Chapter 8: Red Phosphorous

Alternate Chapter Title: Words Draw Blood

When I think about it, the Ganymede was my greatest joy and worst gift to humanity. My brain child has slaughtered millions and I feel every one of those deaths on my soul. I sought peace and instead brought more bloodshed. It was foolish to trust that Charles would not see the destructive implications of my brainchild. He wasn't even the Emperor then, but Marianne convinced me.

Perhaps all innovations lead to death. But the knightmare blindsided the world and led to a one sided slaughter because no one expected it. The fact is that a knightmare frame should be impossible. I am sure that there were other children who envisioned robot fights in their youth, but I was the one to play with a piece of sakuradite and see not only the potential to harvest its energy, but also understand that it can absorb energy. Some say it seems simple once the solution is laid out in front of you. It isn't. Sure, the Europeans and Chinese copied my designs to create their own variations on the knightmare, but very few understand the science involved. That is why there are only two scientists of our time who actually brought innovations to the field. The fact that they both went to school together is beyond imagination. Although I wonder if they would have succeeded without each other in those early days.

—Letter from Reuben Ashford

Sapporo, Area 11

Lieutenant Colonel Cornelia smiled as she piloted her knightmare and decimated the Japanese troops. After weeks of casualties on both sides and aimless fighting, they were finally making progress. A once proud and beautiful forest was now a waste land as the Britannian military alternated between burning the forest and manually felling the trees to flush out General Katase's troops.

A small enemy tank rolled over the felled trees, its turret swiveling and seeking a target. A simple strike from her slash harken permanently diabled it. She moved forward, past the fallen troops bleeding out onto the ground. Their forces were pitifully easy to destroy, yet they kept on coming like lambs to the slaughter. Cornelia knew that General Katase was waiting to spring a trap. She was too alluring of a bait to resist, but she would show him. She would stand victorious over his army and bring the man's head to her father. A befitting end.

Cornelia grinned and cut through the forest as armored tanks followed behind her and the ground troops searched for survivors to interrogate. If General Katase didn't come out soon, she was going to be incredibly disappointed. What type of man did not partake in the glory of war? He would come because honor demanded it. And then, she would prove herself as his superior.

"Do you think he will ask for a duel Lord Gottwald? It would be honorable to humor him, wouldn't it?" she asked over the comms.

Lord Gottwald laughed and tore a tree out of the ground to clear the path forward. "He has the right to as an enemy commander and you should accept your highness."

"Oh?"

"Didn't you hear? Knightmares are acceptable in duels now." Laughing, he lunged forward at the enemy troops firing at them from behind the trees. The metal leg of the Glasgow tore through the trees and they quickly scattered, only to be killed by Sir Guilford's expert marksmanship.

Killing General Katase with her knightmare would be satisfying. But would it be overkill? He hadn't earned her respect and killing him with her knightmare would imply he had some worth. Cornelia pursed her lips. Everything was silent. Where was he?

She opened a line to the ground troops. "Lord Arnold, how are the prisoners?"

Cornelia could hear people screaming in the background as he answered, sounding displeased. "We have begun interrogations your highness. Most of these soldiers were just cannon fodder."

General Katase was supposed to come. He was a prideful man and she was fighting on the front lines. Didn't he desire to make Britannia pay? "And of Katase?"

"To their knowledge, he never left the base."

Growling, she tore through the trees ahead. If he wasn't going to challenge her, she was going to find him and drag him out of his hole herself. Dust rose in the air as she dropped another tree. Bullets pinged against her knightmare, alerting her to the enemy forces. If Katase didn't have honor, then there was no reason to keep prisoners anymore. She swung at them with the intention to kill.

"Princess Cornelia! You need to fall back!" shouted Sir Guilford.

"Lord Esazat is being overrun Princess Cornelia! The enemy is flanking us!" shouted Lord Gottwald. "Get out of there. It is a trap!"

The dust began to thin and something flashed within the cloud. Metal. Trap. Her hand jerked backwards as she tried to leap away. The ground rumbled beneath her. The legs of the knightmares slipped and buckled. She could feel her stomach rising. The knightmare groaned as she pushed the controls to save herself. She was falling.

