It was yesterday that Nobukkatsu had visited Tokiwadou. The sunset reflected on the Tokigawa's surface, Isuke's calm voice, Nobukkatsu's profile——such things still lingered in the corner of Harune's mind. That voice repeating, "If plague spreads, the annual tax decreases. If the people are healthy, the domain's productivity rises. That is all"——she still had no answer as to whether that was truly "all" it was. In the hour when morning mist drifted thinly through the castle, a maidservant opened the door to the Eastern Quarters. "Lady Harune, Lord Kagetora is calling for you." Kagetora. At the sound of that name, something within Harune went cold. The conversation she'd overheard in the corridor——"A woman in the position of concubine candidate wielding such influence over the people's hearts is, from a governance perspective, a matter of grave concern"——since then, she had not faced this man properly. Being summoned the morning after Nobukkatsu had permitted her visit to Tokiwadou meant he had come to confirm something, Harune thought. The corridor leading to the war council chamber held the chill of morning air, and the soft creaking of floorboards echoed quietly. Maps of Owari and Mikawa, hung upon the walls, began to appear ahead in the passage. She slid the door open. In the room stood Kagetora alone. Thirty-five years old. A lean, taut frame and sharp, refined features. A dark-tinted hitatare with no particular ornamentation. Yet his eyes——they never stopped moving. From the moment he saw Harune, they assessed her like a merchant appraising goods. Eyes completely closed to emotion, constructed entirely of calculation. "Sit." There was no greeting. Harune sat upon the tatami. The distance between her and Kagetora was roughly three mats. "Report the results of the plague countermeasures. In numbers." It was less a question than a command. His voice was low and calm, yet carried the cold edge of a blade. Harune drew one breath to steady herself. "[serious]At the isolation facility at Jouenji Temple, there are forty-seven recovered patients, and zero deaths within the period including the quarantine duration. Medicinal herb reserves are currently secured for thirty days or more. The isolation facility uses the empty hall of Jouenji Temple and operates under the cooperation of Abbot Kakumei." Kagetora said nothing. His expression did not change. Only——deep within his eyes, something seemed to shift. "Where did you acquire such knowledge?" It was a question she had anticipated. Yet it was also one she could not answer. She could hardly say, "I studied public health at a university in modern-day Japan." "……From several texts and experience, sir." "Texts." "Yes." "From where? I have never heard of any writings in this country that combine boiling sterilization and isolation as plague countermeasures." Harune's answer was slow in coming. Kagetora's eyes narrowed. "[cold]It is dangerous to place someone who cannot answer questions near Lord Nobukkatsu." The temperature of his words dropped sharply. He was not blaming her, nor was he angry. He simply stated it as fact, quietly. That made it all the colder. Harune could not refute him. Whatever she said, this man would cut her down with logic. If she spoke honestly, she would be judged a "dangerous foreign element." If she lied, he would see through it at once. In silence, Harune bowed her head. "Forgive me." She rose and moved toward the door. A small voice reached her back. "……Your grasp of the numbers was sound." She did not turn around. But she heard it clearly. Once in the corridor, Harune exhaled slowly. Perhaps that person is not entirely cold. The thought surfaced unbidden. --- By afternoon, a maidservant asked, "Would you care to take a brief walk through the castle town?" It seemed the permission from yesterday's outing was continuing. The Tokigawa ferry landing was at the eastern edge of the castle town. A vital crossing point where people and goods moved, the ferry toll was two mon per person. Harune walked alongside her maidservant toward the base of the bridge near the landing. The river surface glimmered with light. It was the beginning of autumn, and the wind still carried a faint dampness. "Lady Harune." A voice called out. She turned. A young man stood there. Nineteen years old. Nobukkatsu's half-brother, Nobuhiro. A black kosode and an unadorned waist sword. His build was sturdy, his features somewhat resembling Nobukkatsu's, but his eyes were utterly different——where Nobukkatsu's eyes calculated depths, Nobuhiro's burned with the bright flame of the surface. He approached with a cheerful smile. "What a coincidence. I rarely come to this place." Coincidence. At that word, Harune felt a small catch in her chest. "[gentle]Being confined to my brother's quarters must be tedious for you." Nobuhiro glanced at the river surface once, then returned his gaze to Harune. "The ferry landing——I have been entrusted with its management. The quantity of goods crossing that bridge, the number of people——I know it all." "I see." "If there is something you desire, I can have it brought. Medicinal herbs, cloth. Without going through the castle." Harune searched for an answer. "Your kindness is appreciated, but——" "Appreciated, is that all?" Nobuhiro's smile changed, ever so slightly. The cheerfulness from before vanished, and the flame deep in his eyes came forward. His voice lowered. "[serious]My brother has more power than I do. The castle, the soldiers, Kagetora——everything is on my