“Riri-sama, there’s no one around.”
It was the second night after Riri arrived at the inner palace. Riri slipped out of the inner palace, and when she heard Ryouka’s voice in front of her, she quietly peeked out from behind the thicket. The moonlit garden was quiet. Everyone seemed to be asleep and there was no one around as far as the eye could see. She walked up to Ryouka, who was hiding behind the tree.
“I heard that you can’t leave the inner palace unless it’s for the funeral of your parents of siblings. I guess it’s true.”
She stood next to Ryouka, whispered to her and Ryouka replied softly.
“You’ll be executed if you get caught sneaking out. So please don’t let them find you.”
She was horrified by what Ryouka had said, but there was a reason for why she had sneaked out of the inner palace even though she knew it was dangerous.
“I’m sorry, Ryouka. I’m sorry for being unreasonable. I really wanted to stay still but I really want to go to the Incense Palace. I don’t remember much about the time when Father made the treasured incense, but if I go to his mixing room in the Incense Palace, then I might remember something.’
Going to the Incense Palace was something that Riri and Mokuren had discussed before coming to court. She had asked him to leave the gates of the Incense Palace unlocked so that she could sneak out on the second night.
Ryouka led the way in the darkness of the night, and Riri felt so nervous that she could hardly breathe. Riri was terrified whenever she saw patrolling soldiers, but they managed to arrive in front of the Incense Palace gate.
“Riri-sama, I’ll hide in front of the gate and keep watch. I’ll let you know straight away if anyone comes.”
“Thanks. But I’m worried. You’ll be out here alone so late at night.”
“It’s alright. I can make an excuse if I’m found since I’m a servant, but you’ll be executed if you’re found, so please be very careful.”
“Okay. Then, I’ll go to where Mokuren is. I’m sorry, but please keep watch for me.”
Ryouka watched as Riri walked into the Incense Palace.
Riri looked around and felt nostalgic, but soon frowned.
“Oof, this smell! This really is the Department of Incenses. There are so many different fragrances mixed together, it almost smells gross. My nose is going to wrinkle from the stench.”
She held her nose and the door in front of her opened. She tried to hide in a panic, but it was Mokuren.
“Riri, thanks for coming. Come inside quickly.”
He invited her into the room. She looked around the small room and smiled.
“This is Father’s old mixing room?”
In the back was a wooden desk and chair. On the walls were latticed windows and green curtains, and papers and scrolls were piled up so high on the floor that they looked as if they were going to fall down at any moment.
She felt so nostalgic that she almost cried as she looked around the cluttered room.
“Yeah. This room has been used by the head of the Department of Incenses for many generations, this means that your father, Saido-sama, also worked hard here. You said you’ve been here a few times. Do you remember anything from those times?”
She looked at the back of the room and saw her father sitting in his chair, staring at the incense burner on his desk.
“Until now, my memory of Father has been very faint, and I could only recall his blurry face. But as soon as I came into this room, I could see him sitting in that chair… Ouch!”
She thought she could remember her father’s face clearly this time, but she had her usual headache.
But it was more intense this time. She couldn’t stand up, so she crouched down.
“Are you alright?”
Mokuren rushed over to her in a panic. He put his hand on her shoulder and she managed to nod.
“… Why do I always get a headache whenever I try to remember Father?”
She didn’t know the answer to this either. Mokuren stroked her head.
“I’m sure it’s because you’re trying to remember the shock you felt when Saido-sama passed away. That’s why your mind refuses to remember that shock and gives you a headache.”
She was ten years old when her father passed away, so she should be able to remember something about him, but she couldn’t remember anything at all. She also thought that she had intentionally forgotten about him because the shock she had felt at that time had been too great. She tried not to think about her father and her headache naturally went away.
She finally pulled herself together, stood up and looked around the room again.
“I remember those green curtains well. I remember how scary it was to see the candle flickering on the curtains when it got dark and the candles were the only source of light. And…”
Her eyes fell on the small chair at the corner of the room.
“I always sat on that chair and watched Father’s back as he mixed the incenses. He would only call me when he was unsure what the source of the aroma was and made me smell them. When I guess the materials correctly, he would get me to sit on the chair again. I was always hungry as I watched Father mix the incenses.”
Her father always forgot to eat whenever he mixed incenses, so she was always hungry whenever she was here.
