Riri was sitting alone in a chair in the middle of the room. She turned her head when she noticed that the door behind her had opened. Mokuren stood at the door with a calm expression on his face. On the other side of the door was a garden which faced the corridor, and she could see that the sun was setting. Mokuren closed the door and sat on the chair in front of her.
“I’ve made my decision.”
Mokuren’s voice sounded stiff, and she could smell that he was nervous.
“I am the head of the Dark Perfumers, and I am destined to lead a revolution to abolish the emperor if he is found to be unvirtuous. I cannot escape that fate.”
He had made up his mind but the hands on his knees were clutched together.
“That’s not true. You’re skilled at making incenses. It’s possible for you to start over. I can help you.”
She knew that nothing she could say would change his mind, but she had to try.
“Thanks, Riri, but this is a fate that can no longer be changed.”
Mokuren smiled slightly.
“There are dozens of Dark Perfumers. They won’t accept it if I say I will stop our revenge. They will probably kill me and continue their attack on the palace.”
“But you’re the head, I’m sure they’ll be people who will follow you if you want to stop with this revenge. You can convince them…”
“That’s impossible. There is one person who will never be persuaded. He has everyone’s trust. There are many who follow him.”
Mokuren’s smile stated that he had accepted everything.
“Eh…!”
Mokuren’s expression suddenly stiffened, and he stood up from his chair. He approached Riri and gently hugged her. She raised her voice in surprise at this sudden action and he whispered in her ears.
“Riri, consorts who leave the palace receive the death penalty. Even if you don’t receive the death penalty, the palace will be chaotic from now on. I don’t want to see you cry when you see your loved ones suffer.”
His words were gentle and his arms warm, but she still moved and freed herself from his arms.
“I will return to the palace if you don’t change your mind. It will be painful to see the palace in chaos, and it’s scary to see people fight, but I don’t want to run away. There must be something I can do at the palace.”
She had left the palace without telling anyone and didn’t expect to make it back in one piece, but she believed she had to tell Kousho that they were planning to do something at the Elegant Incense Gathering since she couldn’t convince Mokuren to stop.
“I can’t let you return.”
Mokuren grabbed her arm when she was about to stand up.
“I’m going to keep you here until everything is over… You can’t leave.”
It was the first time she had heard such a passionate voice from him.
“… Let me go!”
She managed to get out of his arms and stand up, so she opened the door and tried to escape.
But she couldn’t get any further than the door.
“I told you that you wouldn’t be able to return, didn’t I?”
A shiver ran through her when she heard Mokuren’s voice from behind her. Two black masked men were standing in front of her.
“Lock Riri up.”
The men nodded in response to Mokuren’s cold voice.
“Mokuren! Don’t!”
Her cry echoed throughout the deserted clinic.
Kousho stood in front of an old building while holding his breath as darkness fell over the area.
This was the clinic according to the information that Garan had gathered, but the people here weren’t doctors, they were perfumers who heal the sick and injured with their incenses.
The perfumer who wore glasses was very skilled and was a popular person around here.
“I can’t believe Mokuren was this close to the palace.”
Kousho hadn’t expected him to be living downtown so close to the palace when he was being hunted for the attempted assassination of the Emperor. Garan, who was standing next to him, nodded slightly.
“This area was searched right after the Emperor’s attempted assassination, but this place was vacant at the time. Mokuren probably opened the clinic after the investigation was over.”
“He must have thought this place would be safer since it had already been searched, and he was right.”
“I apologise.”
Garan was in charge of leading the chase for Mokuren. He looked down with a regretful expression on his face.
“There’s no point in regretting the past. Just think about getting Riri back safely. Gather everyone.”
The soldiers formed a circle.”
“The most important thing is to get Riri back safely. These people are assassins who use poisonous incenses. You’ll die if you let your guard down. Be careful. Let’s go!”
He gave the signal and started running towards the clinic.
Riri was locked in a cell. The door had a sturdy lock, and she could see that there were two guards through the wooden frame. If she could make the Sleep Incense then she might be able to put the guards to sleep and get the key, but her tools were taken away by Mokuren.
(I must quickly let Kousho-sama know that Mokuren is trying to do something at the Elegant Incense Gathering.)
She couldn’t avoid death since she had left the palace without permission, but she still had to tell him about Mokuren.
She suddenly smelled certain fragrances as she was thinking about how she could escape.
The fragrances belonged to many people. They seemed excited and were fighting among themselves.
After that, voices and footsteps reached her eyes.
