The first day of the welcoming ceremony ends with no trouble but doesn't mean it will end there, the ceremony will last for a whole week and those days Lelouch will spend most of his time to meet the others noble family to create a bond with them and they are require to participate in a parade where they will all walk along the long road and greets the people in Japan and let them meet the new member of their house. It hasn't even include the part when Lelouch will have to spend his time to meet the people at places such as the orphanage, the prime minister, the old soldier who had survived the previous war and poor family. This is to gain the love and loyalty from his people. Also, to show that he is a kind man and gain trust for them. He also done this to get in a good side of his fiance.
As soon the welcoming ceremony at the port ended, he is escort to his room at the Kirihara household for him to take a proper rest before the second events starts tomorrow. He already grew exhausted from all the walking, talking and all the force smile he has to give to each of them. It's a good thing he had already memorize their faces before meeting them for the first time or he would have problem on learning who is who. Some of the Japanese people have the same faces and resemblance after all.
"Are you alright my prince?" Jeremiah asks.
"I'm fine." He waves his hand as he changes his clothes to a nightgown while Jeremiah faces the wall. As soon the prince finish changing, he wrap himself with warm clothes and open the door of his room.
"My prince, where are you going on this hour?" Jeremiah asks.
"I can't sleep so I decide to look around." He lies but Jeremiah doesn't have to know that. "I will be back as soon as I can so stay here."
"As you wish but if you're gone for too long, I will be looking for you."
"Alright." Lelouch waves him goodbye and as soon the door closes Lelouch walks away quickly toward where his destination is.
Suzaku is wiping swords in his hand as his mind keep wandering about the prince, Lelouch vi Britannia that he just met today. His mind couldn't get off him as if he had been bewitch by a wicked with to lose his concentration on reality. As Kaguya had say before, the prince is indeed so beautiful that he wonder how can someone like that exist in the mortal world. When the prince smiles, his heart flutter but as soon he realizes that smile is direct toward someone else makes him sad immediately.
"Why am I having this thought?" He sighs deeply.
Just then the maid appears behind his back.
"My lord, your father has requested your presence?"
"He is? Tell him I will be there soon."
The maid looks worry for a second there. "He request your presence immediately." She says quickly.
Suzaku gives her a long look before nodding his head.
"Alright."
He puts back his sword in the case before giving it to the maid for her to place it back to the armor room where the other weapons are. The one he just hold had been inherit from generation which make it very precious to him, as soon his father has reaches his old age, immediately he gives his sword to his only child and son. The sword is like a sign of acknowledgment given to him since it is hard to make his father impress or receive any acknowledgment for him. All those things he had accomplished had never been praise but by others like Kaguya or his master. The only things his father sees important about him is that he's the heir to the Kururugi family.
Even though they are father and son, he felt like they are strangers now after his mom die. They used to be close but now . . . . it's like there's a giant wall separating them.
"Lord Taizo." Lelouch says as soon he found the old man standing in the middle of the garden.
"Ah, prince Lelouch." The man stutter at the sudden presence of the boy.
"Just call me Lelouch, Lord Taizo. I'm no longer at Britannia now nor I will be a prince any longer. Calling me a prince will make us feel distant." He gives a charming smile toward the old man and readjust the cloth wrap around him and loosen it letting the top part of his body seen clearly. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."
A flash look of worry cross across the prince face and quickly Kirihara shook his face. "You're not disturbing me in anything pri- Lelouch. If you like, will you join an old man at his garden."
"It will be an honor." Lelouch walks gently toward the man and casually wrap his arm around the man shocking him once more. It is quite unexpected for someone to do such things on first meeting. Lelocuh make sure to press his body on the old man and tilt his head to whisper to the person ear. "I have always want to learn more about you ever since I heard I will engaged to you, my lord."
"What is there to know more about an old man?" Kirihara chuckles.
"I have heard so many stories of you. Your bravery and loyalty to your emperor, your country and for the "Tokyo Houses", the words of your bravery had never once escaped my ears and make me wonder on the wonderful man I'm about to be wedded soon."
His eyes then look up at the man and his arms now wrap tightly around him.
"It will be such a wonderful gift if you let me learn more about you from today forwards since I really wanna please you, my lord. Not many couple get to know much about their partner until their wedding day and I wouldn't want to be as clueless as them."
Kirihara nod his head in agreement.
"That's true, such thing has causes many struggle and difficulty between the noble houses because of arranged marriage."
"You agree with me, my lord." Lelouch says in a pleasing tone. "If it would be alright, can I visit you every time you're free, my lord?."
"That will be alright, I guess."
Unknown to him, Lelouch feels please to be able to attract the man attention. Then he places his hand gently on the man wrinkle cheek and lean forward but then the man suddenly back away from him. The prince eyes stare wide open before returning to his composure. A soft chuckle escape his lips.
"Too soon, my lord?" He asks curiously.
"I'm sorry if you feel offended, prince Lelouch. But a man need to keep a distance from his bride before the wedding day." Kirihara bow as an apology. "I must go now and you should too."
"That's true, it's getting quite late." Lelouch pulls the cloth around him tightly to suppress his frustration.
"Farewell then."
As soon Kirihara walks away, Lelouch smiles drop and starts biting his lips when the figure dissapear from his sight. It was then, Jeremiah appear behind him looking clueless on what to do. He had followed Lelouch from behind and watch when Lelouch interact with the guards and flirt with them to know Kirihara location is. But when Lelouch found his fiance, they spend some pleasant time together. It was obvious to the outsider that Lelouch wants to make the lord attracted to him but fail when Kirihara refuses his kiss.
"Jeremiah." Lelouch says his name without looking back causing his guard to straighten his back due to shock. "Has Lord Kirihara had any lovers? It is known that Japan always had this thing call 'harem' where the man has lots of woman to act as . . . prostitute." The knight can immediately tell how hateful Lelouch voice toward the man when he revert the name back to formalities.
"Would you like me to investigate?" He asks.
"Yes and do it as fast as possible." Lelouch turns to face his guard. "I will become that man wife someday and what's the point for me to become a Lady Kirihara if my own husband isn't even attracted to me nor show any interest?"
Jeremiah nod his head with agreement to that statement.
"But even the britannia has few women behind their back to fill their lust, my prince. Such thing is normal."
The look on Lelouch eyes harden. "Kirihara house is known to be next powerful next to the king. Being his wife give me control over the whole country and nobody, not even the Britannia can control me any longer. But if my future husband to be doesn't even bother with my presence, how am I gonna gain power?"
"My prince . . ." Jeremiah eyes widen when he realizes the truth. "You're marrying wasn't because to help Britannia but for . . ."
"For my sake, I know." He cuts the man words.
The prince grips his hand tightly with anger.
"I want the crown, Jeremiah. The emperor of Japan is gonna die soon and Kirihara will become the next emperor. I have to make him like me if I ever want to hold the power of the crown."
Jeremiah stare at the prince for a long time before nodding his head.
"As you wish but for now please go back to your room. We have a long day tomorrow."