And once again, we are back with another chapter. I have to say that these slow-burn chapters are pretty relaxing to write sure, they aren't filler as important stuff still happens but it is less heavy, for a lack of a better word, you know? It also gives me good practice for writing chapters where the main character(Lelouch) either doesn't show up or is in a much lesser role as in the main series, I wouldn't have minded episodes giving focused on say, Kallen, Suzaku, or Euphemia and Cornelia.

Chapter 4: Setting the Stage

After some time, the meeting of the royals concluded, with their siblings leaving to return to their villas or going out to clubs, the two eldest men of them met back up after both had to attend to matters of the state. Instead of being in his new office, they had decided to speak in Exelica Gardens to enjoy the weather and scenery of the massive, intricately cared-for space. 'Brother, I know that we've talked about this, but you've never given me a clear answer.' Odysseus decided to go for the throat with this.

'But I have, brother.' Schneizel asked as he took a sip of his tea, humming as he enjoyed its taste.

'I've known you my whole life, I may not be your equal in the affairs of the court and the battlefield, but I have enough sense and experience with you to know a non-answer when I hear one.' Odysseus replied as he reached for a biscuit, he could admit to his shortcomings, but he wasn't the fool that so many took him for, and out of their siblings, he had spent the most time around the Prime Minister.

Schneizel eyed him for a moment before he placed his fine porcelain down. 'Forgive me for forgetting that, it has been some time since we last spoke without any pressure, years even.' He remarked as he thought about simpler times, back when their family was far smaller and things, at least to them, were far better. Hindsight proved otherwise.

'It has, I can still remember when we would just go horseback riding for the fun of it, much to the annoyance of our mothers who wanted us to get back to piano lessons.' Odysseus chuckled at that familiar memory, though he was smarter now and realized they didn't wish them to be out in the open, not when their father's enemies could strike at any moment.

'I can still play the harp better than you.' Schneizel joked, mimicking the action of playing the harp.

'That you can, but why don't you answer the question?' Odysseus laughed as he saw his brother's surprise, he hid it well and if he were anyone else, he would have been fooled but he had been around long before his younger brother knew how to lie about who stole from the cookie, there was little he could keep from him.

Schneizel sighed, leaning back into his seat with a small smile at his brother's keen eye. 'Very well. I'm never been one to want for wanting sake, you know this. Rather I would have claimed a throne to try and better the world that we were born into. One where siblings didn't kill each other, where countries didn't tear themselves apart backing opposing groups for self-interest.' He explained himself as they knew the struggle that came with infighting, they had seen relatives and allies drop like flies, switch sides, and go missing in broad daylight.

'Yes, it's sad to think that there was a time when we thought father's reign would put an end to all that, but all it did is move it to the background as not even Nunnally and Lelouch were safe from his cruelty.' Odysseus leaned forward, his hands clasped together as he bitterly thought about their father. He may have been firstborn, but he had realized at the age of 7 that he cared nothing for them, and wouldn't even bat an eye if they were to drop dead right in front of him. Then he realized at age 15 that his father didn't so much as bring peace as he enforced obedience, the underlying issues remained.

'And instead, we turned out aggression on the rest of the world.' Schneizel nodded his head, having always made his thought about their expansionary policies clear to him in their private moments, away from the prying eyes and ears of the court. 'I would have done all I could to avoid hurting any of you, even imprisoning you as I've always wanted a better world. But in recent times, I've found another way to bring about that world, one where I wouldn't need a crown.' He finished with a smile, one that his brother returned as they turned away from such unpleasant memories.

'Hence the meeting with the UFN? We could indeed defeat them, but why would we even attempt?' Odysseus asked him, to which he nodded.

'Peace is within our grasp, not one of the Pax Britannia but a true system of peace.' Schneizel picked up his cup again, to which his brother did the same as the brought them together for a light tap in congratulations for the coming peace.

