Riri and Garan went to a room in the Guest Palace to pick up Seirai.
“Seirai-sama, we have come to pick you up.”
Riri kneeled in front of the room, and Garan who was standing next to her, spoke in a polite manner.
Then, the door slowly opened. Riri looked up to see Seirai smiling.
“Hey, Riri. You look cute today too. You have a very nice smile.”
He gave her a smooth compliment with his greeting. She had never met a man like him before. She bowed her head in confusion at Seirai’s soft smile.
“Good day to you, Seirai-sama. I may be inexperienced, but please let me show you around.”
“Don’t exaggerate. I don’t like it when women bow to me. It’s better if you take it easy, since you’re my fated person, Riri.”
His pick-up line was too shameless, but she was worried that someone might take him seriously since he was good-looking.
“Fated... you say?”
“Yes. You and I are bound by the thread of fate. Let’s have fun together.”
“I’m here too.”
Garan, who was close by, said in a low voice. Seirai looked at Garan and acted surprised.
“Oh, Garan. I didn’t notice you. How long have you been there?”
“I came with Consort Riri, so I’ve been here since a while ago. I’ll be guarding both of you.”
Riri was somewhat embarrassed to be called consort by Garan.
But it was just like him to act moderately in front of people, no matter how close they are.
“Tactless. I thought I was going to be able to spend some quality time with the lovely Riri… Well, whatever. Then, let’s head to the Ministry of Incense, Riri.”
“Okay, Seirai-sama. But first, I would like you to know that I’ve never left the Beautiful Flower Palace, so I don’t know much about the Ministry of Incense. I will accompany you, but the perfumers will be the ones who will guide and explain the Ministry of Incense to you.”
Her father had actually taken her to the Ministry of Incense when she was little.
She had even snuck out of the Beautiful Flower Palace to go to the Ministry of Incense after she had entered the palace.
However, she couldn’t tell others about this, so she pretended that she didn’t know anything about the Ministry of Incense.
“It’s alright. All that matters is that you’re here with me, since it makes me feel better to have a cute flower like you blooming in the stuffy, male-filled Ministry of Incense.”
(Wow. How does he easily come up with such shameless lines?)
She felt both stunned and impressed. Seirai stood up first and started walking.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Garan suddenly stopped as they were all about to start walking.
“Aren’t your companions coming with us?”
Garan looked towards his room. When Riri looked to the room as well, she saw that there were several attendants behind the open door.
They were sitting down and bowing their heads.
“They’re staying behind. I don’t like walking around with too many people.”
“Don’t you need a guard with you?”
Seirai lightly put his arm on the puzzled Garan’s shoulder.
“You’re here, General Garan, the best spearman in Shinzui. Make sure to protect me.”
Seirai smiled and the bewildered Garan nodded.
“… Understood.”
Seirai began walking down the corridor with a satisfied expression on his face.
After a while, the Grand Chancellor, Jin Koudoku, and Kousho walked towards their direction.
The Grand Chancellor stopped, linked his hands in front of his face and bowed his head.
“Good morning, Seirai-sama. Are you on your way to see the Ministry of Incense?”
“Yes, it’s an honour to be able to directly observe the incense making process in Shinzui. Thank you for allowing me to enter the Ministry of Incense, Kousho.”
Seirai looked towards Kousho, and Kousho nodded calmly.
“I should be the one saying that. It’s an honour to be able to help Koran develop their incenses.”
His words were polite, but Riri could tell that he wasn’t letting his guard out at all from his expression.
(Hmm. I don’t think these two are going to get along after all.)
She muttered in her mind as Seirai continued to speak with an expression that said that he wasn’t bothered by Kousho’s attitude.
“Oh yes, I heard that the final round of the beauty pageant to select your Four Consorts will be held soon. I heard that the ten contestants will be performing the ranryou dance. I’d love to see them dance.”
Riri’s stomach churned when she heard him talk about the final selection dance. She wanted to spare time to practice but she couldn’t neglect her role of showing Seirai around. She heard the Grand Chancellor’s voice while she was worrying.
“You heard about this quickly even though it’s about the inner palace. However, the final selection dance for the beauty pageant will be held in about half a month. I believe you would have returned to your kingdom by then.”
“Half a month later?! I don’t agree with this.”
“… Excuse me?”
The Grand Chancellor asked perplexedly, and Seirai put a hand on his chest.
“I love watching women dance. People say I’m the best dancer in Koran and I’ve performed in front of the Emperor many times. The Beautiful Flower Palace is full of beautiful women. I would love to see them dance!”
Seirai pressed Kousho while smiling.
“Kousho, if you intend to welcome me, then show me their dance. Oh yes! How about holding a banquet to welcome me? I’d like to see them dance at the banquet. I’ll be happy to see beautiful women dance, and you can hold the final selection for the beauty pageant. That’s killing two birds with one stone.”
