Chapter 16: Excuse Me, Auntie Mari. But What the Fuck?
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28th August 2010, Pendragon, Aries Imperial Villa
"I'm surprised you learned so quickly." Carly watches from the side as I shoot the target straight through the head with a bolt-action rifle.
Ten days. That's all it took.
We had gone from pistols to assault rifles, sub-machine guns, RPGs, and even grenade launchers. She pushed me through every firearm she could get her hands on, and I absorbed it all with a speed that surprised even myself. Maybe I just had a knack for pointing and shooting.
Either way, I wasn't complaining.
"Let's just say I'm a man of multiple talents," I shrug, setting the rifle down on the table.
"Then, let's move on to Knightmare firearms," she continues, her tone businesslike.
"Yeah, no. Not happening." I turn to stare at her, letting my expression go flat.
"That should be in the imperial decree." She meets my gaze without flinching.
She's good at this. Too good.
"It only said firearms," I argue.
"Knightmare firearms are still firearms."
She's got a point. But I'm not budging.
"Anyway, I won't be needing help with Knightmares."
"Then I believe you'll be answering to the Emperor."
Fucking bitch. Trying to scare me with my father's weight.
"Do as you wish." I dismiss her threat with a wave. "I only need you to train me to protect myself when I'm out of my Knightmare."
"So, I've lost my worth to you." A wry smile crosses her lips.
"Of course!" I smirk. "With a Knightmare, I'm the strongest, after all."
"Arrogant little shit." I can hear her teeth grinding.
Good. She's finally showing something real.
I have no idea why she was trying to buddy up, or should I say, stick to me like a thorn. But I have no reason to play the same game. Auntie Mari warned me. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that Auntie Mari's warnings are rarely wrong.
"Well then, teacher! Please leave my villa. You being here is an annoyance." I give her my widest smile. "Ta-ta!"
I expect anger. I expect a retort. I expect something.
Instead, she smiles.
Wait. Why is she smiling?
No... are you a masochist? You like being bullied?
"Well then, Your Highness." She places a hand over her heart and gives me a polite bow, her smile never wavering. "This subject of yours will be leaving."
And then she left. Just like that. No argument. No pushback. Just a smile that didn't reach her eyes and a bow that felt far too calculated.
Yeah, I don't like where this is going.
I stare at the door long after it closes, trying to figure out what just happened.
She's too calm. Too composed. She took that insult like it was nothing.
Either she's been trained to handle arrogant royals, or she's playing a game I don't understand yet.
Either way, I need to be careful.
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5th September 2010, Pendragon, Aries Imperial Villa
I'm inside my room, preparing yet another birthday present for Nunnally with Auntie Mari. The fabric is soft beneath my fingers, the needle steady in my hand, and for a moment, everything feels almost normal.
Almost.
Just today, I heard interesting news from Ange, my eyes and ears on the ground, guarding Lelouch and Nunnally in secret.
"Auntie Mari?" I start, keeping my voice casual as I thread another stitch. "Did you know that Nunnally was going to marry that man from Japan?"
My poor Nunna.
She's going to turn 7 soon. Seven. And she was already set to marry a man who has a child her brother's age.
Man, Japan and their pedo mindset. She's just a child, for fuck's sake.
Auntie Mari jolts, the doll in her hands slipping. The needle pricks her finger and a tiny bead of blood wells up but she doesn't seem to notice. Looks like that caught her off guard.
"I… have no idea about that, to be honest." Her voice is tiny. And I can feel her trembling against my lap. "Is that true?"
She's gritting her teeth. I can see it in the way her jaw tightens.
"According to my informant, it is." I nod, gently patting her head. "But don't worry. It won't be long before that man dies."
Dying because your own son killed you. Skill issue, bro.
"His name?"
"Kururugi Genbu." I answer without hesitation.
Yes, that man is Suzaku's father. Trying to marry my sister as a symbol of peace between two nations.
Father declared war on Japan not long after. Funny how that works.
"You know?" Auntie Mari shifts in my lap, her tone changing. "We were going to make you marry Nunnally."
