- Flagship Ikaruga, of the shore of Tokyo -
"This doesn't bode well for us, does it?" Rakshata taunted as she casually smoked her pipe.
"Applications for the Black Knights are already down." Diethard replied. "Its not considered treason to join the administrative zone."
"We can't just sit back and watch this kill us!" Tamaki yelled. "We have to fight!"
"And lose the support of the Japanese?" Tohdoh responded. "We would be hated by the very people we seek to save."
"But we can't just ignore this!"
"Why can't we support this?" Ougi asked. "If it functions the same way Princess Euphemia says it does, it doesn't contradict Zero's goals."
"Its peace on their terms." Kallen answered. "Not a desirable position in a war."
"maybe." Ougi replied. "But isn't that better then war?"
- Royal residence, Tokyo settlement -
"I'm home" Lelouch announced as he entered the parlor. Nunnally was, as usual, with Sayoko at the table, making paper cranes.
"How was your meeting with Shirley?" Nunnally asked, setting down her latest origami creation.
"She never showed up." Lelouch lied smoothly as he hung up his jacket.
"Let me take that for you." Sayoko offered politely as she rose from her seat.
"Thank you." Lelouch answered. "Could you also fetch us some tea?"
"Of course, my lord." Sayoko replied with a bow before leaving the room.
"Is Suzaku here?" Lelouch asked as he took a seat.
"No." Nunnally said as she picked up one of her cranes. "He's with Euphie, handling some thing for the special administrative region. He been spending a lot of time with her, you know."
"He is her Knight, after all."
"I think their something else going on between those two." Nunnally set down her crane. "Is Kallen here? I wanted her help with a paper hummingbird I'm trying to make."
"No – she had some school business to attend to." Lelouch lied once again. Kallen was otherwise preoccupied with a meeting of the Black Knights, not that Nunnally needed to know that. "She should be back for dinner." Lelouch paused for a minute. "How do you know so much about Euphie and Suzaku?"
"All you have to do is look." Nunnally replied in her usual tone.
"An ironic statement, coming from a blind girl." Lelouch replied humorously.
"Is something bothering you?" Nunnally asked without warning.
"What makes you say that?" Lelouch tried to reply casually.
"A sister knows these things." Nunnally teased. "Now, what's bothering you?"
"Nothing!" Lelouch repeated. "I'm fine! I've just been preoccupied with all this news of the Administrative region."
"Is that all?" Nunnally replied. "Do you think something might go wrong?"
"Something like that." Lelouch leaned back in his chair. "Why?"
"Euphie invited both of us to the ceremony!" Nunnally said excitedly.
They both turned to look toward the hall as they heard the thunderous boom of the front door open and slam shut. "Speaking of Euphie…" Lelouch stood and headed into the front hall to find Euphemia and Suzaku heading in his direction.
"How go things at the administrative region?" Euphemia nearly jumped at the sudden utterance from her half-brother.
"Don't sneak up on people like that!" Euphie chastised.
"My apologizes." Lelouch replied with a slight bow. " How did things go?"
"Wonderfully!" Euphie replied excitingly. "Construction is on schedule."
"That's good…" Lelouch hesitated for a moment. "I need to speak to Suzaku for a moment. Actually, you should probably listen to, Euphie."
"What is it?" Suzaku asked hesitantly.
"This will take a while to explain." Lelouch replied before leading them to a foyer.
Some time later, the three of them were simply staring at Lelouch – Kallen had arrived part way through the discussion.
"So, Shirley knows your Zero?" Suzaku spoke first.
"What I want to know," Kallen said before Lelouch could respond. "is how she lost her memory in the first place."
"That's not important right now." Lelouch replied. "What is important is that somebody is out there knows who I am."
"We know." Kallen replied, gesturing towards Suzaku and Euphemia. "Why aren't you worried about any of us?"
"You all have bodyguards or are the bodyguards." Lelouch responded. "I doubt Shirley has such security."
"I don't follow." Suzaku stated flatly.
"Shirley isn't going to tell anybody." Lelouch explained. "But if anybody finds out that she knew such information…
"She would become a target." Suzaku finished. If anybody found out that Lelouch was Zero, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that his death would soon follow. To think that somebody would be willing to kidnap an innocent girl, who would do such a thing?
"Exactly," Lelouch replied. "and of Britannia, no less."
"So," Suzaku asked after a moment. "What do you propose we do?"
"Make sure nothing happens to her." Lelouch replied. "That's all we can do."
"So, what?" Kallen said sardonically. "You're going to stalk her?"