When she closed her eyes, she pictured her kind, but sometimes stern, father.
“… I think this is the first time I’ve remembered him this well.”
“I’m sure your super olfaction reacted to the unique scent at the Department of Incenses and brought back your memories of him. Memories become more vivid when you enter a room that is full of memories. Your super olfaction is special, so I thought if I brought you here, then you would remember something.”
Mokuren took a step closer to her.
“I’m sure you’ve seen Saido-sama mixing the treasured incense here. Do you remember anything?”
Mokuren, who was always carefree, looked unusually serious now.
(He must be desperate since he said that the Department of Incenses will be destroyed if they can’t produce the treasured incense by the time of the perfumers meeting. I want to help prepare the treasured incense somehow for his sake too. But…)
She closed her eyes and pondered for a while, but then she sighed.
“I’m sorry. I can’t remember anything about the treasured incense. I only remember Father’s back.”
“If you were close enough to see his back, then you would have smelled the fragrances that he was mixing. You would have known what materials were being used to make it with your super olfaction.”
That was true, but no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t remember what it smelled like at that time.
“I can’t remember at all. I’m really sorry, Mokuren.”
She quietly opened her eyes and looked down, and Mokuren’s serious expression relaxed slightly.
“No, it’s okay. It won’t be that easy for you to remember since it was six years ago. But there must be a clue to the treasured incense hidden in your memory. I also want to protect the Department of Incenses that Saido-sama protected. So, I need your help.”
“Of course. I can’t recall any of it, but I’m sure I’ll be able to remember if I smell and check each of the materials that were used to make the treasured incense. I can’t rely on my memories, but I can trust my super olfaction.”
The materials available downtown couldn’t help her recall any memories of the treasured incense. Perhaps precious materials that are needed to make the treasured incense can only be found in the Department of Incenses. Mokuren smiled and nodded.
“I’m looking forward to it. First, you have to ask Kousho-sama to let you participate in the perfumers meeting.”
When he said that, she remembered what she had done and said on her first day at Beautiful Flower Palace.
(I said some pretty rude things. I don’t regret it since I don’t think I was wrong, but I’m certain that Kousho-sama is angry…)
She turned white. She was troubled and Mokuren tilted his head.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing, umm… Kousho-sama has a fiery temperament, doesn’t he…?”
Mokuren widened his eyes and then smiled wryly.
“Ah, have you already met him? He’s wise, skilled in martial arts, and handsome. He’s perfect, but he can be very harsh with his own people. He does hold himself back, so it hasn’t become a big problem.”
“I wonder if he won’t listen to my wishes if he hates me.”
“Maybe. I heard that he wouldn’t even talk to a person if he hates them, so make sure he doesn’t hate you. Please get permission from him to attend the perfumers meeting.”
He patted her on the shoulder and smiled, but she couldn’t reply.
(I can’t tell him. I can’t tell him that Kousho-sama already hates me… What should I do?!”
She felt like she had been plunged into darkness when she thought about the future.
“I’m troubled. How am I supposed to get permission from Kousho-sama?”
Last night, Riri had sneaked into the Incense Palace so she didn’t sleep much. But she managed to get her foggy mind to work and pondered how she could meet Kousho again.
“I don’t think I said anything wrong but being right isn’t enough to get by in this world. I think I should meet him again and apologise.”
She thought about this and took a breath.
CLASH
She heard something crash and looked at the direction in the corridor in surprise. Then, she immediately heard the sound of footsteps.
“Who is it?”
Part of her was scared, but another part of her really wanted to know what had happened, so she stood up.
She cautiously opened the room door. Outside the door was a corridor with a well-maintained garden on the other side. Several men had rushed in. They were holding swords in their hands.
From their dishevelled and dirty clothes, they didn’t seem like members of the court. A man walked into the garden, following the men with messy hair. The man was in his early twenties. He was tall and in great shape. He had short black hair, sharp black eyes, and an iron breastplate on his body that was so strong that it could make any woman fall in love with him. The spear in his right hand was pointed at the men.
“Garan-sama! Please stand down. We can take care of this.”
A few soldiers who rushed in later spoke to the big man. But the man, “Garan”, laughed faintly.
“I can take care of these thieves. You guys stand down.”
