Disclaimer (since I forgot it in the previous chapter): I don't own Code Geass
Chapter One: The Weight of the Crown
In a testament to her strength of will, it took a further five days for Nunnally vi Britannia to finally pass from the world of the living. Representatives from the court would tell the populace that her death was a peaceful one, surrounded by family. They subsequently announced, when asked for the cause of death, that it was due to stress and fatigue finally catching up to her after a long and… difficult, reign.
Never mind that she was only thirty-six.
Nonetheless, the court also gave the more optimistic news that a successor had been named, though for reasons of security their identity would not be revealed to the public until the day of their coronation. Rumors ran rampant over who it could be. Many assumed that the Sovereign had finally seen sense, naming the Crown Prince as heir at last, while others believed that another noble had convinced her of their claim. Some believed that there was no heir at all, and that the UFN was set to invade any day. This last rumor was one of the few to have a hint of truth.
The UFN had pondered what would happen to Britannia if Nunnally died without naming her son heir, and a few of its more hawkish members indeed had called for the subjugation of the nation and the establishment of a republican government. They were swiftly shot down, mostly because such an occupation would be expensive to maintain both in material and lives, and there was little popular support for deploying sons and daughters to police what many thought was a dying nation.
Let the Britannians kill each other, the thinking went. It served them right.
Alas, the more bloody-minded of the UFN would not get their wish. Britannia, in spite of the uncertainty surrounding the situation of the Sovereign's death (it escaped few how young she was to succumb to stress and fatigue), did not fall into chaos. Those who would have stood to gain from claiming the throne after the Sovereign's death paused, the announcement that there was indeed now a named heir to the throne causing uncertainty over what to do. Inquiries were met with the same vague response.
All will be revealed in time. For now, trust in the Crown.
While the rest of the world watched and waited, the royal family planned their next moves. They had a Sovereign to bury, a new one to crown, and a course to be set.
But first, affairs had to be set in order.
Pendragon, April, 2039 A.T.B.
"Poison?"
The physician stared unflinchingly into Emeline's rage-filled gaze, which had cowed many a presumptuous student in her days at the military academy. He looked forward with a solemn but professional gaze, even nodding his head at the female royal's hissed query.
"I am afraid so," the middle-aged man replied. "We only discovered it by chance when analyzing Her Majesty's blood samples taken before she died. It was an insidious agent, and we just as easily could have missed it."
The doctor's clinical answer did nothing to assuage Emeline's grief-fueled fury. To know that her aunt had died far too young was one thing, but for her to have been poisoned? Murdered? She would wring the filthy bastard's neck and flay their family alive if she found who was responsible.
"Who?" Zero asked, the flat tone of his voice modulator hiding none of the rage he undoubtedly shared with Emeline.
"That, is not something I can answer," the doctor said after some hesitation. "If I had to hazard a guess, most likely a disgruntled former noble who desired the throne. There were many such persons who did not look kindly upon the Liberator's legacy, and striking at his sister would have been a perfect way to avenge themselves while furthering their own political ends."
"Treacherous dogs," Mountbatten muttered, this time holding a glass of his beloved bourbon while on the job. No one blamed him. "There are many nobles who would fit that bill. Emperor Lelouch may have killed many, but there were those smart enough not to openly resist and bide their time even if they hated him."
Robert held up his hand, calling for silence. "Thank you for your work, doctor. I and my family are grateful. You are dismissed for now."
The doctor bowed to the royals before leaving, offering his apologies that he'd been unable to do more. Once the doors were shut the acting Sovereign turned to his family.
"How was this allowed to happen?" Robert asked, his tone composed but his eyes like chips of golden ice. "Are there not safeguards in place to prevent this very thing?"
"Most likely one of those safeguards was bought off," C.C. replied, making Emeline clench her fist. Her family was already surrounded by enemies, the last thing they needed was for their own retainers to be against them. Her mother turned to Jeremiah. "Is there anyone in the palace that might resort to such measures? Perhaps out of desperation for money or hatred for the royal family?"
"Not that our background checks could find," Jeremiah said, before his gaze hardened. "But I'm not above using more direct methods to find a snake."
"We must be cautious," William said, surprising the others. "No doubt whoever did this would not hesitate to harm us as well, if they were willing to kill my mother. Acting rashly will only tip them off that we know."
