Year of the Boar, Tenth Month, Day 12.

At last, a bird has arrived with news from the middle of the Kingdom via Kouji at Fallen Sakura. It is delightful to have something with which to occupy my mind for a few sticks. Most of it was inconsequential but from Silent Thunder there was most interesting news that Kaede is hiding a pregnancy. Kouji says that only Kaede's inner circle are aware that she is carrying a child but my agent, Haru, at Silent Thunder thought it strange that Kaede is spending so much time alone and away from the rest of the House and decided to hide herself outside Kaede's window so she could listen in on the conversations she was having.  I have sent a message back to Kouji to make sure that Haru does not take any more risks; I cannot have my network discovered because my agents are loitering in places they should not be.
Haru has also discovered that Kaede is planning some sort of assualt on White Lake.  I say Haru has discovered this - actually this is the conclusion that I have drawn from what little information Kouji has sent. She has been spending a lot of time closeted with one Lord Sasanuma who was one of her senior military men before White Lake occupied her House. Then again, I suppose I may be projecting my own proclivities for vengeance upon the situation. For all I know, Kaede could simply be indulging in a torrid affair with Sasanuma...although... torrid affairs with her own staff are not really Kaede's style; she only ever had eyes for Kenta and I believe that she has never taken anyone but him to her bed which makes her pregnancy very interesting news indeed... An heir to two Houses... if it is a girl .... and an heir to White Lake if it is a boy. Well, well, well... This is extremely intriguing. Assumning of course, that I am correct and the child is Kenta's... Kaede may indeed have changed her outlook and the child could be Sasanuma's... or anyone's... but somehow... somehow, I do not think it is which makes the next few months at Silent Thunder well worth watching.
As I sit here and write, I hear the strains of the koto coming from down the hall. Yuika is either extremely agitated or her mood has improved. I hope it is the latter but something tells me it is not and that I should go and see what ails her.