Returning to Ashford Academy, Lelouch felt exhaustion creeping in on him, most likely due to the prolonged battle against Gao Hai's Shadow. The shock of being caught by Suzaku as they emerged from the Metaverse had delayed the onset of weariness, as his body and mind had done into overdrive, following a fight or flight response, but that could only sustain him for so long.
Still, he couldn't let himself crash into the comfort of his bed as soon as he arrived back in his dormitory, as much as he wanted to. He had already kept Marrybell waiting for far longer than he had meant to.
Powering up his laptop, Lelouch logged onto Knightwatch under his "Zero" account. So far, all of the encryption protocols that kept Britannian agents from hacking the site or determining the identities of those who posted on it seemed to still be intact, as Diethard, and now Nina had assured him. That said, he would want to keep any correspondence over the net with Marrybell brief. There was no such thing as a perfect firewall, and as superbly skilled as both Diethard and Nina were at hacking, there were only two of them. Britannia had a legion of intelligence agents, cryptographers, and enough raw computing power to utterly dwarf any botnet that Nina might assemble.
Really, it was more incredible, and a testament to his allies' abilities that KnightWatch hadn't been hacked yet, or at least not compromised in a way that was obvious to its administrators. Britannia could have even conducted a massive denial of service attack against KnightWatch at any time, and he suspected that the only reason that they hadn't done so was to more effectively keep tabs on the elusive Black Knights.
Now...
Lelouch glanced up at his inbox. A new private message was there. Lelouch grinned. The first objective was cleared. Only a few users had the necessary account credentials to directly PM his own, and he had given Marrybell those with her new account. Moving his cursor up to read the message, he saw that it was indeed from her, or as the the handle he had assigned read, "GlindaG".
"I didn't expect you to prepare to contact me like this. Are you who I think you are?" the message in the chat read.
Lelouch smirked. She was being cautious. Well, two could play at that game.
"It was a gamble. There was no guarantee that we would meet again, but the price of setting up the invitation was minuscule compared to the potential benefits. But who do you think I really am?" he wrote back.
After a short time, another message appeared on his screen. "You took your time. But to answer your question, my half brother, who I last saw at the airport, when you were being sent away with your sister." There was a pause, as if Marrybell was thinking on her end. "They said that both of you had died during the war."
So Marrybell grasped the need for caution, even on KnightWatch, as well, keeping everything purposefully vague, yet perfectly intelligible to the two of them. That was very good.
"Indeed, I've returned from the depths of hell intact, sister."
"Did your sister survive too?"
"She was right there with us, though you wouldn't have recognized her. It's a side effect of that that place's peculiar dress code. I can tell you more about it later."
"I guess it's no wonder that I didn't recognize her then. But I'm glad... at least you still have your sister."
Lelouch felt a sudden sense of foreboding. Even before awakening to his Persona, he had kept tabs on the leading members of the royal family, following what news he could of them to better plan his eventual rebellion against them, even if he had no idea of how he he would accomplish it at the time. But it wasn't practical to follow every member of the royal family closely. Between his father's 108 consorts and all of their children, it had hundreds of members, and with the Britannian press as tightly controlled as it was, getting substantial information on most of them, especially those who had yet to reach the age of majority, ranged from difficult to nearly impossible.
There had barely been any mention of Marrybell in the news over these years, or else he had missed it while he was on the run. And while he wasn't going to admit it to Marrybell, her younger sister... Julia had been her name... had never been a priority for him to keep tabs on, next to Schneizel, Cornelia, and the others...
"What happened?" he asked.
"She's gone. My mother too. But this isn't the proper place to discuss it. Some things are better said face-to-face."
Marrybell hadn't said what the cause of death was, but there was only one thing that Lelouch could think of that would cause the untimely deaths of both her sister, Julia mel Britannia, and her mother, Flora mel Britannia.
Murder. Anything else would be too much of much of a coincidence in the Imperial Court.
Why hadn't he heard about that? Another Empress being murdered, so soon after his own mother, should have been a major story throughout the Empire. But it seemed that the news of it had been quietly suppressed, or no one cared enough to report on it with the war going on.
He needed more information. Who was behind it, and were they the same party that was responsible for the assassination of his mother?
"Very well. I know a place that we could meet." Lelouch typed back, even more interested in seeing Marrybell in person now than before.
"You like chess, don't you?" he asked.
Are the Black Knights Just?
Yes: 19.3%
Days Until the Empress is Married: 12
xXx
"Welcome back to my Velvet Room, Trickster," an unwelcome, deep voice boomed.
Lelouch wearily peered through the bars of his cell to see Igor leering at him, the Prison Master's bloodshot eyes as malevolent and deceitful as ever.
"Welcome back, Inmate," Tsu said, careful to maintain a cold, professional tone in the presence of her master. She didn't refer to him as "Trickster", as she had only started calling him that as their bond grew deeper. Igor wasn't supposed to know just how strong it had really become, nor of their plans to rebel against his authority when the time was right.
"Welcome back, Mr. Inmate," Shi chorused, though Lelouch could not help but notice that she was more visibly happy to see him, even as she held herself back under her older sister's stern gaze. Then again, Shi had always been the more cheerful of the two, so Lelouch was not overly concerned about it raising Igor's suspicions.
"You have done well, Trickster," Igor continued. "You have triumphed over your greatest trial thus far, overcoming enormous odds to steal the Treasure that you sought in your latest heist. Such commendable efforts should be rewarded, and as you have proven yourself worthy, I now grant you the ability to hold up to twelve Personas within yourself."
Igor held out a spindly gloved hand, and Lelouch once again felt new vistas opening up within the sea of his soul.
"This is the last time that you shall have my assistance in this manner," Igor said. "Possess the Wild Card as you may, it would be too dangerous for you to attempt to carry any more than twelve Personas, lest you lose yourself among them, and so I shall not allow it."
There was an air of finality to Igor's pronouncement, as usual brooking no arguments, though Lelouch couldn't help but feel irritated. Was Igor trying to purposefully limit his growth?
"Do I see ingratitude on your face, Trickster?" Igor demanded. "It is unbecoming of you, the Deadly Sin of Pride, which if unchecked shall lead to naught but ruin. I suggest you reflect on how far you would have gotten had it not been for my guidance and assistance."
Igor was just like his father, of that there was no doubt. The Emperor too had berated him for ingratitude, before declaring that he would be exiled to Japan with Nunnally. Fortunately, there was no indication that Igor was capable of reading his mind, though the Prison Master seemed to have effective omniscience everywhere else.
"Still," Igor mused, "you have new allies, Trickster, and you have drawn closer to old ones. The Knight, your half-sister who leads the Glinda Knights... and the failure..."
"Failure?" Lelouch asked, suddenly confused.
