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After realizing this, Shen He suddenly felt a little unhappy.
There wasn't much logic to it—just a gut feeling. She simply didn't like Suzaku very much.
In her eyes, he was always the type to fumble crucial moments, a man who couldn't give proper support and constantly dragged others down. After Euphemia's death in the original timeline, his behavior became even more incomprehensible and pathetic.
"Let's go, Euphemia." Shen He nodded to Jeanne, signaling her to assist. "These people will recover—just flesh wounds. But if more guards arrive, things might not stay so simple."
"I'll go with you." Euphemia stood up, wiping away her tears. A trace of determination flashed across her otherwise gentle face.
Shen He didn't argue—what could he even say at this point?
If anything, it deepened his disdain for Suzaku. Now more than ever, he just wanted to send Euphemia safely to Lelouch and be done with it.
Fortunately, there were no complications on the way back. Qi Mu Kusuo located an unmonitored zone and used his refined psychic teleportation to transfer them discreetly.
When they returned to the area where the Resistance had gathered, the environment had changed drastically from before.
With a glance, Shen He could tell that many rebels had already been subjected to Lelouch's Geass.
It wasn't total domination—only a portion of them were controlled. Clearly, Lelouch was conserving power and being selective. Shen He understood now: Lelouch's Geass, while potent, wasn't infallible, and its influence had limits—duration, complexity, and resistance all mattered.
This faction of rebels—while useful as a foundation for the uprising—couldn't rely solely on Geass. That would sow inevitable instability.
Karen was one of the few untouched.
She stared in disbelief at Euphemia, who still wore her elaborate royal garments, stunned by the sheer impossibility of the scene.
The Third Princess of Britannia—whom she'd only ever seen in polished, state-produced broadcasts—had been brought before her, like an ordinary prisoner.
"Are you... the Resistance Army?" Euphemia asked, her voice soft, her face pale.
She had already pieced it together. There could be no one else in this war-torn zone so openly opposed to the Britannian occupation.
"Zero." Karen turned to Lelouch, speaking cautiously. "What exactly are you planning, bringing the Third Princess here?"
She still wasn't convinced that kidnapping Euphemia would accomplish much. The girl had been viewed as a figurehead—a transitional governor meant to pacify Area 11's unrest. Everyone assumed she'd be replaced after the fallout from Shinjuku faded. Britannia would never let someone as gentle as Euphemia hold real power.
Only those caught between allegiance to the Resistance and dreams of reforming Britannia from within placed any hope in her.
"Two objectives," Zero replied coolly, eyeing his sister through the visor of his helmet. "First, we'll broadcast a video confirming Euphemia's presence with us. Second, we'll expose her firsthand to the Nia Empire's cruelty."
"You're planning to..." Karen hesitated, frowning. "Win her over to our side?"
It wasn't a bad idea. Even if she was considered a mere puppet, Euphemia remained a royal. If they could truly sway her, it would be a significant PR victory for the Resistance.
Lelouch remained silent—but inwardly, he sneered.
He didn't bring Euphemia here out of hope or sentiment. He brought her as a political lever—a tool to shake the very pillars of Britannia. Only through chaos could the fragile hierarchy crack. And only through that crack could he slip the knife in deeper.
During the hastily organized recording, Euphemia complied without resistance.
She didn't need to speak. Tied to a chair, flanked by masked revolutionaries, her image alone would suffice to deliver Lelouch's message.
"You can all go now and wait for further orders," Lelouch instructed. "I'll handle Euphemia's arrangements myself."
Karen hesitated, but her protests were smothered by her fellow rebels—many of whom were under Geass. Another benefit of Lelouch's subtle control.
Now alone, Euphemia looked up at the man before her. There was something eerily familiar about the way he moved, the sound of his breath through the mask, the way he stood still after giving orders.
Her memory echoed Shen He's earlier words.
Who is this man?
The building was dark and crumbling, its hollowed-out corridors muffling every sound. Then Lelouch sighed, removing his mask.
"Lelouch?" Euphemia gasped.
Years had passed, but she recognized him instantly.
"It's me," he replied softly. "Yufie."
"Thank goodness—" Euphemia clutched her mouth, her eyes welling with tears. But her joy was unmistakable.
Ever since Lelouch and Nunnally vanished from court, Euphemia had dreamed of reunion. In her heart, neither time nor politics could sever the bond they'd once shared.
"I told you we weren't the bad guys," Shen He finally spoke, smiling faintly.
It would've been tragic if Euphemia had gone on despising them, unaware of the full truth.
Euphemia looked from Lelouch to Shen He, a storm of questions brewing in her mind.
But before she could speak, Lelouch interrupted.
"These are my comrades," he said. "And this is my superior, Lord Shen He. I've been working under him ever since he rescued me."
Shen He blinked in surprise.
That wasn't part of the original script.
"Mr. Shen He." Euphemia turned and grasped his hand, bowing nearly ninety degrees. "Thank you so much."
If Lelouch said Shen He saved him, then that was gospel. In Euphemia's eyes, this man had saved her brother from oblivion.
She didn't yet understand why Lelouch had chosen to rebel—or why he had sided with the Resistance—but the fact that he was alive at all was enough.
"And Nunnally," Lelouch continued, "She's also under Master Shen He's care. Her eyes and legs are being treated. She'll be able to walk and see again very soon."
"Truly?" Euphemia, who had just straightened, bent again. This time her voice quivered. "Thank you... truly, thank you so much for everything."
That fateful incident had shattered their family. Euphemia had never recovered from the guilt and grief.
Now, Shen He held her trembling hand in his, Qi Mu Kusuo's psychic voice echoing in his mind, reporting on Lelouch's latest deviations.
A wry smile curled at Shen He's lips.
She's thankful now... but it won't last long.
Lelouch knew full well that Euphemia's idealism would eventually clash with his ruthless revenge. That's why he suddenly shifted blame to Shen He, labeling him the mastermind behind the rebellion.
Lelouch was already laying the groundwork to play the victim—again.
"Don't thank me just yet," Shen He murmured.
His voice dropped to a low timbre.
"Technically, you're our prisoner now. My mission is to overthrow Britannia... and perhaps even assassinate your father and half-siblings. In that regard, we are enemies."
He felt the shiver run through Euphemia's hand. That soft, fragile hand trembled like a bird's wing.
Shen He sighed internally.
Her favorability score probably just dropped into the negatives.
And that, of course, was Lelouch's intention all along.
Even though he had someone like Jeanne already... who could truly ignore the affection of a girl like Euphemia?
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