Recap: Kallen survived an assassination attempt and returns home, worried that Lamperouge suspects her. Leila is now a Britannian citizen and searches for a way to escape the Emperor's control, warn Jeanne, and help the E.U. Suzaku works for a noble family during the week and teaches martial arts on the weekend or on his time off.
Chapter 17: Of Unknown Surprises
Lars: But his father could have disproven them at any time. Surely that points to some sort of connection.
Jones: A connection which wasn't necessarily reciprocated. Lelouch may very well have been Charles's favorite son, I am not disputing that, but I think their relationship was purely a business one. Or rather one between a lord and his knight. Charles would demand justice, and Lelouch dispensed it, personal feelings aside.
Lars: Surely, this is based on something? Or will this join the ranks of other popular conspiracy theories? Because personally, this sounds like the one where people thought Lelouch wasn't joking when he said his parents abandoned him in a warzone. Like a royal would ever be put in such danger. Not to mention Marianne would never have allowed them to come to harm.
Jones: True. It's rather farfetched, especially because Lelouch always used the most ridiculous excuses to explain his childhood. He once strung along a reporter for nearly an hour and made them believe the real Lelouch had been kidnapped as a young child, and he was actually a Martian.
Lars: [laughter] Forgot about that one. Wasn't that what started the entire Emperor of Mars cult?"
Jones: I admire what he accomplished but curse him every night for valuing his privacy so much. It makes my job so much harder, but the other royals were incredibly flamboyant which helps ease my burden. And here's the thing. They all basically believed the same thing. Odysseus and Euphemia were outliers and close to Lelouch. Yet neither of them would ever have been willing to go that far. Children are very much a byproduct of their environment, and for Lelouch to have broken the mold means things went very wrong.
Lars: He was caught in that attack on his mother.
Jones: I don't think that was enough to elicit such a drastic change, but here is what I think. Charles spent years trying to force Lelouch back into that mold of what it means to be royalty, and Lelouch hated him every step of the way.
—Interview with Jones Johnson, writer of the Best-Seller: Behind the Lies of Lelouch vi Britannia
Ashford Academy, Area Eleven
Kallen returned to school the day before summer break at her dad and Lord Ashford's insistence. The student council was surprisingly busy for the end of the year as junior and senior members worked on the floor between towering stacks of paper. A breeze tore through the open window, and despite being the closest, Milly shouted at someone to shut it.
Grabbing one of the scattered papers from the ground, Kallen stared at the advertising for a public movie in surprise. Brits always tired quickly, yet they were still seeking justice for Mr. Cameron.
"Kallen!" Shirley screamed, finally noticing her, and tackled her with an enthusiastic hug. "I heard what happened! That must've been so scary."
"I'm fine," Kallen reassured as the other members crowded around her, work forgotten. Even Nina, who was terribly shy, came up to greet her.
"Give her some space," Milly ordered, then turned around with a lecherous grin. "So I hear you met Lelouch."
The gut wrenching panic, which had been there ever since Lamperouge casually threatened her, rose to her throat. "How do you know that?"
Accusing hands all pointed to Nunnally, lying in Allie's lap as her friend casually braided her hair.
"She told us what happened," Milly said. Her dad's warning that Nunnally was a honey trap rang in her mind. Why would her brother tell her? "Then my grandfather filled me in on the rest. Are you sure this is what you want?"
"He left quite an impression," Kallen answered and flushed as Milly waggled her eyebrow suggestively.
If only Kallen's sudden change in attitude was due to some schoolgirl's fancy. Life would be much simpler then instead of seeing OSI agents in every shadow. Lamperouge suspected her and thus she had to do everything to maintain her cover. This was the impossible cost Kaguya had alluded to. To do anything to maintain one's cover and hope that the ends justified the means.
Kallen could still smell the blood, and she soon would be spilling her own. Bile rose in her throat, and she forced a smile. Nobody could know how uncomfortable the thought made her.
Shirley sighed wistfully.
"It's really unfair," Rvialz mumbled. "The guy isn't even here."
"The forbidden fruit tastes all so much sweeter," Milly said cheerfully, draping herself over Shirley's shoulder. "Do you wish he had been your knight in shining armor? Saving you from the big bad terrorists?"
"Oh, don't tease her," Euphie interrupted as Shirley turned bright red. "Being in combat is more terrifying than romantic. Well... most of the time. My sister totally has a crush."
"Forbidden?" Shirley asked. "I know he's busy with work, but I have a plan—"
"It won't work," Nunnally grumbled. "You wouldn't be a good fit."
Milly laughed. "Forbidden because Nunnally takes protecting her brother's virtue very seriously."
"But, Nunnally," Shirley whined, "you know me. I'm not anything like Sally or the others. Please? I'm even learning to cook."
The room collectively winced.
Nunnally sighed and carefully disentangled herself from Allie's grip to stand. "I'm sorry, Shirley, but being nice isn't going to be enough. Even Clara wouldn't be able to keep up with him."
"He's smart?" Kallen asked. Last year, Clara had won a tour of the Viceroy's Palace by earning the highest marks across all subjects. Yet while Kallen hadn't pegged Lamperouge as an idiot, a soldier's worth was decided by following orders, not their intelligence.
Milly snorted, effectively answering that question. "Nunnally is the only one who can keep up with him. Or my grandfather if they're talking science, but he gets rather lost if the conversation turns to strategy or philosophy."
"But you almost failed history, Nunnally," Shirley said slowly. "And math."
"Because the teacher is rotten," Nina said, surprising everyone. She crossed her arms and glowered into the air. "For math, drawing the graphs is always thirty-percent of our grade. It's unfair."
"Grandfather has to argue with her every time, but she has friends in high places, and he can't be seen favoring one student."
"Unless it's you," Kallen added bitterly. There was no way Milly's grades were that high when she barely attended class in the first place.
"Oh no. He actually got Mr. Gray to lower my essay grade last week because he said it was only good for kindling." Milly rubbed the back of her head, grinning awkwardly. "As for history..."
"It's terrible," Euphie said. "The textbook is such trash."
Nunnally nodded. "They have another textbook by the same author for Basic as well... and Lelouch did very poorly. It probably didn't help that he insisted on writing a factual account for every assignment instead of the propaganda drivel that was expected."
"It's no wonder he got such poor deployment orders," Rivalz said, shaking his head.
"Kallen? Have you talked about it to someone?" Euphie asked suddenly.
"My dad," Kallen said. At the eager looks from the naive student council members—surprisingly, Euphie seemed to be the only one who understood—she added, "I don't want to talk about it."
"We can hear the details when you're ready," Rolando said from the back. "Shirley? You're supposed to be finished with those forms. And why are we hosting a movie festival again? School is out."
"For all the poor commoners who have nothing to do during vacation," Milly declared dramatically. "But enough of that! This can wait. Kallen won't be coming back next year. But don't worry, we'll be sure to celebrate our last day together and give her a proper send-off!"
"What?" Rivalz asked. "Wait, are you getting married? Is that why?"
"You're not fine," Shirley cried. "Something terrible happened, and you're not telling us."
Well, her cover could be blown, but that was probably not what she was thinking.
"You're becoming a full-time test pilot?" Nina guessed quietly.
Kallen raised her hand, stalling further questions. The words stuck in her mouth as they stared at her expectantly. She took a fortifying breath. "I'm joining the Knightmare Corps."