"Your latest paramour, who you call 'Bishop' whenever you enter the Metaverse," Igor said, his face as ever forming a horrible mockery of a smile. "Have you not wondered why she was granted the Metaverse Navigator all on her own, without having come into contact with a Trickster until she met you?"
It was true. He had wondered that before, but he doubted that Igor was actually reading his mind right now. It was simply a logical question to ask.
"I have," Lelouch said firmly, "but Leila's anything but a failure."
"You speak of what you know naught of, Trickster. She was meant to be a Trickster, like yourself. She was granted the power of the Wild Card, and the Metaverse Navigator with it, long before you ever received them, when she was but a child. Do you not remember what she said to you upon your first meeting?"
He did. Leila had told him, "I've had this power since I was a young girl, but I never needed to use it until a few days ago." That at least matched up with the Prison Master's story.
"As the offspring of a pair of dissidents, rebels against their society, I had thought that she would have every reason to discover her true powers, use them to her advantage, test their limits, and grow into a powerful Trickster. She was the first one that I chose to stop Ragnarok. But she was a failure." Igor's voice was uncharacteristically soft, but filled with understated anger. "She lacked the necessary... selfishness, if you will, to become a proper Trickster. And so she let her powers lie dormant for far too many years."
"But the power of the Wild Card is filled with limitless possibilities! How-" Shi began, a look of dismay on her face as she realized where the conversation was going.
"It seems that they can be closed off with time," Tsu finished, frowning.
"Indeed," Igor said. "As she grew older, she adopted a new mask to face the world, and began using it consistently, that of a demure young woman, more comfortable with books than with people, looking for answers to deeper mysteries. That mask ossified, giving definite shape to her power yet confining the potential that she once had, squandering it. And so her Arcana changed from the Fool to the Priestess, and the Wild Card was lost to her forever."
"With all due respect, Master," Tsu began, "I do not recall-"
"She did not make a proper contract, and so she was not welcome within my Velvet Room," Igor said, imperiously cutting Tsu off. His head turned slightly, bloodshot eyes bulging toward her, and his displeasure was palpable. "Your responsibility is to help guide the Trickster. You shall speak to me only when you are spoken to."
Shi cringed, fearful for her sister. Tsu herself could only nod in silence. Any other response would simply provoke Igor.
Seemingly satisfied with her obedience, Igor chuckled. "But it is no matter, for there were others with potential." The Prison Master turned, and his demented grin spread.
"You had to wear many masks throughout your life, Trickster, and moreso than most. Your potential remained as strong yet formless as ever, ready to assume whatever shape it needed to in order to strike back against your father. I knew that you would be more than an adequate replacement for her."
How dare he treat Leila as if she was just a tool? But then again, that was how Igor treated all of his 'Inmates', so Lelouch could hardly be surprised.
"You replaced her before I ever came along," Lelouch said coldly. "There was Kallen's brother. And then you had me replace him in turn."
"While his rehabilitation was indeed cut short, it was not entirely without merit. Those with potential that he had already drawn to him were there to follow you in turn, and so he has played his part, however small it was, in stopping Ragnarok. That is, should you succeed, Trickster. I sincerely hope that you will not let his sacrifice go to waste."
Lelouch was certain that Igor had never felt anything over Naoto Kozuki's death, and in turn he only felt contempt for the old Prison Master.
"I have always cultivated Tricksters where I could," Igor said, seemingly in amusement. "But since your awakening, I have always considered you the most promising Trickster of all."
"I'm honored," Lelouch replied sarcastically. "Still, I can't help but notice that all of your choices for Tricksters, save for Kozuki, are from the nobility. Most are even royalty. But he still had noble blood, though he was never legally adopted into the Stadtfeld family, and plenty of reason to hate Britannia, so he still fits the profile."
"Yes, he was more than just a mere commoner, and he had certain gifts for leadership. That is why I chose him. But as a rule, commoners lack the talent, ambition, or perspective to be effective Tricksters, and are foolish as the masses ever are. Yet by the virtue of your birth, you were from the start marked for greater things. Who better to lead them forward from the brink of ruin and spur them to change their own indolent hearts?" Igor chuckled. "Indeed, I expect great things from you, Trickster."
That was a new insight into the Prison Master for a change. Igor subscribed to the same ideology that Britannia did, that nobles made for "a superior breed of ruler" over the common people, who could not be trusted to govern themselves. If it were not for his father's plans to bring about Ragnarok, he had a feeling that Igor would very much approve of his father's reign, which only made him hate the Prison Master more. It was an unwelcome realization, but it was hardly one that Lelouch could truly find surprising, given how similar Igor and his father seemed to each other. Though it seemed just as likely that Igor had actually chosen him, Nunnally, and Marrybell specifically for the irony of his father being defeated by his own progeny. Lelouch had little doubt that Igor was prideful and vain enough to engineer such an outcome solely for his own amusement.
"Still, the failure was of some use in the end," Igor said, sounding even more amused. "Even as but a fragment of what it once was, her power mingled with yours, strengthening you, and even reclaimed a glimpse of its former glory in the process. Still, I do find your tastes... intriguing Trickster... I have already spoken to you of the dangers of involving yourself further with the Great Sinner of Lust. The first woman to become inextricably bound to you was filled with Wrath that would have consumed even herself in the end, and stubborn Pride, a truly perilous combination. And what is the failure now but the image of Vanity?"
"Leila isn't-" Lelouch began angrily.
Igor raised a hand, demanding his silence. "For example, have you ever paused to consider how much effort it must take her to maintain such long and lustrous hair? How much expense she must go to in order to buy the products she needs to care for it? How much time must her servants spend helping her style it, so that not a hair is out of place, while she sits in front of a mirror, admiring herself? But such efforts are ultimately futile, for her beauty will fade with age."
No, that wasn't Leila at all. Leila hated all of the unwanted attention that her looks had brought her, and had repeatedly put the needs of others above her own. The idea that she was self-absorbed was irreconcilable with the evidence.
But while Leila was hardly obsessed with her personal appearance, as Mrs. Stadtfeld had been, her position nonetheless demanded that she invest substantial time and effort into maintaining it. Britannia's Social Darwinist ideology led not only to a fixation on strength and martial prowess, but physical beauty. In turn there was enormous pressure on members of Britannia's noble and royal classes to embody those qualities, so as to reinforce the eugenics-based propaganda that held them up as inherently superior to commoners, to say nothing of Numbers.
