Chapter 1: Mediation of Angels

Lelouch had been to C's World only once before, but that experience had been a profound one, to stand in the realm that was the closest thing to 'heaven' that a monster like him could have ever seen. It was a bright place where his sins and responsibilities weighed a fraction of what they did. But standing there now, it was none of those things.

Maybe that was because what he felt before was but a mere illusion, shattered when God, emboldened by his cry for its aide, shattered the sword of Akasha and saved itself and humanity.

Not even finally seeing his father be killed and turned to dust for his blasphemous attempt on the divine didn't bring him the catharsis. The truth robbed him of that, learning that he chased some idealized past at the cost of their futures. The truth was that the mother he longed to avenge was worse than Charles, as his bastard of a father at least never pretended to care about them.

He could admit that he felt some joy watching her fade to dust, a woman undeserving of his love, of Nunnally's love after she just stood aside and allowed her own daughter to be crippled just to preserve a lie.

But with that said and done, there was another question: What now?

9 years, he had spent nearly a decade under the deceit. 9 years he had spent believing his father so uncaring that he couldn't be bothered to even find out who killed his favored consort to punish them, that instead he would exile his son and daughter to a hostile foreign land he had planned to invade, a death sentence in all but name.

He had plotted, dreamed, and eventually moved to get justice for his mother, to see Charles toppled from his damned throne, to build a world where his sister would be able to find happiness. And all of it was for naught.

All that he thought he knew was but a lie. All the wars, the suffering, the loss-everything he had seen was not for some belief that Briannia was superior. It wasn't to benefit the empire but for the selfish wishes of 3 people.

He couldn't even build a world for Nunnally anymore because what good would it do to create a perfect world for a dead girl? Killed by the hypocritical patricide that stood behind him, glaring at him with such hate that Lelouch would feel it on the back of his head. He couldn't even return to the Black Knights, not when Schneizel' saw him lose that. Even as he grieved his sister's loss, he was no fool; he could tell how they trapped him and Kallen, their stances, their positions, and even word choice, that they were lost to him.

It broke his heart to see people that Kallen was close to, people she had known for years, be seconds away from killing her just for advocating for his right to defend himself. In their eyes, her not wanting him dead meant that she was a mindless pawn of his. Kallen was a sharp woman, so she figured that out as well, but she still would have stood with him, even if that meant her death if only he had been honest with her.

He had lost Euphemia because of cruel fate; he had held Shirley as she bled out, and he wasn't even able to tell Nunnally goodbye before she turned to nothing by the hell that was Fleija. He couldn't lose anyone else.

So, he played the role his traitorous men believed him to be, said terrible lies which indeed broke Kallen's heart, and forever tainted his image in her mind by calling them all just pawns and how she was just the best of them all. It took considerable effort to keep his face and voice from cracking under the strain of seeing Kallen's face tear up, but it was worth it because she turned her back on him and walked out of the line of fire. She would hate him for the rest of her life, but at least she'd have a life to live.

'Maybe I could have convinced them of the foolishness of their actions, but what would be the point?' Lelouch thought to himself. He wasn't like them; he fought not for his country or a people, but for his sister; even as he realized that Zero's purpose had grown to fight for the entire world, how could he continue to be Zero when his reason was now dead?

The spectre that had been chasing him for years was always close, but knowing it was so close often made him feel alive, as it never quite grabbed him.

But watching Kallen walk away and staring down the guns of his men and machines, he suspected that this would be the day where his game of cat and mouse with death would finally end, and he couldn't even find it him to be upset, scared or anything really. But Rolo, who, despite knowing that he saw him as nothing more than a pawn that insulted his actual sibling by taking her place, still saved him.

He had already told Rolo what he thought of him, yet he still worked to save him, even as his heart strained under it-Rolo gave his life to protect him. When they were in a safe place, Rolo, in his dying moments, reached out to the 'brother' he had. Lelouch felt guilt and compassion in that moment as he embraced Rolo, apologized for his words and spoke sweet nothings to his adopted brother until he closed his eyes for the last time.