"At least one person out there is responsible for killing her, and you're suggesting we do nothing?" Emeline questioned, her voice incredulous. "They ought to be flayed alive!"
"Trust me, cousin," William replied with an even voice, but Emeline could see it. He was subtly shaking with rage, and his emerald eyes blazed with a fire that only one thing would quench. "Once the culprit is found, I will take the most pleasure out of seeing them suffer for what they have done. But we can't let rage dominate our actions. Too much is at stake for that. We must be calm and calculating, striking when the time is right."
Emeline was surprised at her cousin's words, not expecting such cold reasoning. But she nodded her head in respect. Once they found those responsible, she was sure he would be the first to extract his pound of flesh.
"Indeed," her mother said, also nodding at William. "Besides, it's like the doctor said; there were many nobles who disagreed with Lelouch who managed to escape the purge. We need to be patient, as it could be any of them. Technically, even Eddy here fits the bill."
The New Englander choked on his drink, giving a scandalized glare at the former consort. "Now wait just a minute!"
C.C. waved her hand nonchalantly. "Oh hush, I'm not saying you're a suspect. Besides, even if you lost your rank like everyone else, you have personal reasons to remain loyal to the Crown. I'm just pointing out how large our pool of suspects really is, like you said."
"Regardless," Robert said, gaining everyone's attention. "We will find those responsible, and we will do it in a logical and calm manner like William said. We can vent our rage after they are caught. Which might be sooner than later."
"Oh?" Zero asked, curious what his nephew meant.
"Both a Sovereign's funeral and coronation are set to happen soon," Robert said with a small, cold smirk. "No one could refuse an invitation to such an important occasion. We don't need to look for our enemies, they'll come to us. We can set our spies to work, weed out those who know more than they let on, and find our marks. Then we will exact our revenge."
"I can draft invitations, make them as public as possible," Mountbatten said. "Even those who spoke out against the Crown, few as they were, cannot outright refuse without severely damaging their image in the eyes of the commoners. Even diminished, the monarchy's image is strong in the eyes of the people."
"Do so," Robert said with a nod, turning to Jeremiah. "Lord Gottwald, have the guards you know to be loyal and trustworthy to keep an extra eye on their compatriots. Any suspicious activity that is spotted I want on my desk. Make sure that all shipments into the palace are thoroughly inspected as well."
The two men bowed, exiting the room with a murmured 'Yes, Majesty.' Robert turned to Zero and William.
"Uncle, Cousin, I know it will be hard, but you two must publicly act as if we do not know this information. We must not tip off our enemy, otherwise they might panic and slip through our fingers."
The two nodded, William's face pained but understanding. "So long as the bastards are caught, we'll do what it takes."
"I'll do everything in my power," Robert promised, his face solemn.
"We all will," Emeline said, before moving to her cousin and enveloping him in a hug. "We won't let this stand, William. No one harms our family."
"I know," William said, returning the embrace, and after a moment they parted. The prince and his father made for the door. "Father, perhaps we should go for a ride? It might clear our heads."
"I think so too," Zero said, turning briefly before he exited. "I can hold for a time, Robert. But remember that even if I'm a patient man. I won't let this stand for long."
"You won't have too, Uncle," her brother replied.
With that the only ones left in the room were the twins and their mother. Emeline immediately made for where Mountbatten had left the bottle of bourbon and poured herself a glass. "Damn politics," she said, downing the glass in one go. "There's a reason I decided on the military academy."
"You know that's terrible for your liver, Emeline?" C.C. said, a slight scolding in her tone.
The raven-haired woman stared blankly. "Mom, I've watched you devour entire meat lover pizzas for a snack. If it wasn't for your Code, you would be dead of a heart attack three times over. One glass won't kill me."
Her mother pouted, knowing that logically her daughter was right but not wanting to concede when her favored food was under attack. "Pizza never caused any DUIs though…"
Emeline shook her head, long used to her mother's antics. It wasn't her place to question anyway, though she would have killed to know the thoughts in her father's head when he fell in love with the lime haired woman.
"So, what are we gonna do once those bastards show up?" Emeline asked her brother, eager to know his plan.
