Chapter Eighteen: The Trouble With Knights

Arc Five: Rebirth

Opening: "Sometimes the brave man" - ROOT FIVE

Euphemia sat quietly, dressed folded neatly, as she waited in the bleached white blank hall for her sister to finish her call with Schneizel in the other room, directly opposite her plastic seating. A few servants and military types passed by now and then, however Cornelia kept Schneizel occupied as the day lagged onwards in her stuffy, insular hallway where she passed the time by recalling the events of the past few days, thinking about Lelouch and Suzaku, and occasionally stepping across the narrow room to pour herself water out of the machine.

It had been six days since the strike had begun, and the situation had slowly simmered along, an anticlimax of sorts that had drawn itself out over the week. While Euphemia was not fully aware of the situation, apparently there had been large amounts of chaos in Command following the first day when there had been disagreements, and they had been fraught with political uncertainty since. Cornelia was on the warpath, however the wheels were gummed up by indecision.

Meanwhile, from what she gathered from her occasional conversations with Lelouch, who was evidently up to his neck in paperwork, indicated in a slight weariness, which matched that of several Majors and Undersecretaries brave enough to raise the issue with Cornelia, hence her new idea. If there were enough on both sides willing to do a deal-

No, she thought, biting her mental tongue. She must not get her hopes up until Schneizel gave the all clear. Cornelia would overrule her if she went ahead, however Schneizel could easily overrule Cornelia. If she could broker a peace, she wouldn't find it in her sister, or her father, but she could find some in her brothers.

The fact she had recognised that saddened her, as her sister grew further and further from what she could consider to be in any way conscionable. Even so, the separation was sad in and of itself.

Suddenly, there came a whooshing sound of a pneumatic door opening, and as Euphemia looked up, she saw the cause of her concern step into the hall, with an angry scowl and furious eyes that matched a woman scorned, her request for martial law with Schneizel rejected. Euphemia sighed. It was Cornelia's time in the military, she determined, as a commander that made her this way, viewing all things from that way.

And yet, in spite of her obvious rebuttal, she appeared to cheer upon seeing Euphemia, her face lightening as she made a visible effort to clear her varying dark features, before she approached, gently opening with "Euphie..." as she stroked her hair.

A little uncomfortable, Euphemia shifted in her chair responding "Hey, did it go well?", playing foolish. Cornelia bought it, sighing "Schneizel is a wonderful man, but unfortunately he couldn't see my point of view. Unfortunate, but such is the way of things."

Of many accusations tacked towards Euphemia over her time as Princess, naivety was one of the most common, and she did not necessarily agree. On one hand, she was aware, and held no shame about the fact that her beliefs were very idealistic, blowing even Suzaku off the pedestal of high belief and pure hopes. That was not only the case, she would brag about it if she were less introverted. However, she would hold that this did not translate to how she interacted with others. Naïve beliefs did not translate to social ineptitude, a mistake Cornelia made in assuming Euphemia swallowed that nonsense. However, Euphemia was reasonably competent in feigning ignorance, responding "I see… Can't be helped."

Oblivious, Cornelia nodded, before sitting beside her and replying "And at such a time too, when I need to find new subordinates, even a new Knight. We need to find one for you, you know?". She huffed lightly, leaning back.

"A Knight?" Euphemia asked, surprised. She had been vaguely aware she 'needed' one, however Cornelia had never raised the issue. Moreover, if she now needed one too, what had happened to Guilford?

Ignoring her sister's silence, Cornelia continued "But I think we'll sort you first. You need it more. I'll have a list of eligible Knights sent over. It's just a headache."

After a moment, she finally paused and in a moment of realisation, said "Oh, were you waiting? I'm sorry, you probably have things to do as well. Forgive me, I'd best be off.", and with that, she departed, scurrying away back to Command, leaving Euphemia alone to think. The trouble with Knights was multifaceted. First, a prospective Knight would very likely be a member of the landed elite, which coming from Euphemia, Princess of the Empire, seemed like a hollow accusation, however it would likely point to a more old fashioned mindset which would cause issues. What might also cause issues would be if he or she found the communications she had been engaging in, including with Britannian Public Enemies Numbers 2 and 3. While a prospective Knight would swear fealty to her, she could never know for certain.

Ultimately, it boiled down to the simple fact she wouldn't know any of the candidates personally, and it seemed to her representative of one of her other big problems with working under the circumstances she found herself in, a system of strangers that she had to try and learn and cooperate with, most of whom were conservative Lords and Ladies to begin with.

