Disclaimer I don't own Code Geass
Chapter X: The Family Day Event
It was the day of Ashford Academy, schoolwide, Family Day event, and every student and their parents can be seen roaming around the campus grounds participating in the said event. From games, competitions, or simply shopping with their friends and their family members, there are numerous events that will be fun and enjoyable to the whole family. And the Lamperouges are no exception.
Currently Lelouch, his mother Marianne, and younger sister, Nunnally, is seen walking down from the food market set-up by various grades and clubs of the Academy and each one has different varieties of food and/or beverages that they cater; from Britannian Culinary, to even some Japanese foods, desserts, and even drinks, for any food blogger this is a sight to behold. The food stalls and their meals that they sell are captivating that makes anyone fall over the smell of it. But it wasn't just the food market though, there are many stalls that also offer different products as well. There are also unique club activities such as, Haunted Houses courtesy by the Cult Club, a play from the Theater club, screening from the movie club, horse-ride from the equestrian club, a small tournament from the rugby club and the Gym students, trivia competition from the science club and the teachers committee, and a maid cafe set up by the swimming club of all people. Overall, the day was filled with tons of events for students of all ages and for their parents to enjoy.
"Wow, Lelouch, I didn't know that your school was this lively." His mother commented grinning as she gobbles down yet another corndog-and he ponders how she remains fit after eating such food containing fats. "If you have told me before that this was how your council did things, why, I joined in for the fun years ago!"
"Yes you should mom, and there are tons of wacky ideas that Milly has in store" Nunnally agreed to her since their mother wasn't keen on participating in school activities unless it's important or if she was needed to attend. But they didn't know that she was doing that in order to have her identity hidden.
"Really?"
"Yeah, you should have seen brother's face when they did the cross-dresser ball it was hilarious, hahaha," as she fit in uncontrollable laughter, while Lelouch meanwhile, cringed on the said event where he was dressed in purple ball gown tailored by Milly herself, how she got his measurements, he didn't know. "Hilarious since many actually think I was a girl back then" he muttered under his breath. He stills shudders from the memory of countless love letters sent to him the next day from anonymous students thinking that he, rather she, was Lelouch's real-long lost twin sister, Leloucia.
"Did you say something dear?" Marianne asked her son who quickly averted his gaze, but she can see the blush rising on his cheeks.
"Nothing...le-let's just go okay?" He stutters as he leads them away to another food stall. "Ow, but I want to try this Japanese dish wasabi my friends are talking about!" Nunnally groaned as she was facing the Japanese stalls where her friends were inviting her to come. She dropped like a child who didn't get her wish from Christmas and stayed that way until her wish was fulfilled "I'm not going anywhere unless I try it out first!" she said, fully determined to make a scene in order to get what she wants. Honestly, Lelouch thinks she isn't 14 to be honest.
Actually...
Since he knew more about the Japanese culture way before it turned into Area Eleven, he smirked devilishly as he thought about the plan on taking his revenge on his sweet little sister. This is payback from everything you did! "Well your brother said that we need to keep moving or else we would-" His mother tried to get Nunnally to stand but he stopped her from doing so and instead accepted the girl's request.
"Actually mom, I think we have some time to spare, so why don't we let her try it out." Lelouch offered Nunnally who shriek in delight and had her eyes sparkle. "Really?!" She asked in disbelief, making Lelouch nodded in affirmation, "Oh big brother I love you!" as she engulfed him in a tight hug, Lelouch smiled softly in the gesture but little did she know that behind that sweet smile of his was the sinister plan he had come up with.
All according to plan.
After the siblings had their moment they made their way to the food stalls manned by honorary britatians invited by the student 's friends were already there finishing their meal.
"Man, I didn't know it was spicy!" a girl commented as she tried to cool off her tongue by fanning it with her hand.
"Yeah no kidding" Another girl said as she gulped down a bottle of water.
"I hope Nunna won't taste this" the third girl pleaded thinking that it would be safe for the brunette if she never ate this dish. "Agreed" the two other girls answered in unison, but their voices weren't heard since Nunnally waved at them.
"Hey girls!" Nunnally shouted, getting their attention.
"Oh Nunnally"
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to try that wasabi you guys were talking about '' She beamed innocently not knowing the danger she was in. So, being the good friends they are they tried to warn her. "Nunnally I think you shouldn't eat this-"The third girl wanted to say something further but she stopped mid-sentence when Nunnally's big brother, and her secret crush, came to her side and put a hand on her shoulder making her go eep in surprise.
"It's alright Nunnally, I tasted that before and it's delicious" Lelouch remarked stopping the girl from preventing him on his devious plan convincing the brunette to eat the food. He was truly grateful for his charisma at times like this. Nunnally gave a stink eye to him wondering if he was hiding something, but Lelouch is a master in deception, so his face didn't give a single tint of lies.
Pondering for a moment, she gives in. "Okay!" Before turning to the Honorary Britannian manning the stall, "I'll take two wasabi Deviled eggs please!" and the man at the counter nodded from the order. "Hai! Two wasabi deviled eggs coming right up!". Once finished, he gave the deviled eggs covered in Japanese spice to the girl who paid for her order. "Two wasabi deviled eggs" He bowed to the student.
Nunnally closely examined the dish, it was just a plain old deviled eggs, with just that green stuff as garnish. Thinking that her friends may out-done her, she tried to take it up a notch by saying, "Hey can you add more of that green stuff?" she asked politely to the man who startled in surprise.
"Pardon?"
"I ask if you double this wasabi thing" she pointed to her deviled eggs. And knowing he will be reprimanded if his boss knew that he didn't follow a Britannian's request, he reluctantly did as he was told and doubled the sauce. After putting more than it should, he gave back the dish.
Nunnally smiled. "Finally" before preparing to eat her meal, the man bowed apologetically, and whispered something in Japanese "I offer my condolences". It was at this moment, that Nunnally knew,...she f***ed up.
"AHHH!" Nunnally shrieks as her head turns into beating red due to the spiciness she just tasted, it wasn't supposed to be that bad, but thanks to the added sauce, it turned worse. Lelouch chuckled under his breath unable to contain himself seeing his plan turned out perfectly, Marianne watched in the sideline as she scowled at her childrens antics.
I'll make sure I'll discipline later…
And disciplined she will.
Moments later…
A calm Marianne, a fuming Nunnally, and a beat-up Lelouch (thanks to Nunnally) strolled around the campus as they proceeded the event before running into the student council members, Milly, Shirley, Rivalz, and Nina, with their respective parents.
"Hey guys" mumbled Lelouch still hurt from the beating he received from Nunnally.
