Chapter 309: A premature political marriage?
The helplessness of the organization being forced to disband, the pain of losing former friends, the hypocrisy endured at those flashy yet hollow aristocratic banquets.
Everything that had happened over the past year felt like a massive boulder weighing on her heart, finally overturned by the joy of their reunion.
Kallen could no longer hold back and buried her face in his chest, weeping openly.
Kallen rarely cried, and even more rarely cried so painfully. The last time she remembered crying like this was when her mother was hospitalized and her brother lost his life.
As for Mahiro, he stood still without moving away, gently patting her back as if soothing a child.
After a few minutes, Kallen's sobs gradually subsided.
"Feel better after crying?"
Mahiro casually teased, only to be met with Kallen's embarrassed and indignant glare.
But she still replied in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum:
"This time... thank you."
"Hmm? What did you say?"
"Nothing! I have things to attend to, so I'll take my leave!"
For some reason, Kallen's face suddenly flushed red. As if unable to bear his teasing, she immediately broke free from his embrace, turned around, and hurriedly fled the student council room.
The whole sequence was smooth and without the slightest hesitation.
"Really, using someone and then discarding them—heartless and ruthless! What a scoundrel of a woman!"
Mahiro laughed and cursed at the departing Kallen, the lingering warmth of the girl still on his hands.
"I wonder who the 'scoundrel of a woman' you mentioned might be? Is it Kallen, who just left?"
A voice brought Mahiro back to his thoughts. Turning his head, he saw Milly, who had guided him earlier, now walking in. She was still wearing Ashford's standard school uniform, and the smile on her face remained as perfect as ever.
"Milly..."
"Hmm... Long time no see. Should I address you as Mahiro-sensei or Mr. Mahiro?"
The girl, adhering to elegant aristocratic etiquette, maintained her respectful demeanor, but her words carried a clear hint of teasing.
"Whichever you prefer."
Mahiro simply smiled, then opened his arms to the girl.
"Then Mr. Mahiro it is..."
Milly cooperated by gently embracing him.
Feeling the warmth and familiar scent she had missed for a year, Milly felt slightly intoxicated. When she looked up, her eyes were already shimmering with tears.
Noticing the girl's intense, overflowing gaze, Mahiro slightly lowered his head.
Milly suddenly stood on her tiptoes and sealed his lips.
In the spacious room where sunlight quietly streamed in, the two shared a gentle yet passionate kiss. Even so, Milly couldn't help but bite her lip and let out a few soft moans, her heartbeat uncontrollably accelerating.
After a long while, they finally parted, but Milly didn't leave his embrace. Instead, she rested her head on his shoulder, breathing softly, hot tears sliding from the corners of her eyes and dampening Mahiro's clothes.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing..."
Milly whispered with a sob, "It's just... it's really wonderful to see you awake again, Sensei. It feels like a dream."
After a year apart, he noticed that Milly seemed to have changed quite a bit.
Though she still retained some of her mischievous, impish nature, she no longer delighted in pranks as she once did. Instead, she had become more elegant and refined.
More like a little princess from an aristocratic family.
Yet, her tone when speaking to him inevitably carried a trace of melancholy and relief.
Mahiro could understand—she must have been in contact with Alpha and thus knew about his condition at the time, so he didn't dwell on it too much.
Moreover, compared to that, there was something else he was more curious about.
"If I remember correctly, Milly, you should have already graduated, right? Why are you still at school as the student council president?"
"Care to take a guess?" Milly lifted her chin from his shoulder, a mischievous smile curling at the corners of her lips. "Perhaps I chose to stay at school just to wait for your return~"
Yotsuba Mahiro: ...…
Given Milly's family background and the influence of Ashford in Area Eleven, it wouldn't be unreasonable for her to repeat a year.
But from what he knew, Milly wasn't the type to stay back for someone's sake.
Not to mention, the possibility of him waking up at the time was still a distant hope. Staying in school for that reason would have been nothing short of a fantasy.