"Immediately, nothing," Robert said, looking out the window. "We'll have more time to gauge who our target is once the old peerage is gathered here. Once we know more, then we can decide how to proceed."
Emeline nodded, thinking it a sound idea in spite of her earlier outburst. Logically, she knew it was best to gain a solid understanding of the battlefield before charging in. That applied to politics as well as war.
"I hate to say it," she said, gaining attention from her mother and brother. "But this does create an opportunity. We always wondered how to go about restoring the aristocracy without letting the snakes back in. This will give us the chance to corral all the trash into one place and get rid of them."
All of them scowled, but C.C. nodded. "You're right. This does accelerate that part of our plans, regardless of how we feel about it personally."
Robert growled, but he also nodded his head in agreement. "I'm going to enjoy killing whichever asshole did this."
The young Sovereign turned to his mother. "Where's Sayoko?"
Suddenly there was the patter of footsteps, and Emeline jumped when she saw that the shinobi was standing right next to her. Like Robert's very words had summoned her. "Gah!"
How the hell does she do that?!
"I have been here, My Lord, waiting to make my report," she said, before prostrating herself. They heard sniffling. "Forgive me! This… this failure is unacceptable! I was lax and complacent, and Lady Nunnally i-is…"
"We all were, Sayoko," Robert said, his face solemn. "None of us thought that she would be poisoned, though we should have prepared for it. If you wish to atone, then help my family seek justice. What do you have to report?"
The clan head of the Shinozakis raised her head, her eyes watery. "Yes, My Lord. My spies report that the people are uncertain, yet there appears to be some hope that a new monarch will bring a change to the country's fortunes. Amongst the former nobles it is mixed, some share the sentiments of the people and see this as a chance for Britannia to resurge provided you are strong enough to rally the country. Others are ambivalent, waiting to see how the tides will flow. And there are those who are disgruntled that an heir was named last minute, having hoped that they would be able to press their own claims to the throne."
Her voice darkened as she mentioned the last group, no doubt concluding like the others that it was among this group that Nunnally's killer would be found. She would be sure to have her spies pay thorough attention to the activities of these would-be nobles. And she would be sure to brush up on her most intensive interrogation techniques for when the time came.
"Very good," Robert said. "Have a list on my desk tonight with the names sorted into each category. As I'm sure you've heard, this was likely an inside job. Comb the palace, leave no stone unturned. Anyone who you find to be suspect, bring them in for questioning. And prepare for the arrival of our noble guests. No doubt our killer is among them. I want no action of theirs unobserved, no paper unread, no word unheard. They will be able to hide nothing."
"As you wish, so it shall be, My Lord," Sayoko replied, eager now for the arrival of the old aristocracy. She would find redemption through the death of her lady's assassin, and she would relish it.
Emeline watched from the side, feeling a pang for the woman who had been a protector of her family since her father's childhood and part of the inspiration for her own martial path. No doubt this weighed on her as heavily as them.
"Go then, and serve us faithfully as you always have," Robert said, but just before Sayoko had exited the room he called out. "And Sayoko?"
The shinobi paused at the door, turning over her shoulder to look at her lord.
"This will not happen again."
The Shinozaki nodded, her face set in resolve as she left. Emeline was sure that was a command she would do everything to see faithfully executed.
Emeline turned as she heard her brother sit down in one of the plush chairs, his lower face covered by his steepled hands. It was a sign of his stress. And he hadn't even been crowned yet.
"Well done, Robert," C.C. said, her smile one of pride. She, along with others, had noticed how easily he had taken charge of the situation. "You are ready for the throne."
"I hope so, Mother," he replied, doubt that he hid from most filling his tone. "I hope so."
Pendragon, April, 2039 A.T.B.
Catherine smiled as she walked the gardens of the Royal Palace with her infant son in her arms. Garbed in a white spring dress and sun hat, she presented a beautiful and eye-catching figure. Behind her one of the maids (Robert had told her it was one of his retainer Sayoko's agents, so they could be trusted) pushed a stroller with various items for the care of an infant and for setting up a picnic. Trailing behind the maid were two royal guards, like her men that could be trusted, their eyes scanning the grounds for any hint of an assassin. She did her best to keep them in the back of her mind, wanting to enjoy the spring air.
