Just when I thought I was out, I'm pulled back in. I never planned for it, but I ended up doing it and now I'm working on writing 3 epilogue chapters for the Demons Reign, though because I'm written a bunch of chapters for this during my Christmas break, by the time this is posted, all of you would have already known that.

When it came to this chapter, The planning for it was lighter than the norm, so I was able to fit everything…for chapter 7 into this. But I did realise that I needed to make some changes to the plans going forward, not because of a mistake, but more because I realised that stuff was set-up, but didn't go anywhere in one of those weird 'it should have' ways.

Chapter 12: The Pink Rose

The day had barely begun, but the news was already grim. Even someone as disinterested in people as Lloyd couldn't ignore how quickly things had unravelled since Zero disrupted Suzaku's trial. "Did they break up that riot in Osaka yet?" he asked, nursing a cup of coffee as his crew moved the Lancelot back into the trailer.

His team looked as exhausted as he felt. Despite being soldiers, they'd enjoyed some normalcy by living off base. Many with families appreciated that stability. But after Zero exposed Clovis' massacre, most had been ordered to remain on base. Public outrage had been swift and palpable. The soldiers, once seen as protectors, now faced suspicion and hostility.

Lloyd had heard about an ice cream shop incident where soldiers, angered by being refused service, turned violent. Civilians got involved, escalating the situation into a brawl. The harsh punishments handed out to the soldiers responsible did little to ease tensions. People saw them as brutes, and distrust quickly turned to open violence. Within hours, orders from Jeremiah's desk restricted all military personnel to their bases unless deployed for official duties.

"They had to call in heavy police for that riot," Cecile reported, frowning at her computer screen. "The major media sites aren't covering it, but locals say tear gas and rubber bullets were used. They fired into the crowds to disperse them."

The reports from the incident, barely eight hours old, were grim. Official sources remained tight-lipped, but independent sites claimed dozens were injured. Images circulated online, though many were quickly taken down by government censors. The unrest didn't stop there. Eleven terrorist activity had spiked in recent days—kidnappings, drive-bys, robberies, and bombings targeting both government and military assets.

"Fukushima, Kochi, Hiroshima, Niigata, and now Fukuoka? That's the eleventh attack in two days," Cecile muttered, massaging her temples. Each attack seemed worse than the last. The Fukuoka bombing involved a truck crashing into a government office before exploding, killing those nearby and leaving the commander 'gravely wounded'.

"It seems the other groups are following Zero's lead," Lloyd remarked. "With civil authorities hamstrung and the military facing public backlash, there's less resistance to their attacks."

"At this rate, the police might need military support," Cecile lamented. Police forces across Area 11 were struggling to keep up with the rising civil unrest. Every arrest seemed to fuel more anger from the public, who demanded answers about Shinjuku's massacre.

"Everyone wants to know what really happened in Shinjuku," Lloyd said. "What was so important that Clovis ordered the ghetto's liquidation and Jeremiah covered it up? I doubt Jerry knows any more about Project Eden than we do." Gossip of Project Eden had spread even among the troops. It was a mystery—something critical enough to warrant mass murder and political machinations. Jeremiah's decision to incriminate Suzaku for political gain had only made things worse as rumours circulated that he knew that Zero did commit the deed, but couldn't capture him, leading to a scapegoat.

"The people don't care if Jeremiah has answers," Cecile said coldly. "This mess is partly his fault. His arrogance made him an easy target for Zero. Even around the base, I've heard whispers that Jeremiah should've known the gas was a ploy," she added.

Lloyd chuckled, tossing his empty coffee cup into the trash. "Oh yes, Jeremiah should've magically figured out that as Clovis never explicitly called it gas and ignored every other directive we received during that chaos."

It was always easier to blame someone in hindsight. People pointed to supposed clues that only made sense after the fact. Perhaps it made them feel smarter, or perhaps they were simply shifting blame. One thing was clear—the Purists in Area 11 had lost nearly all their power. Government officials and military officers openly expressed dissatisfaction with their influence.

"The Purists have made too many enemies," Cecile noted. "And Zero's making sure they pay for it."

Lloyd sighed, the situation was volatile. Zero's actions had sparked a rage in the people, rage aimed at them. The chief constable of Tokyo's police had released a statement the previous night, declaring that the investigation into Clovis' murder had been overtaken by the Purebloods, with evidence and testimony ignored. Lloyd, Cecile, and the entire A.S.E.E.C. unit knew it was true, but they were suspicious of how easily the police bent to Pureblood demands.

If you told any of them that the police were simply throwing the Purebloods under the bus to save face, it would be an easy sell. But now? The Purebloods' position had crumbled, leaving Jeremiah in a situation similar to Bartley's days before. As a Margrave, Jeremiah commanded Area 11's defence, a position strengthened by his role as acting consul. But that command was shattered, leaving him with only token authority.

"He shouldn't have been in that position to begin with, that was his fault alone, not Zero's." Cecile said, closing her laptop. Reports showed the ongoing chaos, all triggered by the Purebloods' machinations.

"Some would call this karma. Pride before the fall, right? Well, Jerry certainly fell—face first into the mud," Lloyd quipped.

