Chapter 18
A Familial Flavor
"I believe congratulations are in order, Sister Kallen," Sancia said with a slight smile. "As confident as His Eminence was that you would successfully acclimate as a member of the Order, life offers few sureties, and your return certainly warrants recognition."
"Thanks," Kallen responded with a wry smile of her own. "And Kallen is just fine, we're going to be working together pretty closely, I imagine. Or does the Order require us to maintain some degree of formality amongst ourselves as well?"
"Only to the extent that we ourselves desire," Sancia said. "Kallen it is, then. Please, call me Sancia in turn."
"Of course," Kallen said, her smile widening with slightly greater warmth. "So, what's on the itinerary for today?"
"Quite a few things," Sancia said as the two fell into step side by side. "There are some logistical matters regarding your posting at Ashford that needs sorting out, as well as onboarding you in general on procedures and protocols that accompany your duty as one of His Eminence's retainers."
"Would be nice to know what my actual job is," Kallen said with a nod.
"Varied, by all indications," Sancia said. "While at Ashford, you are to assist Lady Millicent in organizing and collating the progress of the reconstruction effort that Ashford Industries is undertaking, and likely put in personal showings at various events in accompaniment of her ladyship as another public face of the effort. Due to your fluency in Japanese, you will likely be making any public statements that might be necessary in that language."
"So we're going to announce my mixed heritage, just like that?" Kallen said as she regarded Sancia.
"The manner of the reveal will be at your discretion," Sancia said, "though the timing is something that we would like to have happen sooner rather than latter."
"Fair enough," Kallen said, then sighed slightly. "I suppose I should have a chat with my father beforehand. And my mother."
Sancia glanced over at Kallen in turn. "Are you concerned how that conversation will go?"
"A little," Kallen said. "I always knew it was coming, just didn't expect it to come about the way it has. But it's not something I can run away from, not anymore."
"It is best to settle matters with family when you have the chance," Sancia advised sagely. "All the better to have no regrets hanging over you later."
Coming from the older girl, Kallen knew it was more than mere platitudes. While the circumstances varied, almost all the other members of Lelouch's entourage were orphans, with even the cardinal himself having lost a parent. In that regard Kallen could be considered exceptionally lucky to still have both parents around to give her headaches.
"I'm scheduled to be dropping by my home this afternoon, so hopefully things will be sorted out then," Kallen thus said.
"I hope that will be so as well," Sancia said. "Now, with respect to your other duties, as the only geass wielder actually stationed at Ashford, it falls upon you to protect the other principals should the heretics put in a showing. While you undoubtedly know your way around a gun from your time as an insurgent, you do not possess the formalized training in security that will be essential to helping you carry out that charge."
Kallen could not argue with that. Even with the rather truncated training regime she was run through back at the Citadel, it was clear to girl that while she was a perfectly competent fighter, that was not the same as being a proficient soldier or guard. For one thing, for all Ohgi's attempts to carefully plan their operations, there was a significant amount of improvising when they actually took to the field. Some of that was inevitable, no plan of battle could be expected to survive contact with the enemy, but even the actions in the plan itself were improvisations. Rarely did they have the opportunity to actually try out any of the ideas proposed, and even something as basic as marksmanship was difficult to figure out ways to train for. Gunfire was rather loud, after all, so it was not like they could set up a shooting range in the city and expect it to go unnoticed.
After she was physically fit to move about vigorously again, Kallen was given a firsthand view of just how luxurious it was to be able to actually practice and train. Things that she had worked out on her own in terms of firearm technique were formalized and corrected, and even though that required unlearning certain instincts, Kallen could feel and even see the improvement in her proficiency with a gun. Along with her familiarity on how to maintain a gun. Indeed the one thing the Eden Vital instructors had insisted she be capable of doing before they let her anywhere near the firing range was how to fieldstrip, clean, and reassemble the standard issue pistol the Order used.
"I assume I won't actually be carrying around a gun during my day-to-day at Ashford?" Kallen asked.
"That depends on whether a sidearm would be concealable in the school uniform," Sancia answered frankly.
That elicited a raised eyebrow from the redhead. "And the Ashfords are okay with that?"
"They have been briefed," Sancia said. "Their permission has been granted, on the condition that we are able to maintain proper discretion. Regardless of whether you carry your sidearm with you during the school day, though, you will still be taking a standard loadout with you so that it is at least somewhat close to hand should the need arise."
The older girl swiped a keycard and pulled the door open. As Kallen entered, she found herself standing amongst a multitude of racked weapons. Considering Sancia's talk about weapons, it was hardly a surprise to find herself in the palace armory.
"Each member of His Eminence's entourage is provided with a standard combat kit," Sancia said, pulling out weapons and equipment from the rack. "Not all of your kit will accompany you when you go to Ashford, but for legal reasons, including issues of liability, it would be better for all involved if you were directly equipped by the Order instead of making use of the Ashford armory."
Soon enough a selection of equipment and a large bundle were spread out neatly upon one of the large tables.
"The M1911 and its compact variant," Sancia said, pushing forward two similar looking pistols, one with a shorter barrel. "Its relative thinness and size should allow for easy concealment. You should already be familiar with it from your training at the Citadel."
Kallen picked up one of the sidearms and looked it over. While the Britannian Armed Forces had transitioned away from the M1911 several decades ago, Eden Vital still used the venerable model as its standard issue sidearm. One reason her instructors had given was the greater stopping power of the .45 cartridge as compared to the 9mm rounds more modern pistols tended to be chambered for. Considering the powers heretical geass wielders might possess, that extra power was certainly warranted.
The other reason the Order favored the gun was its ease of concealment, even with the full-length model that Kallen had trained with. Because the rounds in a M1911 magazine were single stacked, the pistol itself ended up thinner. Combined with the shorter barrel of the compact version Kallen was now holding, it might actually be possible to hide the gun in her uniform somewhere, notwithstanding the metal detectors positioned at strategic points around the campus.
