Shirley stared at Lelouch—Prince Lelouch's photo illuminating the screen, even as the Emperor left the podium. It was a good photo, one that she would love to add to her scrapbook if it wasn't for a blurry girl eating ice cream behind him. Swallowing, she tore her eyes away and stared at Lelouch and the Knight of One. How was this possible if he was Zero?
Unless...
Had Zero been orchestrated to draw out the remaining rebels? Or did the Emperor not know?
What was she supposed to do? She had thought she knew him. Then it turned out he was a terrorist, Zero. He killed her father! She had thought maybe he was fighting for justice, but he was a prince; he had all the power to change Britannia!
Who even was he?
"He stays," Lelouch growled suddenly, grabbing Suzaku by the shoulder.
Sir Waldstein rolled his eyes. "Your Highness. Leave the Eleven."
Lelouch ripped himself free from the man's grip and raised his chin. "No."
"Kururugi, you will step back and kneel," Sir Waldstein ordered.
Stepping closer to Lelouch, Suzaku lowered his head. "Respectfully, my lord, I cannot follow that order."
Two guards lunged forward, striking him on the inside of the knees and forcibly pushing him down to the ground.
"No!" Lelouch shouted. "Kururugi has already sworn his loyalty to Britannia. He is not a threat. He is my—"
Sir Waldstein leaned forward, and Lelouch suddenly paled. Quietly, he allowed himself and Nunnally to be escorted out of the room. He cast one last apologetic glance over his shoulder at Suzaku before he disappeared out of sight.
The guards chuckled and struck him across the head.
"Suzaku!" Shirley shrieked, rushing to his side. "Stop that. He didn't do anything wrong."
"He is an Eleven," the taller guard spat. "What were you thinking, touching royalty?"
"He's his friend," Shirley shrieked.
The other guard snorted. "Please. A prince, friends with a Number? He should be honored that he even knows his name." He nudged him with his boot. "Get up, boy. You're coming with us."
Horrified, Shirley opened her mouth to protest. This wasn't right.
A hand wrapped around her mouth, and Milly leaned over her shoulders. "My apologies. She is easily upset over violence. You really should keep such unpleasantness where young ladies cannot see. Miss Stadtfeld is watching right there, and she has such a weak constitution unfortunately."
The two guards winced and inclined their heads respectfully. "Of course, ma'am. We are taking this outside."
Furious, Shirley spun around as the guards forcibly dragged Suzaku outside. "Why did you stop me! He's our friend!"
"Those are the Knight of One's personal forces. If Lelouch can't stop him, what do you think you can do?" Milly leaned in, her warm breath washing over Shirley's ear. "You don't want to be arrested as a Number sympathizer. The next thing you know, you are guilty of treason."
But—
This wasn't right.
Lelouch was a prince, going to be the next Emperor. How was he unable to do anything? He should have the power to change the world. He didn't need to be Zero to protect Suzaku.
Yet the guards still had dragged Suzaku outside despite Lelouch's clear wishes to the contrary.
In a daze, Kallen returned home. Zero's number went straight to voicemail. She didn't know what to think. For weeks, she had sat next to the enemy. Lelouch was a Britannian prince—what a hypocrite. She should've killed him in that bathroom; she could've struck a crippling blow against Britannia.
Now, his apathetic ass would sit on the Britannian throne. He would continue Britannian policy. In the end, his supposed friendship with Suzaku had meant nothing. He still allowed the guards to handle him.
The house was silent as she entered. She never noticed before how often her mother timed her duties to be in the downstairs foyer when she entered. She had been so blind to her mother's sacrifices.
Sighing, she climbed the steps and collapsed on her bed. What would she do now? She had slapped the future Emperor of Britannia. And he had done nothing, only gingerly touching his cheek and watching her with a cold impassive smirk.
She hated him. She really did. Why was someone like him granted power? He didn't deserve it. Even Milly would be preferable. At least she had passion. Lelouch was so empty, like he was a corpse about to die. The idea that he could—would kill no longer felt so alien.
Yet... Milly's frantic words hung in her mind. The Emperor's little tale of a son lowering himself to play among the commoners to become a better ruler was incomplete. There was something missing. The Emperor hadn't mentioned Nunnally at all, and in every speech he reminded them that the weak had no right to live.
What was she missing?
