Recap: With Roy's help, Lelouch has realized he might have misinterpreted the relationship between him and his father, and now his meeting as Zero with other generals is done. Marianne is buys possessing Katherine and infiltrating the Geass Order.
Chapter 24: To Hold Royal Favor
Drafted by Prince Lelouch vi Britannia and sponsored by Minister of Welfare, Oddyseus eu Britannia, the new education Bill RD–2860 provides a nominal stipend for each noble's estate with the stipulation that all children ages six to fourteen receive an education in accordance with the standards outlined in Section Four. This Bill will go into effect in September of the next year. Each Area may decide upon amendments in the interim, and lords shall have three additional months to be in full compliance. No amendments are expected for Area Three. Given Prince Lelouch's and Prince Clovis's private meetings in the two weeks prior and the success of Lord Ashford's academy model from which the bill draws from, we expect Area Eleven will adopt the bill with minimal alterations.
We find three elements of this Bill to be of great import. Firstly, to help fund education expenses, a direct tax will be applied to all ethnic goods and services, pursuant RD–987. This is a welcome relief to those who clamor regarding the perversion of Britannian culture but small businesses are expected to struggle significantly under the increased costs. Secondly, the bill does not discriminate between Numbers, Honorary Britannians, nor Brittannians. An education must be provided to all. Under the Bill's current wording, a lord may separate classes as long as each meets the minimum standards. We expect amendments to this section to follow before adoption in each Area. Lastly, the bill provides an avenue to full citizenship for Honorary Britannians who score highly on the standardized tests and acquire a noble's recommendation. While controversial, this provision already has support from Margrave Ashford, and in a surprise turn, from Margrave Oberstein. With their backing, we expect this clause to be pass with minimal amendments in each Area.
—Legal Watch, Issue 217: July 3, 2017
Imperial Palace, New Pendragon
Lelouch rolled the tantalizingly familiar word over his tongue as he strode into the throne room. As always, his father sat in his gilded chair, waiting to receive him. The rules of formality were stringent, and for a moment, Lelouch considered abandoning his half-hearted plan. If he was wrong, he would be punished. There was still time to decide otherwise, to cling to old habits, to not upset the status quo.
He knelt. "Father."
The word was free. Not "Your Majesty" as expected of him. He risked a glance through the fringe of his hair. The corner of the Emperor's mouth ticked upwards, either gloating or pleased. Why had Lelouch risked this?
"Come, my son," his father said, cutting through the pounding in his ears. He walked to the doorway and waited expectantly.
Lelouch rushed to his feet and staggered after him. He stopped a few paces behind his father as was expected. A respectful distance. Yet his father didn't seem displeased at his breach in court etiquette. Maybe he was toying with him. Stretching out the moment as punishment.
His father took a step closer. A hand settled on his shoulder. "How was the meeting?" he asked, gently pushing him along. Walking side by side. "General Vandergelt tells me that after your initial reluctance, you provided keen insights."
"It was fine," Lelouch whispered, his throat painfully tight. This was new. Foreign. Gave way too much credence to the whispers that his father favored him, which he had always dismissed for being ridiculous. A mere word had changed everything between them. How far would this go? "Apparently, your archeology hobby hasn't caused frustration for only myself."
"You disapprove?"
His heart jumped at the loaded question. "Hobbling our forces for long dead cultures seems rather pointless."
And now the situation would return to normal. His father would reprimand him for his arrogance. His punishment: days more of shuffling through receipts as Henry disappeared to train.
"The past can teach us much," he said instead, sounding almost amused. The footsteps of the hooded Unspeakables echoed after them. "One day, you will understand, Lelouch. Those ruins and artifacts are better destroyed or within our hands than in the ignorant... or worse, an informed enemy."
At the fifth turn that Lelouch was certain hadn't been there before, he asked, "Where are we going?"
His father chuckled. "We have been discreetly renovating lately, a security precaution. I have no doubt that you will find your way soon enough." He pushed open a door. "Unfortunately, the staff is therefore a bit light here. Now—" Giant boxes overflowing with paperwork towered over them in what once was the accountant's office. "You will take the right side. In the future, my son, your guard's purpose is to be at your side, not scouring the city for you."
Hoping that his father wouldn't care was clearly too much to ask. His current actions showed otherwise. Lelouch hung his head. "I needed some space."
"And where did you go?" his father asked, dumping a box onto his desk and slowly sorting through the papers.
A truth which would condemn him.
Lelouch grabbed a spare stool and began the harrowing task of sorting through the expense reports. "Mostly wandered. I grabbed lunch eventually. Talked to some kids."
"You only eat food which you cooked yourself. Do you really expect me to believe that you set out on a whim?"
"Since leaving the division, I haven't had a moment to myself," Lelouch deflected. "At the embassy, I watched my every word because Schneizel and Guinevere kept asking probing questions. Schneizel just flagrantly strolled through my quarters. Even at Roy's, I couldn't relax because his wife and family kept staring. And Clovis— I know he means well, but I don't need his servants sweeping my room every morning, leaving who knows what behind."
His breath caught in his throat. Every word had been true. "I needed a break, Your Ma—Father. A moment to hear myself think without your specters scrutinizing my every word and action."
"You are upset about the guards I assigned to follow you."
"Yes! No." He clenched the red pen and let out a slow breath. Anger would not help him here. "I need some privacy."
"You were attacked."
"They were targeting the Stadtfelds. I was fine."
"Lelouch," said his father, dropping his hand on the table with a loud rattle. "Happenstance is why you have guards. They're non-negotiable. Each of your siblings have at least twenty dedicated royal guards. You have two. One of which is painfully average."
"Frederick is an excellent sniper," Lelouch grumbled.
"A most helpful skill should you be unexpectedly attacked."
Lelouch jolted at the surprising sarcasm. He glared at the paper before him, wondering why in the world the Emperor had to approve a stapler of all things. Sighing, he turned to meet his father's harsh eyes. "It's not the guards. I'm seventeen, yet my every action is still reported to you. I know... I know that I cannot be normal. My duty is to my nation, yet I merely wanted—"
"Wanted?"
Swallowing, he looked away. "Wanted to be normal for a day. A travelling chef."
"A traveling chef?" Disbelief dripped from his words. "You are so much more."
"I am nothing," Lelouch refuted. "I cannot even— I know my place." His shoulders sagged. "It will not happen again. Missing my division is no excuse for poor judgment."
His father rose, like a mountain brought to life. He approached with grand strides; Lelouch tensed, his heart hammering in his chest. A hand settled on his shoulders. "Look at me."
An order from the Emperor could not be disobeyed. Deep purple eyes bore into him.
"You have worth."
