I am so so so very sorry for such a late update, but trust when I say this chapter is good.
I don't own Code Geass
Enjoy~
Ch. 5
Leabella 6 Lelouch 6
"Checkmate," Leabella's voice resounded throughout the room. Lelouch stared at the board incredulously. From not that far away Clovis looked over his painting easel deflated. The vi Britannia twins had come to stay the night at the main Imperial Palace tonight, and Clovis was charged with entertaining the twins until Euphy came back from her afternoon etiquette lessons. It did not help that the only real thing they found entertaining lasted no more than ten minutes.
"Big brother," Leabella said from her seat as she and Lelouch put away the chess pieces, "What do we do now?"
Clovis huffed trying to think of something that would capture the twins' attention. He tapped the handle of his paint brush on his chin and forwarded his brow. "Aha!" he exclaimed catching the twin gaze, "Why don't you go pick a guest bedroom to sleep in tonight?"
"We already did that," the two deadpanned.
"Try to find Cornelia?" the teen asked desperately.
"She's training with mother," again the two replied in monotone voices.
"Eh…" Clovis drawled before an excellent idea came to his head, "Why don't you two go play hide and seek in the garden? Big sister Guinevere just had a new section with a pond and a small gazebo."
To the third prince's joy the twins' faces brightened in excitement. He went back to his project upon hearing the rushed shuffling of chess pieces and chairs. After some more moving around, the two exited the room with a click of the door as Clovis said, "Don't get lost!"
"It's not as pretty as the garden in the villa."
"Well, it was designed by Guinevere."
A giggle, "Yes. Anything from her always turns out ugly."
More giggling.
"Alright," Lelouch stopped at a quite extravagant dragon water fountain and turned to Leabella, "Who hides first?"
There was a paused before both of them held out a steady hand. Together they started, "One…two…three!"
"Yes!" Lelouch cheered looking at his fist and his sister's scissor hand. The two lowered their hands and nodded to each other. Leabella watched as her little brother ran off into the hedge maze that came with their oldest sister's newly installed garden section. Once he was out of sight, Leabella turned towards a tree and started counting.
Leabella groaned, "Guinevere made this maze to big." The little princess had been searching for her twin brother for over fifteen minutes. "She's seriously an overkill," she muttered walking passed another set of marble statues.
Leabella walked around a corner of the maze when she heard a yell. She snapped her head toward the sound, and her heart picked up in speed. That was Lelouch. The girl started in a run, trying to weave around the troublesome maze to her little brother. She heard a yelp and someone struggling, and she panicked running as much as her leg would let her.
She heard Lelouch yell, "Let go of me!" as she made her way through the twist and turns of the maze trying to figure her way to him.
She heard a splash and cried, "Lelouch?!" Finally she made her way to where he was. There, dripping wet, was her little brother sitting in the pond. Laughing at him were Nickolas and Marden, two of Carine's older brothers. Off by the gazebo was a small Carine was laughing with childish delight.
Leabella glared at her two older half-brothers as they stood there looking very much proud with themselves. Leabella balled up her small fist staring the two down as Lelouch made his way out of fountain and next to his sister. Leabella turned to him in concern as the other's continued to snicker. Leabella looked over a soaked Lelouch. He was completely wet to the bone. It was a good thing they had come with extra clothes.
"You're not hurt anywhere, are you?" Leabella asked checking anywhere she could for any injuries.
"Look!" Marden said pointing at Lelouch, "Lelouch is just like a little baby!"
"Yeah," Nickolas added, "Why don't we put you in diapers and feed you from a bottle."
"I'm not a baby!" Lelouch snapped taking a step away from Leabella in embarrassment.
"Oh, really?" Marden chided, "Well you sure look li-!" Leabella glared and ignored the sting on her hand from the infliction she gave on the boy's cheek.
"Hey!" Nickolas pushed Leabella away from Marden as he cowarded behind his brother.
"If you ever hurt my brother again, I'll-" Leabella growled at the two before being cut off
"You'll what?" Nickolas sneered, "You can't do anything because you're just a dirty commoner."