"I won't call it karma until he faces more than insubordination and bad press. The homeland's been silent about this," Cecile replied, frowning. It seemed the homeland was content to let the Purebloods make fools of themselves, with no word on who would be named the next Viceroy.

"Why would they comment? Jeremiah broke no laws. Using a prince's death for political gain is distasteful, but it's nothing unusual for the court," Lloyd pointed out. The imperial court thrived on political games, even through blood and misery. The people might be disgusted, it was just how things were done. Unlike the E.U., which nominally had laws to protect its citizens, Britannian nobles enjoyed near-total freedom.

Their history books mocked Japan for the samurai's right to kill peasants over perceived slights. Yet modern Britannian nobles had similar rights—and used them more often than commoners knew. Legally, Clovis had been within his rights to order the Shinjuku massacre even if only for fun. The real issue was why he did it.

"It all leads back to Eden," Cecile sighed. That project remained on everyone's mind, yet no answers had surfaced.

"You mean in the literal sense or the biblical one?" Lloyd teased, earning a sharp look. He quickly backtracked, raising his hands. "I jest! I jest!"

Adjusting his glasses, he grew serious. "But I am serious about one thing. We know so little about Eden. We should be looking for the forbidden fruit."

"The terrorists stole it," Cecile assumed, before realizing what he meant. "The capsule contained something vital to Eden, something incriminating to Clovis. But the only way Zero would know that is…"

"If he opened it. The capsule was never recovered, and Jeremiah's reaction tells me it wasn't just covered up," Lloyd said. But that left a question: if it wasn't gas, what was it?

Lloyd shrugged, as there just wasn't enough details with this to even make an educated guess. "The only one who can give us answers is Bartley. And if he wasn't talking before, I doubt he will now."

"That's for the homeland to decide. Something tells me they'll be curious about what Clovis tried to hide from them," Cecile said. Bartley, the sole survivor of Zero's purge, was the key to uncovering Eden's secrets. Scheduled to be sent back to the homeland, he was already under suspicion of complicity in Clovis' murder. This new revelation would ensure his time in Temple Tower became a nightmare—one that mothers used to scare their children into obedience.

"We need to act, Tohdoh! Zero has thrown the Britannians into chaos. Now's our chance!" Kusakabe urged, pacing Tohdoh's spartan quarters as despite his rank of Colonel, Tohdoh lived simply, with only a few personal items, including a blade gifted by the former emperor.

Tohdoh remained seated, calm and collected. "Don't be reckless. These attacks are minor. Anything important is under tighter security now."

Frustrated, Kusakabe glared. "Is that why you ordered the general to stay hidden?"

Tohdoh's opened his hawk-like eyes, glaring back at Kusakabe. "Mind your words, Kusakabe! I merely advised caution. If we act rashly, we'll be crushed."

"But if we don't take action now, we'll be left behind and Kyoto will-!"

Tohdoh cut him off. "Rumours about Kyoto giving the Guren Mk II to Zero are baseless. Do you think they'd hand such a weapon to someone with only two victories?"

'It's two more than we have,' Kusakabe thought bitterly but bowed and left. Alone, Tohdoh sighed. Kusakabe's eagerness worried him. Since Suzaku's arrest and Zero's dramatic return, the man had been more restless than ever.

'We don't even know who the new Viceroy will be,' Tohdoh mused. 'They won't send another one like Clovis.' The empire often appointed the emperor's children to viceroy positions, but most hardly stuck out compared to the typical noble. Thankfully, they didn't need to worry about Carine who already Area 16's Viceroy where her reign was notoriously brutal against her African subjects

'Nunnally would be her age now,' he reflected, contrasting Carine's cruelty and obvious love for violence with the late princess's kindness and aversion for hostility. He wondered how a family that produced Carine and Clovis would have also produced her, or perhaps that was part of why she was exiled, they never did learn why Charles shipped her and her brother to Japan.

Tohdoh's thoughts returned to Zero. The man's speeches stirred something in him—a sense of familiarity. That he's met a person with that deep, burning hatred and conviction before, in that moment, he recalled violent eyes, petulant, immature but filled with a rage that lingered with you.

No… it couldn't be. Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia were dead. He was sure of it.

So why did he doubt?

'By the power invested in me by the Emperor, I hereby end this criminal case due to gross prosecutorial misconduct and lack of evidence. Its one suspect, Private Suzaku Kururugi, shall be released from detention.' Suzaku repeated the judge's words in his mind for the past hour. As expected, his return had been chaotic. He was nearly shot on sight, only surviving by quickly identifying himself. Zero's actions had left the settlement in disarray.

When interrogated, they grilled him until sunrise, finally believing his account: Zero freed him, but he hadn't planned it. He didn't know Zero's identity, hadn't seen a rebel base, and knew nothing useful. He directed them to the theatre where he'd been dropped off, but by the time they checked, the terrorists were long gone. His second detention was better than the first. A hopeful part of him wanted to believe this was how Britannia treated suspects when the Purebloods weren't pulling strings. He was even allowed to contact Lloyd and Cecile, who assured him he was still part of the A.S.E.E.C.