"I'm your loyal pawn," Lelouch said bitterly. Or maybe he had been promoted to a knight now. It was hard to tell.
"No. You are my son." Slowly, he knelt until their eyes were level. "Do you know how many of your siblings have impressed me? More than once?"
The towering boxes closed in. He could scarcely breathe as a hand squeezed his lungs. Why was this coming now? So many years after Lelouch had given up hoping. And why did he feel a traitorous flicker of longing?
"You have surprised me time and time again, never once faltering at the obstacles in your path. To claim you are nothing is a disservice to yourself and the men who aided you. You are not a piece on a chess board. You cannot be sacrificed; you're much too valuable." His hand grabbed his shoulder, pulling him closer in comfort. "I am proud of you, Lelouch. Nothing you can do will erase your accomplishments. Take pride in yourself, and stop risking your life unnecessarily. Do you think your sister will forgive you should you die?"
"No," Lelouch croaked.
"Then for once, put yourself first. You cannot help anyone if dead."
Body quivering, Lelouch buried his head in his father's shoulder.
"Your mother and I love you." A hand stroked the back of his head. "In a secure location, you may take time for yourself if you carry an emergency button to call your guards. I will also provide you a map of the palace's surveillance system, so you may have some privacy here."
"Thank you." That was more than he ever dared to hope for.
"Come, now. The paperwork will not finish itself." His father drew back, a slight satisfied smile on his lips. "Would you like to prepare dinner for us both this evening?"
Lelouch nodded, not trusting himself to speak. His father was proud. After years of barely any acknowledgment, his father was proud.
A father's approval. An Emperor's endorsement.
One was welcome, a childish longing fulfilled. The other damning, a moral failing. The empire prospered because of his actions as Zero. Were the few lives he enriched in his division worth the millions which needless suffered under Britannia's cruel yoke?
"Does that mean I can return ho—to the division?" Lelouch asked hesitantly.
"Once the room is cleared. You did ditch your guards for an entire day."
His eyes swept over the staggering numbers of boxes with barely a scrap of free floor space. "Why is there so much?"
His father sighed. "Schneizel. He is under the mistaken impression that I have excessive spare time."
Geass Order, Location Classified
Papers slammed on the small coffee table where Katherine was working, and Marianne roused herself from her bored contemplations. She needed to return home and check on Lelouch, but she couldn't leave until she had another mole available to geass. This time, one even more entrenched in the order and closer to V.V. Unfortunately, for now, she was stuck playing the excruciating waiting game, acting the part of a spectator.
Across from her, Amelia sat down. "If you insist on being nosy, you can make yourself of some use."
At Marianne's urging, Katherine hesitantly grabbed a paper. "An artificial geass? Is it malfunctioning?"
"Not exactly." Amelia pursed her lips and glanced over her shoulders. "Whenever he uses his geass, his heart stops. I want, no, need to save him."
"That's... unusual. Most side effects are mental in nature. What does his geass do?"
"Pauses all senses. For those affected, it's like being frozen in time."
"Do they fall over?"
"No."
Katherine leaned back. "Then it only partially affects the involuntary muscles to maintain the illusion. Nothing there suggests his heart would be affected? Unless those affected also have heart issues?"
"No." Amelia sighed and pulled back the papers. "I'm sorry. It was a fool's hope anyway."
After finally hoping for a chance to know her more, Marianne was about to lose her. She rudely shoved her host aside. "Why do you care about him?"
"He's"—she wilted in the chair—"my son."
"You let them experiment on him?" Marianne asked, disgusted.
"No! I never even met him. I'm not allowed to, but he's the only family I have left. I couldn't help him, but I just want to give him the chance to live. He doesn't deserve to die, and he will when his geass matures. I need to fix his heart."
There was the source of her bitterness. No wonder she seemed to despise Katherine and her fellow researchers.
"We could investigate implants and cybernetics," Marianne suggested. At last, a subject which she actually was well versed in. The procedures had always been too risky for Charles's taste. An injured wife was far preferable to a dead one. Many Britannian lords would be of a different opinion. "A pacemaker is the simplest solution, but we should first determine the underlying issue. It may be a birth defect instead of geass related," she trailed off as Amelia rapidly paled. "Was his birth a difficult one?"
"There were complications with the pregnancy," Amelia mumbled and rose.
"Wait!" Marianne shouted. "While you can't meet him, I can. Is there anything he should know? Something I can tell him about his family or you?"
"Stop pretending that you care," Amelia snarled. "Nobody ever does. You just want something from me."
Why did Marianne care? Amelia was loyal to V.V., willing to betray Charles. Yet, she couldn't shake the nagging urge to pay attention. "A close friend of mine was estranged from her kids. I couldn't help her."
"I'm not your charity project."
Marianne grit her teeth as Amelia stormed off. Like with her children, she was being rebuffed. She merely needed a chance, yet they never trusted her.
"Done, now?" Katherine asked from the back of her mind. "I have work to do. Unless this side project is helping you learn what you need to know? They're going to start wondering about my reduced output."
Sighing, Marianne swatted aside her feeble attempt to regain control and slipped the butter knife into her pocket. This was quickly becoming another dead end, and Katherine was a liability which risked the entire operation. She needed to become closer. To find the perfect confidant of V.V.'s.
Amelia probably knew, but as Marianne had been unaware of V.V. even having an assistant, she probably never left the compound.
"Give me a day," Marianne whispered. "I'll be out of your hair soon enough."
Imperial Palace, New Pendragon
Taking a break from the endless mountain of paperwork, Lelouch sat across from his father with a discarded pile of cards on a chessboard between them and three spades in his hand. His father had suggested the game, some strange bastardization of poker which his mother devised to counter his father's blatant counting of cards.
Lelouch narrowed his eyes and rolled the dice between his fingers before casting them. This time he would surely win. The odds were stacked in his favor.
"And that is my victory," his father said, drawing the last vital card. "Which makes it seven to two?"
"Again," Lelouch growled. He would master the rules of this absurd game. If his mother somehow managed to win, then so would he. The first victory didn't count, a token gesture from his father while explaining the rules.
His father examined the macaroon between his fingers. "No spices, right?"
"You hid them all, so no," Lelouch snapped. He waited for a moment, anticipating a reprimand for his tone, yet like every time before, nothing came. Emboldened, he added, "Mother says you need to watch your weight."
Narrowing his eyes, his father drew a card. "Says the one with a current streak of five losses. Your mother never failed quite so badly."
So many losses were a statistical anomaly. Lelouch glanced at the cards near him speculatively. Cheating would be so easy but meant admitting defeat, that he was inferior in skill to both his parents.
"While being self-sufficient is commendable," his father said, picking out a pizzelle from the platter, "you do need to hire a cook. A prince of your standing is expected to maintain an entourage."
