Chapter 22: An Unexpected Addition

Time passed and now Rin was back at the White Flower Palace. It had been 2 weeks since the Crown Prince's Celebration. Rin was staring at the empty storage room, his eyes shifting toward Harumi, who was sweating profusely.

"Harumi... You... Wasted all of the food..." With a dead and disappointed look, Rin grabbed Harumi's head, applying enough pressure to make her feel the weight of her mistake.

"Aaaaaaah, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I just wanted to cook!" Harumi wailed, her voice frantic with guilt as she pleaded for forgiveness.

Rin sighed, his frustration clear, but he didn't let go of his grip on her. "You need to learn restraint," he muttered, his calm demeanor masking the growing irritation.

Harumi sank to her knees, unable to meet his eyes, still shaken. "I really thought I could do it this time... I wanted to help," she whispered, her voice small with remorse.

Rin had always taken it upon himself to handle the kitchen duties, knowing well that Harumi's attempts at cooking were disastrous. He had long ago decided that it was safer to manage the food himself than risk her wasting ingredients. After all, her cooking skills had not improved, despite her persistent efforts.

"Harumi," Rin said, his tone stern but calm, "This is why I told you not to touch the kitchen. You can't keep wasting food like this."

Harumi lowered her head, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I... I thought I could get it right this time, but I just... ruined everything again,"

"Since it has come to this... you will be helping me restock," Rin said with a firm tone, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't refuse." His gaze was sharp, and the invisible dark aura that surrounded him made Harumi feel a chill down her spine. She could feel the weight of his words, and despite her usual resistance, she nodded rapidly in compliance.

"Y-Yes, Rin," Harumi stammered, already regretting her earlier mischief in the kitchen. She had no choice now but to follow his lead, especially when he used that tone.

Before Rin could say anything more, one of the workers from the White Flower Palace entered the kitchen. "Rin, Harumi," the worker said, bowing slightly. "The White Elder has called for you both."

Rin immediately straightened, his expression shifting back to its usual calmness. "Understood," he replied. Without another word, he gestured for Harumi to follow him. She quickly adjusted her posture, her embarrassment forgotten as the weight of the White Elder's summons became the next priority.

The main room of the White Flower Palace was serene and grand, with tall windows that let in soft light, illuminating the space. A large, intricately designed rug adorned the floor, and on either side of the room, elegant tapestries depicting the palace's long history hung from the walls. In the center of the room sat the White Elder, deep in meditation, his hands resting gently on his knees. His white robes flowed around him like the soft petals of a flower, radiating a sense of calm and wisdom that filled the space. The air was thick with an aura of quiet authority, and the only sound was the gentle rustling of his robes as he breathed in the stillness.

When the knock came at the door, the White Elder's eyes remained closed, yet his voice rang out, calm and measured, "Enter."

Harumi and Rin approached, their footsteps soft on the polished floor. They both kneeled respectfully before the White Elder, their heads lowered in deference. A sense of anticipation hung in the air; both had expected something important when they were summoned. They had no idea what it could be, but they were ready to assist in any way, their loyalty unwavering.

"I have an important announcement for you two," the White Elder began, his voice steady yet carrying an undertone of authority. "I have found a third apprentice. You two must help her get adjusted to the White Flower Palace. She will work alongside you as your junior, supporting you in your duties. Treat her well."

He then raised a hand, and with a wave of magic, the door behind him creaked open. Rin's attention snapped to it, his heart racing as he saw who stepped through.

It was Urakawa Miharu.

She wore the White Flower Palace's official uniform, her posture straight and composed. Rin's mind whirled. He had not expected to see her here—certainly not as an apprentice of the White Flower Palace. His thoughts were consumed with questions, especially when he recognized her as the protagonist of *The Golden Girl's Rise*.

"Her name is Urakawa Miharu," the White Elder continued, unaware of Rin's surprise. "Harumi, Rin, guide her to the servant quarters where you both have your rooms. She will use one of them."

Rin, still reeling from the shock, could hardly manage a response. His mind raced, his eyes locked onto Miharu. Why was she here? What did her presence mean? His instincts told him that this wasn't a coincidence, but the realization left him speechless.

"Hello..." Urakawa Miharu's voice trembled slightly as she greeted them, her eyes darting between Rin and Harumi with a mix of uncertainty and nervousness.

Rin, who was typically the one to take charge in such situations, stood frozen, his expression betraying his shock. Words failed him—a rare occurrence. Harumi, noticing his silence, stepped forward, putting on her best smile to cover for him.

"Welcome, Miharu," Harumi said warmly, though she glanced at Rin with subtle concern. "We're pleased to have you here."

After bowing to the White Elder, the trio left the main room and made their way toward the servant quarters. Harumi continued to handle the conversation as Rin remained eerily silent, his thoughts a whirlwind. He was trying to process what could have led Miharu, the protagonist of The Golden Girl's Rise, to end up in the White Flower Palace of all places.

Harumi broke the silence, her tone light but curious. "It's quite rare for the White Elder to take on a new apprentice. He usually only chooses people with remarkable talents. You must have impressed him."

Miharu nodded timidly, her fingers fidgeting slightly as they walked. "I... I was expelled from the Golden Dragon Palace," she admitted softly, her gaze dropping to the ground. "The Golden Princess herself ordered it. She said I wasn't suited for their ways anymore. But before I left, they gave me a recommendation letter to come here."

