Sideline Leaders
The Flower Planted Eight Years Ago
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"Enough."
With one word from their shared lady, Sayako turned the radio off. Elizabeth stayed quietly put at Lady Nunnally's side, waiting for orders.
Lady Nunnally folded her hands delicately in her lap. After seven years as the lady's personal protector and six years in Lady Marianne's service before that, the green haired woman knew when her mistress needed silence to think.
"Clovis ordered a massacre in the ghettos." Nunnally said. "It explains why such a large area was cut off, and if this was a mere terrorist sweep only a section of the ghetto would be completely blocked off."
Elizabeth looked briefly at Sayako, but as always the woman was completely calm despite hearing that her people had been massacred. Lady Nunnally turned her chair over to the table and picked up a piece of paper.
"What doesn't make sense is why." She began folding the paper, as Elizabeth knew she did whenever she wanted to focus deeply. "Despite his extreme methods and disregard for human life, Clovis doesn't order death without some explanation.
"What's more, there's the fact that he went into the ghetto himself- although no doubt he was protected, there's no way terrorists could have killed Clovis unless he was already in their territory. Unless they'd planted a spy, or someone had been planning this for a long time.
"Which is certainly possible. It's pretty likely that the JLF had a half-Britannian spy in Clovis' ranks who was disturbed by the massacre and took independent action in killing Clovis to stop it.
"Of course, whoever takes his place will want to avenge Clovis, and they'll focus on crushing the resistance more then ever in Japan."
Lady Nunnally stopped, and put the finished crane down on the table. Elizabeth waited with baited breath for her orders, although she couldn't help but admire the cunning and deduction her lady showed.
"Sayako." The woman responded quickly and politely. "I find out if the JLF had anything to do with Clovis' death, and while you're at it uncover and report to me the names and positions of all the spies they have in the military and the upper class."
"Yes, my lady." Elizabeth watched her go. She knew that Sayako vowed to protect and assist Lady Nunnally, but that didn't change the fact that she was essentially still the handler for the lost princess Kyoko wanted to manipulate. Elizabeth had grown to appreciate her skills and her dedication, but she still didn't trust the woman's loyalty.
Once Sayako had left the room (but perhaps not out of earshot), Lady Nunnally confided in Elizabeth.
"After the death of the viceroy, the Britannians will be more suspicious then ever of the Japanese- and more importantly, more afraid. If I were to reveal myself now, I'd be taken back to Pendragon 'for my own protection' while Schneizel or Cornelia cleans up this mess.
"Even if I did manage to stay in this country, people would want to know where I've been for the last seven years. At least if I went to Pendragon, I'd become a sweet story of a lost girl returning home- with such a happy ending, fewer people would investigate me. But if someone looked too deep, they might connect Sayako with her clan, and from there with Kyoto- or even the JLF.
"Besides which, I haven't even finished school- in the eyes of the public I'm still a child." Lady Nunnally sighed, once again coming to the same conclusion. "This is not a good opportunity, I'll have to wait to reveal myself."
Because she hated seeing her mistress look so sad, Elizabeth spoke up. "Whatever course of action you take, I will always protect you, my lady."
Lady Nunnally graced Elizabeth with a small smile, although the green haired woman knew it was fake. "Where would I be without you, Elizabeth?"
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Note: Elizabeth = C.C.