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

Yuffie stood up abruptly, her posture still bearing the elegance of royal training, but her movements were as swift as a lark swooping towards the dawn.

She took a few steps forward and opened her arms wide, embracing the black-haired boy who had just stood there like a solitary peak!

Lelouch was completely bewildered by this sudden double "attack"!

The tall, brown-haired knight, like a blazing fortress, tightly bound his left side, the special metal badge on his uniform digging into his arm.

His gentle younger sister nestled in his right arm like a bouquet of flowers carrying the warm fragrance of sunshine, her pink hair brushing against his neck, exuding the soft fragrance unique to young girls.

The two were like two walls of vastly different natures but equally intense heat, instantly and mercilessly trapping him, a black cat who had just crawled back from hell, covered in damp, cold, and gloomy gloom, in the middle!

All the cold calculations, all the profound schemes, all the heavy gloom.

They were almost suffocating from the sudden, almost "unreasonable" embrace between their two best friends and siblings!

"We'll always be on your side! No matter how difficult the road ahead may be, we'll never leave you alone!"

Yuffie's voice trembled slightly, yet it was filled with the resolute determination of waves crashing against rocks.

"Absolutely!" Suzaku nodded vigorously from the other side.

The brown ends of her hair brushed against Lelouch's cheek as she moved, bringing a warm, slightly itchy yet real sensation.

Caught in the middle: ...

His body froze completely! His usual cold mask crumbled instantly under the immense force of the Vermilion Bird's strike and the warmth of Euphemia's tears.

His deep purple eyes widened in astonishment, his face blank before he could even form a suitable expression.

My soul felt like it had just been pulled from icy water, and before I could even recover, I was slapped in the face with a scorching sun! Even the tips of my ears started to suspiciously turn red...

The scene of these two sandwiches filled with cheese is both extremely chaotic and extremely heartwarming.

At the window, Melissa silently took in everything.

Deep within those amber-gold vertical pupils, a highly anthropomorphic vision, tinged with the allure of ancient creatures, flickered silently:

...Oh my? This is really...like two Shiba Inu puppies who have just found their lost partner and are extremely excited.

It was enthusiastically pouncing on the wet, yet feigningly reserved black cat that had just escaped from the rain...

Then, without further ado, it began to frantically "groom and invigorate" it with its tongue...

Completely ignoring the silent scream emanating from beneath the cat's stiff fur as it was being licked—"Help! Help! Stop licking me!!!"

Well...it's actually quite interesting, isn't it?

Melusina's lips, hidden beneath the light gauze, curved upwards in an extremely subtle and subtle arc of understanding and pleasure.

In that strange moment, as Euphemia and Suzaku's vows echoed completely, Lelouch remained frozen in a dazed state.

That clear, melodious voice, like the first ripples of melting snow, resonated throughout the space:

"Ha..." A clean, crisp breath sound, like the rest of a musical movement.

Melusin nodded slightly, her posture still carrying that languid elegance, her amber-gold vertical pupils calmly sweeping over the "frozen-faced black cat" in the middle.

Finally, her voice softened as she addressed the princess she had sworn to protect: "In that case—"

Her voice was steady and resolute, with a subtle, almost sun-warmed, ancient tone at the end:

"Princess Euphemia's will..." she paused, then added clearly, "...is my will."

A strange, gentle yet incredibly powerful feeling spread silently throughout the room along with this simple yet weighty vow.

This is no longer oppression, but... an invisible, indestructible protective wall has quietly been erected.

Chapter 32 Actually, I'm a scumbag fairy.

The sunlight outside the window seemed even warmer because of the strategic consensus just reached.

The heavy sense of power struggle in the air quietly dissipated, as if a taut bowstring had been slowly released.

Yuffie's tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little, revealing a clear smile of relief.

She gracefully picked up the slightly cooled black tea from the coffee table and took a sip.

Zhuque's tense shoulders relaxed, and he even reached out to pick up a delicate butter cookie. His smile became honest and pure, carrying a sense of relief that he was "finally home."