"Lulu you came, and hello again Mrs. Marianne" Shirley greeted her boyfriend and his mother bowing.
Marianne smiled in response. "How many times did I have to tell you that you can just call me anything you want Shirley. After all, one day we're all going to be a big happy family." That made the gang laugh from the joke, except of course the couple in question.
"Now then...where is the guest of honor my son told me about?" Marianne asked them since even though she was invited, Lelouch told her that she was requested to come here by the guest of honor that he didn't bother telling her about.
Milly on cue goes to the side of Lelouch while the rest answer her question. "You didn't tell her?"
Lelouch frowned and closed his eyes, "I didn't…" as he recalled what happened yesterday evening…
Euphie who just came inside the clubhouse of Ashford's Student council, alongside her escort, Jeremiah Gottwald, slowly approached the long lost brother she held dear, eyes watering. "Lelouch...is that really you?" and when she finally came close to the stunned boy, she caressed his hair, the raven black hair she used to know, and examined the amethyst eyes that he shared with his mother and their father Charles zi Britannia.
She also kneels down to meet her other favorite sibling Nunnally vi Britannia, "Uh,,,hello?" Nunnally unsure what to say or do, greeted the person who seemed to know them, and upon hearing the voice she thought she lost forever, the dam broke and Euphie couldn't handle it any longer. "I'm so happy!" before she grabs both siblings by her arm and hugs them affectionately. Meanwhile, the siblings were caught off-guard by the sudden move the princess did to them, and Lelouch was nearly suffocating.
Jeremiah couldn't also handle the feelings dwelling up inside him and kneeled before the children of her late (well not anymore) Majesty, Marianne vi Britannia,"Your highnesses!" He squealed in joy and reverence. The other members of the student council were surprised by the turn of events, and didn't know what to say. Shirley, acting out of pure curiosity-or jealousy-asked.
"Umm...Lulu? Do you know them?"
And though he can't answer her, Euphie can, and after a long moment of affection she finally releases the two and stands up to introduce herself. "I truly apologize for this…" as she wipes the tears off her face with her handkerchief. "But-I'm just so happy to be able to reunite with my siblings again." She beamed again at the two and Lelouch's classmates were left confused.
"What are you saying, your highness?" Milly asked as she and so too everyone else in the room wanted to know. And this also piqued her interest since this might solve the mystery she had seven years ago.
Euphie after recomposing herself answered. "Well...though it's been seven years since I last met them...I can still remember their faces, and I will never forget my favorite siblings" Before she turns her head at the two. "Prince Lelouch vi Britannia and Princess Nunnally vi Britannia".
'WHAT?!' again, the members of the student council shouted in shock for the second time this day. Jeremiah, wanting to help the princess explain, now stands up and adds further information. "Indeed they are, we always believe that somehow, someway... their death was false, and now seeing her Majesty children myself...I can firmly believe that they are who the princess says they are."
"So it was true that the death of the vi Britannia was a cover-up...but why though…"Milly muttered more to herself thinking what exactly happened. As for the rest however, they still stood agape from the shocking revelation.
"Wait hold on a minute...you're saying that my buddy Lelouch is a prince!?" Rivalz couldn't believe what the princess was saying that his eyes could fall off from the shocking reveal. And man, to think I'm a friend of an actual Prince, maybe he could set-me up to marry me with Milly! He daydreamed of when Lelouch gave him a noble title so that he could arrange a marriage with his crush, Milly Ashford. He grinned in delight.
"Not only that but Nunna as well," Nina commented rather meekly , while she was surprised to hear that their guest of honor was indeed a Princess, what shocks her even more was the fact that she was already a friend with two royalties!
Kallen, meanwhile, frowned on this since this confirmed one of her information she received from Akuma's aide-de-camp. So...this school is connected to the royal family after all. She will give this information once she gots home, but for now she has to play her part as a sickly student that heard a surprising piece of information.
"Lulu...why didn't you tell me?" Shirley asked her boyfriend. While she was glad for this reunion between the royalties, and the fact that her prince charming was INDEED an actual prince can only be described as a scene coming straight from the story books, she felt rather betrayed by him to have this secret kept from her. She always thought that even though he has his bad habits, he never hid something from her when they officially became a couple.
But I think I'm sure Lulu has his reason...she thought to herself and she wanted to believe that he and so does Nunnally have a perfectly good excuse as to why they kept this from them.
Lelouch, finally free to speak, shook his head. "Shirley I couldn't tell you guys since...I'm not a prince." He told them truthfully and Euphie turned towards him once more.
"What do you mean by that?"
Lelouch sighs before answering. "Forgive me your highness, but...I'm not the person who you think I am." and Nunnally followed suit. "Me neither, I don't remember being a princess at all." And Euphie tilts her head to the side, wondering if she heard them correctly.
"What are you saying Lulu, Nunna? Don't you remember who I am?" She asked them hoping that their memories of them together will recall their history from the time they spent as Prince and Princess. "Don't you remember the nights we used to share when we were kids? Or the times we played at your garden in the Aries villa? What about the time we're scolded by Nellie when we accidentally ruined her uniform? How about the time when we tell our future dreams together? The day when I said I want to marry you…don't you remember any of that?
Euphie still hoping against hope from what she says might make the two remember their time with her and Cornelia. "Please...remember…"she pleaded as she once again started to cry from the heart ache she was feeling recalling each and every memory she shared with them that filled her happiness. It doesn't matter if her siblings are alive if the memories that she holds dear with them aren't there. It feels empty...
However, while it pains the two siblings to see a royal crying in front of them, they must tell her the truth. "I'm truly sorry Princess...but what you said, the memories you have with the Prince and Princess, isn't us. We don't recall any of that." Lelouch answered and it was the final nail to the coffin for Euphie as she started sobbing. It was a blessing that they are alive, but it was also a curse to know that they didn't remember anything.
"Why...why…"WHY IS THE WORLD SO CRUEL?! she repeatedly said under her breath, her shoulders shaking as she continued wailing in despair, and the students couldn't do a thing to resolve this situation. Jeremiah knew that he needed to step in and did just that. "Princess…"He gave a comforting hand at her shoulder in order for her to stop crying, and it took a couple of minutes but the princess did stop crying from the pain of her heart. She was old enough after all to control her emotions.
"I know Jerry…"she now breathes normally and recompose herself. "I apologize for the misconception" she said to the two, Lelouch and Nunnally smiled seeing her feeling well. "It was alright, your highness…" "Thank you for understa-" but before they finished their response Euphie wasn't finished, "However…."
"However what, your Highness?" Nunnally asked her.