"If a more serious threat arises, this will be your primary," Sancia said, resting a hand on the assault rifle laying upon the table. "You likely recognize the M4A1 carbine."
Kallen set the pistol down and nodded. "It's the standard issue weapon for Britannian infantry."
"Correct," Sancia said. "Due to your operational environment however, the M4 that will accompany you to Ashford is equipped with a close quarters battle receiver, reducing the overall length of the weapon by over 4 inches. Should the need to use this inside academy grounds actually arise, the shorter length should help make it easier to wield."
"I can see that," Kallen said.
As was true of most resistance movements throughout history, the various Japanese cells could not afford to be particularly picky about what sorts of weapons they used. They certainly did not have a proper supply chain that allowed for uniform standards to be applied, and most cells just made use of whatever weapons they could scrounge up. The Howa Type 89s recovered from Japanese Army stockpiles were usually the go-to rifles, but as the years went on a not insignificant amount of Britannian arms also found their way into Japanese hands, either through theft or corruption.
The M4 carbine that was the standard issue assault rifle used by the Britannian Armed Forces was a case in point, with more and more cells adopting them due to ironically the ease with which magazines could be acquired for them. In fact the M4 had been Kallen's preferred rifle, for much the same reason as she was now being issued a CQBR version of the carbine, its reduced length and weight making them easier to wield than the Type 89s even with the slight reduction in range. Considering the urban environment that the resistance cell often found itself engaged in however, easier maneuverability was well worth that tradeoff.
Still, practicalities aside, it was rather impressive that the Ashfords were allowing someone who was ostensibly still an attending student to be bringing in a proper assault rifle onto school grounds. Kallen idly wondered just how Lelouch had managed to sell that proposition to the marquess, or perhaps it was Milly that needed convincing first.
"The magazines we are providing for the M4 are all full metal jackets," Sancia continued, "so watch your shots. Their high penetration capability means there is a significant chance of them going through a target and hitting something behind, or ricocheting if they hit a hard surface."
"I presume I'm getting FMJs because if I have to pull out the rifle, things have likely gone to hell that I'll probably need their armor piercing capabilities?" Kallen remarked.
"Quite," Sancia affirmed. "Frankly, it is a rather low probability that you would have need to resort to such extremes by yourself, seeing as reinforcements would rapidly converge should an incident occur. But better that you have the options available than to find yourself lacking in them."
"Makes sense," Kallen agreed.
"Your combat knife," Sancia said, moving onto the next piece of kit. "It also doubles as a ceremonial weapon that can be visible on your person during those times when you accompany His Eminence as part of his entourage."
The older grew drew the weapon from its sheath, revealing an ominous looking pitch-black blade.
"The blade is tungsten-carbide, so you are unlikely to need to sharpen its edge anytime soon," Sancia said. "Take care in how you wield it, as the hardness of the blade will usually mean something else gives first if it takes an impact."
"Yeah, that'll probably stop anyone that gets on the business end of that thing," Kallen remarked as she watched Sancia sheathe the weapon again.
"You may be surprised," Sancia said. "If His Eminence were to activate his full data fortification, he would laugh off any attempts by this blade."
Kallen frowned slightly in thought. "Just how flexible is His Eminence's geass? It's supposed to help project his desired perception upon the world, doesn't that mean the only limit is his imagination? And I guess how much his body can take?"
"You are correct on both counts," Sancia said, "and it is a certainty that the latter is a greater limit than the former. To effect great change upon the world requires a significant amount of physical information to be rewritten, a rewrite that in turn requires both energy and computation to perform. You yourself will be getting some firsthand experience with what His Eminence is capable of during your continued training."
"Oh, so the cardinal participates as well?" Kallen said, the edge of her lips quirking into a smirk.
"There is arguably no better training partner for a geass wielder than another geass wielder," Sancia said. "Often times we are the only ones that can really push each other to our limits."
"Looking forward to it," Kallen said, a wide smile now plastered over her face.
"Do take care not to underestimate His Eminence," Sancia said in a matter-of-factly tone. "His appointment as cardinal of the Order Militant of Eden Vital was very much based on merit and proper qualifications, including in his personal combat proficiency."
"Yeah, I heard about his duels with the convicted officers," Kallen said, her lips thinning. "To be honest, I was a bit surprised His Eminence did that. If I hadn't been on the receiving end of his conviction already, I would have had to reassess my opinion of him."
Sancia tilted her head as she regarded Kallen. "Oh?"
The older girl was clearly curious on what sort of impression Kallen held for their mutual liege, and the latter was perfectly fine with indulging her.
"The cardinal is someone possessed of deep convictions," Kallen stated. "He's confident, genuinely so, instead of merely presenting a front to mask his insecurities. Not that he doesn't have his own worries, but he doesn't feel any need to feign the lack of them with overinflated zeal. And because his confidence is genuine, even if there is a dash of arrogance, there's no malice behind it either." The girl flashed a fierce smirk. "That's not to say His Eminence isn't capable of malice, he just reserves it for those that truly deserve it. And when he decides to go for it, he does so with the full certitude of that confidence and doesn't hold back."
Sancia gave a slight nod. "An apt enough assessment of His Eminence. Though do not let his confidence undermine your faith in your own judgment. It is far too easy to be swept along by a charismatic leader, to the point where one stops thinking for herself."
"I'll certainly keep that in mind," Kallen said. "Though I get the distinct impression I'll have the rest of you to help keep His Eminence in line."
"Well, that is partly why the grandmaster assigned His Eminence to our cohort," Sancia said with a wry smile.
Kallen shared in the smile before looking down at another weapon on the table. "Considering His Eminence used similar looking blades in his duel, I assume this sword is not ceremonial?"
"Correct," Sancia said as she drew the sword, revealing a shiny, silvery blade. "Though His Eminence most certainly was not using this particular type of blade, even if there was a superficial resemblance."
The redhead tilted her head. "Oh?"