Garan glared at the men with a relaxed expression.
“I’m Gou Garan, the general in charge of protecting the palace. You guys have some nerve to enter the palace to steal. I don’t think you guys snuck in here alone. Someone must have helped you. I’ll capture you and make you talk.”
Riri’s eyes widened when she heard him say the word ‘general’.
“He’s the general…. So that means he holds the ‘Phoenix’ title.”
There are three people who hold the auspicious beast titles. They are the protectors of this country.
The Emperor, who rules this country, holds the Dragon title.
The General, who controls the army and protects the country, holds the Phoenix title.
The Master Perfumer, who has a benevolent heart, holds the Qilin title.
Looking closely, she saw that the black cloth that Garan was wearing over his shoulders was embroidered with the image of a phoenix with its wings spread wide in gold thread. Garan swayed that cloth and laughed boldly.
“It’s a pain in the ass, so come at me together. I’ll let you off the hook if you can take a swing at me.”
His overwhelming self-confidence was almost pleasing to behold. The men looked at each other, then turned to face Garan.
Garan let out a powerful yell like a wild beast as the men sprung at him all at once.
“Arghhh!”
The spear he had swung as he shouted knocked the men down. The battle was over in the blink of an eye. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that all the men had fallen to the ground.
“I won’t allow you to do as you please in this palace… or even in this country as long as I’m the general in charge of the army and hold the Phoenix title. Take them away!”
The soldiers seized the men at Garan’s signal. Ryouka ran down the corridor and kneeled very close to Riri.
“Are you alright, Riri-sama?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Did thieves get in?”
“Yes. They tried to sneak into the treasure room, but they were discovered, so they escaped to here. But it looks like they’ve been caught. Thank goodness!”
She invited Ryouka into the room. Ryouka suddenly blushed as they both peeked outside.
“Garan-sama is there. Then, it’s fine.”
“Garan is the big guy? If he’s the general, then he must hold the Phoenix title.”
“He does. He inherited the General title from his father at eighteen and has been in charge of the army for the past three years. He’s also in charge of the palace security, and is the only man, other than the royal family, who can enter the inner palace. He’s very strong!”
Ryouka admired him. Riri understood why she felt that way.
Indeed, Garan was strong and handsome enough to be popular among women.
“He’s really strong. He defeated the men in a second.”
“Enemies of this calibre are nothing for Garan-sama. Two years ago, he was the person who had single-handedly defeated a hundred enemies who had invaded the palace!”
Ryouka was very talkative when it came to Garan.
“A hundred enemies?! That’s amazing if it’s true.”
“It is. I saw it.”
Riri widened her eyes in surprise. Garan was really talented.
In the garden, the men were tied up in ropes and were about to be taken away.
“I apologize for the disturbance, Consorts. I’ll have this settled in no time.”
Garan pointed his spear upward and bowed politely towards the Beautiful Flower Palace building.
Riri suddenly realised something as she watched him.
“Watch out! Behind you!”
Riri opened the door and shouted. The man, who was supposed to be tied up behind Garan, had suddenly stood up. The rope had gently fallen to the ground and the man was about to slash Garan’s back with a dagger. Garan quickly turned around, caught the man’s arm in the nick of time, twisted it and took away the dagger. He then punched the man’s stomach and knocked him out.
“It seems the rope was tied too loosely. Don’t let your guard down just because you’ve seized them. Tie him up again and take him to jail.”
The soldiers shuddered at the low rebuke. The soldiers carefully tied the man up this time and took him away.
Garan turned to look at Riri after watching them walk away.
“Were you the one who shouted just now?”
Riri walked out into the corridor and nodded, and Garan smiled. The smile on his masculine face was unexpectedly gentle.
“Thanks. You’re my benefactor. Can you tell me your name? I’d like to thank you sometime.”
“My name is Riri. But I only did what I had to do, so you don’t have to thank me…”
After she’d said that much, she noticed that Garan’s expression had suddenly become stern.
“Riri? Ren Riri?”
She nodded in surprise when he repeated her name.
“That’s right.”
“So, you’re the person who Mokuren brought in to mix incenses even though you’re a woman?”
Riri was puzzled by the sudden harshness of his words. Garan was angry.
(I wonder what’s wrong? He was smiling so gently just now.)
