It wasn’t just any letter. It was a letter with an imperial seal, and as good as a death sentence to me, though politely worded.

The note invited me to the imperial palace at the Eastern Capital. The cultural heart of Otoppon, and seat of the figurehead emperor under the Ruling House. The word upon the invitation was invite, but there could be no question of declining the Emperor, figurehead though he be. I had to go, as much because I had promised Ansei I would accept the invitation. I didn’t know how he knew it would come, but he had foretold this event and made me promise.

Madame put her foot down. “Suppose the Emperor’s own daughter should be poisoned and die when you robe her? You cannot go!”

“Then they will execute me, but I will answer the summons. Do you really think I should run from it? That doesn’t sound like you, Madame.”

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“There is living without fear, and then there is dallying with sedition. I think it a fair distinction.”

“I was invited, Madame—not you. You needn’t go and risk your life. An Imperial servant will escort me.”

“You intend to go on without me?”

“I do.”

She sighed heavily.

“I will miss you when you die.”

I never could spar with Madame and gave up before beginning.

I had expected her to say that I was not prepared for the palace’s formalism—that I had successfully impersonated a samurai’s daughter to gentrified country people, but would never pass to the aristocracy at court. The imperial princess would see through me. All these facts passed unuttered. Perhaps she knew they were plain to me. And yet Madame bit back every word it. She packed up the hummingbird obi in her best chest and bid me an, for Madame, almost emotional goodbye.

“Do not forget me.”

I bowed deeply.

I didn’t know if I would ever see her again, but I would be an ungrateful liar if I failed to acknowledge that Madame Sato had once saved me.