'That would be wonderful, and perhaps it will be a good way to end the suffering, and to bring some peace to all those who have died. I'm sure Euphemia would appreciate seeing her dream come true after all this time.' The emperor mused as she had always been a gentle soul, far different from Cornelia who even young, was a fighter. He could still recall the time Schneizel bested her at chess and she responded by wrestling him to the ground like some commoner! Their mothers were horrified but he and Clovis couldn't stop laughing. After that, he was smart enough to never challenge her again.

'That we can agree on, which is why I'll be heading to meet with the UFN, they're already chosen the spot for the gathering.' Schneizel said as he had already set things up with them.

'Ashford, right? A rather odd choice if you ask me. Why not someone more formal, or even just a government building?' Odysseus had found their request to be especially strange. Sure, it was a school that was built and run by the Ashford, but it wasn't the most glamorous location in Area 11, not the most secure either.

'I haven't thought about it, it is just a venue after all, does it matter in the big picture of things?' Schneizel shrugged it off, he suspected it was due to the fact their ace was familiar with the school as well as from what Viletta no doubt revealed to Ohgi about its secret passages which will no doubt allow to station additional security forces that could act if things came to that, but he didn't think his brother need know about that.

'I would assume so, next thing they'll pick is one of those fast-food establishments the commoners love so much.' Odysseus laughed as Schneizel joined in.

'I rather not get grease and the smell of chicken on my clothing, thank you.' He replied in good humor as he could only find the mental image amusing to be sure. 'Still, you'll be busy here in Pendragon in my absence, there is still plenty for you to do to cement yourself as our new ruler.'

'Yes, I've already gone through the list of suggestions you created, but I don't have to like it. Did you have to pick Earl Banner? He's hated me since we were kids.' Odysseus rose an eyebrow at that last part as he understood the importance of being seen, of being active considering their father in recent years had withdrawn from public and court life to the extent that rumors circulated he was suffering from a terminal illness. Regardless, of all the nobles his Prime Minister could have selected, he just had to choose Banner.

'He's also one of the major leadings in the commercial agriculture market, we'll need the support of people like him to counter the militarists.' Schneizel replied as with their stated commitments to peace and deceased military spending, there has been a fuss in court from families and cliques who had large investments in their defense. Odysseus was already not the most popular of their siblings and one didn't need the OSI to see that an attempted coup could occur if they didn't first build a strong support base to discourage such till they could defang the issue.

'I hope that this isn't you trying to get me to spend time with his eldest, is it?' Odysseus kept his eyebrow raised as both knew of the woman, Edith Banner.

'What would make you think that?' Schneizel didn't even bother to hide his attention as he smiled a little too much as he took a sip of his tea.

'The fact that she's been trying to court you for the longest time? Or the fact that you managed to avoid spending any meaningful time with her outside groups? Take your pick, little brother.' Odysseus stated. Edith Banner was older than both of them, being 34 but it never stopped her from trying to get close to Schneizel, invitations to parties, yacht getaways, international travel, or merely a short brunch at her family's estate in the capital.

'What can I say? She's not my type and you know it.' Schneizel could admit that she was attractive, and not the worst choice in terms of intellect as one could hold a conversation with her that didn't necessarily revolve around the relatively simple pleasures and annoyances of court life but she was far too energetic for him. He preferred quiet evenings and operas, she was active and never seemed to stay still longer than 5 minutes, with the last invite he got from her for skiing on the Rockies of all things.

'But she's mine?' Odysseus asked him, smiling as he could see just how much his younger wished to avoid spending time doing such activities, to the point he was sure that Lelouch, despite being the son of Marianne the Flash, picked up that disinterest in physical activities from him.

'You two share the same interests, she's also an avid botany enthusiast, think of all the time you could spend in the imperial gardens once you two rework them.' He joked as the two brothers laughed before continuing to talk for a long while to catch up before their duties called for an end.

