There were advantages to being forgotten; it afforded Nunnally far more mobility than her brother. The guards barely checked to ascertain that she was in her room, and with loyal Sayoko at her side, she finally had someone who would act upon her desires.

Her brother could remain busy, cocooned in the suffocating embrace of their father's men, never alone, not even with her. If only his well deserved time in the spotlight didn't come at such a tremendous cost.

The board had been set and each one of them had become a carefully considered piece, even the ever loyal Bismarck. Did her father have a role for her in this game?

Or did he see her as unworthy of even participating, as his many speeches seemed to suggest?

It stung that he had still not deigned to speak to her. If she could only have the opportunity to ask her own questions, judge his tone of voice with the clarity of her own ears, then perhaps, she could finally glimpse his vision.

"They won't notice?" Nunnally asked as Sayoko's too soft footsteps approached.

Her warm hand clasped hers, and barely loud enough to be heard, she said, "If they ask, we will tell them we were in the gardens and not one could prove otherwise."

"What are you?" Nunnally whispered because that confidence was far beyond what she would expect of a bodyguard assigned by Ashford.

"I am yours, Nunnally-no kimi," she whispered in Japanese. "I will be your sword 'till the end of times."

Nunnally's chest clenched, and she withdrew her hand, overwhelmed by such incredible sincerity. She had never believed Sayoko would betray them, despite her brother's frantic worries, yet to expect more felt presumptuous. Sayoko was merely a constant in their life, the strong oak tree that would withstand every storm.

She had also avoided the question.

"Then we shall go," Nunnally ordered. Whatever secrets their protector held could wait. Sayoko had never pried into their affairs.

Sometimes, Nunnally wondered if that flutter of affection for her meant she was betraying her mother.

Going outside of the campus was like attending a street performance of experimental music. Where before there was a steady and constant high pitched thrum of chatter, low uneven rumbles characterized the city. Discordant elements blended together, turning chaos into regularity.

Sometimes, she imagined herself living in this chaos, recognizing the world by the plentiful landmarks of putrid stenches, storefront jingles, and regular lamp posts.

"This way," Sayoko bid, trusting her to follow the sound of her voice. "Are you sure about this?"

"No," Nunnally admitted, but her father had promised the throne as part of his game, and she would do her part to ensure her brother received it. He had sacrificed so much for her and deserved to get something back. "But it is necessary."

Sayoko hummed, displeased, but kept her silence as they entered the building. An old rickety elevator brought them downstairs, and Nunnally tapped her fingers anxiously on the edge of the joystick.

"I am here," Sayoko reassured, her dress swishing strangely. "They will not harm you."

Nunnally grinned, ignoring the knot of anxiety slowly tightening around her neck. She could do this.

If the Emperor of Britannia decided to play a game with you, it didn't matter how well one played. The Emperor controlled the board; he decided the victor.

They exited into a room buzzing with the sound of dying electrical lights. The pipes behind the walls sputtered and gurgled. One side was strangely muffled, suggesting furniture or people.

"It's clear," a man said from ahead. His English was far too carefully articulated for a native speaker. "They came alone."

"Kaguya," Nunnally demanded, rolling forward. "Let us discuss terms as you suggested."

The muffled edge moved, and Kaguya laughed as she stepped forward. "You are quite the demanding princess. I would say agreeing to my terms like that was rather foolish."

Her voice was too rounded, relaxed, for it to be a threat, but Sayoko shifted regardless, and a small quiet chime of metal rang beneath her dress.

"Is it?" Nunnally asked. "I'd slit my throat before letting you turn me into a hostage against my brother, and then all his rage would turn against the Japanese resistance. All that goodwill he has for your people, gone."

"Nunnally," Sayoko hissed.

"Did you come to talk or entrap me?" Kaguya asked. "You should know, plenty of Britannian agents have conspired to frame me for treason and twist my hand into obedience."