“What? What’s going on?”
She grasped the wooden bars. The guards seemed to have noticed the commotion as well and began to panic.
“You stay here.”
The taller man told the other to stay before running down the corridor.
He suddenly fell backwards as he was about to turn the corner.
“What?!”
The guard in front of the cell widened his eyes in shock. A man appeared at the corner of the corridor.
“… Kousho-sama!”
The man had flaming red hair and calm greyish-brown eyes. He had a large build and a sharp blade in his hand. She looked at Kousho, who was staring at her, and tightened her grip on the wooden frame and yelled.
“There you are, Riri!”
“I won’t let you free her!”
The guard rushed to unsheathe his sword, but Kousho slashed him before he could.
She screamed when she saw the guard fall.
“… Kya!”
“I didn’t kill him. Tie him up!”
A soldier came out from behind him and tied up the guard, then he took the key from the guard’s waist. The soldier handed the key to Kousho and took the guard away.
Kousho rushed towards her.
“Are you alright?”
“I am…!”
She felt relieved as soon as she saw Kousho’s face up close. Her legs grew weak, and she was about to collapse on the spot, but she kept herself up through sheer willpower. She teared up when he unlocked the door and opened it.
“Come out quickly.”
She wiped her tears and stepped outside, then Kousho suddenly embraced her.
His arms were strong and felt hot. The heat made her realise that he was really in front of her.
She was prepared to never see him again when she left the palace.
She thought she might die, but she was happy to see him again. She wondered when he became this important to her.
She knew that he was searching for his first love for a long time. That woman’s presence haunted her mind and made her feel suffocated, but she decided not to think about her right now. Kousho whispered over her head.
“I’m glad I found you.”
“I apologise… for making you worry.”
She looked down and Kousho slowly let go of her. His gentle demeanour instantly turned into an angry one.
“I was really worried about you! How can you do something so selfish!? You promised you would tell me everything!”
She made herself look smaller as he yelled at her.
“I am really sorry!”
Although she had her reasons, she knew that she had broken her promise to Kousho, so she couldn’t argue with him. She bowed down sincerely and Kousho put his hand on her shoulder.
“I was going to give you a good scolding, but we’re in a rush, so I’ll stop here. Only a few people know that you have left the palace. We can pretend that nothing has happened if you return to the palace now but be prepared to be punished for this when you return.”
The word ‘punished’ made her shudder, but a ray of light shone down when she heard that she could still return to the palace.
(There is something that I can do for this nation if I can go back to the Beautiful Flower Palace again. I can let Kousho-sama know that Mokuren and the Dark Perfumers are planning on doing something at the Elegant Incense Gathering and I can even plan a counterattack with Kousho-sama and Garan…!)
She could endure whatever punishment Kousho gave her.
Just a few minutes ago, she was lost between working with Mokuren or going back to the palace to face the death penalty. She didn’t know how to thank Kousho when she saw that he had come to her rescue and that he would take her back to the place where she could do her best.
She looked up at him quietly and saw that he was smiling gently.
She was captivated by his smile.
(Why am I blushing!? I already know he’s cool, but why does he look so radiant today? Why!?)
“Riri!”
She was startled by the sound of someone calling her. She turned around and saw that Garan was running towards her.
“I’m glad you’re safe. I’m so glad…”
Garan smiled softly with a relieved expression on his face. She bowed towards him.
“I’m sorry for worrying you.”
She was happy that she was able to talk to Kousho and Garan like this.
She wiped her tears with her sleeve and Kousho turned towards Garan.
“Do you have the clinic under control?”
“Yes, we have captured everyone inside the clinic, but we have not found Mokuren.”
Kousho clicked his tongue.
“He must not be here. Let’s hurry back to the palace right away. We have to get back there before anyone realises that Riri isn’t there.”
Kousho turned towards Riri and held his hand out.
“Let’s go.”
She wondered if it was alright to hold his hand, since she was worried about Garan.
Garan had told her that he liked her. He also asked her to give him an answer when the Elegant Incense Gathering was over.
She wondered how Garan must have felt when he saw her with Kousho since he didn’t let it show on his face.
She liked Garan. She didn’t know if this was as a lover, but he was her closest friend, so she didn’t want to hurt him.
“Riri.”
She reached out and took Kousho’s hand when he urged her to.
She had always worried about everything alone. She was ready to die but she was afraid.
The warmth of Kousho’s hand made her feel delighted.
