Pendragon Imperial Palace,

Holy Britannian Empire

Night has fallen upon the great city of Pendragon as it has been known that Pendragon is a city of lights that gleamed in the night sky, looking like stars dancing. Inside the imperial palace, a royal couple were having a quite dinner. If anyone could see them together, eating dinner, on a nice night, they would think of it as romantic like a fairytale, but it was not, for there was no romantic fairytale that was displayed tonight.

Lelouch vi Britannia and Kallen ve Britannia, Emperor and Empress of the most powerful nation, Britannia, should be at marital bliss, having been married for two months, they should be over the moon, but, alas, the honeymoon façade was over, as there was nothing but unsettling tension between them.

Servants came and went with the food and drinks as Lelouch and Kallen hardly spoke to each other. The tension and the atmosphere were unnerving.

"You seem to be eating a little bit," Lelouch said. "Aren't you hungry or is the food not to your liking?"

"The food is completely fine. It just whom I'm eating with." Kallen replied sarcastically.

Lelouch put down his fork and lean back into his seat. "How long are you going to play this childish game of yours, Kallen?"

"You're the one who like to play games with people's mind. I'm just playing along like a pawn."

Irritated by her words, Lelouch got up from his chair and pulled Kallen up.

"What are you doing? Let go!"

Lelouch pulled Kallen into an abjointed room. "Are you sure that's the only reason?" asked Lelouch as he turned, about to close the door so that he and Kallen can have a private conversation. "You are dismissed."

The guards bowed at their lord's command.

"If you have something to say, say it!"

Kallen took a deep breath before answering. "I am a woman. I am discreet, but I'm not a fool, Lelouch," Kallen walked toward him. "Did you think that I wouldn't have known about the Zero Requiem? That you were planning to have yourself killed after being the most hated man in human history! I overheard you and Suzaku talking about it! Will you deny it?"

"No, I won't deny it. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"I wanted you to be able to trust me and not do something so idiotic and dangerous that it will cost you your life."

Lelouch laughed. "Coming from the woman who would charge head on to battle without a lick of common sense as long as her dear Zero commands it."

Kallen slap Lelouch across the face with all her might, irradiated. "Don't you DARE use that against me, Lelouch." Kallen spat at him, angry that Lelouch would use something like that against her. It wasn't about her; it was about him.

"The day after we got married, I told you it wasn't too late to back down and got out of this while you still can, but you didn't, so you cannot blame me for being a caring husband or am I guilty of not be caring enough for you?"

"Does our marriage mean nothing to you?" asked Kallen.

"How can you say that? I risked everything! Your life, mine and everyone else in this god forsaken world. So, excuse me, for putting your life and everybody else's before 'my needs and happiness'."

"What about the sacrifice I've made. I left the Black Knights to side with you, believing that you can still perform miracles and give back to those who lost everything to Britannia. I only asked you to trust me with things and be in your inner circle without the secrets and lies, and not treat me like an invalid."

"I have never treated you like an invalid. You were my bodyguard and captain of the Zero squad. I gave you a position where millions of women would have killed for as empress of the empire. I only lie to you to protect you from death and nothing more," Lelouch explained. "When you were captured by the Chinese Federation, I was willing to throw out that would have given us victory to save you. When the Black Knights turn on me, I was willing to sacrifice my own life by lying to you to say that you were a pawn and nothing more."

"Well, I'm so sorry. Call me when you're ready for real conversation."

Lelouch grabbed Kallen by the arm. Kallen slapped him, again, this time for him to let go but he didn't "I am a man, Kallen and an emperor. No more, no less."

"So, that gives you the authority to act all superior. Your acting just like your father and those before you."

Those words set Lelouch off. He threw Kallen on to the bed, laying on top for her, placing her arms above her head. The look on his face was pure rage. He grabbed her by the cheeks really hard that they could leave a bruise.

"Don't you ever compare to that man. Do you hear me?"

