The morning sun cast her first rays along the battlefield, revealing the dead. A stillness haunted the aftermath, as if the world held its breath.
Although the rangers still hunted down some stragglers, the overall result was undisputable: total victory. The Chinese forces had been crushed, Sawasaki and his contemporaries were seized without further complications; the cowards surrendered instantly, now they awaited their fate in a cell.
Cornelia already decided to have the lot of them publically executed. They would serve as an example for the price of challenging Britannian supremacy.
For now however, there were more important things to do.
Her forces still recovered bodies and material from the field. A steady influx of names filled the list, though it was ultimately shorter than she feared. Prisoners of war were to be processed as well, though she would have to get some people who spoke Mandarin for that.
A somber mood took hold of the main camp, for once unaffected by Cornelia's presence. She knew the feeling all too well; celebrating their victory came later, for now her men and women were simply tired. She felt much the same.
Passing by Gottwald, Cornelia changed course. The man stared into the distance, a mug of coffee in one hand and a set of dog tags in the other. She came to stand by his side, neither quite looking at the other.
"How many?"
He drew up his head some in response, revealing a serene calm. Gottwald slowly offered four dog tags for inspection, but he also offered her each name. All members of the Purist faction, she noticed. The only one he paused at was Viletta Nu, whom Cornelia recalled was a commoner who earned her knighthood on merit. She was also a close supporter of Jeremiah Gottwald, so perhaps there was a little more between them than the documents said.
Regardless, she offered a sympathetic nod and moved on. Gottwald remained where he was, looking at the battlefield in whatever ritual he chose to honour the fallen.
Cornelia's current goal was a place she did not expect to approach willingly before last night. The Camelot Institute's trailer was parked a short ways away, brought along by Asplund as usual.
Only today, the frame held inside was in pieces. Nobody had bothered to even hose off the mud and dirt yet. No tarp hid the many holes riddling their proud frame.
It felt miserable to see this prototype so broken. Cornelia could not quite tell if this was because of the machine or the devicer, though. It bothered her a little.
What bothered her more was the sight of Lloyd Asplund, though. She found him calmly tapping away at a computer station, looking for all the world like nothing happened. His assistant was nowhere to be seen, the man himself too engrossed in his work to even notice the sound of Cornelia's footsteps.
Once they were near enough, Gilbert cleared his throat in her stead. The noise finally served to get Asplund's attention; only in his turning around did Cornelia find traces of exhaustion. The man was tired just like the rest of them, though he still rose and offered a deep bow.
"Oh my, what a surprise to see your highness so soon," Asplund greeted, still mellow but for once without that mocking lilt. "How may I be of service?"
Two sentences and she already felt a headache coming on. She was tempted to ask how he could be so unaffected right after a major battle, but swallowed the question.
"Where is your assistant?" she deflected, mainly for time to order her thoughts.
In turn, Asplund pointed his thumb over his shoulder. He indicated one of the siderooms that was clearly locked. "Dear Cecile took Suzaku's death rather badly and locked herself in there to grieve," he explained. His calm tone and that lilt did not fit his words at all. The way he did not waste any time on pleasantries was both appreciated and alienating.
"You do not seem all that shaken yourself," Cornelia prodded, curious despite herself. His nonchalance did not fit the fact he was ready to stand between Kururugi and Cornelia before.
Asplund bore a tired smile in response. "Well, that is because I don't care about people, your highness. Losing Suzaku was a shame, but there will be other devicers."
It really did not add up. What was true with this man? Perhaps his constant swings in behaviour were a strategy to stay unpredictable. He certainly managed to incite Cornelia's curiousity.
"You were surprisingly lenient on Kururugi for someone who does not care beyond their abilities as a devicer."
It was a statement as much as a question, to which Asplund threw her an outright mischievous grin. "Why, that is quite simple, your highness," he lectured, that familiar cheer returning at last. "Just because I don't care does not mean I need to be a jerk about it. It's much easier to work with people if they like you."
His words gave her pause, the man himself still far too mellow about it all for Cornelia's liking. She felt more than heard Gilbert shift, agitated over Asplund daring to quip at her in such a manner. Cornelia herself could not help but arch a brow, dubious.
