Ah, what a dreadful place to be.

He walked past the cells filled with Britannian officials and military, all of them stewing in their own resentments over their defeat. Wondering with fear what the 'savages' would do to them. They watched him with hateful eyes, assuming he was one of the Chinese conquerors.

They weren't too far from the truth, from a certain point of view. But from another point of view, they couldn't be more wrong. It had taken so much time and effort to ingratiate himself with the Chinese. But it would be worth it in the end.

Finally, he reached her cell. The only consideration for her station being that she was imprisoned alone. She was in a terrible state. Fitful, fretful, skin blotchy from tears, formerly beautiful blonde hair left to languish in tangles and knots. Her body once decorated with the finest clothing and accessories now given only the simplest and plainest prison wear. "My princess," he said, startling her out of her despair.

"What?" she asked, not a response, but a question for the universe. "I know that voice. It can't be! Is it you? Is it really you?"

"Yes," he opened his head covering to let her see his face, carefully shielding it from view of the other cells. "I'm here, my princess, Astraea a Britannia."

"I knew it!" she declared, walking on unsteady feet toward the bars of her cell. "I knew you would come for me, my love!"

Quite a thing to say after succumbing to despair at the things she knew her captors would do to her. But he didn't judge her for it. He needn't do anything but look in her eyes to see the love there. The love, and desperation. "Yes, dearest Astraea! My princess! I came to whisk you away from this awful place, to take you where you truly belong!"

"I knew! I knew you would! You were the only one I could count on!"

"You!" came a shout from another cell. A military man clutching at the bars. "You're freeing us?"

"I'm freeing my princess."

"Idiot! Let us out too! We will protect her with our lives!" the military man declared, the others in his cell joining his call, joining him at the bars.

Astraea looked to him, as she always did. "Oh really? And how did that work out for us in the invasion?" he asked. "I'm the only one she needs to believe in."

"Bastard!"

He ignored the outcry and insults. They were meaningless. The only one that mattered was his princess. He unlocked her cell and let her fall into his arms. "There there, it will all be over soon. Come with me."

"Oh yes, thank you." He had her change clothes then and there in front of her former retinue and then hid both of their faces. "Where will we go?"

"There's no need to worry. Everything is arranged. I'm taking you to the place you belong."

She let out a breath of relief, before he began escorting her out of what used to be her palace. Around half of the other prisoners had quieted, foolishly loyal enough to not jeopardise the escape of a Britannian princess. Before long, they were out on the streets of Seoul.

"How did it all go so wrong, my love?"

Of course she still needed to have it explained to her. "You wanted to be kind to the people under your rule like gentle Euphemia. But you needed to be cruel to keep them in line, like unforgiving Cornelia. It came so easily to them. Loved and feared, and you thought you could be both."

She nodded like the fool he had made her. The petty and fretful creature she hid under the mask of imperial royalty. "I did! I wanted to be both! If I could just do that then-"

"But it wasn't so easy, was it? You struggled for so long to find a proper balance. But there was none to be found. Just a weakness to be exploited, or viciousness to be reviled."

"I didn't want that! You know I didn't! I tried my best! I wanted to bring this Area into the embrace of the Empire!"

"You did your best. And I'm afraid you simply didn't measure up." That was the truth of it. The bottom line. There were some few men and women who were capable of walking that line, far more who would play to their strength and find success. Astraea was a fool who attempted to play the mastermind. This would have been the inevitable outcome no matter what he had done. He only brought it about faster.

"But... My love, why are you saying these things?" Her confusion would almost be cute if he couldn't see, couldn't hear, the wretched filth beneath. "I may have failed but... But I can try again! Once we return to the homeland, I can-"

"The homeland?" he asked, pretending to be confused. "What makes you think we're going there?"

"But... But you said..."

"I said I'm taking you where you belong." She was too confused to resist as he brought her inside a building. A shelter for those displaced by the invasion, the Britannians or both as a result of the forceful and violent crackdown by the Area government. Full of people. Full of former Sixteens.

They looked with suspicion at the pair of newcomers with their faces covered. Only for him to push the young blonde woman inside and snatch her head covering with the other hand.

"What–?"

"People of Korea!" he shouted over her confusion. "Here is your viceroy! Astraea a Britannia!" Still so confused. But increasingly afraid as she realised what he had done. Shoved her into the midst of her former subjects with no power, no protection, no station. They stared at her, realised she was exactly who he said she was. "... Do as you will."

