| Narrative: |
Shi Ryuuki is becoming more and more worthy of being Saiunkoku's Emperor with each passing day. During court, he presents his own opinions and gathers the senior statesmen's opinions, and is actively involved in administering the land. |
| Shuuei: |
He's become like a proper Emperor. |
| Kouyuu: |
Huh! He had a good teacher. |
| Ryuuki: |
In that case, I want everyone's opinions on this matter gathered within the day. |
| Title: |
Putting on the Finishing Touches |
| Shuurei: |
I see. His Majesty's... |
| Seiran: |
Yes, even in court he's supposed to be making great proposals. |
| Shuurei: |
It sounds like it's time to start packing my things then.
If His Majesty has started to govern properly, then there's no meaning to me staying in the Imperial Residence. I need to re-open the temple school as well. And as we approach the summer festival, there'll be lots of sudden requests for help. |
| Seiran: |
His Majesty will be lonely. |
| Shuurei: |
But my place in life isn't here.
|
| Shuurei: |
That's a nice scent. |
| Shusui: |
I got it from Kourin. It's supposed to be a secret perfume. |
| Shuurei: |
From Kourin? |
| Shusui: |
Yes. She was concerned because you didn't seem very happy lately. |
| Shuurei: |
I see. Will you express my thanks to Kourin. |
| Shusui: |
Understood. I'll be sure to tell her. Pardon me.
|
| Shuuei: |
Any changes? |
| Guard: |
No sir! |
| Shuuei: |
I see.
|
| Kouyuu: |
I got careless because I had a map of the palace. I see! This map is wrong! There's no other explanation for my getting lost! |
| Kourin: |
It's you, isn't it? Why are you interfering? |
| Kouyuu: |
What was that? |
| Kourin: |
That's what that person wishes, isn't it? |
| Kouyuu: |
This way? |
| Kourin: |
I also want to be able to help that person! |
| Kouyuu: |
It's from here, isn't it. Sheesh! Raising your voice in the middle of the night like this. |
| Kourin: |
If it's for that person, then I too... |
| Kouyuu: |
Oy! Kourin.
Is anyone there?! Check Kou-kihi's room right away! |
| Shuuei: |
Could it be...? |
| Guard: |
Kou-kihi-sama! |
| Guard: |
She's not here. |
| Shuuei: |
Damn! |
| Kouyuu: |
Shuuei! What about Shuurei-dono? |
| Shuuei: |
Amazingly you didn't get lost, did you? |
| Kouyuu: |
Now's not the time to say things like that! Where's Seiran? He should be one of the first people to come running... |
| Ryuuki: |
What's going on here? |
| Kouyuu: |
Your Majesty.
|
| Shuuei: |
We'd switched Kourin's perfume with something completely harmless. |
| Ryuuki: |
So someone else had still been in hiding. |
| Shuuei: |
Being able to disappear with Shuurei-dono like smoke from a place we'd had surrounded... they're quite skilled. |
| Kouyuu: |
But at least Kourin's motive is clear. As well as the person behind her. Although most likely he didn't expect Kourin to act as she did either. |
| Ryuuki: |
I'd hoped to be able to do things more discreetly but we have no choice in the matter. Shuuei, I want you to restrain him immediately. |
| Shuuei: |
Understood. |
| Ryuuki: |
Kouyuu, I want you to stay with Kourin until she regains consciousness.
Inform Shouka-dono only in secret of what's happened. That and some people may get injured. Wake all the medical staff from Dr. Tou down so that any injured may be treated immediately. |
| Kouyuu: |
Understood.