It was dawn by the time Riri returned to the palace with Kousho and Garan.
She had missed the palace even though she had only been away from it for a short time.
She was grateful that she was able to return here.
Ryouka greeted her with tears when she entered the Fragrance Princess Palace without anyone seeing.
“Thank god you’re safe, Riri-sama…”
“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
She let Ryouka hug her. She rubbed Ryouka’s back as she cried while looking back.
Kousho and Garan were there. Kousho told Riri that Ryouka had told him about Densou Temple.
Kousho knew that Ryouka still kept contact with Mokuren.
“Please don’t punish Ryouka. I asked her to tell me where Mokuren was. She gave him information, but that information was to do with me. She didn’t reveal any important information about the palace.”
Ryouka had only done this because Mokuren had saved her mother’s life.
Her feelings were pure. Kousho sighed.
“I knew you would say that… What Ryouka did is unforgivable, but she gave us information about Mokuren because she was worried about you. I am grateful for that. So, I will overlook it this time, but she cannot contact Mokuren again. Do you understand?”
“I understand…”
She patted Ryouka’s back one more time before turning towards Kousho and Garan.
“Garan, have you done the thing I asked you to do?”
She asked the thing that had been on her mind for a while, and he nodded.
“It took a long time since Rarai wouldn’t give it to me, but I finally got it the day before yesterday. I gave it to the Ministry of Incense right away and got the results yesterday. I just checked the results, and it was just as you said.”
“Good…! I also found something in Mokuren’s hideout. I’m sure I can prove the Chancellor’s innocence with this and the results you got for me…!”
She clenched her hands and Kousho widened his eyes in shock.
“What. What are you two going on about?”
“I was going to tell you about this after I got the results. Please listen to what I have to say, Kousho-sama.”
Kousho had saved her life. She wanted to repay him by doing all that she could.
Kousho nodded puzzlingly.
The next day after she had returned from Mokuren’s hideout, the Emperor and the Crown Prince, Kousho, were gathered in the reception hall, along with the Chancellor, Jin Koudoku, Rarai, Garan, Ranran and Hisui.
Riri sat at the very back. She signalled with a slight nod when she saw that everyone had gathered.
Kousho nodded back at her. He knelt and bowed his head down towards the Emperor, Ju Reibun.
“Your Majesty, thank you for giving us this opportunity.”
“Hmm. What is going on? The palace seems to be in chaos.”
The Emperor had left most of his duties to Kousho since he was in poor health, but he had heard what was going on in the palace.
“I apologise. It seems that evidence has come to light indicating that the Chancellor, Jin Koudoku, has been taking bribes.”
Kousho took out the piece of evidence. The Chancellor turned pale.
“Your Majesty! I have no knowledge of this. Someone has set me up!”
Rarai continued kneeling as he smiled unpleasantly.
“But Your Majesty, that piece of evidence is written in his handwriting and states the amount he received along with his signature. This is clear evidence of his wrongdoing. Everyone in the palace is aware of this. Please punish Jin Koudoku.”
His tone was strong. The Emperor frowned.
“I detest those who take bribes the most. You know this, Koudoku.”
His eyes were on Koudoku.
“I am aware. I would never do anything to betray you, Your Majesty. Please believe me.”
“You must not, Your Majesty. You are holding proof of his wrongdoing. You must not believe what Koudoku-sama says.”
Rarai didn’t yield. Riri looked at his back and focused her attention on her nose.
There were more than ten people in this hall, including guards and officials, so there was a mixture of scents.
But she could still discern Rarai’s scent from the others.
Rarai was probably a Dark Perfumer, but the only thing that could prove that Rarai had met with Mokuren was her super olfaction. People who know about her ability may be willing to listen to her, but it would be difficult to convince people who didn’t know. She was also afraid that she had been mistaken since she hadn’t seen him there.
Rarai would be arrested if she had reported this to Kousho, but if she was wrong, then this would give Rarai reason to attack Kousho.
She was determined to prove what she could now.
“I apologise for interrupting the conversation.”
She bowed her head and Rarai frowned.
“You are being rude in front of His Majesty.”
Kousho moved his hand as if to silence Rarai.
“I gave her permission to speak before this meeting. Please listen to what Riri has to say, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor nodded at Kousho.
“Consort Riri? Alright. Come forward.”
She bowed her head at the command, stood up and walked until she was standing before the Emperor.
The Emperor stared at her.
“Do you have something to say, Consort Riri?”
“I do. I will get straight to the point. The evidence with the Chancellor’s handwriting was forged.”