One year might be manageable, but what about two or three years?
Could she really remain the student council president for life?
That would be far too tragic for the incoming students.
"I'm guessing it's because of the Black Rebellion?"
After Mahiro asked, he didn't receive a direct answer. Instead, a soft sigh echoed in his ears.
A moment later, Milly murmured quietly:
"You're still as sharp as ever, Teacher, figuring it out so quickly…"
Because of the Black Rebellion, not only her but everyone was forcibly held back a year. Additionally, with the original school building destroyed and the reconstruction period, there was an unusually long break.
Even now, it had been less than two months since the new semester began.
The order for this didn't come from Ashford Academy, nor from the Governor of Area Eleven, but was personally issued by Emperor Charles.
At the time, everyone was puzzled and confused, but no one dared to refuse compliance.
However, with the school reopening, the student council had become noticeably quieter.
"For some reason, Kallen became the Governor of Area Eleven, Suzaku Kururugi became a Knight of the Round, you became the leader of the EU, and even Lelouch has become strange… He doesn't even remember Nunnally. The school has turned into a surveillance point, and the student council room is the only place not monitored."
These words were whispered by Milly right into his ear, her voice extremely faint, as if afraid of being overheard.
Yet her emotions were complex—unclear whether it was pride or loneliness.
Hearing this, Yotsuba Mahiro didn't react much. Aside from Kallen, most of it aligned with the original storyline.
But, hadn't Charles altered their memories?
Was it unnecessary?
Hmm…
"Did you come here for Lelouch?" Milly whispered again.
"Partly, but not entirely."
Mahiro's reply was soft, meant only for the two of them. To anyone else, they would look like a couple secretly meeting in the student council room.
But after saying this, he paused briefly and added, "Mainly, Nunnally wants to see Lelouch."
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of understanding flashed in Milly's eyes.
She knew a great deal about Shadow Garden, or rather, about the matters surrounding Yotsuba Mahiro. It was unclear whether Alpha had intentionally leaked the information to her or if there was some other reason.
Not only did she know about Nunnally, but she was also aware that Her Highnesses Euphemia and Cornelia were still alive.
"So, what do you plan to do? Are you going to take Lelouch away?"
Milly paused for a moment before adding, "Teacher, Lelouch has become very strange lately. His memories seem to have changed a lot. Although he still remembers us, he has somehow forgotten about Nunnally and even inexplicably gained a younger brother named Rolo."
Milly was well aware that Lelouch was a prince of Britannia, the child of Empress Marianne. How could he possibly have a younger brother?
"I know."
Mahiro smiled faintly. "But as for what to do specifically, it will depend on Nunnally's final decision."
He did not explain to Milly that this was actually a fabricated life woven for Lelouch by Charles using Geass. Not only was it unnecessary, but if Milly were to learn about something like Geass, it could even put her life in danger.
After all, Rolo was an assassin from the Order, with the ability to stop time. Even a Numbered One would likely find him troublesome.
"Then I'll leave this matter to you, Teacher."
As she spoke, Milly suddenly broke free from his embrace, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and smiled like a mischievous little imp. "But I hope you can hurry. After all, a girl's youth is fleeting. I already have a goal now—I want to become a TV reporter in the future!"
Mahiro gave Milly a deep look before slowly nodding with a smile. "I believe your dream will come true. All of your dreams!"
After chatting idly for a few more moments about trivial matters, the two finally left the student council room.
Not long after, everyone gathered once again in the courtyard square in front of the academy.
Since Kallen still had matters to attend to and the student council members also had classes, only Milly remained to accompany them now.
The last to arrive was Nunnally. She didn't seem to be in the best spirits, yet there was a sense of relief about her. Upon arriving, she simply said, "Teacher, let's go," before leaving Ashford Academy.
Nunnally's reaction had already said it all.
She had chosen to give up.