So he laid his baby brother to rest; he chose his path, his final path. He was alone, without support or a friend to call upon, and his father was immortal. Such would have been impossible to think around, but that only extended as far as one's will to live; he had none. So, he planned to do the next best thing, seal himself and his father in C's World. Starvation and dehydration would surely kill him if not combat, but it would be a win condition.

"Yet that plan, like me, no longer has purpose." Lelouch mused as if he had forgotten that he wasn't alone, but Suzaku hadn't, glaring at his former friend and current worst enemy. He wasn't ashamed, not anymore, about his desire to kill Lelouch, to see the twisted heart of his finally cease. He wanted him dead for all the death, all the lies, the manipulations.

For Euphie.

Yes, he could never forget that, he had been worried for her, but she said she was okay, that she knew what she was doing and ever since not a day has gone by, he didn't regret listening to her. And the next time he had seen his princess, it was right as her fratricide brother shot her.

The man he once called friend used that outrage of the massacre he caused to stroke the flames of rebellion, all to give himself more power as he fought against the Britannian forces, taking everything in his path or just burning it. Not even the settlement itself was safe from his madness, as at Narita, where he destroyed part of the mountain to cripple them; Lelouch caused entire sections of the city to collapse, sending thousands to their deaths.

But despite that hatred, he stayed his blade, if only a little as a part of himself asked why he hadn't taken this chance before, not even a year ago, they were on this very island, he had his fallen friend dead to rights, could have shot him, stabbed him-even beat him to death with his bare hands if he wished. But he didn't, and he knew why.

He decided to use him to climb the ranks and bring about the change they both wished to see in the right way…

At least, that was what he told himself. After all, what was right in siding with Charles? What was right about letting Charles geass the entire of Ashford into forgetting that Nunnally was ever a student or related to Lelouch?

What was right in letting Charles turn Lelouch into another pawn? Would Euphie have wanted that? Watching as Lelouch struggled to do basic things like drink water that wasn't handed to him, as the geass command weakened and damaged parts of his mind, he knew the answer to that question.

He just didn't care.

For a long time, he stopped caring. He didn't wish to see the world better because it would help, but merely to spite those who stood against him, and when Lelouch regained his memories, that hatred only grew.

All that was because of an unforgivable sin, one of many that Lelouch had committed.

"Nothing is unforgivable, you know; in other words, it only means you're not willing to forgive him. You don't want to forgive him."

Shirley's words flashed in his mind. He still wondered how such a kind and gentle soul could fall in love with a monster, but…was that monster all he was? He recalled their time together. Lelouch could be stubborn, harsh, and demanding, but he could also be understanding, gentle, and observant. All he ever did was for his sister.

He had nearly forgotten that and allowed himself to fall into that evil when Shirley died. He knew that she would never kill herself. But there was only one other person who had been there, one other who could have been the killer, and he couldn't get him to talk, but he could get Kallen to.

He grimaced in disgust and shame as he recalled just how close to the edge he had gone with her to get the truth. So, when he went back to apologise, he didn't defend himself as Kallen rightfully beat the crap out of him. That was when he started to wonder to himself.

Was he in the right? And if not, when then?

That was why he even bothered to answer Lelouch's call that day and could bring himself to meet with him. But when he threw it all in Lelouch's face, he wished that he would gloat, smirk, and even try to defend them as 'necessary evils' or 'means to a better end.'

But he didn't do that. He got down low, accepted it all, and begged for Suzaku's help because his pride didn't matter, his wrath didn't matter, and his own interests didn't matter. All that mattered, all that ever mattered to Lelouch, was the same thing it had been the day they met at that very shrine 9 years prior: Nunnally's safety.

At the time, Suzaku compared him to his father because of Lelouch's look as he answered his questions, but that wasn't the only thing that reminded him of his father. Like his father, Lelouch looked like someone who would do and say anything if it meant protecting something he held dear.

For his father, that was the Japanese spirit and pride. For Lelouch, it was Nunnally.

