After the plague subsided, the attitude of the castle town's people toward 晴音 (はるね) changed. Walk down the main street, and there were those who bowed their heads. Pass before the Jōen Temple, and recovered children waved their hands. Despite having been rumored as a "suspicious woman of unknown origin," she was now called the "healer of Narumi" and other such names. 晴音 (はるね) could not rejoice honestly. In this era, wielding influence did not necessarily mean safety. Rather, the opposite was true. She had learned as much in these four months. So when that morning's incident occurred, it was something she might have sensed coming. It happened as she passed through the corridor before the war council chamber. Asked to bring tea, 晴音 (はるね) stopped at the corner of the hallway. A low voice had drifted through from beyond the paper screen. It was 景虎 (かげとら)'s voice. "——I must speak of the matter concerning 晴音 (はるね)." 晴音 (はるね) could not move. She stood frozen, cradling the wooden box of medicinal herbs in both hands. She still could not quite grasp the man called 景虎 (かげとら). A man of about thirty-five, with a lean, taut frame. From Shinano, his family destroyed when he was young, or so she had heard. That history had made him——he saw everything through calculating eyes, showing no emotion whatsoever. When they passed in the hallway, he always seemed to regard 晴音 (はるね) as "a variable to be processed." "Speak," came 織田信勝 (おだ のぶかつ)'s voice. "晴音 (はるね)'s influence over the common people has grown far beyond our initial estimates. With the success of the plague countermeasures, there is now scarcely a soul in the castle town who does not know her name. This——" A pause hung in the air. "——presents a danger that the people's hearts may turn toward her as an individual rather than toward their lord." 晴音 (はるね)'s arms tensed. The edge of the wooden box bit into her palms. "For one in the position of a concubine candidate to wield such influence over the people's hearts is, from the perspective of governance, a matter of grave concern." 織田信勝 (おだ のぶかつ) did not answer immediately. That silence spoke to 晴音 (はるね) more eloquently than any words could have. "……I shall give it consideration." That was all. He did not deny it. The paper screen slid open. 景虎 (かげとら) stepped into the corridor. 晴音 (はるね) could not move. Standing there with the wooden box in her arms, she was unmistakably the picture of someone who had heard every word of the conversation. 景虎 (かげとら)'s eyes narrowed. He said nothing. He merely glanced at 晴音 (はるね) and walked on down the corridor. That silence clung to her skin, colder than any words could have been. (I will be discarded.) The words echoed quietly in her mind. She never did bring the tea. She set the wooden box in the corner of the hallway and returned to the 東離 (とうり). Her feet felt heavy. --- Even as evening fell, 晴音 (はるね) could not leave her room. Beyond the window, the rooftops of the castle town were visible. The tiles of the Jōen Temple were stained by the setting sun. There, 徳太郎 (とくたろう) was decocting medicine. Perhaps おさと was running about with energy. (It will all end.) The door to the 東離 (とうり) was tapped lightly. "晴音 (はるね), may I enter?" It was 信広 (のぶひろ). 織田信勝 (おだ のぶかつ)'s half-brother. A nineteen-year-old swordsman of considerable skill. His eyes usually held a certain sharpness, but today——his face was unusually serene. "[gentle]Have you been crying?" 晴音 (はるね) shook her head. It was a lie. She had been crying until just moments ago. But now her tears had run dry. 信広 (のぶひろ) entered the room and sat. He placed his hands on his knees and looked directly at 晴音 (はるね). "[serious]I heard 景虎 (かげとら)'s suggestion too. It's a terrible thing to say." "……Is it?" 晴音 (はるね) answered while remaining guarded. This man would not come without purpose. "I know how much you have done for the people. You touched filthy water, cared for the sick, spent sleepless nights——and now you're told it's a threat. You can't possibly be unaffected by that." 信広 (のぶひろ)'s words touched precisely where 晴音 (はるね) was wounded. Something stirred deep within her chest. (For the first time in so long, someone understands me.) She recognized that sensation. And because she did, she knew she had to be all the more careful. "[gentle]Come to the South Fortress." His voice was quiet. "Under my brother and 景虎 (かげとら), you will always be treated as a piece on a board. But with me——I will protect you properly." 信広 (のぶひろ)'s hand covered hers. It was warm. It had been so long since anyone had touched her. For a moment, her body nearly gave way to that warmth. But. 晴音 (はるね) met 信広 (のぶひろ)'s eyes. Beneath the gentle expression, something burned. A flame of sorts. It was not concern for her. It was something else entirely——a rivalry with his brother, ambition for territory, or perhaps both mingled together in a hot, burning light. (It's not me. What he wants is me as a piece.) 晴音 (はるね) gently withdrew her hand. "Thank you." "[serious]Is that all?" "Please, allow me some time to think." 