Chapter 2: Knights of the New Order

Alot has changed since the fall of Emperor Charles, and more still neeeds to be done, but for those left behind, they've found ways to move on in this new world, including a familiar face.

It was a hot June day in Asheville, but it was expected for this time of year. The Blue Ridge Mountains, which surrounded the city, shimmered in a soft haze, their slopes a deep green under the bright, warm summer sun, which fed into the wonderful, majestic, and yet rustic charm for which the town's 127K plus residents never really tired of.

Downtown streets bustle with people ducking in and out of local breweries, visiting art galleries that mainly house locally produced pieces and exhibits, or visiting shaded cafés to escape the midday heat and enjoy a bite to eat. In the city's three parks, families lounge beneath leafy trees, children running about, enjoying their Saturday to the fullest. At the same time, parents exchange stories of who did what since they last met.

In neighbourhoods occupied by commoners, residents could enjoy music from street performers or visit the local pool, some even opting to dive into the French Broad River instead. Upstream from them, in residences belonging to the city's wealth and influential, they were attended to by servants as they lounged in their mansions or visited the country club for games of golf or polo, or, if they wished, headed to their section of the river to kayak or paddleboard.

It was a quiet corner of the empire, one like many of the smaller towns of the homeland, oddly enough, didn't experience many of the same discriminatory practices that had once been commonplace. After all, it was hard to mistreat numbers when over 90% of the residents were full Britannian-born and raised citizens, with even the lesser, cheaper work often filled by Britannian over-number labour, which would need to be transported.

In a way, this lack of visible and systemic discrimination meant that in this new age brought about by their new ruler, small towns like theirs were quick to embrace the chance, as it cost them little. It was also the type of spot that many soldiers of middle rank or lesser nobility retired to.

For one Bruce Redfield, it suited him just fine. Since he moved there, he had built a nice, quiet life for himself.

It was approaching lunchtime, but he, like everyone else, was still hard at work. As the Administrative Supervisor for Li Britannia Healthcare's regional office, he was afforded greater privilege and space than the rest, namely, his own office with a good view of the river and downtown.

The space didn't look like most of the offices, even for those of a higher rank, as Bruce didn't have much furniture outside what was necessary for himself, and when he had 1 or 2 guests. He didn't bother with a rug; instead, he allowed the tiled floor to shine, one which he ensured was kept as clean as possible. His calendar, posters, folders, and files were written in the King's English. Still, the front was noticeably larger, the same as his computer. At the same time, some came with identical copies that were only written in Braille.

Closing a folder, Bruce turned to his desktop, whose brightness had changed for more sensitive eyes as he looked through his work to find his next task. It wasn't glamorous work, nor was it the type that was action-packed, but his days of soldiering were long behind him. Now, he just ensured things didn't fall apart, as despite being a small town, there were many clients, a given seeing as li Britannia Healthcare was a joint private/imperial holding which specialised in the health care for veterans and their families, and in a town which attracted vets, it meant organised chaos.

"Ms. Franklin, " he called his assistant. "Where are those files I asked for? I'm not seeing them on my computer."

“I'm sorry, Mr. Redfield, but IT says there's a minor fault. Someone should be coming up from the 3rd floor to pass the physical copies along.” His assistant, an older woman with a face and demeanour one could only describe as grandmotherly, replied. Also, should I reschedule your 12 p.m.?”

“It’s for Mr. Hoggins, correct?” Bruce asked, quickly reaching for the side where he kept folders on his appointments and meetings for the day. Not finding it, he quickly looked to the other side where his tablet sat.

Ms. Franklin confirmed that when he picked it up, it had a similar setup to his desktop. “That’s right, sir.”

Typing the name, he found a digital copy of the case file. Albert Hoggins. Aged 43, wounded in combat in 2016, resulting in the loss of his right leg from the knee down. Employed at a local brewery, the primary caretaker of a teenager with heart problems. Reading further, he saw that the kid couldn't purchase his last box of pills with his uncle's VA medical card, and the man wished to sort things out.

"Nothing changed. Please tell me when they arrived." Bruce hadn't even returned the phone to its stand when it rang again. Already in hand, he answered it. "Good morning, this is Li Britannia Medical. What can I do to help?"

“Good Morning. I'm Mr. Ramirez. I've been calling for two days now, and I haven't gotten anything.” A voice came over the line, one he didn’t recognise but had a slight central Britannian accent.