That may be true, but Riri would have to be his guide and prepare for the final selection at the same time.
(No way! Stop! Please! Don’t accept that suggestion!)
She put her hands together and prayed. The Grand Chancellor looked perplexed, then he looked up at Kousho.
“What do you think, Kousho-sama?”
Seirai looked at Kousho and suddenly smiled wickedly.
“I heard your inner palace has just been created, if the ladies perform a splendid dance at a banquet held for a Crown Prince of another nation, then it’ll surely become a hot topic in other kingdoms. Every nation pays attention to the inner palaces of other nations. If they can dance well, then your fame will rise.”
Seirai chuckled and Kousho smiled sarcastically.
“The Crown Prince of Koran is quite famous for his love of dancing. They would have to be well prepared if they were to dance in front of you. I’m afraid dancing in front of you is too much responsibility for the consorts of the Beautiful Flower Palace.”
Riri guessed that he would refuse. She frantically cheered Kousho on in her mind.
“You’re probably right. But isn’t it normal for them to be able to do something like that? Or are you trying to tell me that the consorts of the next emperor of Shinzui can’t even perform a dance to welcome a royal member from another nation? If that’s the case, then the dignity of the consorts in your inner palace will be questioned.”
Seirai was deliberately speaking in an offensive way.
Kousho looked calm but his fists were clenched as if he was holding back his anger.
The Grand Chancellor, who was watching as things unfolded, stepped forward.
“Kousho-sama, since Seirai-sama came all the way to our nation, why don’t we hold him a banquet and get the consorts to dance for him?”
Riri looked at the situation with bated breath, hoping that Kousho would refuse. Kousho shut his eyes briefly.
“――― If that’s what the Crown Prince of Koran wants…”
In this situation, he had to say that as the Crown Prince of Shinzui. But she felt depressed since she wanted to buy time to practice. Seirai nodded in satisfaction.
“It’s blissful to see beautiful women dancing in beautiful outfits. Oh yeah, I’m fussy about how people dance. I don’t want to see a sloppy dance. I will be staying in Shinzui for another ten days, so we can have the banquet on the day before I leave. They can take their time practicing.”
(In ten days?! The dance was supposed to be in half a month, but now it’s in ten days?! That’s terrible!)
Riri turned pale and the Grand Chancellor blinked his eyes in a panic.
“But why are we holding the banquet so late if the purpose of the banquet is to welcome you…”
“You can just make it a banquet to see me off. Have the consorts practice well, so that they can send me off with the best dance.”
Seirai placed a hand on the Grand Chancellor’s shoulder.
“I’m looking forward to the banquet. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
Many things rushed through Riri’s brain as she quietly followed after Seirai.
(This is bad. I have less time to practice. If I have to dance at the banquet held on the day before Seirai-sama leaves, then there’s only nine days left. It’s better than being told that I have to dance tomorrow, but will I be able to manage in nine days…?)
She had her doubts, but she had no choice but to properly show Seirai the Ministry of Incense first.
“This is the mixing room.”
Kansou, the current head of the Ministry of Incense, led them through the Incense Palace.
Seirai followed after Kansou and Garan walked behind them. Riri, who was behind all three of them, looked around as they walked.
(It looks different from before.)
There were fewer perfumers, and the scattered mixing tools were all neatly organised.
Seirai turned his attention to the mixing room in front of him which could be seen through the opened door.
“The mixing room looks very spacious and seems equipped with all the mixing tools one would need. This is indeed a kingdom thriving in the incense industry. I hope we can build a specialised incense facility of this scale in Koran.”
There were about ten perfumers mixing fragrances in a mortar and burning incenses in a censer in the mixing room.
(So, this is the mixing room. I’ve never seen it before. I want to work here as a perfumer one day…!)
As she was about to enter the mixing room, following Seirai whose eyes were gleaming, she was suddenly blocked by Kansou’s arm.
“Huh…?”
“Women aren’t allowed to enter the mixing room. This has been the rule since the establishment of the Ministry of Incense. Please wait here.”
His voice was stern. He was over sixty years old and was a large and vigorous man.
She heard that he was famous for being a strict perfumer and that he had supported the Ministry of Incense for a long time.
“She’s special. I asked her to show me around, so it should be alright for her to come in with me, right?”
“Once you allow someone in as an exception, there will be others who wish to be treated in the same way. Therefore, we can’t make any exceptions. It has been long established that women aren’t allowed to enter the mixing room.”
Garan took a step forward.
“Kansou-dono, Riri’s father was the former head of the Ministry of Incense. She is as familiar with the mixing process as any perfumer. Seirai-sama also wishes that she could come in with him.”
Kansou has been in the Ministry of Incense for a long time, so he should know about her father.
