Chapter 12- So Cold, Part I

Nunnally

The soon-to-be Empress fidgeted in her wheelchair, hungry to look as regal and domineering in appearance as Lelouch had been. The gold and white dress with pearly fabric down to her ankles drew, at least in her mind, an uncanny resemblance like the blood-spattered clothes he had been buried in. All of the makeup in the world couldn't make her appear happy, and the stuff was coated thickly on her delicate skin. In many ways she was becoming more like him by also relying on a mask, one of the young but promising leader of a new age.

Preparations for her crowning were in full swing, the buzz of excitement a sharp contrast to the dreary mood it instilled in her. Everyone wanted this event to be spectacular; and the attendance of Zero only increased the pressure of the public eye. For once people had something other than the resurgent matter of C.C to talk about, and Nunnally hoped that all of this progress would erase those troublesome rumors and the request made by the palace for the return of Lelouch's missing hat. She could hardly remember how that world had looked through the eyes of the child she no longer was, when her brother had been there for her. No one's voice was as kind, no one's hand as gentle. Day after day of being told that yes, it was sad but she had to move on.

"People spend so much time ruminating over the bad things." Cornelia had told her. "War or politics or violence, whatever it is. . . being the 100th Empress is a historic landmark which will hopefully overshadow the blemish that Lelouch...well... as Zero said we need to move on as an empire. I know you'll be replacing him as a ruler, Nunnally; but no one can replace him as your brother."

Wishing that face in the mirror looked more like his, Nunnally didn't know what make of everyone from his life as Lelouch Lamperouge pretty much denying that he had ever existed. Ashford Academy should at least show some acknowledgement that one of it's former students had been murdered, but along with any sign of his participation in the student council his name was completely erased from their records. According to Kallen, every surviving member acted as if Rivalz had been their president ever since Milly had graduated.

Everyone loved him, the real Lelouch. They, the world, didn't really hate him, but his phony artifice. On the surface, what he allowed them to see was indestructable. He was always being told how evil he was, but he knew he wasn't.

Or at least she hoped so. At times her brother had put on such a wonderful act that to she still wondered if some of it had been real. Maybe he did have that bloodthirsty lust for power somewhere in him, long repressed by the wrong circumstances. But no matter how spirit-crushing the reason for his horrible behavior had been, Nunnally was glad that she knew it.


Shortly After the Battle of Mt. Fuji

Lelouch had reappeared as her enemy, and trying as hard as she could Nunnally still couldn't hate him, the will to do so fighting the strongest emotion she had ever felt in her life. Thinking back to those awful words that had pained her to speak "Despicable! Cowardly!"the cold stone underneath her hands rattled with the last of explosions as he walked away from her, bruises no doubt forming on Nunnally's knees from the fall she had taken down the stairs.

Seeing her brother's receding form (Why? Why would he do this to me?), she tried crawling up the steps, her arms too weak and legs useless. More hot tears splashed off of her face as her struggling caused her to slide further down the staircase, her wheelchair taunting her from above. Sprawled across the stairs, Nunnally had waited, for how long she didn't know.

Eventually a guard collected her, a pinching grip her arms and for cautionary measures a blindfold across her eyes.

...footsteps...voices...a few rough shoves...

"His Majesty has requested you be kept here." When the black cloth was lifted, Nunnaly found herself in one of the palace rooms, all of the decorations that could have been used as weapons removed, but the gilded wallpaper still remaining. Empty except for a table and futon the guard placed her on the thin mattress, throwing something in her lap.

"Be wearing that when we get you tomorrow." After that bland statement the man left, locking the door behind him. She could see the shadows of his feet under the door, just in case somebody wanted to try some heroics and rescue the princess. Moving her body to the most comfortable position possible, Nunnally settled into an uneasy sleep, wondering what the future would bring.

The dress lay untouched beside where she had slept, ugly and blood-red with a suspiciously low neckline. After a rude awakening by the guard, she had been punished for not complying with orders by being deprived of food. It didn't seem as if she would have been eating first-class anyways, but a little porridge always helps.

Despite her refusal, the guard showed no irritation at her resistance. "You're unfit to be seen by His Majesty if you're not wearing the dress." He said robotically, the words awkward in his mouth. Nunnally asked, with enough chill to calm her nerves, why she had to wear it. The guard answered in another monotone statement.

"He has requested your presence earlier than expected, so you must be ready in five minutes." Taking away the porridge he had intended to give her, he left to wait outside as she changed. Not wanting to know what would happen if she were late, the strands of matted brown hair that were tangled in the fastenings had to be ripped out of her scalp, making her head ache. Having someone dress her for as long as she could remember, Nunnally was not finding it easy to do the task herself.

