Interlude 22: Familiar Hell

...How?

How could this have happened?

My sister...a traitor?

Openly repudiating the Empire? Saying that she will side with ZERO over her own family?!

"Your Highness..."

What the bloody hell is going on?! He publicly humiliates her, announces that he's finally going to declare open war to take this country, and what does she do?!

"Your Highness."

She kneels before him and begs him to save Britannia?!

"Your Highness, we need a decision, please!"

I blink and turn back to the conference room table where we're meeting in the wake of what just happened.

"You better have a damn good reason for raising your voice, General. I'm not in a charitable mood," I hiss.

I did call this meeting, yes. But General Archibald clearly has his own reasons, judging by how he's meeting my gaze.

"Your Highness, we need a decision on what to do with this Eleven," he says, gesturing to Sir Kururugi, who's being watched by two guards with his wrists manacled in the front, his face downcast and glum.

"Why...are you holding my sister's Knight captive?" Of everyone in this room, he might be the only person taking this as hard as I am.

I'm not blind to how the two of them act. It's been obvious to anyone who knows Euphie that the pair of them are painfully in love with each other. While I personally have no issue with it, I doubt others would be so understanding.

"This blaggard refused orders to pursue the Gawain, despite being the only air asset in the area capable of chasing it! And since the damned Black Knights have some kind of stealth system on it, we can't track the blasted thing once it's out of visual range!"

Asplund has been tearing his hair out, trying to figure out how his rival had fixed the issues with the Hadron cannons and somehow made a radar-invisible unit.

I'd have given him applause for the entrance, even...IF HE HADN'T KIDNAPPED MY EUPHIE!

I turn to the downcast knight, fixing him with a glare, "General Archibald raises a good point. Moreover, I question why you were not in the stadium proper next to her. We await your explanation, Sir Kururugi."

He looks up slowly, his eyes shimmering with suppressed tears and anger.

"Because she told me not to."

Guilford grits his teeth next to me as he realizes what happened. And I think I understand it as well...

"She...she told me she wanted to greet Zero with open arms, not a clenched fist. She trusted him not to hurt her."

He may not have physically done so, but his actions were loathsome and reprehensible! How dare he spurn her generosity! So what if it's not a full country! It's more than that rabble deserve, after everything they've done!

I'll find him and make him pay. He's twisted her somehow, seduced her away with poisonous words and false promises!

"And why did you refuse to pursue the Gawain?" Guilford asks, his eyes sympathetic to his counterparts suffering.

"What should I have done? The Gawain is a sixth-generation Frame, not a cheap Glasgow. You think I could force him to land so easily?" he whispers, a bitter and angry tone lacing through his words.

As I thought. He didn't want to risk my sister. The man is predictable in his nobility, if nothing else.

"So you let a regicidal madman and a known traitor escape with impunity?! I knew it, you're in on her betrayal, aren't you?!" The general snarls, his fists gripping the back of the chair he's standing behind.

...What?

General Archibald is a large man, stout, bald-headed with a ruddy face and thin lips. A sneer on his lips more often than not. A commander in the Air Force before being assigned as commandant of the city garrison. A man I have respect for as a soldier and a patriot.

But even so...

I bristle at what he just said, "What was that you just said about Princess Euphemia, Sir?" my voice menacing and low.

"I stand by them, Your Highness! We must accept that your sister is now a traitor in open rebellion against the Empire and take appropriate measures! This Eleven pretender to the title of knight's refusal to attack speaks plainly of his seditious sympathies!"

Guilford's fist clenches in suppressed anger as he clearly struggles to contain himself.

"She has not been declared so, General. What do you think Sir Kururugi should have done, risk the life of his charge for a chance at glory?!" he growls, his voice rising towards the end.

Archibald slams a fist on the table, nodding vigorously. "Precisely, Sir Guilford! The life of a traitor has no worth! He should have shot down the Gawain immediately and not let sentimental concerns get in the way of duty!"

Suzaku reels back in open shock at that suggestion. Were I in his shoes, I would be demanding retribution. I'm having a hard time not doing anything regardless...

