Chapter 29: Let Them Eat Cake
1) Santa only comes to good children.
2) Good children listen to their parents and follow their orders.
3) Good children do not cry or show weakness. That is for Frenchmen.
4) Good children bring honor to the family by going to war.
5) Family is of the utmost importance. The child is but a tool to further the family.
6) Family protects each other and sacrifices the weakest to remain strong.
7) Family bows down to the mighty Emperor even at the cost of their integrity.
8) The Emperor protects all citizens and mourns every loss in the war.
9) The Emperor prunes sick branches excessively to keep the Empire healthy.
10) The Emperor heads the family and all citizens of Britannia are his children.
—Chrysanthemum: Lessons for Children by Red Dawn
Altschloss, Homeland
Inside the stone castle, Lelouch paced relentlessly around his guest room. Large windows overlooked the vast gardens brimming with blooming flowers and flitting birds. In this illusion of tranquility, the war felt distant.
Here, only the sound of peace greeted nobles' ears. The birds chirped and water rustled. The servants ghosted over the stone floors as they rearranged furniture and met every need before it could be realized.
No angry yells or rotten vegetables. No explosions followed by screams as another sakuradite mine was triggered. No hunger gnawing or skin blistering.
Odysseus's birthday party was painfully peaceful and Lelouch detested that the Emperor had ordered him to attend. Every day away from his men meant another opportunity for a noble officer to throw away their lives. Despite the Count's strange silence, independent locals continued to harass the army and steal their meager supplies.
At least he could see Nunnally again… and that made this royal posturing worth it.
The fine clothes pulled at the seams and Lelouch resisted the urge to adjust the fabric again; the tailor would be displeased. If Lelouch never saw the man again it would be too soon. His comrades remained on the battlefield with tattered garbs while Lelouch stood surrounded and dressed in excess. It was grating and infuriating. The money could better be spent elsewhere.
A young maid opened the door and Nunnally, dressed in her own extravagant gown, walked in.
"Nunnally!" Proper decorum forgotten, Lelouch hugged her tightly and the fabric rustled around him. She smelled like oranges. "How are you?"
The maid stood by the side, radiating disapproval. "Your Highness, the clothes."
Nunnally pulled back and smoothed out of the fabric. "You're dismissed."
The door shut and, finally, they were alone together.
"You've grown," Lelouch said. "The dress looks wonderful on you. You'll be the envy of the party."
"And you lost weight." Nunnally shifted. "Please tell me there is a chair somewhere? Nobody shows me around and these shoes are absolutely terrible. I just want to sit without risking falling on my face."
Wincing, Lelouch gently guided her to the luxurious couch in the center depicting a glorious hound hunt. "Father insisted we attend."
"I'm going to embarrass myself. I can barely move in this dress, let alone dance. Were they always this tight?" Nunnally leaned down and removed the pointed slippers with a sigh of relief. "And I can't even talk to Milly! It'd be too suspicious."
"I'm sorry... but at least we can catch up. How has school been? And Allie?" Was she enjoying the life bought by his complicity in the endless march of dead men?
"Milly makes everyone else do the paperwork." Nunnally sniffed. "She's just being lazy. But I started a blog and Allie helps me. It's not much, but sometimes, I can just complain about mother and father and no one will ever know." She paused and pulled out a painfully familiar handkerchief. "I love your birthday present. I hope you liked mine?"
"The short stories were nice. Is that what you're sharing?"
"Well... Not just that. Sometimes I write short stories, sometimes satire. I actually have a small side piece on disability. It's quite popular."
Flashes of the incapacitated soldiers danced through his mind and Lelouch set aside his guilt. People got hurt in war. He was already doing more than enough by using his father's allowance and the money earned from his letter smuggling to help pay for medical costs or aid their family.
It wasn't enough. "I'm glad people are listening."
She frowned. "It's mostly people like me. They love Mother, you know. They share stuff with me as well. Art, music, stories. They're just glad to not be alone."
"You should ask mother for an interview."
"Lelouch!" Nunnally leaned against him. "Why? I know you're still mad at her. Besides, I'm supposed to be a commoner. Why would an Empress be interviewed by a commoner?"
"Ask her. You don't have to interview her. Just suggest it to her. I'm sure Gwen would love to do a piece on her and then you could share it. It would make a lot of people happy... It's the least she can do."
"You're going to have to forgive her, you know. It's been two years. Just give her a chance."
How was he supposed to explain the ever growing pit of anger? His parents' prejudice denied his men the supplies they needed. The culture they perpetrated caused the locals to take out their anger on the troops. The Count only had power because his parents didn't care for the people. The Emperor could prance in front of the camera all he wanted, but Lelouch knew the empathy he displayed was false.
"They'll never change," Lelouch whispered instead. "They have had a lifetime to learn but continue on their path without regard for others. It doesn't matter what I do; they will not change. And I—I won't be the obedient son they want. Lamperouge used to be a mask I wore... now vi Britannia is the mask."
"I understand... I want to tell Allie so badly. Sometimes I wish all of this"—she waved her hand—"was the lie. I want our story to be the real one and then I wouldn't have to lie to Allie."
If one wore a mask long enough, did one become the mask? Footsteps approached and Lelouch stood. As they walked down the hallway, Lelouch asked, "Is a lie even a lie if we tell it all the time? Truth is just a matter of perception. If I pretend that I'm a painter and practice every day to sell the lie, then am I not a painter?"
"I don't think others see it that way."
They stopped before the large oak doors inlaid with gold. Nunnally's fingernails pierced his arm as they waited.
"Relax. We'll walk down the stairs nice and slow," Lelouch whispered. "There is a balcony about thirty-five feet to the left behind a large statue. We'll just wait out the party there."
"Thanks." Her grip loosened.
The trumpet blared and the door began to swing open. "Announcing His Highness, Prince Lelouch vi Britannia, seventeenth in line to the Imperial throne and Her Highness, Nunnally vi Britannia, thirty-third in line to the Imperial throne."
The room applauded and Lelouch strode forward with careful measured steps. Nunnally floated beside him, her shoes striking the ground with precision. From this far away, none would suspect that she was blind. Curious eyes followed them as they descended and Lelouch grudgingly thanked the Emperor for forbidding the media's presence. An image of him and his sister would shatter the lie they built.
Prince Odysseus slipped through the crowd and greeted them at the bottom of the staircase. "Lelouch, Nunnally. It's wonderful to see you again. Come. Let me show you around."
And the earlier plan of avoiding any additional attention was thrown out of the window. Lelouch smiled and accepted the invitation. Refusing the birthday prince was not an option. If only Lelouch had found an actual excuse to not attend the party.
"Cornelia!" Odysseus shouted. "Look who I found."
Euphemia peaked out from behind her sister. "Nunnally!" she shouted and bounded up to them to grab her hand.
