Several days had passed. The inner quarters woke early. When the bell of Takagamine Castle struck five, the handmaidens had already folded the bedding and begun sweeping the corridors. Sayo was no exception. Rather, she had developed the habit of waking earlier than the other attendants. Was it a remnant of her modern life? Or did the tension of surviving in this castle wake her each morning? "Good morning." As Sayo walked the corridor, the maidservant Otake offered a light bow. The wariness from before had faded, replaced by something else entirely. Not quite respect, but something closer to familiarity. It had been three days ago. When Sayo had suggested that "well water should be boiled before use." At first, the handmaidens had tilted their heads in confusion. It was troublesome, they said. They had never seen anyone do such a thing. But among those who began using boiled water at Sayo's urging, some began to recover from their ailments. Stomach pain subsided. Skin improved.