Thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows! I really appreciate it! And I got a lot of traffic for last chapter. Wow. Anyways, I'm glad you all have taken interest and like this story. Canon Universe stories aren't quite my thing, but I really do enjoy writing this story and can't wait to show you all how it's going to go. Plus, I'm so sorry for the update taking a whole month. Kinda had a bit of an unmotivated mood with this story, but I'm glad I could get this chapter up tonight.
Also, my offer from last chapter still stands! If you can beta-read, please let me know. Not gonna lie, this chapter is also terrible to me and I really need a beta-reader.
Thanks to: Titianfire999, Doommajor, Your Fan, and Guest for reviewing!
Enjoy!
"Your Highness, if you could please pay attention to your lessons," the teacher told her, noticing how the young princess was just staring into space." Your Highness?"
Lilianna snapped out of her trance and gave an apologetic look towards her tutor." I apologize, Ms. Mifana. I did not mean to space out. You may continue, if you please," she said quietly.
Ms. Mifana sighed, putting down her pointer and erasing the bored. She turned back to the princess who was gripping her dress tightly as if she was thinking hard about something." Never mind, Your Highness. That shall end today's lessons."
"But-"
"I think you might be tired, Your Highness. Please rest." And with that, Ms. Mifana left the room, leaving the young Britannian princess by herself.
Lilianna stood up with a sigh. It would've been better to continue her lessons since she had to immediately go join the decorating staff in the planning of the upcoming ball soon. These were the useless things she hated doing as a princess. She wanted to make a change, help the people, and do what she could, but her mother kept her so sheltered besides her going outside for school.
And speaking of school... She hadn't been there in a week.
She definitely hadn't been bored since her schedule was full while she was here, but it would be nice if she didn't have to busy herself like this because her mother was being overprotective. She understood why she had been worried... She didn't want to risk losing anymore family members and people that she loved, but not like this. All she did was feel locked up in her own home.
Not to mention with all the commotion that had been going on lately since the hostage situation, she felt like her mother wasn't going to allow her outside of the palace any time soon. She wasn't turning sixteen until later this year either, which was where she would officially be able to pick a knight, so it was already a bothersome situation for her.
"Your Highness."
"Yes... Zero," she answered in a low voice. The tension between them was still present from the day she had snapped at him in the royal car.
"Your Majesty would like for you to join attend meeting later this evening."
Lilianna turned her head to the masked knight." A meeting?" she repeated, trying to hide her excitement. This was the chance for her to finally do something else as she wished. It was a chance for her to help the people.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lilianna smiled widely, probably a smile so wide that it was unfit for a princess, but she didn't care." I'll be attending."
Celeste sat in the Student Council Room bored after school had ended. She had her feet propped up on the table and her phone in her hand along with Artemis walking around the room in curiosity. She didn't even know how he had gotten in here, but if he was actually behaving, it wouldn't be that much of an inconvenience to her.
She thought back to the hostage situation at the store a week ago, mentally cursing herself for even getting into that situation. She hadn't bothered to answer a call from her parents since then. Takuya also tried to call her, but she didn't feel comfortable talking to him right now. Implying that Lilianna should've died didn't sit well with her. If anything, just thinking about it made her sick to her stomach.
The incident also had her reconsidering signing up for one of those Knightmare training schools again. She still wanted to go back home, but if she had something she could do, something she might just enjoy, then maybe she could put up with living here for the next three years... Even if annoying princesses who sacrificed themselves were involved.
A deep sigh came from the black haired girl's mouth just as the door to the council room opened to reveal a dark blue haired girl, another black haired girl, and a red haired boy. Celeste couldn't help the smirk that crept up on to her face. Isn't this going to be fun, she thought.
Takeshi narrowed his eyes at Celeste and it only made the smirk on her face widen." What are you doing here?" he hissed." You aren't supposed to be here."
"Ah, Your Highness didn't tell you?" she chuckled in amusement." I'm officially apart of the student council now. I was supposed to show up Monday, but I sadly never got around to actually doing it, but here I am. The new girl in all her flesh."
The black haired girl next to him grinned." You must be Celeste! I heard about you from the princess!"
"And who are you?" Celeste asked with a tilt of her head. Something about the girl looked awfully familiar.