Lelouch kept a firm grasp on his sister as Euphie began to chatter excitedly and tug her along.
"It's alright," Odysseus whispered into his ear as he clasped his shoulder. "I know you don't want Nunnally's blindness to be common knowledge. Euphie knows a spot where they won't be interrupted."
Nunnally pulled her arm free. "I'll be fine Lelouch. I'm sure Euphie will take good care of me."
As their forms disappeared into the crowd, Cornelia clicked her tongue. "Lelouch. It's unbecoming to worry so openly."
Smoothing his face, Lelouch inclined his head. "I'm sorry Cornelia. It has been a while since we have attended such an... extravagant event."
"Make sure that remains your last lapse of judgment. Your behavior reflects upon Father and your mother. Justify your absence from court with impeccable manners and make your tutors proud," Cornelia chided.
Her reasons made Lelouch want to act out, but angering the Emperor rashly, was not wise. Despite all his efforts, Lelouch wasn't independent enough. His presence at the party was a tactic to entertain the numerous foreign dignitaries in attendance.
Odysseus grabbed a small plate from a passing waiter with a crostini covered in caviar. "What has been occupying your time Lelouch? Everyone has had an exceptional busy year. Cornelia earned a promotion on the battlefield earlier this year. They say she's your mother's second coming."
War occupied Lelouch's waking hours while dead eyes and gun fire haunted his dreams. They thought his life was peaceful because his mother would never allow him to come to harm.
He grit his teeth. They knew nothing of war, especially Cornelia whose laurels were drenched in the blood of all those considered disposable. A royal life was worth more and thus she never had to stand in the middle of a barren landscape as bullets whizzed by.
She fought from within the safety of her knightmare and never had to cower in a foxhole or listen to the screams of a man bleeding to death under a maelstrom of bullets.
Her uniform was new and every tear mended by soldiers who she would never give a second glance. Lelouch's boots were three sizes too large and scavenged off a dead man.
As a royal, she could commandeer the essential supplies that never seemed to arrive for the 712th. Her war was one fought from a position of luxury and ignored good men for the circumstances of their birth.
But Lelouch could not berate their ignorance so he unclenched his jaw and said, "I'm learning about business and finances."
Amusingly, it was true. Roy aided him logistics of troop supplies and Pablo expanded Lelouch's reach in the underground market and helped to expand Lelouch's letter smuggling operation.
"Really?" Odyssues asked. "You always struck me as preferring more impactful tasks."
Cornelia's eyebrows raised. "And Father lets you waste your time?"
"The skills needed to run a successful business are of great importance," Lelouch answered.
His two half-siblings stared at him doubtfully, but their questions were thankfully halted by Schneizel's arrival. "Sister. Brothers."
Lelouch dipped his head. "Schneizel, a pleasure to see you again."
"And you as well Lelouch. You owe me a chess game."
"Of course."
"And your sister? I thought she would be here with you."
Cornelia interrupted, "She's with Euphie. No need to feed rumors at such a young age."
"Then share my well wishes with your sister Lelouch. Your fourteenth birthday is rapidly approaching. Have you given any thought at what you might prefer to do?"
December fifth. The birthday that would end the charade and Lelouch had nothing to show for it. He was still a pawn and his father would not let him stand idly by. At fourteen, he would be paraded in front of court and expected to do his father's bidding. And with him no longer in the army, Nunnally's own life would be no more. A little under half a year to discover a solution.
Lelouch smiled. "Wherever the Emperor finds my service valuable of course."
Schneizel raised an eyebrow. "No preference at all?"
"Staying within Britannia and near Nunnally would be preferable."
Odysseus chuckled. "No foreign marriages for you."
The smile slipped and the others laughed.
Cornelia said, "Don't worry. We'll protect your innocence a little bit longer. Besides, Father hasn't insisted on our marriages yet and Guinevere is still choosing her own husband."
Lelouch turned and spotted the purple tint and high collar that made her style. On her arm, she led a young man who gazed at her in admiration. She caught his eye and sneered. Time had not dulled her opinion of the commoner prince.
The trumpet sounded again. "Announcing His Imperial Majesty, Charles zi Britannia, 98th Emperor of Britannia and his wife, Empress Marianne vi Britannia."
No. They weren't supposed to be there.
Lelouch swallowed as the Emperor met his mother at the bottom of the stairs and offered her his hand. The crowd parted before him. They were heading directly to Lelouch. Perhaps it wasn't too late to disappear into the crowd.
Odysseus's harsh grip on his shoulder prevented any desperate escape attempts.
"Odyssues, Happy Birthday," said the Emperor. "I hope the party is to your satisfaction. Schneizel, Cornelia... Lelouch."
His mother rolled to a halt and offered a delicately wrapped parcel. "Happy Birthday, Odysseus. And Lelouch, I'm so glad you could make it. Cornelia, Schneizel. It's good to see you as well."
The smile felt tight, but Lelouch forced himself to bow and hold it for the appropriate time. The back of his neck crawled and Lelouch straightened faster than was proper. No one seemed to notice.
His mother rolled closer and Lelouch could hear the silent command. He followed her a few paces to the wall.
"Are you alright, Lelouch?" she asked.
There was only one answer possible to give beneath the curious gaze of the crowd. She had forced him into a situation where he would have to listen. "I'm fine, Mother."
Her smile burned and he wanted to rip it away. He was not fine. Because of her, he had been forced to endure York's unique brand of persuasion. Alex joined the OSI because she hadn't clipped York's wings. She did not deserve to be happy for him.
"You've grown so much. Now,"—gesturing at all of him—"look at you. Where did my adorable son go?"
He had died when the assassin struck and she sent them off to Japan. Cuteness was a useless trait.
"You'll dazzle Britannia on your birthday when you step out on the global stage. December... it cannot come soon enough."
Lelouch flashed a smile at a noble drifting too close and focused on his mother again. "Mother... The global stage does not appeal to me. I am content where I am."
She sighed, rolled closer to the wall, and whispered, "Lelouch. Everyone, and I mean everyone, will be expecting you. I know you needed time... But this childish rebellion of your will stop. You're a prince and are expected to take responsibility when you reach your majority."
Lelouch countered, "Clovis waited."
Marianne grimaced. "He's... No one expected much from him in terms of responsibility. But unlike you, he attended numerous balls and lived within the public light. At twelve, his artwork was already famous. You're my son, Lelouch. And people know and respect me. While some have forgotten that I had you and Nunnally, others have not. People are asking for you."
The festival of excess around Lelouch mocked him. They expected him to partake and forget the suffering he had seen.
"Does it even matter. I'm seventeenth in line. Everyone knows Odysseus will abdicate and Schneizel will be the Emperor. There is no room for me here."