Before Leabella could reply someone spoke from not that far away. "Now, that is no way to talk to your sister, Nickolas," Cornelia li Brittania said coolly as she walked past to two boys to the twins.
"Sister Cornelia," the ten year old yelped.
"I thought your mother taught you better," Cornelia stared down that Nickolas and Marden. "Oh, well, I guess I'll have to talk to her."
Leabella glared down at the ground as she heard Lelouch wince again. Once Cornelia got them into the palace infirmary to check over Lelouch, the nurses got him into fresh clothes and sat them both upon a cushioned table. Now, they had a doctor tending to the scrapes Lelouch got when he fell into the fountain's rough bottom surface.
Leabella looked over at her little brother's fiery red knees as the doctor tended a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide to the minor wounds. She gritted her teeth cursing her older half-brothers.
Cornelia- standing close observing the medic- noticed this and walked over to her younger sister. Once, close to Leabella, Cornelia placed a soft hand on the girl's shoulder. Leabella looked away from Lelouch to look up at her older sister. Cornelia gestured her head for the younger princess to follow her. Leabella looked at Lelouch, not wanting to leave him alone.
"It'll be fine," the second princess said reassuring the third. Leabella mulled over it for a moment before taking one last worried glance at Lelouch and hopping off the table. The six year old followed the sixteen year old out of the infirmary into one of Leabella favorite parts of the main Imperial palace. It was a outdoor hall with arches leading to small terraces. Cornelia lead her toward one of the terraces then knelt to her height.
"What's wrong, Bella?" Cornelia asked softly stroking Leabella's dark wavy hair gently.
"It's just…" Leabella looked down recalling hearing Lelouch cries in the garden and the feeling of desperation to find him. "I couldn't…" Leabella choked on her words as frustrated tears sprung from her eyes. "I should have…" Cornelia brought the troubled girl into her arms as she continued, "I'm the older one…" Leabella cracked out, "I'm supposed to protect him!"
"Oh, Bella," Cornelia spoke gently patting the child's back. Soon the girl's tears stopped, but she was still very much upset. Cornelia held her away to look into her eyes, "One day, you will be able to protect him."
"Really?" Leabella asked doubtfully.
"Yes," Cornelia said firmly, "You'll be stronger, and you'll be able to protect as many people as you want."
"But, to do that, would I have to join the military like mother?" Leabella asked wiping away the tear strains on her cheeks.
"Maybe," Cornelia grimaced at that. Sure, she was aspiring for that, but she really couldn't see any of her precious younger siblings joining the military. More, she didn't want to, but she knew that Leabella was stubborn. When the girl set her mind on something it was impossible to change it.
"Now," Cornelia said lightly trying to take the thought of the military of the young girl's mind, "Let's go see how Lelouch is doing. They should be done by now."
Leabella 10 (1st POV)
"Leabella," Marko started with a coaxing voice. "How about you help with intelligence?"
"Why?" I deadpanned.
Marko twitched in irritation. "Ugh! The brat said that'd you'd help in the military, so pick something."
"Well I didn't agree to that," I countered.
"But, you agreed to our contract five months ago, yes?" Richard's voice came from the entrance of the room.
"What does our contract have to do with what he wants me to do," I retorted.
Richard sighed, taking out his bag of cookies, "You want to find your brother and sister, right?"
"Yes," I said quickly.
"Well," Richard said while observing an awaiting cookie, "If you work in intelligence, you can find information on where they might be."
*three months later* (3rd POV)
Marko sighed exasperated. He was too overconfident about this.
"I don't understand why you would put me in intelligence. I might be able to read people, but making me question captured spies is ridiculous," Leabella said haughtily after her eighth failed interrogation.
Marko sneered at the girl looking over that the monitor of her last questioning at the last few seconds. Leabella had geassed the man to bite the hard metal table until he spoke, leaving in the man having a bloody mouth and a fractured jaw. It was a good torture tactic, but she still couldn't get anyone to talk.
"Why don't you just do what you did to Marko when you met him?" Richard said in an agitated tone. He hated when people nagged him. And, whenever the princess was being difficult, Marko would nag him to no end.
"What?" Marko whipped around to the immortal, then turned to the girl, "You WHAT?!"