"No!" She screamed, trying to get back to the door only for a man and woman to block her path and shove her back into the arms of a larger group. "NO! You can't do this! I loved you! I did everything you said! Why?! MA–!" Her scream of anguish was silenced as one woman punched her across the face. Another man tearing at her clothes.

He turned and left, removing his own head covering once he was far enough away to consider it safe.

"Why?" he repeated the desperate question still ringing in his ears, alongside her screams as the people in that shelter did unspeakable things to her. "Because you're just another vile human full of disgusting, wretched thoughts." All humans were like that. He knew better than anyone. All humans, once you could see past the layers of politeness and propriety and pretension, they were all monsters. A husband would wonder if slitting his wife's throat would shut her up for once. A mother would wonder about suffocating her children to get a single moment of peace. Intrusive thoughts, some called them. Impulses. Things they would never actually do. At least that was what they told themselves, until they actually did it. But he heard them all. He knew. Every human was a monster hiding in the skin of the socially acceptable, just waiting for that moment where they stopped caring. Long enough to show who they really were.

"You're just another one of them," he said to the voice of 'his princess' as she drifted out of his ears for good. "There's only one woman I love. One woman pure and free from her wretched humanity." He held his headphones tighter to his ears.

"Mao. Don't be scared. I'll stay with you. For as long as you need."

She wasn't in the Chinese Federation. And having used Astraea to search Area Sxiteen only for her to fail, the princess had outlived her usefulness and earned the end as grotesque as she was. Not only that, this was his redemption for even pretending to love another. He had only one love, and he would find her again. He had thought she would be in China, but found nothing. Came here to Area Sixteen and found no sign. But now, in a world of chaos like this, he knew he would somehow find his way back to her!

"Yes... Yes my love..." he answered the voice in his ears. "Soon we'll be together again!"

-(-)-

Cornelia was not slumped on the war table. She would never let anyone suggest as much. She would never let anyone know just how much recent events were weighing her down. She had been assisting Schneizel in the negotiations for the return of Princess Astraea. From his estimation, they weren't going well. And the sudden and unexpected cessation of those negotiations was deeply concerning. But it was only one thing among many. The ongoing situation in Areas Ten and Thirteen. The anticipated invasion of Area Eleven. The negotiations with Clovis that were going almost as badly as the ones with the Chinese.

"Sister."

Cornelia looked over to see her younger sister. And felt only more worn out as she saw Euphemia in a similar state. Bags under her eyes hastily covered by concealer. "Euphy. I'm sorry, I'm preparing for the next round of talks with Clovis. And you should be resting."

"I've been resting. I've done enough resting," the more kind-hearted of the li Britannia sisters insisted. "I think I have a way to convince Clovis. To convince him to let us help."

"Euphy–"

"I don't want what happened to Astraea to happen again!"

The words hurt. Euphemia didn't mean it as an attack, but Cornelia couldn't take it as anything but a condemnation of her failure. "Euphy, this is a delicate situation. Clovis' fears are justified, especially after what happened in Area Ten. I–"

"I know." Euphemia interrupted her. That wasn't rare. But it was rare for it to be done so quietly, with such certainty. "I... All I need is one thing and I promise, I can convince him. Please let me try."

An hour later, Cornelia stood proudly at the war table. Clovis on the screen before her, just as she was on his from where he was in the Area Eleven Viceroy Palace.

"Clovis... Please. Don't be unreasonable. My goal isn't nefarious. I intend to secure Area Eleven and ensure the sakuradite mines. I have no intention of moving against you. You are the rightful viceroy of Area Eleven. I'm willing to put that in writing with my personal seal if need be!"

"Really? Did you say the same to Uther?"

"I did! And I would have kept to that promise had he not tried to usurp my forces and imprison me to, ugh, take me as his concubine."

"Ugh, well," the blond prince pursed his lips in distaste. "That does sound like him, but I'm afraid I only have your word on that. My suggestion is entirely reasonable. If you wish to secure Area Eleven then attacking our enemies before they can reach our shores will do wonders for achieving that goal. Dedicate your forces to attacking Area Sixteen, perhaps even liberate it from the Chinese."

