Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass.
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France, November 14th, 1441.
The dining room was lit up brightly with several candles lining on either side of the room. Their yellow light cast a warm glow all over those present in such place. The wall was decorated with quite a lot of portraits of famous people from the family or the century they were living in. Each portrait was hung at about ten feet from each other, and all these said pictures were neatly framed in gold entirely to match with the yellow glow of the candles that were arranged orderly on the walls.
There was a long, nicely-carved table at the middle of the room that was covered in a simple but pure white table cloth. Sitting on it at the middle were a big vase of red, blooming roses and many, plenty of silver plates scattering around with steamy and mouth-watering food on them. There were also several cups that contained fresh water in case they needed it. Though they barely touched said cups, they still demanded it be brought out. Also, next to the two most important persons in the household whom were sitting at the table were two shining silver wine goblets that had their favorite wine in them, the Riesling.
By now, it would be assumed that most of the household members were sitting and sharing the delicious food, but no. No one was sitting at the expensive wooden table beside the heads of the family, two of the most important people in the society at that time.
One man and one woman. The man was clad in the usual fancy clothes that were designed exclusively for noblesse militaire only. There were many expensive ornaments and jewelries decorating his attire at around his hip and at the bottoms of his long white sleeves. What stood out the most about this man were first, his curly brown and soft hair. Hair that most men envied and women tempted to caress. Second, his emerald green eyes that were so big and deep that once looked into, one could hardly pull away. That's probably why he got so much attention from people and people listened to him, loved to spend time with him, though mostly women, high-class, influential women.
The woman. Well, she was just different. She was beautiful, of course. They didn't get to be the most respected people in the society for nothing. However, she was also wise. Her friends or even people she hardly recognized flocked to her for advices, or maybe they just came over to admire her beauty, to stare into her gol—
"More wine, please."
Startled, Lelouch quickly rushed forward and almost tripped on his own feet in the process. Luckily, he had recovered before dropping the big Riesling bottle and spilling it.
She saw that and chuckled as he came closer. "Been daydreaming again, Lelouch?"
"No, Madame," he said quickly while pouring the wine from the bottle carefully into the goblet she's holding in her hand. "My apologies."
"There's nothing to apologize about," she said simply before bringing the silver goblet to her lips and drank it. Lelouch withdrew to his former spot.
"Hm," the brown-haired man said, "this roasted beef is pretty good. Who cooked it?"
"Euphie, Sire." One of the servants answered.
He smiled. "She's one of the best cooks here. I'm glad you found her, C.C."
"Well, I couldn't ignore a freezing girl in the cold, now could I? Our house is so huge I can even take in more hundred people like her."
"That will save you from doing all the work around here. You have all the servants you need, now you just have to-"
A cough interrupted him and Lelouch flinched. It happened again. It happened too much lately. He could even hear it at night, echoing throughout the empty and dark mansion.
C.C. snatched the napkin next to her and brought it up to her mouth, covering it as a coughing fit didn't spare her from its merciless grip. Her body doubled over and the fit left her breathless and flushing.
"Hey, you're alright?" asked the master as he quickly stood up and was about to dash toward her when she put up her hand.
"I'm fine. Please resume your eating, Suzaku."
He frowned then looked out at the sky through the grand glass window. "It's not too late, I'll get the physician over here to examine you."
She shook her head. "Can that wait till tomorrow? I'm tired right now, I just want to rest."
"Then rest it is. I'll take you to your room, then you'll have the examination first thing tomorrow."
C.C. nodded. Lelouch quickly put down the tray he had been carrying and walked over. C.C. looked up and smiled slightly at him as a 'thank you', because he had always done this, always been there to pull the chair out and wished her a good night, even though she had never required it, the former, that is.
"Good night, Madame C.—"
Just like that. Before he even completed his sentence, she fell down, grabbed the front of his shirt in the process but her grip quickly came loose, and she crashed to the floor.
"C.C!" Suzaku yelled, running toward her and kneeling down, picking up her head. "Hey, C.C.! C.C., can you hear me?"
Turning around to the servants standing by, he practically roared. "Call the physician!"
After that, everything was confusing. People ran everywhere, bumping into each other, despite the unbelievable wide space of the mansion, yelling and calling and shouting. The maids practically flew back and forth between the kitchen and the main bedroom, supplying hot towels and water.
"Where's the physician?" shouted one servant from upstairs.
"He's coming! Luis's already gone to get him."
"Hot towels! Where are the towels?"
"Coming!"
Someone's tugging at Lelouch's sleeve. "Lelouch, will Madame be okay?"
Looking down, he saw it was Euphie, a gentle, long pink-haired girl and also his companion. A look of worry spread all over her face, and her tone filled with fear. Apparently, she was expecting the worst.
"She'll be fine," he answered absentmindedly before returning his gaze at the main entrance. Where's the damned physician?