“I know about that too, but it doesn’t matter who her father is. It’s the rule at the Ministry of Incense.”
Kansou didn’t relent. Garan was still trying to speak in protest, but Riri stopped him with her arm.
“I understand. I’ll wait outside. Please take your time.”
She smiled, but she felt frustrated inside. She wondered why she wasn’t allowed to enter the mixing room just because she is a woman. She wanted to have a thorough discussion with Kansou deep down, but she had come to the Ministry of Incense, so that Seirai could look around. It would affect his observation of the palace if they were to start fighting over this. She didn’t want to get in the way.
Seirai looked at her and smiled a little.
“Then I’ll also not go in. I don’t need to go into the mixing room, just tell me about the tools that are used in there.”
Riri quickly approached Seirai and shook her head.
“You have to go in, Seirai-sama. You came to Shinzui to see the Ministry of Incense.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to enter into a stuffy, all-male mixing room without Riri. And I know a little about incenses, so it’ll be fine if he just explains what tools are needed.”
Seirai looked at Kansou and slowly smiled.
“But you have a backbone. Everyone has been treating me with great caution ever since I came to Shinzui, but this is the first-time things haven’t gone my way.”
Seirai didn’t seem offended. He was as happy as a soldier who had found a worthy opponent.
“I’m sorry, but it’s the rule.”
“I like your stubbornness. But sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way you want it to. It’s a mistake to act that strict.”
Riri knew that it would be bad if things continued this way. Seirai really wanted to give up on observing the mixing room.
“Please wait. Please continue with your observations. I would also like to see more incenses being used in Koran. Incenses have infinite possibilities. If it flourishes, then people who are suffering from mental and physical ailments may be saved.”
She had been around incenses ever since she was born, and she had been saved by them on many occasions.
She wanted him and the citizens of Koran to know how wonderful incenses are.
That was why she had volunteered herself to show him around.
Seirai put a hand on his chin and pondered.
“Alright. I’ll look around if you tell me to. But I’m worried about you waiting here alone.”
“I’m fine. I can see the mixing room from here, so I’ll be able to watch and learn from the perfumers.”
She smiled and Seirai sighed a little.
“Then, I apologise, but please wait here.”
She saw Seirai and the others off, and Kansou, who was at the very back, suddenly stopped in front of her.
“… Your feeling towards incenses is the same as your father’s. Saido-sama had a difficult personality, but he was very passionate about mixing incenses. The rules may change one day when female perfumers are recognised.”
He spoke in a quiet voice, but it sounded a little warmer than before.
(What he said just now means that I will be able to openly enter the mixing room when the rule changes, right?)
He had said that in support. She watched as he walked into the mixing room and bowed her head.
“Kansou-sama… thank you very much.”
The encouragement from an unexpected person was more encouraging than anything else.
They left when Seirai finished looking around the Ministry of Incense.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Riri, but I’m done. Now, I would like you to share your knowledge of incenses with me. How about having a cup of tea in my room? Just the two of us.”
The first to react to Seirai’s sweet whispers was Garan, who was walking behind Seirai and Riri.
“As I’ve said before, it’s not just the two of you.”
Seirai stopped and put his hands on his hips.
“Garan, you’re not very thoughtful like always. At times like this, you should let Riri, and I be alone.”
“I can’t do that. Kousho-sama has ordered me not to leave you two alone. Also, Consort Riri was allowed to go to your room to pick you up, but she was never told that she could enter your room.”
“No way! So how do I get Riri alone and persuade her?”
“You seem to have forgotten, but Consort Riri is Kousho-sama’s talented person. You can’t seduce her.”
Garan replied calmly and Seirai pouted.
“I can’t take her to my room, so how about we go to Riri’s room?”
The word ‘give up’ didn’t exist in Seirai’s mind. She quickly shook her head.
“Absolutely not! Men aren’t allowed in the inner palace without permission… How about we have a cup of tea in the Guest Palace Garden since the weather is nice today? I’d like to talk to you about incenses.”
Seirai looked unhappy, but he nodded reluctantly.
“Alright. I’d be satisfied with being able to talk with you for the time being.”
The smile on his face was dazzlingly beautiful, but she reminded herself not to be captivated by it.
Garan, who was standing at the lead, prompted Seirai.
“This way, then.”
He led them to the garden with the best view.
It was paved with white gravel and there were neatly arranged pine trees in the garden.
Colourful peonies were planted elegantly beside the trees.
Garan led Seirai to a scarlet pavilion and motioned his hand towards the Guest Palace.
Soon after, a maid brought tea and sweets. Seirai looked somewhat troubled when the tea was presented to him on a small table in the pavilion.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t like hot tea, could you make me some cold tea?”
“I’m sorry!”
The maid bowed her head and Seirai smiled.
“It’s alright. Garan, you can teach her how to make my favourite tea.”
