DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN BROTHERS CONFLICT IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM
Ema looked out the window some more as she and her grandfather drove away from the abby at the different buildings and structures displayed among the street.
"It's so beautiful out there," she said to her grandfather.
"Yes, I would have to agree. Of course I always thought Japan was beautiful. I enjoyed the sights on my stately visit," Stephon said.
"When was the last time you went to Japan Grandfather?" Wma asked.
"Oh, I don't remember," King Stephon admitted, "I know went on a visit shortly after your mother disappeared. But given I was still under the impression she would return and I didn't want to show alarm towards the Japanese government, I didn't do anything really into locating her. That is to say I didn't order a massive manhunt for her. Rather I did try sending out some of my best trackers to maybe find her. But they weren't able to turn up anything."
"Oh, I'm sorry Grandfather," Ema said.
"Nothing to apologize for, you might not have even been born yet," King Stephon assured her. Just then Richard's phone started to ring. He pulled it out and looked at it, leaning over and whispered to the king.
"Are they?" Stephon replied, "um Ema, how would you like to maybe see more of the area?"
"Um, sure, but why?" Ema asked.
"I've been cooped in the palace too long and I think we should have some more quality time together," King Stephon insisted.
"Well, alright," Ema agreed, "I don't think I've gotten to see the famous Elence Chandra Gardens."
"A splendid idea! A great place for a walk," King Stephon complied, "Richard?"
"Should have no problems," the gaurd assured the king.
"Then lets be off," Stephon ordered.
Ema did feel happy about doing more with her grandfather and could feel her grandfather was happy about it as well. However, she also felt like he was trying to avoid something back at the palace, something he didn't want her to deal with either.
'I hope my brothers are okay back at palace,' she thought, doing her best to hide her nervousness from King Stephon and the gaurds.
"So over all, how happy excited are you with how the building project and hospital project turned out today?" Masaomi asked Erica as the two walked down some random palace hallway.
"Good, good," Erica said, trying not to look towards Masaomi, "I certainly feel accomplished with both."
"You should, you did a lot of hard work for both from what I've seen and heard," Masaomi encouraged.
"Thank you," Erica replied blushing.
"And I think this has helped raise support towarss Ema as a princess," Masaomi.
"Because that's what really matters huh? Raise support for the princess."
"Alex?" Erica said as she and Masaomi turned around and saw the man walking towards them. "What are you doing here?"
"Wanted to know how the presentation for the hospital went," Alex explained, "and I heard you would be coming back after it was done. Figured I'd come here and wait to see how it went."
"Well, it was successful, we should be able to get started soon," Erica told him.
Alex didn't look all that thrilled with the notion.
"Great," he said, "let's hope this doesn't blow up like her mother's hospital project did!"
"Hey now!" Masaomi spoke up, "Ema's not out to get away one killed and neither was her mother!"
"And yet because of Princess Yolanda's mere existence, and precense, a lot of people did die!" Alex muttered as he turned to leave.
"It wasn't her fault!" Masaomi called out after him, "and please stop assuming Ema's going to cause something the same!"
"It's really hard not to with everything that's happened so far," Alex replied, "I'm sorry Sir, but as far as I can tell, the monarch is a thing of the past and should stay there.".
"The king's a good king!" Masaomi insisted.
"Oh I know," Alex admitted, "even my father would admit it. The king even met with him on two separate occasions to hear Dad out on his grievances, and the king even helped changed a few things based on those meetings. It's just if shit like what happened to those people, people like my mom and brother, is going to still happened. And all for a stupid throne, what's the point? Especially when several other countries have gone on to function well without a king or queen?"
Masaomi was quiet with shock at Alex's declaration.
"I guess I can see your point there," he admitted.
"And it's not like I wouldn't support the king to have a nice life after the monarch were to be dissolved. You guys could take him back to Japan with you and let him live with you, right?" Alex pointed out.
"Sure we could," Masaomi concur.
"Look, I'm not asking for an immediate change, but that doesn't mean I won't keep pushing for it," Alex finally concluded, "glad you did well with the hospital project."
"Thank you Alex," Erica spoke up.
"Hey Masa, guess what!" Wataru shouted as he suddenly came running down the hallway. He walked past Alex in heist, "sorry."