Her dad had been the driving motivation. With her family being actively targeted either for their connection to Lord Ashford, her Japanese heritage, or both, she wasn't safe anymore. The cockpit was one of the safest places to be. And she couldn't protest because Lamperouge knew. He suspected her.
Actions spoke louder than words. Kallen needed to prove herself.
Unfortunately, Kaguya was in China, and Kallen didn't dare to send a letter asking for advice or informing her of the situation. She had to assume her family was under surveillance. She was completely on her own.
The door to the side room slammed shut, and Kallen winced, unsure as to what had set Nunnally off. Allie looked at the door longingly but merely gathered her belongings and sat down in a proper chair. The other student council members shrugged before resuming their tasks. Nunnally's behavior clearly not a cause of concern.
"You should talk to her," Milly whispered. "She's been worried about you, and the military... It's not exactly reassuring."
"Her brother is in it," Kallen said, barely able to keep the bitterness from her voice.
Milly's brown furrowed, and her shoulders sagged. "I can't tell you the details. It's personal, but Nunnally— You have to understand that she nearly lost Lelouch a few years ago. She was terrified and had nightmares every day. Even when he was... fine, they didn't stop for a long time. And now, to have someone else she knows and cares about join the military? She is scared."
"She..." Kallen pursed her lips and formulated her thoughts. "Nunnally said something a few times which could be... troublesome, if the wrong party heard, yet her brother is part of the wrong party."
Milly snorted and grabbed her arm to lead her away from the bustling center of the student council. "Not all of us believe Britannia's philosophy. I don't, and if Nunnally did, she would have given up long ago. Lelouch loves his sister, so he doesn't either, although he knows how to keep appearances. Go talk to her and stop worrying."
With a gentle shove, Milly shoved her to the door, and Kallen stumbled forward. Allie met her eyes and stood up to stop at her side, soon joined by Euphie. Kallen took a steadying breath and entered. Seated in the corner, back pressed to the wall, Nunnally barely responded to their entrance.
"I'm sorry." Kallen sat down beside her as Euphie and Allie leaned against the opposite wall. "Joining the Knightmare Corps was something I talked to my dad about before. Especially with the assassination attempts, he thinks I'll be safer there."
Nunnally lifted her head. "You won't."
"I'll be in a knightmare," Kallen said. "They're exceptionally safe, and Lord Ashford even thinks I have the potential to be a Knight of the Round. I'll be fine."
"That's the opposite of reassuring. My—Empress Marianne doesn't play nice when she spars."
"How do you know..." Kallen leaned back. Lord Ashford had only recently informed her with considerable hesitance, yet Nunnally knew.
"There's a reason why Lord Ashford's test pilots don't last long. Empress Marianne always scares them off, and nothing Lord Ashford could offer them would make them return and risk facing her again. You're also half-Japanese." Nunnally grasped her wrist tightly. "If you face her, she might just kill you. She despises the Japanese."
"How do you know?" Because while Empress Marianne's disdain for the Numbers was well known, this sounded far more personal.
"I listen."
Kallen smiled reassuringly before remembering Nunnally was unable to see it. "I'm not completely hopeless in a knightmare. I don't think Lord Ashford was lying."
"You'd have to be Knights of the Round level to have a chance of surviving."
"She's only the Knight of Six, Nunnally. I know she's good, but don't discount me just yet."
Nunnally didn't look reassured at all.
"The rankings don't reflect skill," Euphie said softly. "Empress Marianne beats Sir Waldstein in every spar. And if she really intends to kill you… Your survival would qualify you for the Knights of the Round, and the Emperor doesn't take no for an answer."
"Or tolerate dishonesty and disloyalty," Nunnally whispered. "He'll use whatever means are necessary to ensure you won't even think about betraying him. Taking your family hostage. Crafting a loyal public image. Marrying you off."
"He likes to play with people. Make you think you have a chance of winning. No one ever does."
"What does your family do again?" Kallen asked. Euphie was definitely upper nobility although how Nunnally played into that, she didn't understand. Or why Euphie would come down from her ivory tower to play with the commoners.
"My sister served under Empress Marianne briefly," Euphie admitted after a moment of hesitation.
"And you, Nunnally? Because your brother nearly had a panic attack when he hung up on his father."
Their faces immediately paled.
"Military," Nunnally said slowly. "Did he really do that?"
"Because we were being shot at," Kallen said, but only Allie seemed to relax. "Why are you all scared of him?"
Allie crossed her arms. "Because he is terrifying, and I don't need to meet him to know that."
"Because," Euphie trailed off. "Everyone is? At least he scares my sister, and she's not scared of anything."
Nunnally shrugged as they silently waited for her answer. "Lelouch once back talked to him, and my father said he only lived because he was his son."
Euphie gasped quietly but didn't seem exceptionally surprised, nor did Nunnally seem to be bothered by the callous remark. Only Allie's face reflected Kallen's own.
"Hanging up on him is disrespectful, and he doesn't like that," Nunnally added. Her eyebrows drew together, and she tilted her head. "You're way too silent."
"Nunnally... If you ever need somewhere to go, my house will always be open to you," Kallen said softly. Her dad might believe that Nunnally was playing her to test the student body's loyalty, but Allie and Euphie's reactions felt too genuine. And Lamperouge's panic had been real as well, even if he was a Britannian dog. Their family was messed up.
"Thank you, Kallen, but you shouldn't make such offers without the full picture," Nunnally said and stood up, tilting her head and scrunching her nose. "Doing that would piss off both of my parents, and it's hard enough to survive one of theirs wrath."
Rolling back her shoulders, Kallen said, "It's still the right thing to do."
Nunnally grinned suddenly and spun around to wrench open the door. She ran directly into the table in front before righting herself, and shooting to the door. "Lelouch!"
"She does that," Rivalz answered the unspoken question as he peeked his head inside the room. "You get used to her always being the first one to know."
"Everyone, tidy up!" Milly ordered frantically and began shoving the pamphlets into a large bag and other boxes out of sight.
The student council rushed to obey, and Kallen accepted various boxes from Euphie who was biting her lip anxiously. Apparently, the group had found some common sense in Kallen's absence to know that leaving potentially treasonous material around a soldier was asking for trouble. Her stomach twisted as she realized that she would have to face him again. This time with a smile on her lips.
Lamperouge entered the room with Nunnally clinging to him like a monkey. Behind him were two other young men whose hard eyes observed the chaos. Underneath their loose shirt, the faint outline of a gun was visible.
Was he here to arrest her? With two men as backup?
"Lelouch!" Milly greeted, her body effectively blocking the doorway. "You didn't tell me you were coming."
"Then it wouldn't be a surprise," he said lightly. His eyes surveyed the room and met hers. "Lady Stadtfeld. You seem to be doing well."
"All thanks to your efforts," Kallen said, smiling. She wanted to puke.
His eyes narrowed as Shirley squeaked and dropped her box. "You're not trying to hide another cross-dressing ball from me?"
"Of course not." Milly flipped her hair over her shoulder. "It would be in poor form to host the same event twice."
"It's nowhere near your birthday yet, dude," Rivalz assured. "There's nothing to worry about."
"Care to explain?" Lamperouge asked, swinging his sister free.
"You don't want to know," Nunnally answered once she regained her footing.
His eyes narrowed. "No? And it would have nothing to do with seeing Brian?"