Angling the weapon such that the lower edge was facing Kallen, Sancia tightened her grip on the handle. A low, barely audible hum began, and Kallen felt a slight, fuzzy sensation prickle her skin. Narrowing her eyes, she saw a slightly blue sheen glow ever so dimly.
"What is that?" she asked.
"These spadroons have a sakuradite core that is reinforced with a titanium carbide frame," Sancia explained. "The core allows a high current charge to be sent along the length, creating a plasma field along the edge. Functionally, when the field is activated, the sword can cut through nearly anything, except another similarly sheathed blade. When two such fields come into contact, the similar charges repel each other."
Kallen was now regarding the glowing blade with a very, very wary eye. Fortunately Sancia deactivated the charge, having demonstrated the point, and put the blade away.
"As you have likely surmised, geass wielders are extraordinarily difficult enemies to fight," Sancia said. "Notwithstanding those whose geasses can manipulate one's perceptions, others are capable of physical manipulations that put them into the realm of superhuman. A handgun, or even an assault rifle with armor piercing rounds, sometimes warrants little more than irritation. The amount of conventional firepower that one would need to bring to bear would often result in unacceptably high collateral damage, never mind the probability of getting caught in the line of fire yourself. To that end, the Order has developed a series of weapons that can overcome, with some effort, the strongest data fortification that a geass wielder can be expected to project."
Kallen pursed her lips. "You keep saying that, data fortification. It's something that my instructors back at the Citadel also brought up, but I didn't get a very complete explanation."
"Ah, yes, the theoretical aspects of your training also need continuation," Sancia said with a nod. "Your induction and orientation have arguably seen some rather severe compression and truncation."
"Some," Kallen drawled with a smirk of her own. "So is there some sort of manual or guidebook that I can use to brush up on all these concepts?"
"Nothing that you can access away from the Citadel," Sancia said. "For obvious reasons, all technical information about code and geass are kept in secured databases that cannot be remotely accessed or digitally copied out under any circumstances."
"That makes sense," Kallen said, "but doesn't that massively complicate looking up anything you might need while out in the field?"
"Not really," Sancia said with a shrug. "Anya's geass lets her directly access the Citadel systems whenever the need arises, and she can verbally relay whatever information we need."
To that Kallen blinked blankly at Sancia. The girl returned the stare.
"You were briefed on the geass that each of us possess, correct?" Sancia asked.
"Umm, yeah," Kallen said with a choppy nod. "Dalque has super strength, Alice has super speed, Lucretia has extrasensory positional awareness, you have an intuitive mathematical acumen, and Anya has some sort of mental transference ability." She gave a slight shrug. "And assuming I'm understanding what mental transference means, the Citadel is still thousands of miles away. Are you seriously suggesting Anya's power has that kind of range?"
"Well, no, it arguably does not," Sancia conceded. "She is however in range of the Kamine Island thought elevator, which allows her to tap into the overall network and connect to the Antarctic thought elevator, effectively piggybacking her signal in the process."
Kallen's eyes lost focus for a moment as she tried to make sense of all that before she gave her head a shake.
"I'll have to take your word for it, that honestly sounds way too complicated to understand without a more detailed explanation."
"Fair enough," Sancia said. "And worry not, we will allocate some time to properly instruct you on the theoretical aspects of code and geass. A firmer understanding is important for more efficiently utilizing your own power, after all."
"That so? Well, I do have some practice being a diligent student."
The two girls looked at each other and exchanged a chuckle.
"So, am I taking the sword with me too?"
"No, seeing as it cannot be easily concealed," Sancia said. "It is also somewhat maintenance intensive, so it would be better for you to be issued one only for actual deployments."
"Makes sense," Kallen said.
"Your next piece of formal kit," Sancia said, opening a case and revealing, the Ashford School uniform.
Kallen's head cocked aside. "Hah?"
"You recall getting measured for clothes at the Citadel?"
The redhead looked down at the uniform she was wearing now. "Well, yeah. This one's tailored using those measurements, after all."
"And do you recall the explanation that accompanied why you needed custom tailored outfits?"
It took Kallen a moment to dredge up the memory. "Oh, yeah, something about how normal clothes wouldn't be able to withstand the physical strain that comes with my geass' power being used."
"Quite, especially when you possess an active manifestation that manipulates a fundamental force like Alice and Dalque's," Sancia said. "Yours is even more powerful considering it apparently manipulates multiple fundamental forces to achieve its effects. It really would not do to have your clothes shredded in the midst of battle."
Kallen felt a sweatdrop roll down her face. "Yeah, that would be kinda embarrassing."
Sancia gave a chuckle. "Your standard and combat uniforms were already prepared based on your measurements, and His Eminence had this one tailored after it was decided to station you at Ashford in a combat capacity. It is supposed to match perfectly the design the academy uses. Try not to lose any piece of it, these specialized outfits cost a pretty penny to make."
"I'll certainly do my best," Kallen assured her. "Any special washing instructions I need to be aware of?"
"Just drop it off here at the palace and we will take care of it," Sancia said. "You are also getting two, so you have a spare in case one is unavailable."
A practical enough consideration. By this point they had gone through almost all of the gear set out on the table. Almost, but not all. Sancia opened up another box, this one much smaller than the case storing the uniforms, and revealed a set of eyeglasses and a smartphone. Again Kallen regarded the other girl quizzically, seeing as she had perfect vision.
"Put this on," Sancia said, picking up and holding out a pair.
Kallen did so, presuming her question would be answered if she complied. Once the glasses were on, she looked over at Sancia again, and suddenly saw a tag with the woman's name floating next to her.
"What?" Kallen blurted out.
She lowered the glasses and the tag disappeared, and when she put them back on, it was there again.
"Augmented reality glasses," Sancia explained. "The personal identification feature that's on right now tells you who the person your eyes are currently focused on is. It can also highlight a specific individual, and it has a few other features that we can go over later."
"Huh," Kallen said, taking off the glasses and looking them over. "That's a pretty neat trick. How does it do that?"
