Chapter 7

Mr. Lamperouge had turned into a wolf.

A wolf that lies silently on the couch, violet eyes sharp, lips in a snarl, limbs spread out ready for an attack, raven hair dishevelled.

The twins tried their best to avoid the looming and brooding presence of their guest, afraid that he would bare his fangs to them or worse, bite them, but just like in a dark fairytale, the wolf always finds a way to be in the same place with the innocent children. He was there when they were taking music lessons from their temporary teacher in the Music Room, and Rolo's fingers became a stumbling mess. He was also there when they were learning about the countries in the world and Nunnally almost got lost in Japan. Mr. Lamperouge was there, too, when they were doing Math problems. Maybe because wolves have an impeccable sense of smell, Nunnally had said. They could smell their prey from very far places. Rolo shivered at the thought of them being his prey.

But unlike before, Mr. Lamperouge remained quiet in his nest. And somehow, this brought relief to the twins, and to Miss Milly, too, as they observed.

"A black wolf," Rolo whispers as he steals a glance at the older man sitting by the window sill.

"A wolf without a pack," Nunnally adds.

"Can a wolf live alone?"

"Hmmm…" Tapping her chin with her short fingers, Nunnally tries to recall what Miss Ceci taught them about wild animals. But it had been so long ago, last week to be exact, when their governess discussed that subject. "I can't remember. But, it must be lonely to be alone."

Rolo's eyebrows furrow. "Mr. Lamperouge does not look sad, though. He looks angry. Is he angry at us?"

"We didn't do anything wrong."

"Please focus on the lesson, little masters," their nanny gently chastises. "Miss Ceci will be delighted if you study diligently until she returns. Don't you want to surprise her of your broad learnings and knowledge when she comes back?"

"Listen to her, little elves, and stop gossiping about me. Miss Ceci will be disappointed when I tell her how you turn into tactless children within a week."

Horrified, Nunnally and Rolo could only stare wide-eyed at the wolfman before them. His voice is a growl of an alpha ready to jump its victim. Somewhere near the twins, they feel their nanny move closer, almost infront of them like a shield.

"We are not gossiping about you, Mr. Lamperouge. Rolo and I are talking about wolves."

Mr. Lamperouge raises a sharp brow at them as he leans back against the window frame. Arms crossed, he gives a wolfish smirk. "I see that you are dishonest, too. What a pity."

"Mr. Lamperouge, I believe that it is improper to frighten the twins who are, may I remind you, the children of the viscount, with false accusations," Miss Milly says in a tone that the young ones haven't heard before. She sounds scary, like a dark queen ready to punish her servants. In that moment, she looks so tall that her blonde hair seems like the sunlight over tall mountains.

Without missing a beat and with no trace of fright or threat on his face, Mr. Lamperouge turns to her. "And may I remind you who you are talking to?"

Miss Milly bites her lips which does not bode well with Nunnally and Rolo. Miss Milly looks angry, too, and they've never seen an angry Miss Milly. They don't understand why Mr. Lamperouge is being the harsh man that he is. They did not do anything wrong to him. They've been polite to him, greeted him when necessary, even entertained his ridiculous games sometimes. But why does he always treat them like toys that he can play whichever way he likes?

With her hands gripping her nanny's skirt, Nunnally feels the older woman's tension. She wants to hold her hand and tell her not to be afraid, but the young girl is afraid, too.

"Do you know who I am, little elves?" This time, the question is directed to them.

"You are papa's special guest," answers Rolo.

Mr. Lamperouge raises a finger. "Correct. And?"

And? Papa didn't mention an 'and'. All Papa told them was Mr. Lamperouge is not an ordinary guest. He would be staying in the mansion for a longer time than the usual and should be treated like a friend.

Looking at each other, the twins shake their heads.

"It seems like your Miss Ceci is keeping secrets from you."

"Grown-ups have a lot of secrets. That's what she told us," says Nunnally, but the knowledge of Miss Ceci not trusting them because they are too young for grown-up talks still made her sad.

"Well, I know where she has gone, too."

Miss Milly warns beside Nunnally, "Mr. Lamperouge…"

Mr. Lamperouge only gives her a brief dismissive glance before he stands to his full height, puts his hands in his pockets and looks coldly down at the twins.

"Where is she, sir?" Rolo's small voice asks.

