Disclaimer: Do not own Code Geass, duh! Otherwise, Suzaku would've proclaimed his unending love to Lelouch since episode one of season one!
Summary: AU! Banished and locked away in the Aries Palace, Lelouch vi Britannia could do nothing but to hope for someone to release her from her cage. But if her prince charming had never even acknowledged her, it was time for her to seize happiness by her own hands. SuzakuxFem!Lelouch
Cold amethyst eyes narrowed at the transgressor who had interrupted her from her peace. She closed the book she was reading with a firm snap, feeling slightly satisfied when the kneeling fool winced at the sound. She knew that he already knew that she didn't like to be disturbed while she's resting or in this case, reading.
"I-I'm sorry to disturb you in your moment of peace, your highness." He quickly told her, bowing as deep as his position would allow him. "I do not mean to disturb you."
She rose an elegant bow. "Really?" She drawled. "If that's so then why are you still feeding me with your useless babble!? Tell me what is so important that you'd risk losing your head and disturb me!" Her voice rose, as she grew annoyed. Just why did fools such as the one kneeling in front of her surround her.
"Lord Gottwald has returned from his task and asks if you're in condition to receive him."
"Send him in." She told him, placing the book she was reading on the table beside her.
"Right away your highness." The servant quickly retreated from her room.
Once the servant left, she stood up and retrieved the book she was reading from the table and moved to replace it on the shelf. She figured that she would not be getting much more reading done for the day. Not when Jeremiah finally returned from the task she'd assigned him.
Her fingers just left the binding of the book when Jeremiah decided to announce his arrival with a light knock. "My lady." He greeted while taking a small bow at the door.
She turned around and offered her hand to him, which he promptly took as soon as he was close enough and lead her to her seat. She took a seat on the armchair while Jeremiah knelt in front of her, his head bowed in respect. "You knight has returned, Princess Lelouch."
"Welcome back, Jeremiah." She replied, "come take a seat, why the formalities?" She gestured the empty seat near her. "What news have you brought me that is so important that you couldn't wait until later to inform me of it?"
Jeremiah debated on whether he should tell her of the news. Without even a doubt in him, he knew that he was about to tell her will not please her at all. "Lord Kururugi wishes to inform you that it is in his deepest regret that he has to decline your kind offer of hospitality at Aries Palace this coming weekend."
The change from disappointment to her nonchalant expression was so quick that had Jeremiah been anyone else, he would've missed it. "Ah really? Well, I suppose that is to be expected." She told him. "I presume that his duty as the newly appointed Knight of Seven keeps him occupied even in weekends then?"
"Yes, my lady." Replied Jeremiah in hesitation, for he knew for a fact that the blasted Kururugi was not in anyway busy this coming weekend. He had asked around before he relayed his princess' invitation to the boy after all. Thus, the only reason as to why he would reject her kind invitation was because he simply didn't want to meet her. However, he didn't have the heart to tell her that.
"Please none of these 'my lady' or 'your highness', Jeremiah." She scolded him lightly. "I've had enough formalities to last me a lifetime when you're not around. I'd prefer it if you would just call me by my name." No one has been calling my name after all. She told him.
That last part was unheard, but Jeremiah knew that it was there. "I apologize, Lelouch-sama."
She frowned at the addition of the suffix, but decided to let it pass. "Tell me Jeremiah, how is he doing?" She asked him, her mood lightened considerably he noted.
"He is doing well." Jeremiah replied. "As well as a Knight of the Rounds can be at least." He added as an afterthought, causing Lelouch to smile lightly. "His majesty has kept him busy with frontline military duties."
"As his physical ability is his only strong suit, if I may recall." Lelouch added with a smile.
"Indeed, Lelouch-sama."
"How is he getting along with the other knights?" Lelouch inquired curiously.
"Lord Weinberg took an instant liking of him and with him, Lady Alstreim, though she seemed to appear as indifferent as always. Lord Bradley on the other hand, took an instant dislike of him, I presume since Lord Kururugi constantly defeats him in their sparring sessions, that or Lord Bradley just hated everyone in general."
"I vouch for the latter, Jeremiah." Lelouch supplied with a small laugh. "Luciano hates everything that move after all!" While Lelouch might not be fond of the man, she had to admit, he did his duty well.
"The rest of the Knights of the Round seemed to like him well enough. Though if I may suspect, even if they didn't approve of him initially, his skill won their recognition and approval." Jeremiah concluded.
"Hmm, he is exceptionally good at piloting Lancelot. Lloyd, without a doubt, made the right decision at choosing Suzaku as the pilot for that child of his." She took a sip of the now cool tea. "Oh yes, Jeremiah did His Majesty grant me of my request to see him?"
Jeremiah actually had fervently hoped that his princess would forget about that. Alas, curse her good memory. "I'm afraid not, Lelouch-sama. I'm afraid that His Majesty is currently very busy that he hadn't had the time to meet his children." Jeremiah noticed that her hold on her cup tightened, even when her expression betrayed nothing of her actual feelings.
"Ah, I see." She gingerly took a sip of her tea. "I should probably release for the day, Jeremiah. I'm sure you're tired from your journey. Thank you again for doing this for me."
"It is not a problem at all. It is my pleasure to do this for you, Lelouch-sama." Replied Jeremiah, as he stood up and took her hand to escort her back to her room. "Good night, Lelouch-sama." He lingered in front of her room for a bit and left to his own room after making sure that the Palace's security was as tight as it could be for fear of any intruders.
He would not fail again at his duties and let what had happened to Empress Marianne and Princess Nunnally befall upon his princess, Lelouch vi Britannia. It was his duty as her personal knight. Althought, frankly speaking, sometimes Jeremiah wished that he could also protect his princess from anything that may hurt her feelings.
As he thought about it, he always felt so disappointed of himself everytime he knew that while he could protect her from physical harm, he could never protect her from the hurt she received from being constantly isolated from the rest of the world or the disappointment and loneliness she felt when someone would deny her invitation or her presence. It was in those times when he wished that his charge was just a regular girl and wasn't the princess that she is, or at least the banished third princess of Britannia.
AN: First of all, pardon the grammatical errors... haven't proofread it... secondly though, what do you think? Good? No good? Too short? Should I continue?
Umm… OK in actuality, initially as I opened Microsoft Word, I was determined to write the next chapter of Road to Love, but somehow as I was writing this, it morphed into a completely different story… and I think I have an idea where this is going… vaguely? Somewhat?
I'm sorry that this is too short btw… in fact, in my guideline, this is in that borderline for a drabble… but I seriously have no idea how this is going to be received, so depending on the reader's take on this, I may continue of discontinue this story.
Though really, I really hope that you like it and if you do please, PLEASE review!! _ I'm so review deprived that I cannot write… the idea's just not flowing… all of the bunnies ran away from my brain from lack of food (a.k.a. reviews)…hence why there're so many of my stories are in Hiatus… except for Truth Hurts… that one I actually forgot where it is going…
Anyhow, without further ado, REVIEW!! Comment please!!