Garan and the other soldiers nearby stared at her more intensely as she stared at Garan in confusion.
Ryouka panicked next to Riri and whispered in her ear.
“Riri-sama, the military and Department of Incenses have had a bad relationship for a long time. The military is a meritocracy, and they don’t like perfumers who use incenses with mysterious effects. Garan-sama doesn’t even talk to Mokuren-sama.”
When she heard this, she remembered that she had heard the same thing from Mokuren. Garan folded his arms.
“I’ve heard rumours that Mokuren has been trying to manipulate the palace from behind the scenes. I’ve always thought there was something fishy about him. I’ve always suspected that he was planning on doing something terrible with that unpredictable attitude of his.”
“No way! Mokuren isn’t that kind of person. He’s a wonderful perfumer who doesn’t care about getting ahead or prestige, and is passionate about mixing incenses… Though, he can be mean sometimes.”
Riri wanted to defend him, but she slurred her words when she thought about how he lied about all kinds of nonsense matters on a regular basis.
She saw Garan’s eyes widened in shock as she pondered about how to make him understand that Mokuren wasn’t a bad person.
“… I think I got a little too heated for my own good. That was not the right way to speak to a woman. I apologise for my rudeness.”
He apologised verbally, but the suspicious look in his eyes remained.
“But it’s my job to guard the palace. I will catch you and Mokuren immediately if you two act even the slightest suspicious. You’ll do well to remember that. Well then.”
She wanted to explain that Mokuren is an upright and uncorrupted man, but she was at a loss for words as he left the garden with his soldiers.
Riri hid behind a building and secretly stared at the garden at night.
Ryouka stood behind her. She looked nervous and her voice was quiet.
“It’s not good if you’re found outside of your room at night without permission even if you’re in the inner palace. Please try not to be found.”
“I know. But this is the only way for me to meet Kousho-sama. You’ve seen him at that pavilion a few times before, right?”
“Yes, I’ve seen him here two nights in a row, so he might be here tonight as well.”
This was the rear garden of Beautiful Flower Palace. It was a cozy garden with only a small pond with lotus flowers and some other plants. When Riri had come here during the day, there weren’t many people in this garden, probably because it was small, and it was reasonably well-maintained. However, the garden was completely different at night.
The moon was reflected in the pond in the middle of the quiet garden, illuminating the surroundings with its soft light. She felt peaceful in the quiet garden.
“It’s a little scary but it has a beautiful atmosphere. But why does he come here alone when he has beautiful women in the Beautiful Flower Palace?”
She needed to meet with Kousho in order to ask him to let her mix incenses in the Department of Incenses. But he is the Crown Prince. He isn’t someone who she could easily meet. He rarely showed his face at Beautiful Flower Palace, which was built for him. The other day was the first time he had come here.
As she wondered about how she could meet him, Ryouka informed her that she had seen him at this pavilion on her way back to the room after work.
“I imagine that since Kousho-sama isn’t too keen on taking a wife, he probably doesn’t want the officials to urge him to go here, so he stays here.”
“He’s unwilling to take a wife…? I’ve heard this before. But he has to marry his Empress if he wants to succeed the throne. Why doesn’t he want to marry one?”
“I heard Kousho-sama said that he will choose his own wife. The high officials built Beautiful Flower Palace to let him choose his own wife, but he doesn’t even visit the women here.”
The women in the Beautiful Flower Palace may not have the best personalities, but they are all unmistakably beautiful.
Kousho was pretty stubborn since he didn’t even look at them.
Ryouka and Riri watched the rear garden for a while, then they saw a figure enter the pavilion. The person sat on a chair inside the pavilion and was illuminated by the light of the full moon. The tall man with red hair was definitely Kousho.
“He’s here! Alright, I’ll go then. Ryouka, you wait here.”
“Are you alright by yourself? Please don’t be rude and get yourself killed.”
“I won’t. I’ll do my best this time.”
Riri told herself to calm down and relax, then she quietly approached the pavilion.
“… Oh, it’s the funny woman from last time.”
Kousho had been reading a book, but he turned and looked at her. She saw that he had his hand on his sword for a moment.
(That was close. Did he think I was someone suspicious? I have to be careful.)
She kept her distance from him and managed to smile.
“Good evening… What a coincidence.”
