Okay, I literally hadn't updated this story in so long before last chapter and I'm so surprised that it got 20+ more followers and 10+ faves for this story. Tbh I badly need a beta reader (especially for this story when it comes to the political stuff and Knightmare fights and stuff), so if any of you would like to do the job, just private message me? I can also take ideas for any future chapters, too, and I might just input them. Also, I edited chapters 1 cause I fixed some mistakes lmao. I'll fix chapter 2 soon, too. There's also a part in the beginning that's not the... other meaning of sleep. It's just going to sleep lmao. So, that's it.
(I think I remember someone asking Nunally is mad at Zero over what he did to Lelouch before, but that's not it. It's definitely not that. It's other issues between them that have nothing to do with Lelouch.)
Enjoy!
Empress Nunnally sighed as she sat at the desk of her office. She was tired from her hectic schedule, which was always full as the Empress of Britannia, but today was full of complaints and signing documents. All she wanted to do was go to her bedroom chambers and rest, but not when her daughter was staying at the headmistresses house. She trusted Milly, but the woman wasn't as attentive as she would've liked for her to be. She also sent gaurds, yet the woman couldn't help from worrying.
She was never around, so it wouldn't be a surprise if Lilianna wondered why she was so worried right now and sent Zero to check up on her. She might not ever be around to be with her daughter except for public events, but it was only right for her to know that at least she cared. Something she never knew with her father... Even her mother to an extent...
The empress was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a light knock at her door. She sighed before letitng out a tired," Come in."
Zero walked in and closed the door behind him. She noticed how far away he was standing, so she ended up letting out another sigh and motioning for him to come forward." You don't have to stand so far away," Nunally told him.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," he apologized with a bow.
She shook her head, violet eyes looking at him tiredly." You can take off your mask, Suzaku."
"I'm still on post, Y-"
"I want to look at your face instead of that mask, so please, Suzaku. Remove it," she asked in a quiet voice.
Hesitantly, Zero removed his eyes and she looked into sad emerald eyes. They had been sad ever since her brother's execution years ago. She couldn't even say life was there. They were just... They were empty and sad. The only time they showed any signs of life was when he was around Lilianna. Lilianna was as fond of him as he was of hers and that eased her slightly.
"How is Lilianna doing? Is she alright?" Nunally asked as she leaned back in her chair.
Before answering, Suzaku casted his eyes down to the floor, purposely avoiding looking at the empress in front of him." She's... She's alright. She did leave the confines of the headmistress's house to go find a piano, but she arrived back safely," he explained.
"The guards didn't notice she was gone?" Nunnally narrowed her eyes. She knew her daughter had a habit of wondering off, but she didn't feel comfortable knowing the guards didn't realize her absence.
"... No, but I appointed two guards outside her room door and another one outside the balcony of the room she was staying in."
"That's... That's good..." she trailed off, deciding that getting angry wasn't worth it right now. Her daughter was safe and that's all she needed to know.
"Nunnally?"
"Yes, Suzaku?"
"Please get some rest. You're tired."
"I'm not-"
"You are," Suzaku cut her off, finally looking at her with the same sad eyes she had looked into before earlier." I just ask you take care of yourself."
Nunnally looked down at her hands in her lap and said softly," I'll try to do better."
The brown haired man knew that was all she would say, so with a deep, heavy sigh, he moved to place his mask back over his head, but was stopped when the empress called his name.
"Suzaku?"
"Sleep with me tonight."(1)
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
Lilianna looked at the papers in her hand and sighed.
The school festival was coming up soon, so that meant a lot of planning was to come ahead. The good thing about this was that Takeshi always by her side and available to help her when needed. He was almost like a knight to her; he was always there for her no matter what.
She smiled slightly slightly to herself at the thought. If he had the proper training, maybe her mother would let her assign him as her knight in the future one day when she finally had to pick one. At the same time, though, he was her friend and she didn't want him to have to live the rest of his life following her orders.
