TFW I mine at night
Marrybell mel Britannia, the Witch of Britannia
Imperial Capital Pendragon, recreation centre
Two months after Lelouch's accession
"You know… I'm hearing a new rumour these days, it's about Gino." Kallen mindlessly submitted a mundane subject matter for discussion as Marrybell half-heartedly lend an ear, the majority of her concentration focused on the tablet in front of her.
"What about?" Anya said, aloof as always. It was burdensome to decipher what percentage of her interest was occupied by her video game and what percentage was on their conversation.
"I heard that he's going out with Monica." The reveal was short and simple, with the reaction being lackluster.
"Good for him."
"…You're not twisted about it?"
"Why should I?"
"I thought you two had a thing going on, you know. You were always seen together."
"Your hypothesis… incorrect." The Knight of Six acted detached and apathetic as she was known to be.
"Well, alright then." Kallen also seemed none too curious about Anya's personal life, choosing instead to return to the fictional gaming world they shared.
The arbitrary rhythmed clicks of the mice and keyboards soon became the only noise left in the room. Under the sheet of a comfortable blanket, Marrybell gladly burned away daylight as she remained indecisive on the means to entertain herself during the uneventful hours. She switched taps between all of her social media accounts. Too addicted to her constant barrage of notifications to go offline, yet the span of her patience wasn't long enough for any single website to retain her attention.
"I just need two pieces of diamonds to finish my armour set; do we have any?"
"There's some in the chest back home. They're organized."
"You added to the house again, I see. It's nice."
"Thanks."
Listening to the two teenage pilots talking amidst themselves while enjoying a relaxing video game only served to remind Marrybell of the childhood that was robbed from her, robbed by the ruthless dictator she once called father and the senseless ploys he schemed behind the scenes. Had the fabrication of an existence implanted onto her not been broken a year back, Emperor Charles' Geass would have kept her as a spoiled princess foolishly undertaking a futile endeavour to erase all traces of darkness in a world of grey.
Nothing… I lived for nothing. Eighteen years I've been alive, all wasted and meaningless. It was unnervingly frightening, just remember how pointless her entire existence had been before the truth was revealed to her. Well… except for Oz… all but you, Oz.
Oldrin was the one and the only beam shining through the bleak emptiness that was Marrybell's life, the glinting light at the end of the tunnel, the ruby slippers at the end of her adventure. Except now… I've chased you away too, Oz… will you ever forgive me for everything? And will I be there, when you do?
Slowly, the drowsiness conceived as a side-effect of her medication was consuming her thoughts still lost in nostalgia. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier by the second and quickly the screen of her tablet was blurring into a mishmash of colours instead of words and pictures. However, the only image that managed to remain in her mind after her world went black was the gorgeous face of Oldrin proudly greeting her with a bright smile as she joined Marrybell on their journey together.
Oz… please, say my name… like you used to. Hold me dearly, like you used to…
"-Marrybell… Marrybell!" Somehow, that one wish came true, even if Oldrin's voice was harsher than normal.
"Oz… I love you… Oz…"
"-Aww… Jesus, Marry, why must you be this way…! Wake up already!" However, the loving embrace that was supposed to come next was replaced by a flourish of slaps across her cheeks, brutally yanking Marrybell out of her transient dream.
Snapping awake, Marrybell collected her hazy thoughts and confirmed the fact that Oldrin was really standing before the couch that she had dozed off on. "-Oh- oh! Oz- O-Oldrin! I thought I heard- you were… you were calling me?"
Glares full of disgust and hatred rained down upon the indisposed princess. Oldrin's wordless message of loathing was directly delivered to the core of Marrybell's very being, piercing her heart again for the countless time. "Get up and move. Wizard is on the phone, your room. He has something important to discuss."
"Right… understood, I'll be right there." Their roles as commander and subordinate momentarily reversed, but the rudeness shown to her was fitting for a princess that couldn't punish her knight.
"…Your appearance, keep it proper." However, as Marrybell shifted her weight and sat up straight on the couch, warmth and fondness tugged on the tip of her necktie, a soft touch coming from none other than the righteous knight herself. "Mind your attire, be more presentable than this. You're a sovereign, for crying out loud."