"However, I still need to confirm your identities, if you are not the people who I'm referring to, and are not the Prince and Princess that supposedly died seven years ago, then I'm truly sorry." Euphie started bowing apologetically before continuing. "But if you are...then you need to come with me." She said her voice in a commanding tone, fitting to someone who was about to rule the peninsula.
While they could agree on her conditions the question is...how can they truly identify them? So Lelouch questions her. "And how will you know if we are indeed royalties?" And Euphie already prepared for that. If Lelouch and Nunna don't remember a thing, then maybe their mother is...if she's alive that is.
"I want you to invite your mother for tomorrow's event, and I will have her meet my older sister, Princess Cornelia li Britannia." She proclaimed to them, surprising them once more. "You cannot however tell who she will be meeting nor will any of you say about this outside this room is that clear?" Euphie commanded them as Princess to her subjects.
"You are sworn into secrecy, what is your response?" Jeremiah clarified and all of them bowed their heads and answered in unison. "Yes, your highness!"
"Good…I'll see you all tomorrow...we can talk about the details about the event later, Ms. Ashford." Euphie said before proceeding to the door to exit the room downcast with Jeremiah following closely behind with the cat still at his hand. Though she was glad that she was reunited with her long lost siblings it did come with a price.
'But I know they will surely remember and I know that they are Lelouch and Nunnally that I and my sister know!'
After that Lelouch did what they were told and kept their meeting a secret and told his mother to come for the event over the phone, even though she was already set to accept the invitation prior before the Princess' appearance, but he now included that she was being summoned by the guest of honor, so she has no other choice. She did ask who it might be buthe simply answered that he didn't know who it was since it was a surprise.
Marianne sighs after hearing the same response from Lelouch's classmate and their parents that they also don't know who the guest of honor might be. "Well it can't be helped, I'm sure the person who invited me has his or her reason." But she seriously wondered who it might be.
Milly also sighs in relief that Lelouch didn't tell her anything about their meeting with Princess Euphemia and commended him. "Then you did a great job lying, Lulu" teasing him as she nudged his shoulder. "Now then!" Milly said, getting the attention of everyone around her before proclaiming.
"Let's not just stand around here and have some fun family time!"
The gang pumped their fist in the air, nodding.
"YEAH!"
An hour later...
"Hello testing testing…"Milly's voice can be heard throughout the school's P.A system as she bumped her hand to the mic to test it. "Is this okay?...okay fine geez...ahem…"
"Hey there everyone! This is your student council president, the ever so popular and gorgeous, the one and only Milly Ashford speaking!" The proclamation and the sudden voice of the President caught the students and their parents and other family members their undivided attention.
"As you may know we have a special guest of honor for today! But who might it be? Hmmm...well you will know the answer for that question since in an hour or so our guest of honor will arrive! And not only that but she will bring someone along with her!" Hearing that their guest is a female, every male student begins to wonder who it was.
'Oh man who is she?'
'I hope she's hot!'
'And that the other one is too!'
Before they earned a smack to the head from their parents/guardians/sisters/girlfriend before saying. "STOP CAT-CALLING YOU IDIOT!"
Milly chuckled knowing that this might happen. "Anyways, in the meantime why don't we enjoy today's event with our family and have this day be truly a memorable one!" Before the entire student populace including their parents and their family members cheered all over the campus that its noise rippled around the Academy, the sound decibel was so high it might shake the ground (figuratively).
"YEAH!"
"Alright! Love the enthusiasm! I hope you enjoy this day with your family and friends and remember…" before the rest of the student council chimes in and says:
"Happy family day everyone!"
Around the campus, students, parents, siblings, and even the grandparents, once again cheered in delight as the proclamation for the official event was declared. Their voices rang around the academy that even from the outside, the bystanders heard them curious about the celebration they were having. And the event was underway!
Meanwhile, the student council members decided that they wanted to participate as well, but they remembered their single member who was missing. "Hey where's Kallen?" Shirley asked as she looked around to find the red-head.
"Kallen said she will be late for today since she will bring someone along with her. A new student from the looks of it." Milly informed her as she also made her way out of the booth of the Public Announcement. "But enough about her, let's take this time and have fun you guys!"
And for the first time for a while they all agreed to her. "Yeah!" they all answered in unison before they met up with their respective family to play some games or just enjoy their company as they stroll around the academy grounds.
An hour later…
It was already nearing for the time for the special guest of honor to arrive but the party's just getting started. Around the campus various activities were being held for the students and their family to enjoy, they have individual games like shoot-em-up booths, eating contests, and even some minute-to-win it type of games, but the highlight of today's event is the family oriented type of contest where both students and parents team-up to win some prizes. First on the line of games is the 'tug of war'; each team comprises 5 pairs of parents and students as they pull in the rope to their direction to win the game.
Among the participants is Lelouch and his mother Marianne, and Shirley and her father Joseph, but they weren't teammates, instead, opponents for this event.
"It's a pleasure to meet you again Mrs. Lamperouge" Joseph Fennete greeted his daughter's boyfriend's mother and Marianne returned the gesture.
"The pleasure is all mine" as she took his hand and shook it.
"Are you ready Lulu?" Shirley asked after warming up dressed on her P.E uniform while her dad wore a tracksuit like the rest of the parents wore.
"I'm sure I am," Lelouch said smiling at her, but in reality he was a bit nervous. Why did Nunnally pick this one? He grudgingly thought to himself as he eyed his little sister who was smiling back at him. While they aren't points in winning each game, the fact that he has to participate in a strength base contest makes him anxious.
The referee lines both teams on each respective side and the red bandana that is the mark is now tied in the middle of the rope, the distance of each team is about 3 meters. Once everyone is settled in the referee prepares to start the game.
"Ready….set...go!" As the whistle was blown almost immediately every player pulled the rope simultaneously as they struggled to reel in the rope to their respective side. "Pull harder Lelouch!" Marianne ordered her son as she gave it her all, while she was almost in her middle age she still had the strength she possessed from her younger days.
Meanwhile, Lelouch didn't have that strength she possessed and was actually struggling. "I'm trying!" The poor boy was already exhausted and his face turned beet red and it looked like his arms would fall off any minute.
While their side was slowly losing, Shirley's team was gaining by the second. "Ready? Pull!" Joseph ordered as they simultaneously pulled the rope at the same time.
"Heave-ho! Heave-ho!" Shirley and the rest pulled the rope with teamwork and it was working.
The audience cheered as both teams gave their all, among the crowds who were cheering was Nunnally and her group of friends. "Go Mom! Go big brother!" She yelled with the crowd encouraging them. "You can do it!" As her friends also yelled for encouragement. But she knew it was futile since she picked this event just to see her brother suffer.