Kallen raised her hands defensively as Nunnally scowled fiercely in her direction.
"He has good food." Nunnally crossed her arms. "Or are you going to baby me forever?"
He looked at her silently for a minute. "I guess I'll have to ask him then."
Nunnally tilted her head. "He's busy, so unless you want to waste the day tracking him down instead of spending time with me..."
His shoulders sank. "You're such a brat. You do know that I'm going to find out eventually?"
"Plausible deniability." She grinned. "I learned from the best."
"What did I do to deserve this?" Lamperouge grumbled, sinking into a chair.
One of the men accompanying him snickered. "She's only returning the favor."
"Shut up, Frederick. You're supposed to have my back."
"Siblings need their own space."
Lamperouge glared at his sister. "She has more space than I ever got."
"Well, I didn't forgive the person who tried to kill me," Nunnally retorted. "I need to do this on my own. Please?"
"How angry am I going to be?"
"The risk is minimal."
Deciding to take on royalty was definitely not.
"Euphie?" Lamperouge asked.
"We'll be fine. It's nothing too crazy."
"And the rest of you are in on this?" he asked, gaze sweeping across the room as Kallen shook her head and stepped back. She may have been in initially, but she had no idea how far they had gone in her absence. And unlike the rest of them, she wouldn't be given the benefit of the doubt if caught.
"Relax, Lelouch." Milly draped herself over him. "We're only a bunch of schoolchildren. And unlike you, none of us know how to make a bomb. Of course, if you were a student here, I would worry."
Lamperouge rolled his eyes. "For the record, Nunnally knows how to make a bomb. I taught her."
"Lelouch!" "Nunnally!" various members screeched.
"Our plans do not involve any pyrotechnics," Milly amended. "You still should've called ahead. We could've thrown a huge party, and I have this wonderful dress I found—"
"Milly," he said.
"—which would look absolutely gorgeous on you."
"No," Lamperouge said.
Kallen scarcely believed her eyes as Milly pouted and withdrew. She never listened to anyone's objections to her inane ideas, yet with Lamperouge she withdrew. Was it because he was a soldier or because of his family?
"How long will you be here?" Euphie asked. "Because Nunnally, Allie, and I have plans tomorrow."
"About a week, but tomorrow is my last free day. My SO is a lazy bastard, so while he fraternizes, I'm going to be stuck doing paperwork for the foreseeable future." The two soldiers behind him rubbed their wrists. "Can't you reschedule?"
Euphie glared. "No."
Nunnally frowned. "It's just a date."
"It'd be rude," Euphie growled, glare shifting to Nunnally.
"Date?" Lamperouge growled.
Milly laughed and swatted him playfully on the shoulder. "They're growing up!"
Lamperouge scowled. "Who?"
"I'm chaperoning," Nunnally assured. "Apparently, I'm a good judge of character."
"It's the Nunnally test," Euphie said. "She always knows if they're going to try anything."
"You do know that I'll be seeing your sister?" Lamperouge asked, crossing his arms. "Should I tell her? Because she would storm right in here to have some words."
Euphie raised her chin. "Let her. It's my choice."
"Nunnally?"
"Don't worry," Milly said. "Allie scares most of the boys off."
Allie nodded and grabbed Nunnally's hand.
Nunnally wrinkled her nose. "Boys stink."
He sighed. "That's what I get for dropping by unannounced. Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to liberate my sister from your devilish clutches, Milly."
"What? No, you can't do that!" Milly shouted. "We need to have a goodbye party for Kallen, and she's leaving tomorrow."
Kallen froze as Lamperouge's gaze hardened and focused on her. For a moment, fretting over his sister, he had almost seemed normal instead of a bloodthirsty soldier. With his attention diverted, there was no softness or kindness within his posture. He looked exactly like he had in the dark corridors of the Fadiman home, minus the blood.
"Oh, why is she leaving?" He sounded almost sad, but in his eyes, she only saw suspicion.
"I'm joining the Knightmare Corps" she answered with a polite smile. "I never did thank you for saving my life, did I? It's hard to imagine that my life could've ended there before I had the chance to do anything. So thank you for giving me the opportunity."
When this was all over, and Britannia was a pile of ashes, she was going to hunt him down for forcing her to go through this charade.
His expression shifted in something more polite. "I'm sure Britannia will be better for your service."
And stick a knife through his eye. She only had to survive until that glorious moment, even if that meant playing the faithful Britannian who was ever so thankful to Lamperouge and Britannia.
She was going to be ill. But soon he would be gone to play the role of big brother with blood stained hands. He didn't deserve Nunnally. If he did, then Nunnally and the others wouldn't have hid their activities from him. His precious empire was clearly more important than his sister.
"Oh, I know!" Milly exclaimed. "Kallen, why don't we go over to your house. Have some biscuits and scones. Or maybe ice cream? This room is too stuffy anyway. And Lelouch, you could join us!"
What? Kallen wanted him out of sight, not in her house.
"Milly, this isn't necessary," Lamperouge said. "I don't want to intrude."
"I insist. We're killing two birds with one stone."
Sighing, he agreed, and he looked almost apologetic as he met her gaze.
"It's not fair," Shirley whined to Rivalz as they left the room. "I can't compete with her. She's a noble. Of course, Lelouch will choose her."
Kallen grit her teeth. They hated each other, but disabusing Shirley of her notion would blow her cover. Ahead, Lamperouge stumbled slightly. Great, he had overheard. And to make matters worse, Nunnally slowly turned her head and scowled. Kallen didn't know whether that expression was meant for her or Shirley, but it meant that Nunnally thought it was possible.
A crowd of girls, busy packing things for move-out, clamored for a better look. The three soldiers walked past them without a second glance.
Rivalz shook his head. "This is ridiculous."
Kallen had to agree.
Brits had air for brains.
Breisgau Manor, Area One
While Leila knew that the isolation was undoubtedly part of the Emperor's plan, she was still slowly being driven mad. Every morning, a maid—one of the many servants that the Emperor had ever so graciously loaned her—would wake her up and help her dress over any protests. Then was breakfast, a mouth-watering meal which turned to ash in her mouth as the servants lined the walls, eyes always focused on her and never offering a moment of privacy.
"Too deep," snapped the governess, a surprisingly young woman, but her looks couldn't salvage her harsh attitude. "You're a lady, not a common seductress presenting her wares. Now, tuck in your chin and lower your eyes."
The early morning etiquette lessons were a drain on her soul. While she loathed them, they were unfortunately necessary. She would never be able to convince the Emperor of her loyalty if she rebuffed his attentions to her education. The lessons weren't completely useless either. They illustrated exactly how much subtlety and nuance she had missed in Prince Lelouch's actions.
"Lady Bresigau—" The governess sighed. "Please, my lady. You must relax your shoulders."
"I am relaxed." As relaxed as one could under constant surveillance and denied the comfort of friends and family. The brief monitored calls back home didn't count, and she still hadn't managed to relay a message regarding Jeanne. "I have never been more relaxed."
"Evidently." The governess set aside her book and walked towards her. Leila flinched and berated herself for showing such weakness. Massaging her shoulders, the woman guided her into an awkward position. "Is that not better, my lady?"
"No." Leila groaned and cracked her back, ignoring the scandalized look. Everyone was always so uptight about everything, which made prince Lelouch's actions so much stranger. He had been more casual than the servants who now attended her. "This is comfortable."
