Chapter 1: All Because of Nunnally

…Charles was by all accounts a harsh man and it is doubtful whether he held any affection for his numerous wives. For Charles, marriage was just a powerful tool to create political alliances. Marianne, unlike many of his wives, supported Charles's claim to the throne before he was crowned Emperor. Instead of tying herself to his cause by marriage, she became his Knight of Honor. Shortly after Charles seized the throne and her eighteenth birthday, they married. No longer able to be a Knight of Honor, she continued to fight for her husband as the Knight of Six. To many, she was his favored wife and their rumored relationship is the basis for many love dramas…

—Charles and Marianne: A Couple that Changed the World

Aries Villa

Empress Marianne had dismissed the royal guard. An unusual occurrence, but their constant presence had to be stifling. Cornelia ignored the slight twinge in her chest. Lady Marianne was an excellent warrior, having never lost a duel. She just wanted her privacy and the time of bloodshed had long passed. Within the manor, there was nothing that could harm her.

Cornelia's footsteps echoed as she finished her last inspection and headed to check on her two younger half-siblings. Lelouch and Nunnally were rambunctious little rascals and it would be just like them to use the guard's absence as an excuse to pull another prank.

Pausing in front of an unusually candid photo of her father enraptured by a book beneath a tree, Cornelia smirked. It was a picture she hadn't seen before. The Emperor guarded his likeness zealously and Cornelia knew that the photo would mysteriously vanish after his next visit.

The carousel of photos was a game between him and Lady Marianne. Undoubtedly, she would replace the photo once he left and their scavenger hunt would recommence. Eventually, he would retaliate by taking her favorite book or movie hostage and she would either apologize or steadfastly ignore him.

None of his other wives had the courage to snub him. Not even Cornelia's mother.

A loud creak brought her out of her musings. She had a feeling she knew who it was, but still, she held her spear securely. If there was an attack, a gun would be more effective, but the spear was customary for the royal guard. She tensed and rounded the corner.

It was Nunnally, as expected.

"Why aren't you in bed, sweetie?"

Nunnally hid her hands behind her back. "Nothing."

She looked cute, shifting from foot to foot nervously. Sighing, Cornelia pulled Nunnally's hands forward and glanced in amusement at the frosting. The sight was familiar. Her own sister, sweet Euphemia, would also sneak into the kitchens for a little extra dessert.

"You know you aren't supposed to sneak food, Nunnally."

"Please don't tell Mommy, Nellie. Please?"

That manipulative little angel. Her shoulders shook as she suppressed the chuckle that sought to escape. Nunnally and Euphemia were really kindred souls... except...

"Is Lelouch behind your little escapade?"

She blinked and pouted. "Don't use big words, Nellie! It's not fair. And please don't tell Lulu."

She looked so innocent staring down at the floor. But Cornelia knew the spiel after all these months. "You little rascals are up to something. Now off to bed before I tell your mother."

Nunnally looked vaguely disappointed in herself. Distraction then. Bed first and then Cornelia would find Lelouch. Hopefully he wasn't going after her hair product... again.

Nunnally tilted her head to the side and Cornelia stilled. What was she hearing?

"MOMMY! NO!" Nunnally screamed and then she was off, running down the hallway.

Cornelia dropped her spear and pulled out her gun; whatever spooked Nunnally could be a danger. "Royal guards, move in. This is your commander, Cornelia, ordering you to move in."

Nunnally ran towards the atrium. Rapid gun fire, muffled by wooden doors, resounded through the still air. Cornelia pushed Nunnally to the floor and burst into the atrium just in time to see her mentor collapse on the stairs.

A small figure hurried through the darkness and Cornelia fired, her bullets flying wide.

Cornelia ran past Lady Marianne and her boot squelched in a slowly growing pool of blood.

No. No... This could not be happening. Orders. Training. Deep breath.

"The royal family is under attack. Secure the building and the prince and princess. Let no one leave. The attacker is small and has an automatic gun." She crouched down by her empress, who was thankfully still breathing, slowly and painfully, but still alive. Her hands shook as she pressed the emergency care button. She had never thought it would be necessary. "Lady Marianne, just hold in there, you're going to be fine."