The whole room started buzzing with noise. Rarai and Ranran’s expressions changed.
“What do you mean? Do you have evidence to prove this?”
Rarai said this and then Ranran spoke up.
“I found that evidence in Consort Hisui’s room. Consort Hisui must have been taking bribes as well.”
Riri glanced at Ranran.
“That piece of paper was initially in Consort Ranran’s possession. She said that she found it in Consort Hisui’s room, but I do not believe Consort Hisui would have been foolish enough to leave it lying around. You would have had to search the room to find it, so how did you find it?”
“I…”
Ranran’s eyes widened in shock, and she started mumbling. Hisui put her hand on her chest.
“I swear by Heaven and Earth that I am not aware of that piece of paper, so it could not have been in my room.”
Ranran was intimidated by Hisui’s firm declaration.
She fell silent and Rarai took a deep breath.
“It does not matter where she got it from. That piece of paper has a Chinese bellflower watermark on it. Everyone knows that Koudoku-sama is the only person who uses this watermark. The amount he received, and his signature is also written on that piece of paper. It would be unusual for it not to belong to him. Paper with the Chinese bellflower watermark on it is custom made and you cannot get it anywhere else.”
Rarai looked elated, but Riri had already come up with an answer for this.
“You are wrong. That paper is not the one that the Chancellor usually uses.”
Rarai’s eyes widened his disbelief and he smiled when Riri pointed at the piece of paper that Kousho was holding.
“What nonsense! How can you be so sure?”
“You may not believe what I am about to say, but I have super olfaction, and can get all kinds of information from scents. The paper that the Chancellor uses is made with hemp. As many of you know, all the paper in the palace is made with hemp.”
Rarai sneered at Riri.
“So what?”
“When I first found that piece of paper, I noticed from its scent that it was not made from hemp.”
Rarai’s eyes widened in shock, but he laughed immediately after.
“So, you noticed this because of your super olfaction? But that is something only you would know. It is a bit reckless to say that the evidence has been faked just because of this.”
“I knew you would say that, so I asked General Garan to have that piece of paper examined by the Ministry of Incense. The Ministry of Incense has a new technique that will be showcased at this year’s Elegant Incense Gathering. This technique can identify the ingredients and quantity in incenses. We could use it to find out what that piece of paper is made from as well.”
She looked at Garan and he nodded.
“I talked directly to Kansou-sama, the head of the Ministry of Incense, and asked him to examine that piece of paper. I was told that it would take a long time since he had never done something like that before, but he had all the perfumers work all night long. The result was ――― that the material of the paper was definitely not hemp.”
The people in the hall were in an uproar again. Riri nodded and spoke with conviction.
“Did he perhaps also mention what it was made of?”
Garan’s eyes widened slightly as he nodded.
“Yes, Kansou-sama said that it was made from bamboo. Consort Riri’s super olfaction is indeed very reliable.”
Garan complimented her on purpose.
Everyone should be able to trust her super olfaction now.
“No way! It cannot…!”
Rarai raised his voice, but Garan glared at him.
“Do you disagree with Kansou-sama’s conclusion?”
The Ministry of Incense’s Kansou was famous for being strait-laced. The Emperor trusted him a lot and soldiers and officials alike acknowledged him. Rarai knew that it would be dangerous to provoke such a person.
Rarai bit his lip in frustration.
“Kansou-sama told me to pass this on, ‘If you have any doubts, then you can come to the Ministry of Incense’. He will explain to you how they reached this conclusion.
Garan held a scroll in his hand and presented it to the Emperor.
“This is a summary of the investigation.”
Riri spoke again when she saw that the Emperor had accepted the scroll.
“I knew that my olfaction alone would not be enough to convince you, so I asked the Ministry of Incense to investigate as well. The results are as you see. I believe that that paper, which was made with a different material, was made by someone to resemble the paper that the Chancellor uses.”
The Emperor looked over the scroll and nodded.
“I see. Koudoku wouldn’t write these transactions onto a piece of paper that is made from a different material. So, it must be a fake prepared by someone else, and someone else copied his handwriting as well. Hmm, that makes a lot of sense.”
Riri celebrated in her mind. The Emperor looked around at everyone.
“Kansou has briefed me many times about the new technology that the Ministry of Incense will present at the Elegant Incense Gathering. I was also present when he tested it on an incense. The results were excellent. If Kansou applied this technology on this piece of paper and found that it was made from bamboo, then it must be true. In other words, this piece of paper is most likely fake.”