To a Britannian eugenicist's eyes, Leila would be considered a practically perfect specimen. Germany had long been part of Europia, but before the Humiliation of Edinburgh, Britannia had held many fiefdoms there, including Breisgau, and, for a time, even its royal family had been German. Today, the el Britannia line, which Schneizel belonged to, could still trace its roots back to Germany. As such, Germanic ancestry was still highly regarded and considered very attractive among much of Britannia's nobility. Leila epitomized those ideals of feminine Germanic beauty with her flowing, light blonde hair, a shapely and bosomy figure, refined features, and those prized violet eyes, which together made her look more like a princess than many members of Britannia's own royal family. On top of that, she was healthy and physically fit enough that Clovis had once asked her enlist under him in the Britannian military, and her intelligence was only further proof of her superiority over commoners.
In spite of its overt racism and classism, Britannia was in fact far less sexist than it had once been. An increasing number of women like his half-sister Cornelia, Anya Alstreim, Villetta Nu, or Cecile Croomy were entering the military, and while many nobles still resented the late Empress Marianne for having been born a commoner, Marianne the Flash was still the lofty standard that all Knightmare pilots compared themselves to. But for those noblewomen who became socialites instead of enlisting in the military, looks were still seen as paramount. Those roles were not mutually exclusive; that Marianne had been extremely successful in both no doubt intensified the hatred that other nobles felt toward her.
Yet Leila had turned down a role in the Britannian military, while continuing to play the socialite, and in turn Britannian society expected that she would put her appearance first. She could have retreated into a third role, that of a successful, career-driven businesswoman, and indeed, there were also a growing number of Britannian noblewomen who ran their own companies. But to really be seen as such, and not simply an heiress, Leila would have to be far more ruthless, and that in turn would put far more people on guard against her, inviting scrutiny that she didn't need. It was far better for Leila if other nobles thought that she was simply a pretty face, leading them to underestimate her true talents. Maintaining that mask was essential to her survival, and so she allocated her time and resources accordingly, just as her parents had engaged in otherwise fantastically wasteful expenditures to maintain their covers.
But it mattered not that Igor had said earlier that Leila wasn't selfish enough to be a Trickster, even as he now accused her of the most shallow kind of selfishness. Igor was determined to convict her of the Deadly Sin of Vanity, no matter how hypocritical his arguments, and so nothing that Lelouch might say could possibly change the Prison Master's mind.
Igor was still going on his rant. "There is no reason for such frivolous expenditures, save for self-indulgence and beguiling others. As such, I deem it a Deadly Sin. And beguile others she did, using her looks to fraudulently charm the late Third Prince and ensnare him with false promises of love. Just as surely as the insanity of Lust, and the passions of Wrath, the Deadly Sin of Vanity and the fraudulence of mankind shall bring forth ruin!"
That was enough. "If they've committed sins, mine are far greater!" Lelouch shot back, not caring if it would provoke Igor or not. He wasn't simply going to stand by and permit the Prison Master to slander those he cared for unopposed. "The Deadly Sin of Wrath drives me to tear down Britannia for what it did to me and my sister! The Deadly Sin of Pride, often considered the gravest of all, demands that I bow to no one, not even an Emperor!" He laughed. "And I suppose I did my best to pretend it wasn't there for far too long, but I can be just as guilty of the Deadly Sin of Lust as anyone else."
"But am I going to apologize for enjoying the company of such beautiful women?" Lelouch asked. "For feeling righteous anger at appalling injustice? Or not simply submitting to a tyrant's whims? Of course not. I am unrepentant. Besides, what are lust, passion, and pride but some of our most hardwired natural drives? You call them Deadly Sins, but they are neither good nor evil by themselves, and without them, humanity would have long since gone extinct as a species. So if Leila should happen to take some satisfaction in her appearance, in spite of all the trouble it's caused her... who am I to deny her that?"
A deep, slow laugh echoed through the Velvet Room.
"The sins that you so exult in will surely drag you down to Hell one day, Trickster," Igor said. "As they say, pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
Lelouch had expected the Prison Master to explode in anger, but the bizarre old man seemed to be in an oddly good mood.
"I've always been chained to Hell itself, ever since I made my contract," Lelouch replied with a smirk.
"Let it be said that you never bore me, Trickster," Igor nodded, and Lelouch felt the power of the Fool grow yet stronger within him.
With that, the Velvet Room's bell harshly sounded.
"It is time for you to go, Trickster. As always, I shall be watching your progress closely..."
xXx
Lelouch woke up, back in his room at Ashford Academy. So much had happened since yesterday: stealing Gao Hai's heart, getting caught by Suzaku and persuading him to join forces with the Black Knights, at least for a time, contacting and making plans to meet with Marrybell, and Igor's revelation about Leila's true role as a Persona-user. As always, the Black Knights would have to wait for Gao Hai's change of heart to fully take effect, but there was still plenty that had to be done in the meantime, even before his scheduled rendezvous with Marrybell.
He also had to remain as vigilant as ever against potential threats, whether from the Student Council's resident detective, or Schneizel's machinations, which as ever seemed to feature plots within plots. Picking up the pieces in the Chinese Federation would only be the Second Prince's overt purpose. With Schneizel's own interest in Cognitive Psience, something far more insidious was afoot, of that Lelouch was sure. Had the Black Knights already stepped into one of Schneizel's deadly traps? Only time would tell. But if one could recognize the trap, then perhaps one could play the fool and feign being truly caught in it, remaining ever ready to strike back at the one who had set it once the time was right.
Lelouch smirked. Wasn't that how it had always been? The odds had been stacked against him even before he began his quest to topple Britannia, and he had never been one afraid to take risks. He'd make Schneizel pay for his overconfidence in believing that he had the Black Knights exactly where he wanted them...
But first, he would have to get through another day of school.
xXx
The student body of Ashford Academy was of course ignorant to the fact that Gao Hai's heart had already been changed, or that the Black Knights had sent a calling card to the High Eunuch at all. Officials at the Chinese Federation Consulate had evidently chosen not to publicize that fact to Britannian media. There was still some talk about the Black Knights and Euphemia's kidnapping, but it was much quieter than it had been. The students were, for the most part, settling into the new term, and going back to the comfort of their everyday routines.
Talk about Leila's still-recent transfer to Ashford Academy nonetheless remained a popular topic of conversation. It was already evident that she had gained more than a few new admirers, though thankfully they kept a respectful distance for now. But for the most part, Leila had made a remarkably smooth and hassle-free transition to Ashford Academy, and had quickly become recognized as the Student Council's newest member. That was important on both counts. He would hate it if Leila was unhappy at Ashford when he had been the one to suggest that she transfer schools in the first place, and it would give Leila an excuse to regularly be seen around him and the other Black Knights without it being overly suspicious.
The morning's classes were tedious for Lelouch, as they usually were, but soon the bell rang. For most students, it would be the start of a free period, but for Lelouch it meant the start of a Student Council meeting. They of course wouldn't be able to discuss Black Knight business there, as Rolo and Rivalz were not part of the Black Knights, but Lelouch appreciated that they could still do real Student Council things, just like old times.