"Clovis, you know I can't do that!" Setback after setback had prevented it. She had been delayed too long by Uther's stupidity in Area Ten. Astraea's Area Sixteen had fallen faster than she could ever have anticipated. "If I were supporting Britannians on the ground in an ongoing conflict we could do that .But with the forces we have now, we can't directly attack Area Sixteen without taking devastating and unnecessary losses!" Which was probably his intention. If he saw both the Chinese and Cornelia as threats, forcing them to weaken themselves against each other was a practical decision.

"Then I'm afraid we're at an impasse. You'll have to settle for patrolling the waters between here and Area Sixteen. I'm sure you have some experienced naval commanders among your fleet who can steer you well."

And waste the entirety of their knightmare forces aboard these ships. Letting them rust in storage unable to contribute, maybe even doomed to pointlessly sink to the bottom of the ocean.

She clenched her fists.

"I see you won't listen."

"I listened quite well, thank you."

"Won't believe, then," she corrected. "But maybe there's someone you will believe."

She stepped aside, and she could see the shock on Clovis' face as Euphemia li Britannia took her place. "Clovis. it's been too long since we've been able to talk properly," Euphemia said with that innocent smile that seemed to charm all who saw it.

"Euphy." The viceroy of Area Eleven seemed to glance off camera for a moment. "I... It has been quite some time. I'm glad to see you're looking well."

"I'm doing the best I can, given the circumstances," she demurred. Her smile weakened, sliding from her eyes. A change that only made her more charming for her determination to endure. "Are you well? I don't believe any of us had much chance to process Father's passing."

Clovis laughed, despite the severity of the topic and situation. "No, we haven't, and I fear we won't for some time."

"That's true." Euphemia looked down, noticed her hands had begun to fidget and forced herself to stop. "Clovis... We aren't coming with any ill intent."

The blond sighed. "Euphy–"

"I say that as Euphy, and I say that as Euphemia li Britannia, Third Princess of the Imperial Family, and as the sister to Princess Cornelia li Britannia. I know that you find it difficult to trust her. But I ask that you trust me. Before this meeting I asked Princess Cornelia directly and extracted a promise. A promise that she has no intention of acting against you in your capacity as Viceroy of Area Eleven, or in your capacity as a rival claimant for the imperial throne, or any other reason for which you might believe she would attempt to take your governance, your freedom or your life. She has no ill intentions toward you whatsoever."

"And so," she continued, taking a breath, "I ask that if you can't trust her in regard to yourself, trust her in regards to me. Trust me instead. I've never sought harm for any of my family. I've lost too many and I don't want to lose any more. My dearest wish is that we could go back and save everyone taken from us, to see all of them again alive and well. But failing that, I want to ensure that I don't lose anyone else. So please... Clovis... Brother... Let us help. That's all we want."

"... I..." Clovis seemed to be at a loss for words. He looked away from the camera again. "Please give us a moment to confer." He didn't wait for permission, cutting the feed immediately. Or perhaps someone else did.

But it also gave Cornelia time to wrap her sister in a hug. "Well done, Euphy." It felt like progress, right as Cornelia was beginning to lose hope. To think that she would fail again. Well, she supposed she had, but Euphy had succeeded in her place.

"If I may say so," Guilford said, "That was beautifully spoken, Princess."

"I just said what I needed to say..."

"And because of that, Clovis listened," Cornelia assured her. "Now, we need to make it count for something."

A moment later, the screen flickered back to showing Prince Clovis again. "Princess Cornelia li Britannia, we would be gladdened to receive your assistance in defending the Area against the Chinese Federation." Cornelia's heart soared at his words. Yes! "The western island of Kyushu is their expected primary landing point. As such you will be permitted to land there and assist in the formation of defensive infrastructure and organisation to fend off their assault. Some local forces as well as the Knight of Six will be awaiting you."

"Understood. Thank you, Viceroy. Should you deem it necessary, we would also be glad to assist in eradicating the remaining resistance elements among the Elevens before the Chinese can use them against us."

"That won't be necessary. We are well on our way to resolving that problem already."

That was unusually proactive of Clovis. "Very well. Then we will be glad to coordinate with your military advisors. We will defend your shores and protect the integrity of the empire. All hail Britannia!"

Clovis let out the slightest chuckle. "All hail Britannia."

Euphemia let out the breath she had been holding the instant the connection cut, before beaming a smile at her sister. "We did it."

"You did it, Euphy." The widely feared Witch of Britannia once again wrapped her arms around her younger sister. "I'm so proud of you. And so very grateful." Releasing her, the Chief General of the Imperial Army was once again on full display. "But the work has only just begun."