“Coincidence? I’ve felt your eyes on me for a while now. I thought you were enemies since you didn’t come out. Did you come here to lecture me again? Funny woman.”
“I’m not a funny woman, my name is Riri. I’m sorry for being rude to you the other day!”
She bowed her head in apology. She lifted her head and Kousho was looking at her curiously.
“I’m surprised you’re apologising. You didn’t say anything wrong.”
(He said I didn’t say anything wrong… So, he knows he’s arrogant.)
She thought that he was a Crown Prince who couldn’t look at himself objectively, but she realised that might not be the case.
“You must think that you’re not wrong. And yet, you’re desperate enough to apologise… is there something you want from me?”
She gasped at how sharp he was. Kousho put his hand on his chin.
“You have something you want that’s more important than your own will, so you looked for me to apologise and ask for a favour. There’s been a servant passing by here for the past two days. She told you that I was here, so you’ve been keeping an eye out for me.”
She was at a loss for words since he was right. Kousho smiled in satisfaction.
“I’m right. Your emotions show on your face. You should be careful if you want to survive in the inner palace which is full of beautiful monsters.”
She was frightened when she heard him say beautiful monsters. At the same time, she had a different impression of Kousho.
(I have a feeling that he pays close attention to those around him and knows how his words and actions will be perceived by others, which is why he acts arrogant. If so, then his arrogant behaviour might be a way to test people.)
In that case, Kousho is pretty smart. She won’t get the answer she wanted from him even if she tried her best to persuade him.
“You’ve suddenly gone quiet. You wanted to ask something of me, but you’ve finally realised that it won’t be that easy. If you understand this then get the hell out of here. I don’t like having my time interrupted.”
Kousho turned his attention back to his book as if to say that he was no longer interested in talking to her.
He was reading a book by the faint light on his desk. She wasn’t sure what to do, but she wouldn’t have the chance to meet him alone again. She told herself that this was her only chance.
“I won’t leave. I have a request for you.”
“I’ll refuse if you want me to make you my wife, or buy you expensive hair ornaments, or make your relatives into high officials.”
Kousho said bluntly with his eyes still on his book.
(I get the feeling he’s used to those kinds of situations. He’s the Crown Prince, so I’m sure there’s a lot of people who try to butter up to him. He might act the way he does to try and curb the people who try to butter up to him. If that’s the case…)
“I have a favour to ask, but I’m not going to ask for something expensive or to be treated well. I’m not interested in those things at all. I’m only interested in one thing: the treasured incense.”
She was sure that she couldn’t compete with Kousho in terms of speaking or intelligence. So, she had no choice but to honestly tell him how she felt. He raised his head slightly, but his eyes were still on his book.
“I’m begging you. Please give me permission to make the treasured incense and to participate in the perfumers meeting.”
As soon as she said her request, Kousho finally looked away from his book and stared at her.
“Oh. The treasured incense? You were brought here by Mokuren, right? You used your incense to help the woman who had a seizure at the clinic.”
Kousho smiled nastily.
“Come to think of it, I asked the clinic doctor about you. The doctor praised you, but he had one question. He said that your incenses work well, but for some reason, you always make incenses with the same effect. He asked why you didn’t make new incenses with different effects since it’s more profitable that way.”
She was shocked and broke out in cold sweat.
“Of course, it is a perfumers’ job to mix incenses, but their job is also to combine different materials to create new incenses with different effects. But you never try to make new incenses. You’re very skilled, so I’m curious as to why you don’t, especially since Mokuren recommended you to the Beautiful Flower Palace.”
Kousho’s nasty smile widened.
“I think you have a ‘fatal weakness’ as a perfumer.”
The cold sweat got worse. Riri felt like she couldn’t breathe properly because she was panicking.
“That’s because, umm…”
“I asked Mokuren a lot of questions when he recommended you to the Beautiful Flower Palace. Mokuren was being evasive, but when I kept questioning him about the incenses you made, the answers he gave me were as expected… Your fault weakness is that you’re a novice. It’s a hundred years too early for you to want to make the treasured incense.”
(Not good…! He knows my ‘secret’. I will never become a perfumer if anyone other than Mokuren knows about this…!)
When she turned pale, Kousho folded his arms.
