Disclaimer: All of us fans know who owns Code Geass right? And it's certainly not some girl living on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere.
Night had fallen in Brtannia. Within the heavily guarded rooms of the 98th Emperor, the windows were closed and the curtains shut tightly over them.
The only source of light in the entire room was the pink desk lamp sitting right at the edge of a polished mahogany table.
(Of course, it was not the same shade of pink as Nunnally's favourite dress. The lamp was a very manly sort of pink, and he, Charles Zi Britannia had definitely not been coerced into placing it on his study table. No. Really. )
The lamp brought colour to his otherwise dull chambers. It was a bright centerpiece with tassels and gold trimmings that contrasted sharply with the dark purple and brown and maroon colour scheme of the room. In fact, it added to the intimidating atmosphere! And that was why it was carefully and strategically placed right at the edge of the table, in full view of the door. NOT because he wanted a convenient excuse for when he would accidentally knock it to the ground. ("What a ridiculous idea Marianne! It looks lovely there, don't you think?") (Also, no. He was not rambling.)
Despite Charles' vehement protests at the lamp's placement on his table, sometimes, he just couldn't help the slight twitch at the corners of his mouth as its gentle pink glow illuminated his official reports almost playfully. It was just like her.
Still, reluctant fondness or no, it helped that no one was ever allowed into this room.
Charles was pouring over a particularly vapid summary of the annual report on the use of Britannia's Sakuradite resources in the army despairingly.Clovis had done an appalling job. It worried him, honestly, what mistakes some of his children could make when they were not thinking straight about their grammar or spelling. He underlined 'nnnightmaru', then paused at the next odd-looking word two lines down. Sighing, he circled it with more force than strictly necessary.
Unbelievable! What was he thinking? This was unacceptable from even an average 13 year old Number on the streets! Besides, shouldn't there be a dictionary or spell check function in his text editor?
Clovis should be mortified.
Then again, the ineptitude could be deliberate.
In fact, it most definitely was.
The third prince was more intelligent than what this half-hearted rubbish indicated.
He made a mental note to give his son a very, very difficult position to handle sometime in the future. Perhaps a position as Viceroy in some underdeveloped or newly conquered Area, and be saddled with irresponsible subordinates. That would teach him. The brat. Gah.
Wait. He wasn't even thinking coherently! What time was it anyway? It was probably way too late in the night. Feeling too lazy to pull out his phone to check or change out of his work clothes, Charles leaned back in his chair and relaxed entirely. Just for a while. He was not going to fall asleep at his desk; he'd go to bed soon, but his eyelids felt really heavy, and…
No sound was made as the lock was carefully picked. The door to the emperor's chambers swung open silently. Polished black heels made only the smallest of clicking noises upon the hardwood floor as their owner headed toward the only part of the room that was lit; he could see his target was reclining in his swivel chair, snoring.
A vaguely concerned and mostly exasperated expression passed over his face.
"Charles! It's three in the morning! Wh-" The intruder paused mid-sentence, staring aghast at the travesty sitting innocently on the table. "What is THAT."
"…V…V?" Came the mumbled response from the normally imposing and intimidating man, it was accompanied by an adorably confused expression as he peered through half lidded eyes. This would not have passed unremarked if V.V hadn't been as scandalized as he was. Luckily for the groggy Charles, he was too busy being distracted by the pink lamp on the table.
His purpose for breaking and entering completely forgotten, V.V spluttered, "W…Whatever that is supposed to be it's HIDEOUS! Dispose of it at once!"
"Good morning, brother." The king said dryly, feeling more awake. "And no, I can't do that," he sounded so uncharacteristically amused and…affectionate? "It's a gift from Marianne-"
The blonde gritted his teeth at the sound of Her name. That Infuriating Witch was corrupting his little sibling again! How dare she! Charles belonged with him, to him; he Promised!
"Well. You can just tell her to-"
"Clandestine meetings in the early hours of the morning? What nefarious plots are the two of you coming up with again, Charles, V.V?"
The two brothers whirled around in surprise. Marriane was leaning against the doorway holding dressing gown closed over her nightdress. It seemed her training as a soldier had remained with her even through motherhood.
She offered them a teasing smile.
"You haven't visited Aries villa for awhile and I missed you. Surprise?"
Her husband strode over and swept her in a tight hug, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair.
"This is a very pleasant surprise." Charles said as he pulled away. "Did you bring Nunnally and Lulu with you?"
"Of course. You'll get see them in the morning, and your documents can wait till then as well." She gestured towards the bed.
"Alright, alright." He agreed. "Goodnight little brother! Even immortals need their sleep!"
They left a seething V.V behind them as they shut the bedroom door.
"He's jealous of you! The cute thing."
"Lelouch gets like that about Nunnally as well."
"I saw Euphemia pouring glue over the chair of one of Cornelia's suitors just yesterday."
"Again?…Does having sibling complexes run in your family or something?"
"…"
"Hahahahahaha. Never-mind. Close your eyes and go to sleep Charles."
"Goodnight, Marianne."
"Goodnight dear."
A/N Hmmm. Is it just me or did this sound kind of weird? Lol. Blame it on my not having to write any stories for a year and three quarters! Heh heh heh.
Thank you for reading!