"Yes," Leabella said bluntly.
Marko sputtered for words for a while before collecting himself rubbing his temples, "What exactly did you do?"
"Oh, nothing!" Leabella said purposely being suspicious.
An irritated vein popped out on Marko's forehead as he growled and looked back at Richard. Said boy sighed exasperated, "I'm not entirely sure, but she may have looked into your memories. In these past five months, I've concluded that she can manipulate someone using their subconscious mind. In theory, she can actually 'read' your subconscious mind like memories and other thing that you're not directly thinking about."
Marko raised an eyebrow turning to the girl, "So, why is it that I don't remember it? Last week…Captain Mores? Or was it Lieutenant Akheart? Whoever it was he clearly remembers you persuading him to stop breathing. Why in the world would you do that, anyway?"
"Firstly, it was Warrant Officer Norman. He was an idiot. And even though I may not have been that much help, do not give me stupid men as my body guard! Secondly, he has the brain of a diseased rat, so I didn't take the trouble of making him forget," Leabella snapped.
"Norman was at the top of his cadet class! What are you talking about?" Marko replied.
"He was an idiot!" Leabella argued still remembering all the times the man would bring her coloring books and snack sized juice boxes.
Marko gritted his teeth, "Back to the subject, why don't I remember."
Leabella sighed combing through her medium length hair, "Bring in that man that's on guard outside the door."
Marko blinked but complied. Now said soldier stood in front of the Britannian princess at attention. Marko presented the man, "This is Warrant Officer Peterson. He was at the top of his cadet class that just graduated a week ago, and has climbed the ranks as a natural talented knightmare pilot."
"Whatever," Leabella brushed off Marko and addressed the newcomer, "If you wouldn't mind, kneel down, please."
"Uh, yes," Peterson hesitated looking towards Marko for a nod. He went on his knees at Leabella's height as she activated her geass. Marko stood in astound-ment as he saw the soldier loose his stiff posture.
Leabella nodded closing her eyes and turning the Marko as Peterson came to. "You may stand," Leabella said. Once he did, she began, "His name is Aaron Peterson. He was named after his grandfather who was some war hero. His hobbies are reading, playing cards, and going to local bars. He has a scar on his left elbow from a childhood accident."
"H-huh?" Aaron Peterson blanched at Leabella again losing his posture.
Richard whistled from his seat, "You didn't have to go that far, you'll embarrass him."
Leabella whipped around to give him a knowing glare as Marko clapped, "Excellent, excellent. Do that the next time you question somebody."
"Fine," Leabella grumbled eyeing Peterson now.
"Oh, and Leabella," Marko said smiling, "Warrant Officer Peterson is your new guard. Don't try to kill him."
Leabella gave one last look to the president before turning the leave with Richard, "No, promises." Peterson sweat dropped before following the two young ones. "Oh," Leabella paused at the door, "And Britannia is going to strike at Chocimsk. It's not going to be a big fleet. Send that General I met yesterday with a battalion to set up a counterattack in the small fort you have South-east of that town."
Leabella 11 (1st POV)
Men came rushing into the room and surrounded the limp body on the floor that had blood seeping from it. None of them turned to me. They quickly examined the body as medical personnel came in. There was a Britannian crest pin clutched in one hand, and a knife in the other. Nobody said a word as the already dead man was taken away. Some stayed to survey the scene though they didn't come near me.
Finally, after was seemed like an eternity, someone approached me. It wasn't one of the men, I noticed, as small hands like mine brought up my limp hands to view before careful withdrawing the cold heavy gun from my hands. Said hand gave the gun to an officer standing by.
Once the weapon was taken away, Richard grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me out of the room. I didn't know where we were going and just let my feet go on autopilot as the memory of what just happened flashed through my mind.
Dark blue eyes stared into mine from across the room as I started, "Honorary Knight, Connell Aaron Peterson of the Knight of Ten's inner circle." The man tsked as I continued, "It seems you wormed your way into the Belarusian military and got quite close to Marko. So close that he put you in charge of guarding his secret weapon. Though it seems, you miscalculated that I would find out about your plan to assassinate the President."
