Chapter 38: Inspection of the Barrier

In the Receiving Room, the air was thick with tension. Rin and Harumi knelt, their postures formal and respectful, as they waited for the decision of the four Princesses. Harumi could feel the weight of the moment, beads of sweat forming on her brow as her anxiety built. She glanced at Rin, who seemed unusually focused, murmuring under his breath.

"Hey Rin, isn't this a bad time?" Harumi whispered, trying to break the silence.

Rin, his face impassive, muttered to himself, "I am a rock. I must remain emotionless..." His words were barely audible, but they did little to reassure Harumi.

The tension hung in the air, and Harumi realized just how unexpected this meeting was. They had thought they were simply coming to check on the Holy Barrier and leave, not knowing they would be thrust into the presence of the four Princesses so soon. Rin, with his impeccable discipline, appeared calm, but Harumi could tell his thoughts were racing. The White Elder, having had an urgent errand to the western territories, had left them to handle the task at hand, and now here they were—caught in the middle of royal politics.

"Why do we always get thrown into these situations?" Harumi thought, her worry only deepening. She couldn't help but feel they had walked straight into a storm.

The door creaked open, signaling the arrival of the four Princesses. Rin and Harumi immediately straightened, their postures perfectly respectful as they knelt. Rin had returned to his composed self, exuding an air of calm authority. With a smooth, practiced voice, he introduced himself and Harumi, stating their purpose for visiting with precision and grace.

"Shimuzu Rin and Higashi Harumi, apprentices of the White Flower Palace, humbly greet the esteemed Princesses," Rin said with a respectful bow, his tone unwavering. "We are here on the White Elder's orders to inspect the weakening of the Holy Barrier."

The Vermillion Princess, Takigawa Rei, stepped forward, as protocol dictated she reply. However, as her eyes met Rin's, her thoughts scattered. Her carefully composed demeanor faltered, and her mind went blank. She froze, unable to form a single coherent word.

The Azure Princess, Chinen Suzuki, and the Black Princess, Urakawa Miharu, fared no better. The sight of Rin had an undeniable impact on them both. Suzuki's usually sharp composure softened into stunned silence, and Miharu felt her heart race uncontrollably, a blush creeping onto her cheeks despite her best efforts to maintain a stoic front.

Harumi observed the unfolding scene, her sharp instincts immediately noticing the reactions. "Oh no..." she thought, mentally tallying the damage. "So it's not just the Black and Azure Princesses... The Vermillion Princess, too? That makes three!"

For the Vermillion Princess, it had been almost two months since she had last seen Rin, a time that suddenly felt like an eternity. For the Azure Princess, it had been three weeks, and for Miharu, it had been only a week—but even that short separation felt unbearable now.

The room was silent, save for the faint rustle of fabric as the Princesses shifted awkwardly. Harumi, sweating, cast a wary glance at Rin. "Does he even realize what's happening here?" she wondered, bracing herself for the chaos that was sure to follow.

Rin maintained a calm facade, his face betraying nothing but composure. However, the subtle bead of sweat rolling down his temple and the faint trembling of his hand betrayed his true feelings. Harumi, glancing at him, immediately realized what was happening.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah..." Rin's silent scream of despair was practically audible to Harumi, who sighed inwardly. "He's dying inside, isn't he?" she thought.

The unbearable silence pressed on, making the atmosphere increasingly awkward. Rin, sensing the need to act, tilted his head slightly and spoke in a clear, respectful tone.

"Vermillion Princess?"

His voice sliced through the tension like a blade. The sound of him addressing the host, Takigawa Rei, was all it took to snap the three stunned Princesses back to reality. The Vermillion Princess blinked rapidly, her cheeks tinged with pink, as she quickly composed herself.

"A-Ah, yes," she stammered before clearing her throat. "The matter of the Holy Barrier weakening... It is an urgent issue that requires immediate attention. We are grateful to the White Elder for dispatching such capable apprentices."

Her voice steadied as she continued, regaining her composure as much as she could. The other Princesses nodded in agreement, though their gazes occasionally flickered toward Rin. Harumi couldn't help but marvel at Rin's ability to diffuse the situation, even unintentionally, while keeping the room's focus on the task at hand.