For their part, his fellow Black Knights on the Student Council did an excellent job of not giving a hint as to the fact that they had been engaged in a life-or-death struggle against the distorted desires of the Consul-General just the day before. To her credit, Kallen continued to remain in character as best she could, increasingly frustrating as that had to be for her. Suzaku played along with Kallen as well, convincingly acting as if he hadn't seen her true, more daring self. But most importantly, none of them had been arrested yet. That meant that Suzaku had kept his end of their bargain, at least for now.
"GUTS!" Milly's voice rang out, pulling Lelouch's attention back to the meeting itself. "We still have to plan this year's Culture Festival, and I want it to be bigger and better than ever!"
Lelouch thought that he knew why Milly was so motivated to leave her mark on this year's Culture Festival. She was set to graduate in the spring, provided that she earned enough credits in her remaining classes. It might be one of Milly's last chances to truly go all out on an event like this.
"Besides, we've got more members than ever, so there's no reason not to give it our all!" Milly continued passionately.
It occurred to Lelouch that there might be another reason for Milly's urgency. Gao Hai's Shadow had been a trial unlike any that they had faced thus far, and the challenges before them would only continue to grow. Even she couldn't fail to notice the signs that their enemies were slowly closing in around them. The appearances of the Knights of the Round and the Black Mask at the consulate party couldn't be mistaken as anything else. But all of that paled next to the Emperor, who would be undoubtedly be a far more formidable opponent, against whom even Igor had repeatedly urged caution.
Yet facing his father eventually would be necessary if the Black Knights were to achieve their aims. Against such odds, there was a good chance, as much as he didn't want to think about it, that they may not all make it out alive. Milly herself had briefly died once already, back in the Black King's Palace, and if it hadn't been for Euphemia, she would have died for good then and there.
Was that weighing on Milly's mind as well? It had to be. As much as she put forward much the same face as she always had, Lelouch had always suspected that the incident had affected Milly far more than she would like her friends to know. That filled Milly's desire to put on a fun and memorable Culture Festival with greater urgency than ever before. It wasn't just her last chance for one. It might be the last chance for all of them to indulge in one of her madcap festivals.
As much as Lelouch disliked some of the events Milly had come up with in the past, there was no way he could deny such an earnest wish from her. It would be good to have a day with his friends, as just ordinary students, without worrying about Palaces, the Metaverse, or Britannia. Besides, Leila had never truly experienced the craziness that Milly could come up with. That wasn't anything he would have her miss for the world.
"Very well, Madam President," Lelouch said, smiling at the thought. "I'm all in... well, as long as there aren't any events that would require cross-dressing. You've had those way too often." More to the point, she had all too recently forced him to do so as part of her plan for them to gain entrance to Gao Hai's Palace. He couldn't say that out loud, but it had been more than enough.
"Oh, don't you go worrying about that," Milly replied with a mischievous grin of her own. "I promise that you won't have to cross-dress again this year. None of the guys will. But I won't promise that I don't have other costume events in mind..." Her gaze drifted over to Shirley and Kallen, as if sizing them up for whatever embarrassing outfits she had in mind.
"Are you pl-" Kallen said, starting somewhat too gruffly for her character, before quickly correcting herself. "I mean, what do you have in mind?" she asked meekly.
"I mean, why are you looking at the two of us like that?" Shirley said, able to freely express what Kallen had to be thinking.
"Don't worry about it! It'll be fun!"
Lelouch doubted that Shirley and Kallen would agree.
"I haven't forgotten our newest member, either!" Milly beamed. "I know just the event for you!"
"I look forward to helping out in whatever way I can," Leila nodded.
"You're not falling for that, are you?" Lelouch asked, giving Leila an incredulous look. Leila had been around Milly enough to know that she wasn't to be trusted when she got excited.
"Geez! Why's everything got to be so sinister with you?" Milly huffed, though her voice remained as playful as ever. "Besides, it will help us raise lots of money for club activities, and she's perfectly suited for it!"
Lelouch continued to eye Milly suspiciously. "You still haven't said what 'it' is. A kissing booth? That would be too much like prostitution. Besides, I'm sure Leila values her privacy, and that sort of event would draw in people for all the wrong reasons. Or maybe you meant a chess tournament? Now that would be a great idea, if not for the fact that we wouldn't be able to gamble on the matches, as I'm sure Shirley would remind me."
Lelouch became aware of several sets of eyes staring at him.
"What?"
"Umm... it's really nothing, Lelouch," Rivalz began nervously. "But it's not really like you to jump to something like a kissing booth right away... And do you really think that she's..."
"That's just because I thought it would be what President would think of!" Lelouch replied frantically, but he could tell that Rivalz remained unconvinced. Suzaku was giving him odd looks as well, and Rolo was simply shaking his head, as if in wry amusement. Shirley seemed a bit embarrassed herself, while Kallen was clearly fighting back exasperation.
"That actually does sound like something that she would suggest," Leila said evenly after a moment, "in which case I must decline. But chess would be quite agreeable."
Lelouch felt the tension in the room dissipate immediately, and silently he thanked Leila. It was masterfully played on her part. By agreeing with him, she had made it seem like it had been a natural conclusion, and she had spoke with such polished manners that it would be almost impossible for anyone present to be angry with her.
"Though actually," Lelia said softly. "I have a suggestion, if you're open to it."
"You do?!" Milly asked excitedly. "Let's hear it!"
"I've practiced tarot reading in my spare time... it's just an amusing hobby of mine." She smiled. "But I've been told that I'm rather good at it. I could run a fortune-telling booth."
Lelouch did his best not to show any undue reactions. He had been the one to tell Leila that she was good at it, and she had remembered after all of this time. But as far as those outside the Black Knights knew, he had only met Leila relatively recently, and if he admitted otherwise it would only draw unwanted questions.
"Ooh, that sounds pretty fun!" Milly grinned. "I'll admit, it's quite a bit different than what I had in mind, but I like it! I'm sure plenty of people will line up to have your read their fortunes! Way to go, stepping up to the plate like that!"
Yes, people would be lining up to have Leila read their fortunes for all of the wrong reasons. But he had been the one to suggest it to Leila in the first place. He couldn't help but feel some jealousy in his heart, but least it would probably be far more dignified for Leila than whatever Milly originally had in mind.
"And don't forget everyone, we have a play to put on as well!" Milly said, without missing a beat. "After all, Nina's been putting in so much hard work to make props and special effects for us!"
That was the excuse he had used to have Nina make useful infiltration tools for the Black Knights with her scientific know-how, before her change of heart had led her to begin willingly assisting them. Part of him was surprised that Milly still remembered that.
"It really isn't that much," Nina said softly. "That sort of stuff comes naturally to me, but anyone can do it if they know the science."