With a sigh, she prepared herself to get ready to go back to class, but was interrupted by the opening of the door and in came a tall, brown skinned girl with mid length, wavy black hair. She grinned widely at the Britannian princess before taking a seat on the table. She shot a peace sign at Lilianna." Fumiko Ohgi at your service, princess!"
Lilianna blinked." I knew you were coming back today, but I didn't think you were coming to school. What are you doing here?" she asked, still processing the older girl was in front of her.
"I was going to go straight home, but I missed you guys too much since I've been gone for a few weeks, so I asked Hayate to drop me off here," Fumiko explained while kicking her legs back and forth." Happy to see me again?"
The dark brown haired princess nodded with a soft smile." I would be lying if I said I didn't miss you."
This made Fumiko's smile widened. Not even three seconds later, though, her lips formed an 'o'." I heard we have a new transfer student. Who is she?" Fumiko asked as she inspected her nails." From what I've heard, she isn't liked much by the students?"
Lilianna sighed heavily again. She was doing that so much lately." She's a transfer student. Her name is Celeste and she just... She does things her own way. That's all."
Lilianna was never sure why she was always defending this girl.
"Had a talk with her yet?"
"I talked to her last night and she told me some things, but she's a very private and vague person, so I didn't get much out of her besides the fact that she hates it here," Lilianna told Fumiko who rose an eyebrow." She's not from the city. She told me she was sent here and that's it."
"Did you ever think about inviting her to be on the council?" Fumiko asked curiously,
The princess scoffed under her breath." She doesn't listen to anyone, Fumiko. She won't even listen to me. She has a smart mouth in this almost intelligent way, which is what angers the students. She knows how to get to people with her words only. I could never put her on the student council."
Fumiko crossed her arms under her chest and nodded in understanding." She sounds difficult, but I feel as if she could be reasoned with. You don't have to invite her to the council. Just use your royal privilege. Your word is technically abover ours."
"I would never do th-"
"I know you wouldn't, but just try it. She's a different girl who needs different handling."
Lilianna cast her eyes down at the table and fiddled with her fingers. If she even tried that, she didn't know how Celeste would react and she would rather not know." Maybe."
Fumiko smiled at her before looking at the papers sitting on the desk." School festival coming up, huh? Looks like we'll be having an extravaganza again."
"I try to avoid extravaganzas, Fumkio," Lilianna spoke up.
Fumiko smirked mischievously." Not with me on the council." (2)
...
Lilianna was never quite sure where Celeste hung out during non-school hours. She saw her in class and sometimes in the halls, but never knew where she was besides that. She had tried the music room again, but as she had figured, she wasn't there. It's like the girl disappeared off the face of the planet during this time and-
"Artemis!" a voice called from up in a tree." You damned cat!"
The brown haired princess looked up and then down when a cat with white fur landed in her arms. She looked back up in confusion to find the exact girl she was looking for in the tree. Her school jacket was nowhere to be found and her hair was up in a high ponytail. She was glaring intensely at the cat that was now in her arms.
"When I get down there, I'll k- Oh. If it isn't the Britannian Princess." Her glare changed to a slight smirk.
It was better than calling her Ms. Goody-Two Shoes, so Lilianna didn't bother to say anything. She chuckled while patting the cat on top of his head." He's yours?" she asked and the girl gave her a nod." I've always wanted a cat, but I'm not allowed to have one. And for some odd reason, Zero and cats- I mean, he's cute."
Celeste an eyebrow at the mention of Zero, but didn't bother to ask the girl to elaborate on it. She jumped down from the tree gracefully and placed a hand on her hip before asking," What are you doing here, princess? You seemed to be looking for someone."
Lilianna cleared her throat and looked down at the cat purring against her chest." Well, I was... I was looking for you."
"And what do you want this time, princess?" Celeste's voice was full of obvious annoyance.