"I'm Fumiko Ohgi and the vice president," she introduced with a small bow." I haven't been around because of some stuff I had to help my older brother and father with."
The daughter of Prime Minister Ohgi, then. Villetta Nu is her mother, an ex-member of the Britannian Military, she thought.
From next to her, the dark blue haired girl pouted." You mean to tell me we have to be here with her everyday? How will we survive without Lilianna here?" she whined, sliding onto the floor.
"Anna, that's rude," Fumiko scolded before looking back at Celeste with an apologetic look." I was the one to recommend to the princess to invite you in to the council."
"Why would you convince the princess to make that kind of decision?" Takeshi growled, turning to Fumiko with a glare." She's nothing but trouble among us."
Celeste let her a smirk cross her face again." To translate, I'm specifically his trouble," she told Fumiko.
"No one was talking to you," he rudely snapped.
"Hmm, Takeshi Weinberg, right? You're the son of Gino Weinberg. He's a teacher here and a former Knight of Round. Your mother is also Kallen Kozuki. She used to be apart of the Black Knights. And if I'm correct, they never married," Celeste said, purposely ignoring the darkened look on his face.
"That's none of your damn business," he grit out between his teeth before turning around and exiting the room. He loudly slammed the door behind him.
"What was that all about?" the black haired girl was genuinely confused.
Fumiko sighed." His parents are kind of a sensitive topic, Celeste. They aren't together. They haven't been in over ten years."
Celeste pondered for a few seconds before she made a face." Eh, he'll get over it."
"You're mean," Anna glared at her.
"Harumi. Anna. Hyuga. Congrats on your observance," Celeste scoffed with a roll of her eyes." You're also half-Britannian and half-Japanese. Your mother was apart of the EU as well as your father, hmm?"
"Yes, they were," Anna answered softly, looking away from the other girl.
Fumiko noticed how Anna had gripped her hands tightly into her skirt and pat her on the shoulder." Hey, how about you go find Takeshi for me? You know how rash he can be when he's angry," she suggested softly.
"Yeah," Anna mumbled, slowly standing up and heading out the door.
When she left, Fumiko cast a glare at her and Celeste rose an eyebrow in return." You can't do that, Celeste. If you're going to be on the student council, you have to be nice. What we're not going to do is be insensitive."
"I only stated actual facts," she shrugged while giving her a dismissive wave." That's far from being insensitive."
"How did you know all that anyway?"
"Research."
Fumiko could only let out an exasperated sigh. She joined Celeste at the table who had finally let her feet down and leaned forward with curiosity and slight worry." Where has the princess been? It's been over a week since I've seen her."
"I'm not supposed to mention this to anyone else, but I overheard my parents talking and apparently Empress Nunnally basically has her on house arrest after the hostage situation incident. I texted her after I found out and I'm in charge until she comes back."
"For what?" Celeste was genuinely confused by this.
"Empress Nunnally is very overprotective. She's been this way since the Demon Emperor died."
"Demon Emperor?"
"Her older brother. We don't know a lot except for the fact that Zero killed him. After that, she was crowned empress. She avoids as much talk about it as she can. It's the reason why most of us only learn through old articles, the very few books written about it, or through people who witnessed the killing," Fumiko explained with a small smile. Suddenly, she squinted and said," Hey... Your eyes... Have they always been gold and purple like that?"
Celeste quickly looked down at her lap while muttering curses." It's- It's been like that since I was young. They were actually iris when I was born, but they turned golden as I got older."
"Is that... normal?" Fumiko questioned." Is it like heterochromia?"
"Something like that... My parents always said it wasn't a big deal, so I didn't turn it into one."
"Your parents-"
"Are nobodies," Celeste quickly answered the older girl through grit teeth." They're very private people."
Fumiko nodded, standing up." Well, then, that's enough talk. As to officially welcome you to the student council, how about we go out for ice cream or something? We'd usually have a party, but seeing as you ran off the rest of our council, it's just me and you."
Oddly, despite everyone else basically getting on her last nerve, Celeste took a liking to Fumiko. She wasn't loud, annoying, or easy to piss off like every other student in this school. Even Lilianna, who was interestingly entertaining to her, still wasn't quite on her extremely short list of people that she liked.
A small smile crossed her face." I think I'd like that."
"You aren't as bad as everyone says, you know."