信広 (のぶひろ)'s expression hardened for a moment. But he quickly composed himself. "[gentle]……I understand. But keep thinking. You have a choice." 信広 (のぶひろ) left. Silence returned to the room. 晴音 (はるね) collapsed onto the bedding. She buried her face. (No one sees me as a person.) To 景虎 (かげとら), she was a "variable in governance." To 織田信勝 (おだ のぶかつ), a "matter for consideration." To 信広 (のぶひろ), a "useful piece." She had only wanted to help the people suffering from the plague. Just that. But her actions had made everything complicated. Tears came. She wept silently into the bedding. Outside was quiet. The sound of the night wind, the distant cry of insects. And then, another sound. Footsteps walking slowly outside the 東離 (とうり). Regular, unceasing. 明也 (あきなり). 明也 (あきなり) the spearman——a taciturn man of twenty-four. He had lost his family to famine and been taken in by 織田信勝 (おだ のぶかつ). The most silent person in the castle, showing no emotion. Yet tonight too, he continued to walk outside this room. Whether it was a watch or something else, 晴音 (はるね) could not say. Only those footsteps told her that someone was still there. 晴音 (はるね) wept herself to sleep. --- The next morning, 織田信勝 (おだ のぶかつ) came. He opened the door to the 東離 (とうり) and spoke while standing. He did not sit. "[cold]You are forbidden from leaving the castle for the time being." 晴音 (はるね) sat up. She was still drowsy. Her mind was not clear. "景虎 (かげとら)'s opinion has merit." That was all. (Merit.) The word spread through her like a stain. Perhaps it had already been decided when he said "I shall give it consideration" yesterday. 晴音 (はるね) could not respond. It was not that she lacked words to say. Rather——she understood that nothing she said would reach him now. "[serious]Yes." Her voice was flat. She was surprised at how devoid of emotion it was. 織田信勝 (おだ のぶかつ) left. The paper screen closed. 晴音 (はるね) sank to her knees on the floor. It was not that she could not stand. She simply no longer understood the meaning of standing. (If I disappear, would everyone be at ease?) The thought surfaced. She pushed it away. But it came again. Those days of moving about for plague countermeasures——selecting medicinal herbs with 伊助 (いすけ), brewing decoctions with 徳太郎 (とくたろう), holding おさと's hand through the night——all of it reduced to nothing by a single word from above. (Why did I come here?) The question escaped her lips without her realizing it. Directed at the ceiling. From outside came the familiar footsteps. 明也 (あきなり), who had been walking in the garden, seemed to stop just beyond the 東離 (とうり). 晴音 (はるね) said nothing. Exhausted from weeping, she lay down on the floor. --- In the early afternoon, a maidservant entered the room. "晴音 (はるね)-sama, you have a delivery." A small package. Something wrapped in hemp cloth, about the size of a palm. 晴音 (はるね) sat up and received it. She opened it. Inside were several varieties of dried medicinal herbs and a single folded piece of paper. 伊助 (いすけ)'s handwriting. Careful, slanting slightly to the right. ——Everyone in the castle town awaits your return, 晴音 (はるね)-sama. The mother of the child who recovered comes to the Jōyōdō every day, wishing to thank you in person. おさと is well.—— 晴音 (はるね) finished reading and could not move, the paper still in her hands. Then, a single tear fell. This was a different kind of tear. Not the despair of last night. Something else rose from deep within her chest. (I was trying to put down roots here.) She had not realized it. Or perhaps she had refused to see it. It was not merely to survive. She had wanted to see their faces. She had wanted to see おさと running about. 晴音 (はるね) gripped the paper with trembling hands. "[whispers]I……there are people who need me." Her voice was hoarse. She spoke to no one in particular, only to herself. Then, from outside, a voice came. Low and quiet. "[gentle]……晴音 (はるね)-sama, it will be cold tonight. Please keep yourself warm." That was all. The footsteps receded. He began walking again, regular and steady, outside the 東離 (とうり). 晴音 (はるね) approached the window. Through the wooden lattice, the garden was visible. She could see 明也 (あきなり)'s back. Tall, straight-backed. He carried no spear. He was simply walking. (This person will always be here.) Nothing was resolved. 織田信勝 (おだ のぶかつ)'s command remained unchanged. 景虎 (かげとら)'s watch continued. She could not go to the castle town. 信広 (のぶひろ)'s words still echoed in her ears. But. 晴音 (はるね) pressed the paper to her chest. (I will not give up.) She decided quietly, with certainty. There was nothing she could do immediately. But there was a way. There had to be. 伊助 (いすけ) was moving. 明也 (あきなり) was outside. おさと's mother came to the Jōyōdō every day. How to break through the wall of the confinement order——she did not yet know. But something within 晴音 (はるね) had changed. After the night she realized she was not alone, nothing could be as it was before. Beyond the rooftops of the castle town, the sun began to lean toward the horizon.