Chapter 39: Tension Among Princesses

The tension in the room was palpable as Rin and Harumi kneeled before the princess consorts. They had hoped that their work was done and they could leave without further complications, but it seemed that the princesses had other plans.

The Vermillion Princess, Takigawa Rei, was the first to speak, though her tone was unexpectedly warm. "I thank you both for your efforts in fixing the barrier," she began, her voice soft yet firm. "As a gesture of goodwill, I would like to invite you to tea after the formal ceremony. It would be a small token of our appreciation." Her smile was calculated, though she didn't voice it outright, her curiosity about Rin and Harumi's relationship was clear in her eyes.

Before Rin could respond, the Azure Princess, Chinen Suzuki, quickly interjected, a hint of impatience in her voice. "But, I would also like to request your assistance," she said, her gaze flickering to Rin. "Could you inspect the Azure Dragon Palace's barrier? I'd appreciate it." The unspoken challenge was clear—she didn't want to let the Vermillion Princess have time alone with Rin. There was a hidden intention in her words, something more than just the desire to inspect the palace. She was hoping to monopolize Rin's time, even with Harumi present, and perhaps pry into their relationship.

Miharu, the Black Princess, couldn't remain silent any longer. She had seen the glances exchanged between the other princesses and could sense their underlying motives. "If that's the case," Miharu said, her voice calm but firm, "I would like to request that you inspect the Black Tortoise Palace's barrier as well." Her eyes briefly met Rin's, but her tone was still polite. "As you know, the Black Tortoise is an important part of the holy palaces. Perhaps we can clear up any potential issues?" She wanted Rin to be with her, away from the influence of the other princesses, but she too had a hidden agenda—getting answers about Rin and Harumi's relationship.

The White Princess, Shinegori Akane, had remained silent thus far, observing the exchange. She hadn't shown much interest in the other princesses' plans but couldn't resist the opportunity to get a glimpse of Rin's skills. She had her own questions for him, especially regarding the Black Princess, Miharu, and her rise to power. But she had no intention of making a scene. Rin was useful for his expertise, and that was all she cared about for now.

Rin and Harumi shared a brief look, sweat beginning to bead on their foreheads as they realized the implications of each princess's request. Each of them had their own reasons for wanting Rin's time, and all of them seemed to have an underlying intention to question him and Harumi about their bond. The pressure was mounting, and they knew they had to find a way out without causing any diplomatic issues.

After a moment of silence, Rin cleared his throat and pulled out a folded piece of paper from his satchel. "I regret to inform you," he began, his tone calm yet firm, "that we have another task to attend to today. According to the White Elder's orders, we must inspect the White Tiger Palace's barrier." Rin handed over the inspection report and the to-do list, which had been provided to him by the White Elder. "As you can see," he continued, "this is a task of great urgency. We cannot delay it any further." His gaze swept across the princesses, and he held up the report to emphasize its authenticity.

The Vermillion Princess's smile faltered slightly, her request effectively shot down. "I see," she said, trying to mask her disappointment, though she hid her frustration behind a polite smile. "Then, I suppose there is no need to waste your time further."

Rin nodded respectfully. "Indeed, Princess," he said, looking to the Azure Princess next. "As for the Azure Dragon Palace, it was inspected just three days ago by the White Elder himself. There shouldn't be any issues with it." His voice was steady as he confirmed the situation, dismissing the Azure Princess's request with ease.

Finally, Rin turned to Miharu, the Black Princess. "And as for the Black Tortoise Palace," he added, "it was inspected just before the Contest last week. There are no reported issues." He could see the glimmer of expectation in Miharu's eyes, but he knew that he couldn't afford to entertain her request either. His mind was focused on the White Tiger Palace, and there was no room for further delays.

The three princesses realized, albeit reluctantly, that their requests had been neatly dismissed. Rin had successfully deflected all their attempts, using the White Tiger Palace's urgent inspection as a valid excuse. 

Rin then turned to the White Princess. "I kindly request permission, Your Highness, to proceed with our inspection of the White Tiger Palace. We would be grateful for your cooperation."

Akane, though not thrilled by Rin's boldness, nodded with a small, almost imperceptible sigh. "Very well," she said, her voice cool but composed. "You may proceed. However, I expect a full report afterward."

With that, Rin and Harumi finally received the clearance they needed. They bowed deeply before the princesses and prepared to leave the room, their mission at the White Tiger Palace now their sole focus. But even as they stood to take their leave, they could feel the weight of the princesses' lingering gazes on their backs. It was clear that their journey was far from over.

As the apprentices exited the room, the White Princess, Shinegori Akane, remained seated, her expression neutral, though her thoughts were far from calm. 

Shimuzu Rin had impressed her—despite her disdain for him. The ease with which he maneuvered the conversation and shot down the other princesses' requests had caught her attention. It was a rare talent to handle authority figures so deftly, and it only deepened her suspicion. *How does a mere warrior act with such poise and precision, as if he were raised among nobles?* she wondered. Her mind drifted to her plans to interrogate him when he arrived at the White Tiger Palace. *I will uncover the truth behind why that man placed an Urakawa into the Black Princess position.*

When she glanced at the other three princesses, she noticed their gazes fixed on her—filled with jealousy. Akane blinked, momentarily confused. *Why would they look at me that way?* she thought. The realization struck her: they believed she had gained an advantage over them by securing an audience with Rin later. 

*Ridiculous,* Akane scoffed internally. *I care nothing for their foolish pursuits. All I want is the truth.* Still, their reactions amused her slightly, though she made no effort to address or correct them.

With a calm demeanor, Akane turned her attention back to the tea ceremony. "Let us proceed," she said with her usual composed tone, signaling her attendants to continue serving. She had no intention of lingering longer than necessary. After all, there were far more pressing matters awaiting her at the White Tiger Palace.