"Hi Wataru," Masaomi said as he patted his brother's head, "you seem happy!"
"Lady Sophie helped me go over my math studies and when I did a practice test on it, I got 100%!" Wataru bragged.
"Wonderful!" Masaomi praised kindly.
"Yes, Wataru's is excelling in his math studies," Lady Sophie said as she walked up to the group.
"It was usually his best subject," Masaomi mentioned.
"And he did so well, that I've given him the rest of the day off, so we were heading to the stables," Sophie said.
"I can't wait to see Wind Storm!" Wataru exclaimed.
"You have your own horse here kid?" Alex asked.
"Well at least one's he's been allowed to ride here," Masaomi said.
"I wish he could be mine," Wataru said.
"You've always been into horses?" Erica asked kindly.
"Not until I came here ansand met Wind Storm," Wataru admitted, "who are you? Are Masa's girlfriend?"
"Uh," Erica sputtered.
"Oh," Masaomi tried fishing around.
"Boyfriend? Girlfriend? I know royals move fast but," Alex said with a smug look.
"Aren't you the son of the major Royal Protester...," Sophie asked.
"Yeah, something like that, Alex admitted as he turned to leave. Only he suddenly stopped with a stone cold look. Sophie followed his gaze to see Robert and Henry walking past.
"Shit, they're here!" Robert was muttering.
Out of the corner of her eye, Sophie could see Alex's hand tighten up into a fist.
"That man!" he muttered. "I'll call you later Erica about the hospital conference." He then hurried off.
"He sure seems mad," Wataru mentioned.
"Well, he's not had an easy life," Erica tried to explain.
"Oh, that's too bad," said Wataru, "you want to come meet Wind Storm, Miss?"
"Sure, I like horses," said Erica.
"Let's all go together," Masaomi suggested.
"Well actually if you were to escort Wataru to the royal stables, I think I should go find Louis and see if he'd like to do my hair as he constantly requests to," said Sophie.
"Wait, what?" Wataru asked worried.
Sophie smiled at him kindly. "Don't worry, maybe we can have dinner together tonight?"
Wataru raised an eyebrow, "just us?"
"We'll see," Sophie assured him as she winked and bowed.
"I don't know, Wataru is one of the king's personal favorites, he may want you to still have dinner with him," Masaomi teased as he helped lead his brother away.
"But the king would understand right?" Wataru asked.
"Well yes, I suppose," said Masaomi.
"So Masa, what's your girlfriend's name anyway?" asked Wataru.
"Oh, I'm Erica," she answered, "I'm helping your sister build a hospital while she helps me figure out how to save an old building and also build a new one."
"Wow, you're a hard worker," Wataru said, "I kind of want to be like you when I grown up so I can help Big Sister with things like that."
"You want to get into politics Wataru?" Masaomi asked.
"Is that what you are?" Wataru asked.
"Yes, I'm a politician," Erica confirmed.
"Then, I want to try being a politician too so I can help build hospitals and make homes for families!" Wataru declared.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to corrupt your brother," Erica said to Masaomi with a chuckle.
"Eh, he may seem all cute and innocent but he has a little bit of a mean, manipulating streak in him," Masaomi whispered with a smirk. Erica smirk.
Masaomi looked at his brother scampering in front of him. He started pondering the offer of being head to the children's hospital back in Almara.
'Maybe it wouldn't be so bad moving Wataru here,' he thought.
"Well Hailey, what did you think of my latest customer?" Louis asked as their latest client left his royal salon with a new hairstyle.
"Magnificent!" Hailey parised as she helped swept up the hair.
"I wonder, is there a royal stylist position?" Louis asked.
"Uh, don't know," Hailey admitted.
"I wonder if Lord Markus would know, or Lady Sophie," said Louis.
"Perhaps you should go find her and ask, in addition to doing her hair," Hailey suggested smugly.
"I do believe you're right, hopefully she's still not tutoring Wataru," Louis said as he held out his hand and allowed Hailey to scamper up to his shoulder.
They were about to leave their salon when once again Louis felt the need to hide as Robert Henry and his goones all walked past. Robert was complaining about having to meet him.
Louis however was more focused on Henry and a strange thought he had about how easy it would be to grab a pair of scissors and stab the man in the back.
