Ookami-heika no Hanayome [Chapter 68]

Narration: “The wolf and the rabbit inside the cage.” Holding Yuulin’s face, Reishou assures her that it is okay. “There’s no problem and there is no need for you to worry about anything.” Narration: “Working as the temporary bride, I always wondered at what place is this person maintaining a distance from [me]. *looks at blushing Reishou*

...It is like, he is already... drawing near? –By the way, I have to confess to this person, am I not?” Reishou is surprised when Yuulin suddenly blushes and stiffens. Reishou backs away and apologizes for he is about to talk when half-way.. Blushing Yuulin says no, not.. Confused Yuulin thinks that although it is because she rushed head on towards this and that issue...

...*chibi Yuulin says about the royal younger brother issue and about the conspiracy issue.* But basically, I’m mentally prepared to hold on to ‘death is preferable to dishonor’ [Better broken jade than intact tile idiom]. I like you.” Yuulin’s heart starts beating really fast as she looks at Reishou glancing at her. Reishou assures her again that it is alright, right now, he is just going to talk. “I really just came over to talk!”

As she says okay, Yuulin thinks that right now, she must first mentally concentrate in having a conversation with Reishou. After Yuulin has calmed down, Reishou is now sitting at the chair opposite of Yuulin. He tells her that at present, as he mentioned just now, there is no need for her to worry about An Ryukou.

“Because the issue this time around, the one I had my eye on is Dark Merchant Iryou. Not long ago, there are all sorts of movements within the imperial palace. More and more it makes one hard to ignore it. Like, the courtiers complaining [/giving opinions] about the harem. The royal younger brother faction has increased.. The actions of the faction who oppose the king. *Ranyou with Ryukou and some courtiers* It feels that THERE IS SOMEONE controlling things from behind the scene.

 ..in order to get to the bottom of this issue, we had that chance encounter at that place before. [<- at the brothel]. Based on the intelligence report that you people had brought back, it can be determined that all of these are the handiwork of the Dark Merchant. *Iryou smiles while in prison*

...This time around, the plot seems to be, *smiles* he is taking his time as he put in a lot of effort to set up a declaration of war against the Wolf king...

...*Yuulin is surprised by this* Although the detailed investigation is only going to start now but to be able to apprehend this person, it is a great help in curbing the existing situation from worsening. The court [/imperial household] should also have some degree of stability, right. All of it is your and the others’ contribution.” Yuulin asks if it is of help?

Reishou smiles and says that it [their help] is beyond her imagination. Teary-eyed Yuulin is relieved and says, “Is that so.” Reishou looks surprised by that and blushes again. Reishou admits to her that honestly speaking, he hopes that she won’t be reckless like this again but then, she always exceeds his expectation. *Yuulin is surprised by this*

...Obviously you do not have anyone to rely on *holds Yuulin’s hair* but, at some unknown time, you were able to gather a lot of external help. ..you went all over the place for me. *Yuulin blushes for it is exposed* Obviously, I ordered you to escape but you yourself came running back towards this kind of place.”

While Reishou held her hand, Yuulin says that the one who resolutely brought her back to the harem is him. Reishou says that from how he looks at it, she is on her way to suddenly come rushing back. This surprises Yuulin as Reishou imagines the rabbit furiously running back.

Holding her finger, Reishou says, “You really totally won’t listen to what I say. ..Yuulin, is it also okay for me to say some boring stuff? My mother always wanted to escape from the harem. You have more or less heard of it, right? *Yuulin nods* My father is inspecting the other parts of the country. She dedicated a dance in front of the visiting king. It is simply like that, a glance that caused her to be brought into the harem.

There, she received a supreme affection [/doted on from the king]. Even if at that time, father already has an official wife as well as a lot of concubines but in his eyes, it seems that he cannot stand others expect for mother. It is good if she can consider that as happiness. Mother cannot adapt to the harem.

Her health steadily deteriorates. Even if it is like that, father still won’t give up and is being stubborn [/persistent] with her. In the place that he doesn’t see, the harem’s undercurrent is surging up violently. *Yuulin looks surprised-sad* ..if the situation continue to worsen, mother’s and my life will be put in danger. Because of this, father laboriously made a firm resolution to let go...

...At long last, mother has a relieved expression. *there is a scene of young Reishou’s hand being held by his mother on a snowy day and she said, ‘I’m sorry, Reishou. I’m too weak. I’m sorry.’* Whether the king’s love or the harem, for her, it is but a painful bondage [/restriction], that’s all. *Yuulin looks surprised*...

...After some years, mother quietly went on an eternal rest. At the frontier, I recklessly [/willfully] passed my days but due to all sorts of unlucky chance [/destiny], I’m sitting on the throne. Becoming king is a situation that I cannot imagine happening but because I have no good memories of the harem, I don’t want to accept a princess consort. *aghast Gen protesting*...

...The internal affairs [of the country] is still not yet stabilized.” Yuulin says but Jun said that after it has stabilized, he will get a queen consort.. Smiling Reishou says that it seems that Jun has some plan, that’s good.  

 “But for me, as long as I completed the work that the ‘Wolf king’ should do, it would be better to give the throne to a more suitable person from this place. *Yuulin looks surprised* Looking at it from that point of view, in my eyes, An Ryukou is not bad even if he is still young. There is also a problem with the mother.”

Yuulin looks at smiling Reishou and thinks, “This person is always indifferent. ..it seems as if everything is someone else’s issue when he is talking about himself. Is it because he always does not consider THIS PLACE as his home [/place he can return to]? An absolutely empty harem. A lonely king.”