That's payback!
"He can't do it" she whispered to her friends with a smirk as she watched her brother finally give up and stumbled forward from the pull from the opposing team and he looked so pathetic since he was the only one that came crashing forward.
"Winners!" The referee bestowed the prizes to Shirley and her team while the losers applauded from the side, except Lelouch since he looked like needed a treatment real fast.
"Can I get some help here?" Lelouch whimpered as he slowly lost consciousness from the game. And he briefly regretted taking revenge on her sister...
At the other side of the campus another event was taking place which was a talent show. Every participant is to conduct any talents with their parents while doing so, and this time Rivalz is seen with her mother doing juggling tricks.
"Hey guys the name is Rivalz and this is my lovely mother, Mrs. Rachel Cardemonde!" He introduced himself and his mother who share the same blue hair as Rivalz, as he juggled three bowling pins. "And she will be my assistant for my talent!"
Mrs Cardemonde smiled at the crowd. "Hello everyone!" before she helps her son with his talent which she throws more pins at him to juggle. And while it was quite impressive to juggle things, it wasn't spectacular and the crowd was starting to dislike it which Rivalz noticed.
"Hey mom, throw some more pins" Rivalz whispered to her.
"Oh okay!" before she throws more pins to Rivalz which is now five pins in total without stopping. But it wasn't enough to keep the crowd happy so he asked again "More mom!" Mrs. Cardemonde throws two more pins at him that he almost missed to catch and juggle. The more pins he got the higher the pins he had to juggle.
But it still wasn't enough! Rivalz was confident that at seven pins more will be impressed on his talent. But it looks like it will take more than that! So he takes it up the notch.
"MORE! Throw anything mom!"
"Okay!" Mrs Cardemonde was startled at her son's request but threw the remaining pins at him and he successfully caught all of them, and it seems to please the crowd.
'Woah look at the kid go' he heard from the crowd. He grinned from admiration. Yes I did it! He was sure he was now going to win since more people were now gathering to see him juggle 10 bowling pins simultaneously. However, his mother didn't get the memo that she has to stop since a moment later she threw more things at him like a microphone, a shoe, and even a bottle of wine.
"Wait mom stop!" Rivalz pleaded as he struggled to juggle 13 and more things but her mom kept throwing at him.
"More, more, more!" Mrs Cardemonde panted as she found more things to throw at her son, she was either in panic due to stage fright or she was just enthusiastic to help her son, either way she continued.
"Wait no!" Rivalz pleaded but it was the straw that broke the camel's back and he lost balance and collapsed where he stood with the pins and other objects falling right after. "Rivalz!" Mrs. Cardemonde walked over to her son to help him get up.
"I'm fine," Rivalz answered her with a smile until he saw the score he got from the judges: 6,5, 3. Oh come on!
Just a few meters away is another contest this time around was a trivia contest which was now ending, and three pairs of students and parents sighed from the defeat they suffered.
"How could we have lost!?" A student questioned almost crying while his mother patted his back.
"I know right? Even though we secretly cheated!" A girl fumed with her arms crossed livid at her defeat. Her father tried to cheer her up while doing so.
"Oh come on guys, with her around you both know that we couldn't have won." The last student told them just accepting from the loss they all suffered and his mother nodded in agreement. And they both knew he was right since their opponent LITERALLY obliterated the competition. I mean they didn't get the chance to freaking answer! And the winners got all the questions right with no mistakes!
And from behind the winners were now receiving their awards, and the competitor who demolished the three pairs was none other than Nina Einstein and her father Edward 'Pete' Einstein, and it was no brainer that they would've won regardless.
"Thank you for participating with me, Father" Nina said timidly, a bit shy from her father who agreed to join her in this contest. While the girl was clearly a shy person, Edward was not. He patted the girl's back and grinned back at his daughter.
"It's no big deal Nina! I love to spend some quality time with you." And it made the xenophobic blushed at her father's statement. "Although….if we ever go to participate in something like this again, make sure to tell them to have the questions to be a bit harder okay?" He whispered to her boasting before laughing triumphantly.
"Sure da-dad…"Nina just chuckled along with him, embarrassed from his behaviour.
Milly watches from the sidelines with a grin, fully content seeing her friends enjoying themselves. "I hope it will stay like this…"she said bitterly to herself, hiding the prospect she was dreading that might happen if her confirmation were true. If what the Princess said is true...then it's most likely Lelouch and Nunna will be sent back to Pendragon...she deduced and even though she would be glad to hear that her old friends were indeed alive, but the idea of them leaving is a bit hard for her to swallow.
Milly shooks her head. "It's not the time or place to think such things, Milly! Remember GUTS!" before pumping air. Now fully pumped up she waits for the arrival for the Princess and her entourage.
Meanwhile…
Outside Suzaku and Kallen are nearby walking towards Ashford Academy, with Suzaku wearing the academy's uniform as per the part of the plan of infiltrating the nobility. Currently they are talking about the piece of information Kallen managed to gain yesterday from the meeting she had with her friends.
"So...you're telling me...that the princess is your special guest of honor?" Suzaku or rather Akuma, asked Kallen bewildered from the information he got since it wasn't ordinary to have a princess as your guest of honor after all.
Kallen nodded to reaffirm him. "Yeah and not only that but her sister would come as well." She added much to his surprise. "So what should we do about this? Are you going to tell Akuma about this?"She asked the man who was supposed to be Akuma's right hand man. But she didn't know just yet that he was Akuma himself.
Suzaku pondered this for a moment. If both Princesses are in the same location it is a perfect opportunity for us to strike. Even with me and Kallen, we can easily get close to the Princesses as students...however, it's too risky. Not only that, there are too many witnesses around...after pondering about this a bit further he gave his conclusion.
"I will inform Akuma about this later, however, for now we're not going to do something about this." He answered Kallen and he briefly saw a bit of disappointment on Kallen's face since she was eager to do something (with Akuma). "But the fact that our assumption about the Ashfords connected to the Royal family is indeed correct is significant and will help us with our mission altogether." Suzaku commented, making her look up at him.
"Thank you Kallen for this," Suzaku thanked her, grateful for this intel. Kallen blushed a little on his gratitude. "It-it's not-nothing….don't worry about it." She answered stammering while doing so before they continued their way to the academy.
Not long before they did arrive and the event was still ongoing. And as expected the campus was filled with visitors, not just from the parents of the students nor their other family members but there were some civilians who also walked in to see what's in store. Well Prez said that this was an open celebration after all. Kallen remembered that anyone can get inside the campus even if they don't have an invitation as long as they pay the entrance fee, which Suzaku did since he wasn't just a registered student yet.