"You stand like a soldier."
"I am a soldier," Leila snarled. Not a lady or whatever Britannian simpleton they were trying to turn her into.
"Until you have a Britannian service number, you most assuredly are not." She stepped back, picked up her book, and waited in the doorway. "Or do you wish to change that, my lady?"
She was not falling into such a glaring trap. "I have enough duties at the time."
"Good," the woman said, leading the way. "Ladies in the military have become more commonplace... but it is still rather inappropriate unless you happen to be exceptionally skilled in a knightmare. Now, what is the appropriate way to set a table for a luncheon when receiving someone of a higher social standing? And the Britannian way this time if you don't mind."
Leila ground her teeth together and robotically began to arrange the silverware. Occasionally, the governess would glare at her from over the top of her book but refrained from commenting. Finishing, she stepped back and the woman rose to inspect her handiwork.
"We are not French, my lady."
Why was there even a wrong way to set the table? Why couldn't the Britannians do it the sensical French way instead of making their own stupid rules? Why couldn't they use the metric system which was nice and regular instead of their stupid arbitrary units of measurements? Why were the Britannians so stupid and backwards in absolutely everything!
Fixing her mistake, she fell into her chair with an undignified humph. Her governess pinched her nose, and Leila corrected her posture as a compromise. Satisfied, her governess served herself some jam onto a plate and cracked open a scone.
Leila didn't bother with the dainty bites and ate her fill. Nobles could apparently spend hours eating without actually consuming anything and apparently did so on a regular basis. The simple loss of productivity was maddening. She would much rather be doing something to achieve her goal of undermining Britannia than nibbling on way too expensive treats which were subpar to anything produced at home.
Or by Prince Lelouch, her traitorous mind whispered. He actually knew how to bake.
"Maybe I can spend the rest of the afternoon learning Britannian cooking practices?" Her sweet, innocent tone made her want to gag.
"Don't be ridiculous, my lady. That is servants' work." She set down her teacup and accepted a stack of papers from the butler. "Thank you, Alfred."
"Prince Lelouch bakes."
Her nose crinkled. "Every royal has their quirks. A disgraced noble heiress such as yourself has no luxuries." A too innocent smile crossed her face. "Unless you wish to pursue such endeavors as to woo a royal yourself."
Leila curled her lip in disgust.
Her governess laughed and set a few letters to the side. "The Number girl continues to write, wishing you well. She has seemingly not understood our dismissal. You will have to write to her and firmly turn her down."
"Ka—Sumeragi?" Leila asked. She hadn't even been aware that the girl had been trying to make contact.
"She doesn't deserve to be named. The girl is a completely unacceptable companion for someone of your standing."
The disdain in her governess's voice made Leila want to extend an offer of friendship on principle. Yet, Kaguya was also a close friend of Prince Lelouch's. She was in on the act and played Leila as a fool. Like the prince, the girl wasn't to be trusted.
"Then she doesn't deserve a reply," Leila said stiffly. "Although, I could handle my own mail?"
"That is what a trusted servant is for. I am happy to serve my lady and handle such mundane affairs." Or rather, she was under orders from the Emperor to ensure she was only in contact with appropriate, brainwashed Britannains. "Now, what of these invitations? There are some wonderful ladies, and even some minor noble heirs, anxious to meet you. All from reputable families, I assure you."
Leila's cheeks hurt from maintaining the polite smile as she prepared herself to once again deny the invitation as every day before. If the Emperor wanted her to play with vapid nobles, he would have to order her himself instead of hiding behind fabricated invitations. She refused to become his pawn.
"I am afraid I don't have the time, we are rather busy," she said, voice dripping with false regret.
"We do have time," the governess assured, "but it's admirable how you are prioritizing your education as such, my lady. You have years of lessons to catch up on. Yes, you are actually quite right. I should just inform them that we will be occupied for the next month—no, three months. You have an astonishing amount to unlearn. We can discuss invitations again in the fall. And ah, the Emperor has requested your presence next month. That will be a wonderful opportunity for some fresh air. You should be honored that His Majesty deigns to concern himself with your well-being. Very honored."
The room pressed in on her, and she could feel the Emperor's vice grip tightening. Three months? Three month of nothing but spies watching her every move and looking at the same revolting walls. No one but the governess to engage with in conversation. Three months where she could only enjoy the summer through her windows.
The governess was smiling, a cruel slant to her lips. How well she had laid her trap.
Leila clenched her fists beneath the lace tablecloth and took a steadying breath. Compromises. It wasn't a defeat, but a strategic retreat. She would be of no use if she had gone mad. It was better to face the wolves out there and keep her mind sharp than become so desperate she would accept whatever meager offer the Emperor had.
He was going to regret this.
"Maybe one?" Leila asked.
The governess nodded and dutifully began to explain the contents of various invitations as if they didn't just have a power struggle.
The names meant nothing to Leila beyond the occasional flash of familiarity. What was more interesting was the subtle and occasional disdain from her governess and the activities they were inviting her to. A ridiculous number were enamored with chess.
The chess fanatic stereotype was apparently very true.
Chess though was very much not her game and reminded her far too much of a certain dastardly prince.
"Fencing," Leila said.
"My lady?"
"The invitation just before... She was inviting me to go fencing."
Her governess pierced her with a look. "You do not know how to fence."
As swords were not commonly available—or at least in the E.U. because apparently Britannian lords loved to have a saber at their side as a fashion statement—she had never bothered to sign up for lessons. Biting her lip, she allowed herself to be vulnerable for a moment. "My father did. He taught me... before he died."
"Oh," the governess whispered. "It is a noble and proper Britannian art. I will tell Lady Everette to expect our presence."
The day of, Leila finally left her family's estate in a limousine. Across from her, the governess gingerly sat with her head buried in a book. It would've been too much to ask for some privacy, but she finally had some freedom and a pair of trousers instead of a ridiculously long dress. The countryside was beautiful; it had nothing on France. It just felt... alien. The streets weren't well maintained, and various homes looked as if a misplaced breeze would knock them over.
None of this would have ever been allowed back home.
As she passed them by, various children glared at them over their shoulders as adults hurried them away, absolutely expressionless.
"This is what happens when a lord abandons his duties," the governess said. "The Emperor never granted the Breisgau title to another young, promising lord, so the lands have been unmanaged for a while. Perhaps when we return, the young lady will be more interested in her social responsibilities."
"Social?" She turned away from the dismal sight. "Appropriate budgeting, rebuilding, or charity work would be more appropriate!"
"With what money, my lady? Outside of the funds your father may have parked offshore and the land itself, the Breisgau family has nothing to its name. If you wish to change their situation and cease living on the Emperor's charity, then you will need to convince your neighboring lords that you are earnest. They will offer appropriate trade agreements, water rights, and perhaps even a loan. So do remember your manners with Lady Everette. She is influential enough, and an insult to her could have you blacklisted."
Leila ground her teeth together. "Then why allow me to risk everything?"
"Because you have much to gain. Admittedly, I would have preferred you chose her for political reasons rather than childish nostalgia."
"But what if I fail?" Leila growled.
"Then you aren't worth my time," the governess said coldly. "The Empire isn't a charity service. You will be expected to repay the substantial loan the Emperor has given."
