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Chapter 4: Empress's Declaration
Cornelia sat at her desk. It had been a very tiring day. She hadn't really gotten to speak to anyone today. The paperwork had been piling up in her office and Gilbert had been bugging her to finish it. She sighed and pushed back in the chair. Her bright purple locks fell over the back of the chair and she pulled her slim fingers through it. She used to wear it as a beautiful curl to one side of her head, but now she wore it wavy and clipped behind her head. It was easier to manage that way. Plus Gilbert had said he liked it that way better.
"Empress Cornelia."
Cornelia was pulled from her thoughts by the one and only Gilbert, her personal knight. Although since she became the Empress she had gotten about a dozen other ones, Gilbert was still her number one. He was the one that attended to her personally and he was the one she would trust her life with. If anything ever happened to him, she didn't know how she would continue to live.
"Yes?"
"We got reports from Governor Nunnally that the world hunger and rebuilding of Japan is going very well," Gilbert stated matter-of-factly.
"That is very good news. After all the rebuilding is finished she won't be needed as the Governor there any longer."
Gilbert nodded in agreement.
Subconsciously Cornelia touched the picture frame on her desk, running her pointer finger from top to bottom. It was her very favorite picture of Euphemia. It was of the both of them actually; Cornelia was playing with Euphemia's gorgeous pink hair while the younger girl sat patiently waiting for her sister to finish.
"You miss her?"
Cornelia's head shot up. She hadn't even realized what she was doing. She actually hadn't even noticed that her knight hadn't even left the room yet. She just stared up at him, not bothering to answer. Honestly Cornelia knew that he knew for a fact that she was still grieving for her baby sister and probably always would. Of all the things Lelouch had to do, why did he have to murder Clovis and Euphemia? They had been such quiet and ignorant rulers. Not that she wished to die, but at least she would have known the reason for her demise, unlike those two innocents.
"Will there be anything else Empress?"
She took his hand in her own, "Just sit with me Gilbert."
He stared down at his hand in hers, obviously surprised, but quickly pulled up a chair and placed himself comfortably in it. The last time they had held hands this way was when she was in the hospital because of Schneizel. It brought back all those memories, "Is everything alright?"
Out of all of Charles Di Britannia's children, she and Nunnally were the only ones left to keep the Empire together. Odysseus, Guinevere, Carline, Schneizel, and all the other Princes and Princesses had the Geass cast upon them in the ultimate sacrifice of obedience. Now they were all useless. Of course Cornelia let them live in the palace still, but they were no longer of any use as icons to the public. Only she and Nunnally could be used, but actually so far that had worked out fine. Since Nunnally got her eyesight back it made her all the more endearing to the people of Britannia and Japan. Nunnally had even joined the U.F.N. as a representative for Britannia. Together the two of them would keep and continue to create peace throughout the world.
"Yes, everything's fine."
Truthfully there was something she desperately wanted to speak to him about. Since Nunnally and she were the last of the line, they should probably pass the lineage on. It was something she had been mulling over for sometime, even before she had become the Empress. At first she thought she loved Gilbert as her protector and knight, but now she realized it was more. When Euphemia had confessed her love for her knight Suzaku Kururugi, Cornelia hadn't been able to understand what her younger sister had been thinking. It drove her insane to know that Euphemia had fallen for such a common man, but now she understood fully. Only someone who would take a bullet for you was the most caring and wonderful. Gilbert would have sacrificed his life for hers if he deemed it necessary and that meant everything to her.
"Gilbert…"
He'd never seen Cornelia so upset and torn up about anything before, well besides Euphemia's death, "Yes, your highness?"
"What would you say to becoming part of the royal family?"
He cocked an eyebrow, that hadn't exactly been the direction he thought the conversation was going to take, "What do you mean?"
"I need to create a successor to the Britannia Empire, since I don't think Nunnally will be doing that anytime soon," Cornelia said with much authority.
Even when she was trying to be sincere and loving, she was still the leader of the country. She had to make sure he understood her position clearly.
"Are you saying…" Gilbert wasn't exactly sure what she was implying.
"Gilbert, I'm trying to say that I love you."
She reached out her free hand and touched his cheek. She ran her fingers from his cheek bone down to his chin. He closed his eyes and reveled in the touch. The Empress and leader of all of the Britannian Empire had just confessed that she loved him. What could he do but answer her back with all his soul?
"I love you too, Cornelia."
He stood, his chair pushing back and kneeled in front of his queen taking her face in his hands. Her deep blue orbs met his lighter blue ones and he lightly pushed his lips against hers. She eagerly responded, pushing back into the kiss. After a moment Gilbert pulled away.
"I will do anything you wish of me Cornelia," taking his knight stance and putting his right hand, fisted against the left side of his chest.
Cornelia laughed dryly, "I don't think there's anything you need to do. At least now I don't need anyone's permission for making you my groom."
Gilbert wasn't sure if she meant that as a joke or if she was serious, so he just replied, "I'm sorry."
She patted his hand comfortingly, "It's not your fault."
Gilbert was glad that Cornelia seemed to be in much better spirits since he confessed his love for her in response, but there was still an untold sadness to her. He wished more than anything that he could heal that pain so she could become the joyous and peaceful person she had once been. Since Euphemia died, Schneizel betrayed her, and Charles vanished, she had just lost her sparkle.
