DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN BROTHERS CONFLICT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM

Richard was walking to the dinging room, fiddling with his tie was he woke. Normally, when he was just guarding the king, he didn't bother with the tie. However, given that he was going to be standing in as the princess's aid and confident while at the house of council, he figured he should try looking a little professional. Even if he really didn't like wearing ties, too much work and trouble for him.

"Oh, Richard, there you are," he suddenly heard Ukyo say. He looked up and saw the man nicely dressed in a fancy suit himself coming down the stairs carrying a briefcase, looking over some parchment.

"Good morning," Richard greated him, "feeling ready for the day?"

"Yes, I've been studying up on Elence politics and history so I can help Ema out as mucb as possible today," said Ukyo, "it looks like not only King Stephon, but his own father and grandmother spent a good portion of their reign as rulers trying to really give more control back to the people."

"Oh yeah, and Princess Yolanda was starting to do similar work before she disappeared," said Richard as he led Ukyo to the dinging room and the two walked in to see Ema and Natsume in there alone talking.

"Oh hello Ukyo, hello Richard," Ema greeted as the two walked in.

"Good morning your highness, how are you doing this morning?" Richard asked.

"I'm good, feeling ready for today," said Ema. She quickly dabed her face with her napkin. "Is it time to get going?"

"Just about, if we want to be on time," Richard said.

"It would probably make a good first impression if you arrive on time your first day," said Natsume.

"Okay, hang on," Ema said as she cleaned her face one last time with her napkin and stood up, "let's go. Ukyo, did you get anything to eat?"

"I grabbed a bite from the kitchen when I was gathering up info on this country's politics," Ukyo assured her.

"I'm sure he can brief you on more of it on the way," Richard said as the group started to leave.

"Good luck Ema," Natsume called out to her.

"Thanks Natsume, have a good day," Ema called back.

"I hope she does okay," Natsume said softly as he turned back to his food. He had just about finished when he heard a soft voice clearing its throat.

"Good morning Big Brother Natsume,"

"What are you doing Wataru?" Natsume asked turning back around to look at him.

He could see the boy walking in with his nose up in the air, in a cute little suit, complete with a blue blazer that he had ond hand on. Masaomi was walking in behind him, chuckling at how Wataru was acting.

"I'm trying to act more prince like for big sister," Wataru explained as he tried to gracefully take his seat.

"Oh really and what brought this on?" asked Natsume.

"He figured if Yusuke can learn how to be a knight, he can learn how to be an actual prince," Masaomi.

"It will greatly impress Big Sister The Princess after all," said Wataru.

"Sure, that's it," Natsume said as he stood up from his seat. "I'm going to find that office."

"Where is big sister anyway?" Wataru asked.

"Oh she already left with Ukyo and that Richard guy," Natsume told him.

"Oh," Wataru moaned.

"Sir, would you like an escort to your office?" Ami asked as Natsume came to the door.

"Please," Natsume said.

Ami nodded and hit a button by the door.

Soon Tommy appeared.

"Yes?" he asked.

"What are you doing here?" Ami asked annoyed.

"Responding to the page," said Tommy smirking at her.

"Of course," said Ami, "please show Master Natsume to the office the king had prepared for him.."

"Certainly, follow me sir," Tommy said, gesturing for Natsume to follow him.

As Natsume started to follow, he was almost certain he saw the boy pinch Ami's behind, much to the girl's annoyance.

'Hmm, not much of a man, is he?' Natsume thought as he walked with the young man. He tried to remember the list of names Richard had given him of who not to trust, trying hard to remember if Tommy's name was on it.

As Ema and her two escorts were about to leave the palace, she suddenly felt something big land on her two shoulders.

"Huh?!" she said in alarm before she realized it was Juli and Marion.

"Good morning Princee," said Marion

"Hi Chi," said Juli.

"What are you two doing here?" Ema asked.

"We're going with you," said Marion, "for support."

"Oh, thank you," Ema said as she gently patted the two squirrels.

"We'll be there the whole time Chi," Juli assured her.

"So, this house of council is the main branch of the government, where most council men and women are elected to. Council memebers serve up to six years at a time and cannot run again until 4 years later and then can only be elected up to 4 times in their life time. Did I get that right?" Ema asked.

"Close enough," Richard said, "the council is the main branch the reigning king or queen works with. The house of parliament, though will work with the monarchy, mainly work on their own. That's where the prime minister usually works out of."

"Right, the prime minister, who is currently Carlotta Cook," Ema said looking at Ukyo's info, "the, oh first woman to be elected to the position."

"And first black person as well, even though your great grandfather had made that possible a long time ago," said Richard.

"King Alfred, right? My grandfather's father," Ema said, "boy, he, grandfather, and his own mother, Queen Katherine, sure have made a lot of changes and improvements over the years."

"Yeah, well that's probably because your great-great grandmother came to power the worst time, during WW2. She was still fairly young, only 20, when she crowned and even admitted she wasn't 100% sure she could handle it all on her own. So with the help of some of her other family and her father's trusted advisors, started giving up certain powers the crown had held on to for decades back to the people. That's what eventually led to the forming of this country's house of parliament and the council. King Alfred was the one who really started to develop them."

"Wow," Ema said out loud, "I guess I have a lot to live up to." She read some more about her family's political history. "Was our country really a safe haven for Jews during the war?"

"Oh yes, many Jews fled to our country and were protected here. Even when the Nazis tried coming for them, both Queen Katherine and her father, King Stephon, whom your grandfather is named after, flat out told them no."

"Did they really?" asked Ema.