'What am I thinking? That's not me!' he thought as he started to walk out, only to accidentally bump into a different man.
"Oh I'm sorry," Louis tried to apologize.
"It's alright," the man assured him as he started to walk off, only to pause when as he looked Louis over.
"Are you the famous lost, thought dead, son of Earl Walter I've been hearing about?"
"Uh, yes," Louis said. "And you are?"
"Council Alex Mayter," Alex kept studying him, "you know, you may find this petty but my father's often used your parents' death as a reason to dissolve the monarch."
"I'm sorry?" Louis said.
"His father's one of the biggest monarch protesters in Elence," Sophie said as she joined the men, "even if he's also the most rational and peaceful protest leaders."
"Your father's a protester?" Louis asked.
"Ever since my mother and brother were killed in the bombing attack that was meant to kill your sister's mother," Alex explained a little mad.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," said Louis.
"Anymore than what happened to your parents," said Alex as he walked on.
"He seems troubled but at the same time I can in a way relate to him," said Louis.
"You think so?" Sophie asked as both watched him walk away, only to stop at a railing.
"What are they doing here?" he asked out loud almost in a laugh.
"Who's he talking about?" Louis asked, "more relatives?"
"Possibly," Sophie said as the two joined Alex by the railing and looked down.
There they saw Robert welcoming a middle aged couple with his fake kind act.
"Hello, hello, welcome Mother and Father!" he was saying.
"Oh them," Sophie said in a tone similar to Alex's, "those are Lady Beatrice's mother and father, Lord and Lady Mahtters."
"And probably the biggest joke in the royal family," Alex said trying to suppress a laugh.
"I'm sorry?" Louis asked.
"Lord Matthers is a descendent of some long distant king, back in the Victorian era I believe," Sophie explained, "my uncle would know for sure."
Alex started to laugh, "sorry can't help it, but everybody knows this story. The king's oldest son was caught in a brothel with some underaged girls. One got scared of him and cried for help which some kind passer-byers happened to hear. They came to her aid and took out the prince in one swoop. They didn't even realize it was the prince at the time. But when that was discovered, it was too big of a scandal for the royal family to over look and the king had no choice but to push in oldest son out of the way and make his second son king after him instead."
"I take it I'm a descendent of the second prince?" Louis asked.
"Yes, you are," Lady Sophie confirmed.
"Anyway, since then, all of the first prince's descendents have made it their "duty" to make it to the top of the royal social ladder again. Of course they've been failing miserably with each new generation," Alex finished his story, "these two have been the worse yet, even before Lord Robert offered to marry their daughter."
"Hmm, what an interesting family I have," Louis said, "has your father ever had to deal with them?"
"Oh yeah, only they've never been suttle about it and usually end up being humiliated by dad's various groups," said Alex.
"They're the kind of people who gives the royal family a bad image, even if it's usually funny watching them suffer by their own actions they bring among themselves," Sophie added.
'And didn't I hear a rumor Lady Beatrice was going to dump Robert?' Louis thought to himself, 'if they're here, well, I'm sure Hikaru would have love to see this unfold.'
"Hello, Hello Welcome Mother and Father!" Robert greeted Lord and Lady Mahtters as the two walked into the palace. He couldn't almost hear some kind of laughter from above but chose to ignore it.
The couple were obviously over dressed with Lord Mahtters wearing a black suit complete with a waistcoat, and cane. While Lady Mahtters was wearing a fancy black dress with a black sash over shoulders and fancy black hat.
"Hello Son," Lord Mahtters said trying to sound regal as he approached Robert with his wife, "good to see you as always."
"And where is our lovely daughter?" Lady Mahtters asked.
"I'm not sure at the moment, I was just looking for her," Robert said as he led the pair down the hallway.
"Oh, is she playing hard to get again?" Lord Mahtters asked with delight.
"Uh, Something like that, yes," Robert sputtered out. He glanced back at Henry, "find her! Find her!"
"We'll keep looking," Henry promised as he slinked away.
Louis, Sophie and Alex all watched Henry and few men move away from Robert and the Mahtters and walk off in another direction.
"They must still be looking for Lady Beatrice," he said out loud.
"Can't blame the woman for hiding," said Sophie, "wish I knew where she was so we could warn her."
