The Twelve Kingdoms: Dreaming of Paradise

said with a nod. He stared up at the ceiling and muttered, "Then who?" His eyes flew open. He glanced at Shuka. She answered with a small nod. That same awful realization must have struck him as well.
    Eishuku gave the Taisai a flustered look and took a deep breath. Shuka sighed as well, a sigh tinged with disappointment and dispair.
    A second later, the door to the room crashed open. Armored soldiers from the Palace Guard poured in. Leading them was a commander of the Palace Guard of the Left. He held out a warrant for them all to see.
    "I have been authorized to take the Chousai, Daishito, Taisai, and Shousai into custody on suspicion of treason."

Part IV
    huka froze in astonishment, as did Eishuku and the others. Their voices rose as one. What is going on? But to no avail. They were bound with cords and shoved into one of the rooms in the Naiden office of the Left.
    They grasped only that the Daishikou had been sacked, the position hadn't been filled, so the Shoushikou, vice-minister of the Ministry of Fall, had authorized the arrest.
    "Junkou was planning an insurrection, the Taishi found out, so the Taiho killed him and fled the Palace. And the Daishito—"
    Her arms still bound, Shuka raised her head at the Shoushikou's emotionless mention of her position.
    "It has become clear that you intended to aid and abet Junkou by meeting with the Taiho and spreading rumors of the shitsudou."
    Shuka gasped in surprise. "Just a minute! Are you claiming that the Taiho's condition is a sham?"
    He was implying that Sairin faked her condition and Shuka had colluded with her to spread rumors of the shitsudou, and that Sairin as well had participated in this "conspiracy." In what universe would the kirin raise the standard of revolt against her own king? She was about to raise her voice and object when the Shoushikou cut her off.
    "There's no use trying to deny it."
    His face was clouded with bitter mortification. It was unlikely that the Shoushikou believed a word he was saying.
    "The Chousai communicated with Junkou through his servant. Eyewitnesses will testify that this servant met secretly with Shunkou-sama on many occasions."
    Seiki attempt to protest this accusation but was silenced as well.
    "The Taisai and Shousai, along with the General of the Palace Guard of the Right, who was commanding the nightwatchmen at the East Palace gate, helped Junkou commit his atrocity and make his escape. It has come to light as well that the Chousai conspired to cover up the evidence of their heinous crimes and pass off the Taisai's regrettable death as an accident."
    The Shoushikou read the indictment in a monotone without raising his eyes.
    "Out of compassion, you will be released for now, but the parties in question will remain under house arrest until and unless the Ministry of Fall orders otherwise. Soldiers will be posted at your residences, which you may not leave under any condition. Nor will any communication between yourselves be allowed."
    With a brief glance, he lowered his head, as if embarrassed at what he was doing. The soldiers—who didn't appear any more enlightened than the rest of them—hauled them to their feet. Eishuku broke the silence.
    "Could I ask you one question?"
    The Shoushikou averted his eyes and didn't answer.
    "Is this His Highness's theory of the crime?"
    The Shoushikou didn't answer, but only hung his head.

Chapter 11
    S huka and Eishuku were taken, bound, to their official residence south of the Imperial Living Quarters. They were finally released in the main hall. The doors to the hall were secured from the outside. Armed soldiers in battle armor were posted about the periphery.
    "Master, Mistress, I'm dreadfully sorry," Seiki cried out when they entered the living room. "This is all because I met with Junkou-sama. I've gotten you all involved in something awful." He slumped to the floor in distress.
    "No, you haven't, Seiki," Shuka said, giving him a reassuring hug. "There's no way that any of this is your fault."
    "But—"
    Shuka shook her head. She looked up at Eishuku. "Eishuku, this is because—"
    She didn't need to finish the sentence in order to be understood. Shishou believed that Junkou was at the root of some sort of coup d'etat. Nobody knew what had happened the night Daishou had been murdered. As Shuka had begun to suspect, one possibility was that, enraged by their criticisms, Shishou had attacked Daishou and Junkou.
    The other possibility was that Shishou was not involved, but