By the way, Your Majesty. There's one other person missing. Given these circumstances it's too unnatural for that one to be missing. Seiran's... |
| Ryuuki: |
Wrong. |
| Kouyuu: |
Any evidence? |
| Ryuuki: |
None. |
| Kouyuu: |
That's worthless then. |
| Shuuei: |
Your Majesty. It seems you didn't send Seiran a flower did you. Why not? |
| Ryuuki: |
Because there was no need. |
| Kouyuu: |
No need? |
| Ryuuki: |
Even without verifying his heart, Seiran wouldn't betray either Shuurei or myself. In other words, it's the same as not doubting his giving me his support compared to you two who accepted the flower of your own accord. |
| Shuuei: |
My, you give a very high appraisal. |
| Ryuuki: |
It's not an appraisal. I know. Stubborn and inflexible, defiant and never attempting to curry favour with higher authorities... with pride so high as to be almost haughty, having firm confidence and faith in oneself, and refusing to bow to unfairness. |
| Shuuei: |
Are we being praised? |
| Kouyuu: |
Who knows. |
| Shuuei: |
In that case Your Majesty, in your eyes, you're saying that Seiran is innocent? |
| Ryuuki: |
Yes. |
| Shuuei: |
You pass, Your Majesty. |
| Kouyuu: |
That's...? |
| Shuuei: |
A note Seiran gave me. |
| Kouyuu: |
A note? |
| Shuuei: |
Actually, I was told not to show it to you but... if you say he's innocent to that extent... |
| Kouyuu: |
!? |
| Shuuei: |
Eh? You're not surprised? |
| Kouyuu: |
What're you talking about. I'm surprised! |
| Shuuei: |
Not you; I'm asking His Majesty. |
| Ryuuki: |
I knew.
|
| Sa: |
It's been a long time... I wonder if that'd be appropriate. Seeing you reminds me of the distant past, Prince Seien.
|
| Kouyuu: |
That Seiran was Prince Seien. |
| Shuuei: |
They're quick at running.
Your Majesty. |
| Ryuuki: |
Carry out my orders immediately. Capture Sa Taiho. Most likely Seiran is there as well. |
| Shuuei: |
Aye! |
| Kouyuu: |
And Your Majesty? |
| Ryuuki: |
Shuurei's at the Sentoushou. I'll go. |
| Kouyuu: |
At the Sentoushou? |
| Shuuei: |
It's dangerous. No doubt it's a trap. |
| Ryuuki: |
Probably. But only until jumping in. I'll get Shuurei back!
|
| Sa: |
When I'd been serving the previous Emperor, it was a period of unending wars. Along with Sou and Shou, fighting our way through the field of battle we recklessly sought to rise through the ranks. Among the seven families, rising to the top from the lower-ranked Sa family, that's all I thought about as I served the previous Emperor. |
| Seiran: |
And you accomplished that solidly; rising to the top of the hundred officials, to the title of Taiho - one of the three top advisors - and the position and authority that that entails. What point is there to doing this sort of thing now? |
| Sa: |
It's a gamble. |
| Seiran: |
Gamble? |
| Sa: |
It was fine when I thought of being higher than any other in the seven families. But unfortunately I came to realise that I could never rise to the very top. That that man was always above me. |
| Seiran: |
Shou Taishi. |
| Sa: |
Regardless of how much I might try, I couldn't reach him - Shou. I suppose he's what you'd call a genius. |
| Seiran: |
You rose to the rank of Taiho! |
| Sa: |
I'm a normal person. Promotions, prestige, rank and authority, using those things as provender, I clawed my way up. But Shou was different. That one truly, did all he could only for the Emperor, he had no interest in authority or rank. Almost as though his mere existence was enough.
And that's why I hated Shou.
|
| Seiran: |
Hated? |
| Sa: |
Showing me first hand the difference between him and a normal person like myself. I don't regret my life. And I've realised most of what I wished. But there's only one wish that I have left. To be above Shou... Right now, that's my only wish. How he'll act, whether I'll be able to defeat him, it's a bet. I've gotten old. And because I'm old, I can gamble on this. I have no regrets for the short time remaining to my life. It's my first and final gamble. While putting the finishing touches on my life, I want to paint in that final mark. |
| Seiran: |
And for that, her ladyship...
|
| Shuurei: |
I wonder where I am. Just who... and for what? There's nothing to be gained from kidnapping me. |
| Sa: |
Ryuuki-sama taking to her as he did was unexpected. I guess it can't be helped if he says that he prefers that young girl over my grand-daughter. And while trying to figure out how next to act, I learned of your existence, Prince Seien. |
| Seiran: |
I'm not Seien! |
| Sa: |
Your eyes are exactly like the previous Emperor's when he was young. |
| Seiran: |
I-- |
| Sa: |
Well, it doesn't matter if you keep denying it. But if people learn that Prince Seien has returned, no doubt there are many who would want him to be Emperor. |
| Seiran: |
Saiunkoku's Emperor is Ryuuki-sama alone! Do you intend to repeat the strife of eight years ago?? |
| Sa: |
It's not necessary to do that. All we need is for Ryuuki-sama to die... for example from an unfortunate accident or something.
