The Twelve Kingdoms: Dreaming of Paradise

is different from your job?"
    Seitaku smiled. "A job is that which I do at my own choosing. My duty was bestowed on me by Heaven."
    Taiki was puzzling this over when a familiar voice rang in his ears. Spinning around, he saw Seirai standing there mutely and another figure coming up behind him. "Sougen," he called out.
    At the same time, a woman said, feigned surprise in her voice, "What in the world are you doing meeting the Taiho dressed like that for?" Her brilliant golden hair glowed like sunlight. "And to make matters worse, in a place like this! I don't care how personal a visit it is, there are limits to such things!"
    "Of course, of course. She's right, of course. You must all pardon my manners."
    "And on top of that, leaving his escorts at the gate completely at loose ends!"
    Seitaku apologized like an unruly child, though the sparkle remained in his eyes. The woman must have taken note of it as well. With a half-piqued, half-amused expression, she knelt down in front of Taiki so they were approximately eye-to-eye.
    "You must be the Tai Taiho. I'm pleased to welcome you to Ren. Please don't take any offense."
    Illustration
    "Are you the Ren Taiho?"
    "Yes. I am very please to meet you."
    "Me too. Um, thank you very much."
    "What for?"
    "Gyoukuyou-sama on Mt. Hou told me that the Ren Taiho lent Senshi something very valuable when she came to get me."
    "Ah," Renrin smiled. "The Gogoukanda, you mean? His Highness let me borrow it. It is he you should thank. Though I think His Highness should get changed first."
    Catching another amused expression, Seitaku muttered, "Yeah, I suppose." He announced, "I shall go and mend my ways. If you all wouldn't mind waiting here—"
    Laughing cheerily, Seitaku returned to the Imperial living quarters. Taiki and the others were escorted back to the Gaiden. Then they all started over from square one, albeit doing everything by the book this time.

Chapter 13
    T aiki was scheduled to stay there for three days. He and his retinue were given an official reception and made an official appearance at court. But were otherwise treated as personal guests.
    They were given the use of a wing of the guest palace. There and within the main gardens of the Seishin as well, the ministerial staff dispatched to the environs were limited to the minimum number of attendants and caretakers. Not to mention that Seitaku breezily gave them free rein of the Imperial living quarters without, it seemed, a second thought.
    "It just can't be a good idea, them letting their guard down all the time like this," mused Sougen, who was having a hard time understanding what he was seeing.
    The adults in general seemed ill at ease with all this ease. Taiki, on the other hand, was having a grand time. He didn't get all the stuff about ceremony and protocol. And even when it made sense, he wasn't used to it, and constantly had to be on his toes so he wouldn't screw up.
    But it wasn't like that in Urou Palace at all.
    "Perhaps they feel comfortable letting down their guard because the palace is so secure," Asen wryly responded.
    Seirai sighed. "Secure or happy-go-lucky. The people of Ren seem a generous lot in any case."
    "That's not a good thing?" Taiki asked.
    Seirai's shoulders sagged a bit. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Only that it's hard teaching an old dog like me new tricks. I came up through the ranks as a military man. I'm an expert at following the rules to the letter and snapping to attention. When it comes to the opposite—"
    Both Sougen and Asen nodded in agreement. "It's like we don't really know where you stand, so we don't stand very tall. The Taiho shouldn't be afraid to enjoy himself. This place seems to fit your character."
    "It's not like I don't like Hakkei Palace."
    "I know that. And it's not like I dislike Urou Palace. I mean, these past two days, I've watched Tansui get himself lost at least three times."
    "That's true," Taiki grinned.
    "And yesterday, Tansui was fit to be tied when Ren Taiho brought us breakfast and made us tea."
    "I wouldn't go noising this around, but that's a state I've almost never seen him in."
    Taiki giggled. Tansui was standing by the door pretending as he always did that he was overhearing none of this. Still, he did look a bit downcast.
    "Well, I'm going to take off for a while," Taiki said.
    He left the tall, grand building and Tansui followed after him without a word. Taiki headed straight for the "North" palace complex. When Seitaku wasn't busy with business,