Curious, she rolled over to grab her laptop. In a matter of hours, the internet had been filled with countless articles concerning Lelouch vi Britannia. The official press release from the royal family was as bare bones as they came. The reporters were spinning wild yarns, none of which remotely aligned with the Lelouch she had come to know.
He had never been exemplary. When he wasn't skipping classes, he slept through them. He had no girlfriend and seemed utterly oblivious to Shirley's affections. For the most part, he kept to himself. His only friends seemed to be on the student council, and she only ever saw him truly smile when he looked at Nunnally. The one thing he had going for him were his good looks.
What had it been that Milly said? His sister had an accident after his mother's death.
Frowning, she clicked on another article. It was strange that there was not a mention of whoever had to be Consort vi Britannia. She should be giving interviews regarding her son's unexpected honor. Was she truly dead? Who was she?
Finally, on a small amateur blog, Kallen found a mention. Consort Marianne vi Britannia... a commoner?
The woman was a ghost. Her name brought back one result from the official list of members of the royal family. There was nothing personal. No achievements to her name. Not even a picture. Only a birthdate and a death: March 2009, the spring before the invasion of Japan.
"Kallen," snapped her step-mother. "Come out here, now!"
Rolling her eyes, she closed her laptop and opened the door. "What?"
The woman pushed a picture before her nose, making it far too blurry to determine any details. "Explain this."
Kallen winced and grabbed the picture. It was Lelouch, but what she hadn't noticed before was there was someone behind him, out of focus. She was eating ice cream, and her hair was a distinctive red. Her skin crawled.
She knew when the picture had been taken and had seen no one.
"What do you want me to say?" Kallen asked, voice flat. What if the Black Knights recognized her? Ohgi could perhaps understand, but Tamaki was incapable of keeping his mouth shut. What if they called her a traitor to the cause? Here she was, seemingly enjoying herself with the future Emperor of Britannia.
She grit her teeth and glowered. Even when he wasn't there, Lelouch still managed to be a bastard.
"What is your relationship?" her step-mother demanded and grabbed her arm. Her nails dug into her skin as she pulled her forward. "Do you think you can embarrass this family without repercussions? You are far too dirty to even intrude on his presence."
Ripping her arm free, Kallen glared. "He was posing as a normal student. Not everything is about you. I couldn't care less about what you thought."
"Think girl," she hissed. "You have a savage's temper. Did you do anything that could threaten this family?"
Kallen raised her chin defiantly. She had slapped him; he deserved it. "So what if I did?"
"Don't be a fool. He can destroy us." She snatched her wrist again and yanked her abruptly forward to the maids waiting, peeking around the corner. "You will embaress this family no longer. I have had enough of your escapades. You will clean up and apologize for whatever slight you inevitably committed."
"Let go of me," Kallen screamed.
Her step-mother smirked cruelly. "Lilianna, be a dear and remove the trash from my daughter's room. And the old maid's room too."
"What?" Kallen lunged forward desperately. "No!"
"Then behave," her step mother demanded. She leaned in, whispering in her ear, "You try anything, step one foot out of line, and I will personally burn your brother's belongings. Nod if you understand. Good girl."
Nauseous, Kallen let them lead her away into the powder room and sat perfectly still as they trimmed her hair of its split ends and did her nails. A tight red dress slipped over her shoulders and the lace was roughly tightened from behind her. Tweezers approached her face and her eyebrows were plucked as another servant busied themselves with removing the stray hair from her arms. A gentle make up brush moved over her face.
The doorbell rang in the background. Probably a reporter who had tracked down the mysterious girl in the photo. Kallen was going to kill Lelouch for this indignity. She would beg Zero to give her revenge. First, she needed to escape the witch's clutches.
Heavy footsteps entered the powder room, and Kallen glanced up at the mirror. Ice ran down her back as the Knight of One watched her with an amused expression.
How? What? Why?
Her step mother, posture submissive, fawned at his side. "And here is my daughter, Kallen. It is quite an honor for you to take an interest in her. She is just freshening up right now. I have some wonderful refreshments to tide you over as you wait."
The Knight of One ignored her, his eyes boring into Kallen. "Girl, you're coming with me."
"My lord," her step-mother protested. For once, Kallen was thankful for her interference.
"Now."