"Of course not." Lelouch replied. "We are going to have her stalk us."
"Say again?" Kallen responded, "How exactly are you going to do that?"
"We were, not to long ago, close friends." Lelouch stood to leave. "I must simply… rebuild that relationship. Once I have done that, having her around me - and thus my security detail – will be a simple matter."
"What about the little fact that you accidentally killed her father?" Kallen inquired. "That sort of thing generally puts a damper on 'relationships'."
"That is, as you would say, my problem." Lelouch replied as he crossed the threshold into the entrance hall. "I can be quite persuasive." As Lelouch turned to leave, however, he felt a familiar shock through his left eye.
"Are you all right!" Euphemia asked worriedly as her half brother suddenly clutched at his face.
"Its nothing," Lelouch assured her. That was the third time that day – whatever was going on, it was not normal, and it seemed to be getting worse "anything else, Kallen?"
"Speaking of dampers." Kallen continued, "The others are worried that the Administrative region is going to kill the Black Knights."
"I was just heading out to address that." Lelouch replied calmly. He glanced over his shoulder back at Kallen. "Interested?"
- Flagship Ikaruga -
"I understand you are worried at what this Administrative region will mean for the black Knights." Zero calmly addressed the assembled crowd. "Rest assured, we will continue to fight."
"But we have addressed every possible way to approach this." Diethard replied. "This approach has the support of the Japanese. We can't fight it."
"Then we won't" Replied Zero.
"Then what are we going to do?" Tamaki asked heatedly.
"We are going to show the Japanese just what this is – an attempt by Britannia to control them - A trap to drive them into complacency. This isn't freedom – this is a collar. But this collar only functions when you are unaware of it. If you know it is their, it no longer works."
"'beware of Greeks bearing gifts', huh?" Diethard said, smirking.
"Exactly."
"I don't follow." One of the Black Knights said.
"The only reason most of Britannian royalty would agree to this is in hopes of calming the vocal outcries of the Japanese. If we tell them what this really is, they'll turn their backs on it."
"So we're against the special region?"
"No" Zero stated emphatically. "We do not want the Japanese to simply turn their backs on this. We want them to take it and demand more! We let the Britannians plant the seeds of their own destruction. Once this region is set up, we could establish a presence within it."
"How?" Tamaki demanded. "I've read the proposal – The Japanese only have control over internal security – external security if handled by the Britannian military! Even then, the region police are regulated by the Britannians!"
"One of my agents is positioned to obtain the position of Viscount of Mt. Fuji." Zero answered confidently.
"And who would that be?" Tamaki inquired.
"You shall see." Zero replied. "You shall see."
"What about our grand unveiling of what the special region really is?" Diethard inquired. "Are we doing it before the ceremony?"
"No," Zero corrected, "During."
"Hack the feed?"
"Not quite." Zero pulled out a small envelope. "I have been invited by Sub Viceroy Euphemia to attend the ceremony tomorrow."
"Goanna crash the Britannians little party, are we?" Nagisa said, grinning.
"I am – you will have the stadium surrounded, ready to move at my signal."
"Should you really take such a risk, Zero?" Ougi asked. "This organization wouldn't survive very long without you."
"Don't worry." Zero assured him. "I know what I'm doing."
- Ashford Residence, Tokyo settlement -
Milly was only half watching the news coverage of the ceremony when here phone rang.
"Milly Ashford."
"Ah, hello, Milly – how has your morning been?"
"Lloyd?" Milly shrieked into the phone. "How on earth did you get this number! Was It Lelouch? Or was it Suzaku? When I get my hands on them!..."
"It was your mother." Lloyd replied. "And you really shouldn't yell at people like that. I take it that you're unhappy about hearing from me?"
"What do you want, Lloyd?" Milly asked dejectedly. The sooner she got this conversation over with, the sooner he was out of her hair.
"It just so happens that I have been invited to attend today's Ceremony – stage side seats, the whole nine yards – and I was wondering if you would like to join me?" Lloyds tone was a little to sweet for Milly's liking
"How long did Cecile have to yell at you to get you to call me?" She had only been to Lloyd's laboratory a few times, but she knew that, if you needed him to do anything non-frame related, you needed Cecile – you don't work with somebody like Lloyd as long as Cecile had without learning how to 'persuade' them.
"Not long, actually." Lloyd replied. "She just went straight to threatening me with those horrendous 'etiquette classes' of hers"
Milly couldn't help but let out a small laugh at the comment. She might loath his mocking demeanor, but Lloyd evaded those classes like Lelouch evaded P.E. – often and effectively.