Blood welled up from bullet holes and Cornelia glanced at her blood stained hands as she helplessly tried to apply pressure. So much blood. The simple brown work dress that Marianne favored grew dark. Like a rotting wound. What was she supposed to do?

Behind her, Nunnally was screaming and she could hear Lord Gottwald trying to comfort her as he escorted her away. This wasn't supposed to happen. Assassinations were supposed to be over now that their father was the Emperor. Poor Nunnally and Lelouch. She remembered what it was like to constantly fear for her life. She wanted to make sure no child ever felt that kind of fear. That was why she was a soldier. But she had failed.

"You've got to survive."

Blood soaked into the carpet and trailed down the stairs. Lady Marianne was silent except for her shallow breaths becoming quieter and quieter.

Pendragon National Hospital

Lady Marianne would survive. She had to. She was a knight and an empress. There was no way she would allow herself to die. Cornelia's eyes trailed up the paneled walls to look at the clock. It had been too long. She looked back at the guards standing along the walls. There was nothing she could do but wait... She just had to wait and hope for the best.

Wait. Like she waited for the medical team. Like she waited for the helicopter to arrive at the hospital. Wait...

She was the Captain of Empress Marianne's royal guard... and all she could do was wait.

The door swung open to reveal Lord Gottwald escorting Nunnally and Lelouch, still in their nightgowns with dried tears shimmering in the light. Lord Gottwald guided the two royals to the couch and they sat. Lelouch observed the room, poised and upright, while Nunnally hid her face in his lap. Lord Gottwald snapped to attention before Cornelia.

"Any news, Commander?"

She shook her head as she glanced back up at the clock. "Empress Marianne is still in surgery."

He relaxed marginally before dropping to his knee and bowing his head in shame. "Forgive me, Your Highness, I failed to protect her."

What? He failed to protect her? Lady Marianne was only alive because of Nunnally's keen ears. Chance. Simple. Stupid. Chance. What was he supposed to have done?

Cornelia had ordered the royal guard to withdraw as per Lady Marianne's request. She should have left someone with her. She had failed to take her job seriously, thinking that nothing could happen in this day and age. The Emblem of Blood was over. Royals weren't supposed to fear assassinations in the dark anymore. No one would risk the Emperor's wrath. Not after he executed his own wife for trying to assasinate Schneizel.

The royal guard was supposed to be ceremonial… but she had been wrong. Now, Lady Marianne might pay for her foolish mistake with her life.

Surprisingly, Lelouch snapped at them both, "You both failed to protect my mother. She may very well be dead because of your negligence, but there's nothing you can do about that now. Just find the assassin who betrayed my mother's trust."

Lord Gottwald gulped before positioning himself in the corner, watching the door.

Glancing at the young prince, Cornelia marveled at his stone cold face. Right now, he held himself like an adult—only his arm, protectively curled around Nunnally, betrayed his unease.

Cornelia nodded and resisted looking at the tempting clock in the corner. Instead, she pulled out her phone. She wasn't a doctor, but she could find the assassin. "Report."

Lord Aldfeld spoke clearly although she could hear the stress in his voice. "We've combed the house and the surrounding area. We haven't found anybody, but we do have a witness. Anya... Alstreim, but she didn't get to see the attacker. I think she is in shock. She only remembers the Empress falling."

Another failure of hers. She had forgotten to secure the room in her panic. Mistake after mistake. How could she ever atone? "What of the security footage?"

A moment of hesitation. "All recording devices were disabled."

Cornelia frowned. Nobody should have been able to do that. Lady Marianne's security was redundant to the absurd. "Keep searching. Interview all the staff members. One of them may be our assassin. Any chance it was Anya?"

"Maybe... But I don't think so. I doubt she would be able to handle the recoil from a machine gun. She isn't very strong."

She hated this. "Detain her and question her again. We have to be sure. Also have a canine unit sweep the grounds. There are a lot of hiding places there."

She snapped the phone shut and avoided Lelouch's harsh gaze. He had every right to hate her.

The door swung open and she pulled out her gun without thinking. She would protect them with her life.