"Though they're running late," he sighed, stepping out of the Viceroy's palace, which doubled as the courthouse. A kind guard advised him to ditch the uniform—it wouldn't win him any favours with the public after Clovis's massacre. With Zero's reveal of the truth, soldiers weren't all that popular.

"Out of the way, please!" Suzaku instinctively scanned the area and looked up in time to see a girl falling toward him. "Look out below!"

"What the—!" Dropping his bag, he caught her without hesitation. Kneeling with her in his arms, he quickly checked her for injuries. Thankfully, she seemed unharmed.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

The girl blinked at him, surprised but unhurt. "Oh, my apologies! I didn't realize anyone was down here when I jumped." Her accent was upper-crust Britannian, but her clothes were more practical than noble attire—well-made but suited to a wealthy commoner.

Suzaku suddenly realized he was holding a Britannian girl. His heart sank, expecting her to scream or report him. But she didn't. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't expecting a girl to fall into my arms, either." He smiled awkwardly, then processed her words. "Wait—you jumped? Why? That's too high for a safe landing."

Her expression softened at his concern. Her bluish-violet eyes flashed with something unreadable before she smiled, her beauty hitting him like a punch. "Well, the truth is… bad guys were chasing me. I had no choice but to jump."

Her plea triggered his protective instincts. Helping her to her feet, he glanced around for threats. "Do you need help?"

"It would be appreciated, good sir." Her voice held genuine gratitude, and as she smiled again, Suzaku felt butterflies stir in his stomach.

"Dammit, we need to act soon. The new Viceroy arrives this evening, and the last thing the Purebloods need is for our loyalty to be questioned," Kewell complained as he and like-minded Purebloods met in secret, their leader absent.

"Jeremiah still won't talk about Eden?" someone asked.

"He claims he doesn't know what it is and only let Zero humiliate us to stop its release." Kewell scowled at the reminder. Jeremiah, Viletta, and he had argued for hours, with Jeremiah insisting his actions were to protect the royal family.

"Is it true Margrave Jeremiah was bribed?"

"Either that or he's a fool," Kewell said bitterly. "Letting Zero go without knowing what Eden is? It's disgraceful for someone of his rank." They should have avenged Clovis, but instead were humiliated. Their survival felt deliberate, leaving them to endure the fallout of Zero's escape.

Viletta wasn't at the meeting; she shadowed Jeremiah in her Knightmare, acting as his security. Despite his exhaustion, Jeremiah worked tirelessly to maintain order. The settlement was in chaos, but riots were contained, and terrorist activity caused minimal damage, save for Lord Albeck's death in the van bombing. Viletta respected his dedication, but saw how narrow-minded it made him. He focused solely on preserving the royal family's reputation, but something didn't add up.

There were too many discrepancies in the Shinjuku incident. No gas was found, the Royal Guards' deaths matched the bullets that killed Clovis, and Zero knew about—and stole—a shipment of Sunderlands. And there was her memory lapse. She couldn't explain why she lost her Sunderland or why she was left alive. But one thing haunted her—the brief image before her blank memory. Two figures. One in black, one in white with both young, matching the fact one where what looked like a school uniform.

The details of their faces and clothes were gone, but she was certain they were connected to everything.

Suzaku followed the girl as they left the Viceroy's palace and wandered through calmer areas of the settlement. Though peaceful on the surface, tension hung in the air, people wary and waiting for something to ignite. He wondered if Zero's broadcast had made things worse. If the truth had been handled differently—less public, more controlled—would people still be so scared?

The girl beside him, however, seemed oblivious to the unrest. "We haven't introduced ourselves! That's bad manners. My name is…" She paused, turning away before looking back at him. "Euphie."

"Euphie?" Suzaku echoed, sensing it wasn't her real name but choosing not to press. "Well, it's a pretty name. I'm-"

Before he could finish, she stopped him. "No need. I know who you are. You're Private Suzaku Kururugi, son of former Prime Minister, Genbu Kururugi."

Suzaku's expression darkened at the mention of his father, but something else gnawed at him. "You lied before, didn't you? There aren't people chasing you."

Instead of answering, Euphie knelt beside a stray cat, meowing at it. Suzaku stared, confused, as she calmly coaxed the hissing feline. Her gentle persistence won it over, and the cat hobbled toward her. "Oh, does your paw hurt?" she asked softly, lifting the cat without trouble. Walking back to Suzaku, she beamed at him, her smile becoming something he found himself looking forward to.

"You make friends quickly," he noted.

"The kitty looked like it needed a friend. Would you like to be its second new friend?" She held the cat out to him.

"New friend?"

"A kitty like this must have lots of friends—they're just not here right now."

Suzaku reached to pet the cat, only to get his finger bitten.

"Oh my," Euphie noted.

As they sat to tend to Suzaku's minor injury, they were spotted by Lloyd and Cecile, who were stuck in traffic in their trailer. Lloyd quickly recognized the pink-haired girl with Suzaku and raised an eyebrow, wondering why she was out in public—and with his devicer, no less. Curious but not wanting to interrupt, they stayed back.

"Do you not like cats?" Euphie asked, cradling the stray feline on her lap as she gently inspected its leg.

