Chapter 17: La Men!
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24th March 2011, Pendragon, Dueling Area
For a rather rare reason, I'm outside my home. Yes, just for today, I'm officially pardoned from my house arrest.
Freedom. Sweet, sweet freedom. For exactly one day.
Why? Well, I'm with Bismarck to oversee a dueling match between children. By children, I mean the young, aspiring knights piloting Knightmares.
Child soldiers, basically. But hey, at least they're getting proper training.
"I'm okay with watching them." I turn my head to the Knight of One sitting beside me. "I'm glad that I can leave my villa and all. But what's the real reason I'm here?"
There's always a reason with Father.
"That is simple, Your Highness." Bismarck replies calmly, his single eye fixed on the arena below. "It is to choose a suitable candidate for your bodyguard among these kids."
"Can I not choose?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
"You don't if you want to." Heh. "Some of these children are war orphans adopted through the Vogue Scheme," he answers.
Vogue Scheme… I've heard about it.
It's a social program to re-home and adopt war orphans into Britannian families. I have no idea why Father let it happen, but… good for the kids, I guess?
Better than leaving them on the streets of a conquered nation.
Then I see one of the children pilot a Knightmare like it's a plaything. The movements are smooth, almost elegant, and I can't help but let out a whistle.
Man, this kid can kick ass.
"That… is a fine movement for a kid." I grin, leaning forward. "His name?"
"It is Ash Phoenix, Your Highness." Bismarck replies. "He was adopted by Norland von Lunebelg after the war."
"The new Knight of Five?" I tilt my head.
Interesting. A Knight of the Round adopting a war orphan.
"The same one," he nods. "But the child… although he is good, he doesn't fit to be a knight."
Here comes Bismarck with the stick up his ass.
"But if his skill is that good as an orphan, how far will he go with proper training?" I smirk. "Man, now I want my own war orphan to adopt."
"Do you truly?" Bismarck gives me a side glance with his remaining eye.
Is that judgment I see?
"Nah." I put my arms up in surrender. "I have Marrybell and Lady Anya at home to look after." I let out a sigh. "I don't think I'm ready for another kid."
Marrybell alone is a handful. Add Anya's body being hijacked by Auntie Mari on a regular basis? I'm already running a daycare for the weird and the traumatized.
"If you say so, Your Highness."
After that, none of the other kids attracted my attention. They were good—some of them, anyway—but none of them had that spark. That edge. The kind of edge that makes you think, this kid might actually survive.
So I went back to my villa and continued my house arrest.
At least the food's better here.
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3rd April 2012, Pendragon, Gemini Imperial Villa
"So, you want to enlist in a military academy?" I stare down at Marrybell, who is trembling in front of me. "May I know why?"
She's only twelve. Twelve. That's too young for this.
"I… I don't want to be a burden to you, brother." Her voice is quiet, almost a whisper, as if she's afraid the words themselves might upset me.
Oh, Bell.
"Bell." I let out a sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I've never thought of you as a burden."
"Why not?" Nonette chimes in from my side, completely missing the point. "Nellis and I both joined the academy around that age."
"But she's still too young for that, N!" I snap, turning to face her.
This might be the very first time I've raised my voice against Nonette. Ever.
"I understand, B." Nonette places her hand on my shoulder, her voice gentle. "But you should also acknowledge that the children are growing up."
I drag a hand down my face.
She's not wrong. She's not wrong, but…
Marrybell is trembling in fear. She must have gathered every ounce of courage she had to tell me this. That made me let out another sigh.
"You know what? Fine!" I finally relent. I can't bear to see Marrybell looking at me like that—like she's waiting for me to be disappointed in her.
"Really?" My sister's eyes shine with anticipation.
"Yeah." I nod. "But only if you promise me to visit whenever you can."
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She runs and hugs me with full force, nearly knocking me out of my chair.
This is the girl who still takes baths with me. The girl who still tries to sleep in my bed at every opportunity.
And that girl is going to the military academy.
Will she be okay?
"There, there, papa bear." Nonette pats my head, and I let her because it's just us here. Anyone else would lose that hand. "Or should I say, Knight of Two?"
"What are you even saying, Knight of Nine?" I give her a side glance.
I got promoted to Knight of Two after Lord Michele Manfredi moved to Euro Britannia. And Nonette got knighted into the Knights of the Round after I pleaded with Father to stop making things hard for her.
By pleading, I mean siccing Auntie Mari onto his ass after learning about Nunnally's situation.
Now I know my father's weakness. But because of that, I got another two years of house arrest.
Worth it.
"Your brother got sentenced to another two years of house arrest, Bell!" I rub my cheek against my sister's. "So visit me, okay?"
What should I do? I don't want to let her go.
"I'll visit you, brother!" Marrybell looks up at me with bright eyes. "I cannot leave you with other women, after all."
Wut?
"Ara? Is this what I've heard called a brocon?" Nonette grins.
Shut up, N! You are not helping!
"I won't give my brother to anyone!" Marrybell declares, her tiny fists clenched. "He's the most perfect brother among all my other half-brothers!"
Chotto a minute.
I look at Nonette. "Was it always this severe?"
"You have no idea." Nonette lets out a weak laugh.
Okay… maybe sending her to the military academy is a good idea after all.
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8th March 2015, Pendragon, Gemini Imperial Villa
What has my life come to?
I freaking got another year of house arrest because Father noticed I've been sending my proxy to Area Eleven.
I don't have the faintest idea how he knew I sent Ange to Japan. The girl's good, but apparently not good enough to fool the Emperor. Or maybe he bugged my room. Heh! Yeah, right.
