Chapter III

With Euphemia

Princess lied on a lounge, trying to enjoy the moment. Sea breeze was refreshing, especially after days of being confined to Government Administration and to boring mundane paperwork. The icing on this sweet cake was Suzaku, being always around her. In itself, she didn't quite needed any lounges or such comfortable installations, he would easily suffice.

Her boat was first-class cruise, made exactly to match then-Viceroy Clovis. It had enough wine, champagne and wardrobes for a few platoons. Everything was decorated and exquisite, especially a VIP-room on the top-deck, which had blackout curtains, TV, top-notch view of the seas and everything around, and was completely sound-proof.

And it also had a giant Baroque auto-portrait of Clovis above the bed. While he was alive that looked creepy or narcissistic for everybody entering it, even for his lovers. It still remained so, but now it also served a reminder that it was once inhabited by this man.

It had to be removed before she and Suzaku got on board and sailed. When she only got on the cruise, she oversaw some of the crew passing it away from the boat, giving it for the authorities to place in the Tokyo Art Museum.

"Your Highness, is everything to your liking?"

And here came the only thing, or, rather, the only men who made this entire vacation insufferable.

"No, Jared." She lowered her sunglasses. "I really want to know, why is this necessary."

"You mean this cruise? Prince Schneizel wanted to make a good appearance for you, presenting entire deal as a real romance story, more acceptable for the common pe-"

"No, you misunderstood. Cruise is something I absolutely like. What I don't understand-" she pointed to the swirling around three different news helicopters, "-why are they circling around us for Two. Straight. Hours."

"For better picture of your dashing romance story, Your Highne-"

"No, no picture, no show. I don't like making this one at all." She rose up from her lounge, gesturing to Pwyll Courier news helicopter to get out. "From the looks of it, it is a work-trip, and in no way is it a relaxing cruise. Order them to make a few photos, good enough to be seen on Pwyll, and then to leave us!"

Jared contemplated his options. Suddenly, an idea crossed his mind.

"Oh, I understand now." He took a communicator, opening a line to the pilots, quietly murmuring them their instructions. Euphemia and Suzaku tried to listen in, but didn't particularly catch any words.

"I ordered them to make a few fly rounds around the ship, make a few photos and to leave, not to waste more time."

Euphemia let off her breath, finally falling back into her lounge, stretching herself on it. "Great. Now, could you just leave?"

"Of course, Your Highness," he bowed. It seemed that he was about to take his leave, but instead he signaled with his hand for somebody in the back of the ship to come closer. Euphemia didn't even had time to ask what he was doing as they were swarmed by photographers.

"What. Is. All. Of. This.?" She spoke through her teeth. "I do not want to turn my wedding into a giant spectacle! I did not allow to turn this into a media event!"

"They will have you pose for a little bit, and maybe record a small talk between you two, nothing too much"

"I issued no order or did not allow such thing!"

"But Prince Schneizel said it would be a great possibility to showcase Britannia and Area 11 how we could bond together Britannian and Numbers under the Crown, so I thought tha-"

"Get. OUT!" She wasn't throwing a tantrum, speaking in more of an ordering tone to others. "I'm not planning on making MY love story into a spectacle!"

With Lelouch

The official statement the next day from the Pendragon, confirming even some fringe theories, going around the public, Tokyo and the entire Area 11 was energized by this new development.

Not even bothering to try and bring students attention to their lessons, Reuben decided to go by Milly's suggestion and to stop lessons for one day, giving the youth some time to go about this topic.

"Attention to all students – all classes are dismissed for today! You all know why, so I don't have to explain that to you!" A radiant voice of Milly went through the speakers. "On the other note, I expect all of you to gather in the Clubhouse in celebration for this unique event!"

Lelouch sighed. He and Reuben were standing in the doorway, observing her little announcement. At this point he wasn't even surprised by this party.

"I trust you had some money prepared for this, Reuben"

"The moment I got the news, yes." An old man confirmed, looking quite tired. "I believe you had already planned everything out, correct?"

