" It might be as you said."
" Then..."
" However, I don't want Kouri to see this. He is so small. And he is intimated by bloodshed. He is a kirin, after all."

“If Taiho's feelings are one of your concerns, shouldn't your majesty also consider his feelings when he realized such terrible happenings upon his absence? And then, realizing that he was sent out of the kingdom, not allowed to do anything and unable to do anything, Taiho..."

Am I too harsh? Risai doubted, but Gyousou nodded.
" How grieving... But this is not it."
Risai tilted her head.
" From time to time, I see the fear in Kouri towards me. I see it as the people's discomfort."
Risai stared blank at Gyousou.

" Kirin is the manifestation of the people's opinion -- Then that is the natural conclusion, I realized. Fearing war and bloodshed -- isn't that the same for the people? The previous emperor was a loose-handed ruler. Even at the end of his reign, a loose-handed ruler would not turn into a merciless tyrant, but only corrupts gradually. To renew the people's hearts, is it the most effective to let an iron-fist ruler on the throne? The people probably have this doubt at the same time. An iron-fist ruler is swift and brave in decisions, but if he loses his way, the consequence is fearful. -- The discomfort called fear was written clearly in Kouri's eyes."

This man -- Risai thought, and failed to find words to continue the sentence. She didn't know how she should express what she was feeling now. One can say he is extraordinary, or one can say he is abnormal. One will doubt, How can one see such a cute small child in such a way?

" I have never thought of letting Kouri see what we are doing now. -- Therefore this matter should also be hidden from the people. Kouri is here to allow me measure this. The people's trust is still that small..."
I see, Risai nodded. At the same time, she realized that Gyousou sure was different.

In Risai's eyes, Taiki was just a small simple child. A powerless, weak child that just accomplished the feat of choosing a new emperor. However, that was not how Gyousou saw it. Taiki was still the manifestation of something huge and important, and he was not to be taken lightly. That was beyond a doubt. Taiki was not a child; he was a kirin. After this was explained for so many times, now she really appreciated this obvious fact.

" The matter on hand must never be revealed to Kouri, or the people. Act as fast and as secretly as possible, and what you have done must never be known."
" Understood."

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