Still, it was neither here nor there, and if she acted on her plan, a sort of Home Rule, fast enough, she could be done with the secrecy before it could be revealed by other forces. Time was not on her side, but once she had Schneizel the heavy lifting could be handed off to Kanon, Schneizel's assistant and rumoured lover who had an almost inhuman ability to organise. She had only met him once, and he seemed like an entirely reasonable, trustworthy man, so it truly boiled down to how Schneizel swung. At the very least, Schneizel did not have Cornelias anger or emotional baggage on terrorism or how to handle it. As Lelouch would put it, he was far more savvy in fighting the Long War. As Euphemia thought, the door at the far end of the hall opened, and an incredibly depressed Guilford trudged through the hall, dragging bags and sacks along in a depressing display. Noting him as he passed by, Euphemia perked up, calling "Guilford, Guilford!"

The former Knight of her older sister turned back, looking absolutely miserable as he responded despondently "Hello Euphie…", to which Euphemia replied "What happened? I heard you were removed… Cornelia always was so loyal, just like you! You were always there for her, why did she get rid of you?"

After a moment of apparent indecision, Guilford sighed and sat beside her, not knowing it was where his former sponsor had been sitting moments earlier, and explained "I was, as you probably know, in charge of the cordoning Division around the mountain, when Cornelia asked me to fire on the strikers to get them to move. I didn't, and that, as they say, was that."

Euphemia, surprised, responded "But that was the right thing to do! And she got rid of you?"

"Unfortunately…" he grimaced, before trying to restore a noble impression of what a Knight ought to be on Euphemia before she got the wrong idea, adding "However, I should have obeyed. I- I was too weak. I didn't deserve to stay."

Euphemia, in bitter disagreement, responded "You knew what was right, and that was critical. You couldn't have done a better thing in my mind.", to which Guilford replied "I'm glad you feel that way." he gruffed. "But for now, it doesn't make much difference. I'm afraid I must go. I wish I didn't have to, and I will miss you all, but my Lady has spoken."

As Guilford sighed, seeming to resign himself to his fate, Euphemia was furious, both at the Knight himself for not standing up for himself, and at Cornelia for removing her loyal Knight over insubordination, where he had been in the right. She wanted back, childishly, at her sister for her inhumanity, a slap across the face as such.

And as she sat, next to Cornelia's scorned Knight, she came across an idea.

"Guilford…"

"Yes?" came the quiet reply.

Turning to him with the sly grin of the cat that got the cream, she commented "I hear you're unemployed now, and as it turns out, by happenstance, there's a position open for Knight of the Third Princess of the Empire. Applicants with records of standing up for what's right will receive preference, as well as personal connections to the employer, who just so happens to be me. Give it some thought."

Feeling incredibly smug and filled to the brim with a new confidence, she stood to go into the booth to meet with Schneizel, feeling ready for almost anything as she left Guilford putting the pieces together.

Unaware of Euphemia's own little political maneuvering, her brother Lelouch and his colleague Ohgi stepped out of a different meeting room, having spent the last hour in discussions with Taizō Kirihara, leader of the Six Houses of Kyoto who was extremely pleased to be meeting back up with Lelouch after so many years. Ohgi almost felt as if he was intruding on their personal moment as they bantered.

Even so, in spite of a certain awkwardness that came with nigh on intruding on a personal moment between old friends, Ohgi still felt the meeting had gone extremely well. Having learned at the last minute the Six Houses met inside Mt Fuji, something that had surprised both of them, and the pair had leapt on that fact instantly, organising efforts to use the Kyoto entrance to ferry food down into the mine and out onto the front lines, rather than attempting to break the cordon. There had been an extensive debate among the Provisional Government as to whether to continue mining operations on their own in secret in such a way to export the produce to friendly nations to solve their deficit, however it had been defeated by a majority vote in spite of both Lelouch and Suzaku voting in favour. That aside, all had been going as smoothly as could be expected of an anti-government protest.

Stepping back aboard the train that had ferried them there, Ohgi sat beside Lelouch on the lonely carriage as they descended down the north face of the mountain, going around the cordon and taking slightly longer, allowing the silence to permeate, broken only by the noises of the grinding railway line. As they reached a bluff, Lelouch pulled out his phone and began to tap text messages, Ohgi noting that it was to Rivalz, his Britannian friend from school. In spite of himself, Ohgi felt slightly guilty. This revolution was for the good of the impoverished, and it was the ultimate good over personal issues, but even so, Ohgi felt it hard to feel good about tearing apart friendships.

Spotting Ohgi's curiosity, Lelouch quirked an eyebrow and commented "Need anything?"