"What standing? I'm seventeenth, far below anyone's notice."
"Should I change that?"
Lelouch grit his teeth and shook his head. Such blatant favoritism would paint an even larger target on his back than Zero's identity becoming public knowledge.
"Unlike the rest of your siblings, you currently do not have a residence. The Aries Villa would be at your disposal for which you will need an appropriately sized staff."
"Father... I haven't been there in years. What use would I have for it? Either I am traveling due to social obligations or work functions, or I am with the division. The villa would sit empty for the majority of the year." And its upkeep would eat all of Lelouch's current stipend. "Not to mention the security concerns. Mother was attacked within the safety of her home."
"I will set aside one of the wings for your permanent usage then," his father acquiesced. "You still need a steward, a butler, a housekeeper, a valet, and a cook. A few maids wouldn't be amiss either."
"I can manage fine on my own with Frederick and Henry."
"They are your guards, not servants."
"What would I even do with them?"
"Let them perform their duties? A handful would follow you wherever you go naturally."
"If I need assistance, I have an entire division who would be happy to oblige."
"It is not negotiable." His father threw down a card, once again winning the game.
"So you can spy on me more," Lelouch said bitterly. "I don't need their services, thus I will fire them accordingly."
"A compromise then. Only the housekeeper will be an Unspeakable, you may choose the rest of the staff as you wish, free from my influence."
Lelouch swallowed his protests and studied his father's face. The offer seemed genuine. To know who the spy was would be incredibly useful. Especially because his father would get his will one way or another. Lelouch lacked the strength to oppose him even on a simple matter such as his own servants.
"Do you know me to lie?" his father asked. "You have my word that she will be the only one to report directly to me."
Lelouch raised his chin. "I will choose them in my own way."
The door slammed open, cutting off his father's reply, and Odysseus dramatically fixed their father with a glare. "I won't marry her. I don't care what Schneizel says, but if you try to force me, I will pull a Lelouch!"
"Sit down," his father said tiredly, gesturing tiredly at the half-buried chair. "Let us discuss this like civilized beings."
Odysseys faltered, his gaze stopping on Lelouch. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and grabbed the chair.
"Since when am I..." Lelouch gestured aimlessly.
"Since you were four." Smirking, his father leaned back. "You were so excited to have a younger sister, and Marianne forbade you from holding her. A little while later, she sounded the alarms because Nunnally disappeared. We couldn't find her anywhere, until someone realized they hadn't seen you as well."
Odysseus chuckled. "Once everyone calmed down, they checked your room. Lo and behold, there you two were, lying on the ground and babbling indecipherably."
"Except you decided to do it another three times that month," his father added. "Marianne was at her wit's end. You only stopped after we set up cot for you next to her crib."
Lelouch ducked his head, cheeks uncomfortably warm. "That didn't happen."
Amused expressions assured him it did.
"Grab a deck," his father ordered. "Now, what has Schneizel done?"
"Arranged for me to marry Empress Tianzi," Odysseus spat. He angrily flipped through a deck of cards and dealt himself in. "You can't make me."
His father hummed and pushed the platters of cookies closer to Odysseus. "Such a marriage would dissolve the Chinese Federation."
"The Eunuchs are selling out their own country, so they can be some minor nobles," Odysseus growled.
"Why should I care for your feelings? It's Britannia's victory." He pinned him with a glare. "You are a servant of Britannia, and were I to order it, you would attend with a smile on your face."
Odysseus froze, color draining from his lips.
"I can," Lelouch interjected, anything to stop the brewing fight. They were allies.
"Absolutely not," Odysseus snapped.
"That would be a waste," his father added. "So?"
"Oh, come on. You agree with me but are simply dragging this out!"
"I do not govern based on the folly of emotions, even when my son asks."
"Oh, but you marry, Marianne?"
"Why shouldn't I marry our best knightmare pilot?"
"You pissed off countless families. There was no reason to marry her."
"A calculated risk."
"You're such a hypocrite."
Hesitantly, Lelouch reached for the card in the midst of the argument. Every second that passed, he expected a regal hand to slam down and deliver judgement. For a pair of Unspeakables to escort Odysseus away. Yet, nothing happened.
Another person besides his mother who is so willing to retort yet facing no consequences.
"Sixteen of your wives tried to kill you!"
"I thought it was fifteen. A little bit of competition keeps people on their toes, and it's not like they have a chance of succeeding."
"Because you park them away in a nice little house in the middle of nowhere."
"Haven't you been doing something similar with that mistress of yours?"
"Girlfriend. And if she wished to come here, I would be happy to help. But she won't, because she's not insane."
"So a marriage with your spouse halfway around the world wouldn't impede you at all."
The round finished as Odysseus threw his hand of cards on the table. A victory. "I'm not marrying her. Nor is Lelouch. Or anyone who doesn't volunteer."
Technically, Lelouch had volunteered. As long as marriage didn't infringe on his meager independence, the who didn't matter.
"What of Schneizel?" His father smirked, dealing the cards for the next round. "He has been the one negotiating with the Chinese. Should the fruits of his labor be denied to him?"
Odysseus groaned and pinched his nose. "Sometimes, I absolutely despise you."
His father chuckled.
"He's hiding cards in his sleeves," Odysseus said, turning to Lelouch. "Additionally, if he's using the purple deck, the cards are marked. He and Marianne are compulsive cheats at cards."
"Really, Odysseus? He would have figured it out eventually."
So much for playing by the rules. Lelouch glowered at his cards.
Odysseus leaned over his shoulder and added a card to his hand. Discreetly, he showed him his hand, and Lelouch slid him a card that would grant him the best chance at victory.
"The point is to not get caught," his father grumbled.
"Isn't cheating boring?" Lelouch asked, playing his card.
"You always presume your opponents play by the rules you set. It is a bad habit. To give the benefit of doubt first will merely lead to a knife in your back."
Lelouch drew the next two cards and handed the less useful one to Odysseus who passed one back to him. "Someone has to."
"Leave that task to the fools." His father played the last card. Finally, Lelouch claimed a victory. "What do you think of the Chinese Federation?"
"The people are just shy of open revolt," Lelouch answered. "They would undoubtedly be displeased to hear of a union with their Empress and one of ours. The traditionalists will view it as the eunuchs forsaking their duty."
"Which is why you won't marry her, Odysseus," his father said. "We would be taking on an extremely troublesome territory not cowed by a recent invasion. Schneizel clearly hasn't learned his lesson."
"Father—" Odyssues protested.