“But I can’t leave your side…”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure you have men posted secretly around the place. Just have them keep an eye on me. And I swear I won’t move away from her either. I’ll just have a chat with Riri. I’m thirsty, so I’d like to have a nice cup of tea.”
Garan looked diagonally to the right. There was a large tree planted there.
Riri had noticed the scent of people in the area a while ago. It was hard to tell because they were outside, but there seemed to be two people around since there were two different scents. They were probably Garan’s men.
“Then, I’ll go prepare some tea. I’ll be right back.”
Garan bowed and left with the made.
“Come here, Riri.”
She sat in front of Seirai and took out a dozen sheets of paper from the cloth bag she had brought with her.
“I’d like to talk about incenses right away. First of all, I have summarised all the basics about incenses and their preparation methods here. You can use these as references. And…”
There were detailed descriptions of fragrances and tools on several of the papers.
She spent last night making these documents because she wanted to explain the beauty of incenses to Seirai.
“Hmmm, over here, ah…!”
She was about to pass the paper to Seirai, but her hands slipped because she was nervous, so she dropped the paper.
She quickly went to pick the paper up when she heard Seirai’s voice.
“You love incenses, don’t you Riri? Did you do your best to make these documents without sleeping because you wanted me to understand your favourite incenses?”
“How did you know that I didn’t sleep?”
She didn’t look like she lacked sleep. She blinked and Seirai winked.
“We haven’t known each other for very long, but I was observing you because I wanted to know more about you, so I can notice the smallest changes in you. I’m happy you did this for me, but don’t overwork yourself.”
He said gently, then picked up the paper on the floor.
“Seirai-sama, I’m…”
She wanted to ask him to stop, but Seirai’s attention was turned towards the piece of paper that had dropped to the ground.
“Ambergris…?”
She was taken aback when she heard that word.
(Dammit! I brought the wrong papers!)
The paper was on her own research of fragrances she expected can be used to prepare the treasured incense. There was no way Seirai could connect it to the treasured incense, but she was panicking in her mind.
“This isn’t part of the documents I prepared for you! May I have it back?”
She held out her hand, but Seirai quickly stood up and held the paper out of reach.
“Ambergris? I’m actually very interested in ambergris. I’ve heard it can be used to make things easier, but it’s very expensive and many times more valuable than gold. I’d like to know what it smells like.”
“Ambergris isn’t easy to obtain. It’s…”
“Found inside whales, right?”
She tried to explain how to obtain ambergris, but Seirai easily finished her sentence.
“You know how or where it’s found?”
Ambergris was well-known, but it was rare for someone to actually see or smell it.
It was a rare and hard-to-find material. Seirai nodded lightly.
“Yeah. Ambergris is a hardened stone-like substance made from the impurities in a whale’s body. It’s difficult to catch a whale and it’s not always possible to find ambergris inside of them. Therefore, it is said to be a phantom material. But I heard it can occasionally be found in Shinzui.”
“Yes. I heard that whales often wash up on the sandy beaches to the east of Shinzui because of the currents. Ambergris can be harvested from those whales, even though it’s really rare to find them.”
“I see. I’m jealous. There are lakes in Koran, but no ocean. To the east of Koran is Shinzui and to the west is Sairin. There are steep, rocky mountains to the north and south of Koran, so we can’t go out to the sea. That’s why I’ve never seen ambergris before. What kind of fragrance does it have?”
Riri stared at Seirai, and something that had bothered her popped into her mind again, so she tilted her head.
“… Don’t you already know a lot about incenses, Seirai-sama?”
As she recalled, every word he said and everything he did revealed his deep knowledge of incenses.
“Not really. I learnt a little about them when I came to visit.”
“Do you learn that much about incenses just from studying about it a little?”
“Yeah. I’m good at remembering things. I think I have the best memory in Koran.”
She thought he was joking, but she could tell from his expression that he wasn’t.
Then, she remembered that Kousho had said that Seirai was the smartest person in Koran.
“The best in Koran…?”
But she still couldn’t believe that and muttered, and Seirai shrugged.
“Yeah, Koran also has civil examinations to become a civil official. I took the exam to see how well I could got do, and I got a perfect score and ranked first.”
Riri looked at the smiling Seirai and widened her eyes in surprise.
“You passed with a perfect score…?! Really?!”
“Well, yeah. I’ve always been good at memorizing things, and I never forget anything I’ve read. I studied for a couple of days for the exam, but I was able to answer all the questions.”
She believed that Seirai must be incredibly smart if that were true.
“Then you know a lot about incenses even without me having to tell you about them?”
“I only memorized everything I studied. I may know as much as perfumers around here, but it’s still not enough. And since I’ve come all the way to Shinzui, I want to get acquainted with the pretty women of this kingdom.”
Seirai was serious.