"Get off me, Lelouch. You're hurting the baby."

Lelouch looked at Kallen in shock. "W..what did you just say?"

Taking a deep breath, Kallen answered him. "I'm pregnant."

Lelouch slowly removed himself from Kallen, looking at her in disbelief. "When did you...?"

"I just found out… this afternoon."

A few hours ago,…

Kallen went to the imperial infirmary due to the fact the she was feeling nausea. She thought that it something that she ate that was sitting well with her or stress due to her so-called husband.

"All right, your highness. I have the test results and all I can say is…congratulations."

Kallen looked at the doctor, confused on what she was saying. "What are you talking about?"

"Your highness is going to give the Emperor an heir within seven months."

Kallen looked a gasp as she slowly places a hand on her abdomen. "I'm…I'm pregnant."

"Yes, my lady. I'm positive. The emperor will be elated that you're with child and his first at that."

Kallen still hasn't process that she was pregnant. While any soon-to-be mothers would be elated that they were pregnant, to Kallen, it scared her. She and Lelouch wasn't on best turns and her being pregnant isn't going to solve anything.

"Should I inform the Emperor?" asked the doctor.

"No, I'll tell him myself."

Lelouch was in shellshock by the news. If this was any other time, he would have welcome this with joy and delight, but not this, not when he got word that there was a possibility that a noble was going to be rising up against his rule and having a baby at a time where things were not stable and a possibility of war breaking out could be a risk for the unborn child.

"How long?"

"How long what?" asked Kallen, looking at Lelouch.

"How long are you in your pregnancy?"

Kallen turned away from him. "The doctor said I'm two months along."

Lelouch put his knuckles to his mouth, then answered. "You should rest. Any unnecessary stress can do harm to the baby."

Lelouch left the room, leaving Kallen bewildered. Walking down the hall, Lelouch was pondering on what to do. He knew that the child was conceived before the battle at , but he didn't expect Kallen to get pregnant that fast.

Entering his office, Lelouch paced back and forth on what to do. A knock on the door disturbed his thoughts.

"Leave me!"

"Lelouch, it's me."

Lelouch knew it was his frenemy and Knight of Zero, Suzaku Kururugi. The brown-haired, green eye knight enter the study. From appearances, Suzaku could tell that his friend and emperor's dinner with Kallen didn't go so well.

"I assume dinner wasn't pleasant." Suzaku said.

Lelouch shook his head. "No,"

Lelouch walked behind his desk and sat down. "I just found out something tonight."

Suzaku stood in silent as he waited for Lelouch to answer.

"Kallen's pregnant."

Suzaku's eyes grew wide at the news. "The empress is pregnant."

"Yes. Two months along."

"Well, then, congratulations! Surely, the council would like to…"

"I'm not going to tell them. Not yet." Lelouch said, interrupting Suzaku. "It's too dangerous for Kallen and the child. If any of my enemies find out that she's pregnant, something bad will happen to the both of them."

Lelouch ran his hand over his face, stopping by grabbing his bangs. "I know I should be happy and excited but with things going on, I don't want my child to be born in this situation."

Suzaku knew that the weight and pressure Lelouch was feeling while running a vast empire and having a stubborn, fiery wife as an empress can be a heavy toll on anybody even himself included.

"Don't worry about it too much, Lelouch. You'll figure something out."

Lelouch peek through his fingers, looking right back at Suzaku. "You're the one to talk."

Both emperor and knight chuckled.

Outside the Capital City of Pendragon, Britannia

Van Stein Residence

A rolls Royce pulled up in front of the residence of Grand Duke Wolf van Stein. A man opened the door of the car, revealing a purple long haired woman. Coming out behind her is a man with long brown hair and glasses.

"Right this way, Your Highness."

The two were led into the house until they came upon a room where a man was waiting upon them.

"Ah, Princess Cornelia. Welcome." Said Wolf as he bowed before his princess.