"Well?" Lloyd asked. "If you don't, I'm afraid I might not see tomorrow."
"Fine." Milly replied. "I don't see why not – but you call me 'Snookums', 'buttercup', or 'sweetie' even once, you'll be eating through a tube."
"Can't wait to see you either, ma chérie" Lloyd replied before hanging up.
- Mt. Fuji Stadium, SAZ -
"Lloyd! Glad to see you!" Suzaku made his way across the throng of guests at the reception for the Ceremony. Euphemia had insisted on attending the event, all though it amounted to nothing more then a simple lunch before the ceremony proper. The tent they were in was only a few yards from the stadium, providing pleasant shade in the formidable heat of the Japanese summer.
"You know I never turn down a free meal, Suzaku." Lloyd replied in his usual leisurely tone. The reception for the Ceremony was well catered – Lloyd could have done without the formalities. He hated having to wear formal attire. "I'm sure you know Miss Ashford?"
"Yes, we're on the student council together." Suzaku replied. "I hope your enjoying yourself?"
"Some less then others." Lloyd explained. "Things aren't going very well with Miss Ashford."
"Where is she?" Suzaku asked, quickly scanning the crowd. He saw Earls, dukes, general Dalton, Bartley, two viscounts and a count – but no Milly.
"She's avoiding me." Lloyd explained. "She used the old 'I have to use the ladies room' excuse."
"Why wouldn't she avoid you?" Suzaku and Lloyd both spun around at the voice. Standing behind them was Cecile. She was dressed in a flattering dark red evening gown. She seemed to fail to notice the large amount of male attention the dress was gaining – the gown left far less to the imagination then her usual uniform. "You are by far the most asocial person I have ever met."
"Everything is just a component in a system." Lloyd shrugged. "Why grow attached to a part?"
"Still," Suzaku started "I thought you two might get along."
"What makes you say that?" Lloyd asked as he absentmindedly adjusted his cravat.
"You see people as tools," Suzaku explained. "And she use's them as tools – add to that her background in Knightmare Frames…"
"What does she know about Knightmare Frames?" Lloyd asked, interested now that the topic was on his favorite subject.
"She's the heir to the Ashford family." Suzaku remarked. "Of course she knows a few things about Frames. Her grandfather helped develop the Ganymede. She's no engineer, mind you, buch an influence is bound to trickle down the family tree."
"Like you and your father, Suzaku?" Lloyd replied cynically.
"Lloyd!"
"No, its all right Miss Croomy." Suzaku replied, stopping Cecile's reprimand. "I've made peace with my past." He turned back to Lloyd. "Have you?"
Lloyd paled, his body refusing to respond to his commands, his voice refusing to speak as Suzaku walked over to greet some other guests. "That… he must have accessed my file …"
"What is it?" Cecile inquired. "What does he know?" Cecile glared at him, her white shawl dropping slightly as she crossed her arms. "What are you hiding?"
"Its-its nothing." Lloyd rebuked. "Now if you'll excuse me…" Lloyd quickly made his way across the congregation and out of the tent.
"Was that Earl Asplund?" Nina asked meekly as she watched the silver haired engineer rush out of the tent.
"He's fine" Suzaku assured her. "He just had to step out for some air. Now, where is Shirley? Didn't Lelouch invite her as well?"
"She said something about having to use the powder room." Nina replied.
"Probably just cold feet." Nina spun around at the voice. "One in my position can relate."
"Pr-Princess Euphemia!" Nina stuttered. "I'm sorry, your highness!" Nina added as she quickly bowed.
"That's not necessary." Euphemia said, waving for her to stand. "You look well, Miss Einstein."
"Th-Thank you, you highness." Nina replied, blushing.
"I understand that Lelouch invited you?" Euphemia inquired.
"Yes, along with Miss Fennette." Nina explained as best she could without stuttering. "Lelouch has been asking about my research into uranium recently-"
"Wait," Euphemia interrupted. "Fennette? Shirley Fennette?"
"Yes," Nina replied."why?"
"Lelouch talks about her so much, but I haven't had the chance to meet her." Euphemia explained
"That's strange." Nina replied, nervously playing with her glass. "Their relationship hasn't been going very well."
"Really?" Euphie asked. "How so?"
"Well," Nina responded. "She seems to have been giving him the cold shoulder. She acts like she's never even known him! At least, until recently, and then they just started acting strange – trying to avoid each other – she won't even talk to him…"
"talk to who?" Nina and Euphemia turned to see Miss Fennette.
