The Prodigious Son

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Britannia Homeland

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Lelouch watched as Pendragon came into view from the plane he was on. It's been months since he saw his home, leaving for the sole purpose to act as a political hostage to let the Japanese drop their guard, which would allow Britannia to invade the islands.

The only two things going through his mind, at the sight of the Royal Palace, was that of how he would tell his father about his victory, and what he would tell his family. The prince never told them why he was going to Japan, only that he was going because of the emperor.

But every time he tried to think on the subject, the feeling of someone glaring at the back of his head would draw him away from it. Lelouch sighed and looked behind him to where the real political hostage was. "Kaguya, please stop this. You know as well as I, you are going to get nothing from this."

The young princess just glared with more veracity, and almost as if knives started to pierce through him. Lelouch hated this, he knew why she was doing such a thing, and it was a perfectly reasonable reason. The prince faked being a hostage just to drop her country's guard, to only take her from her home, and then forced her to come to her enemy's homeland to be exactly what he faked.

Lelouch sighed and looked out the window. "If you are wondering what might happen to you, little princess. Let me assure you that no harm will come to you." He then looked to the man with orange eyes, who has been acting as his guard for the past months. "Jeremiah here will be taking you to my home, Aries Villa. From there you will be my prisoner, not Britannia's." He finished as the plane finally touched down.

Lelouch looked back to Kaguya and saw that the glare was gone and in its place was a shocked and confused face. "W… why? Why would you do that?" She asked him.

Lelouch got up and was followed by Jeremiah who was holding out a red cape for him. The prince grabbed the cape and threw it over his shoulders, and answered. "I do this because out of everyone at the Kururugi Shrine, you were the only one who treated me better than the others did. So it's my thanks for that."

The prince then left the plane to find an armoured limousine there waiting for him. He looked behind him to the teal-haired man and gave him a light nod. Lelouch then made his way to the vehicle that will take him to the emperor.

Jeremiah watched as his prince's car left, followed by three other armed and armoured. The man couldn't explain how he felt for the past few months. The moment Lady Marianne came to him, telling him that he will be the one to follow Prince Lelouch, Jeremiah thought he would have a heart attack.

Prince Lelouch vi Britannia, the son of the woman he loved, but could never have, was the greatest person, the Margrave has ever known or seen. The boy's mind was amazing, Jeremiah personally saw every history simulator the prince played.

The man was taken from his inner praise by a black van pulling up to the plane, and he watched as one of his fellow Aries Villa Guard exited and opened a back door of the van.

Jeremiah stood straight and looked towards the political hostage. He knew the girl wouldn't understand what he might say, so instead of being verbal, he waved the girl to follow.

She seemed hesitant at first but soon got to her feet and followed. Like any gentleman, even if she was an Eleven, Jeremiah allowed her to get out of the plane first.

The Margrave followed soon after, making sure the girl wouldn't try and run. Luckily she didn't, and Jeremiah smiled that she didn't, for if the girl did he would have to get her and break the promise he made with his Prince. 'Do NOT, under any circumstances, harm the little princess.' Jeremiah remembered his prince's exact words on the matter, and the man plans on keeping it.

So as the girl got into the van, the Margrave prayed that she doesn't do anything stupid, for the man didn't want to face a pissed Prince Lelouch. Jeremiah shivered at the thought, the prince would make his life miserable if Jeremiah ever did that.

Shaking his head, the teal-haired man entered the passenger side door, and within seconds they were off to the Aries Villa, where he will be able to see Princess Nunnally, and Empress Marianne once again. Jeremiah released a sigh, it has been a busy few months, and all the man wanted was to rest and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Villa.

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Pendragon Imperial Palace

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"Now entering, Prince Lelouch vi Britannia, Eleventh Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, and Seventeenth in line to the Imperial Throne!" A voice boomed throughout the hall as the giant doors opened to show a nine-year-old boy with violet eyes, and wearing a red cape over his shoulders.

