A/N

I know it's been over a year since my last update. Sorry for not posting earlier (what a year 2020 was) but do keep in mind that as much as I enjoy writing this, and believe me I do enjoy writing this, writing this is never a top priority for me, and life stuff is always more important.

Anyways, thank you, all for the reviews, favs and follows in my absence. It means a lot to me and is what keeps me wanting to write more.

Disclaimer: Code Geass and its characters Do Not belong to me.

Chapter 12

The imperial couple was in the middle of a heated whispered argument as Jerimiah entered the imperial apartments.

Sir Kururugi, who was already present, was idly drawing on a piece of paper while occasionally glancing at the couple. He was giving the arguing couple their space. He gave Jerimiah a look that told the Knight of One to do the same. Jerimiah gave a small nod indicating that he understood.

Jerimiah, while not willing to be a part of the argument, was not worried. He was of the belief that a good argument now and then between a couple was good. Not that he had any real experience.

The imperial couple was now hugging. So, the argument had been resolved. They parted with a kiss. The day to day operations of running the empire could now start again.

Jerimiah, his Empress, her guards and their retinue, including the doctors, made their way to the audience chamber where the Empress held her court.

The Empress made herself comfortable on her throne like chair, sighed and then said,

"Shall we get the day started?"

Jerimiah enjoyed guarding the Empress. She always managed to get a laugh out of Jerimiah.

He did not have to guard the Empress. While he was in charge of the royal guard, it did not mean he had to stand guard. He was the Knight of One. His absolute primary job was to guard his Emperor.

But he and the Empress made it a point to assign one day a week on which Jerimiah acted as her primary guard.

It was their version of "hanging out" as the Empress put it. Jerimiah had to admit that this had brought them closer and he now respected the Empress as a person and not just as a figure of authority. Though technically the Empress had no real authority over the Knights of the Round.

The Empress was looking over her tablet while Patricia was going over the meetings the Empress had previously arranged for the day.

With a sigh and a look of determination they began their day

It was nearing lunch time when Patricia spoke up. The Empress was ideally playing with her hair while looking over a report. Jerimiah was also sitting on a chair to the side of the Empress and going over the security detail for their trip to Australia.

"Your majesty, our spy with Lady Cranedall has just reported that she has just left her property with the intention of meeting you…" Patricia said. Jerimiah found Patricia to be a very practical and loyal person. He very much approved of her.

"That woman is persistent if nothing else." The Empress said.

"Umm, your majesty she is not alone." Patricia said with a slight hitch in her voice "Your mother is with her."

The Empress's face went completely blank.

After some time, she said "I knew they were friends and were meeting. So, it is not completely unexpected. In fact, I had thought it extremely likely and planned for it."

The Empress went quite again. Sighed and then said

"Sir Jeremiah you will need to scare Cranedall. So that she drops the whole Nunally issue. If she still persists Lelouch will have to deal with her. I am going to deal with my mother."

Lunch was being laid out when the Empress's mother and Lady Cranedall was permitted in. The Lady Cranedall curtsied before the Empress. The Lady Ashford did not. This did not go unnoticed by the Knight of One and by the narrowing of her eyes it was also not missed by the Empress.

The Empress acknowledged them both with a nod.

After some small talk the Lady Cranedall said.

"Your majesty would you not reconsider my earlier proposal. It would be greatly…."

Before the Lady Cranedall could say anything else, the Empress spoke

"You were warned Cranedall. You were…"

"But your majesty! I …"

"No Lady Cranedall. Like I have told…"

"Milly listen to…" the Empress's mother spoke in a tone that clearly suggested she was not making a request. She was acting like she was talking to a disobedient child. That would not stand!

It was Jeramiah's moment to speak up. He stood up, loomed over both the visiting ladies and said in his most threatening voice "You shall not interrupt the Empress again. Understand?"

Both the ladies nodded and cowered. They both looked positively frightened. Good.

"As I was saying." The Empress said "Lady Cranedall, you were warned not to bring up this request again or there will be consequences and you would not like these consequences."