"No. He has been developing delusions of grandeur. He thinks he can lead the Empire and claims I have been derelict in my duty for assigning him more work. I have over a hundred boxes of paperwork to sign off because of his petty revenge. If he is so keen on succeeding me, he may first bear the burden of leadership."
"She is twelve!"
"So? You have been shielding him from consequences for years. If he can no longer function as an adequate Prime Minister, my shield when dealing with the inconsequential matters of state, then his use has come to an end. He has made his bed, thus he shall lie in it. Schneziel will marry Empress Tianzi, and this is final. Maybe wrangling the eunuchs and warding off Empress Tianzi's loyalists will teach him the value of humility."
In the span of mere minutes, Schneizel, once leading the pack for the throne, was functionally exiled and stripped of all favor. The plan which could've and should've delivered the throne into his waiting hands was now his prison. His father's favor could turn on a dime. Lelouch was just as vulnerable, even more so. His only claim to fame lay in a persona which could be passed to anyone willing at a moment's notice. Yet his father indulged his antics and even congratulated him. Had pride in him.
Years ago, Schneizel might have sat across from their father as well. Felt secure in his position, showered in praise from every imaginable angle. Where had it gone wrong?
His father stared at him contemplatively with a slight frown. Lelouch averted his gaze respectfully. He had no idea where the line was. Schneizel always displayed perfect manners. Odysseus had stormed in and shouted at the Emperor, yet he was still here.
"Then who will succeed Schneizel?" Odysseus asked. "Gregory perhaps? He might flourish given the chance. Unless, of course, you want to promote a lord."
Again, his father's burning gaze drifted to him. "You have until tomorrow evening to nominate your replacement."
"Excuse me?" Odysseus asked.
"Once the engagement is announced, we will make it official. I guess congratulations are in order for our soon-to-be Prime Minister."
"I like my current job. I wouldn't even know where to begin."
"Well, I suggest you start preparing accordingly. You are dismissed."
For a moment, Odysseus stood, hands clenched and brimming with fury. Wordlessly, he snarled and slammed the door shut behind him. In the end, his loud protests meant nothing. His father had probably already decided before their impromptu meeting how it would go. They were puppets dancing to his will.
Geass Order, Location Classified
Katherine screeched in her mind as Marianne approached the director's office and picked the locks. Inside, the room was bereft of any personal touch, except the small picture of a young Charles. Not that anyone would recognize the scrawny teen as him.
In the top drawer of the desk, she found a small planner, the dates the same as Katherine's, and a sticker sheet. The next drawer required her to pick the lock. Inside was a small photo album filled to the brim with faded photos of V.V. and Charles as children. She had never seen any of them. Charles had systematically erased all evidence of his older twin. Flipping to the end, she paused.
"V.V. knows you?" Katherine asked.
"We've met." She flipped to the next page. More pictures of her. Official ones taken at formal functions but so many more candid shots. She had never noticed anyone following her. And sure, V.V. had initially followed her like a lost, angry puppy before avoiding her almost entirely. Yet these photos stretched far past that point. In the last, she sat in her wheelchair, bandages still wrapped around her arms, as Charles leaned in for a kiss.
Marianne shoved the album back in the drawer, her fingers burning. Had he always been so obsessive, with her and Charles utterly oblivious?
"That looked like the Emperor," Katherine mumbled. "But why was V.V. with him?"
Ignoring her, Marianne turned on the computer. The password wasn't his birthday. Nor was it the day Charles was crowned Emperor. Maybe it was completely random... Yet every action V.V. took had a meaning. He would never trust a password to chance.
She tried her own birthday. After the third variation, with the month spelled out, the computer unlocked. She skimmed through the endless files of classified projects. Nothing more suspicious than normal. She opened the roster of active geass agents to skim where they were active. She merely needed one in the palace. While the OSI was technically forbidden from there after their treachery, V.V. would never leave his brother unattended.
Three names listed in the Imperial Palace; she memorized their photos. They would be her next sleeper agents. Charles's geass would erase any suspicions from their mind about being possibly compromised. Unfortunately, none of them were close to V.V.
If only she could arrange for Amelia to take a brief excursion outside, then she could meet the woman and end this stupid charade.
"How are you able to resist my geass anyway?" Marianne asked absently, opening various project files in hope of another lead.
"I guess I could have become one of the blessed if they found me earlier. Those with stronger resistance tend to form stronger contracts."
"Because you're strong minded?" Marianne frowned. The Ragnarok folder really shouldn't be that large. The way both he and Charles always explained it made the matter sound very simple. Except, Charles always had his own doubts, which was why following the attack, he focused more on stabilizing Britannia. She merely distrusted the idea because V.V. was a backstabbing bastard.
She opened the folder and blinked at the countless text files merely sorted by location and date. Each one merely contained an enormous array of unlabeled numbers.
Katherine gently nudged her, a feeble attempt to regain control. "It has more to do with natural aptitude. The Director and Lady C.C. always traveled extensively to find children with the divine touch. Their mental aptitude influences the type of geass they have although how fast it evolves depends on a mix factor, partially genetic."
"So is Amelia's situation common? To form a blood line of strong geass users?"
"No." Katherine paused. "The blessing of the gods tends to impede fertility. There are a few families which tend to have a higher percentage of children with high aptitude, but the chance is too low for the family to be inducted into the order. You having a child is rather unusual."
They barely had any problems, while numerous other wives of Charles lay completely barren. Except hadn't the fault lied with Charles? He had switched to in-vitro fertilization years before they married in desperation to fulfill the numerous marriage contracts he formed. That had led to a rather amusingly long streak of boys.
"So my daughter probably can't form a contract?" Marianne confirmed, oddly relieved. Geass was a wish, yet too often akin to a curse. Having her children pulled into this shadow world filled her with dread.
"Statistically... We know very little of the gods' gift. It could be otherwise. The only way to be sure is to ask the Director or Lady C.C. when you meet her again."
Not that she would know much. She was a lowly researcher, freshly recruited.
Marianne clicked out of the folder. Suspicious but useless. She pulled up the list of researches. None of them ever left the compound... or were supposed to. Halfway through, she stopped. She knew him. He supposedly worked for Camelot, trying to reverse engineer the Nevere system which allowed her to pilot. Reuben had learned to hoard his secrets after the lackluster copy cat knightmares.
"We really should go," hissed Katherine.
"Only a moment. Then I will leave for good," Marianne promised.
Lord Paulos Ferdi. Her next target. He, unlike Katherine, was trusted to walk freely in the world with the secret of geass. To be sure, she searched his name in V.V's schedule. There he was.
Victorious laughter burst free and echoed off the bare walls. Anxious, Katherine mentally shoved her again.
