Lelouch remembered, once upon a lifetime ago. The feeling he had when about to face his first father, Charles zi Britannia, Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire. More specifically, the feeling he had when he was very young, before Japan, before his mother and sister were gunned down. Back when his greatest concerns were if he would need to interact with Guinevere at all, or how he would defeat Schneizel in their next chess game, or what fool thing Nunnally and Euphemia would inevitably talk him into.

In those days, his first father wasn't an enemy. He was barely even a presence. But in those times when Lelouch did stand before his father, he couldn't help the unease he felt. There was a man who towered over other men, both politically and physically. His stare a cold, judging thing, always seeming to assess his worth, forcing the young boy to fear for the day he might be found wanting.

That day eventually came, of course. Even looking back on it after everything he had done since, he could still admit that moment was everything he feared and more.

But that unease. That ill feeling he contended with both before and during such visits. That was the closest emotion he could compare this to. This feeling as he stood outside of Herodotus' office, waiting for Rudolf to ensure he was ready to be received.

As the large men emerged, still a good two thirds of a foot taller than Lelouch even at what would likely be the young devil's full height, there was a tightness to his expression as he gave Lelouch permission to enter. Rudolf had always been a severe man, prone to the formality Herodotus preferred. That his stress could be read so easily spoke volumes. A treatise Lelouch was also entirely familiar with.

There was no great calamity within the room as he entered. No blindingly obvious indication of his father's difficulties. Of course not. If such a thing were to occur, Rudolf would endeavour to maintain his King's reputation and fastidiousness, even if Herodotus himself could no longer manage it.

"Lelouch," the Lord Bael said, sitting at his desk, a glass of brandy in his hand, from the Amon territory judging by the nearby bottle. The heir knew what that meant. It wasn't a sign of a problem as some might assume. It was courage. To face something he didn't want to, but knew he needed to. "You're... Dressed formally."

"I'll be attending Ravel Phenex' debut shortly. I just.. .Wanted to inform you I would be leaving for the evening and where I would be." Because that was how things should be done. Because that was also where Herodotus should be today. Because... Because it was easier to go through the motions and pretend things were as they should be, even if they weren't.

The lord of the house in name only gave a slow, steady nod. "Please represent our house well." It came out as a request. Not a sign of greater trust, or an easing of his severe, demanding inclination. Instead a sign of how much less important such a thing was to him these days.

"... Well then," Lelouch nodded, hiding his disappointment. "I'll be off."

As the boy turned on his heel, "I'm... Going to visit your mother today." The words stopped Lelouch's steps before they could start. He had known that already. The brandy had told him as much. "I thought I might read to her. I was wondering if you had any suggestions."

"Sai would–" know better. But the words didn't come out. It might have been true. But Lelouch wasn't without his own understanding on the matter. "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

"Ha!" a bark of laughter escaped the man, honestly startling Lelouch for being so... Incongruous with who he was. "Yes, I... I remember she read that one to you and Sairaorg when you were small, didn't she? She always found that book so very funny... Thank you."

"Yes," Lelouch answered shortly, sharply, before leaving the room as quickly as he could. The door shut behind him with an unintended slam, the young devil's expression conveying so many emotions at once. Fury, despair, hatred, regret, loss and so many more.

This was why he hated seeing his father. Not for the sorry state of him. Not for how he had left their house's 'duty' neglected. No, there was only one reason. And it could be summed up by just one aspect of that conversation. How he referred to his wife in the past tense. Herodotus Bael had given up on Misla. He wasn't lost or worried for her condition or if she would ever wake up. He had already resigned himself to believing she would never wake. His every action one of mourning as he waited for her end to be 'official'.

And the worst part was how little Lelouch could blame him for it. It would have been so easy to fall into the old pattern. Paper Charles' face over Herodotus and pretend they were exactly the same like he used to. Imagine that he never loved his wife, didn't care that she was– That she might die. But Lelouch had a strong mind and heart, and neither would ever let him believe such a disgraceful lie.

"Is everything alright?"

His eyes that had been turned inward in recriminations once again saw the outside world to find Kallen there waiting for him. He had forgotten he had her follow him so they could leave immediately. He made certain to completely collect himself. "That isn't a question worth asking me. If something isn't right then I'll make it right." A statement he needed to believe, especially now.

