Kou
Shun
Suzu met Seishuu on the ship to Kei...
...and he told her that everyone suffers in their life.
Ryuu
Shoukei was captured by the authorities in Ryuu...
...who had received notice from Queen Kyou.
Kei
Queen Kei, Youko, began to suspect that Koukan...
...the Lord of Baku Province, was trying to assassinate her.
Episode 30
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Eight.
Kokei
Kaki...
I clearly heard Enho say the name.
It is clear that you conspired to kill the queen with the help of Koukan!
However, no proof was found that Koukan...
He may have been angered by the...
Absolutely not.
Shoot!
If Enho was connected to Kaki, he could also be connected to Koukan...
Keiki is the one who introduced you to Enho, isn't it?
Maybe Keiki and Koukan have been working together from the beginning.
You're going to be killed by Koukan.
Come out!
Rangyoku...
I heard your voice, so...
Lou?
Remember I brought a letter to Enho this afternoon?
Every time that guest comes to visit, a man named Lou delivers a letter first.
Who is this man, Lou?
I don't know him very well.
He's the one with brown spots on his hair, right?
He gives me the creeps.
And Enho always looks depressed the day after he visits.
Hankyo, follow him when he leaves.
Understood.
Ryuu
You were the former princess of Hou, Sonshou. Is that correct?
I'm not such a noble, sir.
Queen Kyou sent me a Seichou with a list of goods stolen by the princess.
And the list matches what we found in your possession.
Those were given to me!
A Hanjyuu gave them to me at the inn.
That is a lie.
But...
While being chased by a ruler of a kingdom...
...you carelessly stayed at an inn and kept the Kijyuu, which drew attention.
You didn't even bother exchanging the stolen goods right away.
It is something a naive princess would do.
However...
I could hardly imagine a true member of royalty would make such a mistake.
It leads me to wonder whether you are a princess at all.
If you are not the princess...
...I assume that these are indeed your belongings, and...
...they just happen to resemble the stolen goods.
Those are indeed my personal belongings, sir.
I see...
But it still seems suspicious...
Although, we don't have time to investigate someone on mere suspicion.
What should I do?
I wish I could just disprove this accusation.
If you let me go free, I'd happily donate the goods, and...
...the Kitsuryou to your office to pay for the trouble I caused.
I see.
I could not accept them if they belonged to Queen Kyou, but...
...if it is just a coincidence, I suppose I could accept them.
You are free to go.
You are quite a smart one, aren't you?
Shoukei!
I'm glad they found you not guilty.
They said they would let me go if I gave them a bribe.
What?
H-Hey!
The ministers of Ryuu would never do such a thing!
All ministers do that, and that's how they make themselves rich.
But Ryuu is known to be a lawful kingdom.
The last King Hou even used Ryuu as an example of integrity.
There are many laws to restrict corruption...
But if they took a bribe so easily, it means...
It means what?
The system is corrupt.
Probably starting with those in higher positions...
By the way, you said you were going to Tai.
Uh, yeah...
You shouldn't go.
Why not?
There are Youma in the Kyokai.
Not just in Tai but also on the shores of Ryuu.
You're kidding.
Ryuu is falling.
What are you talking about?
King Ryuu has been on the throne for twelve hundred years.
En is closer to Tai, and there are no Youma in En.
After I stay in Ryuu for a while, I'm going back to En. So if you want...
Are you saying you'll take me to En with you?
You could've been sent to jail because of me.
That wouldn't happen, because my pass is endorsed by a very noble person.
It guarantees my legitimacy.
There was no need for you to worry about me.
I wasn't worried about you.
I guess I'm destined to meet people like you.
What?
Wa Province
We have to get to Gyouten and have your eyes cured.
I've always imagined what Queen Kei was like.
She must miss Hourai...
...so I want to talk to her about it when I see her.
But when I come back to reality, I feel empty.
Of course.
Huh?
Imagination doesn't take any effort.
You just think about it, but you're not actually doing anything...
Of course you feel empty.
Such a jerk!
This kid says imagining things is useless.
Oh really?