"Oh… yes, of course… thank you." Lost for words at the implausible gesture of kindness, Marrybell kept herself still as a doll while Oldrin tidied up her dress. For a brief second, the young princess was on the verge of fainting, watching and experiencing an affection she believed to be all burnt out.
"All done, now get going, don't waste my time." Tragically, the blissful moment passed all too quickly as her caramel-haired ace discontinued their contact once her princess regained her usual elegance.
Oldrin moved aside accordingly for Marrybell to collected her senses shattered by her inexplicable display of decency. Her eyes naturally darted to the most intriguing aspect of the room, which was the computer screens displaying the game Kallen and Anya had been playing.
"-You there, with the huge sword on your back. Oldrin Zevon, right?" So it didn't come as a surprise for Kallen to address the Glinda Knight's Vice-Commander when she steadily inched closer behind the Knight of Ten to get a better view of her video game.
"Yes, My Lord." To anyone else, Oldrin still acted her duty as a respectful and loyal soldier of Britannia.
"Are you aware that our swords are supposed to be ceremonial?" Kallen casually commented, not taking her focus off the monitor.
"This one is practical."
"…But it is given to you by your liege?"
"Indeed."
"Then don't you think it's just a bit mean to treat her so harshly?" For Kallen to come to her defense turned out to not even be the most shocking event that day.
"That's…" Oldrin stumbled her sentence. She knew that an accusation of disobedience coming from a Knight of Round carried with it tremendous sway, enough to drag her before a court-martial if the evidence all pointed against her favour, which they all happened to do.
"-It's fine! It's fine, Dame Kallen. I permit her to speak to me this way, as long as it does not impede her ability to fulfill her obligation." Marrybell hastily dashed in from the sidelines, drawing the heat away from Oldrin as she forged an excuse on the spot.
"And why would you allow her to do that?" Kallen said coolly, dubious at best. "I'm not one for strict discipline or stupid traditions, but we're knights serving the aristocracy, there're rules to be followed at least."
"It's- it's because I enjoy it! I-I like being talked down upon a-and, and it's just… my thing!" The tension in the air propelled Marrybell to blurt out the first justification that came to her, no matter how absurd and slanderous it could be on her reputation.
Although, it was enough to finally get Kallen to look her in the eye. Her expression of cautious dismay tacked on with a slice of ridicule very plainly told Marrybell that her poor deception wasn't foolproof. "Do you seriously expect me to believe something that retarded? I'm trying to help you straighten her out here."
If there was ever an occasion to stand her ground steadfast, now was it. "That's quite enough, Dame Stadtfeld! Oldrin is my knight… mine! I can understand your concern for me, and I am grateful for such a passion for a knight's etiquette. But you will not intrude upon my authority and trample my pride!"
"…You're really not making this—"
"-Don't mine at night." Abruptly, Anya's collected voice interrupted the escalating debate.
"-W-what? What did you say?"
"It's almost nighttime, don't go and mine so late. Let's sleep." It took both Kallen and Marrybell a full second to understand the Knight of Six was actually referring to their video game.
"…Right, I'm coming back now."
"Do we have enough eye of ender for the portal?"
"We need- hmmm… two more."
"I have the pearls. We just need some blaze powder."
While the two were distracted by their game, Marrybell whispered an inaudible thanks to Anya as she passed her by on her way out of the room with Oldrin in tow.
Kururugi Suzaku, Knight of Zero
Imperial Capital Pendragon, Medical Ward
Suzaku glanced down at his fingers, noticing the chipped nails scratching the inside of his palm, causing a mild itch. It didn't occur to him until a moment later that he was the one who involuntary chewed on them. It wasn't a habit he normally would associate with himself, but the automatic tic did mask his nervousness well enough when he stared intensely through the one-way mirror of Euphie's hospital room.
In his eyes, she took on the shape of an angel, so pure and virtuous, perhaps too innocent for the world. Perhaps the tragedy that befell Euphemia was a way for the universe to take revenge upon her, to sully her name and tarnish her belief in a horrendous act of betrayal that reduced the once perfect princess to a short-lived villain.