It was because of that he answered his questions, and with each answer after Lelouch admitted that he geassed Euphemia, a fact Suzaku already knew, Suzaku could tell he was lying, only telling Suzaku what he wanted to hear, trying to live up to the image of the devil that Suzaku had of him if only to vindicate Suzaku so he would help him.

It both enraged and comforted him to know that after everything, that part of his former friend remained intact, stronger than ever. That was why he agreed to help him.

'But Schneizel ruined it.' Suzaku sneered. Schneizel set up the situation perfectly, as he most likely planned for the possibility that Lelouch would find a way out, so to account for that, he waited right for the best moment so that it would now be Lelouch that distrusted him.

That distrust led to Lelouch continuing his attack on Area 11, refusing to entertain the idea that Suzaku had the-

'No, even if he believed me, he knows me well enough to understand that I would have never used such a thing…if I could help it.' Suzaku couldn't fault the Prime Minster for that, not entirely. It had been his choice to enter battle with it. He chose to remain on the field even when Kallen was overwhelming him, despite knowing what his 'Live' command could make him do when pushed into a corner.

He ensured that the Fleija was used, that 35 million would perish in seconds. It was Suzaku and Suzaku alone that allowed such an unholy device to take away Nunnally's life. When he realized what he had done, whatever was left of him broke.

When he saw Nina again, he was more amused than outraged. He was amused at how devastated she was seeing the fruits of her labor.

He mockingly told her she had handed them the keys to victory across the globe, as who could stand against them when they could wipe out cities in a single strike?

Oh, he understood that it would be used again. Someone like Charles or Schneizel wouldn't let such a wonder weapon be a one-time thing, and he felt nothing about it.

With his humanity gone, he could, at the very least, take what he wanted. And if that meant betraying Charles to serve Schneizel, he couldn't be faulted for seeing that as less a duty and more a pleasure, as he hated Lelouch. He hated Schneizel.

But he hated the man who created both monsters even more.

Learning the whole truth that his country had been invaded, his home burned, and his people brutally subjugated, abused, and bled dry because Charles and his two co-conspirators wanted to kill 'God' and return to some fantasized past. Well, that made watching him and Marriane be consumed by C's world the first thing that brought a smile to his face since he heard of the Black Knight attack on Area 11.

Though what now? He could return to Schneizel, hand him Charle's pendent, and claim he killed him. He doubted Lelouch would bother to dispute that. It would mean he could become Schneizel's Knight of One and take Area 11.

But there was a second option, wasn't there?

"C.C. Are you going as well?" Lelouch broke the silence between them, and C.C. looked back at him, a touch of emotion in her typically passive face.

"When death comes, you want to at least be smiling, right?" She reminded him of his words to her, but when he frowned, she found her worries only growing for her contractor.

"And you two, what are planning to do now?" Suzaku looked confused by her statement. "You rejected Charles' plan; instead, you choose reality and the forward match of time, however-"

"I know, Lelouch is still the one who killed Euphie." Suzaku interrupted her, turning to scowl at Lelouch, his blade coming up.

Lelouch turned to face him, his contacts gone, revealing the bright glow of geass in both eyes. The sight of which made Suzaku flinch as he knew what had happened the last time he looked into those damned maleficent eyes.

"What of it? Shall we compare body count? As I suspect you've blown mine out of the water, you who killed Nunnally." Lelouch coldly retorted as he had no patience or energy to entertain Suzaku's nonsense.

Suzaku, naturally, looked murderous at how callously Lelouch brushed aside Euphemia's death and reminded him of how he, too, had the blood of a princess on his hands. Still, he couldn't move as Lelouch drew his pistol and aimed it right for Suzaku's hand. "You had your chance to kill me a year ago for that sin, but I'm not going to make the same mistake."

"You think you can?" Suzaku asked as they knew he could out-speed an automated gun turret and that Lelouch was never the picture of masculine strength or physical capabilities.

However, Lelouch didn't need to match him; his mind was his weapon. He just needed to figure out how his opponent thought. He had seen Suzaku in action many times and could predict how he would move even before Suzaku made those moves. It didn't matter if Suzaku was faster if Lelouch aimed for where he would be.