Marianne could feel the slight burn from the World of C to maintain the promise she made. Someone less experienced than herself would have already succumbed. She grabbed her hosts' mind, forcibly twisting it back. One last thing. She searched Amelia's name and frowned at the near empty bio, except for her blood type—the same as hers—and a ten year old request to visit Jasper. Absently, she approved the request before shutting the computer off. Carefully, she checked the room; everything was exactly where she found it.
She locked the door behind her.
"So you're leaving now?" Katherine asked distantly.
"Only one small errand left," Marianne assured. The walkway opened into the large center cavern where researchers idly ate their meals and socialized. From her vantage point, they resembled ants, which was exactly what they were worth. Each one of them had betrayed Charles. In time, they would get their due.
She climbed onto the bannister.
"Careful, Katherine," she whispered as her host flailed for control. "You wouldn't want to distract me and have me accidentally fall."
"What are you doing?"
Marianne pulled out the butter knife. Slightly too dull, but she couldn't risk V.V. tracing any loose ends to her. "I think you know well enough the punishment for treason."
"That was the Emperor..." Katherine whispered. "You would kill me without a trial? You can't—"
"Perhaps you should've payed more attention to the news instead of shunning the outside world." Marianne pressed the tip against the woman's beating heart. "Don't worry. We will see each other again."
Katherine relaxed... fatally.
The knife plunged into her heart. She fell. "Empress Marianne," she whispered with her dying breath, moments before Marianne returned to her own body.
Imperial Palace, New Pendragon
When Lelouch said he would choose his servants in his own way, he was quite sure his father hadn't anticipated such a tactic. The thought brought a small smile to his lips as he accepted the towering stack of towels from one of the maids. Frederick and Henry were similarly undercover. Once the servants knew who he was, there would be no honest answers. Nobody survived long if their masks cracked around royals.
Throughout the day, his hair dyed red, he had accompanied two young servants, Tanya and John, as they cleaned the various palace rooms under the guise of having been transferred from the kitchen on the opposite side of the palace.
"Let's go then, Sir Keeper of the Stove," Tanya teased as they finished lunch. A beep from her pager interrupted her. John, her friend, paled. "Excuse me. I have to go."
Lelouch caught her shoulder. "I don't have anything left to do. Let me help you."
"It's fine." She shrugged him off and fled from the room.
Baffled, Lelouch turned to John whose shoulders were hunched.
"She's needed. She had to go. Nothing personal." Which didn't explain his heart-broken look. A lover perhaps? "Leave it be."
He was trying to find trustworthy servants. An unknown secret was a weakness his enemies could exploit to turn her against him.
"I'm following her," Lelouch declared, slipping off his shoes. He held them in one hand and silently rushed after, following the sharp clicks of her shoes.
"Louis, wait!" John shouted.
Lelouch slammed him into the wall and slapped a hand over his mouth. "You're going to be quiet, understand?" John nodded, and Lelouch released him. "Now, you can go back or come with me."
"You didn't work in the kitchens, did you?"
He reached in his jacket and checked that the various knives were easily accessible. "I've worked in plenty of kitchens."
"Please, don't hurt her," John begged, rushing after him. "She's doing the best she can. It's not her fault. You have to believe me."
The footsteps turned into the wing housing honored guests. She turned left instead of right which would've led to Lelouch's current quarters.
"You're late," snapped a young, high pitched voice. "I shouldn't have to summon you."
"Please, Your Highness. I have my duties to attend to. I was halfway across the palace; I meant no disrespect."
"How should I punish you?"
The Count's sickly voice echoed around him. Towering over him, ropes burning into his skin, his throat parched, drenched and shivering. No possibility of escape. And now he had to choose his punishment. Choose correctly or it would be so much worse.
"You can't," John hissed, grabbing his arm and holding him back.
A whimper. The door shut. Not a sound to be heard in their false, deceptive peace.
"Let go of me," Lelouch said coldly, not a trace of his faked accent.
Startled, John let go, and Lelouch reached into his boot to retrieve the lock-pick set.
"Those are illegal," John protested. "She'll be fine, but you go in after, they'll kill. What do you think you can do?"
Lelouch pushed him aside and stopped before the door. His half-sister was foolish to not replace the locks with something more secure. He pressed down the doorknob; it refused to budge. Locked. A barely discernible scream set his teeth on edge.
"Look, if you wanna help, get the med kit. You interfere, and she's going to die."
His father's voice echoed in his ear. While he couldn't sit by, he also could take a little more care. Be a little more prudent. Sighing, he slipped his left hand into his pocket and pressed the button to summon his guards.
He picked the lock. The door swung open. Carine, laughing with a child's delight, raised a whip. Tanya lay on the floor, her back already bloody.
"That's enough," Lelouch ordered and stepped in between. His right hand caught the whip; the leather string bit into his palm, drawing blood. "She is not one of your servants to punish."
"Who do you— Lelouch?" She stumbled backwards, dropping her whip, and sank into the safety of her royal guards. Around the room, her various servants bowed their heads, tense in fear. She cackled. "So Father finally tired of you. Oh, you'll be cleaning our boots. It's right where you belong, you half-breed. Now, step aside and wash out that hideous red hair dye. That bitch needs to be punished."
One of the guards dragged John in and threw him on the floor.
"Another to join the fun!" Her eyes widened. "Oh, did you come because you like her? This is too perfect."
"Enough, Carine." Lelouch dropped the whip and pressed his bleeding hand against his pants. His left hand reached under his jacket. "We can still resolve this peacefully. Father does not need to hear about this."
Oh, he definitely would. Lelouch simply had to tell Odysseus.
A man rose from his chair in the corner. Her knight of honor. He walked to the door and locked it. "You should show my princess the proper respect."
"You tried to ruin me," Carine hissed. "All because I insulted that bitch of your sister. She's not good for much else. I want to hear you beg."
The guards around her shifted nervously. To strike royalty was a death sentence; to disobey an order, especially one by Carine, meant death. On his left, a guard cracked his knuckles and took a threatening step forward.
The knife flew true, plunging into his eye.
"You killed him!" she howled, trying to claw her way past her wall of guards. "I'm going to make you bleed. First your eye, no. I'll take that infernal tongue of yours!""
"That would be treason. And I will defend myself as I have a right to."
She laughed. "Not to worry. I'll tell them how you stormed in, acting crazy. Threatening my life. And then killed my guards. I had no choice but to kill you! And then I will make your stupid sister cry. Who does she think she is anyway, looking down upon us? She should be begging for our table scraps. What use is a blind girl?"
One of the guards took a slight step forward. He fell backwards, knife embedded in his neck. Blood guzzled from the wound. Fear finally entered their eyes, and they took a hesitant step back. One of the maids, face too young to be fourteen, swooned and slid down the wall, her companions leaping to catch her.