This caused the princess to frown. She had been doing that a lot lately because of this girl. She tried not to let her get to her just as she did the other students, but for her, it was the little things she did and Lilianna tried hard to ignore it.
Lilianna stood tall and straight with the cat in her arms and announced," I want you to join the student council. I'm not asking you, I'm-"
"Okay."
Lilianna almost choked." You said what?"
"I said okay," Celeste shrugged disinterestedly." I don't ever have anything to do around this shithole anyway, so I might as well do something to waste my time. Besides, I think my parents would be proud that I'm actually being social."
"Okay..." the princess trailed off." Then, your first meeting with us is next Monday."
"Yeah, yeah. Can I have my cat back?" the raven haired girl asked and put her arms out for her cat. In response, the cat swiped at her and Celeste gaped slightly." You damned cat!"
Lilianna chuckled again and Celeste glared at her." It's not funny, princess," she grit through her teeth." This cat has been getting on my damn nerves all day."
She attempted to take it from the princess's arms once again, but the cat swiped at her and hissed before rubbing his head against Lilianna's chest. Lilianna could not contain the laugh that decided to leave her mouth and as hard as she tried not to join, Celeste's lips twitched upwardly slightly.
"Laugh all you want, princess. I'm going to get my cat back from your pretty royal hands eventually."
"I can just follow you to your dorms if you want?" Lilianna suggested.
"Nah, I was actually about to go out into the city," she told her.
Before Lilianna knew it, she said," I could come, if you don't mind. Just so your cat won't be out of your sight and I can't bring him to the palace."
Celeste narrowed her eyes, but they softened when she saw that the Britannian Princess looked and sounded pretty sincere." I guess it's alright, but I'm pretty sure the whole public knows what you look like."
"I'll just change, then," she smiled brightly." I've sneaked out into the city many times before."
"And I trust that you'll dress well enough that I won't be run over by your nearest fanclub, right?" Celeste asked her in complete seriousness.
"A royal always dresses well."
"Please stop it. You're already getting on my nerves."
...
"A perfect target," a man chuckled as he watched the princess and the other girl walk through the school entrance." No Zero and no palace guards."
...
"Sunglasses is the best you could do, princess? Sunglasses?" Celeste scoffed when she saw the girl had returned in black jeans, a light purple peasant top, and matching flats. Her usual headband was removed from her hair and instead it was put up in a messy bun. The look was completed with the sunglasses she was currently complaning about.
"I don't look recognizable at all," Lilianna told her as they started to exit the school grounds, Artemis closely following behind her.
"Your fanclub would beg to differ. They could spot you from a mile away in those."
The princess chuckled sheepishly and clasped her hands together. Oddly, being with Celeste felt familiar and as if they were supposed to know each other, but she couldn't exactly pinpoint why she felt that way. The girl had a smart mouth, could care less about anyone, and would rather stay away from everyone, yet it was as if they were pulled towards each other. It sounded ridiculous and it didn't at the same time.
"So," Celeste started, snapping the young princess out of her thoughts," You're a princess, huh?"
"Yeah... Palace life is busy and thankfully I didn't have any schedule today."
"You have a schedule?"
"Yes, but it's definitely not as busy as my mother's. When I have a little free time around the palace, I visit the person in charge of the Knightmare designs. There's this purple one I really like, but war or fighting isn't a place for a princess. For now, at least." she cast her eyes down. Those were the exact words Zero had been telling her since she was young.
Celeste looked away from her and ahead of her instead as they started into the city." I want to say it's for your protection, but the palace guards obviously aren't doing their job," she chuckled under her breath.
Lilianna laughed along with her, feeling slightly better than she had before. She didn't think Celeste was capable of doing that to her, but it worked. Maybe she did just have to get to know her... Though she still didn't know much about the girl.
"Hey, I need to go shopping in here," Celeste told her, jabbing her thumb towards the clothing shop." I have to get a few things that I didn't bring from home."
