The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

losing followers. She didn't think they were loyal to him simply out of fear.
    Branded a traitor and constantly on the run, she turned to scouring Tai in search of Gyousou. During that time, she intended to round up anybody who had any doubts about Asen or was inclined to oppose him and mount a rebellion. But suspiciously, such efforts always fell apart at the last minute. There had to be turncoats among them sabotaging the cause.
    Those who'd leveled their criticisms at Asen and raised their voices against his inhuman nature the day before would the next day suddenly become his ardent supporters. The same remarkable trend was observed among many of the nobles as well.
    "One day the Province Lords had our backs and were supporting us, and the next day they were selling us out to Asen. To keep their positions, they caved into Asen as if the backbones had been plucked from their bodies. They averted their eyes as the sovereignty of their lands was violated and their subjects killed."
    It was a sickness. That was the word bandied about. And it certainly did resemble a plague. Those infected lost the will to oppose Asen. No matter what the atrocity, they ceased to care. No matter what crimes were committed right before their eyes, they felt not a twinge of sympathy.
    "It sounds like brainwashing," Youko muttered to herself. Using some sort of technique like that, the conquering forces had swept across Tai. In any case, it seemed that nothing could stop the traitors.
    "The people of Tai do not have the means to save themselves," Risai gasped.
    Youko hurriedly grasped her hand. "Are you alright?"
    "Yes," Risai replied firmly, but her voice was interrupted by ragged breaths. Dark shadows encircled her closed eyes.
    "It's okay. That'll be all for today. You need your rest."
    Risai grasped Youko's hand, putting remarkable strength into her thin, worn fingers. "Please. Save Tai."
    Youko squeezed her hand in turn. "I understand."
    Koshou had withdrawn a short ways off. Summoned by Koukan, he rushed in. After telling them to wrap things up, Youko left the room with obvious reluctance.
    She looked up at the faces of Shouryuu and Koukan. "I can't abandon them. I won't."
    "Youko," Shouryuu said in a low rebuke.
    "You heard that, didn't you? How am I supposed to look the other way? What good is a ruler who just stands by and let these things happen?"
    "Youko, that isn't the problem."
    "Isn't it said that Heaven rules the World Below according to the Way? How can casting Tai aside be in keeping with the Way? You say that Heaven won't allow it, but is that really true? Where is this Heaven anyway? Who is this person saying what is and what isn't allowed?"
    Tentei, the Lord God of the Sky, resided in Heaven and governed the actions of Divine Providence. Tentei appointed the ruler of each kingdom. But even in the midst of the ceremony, Youko had not seen Him or heard His voice. Told that He existed, believing that He existed, and accepting that the world existed according to his word, there was yet not a single person who had seen Tentei.
    "If my job as an empress is to sit here and protect Kei and watch Tai go to the dogs and do nothing, then you can take this throne and shove it."
    With that declaration, Youko ran down the steps and into the courtyard.

Chapter 22
    I n a fury, Youko headed towards the interior of Kinpa Palace. For a while she walked aimlessly about. Passing through an isolated group of buildings, she found herself in a peaceful spot overlooking the Sea of Clouds.
    The buildings of Kinpa Palace covered the rolling hills at the top of the mountain. Cutting across the castle courtyard and through a short tunnel in a rock wall, she had arrived in a small valley nestled between some deformed outcroppings of stone.
    The valley ended at a promontory projecting into the Sea of Clouds. It was a small piece of land, decorated only by a few gazebos. Other than the flowers adorning the stems of the summer grass, there wasn't a whole lot to look at.
    Youko sighed to herself. The trees perched atop the soaring rock walls to her right and left cast their shadows down upon her. Nothing else was here but the green smell and the salt scent of the ocean and the vista of the Sea of Clouds spreading out before her.
    "I never knew there was a place like this--" Youko wondered out loud, sitting down on the grass.
    She heard the cry of a bird and the roar of the ocean. She never imagined that there might be a place like this in Kinpa Palace.