The Twelve Kingdoms: Dreaming of Paradise

conspirators could be counted among them. And there were certainly similar cases to found elsewhere of patriots committing acts of high treason in order to remove a wayward king, and with no thoughts of usurpation on their minds.
    It'd always been the case that the chief architect of such schemes had been chosen to sit upon the vacant throne. It was the logical consequence of treason and regicide. Any person who could decide for himself that the king had strayed from the Way and deserved to be replaced by himself was in the very thought committing treason.
    "Then I take it," Sei tentatively offered, "that the Marquis does not intend to stand as the provisional king?"
    Gekkei drew his brows. The words struck at his heart with a force he hadn't expected. "This would be no reason for a provisional king. There exists no provisional court, you see."
    No man who sat upon the throne as the result of revolution could boast of the Divine Mandate. The king with Heaven's blessing had been replaced by one who lacked it, and thus was labeled a "pretender." A pretender's court was a counterfeit one.
    "As much as I hate to say it, you would best call this a counterfeit court. The intent was never to replace the king."
    The general nodded. He started to say something, and then quickly thought better of it.
    "What was that? There's no need to hold back on my account."
    "Well, if you wouldn't mind me saying so, I had good reason to believe the current King of Hou was the Marquis of Kei. Her Highness was operating under that assumption as well. The letter Her Highness entrusted to me is intended for His Royal Highness, the Marquis of Kei. It is not within my authority to deliver it to the Chousai instead. The state of affairs that you describe had not occurred to us."
    Gekkei smiled bitterly. "Yes, I guess it would be natural for he who stole the king's life to steal his throne as well."
    Sei shifted with obviously discomfort. "I wouldn't go that far—"
    "I fomented the rebellion and murdered the king. But that does not mean I did so with any desire to rule in his stead. I am fully aware of the gravity of my sins, just as I know that this unworthy body of mine cannot be allowed to defile the throne."
    At that moment, Shouyou hurried into the room. Gekkei continued, "I see the Chousai has arrived. If you would be kind enough to excuse me—"
    He bowed and departed, brushing past Shouyou as he left the hall.

Chapter 3
    S houyou first saw the hard expression on Gekkei's face, and then the bewildered look on the face of visitor from the Kingdom of Kei, who was dressed in ministerial robes. He sensed the awkwardness in the air. But Gekkei's brisk exit afforded him no opportunity to call him back.
    "I am the Chousai of the Kingdom of Hou. I thank you for taking the trouble to travel such a great distance to visit us."
    He bowed, though he could tell that the attention of his opposite was still focused on the door Gekkei had just exited. The man's entourage as well buzzed with audible confusion.
    "What—what was that?"
    "I am truly sorry," Shouyou said with a nod of his head. "I fear I bear no small responsible for the mood of the Marquis at the moment."
    The man knelt and bowed. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Sei Shin, commander of the Kei Palace Guard.
    "And I am pleased to welcome you here. You must be very taken aback by what has transpired so far."
    "Not at all," Sei said with a smile. "I am sure the fault is my own. I must apologize to the Chousai as well. The fact of the matter is, Her Highness entrusted me with a letter that was to be delivered to the Marquis of Kei. Yet I gathered from the Marquis that the Chousai governs the Imperial Court. In that case, I suppose the letter should be delivered to you. Except that this correspondence touches upon a matter that concerns the Marquis personally. I am left in something of a quandary as to what to do next."
    Shouyou sighed and shook his head. "Please make yourself comfortable and get what rest you need. Your aides-de-camp as well."
    He called for the undersecretary and instructed him to provide quarters for the general's attendants and to see to it that they were taken care of. Then he led the general deeper into the annex, to a courtyard shadowed by a fresh growth of verdant green.
    "You've arrived at the best time of the year in Hou. Please, have a seat. I'll have some refreshments brought."
    "That would be fine."
    The general followed him into the courtyard.