Interlude 7-C: Imperial Prerogative

I'm so terribly booooored. I was actually stretching my wings, getting things done. Just cleaning up Refrain alone is starting to boost productivity and lower crime.

But Cornelia STILL treats me like a child! She's so paranoid about Zero that she thinks I'm being used by him for some dastardly scheme involving cleaning up the city!

How? How does helping people with the very real problems associated with Refrain not help everyone?

I'm certainly aware that the "nameless informant" steering me towards the upper echelons of Britannian society here in Area 11 has a high possibility of being Zero.

But I don't care.

If Zero is actually true to what he believes in, then I'll gladly accept his aid in vanquishing corruption. And if he isn't, at least Area 11 will be better at whatever point Cornelia hands it over to me.

I sigh audibly as I sit on a bench, waiting for workmen to finish setting up a podium for me. An art show and museum dedication.

While I approve of and love art, I'm sure that the "Clovis Memorial Museum" doesn't need the Sub-Viceroy to present awards. This is just Nelly being condescending to me.

Even blowing up a tanker full of JLF officers in the middle of the harbor, or catching Colonel Tohdoh, can't seem to ease her ill humors lately.

"Shilling for your thoughts, Your Highness?"

I smile as the rugged figure of General Darlton sits down beside me.

"Just...melancholy, Sir Darlton."

The gruff soldier cracks a smile and shakes his head, "Nobody can hear us, Your Highness. You don't have to be so formal."

This is why I've always liked him. He never cares about formalities and is always willing to speak plainly to me.

"Uncle Darlton, why won't Nelly let me do anything besides paper pushing? I've been under house arrest ever since Kawaguchi. I'm tired of being the little porcelain doll that everyone puts away in bubble wrap. I'm bloody sick of it!"

I clasp my hands to my mouth, cheeks red.

"Hahahaha!" Uncle Darlton meanwhile is rolling with laughter, the big meanie.

"It's not that funny...," I whisper.

"Yes it is. I just won fifty pounds, hahaha!"

My eyes widen in surprise, "For what?"

"I had bet that you were going to start chafing at your security any day now, and that I'd be the first person you'd say it to. Cornelia said you would understand and not make a fuss," he says with a knowing eye.

I hang my head, "Maybe if she told me the truth, I'd be more inclined to tell such to her."

"Code-R?"

I nod lightly. It's hard to believe that gentle Clovis, of all people, could be responsible for something so evil. Was it losing Lelouch and Nunnally that twisted him so? Or was it just the allure of power and the throne that changed him?

"I just...I don't know what to think. There is some grand conspiracy here with Zero and Clovis at its heart. The administration is hopelessly corrupt, even with the progress we've made. And to top it off, SHE is forcing me to choose a Knight of Honor!"

"Ah, so that's what broke the camel's back. You don't approve of her choices?" he murmurs knowingly.

I grip my white and purple dress, biting my lip. "It isn't that I don't think they're good enough. I trust that my sister has vetted them and that they're all loyal, brave, etc, etc. It's...that they're HER choices...not mine," I grumble as my hands continue to wrinkle my dress.

Darlton nods and then shrugs, "I could offer you one of my boys. You know they'd do the job well."

I giggle as I swat his broad shoulder. The Glaston Knights aren't the worst choice. But...

"Your sons would be miserable. I'm not a warrior like my sister. Why should they sacrifice their careers, their team, to babysit a princess?" I say with a wink, which leaves Uncle Darlton scratching his chin with a chagrined look.

"You're not wrong. The boys are always spoiling for a fight. But you're practically family. I'm sure Claudio or Edgar, for example, would gladly sacrifice their time to keep you safe."

I lean on his epaulet as I shake my head, "I know. That's why I won't ask unless it's as a last resort."

I know who I really want...but I'm afraid to say it...

As I stand on the podium about to deliver the prize to yet another ugly portrait of my father by the son of some count, I find myself praying for SOMETHING to interrupt this dreadful press conference.