Still, Suzaku believed none of it. He was here to mend Lelouch's terrible mistake and he wouldn't stop so close to the finish line.
Suzaku watched through the mirror as the door opened and in walked an immortal, a doctor's white coat hanging loosely over her shoulders. Euphemia also perceived the guest, greeting C.C. with a tried gaze.
"How're you doing, Euphemia?"
"Shackled." Euphie rattled the handcuffs which bound her wrist to the metal frame of her hospital bed.
"It's a precautionary measure, you understand."
"…"
Euphie paused gravely, her twitching figure under the bedsheet spoke volumes for the frustration that threatened to overflow. However, C.C. kept herself nonchalant in the presence of a fuming royalty. She pulled a chair up beside the bedridden Euphie, clinking the heels of her shoe against the underside of the princess' bed.
"I have your medical report, says your physical body is in good shape. There's not even the need for rehabilitation since technically your body is brand new." C.C. continued, reciting the content of the clipboard in her hand from memory.
"Yet I'm still confined."
"We're getting there. Patience, little missy."
"I assume you didn't visit me to teach that virtue."
"Are you so eager to get it over with?"
"Let's just cut to the chase. Whatever Zero- …whatever Lelouch did to me, it hasn't been undone."
Suzaku felt within him complicated emotions he couldn't decrypt through logical thought processes alone. He brought his fingers up a particular spot on his neck, where the fading mark of Euphemia's print still stung, just not physically. Compared to her frantic impulse and the determination she surged when her hand reached up to strangle him, what scared the knight the most was the amount of strength he applied when he pried her off him.
— —
"Restrain her, keep her down!" C.C. shouted over the commotion, asserting her authority as Suzaku was frozen in a momentary stupor.
"B-be careful with her, she isn't… she's still weak." Suzaku spout to the few doctors that buckled Euphemia to the stretcher. He trusted them to be medical professionals in the field once they nodded in acknowledgement.
"Hey, hey… you doing alright?" C.C.'s display of genuine reassurance was uncanny, but not unappreciated.
"We should've seen this… I-I should've thought of it when I recovered her body. Damn it all…" Guilt was rapidly eating away the elation Suzaku felt moments prior, guilt over his own miscalculation and negligence.
"Don't feel too bad. Nobody could've seen this coming, and I actually mean it. Never have I ever witnessed a successful resurrection, so this's the least that could go wrong."
"But it did, it's a mistake I can't afford. Lelouch's Geass on her, to kill all the Japanese… it's still there." Suzaku's nerves managed to prevail against sheer fright and chaos during the entire ordeal, or did he recollect himself after Euphemia showed her bloodlust? It was still a jumbled mess in his head, but that didn't change the facts of the matter at hand.
"What're oranges for, am I right? I'll give him a call." It was a valiant attempt on C.C.'s part to perk up the mood, sadly it was doomed to stay as only an effort, not a solution.
"Hold on… what do you think tethers her soul to her body…?" Suzaku dreaded coming to the realization all too soon, seeing C.C. grinding her teeth at the same deduction added fuel to the fire.
"…Oh. But… I thought she just needs a body- no… you're right, the dead aren't meant for the world, or else she can just travel between the realms like us."
"A Geass stays on a person- no, it alters the brain, so it stayed on her even after death."
"If we use a canceller on her right now, assuming it'll clear Lelouch's Geass… and yours too. Do you think it'll send her soul back to the Collective Consciousness?" C.C. asked, her frown told Suzaku she wouldn't enjoy receiving the answer any more than he would enjoy providing it.
"I do not know, is dying the same as having your spirit set loose?"
"If it's not… then…"
"I won't take this risk, not with what we know now."
"This… has become a difficult situation."
— —
"Sadly, it does seem that way. Your brain was repaired based on the last MRI scan that was taken, before your death. Sadly, that is after you went mental. Technically, we're at fault, we should've predicted something like this happening."
"I see… can it be undone?" Back to the interview, Suzaku twitched at the mention of the pink girl's crippling compulsion.
"It's… more complicated than what we thought, I'll tell you the full story another time. But for now, no."