"Are you asking about the computer vision algorithms that perform the object recognition and facial matching?" Sancia said with a slight smirk.
"Err, well, probably not," Kallen said.
Sancia let out a slight chuckle, then held up the smartphone. "There is a camera embedded in the frame of the glasses, and it transmits its feed to this phone. From here, the phone performs some initial processing, but the rest it offloads to some server on the internet that performs the actual heavy lifting. The results are sent back and the phone instructs the projection on the lenses to display the relevant AR tags."
"This feels like some sort of super spy gadget," Kallen said, taking the smartphone and looking it over.
At first glance, it did not look anything out of the ordinary compared to any other high-end phone that might be on the market today. Though it was a bit thicker and felt a bit heavier. And harder, too. In fact the frame felt like metal instead of glass or plastic. This thing was clearly built to emphasis durability over style.
"In practice most of the time it's used for more mundane purposes," Sancia said. "These glasses can be synchronized with some of the more specialized computer systems the Order provides and act as a remote control or control augmentation. There is also a microphone built in, and the temple tips are actually specialized speakers that can vibrate the back of your ear to let you hear things but which remain otherwise inaudible to others."
"Definitely a super spy gadget," Kallen said with a wide smirk.
"So long as you are in range of a cellular or wifi signal," Sancia responded.
The two women regarded each other before sharing a chuckle.
"Again, do take care with the glasses," Sancia said. "They may not have cost as much as your uniforms to make, but they are certainly in that order of magnitude."
"I can imagine," Kallen said, setting the glasses and phone back in the case. "So am I taking this stuff to Ashford myself, or is it getting delivered?"
"The weapons and more esoteric items we will handle," Sancia said. "Your dorm assignment has also been moved to a private single bedroom unit, to allow for you to store your equipment without the risk of a roommate stumbling upon them."
"Here's hoping I never have to actually make use of this stuff on school grounds," Kallen said earnestly.
"Indeed," Sancia agreed without reserve.
Looking down at the equipment, Kallen could not help but give a wry smile. It was rather amazing just how much her circumstances had changed over the past few months. From freedom fighter to church militant was certainly not the sort of path she would have ever expected to walk. But even with all the changes, plenty remained the same, both good and bad. And some things could yet get worse if she put it off for much longer.
"If we're done here, could I get a car to take me home?" Kallen asked.
"Hmm," Sancia tilted her head instead of immediately answering. "You know how to drive, correct?"
"I mean, yes?" Kallen said. "I don't have a license though."
"That can be remedied easily enough," Sancia said. "This way."
The two left the armory and made the short walk over to the garage. Quite a few cars were parked there, ranging from luxury sedans to armored utility vehicles. One in particular stood out in glaring contrast however, a bright red sports car that seemed almost garish in comparison to its subdued and more utilitarian stablemates.
"You have got to be kidding," Kallen said as the two stopped before it. "I can't take this!"
"Why not?" Sancia responded, a mischievous smirk openly crossing her face.
"Well for one, I somehow doubt this is meant to be just handed to the newest member of His Eminence's entourage!"
"I doubt His Eminence would mind too much," Sancia assured her.
Kallen blanched. "Wait, this is the cardinal's!? Now I definitely know I can't take it! And why does he have a sports car like this anyway!?"
"It was a birthday present from His Majesty," Sancia explained, not that the answer made things any better.
"You want me borrow-" Kallen glanced at the logo and promptly did a doubletake. "A Lamborghini!? The emperor gave His Eminence a Lamborghini for his birthday!?"
"The Prioress was especially beloved by His Majesty," Sancia said, referring to Marianne by her ecclesiastical title.
"All the more reason I shouldn't just take this car to run my errands!" Kallen protested.
"On the contrary, you would be doing me a great favor by taking it before His Eminence gets it into his head to take a day trip somewhere without letting the rest of us know," Sancia said. "Again."
Kallen blinked. "He's done that?"
"Twice since he was given the car," Sancia said with a weary sigh.
Kallen pursed her lips. It was not that she could not understand where Sancia was coming from, and getting the chance to drive a sports car this high-end was certainly not something that came one's way all that often, even for a noble scion such as herself. And if Kallen was entirely honest, a part of her was tempted by the allure of a fast car like this. She was not an outright adrenaline junkie, but Kallen did find some enjoyment out of exhilarating experiences. Still.
"Aren't you being a bit too paranoid about His Eminence taking a day trip here in Japan?" Kallen asked. "It's not like he could blend in as easily as back in the homelands."
"You do recall what His Eminence's geass is, correct?" Sancia said.
That caused Kallen to blink a few times. "Wait, he can use his geass to disguise himself?"
"It is a somewhat unconventional application of his ability to impose his perception upon reality, but yes," Sancia confirmed.
That certainly added a wrinkle Kallen had not expected, so Sancia's concerns were actually warranted. Still.
"I doubt His Eminence would be particularly happy with me just riding off with his car," Kallen said. "It is his car, after all."
"That, I will handle," Sancia assured her. "And it is not as if you are taking it far. Indeed I expect for the most part you will simply be using it for your commute between Ashford and the palace."
"Still," Kallen murmured.
As tempting as it was, as much as a part of her itched to get behind the wheels, another part was terrified of what would happen if she got into an accident. Kallen was plugged in enough to the Britannian upper class to have some inkling of how much a baseline Lamborghini cost. Something told her that, considering Lelouch's favored status despite not being an official member of the imperial family anymore, the emperor had probably gone with something a bit more extravagant than a standard Lamborghini model.
"This is such a bad idea," Kallen said aloud.
"But that is certainly not enough to stop you, no?" Sanica said, holding out the key fob with a wide smile.
Kallen spent a few moments looking at the outstretched hand and the girl holding it out. It took a while, but eventually she accepted the fob, and didn't look back.