The materials she had made without sleeping would be useless if he had as much knowledge as a perfumer.
“Then… what can I do for you?”
Her role was to show him around the palace and tell him about incenses.
But she didn’t know what to do since he already knew a lot about incenses.
“Well… Then there’s something I would like you to tell me.”
Seirai’s expression suddenly turned serious, and he looked at her.
“――― I want to know about the treasured incense.”
His sweet voice sounded as if he was whispering sweet nothings to her, but the words that came out of his nicely shaped lips were so shocking that she felt as if her heart had been grasped.
She was surprised, but she smiled so as not to show her inner turmoil on her face.
“What are you talking about?”
Seirai’s smile remained gentle, but Riri noticed that the aura emanating from him was filled with an unmistakable pressure. She took a step back since she was overwhelmed by him.
“Don’t act dumb. It’s the incense that has been handed down as a legend in Shinzui. Everyone in Shinzui knows about it, and you should too since you want to become a perfumer. There are rumours about the treasured incense even in Koran. Do you know what kind of incense is capable of repelling any enemy?”
She tried to take another step back to escape from Seirai’s pressure.
But the big pillars of the pavilion which were behind her made it impossible for her to escape any further.
“It’s impossible for me to know about the effects of the treasured incense since I’m only a talented person in Kousho-sama’s inner palace. I believe only the royal family and a few perfumers in the Ministry of Incense know about its effects.”
She believed she had lied well, but Seirai kept looking at her, questioningly.
“You’re not very good at lying, Riri. When you blink a lot that means you’re lying.”
“What?! Do I have that habit…?!”
She quickly moved her hand to her eyes, and Seirai smiled at her.
“See. You panicking is proof that you’re lying. I only said you were blinking a lot without thinking, but your expression tells me that you know about it.”
(Ah!? I’m an idiot…!)
She was panicking inside. Seirai suddenly looked at her seriously.
“There are people in Koran who want to get their hands on the treasured incense.”
Seirai acted like a Crown Prince and Riri froze because she didn’t know how to answer.
“What are you doing?”
Riri was startled by the calm voice. She looked towards it and saw Garan leading a maid, who was holding a tea tray, towards them.
Seirai immediately put his gentle smile back on his face.
Riri breathed a sigh of relief since she had escaped from his terrifying gaze.
(He looks frivolous, but he really is the Crown Prince of a nation. He was so intense. I can’t let my guard down.)
She calmed herself down and straightened her posture. Seirai looked at Garan, who had just arrived, and leaned against the chair.
“I was just talking to her. I was finally able to make a move on her, but you’ve already returned? Tactless.”
Garan walked into the pavilion, stood in front of Riri and bowed at Seirai.
“Consort Riri is a talented person in the Beautiful Flower Palace. Please don’t forget this.”
“I know already. I’m just teasing her. Now, Riri, please start talking about incenses. I’m sure I will know some things, but I’m curious as to what you have to say about them.”
Riri felt as if she could finally breathe since his aura had changed so much from before.
She didn’t know how much she could lie if he kept asking her about the treasured incense.
(Seirai-sama knows about the treasured incense. I have to be careful.)
She told herself as she picked up the documents she had prepared and began to talk about incenses.
“… I have finished talking about incenses.”
Riri looked up as she noticed the orange sunset beginning to light up the area. Seirai was sitting across from the pavilion, and Garan was standing outside of the pavilion. Seirai looked disappointed.
“It’s this late already? Time flies when I’m listening to Riri’s cute voice. How about we have dinner together? To thank you for telling me about incenses.”
Riri’s expression didn’t change, but she was screaming in her head.
(I can’t stay with you any longer! I won’t be able to talk back if he asks me about the treasured incense like before. I need to get away from him as soon as possible.)
She panicked and Garan quietly entered the pavilion.
“… Seirai-sama, I’ve been ordered to take Consort Riri back to the Beautiful Flower Palace in the evening, unless there’s a special reason. I would like to refrain from asking her to dinner.”
“Don’t say that, isn’t it fine for us to just eat together? I want to talk to Riri more. There’s no reason for her to rush back to the Beautiful Flower Palace.”
He was gently asking her to have dinner with him, but he still had a sharp glint in his eyes from when he asked her about the treasured incense. She wasn’t sure if she could handle it if he were to hound her again.
(I should find a good reason to refuse so that I don’t offend Koran’s Crown Prince… Oh yeah!)
“… I’m actually one of the finalists for the beauty pageant, but I don’t have any dancing experience. I need to practice a lot so that I can show you a dance that you would be satisfied with, Seirai-sama.”
She explained her refusal in a sincerely disappointed tone.
Please give up…! She prayed in her mind.
“You’re in the beauty pageant too, Riri? It’s going to be hard to practice when you don’t have any dancing experience. There’s only nine days left until the final selection, right?”