Charles couldn't stop the massive grin that appeared on his face, as his favourite son returned from his victory, and as he promised, from the looks of it, not a scratch was on his favourite son. His son was everything the emperor thought he would be. He could hear whispers from those around the Throne Room but didn't pay them much mind.

The Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire watched as the prince made his way towards him, and once the boy found his spot, he went to his knee and looked at him. "Your Majesty, I've returned home to bring news of my victory in taking the country of Japan, now known as Area Eleven." The prince said without stumbling on his words.

Charles nodded and leaned forward a bit. "So I have heard. Now, why have you come here when news of your victory has already reached my ears boy?" He hated doing this, Lelouch didn't deserve this treatment, but he needed to make it look like he didn't care. "Are you expecting a reward or something?"

The prince's posture didn't change, and his head only bowed. "No, Your Majesty. I just thought it would be better that I come here to give you the news as well." His son didn't look up to him as he answered.

Charles nodded and leaned back into his throne. Everyone waited for his response in anticipated silence. Until finally the emperor spoke. "You did the right thing coming here, boy. I was going to summon you anyway." He stopped and looked around to find the graying hair of his true wife's greatest ally. "Lord Ashford, step forward!"

It didn't take long for the ageing man to make it to the front and kneeled beside his son. Ruben Ashford, even though he is an ageing man, and had lost his wife, and son only a few years ago, was still one of Britannia's greatest minds, and was one of the sole inventors to make the first working, useable Knightmare frame, the Ganymede.

So the ageing man deserves what he is about to do. "Lord Ashford, am I right to believe that you have a granddaughter named Milly?" The old man nodded, still looking to the ground. Charles nodded. "Then for my son's victory, and your hard work for Britannia. I formally announce that your daughter and my son are now betrothed, and will be married when Prince Lelouch reaches the age of sixteen, and if their first child be boy or girl, they will be named Ashford's Heir."

Both the old man and son looked to the emperor with wide eyes, and throughout the throne room, the sounds of gasps, whispers, and profanity started erupting.

Inwardly Charles was grinning at the reaction going around the hall, but on the outside, the man was looking like that of the emperor, bored, and no-nonsense.

Lord Ashford bowed his head once more. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll give Milly the great news right away." He said, and the emperor could hear the excitement in the man's voice at the news.

Charles nodded, and then waved. "You do that Lord Ashford. Now out with all of you." He watched as everyone started to leave, with Ruben moving as fast as his old legs could take him. He watched as the room slowly got emptied, and soon his son went to leave. "You stay boy. We have some things to talk about."

Charles watched as his favourite son's eyes looked to him, and nodded. Together father and son waited until Lelouch, and his most loyal knight, Bismarck were left in the room with him. Charles then stood from his throne and went to leave the room, and was followed by the other two in the room.

"Your Majesty, what is it that you need to talk to me about?" Lelouch asked his father, trying to keep up with the two giant men. He knew it must have been important for there wouldn't be any other reason as to why the emperor would want him to stay back.

The prince watched as the man turned a corner, and there the boy found a garden, not as great as the garden at Aries Villa, but still a nice opened garden. Lelouch then watched as his father told the Knight of One to leave, and once Bismarck was gone, the two royals entered the garden, with the emperor leading and the prince following..

After about a few minutes of walking and thinking the two came across a table and chairs. The emperor was the first to take a seat, and Lelouch waited patiently for the man to speak.

"Sit Lelouch." The man said, and Lelouch did. But then it hit the nine-year-old that he didn't recognize the way the man spoke. Normally the man would have authority and order in his voice but now it was someone Lelouch didn't recognize, and the only thing that he could compare it to was Lord Ashford's when he came over to the Villa with Milly.

Thinking of Milly made him remember what happened a few minutes ago. 'I'm now betrothed to Milly.' He thought to himself. To be honest, Lelouch was happy, the girl was beautiful with golden-blonde hair, blue eyes, and was of fair skin. However the boy wasn't ready for this, he was too young for this, for this commitment.