"If you're trying to insinuate you'll be bored, I'm sure that your father will find a task of sufficient difficulty." She paused and pursed her lips. "And if military life appeals to you so greatly, I'm sure we can arrange a command position where you can earn honor. A Number division is no place for you."
Clenching his fists, Lelouch counted backwards from ten.
Her lack of empathy was why his comrades died in droves. He couldn't abandon his friends, but he remembered her reaction when he called Suzaku a friend; she would not accept such a sentimental reason, nor would the Emperor.
Lelouch asked, "If consorting with Numbers is so despicable, wouldn't it raise a few eyebrows when I disappear and Prince Lelouch makes his debut? Not to mention Nunnally. She won't be able to stay in school if she takes to the public stage."
"You're hardly well known, Lelouch."
Running a mail smuggling service made sure that everyone knew of Lelouch and most remembered his face. Even those who kept their noses clean knew of him due to helping rebuff the first attack from the Count. No. Lelouch was quite well known... definitely more than he had ever intended. "Most of the camp knows my face and name, Mother."
She stared at him. "You haven't done anything of note besides some Eastern noble attempting to file a jaw dropping number of disciplinary actions against you. How would people know you?"
Lelouch curbed his tongue at the rebuke. There was no need to defend himself; he didn't need her approval. Instead, he smiled and said, "I fear Fortescue's idiocy is contagious if unchecked."
His mother crossed her arm. "How?"
"Apparently having the basic decency to treat everyone with respect is noteworthy for a Britannian."
"Careful Lelouch, others are listening," she reprimanded with a scowl. "You knew the Sumeragi girl, didn't you?"
Baffled at the subject change, Lelouch nodded. "She visited the Kururugi Shrine at times."
"What was your impression of her?"
Lelouch met his mother's gaze. Was she trying to show that she had changed or prove her remorse by discussing someone she saw as an inferior?
"Gullible," Lelouch answered. She had believed him when he claimed to be the demon of the forest. "Kind and polite." She never ridiculed her sister and tried to play with her. "Why?"
Marianne turned her wheelchair and faced the Chinese delegation surrounding their Empress protectively. "She turned her father in for treason against Britannia. Despite the upset, Charles will honor the betrothal agreement he made with her father for their cooperation."
Lelouch crossed his arms. Hadn't she tried to dissolve the agreement? Surely, she knew that Britannian court would tear her apart.
"If Sumeragi was willing to betray his country in the first place, then it stands to reason he would betray us again. With his betrayal, the betrothal gains Britannia nothing," Lelouch said.
"Charles wishes to tie the Chinese Federation to Britannia. The eunuchs are worried that we would destroy Empress Tianzi's culture. The Sumeragi girl is distantly related to the current Empress, making her not only an Honorary Britannian, but foreign nobility. A successful marriage would do much to assuage their concern. She will marry whichever half-brother of yours shows interest."
"I'll be sure to avoid her then." Lelouch didn't need to be tied down through marriage.
"Your father won't force you to marry her," his mother replied, exasperated. "I overreacted to your friend. She'll need a friend navigating Britannian politics... and maybe she'll know if her cousin survived. That's all. Nothing more has to come out of it."
It was a peace offer. A chance to know if his dear friend Suzaku had survived. It wasn't an apology because his mother didn't regret her actions, only the consequences she had incurred. Still, Lelouch thanked her.
He drifted through the crowd, but made sure to stay far away from the Chinese delegation. He could discover the truth and resolve Shrodinger's cat...
There was a comfort in the belief that Lelouch could return to Japan and walk down the street and run into his old friend. In that fantasy, they would catch up like old friends over a cup of coffee and depart ways. A tantalizing fantasy, it was and one which Lelouch was not ready to shatter.
He grieved for too many already, besides, Kaguya might simply not know.
Intent on avoiding any further confrontations, Lelouch drifted through the crowd. Schneizel chatted with nobles across the ballroom. The breeze from the balconies fluttered dresses. His mother conversed with Cornelia. Servants slipped behind tapestries as they refilled the buffet. The Chinese envoy entertained the Emperor.
"Hello Lelouch," Kaguya stood in front of him with a wide smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I never thought I would run into a forest demon at a royal ball."
Lelouch considered pretending he hadn't seen her, but that would cause a scene. "Hello Lady Sumeragi. I see you are doing well."
Seeing the curious nobles, Lelouch discretely led her to a secluded alcove. The towering carved bushes depicting the Emperor hid them from sight and Lelouch finally allowed himself to react.
"Kaguya."
"Lelouch," she replied with an eye roll. "That was rather rude of you, manhandling me. You're lucky I'm the forgiving sort. How have you been? I wasn't expecting to see you."
"Nor I, you." Lelouch crossed his arms. "Why seek me out?"
A small smile mocked him. "Do I need a reason to seek out an old friend?"
"Perhaps I should have mentioned to my mother the various pranks you played against Suzaku—" He shouldn't have brought him up. Hadn't he intended not to discuss him with her.
"I haven't seen him... but I haven't heard of his death either."
"Thank you," Lelouch whispered before straightening and piercing her with a glare. "You should have used your father's treason to dissolve the betrothal contract."
"I'm not pretty enough for His Highness?"
And she was just as infuriating as ever. "You know that isn't what I meant. It's nice to know you're alive, but we shouldn't talk lest people get the wrong impression."
Kaguya stepped in his way. "You know, I asked about you, but no one knows you were in Japan or what you have done since then. I imagine you want to keep it that way."
A noble passed by too close for comfort and Lelouch pulled her behind the bush. "Blackmailing me won't work; I don't care what you say. But the Emperor? He hasn't said anything for a reason and I'm not going to contradict his narrative and for your safety, you shouldn't either. This isn't Japan where your family name could protect you from consequences. This is Britannia,"
Lelouch paused and took a moment to calm himself. "This is Britannia and most of the people here will have no problem permanently silencing you. A betrothal contract to an ambiguous prince in the future is utterly meaningless."
Instead of looking concerned, she whispered, "You said Japan."
He was out of practice. Nobody at camp cared what words he used to describe the Areas... and for many, using their old names endeared Lelouch to them. "Habit is hard to break. Area Eleven. My apologies."
"Fine." She huffed and stepped towards him. "Thank you for your warning regardless. But seriously, what have you been doing? Nobody talks about you here and you're utterly incapable of blending in. You beat my father at shogi. Surely, you've challenged yourself against these nobles with... what do you call it again? Chess?"
"I wasn't too pleased to return to Britannia and life at court," Lelouch admitted. "I've been staying out of the public eye... and keeping myself busy with learning about business. I haven't had the opportunity to trounce any nobles in chess yet."
"Business?" Kaguya raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess, you're not supposed to say."
