These are the waning years of the reign of Hantei Retsuhime. Having married unwisely, she has had no children. Unfortunately, the Imperial Records have discovered that the lineage of Hantei has not been particularly fruitful in the past few generations, with many of the Emperor's siblings choosing not to have children after joining the Otomo in an effort to relieve the Empire of the temptation of a potential rival to a true Imperial Heir.

On the Empress' command, the Ikoma have had to dig deep into the records, going back several generations to find far-flung cousins with connections to Retsuhime that are so tenuous as to be equal. Equally weak. In the absence of a clear consensus, the Great Clans are paralyzed, unsure which of the several candidates to support, knowing that any choice could lead to manifold blessings or dangerous consequences. Through it all, Retsuhime has remained silent as to her choice, and as time passes, it is becoming increasingly clear that it may be her last winter. Will it also be the end of the Hantei Dynasty?