Lelouch was taken from his father speaking in that way again. "How was my choice of betrothal, Son? Did I make the right choice?" The emperor asked him, looking at him.

The prince nodded. "Your Majesty, my op-." He was cut off from what he was going to say by his father.

"Lelouch, when we are alone, and when we are with your mother and sister, you don't have to call me by my title." Lelouch watched as a bit of disappointment flew across the man's face. "Just call me father. No one will hear us from here." The emperor finished.

Lelouch nodded slowly. "Yes, Your Maj-" he stopped himself from continuing that line and started over. "Yes, Father." The man grew a small smile and gave a slight nod, giving Lelouch permission to continue. "Father, your decision is absolute and I have no power with what you say." Lelouch then looked towards a bush of roses. "But yes, Father. You made the right decision, and I'm grateful that you picked Milly and not any of those other noble stuck-up daughters." He finished snarling at the thought of those he meant, one of them being Marika Sorsei.

The prince then heard something he thought he never would. "Hahahaha!" He looked to the emperor to find him laughing. "Ohhhhhhh, Lelouch you are indeed my Marianne's son." His father said regaining control of himself.

The nine-year-old nodded slowly remembering that his mother was waiting for him, and Lelouch could see what would happen when he got back to the Aries Villa. On the first step out of the car, his mother will be there, waiting for him, and once she is in front of him, she would strip him of his clothes and make sure not a scratch was on his body. His mother, Marianne vi Britannia, was a very protective woman, and if anything happened to him, he couldn't even imagine what the newly conquered area would suffer from her wrath.

Lelouch then felt the man place a hand on his shoulder. "I want to say congrats on your victory in taking Japan, Lelouch." The prince looked to his father to see him smiling. "You made me very proud of how you did it. Not a single KIA from what the reports say." The emperor squeezed his shoulder as a show of how proud he is.

Lelouch smiled and bowed. "Thank you, Father." The prince said feeling a small blush take over his face. The emperor was never like this, so just doing this was making it clear that his father was indeed proud.

Everything Charles just said to his son was true. Never, not even Schneizel came back from a war with no deaths and only injured men and destroyed Knightmares. Not even the battle at Itsukushima, where for a week of the person put in charge of the Britannian army, one Bartley Asprius, just continued to bring back fails, until Lelouch stepped in and put that battle to a quick end, killing all those involved, even Kyoshiro Tohdoh, the man who was able to hold off the attack.

The emperor was taken from his thoughts as he looked back to his true son. Lelouch was the perfect mix of his and Marianne's looks, not even Odysseus, who was the only other child of his that had any resemblance to him. But it wasn't only Lelouch's looks that he inherited but also the potential to reach the top as he did himself during the Emblem of Blood.

The man gave off a small smile and squeezed his son's shoulder, and looked back to the garden in front of him. He really needed to go back to the Aries Villa, he missed its garden and the inhabitants of the beautiful building.

But that wasn't what was important right now. Charles needed to bring up the second part of his plan for the talk with his son. The man stood to his feet and looked down at the boy. "Follow." He said, not in a demanding way but in a way that he needed to show his son more.

The prince got to his feet and followed after him. As they walked to the exit Charles thought up how he could bring up the next subject. That was until it clicked, a simple question that all parents should ask their children. 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'

Charles wanted to beat himself up for not thinking of it earlier… well you can't blame him, he has grown up not caring for his children, only thinking of them as pawn's on his board. But now he could start, and with his favourite son.

"Lelouch." He called out his son's name and watched as he got the boy's attention. "What do you plan on being when you grow up?" The emperor asked and watched as the boy seemed taken aback by the question. It was to be expected, normally he wouldn't give a damn about what his spawns wanted to be, and placed them in areas that came with high power, to see what they could do, and damn he was disappointed every time he did.