Peterson chuckled darkly, "You're right, but wrong there." Chuckles into a cynical laughter and I waited. When he finally stopped he took a step towards me, "It's been made well aware by Britannia that Belarus wasn't going to be that easy to take down, so I came to take down that oaf. Then, when Belarus's Wrath suddenly popped up, I got new orders," He took another step towards me, and I took one back, "to dispose of the annoyance," Peterson took about knife from his back, and I step back more away from him. Just my luck that Marko refused to let me carry a weapon. "What luck I had the moment that idiot presented this country's only hope to me as my charge and you revealed yourself as the mastermind." He took another step closer and I started to shuffle around dodging his short teasing strikes. "And, you could only imagine my shock when I saw the small little girl order this country's ruler."
I yelped when he lounged at me pressing me up against the wall behind me. He had his hand wrapped around my throat holding me up a few feet in the air. I bent my legs against the wall trying to lift myself for air. My small hands struggling to keep the knife wielding hand away.
"How, disgraceful," Aaron spat I continued to struggle kicking at him when I could but missing, "That Britannia could said that you were a worthy opponent…" He growled out his next few words as he swung his hand back and then brought it back tearing a gash into my collarbone causing me to cry out , "A mere child!"
I gritted my teeth and kicked one last time. This time it landed right in his gut. His first reaction was dropping me and doubling over.
Resisting the pain that lit up at my collarbone when I moved, I immediate went for the gun that was secured at Aaron's waist before he could he could stand. I backed up against the wall slowly getting up and pointing the gun at him.
Aaron smirked, "Do you even know how to use one of those?"
I didn't hesitate after that. Though my hands were shaking so much. My breath was hitch. Aaron charged at me again, and I just…
"Leabella," I blinked looking up at Richard. I looked around and we were in the medical sector of the military base.
"Huh-!" I flinched when a nearby doctor started cleaning my wound. I squeezed the edge of the table they had me on.
"Well," the medic, Dr. Kava, started, "It's not too deep where there was any serious damage, and you won't need stitches so long as you rest and don't move around, but you're going to have a scar."
"That's fine," I said softly.
Dr. Kava smiled. Out of all the people here-not including Richard, he was the only one that was genuinely nice to me. He started wrapping my shoulder in gauze as Richard started speaking, "So, I had Marko give you extended leave."
"How long of a leave?" I asked as Dr. Kava finished and left to get my pain meds.
"Until, you can run the army," Richard said nonchalantly.
I gaped at him, "Me? Run the army?"
"Yup," Richard said taking out his bag of cookies and continued with half a cookie in his mouth, "His exact woods were, 'If Britannia knows about me using someone else, might as well go all out.'"
Leabella 15 (1st POV)
"No way," I said in shock. I stared down at the screen that mapped out the current battle that I was commanding. "What the hell are they doing?" I growled as the current formation that I had put Marko and my men were in was broken. All of the Marko's men were disbanding and scattering around the field. In moments the first line was taken out. I rushed over to the com that connected me to Marko who was in his transport just behind my command center. Once Marko came up on the screen, I snapped, "What are you doing with your men!? You do know we just lost our first line, right?"
"Leabella," Marko said calmly, "I'm going to take command of this battle."
"Excuse me?" I yelled, "You don't stand a chance against the Russian-Britannian front! Did you forget that they have the Knight of Ten with them!?"
"Leabella," Marko frowned, "I stood my own against them well before you took command."
"Did you forget that I was telling you what to do?" I growled watching as more of Marko's men were being taken out.
"Silence!" Marko said sternly and I scowled. He put a com on his ear and spoke into the mic, "Q13 go full speed forward."
"Yes, sir," Kastu responded, taking the lead.
My eyes widened, "What are you doing?" I pressed on my com to connect to my squad, but only static came out.
Over the connection with Marko I heard Yuuto's voice over the com, "Eh? Why can't we get in contact with Lea?"
"She's out of commission right now," Marko said nonchalantly.
"You bastard!" I yelled going through the radio channels.
"Alright…" Yuuto's uncertain voice was heard through Marko's connection. From the map I saw that they were passed the enemies front line.