Lelouch relaxed. "To be fair, it does involve business of a sort. You'd better leave, Kaguya, before anyone gets improper ideas regarding our relationship. Nunnally is here as well. Ask for Princess Euphemia. Cite your age."
His sister would appreciate knowing that she had survived the chaos of Japan.
"Thank you, Lelouch. I wish you the best of luck." She parted with a formal Japanese bow, one Lelouch half-returned out of reflex, before finishing with the proper Britannian one.
Listening to the party, Lelouch leaned against the wall and watched the myriad of clashing colors swirl by. He didn't feel the need to return. He had been right. Lelouch vi Britannia was now the mask; a mask he no longer knew how to wear.
Schenizel walked by and stopped as he caught sight of Lelouch. "A most curious hiding place Lelouch."
Shrugging, Lelouch ignored his elder half-brother. There was nothing to refute; he was hiding.
"Do the festivities bring forth any ideas concerning your own birthday. With you hiding out here, no one knows what to expect of you. Is there something you will ask of Father?"
Lelouch would never ask him anything. If he had to be the man's pawn, he refused to be in his debt. "No. I will of course do whatever the Emperor requests."
Schneizel stooped and slid into the alcove and out of sight. "Would you honor me with a game of chess?"
"We don't have a board."
"Your sister played well enough without seeing one. Quite impressive, I must say. What do you say to the challenge?"
Lelouch observed Schneizel, but unable to read anything, he conceded. "Black."
"As always," Schneizel replied. "Pawn D-four."
The image of the chess board played out in his mind. Thousands of possible opportunities and counters. It all depended on how Schneizel preferred to play. "Pawn F-six."
Schneizel took control of the center board. Lelouch sacrificed a pawn and Schenizel's superior position was lost. Of course, his opponent immediately countered and left Lelouch wondering if it was better to stalemate a superior position or accept a loss to move the game forward. He stalemated and moved his knight. If Schneizel took his pawn, Lelouch would be in the superior position. It was a gamble and Schneizel responded without hesitation. Had Lelouch only done what Schenizel had planned?
With Lelouch's knight poised to take control of the center, he broke the stalemate and captured Schneizel's pawn, putting him one piece ahead and marking his first offensive, not reactionary move. The white bishop equalized the field. The major players were coming into play. Two moves for Schenizel to castle and three for Lelouch. The tempo was once again lost.
"Pawn D-six," Lelouch ordered after a moment of hesitation. He would bide his time.
Schneizel responded with a logical move that would allow a castle and prevent his own king from getting pinned.
An amateur player would have chased the check that their opponent could easily escape. A partial victory felt better than none. It was what Lelouch had done when younger. The battle against the Crows taught him that winning a skirmish could lose the larger battle. Instead, he moved the bishop to protect his own king from check. Survival was the priority against a superior opponent.
Thrown, Schneizel took a moment to consider his move. "Bishop. B-four."
It pinned Lelouch's own knight and forbade it from moving lest he wanted to lose his queen. Losing it would mean not pressuring the center field. But if he lost his knight... then his queen would have the opportunity to emerge. Meanwhile, Lelouch could regain the tempo by castling... so he did and Schenizel responded in kind.
A lone white pawn defended the middle, but the real battle was fought on the sides. Every piece presumed to move and gain the advantage if the others moved first. A reactionary game could only be played so long until one lost...
Britannia was always reacting to the Count. Without intelligence or local support, the Count was free to press his advantage, even against superior numbers. He could disappear at a whim when the battle became tough or the conditions unfavorable.
Without the snow, the Count's tactics floundered so the fighting quieted. The battle would reconvene once the temperatures began to plummet. If they could move against their invisible opponent beforehand, perhaps they could turn the tide around.
"Lelouch," Schneizel prompted.
"Apologies. A stray thought distracted me. Knight G-five."
Schneizel took the center field with his knight. Lelouch moved his own knight to the center as well. The White Queen moved to attack and Lelouch risked his own.
A Queen for a Queen. A pawn captured by a white valiant steed.
"Check," Schneizel uttered triumphantly.
The noble black knight rescued the king and the white bishop avenged its steed, only to fall to a simple commoner—a pawn. The pieces were matched. Lelouch with two bishops, but no knights, and Schneizel with one of each. The end game commenced.
The rooks moved to pierce their opponent's defenses and capture the elusive king. Schneizel's king hid behind a wall of pawns with no room to move; Lelouch's could flee.
The Count was not like Schneizel hiding behind enemy lines where all was safe. No, he preferred to lead the battle and watch things unfold himself. Lelouch moved his pawn forth. Why was the Count silent? Hiding? Every moment wasted was an advantage squandered. Britannia continued to lose because of a lack of effort. If the Count sought to win, he would strike hard and fast with a debilitating blow.
The white bishop fled before Lelouch's pawn.
The Count had proven himself smart... there was a reason for his patience; one that Lelouch could not see.
The steamroller of pawns moved forward and Schneizel retreated. Lelouch forces were scattered across the imaginary board, but Schneizel's gathered in the back.
Lelouch frowned. The Count had lost his queen, a knightmare, early on in their game. Its scattered carcass gave no clue to its origin although a slash harken recovered from one of its downed opponents suggested it had been newly crafted. How had the Count found a knightmare, which were religiously guarded by all nobles who could afford one?
If Lelouch was the Count, he would attack in the summer when countless noble officers hurried home on requested leave to attend parties. Untested officers commanded the troops in their absence... even Lelouch had been called away. Why would the Count wait?
The white knight moved forward in a move with no immediate purpose. Schneizel had stalled for time because he had no promising move to make. In doing so, he sacrificed a beat.
Perhaps the Count did not press the advantage because doing so would put him in danger. Instead, he stalled, biding time... Could the Count, like his name suggested, be a real noble?
A bishop for a bishop.
The white knight hurried back to protect its king who had long last deployed its defense, but much too late.
The Count's rhetoric was too fine tuned for a noble. He understood the commoner's cause too well. Perhaps a lower ranking noble with connections among commoners? But that still did not fit. Even Roy's family did not interact with nobility beyond business. A piece was missing.
A black rook for the elusive white knight. A white pawn devoured its opposing kind. The pieces were at last balanced and Lelouch's advantage lost. The winner would be decided by positioning. And whether two white rooks would beat a black rook accompanied by a bishop.
A rook for a rook.
The kings had to come out and play. To acquire the final piece of the puzzle, he had to force the Count's hand. The pawns marched forward across the board to the elusive destination they would never meet. The black king and white rook swiftly eliminated them.
A lone black king stood on the board as Schneizel swept up the last of the pawns. Lelouch bowed his head. "I concede defeat."
Schneizel grasped his shoulder warmly. "A good game. You had me worried there at the end. Perhaps if you play white next time, you will win."
"I must say," a noble announced, "I have not witnessed such an engaging and tight match for over a decade. You are a very talented young man..."