Observing from the viewing room next door, Euphemia presented no reaction of any sort to the disclosure, forcing C.C. to alter her angle of approach.
"Anyway, what's the last thing you remember, in life?" C.C. diverted, prodding Euphemia to re-evaluate her situation.
"I was dying. Aboard the Avalon, in my bloody dress after Lelouch shot me." Cold and unfeeling was her attitude towards her own demise.
"Then you remember everything, how do you feel about that right now?"
"I… I hear this voice…whispering to me. Telling me to kill them all, kill all the Japanese… kill every single last one of them, be it man, woman or children." Euphie recounted, her expression insipid and emotionless. "But it's not my voice, is it? It's Lelouch's. He did this to me, he made me murder all those people."
It was too surreal how sincerely Euphemia was accepting of her atrocity, so lukewarm and guiltless. Of course, Suzaku had no intention of pinning the death of thousands onto the princess, who was arguably just another victim of Lelouch's ambition. But he definitely believed that was a mindset they had to suggest for Euphemia to agree, not one she was willing to adapt so effortlessly.
"It's not my fault, I did everything in my power to help them. I sacrificed a life of luxury and privilege to aid his goal… and he repaid me with a bullet to the stomach."
"Missy, the way you're putting it—"
"And he just keeps getting away with it! Look where we're now! He's sitting on top of the throne, the Emperor! And I'm a walking corpse, once discarded, now unburied- all for what!? I died for what? …Nothing!" A despicable glare resurfaced, the restraints binding Euphemia to bed clanged violently as she quivered her arms.
"At least… at least let me see Suzaku… I've been stuck here for days now, I can't handle this anymore… please…"
"You could pose a danger to him, or yourself."
"What am I gonna do, roast him to death!?" It wasn't a half-bad argument, must be why C.C. countered with nothing. "…I beg you, C.C… just let me see him again! I know you won't lock me in here forever, and I know I can't avoid this confrontation forever."
"…" Thoroughly examining what Euphemia claimed, C.C. again rebutted nothing.
"C.C. I believe in the power of love. Please, give it one more chance." That was something the old Euphie would say, Suzaku assured himself.
"…I'll be back." The sharp beep of an electronic lock unbolting was soon followed by the audible footsteps of the witch entering the opposite side of the room.
"You heard what she said."
"I'll go see her." Suzaku unwaveringly announced; his determination already set in stone.
"Yeah… not surprised. Be careful though, you saw what the Geass on you can make you do, don't underestimate hers."
"Right. You wanna come with… or?"
"Nah, I'll get you two some false sense of privacy." A wordless nod later, the Knight of Zero was the one typing the passcode into the door lock.
Surprisingly, Suzaku wasn't hitting the level of stress he imagined he would be as he rested his hand on the doorknob; had he measured his heart rate at that moment, he was confident it wouldn't even reach the triple digits. Maybe it was thanks to having already met Euphie, albeit an incomplete and childish one in the World of C that took the tension out of a true reunion after a full year. Hopefully, that was the case, and in time he would let the joyous days of old fill his daily life again.
With fortitude in his steps, Suzaku slid aside the door and entered. Euphemia turned to discover her newest guest, and in doing so a couple of changes to her psyche happened in rapid succession.
Firstly, she smiled cheerfully at the sight of Suzaku, indubitably delighted to be granted at least one wish of hers. However, the following second, just as her conscious perception fully registered his existence, her previous smile contorted to an agonizing scowl. The luster in her eyes was smothered in an instant and her breath so suddenly grew ragged. Euphemia abruptly twirled around, hiding her grimace from Suzaku.
"…Euphie—" The knight was stopped dead in his tracks by the open palm the princess raised to signal to him; step no further.
Euphemia shivered uncontrollably beneath her white sheets, the restraints digging into her wrist marked a fine red circle over the surface of her pale skin as she struggled fruitlessly, thrashing into thin air. It was excruciating to see his former liege suffer such a tremendous headache brought on by her irrepressible desire to kill. Suzaku sadly winced at the ill-favoured appearance of Euphie, knowing he was powerless to help her only sunk his heart deeper.