"Nina! There's no need to be modest!" Milly gently chided. "I know I couldn't do half of what you do!"
Nina smiled, with a warmth that one would have been hard-pressed to see from her prior to her change of heart. "I'm just glad that I'm able to help my friends."
Lelouch found he couldn't help but smile a bit as well.
"Alright!" Milly exclaimed, seeming more determined than ever. "There's lots for us to do, but I know we can all make this the best Culture Festival Ashford has ever seen! So let's get started! Here are your assignments everyone!"
xXx
Most of the assignments that Milly had given out to them were general organizational tasks for now. Before any festival could happen, clubs had to get plans and budgets approved, and have space allotted to them across the campus. The same was true of each homeroom. Then there would be supplies to order, posters to print, costumes to make, and schedules to be drawn up, along with a host of other tasks that would have to be delegated over the coming weeks in order to make the event a success.
She had them working in small groups, though thankfully, she hadn't done anything so transparent as setting him up with Kallen, Shirley, and Leila, so that she could eavesdrop on them again for a "juicy" scoop on his love life. Milly was actually working with Leila herself, though Lelouch was sure that his Bishop could handle herself. As for him, he was working alone with Suzaku. Maybe Milly planned it that way as a gesture of trust, or so the two of them could catch up with each other, in a way they hadn't had the luxury of doing back in Mementos.
"Lelouch, there's something I've been meaning to ask," Suzaku started.
Lelouch looked up. Was Suzaku going to ask more about the Black Knights, or him being Zero? Rolo and Rivalz were nowhere to be seen, but he would still prefer not to talk about something so sensitive in their present location.
"What is it, Suzaku?" Lelouch replied cautiously.
"What's your deal with Kallen and Shirley?"
That was the first thing Suzaku chose to ask about? Yes, even Suzaku couldn't have missed that something was unusual about his relationships with them, and subtlety wasn't one of Suzaku's strong suits, but he was still thrown by how forward his old friend was being.
"What do you mean?" Lelouch. There were actually several ways in which Suzaku's question could be interpreted, now that he thought of them. It would also be a good way to gauge exactly how much Suzaku had managed to figure out on his own.
"I thought it was strange when you started going out with Kallen. You never were one to go for looks, Lelouch, and you wouldn't have cared for the fact that she was a noble either. I mean, we're both 17 now, so maybe you'd changed a bit, but I couldn't really see you falling for a wallflower. I thought that maybe you felt protective of her because her condition reminded you of Nunnally. But your relationship with her always seemed like it developed much too quickly."
Lelouch bristled slightly, not liking how Suzaku had brought Nunnally into it. "I'll admit, I too was surprised by how quickly things developed between us." He lowered his voice. "I knew of her around Ashford before we met in the Palace, and I saw her from time to time in homeroom, or sitting out during gym class, but I didn't really know her. That's the only reason why she was able to fool me for so long. She used to be out of school so much that I didn't have the chance to know her."
"She had me fooled," Suzaku replied. "And the others on the Student Council, at least those who weren't-" He cut himself off, but his meaning was obvious.
"Kallen does have some acting skills, yes," Lelouch replied softly, "but it's tiring for her to keep up appearances all the time. Sooner or later, I would have figured it out on my own, even without that fateful chance encounter."
"You sound awfully sure of yourself," Lelouch, Suzaku replied skeptically. "Though, now that you mention it, I wondered if the whole thing was an act that you two were putting on. Your relationship, I mean."
"An act?"
"I mean, think about it," Suzaku said apologetically. "It would give the two of you the perfect excuse to be seen off-campus with each other. Or explain away any absences when you two were busy with... you know..."
Lelouch knew that Suzaku meant the Black Knights, but it sounded close enough to something entirely different that it made him shift uncomfortably. Hiding his discomfort as best he could, Lelouch admitted evenly, "That's reasonable enough." But he could feel his cheeks warm slightly.
"But then there's Shirley..." Suzaku began cautiously. "How does she feel about all of this? Everyone could tell that she was hurt when you started dating Kallen, and then her father was killed not long afterward. But she's made a remarkable recovery. Not only is she working alongside both you and Kallen, apparently without issue, but she now seems happier than she's ever been." Suzaku paused. "And she's still clearly in love with you. Don't tell me that you're-"
Lelouch sighed. "I'm not some kind of womanizer, if that's what you're asking. You know me better than that, Suzaku. I'd never do that to Shirley or Kallen."
"True..." Suzaku nodded. "But there's only one thing that I can think of that would make Shirley so happy. And if you're not cheating on Kallen, and if you didn't break up with her either without me noticing. That would mean..." Suzaku's eyes widened slightly. "Hear me out, Lelouch. I know it sounds crazy, so forgive me if this comes off as rude... But what if, somehow, Kallen agreed to let you date Shirley as well?"
"Wait, that's the next thing that you think of?!" Lelouch spluttered.
"But I'm right, aren't I?" Suzaku replied, giving him a curious look. "Your reaction gives it away, Lelouch." Suzaku's expression turned to one of slight amusement. "You're blushing."
"I am not!" Lelouch said heatedly, though it was more an attempt to salvage his pride than anything else. He shook his head. "It's complicated... But you're right that we've... reached an understanding together." He looked up, his voice firmer now. "There's no point in denying it. Milly already managed to find out, and I knew you would be able to piece it together, eventually. You just surprised me with how quickly you reached that conclusion, Suzaku."
"Well, thank you for that vote of confidence, Lelouch!" Suzaku said sarcastically, though any indignation on his part was short-lived. "Still, I have to say that I'm surprised. You went from barely even noticing girls to dating two at the same time."
Lelouch chose not to mention that before long, it could be three girls rather than two. Kallen still needed to decide if she was okay with Leila joining them or not.
"Do you disapprove?"
Suzaku shook his head. "If you've managed to make it work between you, I won't judge. While it's definitely out of the ordinary, it seems like such a small thing next to everything else."
If Suzaku was thinking about the Emperor and his one hundred and eight Imperial Consorts, he wisely chose not to mention it, and for that Lelouch was glad.
"You're right about that," Lelouch replied. "And if you had told me that I'd be in such a relationship just a few months ago, I wouldn't have believed you at all." He glanced up at the clock. "But look at the time, Suzaku! We need to make sure we finish this work for the Student Council? You know Madam President isn't going to listen to excuses if we don't complete our tasks. She'll just saddle us with more work."
Suzaku sighed. "You're right about that, Lelouch. Still, for us to be able to talk like this... it's just like old times."
Lelouch felt the power of the Justice Arcana grow ever so slightly within him.
"It is indeed, Suzaku," he smiled.
xXx
The Student Council concluded its business, and they returned to their afternoon classes, which seemed to drag on. Lelouch had far more important matters, such as his upcoming meeting with Marrybell, on his mind.