So after paying the fee they both made their way inside, and at first none paid them no mind, but a few were starting to wonder what she was doing with an eleven.
'Huh is that Kallen?'
'And who's that boy with her?'
'Is that her boyfriend?!'
'But he looks like an Eleven'
'What? No way she would hang out with them!'
She gritted her teeth from their assumption. Suzaku, however, wasn't affected by this; being a rebel whose mission involved going undercover he developed a rather thick skin over the years and instead walked past the whispering students and Britannians. When they were in the courtyard Kallen remembered that she needed to have Milly register Suzaku as a student-it's because the registrar office was closed for today's event, but the student council president can process the enrollment of an applicant.
"Wait right here, I'm going to fetch someone and then she will enroll you." Kallen told Suzaku who nodded at her. "Alright, I won't be going anywhere then." Suzaku replied as he stayed put from where he was at. With that Kallen makes her way to find the blonde president.
As the day was starting to end, it was only then that her Highness, Princess Euphemia arrived. Inside her limousine, she was carrying the black injured cat she found yesterday with Jeremiah, speaking of the teal-haired man, she asked him out of his reverie. "Are you excited to meet Lelouch and Nunnally again Jerry?" her voice filled with excitement and joy.
Jeremiah, however, remained neutral but gave the princess a knowing smile. "I am. But we still don't know if they are the prince and princess, your Highness. It is still possible that they just coincidentally look alike."
Euphie still smiled albeit sadly as she gently petted the feline on her hands. "I know...but this feeling that I have...I can't explain it….I just know that they are Lulu and Nunna" she silently stares outside her window.
Jeremiah lends out his hand to comfort the frowning princess but the cat hissed at his approach startling him. "Are you going to adopt that cat Princess?" Jeremiah wondered about the cat who dislikes him. Euphie turned to face him and giggled at the cat's reaction on the man.
"I was planning to, but my sister does not want a stray cat roaming the palace." Euphie recalled how Cornelia reacted when she brought back with her the cat to the palace last night and how she scolded her for doing such a thing since the cat might have rabies. "So she told me it's either I find him an owner or put him up for an adoption." While she feels sad about the prospect of not taking care of the cat, she would rather do the former than the latter since at least in the former she will not worry about the cat who was injured and a stray not finding an owner who is willing to adopt him.
That is why she carries the cat with her to find a suitable owner who will take care of him. "I see…" Jeremiah answered, still eyeing the black cat, glad that in a few more days he won't be seeing it much longer. Even though he wasn't able to comfort the princess, he was able to put her in ease thanks to their conversation until they finally arrived at the academy.
Her entourage surprises the crowds who were mingling about near the gate of the academy and luckily they also have their escorts who cleared the way. Upon arrival, Euphie called Milly Ashford about her arrival and to prepare to welcome her. The limousine parked at the front of the main building where the students and other bystanders gathered around to see who was the special guest of honor. Euphie smiled as she saw the many students and parents who are eager to meet her. She also remembered that this will be her first public debut so this has become a historic event.
Also if Lelouch and Nunnally are indeed the vi Britannia then this will be a memorable day as well.
As she waited for the welcoming committee she asked Jeremiah about her sister who was supposed to arrive with her. "Jeremiah, when will sister arrive?"
Jeremiah was closely watching the crowd for any suspicious movements or might be threats that will harm the princess and seeing that it was clear he answered her. "Her highness,Princess Cornelia would be late, my lady. She would come a bit later since she just finished her mission on dispatching the Blood of the Samurai Faction in the north." Jeremiah informed her about Princess Cornelia's sudden and abrupt attack on the different terrorists in Area Eleven despite the fact that she just came last night.
Euphie sighs on her sister's ways of handling things. Oh sister...she tends to be a workaholic especially if it concerns the military. Though she knew that she was doing this in order to protect her and she did say that after finishing cleansing Area Eleven she would give this to her. But she still cares about her and worries about her health. "I guess it can't be helped. I'll wait here for a little while. Jeremiah you can go on and scout the outside if you want." She said to the man but in reality she wanted to have some of her alone time with her thoughts, since it concerns her family.
The man didn't refuse Euphie's request since it was also part of the protocol to scan the premises. With a slight bow he excused himself and exited the vehicle, where he met up with his subordinates Villeta Nu and Kewell Soresi. Upon exiting, both approached the man.
"How's the Princess?"
"She's doing fine. She wanted to wait until the welcome party arrived." He replied to Villeta.
"Well the coast is clear and we didn't find anyone suspicious lurking around. No sign of Akuma or the JLF either." Kewell informed him. Ever since the attack of Akuma during the parade the entire Britannian Military-even overseas-were vigilant than ever. They doubled the security of major bases around the peninsula and conducted massive search on the masked terrorist. It also helps that Cornelia herself is the one leading this operation since it heightened morale to the men with the Goddess of Victory leading them.
"Still, don't lower your guards. It's at this time where the unexpected thing happens." and both nodded in agreement. However, unbeknownst to Jeremiah, he was indeed correct on his presumption. But it was really the unexpected thing that happened.
Inside the limousine
Euphie silently caresses the cat's black fur as a means to keep her relaxed until she will be received by the student council. "I wonder if they're my real siblings." She wondered about the two siblings she met yesterday who closely resembles her dead siblings from seven years ago. Their violet colored eyes alongside with the color of their hair and her intuition made Euphie believe that they were indeed her long lost sibling, Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia. But it's still a speculation though...she wanted to believe. She really does, and yet, there's something inside her telling her that what the boy told her might be true somewhat...
"I'm truly sorry Princess...but what you said, the memories you have with the Prince and Princess, isn't us. We don't recall any of that."
Euphie replayed that scene over and over, and she sensed that what he was saying was true. That he and her sister truly don't remember her or their time in Aries Villa. Then why? Why do I still have these feelings of doubt in my mind? She wanted to know the truth of it all; what happened seven years ago, is her brother and sister and their mother truly dead? Or alive?
Euphie sighed, thinking about this made her mind quivers from the stress she has to endure for the last 24 hours. "Well at least I have you with me, isn't that right mr. Kitten?" She told the cat below her who seemed to hear her as he purred from her hands. Giggling, she pulled the feline up close to her and held it in front of her.
"Do you think they're my real siblings don't you?" she asked the cat expecting an answer. The cat meanwhile stares at her amethyst eyes with his yellow ones and simply stays silent back at her. Euphie kept talking to him.