Although Lelouch was currently immersed in a fabricated life, it was clear that Nunnally did not want to interfere with his life, allowing him to remain in this peaceful and happy dream for the time being.
Mahiro offered no opinion on this, merely whispering an instruction for Alpha to assign two people to protect Milly before leaving as well.
Upon returning to the EU Embassy in Japan, they received another invitation in less than two days.
"The Chinese Federation?"
Looking at the invitation in his hand, Mahiro wore a strange expression.
Because as far as matters concerning the Chinese Federation were concerned, he remembered that Kaguya had always been the one handling them.
Though the young lady was not old in years, she was exceptionally skilled in diplomacy. Unlike in the original timeline where she fled as a refugee, she managed to build a connection with the Tianzi, Jiang Lihua, through her own means.
Alpha acknowledged this but still explained:
"This invitation comes from Li Xingke. He just arrived at the Chinese Federation's embassy in Japan and said he wants to talk with you."
"Oh, I see..."
Mahiro pondered the invitation in his hand for a moment before casually tossing it aside. "Then let's meet him."
If it were those eunuchs, he would certainly not be interested. But if it were Li Xingke, then it was worth meeting.
After all, this person could be considered an old acquaintance of his.
The Chinese Federation's embassy in Japan was located within the Tokyo Settlement, occupying quite a large area. Its exterior featured traditional Chinese Federation red gates and pavilions, while the interior contained Suzhou-style courtyard gardens with small bridges and flowing water. Amidst the modern Tokyo Settlement, it displayed a charm that transcended the times.
On this day, the embassy's security was unprecedentedly tight for no other reason than the arrival of the current EU leader, Yotsuba Mahiro.
Accompanied by numerous guards, Mahiro walked calmly along the stone-paved path, enjoying the surrounding birdsong and floral fragrance.
When he arrived at the main building and entered, his eyes fell upon a long-haired man.
The man had a stern expression and wore a traditional military officer's uniform.
However, after merely exchanging glances, the other party immediately sprang into action.
Covering nearly fifty meters in just a few seconds, he abruptly stopped less than a sword's length away from Mahiro, his waist-mounted sword leaving its scabbard.
Clang
Thud
Two sounds rang out almost simultaneously.
The first was the sound of the sword being drawn, while the second was the sound of the blade being blocked.
The brown-haired young woman attending as secretary had stopped the sword blade that was about to strike Yotsuba Mahiro.
The sharp heel of her shoe collided with the sharp blade, scattering a few sparks of light like fleeting fireflies, illuminating Yotsuba Mahiro's face which had already curled into an amused smile.
"I say, after all this time apart, is this how you greet guests, Li Xingke?"
Hearing his words, the seriousness on Li Xingke's face remained unchanged, but the stalemate was broken as he withdrew his swung long sword. Nu also lowered her extended leg.
"My apologies, I overstepped... cough! cough!"
Before he could even finish speaking, Li Xingke was wracked by violent coughing.
"Alright, alright, I'm not blaming you. No need to explain. Let's go inside to talk."
Mahiro waved his hand without any restraint, appearing as relaxed as if he had returned home. He directly went to sit on a chair in the main hall, crossing his legs.
Li Xingke sat properly opposite him, respectfully bowing his head slightly.
Speaking of which, Li Xingke could be considered one of his students, but unlike those students from Britannia, all Mahiro had done was occasionally spar with this guy.
He just never expected that after all these years, this guy's sickly constitution still hadn't been cured.
And it must be said, one had to admire that Li Xingke was truly talented.
In terms of strategy, he was in no way inferior to Lelouch; in martial prowess, he was no worse than Suzaku Kururugi, and his Knightmare piloting skills even surpassed Kallen's by a notch.
It was like having Zhuge Liang riding on Lü Bu's back while also mounted on Dian Wei - peerless in both wisdom and courage on and off the battlefield, truly a superhuman-level existence.
The only pity was that heaven hadn't granted him time, and had even burdened him with a sickly constitution.
