After Chiba Ran left, all sound vanished from the courtyard.
The thirty-six women, regardless of status, held their breath.
Their fates had just been decided by the daimyo's few words.
The old woman overseeing their training approached with a list in hand.
Everyone's gaze instinctively fixed on the roster in the old woman's hands.
Without wasting words, she unrolled the scroll and read in an expressionless voice.
"Eri."
"Anna."
"..."
She called out four names in succession, all belonging to women from noble families.
The faces of the four women whose names had been called instantly turned pale.
"Eliminated."
The old woman's voice carried not a trace of emotion.
"Leave the residence on your own before dawn tomorrow."
Eliminated!
Such a simple statement brutally shattered their fantasies.
Those women trembled all over, their eyes instantly filling with tears, yet they did not dare make a sound.
Here, even crying was considered improper.
Some of the surrounding women showed pity, but far more of them secretly felt relieved.
Ignoring those distraught failures, the old woman shifted her gaze to Mei Terumi, who was kneeling in the front row.
In an instant, everyone's hearts rose to their throats again.
Mirin Uchiha's breathing nearly stopped in particular.
The old woman looked at Mei Terumi, and at last, a smile appeared on her wrinkled face.
"Jingmei."
That was Mei Terumi's alias here.
"The daimyo greatly appreciates your dancing."
Upon hearing this, Mei Terumi immediately blossomed into a ravishing smile. She bent forward, her voice soft and seductive to the bone.
"It is Jingmei's honor to dance for the daimyo."
The old woman nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Prepare yourself."
"Tonight, you will attend the daimyo in bed."
Those words blasted everyone's minds blank.
Every gaze instantly turned toward Mei Terumi.
It was actually that