"Cornelia, my princess…"
Cornelia's eyes perked up when she heard him say that. It had been months since he referred to her as such, since she technically wasn't a princess anymore. It brought back the memories of when she was the leader of the troops that protected the Britannia Empire. Now it was one of Cornelia's new knights, Edwin who ruled over the soldiers that joined in battles that the U.N.F. engaged in. She missed fighting. Not because she liked hurting or killing people, just because it had been her way of life for so many years. She honestly hadn't ever expected to get the throne the way she did. Out of all her siblings, Charles had hand selected a long list and she was the tenth or eleventh child down on that list. It seemed very unlikely that all ten other candidates wouldn't be able to rule, although now it didn't seem so farfetched.
Gilbert was glad to see her more attentive, "Can I get you anything? Do anything to make you happier with me?"
She shook her head, "No Gilbert, you're wonderful and perfect."
The truth was since Charles had vanished everything had been getting better and better. The old Black Nights now known as the U.N.F. had helped the world so much. All because of Zero, because of Lelouch. She couldn't help but think that his defeat had not been an accident in the end. He always had every move or possible encounter planned out before he started a game. She remembered watching him verse Clovis and Schneizel when they were younger. Schneizel had been the only one Lelouch couldn't defeat, but obviously many years later that had been proven wrong. Cornelia didn't hate Lelouch, she didn't hate Schneizel either, she could never hate a sibling; no matter what wrong they committed. Cornelia finally realized all she wanted to do was forgive.
"Can you set a call with Nunnally? I'd like to tell her the good news," Cornelia asked.
Her smile was so excited and sincere that Gilbert couldn't help feel like he was falling for her harder. Her nodded instantly and left her office to go to her secretary's desk to get the older lady to set up the call. Moments later a flashing light told Cornelia there was an incoming call. She pushed the button and Nunnally's adorable, happy face popped up.
"Hello big sister. Is everything alright?"
"Yes everything's fine, why wouldn't it be?" Cornelia wondered why everyone always assumed something was wrong.
"Just because I recently gave my report to Gilbert so I thought perhaps something had displeased you," Nunnally responded her very logical answer.
"Oh no, it's not about your report. Actually I wanted to tell you something."
"What?" Nunnally's bright eyes showed her curiosity. Those beautiful eyes that hadn't been able to see anything for seven long years.
"I am going to make Gilbert my husband."
Nunnally stared at Cornelia blinking extensively, "Oh Cornelia it's wonderful that you found someone, it really is but is it such a good idea to make him your husband?"
It was Cornelia's turn to blink her brilliant turquoise eyes, "What do you mean?" She expected Nunnally; her only remaining sibling would jump for joy. Well maybe not literarily jump…
"It's just that you're the Empress now. If Gilbert becomes your husband he'll be the new Emperor. I don't know if it's such a good idea to do that. If you were still a princess no one would think twice, but you aren't anymore."
Cornelia knew where Nunnally was going with this and she hadn't exactly thought of it that way. It was true, the way Nunnally put it. No one would think poorly of her for having children as the Empress without being married. Charles had never been 'married' in the ethical sense although he did have many wives and children.
"I understand your point of view Nunnally."
"I'm sorry. It sounded much meaner than I intended, sister."
"No it's fine. I would like to have a child though," Cornelia stated, wanting to hear Nunnally's answer to that.
"I think everyone would be thrilled to see their new Empress have children. Just not specifically a new Emperor," Nunnally replied.
Cornelia and Nunnally chatted for a little longer then they hung up. A few moments later Gilbert entered his highness's office again and smiled kindly.
"What did she say?"
It seemed like Gilbert already knew how the conversation had gone without even hearing it. No wonder why he hadn't been excited to become part of the royal family, he knew it was a farfetched dream.
"She said it might be in better interest for us not to get married."
Gilbert nodded in disappointment. Cornelia felt horrible for playing with his emotions like that.
"But," she stood up leaning across her desk and catching his collared shirt between her fingers, "that doesn't mean we can't still have fun." She traced her pointer down to his uniform buttons.
"I thought…" Gilbert trailed off as she released him, utterly speechless.
She walked around her desk and stood before him then demanded, "You thought what? Just because I can't marry you Gilbert Guilford, does not mean I don't still love you. I want to have a child… with you."
"Cornelia," he breathed, placing his hands tenderly on her hips and drawing her closer to his body.
She put the back of her hand against his cheek and smiled. He returned her loving smile tenfold. Then she pulled away and walked to her door swaying her hips seductively, opened it and said to her secretary, "I'm feeling very tired. I'm going to go lay down in my room now, please cancel the rest of my appointments for today."
"Yes, Empress," the secretary answered instantly.
Then Cornelia turned to Gilbert faying faintness, "Come walk me to my room Gilbert."
He followed eagerly after her, grabbing her arm under the elbow like he was keeping her steady. When they reached Cornelia's room she plucked off Gilbert's glasses, "You might want these off."
With that said Gilbert pulled her to himself again, placing his lips over hers in a deep and passionate kiss.