Disclaimer: Code Geass and its characters belong to Sunrise, Inc.

Lord Mintz is the creation of the Anonymous Author who wrote the fanfic from which this one is inspired.

04 The Other Side of the Board

Shirley felt helpless. She supposed she hadn't known any other feeling since shi finished her schooling. She wouldn't have gotten her job as a maid to Milly Ashford without the influence of Kallen's family. Even after securing the position she had been clueless about what was expected of her. She counted herself lucky because her mistress was somewhat kind to her, but she was still nobility -- betrothed to a prince, even -- and Shirley was still but a commoner.

Encountering Kallen as a traitor -- even lower than her -- she felt helpless all the more. She knew the truth, but she was told off against revealing it. She could help her friend with it, but was told that it would cause more harm than good.

Then the attack happened. She had done what she was told. She had protected her mistress -- successfully! But she couldn't protect her friend, hiding behind the barricaded door to Kallen's room while she was outside, bearing the brunt of the attention -- the abuse -- that Prince Lelouch's enemies meant to mete on all three women. All she could do was cry, and strain her ears to try and listen for the exact moment her friend drew her final breath. She should at least be able to properly inform her family, she thought.

Kallen survived, but barely. She offered to see her home when they learned that Prince Lelouch's influence wouldn't be able to protect her anymore. Shirley managed to make good on her offer with the help of Lord Mintz, but it was clear her friend was far from being out of the woods. So she offered to stay and care for her, at least until she woke up.

When Kallen finally woke up, she wasn't the same. It wasn't just her amnesia, either. She remembered Shirley and the time they spent at Ashford Academy, but none at all of her experiences as Kallen Kozuki. She had become, for all intents and purposes, the noblewoman Kallen Stadtfeld. Nothing more. Nothing less.

There was, however, the matter of the episodes that Kallen would experience. When she found herself alone in her dark bedroom when she awoke at night, she would scream -- more of a wail, Shirley thought -- clutching her head and staring at nothing, while she made herself as small as possible against the headboard of her bed. When the maids -- her own mother included -- she would thrash against them, hurting them and herself in the process. Lord Stadtfeld had made the choice to inject her with tranquilizer during these episodes, until the first time Shirley had witnessed it. Kallen's line of sight focused on the ginger, a clear sign of recognition, followed not long after by a whispered "Shirley". Shirley would then approach her, giving assurance that she was indeed there, and that they were safe. Only then would Kallen's wild demeanor fade slowly, becoming aware of the people around her, and become the daughter of Stadtfeld once again.

Since then she had been Kallen's constant companion, helping to keep such episodes at bay. However, after learning of the other triggers for them, Stadtfeld Manor had become a veritable ghost house. Only the presence of Shirley or Lord Stadtfeld seemed to not cause an episode, which led them to the difficult decision of keeping the household staff out of sight whenever Kallen was out of her room. This also made it especially difficult to give her the much-needed physical therapy for her to properly recover from her injuries. For now, they contented themselves with Kallen's healthy appetite and limited mobility with the help of a wheelchair.

When she first heard Kallen talk in her sleep -- having shared the bed with her to help keep her calm -- she almost doubted what she was hearing. Her episodes were clearly a result of the trauma from her ordeal. Surely she wouldn't call out for her captor and tormentor? But there it was. She had even hoped it was a one-time thing, but she really was calling for Prince Lelouch, especially on nights where she was warm with fever. She held off reporting this to Lord Stadtfeld, truly afraid of how the man would react. But when he suggested a meeting with the prince out of the blue, she volunteered the information before voicing her agreement to the idea.

She feared the result, surely, but she wanted her friend to be whole again.

"What did you think of Lelouch, Shirley?"

The question was asked by Kallen in her quiet, sickly voice, but Shirley nearly dropped the hairbrush in her hands. It had been a week since the pri-- no, Lelouch Lamperouge visited, and whe was helping Kallen prepare to go to breakfast in the dining hall.

"He, uh, seems nice," she stuttered. She was really terrible at lying.

"You don't think he's handsome? I always thought those prince charming looks were your type."

"Well, he doesn't look too shabby," she admitted, deciding to play it like she had met him for the first time as well. "I don't think he's very smart, though"

"Oh? What made you think that?"

"Well, he took a lot of time stringing words together, right? Smart people always know how to say what they wanted to say."

"Can't argue with that," Kallen giggled. "But I think there's another reason for it."

"Really? What could it be?"

"The Daddy's Death Glare that Father was giving him. If I were in his shoes, I'l probably feel that without looking," she explained, grinning. "Honestly, I wonder how he'll be like if Father wasn't chaperoning us."

"Now who's the one pining after Mr. Prince Charming looks?" Shirley teased, pinching Kallen's cheeks.

"I'm not pining!" she protested, with more energe in her voice than Shirley heard since she came out of her coma. "He got me curious is all."

"If her ladyship says so," she teased once more before giving Kallen's hare one final pass of the brush. "There, all done!"

