Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-175.136.163.103-20141013135125/@comment-41.97.60.145-20141222124556

The thing in Lelouch is that, since R2, he never actually cared about making the Black Knights trust him, and started running a path a lot less similar to their own (The Geass Order massacre for example, also recruiting Rolo and Jeremiah without consulting anyone). They accepted to follow him and trusted him because he was sincerely wishing to destroy Britannia and free Japan. But after that, Lelouch pretty much took them for granted. They were his army, his subordinate, and he no longer treated them as allies with whom he must come to an understandment, and more like his own people, chess pieces. If there's someone wondering if Lelouch had manipulated them, the answer is no. It was their choice to follow him, and Schneizel told them that "maybe we're all under his power" just to make them doubt and make them oppose him morally. The very fact that Lelouch considered Geassing them for a second after their betrayal proofs that he never did before, if a proof is still necessary.

And yes, of course, most of Lelouch's lies didn't benefit him. Not really. At least the ones in episode 17 where he wants Suzaku to believe that he really is the evil guy out there. The thing is as explained by Suzaku ; Lelouch is just too deeply in lies that he can't free himself anymore. At the very least, Suzaku finally obtains the truth from him, but the price was quite big.

For why he didn't deny the false accusations of the Black Knights... Well, it was because he saw Schneizel and knew that there was no way for him to escape. The man had already too much evidence, and is a genius enough to manipulate it in a way that would make Lelouch the perfect scapegoat. He thought about struggling, but since this was all planned by a brother he knew very well, he knew there was really no escaping his fate. So, dead for dead, why bother to justify yourself ? Actually, it's best to go as a tyrant than as a victim. (It's to "protect his heart" as he said in one sound episode. He already experienced being the tragic prince forsaken by his land, and that is a role he didn't want anymore. Neither for him nor Nunnally.). Do not forget that at that moment, he thought that Nunnally was dead, and he really didn't wish to keep going ; he welcomed death, and knew it would accomplish more if his people thought of him as a traitor.

I honestly understand his decision in episode 19. Furthermore, if he did even start to defend himself, Kallen would have died with him rather than betraying him, and that surely isn't something he wanted.