"He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation." Niccolò Machiavelli, Il Principe
The United Kingdom
Palace of Westminster, Greater London
Lelouch sat in his throne overlooking the people gathered on the floor below and himself overlooked by people who are sitting above in elevated boxes. He is now king. The Crown of St. Edward sits on his head.
It's an odd feeling. Grief mixed with pride. He never thought his father, King Charles, would die so early. Making Lelouch a king at an age so young. Eighteen years-old. It's also an achievement. He is the youngest reigning monarch in modern British history. Well, yes, there was a king who ascended the throne barely a year old. Not to mention a queen six days after she was born. But as a constitutional monarch, Lelouch should be allowed to get as many victories as he can. It's not as if he'd be able to do anything to govern Britain. At least nothing he's aware of.
Lelouch understood his job as King of England didn't really mean anything to the crowded halls of Westminster or the winding corridors of Whitehall. He was taught on the English Constitution according to Bagehot. He learned the language of France. He also learned in dining that any meal cannot begin until the king or queen does and anybody in the table should always speak to the person on his or her left first before speaking to the one on the right. There's nothing to it and Lelouch is not happy about it.
Actually, there is something he could be proud of. The Coronation Banquet. This could've never happened if he didn't charm the new prime minister, Jeremiah Gottwald. Whenever the British monarch died, parliament is dissolved and a general election has to be proclaimed by Lelouch. At the time, Lelouch couldn't do that, as expected from the new monarch. The old king was still lying in state until the next year when he is buried. Conservative won and their man is Jeremiah Gottwald. A Tory just like his predecessor. Surprisingly, luckily he is a royalist who was more than willing to help Lelouch in restoring a 632 year-old tradition when it was suggested.
Alright, maybe Lelouch didn't charm Jeremiah. It was more like because Lelouch is His Majesty The King. Still, Lelouch has mastered the art of conversation. He doesn't fail leaving a satisfied ear behind as he moves on to the next person awaiting his gift of gab.
There was a time Lelouch was put into good use. Two years ago, he was sent to Burunda, a former British Commonwealth Realm, to accompany the Foreign Secretary in securing an agreement for Britain to invest to develop newly-found oil resources there. Lelouch talked the President of Buranda to a chess game betting the agreement in a wager. If Lelouch won, Britain will proceed in its interests on Burandan oil. If he lost, the deal is off. Lelouch won within a minute. Plus the President of Buranda rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations the next day.
The memory of Buranda made Lelouch wonder if his job as King of England really meant nothing. He took a sip of wine from a golden cup glittering in precious stones.
Of course. Why would it mean nothing at all if Lelouch, as Prince of Wales, could negotiate for Britain. There must be something he could do now, more than he could've done as heir to the throne. Yes, he is now King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Lelouch knew his title, style, and rank used to stand for noble kings, gracious queens, benevolent emperors and empresses, all who built an empire that once spanned the entire world. Lelouch accepted years of political development stripped away monarchical power, authority, and custom. However, there's only one thing eternal. The divine right of kings.
Lelouch understood his right to rule. He is not answerable to any man, law, or anything else of this Earth. He is only answerable to God.
Though Lelouch is personally not religious. For him it is culture. The Church of England is a mountain of solid rock. It remains however weak its surface, whenever time or whatever society has built upon it, and whoever is king or queen or empress or emperor. As far as he is concerned, the church is England.
Lelouch looked at the people gathered in the old Westminster Hall. This is where previous kings, queens, empress, and emperors greeted the people after their coronation. This is where their vassals, their subjects, acclaim them. Looking at them, his subjects, his vassals, his people, makes him tingle inside. It ignited a spark of interest.
Lelouch realized if he can bring back the Coronation Banquet, he could turn back time. He could restore Britain to its former imperial glory. He could transform The Commonwealth into the British Empire again.
It sounds crazy, Lelouch knows. Yet it is not impossible. With the right allies, the right choices, the right people, the right resources, the right government, and with a favorable amount of enemies, there's a fighting chance. He just has to figure it out. He has to consider many things while doing so. He has to check out the playing field. Turn every card he has. Try to predict every action he takes. Or he could start smaller. He could set up his own game. Find his match, one at a time. Piece by piece. He will do it.
Why wouldn't he? It is well within Lelouch's divine right as king.
Lelouch smirked shaking his head. He still couldn't fully comprehend his newfound ambition. In fact, he's supposed to enjoy the Coronation Banquet. That's the point today in his own Coronation Day.
Knowing the danger of unwanted attention, Lelouch whispered to himself.
"Yes, from this day, from this moment on, the world belongs to me."