Which she hadn't asked for, Leila internally screamed. It was merely another chain from the Emperor with which he hoped to bind her down. She clenched her fists and fought against the rising tide of panic and tears. The Emperor had control of every aspect of her life, and she needed to turn the tables on him.
It was impossible. She was unbelievably outmatched. The Emperor's smirk mocked her in the reflection of the window. This was what he wanted. For her to feel utterly trapped and helpless.
She needed to turn things around; she had no idea how to.
General Smilas would know... but Leila? She had been foolish to walk right into the first trap and now thought herself smart enough to match wits with the Emperor.
They passed by a long chain of manacled prisoners, and she frowned at their patched uniform and hollow faces. This was Britannia. She couldn't afford to give up. One way or another, she was going to make Britannia burn and finally free her citizens from servitude.
"Where are they going?" she asked.
"To the mines. They used to bring in a substantial profit before the veins ran dry. It is the only camp nearby, so it remains open to help build character." The governess paused. "Do not waste your pity on them, my lady. Those are the most hardened criminals. Rehabilitation is considered near impossible, but they are an elucidating example."
She meant they were all going to die. Perhaps it hadn't been a death camp under her father, but it was now her responsibility. Prince Lelouch's anger as he tore her father's memory to shred almost made sense. He had betrayed Britannia and saved his family, but in doing so had left his lands to wither and shoulder the burden of his treason.
Yet the Emperor could have stepped in anytime and ended their suffering. He was the one truly at fault, not her or her father. While she felt for the people, their wellbeing was ultimately the responsibility of the government.
Crossing into the Elstea's land, the difference was almost immediate as the ride became buttery smooth and the villages were filled with study and colorful homes. The people didn't glare at the car in hatred, but veiled interest. The adults still hurried the children away, yet always remembered to bow respectfully.
"This is one of many of the Elstea holdings. Lady Everette does an excellent job managing the small parcel her father has granted her. If she remains successful, there is a good chance the inheritance will pass her elder siblings and go to her."
"I see," Leila said; she didn't understand. The eldest son always inherited, unless the family was particularly liberal and deliberately broke with tradition to award the eldest child. Did the governess mean that the other Elstea siblings would be disinherited?
Lady Everette's home was at the top of a gentle sloping hill and surrounded by an exquisitely maintained garden of roses and a crystal clear pond. Dark shapes flitted from end to end with an occasional splash of color peeking through. The house itself seemed to grow from the landscape as fine masonry intertwined with carved woodwork to give the property an almost magical feel.
While clearly expensive, it had none of the bombastic feel that Leila associated with nobles. It was tasteful and she could almost imagine one of her country's politicians living inside.
Lady Everette greeted her cheerfully in the courtyard. Keeping his distance was a younger boy, but he never uttered a word and disappeared when Lady Everette waved at him. Her (former?) fiance would have been inserting himself in the conversation immediately.
"France..." Lady Everette sighed wistfully, smoothing her short skirt. "Is it true that our pastries completely fail to compare?"
Leila coughed in surprise and stumbled over her words. "I would not say that they, I mean our, I mean Britannian pastries—"
Covering her mouth, Lady Everette giggled and cast a look at the governess. She whispered, "Don't worry. I am not like your minder. I for one find our culinary arts absolutely atrocious. I love my country, but the food is definitely not why."
"It's... lacking," Leila agreed hesitantly. Was this a trap? It had to be a trap.
"Do you cook?"
"I was told that is not an appropriate activity for a member of the nobility." At the long disappointed look, Leila admitted, "Not very well. If the mess hall was unavailable, I would normally throw something into the microwave. Or if I was with someone,"—Jeanne—"I would boil some water and make some pasta. That's not too difficult."
"A microwave?"
Amused, Leila explained the "commoner" way of making food and how a microwave functioned. Lady Everette listened in rapt attention, her eyes wide with wonder.
"But why would you want to eat quickly? The E.U. has not actively been at war for years."
"To save time? I had classes to attend, and even when I worked for General Smilas, he was always rushing between meetings. Some days, he only has time to eat on the walk there. There is simply too much to do. When I was with the Malcals though, we always had a big, long dinner and entertained guests."
"They sound much more sensible. If you cannot manage your schedule to have sufficient time to eat, how can anyone expect you to manage a business?"
Leila crossed her arm, ignoring the outraged sounds from her governess. "Or maybe it simply shows someone's devotion to their work. Prince Lelouch often came to the negotiations with food in hand." Cookies were probably not what Lady Everette was imagining, but Leila had a feeling that he at least knew what a microwave was. "I would hardly call him disorganized."
"But you are biased."
How? Well, there was the overwhelming feeling of anger, but it wasn't like Lady Everette knew that he had blackmailed her into coming to Britannia.
A curious gleam shone in Lady Everette's eyes. "You met His Highness repeatedly, correct? What did you make of his character? Others always have such conflicting reports of him, and I have never had the opportunity to spend more than a minute in his presence. I was really hoping the treaty signing would be different, but alas, when I found him, he was keeping Empress Marianne company, and I am not enough of a fool to approach her."
"Why?" Leila asked. "She is... passionate, but I only saw people avoiding General Cornelia."
"Princess Cornelia," Lady Everette corrected absently. "You are quite fortunate to have agreed to meet me. Had you accepted Lady Charlotte's invitation, she would have left hardly anything for the carrion-feeders. That would have been a waste and terribly short-sighted."
Leila had the distinct impression she had walked into another trap.
"I will speak plainly. You need a mentor, perhaps multiple, if you wish to survive. In return,"—the kind smile formed a wicked edge—"you will tell me everything... and introduce me to Prince Lelouch when he returns from his foray into the shadows. And if I ever think you are being untruthful with me, then you will find no allies among your neighbors, and we will close our borders, and your people will starve. Do we have a deal?"
Closing her eyes, she said, "Yes."
"Excellent." Lady Everette clapped her hands together. "I knew we were going to be the most exquisite friends, Leila."
"You are too kind." An absolute lie, but clearly every Britannian was like this.
"Very well then. I would never dare to approach Empress Marrianne without a proper introduction. I am not noteworthy enough to take such liberties. As for Princess Cornelia, her royal title will always take precedence in a non-military context."
"She likes being called General," Leila grumbled.
"It is still inappropriate," Lady Everette said sharply. "Now, you observed Prince Lelouch with that seductress of a Numbered girl. What do you make of their relationship?"
"Friends?" Leila guessed. "They know each other well, but it wasn't romantic." Or at least Prince Lelouch had made it very clear that it wasn't.
"They flirt shamelessly."
"I didn't notice," she said.
Lady Everette hummed and a servant ran up ahead to open the equipment shed. From inside, they brought out various artistic swords. The thin wobbling blades glistened under the harsh midday light. At a raise of her hand, the servant turned around, his arms full of protective equipment. "It is too hot to burden ourselves."
"I haven't fenced before," Leila said quietly. She would much rather sweat than risk the serious injury of a beginner.
"Do not admit to weakness," Lady Everette barked. Behind her, the governess nodded in agreement. "I am sure a soldier such as yourself will figure it out."
The grip was warm and soft. Felt lined the inside, and she noted with satisfaction that the pistol grip, which firmly pressed against her wrist, reduced the chance she would accidentally drop the sword. Across from her, Lady Everette practiced her lunges, the sword audibly whipping through the air.
Leila swallowed and tried to remember the forms her father had used. They seemed so stiff and impractical compared to the more relaxed styles she had learned.
