Because Nunnally was Lelouch's younger sister.
In more than just blood and name.
In more than just blood and name.
Of Siblings and Masks
by Dracon Asahara is a post-Code Geass introspective on Nunnally's character. It is a short oneshot that delves into the Alternate Character Interpretation that Nunnally isn't as innocent as she seems.
Nunnally and Lelouch are more similar than people notice. Behind her smile is a girl much like her brother. Not even Lelouch knew of this side of Nunnally. Suzaku is one of the few that sees the side of Nunnally that she hides from the world.
This fanfic provides examples:
- All-Loving Hero: Subverted as Nunnally's peaceful and all-caring persona is a mask to hide her darker and more selfish personality.
- Beneath the Mask: It's right in the title. Nunnally acts like a just and compassionate ruler but really, she is a bitter, broken shell of a person who outright hates the world that took her beloved brother from her.
- Child Prodigy: Lelouch and Nunnally were both this way as children. Suzaku didn't mind Nunnally's intelligence much, but Lelouch annoyed him because he seemed so intellectually superior to Suzaku and made it a lot clearer to Suzuku than Nunnally ever did.
- Hidden Depths: Lelouch was quite aware of how intelligent Nunnally was, and as a result despite his tendencies to treat her physical condition as weak never talked down to her intellectually. His tone was just a lot nicer than he would use with Suzaku.
- "Not So Different" Remark: The whole fic is about Suzaku musing that while Lelouch and Nunnally seem like opposites, Nunnally actually has a similar personality to her late brother.
- The Ingenue: Subverted. Nunnally keeps a facade of being The Ingenue because that's what her brother would have wanted from her.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Nunnally appears to be The Ingenue but she is as smart as Lelouch was.
- Stepford Smiler: Nunnally hides a lot of spite, anger, and grief behind her smiles.
- Teen Genius: Nunnally is very capable, both intellectually and as a leader. Suzaku guesses that capability runs in her family given its tendency.