Kastu's voice was heard again, "We've gotten into their ranks. What do we do?"
"Take scatter formation Royal Points separately," my eyes widened as my men spanned out in all directions as opposing knightmar"s started for them.
I forwarded my brows watching a bit proud that my men were holding their own.
But then, suddenly…
"Yasu!" I cried seeing one of my men's' signal go out.
"Yasu? Yasu!" Yuuto yelled through the communication.
"What was that?!" Kastu yelled.
"Do not break your formation," Marko barked.
"Damn you," I growled typing more furiously on the keyboard trying to get in communication my men.
And it happened again. This time it was Nobu.
"Nobu?!" Yuuto yelled again over the comm. And I flinched as tears sprung from my eyes.
"Dammit, Marko, do something," I looked over the man on the screen pausing. Marko was grinning looking at this map screen. I froze when I saw a small remote in his hand with a bright red button crowning it. "You're…" I dove over to the monitor next to mine rushing through the file to get to the knightmare specs of my men. I recalled vaguely that Marko had some modifications for my knigthmares. "No…" The only changes done to the knightmares was adding an automatic self-destruct system that could either be activated manually in the knightmare or remotely. "You bastard!" I screeched seeing another one of my men loose his signal.
"My, my," Marko said, "you figured it out quick."
I growled shutting off connection with him, and moved towards my monitor. I weaved through the files eyeing the map. Finally I got to the universal controls of my men's knightmares. This was installed so I could track how the knightmares damage was. I quickly flew through the control system getting to the self-destruct. Upon getting to the desired file, I came upon a pass-code fire wall. I growled again starting to crack it as one more of my men lost signal. I yelled shutting off the systems. "Yes!" I cheered. "Now…" I exited the knightmare system going back to the radio controls.
Marko popped up on the side screen frowning, "Leabella! What did you do?"
"Oh, mad that I stopped you from killing my men?" I mocked shifting through the radio channels until finally came upon my men's open channel. "Guys!"
"Leabella!" They all hollered back, and Marko scowled.
"Alright," I said studying the battle map turning on my com to the rest of the men on the field. "Everyone, retreat!"
"Yes! My lord!" one unison voice resounded, and I smirked. In moments the troops started to recede towards my command center.
"Leabella!" Marko yelled enraged.
"C'mon," I said ignoring the Belarusian president, "We're retreating towards the border military base!"
"Yes, my lord!" the troops replied, and I cut communication with all of them except my men.
"Guys," I started quietly, "Did they get ejected?"
"No, princess," Kastu said lowly.
"Dammit," I gritted my teeth slamming my fist against the table field map as tears pricked more at the corners of my eyes.
"Leabella?" I peeked up from my position with my head lying against my desk seeing Yuuto at the door way.
"What is it," I said my voice cracking.
Yuuto frowned walking in to sit in seat that would be Richard's next to me. He sat there for a second awkwardly before moving his hand to pat my back, "There, there."
I frowned sitting up, "Yuuto, why are you here?"
"We're at the base," he said surprisingly serious. "The others are waiting for you."
I forwarded my brows, "Why didn't Katsu come for me?" I sniffed causing Yuuto to jump up to search for tissues around the room making me smile a bit.
"Uh," Yuuto paused finding a tissue box, "Katsu's shut himself in."
"What?" I said blowing into a tissue. Yuuto didn't reply.
Leabella 16
"We're going to become your what?"
"My royal guard," I answered simply.
"How it that possible? We're in Belarus, not Britannia," Yuuto said waving at the Belarusian flag hanging at the wall. "Plus, we're not even Britannian."
"That doesn't matter," I said, "I'm still a part of the Britannian imperial family. One of my privileges is that I can make my own royal guard. And, I don't care if you're Britannian, Japanese, or some other race."
"Shouldn't you start with your own knight?" Masanori asked.
"Not necessarily," I said, "I can always pick one later anyway."
"So," Yuuto started, "why make us your royal guard now, of all times."
I smirked, "I'm going to go back to Britannia."