Come to think of it, shouldn't this be considered a fate envied by the gods?
When an attendant brought hot tea, Mahiro naturally picked up the teacup and took a light sip, savoring the bitterness of the green tea before asking quietly:
"Tell me, what's the matter with inviting me here this time?"
His tone held no courtesy, his words straightforward.
To be precise, given Li Xingke's status, there was indeed no need for courtesy - even if Jiang Lihua were present, he wouldn't need to engage in pretentious pleasantries.
Li Xingke naturally understood this well.
What Mahiro didn't expect was that the next moment, this guy actually knelt on one knee before him.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
Seeing this, he nearly choked on his tea.
"Lord Mahiro, I've invited you here this time hoping you can help save Her Majesty the Emperor!"
Yotsuba Mahiro: "???"
Hearing this, even he couldn't help but slowly form several question marks in his mind.
In the past, while following C.C.'s trail, he had visited the Chinese Federation and, by chance, happened to save Li Xingke while incidentally teaching Jiang Lihua for a period.
Although their time together wasn't long, Jiang Lihua absorbed knowledge remarkably quickly and learned many things.
What she had mastered might not be enough to directly overthrow the eunuch faction of the Ten Constant Attendants, but it was certainly sufficient to suppress them.
However, what he didn't know was that Jiang Lihua had indeed done exactly that with Li Xingke.
With a super fighter like Li Xingke by her side and through various tactics of combining kindness and severity, the eunuch faction had indeed been suppressed for several years.
But that was all in the past - now the Ten Constant Attendants were at the peak of their power.
Even Jiang Lihua had been imprisoned, to be used as a marriage tool.
The reason was simple: Britannia had intervened.
About a year ago, while Yotsuba Mahiro was in a coma, Schneizel first secretly supported the eunuch faction, then personally visited the Chinese Federation in his capacity as Britannia's Prime Minister, proposing a marriage alliance with the Chinese Federation's Emperor Jiang Lihua.
The proposed groom was none other than Schneizel's eldest brother, the most simple-minded and mediocre First Prince Odysseus!
By the time Li Xingke learned of this, Jiang Lihua had already been completely imprisoned by those eunuchs, leaving Li Xingke unable to act rashly. Eventually, upon hearing from Kaguya that Yotsuba Mahiro had awakened and planned to visit Area Eleven, he rushed here without delay.
From a public perspective, anyone with slight political awareness understood what this marriage represented - if successful, it would cause dramatic changes in the world's balance of power.
From a personal perspective, Li Xingke didn't want to see Jiang Lihua married to a man old enough to be her father.
Therefore, he chose to seek help from Yotsuba Mahiro and Shadow Garden.
After listening, Mahiro rubbed his slightly sore brow. He was familiar with this plot development, but according to reason, that bastard Schneizel shouldn't have moved this quickly—there should have been more time.
Yet now the two nations were already preparing for a political marriage?
Could Alaya be pulling strings behind the scenes?
He wasn't sure, but the one thing he knew clearly was that he would absolutely not work for free.
With this thought, Mahiro lowered his hand and glanced sideways at Li Xingke, who was kneeling on one knee in a submissive posture, asking:
"Look, we're old acquaintances. You should know there's a price for my assistance."
"I understand."
Li Xingke replied without the slightest hesitation: "Whatever the cost, the Chinese Federation is willing to pay."
"Whatever the cost? Even if it means I would marry your Tianzi, Jiang Lihua?"
Mahiro asked with a strange tone, though Alpha beside him gradually narrowed her slender eyes to stare at him, while Nu turned her head away, pretending she hadn't heard or seen anything.
Was this really something she should be listening to?
Although the piercing gaze from beside him was uncomfortable, Mahiro didn't retract his words.
And Li Xingke's response came even more swiftly, without any hesitation.
"Tianzi trusts you the most, Mr. Mahiro. You are also the person Tianzi cares about most."