Her baby cooed, and Catherine's smile became just a bit wider. "It's a lovely day, yes, it is my sweet Michael. Perfect to play and have fun!"
The boy's amber eyes, so much like his father's, looked at her both in confusion and adoration, her words likely unintelligible gibberish to the infant. Still she smiled. She would do anything for her child, this sweet baby boy which she adored above all other gifts Robert had ever given her.
Her husband was busy making sure everything was in order and getting ready both for Nunnally's funeral and coronation, but he would be joining them later. Catherine did not begrudge his absence; she would have been doing everything in her power to secure justice and vengeance for her family were she in his place. Even without that, she knew what it meant to be royalty, and she knew what it meant when she married a vi Britannia.
Such a kind and loving man, but the world would hate him simply for being born, she thought with a frown. What do they know? They take and take for the sins of those long gone and yet we are the ones in the wrong.
Catherine shook her head, banishing the dark thoughts. Now wasn't the time for that; she was going to bask in the glow of the warm spring day with her infant son.
"Perhaps here is a good spot My Lady?"
Catherine paused as she considered the maid's words, taking in the area just off the stone path. It was not as grand as the pictures she had seen from the time of Emperor Charles, there was no way such a fantastic garden could be justified in the current times, but nonetheless the small grove was beautiful. She smiled.
"Yes, this will do perfectly."
They quickly set up a picnic blanket, the guards giving amused smiles as they were roped into helping. Before long they had an array of light snacks and drinks set up, with Michael set up in a baby swing which dangled plastic stars above him to keep him occupied.
She bade the maid sit with her, knowing the guards would refuse out of principle. Catherine quickly noticed, to her amusement, that while the woman was supposedly a deadly shinobi of the Shinozaki Clan, she was clearly unused to dealing with such domestic things as a picnic.
"Try the sandwich, Inoue, it's actually quite good!"
"I couldn't possibly, My Lady, I'm on duty…"
The blonde woman pouted playfully, silently enjoying the ninja-maid's company. She was a bit stiff and formal, but Catherine could tell under her professional demeanor there was a good-natured spirit. "Perhaps you just don't like my cooking."
The maid looked vainly to the guards for assistance, but only got hidden smirks and averted eyes. Sighing, she took the offered sandwich, biting into it first with hesitation and then gusto as she realized she quite liked the taste. Catherine only smiled.
"Perhaps I might join the ladies as well?"
The guards snapped to attention, and Catherine looked over to see Jeremiah Gottwald walking towards them with a pleased twinkle in his eye. The man had been getting somewhat better the past week, but she still detected hints of the immense sadness he carried.
"It would please me immensely, Lord Gottwald," she said. "Please, help yourself."
The cyborg sat somewhat awkwardly on the picnic blanket, pouring himself a glass of water. He smiled as Michael cooed in his direction, clearly fascinated.
"I see the young one is doing well," he said as he reached out with a single finger. The infant immediately grabbed it in his hand, entranced. Jeremiah chuckled. "Strong as well. He'll make a fine prince."
Catherine observed the Guard Captain, noticing that his face seemed softer than it had on the few occasions she had seen him. Likely it came from being in the presence of his liege lord's grandson. It likely brought him comfort, knowing that against many odds the family he had sworn himself to endured.
"Yes, though I'll be satisfied so long as he grows up to be happy," she said with a smile. "Is there any news?"
"Nothing important. A few of the old nobles have begun to arrive, but aside from that everything has been quiet."
The royal nodded, before leaning closer and whispering, "Has there been any luck in finding a lead?"
Jeremiah shook his head, frowning. "None yet, My Lady, though I'm sure it won't be long. Some of the best spies in the world are working at it, and I've made sure that everything is triple-checked before entering or exiting the palace. If there is a turncoat hiding amongst us, they won't be hidden for long."
Catherine nodded, sincerely hoping that was the case. While she had not been particularly close to Nunnally, she had been kind to her, and Robert had clearly adored his aunt. Even if Catherine privately felt she had not been the best ruler for Britannia, she mourned the tragedy of her passing. She hoped whoever was responsible would soon feel the vi Britannia family's wrath.
"I will pray for your success, Lord Gottwald," she said eventually. Adopting a smile, she changed the subject. "But, enough of that for now. Please, you must try one of the sandwiches!"
