Author's Note:

Here's chapter 2! Although I did say that this chapter will be from Jeremiah Gottwald's perspective, I've decided to shift his entry to the later chapters to keep the timeline tight. Anyways, do enjoy!

-FantasyWR

Chapter 2:

February 26, 2003 a.t.b.; Aries Palace, Neo-Wales, Britannia

Marianne put her book down, slightly irritated by the butler who had interrupted her in her daily reading hour, but as soon as the servant informed her of the identity of the person who had arrived rather unexpectedly, all traces of displeasure quickly faded from her face and mind. Instead, curiosity as to why her latest visitor had decided to come replaced her annoyance, and hearing that she had come unaccompanied made Marianne uneasy. She hurriedly dispatched the butler to see their guest in, and soon enough, a young girl – no older than five years of age – arrived through the door of the study.

As soon as the girl saw her, she immediately curtsied. Marianne couldn't help but laugh at that sight. "Now, who taught you to do that?" she asked kindly. In all her time in the palace, she had never seen a child that age already aware of such mature social gestures.

"It was Mamma, Ma'am," the girl replied, still curtsying. "Mamma taught me that."

Laughing, Marianne got up from her seat and made her way to where the girl was. "It's alright now, you can dispense with the formalities," she said, holding the girl's hands and helping her stand up straight. The girl smiled, her purple eyes conveying the same innocence her smile did – an innocence Marianne thought had been long lost in the cold, calculating environment within the palace walls. She reasoned with herself that the child was too young to be involved in the scandals of the Imperial family, and it would not be long before that innocence is consumed by the scheming atmosphere that plagued the Empire. Yet, even at that age, Marianne could not help but notice the girl's precociousness – a maturity beyond her five years which was most apparent when she greeted Marianne.

"So, what brings you here?" Marianne asked gently. "And I heard that you came here all by yourself."

The girl smiled proudly, as if acknowledging her remarkable feat of coming all the way to the Aries Palace without an escort or chaperone, which was rather dangerous for someone her age. "I wanted to come visit you, Ma'am, but Brother wasn't free, so I came alone."

Marianne nodded understandingly, but at the back of her mind she was still questioning why the princess wasn't followed by any guards or maids. She decided to let the matter rest for now because the girl was fine and well, but made a mental note to raise this incident to the girl's mother when she met her later in the day. "Well," she said, turning her attention back to the girl. "I'm a little busy now, sweetheart. Why don't you go play with my boy? You two can be friends."

The girl nodded excitedly. Marianne smiled and made her way to the glass door leading to the palace garden with the princess close behind her. As soon as Marianne opened the door, she heard the girl gasp in awe. Stepping to the garden, Marianne was enthralled by the scenery, even though she came to that part of the palace daily. The sight was indeed breathtaking even for someone who was well-acquainted with it, let alone someone who had never been here before.

Marianne turned around to meet the girl's wide-opened eyes, still surveying her surroundings with great interest. "It's beautiful," the girl murmured just audible enough for Marianne's ears. Marianne laughed and held the girl's hand, leading her to the stone bench where her son was supposed to be. As expected, a little boy with black hair was seated on the cold bench, staring at a stalk of dandelion planted in a patch of grass.

"There you are," exclaimed Marianne and the boy turned around to face his mother, his previously unsmiling face breaking into a slight grin. He got up from his seat and ran over the Marianne, but as soon as she saw the visitor his mother had brought along with her, he stopped dead in his tracks and the smile faded. Eyeing the girl warily, he took small, slow steps towards Marianne.

Even without Marianne saying or doing anything, the girl walked up towards the boy from behind the older woman, her pleasant demeanour still present. Immediately, she raised a hand towards the boy, expecting a handshake. "Hello, what's your name?"

The boy avoided her gaze but took her hand. "Lelouch," he muttered.

The girl didn't seem to take his unfriendly attitude to heart. "Nice to meet you, Lelouch, she said excitedly. "I'm Maxima, and I'm five this year. How old are you?"

Lelouch suddenly looked up to see Maxima's face, and in the moment that two pairs of violet eyes met, something must have clicked because Lelouch replied, this time in a louder voice. "I'll be four in December."

"What do you like to do, Lelouch?"

Lelouch stood up straighter, pulling himself to his full height. "I play chess," he replied with a slight tinge of arrogance in his voice.

"Really?" Maxima asked, surprised. "So do my brother and Brother Clovis."

Lelouch wrinkled his nose and scoffed, "I'm sure I can beat them. I've been playing for a year already and I'm quite good at it."

"My brother's been playing for a long time too," said Maxima. "I'll ask him to come play with you next time."

"Do you play chess?" Lelouch asked, making his way to the chess set on the grass behind the strawberry bush.

"My brother taught me a little," replied Maxima, fingering the hem of her skirt uncertainly. "I'm not really good at it though."

"Well then," said Lelouch, looking back at her. "I'll teach you more, and then you'll be as good as your brother." He beckoned for her to follow him. Maxima grinned and ran after the raven-haired boy, and they both disappeared behind the bushes.

Watching the pair run off, Marianne realised that this was probably the first time Lelouch has met a sibling his age – his only other encounters were with the en Britannia siblings who were at least five years his senior. Though the brothers were kind to Lelouch, they were unable entertain Lelouch at his level. Maxima's appearance couldn't have been timelier, for she came at her time where Marianne felt that Lelouch most needed a playmate. Marianne used to be Lelouch's only companion, and she knew that in the coming months, she would be less available to her son. Turning around, she began to stroll back to the study, unwittingly placing her hand on her belly. Just a few days ago, her annual check-up results had arrived with something rather unexpected – a remark that she was a month pregnant with her second child. She had secretly hoped that it would be a girl – especially after seeing Queen Georgina's own daughter Maxima – and that this child will be more of a playmate to Lelouch than the rest of his half-siblings.

From a far-off distance, she heard the laughter of the brother and sister. Marianne smiled to herself. Perhaps, Maxima had already become that ideal playmate, and this very garden would be the venue of all their games and activities. A gut feeling told her that this little girl will grow into a wonderful young woman, and she hoped that no matter what happens in the future, Maxima will always be as close to Lelouch as she is now.

This was definitely a start of a beautiful friendship.