"First, we bow," Lady Everette said. She bowed slightly first to her, then the governess. "You will be our referee."
Leila reciprocated the gesture.
"On guard." The governess sniffed at Leila. "Ready? Fence."
Without hesitation, Lady Everette lunged forward, the blade piercing the spot where she had stood. Leila desperately met the governess's eyes. Was she really going to stand there and do nothing?
"Focus," Lady Everette barked, and Leila yelped as she dodged again, her own sword uselessly meeting air.
The Emperor wanted her alive, right? The governess wouldn't allow her to die... but as the blade tore through the side of shirt, barely missing her skin, Leila wasn't so sure. Her eyes narrowed, and she regarded her opponent and their confident smirk coldly. Britannians were always so unbearably overconfident.
The sword was like a needle unlike a saber which had one tapered edge. Her opponent had to stab her.
Leila raised her own blade experimentally. The end wavered, too unstable for her own comfort. As her opponent lunged again, she finally managed to intercept, but the offending blade swatted her own aside and pierced through her defenses. The sound of fabric ripping greeted her ears.
Growling, she grabbed the end of her sword, giving it much needed stability, and dodged to the side, using the blade as an incredibly short staff. Her opponent shifted to face a new direction, but Leila dodged inward, denying her the space necessary to use her blade.
A light strike to the throat. Her opponent stumbled backwards, and Leila followed up with a knee to the diaphragm before twisting her arms behind her and forcing her to drop the sword.
"I yield," her opponent said between wretched gasps.
Leila stepped backwards, allowing Lady Everette to regain her breath.
"That is not how you duel," she said stiffly.
"As I said, I don't know how to."
Lady Everette rolled her eyes and turned around. "The French really are uncultured. Come on, let's get you cleaned up. Having a guest bleed out is bad form."
With the fading adrenaline, a faint, searing pain made itself known. Leila looked down and winced at the once-white chemise clumping together over a bright red stain. Her fingers drifted to it and came away sticky and red. She definitely needed to take care of that.
Leila grit her teeth and pulled the shirt over her head, not paying attention to whatever drivel was coming from the governess. The wound was fortunately clean although bleeding slowly. She stretched the fabric, admiring it's resilience, and tied it around her midsection to apply pressure onto the wound. She was quite fortunate that it wasn't too deep.
"That was not what I meant. We should go before anyone sees. I will see about procuring you a replacement shirt," Lady Everette said. The governess made to follow, and she raised her hand. "Please, don't bother yourself. Rest assured I will return your charge to you safely."
"You already injured her," the governess said coldly.
"I thought she was lying about being a novice. I swear on my family's name that I will return her in even better condition." She paused. "And to be frank, I wish to talk to someone my own age without an overbearing chaperone. Shall I have the servants bring you some refreshments?"
The governess hesitated, but greed won, and she accepted.
"If you don't know how to fence, why did you accept my invite?" Lady Everette asked the moment they stepped into the house.
"My father," Leila said absently, admiring the furnishing. Everything was expertly put together without a fleck of dust to be seen.
A few noticeably foreign items scattered the hall although noticeably overshadowed by the abundance of plants. Fresh bouquets rested in crystal with sparkling water. Orchids and colorful desert plants lined the sides in lightly bejeweled flower plots. Somewhere, a waterfall gurgled.
"You must like plants a lot," she noted, and her hand impulsively reached out for a short bramble that had escaped its confines to stretch across the room.
"My mother began this project to honor my grandmother. It drove my father insane, but he knew better than to interfere. When I took over the estate here, I decided to expand. Honoring family is very important."
In a small sitting room, an elderly woman examined her wound and nimble fingers stitched it together. Afterwards, she handed her a simple shirt with a small apology that it wasn't suited for one of her status. Leila touched the coarse fabric, more relieved than anything. It felt real. The woman left without another word, and Lady Everette offered her arm as she began showing her through the rest of the house.
"Would you like to see the butterfly garden? As an apology? I do truly feel terrible."
"Yes, please," Leila said, still not believing her eyes. While gold and jewels were flashy, they were a one time endeavor. The upkeep for such a garden had to cost a fortune.
They wandered through the butterfly garden which doubled as a maze. Plants that Leila couldn't name formed majestic archways. Butterflies and bees darted from blossom to blossom. Hopelessly lost, she spotted an old man holding out his hand, utterly frozen, as a swarm of butterflies crowded him. Next to him was a small table with a steaming teapot and a small three tiered stand. Leila shifted awkwardly, and a warm gentle hand on her back pushed her forward.
"I will leave you to it. Your governess must be getting anxious," Lady Everette said. Then she was gone.
Leila stepped forward, unsure of what to make of this. The butterflies scattered, and the old man turned. His face was recognizable, but she couldn't place him as he pulled out a chair and took a seat. His eyes pinned her in place, and she was reminded of Prince Lelouch's own dissecting gaze. Whoever he was, he was dangerous.
"Sit, Malcal," he said in a perfect upper class Britannian accent. "That is the name you prefer, right?"
She took a fortifying breath and clasped her hands together behind her back. "Yes."
"How do you like your tea?" he asked.
"Who are you?"
His eyebrow raised, and he declined to answer, pouring himself a cup of tea. He took a gentle sip before leaning back and fixing her with his unrelenting stare. "Riddle me this? Why does a young soldier with a bright future ahead of her in the E.U. suddenly decided to explore her Britannian heritage? Even for youthful fancy, it is an extreme action."
"Youthful fancy?" Leila asked, mouth dry.
"So you did not return to Britannia because you were taken in by Prince Lelouch's charms?"
"What? You think I did this because of a crush?" Was this what everyone thought of her actions?
"It's only natural. You are both young and spent much time in each other's presence. Your Britannian heritage is at least more appealing to most of the court than having Miss Sumeragi hanging off his arm at every opportunity. The few of us with a brain though were less than impressed that you threw away everything on a crush."
"Crush? I despise the bastard," Leila growled. She didn't like him. He had used her trust and thrown it away. And now? Everyone thought of her as some damn airhead. He had planned all of this, and she was still discovering the extent of his retribution. "Do you honestly think I'm here of my own volition? Everyone thinks he's so harmless or charming or whatever. I wish I had never met him."
"Only a little while ago that you were completely enraptured. So what changed?"
Leila bit her lip and fought against the storm of anger. "I can't say."
"Can't because you don't know or won't because of the consequences?" he asked sharply.
"Won't. I did not come here because of foolish sentiment, but because I was an idiot who walked headfirst into a trap."
"Blackmail? My apologies, Leila. I had to be sure." He extended his hand. "Frederick Oberstein. Your father and I had some dealings in the past. Please, have a seat."
She knew him. A margrave and responsible for manufacturing the majority of Britannia's knightmares. General Smilas had called him the most pure Britannian he had ever met. He would sacrifice his first born for profit. And he was here talking to Leila for some reason.
Her hands clammy, she wiped them off on her pants and shook his hand. His grip was firm but not overbearing, and she hesitantly sat across from him. "Milk and sugar, please."
He smiled and prepared the tea accordingly, his gaze never giving her a moment of respite. "Are you being treated well?"
"It could be much worse," Leila admitted. She didn't want to imagine what would've happened had the Emperor not been restrained. Britannia did not treat its prisoners kindly.