"I don't need you for that if that was my goal." Nunnally sniffed. "It's rather obvious that Kirihara heads the mysterious Kyoto group."

Metal screeched, and Nunnally ducked her hand, throwing up her arms and hoping the bracers Sayoko had sown in would be enough. Saying that had perhaps been too reckless.

A heavy thud hit the floor.

"Well, it seems you removed a spy from my entourage," Kaguya said lightly, her footsteps coming closer. "And that your attendant is much more than she looks. How in the world did you get one of the Shinozaki on your payroll?"

Nunnally forced a smile, hoping it appeared mysterious instead of painfully confused. She couldn't hear the man breathing. Sayoko had killed him in the time it took for her to duck.

They desperately needed a more candid conversation, but not now, not here.

"Had you mentioned that…" Kaguya mumbled before clearing her throat, her voice becoming much more chipper. "So important things first, is my dear cousin still alive? Or has he met the pointy end of the Viceroy's sword?"

Nunnally snorted. "He's been moping ever since Lelouch figured out that he could discharge people. Honestly, you would think the world ended, and instead of apologizing to Lelouch for lying, he complains to me about how unfair it is." She crossed her arms. "He lied to me too."

"Oh?"

Nunnally paused, then shrugged. She was in a much too disadvantageous position to afford being stingy with information. "He was a knightmare pilot."

"That's… most unexpected," Kaguya murmured. "Well, it seems I have something to thank your brother for, but throwing my support behind him is problematic. The Japanese resistance is buoyed by hope."

"Because of Zero."

"Yes, because of Zero who has been unusually quiet despite the extraordinary occasion."

There was a question there which Nunnally was terrified to broach. Her brother's passion and hatred had always run deep, and he had been so busy as of late.

"I think Lelouch admires him," Nunnally said, letting her unease bleed through. "He killed Clovis, though. That doesn't allow for much room in negotiation."

Kaguya shifted, her shoes scraping against the floor. "I know he was your brother, as well. I'm sorry."

A painful stone lodged in her throat.

"I am sympathetic, Nunnally. I live in a cage myself, bound both by Japan and Britannia. If I lean too far to one way, the other side will strangle me. There is simply not much I can do. Risking my neck for unsubstantiated promises…"

"What about privately?" Nunnally cut in. "Of all the local newspapers, only one speaks of my brother favorably. You're not connected to us; you could sway things. I need you to be an outside player, else the Emperor or the nobles will win."

"Maybe, but what guarantee do I have?"

Nunnally rolled forward. "Me. My brother has always doted on me, and he'll honor the promises I make to keep me happy. Please, trust me. I'll sign, or rather stamp, whatever is necessary."

Kaguya's footsteps slowly approached until she stood by her wheelchair. Her cold hands brushed against her arm. "Anything? Even if I asked for Japan's freedom? Or to be your brother's bride?"

"I think the latter would just be another gilded cage." Hopefully, the heat in her cheeks wasn't visible. "As for Japan, I can ask, but it's beyond my ability to promise."

Kaguya flitted away, her footsteps dancing across the floor like raindrops. There was a rustle of paper, the swish of fabric rubbing against the floor, and the agonized scratch of a pen running across a bumpy floor.

Being taken seriously felt strange. Not even Lelouch did that, treating her always as the adorable little sister to be protected.

"You do have your stamp?" Kaguya confirmed as she returned. "Your brother doesn't have to agree, but the seal of the Emperor's true blooded sister has value."

Nunnally patted her side, finding the slit for the pocket. Slowly, she withdrew her insignia ring. It wasn't complete, fit only for a child instead of an adult, but it proved her identity. Lelouch didn't know she had kept hers; he had lost his before they flew to Japan.

Given that they had been in hiding, she shouldn't have kept hers, but it was the only memento she still had from her mother.

"What am I signing?" Nunnally asked.

"Does it matter?" Kaguya sighed, setting the paper in her lap. "A pardon for all Japanese crimes before today, barring Zero, and a recognition of Japan."