“All right, Mr. Ramirez, do you have a case number with us?” Bruce asked.

“Y-yes, give me a second to read it out." The man seemed to ruffle around somewhere, possibly his pockets or desk, before he found what he was looking for. “It’s 2028612500. You got all that?”

Bruce did, having been typing the numbers as they came in. As soon as the man finished, he pressed enter, and within seconds, the system found a case with the specified number. “Yes, and yes, I see your file. It says here you called about a change in therapist?”

“That's right. My wife's been going to the same one for around 3 years now, and it really helps her deal with it, you know? She and he were really close anyway, and he managed to help her more than the last one. Still, for some reason, when she called his office to confirm their booking, she was told she wasn't on his list anymore, and it's freaking her out.”

Bruce nodded, his voice softening a little, as he could feel something of a kindship with this voice. He, too, once had someone he deeply cared for, though she was no longer with them. "Thank you for calling. These can be delicate things, but we must be there for our loved ones. Please give me a moment to check if there was anything on our end that could have caused this."

"Okay, can I have the name of your wife, please? It's policy, sir." Bruce asked, adding the second part before the caller, who could be frustrated and waste both their time.

“Isabel Franchesa Ramirez.” Redfield filled in the information and, using his admin access, cleared the rest.

His hands froze mid-type as he saw the woman’s file.

As he suspected from her husband's accent, she seemed like she was in central Britannia, her skin notably darker with fiery red hair. But it wasn't her appearance or racial background that gave him a cold shiver; it was her service record.

Born: April 23rd, 1990

Enlisted: May 2009

Rank: Captain

Last deployment: Princess Cornelia’s 3rd Army Corps. 5th Knightmare Regiment.

Status: Was honourably discharged from service following the Battle of Narita, showing signs of long-term mental distress.

He had seen this before; this woman had to have been one of the few dozen recovered from Narita. So many others had died in their cockpits once the landslide hit, and those who didn't come out the same as the horror of being buried alive…

He had to quickly shake his head to clear such thoughts. He had a client to handle, and his job was to ensure it was done right. "Okay, her therapist's contract with the army ended last month. Would your wife be able to see someone within the military's network?"

“I'm Afraid not. I can't take the chance that they won't click, " the man responded, sounding frustrated but more at the situation than at himself.

"Okay, then what I can do is get you their private number, and some ideas for how you'll be able to afford this without seriously overhauling your finances. Is that acceptable?" Bruce asked, getting a sigh of relief from his client.

“Of course, lay it on me, anything for my tigress.”

Line Break

Bruce had just finished meeting with Mr. Hoggins and was leaving for lunch. His cane tapped against the tiles with every second step, and his darkened glasses kept his eyes from sight as he navigated through the halls of the building.

He had just made it to the front entrance when he saw a woman seated to the side. This was not an unusual sight, as they often had people coming in and needing to wait, but there wasn't much of a line, so she surely could join it.

Though she was crying, he could only assume that she had already spoken with the clerk and didn't get the answer she wanted. Now, he could have left things as they were. Although she had gotten her aide, it wasn't enough, and she was upset.

But even a retired knight couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Turning on his heel, he approached her, the woman raising her head to show her eyes were already red and her cheeks wet with tears.

The woman quickly went for her handbag, but Bruce was faster, offering her a handkerchief. She looked it over and then towards him, and while she couldn't see his eyes, she didn't get any bad vibes off him, and so accepted it.

"Thank you," she said as she cleaned up the best she could before handing the handkerchief back to Bruce, Who placed it in his pocket to clean later.

"It's no issue at all. Could I bother you by asking what seems to be the issue?"

“It’s my dad, he…he’s on some meds, but when I went to collect them, his card bounced and I can’t afford it, so I came here to ask and the lady said she couldn’t help me.”

"Why is that? It's our job to aid people like you."

“I doubt you can do anything.”

"Why don't we try? You have nothing to lose, and if I succeed, then you'll be walking out of here on your way to the pharmacy to fill that prescription.

Line Break

It was the end of the workday, and Bruce was exhausted. As it turned out, his favourite café hadn't had a free table for him, and with how busy they had been, he had gone to a small store and bought something there to eat.

The sun was setting, and he was on his way home. His co-workers had invited him out for drinks and pool, but tonight wouldn't be one of the race times he went with them. His plans had been to get home, shower, and listen to the radio with a good book.