When Milly entered the room, it was with great care that Lelouch regarded her. While the smile was still there, the radiance that once shone was replaced with a certain wistfulness. Yet try as he might, Lelouch could not sense any disappointment. Lelouch did not know whether that was an even greater cause for concern. Still, the cardinal did not let his unease put him off from playing the good host. He rose and stepped over to greet Milly.
"Lady Ashford," he said, taking her hand and placing a kiss upon it.
"Your Eminence," Milly said, still with that wistful smile.
It was probably a good sign that she was letting him kiss her like so. Probably. As the two settled into their seats at the conference table, Lelouch let out a weary sigh.
"Shall we get the more pertinent matters out of the way before discussing Ashford Industries' progress?" Lelouch said.
Milly tilted her head. "You believe we have the time for it?"
"Would you ever forgive me if I said we did not?" Lelouch asked wryly.
That saw Milly purse her lips. "Surely it is not merely my temperament that dictates your priorities, Your Eminence."
Lelouch gave another sigh, leaning back in his chair. "I've already gotten an earful from Nunnally. And Cornelia's been passive-aggressive in pretty much all of our one-on-one meetings. Thus far the only women in my life that haven't been giving me hell over this are the grandmaster and my attendants, so no, it is not merely your temperament that dictates my priorities. You have a lot of reinforcements right now."
Milly gave a dry chuckle at that before reaching over and taking hold of Lelouch's hand. She gave a gentle squeeze.
"Lelouch," she addressed him by name instead of courtesy. "I'm not here to try and make you feel even more miserable. You found yourself in a very difficult situation, one where you had conflicting priorities that couldn't all be reconciled by your own hand alone. But that's why I'm here. The things that you can't do yourself, I will help you find a way."
A slight, almost relieved smile crossed Lelouch's face after a moment or two. As much as the cardinal might be convinced of the correctness of his decisions, he certainly derived no great pleasure from how those decisions hurt others. While Lelouch was also not one to avert his eyes from the ramifications of his actions, being incessantly reminded of them was not exactly productive or helpful either. That Milly seemed to understand that, and more, was by itself something of a relief for Lelouch. Still, something in her assurances piqued his senses a bit.
"So in this particular instance, what is the thing that you will be helping me with?"
"Shouldn't that be obvious?" Milly said. "For all your brusqueness, it's not like you want to push your family away. And while you could have been a bit more tactful about it, it's not as if your points weren't valid. Well, let's set aside the question of just what exactly you think we all need protection from. The way I see it, there's a way to let you reconnect with Euphie in the short term, and a way to allow for the two of you to interact more openly in the long term. And it is within my capacity to provide you with means for the former, while the latter can be something that's worked on in the background."
Lelouch's head dipped slightly. "I presume for the former you would contrive some excuse for me to visit Ashford, thereby allowing Euphemia and I to meet?"
"It is a rather obvious solution," Milly said. "And to be honest, I'm kind of surprised you didn't suggest it yourself."
That saw the cardinal's lips thin. "I would not want to presume."
"Presume?" Milly said quizzically. "What do you mean?"
"You know full well that my time is extremely constrained, such that in an average week, the time I take to have dinner with you ends up being the only repose that I get. That also means that dinner is really the only time I have to spend with you in a nonworking capacity. It would be unfair in the extreme for me to ask you to give up that time for anyone else's sake, even if that anyone is my sister."
The quizzical look was quickly replaced with a wry smile, which in turn widened into a more earnest one.
"And this is why I know that you remain the kind, earnest boy I fell in love with as a girl," Milly said. "You care for others reflexively, even instinctively, instead of as some sort of cold calculation. That kindness is as much nature as it is nurture. That you were born kind speaks well of your lineage. That you have remained kind shows you have been surrounded by love all your life. How could I not find that enchanting? How could I not want to surround myself with that same love?"
Lelouch's eyes went blank for a moment and he even looked away. No reddening of his cheeks however, so it was not in embarrassment that he averted his eyes. When he looked back at Milly, it was with a calm serenity.
"It is a curious thing," he said. "Of all the noble ladies that have made an approach, you are the only one that does not feign sympathy for me. Instead you seem to think that, despite everything that has happened, I have lived a blessed life."
"Would you dare claim you have not?" Milly challenged.
The cardinal pursed his lips, then slowly shook his head. "How could I, when I have had by my side so many that loved me?"
The smile returned to Milly's expression. "The true blessing is in how you do not take for granted what you have, that you are capable of appreciating those around you instead of endlessly pining for that which you have lost. It is because of this that I know you would hold me as dearly as I could ever wish, just as I would you."
Lelouch tilted his head again, but his gaze remained settled on Milly. And then a slight smile emerged.
"I must admit, I had not expected so heartfelt a confession when this conversation started."
"And now that I have confessed," Milly said without missing a beat, "are you going to keep me hanging?"
Lelouch chuckled at the eager anticipation that shined in Milly's eyes. Having come this far, he was certainly not going to disappoint. Instead of answering with words however, his hand reached up to cup Milly's cheek. Leaning in, he let his lips do the deed. A single surprised giggle escaped Milly before her own lips were sealed and the girl found herself melting into Lelouch's kiss. When they parted, Milly was noticeably flushed, while Lelouch somehow maintained his composed demeanor. That earned him a somewhat petulant look from the girl.
"I trust the lady is not disappointed?" Lelouch said with a slight smirk.
After giving Lelouch a beady look, Milly smiled in turn. "No, I am not."
"Then I shall endeavor to ensure that remains the case hereon out," Lelouch declared.
A bit roundabout a way of saying it, but Milly accepted the promise with a nod.
"Now that that's settled," she said, "shall we head out?"
Lelouch blinked. "What?"
"What, one kiss and you've already forgotten our earlier conversation?" Milly said, blowing a raspberry. "Men."
"We do seem to be somewhat single-minded," Lelouch responded deftly. "Still, I did not think you had already planned anything for this evening."
"Oh, I really didn't," Milly said, "but it's not like it'd be any trouble to have a few more places set at the table tonight." A wide smile crossed her face. "Besides, we should inform Grandfather now that things are official."