"I'm surprised you didn't ask for independence."

"And be accused of manipulating you? Better to do something that won't start a riot. If you could wait for a moment, I'd like to record this."

"Of course." Nunnally futilely fought against the smile tugging at her lips. If only she could tell Lelouch what she had accomplished. There were too many ears at home. He had gained one valuable backer here, importantly out of the Emperor's reach.

With this, she could begin forming something more substantive.

But first, Zero needed to be defeated. No, he could not become a martyr. He needed to be discredited so that Lelouch could claim Japan's support without opposition.

Lelouch clicked his teeth in annoyance as he skimmed through the mountain of tips submitted by the students.

Dear Caspian hadn't turned himself in, predictably calling in sick for the rest of the week. That kid was the opposite of bright, but Lelouch shouldn't complain. It made surveilling him so much simpler as he fruitlessly called the same number again and again.

Not doing all the intelligence work himself was nice. The agents had already confirmed the phone line had been closed hours after the attack on Ashford began.

Unfortunately, that left Lelouch with very few leads. Arresting Caspian would unfortunately be a dead end. He was too stupid to know anything of value.

"Maybe I should geass him," Lelouch mumbled.

"Your trap not going to your liking?" Bismarck said, amusement tinged his voice. "The mastermind is a professional, not an overly emotional teenager."

Lelouch scowled. "The nobles in the Area are easily duped."

"True," Bismarck said darkly. "Incompetent and corrupt buffoons. In the long run, removing Clovis strengthens Britannia."

"He was my brother," Lelouch hissed, his fingers splayed against the table. It had been so simple to take his life, but just remembering the mist of blood— His chest burned.

"Don't get sentimental. Zero would always have to climb a pile of your siblings' corpses. I wonder what he would've done if Nunnally had been put before him."

"Don't!" Lelouch snarled, jumping to his feet and glaring at Bismarck's scarred face. "Clovis killed thousands of innocent people! He didn't care at all."

"There is no need to justify it. The throne was enough of a reason for your father to dispose of hundreds of relatives, many who simply wanted to live in peace."

"I am nothing—" Lelouch shook his head and slowly unclenched his fist. He was not an overly emotional teenager who could be so easily manipulated. "Are you here for an actual reason or do you just want to pester me?"

"Do you think your little terrorist subordinate won't ask you such hard questions?" Bismarck asked. "You are hardly going to convince her of anything if you lash out."

"Convince her of what?"

Bismarck paused, then shrugged. "To denounce Zero and fight for Prince Lelouch."

Laughter erupted from his throat.

"You better hope that you can convince her."

His laughter died. "What do you mean?"

"She is being treated well for now, but as a terrorist, she holds no value."

"She—"

Lelouch grit his teeth. What could he say? She was a phenomenal fighter, but that only made her valuable to Zero.

"Why even bother," Lelouch asked, "if you're only going to have her rot in a cell or swing from the gallows? She was one of my first recruits. They're not ideologically flexible."

"Nostalgia doesn't justify this," Bismarck grumbled. He considered him for a moment. "While the reasoning was flawed, the outcome is fortuitous. Her value lies in what she means to you, and her execution would have made your cooperation more… difficult."

So, Kallen would be another leash around his neck. He should be glad that Nunnally has escaped attention.

"I will behave," Lelouch said, dipping his head. "She can hate me; I don't care as long as she's fine."

He would find a way to free her later, once his father and Bismarck thought they had sufficiently ensnared his mind.

"Convince her, Lelouch," Bismarck whispered. "Death is not the worst fate that awaits her."

A fate worse than death? If she was merely a way to control him, then they had no reason to torture her for her disobedience.

Nostalgia…

What had Bismark meant? She was a minor noble, an eager fighter, a knightmare pilot…

His skin prickled in unease.

Would the Emperor really claim a new wife, now?

Watching Bismarck's retreating back, Lelouch had to admit that the Knight of One would likely know best.

