A/N: This author's note is important. Dear lovely readers: after this chapter, things are going to get a little graphic. I assure you that this isn't any kind of smut-based story, but I am putting some explicit content of a sexual nature in this to further the plot-and changing the rating to M next chapter. If any of you are squeamish or offended by such things, I will put a brief summary at the beginning of the chapters following any explicit content.

Also, I realized that my mind clock for this story is a little wrong. I at least was visualizing it as fall, but it would actually be the end of july/beginning of august. I'm not going to freak out about it, but if you notice anything inconsistent, don't hesitate to let me know. As ever I appreciate anything that fills up my email.

Here are the translations:

soprano- the highest of standard voice ranges

alto- the second highest of standard voice ranges

ma fille- French for my girl

leggiero- light, delicate

calando- falling away

Oui, ma belle- French for my beautiful

Enjoy!

"Lady Aly, please do come in." Aly walked calmly, calmly, into Prince Schneizel private office. Behind her, Earl Maldini closed the door, leaving Aly and the prince alone.

"Good afternoon, Prince Schneizel."

He gestured to a seat opposite his desk, "Please sit."

Aly sat down on the armchair, smoothing the skirt of her gray sheath dress. "Your highness, here are my plans so far for the concert." She slid a manila folder onto his teak desk.

He ignored the folder and laced his fingers together. "I'm sorry I had to draw you away from Gino Weinberg's duel, but I'm leaving tomorrow for the EU." She wasn't very surprised he had heard. She and Gino had tried to keep the duel under the radar, but they couldn't control Luciano's actions. "I was a little unclear about why the duel was being fought. If the rumors are true, then it was actually you who issued the challenge, but the Knight of Three decided to fight on your behalf."

"I was the one to initially issue the challenge. It was because of a...promise I made to myself a long time ago."

He didn't probe any further, instead taking up the manila folder and pulling papers out of it. "I hope you're not planning for the Knight of Three to play in your concert. There has been more rebellion recently and his service may be needed at any time."

Aly hoped not. She did not want Gino to leave again. "I would have liked for Gino to play in it, but I can easily alter my plans."

"Good." Schneizel clapped his hands, and the Earl Maldini opened the office door. "Kanon, would you please get some French wine...hmm, Bordeaux I think."

"Of course, my prince." Earl Maldini—Kanon, Aly marked the prince's use of the earl's first name—bowed and left.

Aly smiled, pleasantly she hoped. "Prince, as much as you and the Emperor seem to esteem me, I am only seventeen, and only barely."

Schneizel looked amused. "And yet, you have dealt with many things most seventeen years olds don't have to. I think you can handle a little alcohol. I'm not trying to get you drunk, after all." Damn. He went back to looking over her papers. "So, Lady Aly, tell me about the songs you have selected."

"Well, naturally, there's the national anthem. I didn't do much with that, only tweaking it so the instruments I'm using will fit. Then there's an old Britannian traditional song I really like, Greensleeves that I wrote the arrangements for. Just the other day I found a brilliant soprano for the song. Now I just need to find an alto to counter her. I picked a classical piece for good measure, a serenade by Tchaikovsky. It is quite long, however, so I may decide to cut it short. Then I composed two original pieces: a D minor piece for strings and then a G major piece that adds a few other instruments from the orchestra."

Once calmly finishing, Aly relaxed back into the chair, watching Schneizel. She didn't know how much he knew about music. It didn't really matter, but half of that would've been incomprehensible to anyone who didn't know anything about music.

Schneizel perused the papers for a long time. Earl Maldini came in and filled two wine glasses with the Bordeaux wine. It was quite good, if not her cup of tea. "It all looks quite good for now, Lady Asplund. I'm sure the Emperor will be pleased. Your choice to employ as a soprano was most brilliant."

What! It was all Aly could do not to jerk straight up in her sear. She didn't know what to expect when Schneizel read her list of musicians, and all she could muster was "Oh?"

"indeed." Schneizel settled back into his seat, smug. "With all of the force what my brother has had to use on the elven malcontents, the people's will has turned against us. Your maid's performance will show the elevens that we still support them."

"I'm glad my decision is so beneficial to Britannia."

"Yes. However, it would be wise not to play favorites. Perhaps, if you could find other number musician?"

"Of course, your highness."

"Good." Schneizel rose, and she followed suit. "I can show you back to your room. I know this is an area of the palace you are unfamiliar with."

