"Is Levi in her-" I trailed off glancing around the empty dining hall, "I guess not."

I like that we've been spending more time with each other recently but sitting in an office all day doing paperwork isn't fun at all

PLUS EVERY TIME I TRY TO START A CONVERSATION LEVI GETS ALL HUFFY

LITERALLY

"HI!" Isabel waves at me from her seat at the table, food piled in front of her.

"Hello," Sasha waves at me getting out of her seat next to Isabel as soon as she notices me.

NONO SIT DOWN CONTINUE EATING <333

"Continue what you were doing I'm just looking for Levi," I sighed, turning to leave.

I'm about to give up though I think he's hiding from me.

"Big bro?" Isabel glanced over at Sasha, "didn't he look in here earlier?"

"He did. I forgot what he was asking about though," Sasha murmured between bites.

I wonder )):

"OH, I KNOW! I can help you find him!" Isabel jumped to her feet, rushing over to my side.

Thank you <3333

"You're eating aren't you? I interrupted you- besides the house isn't THAT big I can find him."

"Ok then! Have fun on your date," Isabel waved me off, promptly returning to a conversation with Sasha about the seasonings being used.

I'm glad that they're friends <333

"Seeya!" I waved stepping out of the room.

SERIOUSLY WHERE IS HE

I WANTED TO ASK IF HE WANTED TO EAT WITH ME AND NOW HE'S DECIDED TO DISAPPEAR ???

RUDE

BAD THOUGHT-

SHH I DONT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT :///////

REMEMBER HOW MANY KEYS HE HAD ON THAT KEYRING ???

UHH YEAH I DO WHY ??

WHAT IF HE'S LIKE IN HIS FREAKY DUNGEON THEN WE WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO FIND HIM

NOOOOO ://////////////

IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER- I MEAN

I JUST WANT TO ASK HIM IF HE WANTS TO EAT DINNER WITH ME THATS IT STOP MAKING UP COMPLICATIONS IN YOUR HEAD :///////

WELL IT COULD BE TRUE :///

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE I JUST WANT A NICE DINNER :///

WHATEVER

besides I'm a little worried we've both been working nonstop- he looks tired

i'm tired ):

very

SO WHERE IS HE- I KNOW I SAID THAT THIS PLACE WASN'T THAT BIG BUT :/

I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I GET BORED EASILY

"Good evening, Duchess Ackerman." A group of maids moved off to the side of the hallway and bowed as I passed.

Wow, my speech actually had an impact-

NEWS TO ME

GOOD NEWS

"Evening," I beamed, continuing past them further down the hall that held the library.

THIS IS THE LAST PLACE IM CHECKING

you know you haven't checked his room-

well that's just invasion of privacy

which is a problem why ???

OK THAT WILL BE THE LAST PLACE I CHECK

Halfway down the hall I was hit by a cool breeze- uncharacteristic for an area this far into the house.

THAT'S WEIRD

Glancing further down the hall I could tell that the door to one of the many guest rooms that lay past the library was thrown open.

THAT'S SUSPICIOUS

THEIF ???????

IN MY HOUSE ?????

Cautiously I crept towards the door, the air getting colder as I neared.

What kind of awful thief

"Hello? If you're robbing my house please stop it," I called out to the emptiness as I neared the room.

MAYBE IF I ASK KINDLY THEY'LL LEAVE

"If you're not robbing my house then- could you please just close the window? It's really cold out here," I stood at the edge of the doorway debating whether or not to look inside the room.

IF IT REALLY IS A THIEF THEN WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ????

SCREAM ???

YEAH THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA

"Is there no one there?"

Did a maid leave a window open earlier when they were airing out this area?

"Ok well I'm coming in," I announced to no one in particular, pushing open the door.

IF THERE IS AN AXE MURDERER IN HERE IM GOING TO SCREAM

The room that greeted me was the same one that Levi had taken me into around a month ago, all of the windows appeared to be latched shut.

GHOST ????????

"If you're a ghost that explains a lot sorry for bothering you <33333"

BUT COULD YOU TELL ME WHERE LEVI IS

I AM GETTING HUNGRIER BY THE MINUTE

PLEASE GHOST XOXO

"Any idea where Levi is ghost ????" I walked over to the window, peering outside.

I doubt he's outside but :/

"Levi is the Duke- he owns this place," I continued to explain my breath fogging up the glass.

OOO I CAN DRAW PICTURES

"And I'm his wife I guess (?) that's why I'm wondering where he is, I want to go have dinner with him," I hummed, drawing a smiley face on the glass.

SEND ME A SIGN IF YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS

"Seriously I'm going to give up if I don't find him within the next 10 minutes."

Is he really worth all this effort???

NOT REALLY <3333 but i want to do it anyway

the heart wants what the heart wants

"Ok see ya then," I turned to leave- the cold breeze hitting my skin again, stopping me in my tracks.

The balcony-

The door leading to the balcony sat wide open-

I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDNT NOTICE THAT EARLIER

I BET LEVI IS DOWN THERE

WE FOUND HIM

THANK YOU SO MUCH GHOST <333 UR RLLY DOING THE MOSTEST

"Levi!" I called out racing down the hall to find him.

WE CAN DO DINNER!

"Y/N?" He turned around, shock apparent in his eyes, "I was just about to go looking for you, this makes things a lot easier."

"I've been looking for you."

"What for?" He carded his fingers through his hair pushing it up off of his face.

"Well I was wondering if you wanted to eat dinner with me," I avoided eye contact, joining him on the balcony looking out over the railing at the sprawling lawn.

"Funny," he let out a low laugh, "I was just about to go ask you the same thing."

"Really? You're not just saying that?"

"Why the fuck would I lie?"

"To look cooler?"

"For you? Fuck no."

"RUDE!"

"Whatever let's go get something to eat- you're going to catch a cold if you stay out here in that dress."

"And you won't?"

"I'm wearing a coat, idiot."

"Whatever."

"It's not," he murmured in response, starting the walk back inside.

it really is pretty out here

"You sound like you care a little bit <3"

"Are you coming, idiot?" Levi extended a hand, I took it his cold fingers in stark contrast to the warm interior of the hall.

His hand is cold- and he's worried about me wearing a coat?

stupid.

_______________________

filler chapter so i can easily transition 2 winter festival arc <3

SUPER UNRELATED 2 THE PLOT OF THE STORY BUT MY SCHOOL INSTALLED A SECURITY SYSTEM ON OUR SCHOOL COMPUTERS (not the one i use 2 write dont worry this will continue as normal) AND GOOGLE DOCS IS BLOCKED AHAHAH.

WE CANT ACCESS ANY OF OUR SCHOOL WORK OR EVEN JOIN CLASSES BC THE PLATFORM WE USE IS BLOCKED.

THE SITE I USE FOR OTOME GAME WALKTHROUGHS N THE SITE I USE FOR READING MANHWA (THT HAS 100 POPUP) WORK BUT- I CANT DO MY APUSH HW THIS IS HILARIOUS

- AHHHHH MI