Shakily, Kallen rose as the servants stepped back. She clasped her hands behind her back to hide the tremors. Her sickly act was far too easy to adopt when faced with the Knight of One's glare. "What can I do for you, my lord?"
He rolled his eyes and didn't wait for her as he spun around. Lifting up the hem of her dress, she stumbled after him, only stopping to put on the heels her step-mother shoved into her arms. She wobbled with each step she took. Fuck heels.
The Knight of One impatiently waited at the door. His hand fell on the exposed portion of her back, pushing her forward. She never thought the Knight of One would be so rude. He was a fighter first, clearly. The Emperor sent him to get the job done, not bother with political pleasantries.
An armored car waited in their driveway. She slipped inside, feeling like she was sealing her fate.
Bowing her head, she adopted a meek voice. "My lord, what is this about?"
He glared as he slipped into the seat across from her. "Drop the act. It won't do you any favors."
Her polite smile slipped. "Act, my lord?"
"I highly doubt you are simpering when walking among the Black Knights or when frying our best pilots in that red knightmare of yours."
"I—" Her stomach clenched painfully. She was dead. "I don't understand—"
"Kallen Kozuki," he answered. "Your mother was a maid in your household before she was arrested for Refrain possession."
She crossed her arms. Why couldn't he have arrived before she was all dolled up for her own execution. "Should I be honored that they sent the big bad knight for little old me?"
A ghost of a smile gleamed in his eye. "I would hardly call you little while accruing such a high kill count in a month."
Her eyes narrow. "Then why am I not restrained?"
"Do you think you could take me like this?" he asked, his voice deceptively light. It did not match the natural harshness of his face and the eye welded shut. "You do not have a knightmare now, girl."
"I won't talk." Kallen cursed the slight waver in her voice. She had heard the rumors of what Britannia did to its prisoners. The cruelties they experienced to get them to talk... or just for good old fun. "I don't know who Zero is, anyway. It doesn't matter what you do; I can't tell you that."
Contemplative, he leaned back and observed her. "Really?"
"Zero always wears a mask," Kallen insisted, neglecting to mention that she could've easily discovered who he was. That he offered to tell her. It emboldened her that he trusted her that much. She had regretted turning him down, now she was relieved. She would never betray Japan.
"We already know Zero's identity," the Knight of One said. He tilted his head. "And this is not truly an arrest. You will be treated as the daughter of Baron Stadtfeld should, instead of the terrorist you are."
"What?" Kallen asked.
They knew? How could they possibly know? Zero was meticulous. He would never let his identity be carelessly exposed. None of the Black Knights knew who he was. A spy would have uncovered nothing. And if they were not interrogating her, not even arresting her, why was she here?
"What do you want from me?" Kallen asked. Was she being leveraged against her father? Business kept him chained to Pendragon, but they were no one of importance.
He leaned forward, folding his hands beneath his chin. "Apparently, Lelouch is seemingly fond of you."
"This is about the picture?" she asked, scandalized and relieved. "We're not together!"
"Rumors suggest the contrary," he said.
"He's a Britannian prince. I'm a fucking terrorist!" she screeched. Were they all stupid? Insane? What the fuck was wrong with them? "I would never even let him touch me."
The Knight of One had the audacity to look amused.
By the Emperor, she was fucked. He had the completely wrong idea, and nothing she did would dispel that notion without being executed. She could tell him she slapped him, but she wasn't eager to die just yet.
"She would have liked you," he said.
Kallen crossed her arms. "Who?"
"Marianne, his mother."
"Right." The word dripped with skepticism. Still, she looked at him oddly, surprised that he would raise her. "There is nothing on her online."
He grew thoughtful. "She was something to behold. She once rode into the throne room on horseback because Irvine had been insulting her children. I've never seen Charles so flummoxed. She was a pilot as well, undefeated. So yes, she would like you. She always respected people who had drive, even if she was busy skewering them for daring to insult her."
"I won't fight for Britannia," she said clearly. Perhaps the woman had been great, but she had been erased. That was what awaited her down this path. She was no fool, and if Lelouch had any improper thoughts, she would kill him or die trying.
She had to have faith that Zero would rescue her. The Black Knights needed her, and if anyone could outsmart Britannia, it was Zero.