There was another, related matter on his mind as well. When he had set up the details of his meeting with Marrybell, under the cover of a chess match at a gambling establishment well known for accommodating nobles who wished to match wits against each other, they had agreed that they would each bring one other person with them.
It was obvious that Marrybell would bring Oldrin, as the blonde woman was her Knight. As for himself... Kallen was the obvious choice, in terms of ability to defend herself should an unwelcome party happen to intrude. Marrybell had also seen him with Kallen before, and while the princess had figured out who he was, it was also good to keep some cards close to one's chest.
But chess wasn't one of Kallen's passions. She understood the game, of course, but Kallen would be going out of a sense of obligation to him.
Far more pertinently, there was the question of her attitude toward members of Britannian royalty. That wasn't to say that he didn't hate most members of the royal family for how they had treated his mother, but there were a few that he had some lingering affection for, Marrybell among them. Kallen had come a long way toward being more accepting of Britannians in general, and he was proud of her for that, but he still remembered how negatively she had reacted to Euphemia, even as she had started to warm up to the other members of the Student Council. If negotiating a partnership with the Glinda Knights was the goal, maybe Kallen wasn't the best choice to accompany him.
He could invite Shirley... though then again, she had always been opposed to him gambling on chess matches, and she didn't have a plausible reason to suddenly decide to attend one. But there was another member of the Black Knights who was known for being into chess, and to whom he owed a match.
Leila.
Still, he would make sure to speak to Shirley and Kallen first. While the meeting was business first and foremost, if Kallen's reaction to his infiltration plan at the consulate was any indication, there was a good chance that she might construe it as a date.
But given his own feelings for Leila, it would be hard to tell Kallen that she was wrong, strictly speaking.
xXx
"You called me here to talk about Leila, didn't you?" Kallen asked.
They had met in a secluded room in the Clubhouse, where there was little chance of being overheard, and from there into the Metaverse, away from any eavesdropping Student Council Presidents. Shirley had joined them as well, and stood by Kallen's side. As they were far from any Palace, they remained in their Ashford Academy uniforms.
Lelouch nodded.
"Shirley's already spoken to me about her," Kallen replied, with a nod to Shirley, who returned it with one of her own.
"So..." Kallen looked him right in the eyes. "But what are your thoughts on all of this, Lelouch? You like Leila, don't you? Just like how it was with Shirley..."
There was no point in denying it. That would be a betrayal in of itself.
"I do. But don't think that this was something I planned on, or would have chosen for myself if I had the power to control those feelings." He sighed. "For too long, I didn't let myself get too close to anyone else, save my own sister. I was... aware of girls, but I didn't find myself interested in dating, or building that sort of relationship to begin with. Consumed as I was by my desire for revenge against Britannia, and the need to protect my little sister, anything else seemed like a distraction. And then there was the matter that even if I found someone who could capture my interest, any sort of relationship with me would inevitably put them in danger, because of who I really was, and what I planned to do.
"Of course, things are different now," Lelouch continued. "Through a chance encounter, I met the real you, Kallen, and I was glad to have you as my brave and trusted teammate." He turned to Shirley. "You were long one of my friends on the Student Council, but more than that, you always helped me stay connected to an ordinary life here at Ashford. And when Leila arrived on the scene, she was someone I could match wits with who wasn't a rival. All of you became precious friends to me, and if it had stayed that way, everything would have been much simpler for all of us."
He shook his head. "But of course, as we grew closer, our hearts were no longer satisfied with just being friends, even as I had never expected to have so many that I could truly count as confidants. Those feelings may have crept up on us before we even realized they were there, but once we had awakened to our desires, there was no way that any of us could ever go back to how things were. I'm sure both of you understand that all too well."
Kallen nodded grimly. "I had been ready to throw my life away, but you appeared and led me from that abyss, showing me that there was a way to defeat Britannia... Then you were there to force some sense into me when I was mistreating my real mother, and stood by me when I felt like I was going to collapse. There was no way that I wasn't going to fall for you after that... even if I knew on some level what it would mean for me."
"Kallen, there's no need to be so hard on yourself," Shirley piped up. "Love isn't supposed to be some logical thing! No one ever decides, 'I'm going to fall in love with this person.' It just happens, and when it does, you just know." She straightened herself. "I saw my Shadow. I know what my love really is. It's a passionate madness, but that's what gives it power! And it's an incredible power!"
Shirley laughed lightly and shook her head. "If I thought that Lulu was anything less than sincere in his love, I wouldn't be willing to share him at all. But Lulu isn't like that... He tries to keep it bottled up, but he's one of the most passionate people I know! I thought about it... and if his his love is so strong to not be any less when extended to more than one person... isn't that the most incredible thing?"
Lelouch looked at Shirley in disbelief. That sounded like something Kaguya would say. "Do you really mean that, Shirley?"
She smiled. "Love isn't something that's finite, Lulu. Could it be so powerful if it was? It's just like that play we read in class." She put a hand over her heart, and held out her other, as if she was acting in that play herself, and recited, "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep. The more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite." She paused. "Isn't it like that for you too, Lulu?"
"Romeo and Juliet," Lelouch stated. "You know that love story didn't end well, don't you, Shirley?" He shook his head. "Still... I think there's some truth in what you say." His bonds with others had become his source of power, and the strongest bonds of all promised him infinite power, did they not?
"But you don't feel any sort of jealousy toward Leila?" he asked her. "I mean, given her circumstances, it's obvious in retrospect that she would develop feelings toward me. She was alone and in pain, and then I entered her life, unwittingly becoming her first real friend. I wasn't after her looks or her fortune, and she didn't have to keep her guard up nor wear a mask around me. But for me to develop those feelings for her after I've already made a promise to you two... it makes me feel..."
"Guilty," Kallen cut in, supplying the word that was on the tip of his tongue yet refused to come out on its own.
"Yes," Lelouch said, casting his eyes down.
"I'd be lying if I said that I never felt any sort of jealousy toward her," Shirley replied. "You remember how insecure I was, how inadequate I felt at first next to the other girls in the Black Knights... And I was probably more jealous of her than anyone besides Kallen."
"You were?" Lelouch asked.
"Almost anyone would be!" Kallen huffed. "Think about it! She's beautiful, intelligent, highly educated, well-mannered, and she gets along with you in a way that few others can! The two of you could probably talk about the intricacies of chess or politics for hours on end! Then there's the fact that she's probably the richest person her age in Area 11, thanks to that company she owns, not that you care about that, Lelouch. But she was seen as a suitable match for a freaking prince! And she had to fall for you!"
"Well, Lulu is a prince..." Shirley murmured.
"Former prince," Lelouch corrected. "I renounced that title."
"You know what I meant!" Kallen snapped.
"She did always seem like a princess..." Shirley started.