Rin's words were careful, and his tone was smooth, trying to maneuver the conversation back to the matter at hand. "We won't ask for anything more but a guide to direct us to the Crystal Room of the Vermillion Bird Palace. We don't want to disturb your tea ceremony, Princesses," he said, his voice measured and polite, hoping to avoid further involvement in the princesses' attention.

The three Princesses, Vermillion, Azure, and Black, exchanged glances, understanding the deeper meaning behind his words. He didn't want them following him; he was trying to get away from the situation as quickly and smoothly as possible. But that didn't sit well with them, especially after having not seen him for so long.

Before Rin could even finish speaking, Vermillion Princess Takigawa Rei quickly refused, the refusal tinged with a bit of disappointment. "We want to see the Legendary White Elder's apprentices at work. It's a rare opportunity, and we are also quite intrigued by the Crystal Room," she said, a subtle hint of longing in her voice.

The Azure Princess, Chinen Suzuki, and the Black Princess, Urakawa Miharu, silently agreed. They too wanted to accompany Rin, unwilling to miss a single moment with him, even if it was only as a bystander in his work.

Rin glanced over at the White Princess, Shinegori Akane, and caught her glaring at him. The intensity of her gaze actually gave him a small sense of relief, as it confirmed that she wasn't interested in his presence like the others.

"It would be rude of me to take the time of the Princess consorts," he said, turning the conversation to the White Princess as a means of respectfully refusing. "The White Princess's opinion matters as well."

However, to Rin's dismay, the White Princess—perhaps eager for a chance to see the Crystal Room herself—suddenly agreed with the others. Her glare softened as she added, "It's rare to enter the Crystal Room of a Holy Palace... I'll join you as well."

Rin couldn't suppress the sigh of resignation that escaped him inwardly. He had tried to avoid this, but now, it seemed like he had no choice. All four princesses wanted to come along. His fate was sealed.

The Vermillion Princess, ever the gracious host, nodded to the Head Maid, Niwa Yori. "Please guide us to the Crystal Chamber," she instructed, and Yori gave a respectful bow before moving to lead the group.

Rin, with little choice but to follow, simply sighed again and followed the princesses, hoping the journey to the Crystal Room wouldn't be too long—or too complicated.

As the group walked down the corridors toward the Crystal Room of the Vermillion Bird Palace, the White Princess, Shinegori Akane, kept her thoughts focused on Rin. She couldn't help but scrutinize him from the corner of her eye. His calm, poised demeanor, the way he carried himself so easily among the princesses, was all too… perfect. Too calculated. 

*So this is Shimuzu Rin,* Akane mused silently. *Earlier, he had been good with talking to those with authority. It's as if he's dealt with them for a long time.*

She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about him. Rin was a warrior, not a noble. Warriors like him were supposed to be blunt, direct—pragmatic, even. Yet, here he was, speaking like someone accustomed to dealing with high-ranking officials, as if it were second nature to him. *How can a warrior act like a noble?* she thought, suspicious of the ease with which he held himself. *It must be because of the White Elder, right?*

Akane had heard that the White Elder, while revered for his wisdom, didn't particularly focus on training etiquette. His teachings were supposed to be about skill—combat, magic, and strategy. Rin had certainly proven himself in those areas, and he was clearly a capable warrior. But this… refined air he had about him, this ability to navigate delicate conversations with nobles, was unexpected, to say the least.

Her gaze shifted to the Black Princess, Miharu, walking just a little ahead. *This man trained her,* Akane's thoughts twisted. *Shimuzu Rin is the one who trained the Black Princess, Urakawa Miharu. He's the reason she secured the position. And she… she defended him earlier.* 

The White Princess' fingers tightened slightly at her side, her jaw clenched in frustration. She had tried to provoke Miharu earlier, hoping to unsettle her, but Miharu's response had been calm and unwavering, fiercely protective of Rin. That had irritated Akane more than she cared to admit.