"Oh, yes, I suppose we should," Lelouch said in perhaps the flattest tone Milly had ever heard out of him.
The girl gave a merry laugh and Lelouch's hand a comforting squeeze. "I'm sure Grandfather will be overjoyed. All this stuff with Eden Vital notwithstanding, I'm pretty sure he hoped we'd get together all the way back when he first started bringing me over to play with you and Nunnally."
"That is certainly true," Lelouch agreed, then he rose. "Well, in that case, would milady grant me the privilege of escorting her home?"
"She would," Milly said, rising herself.
"Excellent," Lelouch said, holding out an arm. "And seeing the felicitating circumstances of the day, I think it only right that we return to milady's home in style."
"Oh?" Milly said, hooking her arm around Lelouch's and walking in step with him. "And what did you have in mind, Your Eminence?"
"Milady may not be aware, but my arrival at court coincided very closely with my seventeenth birthday," Lelouch said. "In celebration, His Majesty presented me with a rather extravagant, well, present. I think it was also intended to make up for all the birthdays that he had missed during my time in Eden Vital's custody."
"Oh dear," Milly said. "I shudder to even imagine what might constitute extravagant for the emperor."
"Alas that I so rarely have the chance to use it," Lelouch said. "It is a bit conspicuous, but considering I have been restraining myself these past few months, anyone that takes issue with me taking it out for a spin can go, well, stuff themselves."
"Ahahaha, Lelouch, are you really trying to upsell some fancy car?"
"Not just any fancy car," Lelouch said. "My understanding is that only a dozen or so Venenos were built, so it is both fancy and rare."
Milly let out another laugh as they entered what was clearly the palace's garage, or at least one of them.
"Well, if you're so eager to show off your rich boy persona, who am I to complain?" Milly said. "It's not like I can't appreciate a dash of extravagance in my life."
"As I knew you would," Lelouch said with a smile, which promptly disappeared.
The two had come to a stop, in front of an empty parking spot. Milly cocked her head and looked over at Lelouch.
"Is something wrong?"
Lelouch blinked. "Umm, yes. Where is my car?"
The Lamborghini was, just as Kallen imagined, an absolute dream to drive, even when restricted to the urban traffic of Tokyo. It was almost enough to take her mind off of what awaited her at her destination. Indeed it was almost tempting to just keep on driving, given how smooth the ride was. As it was, when Kallen rolled the car into the driveway of her family estate, she was surprised to see another car follow behind. As she killed the engine and got out, that surprised turned into something else entirely as she saw the man emerge from the other car.
"Kallen?" Albrecht Stadtfeld, the father of the girl in question, sounded as surprised as Kallen herself to see his daughter like this. "What-where in the world did this car come from?"
Kallen pursed her lips. "It's from a, colleague, and I'm just borrowing it. And I did not know you were in Japan, Father."
"My flight landed half an hour ago," Albrecht said, still eyeing the car with a fair degree of wariness. The man gave himself a shake and sighed. "I hurried back after learning you had returned from your, convalescence. News of which I might add came from a secondhand source."
That saw Kallen's expression crease into a slight grimace. "I didn't think my return would have warranted such attention from you, considering how our last conversation ended."
Poorly, was the unstated and succinct adjective that Kallen left out. Indeed it had gone badly enough that Kallen had in some ways been avoiding further conversation with her father. Her trip to the Stadtfeld estate was for the purpose of speaking with her mother instead.
A flicker of irritation crossed Albrecht's face, but he did not succumb to verbalizing it just yet.
"If that is the impression you were left with, it seems that it is even more urgent that you and I have a talk," the viscount said. "Come."
This time it was Kallen that felt irritation well up from within. Her father had always been like this. Not quite domineering, but so self-absorbed that he often did not see the impact his behavior and decisions had on others. That quality made him a superb businessman, which was why despite possessing a mere viscounty, the House of Stadtfeld possessed wealth matching that of some of the great peers of the realm. Not to the scale of say the Ashfords, but there was not a time that Kallen could recall where money was really a consideration for anything her family, or more specifically her father, wanted to be done. Despite the irritation however, Kallen kept her mouth shut. She would have plenty of opportunity to speak soon enough, after all, so Kallen simply trailed behind her father.
"Welcome home, my lord," a neatly dressed butler greeted, "and you as well, milady."
Kallen dipped her head in response. To their credit, the servants of the Stadtfeld household had always treated her with the courtesy expected towards their master's daughter and presumptive heir.
"Thank you, Sebastian," Albrecht said. "Kallen and I will be having a talk in my study. See that we are not disturbed."
"As you wish, sir."
The same however could not be said of Kallen's stepmother, who now stepped forward to greet her husband and stepdaughter.
"Albrecht?" Yvette Stadtfeld said with some surprise. "I didn't know you were back."
"Certain matters required attending to," Albrecht said rather curtly. "We will talk once my discussion with Kallen is done."
"I see," Yvette said, her eyes narrowing at her stepdaughter.
To say that there was a distinct lack of familial warmth between the various members of the Stadtfeld household would be a mild understatement. That Albrecht and Yvette's marriage was one of convenience was something of an open secret. Yvette might have been of somewhat higher social standing, she was the eldest daughter of an earl instead of a viscount, but her family's fortunes had waned considerably over the generations. In exchange for Albrecht's financial support, the viscount obtained a bit more respectability and credibility, insomuch as any credibility was there to be gained from such blatant horse-trading. But amongst the Britannian nobility, such arrangements were hardly uncommon, so Albrecht and Yvette's union hardly warranted any additional commentary. Indeed just because their marriage was a political one did not preclude the two growing closer in the long run, save for one fairly significant wrinkle.
