind his back.

Those eyes caught him and Levi sucked a breath in when they lay completely on his appearance. The prince tilted his head, his dark hair falling over his forehead. Then he raised his hand and snapped his fingers at the musicians, who were staring at the young man like everyone else.

At his silent command they hurried to get a hold on their instruments and the melodic sound of violins filled the room again, paired with guitars and many more.

Only when the young man seemed to be satisfied did he turn around to face Levi again, the mask on his face hiding everything from his forehead to the tip of his nose. It was black as coal and tiny, silvery stones decorated the outer parts of it.

He could practically feel Grisha's eyes on them. But Eren paid him no mind.

He made a gesture in the direction of the blond servant – Levi really had to ask for his name – and the boy rose from his bow, a serious expression plastered on his face. For a second Levi thought he saw the boy nodding back but didn't have the time to think any more of it, when the dark-haired man in front of him...bowed to him.

Of course Levi knew that he was a general of Eldia's army, a man with a high rank and enough confidence for a whole country. But no matter how important he was – it was the Prince of Eldia, the second-born and lost son to the kingdom, who was currently leaning forward at his waist, a cheeky smirk on his mouth.

And if this prince was even a little bit like his older brother...

Levi was certain as fuck that Zeke never would have bowed to him. He had been granted to attend their meetings. The prince hadn't respected him in any way. He had tolerated him.

And here his younger brother was. Bowing to a man he didn't even know. Instead of bowing to the father he hadn't seen for years. At least, that's what the King himself had said. If Levi hadn't been sure before that something was gravely wrong with the story they got told, then he definitely was now.

The prince extended a hand, his eyes focused on Levi and Levi alone. He would never admit it, but at the sight of the handsome youth, bowing to him and waiting for his rejection or whatever he thought he would get from him, a shiver ran down his spine.

"What the fuck do you want, brat?", he grumbled and heard the gasps of some of the noble women around him. But he wasn't known for his polite manners and the soft chuckle of the prince indicated that he was aware of that as well or that he wasn't bothered by it.

Either way, it was a pleasant change of company.

The king was obviously to perplex to say anything and really – Levi had been looking for an opportunity to free himself of his endless boredom all evening.

So what if there were anyother reasons why he took the still extended hand of the prince?

(Finally some Levi x Eren content, as promised! So Eren has decided to play the role of the prince for one evening...how will it go?

I have 35 chapters written out so far, I will try to continue writing today but a new chapter won't come out until tomorrow if everything's going fine.)