At least, that was the plan, as when he approached his apartment's door, he immediately realized there was a problem. The door was just slightly ajar. Some might not have noticed it till they touched it, but he wasn't some. ‘What? Intruders?’

Bruce reached for his side, pulled out a sidearm, and quietly approached, keeping an eye out for additional criminals. He also kept his eye out for his neighbours, as this could get lucky, and he knew a few of them had young children.

Reaching the door, he listened, not making a sound. After hours, he heard a soft scratch and shift of his furniture, almost like someone was sitting down.

He didn't know why, but felt like this wasn't a mere break-in. He didn't own many valuables, which sounded like they had been inside for a while. If not wealth, they had to be here for another reason, and he had a good idea.

 It had to be someone who was related to his past. Someone who, despite all the work he did into hiding, had found him and wanted him dead. Well, he wasn't about to roll over and die, and if they thought he would let the police handle this, then they didn't know who they were messing with.

As softly as he could, he opened the door, just enough for him to slip in before he returned it to what it had been like when he had found it. Sneaking through his own home, he held his gun ready.

“Don’t bother, you won’t get much done.” A voice he hadn’t heard in person in almost a decade spoke up.

The lights turned on, and he found himself surrounded. 6 men, all dressed in smart but cheap suits, sunglasses over their eyes, stood around him. Most had pistols, but 2 held submachine guns, all trained on his chest.

But as shocking as it was to find what looked like a professional hit squad waiting for him, it was the person seated in his recliner.

“Kururugi?” Bruce called out. Sitting before him, as if he were waiting for a friend returning from a trip to the store, was the Knight of One, the White Death, Suzaku Kururugi.

As one would expect, he looked different than in his younger days. Being in his late 20s, he had matured immensely since he had first entered Britannia's highest positions of power. He was taller, maybe by an inch, but much like his predecessor, Suzaku had gained a sizable bulk, one that filled his white knight of One uniform, leaving no room to doubt his physical strength.

It wasn't just his body, as his face had also changed, losing some of that youthful appearance, growing harder. A look he matched with how he had cut his hair, and was styling it to be more defined than what he had before/

“Guilford.” The blonde blinked, but his surprise quickly faded.

“You figured it out,” Bruce-no, Guilford didn’t ask, but stated, to which Suzaku nodded.

"You don't sound surprised," Suzaku noted as Guilford, perhaps boldly, sighed as he sat in the opposite seat. At no point did he lower his gun, his grip on it tight.

“I realized this day would come sooner or later. Humour me, I would like to at least know before I die. When did you find me?” Guilford asked, though he planned to take as many of them as he could. Still, Kururugi would be tricky.

Suzaku picked up on it, but it wasn't as hard as possible. Guilford's skills on that front have slacked in his time away from the army and politics. "You can relax, Guilford. We're not here to kill you. These are just my security; you can understand they weren't thrilled with you walking in with a gun drawn." Guilford narrowed his eyes, tempted to remind him who broke into whose residence. “As for the when? Last year.”

Suzaku continued, listing some of the points that led them here: "You make a habit of helping people. It leads to goodwill, but also attention. It didn't take long for a local intelligence officer to notice the cracks in your background. One DNA analysis later, and we found the Spearhead of the Empire."

Guilford didn't know when or how they gained his DNA, but he wouldn't be surprised if they gained it from trash or perhaps they slipped some of his hair out in the night and snuck out before he noticed. Which it was, they found him for it.

“If I’m a spear, I’m one whose edge has long gone dull.” Guilford quietly stated that, as his fighting days were behind him, no matter how much he had wished it wasn't true.  “But if you’re not here to kill me, why are you here?”

Suzaku crossed his legs, his gaze never leaving his older fellow knight of honour, though one who, like him, held an empty title for their princesses they had been sworn to both lay dead. And that was part of why Suzaku came: "Because I was curious. Officially, you were dead when the first FLEIJA went off during the second Black Rebellion."

Guilford’s tone grew dangerous and angry. “My apologies, it must have vexed you to learn I wasn’t killed with everyone else.”

If Suzaku took offense to having his greatest shame thrown in his face, he didn't show it. He had years, well, not to get over it, but to adapt to the pain that its memory brought up. “And yet, despite you still being alive and able to fight, you never tried to join up with Schneizel and his loyalists, or join any neo Britannian groups. In fact, you didn’t even attempt to contact us or the courts during Schneizel’s trial.”