His smile carried resentment, grief, hate, acceptance, and bitter joy. "I know I can. After all, I had no plans or desire to live when I entered this place; nothing left for me. So, I can fight to take your life without hesitation," His arm remained strong, with Suzaku being able to see how Lelouch shifted it ever so slightly to ensure he was always aiming for his central mass. "Or fear of death."

"Stop this; you won't gain anything from this." C.C. got up, not knowing who to stop first, as they could tell that this wouldn't end peacefully. Whatever bonds they shared, whatever love they had as friends, had long since burned out.

Lelouch agreed with her. This was different from how he operated. This wasn't emotional, it was petty. "Maybe nothing tangible, but I won't lie. Seeing this stubborn fool die would bring a smile to my face." But did he have anything left but this petty emotional act? He once said that the Black Knights were strong because they fought with their hearts and emotional ties; his heart wished for blood.

"Schneizel would appreciate it if I could bring him proof Charles is dead, and your head." That bloodlust and hate were matched by Suzaku, who didn't care if he would die like so many times before. Of course, it was the idea that he survived to cash this in and get Japan, but if he were to die here…well, it wasn't like anyone would mourn him.

C.C. cursed as she moved; she couldn't stop both as they shifted, moments away from Suzaku lunging forward and Lelouch pulling the trigger. But the moment never came as they were still in C's World, which meant that if there was anywhere where a miracle could happen, it was here.

Soft, gentle yet firm, and strong hands grasped both men. Lelouch found his wrist grabbed and the gun aimed low, while Suzaku found himself caught, his momentum killed. But it wasn't C.C. who did any of this; instead, two familiar faces were the culprits.

"Stop." Shirley, looking as radiant and gentle as she did the day Lelouch lost her commanded, her words as silky as ever, but underneath was a layer of steel that chained Lelouch's rage and murderous apathy

"Cease." Euphemia's words pierced through Suzaku's hate and murderous intent. Like Shirley, she looked like she had never died, though somehow better, as her form was brighter than even his happiest memories.

Neither could speak nor think about what they would say if they did. Emotions that they thought were dead and gone came roaring to the surface, fusing with intentions and feelings already there.

Lelouch thought this was just some trick, one last cruelty from Charles, while Suzaku thought Lelouch was merely manipulating him, insulting Euphie's memory by doing this. But they were real, as natural as spirits could get, and they were far from pleased.

"Suzaku, lower your blade," Euphemia ordered, and Suzaku did so, lowering his blade till the tip tapped the ground before he dropped it, letting the entire thing hit the ground with a clang of steel against stone.

"Lulu. Drop the gun." Shirley instructed, and Lelouch lost all his strength in his hand, the gun falling from his limp hand with a soft thump on the floor."

"How…?" Lelouch breathlessly asked, his body feeling like it was made of lead as he leaned into Shirley's arms.

"This is C's World, heaven, Lulu," Shirley replied.

"We watched, same as everyone else, as that terrible sword was built, as more people died to facilitate its construction." Euphemia gently moved some hair from Suzaku's eyes, but she was sad. "We watched as our friends and families were torn apart by tragedy and hate."

Shirley shared, too, in that grief. "We watched as the two of you, so close before, become such bitter enemies, so unwilling to forgive that even after coming together against Ragnarök, you'll throw away your very lives if it means killing the other."

Suzaku countered though it was disjointed, lacking none of the vitriol he had when he addressed Lelouch as he grasped at Euphemia. "I…he has to pay…he became a terrorist, he's hurt so many people, fed into strife and violence for his own benefit…he took you from me." He finished with a whimper, looking down as he struggled to contain his tears, though they flowed all the same.

Lelouch didn't contradict him. Without that rage or bitterness, he had nothing in him that could. He did do that and so many other terrible, inexcusable acts. He had sold his soul away when he made a deal with the devil, and now he had nothing to show for it, as every story he heard growing up would have warned him about.

But he wasn't the one that would speak up. "That wasn't his intention that day, Suzaku," Euphemia revealed, Lelouch and Suzaku growing wide-eyed at that, but for different reasons.

"What?" Suzaku turned to her, Euphemia looking at how lost he seemed.