She nodded in her mind as Seirai spoke worriedly.
(That’s right. I really need to practice. I need to show you around in the daytime, so I need to practice hard at night. So, please let me leave.)
She stared at him hopefully, and Seirai smiled.
“I’ve got a good idea. I want to spend more time with you, and you need to practice your dancing. I have a great idea that will fulfil both wishes. ――― How about I teach you how to dance?”
Riri forced a smile on her face at his surprising suggestion.
“… Pardon?”
“I said I will teach you how to dance, so we can always be together.”
“Hmm… it’s not that easy to teach a novice how to dance…”
She managed to slur her words in an attempt to refuse. Seirai opened his arms wide and smiled.
“I’m the best dancer in Koran. You don’t have any dancing experience, but you’re going to dance the ranryou for the final selection. It would be impossible for you to keep up with everyone’s movements in nine days if you just practice normally, but with my guidance, you’ll be able to master the moves and receive higher praise than the other consorts.”
His confidence and strong attitude were so pleasant to watch.
She even believed that she would be alright if she were to follow his instructions.
Garan paid attention to Seirai and whispered in her ears.
“… Seirai-sama is definitely a genius when it comes to dancing. You might be able to dance well enough to get a high rating in the finals if you were to receive his guidance.”
This was the moment when a ray of light shone through the dark clouds.
(But Seirai-sama wants to know more about the treasured incense. I might let something slip if we’re together for a long period of time even if I’m being careful. It’s dangerous.)
But she won’t get her own palace if she doesn’t become one of the Four Consorts in the final selection.
She also promised to help Kousho get his first love.
She remembered how he looked when he told her about his first love, and she felt something grasp her heart.
(Kousho-sama… His attitude has completely changed from when he talked about her before. I’m sure there’s a reason for this but…)
She thought about the best thing to do while trying to soothe the pain in her heart.
She made up her mind after pondering for a while. She stared at Seirai.
“――― Please teach me.”
It took a lot of courage for her to speak, but she shook off her hesitation once she had made up her mind.
“Good choice. I’m strict, so can you keep up with me?”
“I believe I have the willpower and stamina to keep up with you. I’ll do my best, please teach me.”
As for his curiosity towards the treasured incense, she’ll try her best to dodge his questions.
She had no experience in dancing, so she needed someone to teach her how to dance.
Therefore, it would be better to ask Seirai, a master dancer, to help her win.
(This is also for the sake of making the treasured incense… But I’ll be with him all day and night. That’s depressing.)
She firmly vowed once again to not let him know that she was trying to make the treasured incense.
(Kousho’s Perspective)
I visited the Ministry of Incense, and Kansou, the current head of the Ministry of Incense, was in front of me.
The old man was famous for being strict and stubborn. Although he was an excellent perfumer, he refused to take brides in the dangerous palace, so he hasn’t been able to make a name for himself.
However, when the former head of the Ministry of Incense, Mokuren, rebelled and left the palace, Kansou was promoted based on his skill and honesty.
After he became the head of the Ministry of Incense, the perfumers, who had entered the palace through noble connections and had no talent, were weeded out one by one. Thanks to that, the aura of the new Ministry of Incense has changed a lot.
I knew that his stubbornness meant that he had made up his mind, and I liked that part of him.
“This is the incense you requested, Kousho-sama. I believe I was able to replicate the incense that you had given me for reference.”
Kansou gave me a white package, and when I opened it, I found a black pastille inside.
“You made the exact same one?”
I raised my voice in surprise. I had asked perfumers to replicate the incense in the past, but they didn’t know what materials it was made from, so they couldn’t replicate it.
I believed that Kansou might be able to make it, so I asked him to. It seemed that my decision was correct.
“Yes, I happen to know of this incense. I remembered that the former head of the Ministry of Incense had the same incense. I had a general idea of how to mix it, but I didn’t know the combinations or quantity, so it took a while to complete.”
Kansou paused and looked at me.
“Kousho-sama, where did you get that incense?”
“I got it when I was a child. I was told that it would calm me down. I wanted the same incense because it was really effective, so I asked you to replicate it for me, since I don’t have much left.”
“I see. The perfumer who you asked to make this before told me that you were very particular about the blend, and that you were very fussy about not wanting it to be different at all from the incense you provided. There are many incenses that can calm you down, why does it have to be this one?”
When I heard those words, the face of a certain girl flashed through my mind.
This was the incense that she had given me when we had first met.
“Because this incense calms me down the most.”
But I didn’t want other people to know too much about my memories of her, so I gave him a different reason.
Kansou stared at me for a while, then finally closed his eyes.
“I see. Come to think of it, the person who had this incense once told me that his daughter had a very keen sense of smell, and he made sure I kept this information to myself in case someone misused her keen sense of smell. He said that she can make incenses better than he can, and I heard that she was the person who had actually created this calming incense.”
