knight's oath

Why do these things?

Yuffie, why did you do this to her?

If I could have stopped you back then, wouldn't it have happened?

Hey, Lelouch... why are we like this?

…………

Facing Itiya's questioning, the boy fell silent...

After a long time, a chuckle echoed in the room, "I have been waiting. Until the end, until that night, until the day when His Majesty summoned you, I have been waiting. I believe you will definitely come back... "

"All the time, all the time, but until I saw the sea of ​​flames all over the sky, until I stepped into that place, you didn't show up."

"Lelouch, do you know why I got engaged to Schneizel?"

"I have always insisted on our agreement, but only one-sided insistence, is it useful?"

"That day, Schneizel said that in that situation, can I refuse? You bear the hatred you said, so what about me? I am the heir of the Kleikos family. Bearing the burden of the whole family, I can't refuse..."

"I once thought that if it really came to that time, I would run away—"

"Coming to District 11, it's a step in my plan—"

"I thought, even if you are no longer here, then this place, at least the place where you stayed for the last time, is my only destination!"

"This place buries you, so I will-"

"But... why? My thoughts are not as good as your plan——"

"I've been trying, trying to forget what I know—too naive to think that as long as I don't mention it, everything will be the same—"

……

"Itiya..." Seeing her with deep sadness in her smile, Lelouch felt a pain in his heart.

"Lelouch, I just want to ask you one thing..." She sighed softly, lowering her eyes.

"what?"

"Why... killed Yuffie?"

Hearing this, the boy's pupils shrank suddenly, and he opened his mouth, but he didn't know how to say it.

After confirming Itiya's identity, such a scene is doubting whether it will appear?

And if it appeared, what would you say?

I knew it would appear, but I didn't expect it to be so fast.

The words he had originally planned in his heart were discarded after seeing her sadness. To her, he lost the ability to lie.

"I..." The boy's words were interrupted by the other party before he could speak——

"Forget it, don't say it..." There was a poignant arc on the corner of her lips, Itiya shook her head, "I don't want to know..."

The price of knowing is too great, I'm afraid, I can't, and you can't bear it either.

Many things always pass away quietly when we are self-righteous.

Nearly ten years has been enough to wash away the ties between us——

Seeing her smiling like that, Lelouch felt more and more uneasy in his heart, he stepped forward a few steps and grabbed her, hugging her into his arms——

"Itiya, don't be like this, don't—"

Everything I do is for you and Nunnally, for our future, so - don't give up, don't at this time -

Maybe it was the arrangement of fate, or maybe it was a tease, a burst of hasty bells interrupted the short silence.When the bell lingered in the silent space, for a moment, a feeling of suffocation came to my heart.

There was no unexpected heart-wrenching feeling, almost no nostalgia, Itiya just pushed slightly, and it was enough to push away the people around him - because at that moment, the boy was also stunned.

"Itiya..."

The girl in front of her lowered her head, unable to see her expression, it would only increase the uneasiness and hesitation in her heart.

"Go ahead...the phone..." The red lips opened and closed, just uttered a few words lightly, turned around, and walked to the side.

Lelouch took out his mobile phone, looked at the words displayed on it, and involuntarily glanced at the person whose back was turned to him again.

Gritting his teeth, the boy turned on his phone, "...what's the matter?"

"..."

"……I see……"

"..."

"Well, I'll be there in a while..."

"..."

"Well, it's okay..."

After the communication stopped, Lelouch looked at the mobile phone in his hand, and suddenly, he clenched his hands tightly——

He raised his head, but couldn't help being stunned——

Not far away, the girl by the window sill was looking at her, her silver-blue eyes were calm, without any emotional ups and downs.

The ocean, as calm as the surface of the water, reflects the whole world, as clear as ever.

"Itiya, I..."

"If you have something to do, go first," the corners of her lips slightly raised, and the girl's smile was beautiful and pure, "I'm fine by myself—"

Lelouch, who didn't expect her to say that, was stunned again, but he recovered after a while, and wanted to take a step to approach her, but when he saw the calm and distant smile, he stopped it.

Perhaps, now is not the time--

"Itiya, wait for me to come back..." Lelouch who left behind these words turned around and left the room.With his back to the girl, he didn't see the smile of the person behind him disappearing the moment he turned around——

Looking at the closed door, Itiya's eyes were a little dim, and a trace of sadness quickly slipped through her eyes.There seems to be something hidden under the silver-blue ocean, deep and secluded.