As Euphemia watched her sister frantically pace the room after the Emperor revealed that Lelouch was alive, she could not shake a horrible suspicion. Their intelligence suspected that Zero had a deep, personal hatred for Britannia. Her own brief meeting with Zero hinted at much the same but also an unnerving familiarity. He knew her, and she, him.
Was Lelouch Zero?
The story their father had concocted was bullshit. She knew that Lelouch had been forcibly cast out, sent off to die in Japan. That he had survived was a miracle. Had Nunnally?
But why would the Emperor choose him as his heir? Did he know Lelouch was Zero? Did he smirk from his throne as sibling clashed against sibling? She knew he didn't care. If he had, he would've shown an ounce of compassion to Lelouch and Nunnally. He would have mourned Clovis, instead of using his funeral to push state propaganda.
The Emperor had chosen his heir; it was oddly fitting that it would be the son who could stand against Britannia's most successful general.
"We're going to see him, right?" Euphie asked.
Cornelia came to an abrupt halt. "Guilford!"
Yes. They were. And she hoped Lelouch would have an explanation for why he had allowed them to believe he was dead for so long. Why he hadn't revealed himself. Why he had killed Clovis, his own brother.
By the time they arrived at Ashford Academy, a crowd had already formed, barely held off by the soldiers securing the perimeter. Cornelia glowered as the soldier at the gate asked for the driver's identification. He caught sight of Cornelia and paled before hurriedly waving them through.
"Sloppy," Cornelia complained. "What if I was an imposter? Don't they know that every assassin in Britannia is making their way here."
Euphie rolled her eyes. "You are too scary to impersonate."
"Don't be ridiculous." Cornelia stared out of the window as students clustered the side of the road in awe. "We need to increase security. Lelouch will need a knight... Nunnally, as well, hopefully."
"Father said he would finish the school year," Euphie said softly, wrapping her arms around herself. "He has to know how dangerous it is... Do you think he intends for him to die?"
Cornelia's lips thinned. "I do not know what he thinks. Bismarck's presence suggests otherwise. He is prepared for trouble. He must have brought half of Britannia's intelligence operatives to Area Eleven. Maybe they can do some good and rid us of Zero. He will be coming for Lelouch."
Euphie grimaced and slowly parted the curtains to peek out of her window. The students looked so happy here. The noble children in Pendragon were always tense, ready for the next threat. It was nice here; she hoped Suzaku was enjoying his time here as well. "Do you think I can join Lelouch?"
"Absolutely not," Cornelia snapped. "You were already held hostage, twice. You are far safer in the palace."
"Isn't Lelouch as well?" Euphie asked. "We could concentrate our security. It would make things far easier."
"Two royals is a far too tempting target. Unfortunately, the Emperor has made the decision for Lelouch."
Euphie nodded sadly. "I can't believe he's going to be the Emperor."
"Me neither," Cornelia grumbled as the car rolled to a stop and she pushed open the door, not waiting for the driver to run around and do it for her.
In the building before him, a figure moved away from the upstairs window.
The door opened, and Euphie gasped at the recognizable figure who stepped through. Lelouch. It was Lelouch. She could scarcely believe her eyes. It was one thing to see his picture. It was another to see him in person, living, breathing, his eyes narrowed with anger. He had changed. She knew he had. The young boy she used to play with would never have become Zero. Never have murdered Clovis.
"Sisters," Lelouch greeted coldly. His gaze was filled with contempt, eerily reminiscent of their father when he turned down Cornelia's requests. "Let us head inside."
Euphie waved at the assembled students and followed him with some trepidation. Yes. She could see him as the Emperor. The thought terrified her.
A much brighter and more cheerful voice exclaimed, "Euphie, Cornelia! It's good to meet you again."
Her breath stalled in her throat. "Nunnally!"
Lelouch had positioned himself next to her, his posture rigid and prepared to interfere at any moment. Guards wearing Bismarck's distinctive badges waited by the far door. She hated that he considered them a threat.
Ignoring the tension in the room, Nunnally rolled forward, extending one hand. Euphie dropped to her knees and grabbed it. She was alive. Swallowing a sob, she threw herself forward and hugged her tightly.
"Lelouch," Cornelia said with a hint of warmth. "I see the rumors of your death were greatly exaggerated."
"Disappointed?" he mocked.