Getting Kallen back to Japan had just jumped to the top of his priority list. Surely, there was something he could offer to Bismarck to expedite her return "home". He would convince Kallen that the sky was green if that was what it took for her to follow him.

How hard could it be?

He was suddenly very thankful for the ocean between them to foil any stabbing attempts.

As the week reached the end, Kallen made sure to maintain her mask, being painfully polite and swallowing every protest. It was eerily similar to her school girl persona, if Kallen hadn't been pretending to be sick enough to be felled by a breeze.

Strangely, Anya hated her act. Every time Kallen meekly bowed her head, her nose would scrunch in irritation. Their knightmare bouts had become increasingly brutal as a result.

Their spars were the only time Kallen let the mask drop, venting her frustrations into every strike.

"I'm impressed," her father said Sunday morning. "You've been doing quite well.'

Kallen glared, stabbing her pasta with far too much force. "I'm glad that you are happy. I am this close to using this fork to gouge out my eyeball. If you think any of this will convince me, then you're delusional."

Her father poured himself another cup of water. "You are playing along, though. There is so much this life can offer you. With a little bit of effort to network, you could easily do so much good. No single pilot will ever take down Britannia."

"Good thing the revolution is more than a pilot." Kallen leaned back, crossing her arms. "If I behave, I have the chance to talk to Lelouch."

"Crown Prince Lelouch," her father chided.

Kallen rolled her eyes. "The pretentious asshole. It doesn't matter. I want to know what fucking bullshit he feeds me. How he's going to justify all this fucking shit."

"Please don't swear..." He sighed. "I can't decide whether to be grateful or not for His Highness. Without Zero, you would've never drawn such attention, allowing me to shelter you from repercussions until you inevitably grew disillusioned with—"

"Disillusioned?" Kallen gaped. Did her father think her commitment to her people was so fickle? She would rather die than live in endless bound servitude, forced to forever avert her eyes from the pointless suffering around her.

"—rebellion. But had Zero been anyone else, we wouldn't have the luxury of this conversation. His Majesty rarely finds the softer option worth the effort... I truly failed you, Kallen. I'm sorry."

"I think a traitor like you leaving me to my own devices is probably the best thing you could've done for me," Kallen spat. "Although, letting your wife abuse my mother so badly that she turned to Refrain is entirely your fuck up."

"Your mother's suffering only brings me sorrow, Kallen. She is getting the best treatment in the country now. I have no doubt that she will recover." Her father leaned forward, sliding his hand across the table to her. "Trust me, please. Your act won't fool the Emperor. His Majesty is far too shrewd for such irreverent false loyalties. But if you give him what he wants, play your cards right, and hold your not-boyfriend's heart tight, you could be something more than a subordinate or a wife, but a partner.. to the Emperor of Britannia. You have power, Kallen."

She shoved her chair back as her appetite abruptly vanished. Oh, she had caught the implications from Anya's incessant badgering.

They saw her as not only a knight, but a future wife. Was this why her father constantly hinted at a terrible end if she refused? Because the Emperor saw her as a doll to throw at his son as a little reward

The door swung shut, sealing her father's confused protests inside. She hated him, yet she couldn't find a way to stop loving her father. He was a traitor, yet she still relaxed into his embrace.

In this island of chaos, he was her sea of tranquility.

"Good, you're ready," Anya greeted outside Kallen's quarters. Her smirk promised pain. "I hope you're not planning on acting meek forever. It doesn't suit you."

Kallen bit her tongue and took a steadying breath. "I apologize "

Anya's eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared in frustration. "Come."

Lethargy and the vague smell of antiseptics penetrated the Emperor's office. The man, while clearly ill, still held the Empire tight in his grip.

Anya skipped ahead and knelt right beside the Emperor, her head a hair breadth away from resting on his knees. Kallen averted her gaze, her skin prickling in disgust.