Euphemia nodded. "Please be sure to take some rest for yourself, sister."

"And you, Euphy." Now that real rest seemed like a possibility.

They could do it. They would finally be able to make a difference. Act to protect the empire. And even work towards the real reason for heading to Area Eleven.

It was time to get to work.

-(-)-

"How adorable," C.C. spoke in a drawl, watching him from the bed. Laying on her front and kicking her feet like a gossiping schoolgirl. "Here you are, so determined to be ruthless. All prepared to force your own sister to weaken herself just to pursue your own advantage."

"The strategic situation changed," Lelouch interrupted her before she could mock him for his decision.

"No, I understand. Here I was thinking only Nunnally was your true weakness. But it seems there are two who have you wrapped around their fingers. Then again, I'm not sure why I'm surprised." She rolled onto her back, her long legs pointed straight upward. "Patterns are strings of coincidence after all. Nunnally, that painfully sweet ginger girl. Though, I do wonder. What prevents those soft-hearted decisions for the elder li Britannia? Are you threatened by a woman with pride and drive?"

"Pride and drive. So you've learned nothing of Nunnally and know nothing of Euphemia. Don't mistake gentleness for weakness."

"So defensive!"

"Not to mention Kallen and Milly. Sometimes I wonder if you're even paying attention, but then I remember you lounge around here eating pizza all day and realise you aren't."

"I pay attention when it's interesting," the verdette countered, while at the same time reaching for a slice of the aforementioned foodstuff. "The fear you have for Cornelia is interesting. And it being overridden by the affection for Euphemia is amusing."

Lelouch glanced at her, and at the dots of grease stains on his bedding. It still annoyed him, but he had given up on doing anything about it. "And you're still misreading events. I'm cautious about Cornelia like I am any threat. But Euphemia's word adjusts exactly how much of a threat Cornelia poses."

"Oho?"

The prompt was still mockery. But he would explain regardless. "Euphemia is gentle, yes. But because of that, and because of her relationship to Cornelia, her words carry weight. For her relationship with Cornelia, if Cornelia did in fact promise Euphemia that she had no intention of conquering Japan or undermining Clovis in any way, then I believe that promise. Cornelia would not lie about such a thing to her sister. Not on matters of family."

"You haven't spoken to either of them in years. You can't know that."

"But Clovis does," Lelouch countered. "I trust him on the matter. He and Euphemia are similar in some ways. Entirely different in others, but for what's relevant here, they're quite similar."

C.C. scoffed. "And the other link in this chain of trust and familial bonds? You believe Euphemia wouldn't lie herself?"

"... I do." He had very little argument in that regard. Beyond what Clovis had said, and his own feelings on the matter.

"Hmph. Foolish."

"Maybe. But on weighing the risks, it's the decision I made." Checking his messages, he confirmed that everything was in motion as he had planned it. "It no longer matters. Now I have to focus on dismembering the desiccated corpse of a military."

"The JLF?" she asked. "Wonderful. When do we leave?"

"... We don't. I do."

"I think you'll find we do."

What was with this woman?! "At the rally you did nothing but complain for me 'dragging you there'. This time you can lay here and do nothing as you so enjoy! Do you just exist to contradict and frustrate my every action and decision?!"

"Are you a fool? I simply intend to protect my investment."

"And that didn't apply at the rally?"

"You didn't tell me your full plan at the rally," she reminded him. "And even if you had, if you failed to undermine a squad of simple soldiers with your Geass, you were a failed investment anyway. Now? You'll be... Infiltrating the JLF's main base. Am I wrong?" She waited for an answer, and didn't receive one. Answer in itself. "So like I said, I'll protect my investment. You haven't fulfilled your end of our contract yet. I won't let you die before you do."

"Yes, my end. The wish that you still refuse to tell me."

"Of course not. What's the point when you're incapable?" she asked like it was the most obvious thing. "Our goals are aligned. All you must do is what you already intend to do. Keep walking your path. And by the time you sit the imperial throne, I'm confident you will be able to fulfil my wish." Her lips quirked in amusement, as if holding this information over him was fun for her. "In the meantime I'll protect my investment, and you are not permitted to die."

The prince couldn't decide whether that should be reassuring or frustrating. Whatever she wanted, she would help him achieve his aims. But she had also essentially implied she would never disclose his part in all this. Whether he had made a deal with a witch or a devil, he doubted he would even have the option of refusing to play his part. Whatever that part might be.