"You think I should have let Princess Euphemia die just to kill Zero?! What's wrong with you?! She's an Imperial princess!"

The older man bellows, spittle spraying from his mouth as his fury spills over. "You think you have any say here, boy?! You're just an Eleven mongrel! Someone like you isn't fit to lick the boots of proper Britannians! By god, you probably seduced her, didn't you?! Used her like a whore to slake your base lusts before handing her to your master Zero, didn't you?!" he roars in Suzaku's face, poking him in the chest.

Why that insolent worm! How dare he say that about Euphemia! I should rip his bloody head off!

"I swore an oath to serve and protect my Princess. I will not endanger her, not even should the Emperor himself command me to do so."

The look in his eyes as he said that...the strength of conviction...you really did choose a noble man to stand by your side, Euphie.

"There, you see! The treacherous swine admits his crimes! He just said he will not take orders from his majesty himself!"

Suzaku looks up, and his eyes are grim with anger as he meets the general's glare.

"You will apologize, Sir."

The vicious and acidic tone in his words shocks everyone in the room, even me. And why not? This is the first time I've ever heard Suzaku truly sound angry.

General Archibald sneers as he stands to his full height, "To a Number? A worthless stain on the glory of knighthood? NEVER!"

Sir Kururugi stands up, and despite being shorter by a few inches than the general?

There's an aura of danger about him that makes the older man and the two guards watching Suzaku take a step back.

Suzaku steps up to right in front of the general, eyes blazing.

"I threw away my pride for myself long ago. I've endured every insult you can think of. Believe me when I say, there's nothing you can say about me that I'll care about."

His fist clenches as the aura of danger intensifies.

"But? Insult my princess again, and I will demand satisfaction for your disrespect, Sir."

I blink in surprise at what he just said. Did he seriously just say he would challenge a general to a duel for the honor of my sister?

That's as romantic and praiseworthy as it is stupid and foolhardy.

Archibald reels back in raw shock at what was said to him, before his face goes red with anger and he starts bellowing like a bull.

"You, demand satisfaction from me?! You're just an jumped-up Eleven! You're not worthy to be called a knight! And I'll say whatever I like about a girl who's thrown away her country and spread her legs for Number filth like you!"

He pulls out a pistol, grinning, his teeth showing.

"In fact? You just threatened a general, Eleven. That's enough for me to say there's a clear and present danger of your turning traitor yourself! I'll wipe away the stain on the honor of Knighthood that your paramour disgraced Britannia with by—!"

His tirade is silenced by the loud bang of a gunshot sending his pistol flying, followed by two more shots to his chest as he turns to face his assassin with raw shock in his eyes.

Me.

"Y-y-your Highness...?"

I cock back the trigger on my gunblade one last time, violet eyes cold and steely.

"Because Sir Kururugi is a more honorable man than you've ever been, in addition to being a Knight of Honor. But more importantly?"

I stand up, barrel trained on his forehead as I walk over to point blank range, the man's chest bleeding from rifle rounds.

"You called my sister, an Imperial princess, a whore and a traitor. Do you really think I would let such an insult slide?"

His face paling, his mouth opens to say something...only to silenced by one last round between the eyes, his large body collapsing backwards, grey matter, blood, and flecks of bone staining the carpet.

I eject the spent round, smoke trailing from the barrel as I turn to glare at the two guards.

"Princess Euphemia is still a member of the Imperial family, and to insult her as he did is an act of sedition in of itself."

I holster my weapon in a single motion, my eyes burning into theirs.

"Release Sir Kururugi immediately and take this traitor's body out. That is an order."

The guards quickly move to comply as I close my eyes and let out a deep breath.

The paperwork on this is going to be absurd.

"Your Highness...thank you," Sir Kururugi whispers, while going to the knight's pose.

I pinch my nose in frustration. "Don't thank me just yet. General Archibald had a legitimate point, distasteful as it may be. I know you're a loyal soldier of the Empire, but questions will be asked if I have you on the field. So for the time being, I'm placing you under house arrest."