"He was planning to geass me, yes. But into shooting him so he could use my apparent ploy as a means to delegitimize me in the eyes of the Japanese and stroke increased support for violent change." She stated, recalling the conversation ideally in her mind, down to how Lelouch stood and carried himself.

"But…he was still-" Suzaku latched onto something that still painted Lelouch in a bad light as if he didn't plan for that attack; if he wasn't at fault, then…then…

"I know, Suzaku. I know." Euphemia's touch kept him grounded, but her smile turned melancholic. "But…when I arrived here, I had time to think… and I concluded the same thing he did, that my dream would have forever remained such."

"No, no! Euphie, you're being too hard on yourself. You could have done it. You had the support, and I-!"

Euphemia's smile shrunk, steel entering her words as she cut him off. "Would have fought for it? Have you? Have you fought for my dream, Suzaku? Did I ever say that I wished to see you aide my father in his conquests, in his wars, in his campaigns to see entire nations enslaved and robbed of all dignity and rights?"

Suzaku opened his mouth, but no sound escaped. Hadn't he already accepted that? That he had turned his back on all his princess and all she loved and believed? Yet, there was a clear difference in accepting that in his heart and hearing her say the same thing.

Euphemia frowned at his silence, seeing it play out from C's world, but she still hoped there was more. But it seemed that hatred had taken root with so many and nearly choked out all the love and compassion she had adored in him.

"But I was able to convince him and show him that I was willing to sacrifice to see it done, not just for the Japanese but for Nunna as well. Because if the Japanese could find hope in the SAZ, then the Black Knights could work with Britannia, and Nunna could be closer to her dream, and her brother wouldn't have to risk his life trying to achieve it." She continued.

"Euphemia…you give me too much credit. It doesn't matter that I was willing to work with you…" Lelouch frowned, feeling hollow as she recalled how that day had ended. What had haunted his nightmares ever since. "All that matters was my…"

"Lelouch, it was an accident…" Euphemia shook her head, saddened that he believed himself so unworthy to call her a sister that he couldn't bring himself to use her nickname. But she could see that Suzaku was confused, so she finished the explanation.

"His geass, Suzaku. It had developed to the stage where he couldn't deactivate it; it was right as I asked him how he intended to get me to shoot him. Be explained his power, but I didn't believe him, and he firmly told me that he could get me to do anything, even something terrible." Suzaku realized with dread what that meant.

"Kill the Japanese." He breathed out, recalling how she acted when he was able to speak with her after her surgery.

She smiled again, though it was sad. "I was looking him in the eye at the time." C.C. looked away at that, as she didn't step into this, but she knew that she could have been more active with him then, even if his geass went runaway early maybe…maybe she could have seen the signs, given him council, but she didn't.

"Lulu…that day, that wasn't your fault. But it wasn't the only day that you killed innocents without intending to do so." Shirley didn't let Lelouch think he was exempt from the criticism, not that he believed it as he remained silent, thinking of when he first realized that, the aftermath of Narita when he learned along with the rest that he killed Shirley's father, him and hundreds of others cruelly done in via burial

It didn't matter that she was with her father again, not when her mother was left grieving the loss of her husband and daughter, not even a year apart. "How many have been caught in the crossfire? How much blood must be spilled before the cost becomes too great?"

She got forceful when he didn't answer, forcing him to look her in the eye as she yelled. "Answer me! What made the lazy boy who cared for his sister above all else a ruthless killer? What could have possibly driven you to slaughter the entire geass order?"

"It was to ensure that geass…and the sins that came with being a bearer of it would be mine and mine alone to bear," Lelouch responded, not a hint of emotion in his words; they were lifeless, purposeless.

"Just like with Euphemia, my lack of precautions killed you, Shirley. I knew that Rolo was unstable, that he latched onto me as the only real thing he had."

His shoulders dropped, and so did his gaze as he couldn't look her in the eye; he didn't deserve such. "He killed you for the same reasons V.V. killed Marriane, and just like Charles, I didn't get justice for the loss of someone precious to me. So, if I couldn't atone, I could at least ensure that geass and its evils would be one alone to bear."