"I like them fine," Suzaku replied, reaching out, but the dark-furred cat hissed and swiped at him. He pulled his hand back before it could bite him again.

Euphie giggled. "Well, unrequited love shows a kind heart." The cat didn't seem to agree, as it wriggled free and darted away.

"Oh, kitty ran off," Euphie sighed. Suzaku chuckled at her expression, but his thoughts quickly shifted back to business. "Euphie, why did you lie when we met?"

"Are you asking because you're worried about me?" she teased with a knowing smile.

"O-of course!" Suzaku stammered, caught off guard.

Her giggle returned as she stood, tugging him to his feet. "Good! Then you can keep me company a bit longer." She pulled him toward the shops, eager to explore, even if she had no money. "Window shopping will do," she said cheerfully.

As they walked, Euphie's gaze lingered on uneasy passersby and the large screens showing news of a terrorist attack. "I was told this place would be like Britannia," she murmured, "but things seem… unsettled."

Suzaku frowned. "It'll pass. The settlement's usually lively, with lots to see—at least on the lower levels."

"And the upper ones?" She asked

He hesitated. "Honorary Britannians aren't allowed to roam there. We can work jobs, but sightseeing? Not really."

Euphie's eyes sparkled with determination. "That's a terrible rule. If you're allowed to work here, you should be allowed to live and have fun here too."

Suzaku smiled, warmed by her conviction. She felt like sunlight after the storm he'd endured. They continued exploring, with Suzaku buying them both crepes. When Euphie got a bit of cream on her face, he handed her a tissue—only for her to return the favour when he stumbled, nearly falling into a puddle. She steadied him and shot a glare at the man who'd pushed him, who quickly walked away.

They entered shops, laughing and debating over the wares. In clothing stores, Euphie playfully twirled as though modelling, making Suzaku chuckle. Her mock pout only made him laugh harder, and when she swatted his hand in mock annoyance, it turned to shared laughter—the two of them feeling completely at ease in each other's company.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Suzaku asked.

"I'm from the Homeland. I was a student there until last week," she vaguely replied.

"Last week? So, what are you doing now? If you're in high school, you can go sightseeing anytime." He wondered if she'd already graduated. She looked around his age, maybe a gifted student or just a year older.

"You ask a lot of questions." She teased.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to offend."

"It's fine. I didn't mean it that way," she said softly. "It's just… today's my last day of vacation. I don't get out much, so I wanted to experience what Area 11 is like. I'm glad I got to see it with you." Her sad expression struck him, but Suzaku didn't question why she was on vacation when school had started. Instead, he followed her gaze to a storefront with TVs displaying the empire's biggest news: Zero.

Suzaku was grateful to Zero for saving Shinjuku and exposing the massacre, but he hated his methods. Clovis surrendered, the massacre stopped—Zero didn't need to kill him. He didn't need to turn the rescue into a media circus. But he did, because he believed he was above the system. "Glad I made your time in Area 11 memorable," Suzaku said, pushing those thoughts aside. Today was for Euphie, and he would make sure she enjoyed it.

All the while, Lloyd and Cecile quietly shadowed them.

The two spent a couple of hours together, exploring the settlement, though Suzaku eventually ran out of places to show her and had to improvise. Still, they were having a great time."Suzaku, would you mind taking me to one more place, please?" Euphie asked.

His mood remained high as he grinned. "Your wish is my command, my lady. Where to?" He even bowed like a knight.

"Shinjuku."

His smile faded instantly as he noticed her serious tone. "Please, take me to Shinjuku." Her voice was no longer playful but firm and commanding, so different from the girl he'd spent hours with.

"Are you sure, Euphie? It's not a safe place, especially with everything going on…" Suzaku hesitated, unsure how to refuse her, but knowing that a Britannian visiting Shinjuku was a terrible idea.

Euphie's expression softened. "I have to see it…with my own eyes. I need to witness what Prince Clovis ordered." She clasped her hands to steady them, her lips shaking as she almost spoke his name without the title.

Suzaku, against his better judgment, agreed.

It took a while to arrive, partly because few trains went into the ghetto, and partly because Suzaku hoped that if he stalled, Euphie would change her mind. But she remained steadfast. By the time they arrived, it was afternoon, and the atmosphere was somber. The mood grew heavier as they walked through the ruins, the city's remains serving as the final resting place for many, Japanese and Britannians alike.

At what used to be a local park, long abandoned, they found a memorial along a bombed-out building's wall. Pictures, flowers, and candles marked the names of loved ones, now only mourned by the living. Suzaku hoped the many family photos meant these were the only pictures people had left. Even the fact that this place was a memorial was a tragedy, as most shrines in Area 11 had been destroyed in Britannia's efforts to suppress the Japanese culture, leaving few places for people to go to pray or spend time with the dead.

"The Shinjuku ghetto, it's ruined again," Suzaku sighed. He longed to blame the terrorists for all the death and destruction, but what Clovis had done was unforgivable, the knee-jerk, inhuman reaction of a wild animal.

Euphie knelt at a makeshift grave for a child, its offerings made of toys. "Clovis did this... for what?" Tears fell from her eyes as she whispered, "I thought he was different."

