The Secret Identity of Lelouch: How Suzaku and the Emperor Kept Lelouch’s Return at School a Secret
How is it possible that the Emperor of Britannia and Suzaku both don't know that Lelouch is back at school after Zero's return in the second season? It's a mystery that can only be explained by understanding the complex manipulations of the original code Geass.
Manipulations of the Code Geass
The truth is, Charles did know. Charles Geass, the power that allowed him to control others, was designed to rewrite memories. At the end of the first season, when Charles caught Lelouch, he wasn't merely King Yoshui; he had rewritten Lelouch's memories to believe he was Julius Kingsley, a loyal advisor. This initial memory manipulation ensured that even after the events of the movie and Code Geass: Akito the Exiled, Lelouch had no recollection of his true identity or past actions as Zero.
Realization and Limitations
When Lelouch realized the issue with Charles Geass, he discovered that the rewrite was not permanent. All Geass users, including Lelouch's other characters like Moa and C2, faced the risk of losing control over their abilities. Moa, for instance, could not stop hearing voices, and C2 could not stop her love Geass, binding someone forever to her. In Lelouch's case, the Geass symbol in his eyes ensured that anyone he looked into eyes would obey him. However, this control wasn't unbreakable.
Charles Geass did indeed have limitations, primarily related to its duration. Nunnally, Lelouch's sister, and Kingsley (Lelouch in disguise) were the only characters that seemed to determine the spell's duration. Nunnally, who was put under the spell when she was four, had the Geass working for ten years. However, when Lelouch adopted the persona of Kingsley, the Geass only worked for a year. This realization prompted a strategic decision to maintain Lelouch's cover.
Secret Keeping
The Emperor and Suzaku, being two of the most powerful and influential figures in Britannia, needed to keep Lelouch's true identity hidden. When the first year of Kingsley's existence under the Geass was coming to an end, they decided it was safer for Lelouch to go back to being a student at school rather than playing political figures like Zero again. The plan was executed with the help of Suzaku and C2.
Suzaku and C2 worked together to hide Lelouch back at school, ensuring that the Geass spell could run its course and wear off. Lelouch no longer believed he was Kingsley and didn't remember being Zero. The decision to reintegrate him into a normal life meant that he could maintain the facade of Kingsley for as long as possible, avoiding the return of any dangerous past identities.
Thus, the hidden and complex manipulations of the Code Geass allowed the Emperor and Suzaku to keep Lelouch's return to school a well-guarded secret, safeguarding not only Lelouch but also the stability of Britannia.