Retreating slightly, he replied "Sorry… I was just thinking about you. I mean, you've missed a bunch of time with your other friends, time to just relax, because of all this…"

"Why does that matter?" Lelouch commented harshly, pocketing his phone. "Rivalz will get over it."

Ohgi sighed, wondering whether to intervene further in Lelouch's sparse social life, before the Prince in question, evidently irritated by the topic and Ohgi's obvious curiosity in it by cutting him short, drily, yet aggressively, stating "I am perfectly comfortable with the current state of things. The only regrets I can fathom is having spent such time indulging my own personal life that the cause would be lost. Every moment spared to that effect is a moment I am not fighting. I go without so that others can receive, if you wish to view it that way. That is all I will say on the matter."

Ohgi didn't respond initially, put off by Lelouch's harsh, spiteful tone that matched a dual admission of weakness; it was obvious, from how he tried to deflect to what amounted to teenage edginess that he viewed his brief communication with Rivalz as weak, however the response itself made him appear isolated and somewhat desperate, the self destructive nature of such a philosophy notwithstanding. It was a case of it being bad if it were a lie, and worse if it were true.

Uncomfortable, he quietly commented, trying to get him out of his anger "You know I was a teacher, you're not-"

Lelouch grunted, evidently seeking to drop the issue as he interrupted "You're probably right. Perhaps I'm just tired. Still, it's not a critical issue. Sorry to worry you."

That was the end of that awkward conversation, and all was quiet until they reached the bottom of the hill in Kawaguchiko, not far from the Convention centre. They were the only ones to step onto the platform, forming an odd pair of a Japanese man and a Britannian teen. Still, there were not very many people on the platform as they walked towards the bottom before stepping into a small saloon car, which ferried them back down to the south and to their work, in awkward, hot silence, cicadas chirping to mark the passage of time.

It was midday by this point, and the sun had reached its unchallenged peak as they returned to the ghetto proper, leaving their car and beginning to walk back to the bank, taking in the heat of the day as they stepped past the busy crowds, too tired to actively push as they returned to the main building, sitting on the couches by the entrance.

"Damn…" Ohgi sighed, as he reclined. "It's too hot for this crap."

"You can sing that one." his colleague, having evidently calmed down from his existential strop, responded, before standing. "I'm going to lie down for a tad, wake me up for the next meeting."

"Aye." Ohgi responded breathlessly as the younger man travelled up to his squalor, likely hoping its open space would offer a more hospitable climate to the one Ohgi attempted to doze off in, trying to get comfortable as he shifted about, the room empty but for a few people passing by, an elderly Japanese man, well dressed and groomed, a tanned Britannian woman passing by with a fast step, a pair of teens putting away their days wages-

Ohgi paused, sensing with his well tuned sixth sense something highly off. Before catching it. The Britannian. It wasn't as if Britannians weren't unheard of here, certainly there were a few, but this particular woman seemed off, too hurried, too focused as she passed through the room, with the air of a soldier-

Tripping over the word soldier, he realised, and instantly leapt out of his chair and bounded up the stairs.

Villetta Nu had just walked into their home as if it belonged to her, not a care in the goddamned world. It was astonishing to him how little she had appeared apprehensive or ill at ease, completely confident in herself. It was probably why he had missed her as she initially passed by.

He sprinted round the last set of stairs and burst into the brown, airy room and sure as the day was long, there was the returned soldier, standing over a sleeping Lelouch, knife held high above her head ready to plunge down into his chest.

"LELOUCH!" Ohgi screamed, half crying out in panic and half roaring to wake his friend as he sprinted forward to intercept the attacker. Lelouch began to stir as Villetta turned and saw him, continuing the turn as she grasped the situation and transitioning into a turning kick with the top of her foot.

Seeing the move coming, Ohgi bent his knees slightly and braced his side with his forearm and triceps to absorb the kicks energy, before pushing back and upwards with his bent legs, using them like a spring to spin her back away, then switching direction to hit her far side with his fist, which was far more exposed, and brought into range by his initial block.

However, she saw the punch coming, ducking down below his chest and performing a haphazard rugby tackle, shifting his weight back and sending him falling backwards onto the floor, as she went for the knife.

However at this point Lelouch was conscious, and kicked at her back from his less than advantageous position, distracting her long enough for Ohgi to sweep his legs around her feet and trip her, allowing Lelouch to stand and kick her again in the guts, which in turn gave Ohgi the time to stand and properly pin her, as the adrenaline rush wore down.