Young prince smiled, nodding to him. "I guess you didn't call me only to talk about it, did you?"

"As cunning as ever. That's the boy I know." Reuben then went outside to get some fresh air, Lelouch following him. Old school headmaster was worried, and Lelouch was certain that he knew what it was about. Together, they strolled through the fields of Academy, going around the building

"The young princess is getting married, and her newfound husband is studying here. I do believe I could hide you for as long as it's possible, but I'm worried that due to you having such close relations with Suzaku she may find out about your survival."

"You do not seem too worried, though" Lelouch pointed out. They went to the warehouse, just to avoid unnecessary audience.

"I'm certain your 'Little Euphy' could never do anything bad to you, at least intentionally. Yet, one word about your survival gets to the world – they won't leave you and me alone. You seem to have plans for everything and you do make them quite quickly, so could you share with your old friend what you really intend to do?" Reuben looked him in the eyes, seemingly able to see through him and through the image of careless uncaring student he made for himself in these years.

"I know about the risks as much as you do, if not more, Reuben, that is true-"

"So…"

"So I had a talk with her personally a few days ago. It's really bad she didn't inform me about this sudden decision on marrying Suzaku, if it was hers, but we know who was behind it, don't we?"

Reuben was stunned. What was he doing? "…My Prince, if Euphemia learned about it, Cornelia would learn about it as well! Have you gone mad?"

"No, I didn't. In fact, my decision is clear and absolutely reasonable." Reuben was taken slightly aback by this calm reply, as if it wasn't lives of vi Britannia's and of Ashfords on the line. "I got her to not disclose this information, tying it up to a few secrets she would not want to talk about to the public or even to her sister. If Cornelia learns – you will see it in no time by her actions."

Of course, Lelouch also wouldn't've liked if she revealed he was both alive and Zero, but he was sure Euphemia would never leave her sister crushed by this reveal, since it would harm both her dear sister and her as much dear brother.

"Getting secrets on young princess so fast? Impressive"

"I did know her since my childhood, didn't I?"

Leaving his most important question satisfied, Reuben switched to another one. After all, he did not have a normal discussion with the son of her protégé for a really long time.

"How's your gambling going? I heard that your friend…Rivalz, was it? Yeah, him. He had to get a job because you suddenly dropped off gambling entirely. Why so?"

The prince in exile lightly laughed. "So strange to hear a headmaster to be worried because of student stopping to play in illegal chess matches, not because of student's participation. But anyway – yes, I dropped it. Why? I got bored out of it, and I have a nice sum on my bank account, so yes."

Old Ashford wasn't too satisfied with an answer, but he couldn't object to his reasoning. Lelouch noticed it, but decided to put it away for the time being, since there weren't much leads from him to Zero.

"Did Suzaku tell you anything about that Kallen girl? From the Student Council."

While Lelouch wasn't visibly stressed out, inside he was too surprised to drop his mask. Did Suzaku reveal to Reuben about her involvement in the Black Knights? But what of that scene, when he saw the two discussing in the warehouse? Suzaku was no genius or too loyal for Japan, yet Lelouch couldn't remember him backing down on his word. He was taught by Tohdoh, after all.

"Not much. Did something happen between the two?" Lelouch replied, his blood going cold. If she went down – he could lose quite a lot, possibly going down as well. Kallen is his Queen on the battlefield, and her role as Captain of the Zero Squad is important both symbolically and in practice.

"I don't know, actually. I was wondering whether something happened between her and Suzaku. That's why I'm actually asking you about it, since you are a friend of Suzaku and I think you can speak with Kallen easily. I thought you spotted it as well."

"…Yes, I did. I don't think much of it, they do seem to be cooperating with each other now, maybe with a bit of a grudge for some past conflict."

"Do you think her being a half-Japanese is a part of it?"