"You shouldn't put her on a pedestal like that," Lelouch said firmly. The thought had crossed his mind on more than one occasion, but that wasn't what was important to him now. "Leila is herself. She's a real girl, not some 'catch', or 'prize' to be won."
"Oh, I know that, Lulu," Shirley replied. "But as she told you, when we finally had the chance to sit down and talk together before the masquerade ball... I mean, it would be hard for our stations to be more different..."
"Unless you're a Number to Britannia," Kallen interrupted.
"Yes, I stand corrected," Shirley frowned. "But as I was saying, I was struck by how similar we really were. She was able to understand exactly what I'd gone through, from my father, to my feelings for you, Lulu, and she didn't look down on me or bear any sort of grudge against me at all. She was genuinely happy for us, Lulu, and she made me feel welcome, even though I was just a commoner coming into her home. As she helped me with my dress, she was like an older sister, offering advice - and I don't mean like how Milly does!" Shirley flushed slightly at the thought. "And when we talked about why we're Black Knights - we both wanted to protect the weak, and those we cared for."
Shirley took a breath. "But beneath all of that... she seemed so lonely and sad. So that got me thinking - how was it fair that I finally got to be happy, and she didn't? And, well... you know the rest, Lulu."
Now that sounded more like Shirley.
"And what do you feel about this, Kallen?" Lelouch asked.
"At first, I was your only one... your Queen," Kallen began. "Then there was Shirley, but I was able to accept her in the end, seeing how she was just as... devoted to you as I was. But I don't want to be just a sideshow to you."
Lelouch realized just why Kallen was so anxious about Leila. A blonde, pure-blooded Britannian noblewoman coming in, threatening to take the man she loved from her... It was exactly what had happened to her own mother, minus the fact that it was clear that her father didn't actually love her stepmother. If anything, her boyfriend also being in love with Leila only made things worse for her.
Even after all this time, Kallen was afraid of being cast aside and abandoned.
"So be completely honest with me, Lelouch," Kallen continued. "How many girls is it going to be? Are there any other girls that you like in that way who you haven't told us about yet? Say, Lady Kaguya." Kallen frowned. "She was all too eager to join us as one of your 'Court Ladies', to use her term."
"No," Lelouch said firmly. There were others he was close to, such as Tsu, but that was more of a platonic relationship than anything else, her forcing her way into his bed notwithstanding. "It's just the three of you now."
"Now?" Kallen asked sharply.
"Since I'm being honest with you, I'll admit, Euphy was the first girl that I loved in that way." Seeing Kallen's expression, he quickly added, "But we were kids! I didn't know anyone outside of the Imperial family or Pendragon, and Euphy was the sweetest girl around besides Nunnally."
"You're not helping your case," Kallen replied.
"I outgrew it, just like Shirley did with her father!"
"Lulu..." Shirley murmured, her face turning red.
"As for Kaguya," Lelouch continued, "She's remarkably accomplished, but I can't think of her in that way. As much as she'd hate to hear it, she's too young for me. And we've only met a few times. She's someone I can put my trust in, yes, but she's not someone I know well enough to entertain having that sort of relationship with her. Just ask Suzaku. Kaguya's always been... precocious, as he'd put it. "
That seemed to satisfy Kallen somewhat, though she was still wary.
"Um, since we're on that topic, what about Milly?" Shirley asked. She didn't seem defensive about it, as Kallen had. If anything, she sounded genuinely curious.
"She's like a mischievous big sister to me... though I think she's that for most of us on the Student Council."
He wasn't sure what to make of Shirley's reaction. On one hand, there was a measure of relief on her face. On the other, she seemed a bit sad.
Seeing a chance to take back the initiative, Lelouch turned to Kallen once again, and looked her straight in the eye.
"I know what it is that you fear, Kallen. I know we haven't been able to spend nearly as much time together as we should, but I will never abandon you." He took a moment to gather his thoughts, aware that Kallen was still watching him intently. When he was done, he let out a self-derisive laugh. "Maybe it's all too fitting for my first Persona to be the great thief, as since the moment my awakening I've come to learn of my greed, a Deadly Sin as it may be. But in my case, it's not greed for wealth or glory, but for the precious bonds between hearts, which I for too long closed myself off to, save for the bond I shared with Nunnally." He took Kallen's hand in one of his own, and then, glancing at Shirley, took hers in his other hand. He squeezed both of them tightly.
"Kallen, I want you," he told her, once more locking his eyes on hers, now wide. "As my friend, as my lover, my sister in arms, my accomplice, in ways I'm yet to discover, and I want you to want me just as much. My crime is that my desires indeed don't stop there, and it's not only your heart I treasure this way."
He glanced over to Shirley before returning his gaze to Kallen. "Time and again, I tried to keep those desires in check, but first I was given permission to love both you and Shirley equally. Then, when the chance to love Leila in the same way was offered, my resolve unraveled once again. But worse, I remain unrepentant even as I admit to it. You, Shirley, and Leila. I may have not meant to take any of your hearts, but an oblivious thief is still a thief and I refuse to renounce any of them... unless any of you ask me to."
Kallen and Shirley stared at him for several moments, as if taken aback by the passion of his speech. Finally, Kallen was the first to speak.
"No matter how smart you are, you really are an idiot sometimes, Lelouch!" Kallen cried. But then her expression softened, and became a heartfelt smile, even as tears rolled down her cheeks. "You can't steal what's freely given to you."
"I don't think I've ever heard you express your feelings quite like that before, Lulu..." Shirley said. She made a small giggle. "Then again, you've always been fond of dramatic speeches, haven't you? I doubt you started the habit just to go along with being Zero. But I like you better this way, when you're so bold and passionate!"
"So? What do you say, Kallen?" Lelouch asked her.
Kallen took a deep breath. "I can tell that she's every bit as loyal to you as we are. And she's proved that she's willing to risk her life for ours as well. Even though she didn't succeed on her own, I'm still grateful that she tried to save me, back there in the Palace. I don't know her as well as I do Shirley... but I can empathize with her... in ways. A number of ways, actually..."
Lelouch nodded. Not only had Kallen also lost a family member to Britannia and the Metaverse, but she would be able to understand the strain of hiding her true self and living a double life far more intimately than Shirley, who had only recently been initiated to one, could. And in a way, Kallen and Leila were both daughters of two worlds, by culture rather than birth in Leila's case, but with the effect that neither could ever fully belong in Britannian society.