"Yes, they tried with King Stephon when the war was first starting and after he died, leaving Katherine in charge, they also tried to get her to hand them over."

"Wow, that was brave of her," said Ema softly. It almost sounded like Katherine was a lot like her, thrown into a difficult situation with little time to fully prepared. Only Katherine had managed to prove herself and was haled as a respectable queen. Would she be able to live up to such a reputation?

"Princess, welcome to the house of council," Richard said once the car came to a stop in front of the building. Ema looked out of the window to see the big stone building with the pillars all lined up nice in a row. So many people were walking up and down the big stones steps looking busy.

She kept studying the building as Richard opened the door and helped her out.

As Ema stood on sidewalk at the bottom of the stairs, nearly everyone around her stopped in their tracks and looked at her.

"It's her"

Oh my god it is her!"

"It's Princess Ema!"

"Wonder why she's here!"

"Princess, shall we?" Richard asked.

"Yes, lets," Ema said as she started to walk up the stairs, with Richard and Ukyo behind her. She tried not to pay much attention to the other people next to her. She thought maybe it would make her look a little more confident as she walked. Although, even as she did that, she could still see out of the corner of her eye, people bowing their heads in respect to her.

"This way Princess," Richard instructed as he pointed to a long hallway with a bronzed tile floor, once they were in the building.

Ema walked down, still passing by many different people, all who were shocked to see her and still bowed their heads in respect for her.

'I hope I can truley earn this respect and not just be given it because I'm a princess," Ema thought right as she came to two pearly white doors.

"Allow me," Richard said as he opened the doors to reveal a huge meeting room with a big emerald green round table that several people were already seated at. A white screen was hanging on the far end. Ema could only assume it was for a demonstration for the meeting. It made her very curious as to what they were going to discuss and if she would be able to help contribute.

"Presenting, her royal highness, Princess Ema of Elence," Richard declared in a booming voice. Everyone in the room immediately looked Ema's way. The people who were sitting immediately stood up, while the people already standing, stood up straight and then all bowed their heads together.

"Thank you," Ema said as loud as she felt she could.

"Princess Ema," a woman on the far side of the room called out. Ema looked towards her and a saw a pretty, slightly young looking black woman looking very confident. Ema felt an immediate connection to her, like she knew they would get along great.

"As the high senior Council member in this meeting, I would like to personally welcome you to this meeting today,"

"Thank you, I hope I can be a vauled member of today's meeting, Miss?"

"Oh, excuse me, I'm Council woman Erica Tanner," the woman said bowing "and the council would also like to welcome your brother Ukyo Asahina as your advisor."

"Oh thank you," said Ukyo kindly.

"Thank you for allowing him to be here," said Ema, "let's hope this meeting can be a productive one."

"Well, good morning Emma, you came after all," Ema suddenly heard Robert's voice from behind.

Ema, Ukyo and Richard turned their heads to see Robert walking into the room with over a dozen men in black suits. He headed to the chair at the head of the table when another council memeber spoke up.

"Excuse me Lord Robert?"

"Yes Alex?" Robert replied.

"Shouldn't the princess be allowed to take her grandfather's chair?" the council man named Alex asked sternly.

Ema halfway expected her cousin to lift the chair and fling it at the man.

However, instead Robert pulled the chair out.

"You're right," he said, "Ema, please take your place."

"Thank you," Ema said as she did take her seat.

She shuddered a little and suddenly realized Robert had taken the chair closest to her.

'Oh no! I didn't realize he was going to be right here!' ahe thought. 'No, no I can't get scared like this! If Grandmother Katherine could stand up to Nazis, I can stand up to Cousin Robert!''

More Asahina brothers were now in the palace dinning room enjoying a delicious family breakfast.

"Where's Yusuke? Does anyone know?" Masaomi asked.

"He was was still training when we left the hanger," said Futo, "we got hungry."

"Training?" Masaomi asked.

"Yes, apparently he's being train by some of the bodyguards," said Azusa.

"Oh right, that," said Masaomi, "well good for him that they have a means to train him for it."

"Palace people sure do have an enjoyable life!" Hikaru said with delight.

"I know servants, great beds, nice food. I could get use to this," said Tsubaki.

"Looks can be deceiving," said Louise softly.

Masaomi looked his way. "Did you get any sleep last night, Louise?" he asked.

"Not much," Louise confessed, "guess I'm not use to this place."

"Well, maybe," Masaomi started to say.

"Excuses me gentelmen," Chrissy suddenly walked into the room, "his majesty is asking for one of you, Louise?"

Louise and his brothers all looked at her.

"Right now?" he asked.

"Yes it would be more convenient for his majesty," said Chrissy.

Louise sighed, "very well, lead the way."

He followed Chrissy down the many different hallways and up the stairs until the came to the king's chambers.

Chrissy opened the door to show the king sitting at his bed being examined by a medical team.

"I swear if you give me the same verdict Masaomi did, I'm throwing Richard into the pond!" he muttered.

"Your Majesty, I brought him," Chrissy said.

"Oh right, good," Stephon said, "everyone out. Out! I want some peace and quiet!"

The medical staff quickly gathered up their things and hurried out.

"Hey doc, what do you think?" Chrissy asked as one of the doctors walked past her.

"I think Richard's going for a swim later," the doctor replied.

"Oh dear," Chrissy said with a smirk as she too backed out of the room, shutting the doors and leaving Louise and the king alone.

"Come sit my boy," Stephon insisted as he pointed his cane to a comfortable chair near the bed. Lousie did as he was told as he slowly took his seat.

"I think it's time we truly figure out just how it is you are possibly a member of this royal family as well," Stephon said as he looked at Louise with determination.