I'm in another world, and I start out transformed into Lancelot.

……

When the first, slightly glaring rays of morning sunlight finally pierced through the gap in the curtains and landed precisely on Euphemia's eyelids.

"Well……"

The princess let out a nasal sound filled with weariness and reluctance, her long eyelashes fluttering violently like butterfly wings.

In her hazy state, she tried to grasp the lingering, comforting touch and scent from her dream, and unconsciously scratched at the soft blankets with her arm.

However, all that her fingertips touched was smooth, cool silk, and the air was filled with the familiar scent of bedding.

Where can one find the crisp, icy air and that comforting, slightly cool body temperature?

The lingering warmth of the dream receded rapidly like the tide.

Euphemia suddenly opened her eyes, her violet pupils momentarily unfocused in the haze of waking.

Then came the "exceptionally clear" details from the dream—the way we snuggled together, the feel of the hair on my cheek, the gentle caress on my head, and that intoxicating sense of security.

It replayed in her mind like a slow-motion replay!

"Ugh—?!" A short, suppressed gasp, almost stuck in his throat, suddenly escaped.

Almost simultaneously! "Your Highness, you're awake?" A clear, calm voice, like moonlight flowing over stone steps, rang out beside the bed.

Yuffie flinched slightly as if burned by something, and turned her head sharply to look.

The silver-haired fairy knight, Melusin, had silently appeared beside the bed at some unknown time.

The morning light outlined her tall and graceful figure, and her long silver hair flowed with a cool luster.

Beneath the veil, those vertical pupils, flowing with amber-gold luster, remained calm and profound.

It was as if the "close protection" dream that had just stirred up a storm in the heart of a young girl had nothing to do with her.

She stood there quietly, her posture impeccable, a perfect guardian knight.

If it weren't for the fact that Yuffie's mind was still replaying the blush-inducing, soft touch of the woman she had nestled against in her dream, she would have been blush-inducing!

"Ah! My dear, my dear!!!" Euphemia's voice changed instantly, filled with unprecedented panic.

Its violet eyes suddenly widened, like those of a startled fawn.

She tried to sit up, fumbling to prop herself up, but the velvet blanket slipped down to her waist, revealing the silk nightgown underneath.

That delicate, doll-like face flushed crimson from her ears all the way down to her neck in a flash, visible to the naked eye. A blush more vibrant than any political enemy pointing a finger at her face instantly spread across her cheeks! Her body heat and heart rate surged uncontrollably!

She didn't even dare to look into Melusin's calm, expressionless eyes! It was as if the moment she met those eyes, the other person would see right through the extremely "rude" dream images in her mind!

"I...I...I..." Euphemia stammered, her eyes darting around, but she dared not look at the silver-haired knight who was so close to her.

She instinctively reached out to cover her burning cheeks, her slender fingers able to feel the scalding heat beneath her skin.

(Oh my god! How could I have such a... such a shameful dream?!)

(Will Lady Meru... will she be able to sense it?! As a Heroic Spirit, will she know the dreams of her servants?!)

(And...and I even dreamt that she was stroking my head...sob...)

The more I recall the details of the dream, the more intense the mix of immense shame and...

The lingering, complex emotion of attraction grew stronger, almost making her want to crawl back under the covers and suffocate herself!

Melusin's gaze fell on Euphemia's instantly flushed cheeks and flustered movements.

Those golden vertical pupils, imbued with endless tenderness in my dreams, moved only slightly and thoughtfully in reality.

She didn't seem to understand the source of Yuffie's sudden and intense emotional fluctuations, but the girl was radiating obvious heat and her adrenaline levels were surging...

And the incredibly clear fluctuations of shame, embarrassment, and panic were as conspicuous as a lighthouse in the night to her keen, inhuman senses.

"Your Highness."

Melusin's voice remained calm and undisturbed, like the precise ticking of a clock, yet it carried a strange, soothing power.

She took a small step forward and, with remarkable ease, gathered up a wisp of gauze curtain that had been blown by the wind to the side of the bed.

Her elegant movement subtly shielded Yuffie from some of the slightly glaring morning light.

She didn't even ask Euphemia why she was blushing—which undoubtedly reinforced Euphemia's illusion that she was "seen through."