"I-I'll step out just—"
"-NO! DON'T! Stay…! Stay!" Euphemia demanded through a high-pitched scream, freezing Suzaku to where he stood. "I won't be beat!"
The horrific depiction of Euphie's anguish in plain view made Suzaku wonder; was she meant to endure the burden of Geass until not a single Japanese person was left alive? It was surely beyond impossible, but to what length would it force her to act?
It wasn't obvious whether Euphemia was winning the fight against her inner demon, her exterior appearance was defined by her spasmodic convulsion and agonizing puffs. Suzaku intuitively sealed his eyes to shun away the reality that he was causing the princess so much pain. After a cursory deliberation with himself, he decided to exit the room regardless of the pink-haired girl's orders.
However, a resounding bang put an end to the relentless groans behind him. Suzaku initially thought it was the sound of Euphie's handcuffs breaking apart, adding a grave deal of tension to their situation. But when he laid eyes on her again, everything seemed normal, excluding the trail of blood dripping down over her face.
"Euphie! What did you…!" She had smashed her forehead against the railings of her bed, it became rather obvious to what extent she would go to stop herself as Suzaku rushed to her side.
"That… worked." Euphie whispered meekly; all her energy seemingly zapped out of her frail body. Suzaku was too busy regaining his composure and cleaning the wound on her temple to agree.
Euphemia remained steady as Suzaku carefully wiped off vestiges of her blood. Her sight still appeared unfocused and her neck sweaty after the unimaginable torment of her will, but the shine of a clement princess had returned to her features. "Suzaku, let me take a look at you."
Her elegant fingers gently caressed his cheeks, smoothing over the wrinkles of his furrowed brow and tracing the lines of tears that Suzaku didn't realize he had shed. He wouldn't admit the truth to anyone, but the sensation of Euphemia's touch was something he had forgotten all about until she reminded him of it, and it made him complete for the first time in so long.
"When I'm with you… you make me forget this curse that's placed upon me. Oh… how I missed you so, Suzaku. My protector, my knight… my love." Euphie affectionately whispered in his ear; a slight blush took shape when she paused at the last word.
"I… I'm sorry, I should've seen this coming. I-I should've considered something like this happening." If it would ease the exertion on Euphemia, Suzaku would take her burden at the drop of a hat.
"Don't be foolish, Suzaku. You'll be the last one I can blame for what happened. You brought me back, silly. You brought me back so I can… kill all the Japanese—" Precipitously, Euphie halted her sentence. The severity of her bloodlust was obviously spelt out over her demoralizing expression. "-God… I-I can't stop thinking about it."
"It's gonna be okay, Euphie. We'll fix it- fix you, together."
"Yeah… if I'm with you, I think I can do it." Weakly, Euphie nodded. Seeing the princess on the path to recovery also untied the knot in the pit of Suzaku's stomach. "Although for now, I'd like to rest for a bit… feeling this strongly about killing the Japanese people does tire me out. We can spend more time together later."
"Right…" It wasn't a very humorous joke on Euphie's part, but Suzaku didn't have the stark guts to berate her for telling it. "You get some sleep now. I'll be here whenever you need help."
"One last thing… I have to make sure you understand me. I was so utterly foolish my last life, wasted it all for nothing. I promise I won't do that to you again, my love. Nothing in this world matters to me anymore, all except for you." Euphemia's abstract violet irises narrowed. Her transfixing stare fixated on the reflection of herself in the one-way mirror.
Suzaku heard a crisp snap of something breaking near Euphie, he looked to the source of that noise and discovered her polished nail had splintered, caused by the sheer force of her grip on the bed frame.
"Father once said that the truth of the world is the strong devour the weak, so you can say I deserved to be devoured… but this time, if it's between eating or being eaten… I'll feast."
Marrybell mel Britannia, the Witch of Britannia
Imperial Capital Pendragon, Pisces Imperial Villa
"—So you're telling me what? You telling me nothing Lelouch hasn't told me! I can read a map too, uncle! And guess what? I'm also not colour-blind- so I can bloody see the parts of this bollock graph marked orange!" Deep down, Marrybell knew that her Sub-Viceroy didn't deserve to be on the receiving end of her temper. Then again, she wouldn't be having a temper in the first place if he hadn't called to discuss another crisis on the horizon.