Inside the White Tiger Palace's grand Crystal Room, the air was heavy with tension—not from the task at hand, but from the emotional aftermath of their earlier encounter. Rin had swiftly cast a silence spell to ensure no one overheard their private conversation. Only the faint hum of the massive central crystal filled the room.

Harumi broke the silence first, still trembling from the intense stares and unspoken accusations. "I… I finally understand what you've been dealing with, Rin…" Her voice quivered, and she wrapped her arms around herself as if to ward off a chill.

Rin, crouched on the floor, pretended to trace symbols for the ritual but was clearly zoning out. His hands moved aimlessly as he murmured, "Harumi… I think I've stared into the abyss of death itself… and it stared back."

Harumi blinked at him, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "It wasn't that bad, was it?"

Rin turned his head sharply, his face pale. "Harumi, you didn't have three princesses mentally interrogating you like they were deciding how to carve up my soul. They even turned their gaze on you! How are you still standing?"

Harumi sighed, sitting cross-legged nearby. "Trust me, I felt it. When I tripped, I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes. Their stares? Literal daggers."

Rin groaned, flopping onto his back in dramatic surrender. "Can I… can I just leave the empire? Find a quiet corner of the world to live out my days in peace?"

Harumi smirked, though it was tinged with sympathy. "Nope. Not a chance, Rin. If you ran, they'd just hunt you down."

Rin threw an arm over his face. "Then let them. It'll be quicker than this endless torment!"

Harumi chuckled, nudging his leg with her foot. "Stop being so dramatic. We survived today, didn't we? That's a win."

Rin peeked out from under his arm, giving her a tired smile. "Barely. Let's just finish this job and get out of here before something else happens. Agreed?"

Harumi stood up, brushing herself off. "Agreed. But Rin, if you run off, you're taking me with you."

Rin chuckled softly, standing up to begin the inspection. "Deal."

As Rin and Harumi worked meticulously on inspecting the White Tiger Palace's Crystal, the room was filled with a quiet rhythm of their coordinated movements. The tension from earlier slowly dissipated as they immersed themselves in their duties. 

"You know," Harumi began, her tone lighter now, "I have to admit, Rin, the way you managed to weave through that situation was impressive. Especially using the White Princess as an escape route." She chuckled, shaking her head. "I almost forgot we were supposed to inspect two palaces today." 

Rin let out a dry laugh, still focused on adjusting a stabilizing rune. "Honestly, I almost forgot too. If I hadn't pulled out that to-do list, we'd probably still be stuck in that receiving room. And don't remind me about the second palace… my nerves can only handle so much." 

Harumi smirked, crouching next to him as she checked the mana flow in the crystal's channels. "It's a miracle we made it out of there without more questions. Though, I have to say, the White Princess might be the safest place to run right now." 

Rin glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Safe? She hates me for training Miharu. You think that's safe?" 

Harumi shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "Compared to being cornered by three princesses with romantic intent? Definitely. At least the White Princess doesn't seem to care about your personal life—just the White Elder's business. For now, anyway." 

Rin sighed, sitting back on his heels. "You've got a point. As long as she's focused on the White Elder, we might actually make it out of here alive. But… I can't shake the feeling that even she's going to start poking at things soon." 

Harumi groaned dramatically, leaning against the crystal. "Then we better pray she stays curious about the White Elder and not us. I don't know if I can handle another interrogation disguised as tea." 

Rin chuckled, his mood lightened by her banter. "Agreed. Let's just finish here and hope the second palace doesn't bring any more surprises." 

"Don't jinx it, Rin," Harumi had begun her teasing once more, "you might as well seduce the last Princess Consort... Don't worry, I'll still be by your side until the end!"

Rin sighed deeply, his thoughts swirling. "The last thing I want is another Princess falling for me," he muttered under his breath. He didn't look up, focusing instead on weaving mana threads into the stabilizing sigil he was crafting.

It wasn't just about avoiding entanglements. Rin knew that if things continued as they were, he risked being dragged back to the Imperial Capital—a place he had worked so hard to leave behind. His achievements, his reputation, and now the unintended attention from these Princesses, were all pieces of a puzzle that seemed to edge him closer to a throne he had no desire for.

"At this rate, I'll end up as the Crown Prince," he thought grimly. It wasn't a position he was unqualified for—in fact, quite the opposite. He had excelled in leadership during his first life, managing the complex dynamics of his former family. But here, in this life, that wasn't his story.

He glanced briefly at Harumi, who was humming softly as she prepared the next step of the ritual. "I've already derailed the Golden Girl's Rise," he mused, thinking of Miharu. "How is she supposed to fulfill her role now that she's in love with me?"

The thought of his older brother, the current Crown Prince, tugged at Rin's heart. Once full of life and vigor, his brother had become a shadow of himself, the weight of responsibility crushing his spirit. Rin had seen the spark fade from his brother's eyes, a painful reminder of what duty could cost.

"If only that story didn't exist," Rin thought, pausing his work momentarily. "I would have taken the position. I could have spared him this fate."

He remembered the joyful days back at the Imperial Palace, when his family was whole and happy. Back then, there had been no talk of leaving, no need to escape. They had all looked to him with hope, the future of the Hoshimi family bright and promising.

But that was before Rin had made his fateful decision—to step away from the palace, to live as a commoner, to craft his own path. "I was selfish," he admitted to himself, a tinge of guilt in his chest. Yet he had believed in the story of the Golden Girl, that Miharu would rise to save the empire, to give it the hope it needed.

Now, with everything slipping off course, Rin sighed again, forcing himself back to the task at hand. "This isn't the time to dwell on what-ifs," he muttered. But deep down, he wondered if his choices had truly been for the best.