Chapter 35: The Black Princess

The morning sun cast a golden hue over the Black Tortoise Palace as Urakawa Miharu stood on the balcony, watching Rin and Harumi haul her belongings from the White Flower Palace to her new residence. Despite her insistence on helping, both had refused with an exaggerated formality that felt alien.

"The Black Princess shouldn't be lowering herself to help a mere warrior and maid," Rin teased with a mock bow, his tone overly proper.

Harumi followed suit, her usual playful smirk intact. "Exactly. We're here to serve, not the other way around."

Miharu pouted, crossing her arms. "You two are unbearable. You were like family back at the White Flower Palace, and now you're acting like strangers."

Her comment drew only chuckles from the pair as they continued their work. Watching them interact with the maids of the Black Tortoise Palace, who efficiently carried her belongings to their designated places, Miharu sighed. The realization of her new status weighed heavily on her. She wasn't used to this kind of reverence, having grown up as an illegitimate child in a fallen family.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the Black Tortoise Palace's headmaid Takai Yuna, who approached with a serene smile. "Your Highness, your expression needs a bit of refinement," she said lightly, her tone lacking any malice. "But after witnessing your performance yesterday, I have no doubts about serving you."

Miharu blinked in surprise. "You… you're okay with me being the Black Princess? Even with my background?"

The headmaid's expression didn't falter. "Backgrounds don't matter to us, Your Highness. The Imperial family values talent above all, and it's clear you've earned this position. My loyalty lies with the one deemed worthy, and you are that person."

The headmaid's words were reassuring, but they also felt surreal. Miharu wasn't used to this kind of faith in her abilities. She nodded, her resolve strengthening. "Thank you. I'll do my best to live up to everyone's expectations."

As the headmaid bowed and returned to her duties, Miharu turned back to Rin and Harumi, who were bickering about the best way to arrange her things. Despite the distance her new role created, their presence anchored her. She silently vowed to carry forward the lessons they had shared at the White Flower Palace and make them proud.

As Miharu watched Rin and Harumi busily unpack her belongings, her thoughts wandered back to her earlier days at the Golden Dragon Palace. She remembered the sense of fulfillment she'd felt working as a junior maid. Despite her low rank and the stigma of being from the disgraced Urakawa family, she had worked hard to prove herself. Landing that job had been a small victory, but her time there had been isolating.

The other maids, though polite, kept their distance. Miharu understood their wariness—her name carried a heavy shadow, and she didn't blame them. She smiled through the loneliness, focusing on her duties and telling herself it was enough. Yet, the weight of their silent judgment lingered in her heart.

Everything changed when she was transferred to the White Flower Palace. There, she met Rin and Harumi, two people who shattered the walls she'd grown used to. Unlike the Golden Dragon Palace, where she was merely tolerated, Rin and Harumi embraced her presence wholeheartedly. They interacted with her daily, treating her as an equal. They invited her to share meals with them, joked and teased her, and made her feel, for the first time in years, like she truly belonged.

Her heart warmed at the memories of their camaraderie. She could still hear Harumi's playful scolding and Rin's rare but heartfelt laughs. They weren't just coworkers—they'd become her family. In just two months, she had grown to love them both deeply for the kindness and acceptance they'd shown her.

Now, as the Black Princess, her life had taken a new turn. She was surrounded by maids and attendants who respected her without question, but the bonds she'd formed at the White Flower Palace felt irreplaceable. She sighed softly, longing for more time with Rin and Harumi, for the easy banter and warmth they shared.

The atmosphere shifted as the Black Empress arrived at the Black Tortoise Palace in her carriage, accompanied by her attendant. The maids of the Black Tortoise Palace immediately lined up and bowed in reverence, but Rin and Harumi, recognizing the weight of the Black Empress's status, kneeled respectfully before her.

Miharu, now in a position of higher authority, followed suit and curtly bowed to greet the Black Empress. She had been trained by Rin, understanding the intricacies of palace protocol and the delicate power dynamics of status. "Your Majesty, what brings you here to the Black Tortoise Palace?" she asked, her voice measured with the respect she had learned to offer.

The Black Empress glanced briefly at Rin, aware of his identity as the former Prince Hoshimi Rin, though she chose not to acknowledge it aloud. Instead, she turned her gaze to Miharu. "I have come to fulfill my final duty," she explained. "I must bestow upon you, Urakawa Miharu, the Insignia of the Black Princess Consort. It would normally be a grand formal occasion, but I have pressing matters to attend to, diplomatic affairs that require my return. An informal setting will suffice."

