Context: nearer to the end of book 12

“Shuuei. Somehow, after all of this, we are together now.”

Ryuuki turned resolutely back to Shuuei.

“We want you. As king, we want Ran Shuuei. Come back with us.”

Shuuei silently listened.

He had followed Ryuuki to the mountain, and after finding him, had followed behind him, seeing everything. Alone, lost, Ryuuki had nevertheless single-mindedly aimed for the top of the mountain. Shuuei had continued to watch that figure. Although he intended to aid him if his life had truly been in danger, for anything less than that, he didn’t try to help him. Shuuei too had still wanted to see what Ryuuki would choose. Then, after he had arrived all worn-out at the shrine, Ryuuki had given his answer. So he truly understood. But still, he had wanted to hear it from Ryuuki’s own lips.

“….We want allies.”

Ryuuki said this word by word, as if confirming himself.

“What we want is not friends. It would be a lie to say that we don’t want friends, but it is as king that we want Ran Shuuei. No matter what, we came to obtain the Ran Shuuei who had become our ally. For that reason, I will become a suitable king. I want your lifelong loyalty as a retainer. Your entire life.”

Shuuei lowered his gaze.

…..as expected, it was effective.

Unbidden, his breast quivered. He had not thought that Ryuuki would go so far as to say this to him.

(….why can’t I even say this to the woman I love?)

“Choose us, Shuuei. We choose you. We have come here for that reason.”

Shuuei took a deep breath.

There was something he had to say.
Shuuei had wagered with his elder brothers, and then lost certain things.

“Your majesty, I have been disinherited by the Ran clan.”

For Shuuei, who had chosen the king rather than the Ran clan, this was a natural measure to take.

At that time, his elder brothers had said something to Shuuei, as the heads of the Ran clan.

“‘The Ran clan shall not follow you now. That is why we have no wish to meet you.’ They said that clearly. So, they have no intention of sending back the Ran officials. What you have obtained by coming here is truly only myself alone. I can no longer use the authority of the Ran clan. So even still? ”

Ryuuki turned his head as if finding that sincerely mysterious.

“And what of it? We came here with the intention of taking you away with us. That is more than adequate.”

“…Take-away…” [sorry, this is a pun. Ryuuki said above お持ち帰りwhich Japanese for "take out." Shuuei is repeating the word here. It translates to "take and return." I figured that using the British take-away would make more sense. But maybe it still doesn't.]

“Eh, won’t you come with us ?! What, is there something you want? Wh-what we have is actually not very much, but if you want something of that…”

Ryuuki was flustered.

Shuuei put his hand to his head, then laughed.
All that Shuuei wanted, had been given to him.

“Then, I shall answer with my sword. Please draw yours,” grinned Shuuei.

….Ryuuki gaped at his sword, which had been struck out of his hand.

Just like that, the match had ended. Such as thing had not happened since he last matched swords with Sou Taifu. His body had been well rested, he had eaten. He wasn’t in pain, really, but what was with having lost so quickly, as if he were a child?

“…This can’t be.”
“What can’t be? This is my real power, really. The gap in power between myself and your majesty is such.”
“Sh-Shuuei shouldn’t be this strong!”
“What kind of rude thing are you saying? I have to say, although your majesty is in perfect condition, your majesty cannot score any points on me. I swear this. Even so, in the Plume Forest army, the only ones who can beat me are General Koku and General Haku.”
Well, said Shuuei as he sheathed his sword.
“…The only opponents I have been truly serious against, also, are those two generals.”

Ryuuki had learned the sword from Sou Taifu. He was strong….or should have been.
“N..no way! We won’t recognize this!”

“‘Strength is to be hidden’: That’s the motto of the Shiba clan, where I was taught. I rarely if ever am serious. In short, your majesty has seen something very rare. ….Such is my answer.”
Shuuei smiled.
“From now on, I will not just go along with your personal wishes. Even if Seiran rages at me. When I disagree, I will of course disagree. Even if you say you wish to marry Shuurei-dono, I won’t say “If you like her, then that’s good, isn’t it?” ….Well, when you’re relaxing, you can go and meet her in secret.”

When you took the Ran name from him, Shuuei truly had nothing left. To this king who wanted him despite this….
What he offered was truly only himself.

“I shall neither hesitate in the slightest, nor be negligent. I shall not give you a second loss. –I, Ran Shuuei, from this day on, swear to serve your majesty for the rest of my life. I offer up my true sword to my liege.”

Ryuuki was in shock. Although he had had some confidence in his sword, this was sincerely regrettable. It was mortifying to know that he could not compare at all.

“..This shouldn’t have…”

“Can’t you give me a cooler answer? Even so, you saw right through it. I don’t think that Jyuusan-hime would have given me away, though. How did you know that I would return with you?”
Shuuei took out a white handkerchief from his pocket. When he had returned the “Iris” sword, in return Ryuuki had given him this white handkerchief.

If spread out, you could see that on the edges the “iris” was discreetly stitched.

At that time, Shuuei sincerely was prepared to return the “Iris.” Shuuei had received that “flower” as “Ran Shuuei.” But, the “Ran Clan” did not recognize the king. At that time, Shuuei truly was unqualified for it. Seiran, and the great ministers also knew this. No one would accept half measures. Therefore, especially, he had returned the flower, and with the determination to drop the Ran name and return, petitioned to return to Ran Province. However, in return Ryuuki had given him this handkerchief.

When that happened, he had been surprised, and thought, he’s put one over me. As he was returning with the replacement “iris,” Shuuei’s mood became considerably lighter. Ryuuki had ensured that he had somewhere to go back to. Shuuei had not thought that he had such confidence in him.

…He was happy.

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