At this rate, I might still be under house arrest even when Lelouch starts his rebellion.
"So, I guess you will still be staying in this villa, Your Highness?" Beside me, my new bodyguard and assistant chimes in.
"That will be correct, Narah." I let out a sigh.
Narah Vaugh. Twelve years old. Red hair, yellow eyes, and a stare that could make grown men flinch.
She's also the orphan I adopted through the Vogue Scheme.
Yes, I know. I said I wasn't ready for another kid. And yet, here we are.
"So! What's the agenda for today?" I ask her, leaning back in my chair.
Now I'm openly using a war orphan as a bodyguard. Wow… how much have I fallen?
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13th August 2017, Area Eleven, Shinjuku Ghetto
I'm free!
Yesterday was the final day of my house arrest, and today I'm here. The land of la men!
Eight years. Eight years of being trapped in my own villa with nothing but paperwork, tea, and Auntie Mari's increasingly creative attempts to climb into my bed. But now—now I am free.
But man. This place looks like a dump. What the hell is Clovis doing when ruling Area Eleven?
Probably painting. Or throwing parties. Or both.
I can feel the people's deep stares drilling holes in my back. Okay, maybe it's my fault for dressing dashingly.
But a man has to dress to impress, right?
Then again, how am I going to find a ramen stall?
I've ditched Narah and came here alone. Only Ange knew that I'm inside the ghetto.
She wasn't happy about it. I could feel her glaring through the phone. But some things a man must do alone.
I'm now 25, and my body is still growing. Maybe because I haven't died yet to stop my aging.
But again, I was put under house arrest for nearly a decade. Aside from V.V., nobody had tried to assassinate me. Geass Order included.
So my body kept growing to this age. Maybe I should off myself? I don't want to look older than this.
Hmm… that's a good choice, actually.
But! Now, back to the quest for ramen.
Should I ask a random passerby? I look around, searching for a person who won't be angry or fear me.
Huh? Jackpot.
That pinkish-red mop of hair. I think I've found the ace pilot of the Black Knights.
But what are the odds?
Hmm… strange. Truly strange.
But! Ramen!
"Hey, you!" I call her over.
"What?!" The girl turns around, and yes, that's her alright.
"Tch, a Britannian." Wow, racist much?
"Show me a good place to eat ramen." I don't beat around the bush and get right to the point.
"Hah?! Why should I?"
"Just because?" I answer.
"Shitty Britannian." She grits her teeth.
And I laugh at that.
Man, it has been a long time since I've been cursed at to my face.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing. You wanna show me or not? I can pay."
The girl looks around, fearing that I might be playing tricks. And that I might drag unnecessary people here.
Smart. Suspicious. I like her already.
"Fine!"
Then I follow behind her. "What's your name? I can't keep calling you 'the girl' inside my mind."
"Kallen." Without looking back, she walks in front of me.
"Then nice to meet you, Kallen. You can call me B.B."
Not a lie. Technically.
After walking for a while, and after some twists and turns, we arrive at the place. It's a simple stall where people gather around and eat. And I can smell the delicious broth already.
Finally. The promised land.
"Boss! Two bowls of ramen! One for me and another for this young lady!" I walk in front of the owner.
Hmm… the owner and Kallen are talking to each other with their eyes. Cute.
"I want to say we don't serve Britannians, but I'll let this slide because Kallen brought you." The owner glares at me while preparing the bowls.
"Here you go." He slams the bowl in front of me while gently placing one in front of Kallen.
Hmm… are all Elevens this racist?
But again! Ramen!
I pick up a spoon to drink the broth. A little spicy, but delicious.
Woo yeah baby! That's what I've been waiting for! That's what it's all about!
As I keep eating the ramen, I can feel my body getting sluggish. Then, my face falls flat into the bowl.
Huh?
I died.
"Are you really killing a Britannian here?!" When I come back to my senses, I can hear Kallen shouting at the owner.
Rude. I'm not dead. Well. I was. But I'm back now.
Then I can hear the wheels from a Knightmare drifting here.
I pull myself up from the bowl. Looking at the broth remaining, I feel wasteful. I want to keep drinking, but… I need to wipe my face first.
Hmm… there's nothing to wipe my face with.
"Here you go." I can hear another person's voice.
"Thank you, Narah." I thank my assistant.
Then I look around at my surroundings. The others are looking at me in shock.
Ah. They saw the whole thing. The face in the soup.
"Shall we go then, Your Highness?" Narah bows respectfully.
"You're… you're a prince?!"
"The third prince, technically." I nodded. "But you can still call me B.B. if you prefer."
"That's not—" She sputtered. "That's not the point!"
"Isn't it?"
"Ah, yes. Let me reintroduce myself." I stand up from the chair. "My name is Benedict af Britannia, the third prince." I nod at her. "It's a pleasure to make an acquaintance."
I can understand why neither she nor other Elevens cannot recognize me. I am, after all, living away from the media after my house arrest. So most people might assume that I'm dead in the political struggle.
Which is fine by me, honestly. Fewer people trying to kill me.
"The ramen was delicious. You can keep the change." I place a stack of bills on the counter and turn to Narah. "Shall we go?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Then, together with her Knightmare, I return to Tokyo Settlement.
I died today, but I'm happy because I got to eat ramen.
Today is my lucky day.
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Author's Note:
So, I've timeskipped most of it, but finally, canon is here! Kallen's ass is here! And Ramen is here!
Also, Roze characters will be appearing more often. Btw, Ben had not seen Roze anime before reincarnating.
You can read five more chapters in advance on my P-word site! It's /Zimrence.