I do not own any of the characters or references of Code Geass, Gundam 00, or any other game or anime mentioned in the story.
Still an inexperienced writer.
It's been a two months since I came under the care of Lady Marianne and her children. It was decided that I would be Lelouch's and Nunnally's butler/playmate/retainer. As such, I had to receive instruction on proper etiquette and formal education as an aide/butler. Of course, the latter was mostly unnecessary as I am already proficient in most subjects other than history, geography, and science. Being in a parallel world, it's obvious that things are not going to be the same. For example, the United States of America never existed, or it never really had much chance in the Revolutionary War. That was due to Benjamin Franklin being bribed to betray the American Revolution and that led to the death of George Washington. A loss of a great man, which was reflected by the nonexistence of the land of the free. That being said, the world wars never happened and Japan is the imperial Japan, without the U.S. to interfere. The nuclear bombs were never invented until Nina Einstein discovered how to manipulate the Uranium Isotope into the fleya. Need to make sure it never happens. It also seems that the mineral 'Sakuradite' replaces the original Earth's oil reserves.
Going off of the academics, my training as a butler/aide went pretty well, despite the weird beginning I had. It started when they were deciding what my uniform should be. I don't think I have to remind you guys about the whole 'pretty' thing? Well, Lady Marianne and her dressers like to have a sense of humor.
What did they do?
Well, they put me in a maid uniform...Yeah, a maid uniform. Boy maid...reminds me of this one anime about a boy maid. Apparently they thought that I was cute enough to wear girl clothes naturally, so they put me through torture.
It was terrible. My pride as a man shattered in so many ways...I have a feeling someone is laughing at me.
(Cue old vampire sneezing before laughing.)
Yeah, fuck you too. At least I wore it better than the other guy did.
Anyway, after they had their fun and their photos, they decided to put me in a butler uniform similar to the ones in Black Butler, but kid's size and also for different seasons. At the moment, it's currently spring, but almost summer, so short sleeves and shorts.
Anyway, back to my training. As it turns out, I have a knack with cleaning and cooking amongst other things. I mean, my physical body is well-coordinated and better than most at my current age and capable of many things. For example, music arts. I loved it in my last life and now I can play most instruments and sing.
I haven't really came across any technological lessons at the moment. Perhaps that is due to the time period, where it hasn't reached the point of canon-level tech, but I am itching to test my innovade abilities. Hmm...
What am I doing now? Well, I am on a picnic.
"Lulu! Len! Hurry up!"
On a beautiful hill filled with flowers, is a young girl wearing an orange dress decorated with light pink frills calling out to two young boys. Her long hair was the color of pink with a set of innocent bluish violet eyes that shined with eagerness to play. On her right is Nunnally in a tomato red dress with light pink frills finished with yellow bow ties. Her big energetic eyes shining with excitement and joy as she joined the girl in orange in her calling. On her left is an young teenage girl in a white uniform accompanied by red pants and a crimson cloak hanging on her shoulder. Her slightly curled dark pink hair came down to her shoulders and styled to come down her right side. The teen's indigo eyes gleamed with amusement as she watched the scene before her.
"(Pant, pant) We're coming! (Pant, pant)" Lelouch called back. His face was a bit red as he struggled to climbed the hill. Sweat dotted his face from the exertion of the activity that was beyond his physic. Speaking of sweat, the white prince uniform tailored for the spring and summer was slightly soaked from the moisture.
"Are you okay, Lelouch?" I asked with concern. Don't get me wrong. I am concerned about Lelouch and Nunnally, as I am their aide after all. Besides, I want them to have a happy ending if I can't help it.
"I'm..(pant)...okay…(pant)."
As a fellow man, I will respect your pride. However, as the butler, I must do my job. Taking out a small towel and water bottle from nowhere (my secret), I start to wipe the sweat off his face while allowing to rehydrate himself.
"Thank you, Len." Lelouch takes the bottle and downs it quickly.
"Your welcome. Now, just a few more steps. You're almost there!" I cheered.
With the desire to end this struggle, Lelouch finally reached the top, before falling down on the grass. His chest heaved as his lungs greedly took in air, sweat adorning his flushed face. "Please..(pant)..no more..(pant)..I can't walk another step..(pant)!
"Hahaha, you should exercise a little Lulu if you're going to be tired out by this." Giggled the pink haired girl.
"My, my, the great Lelouch has fallen to the hill, what is the world coming to?" The purple haired teen shook her head in amusement.
If you haven't realized before, you will now. Ladies and gentlemen, before are the sister duo of the royal family, Cornelia and Euphemia Vi Britannia. The future 'Goddess of Victory' and the 'Bloody Princess.'