Shirley scowled at his words, as he was wearing a mask once again-one that was cold and ruthlessly pragmatic, but she could see the cracks in it, and through those cracks, she could see what was at his core, what feelings he had.

What she saw was a deep sorrow, a grieving heart filled with shame, anger, and so much else. It was a miracle that he wasn't consumed by it before now, but if she had her way, he'd make it through this because, for once in her existence, she'd force him to do what she knew he could.

"You'll bear the cross. You'll never be able to forget what you've destroyed or who you've hurt," Shirley told him.

"But you aren't allowed to falter, not now-not ever. You aren't allowed to die because death isn't your punishment, Lulu." Pulling his face towards hers, she looked him dead in the eye, banishing any sympathy she had from her heart to deliver this message.

"Your penance would be to continue one. You'll make this world better than it is now; that is a fact because you're not allowed to fail." She told him.

"I wasn't able to achieve my dreams. But when you two work together, you'll have a shot. So that's what your sentence will be, Suzaku. You'll bring about the world we envisioned." Euphemia once more picked things up from there, directing her words towards her fallen knight.

"It has been one month since the destruction caused by the Fleija warhead," Milly said. The Ashford heiress was shifting gears towards another event.

"Today, Emperor Charles will make an important announcement to the entire nation, and we will bring you live coverage of this from Pendragon Imperial Palace even though his majesty has not made any public appearances in the last month."

As was tradition, the throne room was filled with every important noble and royal. They all stood waiting for Charles to walk onto the stage and take his seat. The cameras that had been invited were carefully placed to capture everything, but they also remained out of sight.

"Didn't somebody say that the emperor was missing?" The ever-bloodthirsty Carine asked her older sister.

"Bismarck reported that, and now he's gone as well." Guinevere frowned but kept it subtle as she wouldn't break tradition and risk their father's ire.

"As for Schneizel and the others, where are they? It's not like him to miss something like this." Her elder brother, first in line to the throne, Odysseus asked.

Aware of the cameras on them, Guinevere didn't move much as she replied. "Don't know, there's been no word from Cambodia yet, but knowing him, it's because he's plotting something. Maybe he's making his move."

"Presenting his imperial majesty." The footman made his statement before Odysseus could ask if that was a wise move from their brother, and any chatter in the room fell silent. But instead of the aged, tall, and powerful man that had come to expect, someone else walked onto the stage, younger, smaller, and skinner than the man who had reigned as emperor for the last 20 years.

"But that's…" Carine blinked, just to be sure she was seeing this right.

"It can't be." Guinevere broke protocol from shock, her eyes wide as she looked at a dead man walking

"Where's his majesty?" Carie asked as this interloper calmly walked towards the throne and took a seat as if he owned it, not a hint of weakness or deceit in him.

"What the hell?" Milly asked, watching this unfold from her desk in her Tokyo newsroom.

"Whaaa?!" Rivalz's jaw fell open as he watched the proceedings on his phone in the middle of class, and others crowded around him.

"But how…how is he…?" Kallen was just as dumbfounded, if not more so than her civilian friends could ever be. She knew more than they did, but that meant she knew he couldn't…wouldn't be able to do this.

With the entire world watching him, Lelouch crossed his legs on the throne, smirking towards the gathered royals and nobles. "Greeting Britannia and the world. I am Lelouch vi Britannia of the royal family. Formerly the 11th prince of the realm and 17th in line to the throne, now your 99th emperor of the realm."

"Good lord," Bismark uttered as he and the rest of the Knights of the Round that had gone into hiding with Schneizel watched the proceedings. He had known that Marriane's eldest was arrogant and dramatic, as his parents were, but this was far beyond that.

"How could this be?" Gino frowned. He didn't recall Lelouch or Suzaku ever mentioning that he was of the royal family.

"Is it really you?" Carine asked

"You're alive?" Guinevere was just as shocked as they were so sure that his exile had been a death sentence for daring to argue with their father

Lelouch turned his eye to his sister, one he had never gotten along with, but the same could be said for nearly the entire room. "Indeed, dear elder sister. I have returned from the depths of hell intact."