"WHAT?! STATUS REPORT, NOW!"

I blink at Uncle Darlton's bellow from nearby as the televisions suddenly switch to a chaotic battlefield.

...I WASN'T SERIOUS! Oh dear, oh dear...

I gasp as I see what's happening. Lancelot, Suzaku's Knightmare, fighting against five unknown units, and holding its own. I'm no expert, but...

I rush over to Darlton, "Darlton, what's going on?!"

His eyes stay locked on the television as he grunts out a response, "Zero staged a prison break, Your Highness. He's there for Tohdoh. Unless I'm an idiot, that's him and his team, the Four Holy Swords. They're giving Kururugi hell."

I gasp, "Are they that fearsome?"

He nods grimly, "They are. Even your sister couldn't beat a team like that, if their Knightmares were anywhere near her own. And these new units of Zero look to be derived from that red monster at Narita...dammit..."

There's a gasp from the crowd as Suzaku narrowly ducks a killing blow...only for his Asian features to be revealed.

"An Eleven?!" "Preposterous! How can a craven Eleven be piloting so well?!" "Someone shoot that worthless dog!"

My eyes narrow in anger. Worthless dog? He's fighting five-to-one odds against units near his own's ability and holding his own. How dare they denigrate him?

"General Darlton," I say, bringing my Imperial bearing to the front. "In your opinion as a pilot and an officer, how skilled is Officer Kururugi? Do you believe him to be a worthy addition to our armed forces?"

His eyes widen a moment before he nods firmly. "I do. If that young man weren't an Eleven, I'd wager good money he'd be on the fast-track to being named a Knight of the Round. He's the model of what a Britannian, not just an Honorary, should be."

I smile regally. As I had hoped. Now I can only pray for what comes next.

I stride back to the podium, only pausing to snatch the prize ribbon and award it to the excellent landscape portrait by the part-Eleven artist, rather than the mediocre portrait of my father.

"Everyone! I have an announcement to make! I, Euphemia li Britannia, Third Princess of the Holy Britannian Empire, do hereby name Suzaku Kururugi as my Knight of Honor."

With that, the reporters are stunned. And then...chaos erupts.

"What?! He's a Number! A mere mongrel! Your Highness, you cannot be serious!"

I stare down the man in a power suit, his eyes wide in disbelief.

"Your name and network, sir?"

The redheaded man with a mustache holds up his press pass, "Steven Gutierrez, Channel 5 News! Have you taken leave of your senses?!"

I narrow my eyes. I might not be as savvy as Schneizel or my sister at politics, but I know when someone has gone too far.

"And just what are you implying, Mr. Gutierrez?" I say archly.

"That you are acting as a Number sympathizer, a protector of dogs unfit for Britannian society! Some might even say that your naming this Eleven would make you unfit to be royalt—!"

He doesn't finish his sentence before Uncle Darlton lays him out with one punch, snarling.

"Guards! Arrest this man for Lèse-majesté! We may allow freedom of the press, but not the ability to insult a royal personage!"

Lèse-majesté isn't usually enforced, not unless someone makes a dire insult without cause. Or they challenge one of the pricklier members of my family, like Carine or Guinevere. Implications and innuendo, certainly; Brother Schneizel gets that all the time. Only Father is immune to any critique, but that's just common sense. Outright insult, however?

For once, I'm glad we have that law. Otherwise I'd have had to yell at that horrid man for his disgusting racism.

Darlton walks up as Mr. Gutierrez is put in handcuffs and hauled away, the press conference over.

"Your Highness...the Viceroy won't be happy you did this..."

I frown as I look him in the eye, "I've made my choice. If I'm to have a Knight, it will be someone who will serve me, not my sister."

His scarred countenance searches my gaze for something, eyes boring into mine.

After a moment, he shakes his head slowly, "I had hoped you weren't going to do what I thought. But...I stand by what I said. Suzaku Kururugi is a good man and a good soldier."

