"Of course, and we greatly appreciate that, though I doubt any of your descendants will look as favorably upon your foresight, it certainly makes matters more... civil, on our side of things. I suppose the real question is what to do about Dragon's Roost." "Now, there's no need to go divvying up my land before I'm dead," The Emperor scolds, though his words are punctuated, rather sadly, by a coughing fit, at the end, that causes everyone to flinch. "I don't intend to, dad. You know that. I'm just growing a bit concerned about how... influential the city is becoming, since it's become so closely entwined with the capitol. I know you have no intention of ever, say, attacking us, but a number of the nobles have been growing restless about the idea of any noble, especially a 'foreign born' one," he says, shaking his head and earning a few chuckles from other family members, all of whom are fully aware of exactly how 'foreign' Draiss really is, "owning such a large and influential territory, in such close proximity to our city. A number of them are even going so far as to encourage annexing the city, in the name of the Emperor, and naming you steward over it, instead, which would appease many of the old blood a fair bit more... especially since the stewardship wouldn't be a hereditary position, but one given to a favorite of the Emperor, which means that, down the line,<em>their</em>descendants might get close to one of mine, and claim the land for their family." He shakes his head.<br/><br/>"What I really want to do, just to shove it up all their asses," a phrase which earns open laughter from a few more around the table, including his father, "Is to declare you a sovereign nation, independent of our territories, which means that there'd be no chance of any of them having any way to eventually lay claim to the area. That, and it means I'd get to make my baby sister a proper queen, but that's a purely selfish thought on my part, and had absolutely no bearing on the idea, at all," he finishes, with a grin.