"Noblesse Oblige?"
Her bewildered question actually got a little laugh out of the scientist. Asplund immediately shook his head and waved his arms to emphasize.
"No, no," he denied immediately, only to pause with a thoughtful hum. "Then again, the concept does align closely with my own views. But as I just said, being polite and friendly with people even when I don't have to loses me nothing. It is much the same reason why my brother and sister-in-law oversee our earldom; I don't care much for it, but they do. So why would I try to hold onto the reins and risk them trying to engineer an accident to get them from me? As is, they are happy playing politics in my stead, and I am happy advancing human knowledge one step at a time."
He laid it out so matter-of-factly that Cornelia felt compelled to believe him. There was logic to it, but she still had trouble conceiving of anyone willingly stepping away from their power and influence. Why would he not want that? The coffers of an earldom could easily bolster his research budget, or let him actually rent proper accomodations after he spent his entire budget on Lancelot.
It was the premise of him not caring that threw her for a loop. Who did that?
She barely, barely stamped down on the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. This was not why she was here.
"Do you have anything about Kururugi's next of kin?"
His interested "Ohoooo!" made her twitch. Going by the look in his eyes, upsetting her was the intention behind that response.
That was when Cornelia realised his demeanour really was just another mask to trip people off. Make them show their hand once upset. She smoothed out her expression, refusing to play his game and waiting stoically.
"My," Asplund chirped soon enough, "what an honour for our late friend. I do indeed know his next of kin, your highness."
He told her the details he had, which was really all Cornelia needed. She made a point not to thank him, just like he made a point to bid her goodbye in the most gratingly cheerful way imaginable.
Despite the annoyance of having to deal with Lloyd Asplund at seven in the morning, she at least got what she came for. So she went to make some calls, the cleanup left to her troops and auxiliaries.
Not even two hours later, Cornelia was led through a place she never expected to visit in person: Mt. Fuji, the most plentiful Sakuradite deposit in the world. The former Japan's greatest bargaining chip for political independence against the surrounding superpowers, but also the greatest lure for their conquest.
Moreover, unlike what the wary and worried onlookers may suspect, she had not come for an inspection. No, she was the bearer of bad news, at least this one visit having to happen before the official announcement.
The Elevens bowed deeply as was proper, but not all of them could hide their alienation. They did not want her here, that much she knew. But Cornelia paid them no mind, she expected the animosity. Gilbert would cover her if anyone dared act on the feeling; he shadowed her as always, still oozing displeasure about this decision but keeping his silence.
Kururugi was not one of her guard, so she was not obligated to deliver the news in person. His saving her life at least once however, if not twice, made Cornelia feel he earned the courtesy. Being a confidante of Lelouch's only added to it. And lastly, his next of kin was the only one she could reach on short notice.
Cornelia traversed the facility in silence, expression curt. The guide provided to her was much the same, if rather more uncomfortable to be in such close proximity to an imperial princess.
She was soon admitted into a moderately sized office, where she found the girl she was looking for. The teen was accompanied by an elderly man that Cornelia already knew, both of their expressions too blank to hide their respective worry.
Her brow twitched, but she did not bother questioning Kirihara's presence here. An imperial princess asking for Kaguya Sumeragi by name ought to raise all sorts of red flags for them; she was a pretty girl, already blossomed into maturity. A good bit too young for Cornelia to consider, though they naturally did not know that.
The girl herself curtsied, then took a knee as was proper. Even Cornelia could not find fault with her manners. Kirihara bowed as well, though no more.
"Please forgive my not kneeling, your highness," he offered by way of greeting. "These old bones no longer allow it."
She could use the breach of protocol to make an issue of it if she wanted. She had the right under Britannian law. But even Cornelia not wanting to aside, Asplund's words still ghosted through her head; this was an ancient man older than her own father. He had good reason to do as he did, alienating him for no reason was indeed useless.
So she simply nodded her head. "Of course. You may stand as well, Ms. Sumeragi."
