3 Meeting interesting people left and righ (1/2)

Speaking to Slaine was surprisingly interesting, he was the only child of a rising merchant family that dealt with food stock, to be more precise corn and potatoes, and he was expected to be the next one to lead the family in it's business even if he said he was not that good with numbers.

I guess that explains why he would not be known in the original timeline, he probably was someone who wasted his talent. After we talked for a while he finally relaxed and told me more of himself.

”So you are going to the imperial academy? That sounds, interesting?” I said tentatively, the imperial academy is probably the reason why so many people had chosen to leave the mainland to go to Area 11 to study in CANON. The place is boring like hell and the discrimination and elitism is as bad or worse than the court, not to forget that the education is promoted as excellent but I'd call it sub-par at best.

”I do, and I am sorry to say but it is not interesting. The professors brush over many subjects and there are students there that actively act against me and others of low nobility, it is not a good place.”Slaine said while rubing his arm. I saw this and continued.

”Then why not get a school tutor for you? I know there are many very capable ones out there and you probably would understand it better then.”

He shook his head.

”It wouldn't be possible, most tutors are far too expensive if you want good quality and my family still has a lot of competition so we can't spend too much. The Academy still teaches and it is not that bad.” His face in the end shows to me he really doesn't like it there.

Maybe I should invite him over to have him take some lessons with the tutors that were assigned to me? I never really much cared for them as I quickly went beyond them but they are still paid already and they are high quality so I think they could be given some work to do instead of scratching their butts back in the mansion.

”Hey, how about I give you my tutors then? My mother already paid them and they are iddle as I didn't need their lessons anyway, and with this at least you can get out of that damned purgatory.” I proposed, and quickly held him back as he was one movement away from kneeling to me. ”And stop all this kneeling thing, I want to make friends with you so you don't need to be all stiff with me, relax.”

He hesitantly nodded. He might act meek but I can see that he is probably as stubborn as a Ox and would not stop what he wants to do even if I tried to stop him. I guess it would be more interesting this way, having someone too servile and obedient by my side would be too boring anyway.

”Your highness, are you good in sports?” He asked.

”Sure, I am as good in sports as a human is capable of flying with no equipment.” I deadpanned, he stiffled a giggle seeing me deadpan like this. Oh well, I only laughed a bit before feeling my stomach grumble a bit. I guess spending so long in that discussion with Lloyd and using my brain so intensively made me hungry.

”Slaine, I was thinking of catching some chocolate truffled cake, would you like some too?” I asked.

”Sorry, but I am not sure. I have never eaten this cake you mentioned.” He said.

'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;”...WHAT?!

”Wait, you mean you never tasted chocolate truffled cake before? How can you even survive without tasting that?” I said. Sure, I know many never tasted it before but it still stands to reason that anyone that wants to taste how heaven is like should eat it.

He tilts his head as I sighed, he truly is clueless about the pleasures of life.

Turning to one of the servers I said.

”Bring me and my friend here two big slices of chocolate truffled cake, I want the best ones you can find.” I said.

”I am sorry, your highness, but there are no such cakes in today's kitchen. Would something else work?”

Groaning in annoyance I said to the servant to go somewhere else as there was nothing else I want right now. Turning to Slaine he had wide eyes while looking at me, seeing his innocent face I released a light laugh.

”I guess we will need to wait for a future opportunity to make you taste it, oh well I guess you can always just come to visit when you want. No, you must come to visit whenever possible.” I said seriously.

”So that you can have an excuse to eat more sweets?”

”In big part, but also to educate my friend here on what he is missing and-” it was at that moment when two realizations hit me.

First, I spoke too much and might have ruined the image of myself which I was trying to show. Second, and much more important, is that the the one behind me is a nightmare incarnate to me.

”B-b-big sis Cornelia?!” I yelped as I instinctively tried to run, but her claws of evil locked me in place.

”No, you are not running away. I want to know why I heard of how you have been eating your weight in candies while ignoring your training.” She said sternly.

Shit, why, of all times, did she manage to find me now?

I could not move as she has that stupid strength which she emanates from all around her. Seriously, how a twelve year old girl is capable of being more intimidating than most generals is a mystery to me. Is this a testament of how weak some of the generals are or is it evidence of how terrifying she is.

I guess probably both.

Sighing in defeat as there is no way I can get away from this evil incarnate I gave her my most innocent smile.

”Big sis Cornelia, it is so good to see you.”

”Yeah, so why did you run from me since that one training session between us?” she asked.

'Because I hated it almost as much as Suzaku and that nonsense Zero Requiem'

”Because I feared pulling you down as I am not that good in it.” I said.

”Nonsense, I have seen the numbers and tested you as well, your talent for piloting is better than most of the members of the Rounds when they were your age. Not using it due to some excuse is unforgivable.” she said, making me again think I should have downplayed myself then.

It happened a while ago, a basic technology to test potential pilots is used on most young members of high nobility and royals, but no one told me how it worked or how high the average numbers are and as I could never see my own color I just went at it with all I got. The problem is that I DO have a lot of talent for the thing, thankfully I managed to convince Charles to not let the news spread with some excuse I can't remember, but the main problem is that Cornelia found out about it.