A loud squeal like a calf's last moments before the butcher's knife descended. Then a pop that vibrated through the entire knightmare. Her hand burned as the vibrations ran up her arm.

The leg had broken off.

She was going to die.

A failure. She couldn't die. The Knightmare was broken.

There was nothing she could do despite her burning desire to rain down vengeance. Maybe, if she was lucky, she would survive the landing and the subsequent missile.

Maybe.

Katase had won... and she had failed.

Her eyes locked on the flash of metal as the dust settled to once again reveal the soldier with the missile launcher. She could imagine him smiling as he took aim. At this range he would die as well.

He fired.

She hadn't said goodbye to Princess Euphemia.

A large force struck her knightmare and pushed her out of the way. The explosion blinded her and her ears rang as the knightmare fell limply to the ground.

She was alive.

Her eyes blinked as she tried to see. Her lips parted, but she couldn't muster the energy to make a sound. Her body trembled and her heart beat erratically in her chest.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Cornelia smiled. She was blind, helpless, and deaf on the battlefield. But she was alive. She hadn't lost yet.

Her eyes closed and she let her body succumb to sleep. She would win next time.

Tokyo, Japan

Tohdoh tilted his head to the side as he tried to reconcile the unusual feeling of the breeze dancing on top of his scalp. His eyebrows burned and while Saito swore that the smell of bleach had faded, Tohdoh still felt the strong urge to sneeze. Tohdoh was now a bald man with blond eyebrows and wearing round large glasses. Upon inspection, he wouldn't pass as a Britannian, but no Britannian would connect him to his military profile.

What would Nagisa think of his new appearance? He snorted and easily passed by a group of guards. In the corner of his right eye, he could see something flash forward: Sayoko. She was his backup if everything went wrong. Saito and Kudo insisted.

Two soldiers passed by him. They were too relaxed to be on duty and Tohdoh slowed down, interested in any potential gossip as the talked among each other. The tall blond with part of his ear missing and sporting an angry frown, said, "You know that Eleven chic we caught last night going through our supplies? Heard that Lord Saxum is taking an interest in her."

The other soldier, older with white hair and a simple wedding ring, hissed, "Don't talk like that Jeffery. Nobody is going to stop Lord Saxum and you know what he does if people start talking behind his back."

Jeffery stopped and Tohdoh flinched, but the soldier's eyes passed over him. "It still isn't right. I can't... She... I cannot turn a blind eye."

The elder shook his head head, like an exasperated mother dealing with a foolish grabbed Jeffery's shoulder to force him to pay attention. "And who will support Lisa if you die protecting a Number? She can't work in the fields... not after what your Lord did."

Tohdoh grimaced as he was forced to continue walking to remain inconspicuous. He wanted to aid this mysterious Japanese infiltrator and insure her safety. She was one of his people and his mind could easily fill in what awaited her, but the mission was more important. How many sacrifices would he have to make to save Japan? Would there still be anything left of his heart when he was finally done? Angrily, he straightened his fingers and he forced himself to offer a calm salute as an enemy officer passed by him. There was no time for such thoughts. The woman had known what she was risking. One day her sacrifice would be worth it.

The enemy's eyes passed over him as if he wasn't there. They would regret being so dismissive of the Japaense. It would be their downfall.

A large group of soldiers, young and bald, laughed and he watched as one of them stumbled. In the midst of their camp, they felt almost human. None of them expected an attack or a simple Number to slip into their camp unnoticed. They felt all too normal and human to have committed such grotesque crimes. Tohdoh wanted to rip off their masks and reveal the monsters that lurked within these mens' bodies.

He walked forward and gave a friendly salute. The mission came first. Revenge had no place in his heart if he wished to save Japan. He was just a tool. One willing to do anything to ensure that Nagisa, Ko, and Suzaku would have a better future.

