What never changed was that her "ally" had always been only one person.
"So does Mother believe it? Or do you think I'm more suspicious than he is?"
Lady Fujiwara met her daughter's gaze. "I called you over in advance precisely to talk to you about this."
"Is Mother worried that it really was me? Or worried that others will suspect me?"
"Is there any difference?"
Lady Fujiwara said evenly, "This matter is far too strange. Rumors will inevitably spread."
"I think aside from Mother and the people closest to me, no one would pin the blame on me, this poor, pitiful widow."
Lady Fujiwara changed the subject.
"So what do you plan to do next?"
"What does Mother mean?"
"Your marriage."
Lady Fujiwara said, "Wataru Tetsuya is already dead. This marriage can end here."
"But how are we supposed to explain things to the Imperial Family? Will they agree?"
"There's nothing to explain. Are we really going to have a woman of the Fujihara marry a dead man?"