Yvette was, by all indications, barren and could not conceive children. In fairness to the viscountess, this was not something she or her family had had any reason to suspect before her marriage, but the fact remained that Yvette could not perform one of the duties expected of her as a noble wife, to produce an heir to carry on the line. Such an issue might still have been worked out amicably between a couple, and even in a way that fulfilled the necessity of having an heir to carry on the noble titles. Albrecht however elected to solve the issue in his usual self-absorbed manner by taking custody of and openly acknowledging Kallen as his daughter. Illegitimate, technically, but a child of his blood nonetheless, and therefore qualified to inherit his title, assuming her Japanese heritage could be hushed up.
Not surprisingly, Yvette had not taken Kallen's sudden appearance particularly well. The girl after all was a constant reminder of her own inability to bear children, and bringing Kallen into the household was in many ways a slap in the face to Yvette. That Albrecht did so without even bothering to consult his wife only further reinforced the impression that her opinion was not valued. It was probably not the viscount's intention to convey such an attitude, but his failure to communicate in general meant the impression stood. Albrecht might have been an astute businessman and might have even qualified as a capable noble, but he was an abysmal husband and not that much better of a father, as far as Kallen was concerned.
"Close the door," Albrecht instructed as they entered his study.
Kallen complied, perfectly happy to have this conversation away from prying ears. After setting aside his briefcase, the viscount crossed his arms and regarded Kallen without bothering to seat himself.
"You said in our last conversation that you would be convalescing at an Eden Vital treatment center for exposure to the Sarin gas that was released in the ghettos," Albrecht began.
Kallen nodded. "The Order's treatment was able to repair all of the damage my body suffered, and then some."
"And yet not once during your treatment were you able to take a call from me."
To that Kallen shrugged slightly, eliciting a frown from her father.
"The facility I was at was home to some pretty cutting-edge medical equipment," Kallen said. "For security reasons, Eden Vital restricts general communication in and out."
"And is that supposed to somehow make me feel any better about you deciding to sign on with them?" Albrecht asked rhetorically.
"I doubt it," Kallen answered nonetheless. "But would it have mattered? You seem unhappy about me joining Eden Vital on general principle."
"Of course I am," Albrecht said. "At the end of the day, I am still your father and the head of this household, and you are still my daughter and heir. For you to cast our lot with Eden Vital without so much as even consulting me was both disrespectful and foolhardy."
Kallen's jaw tightened. "I believe I made quite clear that my decision to join Eden Vital was limited to my person alone, and that you were perfectly free to disavow of both that decision and my person if you deemed it necessary."
Albrecht gave an exasperated sigh. "Are you going to continue playing the fool, Kallen? Disavowing you will not somehow wash away the consequences our family faces due to your decision. You are a noble daughter, Kallen. You do not have the luxury of pretending your actions impact solely yourself."
"I have never once made such a presumption, Father," Kallen said icily, "and every decision I have made since entering your household, I have done so in full awareness of the consequences. That I still stand by my decisions, all of them, should tell you just how important I consider my goal to be, even more so than the needs of this house."
Albrecht frowned at that. "Have a care, Kallen, for this is the house that has seen to the provision of your upbringing. I will not suffer such ingratitude lightly, even from you."
Kallen met her father's gaze unflinchingly. "That I owe many a comfort to you is indisputable, but let's not pretend you took me in solely out of some sense of paternal diligence, not after you abandoned us right before the Empire invaded. You needed an heir, and you chose me instead of Naoto because I could pass for a full-blooded Britannian while my brother, your own son, could not. You needed me to fulfill a role, and it has been to that end that I was granted everything you have dispensed. I don't dispute that I owe you an obligation, for all the years I have spent under your care, but the fulfillment of that obligation will be on my terms, Father. My future is no one else's but my own, not yours, not the House of Stadtfeld, and not even Eden Vital."
That last one was just slightly less true than the others on account of the oath she had sworn in exchange for her geass, but saying it nonetheless should serve to provide the right emphasis to Albrecht.
The viscount's frown deepened, but the way he regarded Kallen was more thoughtful than angry. There was certainly some anger, that was inevitable considering the way in which Kallen was calling her father out, but that self-absorbed detachment that served Albrecht so well as a businessman also allowed him to view more personal matters, if not entirely dispassionately, then at least somewhat pragmatically.
"So you believe that it is still within your capacity to serve as the Stadtfeld heir, even with your new, obligations, to Eden Vital?" Albrecht asked.
"The Order itself has raised no objections or foreseen any complications with me holding such dual allegiance," Kallen responded. "It thus falls to you, Father, whether you are equally tolerant."
Albrecht folded his arms and leaned against his desk.
"You realize that prior to all this, our family has had minimal interactions with Eden Vital," he said. "With the way you've leapt in headfirst, we have no assurances that the Order won't make demands relating to the conduct of our House."
"You've never engaged in any dubious business dealings, Father," Kallen said with a shrug. "So unless you were thinking of doing so in the future, I can't see any reason for why you'd be worried."
Albrecht gave a snort. "My businesses are all entirely legitimate, and I have no intention of running any stupid risks out of hubris. But I also do not shy away from ventures just because of some bleeding-heart sentiment. Our family's fortune is built upon a network of investments, each playing a synergistic role as part of a greater whole. I have no intention of upsetting my commercial plans merely for the sake of chasing whatever the social or political cause of the season may be."
Albrecht Stadtfeld was not intrinsically a racist or a bigot, at least not any more so than the average Britannian. Indeed considering he had married, under Japanese law at least, a Japanese woman and fathered children with her, could be treated as proof that he was more openminded than many others on the matter of race. What the viscount could be accused of however was a certain degree of apathy towards those outside of his immediate and even intermediate social circle. While he might abstractly recognize the existence of certain injustices or inequalities, the extent to which Albrecht was capable of caring was constrained very much to what was in his immediate awareness and attention. And even then, if the injustice was not happening right before his very eyes, and was instead occurring at some steps removed, the viscount was perfectly capable of filtering it out of his awareness and carrying on as if nothing were wrong. In that regard, Albrecht was arguably no different from probably the vast majority of the human race. That he was in possession of resources that allowed him to make a much greater impact if he so chose to try and make things better was perhaps the only really noteworthy difference, one that for better or worse made an otherwise common apathy just a bit more tragic.