He caught three quick flashes of light from a building to his right. Sayoko had spotted the target. Tohdoh let himself slow down and hunched his shoulders to seem as weak as possible. Lessons from his sensei burned within him, ordering him to straighten and pull back his shoulders, and use his diaphragm to breathe. He sent a silent apology to his sensei, before letting his body slump even further and stuffing his hands in the large pockets of his jacket.

Lord Siebenberg rounded the corner and Tohdoh stumbled towards him, his face impassive. His right hand clenched the forged letter. The plan depended entirely on timing. His fingers drummed against the letter as he forced himself to walk forward. Kudo had to show up soon for this to work.

Tohdoh only had a few more steps before he would be forced to respond to Siebenbrug's presence to sell the act.

A gunshot rang through the air and Siebenberg stopped to turn around. Yelling grew louder as Kudo charged down into the street, fleeing from his pursuers and holding a loaf of bread. Kudo looked like a desperate street rat with a ripped shirt tied around his head, his black hair unusually greasy, and covered in dirt from head to toe. Tohdoh smiled and stopped as he waited for Kudo to do his part.

Siebenberg sneered and opened his mouth. Kudo pushed into him leaving red and brown smears on the noble's pure white coat.

Siebenberg fell to the ground and gaped at Kudo in shock. "You filth! How dare you desecrate my clothes. Arrest him!"

Kudo held out his middle and ring finger as he scurried off Siebenberg and past Tohdoh. The package had been delivered. Tohdoh's heart calmed.

A smoke bomb exploded on the ground. The wind quickly thinned the smoke and Tohdoh could see the hazy outlines of the soldiers as they looked for Kudo. The precious few seconds had been enough for Kudo to slip away. He would be safe in the sewers by now.

"Lord Siebenberg!" Tohdoh shouted and he stumbled towards the lord, waving his hands desperately and clutching the letter. "I'm so sorry my lord. Are you alright? Can I help you?"

The man stood up and sneered down at Tohdoh. "I definitely do not need your help."

"Of course my lord. I apologize. I overstepped my bounds, please forgive me. I have the information you asked for my lord."

The other soldiers paused and Tohdoh could feel their curious gazes burning into him. He knew they recognized his Japanese features and he watched warily as their hands moved to the firearms at their side.

"What are you talking about?" spat Siebenberg.

Tohdoh resisted the urge to grin and held out the envelope. "As you asked my lord. You said it was urgent. I'm sorry. I was supposed to give you this privately." He dropped to his knees and let his head touch the floor as he gave a Britannian bow. "I'm sorry my lord. I have failed you again. I accept whatever punishment you may give."

Siebenberg ripped the letter out of his hand. "Get out of my sight you cretin."

Standing up and letting his body sway as he attempted to maintain a bow. "Do you have another job you wish me to deliver to Shinozaki?"

Scowling, Siebenberg struck him across the cheek. His jewel adorned rings cut in his skin and Tohdoh could feel blood trickling down his cheek. "Arrest this man at once."

Soldiers grabbed Tohdoh's arms and yanked them behind his back. Tohdoh bit the inside of his cheek to suppress his smile. The muscle by his lip twitched dangerously as Siebenerg walked away, wiping at his clothes with a handkerchief and yelling at a young private to bring him some new clothes. The trap had been set and now he just had to escape custody.

A man in his mid-twenties with hair the color of cherry blossoms, walked towards Tohdoh. A small piece of black metal caught attached to the man's collar caught his attention as he saw the two stripes: Lance Corporal. His blue eyes bored into Tohdoh before he chuckled.

"I have never seen Lord Siebenberg that flustered." The Lance Corporal smiled and addressed his captors. "Let him go."

The cuffs fell away and Tohdoh massaged his wrists carefully. He was supposed to get arrested. "You're letting me go?"

"Ain't that what I said?"

His mouth felt dry. "Why?"

"Because I gotta promotion waiting for me and pissing off Lord Siebenberg? Right before I leave his command... That feels wonderful. He's disgraced afta losing to Lord Ashford. I do recommend you get a new job afta humiliating him like that. I doubt he's gonna pay you anything."

"I wasn't trying to embarrass him! I was just doing as he asked." Tohdoh bowed his head. "And then I messed up."