Even the invisible energy field that was subtly flowing around Meilushin took on a hint of languid comfort.

The air was filled with the relaxation and tranquility that afternoon tea should provide.

However, just as everyone began to savor this rare, brief respite between battles—

Sitting opposite Euphemia, Lelouch's fingertips, gripping the cup, stiffened almost imperceptibly.

In the depths of those deep purple pupils, the glimmer of "hope" that had just flowed seemed to have been cast into an anchor that sank into the deep sea.

A heavy shadow, extremely complex and carrying the dust of past life memories, quietly gathered, briefly freezing the warm stream.

His gaze unconsciously lowered, landing on the slightly shimmering reflection on the amber surface of the black tea.

In the reflection, a fleeting image of a silver-rimmed mask flashed by—Jeremiah Goldbald.

The “Orange Lord” who was abandoned by the empire, severely injured by Suzaku, and ultimately “blessed” by him.

Euphemia keenly noticed Lelouch's subtle emotional pause. She put down her teacup, her clear purple eyes filled with concern:

“Lelouch? Is there... something wrong?” She mistakenly thought that there was some loophole in the plan for Schneizel that they had just discussed.

Lelouch snapped back to reality.

He raised his eyes, forcing a calm expression onto his face, and even gave Euphemia a barely perceptible reassuring smile: "No, it's nothing."

Lelouch picked up his teacup and took a sip as a cover-up. The scalding liquid slid down his throat, as if it were burning certain scenes that shouldn't be replayed at this moment.

That hoarse voice, filled with loyalty and endless guilt, "Yes, Your Highness!" echoed faintly in his ears, transcending the barriers of time and space.

past life.

Jeremiah... a pathetic pawn whose power was underestimated, whose loyalty was twisted, and who was completely reshaped by himself in despair.

Lelouch clearly remembered the almost religious fervor burning in Zero's green eyes when Zero finally knelt before him and pledged allegiance to him, along with... a heavy, almost atoning pain.

“Not exactly troublesome…” Lelouch murmured to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the inside of the bone china cup.

At its core lies that deep-seated "guilt" towards his mother, Princess Mariana!

This feeling, in Jeremiah's case, was deeper, purer, and… exploitable than any loyalty to Britannia.

The stagnant ice in Lelouch's purple eyes quietly shattered, replaced by a glint of icy brilliance belonging to a strategist.

He gently set down his teacup, the bottom of which made a soft, pleasant "tap" against the saucer, breaking the brief silence and drawing everyone's attention.

“Indeed…” Lelouch’s voice returned to its usual calm and deep tone, as if he were merely stating a follow-up point.

"Besides the two main storylines of Cornelia and Schneizel... there's another point."

"It could be an unexpected turn of events in our plans, but it could also become... a very special wedge."

He paused slightly to make sure everyone's attention was drawn.

“Lord Jeremiah Goldbald,” Lelouch pronounced the name clearly, without any emotional fluctuation, simply stating a fact.

“One of the core confidantes of the Empress Cornelia, and also... the chief of guards whom the Empress Mariana, the mother of the 11th District, had the last contact with and trusted before her death.”

Yuffie's eyes widened slightly.

She didn't have a deep impression of the controversial former governor of District 11, only knowing that he was her sister's right-hand man.

Zhuque's brows furrowed instantly.

The name instinctively reminded him of the crazed knight on the battlefield, twisted by hatred! A hint of wariness flashed across his green eyes.

Lelouch keenly sensed Suzaku's emotions, but offered no explanation:

"He felt a guilt that went beyond his duty and was almost a collapse of his faith regarding the death of his mother, Marianne."

He emphasized the word, his gaze lingering subtly on Euphemia's face for a moment before sweeping over Suzaku.

"This guilt had been accumulating in his heart for many years and had become almost a kind of brand."

"So, what's our strategy?" Euphemia asked softly, as if she had vaguely grasped Lelouch's thoughts.