"... Right," the skepticism in her tone didn't matter. "Anything I should do then?"

"Do your best to enjoy a party."

-(-)-

"Lord Barbatos," Lelouch greeted politely, "Lady Barbatos, Lady Asmoday. A pleasure to see you all again."

"Ah, Lelouch," Barbatos responded first. Not the retired, ancient and intentionally aged ancestor but the current head of the house. "And you as well. Though we were expecting Lord Bael would be attending."

"My father offers his regrets, but I am here in his stead."

"Hardly a downgrade to spend an evening in a handsome young man's company," Lady Asmoday flattered him.

It was in a sense convenient to Lelouch's aims that his father decided to become less active in the political sphere. Well, perhaps not 'decided', though following the path that correction would lead would do his mood no favours. In his father's absence, Lelouch had been forced to the forefront of his house far more than he would have been otherwise. A circumstance that only increased his ability to ingratiate himself with the Great King faction's current heads as Zekram had wanted. Without even needing to simper at their deluded philosophies.

Hopefully such progress would bear fruit with the old devil sooner rather than later. It had been some time since he had given any inkling of a new lead. If he received nothing for his efforts, perhaps it was nearing the time to be less forgiving of Zekram's dragging feet.

The evening wore on, Lelouch and Kallen moving one group of devil nobles to another with similar patterns. Making apologies for Herodotus, minor politicking and gossip, introducing Kallen as his Queen. And of course...

"Well isn't she a pretty little thing?" Lord Shax said, speaking of Kallen more like a pet than a person. "Lelouch you must tell us how you found her."

"Oh, well I couldn't do the story justice. After all I only arrived toward the tail end. Kallen?" Lelouch prompted. She could give him the most subtle sour look she was capable of if she wished. Perhaps she didn't realise he wasn't just forcing her to speak to people who thought little of her. He was also quietly rebuking Lord Shax for implying she couldn't speak for herself.

"I was an officer for the British Army, assigned to a routine resupply mission. We got attacked on the road by some Afghan fella floating a hundred foot in the air chucking explosive lights."

"Ah, I see. So you were unfortunate enough to run afoul of the supernatural and killed by this man."

"No, I climbed on top of my vehicle and shot him."

Lord Shax sputtered briefly at that response, suddenly more interested as she continued to recount the story. Stories of extreme violence tended to be a big hit with devils. That or sex. Both at once was surprisingly hit or miss depending on the company one was keeping.

"Well," Shax smiled, at Kallen and not Lelouch which was progress, "Approaching your future dealings with such decisive actions should suit you well in your life as a reincarnated devil, Miss Stadtfeld. You have chosen your Queen well, Lelouch."

More placid platitudes and politics before the pair moved on toward another group. "How many more times am I going to have to tell the story of how I died?" Kallen asked quietly.

"Several more," Lelouch answered without apology. "They're getting the measure of you. I went through the same thing at my one of these events. You're doing quite well, believe it or not."

"I feel like a show piece."

"You are." She glared at him, but he didn't recant his words. "For a great many of the people here, particularly among those I'll deal with regularly, you're not a 'real' devil. A good rule of thumb is if they feel the need to prepend a five syllable word to calling you a devil, chances are they're doing it because they believe it needs to be there."

"You're doing a shite job making me feel better."

"Making you feel better doesn't fix the problem," Lelouch responded. He had discussed with her where he actually stood on such issues, and where he needed to appear to stand. Because of that, because of the need to keep up appearances, he couldn't say more.

Kallen sighed. "Let's get the next bit over with then. But if they tell me to fetch or roll over I'm kicking 'em in the balls. Or the cunt. Whichever they have."

"A little less vulgarity please," the Bael heir did an intentionally poor job being offended, finding it more funny than anything. He led his Queen through more devil hanger-ons toward another group of nobles. Out of the corner of his eye he saw where he would rather be. The young devils once again off on their own. Zephyrdor was a no-show, the young man surprisingly proud to no longer need to lower himself to attend debuts and then be ignored. He had seemingly not realised that meant he was effectively nothing to devil society until he made a name for himself, being a second son.