"We might even become friends, outside of the Black Knights, now that we're at Ashford together..." Kallen continued. "So if Shirley's okay with it... and if you're not going to bring in any more girls any time soon..." Kallen seemed to force out her next words quickly. "I can accept that! As long as you aren't favoring her above us! Break that promise to me, Lelouch, and you're-"
"Hasn't that been our deal from the start?" Lelouch smirked, but he couldn't help but feel happy. "Don't worry Kallen. I have no intention of going back on my word. And I'll see to it that you two become fast friends."
xXx
Lelouch asked Kallen if she was able to accompany him to meet with Marrybell, per his original plan, but the matter turned out to be moot. Frowning, Kallen explained to him that while she would have been all too happy to accompany him, she had already made plans to meet with her old friends in the Resistance, back in Shinjuku. She had started to say that she could make new plans if he needed her to, but Lelouch knew that they were still important to her, and so he told her that it wasn't necessary for her to do so.
For a moment, Lelouch considered sending Sayoko to accompany Kallen for added protection, but he quickly ruled that out. Kallen was more than capable of protecting herself, and it would be a blow to her pride if he were to suggest otherwise. More to the point, Kallen would surely say that he was the one who needed protection, not her.
"Why don't you invite Leila?" Shirley asked with a smile. "That sounds like the sort of thing that she'd enjoy. I know it's for work rather than a proper date, but I'm sure it would mean a lot to her. Plus, it will give you a chance to tell her the good news."
That all fell into place... surprisingly well.
And so Lelouch went to meet up with Leila, sending her a message via his phone. A few minutes later, they too were meeting in what appeared to be an ordinary classroom, save that it was in the Metaverse.
"What is it, Lelouch?" she asked, her violet eyes looking up into his own.
"I was just talking to Kallen and Shirley," he said.
"What did they say?" He could tell that she knew what the conversation had been about. Then again, it could hardly be about anything else if he was bringing it up in that way.
"Kallen agreed that you could enter our... arrangement."
Leila's eyes lit up. "Do you mean it?!"
"Yes," Lelouch nodded. "I couldn't say it before, Leila. But... I love you, just like how I love Kallen and Shirley."
Leila's smile was one of pure joy. Taking a step forward, she slowly wrapped her arms around him, as if she was unsure if what was happening was real.
"So... this much would be okay now, right?", she asked softly.
"Yes..." Lelouch murmured, feeling himself growing quite warm, quite aware of a certain spectator in his psyche who was urging him onward. He wrapped his own arms around Leila, and held her close.
They stared into each other's eyes for several moments, an understanding passing between them.
Lelia raised herself up on her tiptoes. Lelouch bent his head down slightly.
"Je suis amoureuse de toi," Leila whispered with flawless French pronunciation.
The sound of the words was alluring on its own, and close as they were, Lelouch could tell that there was none of that cloying, fruity scent tainting her breath now. Her eyes were crystal clear, free of any drunken haze. She really did want this, and far more importantly, she was fully in her right mind.
And he wanted it too.
Their lips met, tentative at first. He was really kissing her this time. This was more than just a dream, and he no longer needed to feel guilty about his desires.
Like a dam breaking, any remaining tension gave way, and with some silent pointers from Lilim, his kiss with Leila deepened.
And while it was far from the first thing that would have normally occurred to him, Lilim couldn't help but impishly point out that that kissing Leila so soon after Igor's warning against involving himself further with her was like, in the words of his more vulgar classmates, giving the Prison Master "the finger".
It was so immature of her.
"Or, to put it another way," Arsene growled within him, "the Nose can shove it."
A/N:
It's been a crazy few weeks. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy!
This chapter took considerably longer than I originally anticipated. At first, I was going to include more of Lelouch's conversation with Marrybell in the chapter, but my beta correctly pointed out that a lot of that conversation was really too sensitive to be handled online, and that a face-to-face meeting would be better. So you'll get the rest of the story with Marrybell in the next chapter. Plus, the chapter was getting well over 13,000 words with the original draft of the full conversation with Marrybell included, so that probably would have been too much from a pacing perspective.
As for Leila... It has always been planned in the story that she was an ex-Wild Card, or rather, that she had the potential to become one, albeit it was never realized. Not only is this an explanation for why she had the MetNav in the first place, but it's actually a mythology gag as well. In canon, Leila receives her Geass when she is very young, with the provision that if she does not use it by the time she reaches adulthood, it will disappear. Her Geass laid dormant for so long before it was finally used that it became a "Fragment of Geass". This led to the idea of Leila's potential as a Persona-user remaining dormant for many years, and her former Arcana, the Fool, fading away as she matured into the role of her new Arcana, the Priestess.
Additionally, this is why Leila's mask in the Metaverse is styled as a butterfly mask, and why I have given her other butterfly imagery, such as her costume to the masquerade party. Butterflies are used in the Persona series to symbolize the collective unconscious, are more generally symbols of the soul, transformation, and the cycle of death and rebirth. Persona protagonists are usually visited by a shimmering blue butterfly, and for a time, Leila could have been one as well.
As to the point about German heritage in the Britannian nobility, if you look at it, a number of them have German names. As noted "Breisgau" is a region of Germany. "Stadtfeld" is also a German name, meaning "city field", so although Kallen remains half-Britannian and half-Japanese, as in canon, it is likely that Kallen also has some German ancestry on her Britannian side, if one goes far back enough. As for 'Schneizel', I don't find any evidence for it as an actual German name, though there does seem to be a consensus that it's meant to sound German, and that Schneizel embodies certain traits stereotypically seen as German, so I went with that. Plus, the historical British monarchy has been German since George I in 1714, which predates certain established events in Code Geass' canonical timeline, such as Washington's Rebellion.
All of this is to say that societal standards of beauty often originate from their upper classes. Racist as Britannia is, it seems likely that there is significant Germanic heritage among both the regular nobility and the Imperial Family, and this would color Britannian beauty standards accordingly. While they'd certainly waste no time oppressing any conquered peoples under the Numbers system, Germanic or not, it would make little sense for them to discriminate against a person simply for looking German - for if they were to do so, it would mean discriminating against themselves.
Lastly, my beta brought up an interesting point, elaborating on the above. While Britannia's German influence and Social Darwinist policies may bring Hitler or the Nazis to mind, in-universe this comparison cannot be made, because (as far as we know), Hitler and the Nazis never existed within the world of Code Geass, or at least they never achieved significant power within Europia.
Edit: For those who have been waiting for an update, I made a temporary digression from moving further in the plot to revisit the chapters in the first arc, as I decided that much of it was rather rushed when I first was writing the story, and it had been done without benefit of a beta. I am almost done with this revisions, with several of the earlier chapters already updated, and I think this improves them significantly. I will be finishing my revisions to the first arc within the next few days to a week, and then I will be resuming forward progress on the main story. I'm sorry to keep everyone waiting, but I've actually been getting quite a bit done with my revisions / expansions to the earlier parts. I do want to emphasize though that the overall story to this point is still the same, even if some minor details ended up being changed in the revision process, whether in the interest of better pacing or characterization. Feel free to check out the revised chapters in the meantime!