Azuchi Castle, which belongs to Lord Oda Nobunaga, is getting ready for the celebration. Hitomi, lord's youngest daughter, turns twelve. Nobunaga intends to celebrate his daughter's coming of age in a big way and arrange the fate of both the youngest daughter and the eldest daughter, Yuriko (born from the concubine). The coming-of-age celebration is a success. For Hitomi, the young lord is chosen as her husband, and for Yuriko, the judge's son is chosen as her husband. But the young ladies are not happy with their father's decision.
Hitomi burns with passion for the samurai Moronobu, who serves her father. Yuriko is not at all inspired to become the wife of the capital judge. She dreams of wealth and power.
The lord enjoys the favor of the young Emperor and his mother, the dowager beauty, Aoyagi. The lord meets up with Aoyagi again. The Empress Dowager gives the lord two concubines, who actually turn out to be kunoichi (female shinobi). So Aoyagi hoped to protect lord from a possible attempt on his life.