(Arashi's POV- Third person limited)
Arashi got up and went to meet grandfather emperor as he was summoned.
Although Hiroshi just came back not a while ago, he insisted on tagging along with him. It seemed Hiroshi was also concerned about this summon.
Arashi reached the emperor's quarters as the guards announced his arrival. "Prince Rian has come."
They opened the door but stopped Hiroshi.
The emperor said, "Rian, we need to talk alone."
Arashi nodded as Hiroshi stayed behind but it was evident he was eager to know what the emperor had to say.
As Arashi's right hand man, Arashi had always discussed his plans with Hiroshi but for people they needed to pretend that Hiroshi knew nothing.
Arashi entered and saw the emperor and the empress both were there.
The empress's face was sour and she gave a displeased look at Arashi and at the emperor.
As soon as the door closed, the empress said, "Why does it have to be official?"
"What do you mean by this, dear?" The emperor asked. "We discussed about this a while ago."
"But I still don't approve of it. My grandson marrying a farmer's daughter! What worth does she have?!" She fumed as the emperor gave an annoyed look. "People of Wansai will laugh at us."
Not able to argue further with the empress, the emperor said, "Go back to your chamber, dear. I need to discuss about something important with Rian."
"About what? About how he would be marrying that farmer's daughter?!"
"You do know that Princess Bianka has already proven her worth. She is also excellent in her work as an accountant. Didn't we get the reports of her work already?" Although emperor's voice was calm but he sounded very irritated and frustrated. It seemed they had been in arguments for this for a quite while.
"It doesn't matter! She doesn't belong to any royalty and even normal imperial workers of ours can do what she has done." She argued.
Both the empress and Arashi were avoiding each other since after the announcement of the marriage. But now, he was irritated with her arguments. He could see why the emperor was also frustrated.
"Then why didn't we see any progress all these years?" Arashi intruded but he wasn't looking at the empress.
Arashi hadn't said anything until now but it was true the imperial workers only did their jobs carelessly. Now that Bianka had found many holes in the accounts, they had no rights to say that they could do it. If they could then why didn't they?
The empress didn't have a word as she looked away fuming.
But Arashi said, "Grandfather emperor, if you wish to see me later, I can come back later. It seems grandmother emperor is just too fond of wasting both of our precious times by arguing on useless things when Bianka clearly proven she is the best influencer in the whole imperial court."
The empress glared at him as she said, "Dear, why don't you just tell your grandson about my proposal? Since he is too busy to fawning over his wife who is the best influencer in the court."
Both were too stubborn on their own views and opinions and no one was backing down as Arashi said, "Grandfather emperor, why don't you tell grandmother empress that we have more than important things apart from fawning over someone or arguing on baseless things. Unfortunately, I am too busy because of my wedding and for the matters which I need to cater."
The emperor looked at both of them in a defeated face as he growled, "Both of you, silent! I'm exhausted after catering both of you!"
The empress looked at the emperor with a surprised face as she said, sniffing, "Oh! So, now that you got your grandson by your side, you want to side with him...?"
Arashi said, still not looking at the empress, "Of course, because I don't ponder over things for too long."
The emperor let out a sigh as he said, "I'm not siding with anyone. I decide based on the things and after thinking about it for long. Especially for the future of Wansai." He asked, "You do know our fall is not late if we don't settle the matters now."
The empress didn't hear anything as she stormed to the door and said before leaving, "Do whatever you both want but carve it into your minds! I will make sure he marries Akio as his first wife. And you know it that if he marries Akio, half of the matters will be solved."
Arashi added, "Then what about the other half? You want Wansai to break into two different empires?"
But the empress didn't stay to hear.
The emperor said as she left, "You both are too stubborn! I feel like my life has shortened by half after arguing with both of you."
Arashi said, "I never argue. I say facts."
The emperor nodded and said, "Well... But it is true if you marry Akio, half of the problems will be solved."