"—Therefore, you understand the urgency of this situation. Now that Germany and a majority of France have joined the UFN, we need to deploy drastic measures to ensure our population doesn't turn towards the federation."
"—What measures!? They want democracy, but they don't understand what democracy is! They think that if I abdicate, the people can just snap their fingers and we'll go from a capitalistic Monarchy to- to what? What do they want? A communist shithole!? God! I'm a queen ruling over hordes of idiots!" The flow of obscenity came so naturally out of Marrybell that she could almost pretend she was a sailor in her past life.
"—Marrybell, that's quite enough. Calm down." Wizard had a way with words that made him sound so much more sincere than he really was, yet at the same time giving him the assertive aura that Marrybell instinctively wanted to obey.
"—Don't tell me that! Why don't you calm down! Why don't you take my pills every morning and throw up every night…!" Her juvenile attitude seeped through every syllable she screamed into the video camera of her computer. If it wasn't for the ticking clock in Wizard's background, she would seriously wonder if the call was dropped halfway through.
"—If you want, I can book you an appointment with a doctor in Pendragon."
"—…I could be locked up in a mental asylum tomorrow and you wouldn't know about it until they send you a check for my funeral." Marrybell scorned at the older Zevon who she one day wished would be her uncle-in-law, that dream wasn't been reflected in her treatment of him at the moment.
One, just one. A single parental figure in Marrybell's life that wasn't a manipulative and scheming conspirator would be enough. All she ever wanted as a kid was to be loved, somehow the universe deemed that too ridiculous of a wish to hold and stole from her every piece of happiness she managed to scrape by at every opportunity.
"—Marrybell, I'll take care of this situation. Fortunately, the treaty the Emperor signed with UFN will at least prevent a full-blown war. You need to make sure you get your treatment for your… illness." Oiaguro suggested, it didn't occur to Marrybell that she could be ill in any capacity whatsoever.
"—What I need… what I need is to…" Kill myself.
That was what Marrybell initially considered saying, but she decided to rephrase it in a more proper manner. "—Wizard… I want to die."
"—…That's your teen angst speaking."
"—I'm eighteen years old."
"—Hence my point." The young princess exhaled, already too drained to provide a counter-argument.
"—Am I too demanding? Am I asking too much from God himself? Is happiness really this hard to come by? I just want to be with Oldrin… and Orpheus… so we can spend all day doing nothing… you know? Going to school in the morning, sleeping in class, gossiping during lunchtime… all that… childlike stuff."
"—You still can, it's not too late."
"—It is too late! I look down at my hands… and all I see is red! I wash it, clean it, scrub it- but the blood won't come out! I've done irreversible deeds… and for what? Everything I thought I knew was a lie! I cannot believe I once imagining ridding our society of terrorism will solve its plague!" It was the belief of an immature child, a child that Marrybell secretly couldn't stop herself from hoping to revert to.
"—Nobody is beyond salvation. You deserve a good life as much as anyone else, Marrybell."
"—But not everyone can offer it! Except I can! I can offer it… for just ten thousand lives, the world will know peace in our time." Oiaguro remained speechless for a short period afterwards.
"—I… have no right to change your mind, Marrybell. I want to, but I know I won't be able to." Across the Atlantic, Wizard massaged the bridge of his nose and sighed in fatigue. "—I can only hope Oldrin and Orpheus are there with you every step of the path… just so maybe they can help you see another way, that you also… deserve a life worth living."
"—Don't bet on it. One hates my guts, and the other pity my desperation." They always watched her with similar light in their eyes, Marrybell knew all too well. Oldrin's detestation and Orpheus's sympathy, their glance could rupture her beating heart if they honestly wanted, she just knew.
"—If you truly believe that. Then I must presume you don't know my niece and nephew as well as I do, and that is saying a lot."
"—Shut up, Wizard…" Marrybell softly quipped, her previous anger had already faded away. "—You tried to kill both of them at some point in your life."
