The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

supposed to think." As he spoke, his head lowered, the hard expression remained on his face. "I'm a kid, so everybody treats me like I'm something special. They don't let me see stuff and won't talk to me about stuff. And when they do, everybody knows it's too difficult for me to understand and they think they can't have me worrying about stuff I don't understand, so they don't say anything. Since it goes on all the time, I can't say whether you're telling me the truth or not."
    "Taiho--"
    "I mean, if what Rousan is saying is true, and if the rumors the civil servants are talking about are true, you're still going to tell me differently. You and Seirai and everybody else."
    Taiki let out a strained sigh and continued. "It's because I'm a kid, and there's nothing I can do about that. But I'm worried about Gyousou-sama too. He went off to some dangerous place far away. I don't want him to get injured or his life to be in danger. If something terrible happened, I'd want to help him. I know everybody thinks I can't do anything, but I still want to try the best I can and figure out something --"
    Taiki stopped talking. Tears filled his eyes. A strong air of despondency radiated from his body. "I can't help thinking, isn't this my job? But as far as everybody else is concerned, I'm just an unwelcome burden."
    Risai felt a pain in her heart. Taiki was in fact still a youngster. That was why everybody went out of their way to avoid causing this pure-hearted child any pain or suffering. This was all done with the best of intentions, but from Taiki's point of view, he was being ostracized merely because of his age and small stature. Risai had to wonder what Gyousou would do in her place.
    "That surely isn't the case, Taiki," she said.
    Taiki let go of her hand and ran through the gate. Watching him leave, she sighed deeply, and turned on her heels, and headed to the Ministry of Winter.

    Rousan was still at the ministry. Risai informed her secretary that she wished to see her. After a short wait Risai was invited into her office. Rousan seemed buried up to her neck in correspondence and official paperwork.
    Rousan glanced up from the volume she was perusing and said, gesturing with her hand, "Just find yourself someplace to sit down."
    She looked like a young girl of sixteen or so, hardly an appearance that agreed with her position as head of the Rikkan. But her scholarship was vast and deep. As the Daishikuu of the Ministry of Winter there was certain nobody else as capable. Rousan was said to be a veritable polymath.
    Her portfolio included the shoushi, genshi and gishi. These departments manufactured goods and material for the kingdom, made amulets and charms, and explored new technologies. They employed countless numbers of artisans, and Rousan could speak to any one of them fluently in the jargon of their trade and make herself understood.
    "Why did you say such things to the Taiho?"
    Rousan's head jerked up. Ah, that-- the expression on her face said. "Because I thought somebody should bring it to his knowledge."
    "At this point, it all amounts to little more than rumor and innuendo. Telling him such things--"
    "You mean, don't go filling his head with such nonsense and causing him needless worry? Yet the fact remains that there well might be a conspiracy against Gyousou-sama in the works."
    "That is only a possibility."
    "Which makes it possible. If true, it is a grave matter indeed. I don't think the Taiho is better off staying in the dark."
    "But--" Risai started to respond.
    Rousan scowled and shut the book. She folded one leg beneath her on the chair and rested her chin in her hand. "If you ask me, you're all treating the kirin with kid gloves. I understand this impulse to pamper him, but when it comes to the affairs of the Kingdom, there are limits. Let's pretend this isn't just some rebellion in a far-off province, but a full-scale insurrection in the works. How can the Saiho of the Kingdom not be informed? The Saiho has his duties as Saiho. Age is beside the point. If the Provincial Guard has to be mobilized, he must first grant permission."
    "That is true, but--"
    "So don't come barging in here with that scary look on your face. I'm the one acting logically. Everybody around here is letting emotion get the better of them."
    Risai was at a loss for words. She couldn't quibble with what Rousan was saying.
    "But now that we're on the subject, if something has happened to His Highness, how do we proceed? The Taiho