Lilianna nodded and followed her in. She was sure she had been getting weird looks because she was wearing sunglasses in the middle of the store (and had a cat following behind her), but unless she wanted to reveal that she was the First Princess of Britannia, she had to keep them on her face.
"Oh, how I wish you weren't a princess right now," Celeste muttered as she looked at the dresses on the clothing rack." We're getting stares."
"Is wearing sunglasses that weird around here?" she was mostly in the palace. She didn't know what went on outside of it.
"In the store? Yes."
"It's not-"
CRASH!
"This is a hostage situation! Everybody down!" a loud, booming voice demanded.
Gunshots went off and men dressed down in all black ran into different parts of the store with their own guns to direct all the hostaged down on the floor. Lilianna grabbed onto Celeste's arm who put a hand over hers in comfort.
"Just do what they say," Celeste whispered to her and the two dropped to the floor to lie down on their stomachs.
"You can't do this!" a brave employee spoke." I'm-"
BANG!
Lilianna's eyes widened as she saw the employee fall to the floor, blood seeping from his dark head. She sucked in a gasp." Oh my God..." she whispered in panic." Oh my God... Celeste, he just-"
The black haired girl put a hand around the girl's mouth." Don't speak," she hissed sternly.
The princess sucked in a deep, muffled breath and did as the girl said. She tried her best not to tremble, but it was extremely hard not to. Zero had taught her what not to do in these type of situations, and the difference was that she had never been in an actual situation.
"Empress Nunnally," the two teens heard the man start to talk, realizing he was talking into a camera," Complete our request and maybe every person in this store won't die."
Nunnally finished watching the video and tried her best to keep calm. It was easy to comply to their request, right? Money, Knightmares, and land... She could do that. She could-
"Don't panic, Your Majesty. I'll deal with this," Zero told her.
Nunnally shook her head frantically. She hadn't dealt with this type of situation in the longest and she didn't want innocent people dead because of her. She already-
"Zero, where's Lilianna?" the empress suddenly demanded, paranoia settling in." Bring her back from school now. I want her home."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
With that, Zero left the room and Nunnally tried her best to stay calm. Usually she would try to stay calm in this situation, yet she didn't know why she was panicking this badly. She was the empress. She was the ruler of Britannia. A proper ruler was not supposed to be in panic. She was supposed to know what was best to do in these situations.
The door opened and in walked Cornelia, Guilford, her now husband, following behind her." Nunnally, if this gets bad, I'm going to do more than just bring the forces out. Right now, we're only going to surround them," she told her." I don't like to just kill for no reason and I know you hate it period, but there's innocent people in there. I've just come to ask your permission to use force if necessary."
The empress looked away and back to the live video on the TV." You have my permission."
...
Celeste was sure it had been well over forty-five minutes now and she was getting impatient and pissed off. Things like this were part of the reason that she hated being in the city now. It was better when she lived in the country side of Japan quietly with her parents. She didn't have to worry about things like this.
The princess next to her had calmed down, but she could also feel her slightly trembling against her own body and she mentally sighed. The best she could do was comfortingly put a hand over the other girl's.
A baby's wale was heard from a place near them and one of the men marched over to the woman and hit her over the head." Shut that baby up!"
"I-I-I-I c-can't! Sh-She's h-h-hungry!" the woman trembled, tears welling in her own eyes as the baby continued to cry.
"Shut it up or I'll kill both of you right here on the spot!" he threatened, pointing the gun towwards them.
"Celeste, he can't- No, I won't let him do that," Lilianna whispered angrily." They're innocent. What will shooting them do?"
"Sir, p-please! I-I-I can't r-right now!"
"Then maybe I should break it's neck," he smirked evilly.
"No!" the woman shouted, cradling her baby close to her chest." Please!"
Lilianna didn't know what overcame her, but she couldn't bear to hear this anymore. Innocent people shouldn't be the ones paying the price for the evil and she wouldn't let them. With a deep sigh, the princess stood up, ignoring the other gunman who had pointed a gun to her and Celeste who had tried to get her to get back down." No, you will not!"