"...Please calm your breathing first. Are you feeling unwell?" the silver-haired knight asked.

"Do you need me to adjust the room temperature? Your body temperature seems a bit high."

The suggestion sounded incredibly thoughtful, but it hit Yuffie's burning point of shame right then and there!

"No, no, no need!" Yuffie's voice suddenly rose an octave, like a startled kitten with its fur standing on end.

She suddenly lowered her head, almost burying her burning cheeks in the blanket, leaving only her two bright red ear tips exposed to the air.

"...I just...had a... rather... warm dream..."

Her voice was barely audible, carrying a weak, self-deprecating attempt to justify herself.

As she spoke, she secretly lifted a small gap in the blanket and quickly glanced at Meluxin's expression out of the corner of her eye.

(Waaaaah... Please, Meilu Qingqing, don't look at me, and don't ask any more questions! Let me have some peace and quiet! I'm so embarrassed I'm about to explode on the spot!)

Melusin's amber-gold vertical pupils shifted slightly.

In her panic, Yuffie noticed the faint heartbeat and the rapidly rising body temperature, which she had missed. These details became crystal clear to her.

The air was thick with a palpable sense of shyness.

(Did Master's dream cause hormonal abnormalities? As a pure guardian, I am unable and unwilling to know the contents of Master's dream.)

She made an accurate assessment of the current situation.

“I see.” The silver-haired knight nodded calmly, as if he fully accepted this clumsy explanation.

She gracefully took half a step back, and that subtle sense of distance made Yuffie's tense back relax slightly.

"Morning tea is ready. Would you like to change your clothes?"

Clang! — Alarm bells rang wildly in Yuffie's mind! "I'll do it myself! I'll definitely do it myself!" She quickly rolled over to the other end of the bed, wrapped herself up in a pink cocoon, and grabbed the blanket.

Only her pleading purple eyes, blaring with "Please leave immediately!", peeked out from above. "Could you please... go... go check if the roses on the balcony have been watered?"

Melousin stood frozen in place for three seconds. Euphemia could almost hear her own heart pounding like a drum.

“Yes, ma’am.” Melos nodded. As she turned, her long hair shimmered in the morning light. She paused before pushing open the balcony door. “Also…” Euphemia’s breath caught in her throat.

“You have a stray hair sticking up on the top of your head…” Meloshen elegantly tapped the corresponding spot on her own head with her knuckles. “Excuse me.”

"Waaah..." The pink-haired princess buried her face in the pillow in despair.

The moment the balcony door gently closed, the silver-haired knight, with his back to the interior, subtly curved his lips into a barely perceptible smile beneath his veil.

My fingertips brushed against the crack in the window, where the damp morning breeze from Tokyo Bay drifted in.

(Temperature 37.2°C, heart rate 132 bpm... The human stress response threshold is really interesting.)

She rested her fingertips on the window frame—where a speck of dust, belonging to the real world, clung to her, a speck that Euphemia had failed to grasp in her dream.

Chapter 25 Lelouch is greatly shocked

It was afternoon.

The atmosphere in the foyer of the Governor's Mansion was even more solemn than in the past few days. Elite guards in Cornelia's personal guard uniforms stood like steel statues, their sharp eyes scanning the empty space, ensuring that no movement escaped their watchful eyes. The heavy, ornate doors were tightly shut, preventing any unauthorized prying eyes from the outside world.

Euphemia, dressed in a comfortable light purple loungewear dress, reclined in a chaise lounge near the marble balustrade in the second-floor main hall. Sunlight streamed through the tall stained-glass windows, dancing on her long pink hair. She held a thick, bound book in her hands, but her gaze was unfocused; clearly, her mind was no longer on the pages. The turmoil stirred by yesterday's declaration had not yet subsided, and a sense of emptiness and weariness enveloped her.

Suzaku Kururugi sat at a small round table a little further away, a battle damage report spread out in front of him, but he didn't write anything. He just stared at the smooth tabletop, seemingly lost in thought, while his fingers unconsciously twirled the pen.

In the deep shadows of the corner of the window, the presence of Melusin remained like an unchanging landscape. Beneath her veil, her vertical pupils, flowing with amber-gold light, seemed frozen, yet also as if precisely capturing the trajectory of dust particles drifting in the air.

