[ One eyebrow lifts at her reaction; he doesn't particularly want to irritate her, but he's not going to give simple answers to complicated questions. ]

You seem to misunderstand. I've been protecting him and Nunnally since I was ten. I suspected early he was Zero and made myself ignore it in order to protect them. I kept his secret for another year, even though I hated him so much for what he did to Euphy that I couldn't breathe. [ For Nunnally's sake, but also... gods only knew what Charles would have done to Lelouch if Suzaku had surrendered him a third time. ]

I attempted to kill the Emperor before he could, so he wouldn't have to, but Sir Waldstein interfered. I have never, completely, been his enemy. I was only able to be open about it when he took his throne.

[ Coming to terms with his complicated history with Lelouch had taken so long. But he had had plenty of time to sit and think -- between Kaminejima to Pendragon, after his "death" on the Damocles, and every sleepless night since the Requiem. He carries immense guilt for the damage he's caused, but he can be somewhat pleased to say he stopped lying to himself on where his true loyalty rested. ]