brother's side. So it would be better for you to follow me instead——that is what I am saying." Kindness and threat mingled in the same voice. Harune's feet became rooted to the spot, unable to move. This person is dangerous. Her body told her so, not reason. The rivalry toward his brother and the obsession with Harune burned in his eyes simultaneously, so intertwined that she could not tell which was which. She searched for words to respond. In that instant, someone stepped forward from behind, soundlessly. It was Akiyoshi. Twenty-four years old, a spear wielder. Tall, his only possession a single spear. Always taciturn, his expression unchanging. He said nothing now either. He simply stood quietly between Harune and Nobuhiro. Not a word spoken. No hand to sword. Simply standing there——yet his body and the gaze directed at Nobuhiro conveyed that nothing more would pass. Nobuhiro looked at Akiyoshi. "[sarcastic]……Does a mere guard presume to obstruct me?" Akiyoshi did not move. "[cold]I will come again." He spat the words and turned on his heel. His footsteps receded along the riverside path. Harune held her breath until his back disappeared from sight. --- On the way back to the Eastern Quarters, Akiyoshi walked slightly ahead of Harune. The sound of the river continued throughout. The maidservant walked a little behind, and the three of them were silent. After some hesitation, Harune spoke. "[gentle]Thank you." Akiyoshi kept his gaze forward, pausing for a moment. "……It is my duty." That was all. Harune watched Akiyoshi's back. His spine was straight, his gait without sway. Yet——the moment her eyes fell to his feet, she noticed. His legs were trembling slightly. Around the knees. So faint that it would be imperceptible unless one were walking behind him. At that sight, something within Harune's chest wavered. This man had been afraid. Yet in that moment facing Nobuhiro, he had stepped forward anyway. She could say nothing. She simply continued walking, watching his back. Returning to the Eastern Quarters, Harune was alone in her room. She sat upon the tatami and tried to organize the day. Lord Kagetora had seen her through numbers. He had posed unanswerable questions and called her "dangerous." Lord Nobuhiro had made her a bargaining chip. Behind his affectionate words lay threat. Lord Akiyoshi said nothing. He simply stepped forward and called it "duty." Lord Nobukkatsu——he only gave orders. That is all, he had said. No one had asked Harune, "What do you want?" As a person, what frightened her, what brought her joy, where did she wish to go——no one had asked such things. Harune drew her knees to her chest. She had not meant to cry. Yet the back of her eyes grew hot, and tears spilled over. Silent tears. Through the window, the roof of Jouenji Temple was visible. There were people there whom Harune had saved. Osato's mother came to see Isuke every day, she had heard. That was true, and it was one of the few warm things in Harune's heart. --- Night fell. In the flickering light of the andon lamp, a maidservant softly opened the door. "Lady Harune, a letter has arrived. From Isuke of Tokiwadou." Harune rose and received it. A small, folded piece of paper. She opened it. It was Isuke's handwriting. Neat, leaning slightly to the right. ——It was this afternoon. A man claiming to be in service to Lord Nobuhiro came to Tokiwadou and eagerly inquired when you would venture into the castle town and which roads you would take. I found it suspicious and thought to inform you—— Harune held the paper, motionless. Nobuhiro had said "coincidence" at the ferry landing today. But it was not. He had learned in advance when Harune would go into the castle town. He had sent someone to question Isuke at the shop at midday, then waited in ambush in the afternoon. That "chance encounter" had been prepared from the start. The afternoon conversation at the ferry landing took on an entirely different color. The affectionate smile, the words "it would be better for you to follow me"——all of it had been spoken with prior knowledge of Harune's movements. (Who should I tell?) Kagetora saw Harune as a "dangerous variable." If she brought this to him, it would only serve as reason for "further surveillance." Nobukkatsu was——the one who had issued the confinement order. If she told him, she would be locked away in the Eastern Quarters again. Akiyoshi——by his position, he would have to report to Nobukkatsu. It was not his fault. That was simply his "duty." No matter who she told, the outcome would only move toward restricting Harune's freedom further. Harune pressed the paper to her chest. She would have to bear this alone. At least for now. Outside was quiet. After a time, footsteps sounded. Regular, measured steps outside the Eastern Quarters. Going, returning, going again. It was Akiyoshi. He was keeping watch tonight as well. Harune moved close to the latticed window. It was too dark to see his form. Only the footsteps were audible. Regular, unceasing. She thought of the trembling feet she had seen on the path home. That back that had continued to stand, nonetheless. A small warmth kindled in the corner of her chest. Harune folded the paper and tucked it between layers of cloth. Next to the broken smartphone. She looked up at the ceiling. Nobuhiro was investigating her movements. The next time she ventured into the castle town, he would appear again. How to act then——tonight, Harune had no answer. The footsteps passed outside the Eastern Quarters once more.