The calm, rigid voice of the guard captain suddenly blared from the intercom in the downstairs lobby, shattering the tranquility of the entire annex: "Princess Euphemia! A visitor requests entry! Name: Lelouch Lamperouge. Identity: Vice President of the Ashford Academy Student Council. Purpose: To deliver a personal gift and letter to Princess Euphemia on behalf of fellow student member Nunnally Lamperouge. Miss Nunnally entrusted her brother, Lelouch Lamperouge, to deliver it. Basic identity verification has been performed: Carries a valid Ashford Academy student ID, no weapon record. Grant entry?" The voice paused, awaiting further instructions.

(Lelouch? Nunnally's feelings?) Euphemia's unfocused gaze instantly sharpened, a genuine surprise and warmth flashing across her face. She immediately put down her book, leaned over the railing to respond, her voice filled with undisguised joy: "It's Lelouch and Nunnally! Please invite him in! Don't stop him!" That concern from her innocent little sister seemed especially precious amidst her complex emotions at that moment.

When Suzaku heard Lelouch's name, the twirling of his pen stopped, the wrinkles between his brows smoothed out, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The entrance hall of the Governor's Mansion was silent. Under the guards' iron-willed gazes, Lelouch Lamperouge ascended the steps with steady steps, the delicate pastries and letter in his hands acting as some kind of invisible pass. He stopped on the second-floor platform, met Euphemia's warm smile, and handed over the box bearing the "Sakura Moon Temple" logo and the pale purple envelope with lace trim.

"Nunnally-chan is so thoughtful..." Euphemia accepted the envelope with gratitude, her fingertips touching the soft handwriting on the envelope. Sunlight danced on her hair, and the joy of letting her guard down made her overlook the fleeting tap Lelouch had given the bottom of the box just moments before.

But Zhuque didn't miss it; the rhythm of light, heavy, light was like an icicle piercing his eardrums. His body tensed before his mind, his gaze, filled with undisguised trepidation, pierced the air and landed on the frozen shadow in the corner of the window…

Lady Melusin stood there, her vertical pupils, flowing with amber-gold luster, as silent as ancient ice.

Lelouch caught Suzaku's momentary stiffness and the point where his gaze landed. His purple eyes narrowed slightly, and he instantly understood: Suzaku was wary of that being, which was the core of his concern!

“By the way, Your Highness,” Lelouch’s smile remained gentle and polite, but his posture subtly positioned himself between Euphemia and the window. His voice was low, almost a whisper, yet carried an unmistakable direction, “that silver-haired guard…” A hint of pure curiosity mingled with a deeper undercurrent of probing, “seems quite special? Nunnally asked me to inquire about her background… Does Your Highness trust her? After all, this concerns your safety, and we cannot afford to be careless.”

These words, ostensibly expressions of concern, were in fact a blatant questioning of Merusin's safety and loyalty. He needed a clear signal, especially regarding Suzaku's attitude!

His words had barely left his lips—"Lelouch!" Suzaku's deep voice rang out like a rock thrown into calm water, urgent and crystal clear, instantly severing all probing! He rushed to Euphemia's side, his gaze fixed sharply on his best friend, carrying an almost desperate frankness and an unwavering determination. He didn't even care about the proper etiquette for the presence of the princess.

Euphemia was taken aback by the sudden rise in his voice and Suzaku's half-step blocking her way. She quickly realized the deeper meaning behind Lelouch's words, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Suzaku took a deep breath, his gaze as intense as a torch fixed on Lelouch's inquiring purple eyes. Every word resonated through the air, powerful and resounding: "Stop your probing! Lady Melsin—" He turned his head, his gaze solemnly pointing to the silver moon sculpture, his voice filled with pure reverence and unwavering conviction, "I, Suzaku Kururugi, have witnessed and confirmed with my life and knightly honor the guardian to whom you can absolutely entrust everything!" There was not a trace of hypocrisy in his oath-like declaration.