With the afternoon sun setting in the distance, Schneizel found himself back in his villa, entertaining another guest after a rather long day at work as they still needed to iron out details about the new emperor's reign and matters of foreign and domestic policy. 'Schneizel, we need to talk.' The man kept his chuckle to himself as he hadn't even sat down yet in his private lounge before Cornelia spoke up, the ever-loyal Guilford absent, still recovering from his injuries from the last engagement with the Black Knights.

'So straightforward, sister. You've only been back in the capital for a day, can't we first catch up?' He asked as Cornelia had flown back to Pendragon from Tokyo Settlement not even a full 48 hours ago, merely taking enough time to sleep off jet lag before requesting that they speak.

'That can wait, and you know why.' Cornelia's eyes narrowed at him, she wasn't going to waste time with small talk and playing nice, and he knew it.

'Oh, very well. Honestly, you could stand to pause and smell the flowers more often you know, it's not as if there's a battle you need to rush to.' Still, Schneizel continued for a little while.

'I would happily do so, but there's been something on my mind ever since father's death.' She started as he leaned into her seat, appearing as relaxed as a coiled spring. 'Kururugi told us what he had learned that day, or rather he gave all of us a cliff-notes version of everything.' When he returned from that island to their surprise, it was Bismarck that demanded answers from him, his blade drawn and ready to take his life if he hadn't answered, and answer he did as he explained that the emperor was dead, that his plan had been foiled, and it had been Lelouch to do both. But while he did add more information, it was intentionally short and vague, with her brother pulling him aside afterward to no doubt get more out of him.

'But you spoke with him privately afterward, he told you everything he knew, didn't he?' She didn't need to ask; it wasn't something that couldn't have happened.

'He did. While Bismarck's been stubbornly quiet about it, he was more forthcoming with the details of things.' Schneizel replied.

'Then tell me, why did Lelouch geass Euphie, and why did our father allow him to live? We both know he didn't care for any of us, and he was a threat to whatever he was trying to do.' Cornelia demanded, she had searched for over a year for the information, but had only found more questions than answers, like that little gremlin claiming to be her uncle or the fact there was an entire order that studied that devil's power and worked with her father.

'Why would the reason matter? She was just another one of his many pawns in his designs, was she not? Even you fell victim to his geass.' Here, Schneizel made a mistake as the coil finally let loose, Cornelia's eyes grew fierce with rage as she sprung to her feet, her hand slamming down on the table between them hard enough to cause the flower pot to jump and fall to the ground where it shattered on the hardwood floor.

'Don't feed me the same dribble you do the masses!' Cornelia told him, pinning the man in place with the strength of her glare, a glare that had made lesser men shake in their boots. 'We knew him, I knew him. I saw him that day, as Tokyo burned and again when he attacked the order, wiping out a good chunk of those vile geass users.' She would never forget those days, the first being the revelation that Dalton had been right, that Zero was someone with a reason to despise the royal family over all else, someone that didn't seem to care that Euphie was dead.

The second time was after she had been captured by the Order, only to be saved by Jeremiah of all people, a man she believed dead, only to again be made prisoner as she again looked into those violet eyes that spoke not just of an ocean's worth of rage, but also sorrow. 'Both times I saw the eyes of a man swimming in darkness, but not one pursuing it. He wouldn't have done what he did without greater purpose them just fanning the flames of his rebellion, and I want to know why.' She hated him for what he did to Euphie, and even after they cleared her name in the eyes of the world, she would never stop hating him, but she also knew he wouldn't have done something like that without a reason.

Schneizel for his part, kept calm even as he knew she would be able to attack him long before his guards could intervene, guards that weren't in the room as he has ordered them away. 'Do you truly believe that? We indeed knew him, but the man he's become is far different from that boy we knew so fondly. You of all people know that war changes you, it turns you into something else.' Here her eyes lost some of that rage, as she often had arguments with Euphemia about it. How her sister hated that she was a soldier, that she was carrying out their father's demands for ever more land, ever more blood. She told her time and time again that she did it to keep her safe, but Euphemia never cared, she just wanted her sister to remain overprotective Nelly, not the Witch of Britannia.