"I want to believe that they are alive. That they didn't die seven years ago...even though it seems stupid clinging for false hope, I can't-...I can't stop hoping...not now… not when, even though I'm not certain if they are who they say they are...it gives me this glimmer of hope, that they're wrong and I'm right. And if that happens...if that happens…" Euphie's tears slowly fall down from her cheeks….smiling in a bittersweet manner of the prospect that her siblings are indeed alive…
Then...we're going to be a big happy family again…
It was only a dream, a dream she started wishing to turn into reality ever since she learned about the tragedy the vi Britannia suffered. And yet, as the days goes by, that turn into weeks, months, and now almost a decade...she knew it will forever stay like that:
A dream…
But now...now in a stunning twist of fate, her prayers seemed to have been answered. Though she lost another sibling in the form of Clovis, she still will be glad if she's able to recover two.
Wiping her tears away she turns her frown into a smile once more and brightens her mood. "Well...all I could do is wait right mr. Kitten?" she says to the cat who answered her with a meow.
'Meow!'
And the cat seems to agree with her and that made her happy before she hugged the small creature. "I'm so glad we've found you!" While she was grateful for the cat's affection to her, it didn't return the expression since it struggles to break free from her clutches. "I hope you'll never leave my side!" Euphie said to the feline happy that she has someone as her companion.
But it looks like she won't be getting what she wants since the cat manages to slip his way out of her person and leap outside from the opened window of the limousine.
"Wait! Mr. Kitten!" Euphie yelled to the cat who was running away from her and if the cat could communicate with humans this is what he said:
Freedom!
Outside, Jeremiah and the rest of Euphie's guards scanned the area for any potential threat that will harm the Princess. So far there's nothing dangerous. That's good. Jeremiah mused, before he nearly missed the glimpse of the black feline that was running away from the limousine her Highness was in.
A cat?
He speculated that it was just a stray cat that roamed the campus but he was mistaken when her Highness herself came rushing out of the vehicle trying to recall the black cat she found yesterday. "Wait come back!"
"Your Highness!" Jeremiah called her out who was searching the black cat. It was lucky that no press was covering this or else she would've caused a commotion right now. Well...she did, when she vacated the vehicle-albeit she was told by her driver to stay inside-the crowd gasped to see her. To the public they don't yet know Princess Euphemia li Britannia, however, seeing the guest of honor was enough for them to cheer in admiration.
"Everyone calm down!" Viletta ordered the raging crowd eager to know who was the guest of honor that surprisingly came out of the vehicle. "This would've been much easier if we had some Knightmares" Kewell commented grudgingly as he pushed the crowd back.
"The campus does not allow any Knightmare to station here" Viletta told him since it was a private ground and many students are here. It was a policy that no Knightmares should be brought so that it won't disturb the students here.
Jeremiah quickly came to her Highness' side. "Princess are you alright?" He asked her during the commotion. Euphie is still trying to find the cat who ran away from her. "I'm fine Jeremiah, I'm just looking for the cat that's all". She glances around to see if there was any sign of the cat but to no avail.
Jeremiah was confused for the moment until he realized that the cat she was referring to was the one they found yesterday. "You mean the black cat?" "Yes...did you see it?"
"I actually did your highness, but it's better for you to stay inside until the student council receives you." He advises her since for one it was for her own safety, and two he rather dislikes that cat to be honest. However, Euphie won't sit idly by. She is determined to bring that cat back one way or the other.
"Jeremiah I appreciate your concern but I'm fine. I just want to find that cat to hopefully give him a home." She told him her eyes brimmed with confidence that when Jeremiah saw it he was reminded of her sister, Princess Cornelia. For Euphie, not only she grew fond of the first pet she ever had-since the pets she has in Britannia are just for show-but she wanted it to have a home and an owner that will take care of it."So I want you to help me find that cat, and that's an order."
Meanwhile...
Inside the clubhouse, the student council members are gathered after hearing the Princess' arrival. And like the princess, their other council member also arrived.
"Oh Kallen you're here! Just in time, the Princess has just arrived!" Milly informed her.
"The princess?" she replied to her timidly. Kallen wanted to first introduce Suzaku first to her and let him enroll so that they can both get close to the Princess, but it looks like that opportunity is now terminated.
"Yeah and we're just about to receive her." Shirley said with a bright smile on her face after winning five consecutive times in a row against her boyfriend and his family.
"But with the crowd already at the front we couldn't get near her." Rivalz complained slumping to the ground, the boy surely having himself a rough day especially since he embarrassed himself in front of his classmates and his friends.
While the boy was out in the dumps, Nina seemed to be positive all things considered. "Still, at least she did arrive." she said, her cheeks showing a tint of red. Nina was looking forward to actually seeing the princess again since it wasn't everyday where you could meet up with a royal after all.
"Now the question is...how can we reach her?" Lelouch said and as if in cue, instead of them reaching the princess, the princess reached them. Euphie for the second time, surprises everyone when she appeared in the doorway with Jeremiah at her tail.
"Your highness!" Nunnally and so too everyone else was surprised to see the Princess came running in. But the princess didn't seem to hear her as she went around the clubhouse as if searching for something. "Uh...your highness?" Nunnally asked her and this time around Euphie heard her.
"Oh Nunna, did you by any chance see a black cat come in?" Euphie answered her. Nunnally was a bit awkward to hear the princess using the nickname her friends naturally call her but still replied the princess.
"A black cat?...no we didn't see any, your highness."
"Is that the cat you brought yesterday?" Shirley remembered that the man she was with was holding a black cat on his arms so she wondered if the cat was a pet of hers.
"Yes...and I brought him today, but unfortunately he ran away earlier and now I couldn't find it." Euphie sighed sadly much to everyone's dismay.
"It's alright your highness we can help you find it." Shirley proposed to her comforting her by the shoulder.
"Really?" she eyed the orange hair girl who smiled back at her.
"Yeah! We do this all the time!" Rivalz was now pumped seeing that he would be able to help a royal.
"But how can you find something so small in this large campus?" Euphie wondered to them. But there was a saying, if there's a will, there's a way. Or in this case, if there's Milly, there's a way.
"Leave that to us, your highness. We'll get back your cat in no time" Milly answered, holding a mischievous grin on her face that Lelouch saw and commented. "You're thinking something sinister, aren't you?"
A few moments later…
Outside the main building where the clubhouse was located and where the princess ran into earlier despite the crowds' eagerness to check on her, the P.A system roared into life with the voice of Milly Ashford from the comms.
"Hello everyone, as you may know our special guest of honor has just arrived! But before we could tell you who she is...CAT HUNT EVERYONE!" The students, parents, teachers, and even the civilians wonder about the sudden declaration.