"I know. They're all just cowards who let me intimidate them," she snorted.
The wavy haired girl couldn't help but let out a laugh.
...
Lucas ran his fingers through his silver-white hair frustratingly as he sat in his small apartment. For some reason, he couldn't get his mind off the girl who had knew he wouldn't shoot her. He'd never actually shoot anyone, but was his hesitancy that obvious? She had to be a very observant girl if that was the case.
And he doubted her name was even Elizabeth Coaxel when he thought about it now.
The nineteen year old fell back on to his bed with a loud groan, contemplating whether he should search for this girl's whereabouts. She knew things... Well, he assumed she knew things if she was able to talk him out of doing anything to hurt her. He wasn't going to, but if he had to knock her out, he would've.
Lucas groaned in frustration again just as the door to his room opened. He sat up and a gun and mask was thrown in his lap. He frowned, looking up at one of his group mates." What's this?" he asked, although he already knew the answer to the question.
"The boss says we're going to break into the warehouse for the new Knightmares tonight. Isn't that going to be fun?" the nineteen year old with blue eyes smirked at him, putting the lollipop he had just unwrapped into his mouth.
"Tatsuya, I don't think we're going about this right way," Lucas muttered, clasping his hands together." That means she'll just make us kill anyone who's in the way; even innocent people."
He shrugged." We're just doing what Zero did twenty years ago."
"But Zero didn't kill innocent people." Lucas said, narrowing his eyes." And you all aren't fighting for freedom. What you're fighting for is the exact opposite. Our reasonings are completely different. We could do this another way. You saw how he almost threatened to kill the princess."
Tatsuya's bored look turned to a glare. He walked into the room and stood in front of Lucas." There's a reason you're here, Lucas, and there's a reason I'm here. You know my parents were unjustly executed and what did the empress do? Not a damn thing. I bet behind that nice mask she wears that she's just like that damned brother of hers. Her daughter is probably no different."
"You don't know that, Tatsuya..."
The Japanese boy grabbed Lucas roughly by the shirt, bringing his face close to to the other teen's." The Royal Britannian Family has been nothing but full of liars and racist for over fifty years. Do you expect that to change so quickly? That empress shares the same blood as Emperor Charles and Emperor Lelouch."
"She's changed so much in the world and in the Britannian system in the last twenty years. She even rebuilt Shinjuku Ghetto. Her brother might have been the Demon Emperor, but she's nothing like him."
"You're very defensive of them, aren't you?" Tatsuya laughed spitefully.
Lucas pushed Tatsuya away from him, causing the teen with brown highlights in his hair to crash into the wall." I'm not defending them. I'm just saying as long as we know the empress and her daughter are innocent, they have nothing to do with this, Tatsuya. We keep them out of this."
Tastuya scoffed, stuffing his hands in his pocket." I don't see why the boss even gives you weapons in the first place. You're too much of a coward to even kill someone."
Lucas smirked at him only as he picked up the gun and mask that had dropped to the floor." I don't need to when I'm the most skilled and even she knows that. We already what my position is going to be as soon as we get those Knightmares."
"You aren't that good," Tatsuya growled, balling his fist so hard that his knuckles turned white.
"The boss knows I'm that good, which is why you're only second best," Lucas chuckled softly." See you tonight, Number Two."
Lucas quickly exited the room and closed the door just as Tatsuya threw the lamp at the door in anger. He smirked to himself in victory for a few seconds before his mind went back to the black haired girl in the store.
He had a feeling that wasn't going to be the last time he ever saw her.
Lilianna sat in the meeting next to her mother, who was at the head of the table, excitedly listening on to the others speak around the table. She might have been on lock down, but getting to attend a meeting for the very first time was better than anything right now. She wanted nothing more than to participate and know what went on behind the scenes to help the people.
"The hostage situation last week wasn't the first time this group has caused trouble, Your Majesty. It's made more of a commotion among the public despite you wanting things to be kept as quiet as they could," the head of the council, Elora Dianve, explained." I worry for the safety of you and the princess, Your Majesty, especially with your-"
"Yes, I am aware of such happenings," Nunnally cut off the strawberry-blonde headed woman firmly.