Kousho continued after the Emperor had stopped speaking.
“The culprit’s mistake was to prepare something that looked the same on the surface but was made from a different material.”
She looked at Rarai who still wasn’t backing down and put her hand in her pocket.
“Please look at this piece of paper. General Garan… seized this piece of paper from Sei Mokuren’s hideout.”
Honestly, she was the person who had found it.
She had found it when she was trying to get out of the closet where she had hidden while Mokuren had talked to the mysterious man.
But she couldn’t tell the truth. Fortunately, only a few people knew that she had left the palace.
Kousho, Garan and her had decided that she would say that Garan had found this piece of paper.
“I will have the Ministry of Incense examine this piece of paper later, but this piece of paper has the same bamboo scent as the false evidence according to my super olfaction.”
She held it up for everyone to see. It was a piece of paper with the same Chinese bellflower watermark as the false evidence.
This bamboo scented paper, which she had found in Mokuren’s closet, had letters written messily on it.
“These words were probably a failed attempt at imitating the Chancellor’s handwriting. The fact that Mokuren had this suggests that he was most likely the one who had created the false evidence.”
Without saying anything else, she told everyone the facts and the answers derived from those facts.
The Emperor, who had been listening in silence, nodded.
“I see… Mokuren resented me and tried to assassinate me. It would make sense if he had planned this incident to throw the palace into chaos… Did you find that at Mokuren’s hideout, Garan?”
Garan put a hand on his chest and looked down.
“Yes, but Mokuren escaped. My deepest apologies. We have captured a few of his men and are now conducting our inquiries.”
“Alright. Make sure you find out where Mokuren is. And…”
The Emperor’s eyes fell on Koudoku.
“Koudoku. It seems that you’ve been cleared of all suspicions. You can thank Consort Riri for that.”
Koudoku’s eyes lit up when the Emperor smiled at him.
“Thank you very much, Your Majesty…!”
Hisui cried when she saw Koudoku bow his head. Riri met Hisui’s eyes.
(That’s good, Hisui.)
Hisui nodded softly as if Riri’s feelings got across to her.
“Well, there is still one more problem.”
The Emperor stared at Ranran.
“I heard that you were the one who had this false piece of evidence. Where did you get it from?”
The Emperor spoke directly to Ranran which made her turn pale and tremble.
“I… From Consort Hisui’s… I mean, I…”
Ranran had said that she had found that piece of paper in Hisui’s room, but she didn’t have the guts to follow through with her lie under these circumstances. Kousho stood up and took a step close to Ranran who was incoherent.
“Speak clearly. The disputes at the Beautiful Flower Palace and the palace all started because you had this false evidence in your possession. You understand what will happen to you if you lie further.”
The Emperor’s voice was freezing cold.
Ranran was too scared to even cry. She stood there frozen on the spot like a deer caught in the headlights.
“One moment please, Your Majesty. If you press her that much, then she would not be able to talk even if she wanted to.”
Hisui said. She quietly nudged Ranran’s knee.
“Consort Ranran. Please tell the truth. It will be better for you if you do.”
“Consort Hisui…”
Ranran’s lips trembled, and tears trickled down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…! I…”
“Crying can wait. We are the Four Consorts who serve Kousho-sama, so we must do what is best for him. All you can do now is tell the truth.”
Ranran managed to speak while sobbing.
“I… picked up that piece of paper.”
“Picked up? From where?”
“F-f-from Beautiful Flower Palace… It was on the ground near the room that Consort Hisui always uses… so I thought that Consort Hisui must have dropped it there… I am really sorry!”
Ranran lowered her head. Hisui gently rubbed her back even though Ranran had treated her badly. The Emperor let out a heavy sigh.
“Did you really pick it up? You are involved with Mokuren, are you not? He is a rebel. You too would face the death penalty if you helped Mokuren.”
Ranran shook her head repeatedly at those harsh words.
“I swear it! I know what Mokuren-sama looks like, but I have never spoken to him before. I just thought that I could become Kousho-sama’s Empress… if I get a hold of Consort Hisui’s weakness… I have loved him ever since I first saw him as a child…”
Ranran didn’t smell as if she was lying. Riri had once smelled Mokuren’s scent from her but she had a strong feeling that she had been wrong and that Ranran really doesn’t know anything.
The Emperor frowned.
“The crime for causing chaos in the Beautiful Flower Palace and the palace is grave. Are you prepared for it?”