Could she kneel? Protocol dictated she must, but even this mask had its limit. To voluntarily take a knee before her greatest enemy?

But she needed to talk to Lelouch. She needed to make them think she could be swayed. She needed to kneel.

It didn't mean anything.

It did.

Swallowing, Kallen chose to bow, to bare her neck and desperately hope he would be satisfied.

"A quite accomplished actress when she is properly motivated, isn't she?" The Emperor chuckled. "An obedient dog deserves its reward."

Her nails dug into her side as she struggled not to snap. She wouldn't last another week here.

Slowly, the Emperor pushed himself upright, accepting Anya's hand to assist him. His steps grew steadier as he cleared his desk. A massive hand settled on her shoulder. "Connect the call."

Her eyes widened as she realized the camera before them, the infuriating position she was in. Desperately, she tried to step to the side, to free herself. The Emperor's hand crushed her shoulder, his thumb painfully digging into her shoulder blade.

To move would send her crashing down to the ground.

Ahead, the window revealed itself false, turning into the familiar Britannian sigil before fading to show Lelouch, with the Knight of One at his side.

"Your Majesty." The knight dropped to his knee, his head bowed.

Lelouch merely stared, his face frozen in horror. She hadn't realized he could be that expressive. He truly was nothing like his school persona.

"Manners, Lelouch," the Emperor chided.

Lelouch jerked, his hand crossing his chest. He bowed: short and stiff.

Finally, the Emperor's hand fell away, allowing Kallen to breathe.

"Bismarck reports that you did well this week. Fortunately, your skills are not just limited to sparking fires, but quelling them too. The attack"—What attack!—"demonstrates a need to further bolster your security."

"If you truly cared about my safety, you would pull me out of Ashford. There is only so much that a school can be fortified," Lelouch snarled. "No, I'm your bait, and if that's the form my execution will take, fine. But the students did nothing; they do not deserve to be caught in the crossfire as your enemies descend upon us."

That anger felt so out of place on his face. He was the easy going student council president with a belittling smile who never took anything too seriously. He was devoid of passion, even as he snarked.

A mask. They all wore them, but Kallen's had never felt more inadequate.

"I'm not sentencing you to your death," the Emperor said. "There are risks, but they are needed to finally have justice for your mother, like you asked."

"You exiled me for that," Lelouch snarled, pain and fury warring on his face. This, Kallen knew to be real. Without a doubt, Lelouch hated his father. "We didn't even have the chance to attend her funeral. Justice. That is not something you care an iota about. You don't care about her or us. Justice is merely a convenient excuse to hide your real reasons. If you want me to play along with this farce, at least do me the courtesy of being honest."

Throughout Lelouch's tirade, Kallen marveled at the baffling swarm of emotions crossing Bismarck's face. Grief, exasperation, amusement, and a hint of anger.

If anyone knew the Emperor's mind, it would be the Knight of One, yet he had settled on glaring at the Emperor, not Lelouch.

Maybe, there was a divide, but then who could offer a clue…

Her gaze landed on Anya who was watching the screen with eyes wide in wonder, as if Lelouch had hung the moon. The woman was constantly at the Emperor's side, darting around playfully and ignoring every social convention.

Had that gaze been directed at the Emperor, Kallen would've understood, although the thought creeped her out.

Maybe she was looking at Bismarck instead? Were they lovers?

Or could it be explained as her having a crush on Lelouch and schmoozing up to her would-be father-in-law.

The Emperor sighed. "You are not inclined to believe my truths, Lelouch. Nothing I could say would incline you towards me—"

"Because your actions and words do not align."

"My Knight of One is standing at your side. I would think that is clear enough."

"That you need a jailor who knows what geass is?"

Geass?

"Enough," the Emperor barked. "I do not have time for your childishness. You wished to speak to Kallen; here she is. If you won't listen to my answers, then pester those who know the truth of what happened."

His response felt like a retreat, and Kallen eyed the slight tremor to his hand. He was tiring, but apparently had too much pride to allow his son to see his fatigue.