"I… I haven't thought that far, Father." His son finally answered. "It has never crossed my mind that I would need to think of it. I always thought that you would need me somewhere else. In politics or something else." The nine-year-old boy finishes looking up at him.

Charles nodded and just stared at the boy's facial fixtures, and was brought back to what he was thinking earlier. "I believe you have the potential to reach the top, as I did, Lelouch." He said before thinking about it. However, finding that it would be better like this he continued. "But that potential greatness you have will be left to rot should you relegate yourself to the levels of politicians and bureaucrats...they with pretty speeches and flowery words, disguising lies will cause you to rot." He finished as he stopped where he stood, in the doorway to the room he wanted his son to join.

Lelouch looked to his father, not understanding what he meant, and tilted his head to the side. "Then what should I do?" He asked, and that was when he took notice of the room he stood in the doorway.

The room was large… no it was massive, he couldn't find anything to describe the share size of the room. Even though the room's lighting was low and it was a bit difficult to see, Lelouch was still able to see the smallest of details.

The walls weren't like that of the halls, which were white and red, this room's walls were black and blue. Lining the walls were pictures of some of Britannia's greatest generals and field marshals, Arthur Wellesley the Duke of Orleans being one of the most notable, and one of a general that shared a resemblance with the prince. And sadly all dating back to the turn of the century, it just showed how much the nobles have corrupted the military. In the corner of the room were Britannian flags, all representing the different branches of the military and special forces as well.

However, the most noticeable thing in the room was what was in the centre of it. In the centre of the room was an open space, with chairs surrounding the open space, then there were two steps, and from there was what drew Lelouch's attention to the centre. On the floor was a massive screen that had a map of the world.

Lelouch knew what the map was and what it was for. Looking at the map he saw five colours all representing the different powers of the world. The greatest and the one that held most of the map, was dark blue, this colour claiming all of Europe and Africa. The second most notable colour was purple, being all of North and South America, and the newest addition to the empire. Red was the next one to catch his eyes, this one being all of mainland Asia and the small cluster of islands called the Philippines. And second last was white, this one being all the islands south of Asia and north of Australia, Australia itself and New Zealand. The final colour was green, this one being the middle east.

That was when it hit Lelouch, he knew what this room was. The prince looked to his father and found him standing behind one of the chairs. "Lelouch I want you to join the military, however, the academy I want you to join only accepts people from the age twelve to twenty-one. I want you there as soon as possible, so on the day you turn twelve, you are enrolling at the academy." The emperor said. "But that is in three years. So in the meantime, you are going to be joining me here, every day of every month. You will be taught to deal with lies called politics."

Lelouch's eyes widened at what the older man said. He knew he didn't have an option in this matter. It was an order, an order that Lelouch will follow. The prince bowed. "Of course, Your Majesty."

Charles nodded and gave a small smile, he will now be able to spend a bit of time with his son and hopefully sculpt him to be the right heir for the throne. "Good. Now come here I want to see how you do with geography." He said walking to the centre of the map, and soon Lelouch was beside him.

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Aries Villa

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Milly didn't know how to react. In front of her was her smiling grandfather, who just told her the news. 'I'm betrothed to Lelouch.' The Heiress didn't know what to think. On one hand, she loved the boy, he was kind, respectful, funny, and cute. But in the other, she was hoping to be single until she was in her twenties.

The blonde looked to her feet not knowing how she should feel. She should be happy that it's Lelouch and not a fat son who only cares for himself. But Milly was also worried because it's Lelouch, who is one of Britannia's Prince's and she would be expected to do things she might not want to do.

Close by was Empress Marianne vi Britannia, who was sitting on a bench with her daughter in her lap. Marianne was watching the interaction between her friend and her favourite guest. She already knew what they were talking about, she was the one who suggested Milly, but she wasn't expecting Charles to do it this fast.