She then looked directly at Rin, giving an order that he could not refuse. "Rin," she said, her voice firm and authoritative, "you will perform the ceremony and present the insignia."

Rin flinched, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected order. "But Your Majesty," he began, "it is the duty of the Imperial family to bestow the insignia—"

The Black Empress interrupted him, her tone unwavering. "By the order of authority, it is the emperor, the crown prince, then the one who appointed the candidate, and a family member," she stated. She didn't mention her own position directly, but Rin understood. The Black Empress had deliberately left her own rank out, but since Rin was now a mere warrior, he could say nothing in response. He had been reduced to this role, and though he had been the one to nominate Miharu, he had no choice but to obey her.

Rin bowed his head, acknowledging the Black Empress's decision. He could only do as instructed. He rose to his feet, receiving the Insignia of the Black Princess Consort from the Black Empress with a calm but serious expression. He turned to face Miharu, and in that moment, the weight of the ceremony settled in the air between them.

As he held the insignia before her, Rin's gaze was solemn. This was a moment of official acknowledgment—one that signified Miharu's new life as the Black Princess Consort. Yet, despite the formality of the moment, the tension of the situation hung between them. Rin, once the heir to the throne, now in a position of humility, and Miharu, his chosen candidate, now standing on the precipice of a new future.

Rin extended the insignia toward her, his expression resolute. "Miharu," he said, his voice steady, "it is with great respect that I bestow upon you the Insignia of the Black Princess Consort."

As the Insignia of the Black Princess Consort rested between Rin's hands, Miharu stood still, feeling as though the world around her had slowed to a crawl. The weight of the moment was heavy, but it was Rin's calm, formal demeanor that held her attention. She had been under his watchful eyes for so long, first as a hesitant, unaccomplished maid in the White Flower Palace, and now, here she was, the Black Princess Consort.

Miharu reflected on the journey they had shared. Rin had always been there, guiding her with patience and, at times, cruelty. His lessons had been tough, his standards high, but all the while, he had quietly watched over her, giving her the space to grow while ensuring she did not fall behind. And through it all, his kindness had been a constant. He had been the one to lift her up when she was at her lowest, to encourage her when she doubted herself. But now, standing before him in this grand moment, Miharu understood something more about herself.

She had become someone who was deeply attached to him. The care he had shown her had seeped into her heart, transforming admiration into something much deeper, something that made her heart race now as she looked at him. She hadn't realized how much she had grown to care for him, to the point where her feelings could no longer be ignored.

A blush crept across her face as she noticed how handsome Rin looked in this moment. His usual composed expression, the calmness in his demeanor, was enough to make Miharu's breath catch in her throat. She couldn't help but smile inwardly, even though she fought against it. She was now the Black Princess Consort, and if anyone ever found out about her feelings for him, it could put both their positions in danger.

As Rin stepped closer to her to pin the insignia onto her robes, Miharu's composure wavered for just a moment. She flinched, her heart skipping in her chest, and the moment felt as though it had shattered her calm. She quickly regained her balance, but the Black Empress, watching from the corner of her eye, caught the subtle reaction.

A small smile tugged at the corners of the Black Empress's lips as she turned away, her eyes soft with understanding. She too had once been in Miharu's shoes, experiencing that overwhelming moment of realizing she had fallen in love with someone of great power. She knew it all too well; she had been in love with Emperor Masaki when they were young. The Black Empress couldn't help but see the same spark in Miharu that had once ignited in her own heart.

Meanwhile, Rin, who had been intently watching Miharu's every move, sensed the shift in the air. He could feel her eyes on him, the intensity of her gaze. And as much as he tried to maintain his composure, he inwardly screamed to himself, Miharu, please don't look at me like that… You'll kill me...

The Black Empress stood quietly, observing the exchange between Rin and Miharu. As her eyes drifted from Rin to Miharu, she couldn't help but reflect on the intricate web of fate that was unfolding before her. Shimuzu Rin, she thought, the former Hoshimi Rin, the genius Imperial prince—fate has a strange way of guiding him back to the palace, doesn't it?