"—Ergo, my statement. I don't know them well. Nevertheless, Oldrin and Orpheus are kind children, especially Oldrin. She will forgive you for what you did to her, because she cares for you more than she's willing to admit."
"—You have no clue what I did to her. If you did, you won't be making bold claims like this." The persons knowledgeable about Marrybell's unthinkable crimes could be counted on one hand, none of whom would share the details with their uncle Zevon.
"—Perhaps you're right, I wasn't there. Perhaps the damage is already done and can't be healed, I won't know. But will it really hurt to try to mend that wound? All of you are quite young… only eighteen, in fact." Wizard's opinion was so close to making Marrybell giggle, she huffed through her nose to accommodate for her lack of laughter.
"—Shut up, Wizard… I'm gonna hang up now. Sorry for yelling at you… again."
"—I wish you the best of luck upon your ventures."
"—…You too uncle, don't ruin my area in my absence."
— —
A knock on her door. There could only be two individuals paying her a visit so late into the evening. Marrybell gestured her approval with a wave of her hand from behind her office table, the foolishness her signal only registered in her mind about half a dozen seconds later.
"Enter." She tried again vocally, and the door swung open lightly. It was Oldrin, dressed in her uniform as always.
"Marrybell." Her Vice-Commander jogged to her side, peeking over her shoulders at the computer as Marrybell edited the content of a document. "…What're you doing?"
"…Huh? Who?" The princess jolted upwards, anxious by the mixture of confusion and concern on display from her childhood friend.
"Marrybell… try reading this line." Marrybell squinted at the screen to better identify the location of Oldrin's finger.
"Okay…? 'As the Viceroy of Area Twenty-four, I am responsibible for the thing that happened at the operational stage of the operation during that which the popoulatin—' well… that… isn't right." It was an indiscernible mess she had typed out, and strangely she didn't realize that fact until her knight spellchecked her paragraph.
"When is the last time you slept, Marry?"
"What-? J-just yesterday! W-why?" Caught off-guard by Oldrin's usage of her nickname, Marrybell failed to sound convincing as she tried to cover for her sleepiness.
"You always seemed tired at random times these days, earlier today as well. Are you not getting enough sleep?"
"No-! It's- it's fine! I'm fine! Really! You don't need to be so bothered by it."
"Are you sure? You need to take better care of yourself." Oldrin leaned in a tiny bit closer, the sweet scent of her shampoo paired nicely with her silky hair as some strands drifted over Marrybell's ear.
"S-Stop it! Why're you acting this way? Don't… don't do that! Don't give me hope…"
Either stunned by Marrybell's stern insistence or the realization of her own tender sentiment, Oldrin was quick to retract the distance between her and her liege. The sheer temptation to push her enchanting knight down onto the carpet overwhelmed Marrybell's rational senses for the duration of their contact, her beating heart pulsed feverishly at the notion of indulging in Oldrin even after she retreated out of her reach.
"You… you're an important piece on our path through the yellow-brick road. I can't have you falling sick over something as moronic as languor." Oldrin picked her words carefully, the harshness returned to her attitude without missing a beat.
"Right… thank you."
"What is this document for?"
"Lelouch, he wants me to give my speculations on the recent development with regards to the UFN intruding on Britannia territories by means of their aggressive propaganda. The accession of Germany and France into the federation is a grave blow to our standings in Europe… if it continues like this…"
"We could lose Spain to the UFN, that would endanger everything we've worked for so far." Soberly, Marrybell nodded.
"War… is something we'd like to avoid, for now. Until we're ready to put an end to it." Sometime in the near future, war will arrive on the doorsteps of Britannia. That is an inevitable doom nobody could avoid.
"When will you be ready?"
"We're almost there. Capital, manpower, resources, an armada… we have them, tools for the trip ahead."
"No. I said, when will you… be ready?" The emphasis of her tone was clear, she couldn't deflect Oldrin's resolve to pass down her judgement anymore. It was another crack in her armour, all of which pierced by her lover's words.
I'm ready… I've always been ready.
Her own survival wasn't something so precious she was willing to protect at all cost. Not when the majority of her life was a cruel fabrication of lies, all strung for someone else's benefit. Not when she could use it for the salvation of the billions of souls alive on the blue earth. Not when she must atone for the irredeemable sins she committed.
