In a room deep within the Temple in the Lunar Capital.
Hiyori opened her eyes groggily and found herself in a strange room.
Soft leather straps restrained her in an awkward pose. She had also been changed into a modified shrine maiden outfit.
Her juban had no sleeves or hem, leaving her shoulders and abdomen exposed. Only the sleeves remained of the white outer robe, tightened with threaded red ties and fastened at the upper-arm level. Her red hakama ended above her knees, and white stockings had replaced her tabi.
"..."
Hiyori remembered attending a banquet at the Shogun's Residence. Her grandfather had suddenly attacked Orochi with a group of unfamiliar samurai.
Afterward, those samurai... had actually killed Denjiro and captured her.
As for what happened next, she had been blindfolded. She had no idea where they had taken her.
But she had changed vehicles several times along the way, including what must have been something that could fly. At some point, Hiyori had passed out.
"...Is anyone there...?"
Hiyori did not feel particularly hungry. During the days following her capture, they had not mistreated her when it came to food.
So she probably had not been unconscious for very long.
"...Excuse me-"
Hiyori raised her voice a little. Since they had captured her, they must have wanted something.
Looking around, she found the room more spacious than expected. The walls were a dark velvet red, illuminated by several antique wall lamps that cast a dim yellow glow. A faint mixture of leather and disinfectant hung in the air.
A four-poster daybed stood in the center of the room. Rather than curtains, its posts held intricate metal rings and clasps.
A strange padded pommel horse stood in one corner. Several rings hung from the ceiling.
An assortment of objects lay