The Emperor stared at her for a second, waiting for her to lower her gun, before striding past them without a word. Sir Bismarck Waldstein followed behind him and together they entered the ward, heading to Lady Marianne like Cornelia wished to.

What was her father doing here? He had been negotiating with the E.U. in Iceland last she heard. Lord Gottwald stared at her in confusion and she shrugged slightly, unsure of what to make of the Emperor's actions.

Finally, the doctor stepped into the waiting room. He glanced at them nervously, causing trepidation to rise within Cornelia. Bad news? He shifted again and looked between her, Lord Gottwald, and the prince and princess.

"Well?" Cornelia snapped, having enough.

"Well, Her Majesty survived the surgery... She isn't in the clear yet and, well, we're worried about infection. Unfo—"

"When can we see her?"

He winced. "His Majesty doesn't want to be disturbed."

"Excuse me?"

The man swallowed and looked at the floor. "His Majesty has forbidden anyone from entering the room... including the doctors. Another doctor will be arriving in a few hours. No one is allowed to see Empress Marianne; the Emperor has decreed it so."

Was it because she failed?

Effortlessly cutting in, Lelouch grew louder as he asked his questions. "You mean to tell me that my father, the Emperor, is forbidding my sister from seeing her mother? My sister, who heard her getting shot? Is that what you are telling me? Well?" He stood up. "My sister and I will see our mother."

"Lelouch," Cornelia hissed. He couldn't do that. The Emperor would not tolerate such insubordination, even from his own children. Lelouch took a step forward, firmly holding Nunnally's hand. "Sit down, Lelouch, or I swear, I will tie you down."

"But—"

"My job is to protect your family, even if it means protecting you from your own stupidity. I nearly lost your mother because of it. I won't lose you as well because you have to fight our father. Yes, it is unfair. Yes, I hate it. But the Emperor does not tolerate insubordination so: You. Are. Going. To. Sit. Down... Now!"

Lelouch sat and the cowardly doctor fled.

Marianne's Hospital Room

Charles zi Britannia grasped his wife's hand the second he sat down beside her. He could hear the door closing behind him and knew Bismarck would keep everyone out. It had been so long since he felt genuine terror. His heart was still pounding from when the aide slipped into the conference room to tell him the news.

He had nearly lost her tonight.

Gingerly, he pushed a limp piece of hair out of her face. Her skin was pasty and her hand remained ice cold in his grip. Marianne was supposed to be an unrelenting inferno. She was the one who actually dared to beat him in a duel. The one who forcibly dragged him out of his office because the weather was too good to waste. And when he pushed too far, she was the one to ride a horse into a ballroom to make a point.

When he considered the word "alive," Marianne was who he thought of. Now, she was barely clinging to life. Someone had taken that from her. They would be punished.

Pushing aside the thick blanket, he gazed at the bandages wrapped around her torso and legs. The doctors hadn't removed all the bullets yet, too preoccupied with keeping her from bleeding out on the operating table. His own medical team should be arriving soon and they would make sure she returned to her former glory.

In a way, he was lucky that whoever shot his beloved wife hated her passionately. They sought to give her a slow, miserable death instead of ending her life with clinical precision.

He would punish the assassin slowly and methodically in return. When they finally begged for his mercy, he would give them the death intended for Marianne. Fitting.

Marianne shifted and Charles repositioned the blanket. She was too cold. Her lovely violet eyes wearily opened before she closed them again. It seemed the anesthesia was finally beginning to wear off. Her fingers curled around his hand and she blinked tiredly. She grimaced and he scowled. She would be in great pain when she woke, but he had to know.

"Marianne," he whispered. "It's time to wake up, my love."

She mumbled and opened her eyes slowly, squinting at him.

"Should I turn off the lights?"

"Ch—Charles? What are you doing here?" Marrianne slurred.

He shifted closer to her bed. "You were attacked, my love."

"But you have an important conference. You shouldn't be here."

Smiling, Charles kissed her gently. "No, Marianne. I'm here for you. Who dared to attack you?"

Her eyes narrowed and, after a minute, she let out a small sigh. "V.V. He thinks I'm messing up your plan." Looking distressed, she asked, "Am I?"