Lilianna noticed how sudden her mother had did it and frowned slightly. She knew it was time for them to be serious in this situation, but she hadn't heard her mother be so harsh before. The only type of voice she had ever heard her mother speak in was the soft, firm voice she constantly used.
"I suggest that we up the security in and outside of the palace. Also, when Princess Lilianna returns to school, we should have guards at her side at all times. With the hostile environment lately, it'd be much safer for her until she picks out a knight on her sixteenth birthday."
That's only a few months away, Lilianna thought bitterly, knowing that she'd lose all her freedom the second her knight was assigned to her. Not only that, but she was noticing her mother already seemed to be on board with upping the security and giving her guards full time.
She looked over at Zero to see him silently standing on the left side of her mother like he always did. She had always wondered what he had thought about this and she kind of wished he had a say - to somehow save her from being bombarded with all the security. Of course, he was a knight, though, and Zero agreed with and did whatever her mother asked. Not once in her fifteen years of life had she seen Zero outright disobey her mother's orders.
"I agree as long as my daughter is safe. Only the best trained guards will be at her side," Empress Nunnally said, causing Lilianna to deflate even more.
She was starting to want to leave this meeting.
The topic of conversation was probably the only reason her mother had requested for her to join.
"Lilianna," the empress called, placing a hand over her daughter's and causing the princess to look up." What do you think?"
Lilianna already knew her mother wouldn't take no for an answer. When her mother disapproved with something, she would use a voice that sent chills up Lilianna's spine and she'd rather avoid that. Instead, she relunctantly answered," I agree... Mother. We don't want a repeat of last week, do we?"
The princess looked back at Zero and wished she could see his expression.
"Then, with that cleared up," Elora nodded," We shall be moving on to the next task at hand."
Lilianna had tuned out the rest of the meeting, oddly feeling completely numb and wanting to just go somewhere else other than be in this meeting and in the palace. Her mind had also wandered to Celeste. The last she had seen of her was at the hostage situation, looking after her as she was escorted back to the royal cars. She couldn't tell what she had been thinking at the time seeing as her face was almost a mixture between anger, annoyance, and confusion.
Something about her still felt familiar and she couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was. That was strange coming from the fact that she had never met Celeste in her life. She had never felt like this with anyone before; it aggravated her that some strange girl that came from the country side of Japan would even give her this feeling.
She internally sighed, gripping the skirts of her long purple dress and only thinking that she had to get out of this palace soon.
...
Celeste had no idea why she was going to meet Tatsuya at this warehouse when his comment from last week still made her feel sick. He was her friend - her only friend - so it she had decided to go meet him anyway... Hopefully any other comments he had, he would keep to himself.
He had called her after her outing with Fumiko, which mildly annoyed her because she was trying to avoid him at all cost and she hate being interrupted while doing things.
Surprisingly, she had enjoyed being with the girl when they had went out for ice cream. She wasn't going to separate her from the other students who were full of themselves and spoiled, but the girl had a friendly, calming presence; it was a feeling she hadn't felt since she let her parents in the country side.
And speaking of a calm presence, Celeste had, admittedly, felt that with Lilianna too, but it was more so a familiarity presence mixed with it. She was actually concerned for the princess and wondered what they had her doing up in that giant palace all day everyday for over a week. The princess was actually a small form of entertainment for her when she was bored out of her mind, so it was to her disadvantage that she was out of school until who knows when.
The black haired girl kicked the rock that in her walk way, inwardly sighing over the fact that maybe she did kind of miss the princess - as annoying as she could be." Stupid Britannian princesses and their stupid kindness..." she muttered under her breath.
What Celeste was not expecting next when she looked up was to find a girl hanging herself up by the leg of a tree and easily halting herself up before flipping off the tree. She had on on jeans and an oversized purple hoodie with black sunglasses... Sunglasses.
"Princess?" she questioned.
The girl looked back, lifting her sunglasses up to reveal those familiar violet eyes; something she was sure that ran in the Britannian family. She frowned." You can't call me that here."
"Well, Ms. Goody-Two Shoes," Celeste changed, bringing back the nickname she knew the girl had stated of disliking before with a small smirk," What brings you out here this late at night?" She was going to pretend that she hadn't been impressed with the flip she had done.
The princess looked down, hugging herself tightly." I couldn't- I couldn't be in that palace. I had to leave, but I'll be back in the morning before anyone notices. Hopefully Zero won't..." she had muttered the last part under her breath, but Celeste heard it clearly.