"Kallen sighed, then nodded. "Let's go down for breakfast."

With that, Shirley undid the brakes of Kallen's wheelchair and wheeled her friend to the dining hall.

-.o.0.o.-

"Good morning, Father," greeted Kallen when she and Shirley entered the dining hall.

Lord Stadtfeld's heart ached. That was one sure indicator that this was not the daughter he knew. While she was growing up, she referred to him as 'Papa', then later 'Daddy' while speaking in the Britannian tongue. 'Father' she only used during certain occasions.

During times she needed to play the part of the proper daughter of Stadtfeld.

He knew that her current state came about because of the trauma she suffered, but he couldn't figure out why her Stadtfeld persona became her safe space. What horrors had she experienced that would make her reject her Kozuki persona after all the many times she poured her heart and strength to fighting Britannia?

"Good morning, Kallen," he returned the greeting. "Have you slept well?"

"I suppose I did," came her cheerful reply. "Shirley looked like she had a good night's sleep, so I guess I didn't bother her at all last night."

"That's good," he noted as Shirley wheeled Kallen to her place at the table and took the seat beside it. The table had already been set and the meal already served ahead of their arrival, so only those who haven't triggered one of Kallen's PTSD episodes would be with her. None of the household staff were dismissed, only required to keep their distance from her. It was especially convenient that their head maid was one with a particular set of skills.

He feigned reading business reports from his tablet while watching the girls have their breakfast. Five days since the Demon visited, and already there was a more... alive energy to Kallen. That could be attributed to her sleeping better in recent days, but could that, in turn, be attributed to the visit?

Perhaps his daughter had been ready to socialize, and having a visitor -- that didn't need to be the Demon -- was what had improved her mood?

His eyes fell to her neck. Since waking from her coma and able to dress herself, she always chose to wear a scarf or a choker around her neck. She never used to. He asked her about it once before, and she had replied that she felt better wearing one; that it made her feel less naked.

"Father."

He was brought out of his thoughts by his daughter's voice. "What is it, Kallen?"

"Do you think," she began, giving Shirley a sideways glance before continuing, "Would Lelouch be visiting again, soon?"

If he hadn't already been lowering his drinking glass onto the table, he probably would have shattered it. He managed to keep his composure enough to raise one eyebrow in feigned curiosity. "Why do you ask?"

"No, Kallen!" Shirley protested.

"Well, you weren't going to ask on your own, so I did it for you."

"Kallen!"

"Shirley was the one asking?" he asked, a bit confused.

"Not exactly," responded Kallen. "I was teasing her earlier about how he was her type, but she wouldn't admit it. I just thought if maybe he would visit again--"

"No. No. NO!" Shirley screamed, already standing behind Kallen to cover the latter's mouth with her hands.

Lord Stadtfeld blinked. Had his daughter always been this playful around her friends? The mirth in her eyes ast this very moment he hadn't seen since before Britannia invaded, when Naoto was still with them.

And they were talking about the Demon.

The terror in Shirley's eyes, unseen by his daughter, was understandable. This wasn't the usual girl talk about boys. While there was some improvement in Kallen's disposition after the visit, there was still the chance that she would get worse in the next one.

Prince Lelouch had been a different person that day, though. He had submitted to him as master of the hose, though not while in the presence of his personal guard. His walls had been down since laying eyes on Kallen while he explained her situation. He'd like to think that it was genuine guilt that he saw in the younger man, and that he would decide for himself what was best for her.

Which, if he were in the prince's place, would either be staying away, not wishing to cause her any further harm, or cooperate with his gamble, and do whatever it took to help her heal. The former would be the easier course of action, while the latter needed much preparation and the cooperation of at least a few others.

Thus far, he hadn't yet received any word from Jeremiah. He might need to send Sayoko, just to be sure.

"I'm not sure,' he admitted. "I suppose it will depend on what his father planned for him." Though unrelated to their current topic, it wasn't a lie.

"Maybe you can offer to mentor him?" Kallen suggested after successfully removing Shirley's hands from her face. "No one knows Area 11's businesses like you do."

This time, his eyes widened. "So you're not asking for just one return visit?"

Kallen's own eyes widened while a dust of pink colored her cheeks. "I, uh..."

"Kallen!" came Shirley's desperate voice.

"Can he?" Kallen finally asked, her eyes eager.

Lord Stadtfeld's heart melted. It had been a very long while since his daughter asked something of him so earnestly. Dare he really put his faith on a young man already known for his cruelty and being a true son of the emperor? Or should he put his faith on what he perceived as true concern for Kallen's welfare?

"I'll see what I can do," he promised.

He was rewarded with the brightest smile he had ever seen his daughter give.

A/N: Not the chapter I originally planned to post, but this one wanted to be written. Timeline-wise, this could happen slightly before the previous chapter but within the same day, or around the same hour.

The next chapter would be on K and L's POV's.