Marko gritted his teeth staring at the map screen on Belarus's capital, Minsk. Russian-Britannian forces had made it to the outskirts of the city. "Leabella!" he hollered turning to me while I was looking up at the map screen unaffected. He growled facing Richard, "Do something!"
"Why should I?" Richard asked unemotionally.
"Ah!" Marko yelled going to the com, "All troops focus on the edge of the city!"
"Yes, my lord!"
I smirked and attached the com to my ear, "You heard him. Get in your positions at the edge of the city, front line." Ever since that battle where I lost four men, my squad wouldn't take any orders from Marko, or anyone for the matter, and now we had a system of transferring orders. Marko found it troublesome, but my squad and I took it as a precaution.
"Yes, your highness!" my men replied.
Marko narrowed his eyes, "Since when do they address you as royalty?"
"Since I met them," I lied smoothly.
Marko tsked and turned towards the map. This was it. The last stand Belarus had against Britannia. If the capital fell, the rest of the country would go with it too. Marko swallowed harshly in the wait. All we were waiting for was for someone to make the first move. "Leabella," Marko started, "have your men make the first move."
"With pleasure, president," I said, "Men, make the first move."
"Yes, your highness." I grinned turning from the map screen to look at Richard behind me. He blinked at the screen surprised.
"What!?" Marko yelled. "T-the front line?! It's completely gone! What happened!? Did Britannia shoot first?"
I put on a straight face as I turned back to the map. Marko was right. The complete front line was labeled as lost.
"S-sir," a soldier's voice came on the connection, "The Q13…"
"What about the Q13!?" Marko hollered hysterical.
"They all exploded! All at once…" the soldier replied, "the impact took out our first division!"
Marko was silent for a moment before turning to eye me. "You…"
"Me?"
"You activated the self-destruct systems…"
"Yes."
Marko looked enraged, "You insolent…! You sacrificed your own men!"
"On the contrary, Marko," I said rising from my seat as my entire squad busted through the door at that moment. "I sacrificed your country."
"W-wha…what do you mean?"
"Didn't you find it odd that even before you made that little mistake of using my men as live grenades," I sneered, "you've been losing this war?"
"You! You set me up," Marko yelled pointed at me accusingly. He rushed over to the control panel, "Guard! Enter my command center, I have traitors here!" Marko blinked when all he got was static in response.
"Anyone who would be here is either at the edge of the city," I started taking the hand gun that Richard handed to me, "or eliminated." I walked a bit away from Marko as I continued, "Any help that might come to you is at least twenty minutes away, and they're dealing with the Vampire of Britannia."
"Why you…" Marko growled looking at the map where the majority of his men were already lost.
"Now, President Sakovich," I said raising the gun to point at his head, "I believe it's time for you to retire from office." With one resounding shot, Marko fell as a heap on the floor. I quickly moved to the radio controller and found an open channel with the one knightmare speeding through all of Marko's men. Once connected, I spoke, "Is this Luciano Bradley?"
"Yes," a raspy man's voice was heard, "Who is this?"
I smirked, "I am Leabella vi Britannia. I have just taken out the head of Belarus, so right now they are in a fray. I would like your main force to move in. And, if you don't mind send in a carrier that can transport me and my men to a less hostel area."
"A Britannian princess?" Luciano questioned before saying wildly, "Well, alright we'll be there in a minute, princess" I frowned. Why in the world did the Emperor choose him to be a Round?
"Uh," Yuuto started, "Should we go outside?"
"Yes," I said shutting off the main communication system only leaving my com connected, "Knowing Bradley, he'll tear through the building just for the fun of it."
As we moved through the building Masanori spoke up, "So, why not have us just go against Marko's men instead of blowing our knightmares up?"
I eyed an unconscious girl at the receptionist desk as I spoke, "I needed to destroy any evidence that we would go against Britannia. Having knightmares would raise suspicions of being just a simple kidnapped princess." I said as we made it through the main exit of the building.
"How are you going to explain us?" Yuuto asked.
"You all defected from Marko," I said simple eyeing the Percival and a Flight carrier unit flying towards us. They landed about five meters from us, and Luciano along with a few guard exited the two.
"So," Luciano said looking at me up and down, "you're a Britannian princess?"
