Joou no Hana

A land once divided into four nations—Sou, Kou, Do, and Ah—saw the King of Ah marry women from Kou and Do, forming a fragile alliance. After the Second Queen bore a son, the King abandoned the First Queen and her daughter, Aki, exiling them to the palace depths. Aki meets a slave named Hakusei, who has golden hair and blue eyes, and he pledges his loyalty to her. Under the guidance of the mysterious merchant Seitetsu, Aki trains in the Six Arts. When she surpasses the Prince in a hunt, seeking her father’s approval, she offends Do and causes the Second Queen to poison the First Queen. Left with only Hakusei, Aki is banished to Kou, vowing to return to Ah for revenge. Facing the powerful alliance of Do and Ah, the two must survive long enough to fulfill her promise.