"Ah, Miss Fennette!" Euphemia exclaimed, quickly grasping her hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you!"
"Ah, your Highness…I…"
"Please, call me Euphie!" Euphemia replied. "Lelouch has told me so much about you!"
"Really?" Shirley responded, surprised. "Where is he, anyway?"
"He'll arrive later." Euphie assured her. "Don't worry about him."
"Speaking of arrivals, where's your guest?" Shirley asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Suzaku got to invite Earl Asplund and Miss Croomy-"
"Ah, so you have met them!" Euphemia exclaimed.
"Oh, yes." Shirley answered. "He was quite…unique."
"That's one way to describe him." Suzaku said, chuckling.
"Lelouch invited Nina and myself, but who did you invite?"
"He'll be arriving shortly." Euphemia said cheerfully as Dalton announced the start of the ceremony.
A little over a mile away, the silver claw of the Guren gleamed in the spotted sunlight of the tree cover. It was crouched in front of the Gawain, like a subject before the king.
"Is everyone in position?" Zero asked as he climbed to the top of the massive Frame.
"Yes," Kallen replied, "Are you sure about this?"
"Do you question Euphemia's integrity?" Zero probed.
"It's not her that worries me." Kallen replied. "If something happens in their, you'll be full of holes before you can say 'parley'"
"You worry too much Kallen" Zero replied before an electric like shock coursed through his eye.
"Something wrong?" Kallen asked worryingly as Zero tried in vain to clutch his left eye through his mask.
"It's nothing," Zero replied. "Stay in position unless I signal. Understood?"
"Yes sir!"
"Very well," Zero took his position atop the mech. "C.C., we have a ceremony to attend."
- Center stage, Mt. Fuji Stadium -
"Ah, there you are, ma chérie, I thought you might have gotten lost." Lloyd teased Milly as she took her seat on the stage next to Lloyd. Their row was right behind Princess Euphemia's, so the view of the proceedings was limited.
"That wouldn't bode well for your plan to obtain the Ganymede, would it?" Milly responded in kind.
"Or your attempt to restore your families status, ma chérie"
"I guess…" Milly replied drearily.
"You don't seem very excited about the prospect of marrying me." Lloyd commented.
"Its not you" Milly paused for a second. "It's not just you. It's the whole concept. I don't want to marry somebody just to restore my family's status."
"A hopeless romantic, are we?" Lloyd taunted. "Only interested in marrying for love?"
"I simply want to choose my own life." Milly replied. "I feel like a fraud to myself, like I'm just some pawn for some person's game."
"That's because you are." Milly turned to look at Lloyd as he continued to speak. "You're a pawn of your parents, your teachers – even me. We are all just pawns, ma chérie, the only thing you can choose is who you are a pawn of."
"Is that why you're so detached from other people?" Milly asked.
"People are fragile beings" Lloyd remarked somberly. "Far too easily broken, to easily snatched away from us. Friendship, camaraderie, love – all it does is lead to heartache."
"But you know what they say, 'it's better to love and to lost then to have never loved at all'." Milly quoted.
"Tell me, Miss Ashford" Lloyd asked, his tone grim and serious. "Have you ever lost somebody you loved?"
Before Milly could respond, a sudden gasp rippled through the crowd. High above the stadium, a looming black mech slowly glided across the sky.
"I'm so glad you could make it Zero!" Euphemia said, rushing forward. "Welcome to the special administrative zone!"
"Thank you, Princess Euphemia." Zero replied. "I request an audience with you. Alone."
"…Very well." Euphemia replied. "This way."
The crowd watched as the mech flew over and landed by the G-1 base. As soon as Zero touched the ground, security had him surrounded. "He's clear" Announced one security official after quickly scanning him with a metal detector.
"Follow me, Zero." Euphemia instructed Zero before leading the way to the command vehicle. As they walked away, Suzaku watched with apprehension. Yes, it was Lelouch behind that mask – but did that mean he could be trusted? Before Suzaku could continue contemplating the thought, he felt something – almost like another consciousness brushing against his own. He spun around to face the massive black frame. "Its you, isn't it?"
- Command bridge, G-1 base -
"Even though the camera's are off, you're being so careful." Euphemia commented as Zero shut the power down for the massive vehicle.
"Can't let anybody discover my identity, now can I?" Lelouch replied as he removed his mask before pulling out a small pistol. "This gun is made of ceramics and bamboo – undetectable to metal detectors."