"I… I… I want to live, Oldrin!" However, facing down her best friend and beloved, she couldn't speak the lie on the tip of her tongue. The dam that had been on the verge of breaking down for so long finally burst open. "I want to be with Orpheus… be with you! Together as a family, Oz! I-I… I am only eighteen years of age…! I still have so much life to see…! I don't… I don't wanna die, Oz… I want… I want you, to be with you!"
Marrybell clumsily stammered forward, grasping at the vague figure of Oldrin obfuscated by the tears pouring out of her eye. She thought for sure her knight would dodge the unkempt mess of a Viceroy that charged her way, but instead the caramel-haired pilot allowed for her neat attire to be dirtied by the distraught princess weeping shamefully.
It had been so long since Oldrin embraced Marrybell, yet it felt like only yesterday that she was held so fondly in the arms of her beautiful ace.
"Give up the yellow road, Marrybell. So that someday, down the line… I can still forgive you."
"No! No, I cannot! I cannot! I shoulder the burden of all those that perished under my rule! I have to do something for the world… to end our era of endless war and conflict!" If Marrybell turned her back on the hundreds and thousands she had condemned to death, their lives would have been wasted meaninglessly.
Minutes ticked on; the occupants of the large bedroom remained still. Marrybell clung onto Oldrin's waist, trying her utmost to sniff back her runny nose. However, the Devicer was lenient and tolerant, petting the hysterical princess as her mother once did.
"Then… why don't we use the other plan you thought up? Yeah, you always have a backup plan, Marry. What did you call it again? Operation Ooze dice?" Oldrin half-joked after Marrybell had mostly collected herself, a much gentler tone than before.
"…Operation Ozymandias. It's obvious you didn't listen when I suggested it, or else you wouldn't have brought it up."
"What's wrong with it?"
"It's infeasible… I can't even say it without goosebumps running down my back."
"Try me." Undeterred by Marrybell's warning, Oldrin pressured. But even in her overwrought state, the royalty knew her knight could never accept the horrors that she sought.
"Oz, what would you choose? Me… or fifty million lives?" As expected, Oldrin was shocked and silent.
"I see… so it won't work." The young pilot recoiled slightly, just the concept of it was probably terrorizing her mind.
"No, it won't."
Thus, that was the end of their session together. A session for what, that wasn't clear to Marrybell, but she knew it was a stretch of time she would forever treasure. With her mood having mostly recovered and Oldrin mostly reverted back to her distant self, they regained the personal space soon after, neither of whom spoke in an amicable manner as they did.
"I… I need some time to work through this, Marrybell. I didn't mean to bother you for so long."
"It's no bother, you can always come by, Oldrin."
"And… err… thank you, for earlier today. Covering for me with Dame Stadtfeld."
"It's alright… you're an important piece to me, I can't have you be arrested for something so moronic." An abashed Oldrin shied away from revealing her expression, taking the steps in the direction of the exit.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Your Highness."
"I'll see you as well, my benign knight."
— —
Author's note
When I try to proofread my story, I already know what word is next so when a word is misspelt or something it doesn't even register in my head. Kinda annoying. I'd like a beta, it'd be nice to have. Otherwise, sorry for any mistakes you've spotted in all the chapters, let me know so I can fix them.
The length of these chapters are pretty sporadic, mostly depending on where I think is a good place to end off. I always try to start a chapter with low tension and see where it goes from there. Let me know if you think the pacing and chapter length is too slow or fast or short or long.
I want to say something big is probably gonna happen in about five chapters, give or take. Hopefully, it'll be more exciting or whatever by then, cause I know this story gets a bit boring sometimes when it's just character interaction and setups to future plot points. I don't think I've left a Chekhov's gun anywhere that won't be fired, but then again I can't spell Chekhov without searching it up.
Thanks to everyone that's been taking a look at my look, I'll never refuse a follow or a favourite on this story, nice ego-boost, not gonna lie. Obviously, reviews are appreciated too, but it doesn't bother me when a nothing chapter doesn't receive well, so just kill some time reading this story and that makes me happy.