Lelouch's lips curled into a cold yet precise smile, like a scalpel slicing through skin:

"It's not about eliminating hidden dangers, nor is it about forcibly turning people against their cause; it's about guiding them!"

His fingertips traced patterns in the air, like outlining intricate chess moves, "guiding him to transform that overwhelming, unyielding guilt into a focus on our goals..."

"To protect the true bloodline of Princess Marianne and to atone for the sins by revealing the truth to the Princess!"

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.

As Lelouch's steady voice continued to outline the blueprint for "orange blossoms," the light and shadow by the window flickered subtly.

Melusin's finger, which had been lazily resting on the window frame, casually bent its knuckles and tapped twice on the wood, as if she were just idly plucking the strings of a harp in the afternoon.

Her vertical, molten-golden pupils, carrying a hint of knowing interest as if she had seen through the script, drifted lightly toward Lelouch:

"Ah~" she spoke, her clear voice carrying a hint of languidness, as if it were none of her business, and a touch of mischievous anticipation:

"Zero-kun~ I'm so sorry~ that special orange you carefully selected..."

Her vertical pupils narrowed slightly, as if she had discovered some novel toy: "...It's been stripped open~ stuffed with mechanical parts~ and turned into a cold, obedient little toy~"

She gently shook her head, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight, her posture as relaxed as if she were discussing the changing flavors of afternoon tea snacks:

"The modifications are all done~ It's lying at the very bottom of that dark little box in Kyoto... Hmm~ Let me think~"

She tapped her chin with her fingertip, her tone deliberately troubled: "It's probably some boring thing called 'Loyal Completion Type' or something~"

The fairy concluded nimbly, tilting her head slightly at the end. Her molten gold vertical pupils stared directly at Lelouch's instantly frozen purple eyes, her gaze filled with undisguised amusement and scrutiny:

"So, what happened to your hopeful orange blossom blooming plan...?"

She subtly drew out the last syllable, like a feather gently brushing against a taut nerve: "Pfft~ I guess it can only... open in a junkyard~?"

This understated, even playful announcement with a soft, endearing tone was more impactful than any cold, impersonal broadcast!

Chapter 33 Please! Fairy Knight!

While this feather still retains a cool, warm touch—

The curve of Melusin's lips seemed to deepen slightly; it was no longer the warm, reassuring smile.

Rather, it possesses a slightly cunning, fairy-like charm.

The molten gold vertical pupils locked onto Lelouch's eyes, which had now burst into sharp purple flames from their emptiness.

Her voice was like the sweet song of a nightingale, yet it carried an irresistible, mysterious allure.

"However..." The tone was drawn out softly, like a feather tickling the heart.

“If you would be willing to properly…beg me…” She deliberately emphasized the word “beg”, as if to give it special weight.

"...I don't mind putting in a little effort..."

Her fingertips drew a mysterious, ancient symbol in the air with exquisite grace, representing "transfer" or "theft," the movement so fast it was almost an illusion.

"...so that the sleeping Orange, without God's or God's knowledge..." she emphasized those words with a clear and seductive rhythm, like chanting an incantation.

"...Appear in any open space you want, right?~"

She tilted her head slightly, sunlight dancing on the top of her silver hair:

"Of course, I stole the cute little box from you..." Her voice instantly became as light as a spring stream.

"...As for where to settle this walking, troublesome little gift, and how to keep him quiet and prevent him from causing trouble..."

The toe, its graceful lines gracefully outlining its shape, gently touched Lelouch's direction from afar, as if accurately tossing him a baton:

"...But this is a little problem that the great Zero-kun should seriously consider~☆"

Her posture remained languid, composed, and elegant, yet it silently proclaimed that she had regained control of the game.

The sunlight outlined her graceful figure, and the air was filled with the crisp fragrance of roses and pine needles.

This creates an unparalleled, magnificent, and dangerous tension with the astonishing proposal she is now making, one that could overturn the dark side of the empire.