Shortly afterwards the guard retrieved her, the airy crimson fabric floated around her feet as she was taken to the throne room. Reaching their destination her eyes came to rest on an unfamiliar man swathed in white. When he met her stare some form of contempt was on his face, as if he were looking at some lowly slime instead of his dear sister. Beside him, standing possessively within an arms reach was who she dimly remembered to be C.C, confused as to why the woman was here, and why, as a mere consort were her clothes so fine; long skirts of gold-dusted purple and red. That combined with the baubles of Lelouch's ensemble, the effect was of tinsel on a mountainside; instead of looking ridiculous they incurred a barbaric austerity only echoed in their expressions.

As the fallen princess was placed on the carpet several yards from him, she hated to see his arm slide around the green-haired woman's waist, knitting into a fond embrace. Everyone else in the room seemed unfazed by this display of affinity, but Nunnaly couldn't stand it. He was supposed to be showing such kindness to her, not some random person who's only purpose was his entertainment.

"Lelouch." That word was a not the sob she wanted to utter, but instead a steely address of ones enemy. Wrong move.

Look, here comes the Emperor, bow down as he moves from his throne across the floor with a graceful strut of power. Close enough to see those sleepless red eyes, unknown to her having gotten that way because of the dread for this encounter. Nunnally also didn't know that once this meeting was over Lelouch would detest himself even more because of the fear in her eyes, disgusted at what awful things he had to do. He stopped very close to her, and gingerly placing the toe of a gleaming white shoe under her chin, he tilted her face upwards, speaking in an authoritative voice that resonated throughout the hall.

"Is that how you address the Emperor, you impudent girl?" Her newfound vision was wasted on a sight as terrible as her brother leering down at her. It was a shock to hear him use such a tone, this man before Nunnally being the very one who soon would die for her future. No, it's how I address my brother.

"I give you nice clothes and a place to stay, though you denounce me just by existing. And if I weren't such a generous man, I would have had you tortured for that breach of manners. " Turning to C.C with a scowl he retracted his foot, letting Nunnally's head fall forward. He faced towards the witch, silently drew strength from her to say what came next, but disguising it as a lewd inspection. "The other criminals have two weeks until their execution, and I might as well dispose of Nunnally too. What do you think, C.C?"

Her voice perfectly level and not betraying the lie it held, C.C responded. "It's settled then. We can't have a threat to our child's inheritance, and she'll probably be a pain to keep around anyway." The witch shrank into the shadows, as if withering under his gaze.

Shocked by this, Nunnally couldn't help it."Brother! Br- Your Majesty please...spare me..." She hated herself for sounding so pathetic. Why is he doing this?

In desperation she grabbed fistfuls of that silky white cloth, seeing his expression change to one of surprise, and was that a flash of pity? Unknown to her she was playing a role perfectly, Lelouch's hands not trembling from fury but instead with the agony of seeing Nunnally in such distress.

But Lelouch vi Brittania doesn't feel agony.

With a dextrous swipe he pried her hands off him, nobody noticing the lack red marks where they had merely brushed her wrists. Unlike the real force he would later use with C.C, Lelouch couldn't stand the though of laying a hand on his sister. You've held my hand for as long as I can remember, so why do you strike it away?Through clenched teeth he growled a warning and stepped back as if he'd catch some disease, facilely sitting back down beside C.C, and with an agitated sigh gave the cue for her removal. "This one is getting a little annoying. Take her away before she wastes any more of my time, I've got a funeral to arrange for tomorrow and I can't stand this meaningless drivel."

As guards took the fallen princess from the floor, Lelouch couldn't look.

He couldn't go on pretending like this for much longer, for along with the world, he was destroying himself.


I like writing about Lelouch as "His Majesty." It's a cool dynamic.

I have a few short stories in progress, Misguided Ghost and If It Kills Me, all CG-related and am doing a mass-release of those along with Chapter 13 next week on July 1st, because it's Canada day and I just feel like it...V0ID takeover, Bwahahaha. My best friend is on Episode 19 R2, and is as big of a Lelouch fangirl as I am... I'm expecting her to call me in tears after she sees the final episode. At least she won't have to be in shock the next day after I assure her that he's alive, because I missed a couple lessons in school with "...and created...anew (heartbreaking sigh)" repeating over and over in my head. Yeah, I took it hard XD.

UPDATE:all of the above mentioned works will be released after all of this 4th of july stuff is over.

Thanks for all the views/subscriptions/reviews everyone. Really appreciate it :)

So Cold, Part II next...