Heading to the EU

Ask left the secret room and went to the study, where he had ordered Jeremiah to wait.

Seeing Ask enter, Jeremiah immediately rose and bowed slightly.

"Your Highness."

Ask nodded.

"Mm, well done."

He was praising not only Jeremiah's efficiency, but also his intelligence.

Ask had merely ordered Jeremiah to come without telling him what pretext to use for the visit. Yet Jeremiah seemed to have read his mind, "visiting" Ask to request an audience rather than saying, "Lord Ask ordered me to come."

Seven days earlier, Ask had left Jeremiah waiting in the study, and Jeremiah had not left of his own accord until evening. Besides, Jeremiah had arrived at Ask's palace with a cart carrying C.C, so being seen was inevitable. Using the latter explanation would likely have aroused suspicion and speculation.

The former explanation, however, made everything perfectly ordinary: Jeremiah had brought plenty of gifts to honor Ask, as a subject should. Making Jeremiah wait in the study for hours was typical of royalty. Royals who considered themselves superior would never enter at the same time as someone of lower standing. Even visitors with appointments had to wait a while.

This had been Ask's test for Jeremiah, and the result had not disappointed him.

"You flatter me, Your Highness! Without your trust, I, Jeremiah, would never have achieved what I have today."

Jeremiah immediately dropped to one knee, somewhat apprehensive, though a trace of joy showed on his face.

Praise from one's master was the greatest reward any loyal subject could receive.

Ask nodded with satisfaction. In his mind, Jeremiah had already joined the ranks of those he could entrust with important duties. Though he fell short of close confidants like Monica, he still held a very high position.

"Then, in time, I'll leave leadership of the Pureblood Faction to you. That doesn't mean you can take command of it immediately."

Ask paused, then continued:

"Given your age and accomplishments, you would probably struggle to win everyone over as leader of the Pureblood Faction. Duke Belia will therefore transfer his authority to you step by step. There's no need to rush."

"Your Highness, then... regarding the duke..."

"I have a deal with him. He cares more about preserving his family's wealth and prestige than the little authority he holds, so you need only focus on the matters before you."

"I will heed your guidance, Your Highness."

Ask had been watching Jeremiah's expression all along. Even with Jeremiah kneeling on one knee, he could clearly see that there was no dissatisfaction on his face.

Ask's opinion of Jeremiah rose another notch.

"And you must prepare to take part in the war against the Island Nation and distinguish yourself on the battlefield. That is what you need to do right now."

"But isn't the Empire preparing to negotiate with the Island Nation?"

Jeremiah looked up, somewhat puzzled.

"Rest assured, war will break out. His Majesty will never leave strategic resources in another country's hands. The war will begin within a year at the latest."

Jeremiah lowered his head again. He would never doubt Ask's words.

"Understood, Your Highness. I, Jeremiah Godwald, will never fail your expectations."

"But don't push yourself too hard. I'd hate to lose a great commander so easily."

Ask teased him, then turned and left the study.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

There was a hint of excitement in Jeremiah's voice. He had finally earned His Highness's recognition.

Only after watching Ask leave the study did Jeremiah prepare to rise and depart, restoring his stern expression. His subordinates were still waiting in the adjoining guest room, and he needed to maintain a serious demeanor in front of them.

Back in his room, Ask reviewed the day's events once more, as he did every day.

Thinking about the same matter at different times could produce different ideas. He did this to ensure that nothing had gone wrong that day.

Jeremiah's performance had particularly pleased him. However, the fact that Jeremiah had brought a cartload of gifts to Ask's palace on the very day C.C disappeared might arouse suspicion.

But Ask had already made arrangements for that.

During the months he had spent investigating C.C, Ask had ordered trusted subordinates to bring a cartload of cloth-wrapped gifts to his palace every week. Officially, these were routine visits from his subordinates. Inside the palace, Monica personally delivered the goods to Ask's room, and all the maids were sent away throughout the process.

Where had the gifts been put? What sort of gifts were they? None of the maids knew.

Over time, this became a weekly routine, the sort of currying favor that was commonplace among royals and nobles. No one paid it any mind.

This time, Jeremiah's visit happened to fall exactly one week after the previous delivery of gifts, so it naturally aroused no suspicion.

Having confirmed that nothing had gone wrong, Ask beckoned Monica over.

She obediently walked behind Ask and began kneading his shoulders.

"Next month-or, more precisely, in less than three days-we'll be heading to the EU front."

Monica said nothing, quietly waiting for Ask to continue. She knew him well. When they were alone, he did not care about formalities between them, and he disliked being interrupted while thinking.

"Unlike my elder sister Cornelia, I don't like fighting in person. So I want you to earn as much distinction as possible on the front lines, while I handle command from the rear."

"Then who will be responsible for your safety?"

Even if Ask stayed off the front lines and remained in the command room, Monica would still worry. She trusted no one but Ask.

"That venerable knight in his fifties will be accompanying us."

Ask meant the knight captain. His tone carried a hint of mockery, deliberately emphasizing the honorific.

He knew the knight captain's background very well. Like Bismarck Waldstein of the Knights of the Round, the man had originally served his mother, Marianne. Only after Marianne's assassination had the talentless knight come to serve Ask.

Ask trusted the knight captain to protect him with his life, but would not treat him as a confidant.

The man simply felt deeply guilty for failing to fulfill his duty to Marianne, so he had decided to protect Ask with his life. His loyalty to Ask stemmed entirely from his guilt toward Marianne.

Thus, Ask trusted the knight captain as a follower, but would never tell him any of his plans or thoughts.

Unfortunately, Bismarck was closer to the emperor. Ask could not try to win him over on his own initiative without bringing trouble down on himself.

"If that is your decision, I'll do my best to earn more distinction."

Monica had no intention of trying to persuade Ask. She also knew that once he made a decision, he would not change it easily. Her job was to carry out his orders.

"Once we take control of the EU front, we'll establish a geass research facility there. That will give us another trump card."

Ask slowly closed his eyes, enjoying Monica's massage. Over these last three days, aside from properly teaching C.C, taking complete possession of her heart, and making her serve him, he needed to use her information to lay some plans involving geass.

This might prove to be his greatest trump card against Emperor Charles.

With that thought, Ask slowly drifted off to sleep.

Eight years later.

P.S. I wrote this a while ago, so don't expect too much. I reckon it'll wrap up in a hundred chapters. Treat it as a little diversion now that the Bleach story has been locked.