Chapter 22 : All Hail Britannia — and a New Life
This chapter alternates between the viewpoints of Lysander—the protagonist, Fourth Prince, and Grand Marshal of the Holy Britannian Empire—and Millirze, his second mistress and intelligence officer.
Lysander's POV
At that very moment, my private communicator rang.
It was the secure line.
“Elder Brother! It’s me, Nunnally vi Britannia!”
Nunnally appeared on the screen.
Millirze and Lady Alba hurriedly set up the equipment.
“Elder Brother, have you been well?”
“I have, thanks to you, Nunnally.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, we came to the point.
“...At present, I am serving as Tianzi Jiang Lihua’s companion.”
Then Nunnally blinked. It was the signal that we were about to switch to our code.
“All Hail Britannia.”
I had been the one to suggest it back in Area 11, but hearing Nunnally chant “All Hail Britannia” still felt strangely unsettling.
For the moment, I blinked as well.
“All Hail Charles zi Britannia.”
And so the coded conversation began.
Nunnally: “The food here is so delicious... I am worried that Jiang Lihua and I might gain weight if we eat without restraint. That is why every course is served in such small portions.”
→ Three of the ten High Eunuchs—the ones in charge of protocol—were corrupt.
Me: “Even if it is a little inconvenient, remain at her side and serve her well.”
→ There is a possibility of unrest. Do not leave the Tianzi’s side.
Nunnally: “The Tianzi seems to enjoy spending time with me so much that she has no worries at all.”
→ The remaining seven High Eunuchs as well... Tianzi Jiang Lihua was confirmed to be nothing more than a puppet.
Nunnally: “However, she seems nervous because her maternal uncle, the Yemek King who rules the Kingdom of Cheongu, recently requested an audience... and voices of concern have also been growing in the northeast.”
→ Movement detected in the Kingdom of Cheongu and the Manchurian Military District.
Nunnally: “Oh, and Big Brother Lelouch has been very busy cleaning the house lately. He is doing his best so that Mother Marianne would not be ashamed of him.”
→ ‘Captain Raven’ Regulus failed to smuggle Refrain into Area 11. The redevelopment of the Tokyo Settlement is going extraordinarily well.
Nunnally: “I think I may be able to see you in person soon.”
→ Lelouch is expected to attend the ball soon to be hosted by Odysseus in the Imperial Capital of Pendragon.
Once the coded exchange was over, we finished with a little ordinary conversation and ended the call.
After the screen went dark, I leaned back in my chair.
“Well then, everyone, you have worked hard. Let us stop here for today. At the next meeting, we will devise our response based on what we have learned—”
Bang
At that moment, the door flew open, and Euphemia rushed inside.
Her usual elegance had vanished. Her cheeks were bright red, and her eyes were wet with tears.
“Elder Brother...!”
“Euphie? What happened all of a sudden—”
Instead of answering, she buried herself in my arms.
Her slender shoulders trembled.
“I... I...”
She drew a deep breath.
Then, in a whisper so soft it barely reached my ear—
“I’m... pregnant...”
The office froze in an instant.
Millirze stood there blankly for a moment. Then her face lit up, and she clasped her hands together before breaking into applause.
“Waaah! Congratulations, Your Highness!”
"I truly mean it!"
Lady Alba quickly dropped to one knee as well.
“A joyous blessing has descended upon the Imperial Family. Words cannot express my gratitude.”
Euphemia nodded, blushing furiously, and I pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Yes, Euphie! Today, we can go anywhere you like!”
“You two have worked hard today as well. Tomorrow, you are both granted special leave. I will see you the day after.”
“Thank you! Have a wonderful date, Your Highness!”
“Your Highness, it is still early in your pregnancy, so please take great care of yourself!”
“Yes, thank you~”
Millirze’s POV
Once His Highness and Princess Euphemia had left, only Lady Alba and I remained in the empty office.
I folded my arms and gave her a faint smirk.
I gave a quiet snort.
“Lady Alba, you are quite the actress.”
"You already knew, didn’t you?”
She nodded calmly.
“Until Princess Cornelia gave birth to Princess Claire, I kept the ladies-in-waiting under strict orders to remain silent, lest the First Lady grow jealous of the Second.”
“...Neither of them is that kind of person.”
“I too have heard much of the affection between Princess Cornelia and Princess Euphemia. However... the human heart bends like a reed.”
I narrowed my eyes, then stuck out the tip of my tongue.
“For a widow from the Caudillo Belt, you are frighteningly good at court politics.”
Lady Alba elegantly lifted the hem of her dress and offered a shallow curtsy.
“You flatter me. Unlike Areas 1, 2, and 3, which bask directly in the grace of the Imperial Family, this much is considered basic survival in the Southern Region.”
I tilted my head.
“One day... a very long time from now, after His Highness ascends the throne, if a succession struggle breaks out... I suppose I should make certain never to become your enemy.”
Lady Alba smiled quietly.
“I seek only to serve as His Highness’s espada y escudo.”
I shrugged.
“Whether sword or shield, I like anything that proves useful.”
Our eyes met.
She was smiling.
So was I.
But by then, I had already understood one thing.
Lady Alba was not merely a bereaved widow from the Caudillo Belt.
She was already studying the board—and deciding where every piece should stand.