Schneizel knew this, she often told him about it, and Euphemia did the same so he regularly played mediator between them. However, if Cornelia had changed so much from the woman she once was, couldn't the same happen to a child thrown to die in a warzone? Wouldn't someone surrounded by the worst of humanity's traits adapt to them and take on such traits to survive? Suzaku told him about how even then, he had the will to kill as he would often go ahead of him and Nunnally to clear the way, and while he never admitted to any of it, he always came back with his little knife bloody. Suzaku said that he would mutter in his sleep as if haunted by the souls of those he slew, such trauma could even turn the most seasoned veterans into sniffing messes, or dispassionate monsters.

'Would the boy we once knew kill Clovis and brag about it? Would he fight against us? Use and then kill Euphemia? He wouldn't.' Schneizel said as Cornelia backed off, having nothing to add as he continued, his eyes hardened. 'You say you saw someone with a purpose and higher goals, but I saw a wounded and angry animal, one that I'm ashamed we haven't managed to track down to put him out of his misery.' How could he forget? He may have cornered him that day when he turned his command against him, but he knew he would have, should have put up a fight, tried to argue his case, even use his geass but he didn't. He accepted his death and was ready to embrace his death.

He was his enemy, and he does resent him for what he did to Euphie, but he was also his beloved younger brother, he wasn't above granting him the mercy of ending the misery that had become his existence.

Cornelia was silent after that, falling back into her seat, the energy drained from her as Schneizel too stayed silent, neither knowing what to do as this was an emotionally charged subject to be sure. After some time, with the sun dipping further on the horizon, the former Goddess of Victory spoke once more. 'I should still hear from the horse's mouth. Kururugi knew him after his banishment, he knew him while he was a student. I can speculate about this forever but I'll never know if I got to the right answer, not just about him, but about why we invaded entire countries. I just…' She stopped as if gathering herself before she continued.

'I want to know why so much blood was spilled.' Schneizel breathed through his nose here, having asked himself a similar question in the past. He thought about it for a moment, weighing the pros and cons before he came to a decision.

'I think it would be better that you didn't know, sister. Some truths are far worse than any lie.' He warned her, though he knew it would do little to dissuade her.

'I'll take the risk.' Cornelia might have whispered, but it was still received loud and clear to him as he sat a little straighter,

'Very well. But don't say I didn't warn you.' With that, he gave her everything that Suzaku had told him about their brother, about geass, about their father, Marianne, everything.

'Was it all a lie? The feelings we shared, the memories she created?' Cornelia asked herself, not expecting any answer from either the world or herself.

It was evening, the sun long set as the stars painted themselves over the night sky. She had returned to the Taurus villa a while back, numb after everything she had learned. She could have never imagined such intricate dealing happening in her country, nor that her idol was even worst than the rest of the nobles and consorts. She wasn't even sure which was worse, the fact that Marianne had never truly died and still let her children be exiled, or the fact they had banked on Lelouch's drive to find justice for her in their plans, reducing their flesh and blood into another pawn, though she supposes she was used to that last part.

Now, with so much more information, she couldn't help but wonder; if they had truly cared, would their family still be whole? Would have Clovis never engaged in human experimentation to research geass in some bid for the throne? Would Lelouch and Nunnally have remained in Britannia, under her care? Would Euphemia still be alive? She knew that the answer was yes to all of those, but she didn't want to admit it, because doing so would also mean accepting that everything they did, everything they lost-it was all a means to an end for three selfish people who wished to return to some bygone past. She was taken out of her grief by the sound of the wheels of a food cart, as well as the steps of a man not too sure of himself.

'Your highness, I've brought you some refreshments.' Guilford announced as he pushed the cart into the patio, the man not in his uniform but still on duty, despite the fact his eyes and body were still recovering.

'Guilford, what did I tell you about working in your state? Let the staff things while you recover.' She didn't like seeing him trying to work when he should be resting.

