It was quiet behind the stone path—past the last of the guest rooms, through a narrow sliding door you’d never noticed.

Yukiko led you there without explanation. You followed, ducking slightly under the wooden frame. The space beyond opened up into a tiny, perfectly kept garden. Moss lined the stones. A single Sakura tree bloomed at the center.

“No one really comes here,” she said softly. “Not even the staff. It’s just… a little space I like.”

You watched her as she knelt on the edge of the platform, her eyes distant, hands resting in her lap.

“It doesn’t feel like I have to be anything here,” she added after a moment. “Not the heir. Not the hostess. Just me.”

You sat beside her without saying anything. The wind moved the branches slightly. She glanced at you—not startled, just thoughtful.

“You can come here too, if you ever need somewhere quiet,” she said. “I would enjoy the company.”