Though Zephyrdor wasn't present, the others were, alongside their own Queens. Those who had them. He was no happier than Kallen doing this song and dance with the lords and ladies. He would much rather be over there, finding out what he had done to make Rias so angry with him.

Seeming to have felt his eyes on her, the redhead looked his way, then just as quickly looked away again, her frown more pronounced.

"Lords and Ladies, it is my great honour to present to you today Lord and Lady Phenex and for the first time, Ravel Phenex, daughter to the House of Phenex!"

All eyes fell on the entranceway to see the new daughter of the Phenex. Well, 'new' was perhaps overstating it. Ravel's debut was very late, according to rumour because she wanted to have all of her brothers attend and the middle brother had trouble (or refused) in making time for it.

Ravel herself was... Cute, in Lelouch's opinion. In the way that children were, not in the Japanese sense of 'attractive'. She was after all only eleven. The expression of her pale face was one of precocious severity, like she was doing her very best to look grown up. An attempt so severely undercut by her blonde pigtails styled into drill-like curls. Her eyes moved over the crowd of applauding nobles and found him. Suddenly her severe expression fractured, the little girl smiling.

As he looked away, Lelouch smiled too. "On second thought, how about we go this way," Lelouch prompted, guiding Kallen in a different direction, whispering, "They're the worst. Don't murder them. Even if they deserve it."

"What?"

"Lord Forneus!" Lelouch said much louder as he greeted the noble fish-devil, "Lady Forneus! A good evening to you both."

"Ahh, Lelouch, yes, Lord Bael won't be in attendance?" the talking fish burbled, his much more humanoid wife as dull and broken as she ever looked.

"I'm afraid not. My pleasant company shall have to suffice."

More polite small talk. The worst kind of small talk with people whom you have no interest in being polite. Or even civil. But that was the reason he had chosen this moment to come speak with them. After all...

"Lelouch Bael?"

Hiding the relief and joy at his gambit having paid off, Lelouch turned to see an adorable eleven year old standing behind him, her hand raised in expectation. "Lady Ravel, a pleasure to make your acquaintance at last," he said, doing the polite thing and kissing the offered hand. "Congratulations on your debut."

"You are too kind," the little Phenex responded. "I would like to be introduced to my peers. As you are a familiar face, I would appreciate you facilitating this."

Lelouch had to wonder if this was what he sounded like at his debut. Probably. He had been rusty after so long in isolation. "Of course, I would be glad to." Turning back to the fish, he gave his apologies. "Lord Forneus, Lady Forneus. My apologies, but I would hate to disappoint the young lady of the occasion."

"No, of course, of course, a pleasure seeing you again, young man."

As they walked away from the two, Kallen shot her King a look which he returned with a smirk. Yes, he had known that Ravel would interrupt as soon as he saw the girl's face shift on seeing him. It would be a shame to waste the opportunity. And so he chose to interact with the people he least wanted to deal with, only to be 'sadly' pulled away. And now after that very brief bit of unpleasantness he wouldn't need to deal with them again for even longer.

Not that Kallen was planning to complain about it. The two stank and the fish man wouldn't stop staring at her cleavage.

Without asking or prompting, the dark-haired devil found himself locked arm in arm with the precocious blonde Phenex. She didn't appear to care how awkward it looked, just wore a satisfied smile as though she claimed some great victory with the action. And so that was how the two appeared before the other gathered young devils.

"Well, everyone," Lelouch began, standing before most of his friends, "May I introduce Ravel Phenex. Ravel, Seekvaira Agares."

"Congratulations, Ravel," her fellow blonde offered with an incline of her head.

"Sona Sitri."

"Nice to meet you."

"My younger brother Sairaorg and his Queen, Kuisha."

"Hi, congratulations!"

He skipped over Riser. Though the presence of the youngest of her three brothers quietly poked a hole in her need for Lelouch to do introductions. Not that she weren't entirely transparent already. "And Rias Gremory and her Queen, Akeno Himejima."

Rias stared at him for a long second, before her blue eyes moved to the lady of the hour. "Hello."