When did he learn about…Oh, he is a headmaster and he could access her records. Forgot about that. "Now that I think about it – it could be. It's hard to come to terms with Suzaku's belief in system being always correct, and if we two – full-bloodied Britannians, can't agree with that, how would Kallen even consider it?"

"We do not, but I don't think we should exclaim that to the entire world to listen." Reuben warned him, before both getting a laugh out of it. Lelouch did fell silent afterwards, considering something as he watched the scenery around the Academy.

"And yet we can't stay in the way of the future that will bring us the better world, we should only realize it in full. If not me, not you – then who will? You know me and you do know, that when Nunnally is to complete her recovery, I'd do anything for her to see a different world, that is not filled with discrimination, strong devouring the weak and the one where wars are not waged for bloodthirsty maniacs to get what they want."

"A gentler world, huh…" Reuben stood with him, silently considering everything he had heard. He made his academy as liberal as possible, yet he couldn't stop Charles' propaganda tying up the minds of his student like a plague with no cure. He wanted for more men like Lelouch to come into the world. He wanted to change it, especially after Marianne fell to the cutthroat regime he helped to sustain.

"You know, why I never made a simulator day for our students?"

Giving every student in the Academy to go higher and be better was his goal, yet in almost a decade of his school existing, his simulators had never seen sunlight, only sometimes used by Lelouch to train himself with basics and nothing else, which came as slight disappointment for old Reuben. He honestly wanted him to grew up like his mother in combat, if he wanted to defend himself and his sister, and he considered it to be his shame for failing to force him to do so.

"Why?"

"I…never again wanted to grew up a new Marianne. Not in a sense that I was disappointed by her, but by the system. I couldn't bring myself to give an Emperor another pawn to play and dispose of, whoever the emperor might be."

And Reuben was completely honest about it. He saw some potential in Lelouch, just a tiny bit that he refused to touch. But his eyes met a lot of people with possibly a good potential to grow to be on a level of some minor knight, some even going as far as some Highness's knight.

It pained him to do so, as a former KMF engineer, he valued highly gifted pilots, and to cut them short of their possible life was a sin. A sin he was willing to do, if not for his beliefs – then for their wellbeing and for their normal lives.

And now, he wasn't certain he had achieved what he wanted. Suzaku and Kallen were gifted. He never saw them in a Knightmare with his own eyes, only one broadcast of Lancelot, yet his gut instinct was screaming about it. Reuben was divided on whether to give a proper training for Kallen, as with it, she'd never end up too loyal to Britannia. On the other end, should his Prince go the way his father appreciated women, he'd give Kallen an unfair advantage against his poor granddaughter Milly.

Which would be quite bad. Milly couldn't've lost all her feelings for Lelouch, he knew it.

"…I understand that, Reuben. If only some of the young students have never experienced war or had no motivation to join the fight, then maybe we would have a bit less tragedies, committed by Britannia."

Lelouch decided not to elaborate. Reuben decided not to ask, falling in thought. He let go of his young student, allowing to go back.

The moment Lelouch entered the Academy, he was overwhelmed with the number of rumors regarding Suzaku and Euphemia's marriage. For some strange reason, a few students decided to speak to the 'Ice Prince', known primarily for his illegal gambling and coldness, if he knew anything.

They weren't successful, as he did what most of the other students knew he'd do.

He simply ignored or brushed them off. Yet, he analyzed their discussions afterwards with each other in the classrooms.

It did pay off him a bit. The rumors were quite interesting, ranging from the idea of Eleven-Britannian Monarchy and Charles not being aware of anti-racial plot by radical leftovers of Sons of Washington, which was in itself laughable, to a nonsensical political marriage, that'll result in nothing. Student Council members were keeping their opinions to themselves, yet they were happy for their fellow friend, and some, like Shirley, were pissed off by some of the rumors.

Yet, these were the main two opinions among the students. Were, not are, because of strange headlines getting to the Net.

"'I don't want this to be a show!' – a young princess throws a tantrum at the journa-" One of the male students saw a new article appearing from an unknown source, "Dude, I doubt I can even say what is written here, how this was approved?"