*It's as if Miharu makes it personal when I speak ill of his name,* Akane thought bitterly. *What kind of hold does he have on her?* 

The more Akane thought about it, the more her disdain for Rin grew. How could someone from the Urakawa family—someone she viewed as a traitor—be trained by someone as respected as the White Elder? And then, for him to be the one to help Miharu rise to such power? It didn't sit well with her. There was more to this story, she was certain of it. But what?

The group entered the Crystal Room, a vast chamber bathed in soft, glowing light. In the center of the room stood a single large red crystal, its surface smooth and polished, emitting a faint, pulsating glow. Surrounding it were smaller crystals, their points touching one another in a delicate, interconnected web. These smaller crystals seemed to form an intricate network, almost like veins spreading out from the central heart of the chamber. The centerpiece, the large red crystal, held a captivating aura, though there was a visible crack running along its surface, barely noticeable unless one was looking closely.

Rin and Harumi immediately got to work, bowing respectfully before the princesses before kneeling beside the central crystal. They moved swiftly, inspecting the connections of the smaller surrounding crystals, ensuring there were no weak points. Their motions were coordinated, an unspoken rhythm that revealed how well they worked together. It was clear that the two of them were extremely proficient, their expertise allowing them to work in perfect sync.

After some time, they turned their attention to the central crystal. Rin's expression shifted slightly, his brow furrowing as he examined the crack. His hand hovered over the red crystal, and he spoke with quiet authority, explaining the issue. "It's a result of stress over time. Crystals like this one serve as a massive energy supply. But when that energy is used constantly, small explosions, caused by the rapid energy conversion, can create cracks within the core."

Harumi nodded, confirming the diagnosis. She watched as Rin carefully inspected the damage further. "Replacing a crystal of this size would be incredibly expensive," Rin said, shaking his head. "But there's another way. We can merge other crystals to allow this one to heal itself."

The princesses observed in silence as Rin and Harumi set to work on the solution. Rin became the vessel of mana, his vast reserves allowing him to channel the immense energy required. Harumi took the lead in controlling the merging process, her fingers weaving the flow of mana between the crystals with graceful precision.

The process was complex, delicate, and yet the two apprentices moved with a perfect harmony that left the onlookers in awe. Their communication was silent, but it was as if they were reading each other's thoughts. The focus they shared was unshakable. The White Princess, who had been watching closely, couldn't help but comment on their seamless teamwork.

"They have absolute trust in each other," she murmured, her voice low but sharp. "It's almost like they're reading each other's minds... or... like they're married or something."

The comment hung in the air, and the three other princesses—Vermillion, Azure, and Black—instantly turned their attention to Harumi. Their gazes were piercing, scrutinizing, as if searching for something more beneath the surface. For the Vermillion and Azure Princesses, it was clear that Harumi had a deeper connection to Rin than they had initially realized. She wasn't just another apprentice. No, she had worked alongside him for years, and the bond they shared was far closer than they had expected. In that moment, they recognized Harumi as a potential rival, one who might even pose a greater threat to their affections than Miharu.

The Black Princess, on the other hand, watched Harumi with a more subtle but equally intense scrutiny. She had seen Rin and Harumi interact before, noticed their playful banter, and the way they seemed comfortable in each other's presence. But now, standing in the Crystal Room, Miharu couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt. Was there something more to their relationship? Was there a depth to their bond that she had missed?

Harumi, unaware of the princesses' piercing gazes, could feel the tension in the room intensifying. The stares were almost tangible, suffocating her with their weight. She had been used to Rin's presence and the occasional curious glance, but this felt different. The intensity behind their gazes was far more investigative than anything she had ever encountered before.

Her hands fumbled slightly with one of the tools, and in her haste, she tripped over it. Before she could catch herself, Rin's reflexes kicked in, and he reached out to steady her, his arm wrapping around her waist. The sudden contact sent a shock through her, but it was nothing compared to the storm of stares from the three princesses.

The princesses' eyes were sharper now, their focus entirely on the two of them. Harumi could feel it—felt the weight of their curiosity and scrutiny, especially after Rin had caught her. A flush crept up her neck, and she hastily stepped back, trying to regain her composure. But no matter how much she tried, the intensity of the princesses' gaze only grew stronger.

This wasn't just an inspection anymore. This was an interrogation, and Harumi felt every single piercing look as if it were a blade.