"Traitors," the knight snarled. He deflected the next knife with the hilt of his sword and slammed a fist into Lelouch's stomach. Lelouch staggered backwards and swept out his leg. With a groan, he pulled out another knife and slammed it into the right side, below the ribs, aimed at the liver.
The knight stumbled back and brushed over his broken shirt. "Vicious mutt, eh? That won't work on me. Kevlar is quite useful."
Backing away slowly, Lelouch positioned himself over Tanya's quivering form. His bloodied hand grabbed another knife.
Slowly, the knight freed the sword from his scabbard. Outnumbered and outmatched... Lelouch was so screwed.
The sword crashed through his meager defenses. The flimsy knives, intended for throwing, lacked the leverage needed to hold their own against an almost three foot long sword. Strong hands heaved him up by the lapel and slammed him into the wall. Coughing weakly, Lelouch squinted through his swimming vision and glared at the girl whose blood he shared.
"He's bleeding," she squealed. "Sir Atreus, your loyalty knows no bounds. Now, Lelouch. Don't be a sore loser. But you need to be punished for interfering. It just won't do. You're nothing. Absolutely nothing! A disgrace on the family!"
Lelouch chuckled and met her bloodthirsty grin with one of her own. "You are the real stain on the Imperial Family, letting yourself be consumed by baser impulses. You're a child given too much authority."
She pushed past her guards and snatched the bloodied whip from the ground. "I've changed my mind. I'll punish you first. An example to the peasants."
The last knife of his flew at her.
"Carine!" Her knight knocked her to safety. The maid behind her fell instead. "Are you hurt, your highness?" The knight rose and faced him with a scowl. "A mangy mutt like yourself dares—"
The door opened. Henry, dressed the part of a footman, stepped inside and locked it behind him.
"If you want to live, hands on your heads, and get down on the ground," Lelouch ordered.
"Who the fuck are you?" the knight asked. "A peasant shouldn't—"
Henry's gaze stopped on Lelouch, and his eyes narrowed, the only hint of emotion.
"—interfere with matters of royalty. Well, I guess you will just have to join in on the fun."
Without hesitation, Henry launched forward, a long knife in one hand. The knight raised his sword to parry, when Henry flipped his grip and slammed the hilt into the man's nose. With a sickening squelch, the knight collapsed to the ground. The rest of the guards didn't have time to react as Henry tore through him. A knee to the head. A slash through the neck. And a cut to the calves for the three with medals. The few who had the good sense to draw their gun, never had the chance to fire.
One of the maids screamed. She had been too close. Everyone here was an enemy. Only now, did the others fall to the ground in surrender, weapons tossed aside. Carine screeched indecipherably at their betrayal as the few still loyal to her fell one by one.
Tanya groaned next to him, and she slowly propped herself on her elbows, her face twisted in agony.
"Stay down," Lelouch ordered. Henry never asked questions. Everyone here was a hostile.
"Louis?" she murmured. "I didn't do anything wrong... I had to. I had to."
Carine's screams abruptly cut off as Henry pressed his knife to her neck.
"You can't kill me," she stuttered. "I'm royalty."
"I can't... You hurt Lelouch. You were going to kill him. Threats need to be eliminated, but I'm not allowed to hurt royalty." Henry glanced at Lelouch and anger chased away the remaining confusion. "Any last words?"
The door banged open and more of her royal guards stormed in, guns swinging at Lelouch. He raised his hands, while Henry dragged Carine back, his threat clear.
A gunshot rang out, and the guards whirled around to face Frederick. A stalemate.
Imperial Palace, New Pendragon
Waking was slow and excruciating. Every limb protested her gingerly movements, and from below, she could feel phantom pains as her mind coped with the sudden lack of feeling and control. A warm hand wrapped around hers, and Marianne grinned weakly, finally finding the strength to peel open her eyes.
"You're back," Charles whispered. Stray hair from his beard scratched her face as he welcomed her with a kiss.
"Lelouch?" she croaked.
"He's fine," Charles promised. "There was a small incident, but he handled it. His meeting went well. I could call for him? He is here now. Well, maybe in a few hours. He is a little preoccupied with a side project at the moment."
Recognizing the slight tone of exasperation, she raised an eyebrow. "What did he do now?"
"He finally accepted the necessity of servants, but he decided to conduct the interviews by masquerading as one of them."
"Oh, dear." Marianne giggled. Her son would never change in that regard. "Is he doing well then?"
Charles fell silent and his thumb brushed over her palm. "It is hard to say. He disappeared in Tokyo for an entire day. To have avoided the cameras all day, he must have been in the ghettos, but he kept deflecting. I am not sure if he so brazenly risked his life because of... stress or if there was another reason. I don't want to push him too hard, especially since he has only recently started to relax around me."
Biting her lip, Marianne glanced away. Without her there, and Charles trying, of course her son would warm up to him. She had been trying for years, but Lelouch expected more from her. What she didn't know. He never expected anything from Charles though. "I'm proud of you. Making the effort?"
He rolled his eyes. "He keeps attempting to annoy me, and I wouldn't mind if it was one or two things, but the barrage is constant. Unfortunately, I fear that if I reprimand him at all, he will withdraw again. He went from almost tripping over his feet to please me..." Charles waved his hand aimlessly. "To this."
An old memory resurfaced, and she winced. "I did something similar after Reuben took me in. I was such a brat, throwing tantrums over the littlest thing. It was frankly embarrassing... I am sure he'll settle down soon."
"If he could stop the smacking," growled Charles. "Or the incessant need to tidy every room he enters. Or the pacing and knife juggling... I would be so much happier."
Marianne snickered and propped herself up on elbows. "Help me up."
"You should wait for the doctor."
"I took a long nap. There's no need."
"Marianne," he growled.
"Either you help me get into my wheelchair, or I will drag myself to it."
He pinched his nose and released a long sigh, but his strong hands helped her upright. "He gets it from you."
"I would hope he got something besides my coloring and stature. Your personality is absolutely rubbish."
"My personality is fine."
"Whatever you say, Charles," she teased, lowering herself into the wheelchair as Charles's firm grip steadied her. "I love you, but if you hadn't told Lelouch he was a pawn of all things—"
"He was impeding a military operation. You were the one who threatened the boy he became ridiculously attached to."
Marianne tilted her head, absently grabbing a juice pack. "Did you say he disappeared into the ghettos? Of Tokyo?"
"Yes. He does not seem to understand that walking around as a commoner is not going to prevent him from being mugged. He risks his life too cavalierly."
Tokyo... So close to where she found Lelouch and the boy had disappeared. While Lelouch might grumble and complain, he ultimately always obeyed. Except in this instance, like that time before. "Is there a chance he met... someone?"