"When I heard of your defection,"—Leila bristled. This was a minor detour. Not a defection—"I had feared the worst, as Prince Lelouch is unusually close to his father, but impossible feats can be achieved through normal means. It wouldn't be his first after all."
She wrapped her hands around the teacup and gripped it tightly. He had done this to other poor souls. Of course. She had truly been far beneath his notice.
"You must really work on your manners if you're going to succeed. The handle exists for a reason. I know Miss Kaguya has been sending you invitations. You should accept."
"She was helping him," Leila growled. "It's just another trap. Another way for them to control me."
"Her position is rather precarious. I wouldn't read too much into it. A random French soldier is far less important than a prince, but now that you are within Britannia, your value to her has increased."
"Value? She was in on it. They're friends. I would be trading the Emperor's spy for the prince's."
Lord Oberstein took a sip of his tea. "Have you experienced any memory lapses of late? Unexplained events?"
"Yes, you."
He chuckled. "I do deserve that. I apologize for the secrecy, but the Emperor's gaze stretches far, and I haven't survived this long by taking unnecessary risks. I simply had to be sure... Yet, I find myself at an impasse. Prince Lelouch has perhaps rearranged your life, but he has a tendency to unknowingly throw my own plans awry. While it is fortunate that the Emperor continues to hoard power, nothing has changed and this game is looking like it will turn into a draw."
Chess... Ugh.
"Decades of work down the drain because of one child. Unimaginable, isn't it?" He smiled slightly and set the teacup on its platter without a sound. "So here I am, needing to make a calculated risk. I do hope that I can trust you, Leila, or I will not be long for this world."
This meeting, far from spying ears, had occurred through deliberate design for an unfathomable reason. Yet, Leila found herself in a similar position. Lady Everette and Lord Oberstein both echoed her governess's disparaging comments regarding her manners. If Leila wanted to turn her arrangement into an opportunity, she would need help and have to take a risk as well.
"Lord Oberstein," she began, "while I may be recognized as a Britannian now, my heart belongs to France. I will help my people in any way I can."
He gave her a long considering look then nodded. "If you want to help the E.U., you need to adapt and conform to Britannia's customs. The transition will need to be gradual to be believable, and Sumeragi has the expertise to craft your image. Unlike myself, meeting her will not incur suspicion, especially with many believing you are hopelessly in love with Prince Lelouch."
"She's the reason I'm in this mess," Leila ground out. "She sold out her father, and you expect her to help me?"
"Sumeragi has been a spy for the Japanese resistance effort from the moment she turned in her father. She will recruit you, and since weakening Britannia is also to your advantage, you will let her."
"But, Prince Lelouch— They're friends."
He chuckled. "It is a strange pairing given their respective occupations."
"You know he's a soldier?" Leila blurted out before clamping her lips together. She didn't trust him and that was incredibly sensitive information.
"I was not aware E.U. intelligence had been able to discern that. I would keep that to yourself. The Emperor's agents are very efficient at plugging potential leaks. May I ask how you learned?"
Leila considered whether to answer, but if he was going to turn her into the Emperor, he already had enough information to condemn her. "I recognized him with his guards in a trainee photo... How did you learn?"
"A few years ago, I found him in a rather precarious situation. Unfortunately, he managed to rectify it before I could use it to my advantage." Leaning back, he tapped his finger on the edge of the table. "Yet how he escaped truly confounds me. And what followed proved that I had massively underestimated the boy. You're hardly the first, Leila, and there will be many more. Next time, you will have the appropriate level of caution."
"What happened?" she asked eagerly. Prince Lelouch had exposed her every secret then discarded her. It was only fair that she would peel away his layers.
Infuriatingly, he raised an eyebrow. "And why should I tell you? Perhaps if you prove to be useful, I will satisfy your curiosity."
She took a sip to calm herself and stared at him coldly. He wasn't her ally, but more a fellow conspirator. "And what must I do?'
"First, prove you can follow orders." He shrugged. "I would also accept Lady Everette's future invitations. If your performance is satisfactory, she will give you additional instructions. And as a reminder, we have never met."
As he rose gracefully and turned away, Leila lunged out of her chair. "Wait! Why? Why do this? You're a margrave."
He paused and flipped his hat over in his hands. "My motivations are not as pure as yours. I followed Charles initially to avenge my brother, only to discover that he had been responsible. It's simple revenge."
Ignoring her shouts, he left and disappeared into the maze. She looked to the left and right, desperate to see some trace of him, only to be met with bright, beautiful flowers and no idea how to return to the main mansion. Slowly, she retraced her steps to the small table and the still cooling cup of tea next to the pastries.
Lady Everette found her stuffing her face and chuckled to announce her presence. "You are in high spirits."
"The garden is... rejuvenating." Leila grabbed the napkin from her lap and folded it neatly. When she went to follow Lady Everette, she left it on the chair as was proper. With hope, the arduous instructions from her governess no longer seemed so impossible to follow.
Either she was making another terrible mistake or grasping the greatest opportunity to fall into her lap. She preferred to be optimistic. To be otherwise meant Prince Lelouch had stolen even more from her.
Yet, she still couldn't wrap her mind about Kaguya being a spy. She was younger than her. How young had she been when starting?
Lord Oberstein had to be mistaken. Perhaps it was a test to see if she would keep her mouths shut even around so-called allies? Leila didn't know but resolved to be cautious.
Stadtfeld Manor, Ashford Academy
Suzaku set down the serving tray on the big outdoor table and distributed the utensils. The young mistress had called ahead that she would be entertaining some friends from school, and the staff was busy in preparation. Their entire staff was flabbergasted at her sudden change in attitude.
She had returned home cursing some rabid soldier named Lamperouge to the ends of the Earth. She had been so terrified that her father had to drag her out of her room to attend school. Now, she was inviting her friends over… for the first time in forever.
Actually, that made sense. If she was joining the Knightmare Corps, she wouldn't have the opportunity to see them anytime soon. Suzaku couldn't imagine befriending the people he was spying on.
Kaguya, at least, was going to be thrilled that her spy was moving up the food chain once she finished negotiating Chinese support for the JLF.
"Stand over there, Chiba. They're proper Britannians who don't want to see your Numbered face." The head of staff, Julius Delores, scowled and adjusted the plates again. "Don't roll your eyes, Chiba."
"Sorry, sir," Suzaku said and bowed his head.
"Better." Delores straightened and rushed to the foyer as a young maid announced the car was entering through the gates.
Curious, Suzaku peeked through his fringe as the loud school group entered. At the front was the easily recognizable Milly Ashford, who was chatting Lady Stadtfeld's ear off.
But another flash of blond hair caught his attention and painfully familiar, unfocused, purple eyes. She was taller than Nunnally, but years had passed. And that Nunnally had never braided her hair. Or walked with such confidence with a cane.
Suzaku had spent so much time reminiscing about the past that he had officially gone insane because there was no way royalty was visiting without any fanfare.
Then at the very end, a figure stopped in the door. Tall. Black hair. Purple eyes.
Hadn't Lelouch dyed his hair blond for some unfathomable reason?
Suzaku's brain was doing a very poor job hallucinating.
"Milly," the Lelouch-look-alike said, "there's really no need. Nunnally and I can spend time together afterwards."
Or they were here despite how unfathomable it was, and Suzaku was utterly screwed. Tohdoh would tell him to leave immediately and disappear. Every moment he stayed increased the chance Lelouch would recognize him and call in Britannian forces to capture him.