The man turned to her right before he grabbed the baby and he smirked." Oh, we have a brave one here, don't we?" he pointed his gun to her." What makes you think I just won't shoot this woman and her baby now?"
"Because I order you not to!"
"Who's ordering me?" he smirked.
"I'm ordering you!" Lilianna spoke, removing her sunglasses to reveal her violet eyes and the ponytail holder in her hair. Her long, dark brown hair fell down her back gracefully." I, Lilianna vi Britannia, order you as the First Princess of Britannia!"
Gasps and mumbles were heard around the store and even the gunman in front of her was surprised." The princess of Britannia, huh?" he chuckled as he walked towards her." This is even more interesting now."
Lilianna did her best to remain calm and keep a stern face. This was the most she could do as princess. She wasn't going to let anyone die and she wasn't going to let Celeste die either.
"Come with me, brat!" he grabbed her by the wrist tightly and the raven haired girl down on the floor tried to stop him, but he only pointed his gun towards her. Hesitantly, Celeste backed down.
He dragged her to the front of the store where they had the live camera. She heard the sound of more gasps and murmurs and was sure everyone was surprised to see it confirmed that it was indeed the daughter of Empress Nunnally.
"Look what we have here! We have your little brat! It's definitely better to come through with the request ooooooooooor, I could blow the brains out of this one right here and they'll be no princess!"
Lilianna felt the cold metal of the gun against her head, but she only let out a deep breath. She had to stay calm for these people and that's what she was going to do.
...
"Do what you have to do now to get my daughter back! I don't care! I just want her home!" Nunnally told Zero angrily." Kill them or whatever... Just bring her back."
Zero stayed absolutely silent through Nunnally's whole panicking session. He knew she was giving out orders irrationally right now, but that was His Majesty's daughter in there and if she said they had to do anything to get her back, then so be it. The thought of killing someone made him nauseous, yet he had done it so many times over the years. He even killed his best friend... There shouldn't have been anything hard about that.
Right?
"Damn it, I can't do anything!" Nunnally banged her fist on the table." I feel so useless right now!"
"It is not your fault, Your Majesty."
"Please just leave and go save my daughter. Please..." Tears started to fall down Nunnally's face and Zero couldn't just leave her like this.
He didn't want to see her cry again.
He took off his mask and bent down next to her. She looked over to him in surprise." I'll bring her back," Suzaku whispered to her as he cradled her face in his hands." I promise that I'll bring her back safe and sound, so please don't cry, Nunnally."
The Empress nodded and moved to wrap her arms around him. Suzaku hugged her back tightly, the scent of vanilla filling his nose. Her daughter was out there and he was going to get her back no matter what.
...
Celeste was absolutely pissed off.
She knew it had been a terrible idea to bring the girl along, but if she was going to be this stupid and sacrifice herself, she would've never brought the girl along at all. Better yet, she was stuck in a hostage situation and it supported her idea that this city was a shithole place.
All this was because her stupid cat wouldn't come back to her.
She didn't even know where he was now.
And damn her for even asking the damned princess to even play chess the first day they met. It's like they couldn't stop running each other ever since that moment.
Celeste groaned out loud and the gunman next to her kicked her in the ankle. She glared up at him, making the man only chuckle to himself. The black haired girl was pretty sure he muttered something about "stupid, rowdy teens" and Celeste smirked to herself inwardly. If this was how he was going to play games, she might as well make it her win.
I've been around Dad too much, she thought right before slowly sitting up and tapping the man in front of her with a finger. He turned the gun on her and Celeste had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. She didn't know how many times a gun was going to be pointed at her today, but she had to go through with her small but useless plan.
The young teen put her hands up in surrender to tell him that she had no intention of doing anything." So," she started with a small smirk etching across her face," You and your friends seem to have nothing better to do today."
The gunman grit his teeth behind his black face mask." Shut up, girl."