Jeremiah accepted, but after a while he eventually had to return to his duties. With a small bow the cyborg walked away, giving a small wave to her baby which was returned with the frantic shaking of the infant's fist as he tried to copy the motion. He, and everyone else, smiled in amusement, and for Inoue's part she tried and failed to contain a small squeal of delight.
A while passed, and soon the young mother and son were joined by her husband, who cast off the presence of an acting ruler as soon as he sat upon the blanket. He stopped being Robert the future sovereign and became Robert the husband and father, and Catherine soaked up every moment of it she could. For she knew it would be an increasingly rare thing as time wore on. In two weeks' time her husband would no longer be entirely hers; in a way he would become wedded to the nation. She did not begrudge him that.
That was, after all, what it meant to be royalty.
Tokyo, April, 2039 A.T.B.
A world away, another family was having a meal of their own. Though the venue was far less calm, being in the middle of a large metropolis.
The family lived in one of the nicer areas of Tokyo, being able to afford a well-furnished and spacious two-story house. It was a warm atmosphere and obviously lived in, with picture frames spaced out along the walls along with various decorations and items of personal value scattered about.
In the kitchen, the sounds and smells of cooking pervaded, and two women did their own parts in preparing breakfast. One was a Japanese girl in her late teens, her dark hair done up in a bun which allowed two bangs to escape and frame her face and onyx eyes. Her body was lithe and fit, and along with her delicate face many would have considered her beautiful. She was dressed in the female uniform of the internationally known Ashford Academy.
The other woman was older, in her late thirties. She too was lithe and fit, but whereas the younger woman was dressed in a school uniform this one was dressed in the uniform of the Black Knights, the military arm of the UFN. Her hair was done in a braid which came down to her shoulder blades, and like the other woman two bangs of fierce crimson framed her face. Unlike the younger woman, however, her features were more mixed, with her complexion being somewhat pale but not unhealthily so, and her eyes being a pair of sky-blue orbs. The shape of her face, however, pointed to some Japanese ancestry.
The two went about their daily morning ritual, and before long a western style breakfast was laid out on their table. The two gave their thanks and dug in, exchanging small talk as they ate. The news ran on the tv in the background.
"So how is school going?" the elder asked, taking a bite of sausage.
"As well as it can, I suppose," the younger answered, sipping her orange juice. "My grades are good, and I should be all set to graduate. The Student Council's also been making steady progress on planning the end of term dance. What about work?"
"…so far, the Royal Palace has given few details…"
"So, so," the elder woman answered. "The simulations all came back with less than stellar results. Our Knightmare tactics aren't as cutting edge as they used to be."
The girl smirked. "Surely the great Red Lotus isn't getting, dare I say it, old?"
She gave a faux dramatic gasp, pressing the back of her forehead as if she were about to swoon. "Whatever shall we do without our darling ace? How will wicked men and Britannians know to keep from evil deeds? Oh, it would be terrible~!"
The redheaded woman's eyebrow twitched, and she gave a half-hearted glare. As she spoke, her voice went from annoyed to sugary sweet and airy. "Oi, oi, Reiko, watch it. I'm not even forty yet. Besides, what about you? Surely all the men at Ashford have noticed you're flowering into a beautiful young woman, especially with the dance coming up. Why, even young Todoh might find himself struck speechless! Whatever shall he do, were the school's darling rose to approach him in blushing innocence and ask-"
"Mom!" the now named Reiko yelled, though it was ruined by her high pitch and blushing face borne of embarrassment.
"…confirmation that an heir has been named, though no name as of yet…"
The two paused for a moment, staring the other down, before both began to laugh at their antics. They laughed long and loud, basking in the ridiculousness and warmth of it all. For them, this was what home meant.
"But seriously," the elder woman continued, this time more seriously. "Do you have a date to the dance yet? I was only half-kidding when I mentioned him, he's a nice boy. Honorable like his father, though far more easy going."
Though it was not as bright as before, Reiko's blush returned. "I, uh, I've been putting it off for the most part. Besides, isn't the guy supposed to ask the girl?"