"Do you intend to shoot me?" Euphemia asked half jokingly.
"I plan on taking you hostage so as to ensure that my speech is uninterrupted." Lelouch replied. "No harm will come to you."
"This isn't necessary, Lelouch." Euphie commented. "you are free to make your speech."
"I cannot take any chances." Lelouch replied.
"Very well," Euphemia replied with a sigh. "But…"
"But what?"
"This all just seems to be happening so fast." Euphemia explained. "Your reinstatement, this alliance, this plan…"
"You want to give this to the Japanese, don't you?" Lelouch asked. "This is your goal, isn't it?"
"I just want people to be happy." Euphie replied. "People shouldn't have to suffer, not if they don't have to."
"An admirable statement." Lelouch remarked. "But a foolish one."
"Why?"
"People cannot just be given freedom – they must want it!" Lelouch answered. "And that freedom must be earned or it will mean nothing to them!" Lelouch winced as an electric jolt ran through his head.
Yards away, C.C. collapsed as the sigil upon her forehead began to glow an eerie, iridescent red.
"Whats wrong!" Suzaku began to rush forward, when she stopped him.
"Don't touch me!" C.C. yelled out, still clutching her left eye. "Don't come any closer!"
"Whats going on?" Suzaku asked, his voice tinged with fear.
"Where is Zero?" C.C. gasped between hard breathes.
"In the command vehicle with the Princess." Suzaku explained. "Why?"
"Something's …" C.C. gasped. "Something's gone wrong…"
"I knew he would betray us!" Bartley yelled out. As soon as the news of Zero's arrival had reached his ears, he had made a bee line for the stadium. It was foolish to trust a terrorist – this just proved his point. "Squad 3, move on the command vehicle – capture Zero!"
- G-1 base, command Bridge -
"Are you alright!" Euphemia asked, rushing over to her brother.
"I'm fine," Lelouch replied as he slowly stood up and faced his sister, brandishing his pistol. "Now, shall we go?"
"I have a panic button, for your information." Euphemia threatened jokingly. "What's to stop me from using it?"
"You could, but any resistance is ultimately futile." Lelouch said with a smirk.
"What do you mean?"
"If I really want to give an order," Lelouch said, turning dramatically to look out over the ceremony. "None can disobey me. Shoot me, fire Suzaku, I could order you to do anything."
"You must be joking!"
"I'm Serious." Lelouch replied. "If I were to order you to kill all the-"
"Freeze!"
Lelouch slowly turned around to face the security guards, hands raised, "I'm sorry – am I parked in a red zone?"
"You are herby under arrest!" One of them yelled authoritatively. "Drop the weapon!"
"This man is here under my request – stand down!" Euphemia ordered.
"Wait," one of the guards finally got a decent look at zero's face. "Prince Lelouch?" The other guards stared at him.
"Forget you ever saw me." Lelouch ordered, his Geass having an immediate effect.
"How did you do that?" Euphemia asked, walking forward. One moment the guards were brandishing their pistols, the next they were simply standing their, blank expressions on their faces.
"The power I was telling you about." Lelouch replied. "I told you I was serious."
"Your Majesty!" Bartley burst into the room, huffing and out of breath.
"Your late to the party, Bartley." Lelouch informed him calmly.
"I knew you would pull some stunt," Bartley said, pulling his pistol out, "But I never thought it would be you."
"Are you going to shoot me?" Lelouch asked him, grinning. "I'm afraid that won't work."
"What's going on!" Suzaku slowly entered the command room, slowed down as he helped a still semi-incapacitated C.C stagger along.
"You tell me." Lelouch replied as if simply discussing the afternoon news with an old friend. "Why is she here?"
"Enough!" Bartley yelled. "I will not let you make a mockery of me!"
"I'm afraid you can't stop me." Lelouch taunted. "I can make you do anything I want – even kill all the Japanese."
"Don't!" C.C. yelled out, but it was too late. Bartley now stood their, simply staring at Lelouch.
"As you command, your majesty." He said with a bow.
"What!" Lelouch stared at him for a moment, but when Bartley rose, Lelouch understood – Bartley's red ringed eyes left no doubt as to what had happened.
"Stop him!" Lelouch yelled out, but Bartley was already out the door. Before anybody could follow him out, the door hissed shut. "Dammit! Open!" Lelouch kicked at the door.
"Whats going on?" Euphemia asked, her brothers erratic behavior frightening her.
"He's lost control of his Geass." C.C. said weakly, still leaning heavily on Suzaku's shoulder.