Seething inside at the thought of his treacherous brother, Charles shook his head. "Of course not. We are partners and we will make a better world together."

"But what about V.V.?"

"I will take care of him. He went too far this time." How could his own brother have turned against him? After everything they went through?

Marianne chuckled weakly. "He did it out of love. Don't be too harsh on him, dear. I would also do anything to protect you." Charles nodded and Marianne narrowed her eyes as she looked around the room. "Why aren't Nunnally and Lelouch here? I will rip him apart if he hurt them."

Nunnally? Lelouch? His aide hadn't mentioned them, so they were probably fine. He was forgetting something. What was it? Oh. "They are in the waiting room."

"You forgot about them, didn't you, Charles. What am I ever going to do with you? Tell Bismarck to fetch them at once."

He complied and his knight escorted his two children—wide awake despite the hour—into the room. Lelouch refused to look at him or acknowledge his presence at all, while Nunnally slipped free of the knight's hold and threw herself at Marianne, burying her face in the hospital blankets.

"Mommy! You ok?" Nunnally asked.

Charles pulled Nunnally off Marianne as she grimaced in pain. "Careful, girl. Your mother is still injured."

Her eyes widened and he could see tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry. Did I give you an ouchie?"

Marianne simply smiled and slowly reached out to grab Nunnally's hand. "We're going to be just fine, sweetie. I'm just a little sore from the attack."

Nunnally burst into tears and Charles forced himself not to move. He did not understand children. They were weak and pathetic creatures, constantly needing to be protected. He had thought his brother was an exception, but in the end, V.V. was like all other children, self centered, prone to anger, and deceitful.

Lelouch watched Nunnally protectively, keeping her in his sights as his mother beckoned to him. The boy hadn't relaxed his guard yet, which was good. "I am glad to see you are alright, Mother. Who attacked you?"

Marianne let go of his hand and grabbed Lelouch. "Everything is going to be fine, Lulu. And your father and I will deal with him ourselves. There is nothing to worry about. You both look very tired. I'm sure the hospital can spare a room so my little angels can get some sleep."

Lelouch nodded and grabbed Nunnally's hand, recognizing the dismissal. He gave a short bow to Charles, snubbing him as the Emperor, and walked out of the room with his head held high. The impertinent little brat.

Marianne chuckled as the door closed behind them. "Admit it, Charles, you like Lelouch."

He crossed his arms and stood up. "He is disrespectful and proud. You spoil him too much."

"Like you didn't spoil Odysseus? I think your son had a crush on me for the longest while too," Marianne teased. Her eyes locked on the clock. "I was out for quite a while. What is the prognosis?"

Why did she have to ask? But he loved her because she had the courage to stand up. "I have my medical team flying in. They will be landing within the hour. My surgeon is very skilled."

"Charles... please don't start lying now."

"Some of the bullets came close to your spinal cord. The surgeon is of the opinion that you will never walk again. We will fix this." And he had already arrested the surgeon for failing to save her legs.

The white hospital room felt stifling as Marianne remained silent, her eyes focused on the freshly painted ceiling. "I'm never going to ride a horse again."

"I have a surgeon coming. He is extremely skilled." He hoped that would be enough. Unfortunately there was no Geass that could aid her. He had the power of Kings, yet was completely helpless in saving his beloved.

"Get me Reuben…" At his confused look, she rolled her eyes. "Lord Ashford, dear."

"Marianne..." She should be resting. Not talking about her knightmare, the Ganymede, and the development of the Glasgow.

"I will be piloting my knightmare when we invade Japan, Charles. I am not going to be crippled for the rest of my life."

That was his Empress. That was the knight he fell in love with. As the morning sun burst through the window, he smiled.

Royal Palace, New Pendragon

Lelouch guessed he should be thankful that they were allowed to stay at the Royal Palace while security measures were revamped at the Aries Villa, but he wasn't in a forgiving mood. The only reason they were here was because his mother insisted. The Emperor had made it abundantly clear that he didn't care for them. Intellectually, he had known that. All the royal children knew it, but emotionally he still clung to his father.