Lelouch inclined his head. "Prince Lelouch."
"Ah, the ever elusive son of Empress Marianne." The noble smiled and bowed deeply. "Allow me to introduce myself, Margrave Oberstein. I foresee interesting times ahead with your debut in court. It is not anyone who can challenge our prodigious chess master Prince Schneizel."
"Indeed," Schneizel answered. "I hope you give some additional thought to your future Lelouch. There will be a seat for you in my office if you so desire."
"Thank you Schneizel. I will take your generous offer into consideration."
And it was generous, overly so. Either Lelouch had impressed his half-brother tremendously, or a plot was afoot. If it was the former, Lelouch risked the scrutiny of other nobles who would either see him challenge Schneizel or allying with him... and that would lead to assassinations. For the latter? Lelouch preferred not to know. At least in the army, he knew where his enemies were.
Lelouch couldn't wait to return home.
Fuji Mountain, Area 11
Tohdoh sat on the tatami mats across from Kirihara. In the depth of the sakuradite mines and within a hidden room, no Britannians would overhear. The aging man folded his hands together and waited for the servants to close the fusuma door. It would be a private meeting with no interruptions.
Kirihara took a long sip of tea and set it down. "I'm glad to see you are well Tohdoh."
"Thank you. And I'm glad that you have not forgotten Japan."
"Never. I will forever remember her. Britannia is a temporary beast that you will soon banish."
Tohdoh did not share his optimism. Britannia had already caused irrevocable damage. The path onward was what helped the people of Japan, not of old timers yearning for a time long past. "I hear you have taken Sumeragi-san under your wings."
"I'm not pleased with you, Tohdoh, for forcing that decision upon her."
"A vile act to promise one's daughter to those who slaughtered their sister. And a vile outcome he received. If Kaguya hadn't turned her father in, I would have killed him myself. She sped up the timeline and used it to her own benefit."
Kirihara groaned. "That's not the issue. What worries me is that she believes she can spin the betrothal to her favor. She wants to play in Britannia's court where she doesn't know the rules. It'll kill her and I'm not ready to lose my student yet."
The Emperor had killed the majority of his court to prove a point. The consequences of Britannian politics were much more dire than Tohdoh had ever expected. Then again, he had welcomed two young royals who had survived an assasintion attempt to Japan.
Tohdoh asked, "Has she heard from Lelouch and Nunnally?"
"Oh... yes, I remember them. A willful pair, they were wreaking havoc with Suzaku-kun's aid." Kirihara chuckled. "Kaguya actually did meet them at Prince Odysseus's birthday party. She said they were fine... and that Lelouch remembers her and Suzaku still."
"Lelouch is almost fourteen... the age of majority in Britannia. Is he pursuing any avenue in particular?"
"Apparently business," Kirihara answered with a snort. "Kaguya says he doesn't seem too close to the Emperor despite his fondness for Empress Marianne. Lelouch also seems to remember Japan fondly. She felt terribly guilty about not telling him Suzaku was alive. Said he looked like a lost puppy when she said she hadn't heard of his death."
That was a relief to hear. Tohdoh did not want to meet Lelouch on the battlefield and whatever business actually meant, it seemed Lelouch would not be their personal enemy any time soon. If he did... Tohdoh wasn't sure that Suzaku would be able to fight. The kid harbored too much guilt and Tohdoh, unfortunately, had no idea how to fix it. If only he had read his student's mental state better that fateful night. Then maybe... Suzaku would have some measure of peace.
Tohdoh asked, "Did they get along well? Kaguya and Lelouch. They never had much time to bond at the shrine... especially with Lelouch scaring her with his demon in the woods act."
Kirihara shook his head. "I considered having Kaguya seduce him"—Tohdoh winced—"but Lelouch didn't express any interest in her. To make matters worse, she genuinely likes him and would feel utterly terrible about manipulating him."
"Probably for the best," Tohdoh agreed. "Without romance, Lelouch is too intelligent to function as her puppet. He would turn the tables on her."
La Sarre, Area Two
Lelouch returned to his men with relief. It had been nice to see Nunnally, but interacting with his family drained him. He had spent too much time finding creative excuses to avoid his father and his mother... and his various other half-siblings who suddenly remembered that he existed and thought his chess match with Schneizel proved he was worthy of associating with. Lelouch had fumbled through every interaction, not wanting to admit he had forgotten their names.
Never again...
Until, of course, his birthday rolled around and his father forced him to navigate the treacherous world of politics.
"Family can't have been that bad," Roy joked beside him as they walked to the bar. "What did they do? Destroy your clothes? Swap the salt and sugar?"
"Worse..." Lelouch groaned. "They smiled and were perfectly polite."
Roy stopped in the middle of the street. "I fail to see the problem there Lelouch."
"They always hated me and Nunnally. I heard their whispers... and now they're just fake. I can't tell who learnt to overcome their prejudice, probably none, and who mastered their acting classes."
"Your cynicism is refreshingly bleak as always." Roy pushed the door open and a blast of noise assaulted them. "Menu hasn't changed, but some of the locals are warming up to us. Well, perhaps only to us."
The sneering faces greeting them did not convince Lelouch. One group hurried out of the backdoor under a mounted bear head.
"Aren't you worried they will inform the Count?"
"He's been silent," Roy whispered back and approached a table in the back corner where Frederick, Edgar, Henry, and a stranger played cards. He shouted, "Look who the cat dragged back!"
Edgar's chair fell backwards as he rushed forward and swept Lelouch into a hug and began to examine him for injuries. "You're not hurt. Maybe with you, there's a chance to get Alex to join."
"Almost sound disappointed there," Frederick called.
"Please,"—Edgar pulled Lelouch to the table and dealt him some cards—"we both know Lelouch attracts trouble. He could lose an arm and not tell us."
The stranger snorted and extended a hand. "Arthur. Pleasure to make your acquaintance. So you're the infamous Lelouch?"
Lelouch hid behind his cards—a strange assortment from various decks and matching no rules he knew. "Roy... What have you been telling people?"
Arthur laughed. "Not to worry kid. No embarrassing stories from ya friends. Just a warning to never gamble against you." His eyes narrowed and he turned to Edgar. "If that's the case, why deal him in? Ya trying to swindle me of my cash?"
Henry slapped a card face down on the center of the pile. "We don't exclude folks."
"I'm just losing my coins to ya. Scam artists the lot of you." Arthur slid a card forward.
His friends fell silent as the scowling owner stomped to their table. He refilled the glasses and slammed a pitcher of water down when Lelouch refused. An offer of coin from Arthur quieted whatever scathing words the owner would have said and he walked to a neighboring table, chatting amicably.
The table turned to Lelouch and he swallowed, looking down at his cards. Was that an Uno card? Baffled, Lelouch selected a card at random and tossed it onto the center pile.