The young man clenches his fist as he stands up, about to reply, when I interrupt.

"If we get any leads to where Euphemia is, you have my permission to sortie. I say this out of respect for your oath of loyalty, and because I know you would do so even under the threat of a court martial."

Stubborn fool would still do it, even under the threat of being drawn and quartered, probably. Worse, I wouldn't even blame him for it.

At that statement, he seems to visibly relax and gives a weak smile.

"I'm not going to abandon the woman I...no. That we both love. Thank you for recognizing that, Your Highness."

...That we both love?

Euphie you big-mouthed tart! What did you tell him?!

Guilford is clearly stifling a laugh at that statement, the cheeky git.

"I know you want what's best for her, just as much as I do. I promise, Your Highness. I'll do everything I can to keep her safe," he says, saluting with one arm over his chest before taking his leave.

As soon as he leaves, Guilford starts chuckling to himself.

"Gilly, I swear to God, I will put you on the couch for the next few months if you say anything."

He composes himself with some effort and starts cleaning his glasses.

"My Princess, you and I both know that I would do the exact same thing in his shoes, were you kidnapped and there was a chance to save you," he says with a sigh of someone resigned to the inevitable as he puts his glasses back on.

Guilford isn't wrong, but...

I lean into his embrace, hands around his back as we take a moment to let down.

"How could...how could she do this? How could she abandon the Empire?"

How could she abandon me?

Guilford shakes his head slowly, breath rustling my hair, "General Archibald won't be the last person demanding action on Euphemia, you know."

A patently obvious statement. And my killing him will only feed the rumors and speculation.

As soon as the damned Elevens started rioting, I had tried to cut the broadcast. Unfortunately, Zero must have had someone on the inside, or access to the broadcast equipment. Because my information control teams and our media contacts are reporting that the entire thing, including Euphie's...declaration, is now online and spreading like wildfire. And it's only a matter of time before word reaches the Imperial Court...And Father...

"How can she be so delusional as to throw away everything for the sake of that maniac?" I whisper, tears staining Guilford's jacket.

A knock at the door a short time later rouses us both from our moment alone.

"Your pardon, Your Highness, but there is a call for you. Prince Schneizel is asking to be apprised of Area 11's current status," a guardsman's voice echoes from behind the door.

Schneizel...THAT LOATHSOME WRETCH! This is all his fault!

I whirl out of Guilford's arms and stomp over to the communications unit.

"I'll take the call here! You are dismissed, soldier!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

I nod at Guilford, who nods back as he activates the anti-listening measures and sound dampening mechanisms in the room. Sometimes classified briefings have to be delivered here, so naturally security has to be higher to compensate.

I hold the table in a white knuckled grip as Schneizel's face appears, a expression of concern on it.

"Cornelia, what has happened? I've only just received word that Zero is moving openly to take control. How did he—?"

And that's when I lose my temper.

I slam my fist into the wood, cracking the table finish. "What do you have to say for yourself about this disaster, Schneizel?" I hiss at him.

"I don't unders—"

I stand up, gritting my teeth at him.

"Your clever strategy backfired, Brother. Instead of cornering Zero and cutting away his support, it only strengthened him!"

His brow furrows, no doubt trying to see how he made such a grievous error. "The SAZ was not perfect, yes. But how could he have used it to his advantage? To fight against it would have been to oppose the will of the people. He would have to be an complete dunderhead or a madman to cut his own throat so."

Madman? A more accurate description I have never heard of Zero.

"That is precisely the problem. You didn't listen to me when I said you were underestimating him. Zero IS a madman! The man is completely insane and cares nothing for popular opinion or support! The people move where he tells them to, not the other way around! We're not dealing with a messiah or a populist, brother! We're facing a man who calls himself a king and wields his power as one! He came to the SAZ himself and publicly scourged it! He tore the entire concept apart in a single speech, the likes of which I've only ever seen Father do!" I growl out, eyes burning with suppressed anger and a dark countenance on my features.