"Grand Duke Wolf. It's been a long time."

Wolf waited until Cornelia took her seat and the man behind her, Guilford, stood right behind as a noble bodyguard that he is.

"Why have you brought me here, Lord van Stein?" asked Cornelia. She hasn't step foot in the Homeland since Euphie's death.

"I brought you here in order to bring Britannia back to its original régime."

Cornelia lifted up her eyebrows, signaling to continue on what he's getting at.

"Your brother, the usurper Lelouch, has driven this country, our beloved empire into a laughingstock. Britannia needs a leader that is strong and firm, not one of absolute equality for those who are weaker than those who are strong. Your father knew better than anyone else for that matter."

"And who are you implying should rule Britannia?"

"Why, you, my lady." Replied Wolf.

"Me!?"

"Yes, Princess Cornelia. You are more than capable of running this empire back to its former glory."

Cornelia look down at the table. Her hands clasped together as she ponders this. She never truly wanted the throne. She was more of an outgoing battle woman and commander. The throne was meaningless to her, but she thought about Euphie and how her name and reputation was ruined by Lelouch who now sits on the throne as it doesn't even bother him. She needs to avenge Euphie and clear her name once and for all.

"Very well. I accept."

Wolf smiled at the prospect.

Lelouch was walking in a misty fog. All around him was nothing but greyness. "Hello?"

The word 'hello' echoed. Lelouch continued on walking until he heard footsteps. "Is anyone there?"

It echoed again.

The footsteps came even closer than before. "Show yourself."

A silhouette figure approach from behind. "It's been awhile, my prodigal son."

Lelouch gasped as that voice, a voice he would recognize from anywhere, was that of the man he hated the most in the entire world…the former 98th emperor, Charles zi Britannia.

"How dare you show yourself." Yelled Lelouch

"Oh, boy, please. Trying to act like an emperor. A man who has rebellion in his country doesn't deserve to call a ruler."

Lelouch gruffed at the statement. "Coming from someone whose own son rebel against him."

"A rebellion which has no meaning or merit. Soldiers that have abandoned you to the enemy." Charles said while gloating. "And now, with a child on the way…you think you can be a better father than me."

"SHUT UP! You know nothing. I am capable of being a better emperor AND father than you or any of the others that have come before me."

Charles smirked at his son's declaration.

Lelouch bolted up as he awoke from his nightmare about his father. Sweat was rolling down his face. Seeing his father…no, that man who never deserved the title of father, was haunting his dreams and tormenting him. Lelouch poured himself a glass of water. After he was finished, he laid himself back down onto his pillow. He looked up at the ceiling of his room, thinking about all that had transpired.

Learning about Kallen's pregnancy, he felt kind of ashamed on how he treated her with the news and how he was already abandoning his child before its even born. Though, ever since he was banished from his homeland, his main priority was Nunnally, so the thought of having children and continuing the bloodline that he had detested never cross his mind as he was planning to end it with him and never father any children.

And yet, he was doing the exact same thing, a child that is innocent of all things, being born into the richest and most powerful family in the world, that would one day be the next emperor or empress of a vast empire was being abandon and he doesn't want that for his child.

Not at all.

Meanwhile

Kallen was sitting on her bed when she heard a knock on the door. Grabbing her robe, she opens it to see Suzaku standing there.

"What do you want?"

"May I have a moment alone with you, your majesty?" Suzaku asked.

"WHAT?!"

Suzaku shook his head. "Not like that. To talk." He said while turning beat red of embarrassment.

"Oh."

Kallen let him in as Suzaku walk inside with Kallen closing the door behind them.

"So, what is it that you want to talk about?" asked Kallen with her arms folded across her chest.

"I've heard that you're pregnant. You and the emperor have my congrats."

"Is that all?! You know you could have waited to congratulate me with the other by morning."

"Is not just that," replied Suzaku. "I wanted to talk to you about Lelouch and the true meaning of the Zero Requiem."