Waiting for you to come back?

Lelouch, can I wait until you come back?

You, can you come back again?

our world……

At this moment, Itiya felt a vibration in her earlobe, "Huh?!"

After being stunned for half a second, he stretched out his hand and squeezed the red earring on the earlobe, and then Hughes' voice came out—"Master Freya—"

"what's up?"

"My lord, His Royal Highness Schneizel has arrived!"

"What's the matter? He's not—"

"...you——" There was a sudden noise on the other end of the communication, and Hughes' voice seemed a little flustered and nervous.

Itiya frowned and called repeatedly, "Hughes?!"

"..."

"Hughes—"

What exactly is going on?

Itiya was a little anxious, because there was no sound from the end of the communicator.A dead silence suddenly came out from the communicator——

hateful--

Just when Itiya was about to pull out the earrings, a familiar voice reached her ears——

"Itiya..."

The familiar voice, slightly hoarse and deep, made Itiya's body stiffen suddenly, she opened her mouth but dared not make a sound, "..."

After a while of silence, a sigh came from the other end of the communicator - "Itiya, what should I do with you..."

Hearing this, Itiya felt her chest tighten, and her red lips trembled slightly—"...すみません, Schneizel, nisa..."

…………

…………

Hearing that familiar call, the man couldn't help but startled, but then the tenderness on his lips became a little bitter, but it disappeared quickly.

"Come back!" He knew very well that this short year was already his limit, and these three short words also carried a domineering aura that he never showed in front of her.

"I... right now, I can't leave District 11—" Itiya's voice was a little hesitant, slightly, and seemed to be a little scared.

In an instant, Schneizel's eyes flashed unfathomable, "Are you voluntary?"

"Yes--"

"Do you know what you're doing?"

"Know--"

"You—" Schneizel hadn't finished speaking, but was suddenly interrupted by Itiya——

"Brother Schneizel, I know that I am self-willed and have done a lot of things that worry you. But—" the voice paused for a second, "Brother Schneizel, I never begged you for anything, but this This time—please let me stay here. I have something to do, I must—stay here!”

"You—" Schneizel felt a burst of anger in his heart, but when he thought of the grievance and sadness on that person's face at the moment, he suppressed it and only sighed—"Be careful—" "

"...Well! Brother Schneizel, thank you!" The girl's cheerful voice was still so familiar, as if nothing had changed.

Without saying anything else, Schneizel cut off the communication, and then sat on the sofa beside him——

His head was raised slightly - looking at the pure white ceiling, complex emotions flickered in his eyes.

It's been a year, and I haven't heard that person calling himself that——

I like my name being called by her soft voice, I like her pure smile on me, I like the feeling of her being by my side——

But she doesn't like to hear her add the word "brother" after her name, but she can't always say anything to reject her.

Itiya...

The man's usual gentle smile was now tainted with bitterness and helplessness in the silence—when can you just call me by my name?

But anyway, it's great...

She is still...

It's fine...

Spoiler - the distant past

"come back!"

When he heard that familiar female voice, Schneizel understood that all he could think of and utter were these three words.

I, who was sent to the military academy since I was young, can't remember how I felt when I stood on the battlefield for the first time and participated in the battle for the first time.

But no matter what, I can't forget the scene and feeling of seeing her for the first time.It seems that many things are branded in my heart, if I don't pay attention, I will always see them.

"Brother Schneizel..."

"Brother Schneizel, I never begged you for anything, but this time—please let me stay here. I have something to do, and I must—stay here!"

Itiya -

What do you have to do to stay in District 11?

Just because that place was once where that person was abandoned?Just because that man was once buried in that land?

I dare not ask, because I am afraid of hearing the answer, and even——

The corners of his lips curled up self-deprecatingly—when would Schneizel be so timid.In the political world, the calmness on the battlefield is only broken because of her!

What a sarcasm—

……

I have forgotten when it started, and I can no longer let go of the little figure hiding behind the mother and concubine when I met for the first time.