"There is a cat on the loose on campus that needs to be rounded up. Everyone stop with your events, or contests, Participating clubs will get a budget priority. Not only that, whoever catches our feline friend will get a special prize from our special guest of honor!" before catching her breath and...
"A kiss!"
KISS?!
And everyone who saw the pink haired girl speculated the reward that they will receive from her.
'A kiss from someone as pretty as her?'
'Wouldn't mind a taste of those lips.'
'It's not gonna be like some lame peck on the cheek though, is it?'
'A kiss on the cheek would be fine with me."
"Wait. We can choose where she plants it?"
And concluding that it will be worth it everyone shouted in unison: 'All right!' "And to make it much more competitive, the winner can also either choose from the guest of honor...or to the student council members!" And when they heard that they can also choose who they will be kissing, the reactions of the students increased ten-fold! Especially to the girl's populace.
'What? From a member of the Student Council?'
'Does that include Lelouch?'
Before cheering in glee to have the chance to kiss the most popular guy in the campus, even though he was already taken…
'Actually I would prefer Milly.' someone interrupted their cheering and everyone turned around the girl and told her:' Ah. Could you get back in the closet, please?' And almost everyone, turned heels and made a search party for the cat. Though the parents, and other civilians aren't directly involved in this they also participated just for fun. Around the campus, students did everything to search the cat, from the corridors, abandoned buildings, tight spaces, and even digging underground! Everyone has one mission:
Find. that. Cat!
Inside the P.A system, Milly finished describing the cat in question and now preparing to find the cat as well. "With the help of everyone here on campus, there's no way the cat wouldn't be found. "Milly stated smugly.
"How could you do that Milly!" Shirley said blushing.
"Does our innocence mean nothing to you?!" Kallen added, frustrated that they would be used as prizes. "Right Nina?" Nina nodded in agreement who also blushed from the prospect of someone that (might) kiss her.
"Oh relax you guys, all we have to do is find the cat before they do then your kiss won't be stolen. Well except you Shirley since yours is already taken." She teased the oranged haired girl.
"Madam President!"
"Still this would cover the entire campus with this many searches. But, the best way to find the cat is find where it was last seen and where it will most likely go to" Lelouch deduced, already thinking ahead on what to do.
"That's my brother to you" snickered Nunnally to Nina and Rivalz who chuckled under their breath.
"Hey Milly, what if we catch the cat? We don't get any prizes won't we?" Rivalz questions her since he wanted to receive a kiss from her if possible.
"Do we get a kiss? But of course!" making him mutter under his breath 'now is my time to shine!' "All right everyone let's get going!"
"Your highness, are you sure about this?" Jeremiah asked the princess who acted innocently. "It's alright Jerry, try to have fun won't you?" she smiled at him before she and everyone else vacated the room. "Wait your high-" but before Jeremiah could stop her they were already away. Sighing he did what he was told to do…
I guess we're doing this
Pocketing his communicator he hailed his subordinates and ordered them too. "Viletta, Kewell. There's something I need you to do…"
The parents of the council members waited outside the building also wondering about the new contest the president declared. But out of everyone, Marianne was much more intrigued to see who was the guest of honor. I wonder who it is? And since the prize was a kiss from the guest of honor or the council members, she can use this opportunity to learn whoever she was. Well I guess it's time to hunt. "All right everyone, we can't let anyone steal our children's kisses now won't we?" She asked the other parents and they all answered in unison:
"Yeah!"
"Then let's go!" and they also searched the small feline.
In the meantime, Suzaku Kururugi was still waiting for Kallen to arrive until he also heard the declaration from the student council president. From what he could understand there was a cat that everyone was trying to find in order to receive a kiss from the guest of honor or the student council members.
It doesn't concern me though...so I should probably stay out of it.
He thought to himself wanting to stay out of it. Still maybe I could get this chance to get close to the Princess...pondering the pros and cons, it was better to do something rather than nothing and waiting. In which, Suzaku decided to participate as well. "The hunt is on"
All over the campus the students, parents, civilians, and even the teachers all sought to find the missing black cat. They search high and low, inside and outside, but despite it all, they couldn't seem to find the black cat anywhere. Still they persisted, and overtime a group did manage to find the black cat. The Student council.
Lelouch deduced that the cat would most likely go to somewhere that has food like the cafeteria, or a place that is quiet like the library since a cat prefers to be hidden from the prying eyes of humans and wants not to be disturbed such is why they are always hiding somewhere. And to cover both options they divided into two groups. For the former, Lelouch, Kallen, Milly, and the Princess and Jeremiah and the latter is Shirley, Nunnally, Rivalz, and Nina. And the cat was found in the library.
The cat was sleeping peacefully near the top of the bookshelves and Shirley and the rest silently approached the sleeping cat so they wouldn't surprise it and ran away. "Sshh…"Shirley whispered to her team who nodded in return.
"All right. Rivalz, Nunnally you're going to cover his escape, while me and Nina will try and catch him." She told them the plan and the three replied in unison: 'got it'. Rivalz and Nunnally go to their respective position, while Shirley and Nina will catch him off-guard.
They silently approached the sleeping feline atop of the bookshelves, and since Shirley was the taller of the two she will be the one that will try to grab it, if she fails to do so, Nina is there to recover it. Okay Shirley you can do this! Shirley encourages herself and counts down to grab the cat. "Okay...one...two...three!" Shirley tries to grab it but the cat manages to hear her approach and quickly dodges her hands.
"Nina!"
"Ye-yeah" the girl stammered but still managed to cover the cat's escape who was about to jump away from the bookshelves, but when the cat leaped forward she was startled from it and defended herself. "Kyaa!" she screamed expecting it to land on her but instead the cat landed on the ground and ran past the two.
"Are you alright?" Shirley asked her friend. "I'm fine, thank you…"Nina replied meekly. Shirley sighs in relief. "Let's hurry maybe we can still catch it." and Nina after recomposing herself ran after the fleeing cat.
The black cat truly brings bad omen since when Rivalz tried to stop him he failed to so. "I got you!" Rivalz exclaimed, preparing to catch the cat who was running fast to him. He's trying to predict its movement and where it will go but he can use his large body to cover its track. "You can't escape! Haaaa!" He screamed forward leaping forward arms wide to catch the cat, but the feline was smart and when he leaped forward the cat used him as a stepping stone as he also jumped in kind and ran past him. Damn it! Rivalz curse not only he failed to catch the creature but the idea of receiving a kiss from Milly is now destroyed. The momentum carried him forward and sent him crashing.
The cat didn't look back and ran further. "Rivalz?" Shirley said to him, grabbing his friend.