Did Lelouch even know the extent of his father's illness? Her father's eyes were always filled with grief when he spoke of the Emperor. He would die soon.

That knowledge eased Kallen's heart which screamed murder at being forced into such a meek act.

Lelouch raised an eyebrow. "I would be happy to chat with Kallen, but I thought it was rude to pretend the Emperor wasn't there. Or do you intend to supervise the entire time, like we're a pair of four year olds on our first playdate?"

"A playdate?" the Emperor asked, bemused. "Given that the two of you buried Cornelia's army, leaving you two unsupervised would likely result in a new calamity. You have always been rather… creative."

Kallen crossed her arms, twisting around to glare at the man. "What the fuck would we even be able to do? I can't even walk alone for longer than a minute before a guard intercepts me. I bet even my bedroom is bugged. I've done everything you've told me too! Your Majesty."

Sure, she had expected their conversation to be monitored, but that was different than having the Emperor staring at the back of her neck.

"A gesture of good faith," Lelouch interjected. "You want me to believe you? Then start by being considerate of what I want, like sending my subordinate back. We've been behaving, haven't we?"

Verbally sparring with the Emperor wasn't exactly… behaving. But this was her chance, her chance to escape, to leave the hellhole of Pendragon behind. Undoubtedly, she would be trapped with Lelouch in another cage, but anything was better than here.

Even if Lelouch had lied about everything, Zero was purely a false idol, she would spare his life in return for getting her out.

Slowly, she sank to her knee, crossing her arm across her chest in the form, adopting the position of a proper knight bow.

"Kallen?" Lelouch asked, eyes blown wide in surprise. "What are you—"

"It seems she will kneel for you," the Emperor said. "She has been rather recalcitrant."

A flash of worry crossed his face before Lelouch's apathetic mask reasserted itself.

"Bismarck, your opinion?" the Emperor asked. "She has to complete her training, but I could send her along with Anya."

Before he finished his suggestion, Bismarck was already shaking his head. "That would only lead to more trouble." To the side, Anya pouted. "Prince Lelouch would benefit from trusting his guards and someone less… obtrusive. As for training, between myself and Euphemia, we should be able to handle it. His Highness will behave; the question is more, will she?"

Kallen trained her eyes on the ground, feeling the weight of their considering gaze. She had done nothing to assure them of her devotion to Lelouch. Anya might have been hinting at her becoming his wife, but that was very different from being a guard.

What could she say? Her freedom was slipping through her fingers. Anything she said would lack sincerity. She only knelt because Lelouch was offering her a way out.

She hadn't even had the chance to ask Lelouch all the questions on her mind.

"I'll demand her loyalty?" Lelouch suggested, his voice thick with hesitation. It sounded false, like when he was pretending to try and spare the rest of the student council from Milly's antics but actually eagerly anticipating them joining him in his misery.

She hated that voice so much. Really, everything about Lamperouge grated on her nerves. Yet, in a few words, Zero would inspire her.

Regardless, it was a stupid suggestion. Words could never convince them of her loyalty.

"That would work," the Emperor said. "You do have quite a useful gift, Lelouch."

Why would…

The Emperor has a way to force obedience, her father had warned. She thought he had meant through force or to bind her in a marriage. But what if it was something else?

A gift?

Zero had always been alarmingly capable of infiltrating Britannian bases, to pull out spies anywhere. Maybe, that would've made sense with an aged EU veteran who had years of experience. Or even a Britannian who had been building his revolution for decades.

Could Lelouch, supposedly an exiled prince, have had that kind of sway?

Or had the Emperor chosen him… because they shared a gift of turning enemies into friends?

I know Lelouch used his geass already on Kallen and she is immune... Charles and Bismarck don't know that though.

I'm focusing on drafting Excalibur this month so no more updates of any kind this month.

Chat with me on the discord: /MFKuCGYxcT