When I suddenly came back to my senses, I realized that I had fallen into it—I liked my name being called by her soft voice, I liked the pure smile she gave me, I liked to pamper her, I liked her, I liked her to accompany me. Feel around yourself—

I always thought that as long as I took good care of her smile, I could always be like this—but I didn’t realize that I was thinking about it at this time, and the little princess in my hand had already made a lifetime oath to another person——

……

"Brother Schneizel..."

As soon as he returned to the mainland, he went directly to Kleikos' manor after returning to the military department to explain the matter.

Just stepped into the back garden, before he could react, he heard a familiar soft voice.The elf who suddenly broke into his arms raised his face, and his sweet smile immediately warmed his heart, blowing away the fatigue accumulated on the battlefield like a breeze.

"Brother Schneizel, didn't you just return to the mainland today? Why did you come here?"

"Isn't it good?" She caressed her hair fondly, with a gentle smile on the corner of her mouth, which was different from the usual gentle illusion, but sincere from the heart.

"Of course!" The girl smiled sweetly, and her ice blue eyes were radiant.

"You..."

As if suddenly thinking of something, Itiya suddenly patted her forehead, "Oh, I almost forgot—"

"What's the matter?" He looked at her annoyed face with a funny face, but couldn't help reaching out and rubbing the forehead that was patted for her.

"I forgot—" Sticking out her tongue, Itiya looked scared, "Well, isn't it Nunnally's birthday in a few days? I asked Lelouch to accompany him to prepare for Nunnally today. birthday present!"

"Lelouch?"

"Hmm!" Nodding, Itiya suddenly pouted, "This Lelouch loves Nunnally so much, he insists on making a ceramic doll for her by himself. Hmm... ah, Brother Schneizel Don't say it out there... we're going to surprise Nunnally at her birthday party!"

"Hmm—" nodded with a smile, and the moment Itiya lowered her head, a gleam flowed through the boy's eyes, "Then, are you still going now?"

"Yeah—I want to go, but—" The little girl who was circling on the spot with her toes lowered her head, "Brother Schneizel..."

"Go if you want—" Seeing through her thoughts, Schneizel felt his heart sank, but he didn't show it. He just stood up, "Do you want me to take you there?"

"Really?!" Raising her head suddenly, Itiya looked at him in surprise.

"Well, don't you want to go?"

"Yeah!" With a happy smile, Itiya threw herself into his arms again, "Brother Schneizel is the best!"

……

I always thought that my thoughts could be well conveyed to that innocent person, but when I saw her tears, I realized that most of the time, I was always too confident——

"Hey Brother Nazel, today Lelouch and I..."

"Hey, Randy lost to Lelouch again today..."

"Brother Schneizel, Princess Mariana made fun of me today—"

"Well, Princess Marianna asked me a question today... Well, asked me if I would like to be Lelouch's princess—hehe, isn't it funny?"

"..."

As time went by, as he heard that person's name again and again from her mouth, Schneizel discovered that - at some point, jealousy had already occupied his heart.

……

The death of Princess Mariana was indeed beyond my expectations, and it also made me feel regretful and sad.

But when he saw Lelouch with a stubborn face at the funeral and the petite person beside him, his heart suddenly screamed.

Perhaps Itiya will never know that after that day, she unintentionally encouraged Lelouch's behavior and aroused his youthful anger.

Or maybe, Itiya will never forgive herself, it was she who proposed to His Majesty the Emperor to "exile" Lelouch to Japan as a hostage, just to keep him away from her.

…………

"Brother Schneizel, Lelouch—Lelouch...he's going to be sent to District 11..."

"Itiya, maybe Lelouch wants to leave this sad place! So—"

"But, doesn't he want Itiya? He clearly promised Itiya, why did he leave?"

"Itiya, you, are you talking to Lelouch—"

"Yes—Idea likes Lelouch, very much—"

…………

Is it too late?

Seeing the crying girl, Schneizel once again felt an uncontrollable sense of frustration, but he was still not reconciled and just lost.

…………

"Itiya, be my princess, okay?"

I finally said it out, although I was nervous, but I knew very well in my heart——she will agree!

…………

…………

Many times, Itiya would think that she had forgotten it, but when she heard Schneizel's gentle and doting voice, she realized that she couldn't forget that sentence, that scene, that moment——

In fact, she is very clear that she is deceiving herself and others a lot of the time.He clearly knows how much the other party cares about him, and it is so strong to hold himself in the palm of his hand, but he is always avoiding, always naively avoiding.