What the fuck, Auntie Mari!
Don't drop a nuclear bomb on me suddenly.
And we?
"Wha—?" My brain short-circuits.
Did I hear that right? Marry Nunnally? My little sister? The one I've been making stuffed rabbits for?
"You were one of the cutest and most sensible children we've ever seen." Auntie Mari, in Anya's body, turns around and wraps her legs around me. The movement is too familiar, too intimate for the body she's wearing.
"And Charles agrees with me." She places her hand on my cheek. "You treated me with respect and my children with love." Her thumb traces my jaw. "So I asked Charles if I could engage you with Nunnally."
Okay. Wait. Full stop. What the hell?
I was treating her with respect because I didn't want to get on the bad side of one of Father's favorite people. And Lelouch and Nunnally because I didn't want to leave a bad impression on them.
That's it. That's the whole reason.
It wasn't—I wasn't trying to—
God, this family is messed up.
Not hearing my internal crisis, Auntie Mari continues. "But then your mother engaged you with the daughter of her supporter." Her tone stays light, but there's an edge to it. "I was disappointed."
Okay, but why are you looking at me like I killed Lelouch?
I didn't arrange that engagement. I was twelve.
"Ah… only now I know why Father has been looking at Nonette intensely." I nod slowly, pieces clicking into place.
I was wondering what N had done to incur Father's ire. She's been walking on eggshells around him at events, probably sensing something she couldn't name.
Now that explains it.
"Anyway." Auntie Mari turns again, presenting her back to me and holding up the doll she's sewing. "Let's continue with this."
"You are changing the subject." I deadpan.
"Yup!" Her voice is cheerful, almost aggressively so.
Of course. Because we can't talk about the fact that you wanted me to marry your daughter. That's not a conversation we're going to have.
Definitely not.
"Oh! I almost forgot." She tilts her head, looking at me with those too-old eyes. "Thank you for killing your mother."
I say nothing.
Yeah…
I have nothing to reply to that.
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14th September 2010, Pendragon, Gemini Imperial Villa
Today, the war with Japan ended. It will now be called Area Eleven.
Another country swallowed whole. Another people stripped of their name.
And hey! My villa finished repairing, so I'm back at my own place. The bullet holes are patched, the bloodstains are gone, and everything looks exactly as it did before.
"It is nice seeing you again, Lady Zevon." I greet Marrybell's friend with a polite nod. "And this is?"
"Ah! This is my maid, Toto Thompson." The girl has dark skin and short, light blue hair.
I stare at the girl from the Geass Order.
And said girl is trembling in front of me. Her hands are clasped tightly in front of her, knuckles white, and I can practically smell the fear rolling off her in waves.
Yeah. I punched her Papa after all.
Yup! It's only natural for her to fear me after I killed her friends. Not that I regret it. V.V. deserved every broken bone and every drop of blood.
"It is nice meeting you, Toto." I smile, keeping my tone light. "Try eating more carrots, okay? They are good for the eyes."
I also let her know that I know she has a Geass.
The way her breath catches—just for a moment—confirms it. She understands.
"I… I'll eat them, Your Highness." Toto trembles as she bows.
"Then don't let me keep you here longer." I nod at them, stepping aside. "Marrybell was excited for you to arrive, Lady Zevon." I turn toward Oldrin Zevon, giving her a warm smile.
Watching them leave, I hum quietly to myself.
Geass users are getting near my family.
I need to do something about it.
Well… I'll be doing something. That's for sure. The question is what, and when, and how many of them I'll have to deal with before they get the message.
But for now, I'll just let Marrybell keep being happy.
That's enough for now.
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Author's Note:
That one with Nunnally is canon, though. It was from a Drama CD.
Now that I've posted another chapter, I'll be back later.
But man, I want to get to Code Geass canon already. I started this story for Kallen's ass and I can't wait to get to that. Also, there will be timeskips later because nothing interesting happened between 2010 and 2016 other than Marrybell enlisting in a military academy in 2012. So, please expect some timeskips.
You can read five more chapters in advance on my P-word site! It's /Zimrence.