Akeno quickly picked up the slack for her King's lacklustre greeting, bowing low. "Congratulations on your debut, Lady Ravel!"

"Oi, Lelouch!" Riser's voice rose. "Who said you could get so close with my sister!"

"I did!" Ravel answered her brother with a stomp of her foot, using her linked arm to pull Lelouch closer.

"Ravel..." Another, much older voice approached with a reprimanding tone.

The blonde girl seemed to wilt at the sound. "Papa..."

"Come along," Lord Phenex chided her as he drew her away, "You have many more people to meet. You can spend time with your new friends later." He offered a neutral look to the young man he extracted her from. "Lelouch."

"Lord Phenex," Lelouch responded with a largely respectful incline of his head.

"I'm going to get some air," Rias announced quietly, wasting no time in stepping away from the table, her Queen shadowing her as she left the room.

"Congratulations on your new Queen, Lelouch," said Riser conversationally. "Quite the beauty! I must admit to being somewhat jealous–"

"Are either of you planning on telling me why Rias is so furious at me?" Lelouch asked the two female Kings at the table.

"Oi, don't ignore me!"

"This is more important." Lelouch closed his eyes before reconsidering. He looked at Riser. "Thank you. But her name is Kallen, talk to her like an actual person and not a prize." His attention returned to the two young ladies, Sona in particular looking uncertain. "Well?"

"We shouldn't," Seekvaira answered first.

"She isn't angry at you," Sona said immediately afterwards. "Or... She is, but..." The usually precise girl found herself struggling for what to say or how to say it. "You need to speak with her."

Very useful when she immediately ran from his presence. Twice. "You can't give me any more than that?"

Reluctantly, Sona's mouth opened again but Seekvaira beat her to it. "No. She told us in confidence and that isn't something we should break so lightly."

He looked from garnet eyes to amethyst. Sona unfortunately appearing more resolute from Seekvaira's words. He breathed out. "Very well. I suppose I'll have to refuse no as an answer. Kallen, stay here please." The Bael heir walked away with steps as hurried as decorum would allow. He didn't know precisely where Rias had gone but with many parts of Phenex manor sealed off for the event there were only so many she could go.

Meanwhile, Kallen was left feeling quite awkward as a spectacle between several young devils.

"So, has he bedded you yet?" Riser asked casually.

"What?!"

-(-)-

The balcony overlooking the gardens. Rias had said she wanted some air.

If ever there were circumstances that would take the wind out of Lelouch's sails, it was family. Or rather family he cared about thinking ill of him. And so it was without his usual calm comportment that he approached the two girls. Akeno noticed his approach, her heels clicking on the stones as she moved to block his path.

The sound caught Rias' attention. A sadness filling her eyes as she looked to see the boy she had come to love. "Akeno," the name was spoken softly. Somehow that was all that was needed for the Queen to understand, moving out of the Bael heir's path. Instead taking a position to stand guard over the two of them, watching out for would-be eavesdroppers.

"I didn't make you cry, did I?" said Lelouch. "I'm afraid that will end badly for me if I did."

The redhead let out a weak laugh. "No, you didn't make me cry." Much quieter she added, "I made me cry."

"Rias, what did I do?" he had to ask. He needed to know. "Whatever it is, I'll find a way to make it right. Is it Kallen? I know there are some superficial similarities but if you think I'm trying to replace you–"

"I did think that," she admitted. "For a little bit. Until I realised it was stupid."

"Then..." He moved closer, close enough to take her hands in a gentle grip.

"Stupid," she sobbed, "That's all it was. That's all I was. I thought, I thought you'd just wait. Until I could get everything in line. Until I could convince... Until I could..."

"Rias," he wiped away the tears forming in her eyes.

"I wanted to be your Queen." Despite Lelouch's best efforts, despite her own best efforts, the tears rolled down her cheeks as she began to cry.

"Rias, I'm sorry, that was never going to happen. As long as you're heir to the Gremory, I–" With the suddenness of a lightning strike, he realised.

Their actions. Their intentions so very similar. In a certain sense, he and Rias, they were opposites.

"I was going to give it up," she admitted, barely louder than a whisper. "My place as heir."