Whenever this time, I always hate myself, hate such a cowardly self.

I'm sorry, I don't know how many times I have said these three words in my mouth and in my heart.Although it is very hard every time I say it, it seems uncontrollable.

The word "brother" has been imprinted in my heart since I knew him. Perhaps because of this, I can't get rid of the doubts in my heart.

Whether it is a brother or a lover, I can't recognize it——

When Schneizel said that sentence, Itiya realized for the first time that the man in front of her was no longer the brother she wished in her heart.

Is he hiding it too well, or is he always ignoring it?

…………

"Itiya, be my princess, okay?"

Schneizel, who said these words, was wearing gorgeous royal attire, white with gold trim, and the flowing gold tassels that symbolized noble status were all eye-catching under the lights.

The gentle smile on his mouth was still the same as before, maybe it was twice as gentle.The eyes that are mixed with doting and love seem to make people fall into them unconsciously at a certain moment.

Itiya, who was looking at such a handsome man, was holding her hands tightly at that moment, her fingertips pricking her palms slightly, as if reminding herself to stay awake.

There is no space for myself to escape, no time for myself to avoid, because at this moment, everyone is watching me, waiting for my answer.

It was at the banquet where Schneizel became the Prime Minister of the Britannian Empire without any dispute—

Under the gaze of everyone, that person walked towards him slowly, and slowly said his extremely shocked words——

Those light-colored eyes reflected her shocked face like a lake, her slightly pale face and the smile condensed on her lips at that moment.

why?

Brother Schneizel, why at this time and at this place?

……

Because I don't want you to escape anymore!

This was what Schneizel told her later, but at that time, Itiya's heart flustered.

She knew very well that her answer would shock the entire empire, whether she agreed or not.

If he agrees, then he, as the heir of the Kleikos family, will become the royal family, and it will be beneficial to both the royal family and the family.

If he refused, it would be tantamount to dishonoring the entire royal family, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

I have known for a long time that in the future, I will spend my whole life with a member of the royal family, so that person once hoped so much to be him - the abandoned prince.

Just now, what to do?

With Itiya's silence, the original discussion caused by Schneizel's words, including envy, praise, blessing, and jealousy, gradually disappeared——

In the silence, Schneizel took her hand, exerted a little force, and spread her palm——

With a slight smile, he imprinted a kiss on the back of his white jade hand—"I, SchneizelEI Britannia once again swear to Eydia?

Immediately, Schneizel felt the catkin in his hand tremble slightly, and he couldn't help feeling a little helpless in his heart—why don't you want to?

But at this moment, he knew that he couldn't feel bad at this moment, because there was only this chance——

"I..." Itiya finally opened her mouth, but she didn't know what to say. When she closed her eyes silently, she nodded slightly—"This is, my honor..."

Only Itiya herself knew that when she closed her eyes and said that sentence, the pain in her heart was so intense.

No one knew that when Schneizel stretched out his arms to embrace that person, a line of tears slid down the delicate face.

I'm sorry... Lelouch, forgive me, I can't keep the promise...

…………

In that year, it had been four years since the news of Lelouch's death, three years before Itiya's coming-of-age ceremony, and six years since the day the two made their promise.

No one knew that on this day six years ago, a pair of young lovers made a promise in a sea of ​​flowers, and no one knew that the matter was so dramatic——

…………

…………

"Hey Lelouch, let's make a deal—"

"Huh? What?"

"My coming-of-age ceremony, let's get engaged!"

"..."

"What I want to choose is a marriage contract! Hey Lelouch, can I be your contract princess?"

"Um--"

"Then it's an agreement, and you can't break the agreement!"

"Hmm promise!"

The two people holding hands looked at each other, with their own smiles on their faces, sweet and gentle, as pure as the sky.

"Hey, you two are here!" A call made the two of them turn their heads involuntarily—

"Xiu Randi, what are you doing?" Pouting her lips in dissatisfaction, Itiya seemed to be complaining about being interrupted by the other party in the small two-person world.

"Hehe—" Touching his head, Xiu Randi curled his lips, "I said, Itiya, we should go back too! Otherwise, your lovely housekeeper will—"

"Ah, I see—" She interrupted Randy with a wave of her hand, Itiya looked at Lelouch, "Then, I'll go back first!"

