Lelouch looked at the picture with Nunnally, and the woman. He thought about asking people if they recognized her. Lelouch was determined to make no more detours. Only stop to find clues or if it was absolutely needed.
That being said. . .
"Why would we stop in this town?", Lelouch asked irritably, putting the picture safely away in his back pocket.
Around him children ran, people waited in line at food vendors, and there were games all around. The town was currently celebrating.
"I wanted to have some fun. You're too boring Lelouch", C.C. said.
"This looks great!", Nunnally exclaimed.
"See now? Nunnally's having fun", C.C. reasoned.
Lelouch smiled at his sister's happiness, but frowned when he turned back to C.C.
"You use my family against me. How wicked."
"Well, I am a witch, aren't I?", C.C. said with a laugh on her lips.
"What are they even celebrating?", Rolo asked.
A passerby heard him and looked at him incredulously.
"What are we celebrating!? We're celebrating a town holiday. Today's the day our town was founded!"
"Oh, a founder's day? That sounds like a lot of fun", Suzaku said with a smile.
"I'm going over here", C.C. muttered as if it wasn't important.
"Hey! Don't go off on your own!", Lelouch yelled.
"Come on brother! I want to see that!", Nunnally exclaimed grabbing Lelouch's arm.
Rolo followed them both to whatever attraction Nunnally was trying to see. No one noticed the piece of paper that fluttered from Lelouch's pocket. That left Suzaku alone. He was about to get in line for food when a girl ran into him. He caught her before she fell and held onto her.
"Excuse me, miss? Are you alright?", Suzaku asked.
She looked up and left Suzaku breathless. The girl was beautiful, and had an innocent looking face. Her expression was shocked at first but then turned into understanding.
"Can you help me? I need to get away from some people", she asked.
Suzaku, still in a slight daze, could only nod. The girl grabbed his hand and led him away. When he got his senses back Suzaku tried to introduce himself.
"Um, my name is Suzaku Kururugi."
The girl stopped short and turned to him. "My name's. . . Euphie."
"Euphie", Suzaku tried out the name. It sounded just as sweet as she looked.
"Come on!", Euphie exclaimed.
And then she led him to who knows where. . .
- - -
"Wow!", Nunnally stared wide-eyed at the acrobats, jumping through flaming hoops.
Lelouch smiled at her and Rolo's happiness. 'Its nice to see them smile. I was afraid they might feel somber after Mary's death.'
"I don't care how many people there are. Find the princess", Lelouch overheard a man say.
He glanced to his left and saw two authoritive looking men.
"If she isn't found, I'm the one that's going to have to answer to her majesty Cornelia", the same man whispered to his apparent subordinate.
Lelouch smirked at this. 'So, royalty is in town. Maybe I can ask them a few questions. Nunnally and Rolo should be okay on their own. I'll keep any danger away from them.'
"Nunnally, Rolo, I'm going to try and find C.C. and Suzaku. Stay together", he said firmly.
The twins nodded and continued watching the acrobats. Lelouch walked away and stopped near a building. He leaned on it pretending to wait for someone. Lelouch looked around, trying to figure out where the princess would be.
'It sounds like she was running away. Probably trying to have some fun.'
Lelouch noticed something in the corner of his eye, but didn't acknowledge it.
"Waiting for someone?"
"What do you want witch?", Lelouch demanded.
"The princess is with Suzaku. They're listening to music, over there", C.C. pointed Lelouch to where he should go.
"I guess I should thank you."
"Just buy me lunch and we'll be even."
"Later, I've got more pressing matters."
- - -
"Euphie, shouldn't we be running away?", Suzaku asked.
"Huh? Oh! It's okay now, they're gone", she said with a smile, and then continued watching the musicians.
Euphie clapped her hands to the beat and slowly a piece of paper floated into her hands. She looked at it and gasped. Suzaku looked at it and realized what it was.
"I wonder how-he must have dropped it. It's a good thing you found it Euphie."
The girl was still speechless. Her eyes started to fill with tears. Suzaku quickly tried to calm her.
"E-Euphie?! What's wrong? Don't cry!"
"Do you know who's in this picture!?", Euphie cried frantically.
"Y-yes. That's Nunnally. I should find Lelouch he's probably looking for it-"
"Lelouch!? He's here? Then Nunnally and Rolo must be too! Where are they?!"
"Princess Euphemia!", a large man called.
Euphie gasped and turned. The man came up to her, two more followed and held back Suzaku.
"Princess?", he said confused.
"Did he hurt you milady?"
"What? No! He-"
"Princess?", someone said. "A princess is here?", another said. A crowd started to form and people started to recognize Euphie.
"Princess, it's time to return. Princess Cornelia is upset with you."
Euphie, or more formally Euphemia, turned to Suzaku. "I had fun. Thank you."
The men released Suzaku and and went over to Euphie. She walked closer to Suzaku and whispered to him, "Tell me, about Lelouch, Nunnally, and Rolo. Are they okay?"
"Yeah. You could meet them too-"
"The Princess will no longer fraternize with commoners", the biggest guard said.
Euphie gave Suzaku a smile. "Maybe we'll see each other again. Oh! I almost forgot."
She handed him the picture. "This belongs to you."
Suzaku took the picture from her hands. "Uh, thank you."
The guards took Euphie away and Suzaku was left alone with the picture. "Euphie."
"Suzaku!", Lelouch called.
The brunette turned and saw his friend. "Hi Lelouch, are you having fun?"
"What's this I hear about a princess?"
"Princess? Oh right! Euphie was here just a minute ago."
"Euphie?"
"Yeah. Don't you know her?"
"Why would I know her?", Lelouch wondered what Suzaku was talking about.
"Euphie knew you. She recognized Nunnally from the picture", Suzaku handed it to Lelouch.
"She recognized Nunnally?"
"I'm still hungry." Lelouch jumped at the sound of that voice behind him.
"Don't sneak up on me."
"I'm hungry." "I'm sure you're perfectly capable of feeding yourself."
"Why don't we just get some food together. Where's Nunnally and Rolo?", Suzaku asked.
"They should be where I left them. We need to get going."
"Don't we still need to deliver those clothes?", Suzaku reminded Lelouch.
"I haven't forgotten. Pendragon is our destination no matter what."
Leouch's brain was on high power. Look up the name Euphie, and any variations of it since it's likely that's just a nickname. And see what this princess knew about them. From what he read, Lelouch knew the emperor had many children and many wives. So Euphie is not the only one to be on the lookout for.
- - -
"Euphie, why did you run away. You had me worried-"
"Sister this is important! You won't believe what I found out!"
"What could be so important that-"
"Cornelia! It's about Marianne's children!"
- - -
Up next: C.C. and Nunnally have a girl's day out and a disaster leaves them in danger.