She rose an eyebrow at the violet eyed girl." Zero... You mention him a lot."
Lilianna furrowed her eyebrows slightly as she decided that looking down at the ground was better." Of course I do... He's my Mother's knight, so he's always around..."
"Uh-huh..." Celeste stepped closer to the girl and narrowed her eyes." You know, for the life of me, I don't know how or why the hell I keep running into you, but this is the last place you should be at night for a princess."
"And what about you?" the princess shot back, her own eyes narrowing.
Celeste almost snorted." I'm not the Crown Princess of Britannia, am I? The whole world knows that happened last week." she smirked seeing Lilianna ball her fist at her sides as if she was trying to hold back from hitting something.
"So what...? At least you have freedom," Lilianna grit through her teeth.
The black haired girl crossed her arms over chest, her smirk widening." I don't even think I have the energy to argue with you tonight. I'll let you do whatever you want. Don't come back to school whining if your house arrest is extended longer," she shrugged and turned to walk away.
"So you're just going to leave me?"
"Listen, Ms. Goody-Two Shoes. You snuck out of the palace. Therefore, it is not my job to babysit you while you're going through your rebellious stage," Celeste told her.
Lilianna could only frown at her peer." I don't need you. I can take care of myself just fine," she muttered.
"You've lived in a palace all your life."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Celeste muttered with an exasperated sigh." If you want to come with me, come on. I'm not going home, though."
Lilianna contemplated Celeste's offer - seeing as she really didn't exactly know where to go - before hesitantly agreeing." It's not any place dangerous, is it?" she asked in concern.
The black haired girl only turned to walk off, making the princess jog to catch up with her." We're going to a warehouse to meet one of my friends..." Celeste finally answered. It didn't sit well with her that she was meeting Tatsuya and that the princess was with her after his comment.
"A warehouse?" Lilianna asked her, raising an eyebrow." What's at a warehouse?"
"You'll see," Celeste muttered and the two continued their walk to the warehouse in silence.
When they arrived at the warehouse, Celeste noticed how close Lilianna stayed next to her and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Of course, she'd be this way. The girl hasn't stepped a foot outside of school and her palace, she thought, quite annoyed with the girl again already.
"Wait," Lilianna started in a quiet voice and Celeste stopped," These are... These are the shipment of the newest Knightmare models... Celeste, wh-"
"Who's your little friend, Celi?" a voice said with obvious amusement hidden in it.
"Tatsuya!" Celeste jumped as she turned around to find him sitting on the edge of one of the shelves." Don't scare me like that!"
The black haired boy could only chuckle at her." Scared easily as always..." he cast his eyes to Lilianna and the princess scooted closer to Celeste's side." Who's this?"
"Her name is Diana," Celeste lied, causing the princess to turn to her with a surprised look." I met her at school. We just came back from an outing and I couldn't leave her by herself."
Tatsuya nodded as he slid off the shelves and landed on the floor almost cat like." Hmm, you look like you have a pretty face under those sunglasses," he told Lilianna and she only frowned at him, taking a step back away from Celeste.
"You're shy I take it?"
When he realized he wasn't going to get an answered, Tatsuya shrugged and turned to Celeste. He reached into his bag and handed her something hard wrapped in a cloth. Celeste eyed him warily before unwrapping the cloth. She dropped it immediately after realizing what the object was.
"T-Tatsuya, why do you have a gun?!" Celeste freaked. She didn't know what he wanted her to do, but she'd rather not know at all.
He picked up the gun, a small smirk crossing his face." We're going to be raiding this warehouse later on tonight. Things are going to get messy when security finds us, don't you think? It's better that we protect ourselves than get hurt," he told her.
"Okay... But-"
"I want you to join us, Celi. You share our mutual dislike of the royal family too, don't you?"
"I-" Celeste looked back at the Britannian princess behind her who had seemed to be just frozen in her spot. She grit her teeth and narrowed her eyes at her friend." Let's not do this in front of Diana, Tatsuya."
"Why'd you bring her, then?" he asked her.
"Because she can't go home right now. Her parents don't... They don't treat her that well, so she asked to stay with me tonight."
Celeste was always able to quickly lie her way out of things.
