NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Sleeping Beauties
Atlas Empire, Imperial Guest Room.
Two women were soundly sleeping like Snow White, in front of them was a beautiful little girl, fragile like glass, but kind like a blue sky. She was still enjoying the feeling of standing on her legs:
"So this what Shirley-san looks like and Euphy has grown so much since the last time I saw her.
-So if I get it right, one is your half-sister and the other is Lelouch's Lover, right?
She giggled lightly:
-Not to my knowledge, but I don't think she makes nii-san indifferent."
Suddenly the Sleeping beauty started to talk:
"Lulu…"
In her head she dreamed about all kind of scenes, the time they spent in their Ashford Academy, the innocent days, the insouciance of youth.
"Lulu…"
Then when Tragedy began.
The loss of her parents.
That fateful kiss under the Rain.
"Lulu…"
Distant Memories...
His pained gaze in that scene:
'Oh hello, umm did you lose someone in your family too?
-No, not someone from my family...it was a friend.. someone.. well very important...
-I understand
-But i didn't know... i didn't know until after i lost her.. and i realized how much she meant to me '
"Lulu!"
'I love you Lulu. Even if I'm reborn, I'll fall in love with you again. Over and over.'
The pain from her own death, the longing for her forever unrequited love. All that was not as important as his pain, his tears, his guilt….
"LULU!!!"
She woke up sobbing like a little child. Shahrazad how was watching the whole thing with a deep gaze, remembered her story that Marek told her.
'She endured so much, yet her love is unwavering like a deep ocean. Could my love for his majesty, endure all that?'
Nunally took her in her arms as she continued to cry unconsciously.
"Shirley-san. Thank god you are back to us."
When she heard the familiar voice, she raised her head to see a lovely little girl with oriental caftans on.
"Nunna?"
"Yes, it's me Shirley-san."
She held her even tighter:
"From now on, everything is going to be alright."
"Nunna, you can…move?!
She heard a light laughed and as Nunally let go off her:
"And you are back from death, don't you think it's more impressive?"
She widened her eye and start inspecting herself.
"What? How?! Where is Lulu?!"
A gracious woman more refined than even Britannia Princesses sat in front of her with a light benevolent smile:
"Lelouch Li Britania is on his way here. He is carrying an order of his Imperial Majesty.
-You mean the Britaninan Emperor?"
Shahrazad lightly shucked at her question before explaining what happened. Shirley had a bewildered face as she kept reciting a story that seemed from a fairy tale:
"So you are telling me Lulu is now serving this Super Mighty Emperor who can even bring people back to life…
-Yes. Now the choice is yours. Your majesty's grace has even benefitted your parents, they are waiting for you as we speak. You could back to Britania with them and start living a normal life or live her with your 'Lulu' as a close relative of the First Vizir of the Empire.
Her heart tightened when she heard her parents were back, but she still kept a calm face as she responded:
"I will stay here with Lulu."
She grinned:
"I told him, after all. That even in my next life I will still love him."
Shahrazad nodded:
"You seem smart, and have a strong heart. Would you like to work for me?"
Shirley nodded immediately:
"Yes, be what I should do?
-You will learn on the job. But it's a high stake one. I would be mostly working on high tension Empire business.
-Empire business?! Huh…May I ask you, what position you hold?
Nunally chuckled, and Shahrazad responded:
"Well, it's not official yet. But People call me the Empress."
Her mouth opened agape as she realized who she was talking too. Shahrazad took her hand:
"Keep calm, I am not going to eat you. As his Majesty said, from the moment Lelouch joined in, we are all family, so let's get along well"
'Her bearing, her grace and elegance and her kindness. Indeed, befitting of an Empress!'
They suddenly heard an horrific cry, as a pink beauty slowly stood up a terrified expression on her, trembling from fear:
"All those people…The massacre. I…I killed them all"
Shirley and Nunally looked at the Princess with a sad gaze. Shahrazad naturally took her hands as she remembered what her majesty told her about Euphemia. She could feel the trembling and distress just by touching her. She sighed:
"I know, all this might feel overwhelming for you. But it wasn't your fault, or Lelouch's it was only a bad, really bad turn of fate."
Euphemia for the first time looked up at the kind voice.
"Still…I did it with my hands! I don't deserve to…!
-Your guilt might be too much to bear for you. I can't pretend to know what you feel but I could tell you that a lot of people care deeply about you. Your disappearance had caused deep grief in a lot of people's hearts. Your knight, your sister…
Tears started falling as she remembered her last moments:
'Suzaku…Nee-san…Lelouch…'
"Also…"
Euphemia refocused her attention on her:
"We cannot erase what you have done. But his Majesty knew that you wouldn't muster the courage to live like that."
'His Majesty?'
-So he revived all the 200 000 people in that Tragedy, he erased the memories they had of their Japenese identity and made them citizen of the Empire.
-He did what? He…
-He gave you a chance at redemption.
She put her hand on her on her mouth as new tears stared falling off. Shahrazad smiled lightly:
"Although when I asked him, he formulated in a rather peculiar way."
All the three girls looked at the Empress's loving smile as she was reminiscing about her love:
"His exact words were 'This is basically a bribe, Princess Euphemia way of governing with kindness, is something that is essential for my Empire. No matter how many wars I fight I need people by my side to remind me what 'being human' means.'"
Nunally nodded a tinge of red on her cheeks:
"That sounds like something his Majesty would say."
Shirley had a profound expression as she tough about his last words:
'Being human, huh. So even a being that Heaven defying is afraid of losing himself.'
Euphemia had astonished look:
"Is it that person who resurrected me?
-Indeed, your resurrection is a part of a deal made between The Emperor and the from now, First Vizir Lelouch Li Britania."
Euphemia who is from an Imperial Family immediately understood the underlying meaning. Shahrazad continued:
"So what do you say, Euphemia Li Britania?"
She smiled lightly:
"I am grateful for his majesty's grace and I am willing to serve by his side."
Shahrazad had a sparkling smile:
"Such a great day, I have made so many new friends today. Let's tell his majesty the good news when he will be back.
Shirley had curious face:
"Really? He is not here? Where he is?!
-Shirley-san…That's rude.
-Indeed."
Euphemia and Nunally who are from Imperial bearings immediately reprimanded her. Shahrazad chuckled watching the whole scene:
"What if I told you that he is making a deal with Lucifer himself?"