"You saved our damsel," Lady Ashford announced, arms spread apart. "There is most definitely a need."
Lady Stadtfeld grimaced. Lelouch was Lamperouge. She was utterly screwed. Having a random soldier suspicious of her wasn't too catastrophic. They lacked the necessary resources to dig too deeply. A prince of the realm had no such problem.
And Lelouch? He had probably already entertained the idea that she was a spy.
Suzaku needed to leave. If Lelouch recognized him, he would only be more suspicious of Lady Stadtfeld.
Wait... Lelouch as a soldier? Maybe Suzaku was dreaming.
"I guess girls like guys that can fight," one of the boys said. "Come on, you have to teach me something cool and impressive. It's basically the bro-code."
"Right." Lelouch sighed as the others looked at him expectantly. "Frederick, do you mind?"
An older boy moved forward, standing in a relaxed stance.
Lelouch lifted his hand and stepped forward slowly. "If someone is coming at you like this then—"
Frederick caught the exaggerated punch, leveraged the arm, and turned. A loud thump echoed through the room as Lelouch hit the floor. Both of their shirts shifted, and Suzaku could make out the familiar shape of a gun.
"Ow," Lelouch said slowly.
A stern hand on his shoulder stopped Suzaku midway. Delores hissed a reprimand, and he flushed. Helping Lelouch felt natural, yet he was thankful for the grouchy old man, for had he moved, he would have blown his cover.
The students chuckled, and Lelouch accepted his new friend's hand. "I deserved that."
"Yes, you did."
As Lelouch stood, his eyes met his, and Suzaku froze, heart pounding, and waited for the flash of familiarity. It never came.
It never came when he offered Nunnally a refill on her lemonade.
It never came as Suzaku served the pastries to the red-haired girl.
It never came when Lelouch politely asked him where the bathroom was.
The entire time, Suzaku's heart pounded and Tohdoh's voice shouted at him to leave. To vanish before his luck ran out. To stop waiting for his best friend to recognize him because it had been six years and Lelouch had moved on. Suzaku was irrelevant.
Then two hours had passed, and Lelouch's eyes slid past him as if he wasn't there before leaving, and Suzaku was pissed. Lady Stadtfeld was as well, slamming the door on the way to her room.
Was it wrong to mourn a relationship that had ended years ago? To mourn the lost opportunity? He knew that if Lelouch had recognized him, only suffering would've followed. But he still wanted to know that he hadn't been forgotten. Even if Lelouch would deliver him to the Emperor and he was forced to further dishonor the Kururugi name as a puppet.
But Lelouch hadn't recognized him, and none of that mattered. Suzaku entered his tiny room, and slammed his palms against the opposing walls as he struggled to breathe. Under the cot with metal springs which poked his back every night he tried to sleep was a small bag filled with essentials. He needed to take it and run. He couldn't compromise Lady Stadtfeld's position.
The cot creaked under his weight, and the light flickered. Somehow, the lightbulb never seemed to work, no matter how often he asked for it to be fixed.
Britannia didn't care. Lelouch didn't care.
A soft knock announced Lady Stadtfeld as she entered. Her lips curled in distaste as she surveyed the room. "You were rather out of it today. Are you sick?"
"No." The sudden scratchiness of his throat worked to undermine him. "I was surprised by our guests, my lady."
"You never had a problem before when my mother hosted other nobles."
He leaned back and immediately regretted it as paint flaked off the wall. "I never recognized one of our guests either." She didn't know the truth, nor would she be able to talk to Kaguya in time to learn. "Lelouch is... dangerous."
Even now, he couldn't bring himself to betray his old friend. What was wrong with him?
Lady Stadtfeld snorted. "I gathered that when he threw a knife at a butler on the suspicion that he was an assassin. How do you know him though?"
"We were... neighbors before the war. I remember how Nunnally always insisted on climbing trees, and then I had to climb behind her to help her because Lelouch lacked the stamina... Or any physical abilities, really. I can't believe he joined the army."
"Nunnally told me she was here during the invasion."
"Yeah. We were out in the woods when the first bombs dropped."
"I don't know how someone can see that and then join them," Kallen spat in disgust.
"You're joining them as well."
"For a mission. It's different."
"He saved my life. Told me to hide, and then lied his head off when the Britannian forces came."
"Yet he didn't recognize you."
"No... He didn't," Suzaku grabbed the bag and began packing the few personal possessions he had. "If they ask, tell them I resigned."
Her eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Kaguya would be pissed if I stayed, and there was a possibility that my cover was blown."
"So you were spying on me," Lady Stadtfeld said and her brow furrowed. "You know Kaguya."
"Don't take it personally. We were somewhat close as children... Lelouch knew her as well. If anyone can blow your cover and Kaguya's as well, it's him." Suzaku waited patiently for her to step out of the doorway. When she finally did, he nodded. "I wish you the best of luck, Kozuki-sama."
Suzaku stood outside of the house and looked down the street, wondering where he should go. Heading directly home seemed risky. No. It was better to lay low for a while where nothing connected him to the JLF or any other questionable activities.
Sighing, he reached into his pocket and began to count the crinkled and fading pound notes. Three were particularly smooth, and he stopped in confusion. Those were definitely not his. Maybe they were counterfeit and someone had planted them to frame him?
Dubiously, he held them up to the light. No. They seemed legit.
But there, in the corner, was a short message. Alone because sensei trust
Suzaku sat on a small rock, ignored the dirty looks of passersby, and massaged his temples. Lelouch and his damn codes. Lelouch had recognized him.
Shit.
What was he supposed to do?
He groaned and reordered the bills. A stupid haiku. No wonder Tohdoh had always doted on him for academics. It wasn't too hard for a Britannian to crack, which was good because Suzaku would otherwise have no chance. Yet anyone but him would've lacked the context to understand.
He smiled at the sixty pounds and wondered when his old friend had learned to reverse-pickpocket. That wasn't a very princely skill. He stuffed the notes in his pocket again and ducked his head. What was he supposed to do?
Follow the words of an old friend into a likely trap? Disappear and forever lose the chance to see him again? Or tell Tohdoh and betray his old friend by turning the trap on its head?
My heart leaps for Joy
Alone because sensei trusts
us with the money.
Worldbuilding Thoughts:
- Etiquette stuff: Formal tea always has the host servem, not a servant. They pour the tea at the table and add milk and/or sugar according to people's preference. There's also a three tiered rack in the middle of the table. The lowest platter will usually have small savory treats; the middle, scones; and the top, sweets. Scones are broken in half by hand and any jam is first served onto the plate to prevent cross-contamination.
- School Year: I think the anime is probably following the Japanese school calendar (at least somewhat), so that's what I'm using. There's simply a long summer break, but it's not the end of the school year.
- Leila was using an épée. It's very similar to the more popular foil, but is bigger and heavier. Unlike foil, the entire body is pretty much a target.
Author's Note:
Lots revealed this chapter. Congrats to the people who guessed that was Suzaku in Ch. 2 talking to Kallen. Oberstein also finally revealed part of his hand. I would love to hear your thoughts. :)
Happy Pride to everyone.
Thank you x1tears1X and SpadedAce18 on FFN and Dark for your help with betaing.
Chat with me on the discord: discord . gg / uSBegVj