Celeste knew she was walking on thin ice already, but she had to choose her words carefully." Hmm, I don't think I'll be able to do that. If I don't talk, I get really restless and I just might end up causing all these people to lose their lives. I think it's better if you let me talk to you, don't you think?" she asked him, tilting her head to the side innocently.
The gunman scoffed and glanced the other way, his hazel eyes narrowing when he turned back to her." Don't try anything funny, girl," he warned lowly.
From the sound of his voice, Celeste guessed that this man was young; maybe a few years older than her... She could use this to her advantage somehow only if she played her cards right. It didn't help that he was already suspecting her, so she just had to get him to trust her. Just sway him a little. That's all.
Any kind of info that would be of use to her.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't try a thing in this kind of situation," Celeste lied.
He gave her a look that showed he didn't believe her and Celeste just stared him in the eye until he looked away.
"What's your name? Britannian or Japanese? Or perhaps both? Or neither?"
"As if I would tell you that, girl," he mumbled with a laugh of disbelief.
"I have a name and it isn't girl, sir," Celeste said.
"And why would I care what your name is?" he told her.
"I don't know, do you? Cause I'd rather not be called out of my name."
"Too bad, girl."
"You mean Elizabeth Coxel," Celeste corrected him. There was no way in hell she was telling him her real name in this situation. Lilianna had already made the situation worst by revealing her identity as a princess.
"Girl, Elizabeth- I coud care less. You're annoying me now, so shut the hell up," he hissed in annoyance. He shoved the gun against her shoulder.
Celeste stayed silent for only a few seconds before opening her mouth again. She was pretty sure the gunman's eyebrow twitched in annoyance." So, are you going to answer my question from earlier?"
The gunman groaned." You should be more worried about your little friend over there instead of asking me so many questions," he said with a nod of his head in the dark haired princess's direction. She was tied to one of the cieling poles and had a gunman next to her, daring her to even move or try anything.
Celeste was sure Lilianna could take care of herself for now.
Hopefully...
"I don't care about her." Celeste wasn't sure how much of that was a lie or the truth. To be honest, it felt closer to the truth, but she wasn't letting that princess die. Not today." Besides, I'm sure her family has heard about the news by now and are sending forces right now.
The gunman narrowed his eyes at her." How do you know that?"
"You all are filming this on live TV. You don't think they don't know that, Mr. Gunman?" Celeste told him smoothly.
"Who are you really?"
"As I said stated earlier, I am Elizabeth Coaxel."
"Are you the princess's knight?"
"Me? Of course not. The princess doesn't have an official knight as of yet. Everyone knows that, Mr. Gunman," she said.
"Please stop calling me that," he growled.
"I'm afraid I can't. What else am I to call you?" she asked with a small smirk." Mr. Gunman."
"Are you twelve?"
"Then give me a name," Celeste smirked.
He looked at her warily before saying," Lucas. Lucas Miyazaki."
"Half-Britannian?"
"... More so a quarter only. My mother is part Indian," Lucas told her finally.
Well, I got a little more than what I was aiming for, but that's even better, the raven haired girl thought.
"So, Lucas," Celeste started and purposely putting emphasis on his name," Why are you doing this?"
Lucas's grip on the gun tightened and he glared at her." Why would that be any of your business?"
A sensitive topic... Exactly what I needed, Celeste celebrated in her head." I'm bored. Besides, if we're all going to die, I might as well get to know you. It does good to get to know your killer, don't you think? At least I'll know what kind of person you are."
Lucas grit his teeth, the grip on his gun tightening even more." I... I'm not- I don't kill..." he growled.
This caused Celeste to raise an eyebrow at him. This was surprising information." You don't kill?" she repeated.
"No... I don't..." the half-Japanese man said softly.
"Then why are you apart of this? The princess of Britannia is in danger, that man is your leader, you have a gun, yet you're scared to kill?" Celeste pushed. She was getting to him now.
"I'm not scared to kill."