Needless to say, interest of the students was piqued and some decided to fully read it, immediately causing an argument. Article was centered about yet to be published news report on Euphemia having a cruise with Suzaku, which went off the rails as Princess got into a verbal fight with the journalists trying to take much more pictures than they informed her of doing.

"Euphemia makes a façade of modesty just to mask this bullshit of political marriage? Come on, write something better for propaganda!"

"But look how detailed this is! They probably do have sources in there!"

"Or they are making this stuff up"

"Or they were on the boat and were taking photos!"

"Hey, look, there is a video!"

This debate is going nowhere, Lelouch sighed, rising up to make his leave.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"You know, she does seem genuine. This speech is definitely not something Clovis would've said."

Many students seemed to share his opinion, some vocal opponents even going quieter.

"Could it be… that the two are actually in love and this is not a setup?"

Shirley rising her hand to her heart, quietly cheering up for her friend. At least he would get some recognition for his feelings.

Kallen though got a bit more curious. She also slightly raised her hand, only clenching it into a fist and not sharing even a bit of Shirley's happiness. Did he had just beat me in a romance as well? Congrats, I guess, but you won't win in our next meeting on the battlefield.

Marrying a Britannian? Has he gone this far against Japan?

…

But Zero is also not-Japanese, he himself said so! I don't think he's Britannian, so maybe I could…

Flustered, she turned her head away from other students, deciding to look in the window.

Fuck, I'm thinking too much about it recently. Why, Kallen, he's above your league, stop thinking about it!

Everybody was too curious about what was really happening behind the curtains of what seemed at the start to be a simple ruse to notice Kallen's reaction, only Shirley sparing a small glance at her fellow Council member, causing her to be slightly surprised.

Lelouch sighed, finally leaving the students to their matters and going for the Clubhouse.

I have to give it to you, Schneizel, your little plan is much better than I thought. People are already starting to support it. How did you evade Cornelia's ire, though?

What should I do though? The Black Knights aren't a racist group, and Suzaku definitely has feelings for her. I can't risk our reputation and go against their marriage with such reasoning!

Maybe tell the masses that it is a ruse to get them stop resisting Britannia? Could try, but our resources here are much smaller than of their state-controlled media. Diethard may come up with something, should speak with him about it.

He rubbed his head. All of this was giving him quite a headache. He can't stop, yet if Euphy is really in love with his best friend, could he stop them from their wishes?

But what they're trying to do is impossible! Britannia won't change, no matter you try. It can only be destroyed, otherwise you will be destroyed by it!

True, yet they definitely have backing of Schneizel, making their downfall much slower for me than I wanted it to be!

…Why is it so hard?!

He didn't realize he came right up to the doors to the Clubhouse, almost hitting them with his head. He opened them, coming one step closer to resolving this dilemma.

"The road to hell is paved with the good intentions, isn't it? Euphy, for somebody not wanting to make a show out of it, you managed to make one of the best"

A/N: I planned to update it in the end of June. Fucked it up quite a bit. Sorry for that, Raxius. Let's just say that there were reasons.

Genuinely curious how striking powerplants and stations of electricity redistribution would win the war for Putin. He did succeed in throwing away my update schedule completely because of no electricity for about 16-17 hours a day, since I am still in Ukraine, so… I guess delaying my updates it's a strategic victory for him? Can't tell, really.

If you're wondering – yes, I'm still in Central Ukraine, will be getting home next week. Situation with electricity is stable-ish. Much better than what it was, but not ideal.

Now that the situation is stable, I'm planning to get on track. Expect more updates in the next week.

Slightly afraid now to make more not one-shot fics before ending ones I have in writing. Weight of updating all of them is quite large, yet I do not want to disappoint you by dropping some fics for two months straight like I did with this one and with 'Return to Mundane Affairs'. I'm no multitasker, yet the ideas are still flowing into my mind!

Again – expect more updates in the upcoming month.

Your's again, Herr Mitchell