The young lady climbed to her feet, but kept her eyes on the floor. It appeared eerily reminiscent to the one and only time she met Kururugi face to face. She felt compelled to order the girl to look her in the eyes, but chose not to force the issue for now.
This was never an easy conversation to start, nor did they give her an opening by asking for the purpose of her visit. After letting the silence linger for a moment, Cornelia got to it.
"I will make this brief," she began. "You are both aware of the situation in Kyushu. It has been resolved as of last night. Unfortunately, Major Kururugi was among the casualties our forces incurred during the battle."
She could see it for just a moment; a spark of surprise, then pain flaring in Sumeragi's expression. She wiped it away about as quick, displaying a surprising expertise for one so young. She remained composed as well, finally raising her eyes.
"Please forgive the interruption, but I was under the impression my cousin is part of the Engineering Corps?"
Cornelia nodded. That much was true, but the girl clearly did not know the whole truth. Another point in Kururugi's favour. "He was acting as devicer for an experimental Knightmare Frame developed by the Camelot research group. Live combat testing was among his tasks."
She was too focussed on Sumeragi to notice Kirihara's eyes widening for but a moment.
The girl herself accepted the news solemnly. "I see. Though I still wonder why your highness would deliver the news in person; from what I understand, this is not a part of your highness's obligations?"
She was a sharp one. Her ability to stay focussed deserved respect as well; Cornelia could tell the faint tremble of her body, yet none of it was audible in her voice. It was a shame this one was not born Britannian, really.
"Ordinarily, you would be correct," she agreed. "I made an exception in this case. Major Kururugi lost his life protecting mine. Sir Guilford."
Gilbert stepped up on her word, handing over a set of papers. They were filled out with all due haste, the copies already sent off. Cornelia received them first, then offered them to Sumeragi, who accepted hesitantly.
"Due to his heroic deeds," Cornelia explained, "I have petitioned to award him the Victoria Cross for exceptional valour in combat. Aside from his death certificate, you will find an invitation to the ceremony set in a week's time to receive the medal in his stead as his next of kin."
She received no more than another faint nod in response. A part of Cornelia felt with the teen, even though her own reaction to death had long since been blunted over many years of campaigning. Still, she took pity on her.
"I imagine this is a lot to take in for you, so I will take my leave now. My condolences."
With a nod offered to Kirihara, who bowed back in response, Cornelia made to leave.
A shaky "Wait, please" gave her pause. Turning back around, she found Sumeragi standing there holding the documents gingerly. The young woman's expression was too blank to not be hiding pain.
"How exactly did he die, your highness?"
The question made her frown, a faint curl of her brows as it reminded of her own inadequacies. But now was not the time to think or speak of that.
"His energy ran out while he blocked a shell headed my way. The Chinese capitalised before the smoke even settled."
It was a stupid maneuver in retrospect. They could not even see their targets. It never would have worked if Lancelot had been responsive. Cornelia did not say any of that, though; it would be insensitive.
Sumeragi nodded back, carefully placing the papers aside. Then she curtsied once more. "Thank you, your highness. Both for indulging my request and informing me as soon as you have."
Cornelia returned another almost stoic nod. She was not stopped this time and under no illusions what would happen about as soon as the door closed behind her.
What she did not know was how fast the news spread to her wayward brother and sister, though.
Nunnally and Lelouch were just as devastated as Kaguya, who retreated into her personal quarters and was barely ever seen for the next three days. Nunnally knew that her friend arranged a small burial for Suzaku's remains, but she could not attend herself; as much as she wanted to, Tohdoh and old man Kirihara were both present for it.
Instead, she and Lelouch visited the day after.
Staring down at the cold stone her friend now lay under, Nunnally felt her chest cramp up. "This isn't how it should have been," she murmured sadly.
Lelouch did not even have words. He was more shaken than he ever was, or at least more than he ever showed her. Just for today, he did not pretend everything was fine for her sake. She would not have believed him anyway; Suzaku was his dearest friend, now he died just like that. All his ambitions were gone with the wind.
She faintly wondered why Suzaku never said anything about being the pilot of that white Knightmare. If they had known earlier, they could have done something. Now it was far too late.
