The yatagarasu race is led by the kin'u, also known as the Golden Raven. When his son, the future kin'u, is ready to take a bride, noblewomen from the Four Houses are sent to the Cherry Blossom Palace to compete for the honor of his hand in marriage.

A wounded Atsufusa calls for the Prince, offering vital intelligence. But what could be worth risking another ambush to hear? When the Prince ignores Sumio's advice, Yukiya's wits become his only lifeline.

The missing water merchant is found at last—as a mutilated corpse bearing a written confession. The Prince rushes to investigate the dry well at the root of his strange story, but Yukiya isn't ready to clear Koume of suspicion just yet.

Koume confronts her mother and learns the truth about the monkeys' yatagarasu collaborators. Yukiya and the Prince race to the scene, but can they undo the damage done by Yukiya's rash judgment?