Guilford grimaced at that, as in those early days of the empire, such groups had been rampant. Made up of people who had benefited greatly in the previous system, or still believed in the Britannian supremacist and expansionist ideals of the late Emperor Charles. Most acted as little more than a violent hate group; others were terrorist outfits that attacked anyone and everyone associated with the new regime.

For all his promise and performance, Lelouch's reforms and his open antagonism to the powers of old left many fearing that the empire would fracture. It never came to pass, though the not-so-small efforts of the Knight of One, who handled the worst of the Neo Britannian terrorist groups. In contrast, the emperor and his circle handled the most.

"Instead, you created a false name, dyed your hair, moved here, and started a job that is only related to the military." Suzaku motioned to the apartment around them, a small, humble place that didn't suit a man of his recognition and rank, yet he seemed content with it.

“What are you getting at?” Guilford asked, as he would like them to leave, but it wasn’t like he could force it.

“Why?” Suzaku asked, leaning forward in his seat. He asked the big question:"Why do all of this? Why not speak up, why not seek revenge?”

"Dull spears have no use in combat. I survived, yes, but if you did your research, you should know it wasn't without injury. I require leg braces to properly work, and my eyesight has been shot.” Guilford gestured to his body, as even though his leg braces could support his weight just fine and made walking easy, he still preferred the safety that came with a cane. Besides, he had taken classes to use it as a self-defense weapon.

Suzaku laughed at his comment. “Do you honestly think that's enough to stop a man like you? I would have assumed you'd want Lelouch dead."

"I did. I..I don't recall the match, but I know that Jeremiah tricked me, and he did something to me. Next thing I know, I'm fighting against royal Britannian forces and seeing her highness where she wasn't." Guilford’s displeasure turned to confusion and hate. As he loathed how he had been tricked and used, even if he couldn’t recall most of it, he had pieces, patches in his memory where he was standing against Britannia.

But each time he would hear her voice, and he would black out.

“Then…then it happened, you destroyed Tokyo. When I came to in a hospital, there were so many others that they hadn't had time to log in our details, so I fled. I needed to return to my princess, I thought she was in danger, and"

Suzaku stopped him. “And then you learned you were played by Lelouch when he announced himself as the new emperor.”

Guilford didn’t answer with a clear yes or no, but how his face twisted was enough for Suzaku, even if he wished that his meeting with Lelouch that day had gone better. "There was so much I didn't know before our time together. She had spoken about Princess Nunnally and Prince Lelouch, but never kept photos of them; it was too painful. Had I known,"

Guilford took a breath; he had to keep calm. He had already gone over this day and night for years, hyper-analyzing all that he did and said, heard and felt, all in a vain attempt to find some means by which he could have changed things, but he always came back with the same result: that nothing he could have done, nothing he knew at the time, could have changed things.

"It doesn't matter. She and Schneizel had gone into hiding, and trying to kill the emperor was a fool's errand. And then Pendragon was destroyed, and everything else happened." He finished, as the two men fell into silence, which stretched for a few minutes.

When Guilford spoke, his voice was small, soft, and near defeated. "I watched the entire thing. Each trial, each session in court, each judgement. I feared for her highness. I prayed she'll show up on the stand, but then Schneizel's trial started, and he admitted he killed her."

Suzaku's frown deepened at that, as he recalled the trials well. He had testified at some of them, but largely remained to the side along with his emperor. When it got to Schneizel's surviving inner circle, what had been revealed was neither small nor pleasant. Hearing the man so coldly admit he didn't feel all that much for killing Cornelia when she opposed him boiled his blood.

But for Guilford, he could only imagine how that felt. As he hated Lelouch for so long, he still did on some level for him, shooting Euphie, of using her for his own ends, but the difference was that he knew it was an accident. He saw how it ate away at his once friend, and could see how every day the man ruled, he tried to take even another step to atonement, to truly build Euphie's perfection.

Schneizel couldn't do that, not when he had been executed and forever remembered as an unfeeling monster, a horror story, and a warning of what could happen to a man born and raised above everyone.