"Don't believe me?" I tried mockingly.
"I don't really care," Bradley deadpanned then pointed to the men behind him, "But, they do."
"Well, then," I started, "You should continue your destruction of the city. Though, there's no point since I took care of it."
Bradley tsked heading for his knightmare, and the men walked up to me. "General Alexander Cotswold," the head of them introduced himself with a handshake, "It's come to my attention that you've pronounced yourself part of the imperial family. Before any other action is taken, we'd like proof that says you are royalty."
"Proof," I said. Lovely, I've just been kidnapped for six years, and they ask me for proof! "I am third princess Leabella vi Britannia of the imperial family, sixteenth in line to the throne. My mother was the imperial consort Marianne vi Britannia." The men blinked. "Six years ago I was kidnapped by Belarusian spies, and my mother was killed. Now, if you don't mind I'd like to return to my homeland."
"Y-yes, your highness," I smirked at the general. "But these men…"
"Are my royal guard," I stated. "They are to serve as such."
"Yes," the general said slowly, "Please board the carrier please."
"How in the world was that proof?!" Yuuto asked irritably on our way to the Russian- Britannian border military base. Right now, we were in a room that serve as a rest place for political people so it was quite lavish. There was a pool table that a hand full of my men were playing on. Others simply lounged on the couches. Yuuto on the other hand was pacing around.
"Disappointed?" I chuckled sitting on the edge of an ornate table, "Not many people know of my mother outside the military, and then, even fewer know she was an imperial consort, let alone had children."
He only grumbled in response as we landed. Once we heard the carrier turn off, General Cotswold entered the room we were in, "Princess, if you would follow me." I rose from my where I was, as did my men, and followed the general.
"We sent word to your sister, Princess Cornelia," the general started and I narrowed my eyes. So they still didn't trust me. "As of right now, she's waiting for you in a set conference room."
"Excellent," I said coolly, "Take me there."
"Yes, You highness," Alexander said then paused, "Uh…Your men…"
"Will come with me," I said flatly.
"But Princess-"
"General Cotswold," I cut him off, "These men are my royal guard, and as such, they are to protect me at all cost, especially when I need them. I do not trust you or your men. Now, take me to the conference room so I may speak with my sister."
"Y-yes, Princess," the general said restrained turning around and leading the way. I, along with my squad, followed him into a large transport. "This is my convoy," the general said seeing my curious eye. I nodded and continued to follow him into an elevator. At the moment when we all filed in, the general sneered at my men as they surrounded me like a shell. Once we got to the top floor we went down a small hall way into a room that must be the main control center. To the right, windows that would look out across the field were shaded and a screen was descending from the ceiling showed a video call waiting to be accepted. Straight forward was a table screen that would be used to conduct battles. To the very left was a throne for whoever was in charge. General Cotswold stocked forward to the control table as I slowly walked up to the throne. My men lined up against the wall to my right, and Richard sat cross legged next to me on the floor.
The general accepted the call, and Cornelia's face popped out on the screen. "Ah, You highness, you see this girl-"
"Leabella!?" Cornelia exclaimed wide eyed. General turned wildly to me.
"Cornelia," I greeted. "It's been some time." I looked down at the flabbergasted man, "Cotswold, if you don't mind," I glared at him, "Get out."
Once the general scurried out, I looked up at Cornelia. She had a shocked face. Of course she would. It's been five years. "I heard you're in the Middle East," I said nonchalantly.
Cornelia blinked coming out of her stupor, "How did you know that?"
I smirked, "You think I've been in the dark for five years?"
Cornelia narrowed her eyes, "Where have you been for five years, sister?"
I smiled, "Have you heard of Belarus's Wrath, dear sister?"
Instantly Cornelia's eyes widened. "You?!" I quirked an eyebrow at her uncharacteristic-ness. She spoke when she calmed down some, "I'm sure you've heard what happened to Lady Marianne and the others."
"Yes," I said softly, "And, I'm sure you're getting plans ready to send me to Pendrandon."
"Yes," she stated.
"Well, add nineteen more people," I said.
"What?" the second princess asked incredulously.