“You’re only a novice, but a woman who can mix incenses is valuable, so I allowed you to enter the Beautiful Flower Palace. However, the perfumers meeting is a national event. I can’t allow a novice to participate in it. You’ll only just waste the sacred bamboo wood. Give up.”
He shooed her with one hand. She clenched her fist, knowing that things weren’t going well.
She contemplated on how to make him change his mind.
“I’m certainly only a novice, but I’m closer to completing the treasured incense than the perfumers at the Department of Incenses.”
She forcefully made her voice sound strong. Kousho’s shoulders shook as he kept his eyes on his book.
“Hah? You’re closer to completing you than the perfumers here you say?”
“Yes, I’m known as Ren Riri now, but my real name is Ou Riri. My father, Ou Saido, was the former head of the Department of Incenses and he researched the treasured incense when he was alive.”
It was a gamble to reveal this to him. The court believes that her father failed to compound the treasured incense.
It would be difficult for her to get permission to participate in the perfumers meeting if he believed that she is the daughter of a failed perfumer once she revealed herself to be Ou Saido’s daughter.
However, she felt that she needed to tell him why she was confident in her ability to create the treasured incense.
Suddenly, Kousho stopped moving.
He stared in front of him in surprise for a while and then fixed his gaze on her.
“You are…? Saido’s daughter?”
She nodded. Kousho stood up with his eyes wide open in surprise, walked out of the pavilion and stood near her.
(Huh? I thought that if I told him that I’m Ou Saido’s daughter, then he would be disgusted that I’m the daughter of a failed perfumer, but he looks quite surprised.)
It was an unusual reaction. If Kousho knew that her father had created the treasured incense, then he would be surprised, but also delighted since she held a clue on how to make the treasured incense.
“Wait, are you really Saido’s daughter? Saido’s daughter disappeared with her mother after he died. We couldn’t find her no matter how hard we searched.”
It was her father who was one step closer to completing the treasured incense. Although he failed in his attempt to present it to the Emperor, many people believe that he was the only person who could create the treasured incense.
Perhaps, Kousho had been looking for Riri and her mother because he wanted to find the secret to the treasured incense.
“Mother and I hid ourselves downtown. After Father’s death, soldiers came to our house, hoping to find the secret on how to make the treasured incense. My mother said she was sick of it all. She was still grieving for Father, and our house got ransacked.”
She was puzzled by Kousho’s reaction, but she realised that the situation was going in the right direction.
He hadn’t shown any interest in her, but now he was focused on her.
First, she had to impress him, then she needed to let him know that she can make the treasured incense.
She thought there was something she had to do first to get him to listen to her opinion.
“I’m sorry. I entered Beautiful Flower Palace to ask you for permission to participate in the perfumers meeting. I apologise for entering the inner palace under false pretences.”
She bowed deeply. She wanted to make a sincere apology to Kousho.
She lifted her head and looked at Kousho with her hands folded as if she was praying.
“But there is a dream that I really want to fulfil even if I have to commit a crime. Kousho-sama, please let me make the treasured incense and participate in the perfumers meeting. The scene of Father mixing incenses is etched in my mind. I will definitely make the treasured incense if you let me use the sacred bamboo wood and give me some time.”
Many perfumers have been unable to create the treasured incense for hundreds of years, and honestly speaking, Riri wasn’t sure if she could make it. She can’t remember how her father had concocted it, and there was a good chance that she wouldn’t be able to make it. But she knew that Kousho wouldn’t give her permission if she showed her uneasiness.
“I beg you. Please allow me to make the treasured incense at the Department of Incenses.”
She bowed once again. Kousho blinked as if he had finally come back to his senses.
“Ah, permission…”
For some reason, he wasn’t being as clear as he should have been. It was as if he was preoccupied with something else.
(What’s wrong? He’s looking at me, so it’s not like he’s thinking about something else.)
She pondered. Kousho put his hand to his mouth and nodded.
“I see. So, you’re Saido’s daughter. I remember Saido well. Mokuren told me that having a male perfumer in the inner palace would cause trouble, so I allowed you to come because he convinced me that it was a good idea to have a female perfumer here… I never imagined that you would turn out to be Saido’s daughter…”
“I was by Father’s side when he concocted the treasured incense. I have super olfaction, which means I have a really good nose. When the woman collapsed in the clinic, I could tell that she was having a seizure from the scent of her sweat, so I burnt incense that would relieve her condition.”