I couldn’t help but frown when I heard that. The person who had given me this incense was Riri.
The girl who Kansou was talking about was definitely Riri.
But the girl I knew and the girl who Kansou was talking about were very different.
Riri wasn’t good at making her own incenses.
I know that she ended up making explosives when she tried to make a sleeping incense.
“… Really?”
“Yes, the father was trying to make the treasured incense, and the daughter helped him. I saw her in the mixing room several times and warned him not to sneak her into the mixing room, but he insisted that he can’t complete the treasured incense without her. That was how good the daughter was at making incenses, and her father knew it.”
I folded my arms and chose my words carefully.
“Have you ever seen her actually making incenses?”
“I have, just once when she was a child. She was quite skilled. Her father is said to have made quite a few medical incenses, but she actually made half of those.”
I widened my eyes in surprise. Saido was good at making medical incenses.
He was so good at making them that people from across the ocean came to buy them.
“The authenticity of the incense would be questioned if people knew that it was made by a child. However, the effects of the incenses were so good, and would save people, so the father pretended that he was the person who made them. He said that he would announce the truth when his daughter grew up and let her openly make incenses as the first female perfumer of this kingdom.”
If I were to believe what Kansou said, then that meant that Riri was originally able to make incenses.
I contemplated on what this could mean, and then a thought occurred to me.
I wondered if Riri couldn’t make her own incenses because of the effects of the treasured incense.
When the treasured incense erased her memory, it might have caused some side effects that prevented her from doing what she used to be able to do.
If so, then she might be able to create her own incenses if she could get her memories back.
“… I see. If that girl can become a perfumer, then she can help those suffering from illness and injuries in this kingdom.”
I muttered and Kansou smiled slightly.
“I believe so. It’s difficult for women to become perfumers now, but I’m sure you’ll aim to create a better kingdom when you become emperor. I sincerely hope that you will make the right decision for the sake of your people.”
Kansou bowed his head, then he looked up and cast a searching gaze in my direction.
“There is one more thing that I would like to ask you. You previously asked me to prepare materials and tools that I thought were necessary for making the treasured incense, but the person who is using those things is Riri, isn’t it?”
His stare was piercing. I shrugged my shoulders without changing my expression in the slightest.
“What makes you think that?”
“I heard that Riri couldn’t make the treasured incense for the perfumers meetings, but she said that she was a step closer to success. So, I concluded that she is the person who is using the materials and tools that I had prepared… Kousho-sama, is she still secretly making the treasured incense in Beautiful Flower Palace?”
It had been announced to the public that Riri had given up on making the treasured incense even though she had announced that at the perfumers meeting. When I didn’t reply because I wanted to keep it a secret that she was still making the treasured incense in secret, Kansou had an expression that stated he understood. Then he continued.
“I believe Riri may be able to complete the treasured incense, but it would be difficult for her to do so now.”
Kansou held out the white package again when I remained silent.
“I used to assist her father, Saido-sama, so I know that he used the treasured incense to erase her memory. Riri was the one who made this incense. Riri might be able to regain her past memories if she smells an incense she made in the past since she has a keen sense of smell. I’m sure you believe this too.”
I couldn’t help but smile when I heard Kansou’s words.
He misunderstood that I was trying to get Riri’s memories back for the treasured incense.
I do want the treasured incense, but there’s something I want even more than that.
“… Don’t tell anyone about what we just talked about.”
“I won’t. I also dream of completing the treasured incense as a perfumer. It would be ideal if I can make it myself, but I know I’m not capable of doing so. If anyone is capable of making the treasured incense after Saido-sama’s death, then it would be Riri. I would like to help her from the shadows, so that she can complete the treasured incense.”
I can expect Riri to complete the treasured incense since the meritocratic Kansou said that.
I received the white package from him.
“We will complete the treasured incense for the sake of our kingdom.”
I said strongly, and he smiled happily.
If I can get Riri’s memories back, then she will remember how to make the treasured incense and how she met me.
However, I also knew that it might be difficult to get Riri’s memories back with this incense alone.
In addition, the beauty pageant is going on right now and the situation is rocky. After everything is over, I’m planning on settling everything, then bringing Riri’s memories back.
I held the white package I received from Kansou up to my nose. The sweet, powdery scent was the same as the incense I had received from Riri when we were small. This scent forced me to remember her.
I’m being cold to her right now because of certain reasons.
She looked at me in surprise when I said terrible things to her.
I couldn’t help but feel a sharp pain in my heart as soon as I saw that expression on her face.
I wanted to clear up the misunderstanding but now wasn’t the time. I will try to get closer to Riri when everything’s over. I thought to myself as I clutched the white package.
Riri had returned to the Beautiful Flower Palace. She sighed softly as she walked back to her room.