Edgar grinned like a cat that caught a canary. "Bullshit."
Smirking, Frederick turned over the card that Lelouch played and the table oohed. "Your loss Lelouch. Playing for secrets. Tell us one thing we don't know about you."
Of course the first thing his friends did was bamboozle him. Lelouch shook his head and sighed. "Someone is explaining the rules of this game to me after. But..." What was a secret he could afford to tell? "My mother named me after a French movie director she liked."
"Seriously?" Henry asked. "She watched French film?"
Lelouch nodded. "She made me watch all of them. I was perhaps five or so, but she managed to drag my father in and forced him to sit through her marathon. It was hilarious and since then, the movies mysteriously vanished whenever he visited. She also named Nunnally after a Britannian director."
Placing a card on the pile, Roy said, "Well. We learned something new."
A quick conversation explained the rules and a few rounds passed. Lelouch played the Uno card and smirked as Arthur called him out. His squadron knew most of his tells and waited in anticipation as Lelouch turned it over. Arthur lost the round.
"Damn. Thought I had you, kid." Arthur leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. "Does it have to be a new story for everyone? I'm running out of secrets here."
"Yes," Edgar quickly replied. "Pay up."
Arthur exhaled slowly. "Well... I've taken to reading the Chry—blah—Chrysanthemum Stories."
"Chrysanthemum makes an interesting tea," Lelouch commented and he remembered the Kururugis serving it to a Chinese delegation. It was a curious name.
"You've heard of it?" Arthur asked, flabbergasted. "It's not a made up word?"
"No... It's a flower. Originally from China. Strange name to use." It was also the symbol of the old Japanese Empire and happiness.
"Well," Arthur looked away, "It's a blog. They publish short stories and personal accounts from people who aren't... ideal Britannians."
That sounded eerily familiar.
"Lelouch?" Roy asked.
Lelouch groaned. "My sister told me that she started a blog." At the curious look from Arthur, Lelouch explained, "She's blind" and the name was a not so subtle stab at the Emperor.
"Oh. An old friend of mine is epileptic. Britannia is not a kind mistress to those unable to toil under her yolk."
Lelouch narrowed his eyes at the man. The words were dangerously close to sedition and for a friendly local to speak so brazenly was strange. But then, the locals were hostile to the quartered army and willing to harass them. Lelouch had lost track of the number of suspiciously misplaced items or the times requested food had conveniently begun to spoil.
Leaning across the table, Edgar asked, "Sergeant Tamay knows about epilepsy. Do you think your friend would mind talking to him? Or me if he isn't comfortable with an Honorary Britannian?"
Arthur swallowed and folded his hands together; the painful hope obvious in his eyes. "You want to help?"
Frederick threw his arm around his friend. "Didn't you know Arthur, we're a bunch of bleeding hearts here; my boy, literally. But Roy helps everyone get supplies and has a terrible habit of giving up his own meal." A punch to the arm stopped Roy's protest. "Lelouch collects donations to help those discharged."
"You're not supposed to share that," Lelouch whined. The ruse of donations helped to cover the fact that it was the Emperor's generous allowance. "You're making me sound sappy."
Arthur smiled fondly and accepted Edgar's offer of help. The card game continued. Henry revealed that he hated gardens of all things which resulted in baffled looks and Henry crossing his arms defensively.
In contrast to Henry's declaration of gardens being the epitome of evil, Frederick shared with a wince that his family collected various old guns. Lelouch wondered how many of them were legal to own.
Roy lost and he stared despondently across the table. With a huff, he said, "My girlfriend's name is Selena."
"Not a secret," Frederick protested. "Come on share something juicy."
Glowering, Roy said, "It's not my fault I'm not super mysterious. Fine. I gave my girlfriend my teddy bear when I enlisted."
Edgar's mouth twitched, but the game continued on.
Arthur was a language connoisseur, knowing Irish, French, German, and various other local dialects. Edgar's grandfather died from the Spanish Flu after he brought food to sick neighbors. Lelouch revealed his mother's cousin worked on the knightmare development which raised a few eyebrows. With a shrug, Frederick revealed that his cousin twice removed ran off to join the E.U.
"You can't just say that Frederick!" Henry interrupted as he played his card.
The table next to them emptied and an elderly man stumbled and wacked his cane against Henry. Gritting his teeth, Henry ignored them as they purposefully jostled his chair, causing him to spill his water.
"It's not that big of a deal," Frederick said as the group slipped outside, suddenly able to walk straight. "She didn't tell us anything and disappeared into the night. We only found out about it years later when an officer dropped by to interview everyone." Smiling weakly, Frederick added, "And bullshit."
Looking like he bit into a lemon, Henry grabbed his card. "Why do I keep losing?"
The continuous onslaught of secrets was shredding Lelouch's mantra of plausible deniability and making him envious of Alex who had the good sense to stay away from potentially treasonous talk he would have to investigate.
Perhaps that was why Henry was distressed? He was the most patriotic of all of them.
Henry gulped down his water. "My family gave me up when I was five. Didn't care for me at all. But I had a younger sister Izzy and we sometimes meet. She's an archaeologist."
Hours later, Lelouch finally tracked down Alex, mending his uniform and trying to ignore an over eager knight with a uniform barely broken in. Lelouch stood in the doorway as he watched the knight eagerly pull out a thread of his own and attempt to fix the hole in his glove. Both of them were utterly hopeless at mending their clothes.
Alex smiled falsely. "Sir. Is there something you require? There is no need for you to mend your glove. I can do it for you as well as countless others in the division."
The knight laughed. "This is what commoners do, right? I must try this for myself."
Despite looking ready to throttle his companion, Alex politely asked, "Why, sir?"
"Because I'm a commoner?"
Deciding to relieve his friend, Lelouch interrupted, "Hello, Alex. Sergeant Malfoire requests that you meet with him."
The knight squinted at Lelouch. "Who are you? And if my young friend must see Sergeant Malfoire, it would be my honor to accompany him."
"Corporal Lamperouge, sir," Lelouch replied as Alex made dramatic faces behind the young knight's back. "And truly, you do not need to bother yourself."
The knight rose and flourished a dramatic bow. "Gino... Wein at your service. I look forward to our friendship. We young commoners have to stick together. We'll embark on great adventures and I'll crush the Count from within my knightmare."
"Knightmares are useless in the heavy snow," Alex cut in and stood up. "I'm sure you'll do fine with your exquisite skills and your company was most... enjoyable. But I have work to attend and I don't want you to injure your soft hands."
"Until next time!" Gino shouted and suddenly paused. "No. You have to help me. I'm a knight, right? So I can order you to help me. My family can't know I'm here. Why does no one believe that I'm a commoner?"