"And why should I tell you when your governess didn't? But I can think of a few reasons why she would hide from you such as - "

Suddenly, they are underwater. Suddenly, everything is muted. Miss Milly's hands were quick to cover the twins' ears as she pressed the sides of their heads against her hips. Nunnally and Rolo look up to their nanny and find her lips moving too fast, looking furious. In their young eyes, Miss Milly turned into a brave falcon defending her powerless chicks. Soft purple eyes turn to Mr. Lamperouge and are surprised how the brooding wolf earlier became tame and silent. Rolo can still sense the tension from the older man, the sharpness of his glare proving that his mood is still dark. But Mr. Lamperouge is not as harsh as he looked like earlier. Instead, Rolo catches the hesitant swift glance that he bestowed the children before he speaks with Miss Milly.

They can hear a few mumbled words but not clear enough to understand and comprehend.

At last, Mr. Lamperouge bows his head and leaves the Sun room. As soon as he is out of sight, Miss Milly removes her hands and kneels before them. Her worried hands busy themselves fixing their hair and clothes.

They like their nanny a lot. She is like a caring older sister who always look after their welfare. Her touches know how to comfort and calm the twins like the gentle waves of the sea lulling small boats. She has been with them as long as Miss Ceci is their governess too. And these two older women are the mother and sister-figures that they wished they biologically have.

"Did you have a fight?" inquires Nunnally with wide doe eyes seeking for clarity.

Miss Milly gives them a tight smile. "We had an argument."

"We can tell papa about Mr. Lamperouge's rude manners when he comes back," appeals Rolo.

"Don't worry your pretty little heads about this matter. I promise that Mr. Lamperouge wouldn't harm you again. Say, I believe that it's time for your bath."

But as they exit the Sun Room, the twins couldn't help but dart their eyes around their surroundings, anxious that the black wolf still lingers in the most hidden corners.

Ceci folds the letter she will send to Shirley into two and ties a red ribbon around it. She hopes that her sister and the other staff of the shop will be able to uncover the truth behind the problem with the Guilford Kitchenware. Furthermore, she asked them to take extra care in product making so as to avoid the same fate of their rival shop. They cannot risk the established reputation of the Fenette's cutleries and lose more customers from committing the same mistake they have could easily prevented.

Although, Ceci strongly trusts Shirley with the decisions and judgments concerning their business, there will be no harm in taking additional measures to protect their family's legacy.

A door slamming snatches her deep thoughts and her head automatically turns to the direction of the next room. As the shock of their discovery wore out, it is still a very convenient coincident, at least to Ceci, that Mr. Lamperouge's room is next to hers. Why the viscount failed to mention this arrangement is beyond her but she will take this situation as it is. After all, with this closer proximity, she can monitor his movements easier especially at night.

The surprise painted on the man's face yesterday morning is still fresh on her mind. He realized the situation first as he witnessed her exit her room.

"Are you well, Mr. Lamperouge?"

"What are you doing there?"

Ceci looked back at the door of her room then returned her confused gaze to him. "That is my room."

The shock on his face escalated until he was wincing. It dawned on Ceci that Mr. Lamperouge must had a headache with the way his body slouched, his head tilted to the side and his brows furrowed.

"Your room?" he asked incredulously.

Ceci nodded. "Yes, it is."

He shook his head which only worsened his headache. Holding the side of his head, he released a laugh deprived of humor, "Of all the people. Of all the goddamn people, it has to be you."

It's Ceci's turn to narrow her eyes. "Do you have any concern about the situation?"

But the man only stared at her with contempt? Hatred? Which Ceci didn't understand the reason why. His body was slouching, but she realized that it was slightly turned away from her. He looked defensive yet ready to flee like a wild animal cornered by its predator. His burning purple eyes sent a chilling sensation to her skin. All of a sudden, she remembered her purpose of leaving her room. In any case, she hoped that it will satiate his awful mood and headache this very early in the morning.

"Actually, I am looking for you, Mr. Lamperouge." When he continued to glare, she mustered a pleasant smile and continued, "I would like to thank you – "

"We can talk about this later. I'm bloody tired."

And he left her standing there, in the middle of her speech, entering the room next to hers, slamming the door in his wake.

Very much reminiscent of the sound that echoed a few moments ago.

Somehow, Ceci thought of the possibilities why they never crossed paths during the days of being just next to each other. She wakes up when the sun is still sleeping and the hallways of the mansion are still lulled into slumber, to prepare for the day's lessons and activities. At night, she retires a few hours after putting the children to sleep which is still considered as too early a sleeping time for an adult like her. Her whole day is spent with her wards. Meanwhile, little of what she knows about Mr. Lamperouge's schedule, he turns up for breakfast when the sun is already glaring in the sky, and goes to his room of what she can only suppose as an ungodly hour. His days are unevenly parted between staying wherever the twins are and disappearing somewhere he does not disclose.