It was something her father taught her.
"Is that so?" he rose an eyebrow." Hey, Diana, would you like to join us tonight?"
"I'd rather not..." she muttered.
"Why?"
"Because whatever you're about to do and whoever is with you... It's wrong. I don't know much about things that go on outside, but this is wrong. I know it's wrong."
"Oh, she's brave. I like her."
Tatsuya started towards her, but Celeste grabbed his wrist and glared at him." Leave her alone, Tatsuya. Come on, leave her out of this."
His eyes flashed that same wierd color she had seen last time she saw him physically. She snatched her hand away like he had burnt it and she could only look at him go towards the princess, not sure what he would do if he got close.
"Hmm, your posture... It screams royal," Tatsuya mumbled, reaching out for her, but Lilianna grabbed his wrist.
"Please, sir... I order you- I mean, leave me alone. I'm just here with Celeste. That's all," Lilianna tried to explain to him, but he only chuckled in amusement.
"You sure your name is Diana?" he asked her.
"Yes," Lilianna firmly answered.
"Then let me see those eyes of yours."
"No!" Lilianna shouted in panic.
Before Tatsuya knew it, he was on the floor and the princess had pinned him to the ground with his arm twisted behind his back.
"What the hell?! Celeste, come get her!" Tatsuya muffled into the ground.
Celeste's mouth dropped open in shock. How was someone like Lilianna... She shook her head, deciding to go help Tatsuya instead." Let him go, Diana," she demanded.
The royal teen suddenly jumped off of him and Celeste could tell that she felt immediately guilty for what she did." I apologize..." she muttered, going back to Celeste's side in a hurry." I think I should leave..."
Celeste shook her head as she helped Tatsuya up, making sure she kept a firm grip on his arm this time." Stay," she told her." It's not your fault. You just got scared. Tatsuya is just being a damn asshole tonight for some odd reason..."
"And she's not the asshole for attacking me?"
"No, she isn't," Celeste growled at him, tightening her hold on him." What is your problem?"
"I didn't have a problem until that little bi-"
"What's happening out here, Tatsuya?" another male voice called, coming from out of the shadows." It's almost time to start and you're- Who are they?"
Celeste let out a little gasp, recognizing the voice and the eyes of the very person who had held a gun to her head at the hostage situation. Lucas, she thought, Tatsuya knows Lucas... Shit.
Tatsuya snatched his hand out of Celeste's grip once again and sneered at her before walking towards the white-silver haired man who was also heading their way." My friend here changed her mind about tonight."
"I didn't even know what you were planning to do!" Celeste snapped at him, very irritated now. If he thought she was going to join in whatever they were doing, he was wrong. And guns... she would never hurt someone intentionally.
She noticed how Lucas's eyes traveled to her face and a look of slight surprise appeared on his face before he composed himself and turned to Tatsuya." Who are they?" he asked once again." And what are they doing here?"
Celeste tried her best to keep her face straight, knowing that last part had been directed at her.
"Celeste and... Diana," he answered with a small smirk." Hmm, I don't think we're allowed to let them leave yet. The boss wouldn't like it, would she? They've seen too much already."
"You bastard! We don't have anything to do with this!" Celeste wanted nothing more to punch him across the face right now. Some friend you are.
"I'm not so sure about that," Lucas finally spoke up, walking towards them with a blank face. He took out his gun and pointed it towards Celeste. He smirked at her knowingly." It's too bad that we have to be in this situation again."
She smirked back at him as she pulled Lilianna close to her side." Only if you would shoot."
Alright, that's it. This chapter was very wack, but this whole story will be edited eventually (unless I fund a beta-reader), so sorry for the grammar mistakes.
So, yeah... Lilianna is out and about when she isn't supposed to be and also has some surprising skills. She learned that from the obvious. Celeste and Lilianna also still aren't quite friends yet, but they're gonna slowly get closer to each other. Celeste's eyes changing color? That's something that will be explained later. Yeah, Lucas is important to this story cause I introduced him last chapter. Yeah, and Celeste is still a bit of an asshole, but that's really just her personality lmao.
This chapter was kind of all over the place, but my flow will come back soon. This story will be on a roll soon because we have plenty of action coming.
Hopefully.
So, that's it and I hope you all liked it.
Read and Review please! :)