The Twelve Kingdoms: Dreaming of Paradise

is Taiki."
    "Ah," the man said, a friendly smile rising to his face. "I see. So you're the Tai Taiho. I heard you were a small fellow. It looks like the reports were right on the mark."
    "And you are?"
    "My name is Ou. Ou Seitaku."
    "This is a really great garden."
    The young man grinned. "You think so?"
    "What's that red fruit called?"
    "Red kashou. Here, have one—"
    Seitaku casually reached out and plucked a glittering red fruit from a branch. He dunked it in a water bucket and wiped it off with a handkerchief. "Here you go, Tai Taiho. There are seeds inside, so take care."
    "Sure." Taiki looked up at him. "Are you sure this is okay? Doesn't all of this belong to the king?"
    "I grew it, so I don't see the problem."
    "But won't the king get mad at you?"
    A slightly perplexed expression came to Seitaku's face. "Well, I'm the king, so I think that unlikely." He placed the red fruit in Taiki's palm.
    Taiki gaped at him. "You—you're the Royal Ren?"
    "That's me."
    Unsure of how to proceed with this information in hand, Taiki peeked over his shoulder at Seirai. Seirai stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide. Confused, Taiki turned his attention back to the grinning Seitaku. He'd studied the proper protocol for accepting an audience with the king in the Seiden. Nothing he'd learned had covered situations like this.
    As if taking no note of Taiki's bewilderment, Seitaku picked another fruit from the tree and said, indicating Seirai with a glance, "Do you think this gentleman would like one?"
    "Yes. I mean, no," Seirai stumbled.
    "Ah, it isn't polite of me to keep you standing around like this. There's a gazebo no far off. Let's go over there."
    Taiki nodded, because he couldn't think of any other way to respond.

Chapter 12
    S eitaku filled the bucket with red kashou and they made their way out of the orchard. A little further on they came across on a pond enclosed within beautiful, stone-lined banks. Here and there bridges decorated with intricate geometric designs arced over the pond. The patios and gazebos surrounding the pond almost seemed to have been drawn there like grazing animals seeking out water.
    Seitaku headed for one of the gazebos and waved to them from the water's edge. "Taiho, have a seat. That formal clothing must be hot. How about you at least remove your top coat?"
    "Um, okay. But—" He looked at Seirai.
    A thin smile came to Seirai's lips. "Well, if he insists—"
    "You as well."
    "Oh, there's no need to worry about a petty official such as myself."
    "But it must be uncomfortable."
    "Ah, true, yes, it is. Well, then, no harm in taking you up on that offer—"
    Observing the vacillating Seirai with bright eyes, Seitaku washed his hands in the pond and then rinsed off the rest of the fruit in the bucket. He lined them up on a stone table facing the water.
    "I'm in an awfully rude state, what with the Taiho having gone to such trouble to dress up for the occasion. The word I got was that this was a personal visit, not official business."
    "Yes, um, sorry about that."
    Seitaku laughed. "Nothing the Taiho needs to apologize for. I tend to be rather careless about such things. It not being about business or politics, I figured we could treat it like the neighbors stopping by for a spot of tea. The Taiho will surely have a few heated words to say on that account."
    "Me?"
    "No, no," Seitaku said with a grin. "My Taiho. It's funny. From the start, Renrin hasn't given me a moment's peace about me being the way I am." He laughed again. "I got a bit caught up with my red kashou, so without giving it any thought, I just said to send you on through. Of course, I should have done as Renrin instructed and donned more formal attire and waited in the Gaiden."
    "What were you doing when we came in?"
    "Pruning the trees. By cutting back the branches that don't bear the best fruit, the rest will grow much bigger."
    "That's something you seem to know a lot about."
    "Because I'm a farmer. It's what farmers do."
    "Isn't your job being king?" Taiki in a surprised voice.
    Seitaku reacted as if this question was entirely unexpected. He tilted his head to the side. "My duty, perhaps, but not my job. Being king won't put food on the table, after all."
    Taiki blinked, not grasping the subtleties of the distinction. Seitaku smiled. "Wouldn't you say the job of a farmer is growing crops and raising animals?"
    "Yeah—I guess so." Taiki nodded. "But isn't fulfilling your duty the same as a job?"
    "I don't really think so."
    "Your duty