"Ceci, are you in there?"

Ceci immediately goes to the door and is surprised by the urgent look on Milly's face. "What is it?"

Without getting invited, the nanny enters her room where she continues to walk to and fro infront of her friend. Her lower lip is trapped between her teeth while her hands are tightly gripping her skirt.

"What is the matter, Milly?"

"Oh, what a waste! Such a waste!" Milly throws her hands up in the air then grabs Ceci's shoulders, shaking the latter hard in obvious dismay.

"Milly, my head," she protests as she feels a dull pain on that certain body part.

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear!" With clumsy hands, the nanny pats her bandage and coos at her just like how she coos on the children.

"Why are you so enraged like a mad woman having cheated on by her lover?"

"Oh, sweet Ceci, it's more than that. It's about the children and Mr. Lamperouge."

"The twins? Where are they?"

"They're taking a peaceful nap right now, thank Heavens, and are far away from the evil claws of that handsome devil," the nanny snarls at the end.

"Devil? By all means, are you pertaining to Mr. Lamperouge?" whispers Ceci.

Without any grace, Milly sits on her bed with her arms crossed beneath her breasts. Ceci remains standing by the door, quite intent to listen to whatever her friend will reveal.

Milly yells, "Indeed! That handsome face of his is nothing but a mask to cover his dark soul. Good thing, I was able to cover the children's ears and they didn't hear a thing he said."

"Milly…" Ceci begins in a low voice, "tell me what happened."

So Milly tells her, with her pursed lips and unwavering voice.

So Ceci listens, with her heart thudding fast and her chest heaving.

She listens intently to the nanny's every word, careful that she wouldn't miss a phrase, a thought, that will change the narrative of the events. She listens there, standing stiff infront of the door as the phrases, 'weak children', 'your governess does not love you enough', 'she doesn't trust you', 'Miss Ceci might have gotten fed up with your childish games', and other false accusations flow from Milly's tongue while relaying what had transpired.

"When I told him that I will report what he did to the viscount, he faltered and stopped. It's as if he was deep in a trance when said those awful words and he just realized what he had done. Oh, poor little masters! Imagine if they have heard it. There sweet pretty hearts will definitely be broken."

"Have you told the viscount?"

Milly shakes her head sadly. "He hasn't returned from his visit to the Duke."

"I see. Well then." In a blink, she turns around and opens the door. From behind, she hears Milly ask where she is going but she does not bestow her a reply. Instead, her feet urgently leads her to the room beside hers where she loudly rapts on the wooden door, certain that her knuckles will bruise later.

"Ceci, what are you doing?" inquires Milly behind her.

Ceci continues to knock until the door suddenly and finally opens causing her knuckles to land on a hard chest.

"What the bloody hell?" Mr. Lamperouge grumbles as he stares down at her hand that is still against his body.

"Yes, you are going to Hell, Mr. Lamperouge, if you don't stop harrassing the children. I'm going to make certain of it." She is fuming, heating, like a volcano that could errupt violently and leave thousands of casualties on its wake. And if she does, Mt. Vesuvius is going to look like a docile mountain.

"Ceci..." the nanny appeals.

Without removing her glare from the man, the angry governess says, "Milly, will you leave us for a while?"

"But - "

"Please? They may wake up soon."

From her peripheral vision, she watches the nanny's gaze flits between her and Mr. Lamperouge. Finally, Milly nods and heeds her request.

"Mr. Lamperouge," Ceci begins again, her voice shaking. She knows how she exactly looks like right now - cheeks red from anger, eyes wide and dark from frustration, chin up stubbornly and trembling. She could never be more wrong as she is in this moment. It's hysterical to her how, just yesterday, she was contemplating on thanking him for what he had done, how she was thinking that there must be some hidden goodness in him. At the back of her head, there's a faint voice whispering that she is acting on her emotions too drastically, too rashly and that she should take a break and analyze things over prudently just like what she always does. But she ignores the voice and lets herself lose her always pristine composure. Because Nunnally and Rolo are her top priorities, and for them, she would unshed even the thickest skin that she wears in order to protect their innocence.

Despite all of her rage, her voice comes out soft and airy. "Why are you being so cruel?"

Because of you.

He almost said it, almost voiced out the words that would only cause more confusion and misdirected anger.

Lelouch stares down at the livid governess before him and as much as it frustrated him, he finds her beauty of madness enchanting and hypnotizing.

Because of you, because of you, because of you.

