This is going to be a long chapter, BTW.
Chapter 1: The Time of the Beginning
Translation of prologue of volume 15
Nik pointed out to me that on the wikipedia page for Ryuuki, it says:
“It is still unknown whether Shurei will eventually become his consort, but the novels’ narrator says that a painting by Yūkoku Heki (a genius artist from the Heki clan) of Shurei and Ryuki gazing at the sakura trees side by side will be famous for many years to come.”
However, actually when I look at the end of novel 9, I can’t see this information? It’s possibly I’m looking at the wrong place in volume nine, but I don’t even remember reading this. Anyone who read volume nine remember more about this detail?
[EDIT: With the help of Ruby, the mystery is clarified!
What Yuukoku Heki and Banri are actually painting is Ryuuki and Shuurei under the sakura... AT THE END OF VOLUME NINE. In other words, what they are painting is a scene from volume nine. Therefore, since it is a scene that occurs at the end of volume nine, I don't think it has anything to do with what happens later in the novels.]
Nik, someone who comments on the Saiunkoku posts here, has started up a Facebook Group for those who want to either discuss the Saiunkoku Light Novels or wish to see them translated commercially into English.
In the 1/27 volume 14 of The Beans, there will be a cover (I assume that this is something you can put on the book to replace the existing cover? It doesn’t refer I think to the actual cover of the magazine) featuring three characters, who are probably Kouki, Yuushun, and then someone else. (According to the coy hints in the newsletter)
It’s not clear whether there will be a Saiunkoku short story in the volume.
Warning: OPINIONS AHEAD. Not facts, so if you are just here for the info, feel free to skip this entry. Feel free to ask questions or debate if you feel like it, but keep the flames down.
If you are ready, then click to see what they are.
Someone has uploaded them to a Chinese forum.
http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=674799580
1. Kouki, Seiran, Yuushun
2. Suou and Shuurei
3. Ryuuki and Jyuusan-hime
4. Jin, Shuuei, Riou (Jr), Shuurei
5. Shuurei, Jin, some other person
Spoilers have begun to show up on the boards. As always, take with a grain of salt. Also, I didn’t order the book, so I have no way of directly confirming things.
This post will continue to be updated if I find more spoilers.
I’m actually not sure who the female character is supposed to be. Many of the Japanese fans are saying it’s (young) Ruka.
EDIT: According to the Animate Message page, it is Ruka. (it seems to be some kind of promotional material by Animate with some info about the novel on it) The other characters who appear on the page are, besides Shuurei and Ryuuki, Riou Jr., Riou Sr., Ruka, Uu Uu, Suou, and Shuuei. Shuuei’s being on there is interesting. Perhaps he may play a major role in the story?