'To be honest, your highness, I find myself twitching to do anything rather than just sit around.' Guilford responded as he slowly parked the cart close to her, grabbing the cane he had placed on top of it and slowly feeling his way to her. Seeing this, Cornelia couldn't help but sigh, but a fond smile also grew on her face.

'You are…one of a kind, aren't you Gilbert.' She stated, smiling a little more at how red her faithful knight got in the face as he took his place behind her, with her guiding his hand to her shoulder she could feel his presence more. The man squeezed a little, understanding that she going through something, just like him at the moment as much had happened in the last couple of months. He stayed silent for a time, knowing that she appreciate just him being there, even if she would prefer he was resting. He wasn't able to see the stars, but he could take confront on the chilled evening breeze.

'Gilbert…What did my brother order you to do?' He turned his unseeing gaze to his princess, his brow raised in surprise at the question as he didn't even know how to begin to answer it.

'You don't need to answer if it makes you uncomfortable, my knight.' Cornelia spoke again, noting his discomfort but he gave her shoulder another little squeeze.

'No, it's just.' He didn't remember everything about that encounter that Jeremiah had tricked him into attending, but he could recall those crimson orbs in the dark, and the words that came just before he blacked out and came to on his way back to base, just in time to receive the order from prince Schneizel to prepare an ambush for Zero. 'His order, I don't recall the exact words but I do recall seeing you in his place, starting from just after he had been captured by Schneizel's surprise attack.' Cornelia paused here, digesting his statement as she would have expected obedience or perhaps him telling him to fight and die, but that wasn't the case.

'I see…so he didn't order you to follow him unquestionably, rather he co-opted your loyalty to me.' As a tactic in itself, it was an ingenious move as it meant that even while under the control of geass, Guilford would still have some level of autonomy and wouldn't act out of character, one of the signs of being under geass that they pieced together. 'I'm flattered that you would fight even Britannia if you believed it was in my name, but shouldn't you be loyal to the crown before me?' She turned to smile at him, something that he could feel she was doing as his blush returned a little.

'So, the demon understood how deep my devotion runs, I will admit that he's a truly insightful monster.' He stated, appalled but also impressed before he smiled towards his princess, bowing a little. 'As for the other point, my loyalty has and will forever belong to you, your highness.' He had meant it that day when she knighted him, that he would serve her will and carry out her orders without fail because he trusted her to wield him like a spear. He had always had the honor of serving alongside her and where others saw a witch or a Goddess, he always saw his princess. Still, now that image was sullied as he had been tricked into such acts.

'I just…never thought my devotion would be weaponized in such a cruel way, I can't even begin to apologize to you. As you were held captive by him, I was acting on his orders like a puppet.' He clenched his other fist, ashamed that he had been just another one of his pawns.

'There's no need to apologize, Gilbert. You were not the first to fall to his gaze, nor the first to have their love be used for another's gain.' Cornelia told him, reaching for his hand again with both of hers as she thought back to what she had learned about her idol, and what her final moments were like before she, alongside her husband and Cornelia's father, was reduced to nothing.

'In the end, geass corrupted my family to the bone.' She uttered, a lone tear forming but not falling down her face.

'It has been announced that Prime Minister Schneizel el Britannia will lead the talks with the UFN in Area 11 in 4 days instead of Emperor Odysseus, who will remain in the homeland. Along with this, it has been announced that talks will be about more than just the status of the area, however, neither side has stated what those additional talking points will be.' Milly's voice carried through the speakers of the rather inexpensive TV set that had been set up. Around, sat or stood a group of people at least 20 strong, ranging from small children to the elderly.

'Despite this, many have weighed in with their opinions with experts in the field giving their educated guesses ranging from Britannia seeking to join the UFN, negotiations for future trade, and commence to even a partition to the UFN to reject countries once occupied by Britannia.' Milly continued to report as the image changed to one showing Schneizel waving and smiling to a crowd before he got his limo to head for the airport, after this, the image changed to show some Knights of Round arriving in Pendragon while riding their machines.