Lelouch shared a look with his friend. A noble run away in the army: a cliche movie plot. Lelouch closed the door behind him. If it hadn't been for Gwen and Rick, he would be in the same position as the young noble and utterly incapable of blending in. But the name Wein... If he was part of the Weinberg family, Lelouch risked his own identity. Margrave Weinburg was a frequent associate with Schneizel.
"You're part of the Weinberg family?"
"How did you know? What gave me away?" Gino asked desperately.
Alex stared at him. "You chose Wein as your secret identity? Couldn't you have been more obvious?"
"Well, it's not like I can change it now. There are plenty of noble families. Why would you even know them?"
"Margrave Weinberg is Minister of Commerce. Your family is recognizable."
Alex snorted. "Trust Lelouch to remember everyone important in politics, but not recognize Fadiman as the shampoo brand."
Crossing his arms, Lelouch glowered at his friend. "Politics is important; shampoo isn't."
Gino tentatively asked, "What's Fadiman shampoo?"
"The most popular commoner brand," Lelouch replied, "and the heir to the company is our friend. His heart would shatter if you ever ask him that."
Gino nodded. "I'll be sure to ask him. And why are you both so formal with me, but not each other? We're friends, aren't we?"
No. They were most definitely not friends with the noble playing commoner.
"Sir Wein," Alex said, "you're still a knight and I don't fancy a court martial because I'm being disrespectful. Additionally, we don't know you so we aren't friends."
"Then we must spend time together to rectify this travesty! Come on. I don't want to be friends with some old farts. You're both entertaining."
Either Gino would throw a tantrum and Lelouch would once again have to rely on York's fascinating ability to make court-martials disappear or Gino was truly nice and would back off.
Lelouch pinched his nose and bit the bullet. "Once you save one of our lives, we can talk. But until then, we're not friends and have been trying to find an excuse for you to leave us alone. We didn't flee our plushy lives to gallivant off in the army in order to fulfill some fantasy of honor and power unlike you. We're here out of necessity."
Alex winced, but stood up and walked over to Lelouch and opened the door. Turning back to the knight, he said, "Don't call everything commoner tasks. Nobody does that."
The door shut and finally it was quiet.
"It's good to have you back, Lelouch," Alex said. "It's been strange without you Malfoire thing was a lie, right?"
Lelouch nodded. "Haven't seen the bastard yet."
"Do you think you were a bit mean? He is a noble."
"It was that or have him following us forever and drawing attention." Lelouch's voice dropped to a whisper. "Speaking of nobes, I think the Count might be one."
Ashford Academy, Area 11
Nunnally returned to school with a bag of sweets pilfered from Odysseus's party and a heart soaring from happy memories. She had sworn Euphie to secrecy and shared her mailing address and the Chrysanthemum blog. While her brother would have disapproved, Nunnally knew that Euphie wouldn't betray her. She was just as Nunnally remembered and lonely. Euphie knew that if she told, Nunnally would never forgive her and end their rekindled friendship. The implicit threat would ensure her silence.
Kaguya had been an unexpected surprise, but while Nunnally was overjoyed to hear her old playmate again, she didn't dare to trust her. Either she turned in her father for treason because she was too loyal to Britannia or because her father stood in her way.
For the former, Nunnally risked a tattle-tale and while she didn't have her brother's bravery to criticize the world, she refused to stand idly by. Her blog was seditious as it satirized Britannain culture. It spoke to those without a place and Nunnally had already arranged to begin translating it into multiple languages.
But if Kaguya had removed her father, she would betray Nunnally to further her own goal. Nunnally suspected the girl intended to free Japan through any means necessary. Japan's freedom wasn't Nunnally's goal. She loved the country for caring for her and her brother and hated her parents for tearing it and its beautiful culture apart. Unfortunately, there existed no return and any freedom for Japan would only be found with violent bloodshed.
Nunnally intended to preserve what was left of every culture and change Britannia so no other country would suffer the same fate. There would be no more children clinging to each other as they walked through piles of the dead. The culture of assasination and conquering would change. The strong would defend the weak, not devour them. How? She had no idea, but for now, Nunnally would settle for a blog illuminating the ills of their society.
Milly skipped up to her and pulled her into the room. "Happy Birthday! Sorry. I know you didn't want to make this a big deal, but your brother is visiting and I love parties."
"What did you do, Milly?" Nunnally asked hesitantly.
"Today's the first day of the Fall Festival!" Milly clapped her hands and bounced around the room, shifting various objects. "It's Fall now, and no one will know it's for your birthday but we need a party. We especially need a party before you have to attend all the stuffy adult ones. I had one for my birthday... and they're terrible. Nowhere as exciting as I thought. Everyone is just standing around drinking wine and... talking. And dances are all proper and the food is fancy and stupid and small. No pizza."
"Pizza?" Nunnally asked as she recovered from the sudden onslaught of words.
Milly pushed a package into her hands with coarse flower patterns. "We're going to break the world record for largest pizza! And we're using the old Ganymede. Your mother is the absolute best. She asked that we video the entire thing and give it to her so she can share it with the Emperor. Something about weapons of war being used for cooking and she looked super terrifying. Like, I'm not sure if the Emperor will be mad, but knightmares are more advanced now. You know they're coming up with a new design to market over the Glasgow? Grandpa says its barely any better, but he won't let me see his plans although he did say that when they were ready, we could use the new knightmare to try and make pizza with and—"
"Breathe Milly," Nunnally said. "And thank you. Lelouch will have an excuse to have some fun. Just... don't go overboard."
"Overboard? I never go overboard. Grandpa's allowance is nowhere near enough. Otherwise, we would make the world's largest ice cream cake and chocolate chip cookie. Ooh. For Christmas, we should make a life sized gingerbread house. It's going to be great... but open it Nunnally! I want to see your face."
Suspecting that her friend was eating too much sugar, Nunnally tore the wrapping paper and weighed the box. Walking to the table, she removed the lid and discovered a strange boxy device with a soft foamy portion.
Milly leaned over and guided her finger to a button. "It's a recorder. Can't give you a camera, but I want you to make your own memories. And with this, you can record everything that's interesting. Here's the on button, that's record. Normally there's a light, but I asked them to make it protrude a little so you know when it isn't recording."
"Thank you, Milly."
For lunch, they gathered in the student council room and took a break from the extravagant festivities outside. The scent of coffee followed Milly as she bounced around the room and presented various foods for Nunnally to try. Allie finally saved her from the president's clutches and dragged her into the neighboring room and shut the door.
Allie pulled her into a hug. "Happy Birthday, Nunnally. How long do you think it'll take for Milly to notice our escape?"
Nunnally winced at the loud crash and the excited yells. "A while. Whoever gave her sugar is evil."
"True. I saved a pizza slice for you." Allie passed a plate. "I know Milly didn't tell anyone it was your birthday, but she really went all out for the festival."