"No thank you, your highness, but I think I can manage. Thank you for the offer though."

:If you insist." He crossed the room and opened the door, holding it for her. As she passed, he leaned down, breathing on her neck, and whispered, "You play a dangerous game, ma fille."

Aly froze, and the hair on the back of her neck rose. Stiffly, she took two steps forward before turning and giving a shaky curtsy. "An honor as always, Prince."

Schneizel took one of her ungloved hands, and, bowing, he kissed it. "You too, Lady of Nice."

Aly dearly hoped never to hear him utter French again.

"So Gino," Luciano's voice was mocking, "ready to defend your girlfriend's honor?"

"My girlfriend? You mean Aly's finally succumbed to my charms?"

Luciano sniggered. "The things I would say Gino, if I didn't respect you as a fellow knight."

"Don't flatter me, Luciano. You don't respect anyone"

"True."

As flippant as Gino acted, he was worried. Luciano wasn't a knight of the round for nothing, and though Gino was confident in his piloting abilities, he was grateful Aly wasn't here. If he were to lose and possibly wound up dying because of it, he would hate for her to see it.. Not that talking to Schneizel was any better for her.

The Tristan was working, the Earl of Pudding's machinery as perfect as always. His sakuradite energy fillers were full, and the Yggdrasil drive was powered on. The Tristan's factsphere gave him a clear view of the Percival, Luciano in its cockpit. Gino watched his display monitor as the referee, a nameless Earl who was one of the emperor's numerous lap dogs, walked onto the grass between the two waiting knightmares.

His voice was gravelly and filled with self importance. "This is a duel of honor between Sir Luciano Bradley and Lady Aly of Asplund, represented today by Sir Gino Weinberg. The duel ends when a contestant dies, ejects, or forfeits. Now, en guard, ready, fence." As the duel started, the earl ran out of the way. Gino waited a second, settling his hands comfortably around the controls, before launching himself at Luciano.

"Lady Aly!"

Aly turned to the leggiero voice. Prince Clovis' head peaked out from behind one of the hallway's door. "Prince Clovis?"

"Yes." He came out further into the hallway, his usual majestic clothing replaced by a messy smock, and his hair drawn back into a ponytail. "This is my office at Pendragon. Each of the royal children have an office reserved here for them, even those who are no longer able to use them."

Few of the royal children were dead. They were lucky; the bloodletting of heirs in the last generation began before most of the children were fully grown. In fact, the only dead royal children Aly knew of were Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally. Their mother had died right before Aly moved to Pendragon, and the royal siblings were sent to Japan not long after Aly had arrived. She had been way too absorbed in her own recovery to take much notice of the Invasion of Japan, which had taken the lives of the beloved prince and princess. "I was at Schneizel's."

"I was wondering why you were down here. You were talking about the holiday concert?"

"Yes. He seemed quite pleased with some of my decisions."

"I'm glad to hear it, though I'm sure a virtuoso like you could make few mistakes."

"You're too kind, your highness."

Clovis hesitated, tilted his head slightly. "Would you like to see my gallery?"

"It'd be an honor, Prince."

He motioned to Aly, who followed him inside his office. "Probably not how my father wants me to use this office, but I find painting relaxing."

"Everyone needs a way to unwind." The room was full of canvases, a few half-painted ones resting on easels, and a few completed ones hanging on the walls.

"And yours is playing the violin?"

"Naturally." From the content of his paintings, he was especially fond of painting members of the royal family. "You're a very good painter."

"I know."

"This is a picture of Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally, yes?"

"And their mother Marianne. Her death was a sad, sad thing."

"I heard it was quite brutal."

"Yes. Terrorists." The venom in his voice was unmistakeable.

"It was? I admit I was too withdrawn in my own mother's death at that time to pay much attention to anyone else."

"It's why I keep such a tight fist on Area Elven. I don't want anymore terrorists to kill more of us. Dirty Elevens."

Aly tensed slightly. "I tend to like the Japanese."

Clovis looked at her, amused. "Your maid is an eleven, isn't she?"

"Yes, and Ito-san is the best maid I could hope for."

"Well...it's not like they're inhuman, but as viceroy, I've seen many elevens."

"Of course you have, your highness." She dropped the subject.

He smiled sadly and said softly to himself. "Ah, I forgot. I'm royalty, so everyone must agree with me." But he brightened, bringing up the charming smile he was known for. "Would you like me to paint a portrait of you, Lady Asplund? I have a whole collection of portraits of noblewomen."