Her brother placed a single ivy on the grave. "Please find peace, Suzaku," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm going to do it for your sake, too."
Nunnally heard him just fine, but she had little to add. She already cried plenty, now she only wanted to scream out. To rage against the unfairness of this world. She wanted to break something. Suzaku was a good and kind man, he deserved better than this!
Instead of any of that, she put a forget-me-not next to the ivy.
They stared at the grave in silence for a time. The quiet remained unbroken when they made to leave. Nunnally's mind kept circling around one particular thought, but she did not dare speak it until they returned home.
"We can't even blame Britannia for this, can we? It was all Japan and China."
Lelouch shook his head faintly. "No, Sawasaki is to blame here. The Japanese are not at fault."
His teeth were clenched despite the calm words. Nunnally knew the feeling well. She wanted to blame Britannian and Cornelia so badly, but she knew deep down that neither of them was responsible for this.
Meanwhile, people across Japan discussed the current events heatedly. It already started during the siege and Black Knights' peacekeeping; Japanese and Britannians both asked themselves what Zero was doing. Even many who believed the Black Knights' claim to dispense justice were confounded by the whole series of events. The country was in turmoil on both sides, though nothing close to an actuall rebellion.
With all this knowledge weighing on them, the siblings watched the memorial service on TV like in trance. Cornelia held a speech for the fallen, extolling their valour and honour. Special honours were offered, only a dozen names spoken directly; each one for some sort of accomplishment.
Kaguya was not introduced by name, though Nunnally recognised her easily. She stood clad in white to receive her cousin's medal with a somber bow.
The surviving soldiers who received awards saluted to the pictures of the fallen.
Nunnally was well aware of the worried looks she and Lelouch received from the rest of the student council. Neither of them cared for their thoughts right now, though. She just wanted it to be over and to do... something. Anything but this, really.
If nothing else, this event fostered a deeper understanding in both of them. Nunnally carried it in her heart for a week by now, still too upset to say it out loud.
Once they were finally back home and each held a cup of tea, Lelouch broke the silence.
"It was weird to see his face right amidst Britannian soldiers," he mused. "Perhaps he got further with this change from within than we expected."
He was stalling and they both knew it.
Nunnally bowed her head low, hand slipping into his. The words forced themselves out like the bile she forced down all this time.
"Japan can't ever be free again."
Lelouch stilled, paling further than he already was. His other hand grasped hers like a drowning man would a piece of driftwood. It did not stop Nunnally from speaking; from saying those damning words they both thought: "Even if we managed to shake off Britannia, the Chinese Federation would just swoop in to grab the prize. And if not them, then Europia will. The Sakuradite is just too tempting a resource."
Her brother deflated as she spoke. The truth from his sister's mouth was too much to keep deluding himself. A toneless "Yes" was his response, much as Nunnally hated to hear him agree.
"And even if we did away with the Sakuradite and solved all the other issues, the masterful tightrope act Japan's previous position was can't be restored. The occupation shattered that carefully cultivated equilbrium between the superpowers. A small country like this either falls in line, or is made to do so."
His words hung heavy in the air between them. Nobody was happy with this, even C.C.'s smirk was gone. Lelouch took a shuddering breath and closed his eyes for a moment, hands squeezing Nunnally's.
Then he looked her straight in the eyes.
"We need to improve Japan for even a chance to free them. China's upper echelons are filled with self-serving Eunuchs who'll stab us in the back at their first convenience. Europia has to deal with Euro-Britannia. The other coalitions of states are too far away to make Japan a member. They are on their own. We're all they have."
Nunnally was slow to nod her agreement this time, too many thoughts racing in her head. "And breaking Britannia's stranglehold by way of rebellion doesn't work," she added. "Cornelia will just return and the result would be worse than what happens right now."
She did not say it, but she knew they were of one mind on it: they could incite a rebellion, but it would kick off a free-for-all between the three superpowers. It may even be effective.
If it were for revenge against the emperor, Nunnally would even consider doing it. But at the end of the day, Japan was only tangentially related to that goal; a means to an end, no more. She liked this country too much to set it aflame for such a small chance at getting her wish.