"I...can't...help it…I'm not...made...for this...kind of...activity." Lelouch retorts with a tired glare.
Watching the group laugh at Lelouch's expense, I turned to put away the basket of food, drinks, and picnic blanket away under the shade of a nearby tree.
"Len! Come over and play with us!"
I turned around to see Euphemia calling out to me, waving her hands for me to come.
"I'll be right there, Princess!"
"Mou, I told you to call me Euphie, didn't I?" Euphemia-Euphie pouts. Her rosy, red cheeks were slightly bloated and her big innocent eyes made a cute expression.
"Sorry, Euphie"
You might be all wondering how I got close to Euphie, or rather, how I got to know Euphie and Cornelia? We first met during a tea party at Aries Villa, where it was also my first debut as an butler/aide.
-Flashback-
I remember feeling pretty nervous as I stood beside Lady Marianne and her children as we walked into the tea party hosted by a noble not known to me. As part of the royal family, they are often invited to such parties, and as the children's personal aide/butler, I have to follow as well. Normally, it would have been a year or two before I would accompany them to parties. Normally. Somehow, I was able to absorb the lessons at an abnormal rate, so it was deemed that I competent enough to attend as their entourage. I only needed experience as an aide, so here I was.
I was wearing a child version of a butler uniform; black pants, black dress shoes, white dress shirt with a black waistcoat, and a black tie to finish the look. My silver hair was styled into a braid that goes down from my shoulder, as it grew longer over time.
Looking towards the family I serve, Lady Marianne had a polite smile while greeting those that came to greet her. Lelouch was had a more reserved posture, talking only when talked too. Surprisingly, Nunnally was also a bit reserved, despite her bubbly personality. I suppose that even at a young age, they had to learn that not everyone is nice.
It was a few minutes before Lady Marianne allowed Lelouch and Nunnally, and me by extension, to move toward where the children usually gathered. We came out to the garden, to see a number of children in expensive clothing in groups across the area. I was able to recognize a few of them from the sea of faces. First Prince Odysseus Eu Britannia, First Princess Guinevere de Britannia, Princess Carine ne Britannia, Prince Schneizel el Britannia, and Prince Clovis la Britannia. Looking around, I could not find the two other members of the royal family that made an appearance in the official story.
"Lulu, Nuna!"
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
Turning toward the direction of the voice, was Euphemia, running towards the vi Britannia siblings.
"Euphie!"
Nunnally, in kind, ran towards Euphie. The two met with a happy embrace, giggling and smiling.
Lelouch smiled at the scene as he walked over, with me following behind.
"Hey Euphie, it's great to see you."
"It's good to see you too? How have you been?"
"We've been well." Lelouch looks around, eyes scanning the faces in hopes of spotting someone. "Where's Nellie? I don't see her with you."
"If you're looking for me, then I am right here." Comes a voice from behind, surprising Lelouch.
Turning to the voice, Nunnally squeals once more and runs toward Cornelia, who was chuckling in amusement as she receives Nunnally's embrace.
"That wasn't funny Cornelia…" Lelouch pouts.
"Sorry, sorry. It's just that your reaction was funny." Cornelia responds sorry.
This was a surprise for myself too. What I was seeing before me was a completely different image than she would become in the years to come. Subtly cheerful and mischievous. Not stiff and cold.
"Well, this is a new face. What is your name?"
Broken out of my thoughts, I immediately kneeled and bowed my head.
"Y-yes, my name is Len. Len Brunestude. I am the new aide for Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally."
Yeah, forgot to mention my full name. Len Brunestude. If you guys know the last name, then the first name you will also get.
"And I assume you know who I am along with my sister?"
"Yes. My education and training included knowing who are the members of the royal family along with identifying the major noble families. It is an honor to meet you, your highnesses."
Euphemia, who has been quiet during the introduction, started at my appearance with a curious gaze. After giving some thought, she claps her hands with an amazed smile.
"Big sister, isn't she pretty?"
Gah ha...I felt a very sharp metaphoric arrow stabbing me in the heart. I could see the word 'pretty' spelled on the arrow. Wait, she?!
Cornelia nods in agreement as she looks me over.
"I have to agree. Though, why are you wearing a men's outfit? Shouldn't you be wearing a dress or maid outfit?"
This...I did not expect this to bite me this hard. Lelouch, I can see you trying to hold your laugh. I am going to enjoy laughing in your face during the cross-dressing party in the future.
"Your highnesses...I am a boy…" I responded with a lifeless voice.
The sister duo of the royal family had a shocked look on their faces as they heard my words.
"EEEEHHH!"