"Well, be careful—"

"Um--"

The girl who pulled Xiu Randi quickly ran out of the garden, her raised hair shining bright golden in the sun.

At that moment, the boy behind him suddenly felt a little dazed——

The figure that quickly disappeared at the end of the line of sight seemed to be going to disappear like that——

"How could it be..." Shaking his head mockingly, Lelouch shrugged - it's not like him to be so worried about gain and loss!

……

Dreaming back at midnight, I always wake up from this dream.

The death of mother and concubine, Nunnally's injury, father's betrayal, all of these seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders.

Selfishly gave up everything, ran away from everything, and didn't even think of her when he left. Whether he didn't want to or didn't dare, he couldn't tell the difference.

At the moment when the concubine mother died, he swore to protect Nunnally and never let her get hurt again.Looking at Nunnally's smile on the new start in Japan, I suddenly felt that everything was worth it, after all, that was the only relative I had.

"Brother, are you missing Itiya?"

Lelouch, who was summoned, was sitting on a rock by the sea at the moment, looking at the sunset in the distance, with worries that he didn't know about on his face.

miss? !

"How is it possible!" Waking up, he shook his head, as if mocking himself and refusing.

"Brother..." Nunnally couldn't see the expression on his face, but she clearly noticed the slight sadness in the boy beside her.The longing that has been suppressed for life can no longer be conveyed.

In fact, what Nunnally didn't know was that every time, every night, Lelouch woke up suddenly from the dream.

The girl who looked into the distance with tears in her sleep had blond hair flying, and her ice-blue eyes were as clear as water, full of sadness.

Distressed, the pain in the heart is always so clear, even after waking up from the dream, it is still so strong, as if the scar that was just branded on the heart, the burning pain.

Although it hurts, she is always nostalgic for that dream and that person.At that time, I never thought that I would lose that dream.

It suddenly seemed like a dream, and when I came back to my senses, I could no longer dream of that childlike sea of ​​flowers.

The sea of ​​flowers in the dream has long been turned into the ruins of war, and the innocent people have disappeared without a trace. Nunali's terrified cries and the sound of bombing shells can be heard in my ears.

In reality, Japan was replaced by the 11th district, and the only friend was also lost in that war, and perhaps died.

Lelouch, who had escaped from death, was standing at a fork in the road with Nunnally in his arms, wondering whether to return to the original royal cage, or to get rid of everything and start over.

At that moment, Lelouch's heart was shaken, and getting rid of everything meant that he would never see her again, and he would never be able to keep that promise!

Just when he was thinking about that person intensely, the trembling in his hand interrupted his thoughts.

"elder brother……"

Lowering his head, all the young man saw was Nunnally's pale face and the wet tears.

Many things happened in an instant, and the decision was only made in a short second—Nuna Li can’t be hurt anymore——

give up everything-

……

At first I thought I had let go, but that day, the pain from the depths of my heart was so clear.The heart-piercing pain gradually spread from the left chest and spread to the whole body, and he couldn't even breathe.

There is the familiar music in the court, and what catches my eyes is the person who I thought I was hiding in my heart——

The magnificent banquet of the royal family shocked the engagement banquet in Britannia——

Greedily looking at the girl in the pink dress reflected on the screen, greedily looking at her face - the familiar feeling clearly told me that I never forgot.I even understood that the image of her in my own mind has also grown up slowly over time.

Watching her walk up to the hall holding that man's hand, stepping up to the high platform, and standing in front of the emperor; watching her tenderly look at the people around her, that familiar smile blooming for him; watching her accept the With everyone's blessings, the boy finally couldn't help turning around and leaving——

Behind her was Nunnali's worried call, but she couldn't take care of it now—everything she once had was taken away by that emperor, everything!

The only thing left around me, the only thing that warms me is Nunnally's smile.

It was from that time that my heart was occupied by hatred for the emperor.

Take the opportunity to avenge him!

This belief has always supported me, becoming ZERO, becoming a murderer, and becoming the person who pushed her away.Step by step, when I wake up, I realize that everything in my dream has changed...

The author has something to say: By the way, I have worked so hard to break this chapter——

The baby computer hasn't come back yet, I'm depressed——