'In other news, Pendragon has pulled all Knights of the Round from active duty as a sign of peace with the UFN, with all Knights having been recalled back to Pendragon. In response to this, it's expected that the UFN will pull back most of Black Knights from the borders with Britannia as well.' Hearing this, one of the gathered scoffed.

'It would be foolish for the UFN to allow Britannia to join, not unless the empire agrees to deceased voting power.'

'Would Odysseus even agree to such? His reign is still young and he can't afford embarrassment.' As the rest of the adults continued to debate what could happen, two of them stood to the side, furthest away from the tv set as they observed not just it, but the rest of them as well.

'To think, the young lord has been correct in his prediction. You weren't kidding,' The first of the two, an elderly man well past his 60s said as he turned his gaze to the son he had disinherited. 'Jeremiah.' Jeremiah turned an eye to his father, one that lacked any real emotions of rage or abandonment as he understood why he had been severed, as that was the way of the empire.

'All the more reason for us to vanish, father, his majesty has rarely been wrong about these kinds of things.' He replied, turning to gaze out the window for a moment to the raining night sky. Once he had heard what his majesty had predicted for the future, they had worked to gather those that would follow them out before the flames broke out, one of those groups being his family. It had been easy to sneak himself and his majesty into their family home, much harder to convince them to leave it all behind. Still, in the end, he had once more managed a difficult task and within a couple of days, they recalled the entire family, as well as loyal servants and staff, liquidated their assets, and made their way to a pre-prepared safehouse an hour's drive from Terrace Bay in Northern Britannia.

'But…' Both men turned to the youngest one among the three, one that shared their teal hair. She looked at the news, then towards them. 'Can't we do something about it? If he's right about what's to come then…' Lilicia Gottwald, younger sister of Jeremiah asked. Hearing the question, he looked towards the backdoor that led out to the patio which was most likely soaked at the moment.

'I admit that I also wish that we could but…we aren't in any position to do so. Even if we could contact the Black Knights, they have little reason to believe us.' He answered, though he also knew that while a challenge, it wouldn't be impossible for his majesty to do it, with the true problem being something else that he dare not say.

'It was enough to sway some of our allies from the court to also leave with us, I just spoke with them,' His mother said as she walked up to them, her eyes still as bright as ever even in her old age. 'They'll be sending representatives people to meet us tomorrow. Hopefully, they can get out before it's too late.' Both men nodded their heads as Lilicia took a breath of relief as many of those they reached out to were the families of her friends. As the adults continue to discuss their plans to leave Britannia altogether before they're discovered, she looked to the side to see that strange girl, Anya, walking out the back with an umbrella.

'Dinner will be ready soon, you'll be eating alone again?' Anya spoke up, holding the umbrella over he head to shield her from the cold, evening rain. She would have loved to play in the rain and enjoy it, the time is damned, but had been told otherwise by Jeremiah, it wouldn't do well for the kids to see her do it and get it into their heads to do the same. So she planned on doing something fun come morning.

The other person outside at this time was a familiar face, though one is also hidden underneath an umbrella, though he lacked the proper warm clothing that she wore. He was quiet for a bit, the sound of the rain being the only thing outside her breath that she could hear before he turned to her, his eyes bored and empty. 'Better we leave the family drama to Jeremiah.' He replied as even before his name and face was plastered across the world with millions offered for his head, he wasn't very welcome among the Gottwald family, having been the one that ruined their son, and rebelled against their empire. It didn't matter that Jeremiah himself vouched for him, all that got him was tacit support and nothing else, so he and C.C. opted to eat their meals separately from the rest.

'But you didn't come out here for that, did you?' He didn't need much to read her, though she supposed she made it especially easy as she always did her best to display her newly retaken emotions, which the kids loved when she told stories.

'I need a favor.'

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