The blue eyes observed him and they stared at him with suspicion. "Lords don't like it when their private laundry be aired. What'd he want?"

He bit the inside of his cheek again as he regarded his stroke of fortune. Siebenberg was evidently not well liked and a few hints would be all Tohdoh needed to spring the trap. "Just some info on the area and where the old subway lines are. Not important really. The Shinozaki get the more difficult assignments." He frowned. "I thought he would have another assignment for them. Maybe he is upset that they failed?"

The Lance Corporal shrugged. "Don't know. Sounds quite strange. Best be going along now. This ain't no place for Elevens."

Tohdoh nodded and stuffed his hands into his pockets as he slowly began the walk back.

Britannian Military Base, Tokyo, Area 11

Marianne rolled her wheelchair into the dining hall and paused in the doorway. Bismark stood by her side and Marianne watched with satisfaction as the room suddenly fell silent. Her eyes scanned the room for Siebenberg and she could see him desperately trying to edge away, made harder by his bright blue coat. After his stunt with Reuben, Marianne had put an alert on all reports pertaining to Siebenburg. She wasn't going to let him attempt to harm her friend again. In the early afternoon, someone had filed a report saying Siebenberg was behaving suspiciously and it immediately landed on her desk. It was probably nothing, but she would relish drawing it out as long as possible.

"We need to talk Siebenberg," Marianne said with a gentle smile.

Understanding that he had no choice in the matter, Siebenberg walked forward and bowed before him. "Of course your highness."

Her grin grew wider. "Why don't you lead the way to your quarters then?"

He shuddered despite her polite tone and carefully edged around Bismarck. "Of course your highness. If you will?"

They entered the quarters and Marianne raised her eyebrows at the dirty outfit hanging from the wall and a young maid working industriously to clean the floors. "Do you normally track this much dirt into your rooms?"

Flushing, Siebenberg shook his head. "Of course not your highness. There was an incident with some thieving filth this afternoon."

Perhaps the same event that prompted the report. She gestured to Bismark. "Check the outfit."

Siebenberg stared at Bismark with wide eyes as he hurried to the wall. "Excuse me? What is the meaning of this?"

Tilting her head, she observed him, "I'm just following up on a report. It wouldn't do if our nobles collaborated with the enemy after all."

He turned even redder and she could see him gritting his teeth. It was amusing getting under his skin and the brief humiliation would hopefully prevent Siebenberg from plotting his revenge against Reuben. She owed him too much to not make an effort to nip a potential threat in the bud.

"Is there a problem? After all, you have nothing to hide."

He grimaced again, but bowed respectfully. "Of course not, your highness."

Bismark straightened and passed a letter to her and a small bag of gold. "He also had a small pack of cigarettes and a bag of sweets."

Staring at the letter resting in her hands with Siebenberg's personal crest, he insisted, "That isn't mine. You... you planted it!"

The letter was probably embarrassing, but trying to pretend it wasn't his, when it had his personal wax seal, was foolish. Rolling her eyes, Marianne pressed her manicured nails against the seal and opened the letter. She pulled out the neatly folded paper, noting the expensive stationary. A small photo fluttered to the ground.

Bending down to pick it up, she froze. Her blood turned to ice and she carefully peeled the photo off the ground. Lelouch's laughing face stared at her. It was a recent photo. Not one of those photos floating around in the Imperial Court from before the assassination attempt. It was a threat to her son's anonymity.

Sienberg shivered as she stared up at him. "Where did you get this photo?"

"I swear I don't know. That isn't mine."

Liar.

He dared to lie to her?

Marianne snapped to Bismark, "Search the room."

With trembling hands, she unfolded the letter and began to read the neat script. Assassination. Siebenberg was trying to hire assassins.

Bismark walked to her side with two others letter. The first, covered in dirt and written on cheap paper, showed the subway lines that run through Tokyo, specifically those that ran under the base. The second letter was already open. It was a mission report.

"Bismark arrest Siebenberg for treason."

