He would accept!
Refusing a challenge like this would be tantamount to cowardice! It would hardly sound good if word got out.
Besides, as long as Suzaku Kururugi was absent, he could use Geass on everyone.
Whatever countermeasures Ask had, even isolating him and controlling everyone else would be enough to put him in check!
But...
"If you want to play chess, allow me to be your opponent, Zero."
Schneizel stepped forward "out of nowhere," rescuing Ask from his predicament as he said:
"I might steal my elder brother's thunder, so it would be most appropriate for me to handle this."
Ask was sixteenth in line to the throne. In terms of seniority, bypassing the first and second princes would hardly be proper etiquette.
It was the perfect excuse.
Behind his mask, Zero's expression darkened, though his voice remained confident:
"Suit yourself."
"Then, if I win, you will take off that mask."
Ask left the reception hall.
Behind him, Leila asked:
"Your Highness, will this be all right? You haven't told Prince Schneizel about Zero's identity yet. What if..."
"Are you worried Zero will lose? Or are you worried about Geass?"
"...Both."
Leila had learned to think like Ask.
If Zero dared to accept such a demand, he must have had a fallback plan.
Even if he lost, he was unlikely to actually remove his mask-or perhaps he had another one underneath.
And that fallback plan was probably Geass.
Ask waved a hand.
"Don't worry. Suzaku Kururugi is there, isn't he? Lelouch won't dare try anything reckless. Besides, we have something more important to do right now. We don't have time to keep an eye on Zero."
Something more important.
He was, of course, referring to the man before them, standing in a side hall and gazing at