Suzaku shared her sentiment. Clovis hadn't been malicious, even fast-tracking processes to grant Elevens honorary citizenship. But in the end, Suzaku suspected it had been more about hampering terrorism than compassion.

He offered a prayer to the dead, and Euphie silently followed. Halfway through, they heard voices speaking English, and Suzaku knew trouble was coming.

"This is accurate? This information about Zero?" Jeremiah asked eagerly over the radio, rushing through the empty streets in his Sunderlands towards Shinjuku.

"Lord Kewell confirmed it; he's already moving to block Zero's escape routes." The news thrilled him. They suspected the masked man was based in the ghetto, and now they had found him. This time, Zero wouldn't escape, and Jeremiah could restore his tarnished reputation by presenting him to the Viceroy.

"Set up a no-entry zone around Shinjuku ghetto sector 4," he ordered. They couldn't let Zero escape, but they also had to avoid civilian casualties. The commoners were already upset, and the last thing they needed was more death.

"Already in progress, Lord Kewell will be expecting you." The controllers ended the exchange, looking relaxed as they glanced at each other. "All right, ball's in your court now."

Their calm was shattered when a blade dropped between them. They turned to see Viletta in her piloting gear. "I wanted to speak to Lord Jeremiah, but it seems more enlightening to talk to you two, especially since I've heard nothing about any Zero sightings."

Tamaki, Yoshida, and Sugiyama confronted the two Britannian brats, Tamaki knocking the fat one's camera to the ground and stomping on it. "You sick Britannian bastards! We don't want you here, so fuck off!" His English was heavily accented, but he didn't care. He'd learned it just to tell Brits to get lost.

"H-how dare a lowly Ele-!" one tried to retort.

"Call me that again, and I'll knock your teeth out. I'm Japanese!" Tamaki snapped and Yoshida and Sugiyama didn't stop him.

"W-wrong! You lost! You're just a beaten dog!" the skinny one yelped, legs trembling as he tried to act superior.

Tamaki threw his head back and laughed. "A dog? Is that what we are? Clovis thought the same when he rolled in here." He gestured to the park—once a place of childhood memories, now a mass grave where too many had buried their dead.

"And you know what happened? We slaughtered those Britannians! I saw them fall, screaming like pigs," he sneered. "Then Zero paid Clovis a visit and him regret coming here. Just like I'm about to make you regret coming here!" Tamaki advanced.

"Stop!" someone called out. Tamaki swatted at them, knocking off their shades. He froze when he saw their face.

"Wait. You're Kururugi Suzaku?" he asked, the students gaping in shock.

"The one who killed Clovis?" the fat one blurted.

"You idiot, that was Zero!" the skinny one hissed.

Suzaku frowned but stepped between Tamaki and the boys. "Enough people have been hurt already. It's disrespectful to fight in a place of mourning." He switched to Japanese, hoping to de-escalate.

Tamaki bristled, but Suzaku's words gave him pause. "Tell that to them! They were taking pictures like it's a damn tourist spot!"

"It doesn't matter! Don't sink to their level. For the sake of the deceased, let this go." Suzaku's tone softened, though he shared their anger.

Tamaki looked ready to argue, but Sugiyama placed a hand on his shoulder. With a shake of his head, Sugiyama signaled restraint.

"We'll pull back, but they better get out of here fast," Yoshida warned. "The next group might not care about the grounds."

"Damn Britannians," Tamaki muttered as they left.

Suzaku sighed in relief. The worst had been avoided—for both sides.

Euphemia approached, handing him his sack. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just glad they could be reasoned with." He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"Well, I'm not okay! Look at my Prime-G! And my LX4!" the camera owner wailed, inspecting his damaged equipment.

"Why'd you wait?" the other snapped at Suzaku.

"Some honorary citizen you are! You should've killed them, not let them go!" the fat one yelled.

Suzaku remained silent, suppressing his frustration at their lack of empathy. If he got angry every time a Britannian disrespected him, he might've fallen into the same violent cycle by now.

"He's right! What's a few dead Elevens to a guy lik—" The skinny student's insult ended abruptly as Euphemia marched up to him and slapped him. It wasn't a hard slap, but the sheer act silenced both Britannians.

The silence deepened when they saw her expression. Euphie was furious, and they would know it.

"I won't let you disrespect him another second! Look at yourselves! You call yourselves proper Britannians? Not with that lack of manners or gratitude toward the man who saved you from your own idiocy!" Her words lashed them, making both flinch under her gaze, the kind of authority they'd only seen from their vice-president.

"But—" they stammered.

"Enough! You'll speak when spoken to!" Euphie snapped. Both instantly went silent, cowed by her presence. "You act like senseless children! Count your blessings that Suzaku rescued you, and instead you demean him? You've mocked these innocents long enough. Apologize now and leave!"

The students, thoroughly browbeaten, muttered apologies before scurrying off toward the station. Watching them leave, Suzaku turned to Euphemia in awe. "You didn't have to do that," he said softly.

She faced him, her earlier anger replaced by grief and sympathy. "You didn't have to defend them either. But we both did it because it was right."

