Finally, a new chapter. Though, most of this chapter had been in draft since last October. But well, since I'm able to figure out how to complete this part finally, might as well update it.
EDIT: I updated a new chapter that was supposed to come before Path to Nowhere. So in case, you get new chapter updates but don't see any new chapter, you might want to check the main chapter list cos I may occasionally reorder the chapter.
Chapter 13.457 Foreboding
The Great Britannia left the vicinity of the Tokyo harbour, the assigned location where they have agreed to meet up with the people from the Order. The Ikaruga, the flagship belonging to the organization had also left the place.
Watching over at the control deck of the airship, Cornelia was deep in thought. They have achieved their goals for this trip—or more like Lelouch's goal—yet somehow she wondered if that was enough. Seeing the way Lelouch had tried so hard to win back the trust of his Black Knights, she couldn't help wanting to root for her brother.
To be fair, she could understand the reason why Lelouch would still want to recover the trust he used to have with the Black Knights. It was the same as with her relationship with her own Glaston Knights. After all, it was even more reassuring when you had the support of men you could call your own. Since even if you're of royal blood... there's a limit to how far you can use your own power to achieve what you want. And you could never completely trust that every single able-bodied soldier would be loyal to you and you alone.
Cornelia thought of the earlier exchange she had with Lelouch when they were alone. The very thought of the obstacles that they might face onwards, made her uneasy.
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"What you said earlier, was more than what you've told me last night," said Cornelia, once Toudou and the others left the room. "Would you have kept it from me if I hadn't insisted on coming here with you?"
Lelouch shook his head. "No. I would've still let you know about this even if you didn't come along."
"Did that Anya girl told you about those things regarding V.V.? Also, regarding Bismarck."
Lelouch shook his head again. "No. That was something I pieced together from the information I had."
Cornelia cocked an eyebrow at him as Lelouch explained. "Back then when father told me about his past, he mentioned about having a twin brother. But then, later on, Kallen told me that V.V. looked more like a child. Yet when she overheard the argument between father and V.V., father called the child as his brother."
Lelouch rolled his eyes at her before continuing, "And since V.V. was the one who caused my powers to become out of control during the SAZ incident, I deduced V.V. must've had some connection to Geass. Deducing that he could be immortal as well was not really hard after that, considering that I knew of another immortal who happened to also be the one who gave me my Geass. It would've explained why V.V. looked younger than our father."
Cornelia frowned. "What about the thing you said about Bismarck knowing about father's plan?"
Lelouch shrugged. "I figured that he might've known something, considering that father made mother call the man back from China just to serve me. It would've made sense."
"Even if he seemed to have accepted my decision to change the world the way I wished, he would've wanted to regain some kind of control over me..."
The young prince glanced up towards his sister. "That aside, I'm still surprised that you haven't questioned the possibility that I could've staged all of this by myself. Even after I hinted that it could be when I talked to Toudou."
Cornelia tensed for a moment before relaxing again. "No. It would've been too elaborate a plan, even by your standards."
Lelouch stared back at her in surprise before slumping back to his chair. "Don't you ever doubt me, even for a bit?"
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"Don't you ever doubt me, even for a bit?"
Cornelia bit her lips at the recollection before returning her attention towards the monitors. This past year... a lot of things has happened to the world. To her family. Way too many things. She lost a number of people dear to her, regained a few... and lost some more. And the world she thought she knew well, turned out to be something that she never truly understood.
She lost Euphemia, Clovis. But in return, she regained her lost siblings... Nunnally, Lelouch. But with a dreadful cost.
Would it be possible for her to protect anything still at this point?
She wished she could know of that answer.