"What the hell is a Geass?" Suzaku asked. What ever this Geass was, it didn't seem like something you wanted to loss control of. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Lelouch replied gravely, "that Bartley is about to massacre everybody in that stadium."
- Central stage, Mt. Fuji stadium -
"A reporter, hmm?" Lloyd leaned back in his chair. "I would have never figured you to be that vain."
The stadium had grown restless while Euphemia and Zero had their little meeting. The most interesting thing to happen had been Bartley's arrival.
"Its not out of vanity!" Milly defended. "Its just, I'd rather be reporting the news then be part of it."
"The Ashford family, title or no title, is a high profile group within Britannia." Lloyd replied. "You don't develop the most influential piece of military equipment of the century without gaining a little notoriety. Speaking of military…" Lloyd pointed off to his left, where Bartley had just emerged from backstage down the center isle. "He doesn't seem himself, does he?"
"I wouldn't know." Milly replied, turning to look at the general. "I don't see anything strange."
"The way he's carrying himself is different." Lloyd explained, staring at the general. "His gait seems off – something's wrong."
Bartley reached the podium. "Attention all Japanese," He slowly raised his pistol, aiming it straight at the front row. "die!" Then, a single shot rang through the stadium.
An eerie silence settled across the stadium - then, chaos.
- Command Bridge, G-1 base -
"Get the power back on!" Lelouch yelled as he continued to pry at the door in vain.
"Got it!" Suzaku rushed over to the control console and quickly began the start up protocol. "You know, this is your fault."
"My fault!" Lelouch asked incredulously as he headed over to help with the start up, abandoning his attempt to force the door open. The door was sealed from the outside – it could only be overridden from the command console.
"If you hadn't been trying to undermine the administrative region," Suzaku accused, "None of this would have happened!"
"Undermine!" Lelouch yelled back. "I'm simply telling the Japanese the truth!"
"That the administrative region is a trap?"
"That it's supposed to silence them!"
"What's that supposed to-"
"ENOUGH!" Both gentlemen turned to face Euphemia, her sudden outburst catching them off guard. "Establish a radio link to the units outside and get us out of here. Then you can go back to arguing – understood?"
"Yes, your highness." Both replied automatically before going back to the task at hand.
"Got it!" Suzaku called out as the massive vehicle began to light up. "Patching us through to the units outside…" As soon as the connection was established, the sound of gunfire greeted their ears.
"This is Princess Euphemia Vi Britannia, what is happening?" only more gunfire replied. "Why can't they here us!"
"Move over!" Lelouch ordered as he began to examine the communications console. "Damn! Something fried the Primary radio circuit!"
"Can you bypass it?" Suzaku asked.
"No," Lelouch replied, tapping away at the console. "But I can connect through the secondary circuit – it will take some time though."
"How long?"
"five, maybe six minutes." Lelouch replied. The sounds of gunfire and screams echoed through the radio.
"Let us hope we have that long." Euphemia said quietly.
- Tokyo Central administration -
"There is one other matter I would like to discuss with you, Cornelia." Schneizel said calmly across the teleconference screen.
"Yes, what is it, Schneizel?" Cornelia asked calmly. This conference had gone on far longer then she had wanted.
"It's about Lelouch."
"What about him?" Cornelia asked, looking up from the file in front of her.
"Several things bother me," Schneizel replied, pulling out another file "His sudden discovery, his rapid reinstating as a prince, his Knights quick ascension – among other things."
"What are you getting at?" Cornelia asked flatly.
"I'm simply saying that there is something amiss." Before he could explain further, an aide interrupted.
"I'm sorry, madam Viceroy, but you must see this!" he explained. "We're getting a feed from the Ceremony."
"Put it on screen." Cornelia ordered. Schneizel's face shrunk into the corner as a see of static filled the majority of the screen. The screen suddenly filled with an image of the Stadium.
"When did this happen!" Cornelia roared at the aide.
"About five minutes ago, your highness." He replied. "We are not certain of Princess Euphemia's status, your highness…" He was cut of as the viceroy walked past him towards her Frame.
"Princess Cornelia!" Gilford yelled out, pursuing her as she approached the Frame.
"Only follow me if you plan on coming with me, Gilford!" Cornelia replied.
"But your duties!" Gilford pleaded.
"To hell with my duties!" Cornelia spun to face her Knight. "I will protect Euphie, duties be damned! now are you coming or not?"
Gilford stared at her for a moment before bowing. "Of course, My Lady."