Since Suzaku was with Euphie, and Nunnally and Rolo were who knows where. He finished his plans and decided to just relax and walk around. Lelouch wondered if he could find Schneizel for a match.
'Although I should probably find them all to give them the mission-'
"Hi there!", an upbeat voice called to Lelouch.
"What?"
"You look deep in thought. Need some advice?"
"No thank you-"
"It's about a girl isn't it? There are quite a few romance problems in this place."
"Uh-"
"Have no fear! The Great Gino is here!"
- - -
Suzaku watched as Euphie twirled around. She was supposed to be trying on dresses in her room. She told him it was for an event.
"Cornelia and I are going to be the guests at a charity tomorrow night. Cornelia wants me to get a new dress."
"Really? I see", Suzaku said eyeing about the 20 or so dresses on Euphemia's bed.
"My sister does spoil me a bit. So, how do you like this one?", Euphemia asked.
Suzaku looked at her up and down.
"I like it."
"That's what you said for the last three!"
"But I think you look good in all of them."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Besides, it doesn't really matter what I think. You should probably ask Cornelia."
"Your opinion does matter to me!", Euphemia exclaimed. "Besides, I actually-"
"Euphie, are you done yet?", Cornelia called from outside.
"Not quite. I've only tried a few on", Euphemia answered.
"Is there someone else in there? I heard a voice."
"Yeah, Suzaku is in here helping me."
"WHAT?!?" Cornelia kicked down the door.
Suzaku stood there in shock. "B-but, the door was locked."
Cornelia grabbed Suzaku by the collar. "I will not let you take away my sister's innocence!"
"Wha?"
She turned to Euphemia with a gentle look on her face. "Dear sister, I need to talk to Suzaku for a moment. You keep on trying on dresses until you find something."
"Uh, okay. B-but don't hurt Suzaku!", Euphemia yelled as Cornelia dragged Suzaku away.
- - -
The curtains were drawn slightly, illuminating Carline's face. Nunnally felt her wrist being squeezed. Rolo ran up and pulled Nunnally's wrist and stood in fron of her protectively.
"Carline, why do you hate me?", Nunnally asked.
"How could you not know? Your existence is a mistake!"
"Watch what you say!", Rolo said.
"It's true! You should be dead."
"I don't understand", Nunnally said.
"Not many people know, but I was a twin too."
"You were, but what happened?", Nunnally asked.
"My being a twin was hidden because my brother, Cassius, died when he was born."
"Oh, he did", Nunnally said sadly. "But what does that-"
"Because! The same happened with you two. And yet, you lived!", Carline yelled.
"What?"
"My mother told me", Carline's eye filled with tears. "She told me that Cassius died and the nurses kept her secret but. . .I can't stand it! Why did I kill my brother? Rolo did the same to you. Why aren't you dead?!"
Nunnally then realized Carline's frustration. She grabbed Carline's hand.
"I understand. It's upsetting, when you can't do anything to save someone. But it's not your fault. I'm sure Cassius is smiling on his beloved sister."
"That's not it!, Carline yelled.
"Huh?"
"You have a mother, and two brothers. And everyone else loves you. But I. . .I don't even have anyone that loves me that much."
"That's not true!", Nunnally yelled. "There's always someone who loves you, even if you don't know it."
- - -
Cornelia took Suzaku outside and they sat down at a table. Normally it would be used to serve tea and relax. However, Suzaku was anything but relaxed.
"Now then, let's talk about my sister."
"What about her?", Suzaku asked nervously.
"What are your intentions?", Cornelia demanded to know.
"Intentions?", Suzaku thought about his feelings for Euphemia. "Nothing really. I mean, what could I possibly do?"
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying, that even if I plan, she wouldn't be interested in me. Lelouch could even help me, but it wouldn't work."
"That's one of the reasons I don't like you. You're weak-minded and you have no will to fight!"
- - -
Euphemia put back on her normal dress. She wondered if normal girls had boy problems like this.
"I know, I should ask Nunnally! She's been living a non-royal life this whole time!"
The third princess set off to find her younger sister. "Nunnally! Nunnally!"
- - -
Lelouch was panting. He collapsed on a wall and tried to catch his breath.
"That maniac-pant-he must-pant-be the-pant-one Suzaku met."
He heard footsteps coming. "Hey buddy, where'd you go?"
Lelouch dragged himself into a room and shut the door. Locking it, he tried to remain silent. Lelouch heard the footsteps pass and he relaxed. He glanced around at his surroundings. He seemed to be in a library.
It was well-lit by lamps, so Lelouch decided to entertain himself while he hid. None of the books on the shelves seemed interesting enough. Then Lelouch found a book with no title on the spine. He pulled it from the shelf and flipped through the pages.
"Blank?"
The shelf that he retrieved it from flipped and revealed a hidden passageway.
"Well well, what do we have here?", Lelouch said as he walked through.
- - -
Up next: Lelouch meets someone new, and Cornelia gets a new perspective on Suzaku.