"Maybe one of my brothers knows," Louis said as he pulled out his phone to send a text.
As he did he could see Alex following Henry's movements across from them on another stairwell. His fist looked like his whenever he saw the man.
'I see Henry is almost as popular as Robert,' Louis thought as he sent his text.
Both Bea and Tsubaki had been spending an ideal day together. Even if most of it had been spent making out in the room they had actually been trying to do research in for what Bea could do once she officially dumped Robert.
However, the good mood was soon interrupted by the sound of Tsubaki's phone vibrating in his pocket.
"Damn!" Tsubaki muttered as he pulled his phone out.
"Was that your phone, or were you just having a good time?" Bea teased as she leaned in to kiss him again.
Tsubaki did his best to return her kisses while also see what his phone was saying.
'Hello brothers. Wanted to ask, if any of you were with or knew where Lady Beatrice is, her parents are here. Figured she should know if she was hoping to remain hidden,
Louis'
"Oh, you're parents are here," Tsubaki said breaking away from yhe kisses.
"Are they?" Bea asked looking towards his phone. "Perfect."
"Yeah, my brother Louis was trying to warn you," Tsubaki explained.
"No need for that," Bea said as she stood up, stretching. "I actually wanted to know when they showed up. In fact I'm going to go meet them and Robert personally."
"Want me to come too?" Tsubaki offered.
"No, you can just wait here, I'll be back with them soon enough," Bea assured him as she gave him one last kiss before heading out. She strutted down the hallway feeling confident and vindictive until she heard the voices she used to dread hearing together.
"And I still say you should use the blue cut dimond ring as your engagement ring!" her mother was saying right as Bea came around the corner and stood with her hands on her hips looking smug.
"Hello Mother, Hello Father, and Hello Robert," she scoffed.
"Here you are! Where have you been! I've been looking for you nearly all day ever since I got here!" Robert shouted.
"Have you? Oh dear, so sorry, I've been busy working all day," Bea remarked.
"On what?" her mother asked.
"Stuff regarding my future with Robert," said Bea. Her parents looked at each excited, no doubt thinking the exact opposite of what she had been doing.
"Working out the wedding details were we?" her mother said as she walked over to Bea and took her hand.
"Not exactly," Bea remarked, "come with me." She gestured for her parents and Robert to follow her and led them to the room she had been in all day with Tsubaki.
Tsubaki himself was back at the computer desk working on it as the four came in.
"What's he doing in here!" Robert demnaded to know as they walked in.
"Working of course," Bea answered for him.
"On what?" Robert kept pushing.
"Sit down and you'll find out," Bea replied gesturing towards the couch ahe and Tsubaki had just been making out on.
"Who is that?" Lady Mahtters asked as she and her husband joined Robert on the couch.
"Oh, this Tsubaki Asahina Mother, one of Princess Ema's brothers," Bea introduced him.
"Oh," both her parents grunted as they shot Tsubaki their own dirty looks.
'Wow, and they don't even know about me and Bea yet," Tsubaki thought with glee as he kept to his work.
"So what's going on Beatrice?" Robert asked annoyed.
"Oh yes, I've come to a great and serious decision in regards to My future, Bea started to say, "and that is, I'm not marrying Robert."
"Oh not this again Beatrice," her father moaned, "we've told you time and time again, this is how it's going to be."
"No Father, this isn't like before. This isn't just me saying I don't want to marry Robert. This is me telling you all I Am Not Going To Marry Robert!" Bea insisted.
"Yeah, of course you're not," Robert said sarcastically.
"You're right I'm not," Bea added, "for once we agree."
"Oh Beatrice," her mother said as she walked over to her daughter, "like your father said. You'll get use to the idea of being Robert's wife and queen someday."
"I don't want to get use to the idea," Bea answered back, "so I'm not going to. I'm not marrying him."
"Oh god, she's in one of her moods again," Robert muttered.
"Mood or not it still remains the same, I'm not marrying Robert and I don't care what you do to me if I don't," said Bea.
"Oh cut this out already!" Robert snapped as he stood up, "you are going to marry me and...,"
"No!" Bea snapped back, "I'm not sure what I have to do to convince you I have no interest in marrying you, but I won't. This marriage is not going to happen."