He hated himself for expecting something more of the man who looked past him as if he wasn't there. It would have been better if the Emperor hadn't shown up at the hospital and revealed his callousness. Lelouch preferred his ignorance.

Nunnally at least hadn't realized. She still adored her father. Her heart remained safe despite the casual disregard the Emperor handled it with.

The attack had shaken both of them. They were supposed to be safe, but evidently weren't. Their paranoia was shamefully apparent. Nunnally didn't run anymore and sneaked into his bed every night, despite them already sharing a room. Lelouch himself wasn't immune; he could hardly keep his eyes off her. With Mother still recovering in the hospital, it was his job to protect his little sister. If the cruel words he had overhead from the royal court were true, his mother might no longer be capable of protecting them.

"Lulu, do you like it?" Nunnally pushed a finger painting right in front of his face, too close for him to make out any shapes.

"Yes, I love it."

She pulled the piece of abstract art back. "Brother Clovis is better."

"Well, he is ten years older than you, Nunnally."

She nodded and sat down in front of his chair. "I'm going to be just as good. You'll see."

Lelouch laughed and knelt beside his sister. "What do you want to draw next?"

She grabbed the yellow paint and dipped her finger in, splattering it across the maroon carpet. "Sister Nelly!"

Lelouch scowled slightly before grabbing the silver paint and gingerly dipping his finger in. "I'll draw her sword."

"It needs to be super, super big. Because she is awe-sauce."

"Awesome, Nunnally, awesome."

The painting was hideous, but Nunnally laughed and chattered excitedly, so Lelouch didn't mind. It almost felt like nothing happened as they continued to paint. It was probably a good thing that Clovis was in Europe, otherwise he would have fainted at the artistic monstrosities they were creating. Lelouch smirked.

The door jingled and a servant set food down on the table. She pursed her lips as she observed the paint splatters but didn't say anything. Lelouch tasted the food, glad that Nunnally was too occupied trying to draw Euphie to notice it and question him.

An hour later, the food cold, Lelouch decided it probably wasn't poisoned as he was fine, and dragged Nunnally away from her artistic endeavors to sit down and eat. She scowled, pouted, then complied. "Thank you, Lulu."

"Everything for you, Nunnally. As long as we're together, we will be fine."

"I'm going to be an artist, Lulu! Like big brother Clovis... And then I will go all over the world. And you are going to be my knight."

Knight? That meant... exercise. "Nunnally!"

She laughed. She did that... on purpose! She kept laughing and Lelouch retreated to the other side of the room, refusing to look at her. He would never be a knight. He would be a chess player instead and one day he would win against Schneizel. That would be the day.

His mother was a knight. She was an excellent duelist, but these days, knights were selected for their marksmanship or ability to pilote a knightmare.

He picked up an ornamental sword with an atrociously long white tassel and tested the weight. If his mother didn't recover, would he have to become a knight to protect his sister?

A bright spot of light danced across the ceiling and Lelouch froze. Twisting the blade, he watched it flick across the room, bouncing off the various mirrors and jeweled ornaments. Smirking, he tried to corral the spot across the room to Nunnally, who was aligning her numerous drawings under the stained glass window.

She was going to be so annoyed with him.

The bright spot stubbornly avoided her. Not to be defeated by a beam of light, Lelouch grabbed the cover for the food. He would simply have to bounce the light towards her.

Now, where should he stand?

The window shattered.

"Nunnally!" He screamed as he threw himself forward.

His body felt like lead and his eyes locked onto Nunnally as bullets ripped into the ceiling, raining plaster down on the room and shattering light bulbs. Nunnally's terrified gaze bore into him as he fell to the ground and felt the glass tearing through his skin. The cabinet, filled with precious china, wobbled.

"Move!" She had to move. She didn't and it began to fall. The china broke through the glass door first and Nunnally crumpled to the ground when a teapot struck her. His hand grabbed her arm, leaving red trails along her petticoat, and he pulled her towards him. The cabinet crashed to the ground, trapping his right arm and her legs.

Pain exploded through him: broken arm.

The room was absolutely silent except for the footsteps leisurely crunching down on the shards of glass and porcelain.