Suzaku appreciated her words, though the encounter stirred memories he tried to suppress. He knelt and picked up a teddy bear, placing it gently at a makeshift tombstone.

"But in their minds, it's not wrong. Japan lost, so Elevens have no right to dignity." Suzaku murmured, gazing at the graves and ruins around them. The defeated were stripped of everything—even respect. "Is that what it means to lose? To be weak?"

He clenched his fists. "Back then, when I was ten, the world seemed so hopeless. Disease, poverty, racism, hatred—it all fed into this endless cycle of despair. As long as we're trapped in that cycle, nothing will change."

His thoughts drifted to the invasion, the occupation, and the violence that followed. Even his privileged upbringing hadn't shielded him from the horrors. He saw how hatred bred violence, which only led to harsher crackdowns and greater hatred.

"I'm not my father. I'm no leader and I don't have the solution. But I know one thing: no one should lose the people they love. There has to be a world without war, without these senseless slaughters. A world without terrorism."

Euphie knelt beside him. "If you don't have the solution, how do you intend to do it?"

"By trying. By doing something. If I stop, if I give up my principles, then my father's death will be meaningless." He pulled out his father's cracked pocket watch, a reminder of Shinjuku's tragedy.

"The Prime Minister…" Euphie murmured, recalling her history lessons. Genbu Kururugi had taken his own life in protest against the war, disrupting Japan's defense and forcing its surrender.

Suzaku's grip tightened. "He died to end that war. But people are still fighting. How many more have to die before—"

A distant explosion cut him off. He froze, recognizing the sound. Smoke rose from deeper in the Ghetto.

"An explosion?" Euphie whispered, dread creeping into her voice.

"Jeremiah! You'll pay for letting Prince Clovis's assassin go free!" Jeremiah's Sunderland was thrown back by a sudden explosion—not from terrorists, but from friendly Sunderlands.

"Kewell, that call about Zero was a lie, wasn't it?" Jeremiah demanded, furious at the betrayal.

"We have to wipe away our disgrace before the new viceroy takes her post! This is how we keep our officials honest," Kewell replied as he and four others surrounded Jeremiah.

"Honest? Don't make me laugh! You're just after my position!" Jeremiah shot back. He'd explained it before—there was nothing about Eden. Bartley refused to talk.

"Silence, Eden boy!" Kewell yelled, charging forward. Jeremiah evaded the lance thrust and deployed his stun tonfa to strike, but an alert forced him to dodge again, narrowly avoiding a fatal hit. A second lance pierced his left landspinner, crippling his mobility.

"Damn it, five against one..." Jeremiah cursed. He knew their skills—he'd trained them himself.

"Don't worry, Jeremiah, we'll say you fell in battle. At least your family won't face further disgrace!" Kewell mocked. Jeremiah refused to accept death by betrayal. His unit was still standing, and if they wouldn't fight like knights, neither would he. Charging the Sunderland on his right, Jeremiah feinted a clash and turned sharply, firing at two others. The gunfire didn't cause significant damage, but it left his rear open. When an enemy tried to strike, Jeremiah was ready—he knelt, letting the lance pass over his head before tackling the attacker to the ground.

Without hesitation, he fired into the downed Sunderland. Its pilot had no time to eject before the machine exploded. Fuelled by rage, the remaining three charged. Jeremiah seized a discarded lance, tripping one and smashing another's cockpit with the weapon's butt. Dropping his gun, he gripped the lance with both hands and drove it into the second unit's head, forcing it into the ground.

"I serve Britannia and the Imperial family! If I'm to die, it will be in service to the crown, taking you all with me!" Jeremiah declared, raising the lance to finish off his foe. "Don't forget why I lead the Purebloods! You may have numbers, but I'm the greatest knight among us!"

Kewell fired, forcing Jeremiah to jump back—only to be intercepted by another attacker. The lance pierced Jeremiah's Sunderland, severing its leg at the thigh.

Crashing to the ground, Jeremiah fired his slash harkens into a nearby wall, retracting them just in time to escape a barrage of gunfire. Landing with his back to the wall, he used the stolen lance as a crutch to stand.

Kewell sneered. "As do we! That's why we're here. If one or two of us fall, so be it—it's all for the glory of His Majesty! All hail Britannia!"

Kewell and the others charged, lances ready to pierce Jeremiah. Suddenly, two slash harkens struck the ground in front of them—fired not by Jeremiah, but from above.

Looking up, they saw a familiar unit.

"Stop it! You're all Britannian soldiers!" Suzaku, perched atop a stadium, pleaded. He couldn't fathom why they'd turn on their own. If Jeremiah was guilty, he should face trial—not a lynching.

"The Lancelot… but that means Kururugi?" Jeremiah muttered. Why would Lloyd send help? There was nothing to gain.

Kewell's annoyance outweighed his surprise. "Stay out of this, Special Corps! This is a Pureblood matter!"

"I refuse," Suzaku said firmly. Retracting his slash harkens, he drew a new weapon Lloyd had just finished. The twin blades glowed red, their forms shifting before settling into a solid, dull hue.

