They continued to exchange letters, but before long the Lord of Hitachi passed away, and Utsusemi, who was left alone, became a nun to avoid her stepchild, the Governor of Kawachi Province (the former Governor of Ki Province), who was in love with her.
その後も二人は文を交わしたが、やがて常陸介が亡くなり、一人残された空蝉は継子の河内国守（元紀伊国守）の懸想を避けて出家した。