"But you said you don't kill."
"Doesn't mean I wouldn't shoot you down right now."
"Then do it. Try and shoot me down right now."
Lucas looked up at her and Celeste looked him right back in the eye. His hands were slightly trembling as he aimed the gun at her heart. He put his hand on the trigger, but didn't move to do it. Suddenly, he lowered the gun and casted his eyes down to the ground angrily.
As I thought, he can't-
CRASH!
"Release the princess, hostages, and come out now!" a pink haired woman yelled through the megaphone and Britannian and Japanese soldiers ran in the store, surrounding all the gunman.
Celeste turned her head to look at Lilianna, who was only glaring at the man who had now turned his gun on her and aimed it at the middle of her forehead. She knew the girl was trying to be brave and calm in this situation, but she didn't miss the trembling of the girl's legs and how she almost looked as if she would cry any minute.
The girl turned from the princess and back to Lucas who dropped his own gun and had his hands up in surrender. In fact, the gunman were all surrounded. Only a few of them were brave enough to keep their guns in their hand including their leader.
"Stay away or I'll shoot!" the leader threatened." I'll shoot her right in her pretty little head!"
"You are surrounded! I suggest you drop your weapons now! This is your last warning!"
The leader laughed loudly." Or what?! You'll have all your soldiers try to shoot me?! Not with all these inoocent people and your little princess! She'll just end up dead like the rest of us!"
Cornelia balled her fist." I am warning you, sir. Release your weapon or I'll have to bring out the reinforcements."
This got another laugh out of the leader." What reinforcements?! You're too scared to shoot!"
Suddenly, the lights in the store went out and the leader of the hostage situation heard a voice quietly whisper," Me." right before he felt himself be kicked in the head, dropped his gun, and fell to the ground.
The lights came back on and Zero had the gunman's head into the ground, his arm twisted painfully, and a knee into his back. The other gunman dropped their weapons, causing all the citizens in the store to sigh in relief; some even started crying tears of happiness to know that they were now safe.
"Zero," Lilianna breathed out.
Celeste let out her own sigh of relief and turned back towards Lucas only to find him gone. She looked around, trying to see if the young man had been arrested or not with everyone else, but he was nowhere to be found. She decided to forget about it for now and attempted to run up to Lilianna until her way was blocked by two of the soldiers.
"You are not to come this way until the princess is escorted out safely," one of them told her sternly.
She didn't bother to argue at all.
It's not like she cared for her, anyway.
Lilianna was untied and set free, and personally escorted towards one of the royal cars by Zero. She tried to hide her face as journalist and photographers tried to ask her questions and get pictures of her face. Zero had noticed and wrapped his cape around her until they were safely in the car.
"Zero, I-" she tried to speak, but was quickly cut off by him.
"Your Majesty was incredibly worried, Your Highness," Zero said in a firm voice.
Lilianna narrowed her eyes at him." Those people would've all died, if it weren't for me," she shot back.
"You put yourself in terrible danger. What would've happened if you had gotten hurt? Or died even?"
"I'm a princess and as a princess, it's my duty to protect the people," Lilianna spoke, now getting angry with the masked hero in front of her." One man was already shot. I would not allow for anyone else to get hurt."
"But it does not just mean you go in there and put yourself in danger," Zero said.
"I'm-"
"You were not supposed to be off of school grounds, Your Highness. Why were you here?"
Lilianna looked away from him and crossed her arms, long strands of her hair falling into her face." It doesn't matter," she whispered.
"Your Highness."
"You are not my mother! What does this have to do with you?! You're nothing but Mother's personal knight! I order you to leave me alone!" Lilianna snapped, breathing heavily after she was finished.
"... Yes, Your Highness."
...