"The MVS... they perfected it?" Kewell murmured before shaking his head. "No matter! I won't stand down!"

He fired on the Lancelot, but Suzaku's superior machine easily evaded the shots. Closing the distance, Suzaku slashed through the slash harkens fired at him.

When Kewell's allies tried to strike with their lances, the MVS blades cut through them effortlessly—as if slicing paper. Seeing their odds collapse, one traitor charged Jeremiah, only for Villetta to arrive just in time. Her Sunderland kneed the enemy unit, knocking it on its back before she fired on its legs, crippling it.

"Lord Jeremiah!" she called, scanning him for injuries.

"Villetta! Thank goodness you came," he replied, relieved. His unit was battered, but he was still standing. Nodding, she turned to the remaining two enemies. Suzaku had already disabled another with a clean midsection slash. Both sides had two functional Sunderlands, but the power balance was clear.

"Do you still intend to fight?" Suzaku asked.

Kewell gripped his controls tightly. Their plan had crumbled, and time was running out. Unknown to them all, Euphemia was rushing toward the battlefield. "Men, stand down," Kewell ordered.

Suzaku's hope rose. "You understand, then?"

But Jeremiah and Villetta remained wary. They knew Kewell wouldn't surrender so easily—and they were right. His Sunderland's side compartment opened, revealing a long cylindrical device. "I'm using a chaos mine."

"A what?" Suzaku asked, confused.

"Kururugi, run!" Villetta shouted. She stood her ground, ready to shield Jeremiah with her own unit.

"No, stop it now!" someone yelled—just as Kewell threw the device.

"A civilian?" Jeremiah's eyes widened at the sight of a lone figure running across the field. "Wait…a Britannian?"

"Euphie? No!" Suzaku's heart sank. The chaos mine began to open, and time slowed as he realized the threat. It wasn't just a typical grenade; it was a knightmare-class weapon. If it detonated, Euphemia would be shredded.

Acting on instinct, Suzaku planted his feet and deployed his shields. The chaos mine unleashed a storm of superheated steel darts. His Blaze Luminous shield whined under the strain as stray darts pierced unprotected parts of the Lancelot—sides, feet, and legs. But he didn't care. As long as Euphie was safe behind him, he could endure Lloyd's complaints about more battle damage.

Finally, the mine was spent, falling harmlessly to the ground. Suzaku waited, wary of another attack, but when none came, he allowed himself a brief sigh of relief.

'It held…thank god,' he thought. But confusion lingered. 'What is she doing here? How did she get through? I asked Lloyd to watch her!'

Euphemia, oblivious to his thoughts, stepped forward from behind the Lancelot. Her stride was confident, her posture regal. She marched through the smoke, facing the towering knightmares like a schoolmistress scolding unruly children.

"Everyone, lower your weapons at once!" she commanded. The battlefield fell silent. All eyes turned to her, stunned that an unarmed girl dared to issue orders to knights. "In my name, I demand you cease this fighting immediately!"

"Who are you to…wait…" Kewell trailed off as recognition dawned. The same realization spread through the remaining knights. Only Villetta and Suzaku remained clueless.

Euphemia noticed their hesitation and drew on her royal training. Straightening her back, she declared:

"Second daughter of the 98th Emperor Charles zi Britannia, and Consort Sieglinde li Britannia. Third Princess of the Imperial Family—Euphemia li Britannia—commands you to cease this fighting at once!"

Suzaku's mind reeled. "Euphie…a princess?" He struggled to process it. He'd spent the day with her, unaware of her rank. The girl who'd fallen out of the viceroy palace window wasn't fleeing villains—she'd been escaping her guards. Of course she'd been cagey about her name! With one royal killed, naturally she wouldn't advertise her royal linage when she had left her security behind.

Jeremiah, too, was stunned. "The princess? Here? She's grown so much…"

At the stadium entrance, Cecile and Lloyd stood in stunned silence. Cecile turned to Lloyd, whispering, "Did you know?"

"Yup," Lloyd said casually. "She's been studying in the homeland. I heard she was arriving before her sister, Cornelia—the new viceroy."

On the battlefield, the knights bowed. The remaining Sunderlands lowered their weapons, and the pilots of the disabled units climbed out to kneel. "We…we are truly sorry, Your Highness!"

Suzaku scrambled out of the Lancelot, rushing to Euphemia and bowing deeply, his face pale with dread. "Princess, please forgive my insolence. I had no idea who you were and failed to give you the respect you deserve!"

Euphemia turned toward him; her expression sombre. Seeing the fear in his posture, her heart sank. The divide between them had formed the moment he realized she was royalty. She had kept her identity hidden, hoping to forge a genuine connection, free from titles and formality. But now that connection seemed shattered. She sighed softly but wouldn't give up so easily. She had seen his true character and knew his heart.

"Suzaku," she began gently, "you and I bear similar losses. When you lost your father, I lost my brother and sister. And now, I see with my own eyes that Clovis was lost to me long before his death."

Suzaku looked up; his expression conflicted.

"They were taken by the cycle you spoke of—violence and greed that makes people victims or the very engines before consuming them."

