Ring! Ring!
It was very early in the morning. Lelouch opened his eyes.
Ring! Ring!
Lelouch jumped from the bed. He looked around. There was no one in the room.
Lelouch: This is Nunnally's room. Did I fell asleep here? But where's Nunnally?
He went out of the room and ran straight to his own dorm. He opened the door. Nunnally was there, sleeping in his bed. She woke up at the exact moment.
Nunnally: Is someone at the door, Lelouch?
Lelouch: Yes! But it's too early to be a normal visitor! It must be the military!
Nunnally: What are we going to do?
Lelouch was terrified. If the military police came here then they must have found out both his and Nunnally's real identity. And if they got them now, everything was over. They had to run. But Nunnally could not move that easily. He had to think fast. The terrorists were the solution. He had to call them.
Nunnally's phone rang.
Lelouch: Who's calling you? Don't answer!
Nunnally: It's Milly.
Lelouch checked his own cellphone.
Lelouch: Seems like she called me a few times as well.
Nunnally: What shall we do?
Lelouch: Answer. But tell her nothing about the latest incidents.
Nunnally: Ok, Lelouch... Yes, Milly? Yes, we're here. You're at the front door? Ok, we'll come to open.
She closed the phone.
Lelouch: Let's go!
Lelouch took his sister in his arms and placed her in the wheelchair, then they both headed towards the front door. But by the time they came to the first floor, someone else opened the door from outside.
Unknown: You're here, aren't you? Someone important came to see you Lelouch, he says it's urgent!
Milly Ashford was standing in the threshold. She seemed scared.
Lelouch: Who could possibly be?
Milly stepped aside. Jeremiah and Diethard came inside. Lelouch cried:
Lelouch: Jeremiah!
Jeremiah: Your Highness!
Lelouch turned to Diethard and Milly.
Lelouch: I command you to slam Jeremiah to the floor and hold him so he can't make a single move. Do it, until I say otherwise!
Diethard turned to Jeremiah and hit him in the face, while Milly tried to grab him from behind. But Jeremiah was a trained warrior. He could not be fought that easily by a journalist and a student.
Jeremiah: Are you mad, Diethard!? Stop!
Lelouch took Nunnally's wheelchair and went to the back exit.
Nunnally: What's happening?
Lelouch: They're after us. We can't stay at Ashford any longer. Damn! I used my power on Jeremiah once, it won't work again. These two are not enough. I must find someone else to stop him.
Jeremiah's voice came from behind:
Jeremiah: Son of Marianne, I beg you stop! I am your loyal subject!
Lelouch: Liar!
Lelouch and Nunnally reached the back door and opened it. But Jeremiah was faster. He slammed against the door and closed it back.
Jeremiah: Your Highness, please listen to me! I have served your mother long before, when you were only a child. I was her guard back them. She is the person I have respected and admired most and to whom I have sworn allegiance.
Diethard came running towards Jeremiah, but the knight dodged. Jeremiah grabbed Diethard and held him tight so he could do no harm.
Diethard: I must stop you! I must slam you to the ground!
Jeremiah: Listen to me, Your Highness! When Lady Marianne died, I considered it as the biggest failure of my life. Until an hour ago, I didn't even know you two were still alive. My allegiance passes now to her children. Please, give me the honor to serve you as I served Lady Marianne back then!
Milly came rushing towards Jeremiah.
Lelouch: Milly and you, the other guy, stop at once! Jeremiah, if you are loyal to me then act as if nothing happened just now. They won't remember. We'll talk once we're alone.
Milly: Huh?
Diethard: Why are you holding me, Lord Jeremiah.
Jeremiah released the guy.
Jeremiah: My bad... I... I don't know.
Lelouch: Thank you, Milly, for bringing these gentlemen here. I know them very well. I'm sorry you had to wake up at such an early hour.
Milly: It's ok. See you later, Lulu. I'm going back to sleep a little before classes start.
Lelouch: Don't tell anyone about...
Milly: Lord Jeremiah told me already to keep this meeting secret. See ya! Have a good day, Lord Jeremiah!
Jeremiah: Bye! Now...
Lelouch: Come into the living room, Jeremiah. We need to discuss.
Lelouch turned to Diethard.
Lelouch: And you are?
Diethard: I am Diethard Ried, journalist.
Nunnally: You're the one who kidnapped Kallen!
Diethard: I was requested to give a hand, that's true.
Jeremiah: Watch your tongue, Diethard! You're talking to a royal princess!
Diethard: I am deeply sorry for my actions, Your Highness! I didn't know that Miss Kallen was your friend. I only followed orders.
Nunnally: So you actually did know she was my friend...
Nunnally felt a little angry and awkward at the same time.
Diethard: Well... I...
Jeremiah: It was I who ordered the kidnapping of your friend. At the time, I was unaware of the actual state of affairs.
Lelouch: You will know everything in a moment. Now let us have a cup of tea.
Nunnally felt that Lelouch's tone of voice was calm and fierce at the same time. "He's confident", she thought. "That's good, I guess."