A Search and a New Life
Chapter I
"Where am I?" Lelouch said upon waking up.
"You . . . do you want to live or do you want to die? Do you have no regrets or do you regret everything you have done?" a voice said behind the dark fog
"Do you want another chance? A chance to live again?" slowly a shadow of a girl appeared.
"Chance? Regret?"
"You do know the power of geass, right? Lelouch Lamperouge. Or is it . . . Zero? Please excuse my rudeness, Emperor Lelouch VI Brittania."
"You. . . But how do yo-"
"Do you accept or not?" the voice said as it moved closer to Lelouch.
"Y . . . yes" he answered hesitantly.
After hearing his answer, the shadow slowly showed its true form. A girl with long blonde hair appeared before him and both of her eyes had the mark of geass.
"Then find me. If you are able to find me, I shall bestow upon you another life. For now I shall give you a year to search for me. I will seal your memories as a part of our deal. Now you shall be awakened, Lelouch"
He woke up gasping for air inside a coffin. At that moment, someone was burying him. He knocked hard at its door, hoping that someone would hear it.
"Your highness!" Jeremiah shouted from the surface.
Jeremiah quickly removed the pile of dirt on top of the coffin and freed him
"Your highness! Yo . . . you but how could this be?"
"Thanks for . . . helping . . . me get . . . out of there" Lelouch said as he sat up in the coffin and he crawled out of the hole gasping for air.
"Your high-" Jeremiah was unable to finish what he was about say because of Lelouch's sudden question.
"Why are you calling me your highness? Am I some kind of royalty? By the way, what's your name?"
Jeremiah paused for a moment before saying a hesitant reply.
"J . . . Jere . . . miah"
"Jeremiah? Nice to meet you. I am . . . I am . . . I am Lelouch. Lelouch Lamperouge."
By that sentence, Jeremiah noticed something odd. He knew that his highness stopped calling himself by that name ever since he was acknowledged as the 99th emperor of the Holly Brittanian Empire. Jeremiah stared at Lelouch, trying to come up with an explanation to how someone who has died in front of the whole world is now sitting in front of him. Jeremiah's concentration broke after hearing loud grumble from his highness' stomach.
"I am sorry about that. It seems like I am hungry
"I am sorry for not noticing sooner, your highness. Come with me and let me serve you your meal" Jeremiah said as he bowed down to show respect to his highness.
Lelouch got confused. "Why is he acting that way and why is he calling me is highness?" These thoughts came running through his mind.
After a few minutes of walking, they were able to arrive at a gigantic mansion that seemed like a home of a noble. As the both of them entered, maids and butlers lined by the front door and greeted them.
"Welcome home, your highness"
"Prepare a meal for his highness right now!" Jeremiah said
The maids went off to do as they were instructed, leaving the two behind.
"Your highness, I will prepare your room so please sit down and relax." He said as he bowed down once again before leaving.
Lelouch rolled his eyes in every corner of the living room.
"What a big house . . . But this is not the time to say that." He said in his thought
"What if I am the owner of this house? What if I am a noble? But why did I end up being buried alive if I am a noble?"
Questions kept on coming inside his head but he was unable to answer any of it. Not only because he don't know even a single person in that house (except Jeremiah) but also because the only thing he can remember is his name. After 5 minutes, a maid came to take him to his seat.
"Your highness, your meal is served. Please allow me to take you to your seat."
He stood up and followed her. The table was prepared in an elegant way and the maids lined up once again.
"Please enjoy, your highness" they said in a chorus.
He sat on the chair and started eating
"Your highness, your room is now ready. Some clothes are also prepared for you in the cabinet"
"Thank you so much, Jeremiah"
After eating, Jeremiah led him to his room. Upon entering, he went straight to the bathroom and had a warm bath.
The behavior of the people around him confused him more and more. Despite the fact that he was a normal 18 year old boy, the people around him called him his highness including Jeremiah who he had just met.
"I think I'll just rest for today."
He dressed himself and went to sleep after drying his hair.
"Lelouch, Do not forget our deal." A voice said out of nowhere.
"You must find me before the appointed day" the voice continued before he woke up.
The sun's morning ray touched his face that caused him to wake up. Not only that, but also by the maids that lined up near the door, bringing him his breakfast and asking him to enjoy the meal.
"Your highness, I am sorry for the inconvenience. Please tell me if you have any request" Jeremiah said as he bowed down again.
They left the room leaving the half-asleep Lelouch behind. He silently ate the Italian pasta they served him. Somehow, when Lelouch saw bell peppers and mushrooms in the pasta, it reminded him of pizza. Something he was craving to eat with a certain someone he can't seem to remember.
After eating, he decided to stroll around the mansion. It had a garden where dozens of orange trees are planted. He walked and walked until he got tired. He decided to rest under the shade of an orange tree. While enjoying the warm breeze and the wonderful story of the book he found on top of the table for hours, he fell asleep unknowingly.
A girl with long blonde hair was walking towards him who happened to be frozen in shock upon seeing this girl's eyes.
"I will give you a year to search for me. If you are able to find me, then I shall bestow upon you another life" the girl said before vanishing away.
He opened his eyes and found himself inside his room. He was wondering to how in the world did he ended up here when the last scenery he saw was that of a garden full of orange trees
"Your highness" Jeremiah said upon entering the room.
"What happened? Why am I here?" he said as he sat up
"You were not present this afternoon so I had people search for you. They found you sleeping under an orange tree at the garden and carried you here" he said as he bowed down again in respect.
"Jeremiah, why are you calling me your highness?" he said as his amethyst eyes stared straight at the man by the door
"That is simply because you are my only master, your highness"
Things in his head started to grow more complicated. He can't come up with a reason as to why such a man had great loyalty for him. He only found himself looking for answers as he stared endlessly at the blue moon.
"Your highness, Please eat this." A maid said upon entering the room with a bowl of porridge and a glass of milk on a silver tray.
"This milk will help you have a good night sleep." She continued before leaving the room.
He sighed deeply and asked himself.
"Who exactly am I?"
He took a spoonful of porridge and ate while filling his head with conclusions.
After the meal, he went inside the bathroom and took a warm bath.
"If I am his master, then does that mean I am a noble?
He took a dip and relaxed. As he closed his eyes, he saw a flashback that was not familiar to him.
"Your majesty, Please come this way. Your parents had summoned your presence." A butler said as he lowered his head and extended his hand to a girl.
The girl said nothing and followed him silently. They walked on the hallway of the house where a green house can be at sight. This girl stopped for a moment and touched her long blonde hair as she stared at the green house. Her emerald eyes showed no emotion as she continued to stare at the green house.
He then opened his eyes and recalled the dream he had last night where the same girl appeared. He then remembered the words that this girl spoke of.
"I will give you a year to search for me. If you are able to find me, then I shall bestow upon you another life"
He stood up in shock knowing that he had already wasted a day. Lelouch then decided to start searching for her tomorrow. He exited the bath and wore his clothes.
"A year . . . another life . . . find the girl" He said
When morning came, Jeremiah and his troupe headed towards the room with his highness' breakfast. Jeremiah knocked at the door but heard no response. He opened the door and found no one inside it.
"His highness has disappeared again"