“Arthur, I want you to give up the position of the Crown Prince.”

Calm down, Arthur...Your mother loves this man. You can’t just kill him.

Having such thoughts, I tried to calm myself down, but I just couldn’t.

“Arthur,  if some one says outrageous things to you...take deep breaths and look around you. Look at the place and personal present...doing so you can roughly arrive at a conclusion.”

Ahh...Mother’s lines are the only ones that can keep me calm.

After taking a couple of deep breaths...I look around. I can see Empress’s sad eyes...so this is not her order. I look at the kids...both of them didn’t understand what the Emperor said. William did have expectations in his eyes.

That’s normal. The only one capable of being crown prince after me is him.

The Emperor had dark patches below his eyes. And the Prime Minister was devoid of any emotion.

Hmm...thinking about it...if the Prime Minister is here, then it means the decisions made here concerns the Empire and not personal wishes.

“So, the factions have been created, huh?”

At this sentence, all their eyes opened wide. Looks like my gamble was right.

“How did you know?”, Prime minister said with a curious look on his face.

“It’s quite simple. Until now, being the only Prince, there was no need for factions. But with the Empress and William appearing, everything has changed.”

“It is as you say.”, the Prime minister said with a satisfied face.

“And I bet, the factions are divided on the premise of whether having me, the son of the original Empress or the son of the current Empress, inheriting the throne from the Emperor. If we things escalate, civil war is the only result.”

“You have matured, Your highness.”, said the prime minister with a grin on his face.

“The situation forced me.”, I took a glance at the throne only to see both the Emperor and the Empress making difficult faces.

“Arthur, what do you want to do?”, Emperor asked me in a quiet voice.

Finally…

I couldn’t help but let my face turn into a grin.

“Your highness, you are letting your emotions show.”, Sebastian warmed in an amused tone.

Ah, crap...I should play my cards carefully to squeeze them dry.

“Ahem...I will gladly give up my position.”

“Ah..then..”

“Only if you heed to my conditions.”, cutting off the emperor.

“Conditions?”

“Yes, conditions. And if you refuse, I will gladly let the nobles complete their factions and face off against William here for the throne.”

“Eh? Brother!!!”, William raised his voice.

Oh...it’s the first time he called me brother. 

“Don’t worry, William...This will only happen if your parents don’t listen to my conditions.”

Perhaps worried for her son, Empress Camilla opened her mouth first,

“What are your conditions, Arthur?”

“Well, there are various things I want. Hmmm...let’s start by tripling the money I get by each month.”

 The money a prince gets is enormous. Tripling them will be a great bonus for my plans.

“That can be done.”

“Good. I want the building situated in the corner of the imperial grounds to be cleaned and ready to move in by tomorrow evening.”

“You are leaving this palace?”, Emperor asked in a surprised tone.

“Yes, I am”

“Why?!”, this time it was the Empress.

“No big reason...this place disgusts me.”

All the faces including Duke Landon changed their expression to a dark one.

As I thought...I weirdly like these reactions.

Breaking my line of thoughts, “I see. Is that all you want?”

“Oh my, Emperor...Please do have patience. I have just started, there is more where they came from.”

“Haah...continue.”

Is he already tired?...If it goes on like this, he would probably faint.

“You there, bring some juice for them. Make it fresh. Oh and bring a cake for the kids here.”

“Yes, your highness”

A maid hurried off towards the kitchen and swiftly came back with the said items

“Thank you, Brother Arthur!!!”, Diana said to me. I couldn't control my urge to pat her head.

“““ …”””

Are they that surprised by my actions??...I am sorry, but I am weak against kids.

“Moving on...I need Sebastian as my exclusive butler.”

“But Arthur...Sebastian is an exclusive butler only for the Empress. I will find someone else for you.”

“Your Majesty, I am not here making recommendations. What I am doing here is laying out conditions. It’s up to you to accept them. But if you don’t, well…”

“Arthur, no problem...Sebastian will be assigned as your exclusive butler.”

“You have my gratitude, Empress Camilla”

I glanced at Sebastian, scared that he might be displeased. But, alas there he was with a satisfied face.

I couldn’t help but grin brightly at him.

“What is your next request, your highness?”

“Duke Landon...right, I want complete access to the records of projects carried out by mother.”

Everyone froze...well it was to be expected.

“...and, why do you need them, Arthur?”

“Why? Why other than to continue them, your majesty.”

“You are going to continue them?”

“Yes, I am."

"You are far too young for them, your highness.", Duke Landon warned me.

"I know I am. And I am not going to be starting them right away. So no need to worry."

"I see...Then it is fine, for you to view them. Sebastian, you have my permission to show it to Arthur."

"I will gladly do it, your majesty", he had a rare smile on his face.

"Now then for the final condition..."

“““...”””, everyone had their expectations high.

“When I turn 17, that is 7 years from now...I want the territory of the fallen Ducal house, Switon”