She wanted to kill him. He had tried to kill her and caused Agatha's death and the countless others who had the misfortune to guard her quarters. She only had to thank his stupidity that he didn't realize that she was with the troops in Saitama. He had been too close to success. Had he waited until the Battle of Narita, he might have succeeded.

Siebenberg struggled against Bismark's overwhelming strength futilely. "Please you don't understand. I didn't do anything wrong. I've never seen those letters in my life!"

"Did you truly think you could get away with this?"

"No! I'm innocent. I swear. I have done nothing wrong. I'm being framed. Please you've got to listen to me." Siebenberg was crying.

Marianne sneered in disgust. "Bismark, throw him into a cell. No food or water. Maybe he will be more honest tomorrow."

Siebenberg suddenly broke free as he dislocated his shoulder and lunged for the letter opener. His hand curled around the weapon and Marianne saw his eyes lock onto her. She wouldn't be able to defend herself in her wheelchair.

Siebenberg attempted to lunge forward, but Bismark easily stepped forward, gutting him. Marianne watched dispassionately as Siebenberg stumbled backwards, his face paling, and fell to the ground. He struggled to lift his head and his soft delicate hands curled around Bismark's sword.

"I'll call a med team. Don't kill him Bismark. I need him to answer some questions for me."

Bismark nodded, but Siebenberg stared at her with wide open tearful eyes. "I'm innocent. Please, you don't understand."

"You're a poor liar. I wonder what the Emperor will do to you once I'm done. He really doesn't like it when scum like you try to assassinate royals."

The eyes widened and Marianne suddenly knew that she misspoke, as his hand tightened around the sword and pulled it out with a gritted cry of pain.

"Bismark stop him!"

Wielding the letter open, Siebenberg stabbed his wrists. They were too late. "Stop the bleeding. I need him alive."

His heart stopped by the time the med team arrived. As the med team attempted defibrillation again and again, without success, Marianne closed her eyes and silently swore.

Sapporo, Area 11

Cornelia could hear people talking indistinguishably, but the bed was so soft and she just wanted to rest a little longer. If only everyone could be quiet and let sleep take her. It was nice and comfortable. Pulling the blanket closer, she rolled on her side, intent on ignoring the commotion. Someone else would deal with it, but for now she wanted to sleep.

Her side ached. Her leg burned. Why?

She had been in her knightmare and then... She had almost died. She was alive.

Forcefully pushing her tiredness aside, Cornelia peeled open her eyelids and stared at the ceiling. She was alive. She should call Euphemia. The doctor hadn't noticed her waking yet and she tried to will her muscles to obey. There were things she had to do and a coward to defeat. But first, Euphemia.

Nudging her stiff legs to the side of the bed, Cornelia propped herself up on her elbow and slowly pushed herself upright. Everything hurt, like a hundred bee stings all at once. How was she alive?

"Princess Cornelia! You mustn't move." The doctor ran up to her, holding a clipboard and his dark green hair frazzled. He had dark shadows under his eyes, all too prominent with his incredibly pale skin. Small specks of blood decorated the hem of his white coat. "Please, lay back down."

Cornelia grimaced, but didn't move. "When may I leave?"

"Leave?" He opened his mouth and stared at her flabbergasted. "You have a concussion your highness. You cannot leave. You will stay right here and won't move."

"There are things I must do." And a simple army doctor would not stop her.

The doctor narrowed his eyes. "You are not leaving this bed by order of Empress Marianne."

She blinked. She had failed Lady Marianne hadn't she? Cornelia thought that Lady Marianne wanted nothing to do with her, but her mentor was still looking out for her. Slowly, Cornelia settled back onto the bed. For Lady Marianne, she would stay her vengeance. A few more hours of rest wouldn't change anything. Lady Marianne still cared. She smiled.

The doctor shook his head and shone a small light in her eyes. "You're quite lucky your highness. Your right hand is slightly fractured. you won't be able to use it for the next six weeks. Otherwise, rest, and you will be good to go."

Her eyes wandered to her hand and the cast that she hadn't noticed. Oh. "How did I... survive?"

The doctor pulled back and passed her a small paper cup containing a small pill and a glass of water. Gesturing to the bed opposite of hers, "You have Lord Guilford to thank for that."

