Umeko's martial arts training with Master Long Tooth is interrupted by her father, the Lord Tsuguri, informing her to make herself presentable to meet the honorable Artist Hakuu, who works for the royal court – and who he has arranged for Umeko to marry!

This does not sit well with the young Kiriga, who longs to break away from the tradition-bound role her gender condemns her to. During the presentation meeting, she is less than thrilled by Hakuu's haughty manner and odd taste, along with his veiled insults. Also nervous is one of the new entertainers, an odd-looking humanoid woman who clearly doesn't understand what is going on.

Needing someone to talk to (who won't be likely to repeat anything), Umeko takes the new servant to her room, where the pair get to know one another and Umeko gets the idea of fleeing Jadai.