"The way forward would be to make Britannia ease off," Lelouch began to muse, talking more to himself than her. "Improve relations between the two peoples living here. Basically..."
He trailed off with a pained look, so Nunnally finished the sentence for him: "What Suzaku tried."
She squeezed his hand as she said it, her chest achingly tight. The loss still weighed heavy.
The silence lingered long enough for C.C. to break it.
"Unfortunately, he was the wrong man for the task," she told them somberly. When both siblings looked to her, the immortal elaborated without further prompting: "Any group will close ranks before an outsider's aspirations. Yet a figure of prestige and authority is needed to broker the sort of improvements you seek."
She paused there for effect, staring at each of her contractors in succession. Nunnally felt like C.C. could see to the bottom of her soul. Perhaps she even could.
"You're both thinking it. Say it."
She did not want to say it. In fact, Nunnally wanted to say it even less than she wanted to admit Japan's freedom was a pipe dream. She barely realised how hard she squeezed her brother's hand, nails digging into his much like his dug into hers. Their helpless looks turned to glares, which C.C. bore without reaction.
The tap-tap of Sayoko's shoes and gurgle of tea being poured was the only noise between them for a time.
In a way, C.C. was right; they could not run from the idea forever. Nunnally took heart and made herself say it.
"If we return-"
"No."
A year ago, she would have wilted if her brother snapped at her like this. Retract the idea, smile prettily, and accept his choice to not upset him. Now however, Nunnally sadly shook her head. She knew better.
"You can't just deny it, Lelouch."
"But I will," he growled back. "We will never return. I won't let them marry you off for some small profit."
Nunnally arched a brow in response. As happy as it made her that he still cared, now was not the time. "And I'm the only one under that risk?" she shot back. "You're almost of age, I would only be betrothed for now."
The way his eyes narrowed at her made Nunnally grow defensive. She let go of his hands to cross her arms, frowning back. "I hate the idea as much as you do, but we need to consider it. Zero and codename Angel only have what pittance of power the Black Knights let them have. Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia can gain a lot more than that."
Lelouch's jaw worked soundlessly as he mirrored her posture. He frowned at the table more than her, well aware she was right and that she knew it. Nunnally let him think for a bit, trying not to spit out in disgust at herself. She was seriously considering to reveal herself to the world, with all that entailed; it was something she could never take back. The mere idea of the many risks involved almost gave her nausea.
When her brother finally spoke, his words were somber.
"I promised the Black Knights a free Japan. Perhaps I knew even back then that it was a lie, that I just said it to make them fall in line. But now..."
He did not finish the sentence, but Nunnally understood. She could not help but huff faintly. As much as he acted the ice-cold jerk, Lelouch's heart was too big for his own good.
"Empathy is a heavy burden indeed," C.C. gently interjected once more. "The further you rise, the more it will press down on you."
With the reminder that other people existed, Nunnally turned to the far older woman in full. "What do you think of the situation?" she asked, well aware of her far greater experience. Nunnally met her probing gaze without hesitation and was awarded a faint smile.
"Change is paid in time or blood, sometimes both," C.C. told her. "It's possible if you reclaim your birthright, but you will have to do so in Britannian fashion. It can't be a mere return, it must be a triumphant one; results matter more than anything in the empire."
Nunnally nodded her understanding. She was distinctly aware of that, but hearing it said out loud served as a stark reminder. Her heart beat heavy in her chest and she could almost hear Lelouch's from where she sat.
Her brother seemed to entertain the idea as well now. "If we can do something suitably impressive, that will earn us clout among the peerage," he mused. "We can leverage this into getting a foot in the door."
About as soon as he said it, their eyes met. Realisation began to settle in between them, they knew it without either needing to say it. Nunnally's expression tightened, once again mirrored by Lelouch.
The decision was made.
"Then let's make a plan," Nunnally declared. "If we do this, then we will do it in a fashion the bards shall sing of for centuries."
He smiled, as did she. Their expressions were anything but nice. C.C.'s smug smirk joined them a moment later.
Then they got to it. There was much to prepare.