Her heart felt heavy as she looked at him and the IV bag besides him. Both of his legs were in splints. He had saved her at risk of his own life. "How is he?"

The doctor smiled sadly. "He will live, but I doubt that he will regain use of his left arm. The treatment is expensive and with how he wrecked the knightmare frame," the man shrugged, "I doubt his family has enough money to afford the treatment. He'll receive a nice severance package from the army, but it won't cover the cost of the knightmare."

Broke. The Guilford family had probably taken out loans to get their son a knightmare frame. A skilled pilot had a high return on investment, especially if Lord Guilford proved himself in the conquest of Japan. Instead, his family would be destitute with a crippled son. He had saved her life... Why? He had ruined himself and his family. They would probably lose their peerage.

"I will pay for his treatment." The words were out of her mouth before she had time to comprehend. But this was right? Slowly and more assured of herself, she turned to the doctor. "My stipend from my father and the military should be enough. I will support any treatment to allow him to regain the full use of his arm."

The harsh lines on the doctor's face softened. "Thank you your highness."

She looked at him in confusion, he wasn't the one being treated.

"I don't like seeing my patients suffer when I know there is treatment. Too many would have ignored his sacrifice. So thank you."

The doctor bowed and left her staring at Lord Guilford. He didn't know her, yet he risked his life for her. He had to have known what would happen to his family if he died. But he had acted in a split second when the trap was sprung to save her. Why?

True loyalty was a rare thing to find. With enough money or threats, nearly everyone could be convinced to betray their sovereign. Even one of her father's wives had attempted to take his life. The Knight of Honor was so precious because they would never betray their lord or lady.

Cornelia looked away as she remembered the constant terror from her childhood. One of her earliest memories was a maid knocking out her mother's guard in an attempt to kidnap her and Schneizel. It was only one of father's strange assassins that saved their lives.

Lord Gottwald walked through the door and stopped by her side, snapping Cornelia out of her chilling memories. A brush of mortality had made her reminiscent. He passed her a thick folder. "Commander. I'm glad that you are alright. What are your orders?"

Her mouth felt dry. "Lord Guilford saved me."

"He did." Lord Gottwald knelt on the ground. "I'm sorry your highness. I should have been closer. I failed to protect you."

"it was my mistake Lord Gottwald. There is nothing to forgive." She had been reckless and walked into the trap. Her eyes wandered again to Lord Guilford. "I will need to transfer money to pay him back for wrecked knightmare."

Euphemia's birthday gift would simply be less extravagant this year. She wanted to shower her younger sister in gifts, but Euphie would understand.

Lord Gottwald nodded. "He saved your life. I will pay half the cost myself."

"Your father?"

He grimaced and looked away. "He has been slowly giving me more control of the estate. I doubt he will be pleased, but I swore myself to the royal family. To Lady Marianne. You were my commander and Lord Guilford saved your life. I will settle my debt with him, it is only fair."

Opening the folder, Cornelia scanned the casualties. Besides herself, they were inconsequential. She had taken the brunt of the enemy's fire. Looking up, she glanced at Lord Gottwald again. "Lady Marianne dismissed all of us. We failed her."

Lord Gottwald looked despondent. "I was a suspect. The Emperor himself questioned me. My father's politics are well known and the Purist Faction has always been outspoken against Lady Marianne." He straightened. "I will prove my loyalty. Lady Marianne entrusted us with destroying the last remnant of the Japanese army."

"That she did," she replied softly. Scanning the intelligence report, she considered what she could do from a hospital bed. "I will leave the troops to you Lord Gottwald. I will also need someone loyal and intelligent from infantry."

"It will be done your highness. I will not fail you."

Cornelia nodded. "Send an infiltration squad to retrieve Katase's head. There is no point in fighting honorably if he doesn't respond in kind. You will lead the knightmare corps as a distraction and then break towards the sea to force the Chinese and E.U. ships. If need be, the ships can disappear. After all, officially, their ships are helping Australia with wildfires." She paused and glanced at the number of prisoners. "The Elevens are worthless now. I doubt any of them will work peacefully in the mines. Dispose of them."