"No! I thought you were dead! I mourned you, Lelouch! I'm thrilled that you are alive, even if I'm surprised by the circumstances."
Like their father, Lelouch's expression didn't waver for a moment. How was it that despite not being in court for years that he could so expertly hide his emotions? He would've been safe here, hiding among the commoners. He had no need for such deceptions.
"Will you contest my position?" Lelouch asked.
"Father has decided," Cornelia answered.
"Then why are you here?" The note of suspicion was like a dagger through her heart.
"Lelouch," Nunnally reprimanded. "They're family. Please..."
"They left us to die," Lelouch hissed, his eyes fixed on Cornelia. His eyes darted to her, and for a moment his gaze softened. "It is good to see you again, Euphie. Would you and Nunnally mind going upstairs?"
"Lelouch," Nunnally snapped. "She's my sister too! I am for one delighted to say hello to her again. Cornelia, please. Would you join us for some tea?"
While her brother glowered, he didn't object. Euphie raised a hand to hide her smile. Some things apparently never changed; he still doted on Nunnally.
An Eleven maid bowed her head as they moved into the sitting room. She set the tea cups out with practiced grace, on par with any servant in the palace. Cornelia's eyes narrowed distrustfully regardless.
"May I hug you?" Euphie whispered.
Lelouch's eyes widened, and he nodded hesitantly. She didn't give him a moment to reconsider, launching herself at him and wrapping her arms around his thin, bony shoulders. He smelled strange, but he was warm and his pulse thrummed steadily against her fingers.
"Are you eating enough?" Euphie asked in concern.
Huffing, he withdrew and crossed his arms. "Nobody is starving here."
"Master Lelouch," the Eleven interrupted with a sandwich. "You skipped lunch."
"Lelouch gets distracted," Nunnally whispered conspiratorially, "and then he forgets to eat. We have to remind him constantly. Last year, he fainted because he forgot to eat the entire day because he was playing chess."
"You still play?" Cornelia asked.
"Oh yes," Nunnally said, voice pitched over Lelouch's. "He has some ten different pseudonyms when he goes out. It's how he pays for all my medical expenses."
"That's nice..." Cornelia's brow furrowed. "Gambling? Lelouch!"
"You do not get to reprimand me," Lelouch said. He set aside his sandwich and took a seat. "Tell me, how was I supposed to survive? No one was going to offer a child a job, nor would they pay enough to cover Nunnally's expenses."
Cornelia leaned forward. "You could've come home. We hoped for months that we would hear news of your survival. I held Euphie as she cried herself to sleep, promising her that if anyone could survive it was you."
"Yet did you speak in my defense when I was exiled?" Lelouch hissed. "Did you say anything to the Emperor as we were discarded as political hostages? Or what about who killed my mother? For all I know, that was you."
"I would never—!"
"Except how can I trust you when everyone—" Lelouch inhaled. "When everyone turned their backs on us? We were left to die, dear sister of mine. I do not know what game the Emperor is playing, but I intended to stay dead. None of you are family to me. I reject all of you."
Did he really hate them so much? Euphie ducked her head, biting her lip to fight the burgeoning tears. A small delicate hand settled on her lap, and she grabbed it desperately, grateful for Nunnally's comforting squeeze. Her brother hated her. He was Zero. That hatred let him slay Clovis, and now he would become the Emperor of a nation he despised. Did their father even know the depth of Lelouch's feelings?
What was he thinking? What was he planning?
Their father would never just peacefully retire. He had claimed this Empire with blood and tears. He would only leave it the same way.
"I begged," Cornelia pleaded. "I begged Father to allow me to look for you. I begged for weeks, filing request after request for a private audience. When he told me that I could not take a small unit, I said I would go by myself. He denied me. But still, I tried. I asked Clovis, Guinevere, and Odysseus. I asked them all to use every resource at their disposal to find you two. In the end, Clovis wormed his way into becoming the viceroy but he still could not find you. We kept looking long after the official reports had announced your death. We did everything we could with the Emperor in our way."
His eyes judged them and condemned them. "Obviously, you did not do enough."
I would tag this as Kallen/Lelouch, but I'm not 100% sure this will pan out instead of merely hinting at it. So until I am completely sure, I'm refraining from tagging it as such so I won't be guilty of false advertising.
Chat with me on the discord: discord . gg / MFKuCGYxcT