Read The Twelve Kingdoms: Dreaming of Paradise for Free Online

just can't be a good idea, them letting their guard down all the time like this," mused Sougen, who was having a hard time understanding what he was seeing.
    The adults in general seemed ill at ease with all this ease. Taiki, on the other hand, was having a grand time. He didn't get all the stuff about ceremony and protocol. And even when it made sense, he wasn't used to it, and constantly had to be on his toes so he wouldn't screw up.
    But it wasn't like that in Urou Palace at all.
    "Perhaps they feel comfortable letting down their guard because the palace is so secure," Asen wryly responded.
    Seirai sighed. "Secure or happy-go-lucky. The people of Ren seem a generous lot in any case."
    "That's not a good thing?" Taiki asked.
    Seirai's shoulders sagged a bit. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Only that it's hard teaching an old dog like me new tricks. I came up through the ranks as a military man. I'm an expert at following the rules to the letter and snapping to attention. When it comes to the opposite—"
    Both Sougen and Asen nodded in agreement. "It's like we don't really know where you stand, so we don't stand very tall. The Taiho shouldn't be afraid to enjoy himself. This place seems to fit your character."
    "It's not like I don't like Hakkei Palace."
    "I know that. And it's not like I dislike Urou Palace. I mean, these past two days, I've watched Tansui get himself lost at least three times."
    "That's true," Taiki grinned.
    "And yesterday, Tansui was fit to be tied when Ren Taiho brought us breakfast and made us tea."
    "I wouldn't go noising this around, but that's a state I've almost never seen him in."
    Taiki giggled. Tansui was standing by the door pretending as he always did that he was overhearing none of this. Still, he did look a bit downcast.
    "Well, I'm going to take off for a while," Taiki said.
    He left the tall, grand building and Tansui followed after him without a word. Taiki headed straight for the "North" palace complex. When Seitaku wasn't busy with business, he could usually be found on his farm. When Taiki arrived at the fields, sure enough, there was Seitaku in his peasant garb.
    "A good day to you!"
    His utterly unaffected smile and manner always delighted Taiki. Given a minute of spare time during his official and ceremonial duties and here is where Seitaku would come. Taiki had been "helping out" from the start. Not so much really working as wandering around, and getting things for Seitaku when he asked for it.
    Taiki had no experience doing any kind of farm work. He wasn't sure what even constituted "help" in the first place. Going this way and that and following Seitaku's directions wasn't a whole lot different from what he did back in Tai.
    "I must be getting in your way a lot," he said, gathering up a pile of prunings he had run into and knocked over.
    "Not at all," Seitaku's smile assured him.
    Taiki had the impression that this king never stopped smiling. "I know I'm a pain in the neck, but since we have to leave tomorrow, I was hoping you could put up with me for another day."
    "You're not a pain in the neck in the slightest. When I was a kid, I worked alongside the people in the village and learned the ropes the same way you are now." He added with a bright grin. "Ah, but I guess learning how to be farmer won't do you a lot of good. And here I am running you around in circles."
    "It's nothing like that. I think it's really fun helping you out like this."
    He was telling the truth. This was the first time he had ever seen farming up close, so he found it very interesting. It felt nice moving about in the warm breeze. Watching Seitaku working so energetically gave him a good feeling as well.
    More than anything, Seitaku's easy-going attitude made him fun to be around. Taiki didn't understand the logic of this world or the reasoning of adults. Just being around adults all the time was the most stressful job he could imagine.
    Taiki said dejectedly, "But I was thinking that if I was getting