She thought he wouldn’t believe her, but Kousho surprisingly nodded.
“Yeah, you do have a good nose.”
She was disappointed since she expected him to make fun of her. But she was relieved that he believed her and weaved a web of words.
“I only vaguely remember Father’s face, but my nose remembers the scents that he used to make the treasured incense. If I had the materials, tools and time, I could use my nose to find the scent and make the same thing. Please let me do so!”
She bowed her head, and after a short pause, she heard Kousho sigh.
“Saido was indeed one step closer to making the treasured incense… When I ascend the throne in a year’s time, I want to have the completed treasure incense and have all three auspicious beasts. That’s what my father, the Emperor, and I, the Crown Prince, want. That’s why we specially asked the Department of Incenses to gather the best civilian perfumers.”
In the past, it would have been impossible for ordinary people to enter the palace.
Kousho’s desire to complete the treasured incense was genuine.
“It is said that when the three auspicious beast titles come together, the country will prosper, and one will have the power to control the world. Did you know that? Although Shinzui seems at peace now…”
Kousho’s expression clouded a little. She knew what he wanted to say from his expression.
“Are you talking about the neighbouring country?”
He widened his eyes in surprise at her quick answer.
“… I see. You seem to understand politics a little. Yes, we’ve always been fighting against Koran[1]. There is a large mine between the two countries. Our two nations have been fighting for the rights to the mines since long ago. Things have calmed down in the past few years, but you never know what might happen.”
This was something that all the citizens in Shinzui are worried about. Right now, the mining rights belonged to Shinzui.
However, there are already rumours in the country that Koran is planning to go to war for the mines.
“It is said that if a person is able to bring together the three auspicious beast titles, then they will have the power to rule the world. I, however, think that such things are pure superstition. But the auspicious beasts are the pride of the people. The people will be united if I can assemble those three people. The national strength will surely increase because of that.”
The tense expression on Kousho’s face was shocking. He was a Crown Prince worthy of respect since he had spoken of his country.
“And the treasured incense is really effective. It’ll be a strong weapon against Koran, since they’re waiting for the opportunity to attack us. I don’t want to fight. I want to kill the spark before it becomes war. I can probably do that if I use the treasured incense.”
Riri was curious to know what kind of effect this so-called strong weapon had. It seemed that it had enough power to kill the sparks of war. She wanted to ask, but Kousho’s pressure prevented her from doing so.
“My father is the only emperor in the history of this country that never fought, despite our long feud with the neighbouring country. He taught me that it would be the people who would suffer if we went to war. He told me that as the emperor who protects this country, I must never make the people sad. ――― My father is a great emperor.”
She was struck by his words. It was true that there had been no wars for the past few decades.
Thanks to this, the people of downtown Shinko lived their lives to the fullest, despite being poor.
“I want to follow in his footsteps and build a country where there is no war. I want to protect this country that my father protected.”
Kousho’s words showed his respect towards his father, the Emperor.
Kousho also idealised the peaceful country that his father wanted. She suddenly felt her heart throb when she saw his face, which she thought of as arrogant, was now coloured with the responsibility and strength of a Crown Prince.
She stared at him as her heart throbbed, and Kousho stared at her seriously.
“I definitely want the treasured incense completed in my generation and have all three auspicious beast titles gathered. I will become the emperor and inherit the title of the Dragon. General Garan holds the Phoenix title and excels in military arts. And…”
She listened to his words, then folded her knees and bowed at him in respect.
“I will complete the treasured incense and receive the Qilin title. And I will follow your desire to protect this country with a benevolent heart.”
She finished and Kousho smiled.
“You’re a really interesting woman. You’re a woman and you’re not even a perfumer, so can you really complete the incense?”
“It doesn’t matter if I’m a man or a woman. I’m-I’m Ou Riri. I’m Ou Saido’s daughter and am closer to completing the treasured incense than anyone else. I will definitely produce results if you give me the opportunity to do so.”
She put her desperate thoughts into words. She hoped that her feelings would be conveyed to him.
“If you say that much, then fine.”
“Really?!”
Riri was so happy that she broke out into a smile, but Kousho remained stern.