The Lady looked to speak up again but a sharp glare from the Knight of One stopped her.

"Your son has a mistress with whom he has illegitimate children. By the decree of the Emperor they shall be legitimized. The eldest shall be named your sons new heir and he will remain the heir even if your son marries and has children. An appropriate bride shall be chosen by the crown for the new heir. Understand?"

Her son not having an heir was the main point the Lady had been making in wanting to get him married and this would neatly take away that argument.

The Lady Crandall looked to protest again but Jerimiah intensified his glare and the Lady nodded and said

"Yes, your majesty." The fight seemed to be leaving Lady Cranedall.

"Oh, and if something were to happen to your soon to be legitimate grandchildren. I will get my husband directly involved in this whole affair and you don't want that do you?"

Lady Cranedall was suitably cowed now. She swallowed visibly and said "No... no your majesty." Nobody wanted to deal with an angry demon Emperor. He would deal out a much harsher punishment than his wife. His punishment could be anything from life imprisonment to a F.L.E.J.I.A detonation at your place of resident.

"Good. You are dismissed." The Empress said with an air of authority. She really had settled in the role of an Empress over the past few months. Jerimiah was impressed and happy to have someone like her majesty at his Emperors' side.

When the Lady left the Empress's, mother looked at her daughter in rage and was about to speak but the Empress spoke first.

"Can you arrange for some people to look after her grandchildren, Lord Jerimiah? From a distance I mean? Just in case?"

"Of course, your majesty." Jerimiah replied with a salute. He set to work on his tablet.

"Now then Lady Ashford. I believe you were taughtproper manners, were you not?" The Empress asked, it was the Empress talking to a subject not a daughter talking to her mother, Jerimiah noted.

Lady Ashford was silent for quite some time. Looking at her daughter trying to decide if she was joking or not.

Lady Ashford looked towards Jerimiah for support but all she got from him was a glare which prompted her to answer.

"I was?"

"And what is the proper etiquette when greeting someone with a much higher rank than you?" the Empress asked with a raised eyebrow, her tone that of a teacher lecturing a particularly dim-witted student. How the tables had turned.

"You curtsey if you are a female noble" the Lady Ashford replied.

"And did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Curtsey when you entered this room?"

Many different emotions played on the Lady Ashford, confusion and anger being the topmost, before she schooled her features and said,

"You are my daughter"

The Empress stood up from her throne, and she had such a look of regality that could have almost rivaled her husbands. Again, at this moment Jerimiah was very proud of his Empress.

"I am, but I am also the Empress and you came to meet the Empress today, with your friend, not your daughter" the Empress said, "Am I correct?"

Lady Ashford looked at her daughter as if she was seeing her for the first time and since Jerimiah was looking at her so closely, he caught the look of pride that passed over the Lady's face at her daughter before once again she schooled her features.

"You are correct" The Lady Ashford said and then added "Your majesty."

"Mother you were specifically warned that Lady Cranedall was someone whom I did not want to meet again and yet you brought her here with you. I can forgive that because I anticipated as much. I anticipated that you figured that this way a noble Lady of a high standing would owe you and you like being in power this way."

The Lady Ashford nodded her agreement and the Empress smiled

"Mother, you are very resourceful and you like making contacts with powerful people. I want to use this talent of yours. I will be giving you some names of some people I want you to befriend and come to me if they have something to say to me. This way we will be working together"

The Lady Ashford smiled and agreed with a "Yes your majesty."

The Empress smiled.

"Join us for lunch mother"

She did.

When they had finished lunch, the mother had left and were heading back to the suite the Empress spoke up.

"That did not go exactly as I had planned" said the Empress. Jerimiah knew that she was talking about the meeting with her mother.

"It went well enough your majesty." He said and then added "It must not have been easy for you"

The Empress considered his words for a while and then said.

"My mother and I have always had a tense relationship. She cares for me and I care for her, but she has always been an ambitious woman and at many times, especially after we lost our status as nobles, I felt like a tool for her to use more than her daughter."