The Empress smiled at the picture her son made with the blonde. They were almost impossible to get separated when they were younger, but even now Milly only ever shows her true self whenever Lelouch was around. For Lelouch, it could be the same but to a lesser extent.

"Milly, come here." She called out frightening Nunnally as she did so. To comfort her daughter she rubbed her belly, making the girl giggle.

The blonde looked towards her and Marianne could see the hesitation in her sapphire blue eyes. The heiress slowly made her way towards her, staring at the ground all the while. Reuben followed after standing to his feet.

When Milly reached her, Marianne smiled and pointed to a chair. "Sit and enjoy some tea, Milly." The girl looked up and nodded, taking a seat as a maid came and filled a cup for the heiress. Reuben followed shortly after, sitting across from Milly, and refused a cup of tea, and instead went with a cup of coffee.

Marianne looked at the youthful beauty and asked. "What's the matter, Milly? I thought you would be happy to be betrothed to Lelouch." She watched as the heiress didn't move and only continued staring at the ground. The empress then smiled and continued. "Let me be honest with you Milly. I was the one who brought up the idea of the betrothal between you and Lelouch."

Finally, the heiress looked up from the ground and towards her. "Why?" Milly asked as she tilted her head towards Marianne.

The older woman only smiled as she answered. "I suggested it because of the connection you two have." Marianne gestured to Reuben. "Your grandfather can back me up here. But when you first came here, you were one and a half years old, and Lelouch was recently born, being around a month old." Marianne looked to Reuben who nodded with a smile confirming what she said. "Immediately you two took a liking to one another, and as you two grew up you were almost impossible to separate from him, and vice versa with my son. That is why I suggested you, and not Euphie, or any of the others." She finished, noticing a small smile on the heiress's face. Marianne leaned forward and grabbed one of her hands. "So why are you worried, Milly? Have you lost interest in my son?"

"No! That… that isn't the reason." She spoke loudly denying the empress's words. Milly looked to the ground and continued. "No, I still like Lelouch. He's kind, funny, nice, respectful, and even though he has his moments he is a lot better than the other boy's my age." Milly finished with a small smile on her face again.

"Then why do you worry about this betrothal? If you tell me I can help you, Milly. I will even make a promise that I won't tell him a thing you might say." The empress said as she squeezed her smaller hand. Milly looked up from the ground and to the princess on Lady Marianne's lap. "Oh, you're worried that this angel might go and tell him?" The heiress nodded, and she watched as the lady leaned down to Nunnally. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that, Dear. For Nunnally already knows what might happen if she tells her older brother."

Milly watched as the princess looked up to her mother, and asked. "What is that Mother?" She asked innocently.

The empress looked down at her and smiled. "Well Nunna, I'll have to send out the tickle monster to tickle you until you promise not to tell Lelouch." The response was immediate, with Nunnally nodding her head very fast, making herself dizzy doing it.

Marianne chuckled at the sight and leaned down until she placed a kiss on her daughter's head. The woman then waited for the heiress to continue. When she finally got an answer it took a minute of Milly gaining the resolve to tell her.

"It's because of the duty that comes with marrying into royalty that worries and scares me." The heiress finally spoke, making Marianne look up to her. "I… I don't want to be trapped in a villa. I want to spread my wings." She stopped to think over what she wanted to say next.

"Milly." Marianne stopped her from continuing, and the young girl looked at her. "You don't need to worry about those things, Dear." She said with a smile. "I know Lelouch wouldn't just trap you in a Villa, and not allow you to go anywhere." The girl looked into the empress's eyes and saw complete honesty in them.

"Alright." She closed her eyes, and when she opened them a little bit of mischievousness was in them. "It's not like I'm marrying him now. That would be wrong."

The Empress couldn't help but hide the smile that took over her face as she picked up her teacup and took a sip.

However, they were interrupted when a maid came into the garden. "My Lady, Lord Jeremiah has returned, and has a political hostage with him."

