Surviving as a Prince of Britannia

Author’s Note: This side story takes place after Interlude 2.3 and before Side Story 3.1. It is told from Cornelia’s point of view.

Several days had passed since I had been placed under house arrest.

My residence was quiet. I sat by the window, gazing out at the distant cityscape of Pendragon.

It was not only Guinevere’s residence in the Archduchy of Edmonton that had been burned down by that “Witch” during the last war. My own residence in the Archduchy of Calgary had been reduced to ashes as well.

Dalton, one of my adjutants, was currently overseeing the repairs.

Until then, I had no choice but to stay at my private residence in the Imperial Capital of Pendragon—a place I had rarely visited before.

Of course, that was not the only reason.

“Sakuya.”

At my call, a girl opened the door and stepped inside.

She was Sakuya me Britannia, the daughter of my late elder half-sister, Sherry me Britannia, and therefore my niece—the girl Lysander had rescued from Area 11.

We, the members of the Imperial Family, had agreed that forcing her to choose a side before she came of age would be cruel. For that reason, she had not been made into my lady-in-waiting.

But this was merely a request.

It should be fine.

“Did you summon me, Your Highness?”

I nodded.

“Would you arrange my hair for me? Let it fall long... and add a light curl near the ends.”

Sakuya’s eyes widened.

“Long hair? Your Highness... are you changing your usual style?”

I looked into the mirror and murmured,

“Because of Caroline... that woman.”

Like her long hair.

I had to change as well.

“Make it look strong, but feminine.”

Sakuya smiled.

“Understood. I’ll do my best.”

Then she tilted her head.

“But Your Highness, what made you change your mind so suddenly...?”

I sighed.

“Lysander... he is the real thing.”

“His conquest of Area 11, his achievements in the Atlantic War—and recently, there was that rumor that he wept for his comrades at their graves, wasn’t there?”

I could not lose to Caroline.

The viceroy of Area 15.

The woman who had once worked in a brothel before becoming Lysander’s mistress and secret intelligence officer...

No.

Never mind.

A woman with both stealth and wisdom, who rose from the lowest station to the heights of power—she might as well have been some reincarnation of Theodora I. Or perhaps Zenobia.

Even the late Queen Marianne—the mother of my younger half-brother Lelouch and my younger half-sister Nunnally—had been born a commoner, though she had served as a knight under the late Queen Sylvia, Lysander’s mother.

In any case, this was my once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Our... lustful father, Charles, would soon deliver a speech in the Imperial Capital.

If I wanted to become Lysander’s official wife, this might be the only opening I would get.

Sakuya began undoing my hair and asked,

“Speaking of Caroline, do you mean the woman who rose all the way from the bottom and became a viceroy?”

“Your Highness... do you have feelings for Prince Lysander?”

Oh.

She had struck the bull’s-eye.

Well, since there was no point denying it, I decided to admit it.

“Yes.”

I nodded.

“I can’t leave things as they are anymore. I have to make him look at me.”

Sakuya blinked, then hurriedly called in a few handmaids.

Together, they began arranging my hair.

When they added a light curl near the ends, my impression changed at once.

A knightly image—strong, yet feminine.

“Wow... you’re beautiful, Your Highness!”

At that moment, the door opened, and Euphie stepped inside.

“Elder Sister, Father’s speech will be soon, won’t it?”

“That should take priority over Elder Brother Odysseus’s order for you to remain grounded, so let’s go together—oh my!”

Euphie covered her mouth with her hand.

“Elder Sister, your hair... when did you grow it out? You’re beautiful!”

I smiled.

“Euphie, you came at just the right time. Sit down.”

I turned my eyes back to the mirror.

“It’s because of Caroline. I changed my hairstyle to resemble hers.”

Euphie’s eyes sparkled.

“Caroline... you mean the woman who refused the black dress, but is still practically Elder Brother Lysander’s mistress, right? But why...?”

I looked at myself in the mirror and answered,

“The skill Lysander showed in war... and the tears he shed for his comrades at the graves... I cannot lose him to her.”

If I meant to cover him in my own color, then I had to begin with myself.

Euphie smiled.

“This sounds fun, Elder Sister. I’ll help you. After the speech, I’ll be the one to bring Elder Brother Lysander here.”

I nodded.

“Good. We’ll use Sakuya as the pretext. Tell him there are matters to discuss regarding Sakuya, whom he rescued from Area 11.”

At that, Sakuya blushed and stepped closer.

“Um... why me? Your Highnesses... this is embarrassing.”

Euphie embraced Sakuya gently.

“Don’t worry. You’re not an adult yet, after all. You’re just our excuse.”

I smiled.

“Then it’s decided. Euphie, would you help dress me up a little more?”

Euphie nodded.

“Yes! I’ll make you more beautiful than anyone... so Elder Brother won’t be able to look away from you.”

Sakuya laughed softly.

“Your Highnesses... this sounds like fun.”

And so, our sisters’ conspiracy began.

Glossary

Area 11 : Japan, one of Britannia's colonies.

Area 15 : East Africa, one of Britannia's colonies.