“Then I had nothing. I had betrayed my empire. I had failed to protect my fellow Glaston Knights. I couldn’t even die with my princess…so I did what I could, with her name being cleared, I joined li Britannian healthcare. If I couldn’t protect and serve her, I could ensure her name wouldn’t be tarnished or forgotten.”

Suzaku let out a short chuckle, which caused Guilford to raise his head and glare at the knight who would so cruelly laugh at his plight.

“What’s so funny?” Guilford growled, but Suzaku waved his hand to try to calm him.

“No, it’s just,” He finally got his amusement under control. “I had a similar answer. You know it, don’t you? You were part of Schneizel’s trap.”

“The emperor…he’s the one who killed Prince Clovis…and Princess Euphemia.” Guilford had put that together a while back, and it was always a mystery why Kururugi had still chosen to serve as his Knight of One.

Suzaku could see the question on his fellow knight's face and admitted that, if he had asked his younger self, he would have called you insane. "He was, and I've never forgotten it. I had betrayed Japan by joining the empire and fighting Zero and the Black Knights; it didn't matter as I watched him pull the trigger. I saw Euphie fall."

Suzaku paused, also needing to keep himself in check, as it didn't matter to him that he was with Cecile, that they had a family together. Euphie would always hold a special place in his heart. He had suffered many nightmares where that day would repeat, or he would save her, but she still ended up gunned down.

"After that…I became everything I hated, I abandoned what little humanity I had to try and build Euphie's word…or at least I told myself that. Ultimately, I just wanted to prove I was right and beat everyone who stood against me." Oddly, as Suzaku spoke about it, he didn't feel the same level of deep shame he had once felt for his past sins. He wasn't happy or content, but…maybe that was good.

“Then I saw the results of it, all of it at Tokyo.”

Guilford could see where this was going. “FLEIJA.”

He knew little about the Second Battle of Tokyo; he had been under a spell for most of it, and details hadn't been published to the greater world since. But he knew for a fact that Suzaku had been the one who deployed the FLEIJA, under the pleas of its creator, a woman who had since been open and repentant about her own misdeeds.

"Nina designed and built it because she wanted Zero dead for what he did to Euphie. Schneizel funded it as if one thing he was good at was using your worst aspects to his benefit. And me?" Suzaku pointed to his chest, his smile having no warmth, only a bitter resignation, as he couldn't change the past.

"I was a pawn who couldn't accept it. There were so many ways I could have prevented it, so many ways lives could have been saved had I just been willing to listen, to think for myself." He let out a self-deprecating laugh, as his wife didn't bring it up. Still, he recalled her calling him a self-centred brat when he refused to pull back and how she all but called him out for his BS after the fact when he requested Albion early.

Smart woman, he was an idiot. Still was, which was why he needed her to keep his head from ending up his own ass again.

“What changed?” Guilford asked.

"I got my chance to kill Lelouch. Once and for all, take his head and deliver it to Schneizel. I didn't care less who was worse, I just wanted him dead." Suzaku admitted, having no reason to lie. “But then Euphie talked me out of it.

Guilford looked at him like he was either an idiot, insane, or incredibly disrespectful with that comment, to which Suzaku scoffed. “Don’t give me that look, after all the weird things we’ve seen, meeting a ghost is not nearly as insane as it should be.”

Again, Guilford thought of that boy, to the emperor, and whatever he did to him. And then there was his princess, who swore in her last communication with him that there was something more to Euphemia's actions at the SAZ and that she would find it and clear her sister's name. "No, if anything, you're lucky. You could say goodbye, and it could give you closure."

Suzaku didn't see it like that. Getting up, he approached the still seated Guilford and patted his shoulder. “I think you have that as well. You said you’re a dull spear, but I don’t see it like that. You just found a new way to fight, and you’re fighting as hard as I remember you in your prime.”

Walking over to the kitchen counter, Guilford spotted some letters on it that hadn't been there when he left that morning. “You, Guilford, chose the harder path. the one which didn't give you the immediate satisfaction, the one seen as boring, and you stuck to it for years." Suzaku told him, something resembling awe and respect in his tone. "That is the Spearhead I remember, and I know Princess Cornelia would be proud of the man she chose to be her knight.”

“It also makes this next part easier,” he said. He turned and handed Guilford two of those letters, which the man opened under Suzaku's silent encouragement.

It didn’t take long for his face to bend in confusion as he read through the first. “What is this?”