The facade of civility that he wears is just that, a mask. And the zealotry that Schneizel believed to be a tool to manipulate the public and gather support?

The unbreakable convictions of a fanatical and deranged mind!

My brother rubs his chin in concentration, eyes narrowing, a cold and intrigued look in his handsome features.

"I confess, I did not expect him to be earnest in his manifesto. A most interesting opponent indeed. I will be there as soon as I-"

"YOU SMUG, OVERBLOWN PEACOCK! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!" I bellow in rage at him as I hurl a glass at the wall, causing his eyes to widen momentarily.

"Euphemia repudiated the Empire and left with Zero! He's manipulated her somehow! And all you care about is treating this LIKE ONE OF YOUR DAMNABLE CHESS GAMES!" Even now, the only thing that he cares about is the intellectual challenge?!

Schneizel blinks in surprise at my outburst.

"I'm sorry, did you just say Euphemia has defected?" he says with a hint of disbelief.

For someone like him, that's pure shock.

But I'll be damned if I let him start rumor-mongering!

"Don't you dare even say that word, Schneizel. Zero is using her for his own agenda, just like you did with approving the SAZ!"

What in the name of hell was I thinking?! Letting him use Euphie as a cat's-paw was the worst mistake I've made since that terrible night almost eight years ago in Aries Villa!

Schneizel looks off to the side a moment before turning his eyes back to me. Which is as much an expression of guilt as I've ever seen on him.

"I admit, this does not reflect well on me in hindsight."

My eye twitches as I clench my fist at his bloodless reply.

"I do however, have faith that together we can resolve this in our—"

"No."

He blinks in surprise at my stern and icy reply. "I beg your pardon?"

I shake my purple tresses slowly as I look him in the eye, wondering why I was ever attracted to this man.

"You have used me as a pawn for the last time, Schneizel. I am done working with you. Perhaps if I can salvage this with Euphie safely under my wing, and protected from the inevitable reprisal from the vipers at court? Then we can see about trying to mend this relationship."

I slowly draw my gunblade, chambering a single round into the barrel before cocking the weapon shut.

"But until then?"

I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

"Do not come to Area 11. If you do? I'm not sure I can restrain myself from putting a bullet through your cold blooded skull. All Hail Britannia, Prime Minister." Before his surprised expression can formulate a reply, my weapon fires, shattering the viewscreen.

Damn that man for causing this to happen. And damn Zero for his silver tongue and poisoned whispers tainting my sweet Euphie.

I don't have much time. I need to subdue him, get Euphie back and re-secure this Area as soon as possible. If I can't do it soon enough...?

Father will demand an explanation and almost certainly threaten my sister for her airheaded self-righteousness. And worst of all? He has a good case to declare her a traitor to the Empire at the moment.

That's why I have to stop this NOW. Before the fire spreads, before Zero can seize control. If that madman takes over Area 11...God help us all.

The minute he shows himself in that damned prototype of Schneizel's, I'll blast him out of the sky myself with the Reginleif.

You took my baby sister, Zero. And while I do believe you wouldn't hurt her deliberately? You still put her in the line of fire.

"Guilford."

My knight immediately goes to parade rest at my neutral tone, "Yes, My Princess?"

"Have the outlying garrisons withdraw and retreat to Tokyo. Zero may send some forces to take outlying bases, but if he's willing to openly fight us at this point? Nothing short of the main army at the capital will have a chance at beating him. Booby-trap the bases, leave skeleton crews, volunteers only. We'll make him bleed for every inch before he reaches the capital."

I turn around, angry tears on my face, "Guilford, promise me one thing."

He stiffens in shock, before nodding.

"You'll do whatever it takes to save Euphemia. If something happens to me? You will act as her second Knight of Honor. I may not like Kururugi, but Darlton is right. That young man makes her happy. Don't let her pay the price for my failing to protect her."

I failed my lady, I failed Lelouch, I failed Nunnally, I failed Clovis.

But I will not fail my Euphemia! I'll make you pay for this, Zero, if it's the last thing I do!