Harumi raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "And the White Elder accepted you based on that?"

Miharu hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Not just that. When I arrived, he tested me. He gave me a book to read—a thick one—and told me to return in an hour. I managed to memorize its contents perfectly. He said I had a talent for learning quickly."

Harumi let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "That's amazing. No wonder he took you in."

Rin, walking a step behind them, remained silent, his expression unreadable. Inside, his thoughts churned. The protagonist of the story, once the center of attention and power in the Golden Dragon Palace, was now here, under the White Elder's guidance. The change in her circumstances puzzled him, but what troubled him more was the impact her presence might have—not just on the palace, but on the flow of the story he had sought to escape.

Rin's mind was spinning as he walked alongside Harumi and Miharu. The revelation that Miharu had been expelled from the Golden Dragon Palace contradicted everything he knew about the story's trajectory. According to the original narrative, after saving his older brother, the Crown Prince, Miharu was supposed to be granted a position of honor as a sophomore maid in the Golden Dragon Palace. Instead, she was now standing here as an apprentice of the White Flower Palace.

His curiosity finally got the better of him. Shaking off his initial shock, he turned to Miharu with a serious expression. "Miharu, right? Did you... do something wrong to make the Golden Princess expel you?" His tone was formal, but there was an edge of concern beneath it.

Miharu shook her head firmly. "I don't think so. I did everything to the best of my ability. I was as diligent as I could be. I was just as surprised as everyone else when they announced my expulsion."

Rin frowned, his mind racing. Miharu was someone very capable, possibly even more so than most of the palace staff. Her adaptability and speed had always been her defining traits, much like how the Azure Princess, Suzuki, had gained immense psychic magic after enduring the pain of a Constitution Overload. Miharu, however, had endured her trials alone, emerging stronger and more skilled than before.

Why, then, would the Golden Princess herself give such a capable individual a recommendation to the White Flower Palace? Rin couldn't find a logical explanation.

As they approached the servants' quarters, Rin's thoughts shifted. Could this be the Golden Princess's deliberate interference in the story? Was there an agenda hidden behind her actions? He recalled the emergency meeting following the Subspace Kidnappings. He had listened closely to every detail, yet nothing unusual had been mentioned.

Still, there was something about this that unsettled him. What kind of ripple effect would Miharu's presence here have on the narrative he had worked so hard to navigate and escape? As they reached the quarters, he resolved to keep a closer eye on her—not out of suspicion, but to understand how her path might intertwine with his and what consequences it might bring.

Rin tried to push aside his concerns, telling himself that it wasn't the time to dwell on the unpredictable turn of events. Miharu's presence here was a bit too much for him to process at the moment. She had proven her worth when the White Elder chose her, demonstrating impressive talents. However, Rin couldn't help but think about what this meant for her future—specifically, her chances of becoming the Black Princess.

If Miharu didn't secure the Black Princess Position, the course of the story could change drastically. Rin had already interfered with the Subspace Kidnappings, but this felt like something more delicate. A shift like this would throw everything out of balance, but Rin couldn't let that happen. He needed to find a way to ensure Miharu's success. She needed to take the Black Princess Consort seat, for the sake of keeping the story intact.

With these thoughts weighing on him, Rin refocused on the present situation. Harumi, who had been walking alongside him, voiced her thoughts aloud.

"Let's go to the market and restock," she said, breaking his train of thought. "We can take Miharu with us. She could use the time to settle in more."

Rin nodded, already aware that getting Miharu involved in practical tasks like this would allow her to integrate more easily. He glanced at Miharu, who seemed eager to help. They explained their plan to her, and after a brief moment, Miharu agreed to join them, though she wanted to make sure she was fully prepared first. Harumi and Rin then gave her some time to get ready in the room provided.

Miharu had left Rin and Harumi alone in the kitchen, and Harumi wasted no time in teasing him. She leaned against the counter, an amused glint in her eyes as she watched Rin go about his work.

"Well, well, Rin, were you really that shocked to see a new apprentice of the White Elder?" she teased. "I admit she's quite beautiful, but enough to make the Shimuzu Rin speechless for five whole minutes?"

Rin let out a heavy sigh inwardly, pushing the thoughts of Miharu to the back of his mind. "It wasn't her beauty," he muttered, knowing Harumi would push further if he didn't offer an explanation.

"Oh?" Harumi raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Then admit it—you think she's beautiful, don't you? She does have a certain charm, doesn't she?"

Rin tried to ignore the teasing tone in her voice, but Harumi wasn't one to let it slide. She leaned in, a mischievous smile on her face. "Unlike the Azure Princess, your life won't be in danger. You can pursue her, Rin!" she said with a wink.

The mention of the Azure Princess sent a shiver down Rin's spine. He had indeed stolen her heart back then when he helped her recover from an illness, but he had no illusions about the consequences. The Azure Princess belonged to the Crown Prince as a consort, and if their relationship was ever discovered, it would not end well for him. Rin knew this all too well. His position as a commoner meant that if his true identity was exposed, he would be dragged back to the Imperial Palace, losing the freedom he cherished.

Miharu's fate wasn't much different. She was destined for the Black Princess Consort seat, and Rin understood all too well that he couldn't interfere with that either. The path she walked would be set by fate, just as his own was. Harumi, of course, had no idea about any of this, nor did she know what Rin was thinking.