Some days later, Hina and Kiyoe visited the Shinomiya residence once again.
After exchanging brief formal greetings, the three of them each held a cup of tea. Hina’s fingers trembled with nervousness, and she could barely swallow the tea. She quietly set down her cup and took a deep breath to steady herself.
Shinomiya remained as composed as ever, his gentle demeanor and constant smile unchanged, yet there was something unspoken lurking beneath his words. Resolved, Hina suddenly rose from her seat. Kiyoe, sitting beside her, turned to her with a puzzled look. “What’s wrong, Hina?”
(—Today, I end this. There’s no turning back now.)
Her heart pounded heavily in her chest. She straightened her posture, took a steadying breath, and bowed deeply.
“My deepest apologies, Lord Shinomiya… I am no longer the woman worthy of your expectations.”
The air in the room shifted instantly. Shinomiya’s expression stiffened—his brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing. Hina couldn’t stop her hands from trembling, and even her legs felt unsteady.
“…What do you mean by that?”
—Don’t falter. You must say it clearly.
Hina raised her head and met his gaze without flinching. “I am no longer… pure.”
A tense silence stretched like a taut thread before snapping. The color drained from Shinomiya’s face, replaced by a cold, seething fury.
“…Did I mishear you?”
Hina endured the sharpness of his voice without a word. His gaze was no longer appraising—it was openly disdainful.
“If you doubt me, I can provide a physician’s certificate.”
She forced the words out, suppressing the tremor in her voice. Then, unexpectedly, another voice cut in.
“Hina…!? What are you saying!?”
It was Kiyoe, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Shinomiya abruptly stood and stormed toward her instead of Hina.
“Did you intend to foist this disgraceful girl upon me?!”
His voice sliced through the room like a blade. Kiyoe was utterly flustered, her voice rising in panic. “L-Lord Shinomiya, this must be some mistake…! Hina, tell him…!”
Her pleading gaze was pitiful, but Hina faced it head-on and shook her head.
“No, it is no mistake.”
The moment she spoke, the last remnants of hesitation within her vanished. She knew the repercussions would be severe—but this was the path she had chosen.
Kiyoe collapsed into her chair as if crushed, unable to lift her head. Like a doll weighed down by the world’s scorn.
Shinomiya looked down at them both with icy contempt. “The investment deal is hereby nullified. Consider the engagement void. I will not waste another moment on this.”
With that, he turned on his heel and strode out, his footsteps cold and sharp against the floor. Even after the sound faded, Hina remained still—as if mourning something deep within herself.
Back at home, Kiyoe glared at Hina, her face pale with fury. “Hina… What have you done? Do you realize what you’ve cost us?”
But Hina no longer felt fear. The warmth of that night with Keiichiro still lingered in her heart.
(Even so… I chose freedom.)
Biting back tears, she bowed deeply. “I’m sorry. But I… I wanted to choose my own way of life.”
When she said nothing more, Kiyoe’s anger reached its peak. She slammed her folding fan onto the tatami with a trembling hand.
“…Who was it?! Tell me who it was!”
Her enraged voice echoed off the walls. Even Yamane, who was present, stood frozen by the intensity.
Still, Hina kept her head bowed and shook it slowly. “I’m sorry… I cannot say.”
“Why?! Because of you, the engagement with the Shinomiyas is ruined!”
Hina bit her lip. If she uttered Keiichiro’s name, Kiyoe would surely fly into a rage—and his position could be jeopardized. That was the one thing she could never allow.
“…I take full responsibility.”
“…Enough.”
Kiyoe stood abruptly. There was not a shred of affection left in her eyes.
“There is no reason to keep an ungrateful, irresponsible girl like you in this house. Pack your things and leave. Now.”
Her voice was frigid.
“Madam… that is far too cruel…!”
Yamane intervened, knowing Hina had nowhere else to go.
“I never want to see your face again. Take her away.”
Hina had no words left. She understood—there was no room for argument.
Led by Yamane, she could only return to the servants’ quarters. The other maids were all at their posts, leaving the room silent. In that stillness, Hina removed the fine kimono Kiyoe had given her and carefully draped it over the clothes rack with a reverent bow.
After washing off her makeup and changing into her plain, familiar kimono, she began packing swiftly.
“Hina…! Are you really leaving?”
Yamane’s voice trembled.
Hina didn’t stop, offering only a faint smile. “I can’t stay here anymore. And I certainly can’t marry now.”
“But if you wait just one night—Madam will surely calm down. She’s just speaking in anger…”
Hina shook her head. With quiet resolve in her eyes, she spoke firmly. “If I stay, it will only cause trouble for the Master.”
“The Master…? Why bring him into this…?”
Yamane’s voice wavered with unease. “Hina, don’t tell me you—”
But Hina said nothing more. With a fleeting, bittersweet smile, she retrieved a small jar of ointment from the drawer—the last one she had prepared for Keiichiro.
She pressed it into Yamane’s bewildered palm. “…Yamane-san. Please give this to the Master.”
“Hina…!”
Yamane’s eyes welled up, but Hina turned away, picking up her bundled belongings.
Keiichiro was away on business—he wouldn’t return for four more days. By then, she would be gone.
“This is the last one. Just… tell him ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘thank you.’ That’s all.”
“Where will you go…?”
Hina couldn’t answer that either.
As dusk approached, she left the estate with nothing but a small bundle in her arms.
Her back was turned—as if determined to leave no regrets behind.