"That was close…" he stuttered through rapid, tiring breathing that seemed to sap at his remaining energy. The threat of death may wake one up, but it left one with a hell of a cliff to fall off, something Ohgi was beginning to realised as he struggled to contain the writhing Villetta. It struck him as bizarre, that she would continue to struggle like a woman possessed and yet not saying a word as she fought.

As he mused over this, Lelouch whipped out his phone and called the guards in the opposite building, hissing "Makoto, Byakuya, upstairs in the bank, this instant. We have an enemy combatant, at present contained. Bring restraints."

Pocketing the device, he bent down towards Ohgi to get a better look at his assailant, noting "It's Villetta Nu…"

"Indeed." Ohgi grunted, as the would be assassin remained silent, only giving the odd noise of struggle.

"She's a determined bitch…" Lelouch commented as the pair of guards stepped inside with ropes and handguns, taking her struggling body off their hands. Ohgi stood back beside the Finance Minister as she was carried away to a bemused audience. Ohgi summarised with "That was strange…"

Lelouch nodded in agreement. "Yes… First, she said nothing, not even some Britannian threat or some such… Second, why even use her, a disgraced soldier? Do they not have better assassins?"

"And, let's not forget-" Ohgi continued "We must ask why they sent an assassin at all? Why not the actual army?"

"This smells of conspiracy."

"That it does."

The pair stood in silence for a long time, before electing to raise the issue in Parliament when they next met. Still confused, they headed out to find Suzaku, who was in the Parliament Building wading through a mass of documents and files. Looking up, he waved the pair in as they moved to address him.

"Suzaku, a moment-"

"-Nu, Villetta Nu-"

-she tried to kill Lelouch!"

Suzaku, nonplussed, asked simply "What?", as he reached for a faraway paper among the pile. Lelouch, having taken over his own brief rush, explained what had happened.

"Now that's curious…" Suzaku noted, before they were interrupted from their musings by the arrival of a runner carrying an envelope, who passed the item over and informed them "Correspondence from the Empire, Ministers!"

"Where was this given?" Lelouch asked as Suzaku opened the letter, to which the man responded "It was given by the Knight Guilford to the Strikers, who forwarded it to the Six Houses of Kyoto and by extension me."

"It has the Royal Crest alright, same one as Clovis'." Suzaku noted, before reading out "On behalf of the Emperor as His acting representative, I propose, to resolve the Ethnic and Union conflicts, the creation of a semi autonomous region within the Empire known as the Specially Administrated Zone of Japan, which while remaining within the Empire as a new Area, shall have predetermined internal policy freedoms from the Empire in its internal governance, representation, social freedoms, and internal personal taxation and wealth distribution, while still retaining Imperial Policies on external trade and military. I would invite the leadership of the Provisional Government and the Black Knights to meet to discuss the particulars of the extent of this region's autonomy, and its borders."

Suzaku put the paper down on his desk, hissing "Signed Euphemia Li Britannia."

Ohgi paused, wondering aloud "Well this complicates things…"

"Forget complicating, this makes no sense!" Lelouch grunted, continuing "They send an assassin, then propose peace, and.. Guilford! Why was he Euphemia's representative-"

"-Lelouch, calm yourself." Suzaku scorned, picking up a mug of coffee before thinking "Guilford could have been a go between, it's too soon to comment on who sent Villetta, and if this is real, then this may be the break we began the strike hoping for. It's obvious their lack of Sakuradite is hurting them. We need to leap on this."

"Cornelia would never have allowed this-"

"Euphemia wouldn't have done this if she thought she couldn't get away with it."

Lelouch nodded to concede this, as Ohgi said "So we're going?"

Suzaku nodded "It's irritating that we have to share a negotiating table with Zero, but its a start."

Lelouch smiled as he sat back "Leave Zero to me."

Ohgi swore he could feel himself shiver.

I for one wanted desperately to have a scene where Cornelia realises that Euphemia has stolen her Knight and outplayed her on all fronts, however I lack the full literary capacity and range to perfectly describe the face of shock and defeat personified on a single human being. Alas.

That notwithstanding, the major players are moving in their own directions, and people who are alongside strange bedfellows politically are beginning to realise that if they don't dance with the ones that brought them, they will be planted alongside extremely unsavory characters. There are no allies; only interests. Lets hope our characters, especially the more naïve or idealistic among them, remember this, as we move on to Chapter Nineteen of For Hearts And Minds, Dishonest Actors. Be safe, and keep an eye on the people entering your bank. I hope to see you again soon, so please rate and review.

~Eth0