The Tale Continues (Saiunkoku Monogatari Fanfiction: Ryuuki x Shuurei lemon)

Chapter 84: The King's Eyes

Ryuuki is busy opening from portrait to portrait. The officials had sent a lot again. He read the description and talents. 'I guess I'll have this girl,' he thought as he finally finished looking at the portraits. When he drank with Kouyuu, Shuuei, and Seiran last Saturday; that was all he complained about.

Kouyuu and Shuuei seemed to have nothing to complain about. They are happy with their lives and both of them will be fathers soon.

Seiran looked crestfallen and just drank and drank until when he dropped. That's the first time he drank like that. But he refused to say what his problem is. They kept on teasing him about Jyuusan though and it only made him more depressed when they reminded him of her.

Ryuuki was happy that his brother have someone he likes though. He also cannot have Seiran to always just help him and not have his own life. He knew that his brother had been happy and contented when he was with Shuurei and Shouka, but now that he is leaving alone in his mansion; Ryuuki knew he must be lonely.

Ryuuki had a full understanding of how it felt to be lonely since that seems to be what his whole life is about. He did not like his older brother suffering the same.

He heard someone enter his office and was disturbed from his thoughts.

''Your Majesty, I have finished investigating the last one you gave me. She's got most of the qualifications,'' Shuuei said when he entered the room and saw him looking through portraits.

''I see. Tell the official who brought the portrait of that girl that I am summoning her to the Inner Palace. And investigate this lady next,'' Ryuuki instructed.

Shuuei got the portrait. ''You sure have your hands full with these things,'' he commented.

''I told them to stop sending me portraits but they never listen. They are contented even if I just choose portraits and make them court ladies. They must have added seductresses,'' Ryuuki complained.

''That must be one of their plans since you said you have no plan to marry yet. They approve of Prince Riou to be the heir but they want to be sure that in case something happens to Prince Riou there would be another.''

''Tsk. What do they think of having children? You get to have children then set a plan for their future and give them no choice? I already said I don't want to have children,'' Ryuuki protested.

''Because you don't want another civil war?'' Shuuei said exactly what Ryuuki fears.

''Yes. I don't want to have children and just make them crazy due to the throne. I don't want to have children if they would just end up killing each other. Riou is enough. He is more than capable,'' Ryuuki related.

Moreover, by letting Riou become the heir, he is also returning the throne to its original owners. Riou's blood line is purer than his'. Riou is a descendant of Sou Gen (the first emperor of Saiunkoku) since Ou Ki or rather his real name Sou Ki is his grandfather.

''Isn't Shusui pregnant yet? I heard from Kouyuu that Sera is pregnant,'' Ryuuki said to change the subject. Shuuei blushed at that and Ryuuki knew the answer to his own question. He envied the two who got married with the women they love and get to have children as they please.

''Well actually yes,'' Shuuei said with a hint of happiness in his eyes. ''I think I'm going home early today.''

''Congratulations!'' Ryuuki beamed. ''Just tell me if you need some time off,'' he added. Shuuei smiled gratefully at this kind king. Looking at Ryuuki smile now, he almost cannot say that this is the same person who had gotten angry in the throne room and ordered everyone there without exception.