I'm back, sorta. I know its been forever since I've posted something, but many things have come up. Still it's my intention to continue the story.

I'm still working on the official Chapter 8, but I decided to give you all a sneak peek of what I am working on.

Let me know what you think and what you are interested in seeing.

"You're early."

Lelouch vi Britannia looked up from the papers on his desk and saw Schneizel el Britannia, his older brother and superior, standing in the doorway. It was an hour before the morning bell that opened all government processes in the Britannian capital, but Lelouch wanted to get a head start on his new role as the Foreign States Ambassador. He had folders and folders filled with important documents that needing reviewing, and although Schneizel had given him a week to situate himself with it, he still planned on finishing it early. He needed to show his older brother, the Prime Minister, that he was more than capable of handling the responsibilities he job required of him. He would never admit to him, but Lelouch wanted to impress Schneizel.

"I don't skip out on work when I can," Lelouch said.

"Really?" Schneizel playfully scoffed. "The headmistress at Ashford begs to differ, Lelouch. By her account, you were barely in your classes. Yet somehow you were able to maintain amazing grades."

"Let's just say that I can manage many things at a time."

"It's the reason why you were selected for the position, Lelouch."

"I doubt that was the reason Father selected me, Schneizel."

"That is true," Schneizel said. "There was another incentive given to Father."

"And what would that be?"

"My word."

Taking in Lelouch's expression, Schneizel continued, "I assured Father to choose you for the job because I know you were far more capable than his previous assignment."

"Cassius."

"He is a very ambitious man," Schneizel explained. "However, he lacks a certain skill and finesse that job demands. You have that, Lelouch."

"Thank you, Brother."

"But of course. Plus, I don't want you to be bored. You will excel in this position."

Schneizel turned to leave, but before he did, he said softly, "I'll be keeping an eye on you."

When his brother left, Lelouch tried to refocus on the papers scattered across his desk, but he couldn't help but think about his talk with Schneizel. It seemed like every discussion they had, no matter how small, was laden with some kind of agenda. Lelouch originally figured that the Emperor assigned him to the job as a test, but the fact that it was Schneizel who essentially handed him the position made everything far more complicated. There was no way that Schneizel made him the Foreign States Ambassador simply as a goodwill gesture. He knew his brother; everything he did had some kind of hidden meaning. He and Lelouch were extremely similar in that respect. Lelouch just wanted to know why Schneizel would trust him with such a huge responsibility.