It was then her parents and Robert started express looks that suggested they were finally taking her seriously.
"So, you mean to tell us that you are going to fight to not marry Robert and become queen?" her mother asked.
"Well I don't see why I should have to fight for it since I should be allowed to say who I marry if anyone, but if you guys will try to put up a fight then yes I will fight back," Bea remarked.
"But we worked this out already!" her father declared mad as she stormed over to Bea, "we arranged for you to marry Robert and be his queen!"
"And who did you work that out with dad? Because it certainly wasn't me! Why didn't I get a say? This isn't the dark ages anymore. Women can actually choose their own spouses now," Bea pointed out.
"Beatrice, you're missing the big picture," her father said through clenched teeth. "You marry Robert, you get to be queen someday! Queen!"
"Dad, if you're so interested in having a queen in the family, why don't you marry Robert?" Bea asked. "We are living in more progressive times after all."
Both her parents looked stunned by suggestion.
"You," Robert moaned deeply looking towards Tsubaki at the computer, "you did something to her didn't you! You brainwashed her something, didn't you!"
The Mahtters also looked towards Tsubaki, starting to get angry.
"What did you do or say to my daughter!" Lord Mahtters shouted mad as he slammed his fist against the desk.
"Nothing, other than look up some potential ideas she could try when you cut her off financially," Tsubaki explained casually.
"What?" the Mahtters asked.
"We just figured that would be your next approach to make Bea to do what you wanted to do rather than respect her wants and needs. You'd cut her off and she'd have to learn how to fend for herself. So that's what I've been helping her to do," Tsubaki explained.
Both her parents looked towards Bea confused.
"It's like I've said, I'm not going to be your guys' pawn no more and I'm just trying to cover my grounds for anything you may try to control me."
"You're prepared to let us cut you off, no more help, no more support, no more family?!" Lord Mahtters shouted at her some more.
"Yes, yes and yes!" Bea answered peacefully.
Suddenly Robert grabbed her arm, "alright, enough of this! I will make you fall back in line, the old fashioned way!"
At that Tsubaki finally stood up and hurried over to the group. He then grabbed Robert's arm and yanked it away from Bea's.
"No need for violence sir," he said.
"How dare you touch the heir to the throne in such a way!" Robert shouted mad, pulling his arm free. He then pointed in Tsubaki's face. "I always had my suspicions of you! Ever since I first met you, I figured you would cause trouble! And now look what you've done! I should have truly showed you what happened to queens' lovers back in the dungeon!"
"Yeah, but you know, that would have made your uncle, the rightful king very mad," Tsubaki taunted.
"Come Tsubaki, let's get out if here. I've said my peace," Bea said as she moved to the door, "once you two have taken and accept you won't get to call yourselves the queen's mother and father, let me know. We can maybe try discussing what I can take from the house."
"You'll get nothing!" her father warned.
"We'll see about that," Bea said as she and Tsubaki left the room.
"Now what's going to happen?!" Lord Mahtters asked the minute the couple was gone.
"Let's go after them. Maybe we can still try to reason with her!" Lady Mahtters hastily suggested.
"There's no point, she's not going to cooperate!" Robert muttered mad.
"Don't say that!" Lord Mahtters begged, "you don't know our daughter! She's, she's just trying to indulge a little. We can still help her come around!"
"Yes, I'm sure once that man goes home to wherever they're from, what, Japan? In sure once he's gone back there, we can Beatrice to see the bigger picture again!" added his wife.
Robert looked up and out the window, "yes, yes maybe you're right. Leave me for now will you?"
Lord and Lady Mahtters quickly hurried out of the room.
Robert kept looking out his window, at the tree. He actually smiled when he saw his squirrel, Bernard come on to the branch closest to the window.
"Hello Bernard, I may need your help here soon," Robert said opening the window, "I'll need you to help Henry find some of the brothers here at the palace." He then pulled out his phone, "hey, yeah, Yeah but not kill them, no yet. Just round them all up into a a safe place. Yes, even Louis. What's that? Well, I suppose one were to get killed would most assuredly send the message that we're serious. I don't care, I don't care about that either. Accidents can happen."
He hung up and smirked at Bernard, "1 or 2 out of 13 can happen, easily."