I smile, happy that someone is in my corner on this.

As we settle into the armored limousine serving as transport, Darlton gives me a roguish grin, "But as far as Prince-Consort or boyfriend material? You're on your own, there."

I clasp my hands to my cheeks, which are cherry red with the blood rushing to my face. That's not...I haven't even considered...!

No. That would be lying. God knows I've fantasized enough about doing something with him.

I won't tell him how I feel, not yet. Besides, I still have to deal with Nelly. And keep looking into the history of the Second Pacific War. There's something odd there, I'm certain of it.

"WHAT?! HOW?!"

I blanch as Darlton roars into his communicator.

"How am I hearing about this now?! What do you mean it was a simultaneous strike?!"

He smashes a hand on a side panel, growling.

"Get me the highest-ranking remaining officer! Tell him to meet me at the Palace! Lock down all transit in and out of the city! Get a forensics team to Akihabara on the double to recover the Knightmare black boxes! I want status reports before dawn!"

He flings the headset off in disgust as he rubs his nose as if staving off a headache.

I gingerly touch his shoulder, "Uncle...?"

"Zero hit Gifu Prison as a distraction. The real target was the Akihabara base and distribution center. Based on what I've got so far? The damn Black Knights somehow got past the defenses and tried to make off with our equipment."

I freeze in shock. That's...that's one of the army's main supply points for Tokyo. That's unbelievable.

"Did they capture the base?"

He leans back in the seat with a groan, "That damned paper-pusher Elkschtein ordered the base destroyed. He probably wanted to deny the asset."

I blink in confusion. But that sounds like a good idea. Isn't it?

"Was that a bad thing?" I say hesitantly.

The old general sighs before answering.

"Too soon to say. There are situations where that is the right thing to do. But without knowing the enemy force composition or how the battle went? I might as well be aiming blind."

I lean back in my seat, taking a deep breath before responding, "What does that mean for us?"

Darlton gives me a sharp look, followed by an exasperated smile.

"It means, we're going to be on high alert for awhile while we reconsolidate our forces and figure out how badly Zero hit us. And you, Your Highness, are going to be under house arrest for your protection. And...I'm sorry to say there will probably be a vast amount of muckraking coming your way," he grumbles with a gloomy cast to his eyes.

The rest of the trip passes in silence as we approach the Viceroy's palace, now on full combat readiness.

My first impression as we enter the war room is a great machine gone awry. Technicians scrambling, generals arguing, and in the center?

Nelly...no. GENERAL Cornelia li Britannia.

My purple haired elder sibling snarls as she fires a bullet at the ceiling.

"SILENCE!"

The room quiets instantly, every officer, crew member and noble in fearful awe of her beautiful and outraged countenance.

"I WANT ANSWERS! HOW DID ZERO MANAGE TO HIT AKIHABARA WITHOUT THE ALARM BEING RAISED?!"

Surprisingly, someone actually steps forward to respond right away.

"Your Highness, the fault is mine. I authorized a full communications check for the entire settlement. Akihabara was one of the locations being checked at the time. It was my belief that a well-defended base like that one would be less likely to be attacked. I wanted to ensure that the Black Knights had not infiltrated our networks," Jeremiah Gottwald says, kneeling before her.

Cornelia looks him dead in the eye, "And the results?"

"Several of the channels for the Knight Police and two of our first response channels were being tapped. I have dispatched technicians to alter the security protocols as well as ensure that there is no enemy hardware attached to the network. I will accept any punishment for this failure," he says stoically.

He's likely just earned her respect. If there's one thing Cornelia respects? It's someone willing to admit their mistakes while doing their duty.

My sister stands up and walks over, her pistol pointed at the Margrave's head.

"You've always been a man with more guts than sense, Gottwald," she says softly.

"But that very trait, is why you are NOT at fault," she pronounces, retracting her weapon.