"I'm fine. The cat went that way!" Rivalz said as the three went to the cat that was now on the balcony. Nunnally was near the cat so she followed him outside and he had him cornered. "I got you now!" She said, but the cat can jump down from a two-story high and was prepared to do so. But before it could, Nunnally grab it before it could. "Got you!"
"All right Nunnally!" Rivalz and the others cheered her as she caught the cat. "Way to go!" "Hmm-hmm" Shirley and Nina responded respectively. Nunnally smirked in victory "Told you I got it-" but the Cat was persistent and seemingly has a grudge when someone doesn't properly hold him and bit Nunnally on the hand who hissed from the pain.
"AHHH!" Nunnally screamed and it made her stumbled backwards from the surprise and the railings weren't tall enough to support her and made her fall from the balcony. "NUNNALLY!" the three screamed in panic as they saw Nunnally fall backwards. They weren't the only ones since the other members were near them to check if the cat was there and they gasped on what they saw.
"Nunnally!" Lelouch screamed at the top of his lungs and it caught the attention of everyone near the vicinity, and their mother Marianne, was among them. NOO! Time seemed to stop as they saw Nunnally fall from the building, and Nunnally saw death flashes in front of her eyes…
Brother, Mother…
She was nearing to fall to her doom but someone caught her mid-air in an instant. She feels a strong arm enveloped her body and carried her like a bridal style, in the corner of her eyes she saw brown hair and green eyes.
Who is he?
The witnesses saw what happened and saw the man who saved the girl landed crouching. The man in question was none other than Suzaku Kururugi. "Are you alright?" Suzaku asked the girl who he saw was falling from a balcony. The girl was silent for a moment, surprised that someone saved her. "Im...fine, thank you for saving me…"Nunnally answered. "That's a relief," Suzaku answered with a kind smile. He lets her down a moment later, still clutching the cat on her hands. A few minutes later they are surrounded with the Student council, the Princess and the Purist, and the other witnesses.
"Mommy!" Nunnally ran to hug her mother who was crying in relief to see her daughter is saved. "Oh Nunnally" Marianned kissed her crown as she remained hugging her, never letting go. "Don't you ever do something so reckless again."
While the two spent their moments, the student council thanked the man who saved Nunnally. "Thank you for saving my little sister, mr-?" Lelouch asked the man's name who faced him in confidence.
"Sakurai, Suzaku Sakurai." Suzaku replied. An eleven. And when they heard his name a few stayed away from him since he was an Eleven.
"An Eleven?"
"No way…"
"Still he saved Nunna…" the student council commented to him, making Suzaku avert from their gaze. And when the purist heard an Eleven was here, they took action.
"You bastard! What are you doing here?" Kewell exclaimed approaching him with a fist at the ready. However, before he could, a student with a short red-hair stood in between them, arms stretched protecting the boy from view.
"Wait! Can't you see that he saves the girl? He didn't do anything wrong!" Kallen countered him, and from the back Suzaku whispered in Japanese. "Thank you for this...Kallen." She grinned and told him. "You owe me for this," Suzaku snickered at that. I guess I do
"Kallen's right, he saved Nunna," Shirley added. Kewell gritted on his teeth from the words the girls told him and the other people are also saying the same. He was still prepared to strike the boy but his superior made him stand down.
"Kewell, stand down!" He heard Jeremiah ordered him.
"But he is an Eleven!" But the next voice made him actually stop on his tracks.
"As the third Princess of the Holy Britannian Empire, I Princess Euphemia li Britannia, order you to stand down!" She ordered and everyone around her gasped in surprise. A princess was their guest of honor after all. Kewell reluctantly did what he was told and stood back. Euphie meanwhile, still ignoring the whispers and cheers of the crowd, approaches the man who saves her sister.
"Thank you for saving my-I mean the girl. You have my thanks" she bowed to the boy who was now not covered by Kallen. Suzaku stood perfectly calm and he covered his disdain from the fact that the one who was thanking him was a royal.
"It's nothing…" was his only response.
At this time, Kallen used this opportunity to introduce him. "Madam President, this is the student who will be enrolling, Suzaku Sakurai." And some students were taken aback knowing an Eleven would be among them, especially Nina Einstein. Milly eyed the new boy, and even though he was an Eleven, he saved their dear friend, so they accepted him with open arms.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Suzaku, my name is Milly Ashford, the student council President." Milly starts before she nudges the arm of Rivalz to continue.
"Oh right, Rivalz Cardemonde!"
"Shirley Fenette, again thank you for saving our friend."
Suzaku smiled lightly, "It's nice to meet you too". With this the plan is now in motion. Suzaku grinned before he shook their hand.
While the student council introduced themselves and the other students for today's hero. Euphie, seeing that Nunnally ran to her mother, took this chance to meet her. Marianne finished embracing her daughter and she saw two figures approaching them and when she saw the two she quickly hid her surprised expression and acted accordingly.
"You must be Nunnally's mother" The princess said to her and she knew that Euphie still recognizes her, but she doesn't know if she has amnesia like her children or not, since that is what she believed in. "Yes I am, and I'm guessing you're the one who invited me, your highness" Marianne answered with a bow.
Euphie and Jeremiah on the outside remained neutral, but from the inside they were in glee; They were in joy to see the Empress alive and well...the question is, is she the real Lady Marianne? "Yes, I am...the reason why you are summoned is because we have a few questions to ask to you" Euphie finally answered.
Marianne didn't like where this is going but she can't do anything about this, all she can do is to play along for now until she has a chance to resolve this. "Oh and what are those questions about, your highness?" Marianne answered Euphie not showing any suspicion or surprise.
Euphie shooks her head. "Not from me but instead-" however before she could finish, another voice was heard cutting her mid-sentence.
"From me"
And everyone turns around to see where that voice came from. Standing in front of them was a group of military personnel clad in red violet uniform, and standing in the center flanked by her Knight and General, was none other than the Witch of Britannia herself, but Marianne knew her as the former captain of her royal guard.
The second Princess, Princess Cornelia li Britannia.
A/N: Now this is a long one. Currently the longest chapter yet, and it was unexpected, but I'm glad I'm able to finish this in time. Anyways, another cliffhanger hahahaha. Sorry for the wait but I hope this chapter delivers.
The next chapter will continue the conversation between Marianne and Cornelia. Also, it will reveal yet another revelation to the characters about the supposed death of the vi Britannia. And the beginning of 'The search for the truth' starts.
If you have any suggestions, concerns, or ideas, feel free to P.M me. Or just review, since it gives me an idea on how to continue my story and it is a source of motivation. Well that's about it, the next chapter will be published when I have some free time.
Please read and review.
F.C.C.S out