“An invitation to the 10th anniversary of our emperor's reign, and Britannia's first steps into becoming a better empire. It is also a notice of promotion." Suzaku shrugged, as if it were easy to secure tickets to what was being billed as the party of the year.

"li Britannia Healthcare is partly state-owned, and your work ethic and results haven't gone unnoticed. You'll remain here, but this regional office will be transformed over the next 2 years into the national one." Suzaku finished, summarising the second letter.

“Am I being made into an executive?” Guilford asked.

"Would you have accepted it if we tried?" Suzaku quipped back, leading to the spectacled knight to let out a bark of laughter, one which was joined by Suzaku a moment later, before Guilford decided he might as well host his intruder and asked if he hadn't had anything before he arrived, as they could do with some time to catch up.

Line break

As was standard practice for the Imperial family, Broceliande's imperial palace wasn't just a residence but the seat of power for the government. The capital hosted its many ministries that ran all facets of local and national government, but more often than not, one would find the heads of those ministers within the walls of the palace or a high-ranking official from the ministry present.

But when the emperor travelled on business relating to state affairs, those were one of the few times he would have peace from his government, if not his responsibilities. For the weekend, he had pulled from the capital to the island of Cuba to have a firsthand look at the sea trials of the Portman Restorer, a new model of knightmare designed for deep sea search and rescue.

The palace, befitting the imperial family, wasn't just a single large building, but a complex of buildings, each supporting a purpose. It has a commanding view of the port and the waters beyond in the middle of Havana. Thick stucco walls, painted the kind of cream that remembered sunlight, wrapped inner courtyards where tile-floored patios held flower gardens and shallow fountains. Arcades with squat columns cast cool shadows, and heavy wooden beams darkened the ceiling above a broad gallery lined with glazed azulejos.

In one such courtyard, the emperor and one of his consorts relaxed as they played with their latest addition to the family. Alicia Ern Britannia had been towards the end of that previous march, but despite being less then 2 months old, she was already a energy and joyful little girl.

Lelouch held his youngest daughter like she was the most precious thing in the world. He could still recall the day she was born and the joy he felt when he held her and his consort. Even as a baby swaddled in the finest silks, which only left her head visible, he was sure she would take after him, at least in terms of features, but she had inherited her beautiful mother's olive skin and green eyes.

Still, the emperor sighed. “We should make ready to leave soon. It wouldn’t be polite if I were to arrive late.”

"You can afford to take some time to relax with Alicia, you know. She doesn't like it when her father just up and leaves." His fourth consort, Dorothea, spoke up. Returning from the restroom and taking her spot next to the emperor, the baby spotted her and started to let out small, adorable laughter. “Isn’t that why we left so early?” Dorothea asked.

Lelouch sighed again, but it wasn't nearly as sad or tired as the past. "We did, but I recall you being quite angry with me."

Dorothea, despite being in her 30s, pouted, a look Lelouch always found adorable. "Because they couldn't postpone this for another few months. We have far too many children for us to spend so much time managing the state."

Dorothea still wasn't unsure at times about her position or her life, but that only made her want to do as much as she could. Despite her expectations, she and the other women in the imperial harem got along just fine. She found herself spending many nights just chatting with Leila or C.C.

It also meant that she was close to all their children, as she didn't care if her children didn't secure prominent positions in government when they matured. All she wished for was for Lewis and Alicia to grow up healthy and happy, to enjoy their youth, and to trust and love their siblings with all their hearts.

Lelouch was much the same. The emperor had done his best to be there for his kids, which was an easy task. When he met each one, he felt nothing but love and care for them, a response that made the idea of being anything like his own father physically sicken him.

But while he would rather play all manner of games with them right now, he had his responsibilities. "The admiralty wishes this to be complete and ready for the anniversary. I don't know the details, but Kallen believes it will be good."

"You do realize that means she's roped in Milly, don't you? You saw what she could do with only a million pounds; imagine what she can do with the funds and resources for this?" Dorothea asked him, as Milly…she didn't hate the woman; she was quite intelligent, compassionate, and fashionable.

She was also a hurricane given form, with all sorts of ideas Dorothea was sure she'll need drugs to come up with.

"Believe me, I am well aware and dreading it as much as I'm looking forward to it." Lelouch chuckled, as he could only pray that Kallen didn't give Milly too much power. Otherwise, she would try to tease his nobles up in some elaborate game akin to Cupid Day.