“Ah, but you’re not a perfumer. All the perfumers who work at the palace and the non-official perfumers have passed the national examination. That is the first condition for working at the Department of Incenses to make the treasured incense. You haven’t met that requirement, so I can’t let you join the Department of Incenses.”
She couldn’t argue. Kousho folded his arms when she looked down.
“But I also feel that you have talent as Saido’s daughter. So, I’ll allow you to use the sacred bamboo word to make the incense. However, you can’t enter the Department of Incenses, so do it in your room.”
The Department of Incenses has excellent perfumers and Mokuren. She had a higher chance of creating the treasured incense if she had their help. However, new problems would arise if she were to visit the Department of Incenses often since she wasn’t a perfumer. Kousho was thinking that far ahead.
“I understand.”
So, she could only agree. She was extremely lucky to have his permission to mix incenses.
“You only have a limited amount of time to make the treasured incense. I will hold the perfumers meeting in a month’s time to present the treasured incense to the Emperor. I will allow you to participate in the meeting, so you must complete the treasured incense by then.”
“You’re allowing me to participate in the perfumers meeting? Thank you very much…!”
Kousho stared at her coldly when she was filled with joy.
“You can’t keep being happy. Listen, if you can’t produce the treasured incense by the time of the perfumers meeting, you will be punished accordingly. You entered Beautiful Flower Palace under a false name and purpose. That’s a very serious crime. You can’t complain even if you’re executed. Of course, the servant who serves you and your guarantor, Mokuren, will also receive the same punishment.”
A whine escaped from Riri’s lips. She was prepared to face her punishment if it was just her who was receiving it, but when she thought about how Ryouka and Mokuren might be executed as well, her heart ached, and she couldn’t breathe.
“Ryouka and Mokuren have nothing to do with this. They don’t know anything. I lied to the both of them…”
She tried to argue, but Kousho shook his head.
“You can’t lie to me. If you create the treasured incense by the time of the perfumers meeting, then I promise that I will honour your achievement, and no one will be punished. But if you fail, then be prepared.”
Kousho didn’t want to listen to her appeal. There was only one way for all three of them to survive.
“－―― Understood. I’ll definitely make the treasured incense. I’ll bet my life on it.”
Her voice was trembling, but she looked at him in determination and he nodded.
“Good answer… Anyway, you said earlier that you could only vaguely remember your father’s face. How much do you remember?”
She noticed that Kousho’s tone had softened slightly and finally inhaled deeply.
“Well… I don’t know why, but I get a horrible headache whenever I try to remember Father. That’s why I can’t remember his face that well.”
Kousho looked thoughtful.
“… I see. So, it’s like that. How much do you remember about the treasured incense? Did your father tell you about the effects of the treasured incense?”
The treasured incense is said to be powerful enough to repel any enemy.
It is said that only the royal family and a few perfumers from the Department of Incenses know about its effects.
“I don’t know what effects it has. I don’t know if this is because Father never told me about it or if I just don’t remember.”
She answered honestly and Kousho sneered.
“What an unreliable answer. I’ll tell you the effects if you bow your head and beg me.”
The tone of his voice was joking, but his eyes weren’t smiling.
“It’s alright. The effects of the treasured incense are a national secret. I’m in no position to be told. I’ll use my nose to figure out what materials Father used to make the treasured incense and try my hand at making the same incense. I’ll know the effects of the incense if I can complete it.”
She actually wanted to know what effects it had, but she felt as if she was being tested.
Her instincts told her that she shouldn’t take advantage of Kousho.
“I see. That’s a good answer.”
“I would have you caught right now had you bowed your head and begged me for the answer, but you’re quite gutsy, aren’t you? It’s been six years since Saido passed away. How can you not remember something that happened six years ago?”
The question that he had asked was actually something she had wondered herself.
“I think the shock of Father’s death may have messed up my memories.”
She felt Kousho’s sharp gaze.
“… I see. Then search your memories carefully while you’re making the treasured incense. There might be something surprising in your memories.”
Those words really stuck in Riri’s mind for some reason. Kousho went back into the pavilion and sat down.
“Now go. I’m busy reading my book.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
(I got permission to mix it. But if I fail, then Ryouka and Mokuren will also be punished. I must finish the treasured incense before the perfumers meeting!)
She turned her back to the pavilion and mustered the courage to walk towards the building where Ryouka was waiting for her.