"A BOY!?"
(Flashback End)
Yeah...That was pretty stressful. After calming down, Cornelia, Euphemia, and Nunnally began to discuss what I would look like in a maid outfit with a weird glint in their eyes. I barely dodged a bullet there.
"Len~!"
Turning to the voice, I saw Nunnally, wearing a crown of flowers, running towards me with an object in her hands. She comes up to me and held it to my face.
"Here. I made a crown for you!" She smiles happily. Like the one on her head, it was a crown of flowers, made from the numerous flowers on the hill.
Smiling softly, I kneel down and lowered by head, as she placed in on my cranium.
"Thank you, princess. I will make sure to cherish it well-."
"Great, now you look like a princess."
STAB. That is what I heard at that moment. If this was an anime, than you could see the arrow stabbing into me...again. My figure becoming white and the cloud hanging over me.
"T-that…" I trailed off.
I have a feeling that this is going to be a reoccuring theme. Coming from my right, came the rest of the group wearing the same crown of flora.
"Hey, Len. We should have some lunch now that we played a bit. Could you spread the blanket?" Lelouch asked.
Forcefully pulling myself out of thought, I moved back to the picnic basket and spread the blanket under the shade of the tree. Pulling out the basket, I presented them our picnic lunch.
"For today's lunch, I have prepared us a variety of sandwiches that I made this morning. Also, I have prepared so chilled ice tea as an accompaniment. Please enjoy."
The children of the royal family were basically gleaming with joy as they saw the neat, colorful arrangement of sandwiches. Heh, I have to hand it to myself for a great work. I wasn't sure what would have been the best choice for a picnic, but I remembered the scene from Fate/Stay Night Unlimited Blade Works, where Rin made a selection of sandwiches for an outing. Taking that idea, I recreated those sandwiches with my own twist.
"Wow, this is delicious! You really out done yourself!" Lelouch exclaims.
"While the spicy mustard is a bit strong, it actually enhances the taste of the sandwich as a whole." Cornelia adds in.
"This tea is so refreshing too! What kind of tea is this?" Euphie asks.
"Yes, the tea is Pineapple Mint Iced Tea. It is popularly choice tea as it is easy make and deliciously refreshing on outdoor outings."
"It's so good!" Nunnally chants. Her smiling face was like a bright light and the crumbs on her face made the image comical, but adorable. Lelouch, as the ever caring brother, moves to wipe her face with a handkerchief
"Nunnally, you eat a bit more slowly. You're getting crumbs all over you."
Smiling at the scene, I got up and moved towards a certain tree with some sandwiches and a bottle of tea.
"Would you like some as well?" Calling out towards the tree.
Hiding in the shadow of the tree, was a teal-haired man in a grey military uniform, who looked surprised by the offer. His eyes widen as he attempted to decline the offer.
"Oh, um, I-I couldn't! I am on duty right now, and eating the same food as his and her highnessess is…"
"It's fine, Mr. Gottwalt. Besides, how would you be able to guard us if you are too hungry to fight. As a certain person would often say, hunger is the enemy." I insisted.
Taking the sandwich and the tea, the man thanked me as he went back to his hiding place to watch over the royals. If you haven't realized before, the man I just gave food to was none other than Jeremiah Gottwald, future leader of the Purist faction and Lelouch's future loyal knight. I actually met the man a few times in the Villa, and he is a 100% Marianne fanatic that he said he was in the anime. Earnest in his duties, he takes every order that involves Marianne very seriously. I wouldn't surprised if he had a blown up poster of her.
Inwardly sighing from Jeremiah's personal habits, I returned to the group back on the blanket.
(Time Skip)
"Hahh~" Nunnally yawns as she gently rubs her eyes.
The others also mimicked Nunnally's actions, even Cornelia looked sleepy.
Pulling out some extra blankets, I suggested, "Since we all seemed to be tired, why don't we take a small nap. The weather seems perfect for it."
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea. (Yawn)" Lelouch agrees.
Taking the blankets, the children laid down under the shade next to each other. Nunnally reached out for me to sleep next to her. Accepting her request, I took a spot next to her, as she rolled up into a curl next to Lelouch, who was sleeping soundly not a minute later. Euphie and Cornelia followed not long after, and I felt my eyelids closing as the darkness of sleep embraced me. Looking from afar, Jeremiah smiled at the scene and continued to silently watch and feel the gentle breeze that came and gone.
Hey, what's up! Finally got this chapter up and all, though I hope to get to the juicy parts as quickly as possible. Read and review as you like!
Also, I updated the prologue for Trails of Frozen Steel, so check it out when you get the chance!