"Yes your highness!" Lord Gottwald saluted and Cornelia watched him walk away, before pulling out a sheet of paper and starting to craft a letter to Euphemia. It wouldn't do to worry her sister.

Three days later, Cornelia watched as Lord Gottwald presented Katase's head and packaged it to send to the Emperor. The conquest of Area 11 was finally complete.

Britannian Military Base, Tokyo, Area 11

Marianne stared at the picture of Lelouch and her stomach clenched. Who had collaborated with Siebenberg? Were they targeting Nunnally as well? Bismark stood at attention in the corner of the room, far enough to give her space, but close enough to deal with any threats. It irked her that Charles had been right to send Bismark. She had too many enemies. Her innocent children had enemies for the crime of being born. Lelouch was smiling in the picture and she wondered what the occasion had been. The background was too blurry to make out any details.

The phone rang as she waited for Reuben to pick up. Her fingers drummed against the desk. She had to make sure that her two angels were safe. Nobody was allowed to take them from her. Lelouch's plan was suddenly appealing. Had he foreseen the danger? He must have and Marianne had been too blind, too enamored with the relief of seeing her children again. The Imperial Court was no place for a child.

Reuben finally picked up.

"Hello Reuben."

"What happened? Are you alright?" He always knew when something was wrong.

"I'm fine, but... Lelouch is in danger. Nunnally too. I hate it, but he is right. He'll be safest in the army. I will make sure his paperwork is airtight, but people outside of the military will need to know him as a commoner in case anyone goes digging. What name is he using?"

"I will keep them safe Marianne." Her hand relaxed marginally. She could always rely on him. "Nunnally picked their new last name. Lamperouge."

Lelouch wasn't too common of a name, but if he hadn't cast it aside, there was still a part of him that clung to her. She hadn't lost her son yet. She still had a chance to reconnect. If only she had the time to fly home and talk, but she had to negotiate with the French and give false platitudes of peace.

"And Nunnally? I don't know if she is a target, but she will need to be safe as well."

"I'm heading to Tokyo after Milly's birthday. I'm going to be setting up a school for commoners. Nunnally plans on attending and Milly is bouncing off the walls in excitement. She's been sketching out how the school should look like and all the clubs we will hold. Nunnally has been helping her. It will be good for the both of them."

It wasn't secure. Siebenberg had been in contact with people in Japan. But few people knew that her daughter was blind. And if Reuben was building the school from scratch, it would be secure. Still, she smiled. Her daughter would attend the school her namesake had dreamed off. It felt fitting. "I'll donate some funds to Odysseus. I imagine he will be rather excited about your little project."

"You think so? He has been busy reworking how to distribute alms."

Odysseus cared about everyone. It was his greatest weakness, but he was a good man. "Promise a medical program and you'll have his support."

Worldbuilding Thoughts:

- How much does a knightmare cost? I'm thinking at least 20 million pounds considering their sheer size. For more advanced models, something around 100-200 million pounds seems to be in the right ball park.

- The anime is really ambiguous regarding the entire structure of the military and how royalty fits into that. Prince Clovis has a royal guard, but they seem to be only loyal to him. The Knight of Honor also seems to be removed from the normal command structure. It's almost like there are two military organizations. One is loyal to the Empire and the Emperor, while the other one is loyal to the Princes and Princesses (and if you extrapolate, the noble lords) they serve.

- The sheer number of flying knightmares in season 2 makes me wonder about Britannia's production capabilities. It goes so quickly from zero to nothing and really, giving everyone an advanced knightmare, when they have a tendency to explode (courtesy of Kallen) seems like a huge waste of resources. Just because you're the Emperor, doesn't mean you don't have to follow a budget.

Author's Note:
Thank you x1tears1X on FFN for your help with this chapter. If anyone else wants to beta, just ask? :)

This marks the end of the first arc as I've taken to calling it. We're super close to 100 followers on FFN, so I'll be updating on Saturday evening to ease my chapter debt and if we pass 100 follows by then, I'll be updating again on Monday.