|
| Ryuuki: |
If Shuurei's there, then even the dark... |
| Shuurei: |
Who is it? |
| Assassin: |
He's come. |
| Assassin: |
We'll get to see something interesting from here on.
|
| Sa: |
We've prepared the throne and have been waiting for you Prince Seien. |
| Seiran: |
What have you done to Ryuuki-sama? |
| Sa: |
As always you think of your younger brother. Ryuuki-sama was always on his own, and you're the only one who truly cared for him. Is it because you were in the same environment? |
| Seiran: |
Wrong! It's because he's the only one who adored me - without any ulterior motives, just innocently. It's me who relied on him. It's because Ryuuki was there that I was able to keep living in the Imperial Palace! I'm the one who loved him! Tell me! What did you do to Ryuuki?! |
| Sa: |
It seems like you won't take the throne so easily. |
| Seiran: |
It's impossible! Your eyes have become clouded, foolish Sa Taiho! |
| Sa: |
What?
|
| Shuurei: |
Ryuuki!
|
| Seiran: |
Trying to put me on the throne is impossible! The court is already trying to change to the new reign. You've missed your chance! Ran Shuuei and Li Kouyuu have already decided their master and the place for their fidelity. Putting a puppet on the throne, they, along with myself, would not hesitate in the least to make you lose all credit. |
| Sa: |
Hmph. |
| Seiran: |
For one thing, my younger brother isn't as foolish as you think. And I'm not as obedient as you might think. |
| Sa: |
So it seems. In that case, until you become a bit more obedient...
There are plenty of ways to make those who don't agree into puppets.
Take him.
Isn't it a lovely scent?. |
| Seiran: |
Sa Taiho... |
| Sa: |
When you wake, you'll be on the throne.
|
| Assassin: |
No one said anything about him being this skilled! |
| Ryuuki: |
Where is Shuurei? |
| Assassin: |
Over here. Your Princess is here. |
| Ryuuki: |
Is it really Shuurei? |
| Assassin: |
Yeah. I'm afraid she's been gagged, so she can't talk. Now throw down your sword. |
| Shuurei: |
N-nooo! Wrong! Those two are assassins who are trying to kill you! |
| Assassin: |
Good boy. |
| Shuurei: |
You mustn't go! Ryuuki!
|
| Sa: |
Tie him up and go.
What?? |
| Kokurou: |
The King identified you. Shogun Ran will be here shortly. |
| Sa: |
How? |
| Kokurou: |
You were traced from the girl you put in the Imperial Residence - Kourin. |
| Sa: |
From Kourin? I haven't told that one anything.
|
| Kourin: |
Forgive me, Enjun-sama.
|
| Kokurou: |
Kourin somehow realised what you desired. Caring so much for you, she wanted to help you and decided to try to kill Kou-kihi of her own accord. You came into suspicion from her.
I believe, eight years ago during the fight for the throne, Kourin collapsed outside your gate and before she died of starvation, you took her in. |
| Kourin: |
Enjun-sama. |
| Sa: |
What is it Kourin? |
| Kourin: |
Um, this. I embroidered it. Will you accept it? |
| Sa: |
Kourin. |
| Kokurou: |
Ironic isn't it. Your plot fell apart because of your kind heart. |
| Sa: |
That's impossible. Shusui never said a single thing... |
| Kokurou: |
Shusui? If that's the assassin I know, then there's no mistake, she's one of the Wolves of the Wind. The only ones who can order her are the former Emperor and myself... and Shou Taishi only. |
| Sa: |
?? I see. So that's how it was.
*laughs*
You mean I've been dancing in the palm of his hand?! At the very end! Shou! And to think that you are the legendary assassin the Black Wolf! How you must've been laughing at us.
*laughs*
Take the Prince and go. But you're not the one who's to take my life! |
Kokurou /
Shouka: |
Sheesh. Being so reckless.
|
| Shuurei: |
You mustn't Ryuuki! You mustn't go. Ryuuki! |
| Trailer: |
My work's finished. Although a number of things happened, it was fun. Now then Shou Taishi-- I'll take that promised 500 gold pieces! |
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