Celeste ignored the seventh phone call and twentieth text message sent to her from her parents. She knew they probably saw her on TV with the other victims, so it was no use answering their calls when it was only going to be them worried about her. She honestly felt helpless during today's whole fiasco. The most she could do was try to get information out of the young man that had been next to her, but even that didn't go as well as she thought. She had always considered maybe going to get Knightmare training, but she didn't know how well she would do. Doing well meant they would take her into consideration for working for the royal family and she'd rather not do anything as low as that.
Her phone buzzed and the girl was going to ignore it once again, but this time she saw it was Tatsuya. She answered it with a small," Hello?"
"Did you see the hostage situation on live TV?" Tatsuya asked as soon as she answered.
"Of course. I was there to see it and I know you know that," Celeste hissed at him.
The boy on the other end of the phone laughed, irritating Celeste." I think the princess was pretty brave to sacrifice herself like that. I personally think it would've been a lot more interesting if she had actually been hurt. Maybe to give Empress Nunnally the pain I felt when my parents were executed."
Celeste didn't know what to say to that. She knew Tatsuya had an extreme hate for Britannian Family, but to go as far as to say Lilianna should've been hurt... She had her own issues, but it didn't matter at this moment." Tat-Tatsuya... I'll call you later. I'm tired," and she hung up immediately
"I really want to go home," she sighed deeply before closing her eyes and falling into a deep sleep.
...
After Zero and Lilianna arrived at the palace, Lilianna was immediately taken to her mother's office. Never did her mother like calling for her in the throne room. It was too much of an open space for the woman and ears were everywhere, even in the palace. It also didn't make her feel any better that she could feel the current tension between her and Zero.
When Lilianna saw her mother's eyes filled with sadness and disappointment, she knew she had made a mistake. The princess cast her eyes down to floor to avoid looking into the same eyes as hers.
"Lilianna, I am highly disappointed in you. You could have been hurt. You are my only child and I would hate for anything to happen to you. Do you know how dangerous it was for you to put yourself out there?" Nunnally asked her, hands fisting tightly into her dress." Lilianna, you are not to go off school grounds. If you do again, I'll have no choice but to appoint guards to you everywhere you go."
"I apologize, Mother."
"An apology doesn't work. All I ask is that you be more careful," Nunnally told her.
"Yes, Mother."
"Until the commotion calms down, you won't be attending school the rest of this week or next week. You have studies of your own you could do here."
"Yes, Mother."
"You are dismissed."
Lilianna left the room with her head down, angry tears building up in her eyes. She was just trying to help her people. It would've been bad if she had let anyone get killed in that store all because the army itself were being too slow or wouldn't take action in fear that others might die.
The princess had her eyes cast down, so she did not see the person she bumped into. She didn't bother to apologize.
"So, you're just going to bump into a prince without apologizing?"
Lilianna snapped her head up to see her younger cousin, Aldonis li Britannia (3), with a small smile of amusement. His face dropped when he saw the crestfallen look on her face." Aunt Nunnallly... She didn't go too hard on you, did she?" Aldonis asked in concern.
"No... I'm just not allowed out of the palace for while for my own protection..." Lilianna mumbled as she gripped a piece of her long hair.
"You look a mess," the eleven year old stated, trying to cheer her up.
It didn't make her laugh, but it got a small smile out of the young princess." I know."
All I have to say is that I know that whole hostage situation was written terribly, but that's exactly why my offer up top is up. I need help badly lmao. Anyways, if you have any questions about anything, just ask me and I'll answer them. Also, I'd appreciate a few reviews to know what you all think. Even if it's just "good" or "I like it" or something. I appreciate them all. And like I said up top, suggestions are open or if you all have any ideas, I might just input them (I know where I'm going with this story, but it'd be nice to know what you all think).
(1) By the way, when Nunnally told Suzaku to sleep with her, she meant just for him to literally sleep with her. Not have... You know, sex.
(2) Fumiko is nothing like Milly btw. I just feel there's always that one person in a friend group who really likes festivities (like my best friend and older sister lol).
(3) Also, if you didn't realize, Aldonis is the son of Cornelia and Guilford.
So, Read and Review! :)