“Merlu…” Euphemia’s voice followed, gentle yet powerful. She took a small step forward, her violet eyes looking over Suzaku’s shoulder, gazing intently at Lelouch, filled with a deep sense of security that she had always protected. “She is the key to our ability to stand here and speak that dream…” Euphemia’s gaze became incredibly firm, she even slightly raised her chin, her face radiating a glow of support from an absolute guardian. “Without her, I can’t imagine the ending…Merlu is the one who illuminates my path…the only anchor I’m absolutely certain of!” Her voice was clear, each word carrying the absolute confidence given by the two silent pillars that had supported her before the live broadcast.

Lelouch's pupils suddenly contracted! Suzaku's almost burning declaration of unwavering loyalty was already incredibly powerful! Euphemia's subsequent profound trust, rooted in personal experience, and her positioning as his "anchor," was like a hammer blow! These two overlapping declarations of absolute trust, pointing to the same core, completely exceeded all his current plans!

A crack finally appeared in the flawless student mask on his face—a look of astonishment froze on his brow. A storm raged deep within his purple eyes. He couldn't comprehend where this almost blind trust came from, especially from such a mysterious being! But Suzaku—he knew Suzaku! He was a man who would risk his life to protect his beliefs! Euphemia—that sincerity was utterly genuine!

Lelouch's carefully crafted facade of politeness, curiosity, and probing vanished instantly, replaced by a complex expression of being overwhelmed by the powerful facts, unable to process them immediately, yet forced to temporarily suppress his questions. He even forgot to maintain an elegant posture while handing over the treats, and the box of sweets bearing the "Sakurazuki-an" logo nearly slipped from his hand.

He remained silent for over a second, his gaze shifting between Suzaku's face, which screamed "this is the ironclad rule," and the unquestionable light in Yuffie's eyes. Finally, the complex emotions settled, transforming into a smile on his lips that was infinitely more genuine and profound than before, a smile tinged with scrutiny and contemplation.

“…Interesting.” Lelouch uttered these two words slowly, his previous superficial sunshine gone, his voice deepening as if it contained a weight enough to overturn the chessboard, “Very…interesting.”

Chapter 26 Lelouch's Style of Tanking

The corners of the confectionery box, printed with the name of Sakuragi-an, were still slightly wrinkled and not yet fully smoothed out.

Lelouch, already carrying a kind of "completely giving up" exhaustion, suddenly—thump!

He slumped directly onto the thick carpet, his back casually resting against the coffee table legs.

This pose is so "Lelouch"!

It's that classic pose of Ashford, after being driven crazy by the student council reports on the rooftop, dragging Suzaku along for a drink, and "melting into a salted fish"!

Euphemia was amused by this overly "down-to-earth" sitting posture and subconsciously covered her mouth, about to ask a question. But someone was faster than her!

"Hey Lelouch! What are you doing?!"

Zhuque's voice was like a rubber band that had been snapped open, filled with deep confusion and almost reflexive concern.

My previous vigilance was instantly shattered by this all-too-familiar, slouching posture.

The Vermilion Bird, like a large dog attracted by food, practically rubbed against the food and snuggled up to it.

He sat down on the carpet next to Lelouch with such ease and grace that his movement created a small gust of wind!

The two men's knees almost collided.

Suzaku didn't even care about his noble knightly image. He casually rested one arm on his knees and tilted his head to get close to Lelouch's face.

The emerald green eyes, close up and without any attempt to conceal them, were filled with pure worry and a blunt question: "Have you lost your mind?"

He even subconsciously lowered his voice, with a sense of tacit understanding common in boys' dorms: "What's wrong? Didn't you sleep well last night? Or... do you have a fever?" He even instinctively reached out to touch Lelouch's forehead.

"Go away, go away," Lelouch said somewhat awkwardly, symbolically waving Suzaku's hand away.

The deep, dark swamp in his eyes was parted by his friend's unreserved, fervent concern.

A crack appeared in the mask of weariness on his face, revealing a genuine, somewhat helpless, intimacy.

It was as if his closest person had stumbled upon some secret. "Don't touch me... I don't have a fever!" he muttered irritably.

"But..." He rubbed his temples again with his long, slender fingers in frustration.

Just as his gaze swept over Suzaku's worried face and Euphemia's face, a mixture of confusion and amusement, finally piercing through the fleeting glimpse of life, and landing on the silver figure where light and shadow met at the corner of the window—