Chapter 4
Yuki's Decline

The weeks passed, and with them Yuki's condition continued to worsen. Her noble husband, after a long absence in the shōgun's service, at last returned home. Nothing could have prepared him for the scene that awaited him.

The residence, once a symbol of order and elegance, was unrecognisable. The signs of neglect were everywhere: empty teacups and scattered fans littered the tables, while delicate garments lay abandoned. The house, once full of life and laughter, now bore the marks of a profound disorder.

But nothing was more striking than the state of Yuki herself. Sitting cross-legged on a tatami in the games room, she seemed to have lost all contact with the outside world. Her eyes, once bright and expressive, were now ringed with shadow and lifeless, fixed on the ōgi board in front of her. Her hair, formerly dressed with care, was tangled and dishevelled, and her attire, once impeccable, was unkempt. A gleam of anguish and confusion shone in her gaze, bearing witness to sleepless nights and inner torments.

The husband, seized by deep anxiety, knelt beside her and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. Yuki gave a slight start, as if she had been abruptly brought back to a distant reality.

Yuki, what has happened? he asked, his voice tinged with deep concern.

Raising her eyes to him, Yuki tried to form words, but her voice was weak and hesitant, betraying the fatigue and distress that had consumed her. Her sentences were disjointed, reflecting a troubled and exhausted mind.

The husband then realised with horror the full extent of the situation. The lively, joyful woman he had left had become a shadow of herself, imprisoned in a dark inner world, haunted by a dream that was robbing her little by little of her energy and her lucidity.

Determined to find a solution, he set about seeking help. He thought of an exorcist monk renowned for his wisdom and his knowledge of the ailments of the soul. Perhaps, he hoped, this wise man could free Yuki from the grip of the strange curse that seemed bound to the ōgi set.

The husband, driven by a mixture of determination and hope, quickly made preparations for the monk's coming, fervently hoping that he could bring light into the darkness that had enveloped Yuki.