"Still," Dorothea started, leaning into Lelouch. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer. The woman kissed his cheek, giggling as she felt his stubble.

"You should shave, " she joked, as her husband had really changed since she had met him. It seemed that being tall ran in the family, though he hadn't gotten as muscular or physically imposing as his father had in his youth.

Lelouch smirked, as he had been developing a beard and Mustache combo. "I have been trying to have a beard."

“Like Charles?” Dorothea asked, to which Lelouch slowly turned to her, unamused.

“…Why must you ruin it for me?” She couldn't help but laugh at his deadpan question. She wouldn't pretend that she had the best memories of the previous emperor. He had been a good ruler, at least as far as she'd been concerned, but it was clear to everyone at court that he was a terrible father and husband.

“Because you just won’t look good with one, trust me on that, I would know.” She told him, but the stubborn mule he was, he didn’t just follow the advice of his lovely wife.

“On what grounds?” Lelouch challenged, as he had access to the best stylists and hairdressers in the empire, and none had said a thing about his growing facial hair.

“Common sense, I can prove it to you.” Dorothea gently scooped their child from his arms, the baby giggling more as her mother rocked her back and forth. She then pointed to Lelouch’s chiselled face and his very visible growing beard. "Ali, you like Papa having hair on his face?"

The baby looked at him, then her mother, and then back at him again before she made a ‘wha’ sound and turned to her mother’s chest. “See?” Dorothea took the victory, though she reached to undo her top, as she recognised that her baby needed something to eat.

"She's six weeks old; she couldn't understand what you just said." Lelouch countered, as that made no sense, almost as much as C.C. casually revealed that when she was still immortal, she could eat as much pizza as she pleased without gaining weight.

Where the hell did it all go?

“As if our child wouldn’t be intelligent.” Dorothea teased, Lelouch hardly paying attention to the flash of skin and flesh as Dorothea's large, heavy breast was exposed. The woman lifted her baby up to it, where she happily latched onto it and started suckling.

“Bu-wha-,” Lelouch paused, as he had been down this road far too many times with all his consorts, and no matter his genius, it always went the same way. So, he just accepted the loss before the battle could drag on. “Okay, fine, I won’t grow out a darn beard. But that means I’ll need to shave before we leave.”

Dorothea grabbed him and kept him in place, as she snuggled closer into him. "That comes later. Right now, we should enjoy the sun, the breeze, and some ice cream.”

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And at last, we have returned, for I have managed to write out the second chapter!

But for real, apologies for the week-long delay, as I explained, my computer was having an issue, which made it impossible to get anything done. But it was fixed last week and has worked like a dream since! Like I said in the first chapter, I'm trying to keep this more wholesome to balance out the rather depressing elements of the original story. I nailed it pretty well with the royal siblings in the last chapter. There were more of them, as the emperor and his consorts had been busy, but they would have been too young to add much other than be cute at this point.

This chapter, well, we'll get more action from the adults and established cast of the show and how they're doing. If you saw the title, you can guess which group we're going to tackle.

One last thing: If you watch Dr. Stone, you must have seen its latest episode, which made me so damn happy and put me in a good mood as I wrote this. I even went and listened to its ED, No Man's World.

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Hmm, I would be honest. I had more plans for this chapter, as it also covered some Anya/Gino with Monica and Nonette thrown in. Still, the Guilford part was too good for me to cut.

Yes, that Guilford, you hadn't read it wrong. I brought it back much like the show did, mainly because I never officially killed him off like I did Cornelia. The reason was obvious; in some ways, he and Suzaku are the same, and I wanted to explore that. I also wanted to show off more of a post Charles Britannia, as it has VA benefits, pretty comprehensive as well…who knew :)

Now, as for Lelouch and Dorothea, she got the first roll with him since she was such a non-factor in the OG story, not canon-as she got killed like fodder. Still, in Demon Reigns, as I only really added her to the imperial harem on a whim, but now I want to expand on it.

And before I forget, here are the height changes:

Suzaku(18 years) 176 cm or 5 feet, 95/8 inches – by 27 years, he’s 180 cm or 5 feet 10 4/5” inches

Lelouch(18 years) 178 cm or 5 feet, 10 inches – by 28 years, he's 186 cm or 6 feet, 1 inches[Yes, he's smaller than Schneizel and Charles, but they were super tall]