She recalls Reishou telling her that ‘there is nothing in this place’ and ‘nothing is also needed’. Reishou says that because he plans to become that kind of king..for him, it is just okay to hire a ‘temporary bride’. Yuulin looks sad over this. He says, “..but, gradually, things cannot go that smoothly. *intertwining her fingers with his*...

To work as a temporary bride, you came to my side and you surpassed the limit that I put in my heart. *Yuulin looks surprised again* From the start, it only felt that is really fun [/happy] while we’re together. Let me say this for a moment, the longer we spend time together, the more I fear that you’ll hate me. The more I fear of losing you...

...I have to take advantage of the time when I can still control my feelings and let you go back. Even if I’m thinking of that, I still couldn’t let you go. *Yuulin thinks, ‘..huh?’* I’m thinking that it isn’t easy to let go when it is at a critical point. *blushing and sweatdropping while holding her hand. Yuulin goes ‘!?’ and tries to say, ‘Your Majesty, ..that’*...

..in the end, I’ve unexpectedly said goodbye at that kind of place. It is really quite mean. *Yuulin thinks, ‘Wait a moment, starting just now, what he is saying..’* I’m sorry, Yuulin. *stands up and goes to Yuulin* I already have no way of watching you when I’m barely able to suppress the feelings in my heart.”

Blushing Yuulin thinks that it is like their countless practice, the Wolf king and bride’s whispering words of love. “His Majesty likes me? Is he lying? That wasn’t acting?” Reishou continues to say, “Yuulin, if you hate it, then reject [me]. Struggle and use this hand to knock me down. It is okay for you to go out from here. All along you are free. The prison door won’t lock. It is okay for you to run away to a place that is beyond [the influence of] my power...

...An order isn’t for you to be locked up in this place and make you become unhappy. *holds both of her hands* But, at least, hear me out as I say one sentence. I love you dearly...I want you to stay at my side. *flustered* I want to use my own hands to protect you.”

Crying Yuulin thinks, “At the other end of the frontier, from a faraway place, always staring at that person. Right now..he stretched out his hand towards me.” As she continues to cry, Yuulin says, “I also want to stay at your side.. Any place is okay as long as you are there. Your Majesty, I.. about that..” And, Reishou kisses her.

Narration: “The very long, endless winter has already passed over.” Thinking that it is a very long kiss, Yuulin says, “Your-Majesty, about that, let go a bit for a while.” She thinks that she also want to properly confess. Reishou smiles and says, “..still not enough.” And, he kisses her again. Blushing Yuulin thinks that obviously before, it has a puppy feeling.. *freaking out* [But] right now, it is totally the Wolf king--!!!”

Narration: “The harbinger of spring is coming to Hakuyou.” As some plum blossoms buds are emerging on the trees, Gen exclaims, “Yahoo, tonight we are going to have a celebration toast. Lalala” Surprised and aghast Yuulin tells Reishou that Gen is outside. “Your Majesty, let go for a while.”

Comment: Take out those champagne glasses, it is time to celebrate ^^ Based on Reishou’s confession, that ‘love’ has an intention to marry to it, in contrast to the usual confession of ‘I like you’. Of course, I think Gen is thinking of some other reason to celebrate..as in a baby? =P It seems that both of them really assumed that the other is acting. ^^;;

After all that Yuulin did, doesn’t it already mean that she likes him? But then, perhaps, he is just presuming that it is because of Yuulin’s nature of being nice and everything, and it isn’t because she loves him. Anyway, that confession is really nice. Reishou pretty much told her everything about him like his past and his plans for the future.

Based on what he mentioned, he really seems to dread doing what his father did to his mother since he doesn’t know of Yuulin’s feelings for him. The harsh reality of harem is shown in what happened to Reishou’s mother. Apparently, contrary to what I thought, she didn’t love the father. Since he is king, he just ‘collects’ and ‘pampers’ the one that caught his fancy.

Perhaps, it is more of an unrequited love. Aside from hating the place, I guess Reishou’s mother is also not used to intrigue and the jealousies of the wife and concubines. After all, as mentioned before, most of them have some backings from other powerful people who have a reason in putting their ‘woman’ in the harem.

Because of his mother, I guess Reishou get the impression that women tend to be weak? I mean that is why Yuulin has to tell him him at least twice, iirc, to not to think of her as very weak. So, we finally know why Reishou, who was driven out of the palace with his mother, would still want to be king. He actually doesn’t but it just so happen, I guess, he was the next one in line after his older brother.

He also likes to freely wander around and hates paperwork. There are many people there who hate him for the sole reason that he only has half royal/noble blood. He has seen the dark side of royal life and how fickle most of the people there are who mostly thinking of their own interests. So ya, I'm always wondering what is driving him to do all that since he seems to be a self-less type of guy for he isn't after wealth, power or women.

He probably thinks that that this will be just a temporary thing so he bears with it. Nevertheless, to do all that, the guy is quite nice. And in some way, got rewarded by meeting with Yuulin ^^ So, I guess if that plan pushes through, they’ll leave everything to Ryukou later on, go around the world then settle down or something. =P Scans by BaRaMei&四处爬墙的水母合作汉化

Quote of the day:

If you love someone tell them. Forget about the rules of the fear of looking ridiculous. What is truly ridiculous is passing up on an opportunity to tell someone that your heart is invested in them. ~ Author Unknown