She stepped closer, her voice steady. "So, will you let me help you in your quest? To ensure no one else must endure such loss, to build a world where evil cannot corrupt the hearts of those we love?"

His voice trembled. "Y-yes! I'm grateful to you, Your Highness. I'm unworthy of your kindness."

A faint smile touched her lips. "There's something I wish to ask."

"Anything, Your Highness."

"Just Euphie is fine. And… did you ever finish your formal education?"

Later, with the Purebloods subdued and the traitors arrested under Euphemia's authority, she parted ways with Suzaku and made for the Tokyo Settlement's primary air base. There, with her knights in formation, her sister took her first steps into Area 11.

Descending from the plane, Cornelia exuded both beauty and authority. Her tall figure, framed by long fuchsia hair and magenta lipstick, commanded respect. A veteran of Britannia's most recent campaigns, she had personally led the conquest of the last three areas. Her wine-red uniform, accented with gold, was completed by a white cape with a dark interior. The sharp clink of her heeled boots echoed like gunshots on the tarmac.

Cornelia's gaze remained locked on Euphemia, and the younger princess knew her sister was not pleased.

"I heard what you did, Euphemia. That was incredibly reckless," Cornelia said bluntly. Her voice, soft and smooth like fine wine, carried a warning—strong, intoxicating, and dangerous to anyone foolish enough to test it.

"I know, sister. Forgive me, but I—"

"You will address me as Viceroy, Sub-Viceroy Euphemia. We must maintain proper protocol." Cornelia's tone left no room for argument.

Euphemia nodded, understanding her sister's insistence on avoiding any perception of favouritism. "I understand, Viceroy Cornelia."

Cornelia's stern expression softened briefly into a smile—a quick show of affection. She wasn't truly angry, just concerned. Euphemia had nearly been killed intervening in a fight between soldiers, saved only by the Lancelot…and its Eleven pilot.

The moment of warmth passed as Cornelia turned to the government official waiting to greet her. "Now then, report."

The bearded noble bowed, hand over heart. "At once, Your Highness. The first order of business is a party to welcome you—"

He stopped as Cornelia pointed her gunblade at his face. The official paled, while her knights remained unfazed.

Cornelia's frown deepened. "A welcome party? With Area 11 in chaos and terrorists running rampant, your priority is… a party?" Her words made the man sweat, though he offered no defence.

"No wonder things are in shambles," she said coldly. "Britannia trusted you to manage this area, yet all I see are sloppy, corrupt fools. It's a wonder my brother accomplished anything with clowns like you around."

Her tone sharpened. "I asked for a report, not a party itinerary! What's the state of the garrison forces? Who are the major terrorist leaders? What are the names and locations or major terrorist groups and their strong holds? How are you handling the civil unrest? And what is Project Eden?"

The man stammered but offered no answers. Cornelia didn't care whether he was uninformed or unprepared—he should know these details. His failure to present them confirmed her worst fears: the civil authority was a mess.

She didn't shoot him, granting him a mercy she felt he didn't deserve. "Fine. I'll ask a simpler question. What are you doing to hunt down Zero? I want his head on a platter."

Lelouch was hardly surprised, at least, he did a exceptional job of masking such and presenting a mask of either indifference or apparent all knowing to the world. It took a lot to break through that.

And what he was seeing was one such case as before him, before his entire class, stood his old friend wearing a school uniform.

"Starting today, I'll be joining you as a new student here at Ashford. My name is Suzaku Kururugi." Suzaku introduced himself, standing before a group of flabbergasted students. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

I think this is the first time I've covered an entire episode's contents in a single chapter, and even though I cut out everything not directly related to Suzaku and Euphemia's part of the episode, unedited, this chapter still came out to 12,094 words, over 3700 words over my limit which made it a pain to edit down before I even put it through Grammarly to finish the process. As for that stuff with C.C., Kallen and Lelouch, that's for the next one as I wanted to split them to give greater focus to the two halves.

A good choice too as Lelouch's decision to oust Clovis's secrets, or at least, one and then make up an lie about the other, is already showing effects in the story and I can tell you, it won't be the last time such happens as you can't just reveal that your last leader committed genocide last week and it just fades into the background. Much like everything else, it either starts something to builds on something.

With Euphemia's character, I made only slight changes, just to highlight the fact that she's not an idiot as some people think, but is more mischievous about it but also that while she is often called the rose of the royal family, she has thorns. She just hates being like that as you saw with her reaction to how Suzaku changed how he approached her.

The other change was that, well Jeremiah's not a bad pilot. He's no ace but considering he was jumped in a 5v1, the fact that he managed to kill one of them and hold on long enough for help to arrive is an achievement. As for why he went for murder? They were trying to kill him, and unlike canon when he could understand that he had suspicion on him for his actions that he can't even remember, here his actions were the best in a bad situation and Kewell just seemed to want to make him into a scapegoat and supplant him as the Pureblood's Area 11 chapter leader.

Frankly, it's surprising that the Purebloods aren't disbanded or Kewell was arrested after that as Orange incident or not, he tried to murder a superior officer, and nearly killed Euphemia so he should be lucky that Cornelia didn't see to his execution.

The next chapter will be out on February 15th

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