Long ago, there existed a land divided into four countries: Sou, Kou, Do, and Ah. The King of Ah took on a wife from Kou and soon thereafter one from Do, creating a shaky alliance between the three nations. When the Second Queen gave birth to a son, the King cast aside the sickly First Queen and her daughter Aki into the depths of the Palace. But as Fate would have it, Princess Aki encounters a slave named Hakusei, who has peculiar golden hair and sky blue eyes. He promises his life to her and helps her train in the Six Arts under the guidance of the enigmatic merchant Seitetsu; however, when Aki outshines the Prince during a hunt in an attempt to gain her father's acknowledgement, she sparks a war by besmirching Do's honor and drives the Second Queen to poison her mother.
 
With nothing left but her faithful Hakusei, Aki is banished to the small country of Kou with a vow to return to Ah one day for revenge. But in the face of the mighty allied nations of Do and Ah, will the two survive long enough to carry out Aki's vow? 
(Source: Shogakukan, translated)
 
Note: Won the 60th (2014) Shogakukan Manga Award for best shoujo manga in 2015.

This volume contains three one-shots by Izumi Kaneyoshi.
 
1. Ni no Hime no Monogatari (二の姫の物語) 
In the country of "Kou", the king has no sons, so his three princesses are now in contention for the throne. Ichi no Hime, with her beauty and intelligence, seems the most likely heir, but San no Hime is the king's favorite. Ni no Hime, however, is much too quiet and ignorant to even be considered. This is why Seisui is angry when his father, the king's councilor, makes him Ni no Hime's tutor...
 
2. Circuit no Joou-sama (サーキットの女王様) 
Ei becomes a race queen and meets Hana and Akane, who teach her that the world of beauty, fame, and money is not all that it seems...
 
3. Chijou 20m de Aimashou (地上20mで会いましょう) 
Mitsuru and Aya are arguing on the school rooftop about their relationship when they discover Arisa seemingly ready to jump. When they pull her back from the edge, they realize suddenly that the door leading downstairs is locked. What will happen to these three?

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