"Still alive?"

Lelouch groaned and tried to raise his head.

"Really don't like finishing off kids. Don't worry, I'll make it quick."

A feeling of calmness and clarity settled over him. There was no need to hurry. Relax.

The tip of his fingers brushed against a tassel and Lelouch pulled it closer. He knew what he had to do. The hilt rested in his hand and he could hear the glass crunching next to him. The pain in his arm didn't matter, his life didn't matter, he could just relax and protect Nunnally. He had plenty of time. He lifted his left arm up.

His arm trembled as he met resistance, but he kept pushing.

A gasp. "How?" Then a gurgle.

The body crumpled and suddenly he could smell copper mixed with an acidic stench. His eyes watered from the dust hanging in the air and everything hurt. He couldn't get enough air and his stomach was curling into a tight ball. People were shouting—was that his father?—their voices echoing painfully in his skull.

Nunnally? Was she alright? His eyes ignored the screaming commands running through his brain. Trapped.

Nun—

Pendragon Hospital Room

Lelouch awoke to a soft beeping and the whirring of air conditioning fans. He stared at the white ceiling, tracing the cracks in the paint. The wallpaper depicted teddy bears in warm, subtle hues. Blinds covered the window and he slowly pushed himself up, noting the cast on his arm and an IV in the crook of his left elbow. He was alive.

A brief knock. The nurse strode in smiling. "How are you, Your Highness?"

There was a flash of anger. They should have been safe at the royal palace; instead, an assassin managed to attack them in broad daylight. "I'm fine, thank you. How's Nunnally?"

"I heard the surgeon managed to set her legs. She is going to be fine."

Relief swept over him and he relaxed in the bed. Nunnally was alive. "And my mother?"

"She wasn't attacked, although His Majesty moved her. I am afraid you won't be able to see her just yet." Her pen tapped the end of the clipboard and she slipped into a more professional tone. "Any nausea? Headache? Or dizziness? No? Well you're quite a lucky little prince. It seems you will make a complete recovery."

He nodded. "When can I see Nunnally?"

"I'll check with the doctor, although she came out of surgery later than you, so it will take some time before she wakes up. The call button is on your left if you need anything and I will be back in an hour with your painkillers. Is there anything else I can do for you in the meanwhile?"

He sighed. "No, thank you..." He glanced at her name tag. "Mildred."

She dropped into a small curtsy before leaving him alone in the room and at the mercy of his thoughts. Sleep beckoned him and he let himself drift away, vaguely aware of Mildred returning and injecting something into his IV bag.

Something crashed to the ground outside and his eyes snapped wide open. He was half-way out of bed when the Emperor strode through the door. He sat down, his muscles tense. "What do you want?"

The Emperor gazed at him with harsh eyes and he resisted the urge to cower. "I hope you will display manners more befitting of a prince of Britannia when you are in Japan."

"Japan!" He didn't understand. Why? What? This didn't make sense. Everyone knew they were going to go to war with Japan... They would be political hostages. What had he or Nunnally done to deserve such treatment? "And Nunnally?"

"She will be joining you, Lelouch, although—" The Emperor paused. "Her head trauma blinded her and the doctors say it is unlikely she will regain her sight. Her legs will heal in time."

The Emperor said no more and Lelouch couldn't find the words to express his outrage as the man walked away. The next morning, he was using his left hand to push Nunnally's wheelchair up the ramp to board the plane... The plane that would take them to Japan.

Worldbuilding Thoughts:

- Lelouch was 9 when his mother was assassinated and Nunnally was 5. That's insane.

- Marianne was 18 and Charles was 43 when they married...

-Lelouch is 17th in line to the throne, but the 11th prince. There are only two princesses before him, so that means there are four people in line to the throne that aren't Charles's children.

Author's Note:

Edited: 6/24/2020

Thank you to my lovely critique group for their help. Chelchel337 (A03), CC-Saito (FFN), and Emmeebee. You were all amazing in helping me. Especially with grammar because I'm terrible at proofreading.

As a slight warning, this fic deals with mature themes which were lightly touched upon in the anime.