Well, I don't even know if you guys are just in my imagination.
What are you talking about?
Ryuu
Tama, deliver this.
Hey!
What are you doing?
Huh?
No inn is going to admit a woman without a pass and a Hanjyuu!
Because of the Suugu, we were able to...
We can still get a room if we only want to sleep.
I can never do that again!
I don't want to sleep in a cold, drafty room, with a thin blanket...
Someone like you, who owns such a luxurious Kijyuu, couldn't understand.
What's wrong with a room like that?
That's how all decent farmers live.
You gotta be kidding!
Who'd stay at a place like this wearing a nice dress like mine?
I don't understand women at all.
What's so embarrassing about going into a shabby inn wearing a silk dress?
I've met many refugees from Hou.
A lot of people seemed to have disliked the previous king.
No one felt sorry for the princess, either.
It's not my fault.
Sure, it is.
Actually, it's not your fault that your father became King Hou.
But being the princess comes with certain responsibilities.
Responsibilities?
The prince of the Kingdom of Ryuu works as an official.
In the southern kingdom, Sou, the prince assists the king...
...and the princess helped to build a public hospital.
Sick people are able to receive treatment at the hospital...
...all because of the princess of Sou.
I didn't know...
You should've known.
Obviously I know much more about Hou than the princess of Hou.
That's more embarrassing than having to wear rags, don't you think?
But...
Most people in this world wear the clothes you're wearing...
...and no one is ashamed of them.
Because that's the best they can afford with the money they worked hard for.
Some people wear silk without much effort on their part...
...but when you're given luxuries...
...you're expected to give back something of equal value.
Are you saying that it's all my fault?
My father and mother told me that I didn't have to do anything.
I never had the chance to learn anything.
I'm sure there are many people like me.
Look at Queen Kei!
She was cast away here and she knew nothing about this world...
...but now she's living luxuriously in the palace.
And you still say that I am the only one who should be ashamed?
You are jealous of Queen Kei?
Do you think she just gained everything you used to have?
Queen Kei is accountable to her kingdom and her people.
There's nothing you can have without taking on responsibility.
And if there was, it wouldn't be right.
No one will listen to someone who wishes to live like that.
I don't want to hear it!
I don't want to hear it anymore!
Please...
Ryuu
I heard that the king of Kou passed away last year.
Hou lost its ruler three years ago, and Kei's ruler perished two years ago...
Now look what's happening in Tai.
No need to worry about Ryuu, the king's been around for a long time, right?
You're right.
I suppose it's better than Hou or Kou.
If the same king has been ruling for so long, why isn't it flourishing?
The buildings are small and the streets are empty.
Houses are built under the ground in Ryuu.
It's warm in winters and cool in summers down there.
So everyone stays underground.
I really don't know anything, do I?
Kei
To be honest, I don't like taking this road without an escort.
They told us the same thing in Meikaku.
That we should have an escort to travel around here.
But I wanted to save some money, so I didn't hire anyone.
You are a brave young lady.
We need to get to Gyouten as soon as possible.
I'm only going as far as Takuhou.
It only takes about five days to Gyouten from there.
Good.
Anyway...
What's going on?
You made a big mistake not hiring an escort.
Hey, what's that in your hand?
Stay back, or I'll shoot!
What the...
Die! Die!
Die, you...
Stop it.
Move it!
I can shoot, I know I can.
That's my mission!
What the hell is he saying?
Are you a Kaikyaku?
Kaikyaku?
Who are you guys?
Is this a Kaikyaku weapon?
Interesting.
It's not worth killing them.
The real enemy is much bigger, that's why we're gathering allies.
But he's a Kaikyaku.
If you're interested, come to an inn called Rokurin-En in Hokkaku.
Anyone's welcome.
Wait...
I could understand what he said...
You're not from around here, and don't pay taxes...
...so we got a little worried and followed you.
Thank you for saving us.
Hard to convince you to hire escorts, huh?
Besides, I look more like a thief myself.
It's my fault.
No, it's not.
Yes, it is. People told us to hire an escort, but I didn't listen...
It's my fault.
That's not true.