"…rumors circulating of debate on whether or not to intervene in Britannia, to establish a stable government…"
"Tch, that's what society says. But you're Kallen Kozuki's daughter," Kallen said with a grin. "And Kozukis don't give a damn about society. If you want it, go for it. But I'll still make sure to put the fear of the gods into him if you two do end up together, prestigious father be damned."
Reiko smiled, full of love and respect for her mother. "Thanks, mom."
The two continued on, chatting about anything and everything, a mother and daughter enjoying their time together. Before long they finished their meal and cleared the table, and soon both were getting ready to head out the door.
"…intervention would be unlikely at best, but sure to succeed…"
The two were at the door, ready to begin their day. They smiled at each other before exchanging a hug.
"Have a good day at school, Reiko. Love you."
"Kick ass at work, mom. Love you too."
The two women exited their home before turning in opposite directions. Reiko pulled out her phone and began texting her friends, having memorized the path to Ashford from her house. On jumbotrons in the city, the news channel she and her mother had on as background noise droned on, ignored by many.
"…old nobles reportedly gathering in Pendragon to attend the ceremonies, amidst additional rumors of an assassination of the Sovereign…"
In her peripheral vision, Reiko noticed some people glare at the mention of the Britannian capital. One man spit on the sidewalk. Britannians in the area lowered their heads and tried to be on their way. One walked her way, like her not really paying attention to what was in front of him. They kept walking, closer and closer.
"…Representative Sumeragi has expressed regret at the Sovereign's early passing…"
Reiko and the Britannian man collided, though it wasn't very hard. They looked to each other, and both tried to exchange apologies for not paying attention, awkward and embarrassed smiles on their faces.
"Watch where you're going, damn Brit!"
The Britannian was knocked to the ground, and behind him stood a Japanese man wearing what looked to be an expensive suit. He kicked the Britannian in the side. Most ignored the event. A few sniggered. A police officer did nothing. "Where're your manners, you could have hurt the girl!"
Reiko stared in shock, quickly attempting to intervene. "Hey, hey, we both weren't paying attention and no one got hurt, there's no reason-"
The Japanese man looked at Reiko, and she barely stopped herself from recoiling at the embers of hate smoldering in his eyes. "Don't let him fool you, miss. Britannians will take any opportunity to feel superior over somebody else, you can't let your guard down for a second. They're animals that need to be kept in their place."
Reiko hid a frown at the man's words, a familiar indignation burning inside her.
This isn't what my mom fought for.
"Look, don't worry about it, I'll keep my eye out from now on, 'kay? You just go about your day; it looks like you have somewhere important to be."
The man hesitated, looking like he wanted to stick around just to beat the Britannian some more, before he decided otherwise. "Fine, miss, just don't let them touch you again."
With that he walked off, but not before spitting on the fallen man. Reiko quickly helped him up, attempting to give him a comforting smile, but he quickly walked off, not wanting to attract even more negative attention. He held his chest in pain as he walked away. Reiko frowned, but being unable to do anything about it she continued making her way to Ashford.
"…giving a call for unity and peace around the world as discontent in former Britannian colonies grows…"
Peace, huh? Reiko thought as she approached the front gates of Ashford, along with scores of other students. The incident from earlier stayed with her as she entered the campus. I never heard about any peace like this lasting long.
She made her way to her homeroom, exchanging greetings with acquaintances and friends. Taking her seat Reiko noticed the news as it was being turned off by the teacher. She had just enough time to hear it before being met with a blank screen.
"…regardless, the coronation of the new Sovereign is set to take place in two weeks. Now, onto the stock market report…"
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who favorited, followed, and/or reviewed. Your comments and encouragement were both helpful and insightful.
I'm not used to updating something this fast. Perhaps it has something to do with this being a passion project more than anything. Who knows?
We see that Nunnally's death was not a natural one, and the vi Britannia family is understandably not happy. While they'll be sure to milk the opportunity it presents for all that it's worth, rest assured that when the time comes they will make their displeasure known. Meanwhile, Catherine takes a moment to enjoy time with her family before the plunge into politics and royal responsibility. I also found a surprising amount of enjoyment in the scene with Kallen and Reiko. Those two wrote themselves, and I'm quite happy with how they turned out. I hope you guys found them just as enjoyable to read.
Until next time, and happy reading!