"It won't solve anything. The other half of the problems will rise enough to divide Wansai. Mark my word, it will be soon Wansai will be devoured by endless wars."
The emperor knew it and his worried face said it all. He said, "That's why I want you to take over the throne."
Arashi knew it was the sole reason the emperor had agreed to make their marriage official. But he said, "I refuse."
"But why?"
"You have more grandsons to take over the throne, grandfather. Don't slump me this work for I'm not interested in it."
"But Arashi, you are the only one who has the power to make Wansai safe and stop its fall."
"But is it safe?"
"What do you mean?" The emperor asked.
Arashi knew the emperor had no idea of the schemes that had been happening inside.
"A few weeks back, my wife had been attempted to be killed. There's a scheme going around to kill my sister and my nephew. The women in this empire had been suffering and the peasants, they are working on half wages while giving double efforts. Is this what you call the proper way of handling a great empire?!" He added, "Not to mention, someone has been robbing our money under our eyes since after I was gone. The schemes of the temple and making a civil war inside of the empire has been under looked. If you are telling me to take over now just because I have a vast army with me then you are wrong, grandfather. Even if I have the army, I can't handle this and lose my precious people because of this."
"Then take the power and make it a great empire like you have envisioned." The emperor said his eyes full of hope and worry.
"People won't take me as their emperor, grandfather. They need someone who has a gentle nature and has been out to the public eyes. They need someone whom they can trust just by looking at them. I work under the shadows. People think I don't work and only know how to fight battles. They don't trust me and if I become the emperor, more civil wars will start all around Wansai."
"More? Why? Is there any civil war that has been going?" He sounded too surprised.
Arashi shook his head, "No. But soon there will be."
The emperor looked away to think as he muttered, "Then we have to do something before it could come out to the surface."
"That's easier said than done." Arashi muttered.
"But where it will be happening?" The emperor asked.
"Yonama."
"Rei's land?!" The emperor almost shouted angrily, "But the heir is still alive."
"And he is too young to sit on its throne." Arashi said, "And it will take more years to prepare him. Do you think the people will wait that long?"
"But I keep Yonama in check and had sent my steward to make sure the rules don't collapse in their ruler's absence."
"That still doesn't make it look good that the throne is empty." Arashi added.
"Then do I have to send Rei?" The emperor asked and it was evident that Rei couldn't rule the land alone. And he was worried.
"I'm afraid that's what the power houses of Yonama want. They just need their lady to come back so they can eliminate both of its remaining ruler."
Grandfather emperor was just too stunned to say anything as he paced around the room. He said, "I had no idea Wansai had been in a lot of turmoil. I guess, I have failed as an emperor."
"That's not true." Arashi said which made the emperor to look at him with questioning eyes. He added, "You can still do something as you are the ruler of Wansai."
"And what is that?"
"We need to renew all the laws and strengthen the enforcement."
"And what do you suggest we do?"
Arashi's eyes glinted evilly as he said, "We can start by gaining their trust."
The emperor didn't understand what Arashi wanted to say and Arashi knew it was the perfect opportunity to make the emperor listen to his appeals. Not only for women rights but for all of the Wansai people.
Well, the battle had just begun and Arashi had placed his pawns just to make it on his favour. He might not go for the throne but he knew he could pull the strings from the shadows.
After all, Arashi knew just how to win a battle. That's what he was best at.
---
A/n: The vol 6 has finally finished and I hope I have placed the major plots in this vol. I know a lot of you still didn't understand but you will once we reach vol 7.
XD
So, what are your thoughts on Arashi's plans?
Do you know what is he doing?
And could you guess what's the outcome will be?
Moreover, some enemies will fall to their doom in the next vols since our prince has placed his pawns already.
Hope you have enjoyed the vol and looking forward to the next vol.
I will be uploading the vol 7 from same as before. In every two-three days with two-three chapters together. Sometimes more like today.
I have updated 10 chapters! Hope you enjoy it.
See y'all!