Chapter One
Lelouch had never wanted to go on this date on the first place. It had only been through the combined effort of his cousin, Euphemia, Nunnally, and his mother that he finally caved in and marked his calendar. He wasn't interested in the woman, or really, women like her, who were so privileged and spoiled, they had no idea what was right or wrong, what was theirs and wasn't, and what mattered in life and what didn't. They always wore too much perfume and they always smiled too sweetly, dressed too richly, and acted too brainlessly. It was as if they didn't have a will of their own, as if their sole purpose was to impress and please him enough to make him want to marry her. Which was the purpose of this blind date.
As his mother so liked to remind him, the clock was ticking, and he wouldn't be allowed to take up the helm of Britannia Enterprises, the most profitable and formidable conglomerate in the eastern hemisphere. Not that he really cared for stocks and revenue and whether or not Shiro Nippon Inc. was a threat or not. The only reason why he wanted to step up as CEO was so that Nunnally wouldn't have to be subject to the dirty politics of business.
Lelouch impatiently drummed his spidery fingers on the pristine, 200-count tablecloth and let his bored gaze wander throughout the elegant restaurant. Honestly. How could he be expected to hold an engaging conversation when all the woman knew was Louis Vuitton's spring collection?
He had tried and tried again to be nice. He had been on time. He had opened and closed the car door for her. He had smiled and had been polite. He pulled and pushed her chair in for her. He had done everything that the textbook definition of a polite and good date required, and she had done everything but.
After ten painful minutes of attempted conversation, Lelouch finally concluded that the woman was an absolute airhead and began contemplating the best way to end any and all connections with her without damaging Britannia Enterprises. Perhaps he should feign an emergency? But what kind? Personal? Business? Should he have Suzaku call, pretending to be in some kind of trouble? But no – the respective heirs of Britannia Enterprises and Shiro Nippon Inc. were in a strictly business relationship – even if they had been raised together and were like brothers, they were grown up now, and had to set aside their childhood for the sake of their respective families.
No, Suzaku wouldn't work. One of his father's secretaries, particularly Luciano Bradley, would catch wind and accuse him of fraternizing with the "enemy," even if the so-called enemy was due to be swallowed by Britannia any day, what with his engagement to Euphemia. But then who? Who could he—
"Good evening sir. Mademoiselle. I am Cera, your server for the evening. May I recommend a smooth Tarima Monastrell? Or perhaps some sparkling champagne directly imported from the groves of southern France?"
"A glass of champagne," replied his date. But Lelouch wasn't paying attention to what she wanted to drink because he was completely fixated on Cera, the woman who was their server for the evening.
Cera, the woman wearing her soft green hair in an elegant side-bun.
Cera, the woman he had once slept with.