It was quiet for a while.

"Families can be difficult at times." Jerimiah said only half joking, the smile he got from his Empress indicated that she understood.

"Speaking of families, how is your sister?" The Empress asked.

"She is doing well, your Majesty. Managing our lands and training. She is happy and that is what is important."

"Good."

They reached the imperial suite but had yet to enter it.

"Well this was a fun day hanging out with a friend the Empress said but I am tired and…"

She must have noticed the slight shock that Jerimiah had felt

"Something wrong sir Gottwald?"

"You consider me a friend?" He asked.

A looked of pure bewilderment passed over the Empress before she laughed and said "Of course I do. And so, do Lelouch and Suzaku in case you were wondering?"

The look on Jeremiah's face must have confirmed it for her that indeed he had been wondering that.

"He told me once, before he and I got married, and has repeatedly said so multiple since then, that you are one of the few friends he has."

Jeremiah felt… elated. He thought that at best the Emperor considered him a loyal knight, which Jerimiah was honored to be, but to be considered a friend of the Emperor was beyond an honor.

"You should join him and Suzaku tonight. They would appreciate it and won't mind at all, in fact Lelouch told me to ask you to join them" the Empress said. She had requested this of a few times in the past as well and he had always denied the request but today he said;

"I will, your Majesty."

She gave him a radiant and pleased smile before going through the doors with Jerimiah following.

When Jerimiah entered the imperial suite the second time that day, he walked into another argument.

This one was very loud and was between the Emperor of Britannia and his Knight of Zero

There was a car show on the large screen but neither the Emperor nor the Knight were paying much attention to it. Instead they were drinking what looked to be alcoholic drinks and were arguing about cars.

"You would have to be extremally stupid and idiotic, if you think the Rosh Gt XR can beat the HavoX 960 in a drag race." Said the Emperor shaking a can at the Knight.

"Oh, come on. I will give you that the Rosh has a better engine but the HavoX is better and lighter and can simply outpace the Rosh.

The Empress smiled at the scene and waved at the arguing pair, who barely acknowledged her, before entering the main bedroom.

"Lighter? On what universe..." the Emperor said.

Jeremiah watched them fascinated before interjecting

"Gentlemen!" they both turned to look at him. "You both have good points, but I believe Mostandi 980 can beat both the cars. It has better tires and traction control, plus the new improved aerodynamic body will simply leave the other cars in dust."

Twin looks of disbelief and outrage were directed at Jerimiah, and he felt like apologizing but before he could open his mouth Lelouch spoke up

"No way, it might beat the HavoX but not the Rosh it is simply a better car."

"What do you mean a better car?!" said Suzaku.

And just like that Jerimiah felt himself get drawn in an argument he thought he might never have but was extremely glad to have friends he could have it with.

Lblblbll

"Man, it's hot." Gino complained for what must have been the millionth time.

James sighed, "What did you expect? You are in the middle of the Australian desert" James told his friend for what must have been the millionth time.

"I know, but it's hot!"

James sighed again, Sargent Cardemonde glanced at them and then returned to his vigil of staring at the vast openness of the desert.

James believed that Cardemonde was the hardest working soldier in the entire army, which had surprised Gino, who had told James that the Cardemonde Gino had known was not a particularly serious man. Something must have changed while Gino had been in prison.

Regardless, this was the Cardemonde James knew and James was absolutely certain that unless he got killed Cardemonde would rise high up in the military and rise fast.

Suddenly Cardemonde snapped to attention said a "yes sir" on his radio and turned towards his squad with a grim, eager and determined face and said

"It's time."

A/N:

That's it for this chapter.

I am not very happy with this chapter; I wrote this over the period of months which makes the whole chapter feel a bit broken.

I might go back and improve it, especially the bit with Milly and her mother.

The cars are completely made up in this chapter. In my head canon all Lelouch and Suzaku are car geeks and it was a bonding moment for them when they were younger, more on that in later chapters maybe.

Thanks to Spaded Ace18 for beta reading this.

Again, please leave a review they help me improve.