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Synopsis

Inside the secluded Inner Chambers, a formal garden reserved for the ruler’s female attendants, labor weighs on everyone from entry-level maids to the most senior concubines. Asa and Kame arrive together to begin service and quickly form a strong friendship, pledging mutual support as they adjust to their ornate but demanding surroundings. As they build their lives amid strict hierarchies and hidden customs, the household is destabilized by a series of odd occurrences that interfere with preparations for an important rite. Officials from the shogunate are sent to examine the disruptions, and a mysterious figure known as the Medicine Seller appears at the gates seeking entry, warning that the danger within may be greater than anyone assumes. The narrative follows the two newcomers as they navigate complex power dynamics, arcane practices, and concealed truths while the Inner Chambers confront an escalating crisis.