Why don't you just tell me I was wrong?
What's wrong?
I just said the same thing Lady Riyou used to say.
Is she the Sen-nin you used to work for?
Everyone hated Lady Riyou.
But no one would tell her that we hated her.
Instead, we'd just tell her that we loved her.
But then she'd keep asking us what we really thought of her.
I feel sorry for that Lady Riyou.
Why?
You didn't reject escorts knowing what would happen, did you?
You had no choice, and that's why you feel frustrated.
I think Lady Riyou was frustrated and she didn't know...
...what to do but to take it out on people.
You think so?
Then she must've felt sorry afterwards.
But when she saw people were obviously lying, she got even more angry.
Yeah...
When that happens to you a lot, you become stubborn...
...and want to make them tell you the truth...
I can understand that.
Like you know how Lady Riyou was feeling...
I had a hard time with her, too.
You're always crying. I don't like it when someone cries.
I used to be very patient, you know.
When my house in Kei burned down, many people in the village died, and...
...all we could do was escape to Kou.
So I went to see the remains of my house for the last time.
I cried my eyes out.
I was so sad, I just couldn't hold it.
I thought I could never stop crying.
Then I realized that there are two reasons why someone cries.
One is when you feel sorry for yourself...
...and the other is when you're just really sad.
Crying when you feel sorry for yourself is something a child does.
You're crying out, "Someone help me. Dad, Mom, anyone..."
When your eyes are better, let's go back there again.
With you?
I don't know if I want to take a crybaby.
Kokei
About the load...
I'll let you handle it.
Got it.
The man is Lou...
The other one is not the guest from last night.
The guest from last night left early this morning.
Your Majesty!
Maybe it has something to do with the Court Minister's attempt to kill me.
It's too risky.
I don't want to run away.
Beyond this bridge is Takuhou.
It's the district of Wa Province, and a town, Shisui, is farther ahead.
Wa Province?
The Lord of Wa Province is Gahou, isn't it?
Seikyou says he's not trustworthy.
What's up, kid?
I want to ask you for directions.
Are you lost?
Or are you looking for someone?
Maybe.
May I look around?
A woman, eh?
Aren't you a brave one.
I'm only here to ask you for directions.
And you think I believe that?
You followed me here, didn't you? What do you want to know?
She's looking for me.
What?
Do you have a message from Enho for me?
No...
You are...
Enho?
Your old teacher?
She's staying with him.
Sorry if they scared you. There aren't too many young women around here.
Uh...
Tell Enho that I will visit him again. Thank you.
Why did you save her, Sekki?
I saved you from her.
What?
I heard a sound.
It's probably a long sword.
You shouldn't move around too much, I'll go find a place to stay.
Are you gonna leave me here with him?
Are you afraid of him?
Oh, give me a break.
So, you lost your village to a Shoku, huh?
You hate me because I came here in a Shoku, don't you?
I know what you're thinking!
I don't understand what you're saying.
Hey...
Mister!
Oh well...
He shouldn't walk around by himself. He can't even speak the language...
S-Sorry.
Watch it!
Ow...
Move it!
You are blocking a nobleman.
I'm sorry, I...
Just keep going.
What have you done?
A Kaikyaku?
Are you going to kill me, knowing that I am Shoukou?
Go ahead.
Are you all right?
Someone, get a stretcher!
Even the Hekisoujyu won't work for this...
Hang in there! I'll get you a doctor!
I don't wanna die...
You'll be fine!
Suzu is going to cry again...
How come no one tried to help him?
Who was in that carriage?
Seishuu?
I'll get you a doctor...
If your name is Suzu, this boy asked you not to cry.
I think that's what he was trying to say.
No...
Seishuu!
No...
I was counting the sands of time without realizing.
In a false dream I became speechless.
I would stare into the fire...
...as I swore to be true forever.
Let my prayers be heard, I will overcome hardship...
...and keep my oath until the end of the world.
Without a ruler, a kingdom will fall.
Shoukei finally realizes that's what will happen to Hou.
The Twelve Kingdoms, episode 31...
Episode 31
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Interlude.