"Romantically? Doubtful."
"A friend, perhaps. Someone he knew?"
"The division hardly has any Elevens, and why abandon his guards? He is well aware we know of his eccentricities, and we have to impede on them."
"Someone we wouldn't approve of. The boy. Kururugi."
Charles grabbed a chair and leaned forward contemplatively. "If true, Lelouch would never admit to it. Someone would have to know. I am sure there are some Elevens we can recruit to infiltrate the ghettos. The son of the Prime Minister... Someone has to know something. Or we could arrest..." His eyes narrowed, and he leaned over to grab the laptop on his makeshift desk. "As part of cracking down on terrorism, Reuben has been detaining teenagers around the boy's age. He must suspect the same then. It's an effective tactic to flush the boy out. It would take barely an effort to send an agent—"
Marianne closed her eyes and took a long sip, her throat still raw from the feeding tube. "We can't. It's been six years since the invasion, and Lelouch has barely forgiven us. If he went to such trouble even now to hide such a meeting, our interference will undo every bit of progress we made."
"We cannot let him run around freely," Charles said. "Someone will find him first and use him to further their cause. Either we capture him, or he will become an irritating thorn in the future. A thorn which Lelouch will hesitate to confront. The boy or whoever is controlling him will have no issue exploiting that weakness of his."
"I know! But if he discovers we were behind it, what little trust he has for us will evaporate. That division of his is undeniably loyal. He could take them all and disappear. The Europeans and Chinese will welcome him with open arms. They hardly have a reason to distrust him despite loathing Zero. He always acts honorably."
"So we do nothing." Charles massaged his temples. "This will blow up in our faces."
"Better the boy betrays his trust than we do." Marianne halfheartedly laughed. "And maybe Reuben will catch him and save us all the trouble. I doubt Lelouch would even stay mad at him for long."
"I cannot say which I would rather prefer. Lelouch lying to me or him being so foolhardy to risk his life on a whim." He shook his head and closed the laptop. "As for Nunnally, she apparently has a girlfriend. I believe that friend of hers."
"Oh?" Marianne groaned. "Apparently both my children's love lives are destined to frustrate me."
"At least Lelouch hasn't agreed to marry Miss Sumeragi," Charles teased. More seriously, he continued, "Did you discover anything?"
"Lord Ferdi, a researcher in Camelot, apparently works for the Geass Order. Fortunately, I do have an excuse to meet him as a Knight of the Round. I also have three other agents among the palace staff. I am sure you can turn their loyalties to us with ease."
His geass flashed for a moment. "That should not be a problem. You seem troubled?"
"Was C.C. ever interested in Lelouch or Nunnally? I can't remember."
Charles frowned. "She helped us search for them when Lelouch absconded with Nunnally. We didn't need to bribe her with pizza, but otherwise, that woman was always impossible to read. Why?"
A single incident. Hardly enough to claim C.C. was interested in one of her children as a potential contractor.
"I know you ordered Lelouch to look for her, but Charles? Keep him and Nunnally out of it. They have no need for another burden."
"While my brother has always offered contracts like candy, C.C. is notoriously picky. I doubt you have anything to worry about. Would a geass be truly that bad? It is merely another tool to defend themselves."
"A geass user not under V.V.'s control is a threat to his power. I never told him of my geass for a reason. Theirs is unlikely to be as subtle as mine."
"I will warn her once she is secured. Whether she will listen is a different matter."
Marianne nodded. That was the best she would get.
"You chose a good time to return," Charles continued. "I need you to do an official assesment. The Knights of Round always slack off in your absence."
"I just finished a mission," Marianne growled. "I am spending at least a week with Nunnally."
He held her gaze. "You may do that afterwards."
"Damn it, Charles! Do you know how long I stressed over Lelouch's safety without even a chance to hear anything of the outside world? I will not."
"It's important."
"So is Nunnally. She is under the mistaken impression I don't love her. Lelouch refuses to spend time with me, but at least she will. I'm not losing that for something that one of your other knights can easily do. Send Bismarck. He is more than qualified."
"Consider it bonding time with Lelouch. It will barely take a day. Don't be stubborn."
She glared. "No."
"It's an order." His face was impassive, not a hint of a smile. "I promise you that the week after will be entirely yours to do with what you will."
He rarely pulled that card, but when he did, she knew the argument was over. Ultimately, he was the Emperor. She would have her revenge in due time to express her displeasure. Maybe she could even ask Lelouch to collaborate. He would probably jump at the opportunity, especially with her as the perfect scapegoat. Of course that was probably something Charles already took into consideration.
"You owe me," she grumbled.
His phone buzzed, and he sighed, pulling it out. A puzzle frown crossed his face as he stared at the screen. His eyebrows rose. "Apparently, Lelouch is with Carine. Shall we see what the fuss is?"
Imperial Palace, New Pendragon
Lelouch kept his hands up defensively as Carine's remaining guards aimed the guns at him. Only Henry's knife to her throat stopped them from shooting. Behind them, Frederick angrily shouted at them to stand down or he would shoot.
"Your friends need medical attention," Lelouch said calmly, gesturing with the tip of his fingers.
"Shut up!" Carine screeched. "Kill him! He's a traitor!"
Unlike the previous guards which probably composed her inner circle, they were clearly hesitant. Their eyes flicked between him and Carine. Or maybe they knew that killing one prince to let another princess die would only lead to their execution. If she wasn't alive, she couldn't protect them, regardless of what tale she was fabricating at the moment.
"Your Highness," the leader said. "Order your guard to let Her Highness go, and we can forget this entire incident."
"No," Henry interrupted.
Lelouch smiled innocently.
"We could blame it all on him," someone said from the back. "The prince's two guards went insane..."
"Try anything like that, and you'll be dead," Frederick warned.
Carine screamed as the knife bit into her throat.
"Oops." Henry shrugged. "Hand slipped."
Heavy footsteps entered the room, and the guards whirled around, weapons raised. Slowly, they fell to the ground, kneeling obediently. Lelouch squashed the instinctive urge to follow suit. He lowered his hands and stared at his father boldly. Attacking a sibling would surely earn him a punishment this time. He and Carine broke a cardinal rule.
His mother rolled after him and tutted. "This is quite a mess. The poor servants. They will spend days trying to get the blood out of the carpet."
"Lelouch," his father said. "Would you care to explain?"
"Carine decided to punish one of the palace servants. Their discipline isn't within her jurisdiction, so I intervened. She escalated matters."
"He tried to kill me!" Carine howled.
"Silence!" his father barked.
Behind Lelouch, Tanya whimpered. Her friend risked a glance from his prone position, and Lelouch glared at him viciously. Now was not the time to take unnecessary risks. Not when his father was on a hair trigger.
