Why did they have to have someone actually wear a Lelouch mask? Why couldn't they have them tell the Student Council that he'll be on vacation for a while?
"Man, every time Lelouch goes on vacation, Zero does something. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING SUSPICIOUS GOING ON HERE."
As for why the maid is important it's basically "cuz why not?" Now, there'll be good backing for that "cuz why not?" next episode, but really, it's just because she's awesome. Also it fills in a small plot hole in the first season. Namely "why the hell is a sleeper agent that's a maid even a point of interest to bring up to Zero?", also sort of explains but not really why she's on that iceberg earlier.
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assert(!hotterThan(foo, "Hot Nymphomaniacal Lesbian Mind-Controlling Dominatrix Fairy Doctors with glasses"))