“I did not mean to do that! I just believed that Consort Hisui would become Kousho-sama’s Empress if things continue as they are and I would not be able to beat her, so I…”
“That may be true, but that isn’t reason enough for you to threaten Consort Hisui.”
Kousho said coldly and Ranran broke down crying.
“Please wait.”
Hisui said quietly. Ranran looked up in surprise.
“I am in charge of the Beautiful Flower Palace. It is my fault that Consort Ranran did this. I will re-educate Consort Ranran, so would you please give her a chance?”
Hisui kneeled down and bowed to the Emperor. Kousho frowned.
“You want to protect Consort Ranran even though she has treated you horribly?”
Kousho knew what Ranran had done. He kept silent before this because he believed people would start arguing if he spoke, but he seemed to have taken pity on Hisui. Hisui smiled slightly.
“I have been friends with Consort Ranran since we were children. She may be easily swayed by those around her, but she is not a bad person. I believe that she was used in some evil person’s plan this time.”
Riri took a step forward and kneeled down when she heard this, then she bowed towards the Emperor.
“I believe she was used as well, Your Majesty. I cannot smell the scent that comes out when one is lying when Consort Ranran said that she had never spoken to Mokuren before. I believe she really does not know anything.”
“Even you… are standing up for her, Consort Riri.”
Riri nodded slightly at Ranran who looked at her in surprise, then she turned her attention to the Emperor once again.
“She does not deserve to be punished harshly just because she was used. Consort Hisui said that she will re-educate Consort Ranran, and of course, I will help her with this as much as I can. Besides, Consort Ranran is an expert dancer. She is absolutely necessary for the Elegant Incense Gathering. Please forgive her for the success of the banquet.”
The Emperor would want the Elegant Incense Gathering, the largest event in the palace, to be a success. Riri believed it was better to use this to justify letting Ranran off rather than appeal to his emotions. Hisui realised what Riri was thinking; her lips parted slightly, and she bowed her head.
“Consort Riri is correct, Your Majesty. Consort Ranran is in charge of the dance performances. It would be impossible to have any dance performances without her. The banquet would be less exciting without entertainment for the guests. Everyone is practicing hard, so please let Consort Ranran dance at the banquet.”
The consorts at the Beautiful Flower Palace were still at odds with each other even after Ranran took charge. Hisui had somehow secretly managed to persuade the consorts to proceed with the preparations, but Riri heard that they had hardly been practicing for the dance performance.
She was unsure whether they would be able to give a satisfactory performance if they start practicing now but they had no choice but to use this to persuade the Emperor.
“Please!”
The three of them bowed their heads and a dignified voice spoke from above them.
“I ask you to let her off this time as well, Your Majesty.”
It was Kousho. He bowed as well.
“Her crime of plunging the palace into chaos cannot be overlooked. She would normally be executed for this crime, but I believe stripped her off her title as Pure Consort and placing her under Consort Hisui’s custody is punishment enough. What do you think, Your Majesty? The banquet must go on, after all.”
Ranran looked as if she was going to cry when she heard that she had been stripped of her title as Pure Consort, but she didn’t.
The Emperor placed his hands over his mouth and pondered.
Then, he finally spoke after a few minutes of silence.
“… Very well. There are eight days left until the Elegant Incense Gathering. I don’t want it to be delayed. I will strip Consort Ranran of her Pure Consort title, but I will allow her to stay in the Beautiful Flower Palace.”
Ranran was shocked.
“Listen carefully, Consort Ranran. You’ve committed a crime that would normally cost you your life. Never forget those who have done so much to help you.”
Ranran’s eyes filled with tears, and she bowed her head.
“I will not…! I will never forget. Thank you for your graciousness!”
Ranran looked up and also bowed at Hisui, who was standing next to her.
“I apologise, Consort Hisui… Please, please forgive me!”
Hisui put a hand on Ranran’s shoulders as she sobbed.
“Don’t cry. Work hard to make the dance a success. There isn’t much time left, so practice like crazy. I will expel you without mercy if you don’t do well. Is that clear?”
Hisui’s words were harsh, but her tone was gentle.
Ranran smiled and nodded.
“I will! I will definitely make it a success!”
Riri was relieved to see Ranran and Hisui smile at each other.
(Now everyone at the Beautiful Flower Palace is on the same page. There are only eight days left until the Elegant Incense Gathering. We have to hurry and get everything ready!)
She fired herself up, said her goodbyes to the Emperor and left the room.