Chapter 19: Shitty Vision.

AN: Hey guys! So, here's a quick chapter to apologize for the delay :p To be fair I didn't know how to deal with the Lelouch-manipulates-Genbu thing and it kinda blocked me. Now I know :D

Yeah, Miss Lohmeyer was Nunnally's advisor in R2.


The next day.

The young prince was standing at the top of the stairs' entrance, in Aries Villa.

"Ah, Lord Jeremiah, I'm glad to see you." Lelouch said, staring at the young guard with an inexpressive look. Then he snapped his fingers. "Would you be kind to leave us alone?" Lelouch asked to the domestics and bodyguards that were still in the entrance room. They nodded and left.

The blue-haired soldier bowed his head to the Prince. "Your Highness, it is a great pleasure to see you. My condolences for your mother, Empress Marianne."

Lelouch descended the stairs slowly. "Thank you, Jeremiah." He said softly. "It is a great loss for us all."

Jeremiah stared at his prince with a pleading look. "You're highness, words cannot describe how much I regret failing! I shall take judgment of my actions for abandoning her majesty!"

Lelouch stopped. "My mother lost her life right here." He said suddenly, showing him the bullet impacts. "At this spot. She was meeting with someone, and this someone shot her in the back."

Jeremiah didn't quite understand what his Prince had said. "But, did the terrorists not shoot from the outside?"

Lelouch raised an eyebrow. "That," He replied coldly, "is the official story. They did indeed shoot from the outside, but it was after my mother's murder. Should they even take their time to make a ballistic analysis; the experts will realize that I'm right." Lelouch showed the spot with his finger, which was clearly pointing to Jerry's direction. "If my calculations are correct, then the killer was standing there, where you stand now."

Jeremiah tensed upon hearing this. "So there wasn't any terrorists, is that what you're implying?"

Lelouch nodded. "Yes. It was a cold-blooded murder." He said, feigning anger and sadness in his tone. "And this monster had a firearm on him." Then he showed Jeremiah one of his most sharp look. "Do you know what it means, Lord Jeremiah?"

Jeremiah lowered his head in shame. "We failed in our duties." He admitted. "We should have been guarding the Villa day and nights, but…"

"At this moment, there were no guards in duty." Lelouch guessed. Well, in fact, he kind of knew the whole story by heart: V.V meets Marianne but V.V is a special guy who must not be seen by the common population and Marianne understand this so she tells Cornelia to abandon her duty –which should've ring a bell to Cornelia by now but, oh well no one is perfect- but V.V is a freaking over jealous brother –thank the gods Lelouch had gotten over this flaw in his own personality for ages- and carries an automatic rifle. Really? For someone that small, carrying an automatic rifle and showing off to one of the most skilled Knights of the realm without being noticed? Marianne might have been a sharp, cunning woman, but she had a shitty vision. She needed freaking sunglasses, or at least contact lenses, since it was pretty much the family's style.

"You are correct, your Highness." Jeremiah said in a low tone. "Your sister, Princess Cornelia and the commander of Lady Marianne's guard relieved of our duty on that day."

Lelouch widened his eyes in fake shock. "What did you say?"

Jeremiah tensed, and then took a tremendous amount of courage to look at his prince in the eyes. "Princess Cornelia commanded us to stay away from the Villa."

Lelouch narrowed his eyes. "Let's talk in another room, shall we?"

Lelouch led Jeremiah to a reception room in the first floor.

"You know, there is something strange in this scenario." Lelouch said finally, after a minute of heavy silence. "Princess Cornelia orders you to leave your post, and my mother die at this precise moment? Quite a coincidence, isn't it? Or is it?"

Jeremiah gulped, lowering his head. "You may be right, your highness. It might not be a coincidence."

Lelouch turned his head and headed to a commode. "So, who will take the blame for this tragedy?" He asked, staring at him with a penetrative gaze. "My half-sister, Princess Cornelia? No, my sister is too precious for Britannia."

"They won't make any investigation at all, I'm afraid." Jeremiah said bitterly. "Unless you make one."

Lelouch stared at the disgraced guard with a sharp look. "That is precisely what I'm going to do. I will take the sword and fight for the justice of my mother, and slay anyone who has wronged me."

Lelouch opened a drawer off his commode.

"I understand, your Highness." Jeremiah said loyally. "Please, let me…"

Then Lelouch drew out a sword and stared at him with a murderous look. "I shall slay anyone who has wronged me."

Jeremiah tensed. He knew this day would come. The loyal soldier knelt before his prince and said. "If it is my punishment, then I'm glad to accept it."

Jeremiah closed his eyes.

Lelouch made his move.

"Will you help me?"

Jeremiah opened his eyes. Prince Lelouch stood in front of him. He was smiling, and his sword was on Jeremiah's shoulder.