She can't reveal my real numbers but she still decided to train me on how to be a knight.

I can officially say that I have a lot of respect for knights after training like one for a day, it takes a lot of confidence to walk proudly after becoming such a masochist as I doubt anyone normal would want to work with that.

And, to be honest, when I said I had high numbers I mean it was actually high beyond all others tested except the knight of one and Lelouch's mother, bitch that she is.

But I feel no desire about becoming a knight, I want to be my own boss and have my own little kingdom/city, not to go to the battlefield and die in a ditch somewhere.

Cornelia looked at me with a disgruntled face as she tried carrying me to the knights in another area, looking at Slaine he simply was shell shocked as he saw me being dragged away.

”Let's talk more later, you can come and find me in my villa anytime.” I said loudly to him, many turned to see who it was that was talking loudly and seeing me many showed surprised faces as most did not recognize me before, some then turned to see who I was talking with and when they saw the small form of Slaine I could swear some were already thinking about eliminating or humiliating him.

Normally I would not care about the court and the stupid pigs we call nobles despite having no talent or capacity, but if they are aiming at someone I want as a knight and possibly a friend, well that's a different story.

Thinking that I took out one of my rings after pressing a digit to it for a second and then threw it to Slaine who already had a group of people approaching him. As he caught the ring with a symbol of a bat on it I continued, hoping he would listen as Cornelia was yanking me away further and further. ”A symbol for our friendship, if anything happens just show that ring and say that messing with you means messing with me.”

I wanted to say more, but the evil took me away. At least the bat ring is with him, it is one of the little things I developed and it can work as a distress signal to the guards back in my family's mansion as well as being able to release directed sound blasts. I have other such items on me as a precaution but it should work well to help keep Slaine safe.

Reaching where Cornelia wanted to take me I had to try, and I mean REALLY try not to fall asleep. No, it is not because it is getting somewhat late and I am a kid, but because the conversations are so absurdly boring. I mean, seriously, if you are starting to strain too much on your reserves of food and weaponry you should try and sign a peace treaty already and develope better ways of production to actually ensure you can continue in one decisive movement.

But, I guess expecting those of the military to even think of that when we are winning is impossible. We are nearly finished in conquering the entire African continent, if we do that we would win a lot of land and grainaries but I can't help but wonder how the population of the former territory is coping. The custom of conquering more and more land without regard is something that will inevitably lead to failure in the long run, which the emperor doesn't mind but I do.

I want to build my academic city, Britannia would work perfectly as a shield to me but if it were to fall or worse drag me with it I would really be annoyed.

As the conversations continued and no decent decision was reached I decided to just go ahead and explain the obvious for them.

”You should just use the R23K chemical on the food you are providing to the soldiers.” I said to the general complaining like a little bitch.

As he heard my comment he turned to me, he had a single eye as the other was destroyed and only a scar was left but that single eye and his face had an expression like he was trying to please me but also was looking down at me for my age. It is his mistake I guess. Though Ciel frowned a moment as the man looked vaguely familiar.

”And what exactly would using that make?” He asked. ”Would the food taste better? Maybe like sweets?” he said teasingly, he has a high rank and my love for sweets is well known for all anyway.

I was about to answer when someone interrupted me, seriously I need to get myself something like a alarm on my back to warn me when someone is about to suddenly appear behind my back like this.

”I-It is not to change the taste.” A girl said behind me. I turned to look and was almost blinded by how Orange she was, seriously I bet even Jeremiah isn't so Orange for Marianne or Lelouch. The girl that spoke up is exactly one of my targets of tonight, I guess she is much more open now than she was in CANON.

”And how would you know that? You are just a child.” The general said dismissively.

She looked down before I stepped in, she was about to leave when I held her in place by the shoulder and I was honestly surprised. There actually IS someone physically weaker than me, who would have thought that?

”There is no need to run, you are correct in what you said and did nothing wrong. And as for you, you should treat a lady better! Especially when she is smarter than you.”

”You bra-”

”General Ogre, please remember who he is and that any actions against him will not to be forgiven by me.” Cornelia said, I guess she has her not evil moments. Not like I won't be careful as I don't want to do laps again. Those things are simply not something a human good in the head should do!

The general Ogre, backed down as I looked at the green haired girl.

”Now, why don't you show him and everyone just what you know? If anything goes wrong I will help so don't be afraid to talk.” I said to Nina Einstein, she looked at me for a moment more before nodding and beginning to talk.

”The R23K is a chemical product that would allow for the slowing down of the metabolism of the eater, making them need a smaller intake of food and need longer periods of time to sustain the eater with no great problem for the person. The only issues it has is how hard it is to actually obtain said chemical so it is not used despite its advantages.” Nina explained, when she finished she turned to me and I gave her a smile and a nod as she blushed, but if it is because of my actions or of her talking to all these people I don't know. She is someone that when she was only 16 managed to create basically a nuclear bomb without any helpers or financial support, she definitly is a genius.

”Huh, so what? If we can't produce this thing then it is useless anyway.” General Ogre said.

”Well, that is...” Nina started talking without knowing how to continue but I simply gave her a smile before turning to Ogre.