"Your ability to find trouble is truly beyond comprehension, Lelouch," his father finally said. "Carine, while you may do as you wish with your own personal servants, the palace staff is off limits."
"He's lying!"
His father stepped over the commoners prostrated on the ground. Two Unspeakables trailed inside after him, taking a guarding position by the door. Their presence sent an undeniable chill through the room. His father stopped before him and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Lelouch knows better. Clearly, you do not."
Lelouch flinched and bowed his head. The hand pinned him in place. Out of the corner of his eye, he observed Carine's rapidly paling face as she realized her grave error. Normally, he would find some amusement in besting an opponent. Not this time. He felt only dread.
"Anyone who attempts to assassinate a royal is to be executed for treason. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"He threw a knife at me! His goon killed Sir Atreus! I had to defend myself."
"Enough! Paltry excuses will not save you, Carine. You knew the rules yet disobeyed them. I have discussed your behavior with your mother before, but she insisted that nothing was amiss. I see she was gravely mistaken. Or was this plot of her own making as well?"
His mother smiled sharply, and Lelouch closed his eyes. The facts barely mattered. Carine had a poor reputation, and the people would accept any story fed to them. His father was merely using this event as an excuse to rid himself of an annoying wife.
"She's only fifteen," Lelouch interrupted, his voice barely above a whisper. "She has been given everything her entire life... Father." He straightened and met his father's amused eyes. "This event was unplanned—a crime of opportunity, not an assassination."
"You should be grateful, Carine for your brother's magnanimity." He paused. "Your hand is bleeding, Lelouch."
"It's nothing," Lelouch mumbled and twisted his shirt over the sluggishly bleeding wound.
His father's eyes narrowed, and his head twisted over his shoulder to stare at Tanya. "Girl, how many lashes?"
"Twenty—Twenty-two," she whimpered. "Your—Your Majesty."
He nodded to one of the Unspeakables. "Twenty-two lashes."
The two Unspeakables moved in tandem, and Henry stepped respectfully away as they grabbed Carine's flailing arms. She broke into hysterical sobs as they tied her hands to the coat stand, and she desperately yanked at her bonds. While her words were indecipherable, she was undoubtedly begging for mercy.
"You will look," his father whispered.
His mother rolled forward, and grabbed his hand to inspect. Deft fingers secured a proper bandage, retrieved from one of the numerous pockets in her wheelchair. "How are you, Lelouch?"
He swallowed, trying to block out the desperate screams. How could she be acting so calm? Only Frederick reflected a similar unease. This was inhumane. Still, he had to answer and hold onto that scrap of favor his father offered. "I have been eating more."
"That's good." She turned her wheelchair to have a better view. "She was always a bit off, but her mother certainly didn't help matters."
"Begin," his father ordered. His tight grip on Lelouch's shoulder reminded him to not look away.
The dress turned to bloodied shreds on her back, and somehow, she screamed even louder. An execution would've been preferable to this torture, yet Lelouch was sourly reminded that many officers still used flogging as a punishment. Carine was merely tasting the justice usually reserved for commoners.
At ten, his father raised his hand. He knelt at her side and gently asked, "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"I'm sorry," she whimpered. "I'm sorry, Father. Please. I won't do it again, I promise. I swear. Please."
He untied her wrists and helped her stand. "I am not the only one you must apologize to."
Her teary eyes focused on Lelouch. "I'm sorry!"
"Lelouch?"
"I accept her apology," Lelouch said quickly.
"Remember your brother's mercy," his father warned. "Now, you are demoted to eighty-fifth in the line of succession. Until you prove yourself to be of some worth, you will not have access to any imperial funds nor any claim to a royal title. I expect you to be gone by tomorrow."
"But—How will I..." She burst into sobs and collapsed on the ground, fingers clutching the hem of his robes. "Please, Father. I can't—How am I to live like this?"
"Your Majesty," he corrected. "I hear Camp Pendleton is accepting new recruits. You can still fight for Britannia as a commoner." He swept to the door, and his mother rolled after him. "Lelouch?"
He knew what was expected of him. To walk past the cooling corpses and moaning victims and abandon them to their fate. Even if they survived, most would be executed for treason.
His father practically handed Carine a death sentence. Withdrawing her royal privilege left her vulnerable to every enemy of the royal family. Even without external threats, she couldn't survive on her own nor would anyone help her… including her mother who would be too desperate to defend her own standing and assure the Emperor of her loyalty.
Lelouch could help. Obtain for her the false documents needed to hide from assassins. Teach her the essentials of passing for a commoner. Give her a spark of hope that she could return.
Except his father was staring at him expectantly. For now, Lelouch had his favor. Without it, he could very well be lying on the floor, begging for mercy. Or worse, Nunnally.
So he bowed his head, stepped over the cooling corpses, and did as expected. His father smiled, looping an arm over his shoulder.
"We should have your hand checked," he said.
As they walked away, Carine's anguished sobs echoed in his ears.
Character Thoughts:
- In the anime, C.C. says, "It's you… Finally I have found my…" I'm assuming the missing word is contractor here? The fact that C.C. was apparently searching for Lelouch before the Clovis detour is a bit of a dropped plot point.
- Throughout the anime, Charles treats Schneizel with some rather obvious disdain. Given that every other character viewed him with respect or wariness, that suggests them having issues off-screen. On the other hand, Charles kept Schneizel as his Prime Minister for ages, so he does acknowledge him as being useful, but that only lasts until someone more useful is available.
- In s2 ep 15, C.C., says that V.V. loved Marianne as well... Given that he tried to kill her, he clearly has some strange notions on love. As V.V. is trapped in the child of the body, his brain is presumably under developed, which could lead to very poor decision making based on emotions he doesn't quite understand.
Author's Notes:
Nice Charles is officially the creepiest. lol.
Due to an upcoming scene which definitely deserves an M for violence (not the next chapter, relax), I'm just going to bite the bullet and up the rating now. This gives me more freedom in terms of violence, directly discussing topics, and innuendos. I'm not rating it M for sexual content because that stuff isn't really appealing to me and wouldn't serve this story.
In more exciting news, I have fanart! So the fanfic author checklist of a recursive fic (in the Rare Pairing anthology) and fanart is complete… XD Link in my profile or go to AO3 bc they actually allow links.
I cut over 1.5k from this chapter, a large chunk of that being Lelouch running around with his-soon-to-be servants (it's fine. He only mildly traumatized them). If there's enough interest, I would flesh out the scene with some other povs and publish it as a companion one-shot.
Thank you Dark and Nektry for your beta work. :)
Chat with me on the discord: discord . gg / uSBegVj