Odysseus stepped up before things got out of hand, especially when cameras broadcasted this entire event. "Lelouch, how good to see you. When Nunnally was found, I held out hope that your return was also in the cards."

Lelouch didn't seem to answer him as he reached into the folds of his school uniform. "But now, don't you think you're carrying on this joke a bit too far? That seat is our father-" The first prince was cut off when Lelouch retrieved what he had been looking for and tossed it down at his brother's feet.

Odysseus looked down at it and felt his heart cease as he recognized it; they all had. From the moment he claimed the throne, their father had never worn a crown; instead, he wore a gold pendant in the shape of a shield, which he wore everywhere he went.

For Lelouch to have it and to treat it with such disrespect could only mean one thing…

Lelouch's smirk grew when he saw the realization on his brother's face, and the color faded from everyone else's. "Correction, it was our father's, as our grandfather's before him. And as how our father claimed power, so have I, by killing him." The entire room seemed to freeze in shock at such a bold claim.

"By right of conquest and the law of Britannia, that makes me emperor!" Lelouch waved towards the room, which broke from its stupor which turned into indignation and rage.

"What are you saying? Are you nuts?" Carine yelled at him as if they'd ever let the half-commoner prince be their emperor.

"Guards, cease that fool and execute him! He's guilty of murdering our emperor!" Guinevere hardly needed to order them, as the guards had already been on the move, their loyalty to their fallen sovereign guiding their halberds to slaughter this would-be ruler, but not a single one of them reached them as from the ramparts, come down two figures who shattered their weapons and sent the guards flying back.

The world was in for another shock, and one was Jeremiah, a disgraced knight of Britannia who had been thought dead, only to resurface fighting for Zero. Now, he was back in court. The other might have always been a knight of Britannia, but to see him defending Lelouch of all people…

With the entire world watching, Lelouch gestured towards the two men. "I introduce my knights. Suzaku Kururugi and Jeremiah Gottwald, who from this moment shall be known as the Knight of One and the Knight of Two." His words carried through every radio, every TV, and every phone as people in and outside the empire couldn't help but listen to him and take in his image. Summoned by his words, more armed men entered the room, wearing red and white cloaks, their faces hidden by masks; they all carried spears and blades drawn and aimed toward the gathered occupants.

"Let me clarify, I am not asking; I am not playing some childish game. I am telling you. I have done what none of you could, what none of you dared, and that was to prove myself stronger than Charles and claim this throne as mine. So," Back in the throne room, Lelouch made his position clear, a hand flashing over his face.

"Bend the knee and acknowledge me as emperor." With his geass free, he looked at the entire room, where every eye went to his gaze.

"Lelouch, Sir Kururugi, Sir Jere-!" Whatever his brother was about to say was killed in the crib as his geass worked its power over them, shifting their minds to his will as his brother smiled and brought a hand to his chest, kneeling before him. "We hear and obey your majesty!" He was merely the first as the entire room followed suit, as royal and noble alike bent the knee.

"All hail, Lelouch, the 99th emperor of Britannia!" His sisters, Carine and Guinevere, were the next to follow, and with their words, the entire room followed suit as they repeated 'All hair Lelouch' in unison, not a single dissenter among them. As to all the world, he had just won support from his family and the most powerful nobles of the empire.

Holy…this was a long time coming; I spent 3 hours just editing the chapter even before putting it through Grammarly, a service which I was able to get the annual plan for thanks to a special slashing in the price, so like with End of an Era, this chapter got the complete treatment. I will admit that some stuff couldn't fit, I went too hard on that first part where I set up their mindset and situation, but while I cut out the fat from it, I didn't want to change it too much.

The next chapter will be out on October 17th.

Special thanks to my Patrons(s):

Killerking

Frostcore

High Simp of Mephala

Malik Johnson

Broden Hammel

truenoble

Killerking

Alexei Barrett

rlp31-

ShelDrake

Yvetal247

Uknown Grimoire

p a t reon . com (slash) Ducksmakegreatminers