Kallen had long ago accepted this about her father, which was one reason why she did not really resent him. Yes, she had plenty of reason to hate him for abandoning them right before the war, but even taking into account the calculated nature of how he reentered her life, Albrecht had at least made a few token gestures to try to help his Japanese family. Naoto may not have been acknowledged by Albrecht under Britannian law, but the viscount had given his son a modicum of money and set him up with work to make sure he at least could put food on the table and have a roof over that table. And Kohaku Kouzuki, Kallen's mother, had been paid very generously for surrendering formal custody of Kallen. Indeed even when Kohaku technically violated the agreement that she refrain from contact with Kallen when she applied to work as a servant in the Stadtfeld household to be near her daughter again, Albrecht made no attempt to force her away and actually granted her the job. Not that the dynamics that that introduced were necessarily beneficial to the overall household atmosphere, but Albrecht's lack of empathetic awareness was not rooted in malicious intent. From his viewpoint, he was being extremely accommodating to all involved.
All in all, Albrecht was not a bad person. A poor husband and a less than stellar father, but not a bad man in and of itself. Because of those particular failings however, even if Kallen was prepared to accommodate, within certain limits, Albrecht's desires regarding the House of Stadtfeld, there were some matters that, now that she had on call certain resources of her own independent of her father, she was no longer content to let him oversee.
"Nor would I ever ask that of you," Kallen thusly said. "Any matters of commercial import that I bring you that might impact our family, they will have been thoroughly vetted to be worthwhile in their own right. There is no point in pursuing some venture if it cannot sustain itself, after all."
To that Albrecht gave a slight nod, not entirely mollified, but momentarily satisfied.
"That said," Kallen continued, "the Order does intend to make use of my, distinctive, heritage, in furtherance of theirs and the viceroyalty's plans."
Albrecht's eyes narrowed again. The viscount needed no further hints to discern exactly what Kallen meant here.
"You intend to reveal your Japanese heritage," he stated instead of asked.
"Yes," Kallen said, with enough firmness to make clear how steadfast she was on this point.
Albrecht drummed his fingers on his arm, but again his eyes were more speculative than angry. Though perhaps annoyed qualified.
"If the viceroy's proposed plan of reform can be implemented, there is significant advantage to be garnered," the viscount finally said. "The risk however is considerable."
"As compared to my heritage leaking out regardless?" Kallen reposted. "Considering that His Eminence was able to dig it up despite the lengths you went to hide it, it's now a question of when, not if."
That saw Albrecht scowl slightly, though the viscount seemed more irritated at his subterfuge being bested than anything else.
"Fine," he said curtly. "You are obviously set on this path, and nothing I say now is likely to sway you. But I expect to be kept fully in the loop on the when, where, and how."
"Of course," Kallen said, then took a deep breath. Now for the other matter. "I will also be taking Mother with me."
Albrecht blinked, looking genuinely confused at that last bit.
"I appreciate that, in your own way, you've taken care of her despite having officially separated," Kallen began elucidating. "But you and I, all of us really, know that the current arrangement is untenable. Yvette loathes both Mother and I, and she resents you for taking us in. And frankly, I'm getting a little sick of putting up with her passive-aggressiveness. She might feign at least some civility when you're in Japan, but she barely even bothers hiding her contempt for us when you're away, which by the way happens to be most of the time."
By now even Albrecht could hear the irritation tinging Kallen's voice. The man might be somewhat lacking in empathy, but he was not entirely tone deaf. After a moment, the viscount shrugged.
"Fine. I can see the advantages of your proposition. Though do not expect me to be so accommodating again if this arrangement of yours does not work out."
Of course, that lack of empathy could easily outweigh any emotional awareness Albrecht did possess. Kallen gave a simple nod to indicate her own acceptance.
"Is there anything else that you believe needs resolution?" Albrecht asked.
"For now, this should be it," Kallen said. "Further discussions about my conciliatory role in Eden Vital's efforts in Japan can happen as the actual matters arise."
"Very well then," Albrecht said. "I expect to be kept fully up to date on any instances where you will be presented as the Stadtfeld heiress."
"Of course, Father."
Satisfied for the time being, Albrecht picked up a bell and gave a ring. A few short moments later, Sebastian entered.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Summon Kohaku, there are matters we need to discuss."
The butler grimaced. "Ah, I'm afraid Kohaku is not presently in the estate, my lord."
That elicited confused looks from Albrecht and Kallen both. Sebastian's grimace deepened.
"She has been absent for several weeks now," he admitted unhappily.
For a moment, a very brief moment, Albrecht and Kallen were in such perfect synchronicity that one could immediately discern that they were father and daughter.
"What!?" both exclaimed in perfect unison.
End of Chapter 18
So there's at least one reader that didn't seem to realize that Sancia has long black hair. And that she was present when Lelouch had his little chat with Jeremiah.
Kallen got a lot of new toys. I wonder when we'll get to see her use more of them. Any bets on whether that car will survive till the end of the story?
Note that Lelouch and Milly's little courtship dance has already had a few months to progress, even if I didn't show as much of it as I arguably should have. In that respect, the two arriving at a mutual agreement to take it to the next level is entirely natural. And since I don't have any need or desire to string the audience along, relationships will actually make visible, measurable progress in my story.
To readers that came from Calculus, it should be fairly obvious that Albrecht is not Heinrich. I require Kallen's father to play a different role in this story, and so have basically spun an entirely different character. The same with Kallen's mother.
I actually did not expect to end this chapter where it did, previously there was going to be one more scene that would have rounded out this whole sequence. Certain plot points however have fallen into place such that I ended up with enough material to warrant another chapter to tidy up all of the developments relating to Ashford Academy. There were actually quite a few things that needed to be shown before we get to the next big arc.
That being said, I might slice off some time to work on one of my other stories first. Those have been getting neglected due to the amount of effort this one takes, as well as the demands upon my time from my day job.