Yet, it wasn't always her fault. At first, he was confused by the displeasure he always felt whenever he sees the twins. He was puzzled as to why there's a heaviness in his chest which often manifested itself as unamusing teases and actions towards Rolo and Nunnally. But recently, he had realized that it was all out of the subtle jealousy from watching them grow up in a manner that was stolen from him. In a lifestyle that was withheld from him. Childish as it is, he couldn't help but envy them of the viscount's generous attention. If only he had grown up in this place with enough resources and supportive acquaintances, perhaps, he might have been someone elite and famous by now.

Indeed, he had decided to change tactics and get the twins' affection in order to achieve the viscount's trust and admiration, but what little of his plan were thrown out of the water after what happened that night.

That night when he was too drunk to comprehend his actions and too weak to control his inhibitions unknown even to him.

When it became clear that he harbors a hidden desire for the pretty governess – desire that he has to suppress and prevent from blooming into something more outrageous and dangerous because... because... oh, bloody hell, he hasn't felt anything like this with Kallen and he has Kallen. He had broken his promise to his lover.

It is like being hit by an arrow from his blindside - sharp, deep, and very much unexpected and unwelcomed.

What a mystery it is, when he only knew the lady for a few days, had a couple of tensed conversations with her, and she already holds this presence over him.

His tongue could still taste the flavor of her name. Those two short syllables that can be uttered in a desperate whisper. He still remembers how freeing it felt to call her only by her real name without the boundary of their status separating them. Despite being too drunk, he can still clearly remember the fantasy he imposed to another woman, seeing the governess's face, imagining it was her he was doing such lustful acts with.

And until now, even after the drunkenness completely faded, the adrenaline rush brought by that fantasy had engraved itself to his nerves making him agitated and restless.

Unlogical! Incomprehensible! Unrealistic!

So he is brooding with this knowledge, and the unfortunate victims were the poor twins whose connection to the governess is too tight he couldn't help but lash out on them.

Ah, Miss Corabelle is right. He has been unreasonably cruel to the twins and he is regretting saying those words albeit they didn't hear them.

But her timing for a confrontation is quite terrible. For he hasn't come to terms with himself on how she affected him and now he is more heated.

"Don't you have anything to say, Mr. Lamperouge?" asks the governess, who had already retrieved her hand from his chest.

"I see that the nanny has quite the tongue."

"She just did what she have to do."

He scoffs. "What? To report to you? You're just a mere governess who doesn't hold any power in this residence. You're not the lady of the house. You're not the mother of the twins. Or else…" His eyes narrow as an immature conclusion falls over him. "Or else, you are the viscount's mistress, his paramour. Say, are you going to be my stepmother?" he utters with pure mockery.

The sting comes first as fast as regret did as soon as those words left his mouth – hot and sharp and painful before the realization that he had been slapped dawn on him. He touches his right cheek with the tips of his fingers and slowly, turns his head back to the woman before him.

"I'm so – "

"I…," the governess breathes shakily but her chin remains up, her golden eyes glassy like that of a stained glass, "You don't owe me any apology but the twins deserve one. And kindness, that is all I ask of you, Mr. Lamperouge. I hope you still have a heart to understand, or the viscount shall hear everything that you've done."

"You wouldn't tell him what I did today?" he hesitantly asks, guilt and remorse dripping from his voice.

"I would have loved to, but…" she breathes again then clears her throat, "this will be your last chance to treat the children kindly."

Without any thought, his hand reaches out as soon as turns to leave. Landing on her wrist, the both of them stare in surprise as his hand encloses around her.

"Mr. Lamperouge?"

Taking a silent step towards her, he lowers his head and directly meets her eyes. In a soft reluctant voice that never once he had used before – not with Kallen and definitely not with his mother, he apologizes, "I'm truly sorry for what I've said about you. That was so ill of me."

Miss Corabelle nods once. "You can show your genuine regret by starting to be nice with Nunnally and Rolo."

He searches her gaze. "Always for them?"

"Always for them."

And she snatches her hand back, cradles it against her chest and leaves his room without looking back.

The viscount didn't return that evening.

The little Britannias and Lelouch went on their usual routine of having dinner together despite the tension that is mostly coming from the older man. The young ones, who are thoroughly energized by their long nap, eat happily with their nanny. Meanwhile, the raven-haired man couldn't stop his eyes from darting towards the door as if anxious that someone would enter and join them. Someone with a doll-like face and strong resolve. He shakes his head. The confrontation that afternoon still lingers in his mind.

"You can show your genuine regret by starting to be nice with Nunnally and Rolo."

He clears his throat. Suddenly, he is nervous and it is embarrassing. "Rolo? Nunnally?"