The Empress knew Rin had an undeniable presence, something that could not be ignored. Even now, as a commoner, his quiet strength and natural leadership were apparent. It was almost as though he had unintentionally woven his way into the lives of those around him, leaving a mark on each one. She had heard rumors of his dealings with both the Azure Princess and the Vermillion Princess—his connection to them was subtle but clear. The Black Empress couldn't help but wonder if, like Miharu, he had seduced them all in some way, drawing them into his orbit with his charm and intelligence, something that went far beyond what anyone had expected from the former prince.

A soft, knowing smile played on her lips as she suppressed a laugh inwardly. Ah, fate is amusing. She couldn't deny the fact that she was amused by the situation. Rin, though unaware of it, was not only turning the heads of powerful women but, more importantly, he was positioning himself in the eyes of the empire in ways even he couldn't foresee.

The Black Empress leaned back slightly, considering the future. It's clear to me now... Rin will return to the Imperial Palace one day. When that time comes, everyone will welcome him with open arms. She was confident of it. It wasn't a matter of if, but when. And when that time came, he would have the support of many, and possibly even the title of Emperor.

She thought of Rin's older brother, the current crown prince. A faint sigh escaped her lips. He's become so lifeless since Rin disappeared, she mused. Perhaps he was never meant to be the ruler after all. Rin has always had that spark, that brilliance. It's as if the empire itself is waiting for him to return to it.

The Black Empress, having witnessed Rin's growth over the years, was convinced that he was meant for something greater. She had seen it in the way he moved, the way he led, even as a commoner. Rin had always been more than just a prince—he had the makings of a leader, a ruler.

The Black Empress's thoughts turned back to the present. One day, this man will be at the helm of the empire, and I will make sure to see it happen. He will replace his older brother as the true leader. Her decision was already made. As far as she was concerned, Shimuzu Rin's return to the Imperial Palace wasn't just a possibility; it was an inevitability.

As the day came to a close, the palace grew quieter, the flickering candlelight casting soft shadows across the rooms. The servants finished their tasks, and the halls of the Black Tortoise Palace grew still. Miharu, now alone in her new chamber, let out a long sigh as she sat on the edge of her bed, reflecting on the whirlwind of events. Her emotions felt like a storm inside her, and no matter how hard she tried to calm them, they continued to churn. 

Miharu let out another frustrated groan, her thoughts tangled with confusion and newfound emotions. She had barely had time to process everything from the day, from the Black Princess insignia to Rin's unexpected care for her. Now, lying on her new bed in the master chamber of the Black Tortoise Palace, she couldn't stop thinking about him. *Why did I have to realize it now?* She repeated it in her mind, as if the words could somehow fix the situation. 

The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like a cruel joke. *If only I had figured this out earlier…* Miharu regretted how seriously she had approached the competition. She never would have pushed herself so hard to win if she had known the truth about her feelings. But now it was too late. She was the Black Princess, a position of power, but it came at the cost of being so far removed from Rin. Not to mention, the forbidden nature of her feelings made it even more impossible to act on them. *Great... now I have to pretend like I'm not completely smitten with him.* 

She kicked the blankets off and sat up, her gaze drifting to the stacks of books around the room. The variety and quantity of materials left her feeling overwhelmed, yet she couldn't help but find something strangely off about them. These books, ranging from topics of etiquette to court rules, were more than what she had seen in the White Flower Palace. But what bothered her most was that Rin seemed to know most of what was contained in these books. How? *Wasn't he just a warrior?* Miharu mused. She'd never questioned him before, assuming his knowledge was simply a byproduct of his genius and his time spent in the White Flower Palace. But now, the more she looked at the books, the more it seemed like Rin knew too much—almost as if he had been trained in the ways of royalty himself. 

Her thoughts returned to the day before, to the moment when Rin had carried her like a princess after the attack. That tender gesture felt like a memory she would never forget, and the way his gaze had softened as he held her made her heart flutter uncontrollably. Miharu's face flushed at the thought. *Why does he do this to me?* she wondered.

She buried her face into her pillow and punched it out of frustration, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "I hate this!" she mumbled into the soft fabric, only to start laughing at how ridiculous she must look. All the emotional turmoil, all the hidden feelings, and now this ridiculous situation of being the Black Princess with a secret crush on the one person she shouldn't fall for. 

The bed was soft, and Miharu curled up into it, feeling the weight of the day—and her emotions—pressing down on her. But as she lay there, unable to shut off her thoughts of Rin, she couldn't help but wonder about the future. *How long can I keep this up?* She was determined to be a great Black Princess, but could she do that without risking everything for the man who had unknowingly captured her heart?