"She just wants to party. Her own birthday was a let down apparently."
Allie hummed and her footsteps faded. "She has to be the strangest noble I ever met. Saw Lord Ashford the other day and he acts like a proper noble with a face set in stone. Gwen told me she interviewed Empress Marianne and while she did show emotions, it felt fake. Creepy polite. Milly isn't like that."
Ignoring the surge of awkwardness, Nunnally said, "No, Milly isn't. We can't expect all nobles to be the same. Lelouch apparently found his own noble friend, a knight, who follows him everywhere. Brother loves to complain because he can't get rid of him and the idiot doesn't have an ounce of subtlety."
Allie laughed. "Well, not all apples are the same."
Slowly, but surely, Allie was warming up to nobility and, maybe, Nunnally would be able to reveal her secret without losing a dear friend. It wasn't fair to lie, but Nunnally had no choice if she wanted to continue her life.
Lelouch's voice interrupted her thoughts and she dashed out of the room and he swept her into a hug. Unlike last time, he didn't smell artificially clean, but of dirt, sweat, and... corn?
"Lelouch? Have you been cooking?"
"I was going to surprise you, but"—he stepped back and fabric rustled. He pushed a plastic container into her hand—"Edgar managed to convince a local to allow me to use their kitchen and Pablo shared his mother's recipe and we made tamales. This is the fifth batch although I couldn't find any good spices."
Prying open the lid, the scent of chicken, tomatoes, and melted cheese wafted upwards. Trying one, she let the flavor burst on her tongue. "You're the best, Brother."
The other student council members crowded closer and Lelouch rustled again. "These have less spice. Thank you for taking care of my sister."
Over the eager sounds of her friends, Nunnally said, "Lulu, I don't need anyone to take care of me. I'm ten."
"You're my sister. You could be a yeti and I would still worry."
Shirley squealed. "You call him Lulu? That's adorable! And he cooks."
Surprisingly, her brother did not protest as the student council adopted the nickname. Nunnally shook her head and finished the tamale with a grin. Milly extravaganza aside, this was the best birthday party to date. Lelouch was soon forgotten and Nunnally took the opportunity to rest her head on his shoulder. Unlike last time, there was no ridiculous worry about wrinkling clothes.
"Cake," Milly shouted and interrupted the peace. "You're making cake, Lulu. Chocolate velvet. You need to eat more."
Meekly, he asked, "Haven't you had enough sugar?"
"Of course not. And I know you like to cook so move it. Student council cooking contest!"
"I'm not a student council member," Lelouch protested as he was pulled off the couch
"Everyone," Milly shouted, "vote to make Lulu an honorary member?"
Nunnally raised her hand and Lelouch hissed, "Traitor."
Laughing, she replied, "Lelouch, you love to cook. Have some fun. What's the worst that can happen?"
Apparently, a lot.
Carefully walking over the kitchen floor covered in either slippy flour or sticky dough and for some inexplicable reason, water in the corner farthest from the sink. Lelouch and Milly shouted as the mixer clanged against the metal bowl, while Shirley—having abandoned her disastrous attempts at mixing—banged the dough on the kitchen island.
The oven beeped and Allie screamed, "I got it!" while Nina quietly protested that the cookies weren't gold yet.
Rivaz, smelling of ash, leaned on her shoulder. "None of us know how to cook. But your brother, he is even keeping the president in check. Think we can make creme brulee next? I always wanted to try using a blow torch."
"Out!" boomed Lelouch as another bowl clanged against the ground besides Shirley. "Everyone but Nunnally, out!"
Their footsteps scurried out without a sound of protest and the door slammed shut. Nunnally accidentally kicked Shirley's bowl across the floor as she walked over to Lelouch.
"I thought you hated being called Lulu," she said.
"Try this." He pushed a spoon into her hands and she smelled the delicious vanilla mixed with cinnamon. "It's a nickname. There's nothing to be upset about, besides, Lelouch is the name of a prince. I would rather avoid those questions."
There was something he wasn't saying, but she only said, "You really like cinnamon."
"It's a brilliant spice and impossible to find. At least Milly's kitchen is well stocked."
"Thank you for coming."
He turned on the mixer again and it nearly drowned out his words. "Without snowfall, the Count has been quiet. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to come. Although apparently I'm racking up too many days of leave."
"Stay for longer?"
"No. I'm working on security here tomorrow, but the day after, on Sunday, we can have some time for ourselves. Maybe try to find some good spices or whatever you want."
The mixer turned off and Nunnally began to knead the dough on the flour covered counter. "Why not? I've missed you."
He pulled her into a one armed hug. "I have people relying on me and I want to stay, but the Count will attack soon and I cannot let my people face him alone."
Stifling a sigh, Nunnally turned around to find the roller Shirley had been banging against the island. He wouldn't be deterred and her chest tightened at the idea of him facing the Count across the battlefield. She couldn't lose him, but there was nothing she could do. His service allowed her to live in comfort and away from court. Ten was still too young to stand on her own feet and prove her worth.
When Lelouch said his final goodbyes, Nunnally slipped an origami crane in his bag. He had to stay safe.
Worldbuilding Thoughts (They're back!):
-In canon, Nunnally is 87th in line to the throne. I'm saying she was pushed down the line in the anime, because other wise, Charles had a ridiculous amount of kids between Lelouch and Nunnally.
-Kaguya always struck me as a bit strange. She very openly flaunts her Japanese heritage and according to the wiki, she was the only survivor of the Kyoto House after the Black Rebellion. Everyone else was executed. To reconcile this and her over the top obsession with Zero, I developed a new headcanon where she is related to the Chinese royalty and has a betrothal. She obviously knows who Lelouch is and leaps at the opportunity to slip through the loop hole in the betrothal. I'm not betraying Britannia, I'm just following my betrothed who happens to be a Britannain prince and a terrorist.
-Very random, but champagne: Kallen's nemesis. In America, it refers to sparkling wine, but in the E.U. it can only be called champagne if it's from the region in France. This is due to a treaty in 1891 which concerns trademarks. But then the U.S. managed to find a loophole due to never signing the Treaty of Versailles and therefore sells sparkling wine as champagne. In 2005 that loophole got fixed, but old champagne brands got grandfathered in. Ever since rewatching that episode, I've been scratching my head if the bottle is actually from France or sparkling wine. And whether Britannia would refer to sparkling wine as champagne...
Author's Note
I'm fixing two name issues for York's name and Brigit's brother. Before Kaleidoscope, I wrote them once and forgot that I named them. It's Will, not Lance; and Oliver, not Einri, now.
I used to do alternate chapter titles. I stopped doing them since they were rather silly, but does anyone miss them?
Thank you x1tears1X and Spaded Ace18 on FFN for your help with betaing.