"Had I actually believed that you were responsible? I'd have ventilated your skull right here and now. But? Even without the communications blackout, we likely could not have scrambled forces to intercept both targets, and that's not including the detonation of the base by Colonel Elkschtein."

She gestures with her free hand, bellowing with a fierce tone, "Your punishment is thus! Secure our communication networks immediately! Do not rest until they're secure! Your active assignment is suspended until we can be sure that Eleven infiltrators are not spying on us!"

Gottwald gets to his feet in a single motion and salutes with a stern look. "YES, YOUR HIGHNESS!"

"Go. The rest of this meeting does not concern you."

He salutes and marches out in a hurry to fulfill his orders.

I'm glad Sister Cornelia has someone she can rely on. I do believe I remember him from Ares Villa back when Lelouch and Nunnally...

No. They're gone...aren't they? For some reason, I haven't been able to stop thinking about them. What if they did survive?

I can't think about that now, though. I still have to confront Nelly about my actions earlier.

Darlton and I quietly leave the room to wait in the Viceroy's office. It isn't more than twenty minutes before Cornelia barges in, a furious expression on her handsome features.

"God damn that man! This is a bloody catastrophe!"

Darlton raises an eyebrow, "Zero?"

"No! Yes! Him, too! I meant that incompetent glory hound Elkschtein! What in the name of the Emperor was he thinking?! I'd have him drawn up for court-martial, if he wasn't already dead!"

She grinds her teeth as she continues, "All intelligence reports say Zero does not have the assets to hold Akihabara. And even if Zero had managed to steal over three quarters of everything there? It still would not have given him that much."

I blink in surprise. That doesn't make sense. Why the huge uproar then?

"Why is everyone panicking then? It's definitely bad that Zero captured the supplies, but—"

Cornelia turns towards me with a weary expression, "Euphie..."

She slumps into her chair with a sigh.

"Andreas, please pour me a small shot with a lime garnish. The cheap tequila, not the good stuff. This is going to be a long night," she says with a dismissive wave.

After Uncle Darlton turns around, she looks me in the eye as I sit next to her.

"Euphie, we don't know what it cost Zero to perform this raid. But even if we killed an entire battalion? He could still claim victory tonight."

Before I can respond, she sits up, "The inventory isn't as valuable as the infrastructure. Akihabara was a choke point and a major distribution artery for the Tokyo garrison. Losing that base has thrown our organizational structure into chaos. Even if Zero chooses not to do anything, he can't stop some bloodthirsty mongrels from attacking civilians, or worse, the Federation from encouraging terrorism."

Uncle Darlton returns with a tumbler half full of tequila and a weary look.

"Thank you...I said a small glass, Andreas," she inquires in a questioning tone with a raised eyebrow.

"Cornelia, trust an old man on this. Sipping this much is probably a good idea tonight. Particularly considering the other announcement this evening," he says wryly.

Damn you uncle! I'll...I'll...I'll do something to annoy you for this!

Sadly, his comment now means Sister Cornelia's ire is turned on me.

"That's right, it slipped my mind after the Akihabara uproar. What the blue blazes were you thinking, Euphemia?" she says with a hiss as she looks me in the eyes with a hard look.

No. Not this time. I'm sorry Nelly. But I won't let you take this from me.

"I was inspired to do what I felt was right. You told me I should fight for what I believe in. Well...I'm doing so."

Her jaw drops as my sister looks incredulously at me. This is probably the first time I've ever openly defied her. And it likely won't be the last.

Cornelia snarls as she sits up in her chair, "That Kururugi bastard...he's put his hands on you, hasn't he? This is him bullying you to try and jump his way up the ranks. Say the word, Euphie, and I'll have his tiny testicles spit roasted for his insolence."

Darlton purses his lips, narrowing his eyes, saying nothing at first.

"Your Highness, that's going rather far, isn't it?"