Just as he thought it, a servant burst through the door, dragging a panting middle-aged, long black-haired tied in a pony tail with glasses physician behind.
"This way, Sire!" And he practically pulled him up the marble stairs without waiting for the poor guy to catch his breath.
Lelouch inhaled deeply and ascended the steps. He had to hear, he had to know what's wrong with her.
The door to the bedroom was closed; all the servants were dismissed outside. So it's just the master, the mistress and the physician inside, along with the news he's the going to deliver.
"What're they saying?" Lelouch asked the bunch, to which they all shook their heads.
Lelouch raised a questioning eyebrow. "None of you bother eavesdropping? And no, Rivalz, it isn't a crime."
Walking stealthily closer to the crimson wooden door, he bent down to level with the golden doorknob so he could hear what was being said inside.
Silence, then, "What is it?" The master's voice.
"I'm afraid…"
"What is it? What's wrong with my wife?"
"I'm afraid she has pneumonia."
Dead silence. Both inside and outside the room.
"P-pneumonia?"
"Yes, Sir. It's an infection of the lungs—"
"I know what that is! But is there a cure? Please Guilford, tell me there is."
Silence pursued.
"No… no… Impossible… No…"
"What happened? What are they saying?"
By now, Lelouch couldn't understand what the servants were asking. He only gave them blank looks as he pushed them aside to make way for him to descend the steps. Whisperings fell in places around him but he couldn't even grasp a single word. It sounded like a foreign language to him.
"Lelouch, what happened? Is Madame—" Words died in Euphie's throat as she saw his ghastly expression. Bringing hands up to her mouth, she whimpered.
And Lelouch kept staggering to his room.
"Please God." He prayed desperately with elbows propped up on his bed. "Please let her live. Please. She's a gentle soul, you can't take her away."
"Please," he repeated, voice hoarse.
"God can't help you."
Turning around with alarm, Lelouch shouted into the darkness. "Who's there?" Now, he really wished he'd turned on the lights when he got inside. Who would have thought there would be an intruder inside this greatly secured mansion?
"Don't be afraid, my friend." The voice was so strangely calm. "I'm here to help you."
"Who are you?" he asked again.
A chuckle. "Are you more concerned about my identity or the fate of the woman upstairs?"
C.C… Then he frowned. "How did you know about what happened to her?"
"Because that's why I'm here. I can help you."
Lelouch's frowned deepened as he squinted his eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of the figure standing in the dark. But all he saw was a complete blackness, not even the borderlines of his clothes that Lelouch was sure he'd be able to see since his eyes had already adjusted.
"You can save her?" Lelouch asked incredulously.
"Of course, but you're an intelligent man, you should know what comes after that."
"A catch. What's the catch?"
Silence, then, "Your soul."
"My soul?" Lelouch echoed faintly.
"That may sound absurd to you, but what I'm telling you is nothing but a truth. I can save her life, but in return you will give me your soul."
"Who are you?" This time, the question came out rather weakly.
That chuckle came again. "The least you know, the better. Now do we have a deal?"
"How can I be sure that I can trust you?"
"Because I have never broken my words before. Ever. That's very against my morals. So what do you say?"
How strange that he sounded so sincere and honest, despite the sheer mysterious aura surrounding him. And judging from this guy's tone, it seemed he's running out of patience and time, so Lelouch had to make a decision, and make it quick.
"You will," he began, "you will save her if I give my soul to you?"
"Yes, so we have a deal now, don't we?"
Inhaling deeply, Lelouch suddenly realized how important she was to him, how he would love to see her smile again, though she hardly did, but whenever she did smile, he felt like a significant part of him had awoken inside and was alive again. Also, he'd love to hear her advices. Her useful advices to other people in her soft, cool and lovely voice. Everything would be lost if she was to die now.
"Yes, we do," he said lowly.
That same mystifying chuckle came from the other side of the room. "Very well, Lelouch. Your days are now marked."
"Wait, how long do I have—"
"Everyone, everyone come at once! Madame C.C. is recovering!"
A/N: Ahh France. I love everything about that country, the language, the customs, the clothes (especially the nobility clothes like the one Suzaku wears in this one have always fascinated me), even the beverages too. And so I thought, why shouldn't I combine my two favorite things together? The medieval France and Code Geass? They sure go great together, to me at least. So, that's how this story was born.
Also, I'd like to say please don't start a religious war just because I put "God can't help you" up there. Some of you, though I hope none because you are too mature for this, may come after me and say "Oh no, God can help you with anything and everything!" Well, sure, since it's your belief but this is just a fiction story, so why don't we just all enjoy eh?
Now, on to the glossary, though there's only one word here lol. Noblesse Militaire - a French word, apparently, refers to a person or family made noble by holding military offices. Fits Suzaku huh?
At last, thank you for reading and reviews are of course love!