"I have a royal guard that I'd have travel with me," I stated, "Is that a problem."
Cornelia frowned, "No."
Isabella 16, Lelouch 16 (3rd POV)
"Lucky, you got registered in the summer," Lelouch said handing a cup of tea to Isabella, "You got in just before break started."
Leabella smiled sheepishly, going along with façade she was putting up, "It wasn't my intention."
"Don't take too personal, Isa," Nunnally said from next to her, "Lelouch just likes to be a tease."
"Don't blow my cover, Nunnally," Lelouch said playfully. He looked at Isabella as she giggled. Over the few weeks that she had enrolled, she had become good friends with Nunnally. What surprised him the most was how much they acted like longtime friends- best friends even. At the moment, the three were having lunch on the club house patio enjoying the rare cool days of their summer break.
"So, anything interesting you can tell us about the military?" Lelouch asked. Isabella looked up at him. He would ask her that regularly now.
"Well," Isabella started leafing through information, choosing something that wasn't too sensitive, "Clovis approved my squad a few days ago."
"What do you mean approve?" Nunnally asked tilting her head and forwarding her brows.
"Oh," Isabella started sliding her eyes to her brother, "Lelouch didn't tell you?"
"Brother?" Nunnally turned to where he was caught off guard.
"Huh?" Lelouch said surprised.
"Oh c'mon, I'm sure when you saw the file, you were at least a bit surprised," Isabella said sipping her tea.
"What file?" Nunnally asked confused and, then, her brows rose, "Lelouch! How'd you get files on a military squad?!"
"U-uh…"
"Highly classified military online files what were encrypted and not easy to get into through a regular laptop," Isabella said smirked.
Lelouch turned to her like he very much wanted to stab her for outing him, and she smiled in return.
"Brother!"
"In my defense, they shouldn't even be online," Lelouch said smoothly.
"True," Isabella agreed, "So, smart, nosy boys like you don't get into them."
Lelouch was about to retort when the military officer's phone went off. "Oh, sorry," Isabella said standing to go inside. Once the door was closed, she answered, "Yes."
"Hey," Yuuto said on the other line, "I just got in contact with the group," the girl's eyes brightened, "So, they trust me, and they said it's fine for me to join."
"Did they ask about the simulator?"
"Yeah," Yuuto sighed, "They said they want to meet you, but I'm not sure how welcoming they'd be if they knew you were Britannian."
"I'm sure I can persuade them. So, did you set a planned time?"
"Of course," Yuuto said, "Right now."
"Excellent, are you coming to get me?"
"Better," Isabella could hear the smirk in his voice, "I'm outside the school."
"Great," Isabella hung up and turned to go outside when she stopped in her tracks. There before the door was Lelouch with a smirk on his face.
"You know," He started, "for a military officer, you're not very perceptive of your surroundings."
She snorted, "I'm a knightmare pilot, not a ninja. And, I have to leave."
Lelouch smirked morphed into a smile, "I'll walk you."
"What about Nuna?"
"Sayako is watching her," Lelouch said leading the way to the entrance of the club house and out the door. After a while, he started, "So, it's surprising that Clovis would accept a group of Japanese men into his military."
"Well," Isabella said, "Both Clovis and Leabella have equal standing since they're both third Prince and Princess. Clovis really stated that he wasn't going to be pestering Leabella about changing the men in her guard since the Emperor approved of them."
"What? Emperor? Emperor Charles?"
"Yes."
"The man that shipped Nunnally and me to a foreign country and aban-"
"Lelouch," Isabella stopped his ranting, "Do remember that he did the same to Leabella." Isabella glared up at the sky continuing, "Though, you know what he spouts off with all of his speeches."
"The strong conquer the weak," Lelouch drawled slightly satisfied with Isabella and the way she spoke of their king.
"Yes," Isabella said as they came upon the front court yard and she saw Yuuto's car, "And, those men were the ones that Leabella led to defeat Belarus."
"Belarus's Wrath?" Lelouch asked rhetorically as Leabella climbed into the car seeing Yuuto in the driver's seat.
Whoo! Another chapter done! Couple more to go and we'll be on canon plot :D
Hoped you liked it!