"My lady, I heard a new god arrived in Heian-kyo this year. The family head has ordered us to attend this year's rites." A maid hurried into a courtyard and addressed the woman lying on the tatami.
The woman merely lifted her eyes languidly. She lay before the maid without a stitch of clothing, every inch of her skin seemingly carved from fine jade, gleaming with a dazzling white radiance-the sort of cool, fair complexion people in later ages would describe.
"Oh? They've invited another new god? Why are they asking the young lady of the house to attend this time? Where are the family head and the others?" Her voice was utterly indifferent, as though the new god held no interest for her.
In this era, anyone powerful enough would be revered as a deity, so she truly had no interest in a new god. After all, she had already met more gods than she could count. Those so-called deities were merely somewhat stronger jujutsu sorcerers; even some intelligent special grade cursed spirits were worshipped as gods. In such an absurd age, the woman lying there completely naked no longer seemed quite so absurd herself.
"My lady, the family head has already left Heian-kyo with the main household's forces. We are the only two members of the main household still in the capital, so you are the only one who can attend the rites." The maid explained respectfully, then hesitated as she looked at the naked woman before finally adding, "For the sake of your reputation, my lady, please put something on. It would be improper for outsiders to see you like this."
"My reputation? Do I look like someone who cares about such things? Besides, what people say about you can be good or bad. My reputation is mine to define. Why should I care what anyone else thinks?" As she spoke, the reclining woman sat up, her long hair falling over her chest. She looked enchantingly seductive, tempting anyone who saw her toward sacrilege. An ordinary person would have long since failed to restrain their urges, but the maid before her was not only a woman herself; she had also served her since childhood and was thoroughly accustomed to this sight.
She chuckled, then said slowly, "It seems this god is quite a troublesome one. He even frightened my dear family head into running away. Hehe~"
"My lady, will you agree to attend the rites?"
"If he managed to scare the family head away, I simply must meet him. Let me see whether this god is worthy."
With that, she prepared to walk barefoot out of the mansion, but the flustered maid hurried to stop her.
"My lady, this god is supposedly an ugly monster. You should at least put on an outer robe before going out, or the family head will punish you again when he returns." As she spoke, she pointed to an elaborate, cumbersome kimono laid beside the tatami.
"How utterly tiresome. We are born naked, so why add these useless clothes to cover ourselves? Isn't that completely unnecessary?" Irritation flashed in her eyes. She grabbed the lightest outer robe from the kimono set and draped it over her shoulders. Without even fastening a sash, she walked out with only her backside covered, utterly unconcerned by anyone's gaze. In fact, no one around her dared look directly at her. Almost everyone along the route from her home to the altar kept their heads lowered, not daring to meet her eyes or even entertain the thought of sneaking a glance. That alone was a testament to her strength.
Looking at the newly built ritual sanctuary before her, she pursed her lips and said, "Don't tell me this is a nationwide ceremony?"
The ritual sanctuary was a place where the emperors of ancient Japan performed rites, as well as the principal venue where all the Japanese people joined in worshipping the gods. It differed from the ordinary altars found in individual cities.
"That's right, my lady. This ceremony is indeed being held nationwide. They say this god is extraordinarily powerful. Even the Fujiwara Northern House's Sun, Moon, and Stars Squad and Five Void Generals were defeated by him." The maid lowered her voice as she quietly recounted the rumors from several days earlier to Uraume.
Uraume paid little mind to this, since the Five Void Generals had also fallen to her. That was precisely why the Fujiwara Northern House had recruited her, eventually granting her the status of its young lady in more than name alone. After all, she had not originally borne the Fujiwara Northern name.
"Oh! Then I have all the more reason to meet this mysterious, powerful god." With that, she lifted her foot to step inside. The maid remained at the entrance, with no intention of following her. Such sacred grounds were beyond her station.
Just as she was about to cross the threshold, someone stopped her. He wore a black kimono and had a solemn expression.
"Lady Uraume, the ceremony has not yet begun. Unauthorized persons may not enter." His voice was cold. He clearly recognized the woman before him, addressing her directly by name, and the arm he held across the entrance marked him as one of the sanctuary's priests.
"Oh my~ Such a serious little official. Weren't you secretly looking at me?" A teasing smile played across Uraume's face as she extended a slender, pale finger and tipped up the priest's chin.
"N-no! I wasn't looking at you! Don't make baseless accusations!" Although the priest wore a serious expression, he was still far too young. A mere touch beneath his chin and a few teasing words were enough to turn his face scarlet, and he began stumbling over his words.
"Then... would you like to touch me?" Uraume brought her red lips close to his ear. Her fragrance kept drifting into his nostrils, and almost instantly, his ears turned bright red. His hands trembled uncontrollably, his pupils widened several times over, and his face flushed like that of a girl being teased.
"I-I-I... I don't want to. I... I have no such thoughts." Though he kept refusing aloud, his trembling hands betrayed his feelings. But he was a priest, and standing right at the sanctuary's entrance, he could never bring himself to commit an act that would profane the gods.
Just as he found himself trapped between retreating and standing his ground, Uraume chuckled and lightly sprang two steps backward, displaying her shapely figure before him.
Almost the instant she sprang away, he hastily squeezed his eyes shut, afraid to take in the sight. If he truly kept looking, there was no telling what might happen next.
A fragrant breeze brushed past his nose, and someone lightly patted his shoulder. A voice seemed to whisper right beside his ear, "I'll be going inside now. Make sure you guard the door~"
"Hahaha~" With that captivating laugh, the woman vanished. By the time he opened his eyes, she was already gone. He lingered at the entrance, then let out a long sigh, not daring to follow her inside. After all, his duty was merely to guard the main gate. Whatever happened beyond it was none of his concern.
Seeing that her lady had entered the ritual sanctuary, the maid who had accompanied her quietly withdrew.
"Hmm, all this swirling incense still smells awful. I really don't know how these priests can stand such a foul smell. Doesn't it make them sick?" Complaints aside, her steps involuntarily quickened. She wanted to meet that powerful god as soon as possible!