"That's very kind of you, Prince Clovis, but...certainly not today."

"Oh?"

"One of my friends is in a duel, but I've missed the start because of my meeting with Schneizel."

"I understand."

Aly wasn't sure if she had been dismissed, but Clovis was calando, his attention shifted away from her and to one of the works-in-progress, so she curtsied. "Thank you, Prince Clovis."

Ito-san held up a finger, just as Aly opened the door to her chambers. Aly arched an eyebrow and glanced around.

"Ah Lady Asplund, I see you have finally returned." This man's double bass tones were entirely unwelcome.

"Sir Waldstein, I am sorry to have kept you waiting."

"No, it is fine. You have your own duties, and I did not make an appointment." He made motions to rise.

"Please, sit. No need to rise on my account." Aly sat down opposite the occupied loveseat, onto an armchair. She was glad to see that Ito-san had already served the knight tea and motioned for the maid to pour her a cup as well. It was chamomile. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure, Knight of One."

Pointedly, Bismarck looked up to Ito-san. "Emperor Charles."

"Ito-san, would you mind going down to the kitchens to arrange my dinner. I'm afraid I won't be making to the dining hall."

"Of course, M'lady." Both were silent until the door to Aly's chambers closed and the maid's footsteps faded away. "You were saying?"

"You are fond of the elevens, are you not?"

"I wouldn't argue with that observation."

"Of course not." Bismarck placed his teacup on its saucer delicately, but she saw his muscles bunch threateningly. "The Emperor has become quite impressed with you of late, Lady Aly. He has already heard of your brilliant plan concerning the holiday concert."

"I'm glad I have not disappointed him."

"The Emperor has requested an audience with you."

She inhaled sharply, and instinctively moved back into the scarce warmth provided by the chair. "Is...Is that so?"

"Yes. And I have come to arrange a time. When would you be available?"

"For the Emperor, always. But since you ask...A Thursday, a Thursday morning, would be best for me I think."

"Next Thursday then, 10 am. I must take my leave." He stood. Normally, Aly would have stood as well, but it was too cold, and proper decorum didn't insist on it, so she merely nodded, dismissing him. "I would wear that dress again, when you come Thursday." Bismarck smirked, the first indication that he knew that he had struck fear into her. "The Emperor will like it. Good Afternoon."

Gino was worried. His energy fillers were nearly depleted, and he didn't seem to connect with the Tristan as he usually did. He must be nervous—deep down inside, Gino had confessed to himself that he had awful nerves. And even though the duel had lasted for a good part of the afternoon, neither he or Luciano had gained the upper hand, though one of Gino's slash harkens had been torn off, so the stale mate would probably not last much longer. It had been a sacrifice, trying to hold the Percival immobile so Gino could cause some real damage.

Suddenly, the referee appeared between the two knightmares, temporarily still, waving a white flag. His voice came into both of the contestants' cockpits. "Halt! This duel is over! The Lady of Asplund has forfeited the duel to Sir Luciano Bradley! Halt!"

Gino blocked out Luciano's screams of glee, powering off the Tristan with a curse and hopping out of the cockpit as soon as he could. He rushed to Aly, who stood off to the side, dressed differently in heart-wrenching black dress pants and—thank God—a green button up shirt.

"Aly! Aly, what's wrong?"As he reached her, he swept her into a hug and started stroking her bright, bright hair.

She burrowed further into him, her hands gripping the green cape tightly. "You're so warm, Gino." Her voice was almost shaky.

"Aly, Aly ma belle. What's wrong?" She wouldn't forfeit for nothing, especially as he hadn't been losing (yet.)

"I'm—I am fine, Gino. I—" She looked up at him in surprise. "You—You've learned French?"

"Oui, ma belle."

She gave a halfhearted smile, not even commenting on that particular term of endearment. "I just hope you learned it for something useful, not to impress me."

"Of course, Aly. Of course." She said she was fine, but her tenser-than-usual posture told him the truth.

A/N: Well I hope you enjoyed. I'm sure you can tell I'm not used to writing from a knightmare's point of view. I hope I made Clovis seemed human-that was what I was aiming for. Is anyone as excited for the next chapter as I am to write it? I hope so. I hope you enjoyed and don't forget to fill up my inbox.

DFTBA