Cornelia turns with an astonished expression, "Darlton, what other explanation is there? Surely Euphemia wouldn't make a Number her Knight without being under duress."

My fist quivers in its lacy glove as I once again see my sister belittling me. And worse, she's saying the same kind of repulsive things as that reporter did.

Nina was right. Far too many of my people are party to this insidious evil. Something has to change.

"If anyone is putting me under duress, Viceroy, it's you with this attempt to browbeat me," I say with the coldest and flattest tone I can manage.

"What...? But, Euphie, I'm only doing my best to protect you. It's for your own good, you understand, ye—?"

I cut her off as I quiver at her condescending tone, "You have no right to make that decision for me. You have been pressuring me to choose a Knight of Honor. Do you have the slightest idea what that position means? Someone who will be by my side and protect me. But most importantly? Someone who shares my ideals and is wholeheartedly on my side, and not another one of your watchdogs!" I say with a commanding look. I'm tired of her doing this to me.

Cornelia stands up in outrage, "That doesn't mean that an Eleven should be your Knight! He's not worthy of the honor! More importantly, I won't let him lay his filthy hands on you! I've seen the likes of him before. Meek, servile. Until your back is turned and then he'll show his true colors like the rest of his people! Just like that JLF colonel, Kusakabe!" she snarls, her eyes flexing in protective outrage.

My head whips back as if I'd been slapped. Suzaku? Gentle, kind Suzaku? A rapist?!

"How dare you! He's the noblest man I've ever met! We should be proud to have him in the army!" I counter with tears in my eyes.

My sister's eyes narrow as she downs half her glass before grinding her teeth, her eyebrow twitching.

"As if his service is comparable to that of a true Britanni—!"

"True Britannians like Clovis?! Like the corrupt officials that pervade this government?! Like you, who tried to murder the people of Saitama?!" I say, tears streaming down as I lay out my grievances.

"They were aiding and abetting the resistance! Traitors, one and all. I was trying to shield you from the harsh reality of governing an area in Rebellion, that's all."

I look at my sister in disbelief. My informant told me to look into Saitama. But I didn't want to believe it.

That my sister could be so cruel.

"You outright lied to me, twice now. First about Clovis, and then I find you tried to do the same despicable action he did behind my back. And you actually wonder WHY Area 11 is rebelli—?"

"Your Highness! That's enough. You've made your choice, and I for one will not oppose it," Darlton interrupts by loudly putting his own glass down.

"Andreas? You can't be serious. Help me get her to see reason," Cornelia says in disbelief as Uncle Darlton shakes his head.

"Unless you plan to appeal to Emperor Charles himself to block her choice, then there's nothing to be done."

I smile gratefully at Uncle Darlton as Cornelia's expression goes completely poleaxed. Under Imperial law, barring naming someone guilty of high crimes against the state or a known enemy? Only the Emperor himself can overrule a royal application for Knighthood.

"Andreas...why? How can you possibly trust an Eleven with protecting Euphie?" she says in stunned shock.

I cough to get her attention, "Because Suzaku would never hurt me. He doesn't want to hurt or kill anyone. He just wants peace," I say serenely.

Uncle Darlton sighs at that, "It's a strange attitude for a soldier. But it's admirable, nonetheless. Many soldiers who fight long enough desire the same after a while. Not to mention, I seem to recall a young woman of common stock that you greatly admired, had similar insults thrown at her," he finishes with a smirk, knowing he's scored a hit.

I take a deep breath, wiping my eyes. I really didn't want to do this. But I'm not a child anymore.

I step forward, hugging my big sister to my chest as she's seated.

"Please, Sister Cornelia. I'm not a little girl anymore. I just want you to trust that other people care about me as much as you do," I whisper.

"No one ever could care about you as much as I do, sweet Euphie," she says in a low voice as we embrace.

I have not forgiven her for her actions. And this certainly won't be the last argument between us. But...

I could never truly hate or abandon my family. Especially not my big sister.