“Garan told me to rest tonight since he’ll find a place for me to practice, but I’ll start practicing tomorrow with Seirai-sama. I’m nervous… Huh?”
She could faintly smell Kousho. His scent seemed to be coming from around the corner.
He had suddenly acted cold to her yesterday, but she believed that there was a reason for his sudden change in attitude.
If he did have a reason for acting that way, then she wanted to hear why.
The only scent present belonged to Kousho. He hadn’t been interested in the inner palace at all until now, but recently he has been taking the consorts with him on walks, but he was probably alone now.
Therefore, she believed he would tell her what he was really thinking. She lifted the hem of her hanfu and walked quickly down the corridor.
Kousho was standing in the garden at the end of the corridor, and there was a path there that led to the rear garden.
He liked the rear garden, so she figured he must be on his way there.
She called out to him to stop him. His scent was a mixture of sandalwood-based incense mixed with his own scent. The smell was strong, yet it was a virtuous scent that allowed one to feel his dignity as a Crown Prince.
But apart from those scents, there was a slightly different scent mixed in.
“This is…”
“What are you doing?”
She heard Kousho’s voice when she stopped to think about the scent. She looked up at him and saw that he was looking at her with his arms folded.
She suddenly remembered the time when he gave her the cold shoulder and put her guard up.
“The sun is about to set. Go back to your room.”
His voice was softer than it was the other day.
“Yes…”
She blinked her eyes in confusion.
(He’s alone today. Oh yeah, there were other consorts around when he gave me the cold shoulder.)
She was about to ask him if the consorts being around had to do with the fact that he was treating her coldly, but the unusual scent coming from him bothered her. It smelled sweet and powdery, and an image of a small butterfly resting on a yellow dandelion flashed through her mind. It was a lovely and comforting image.
And yet, her chest was buzzing and restless.
(What’s wrong with me? It smells good, but I’m getting a headache. Why…)
She raised her eyebrow and Kousho tilted his head.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t even greet you. How do you do, Kousho-sama? Um, this scent is…”
She was about to ask him about his cold attitude, but she couldn’t help but notice the other scent that was drifting from him, so she asked him a different question.
“… What about it?”
His voice sounded as if he was questioning her. She looked at the small cloth that he had in his right hand. The scent was coming from there.
“This scent… is different from your usual scent. What kind of scent is that? I feel like I know it.”
She felt as if her head was covered with fog, and she couldn’t make it out clearly. The more she thought about it, the worse her headache got. She was familiar with this headache; it was the same kind of headache that she often got when she tried to remember her father.
Kousho looked at his hand and was thinking about something.
“The incense was made by Kansou from the Ministry of Incense. Would you like to smell it?”
He suddenly asked and she nodded.
“If it’s possible. I have the same headache that I often get when I try to remember Father, so I might have smelled this scent before in the past. I might be able to find a lead on how to make the treasured incense if I remember something about my past.”
She stared at the cloth bag. Kousho looked at her and softly smiled.
“This incense is very expensive and special. I was going to burn it at a special event. I’ll invite you to join me, so wait until then.”
“… Okay.”
She couldn’t insist on smelling it. He told her he would invite her to join him when he burnt the incense, so she can only wait until then.
After she replied, Kousho put the cloth bag into his pocket.
“I heard that you did well when you showed Seirai around.”
“Yes. I was extremely careful, so that I wouldn’t upset him.”
His voice sounded slightly warmer. She could smell some of the emotions he was feeling thanks to her super olfaction. When he was acting cold to her, she could smell the scent that he produced when he was on his guard.
However, the scent that he was emitting now was the same relaxing scent that he used when interacting with those close to him. He really wasn’t going to be cold towards her when they are alone.
“I heard from Garan that Seirai is going to teach you how to dance.”
“Yes. Seirai-sama told me that he’s an excellent dancer… Kousho-sama, you wanted me to refuse to be the Empress and join the Four Consorts to buy you time, correct?”
Kousho widened his eyes slightly and turned his head a little.
“Yeah.”
“I also want my own palace, so I’ll want to become one of the Four Consorts somehow, but I have no experience with dancing, so it’s hopeless for me to hope to join the Four Consorts as I am now. However, if Seirai-sama can teach me, then I might have a small chance of becoming one.”
She smiled and Kousho nodded slightly while looking down.
“You’re right. Good luck. I’ll be troubled if you don’t become one.”
Kousho turned his back towards Riri and waved his hand slightly.
“Bye, it’s getting dark so hurry back to your room.”
She stared as he walked away and was taken aback.
“I wanted to ask him why he’s acting cold towards me…”
She was so curious about the scent that it occupied her mind.
More importantly, she didn’t know how to ask him about this, so she ended up not asking him something crucial. It was a shame, but she was delighted to be able to talk with him after so long.