Marianne nodded and looked at her guests. "Well, I must take my leave, Milly, Reuben." She slowly stood up, placing her daughter on the bench where she once sat. "Now enjoy the tea, and enjoy your day." She smiled at them and left them to be. All Marianne is waiting on now is for Lelouch to return from the Imperial Palace.

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TBC

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That is all for today! Let me know what you think. The room that Lelouch and Charles were standing in was similar to that room Lelouch declared the world his in canon.

So on with some questions. Yes, this is a Lelouch/Harem fic, and the members… I'll let you guess. But we all know from this chapter that Milly is one of them.

The reason Lelouch didn't use an Ashford gen4 Knightmare is that they didn't release any. The Ashford Foundation is focused on something else. What that something is, well that's my secret.

Now with that over I can get to something important. Like many of you know from reading this chapter and the last my spelling and grammar is pretty shit. So I'm looking for an editor that is willing to put I'm with my shit spelling and grammar.

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12 Years Later

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"Entering his Royal Highness Prince Lelouch vi Britannia, the Eleventh Prince of the Holy Empire of Britannia, the Fourth in Line to the Imperial Throne, Generalissimo of the Britannian Military, Grand Duke of Russia and the Lands of Empress Victoria, with him Princess Milly vor Britannia and Knight of Honour Margrave Jeremiah Gottwald!" The herald spoke as the grand doors to the throne room opened to reveal the royals and the Knight of Honour.

Everyone looked to the entrance and watched as the three made their way to the front, and all the while this was happening everyone was amazed at what they were wearing, and they all felt intimidated by the royal couple.

Leading the three, with his arm hooked with his wife of five years, was the prince and the greatest general Britannia has seen. Lelouch was wearing black tuxedo with silver epaulettes that had his military rank on it, which had multiple red aiguillettes hanging from it, and over his heart were the medals of his countless battles, and victories he brought the Holy Empire. Over his shoulders was a gray cape that had a red underside, however the cape on the left side stopped at his waist and had the sigil of his militia on it. But whereas the left side stopped mid way, the right side continued down to his ankles and covered his right arm, hiding his mechanical hand, and the sword that was once wielded by Arthur Wellesley, the First Duke of Orleans, and the man who conquered French Louisiana, the Sword of Orleans.

Following the Prince was his Knight of Honour of six years, wearing the uniform befitting of his status and rank of Knight. He was wearing a black double breasted coat with four rows of golden buttons, and purple details. On his shoulders were equallettes that showed his military rank of lieutenant colonel, and over his heart was the pin that represented a Knight of Honour, but whereas other pins were blue and silver, his was purple and gold. Over the Margraves right shoulder and going down to his knees was a purple cape. Under the cape was a sheathed sword, but even without its blade showing, everyone could tell that the sword was a beauty just from the guard and hilt, a grip, knuckle and curved guard, and last but not less was the pommel, a twisted steel and at the end was a diamond. At the sight of the sword, every noble of all levels knew what that sword was. For it was the ancestral German longsword of the Margrave family from when they were sworn bannermen of the Kingdom of Hanover.

Lastly was Milly vor Britannia who made every noble lady jealous from the dress and the sheer amount of jewelry she was wearing. The princess was wearing a pure white dress that hugged her curves, showing her ample bosom and thicc thighs. And just like the other two. She wore a white transparent crepe cape that had numerous details and designs. Around her wrists were brackets that sparkled with diamonds, and emeralds. The same could be said about her necklace with the band being white gold with diamonds and emeralds draped all over. But the jewelry that made everyone one jealous was the ring on her ring finger. For said ring was the only one of its kind, and was made with the two most expensive gems out there, the blue diamonds and jadeite.

All of them stopped as they reached the front of the throne, and as one they bowed to the man sitting on the throne. The one to speak was the prince. "Your Majesty. You called for us?" he said looking up to the man to find him grinning, and Lelouch knew immediately that they had succeeded in their goal. 'Show your wealth and power.' he remembered the man said in his letter.

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