The twins look up from their food and glance warily at him. From the corner of his eyes, he sees the nanny sit straighter with her lips in a thin line.

"Yes, Mr. Lamperouge?" is their innocent response.

Putting his utensils down on his plate, he bestows them a remorseful look. "I apologized for how I've been behaving since I came here. I'm sorry for scaring you with my words and games. I promise that I won't be treating you badly again. If you'll accept me, I would want to be your friend."

It is Nunnally who speaks first. "But you're too old to be our friend."

Lelouch smiles. "Well, friendship doesn't always occur between people of the same ages. As long as we are having fun together – "

"And are nice and kind to each other," Rolo interjects.

When Lelouch stares at them curiously, Nunnally explains, "It's what Miss Ceci always tells us about friendship. I also say that to Anya whenever we have a small fight over dolls."

"Right. That is accurate."

"So, we are friends now, Mr. Lamperouge?"

Instead of answering them, Lelouch rises and walks around the table until he is standing before the twins. He can feel that observant eyes of the nanny digging on his back but he doesn't let it bother him. Lowering to their height, Lelouch kneels on one knee and reaches out a hand.

Nunnally and Rolo first look at each other and do what other twins do – talk with their eyes and minds before reaching out with both of their hands and envelope his with their tiny ones.

"We are friends."

Ah, children, how easy they are frightened, how easy they forgive.

"Let me hear your report."

"We found out that he lived with Mrs. Lamperouge since birth and had been staying with her until he went to the estate."

"And what did he do for a living?"

"He accepts requests for paintings."

"Can you confirm his age?"

"His age is correct."

"Is his mother sick just like what he had said?"

"No, sir. Mrs. Lamperouge is quite healthy."

"Does he have any other connection left in that town?"

"Yes, sir. A friend named Luciano Bradley who sometimes causes trouble, and someone who seems to be Mr. Lamperouge's lover. A certain Miss Kallen Stadtfeld."

"A lover?"

"Mrs. Lamperouge is quite intent of marrying her to her son, if I may add."

Charles zi Britannia looks out of the window of the carriage and watches as the darkness speeds by. The meeting with duke ended up too late for his liking, and now he is headed to the palace at a very late hour to meet with the queen herself. There's a dispute for lands in some estates and a talk of the civilians starting a rebellion has been circulating amongst the nobles. As much as possible, they must kill this gossip before it turns into a solid plan, and before the rebels could recruit members. As the owner of one of the larger lands, the Britannia estate can be at risk of this uprising, though, he always see to it that his people are treated fairly in order to prevent such revolt. It may be an impossible scenario in his land but it is better to be cautious, especially when the twins are still too young for situations like this.

There is his self-claimed son, Lelouch Lamperouge, who he could try to utilize to solve the problem. But trust is still something he has yet to give him now that he discovered some of the lies he had told him during their first meeting. That day when Mr. Lamperouge appeared on his doorsteps, he immediately sent an investigator to investigate about the young man's background.

There's still the possibility of Mr. Lamperouge being his first son, he couldn't deny that, and he can get benefits from that situation, too. Having a son who is old enough to handle other matters of the estate would be a great help to lessen the viscount's worries and ginormous work. He can spend more time with the twins and monitor Ceci's actions, too. Another dilemma that he has to take care of.

Yet, Mr. Lamperouge is lying to him. To get his pity? For a faster acceptance of his claims? He supposes that's what the man is planning. But the viscount does not take liars for granted.

For once you lie, the other lies come easier and more naturally. They will become your second skin until you cannot distinguish the truth from the lie anymore. Until you begin to live in your lies.

Until you cannot stop lying.

He could have thrown him out of the mansion, but the viscount has other plans. After all, it is much better to keep the enemy closer, regardless that that enemy is your own blood. He still have to figure out Mr. Lamperouge's real intentions and whether he has potentials that Charles could use for his own will.

Right, despite Mr. Lamperouge lying to him, Charles zi Britannia is a bigger liar.

Hello! Apologies for this very delayed update. A lot happened last month (work, health, and, re;surrection screenings and hangover) that kept me from writing for this story. So sorry. Anyway, thank you very much for anticipating and following this story. Thank you for your welcoming reviews. I really appreciate them all and they encourage me to write more.

Also, a big thank you for liking and following my two post-resurrection stories and for giving so much love to our protagonists.

By the way, recently, I just created a ko-fi account. I hope you'll consider supporting me there, too. I'm still learning about how the website works, though. But you can also reach me through it. Here's my ko-fi account: /thesleepyninja15 I've put it also in my profile.

I will be forever grateful for all of your kind support to my stories. Have a nice day!