When You Say You Love Me

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"When you say you love me
do you know how I love you…"

- "When You Say You Love Me" - Josh Groban

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Once upon a time…

There was a time when she might have believed in it, in a place and time not important, in which her destiny was set, like a book that just needed reading. A story with a fateful beginning, almost boring descriptions to set the stage of disaster, despair and anxiety that would play out in the middle section, the conflict intended to make some kind of point and leave you to wonder if everything would be resolved in the last fifty pages.

But real life was never that simple, was it? The book could never be closed, no matter how much the tragedy makes your heart weep and want to quit. Life was more like a nightmare, something you knew would eventually end but continued on despite your cries and restraint.

Standing before a mirror, primping herself in a way she'd seldom done before, Cornelia Li Britannia, second princess of the holy empire, reduced to an insurgent during her beloved brother-turned enemy's devilish reign, wrapped the flowery scrunchy around her violet ponytail once more, holding it in place behind her head. It matched perfectly with her dress, made of the finest silks, which hugged her curves.

Outside, above the chattering songbirds and lull of passers-by, the gold church bell swung back and forth, echoing joyously and startling doves from their coup. The rustle of leaves in the wind lifted her spirit, and with it, a smile she'd come to wear so often her face looked strange without it. Strange what a revolution and small bit of news could do.

"Your Highness, shouldn't we be going?" came a deep voice from the doorway.

The garden beyond the chapel was filled with both Britannians, and Japanese, in their best dresses and suits, different in their own ways, with handkerchiefs and rice. Spotting Viletta, Cornelia knew the ceremony was about to begin.

Then the blushing bride with a belly round with life, walked the length of the aisle. The bizarreness was not lost to her, who never once truly imagined herself in this position, marrying this man.

Her hands were trembling around her bouquet, flowers of ivory scented sweetly, and her lashes glittered with crystal tears. Reaching the end, she raised her head and hand, taking the one he held to her. Eyes, more grey than blue, took her in with a draw of deep breath.

He imagined her expression, a smile-smirk between warm tears, the attempt to remain stern yet feminine beyond her control. Gently, so not to smear her makeup, his fingers found the curves of her face, the softness of her cheeks and faint lines of age around her eyes and mouth. He hoped the baby looked like her.

The minister finished his speech and closed his book with finality. Taking her face in his hands, he brought her face closer to his and pressed his lips to hers, prompting applause and cheers from their audience.

And they lived happily ever after.

. fin .

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Disclaimer: Cornelia, Guilford and all other Code Geass characters belong to Sunrise.

Notes: This will be the final micro-fic in this collection. I hope everyone enjoyed it.