Chapter 42: The Name Exposed

1 week had passed since the inspection of the White Tiger Palace, and Rin, along with Harumi, found themselves summoned to the White Elder's quarters once more. Though bedridden from his recent injuries sustained during his travels in the south, the White Elder's spirits were far from dampened. He greeted his two apprentices with a hearty laugh, his boisterousness a sharp contrast to his weakened state.

"Ah, Rin, Harumi, my dear apprentices! I see you've been holding down the fort without me," the White Elder said with a smile, though his eyes betrayed a weariness from his injuries. Despite his condition, he remained a man of energy, and his laughter filled the room as he gestured for Rin and Harumi to sit beside him.

Rin had assumed the role of managing the White Flower Palace in the White Elder's absence, and so far, the responsibilities had been manageable. The visitations from various officials had been mostly formalities, delivering their gifts and well-wishes. The White Elder had specifically requested that none of them be allowed to meet him, and Rin had taken the task in stride, ensuring that the White Elder's wishes were respected. The officials, however, did not seem to mind, as their purpose was simply to show respect to the man who had guided many of the empire's most promising talents.

As for the Princesses' head maids, Rin had dealt with them as well. Fujikawa Rina, Niwa Yori, and Takai Yuna—the trusted attendants of the Azure, Vermillion, and Black Princesses—had all brought gifts for the White Elder. These tokens were signs of gratitude, as the White Elder had been instrumental in their respective Princesses' training and upbringing.

Rin couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as he took the gifts, his heart conflicted. The head maids were well aware of the delicate situation—three of the Princess Consorts were in love with him, and accepting these gifts only added weight to the burden he already carried. He could feel the gaze of each maid—understanding, sympathetic, but also heavy with the unspoken knowledge of the feelings they shared for him.

Rin wanted to reject the gifts, but doing so would raise suspicion, so he accepted them graciously, hiding his internal turmoil.

Among the gifts was a letter from the White Princess, Akane. Harada Kiyomi, the White Princess's head maid, had handed it to Rin with an expression that seemed to offer no clue as to its contents. The letter had a sealed wax emblem of the White Princess, indicating that it was an official communication. Rin's stomach churned with worry—had the White Princess fallen for him? He quickly pushed the thought aside, glancing at Kiyomi, who seemed strangely unfazed by the idea of handing the letter over to Rin. She didn't share the same apprehension that Rin felt.

"I believe you should read this when you're alone," Kiyomi had said quietly, her expression neutral, though there was a slight flicker of concern in her eyes. Rin didn't trust his own reaction; he feared that the White Princess might be entangled in the web of affection with him, but Kiyomi's calm demeanor led him to think otherwise.

As Rin sat in the White Elder's room now, trying to focus on his mentor's cheerful voice and disregard his thoughts of the letter, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his situation growing heavier. The head maids' visits were but a symptom of the growing entanglement of his life with the royal family, and the letter from the White Princess was another complication to add to the list.

"Ah, Rin, Harumi," the White Elder spoke up, his tone now shifting to something more serious as he gazed at his apprentices. "I know I've been away for a while, but things are changing. There's more brewing in the Empire than we know."

Rin straightened, listening carefully. Harumi, ever eager to learn, also focused on the White Elder, sensing the shift in his mentor's mood.

The White Elder let out a soft chuckle, despite the weariness still present in his eyes. "But worry not, my young apprentices. We shall face whatever comes together. In the meantime, Rin, you've handled the matters here admirably. Keep your focus on your duties, and all will be well."

Rin nodded respectfully, feeling a small sense of relief from his mentor's words, even if they didn't touch on the deeper concerns that gnawed at his thoughts.

"Of course, Master," Rin replied, trying to keep his tone steady. "I'll continue to do my best."

The White Elder smiled and waved them off. "Good. Now, get some rest. There's much more ahead of you, and I expect you both to be ready for it."

As Harumi and Rin left the White Elder's room, the door closed softly behind them. Rin was still tense, his thoughts racing as he clutched the letter from the White Princess in his hand. The uncertainty about his feelings and the consequences of his connections to the Princesses clouded his mind. What would Akane's letter say?

Harumi noticed the distant look on Rin's face and placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a soft, reassuring smile. "It's going to be alright, Rin. I know you've got everything under control."

Rin returned to his quarters, the door closing softly behind him. He paused for a moment, looking at the carefully wrapped gifts from the three princesses. He had barely been able to hold back his emotions when receiving them earlier, and now, in the solitude of his room, the weight of their meaning pressed down on him with crushing intensity.

He sat down on the edge of his bed, placing the gifts before him. His hands trembled slightly as he unwrapped the first one, knowing full well that it was from the Azure Princess, Chinen Suzuki. The delicate wrapping revealed a long, ornate scroll sealed with an azure wax emblem.

Rin's heart skipped a beat. It's a letter from her...

As he unfurled the scroll, the familiar elegant handwriting of the Azure Princess filled his vision. The letter read:

"Rin, my dear warrior,

I do hope this gift finds you in good health. As you have been a guide and mentor to me, I wanted to express my gratitude in a way that reflects how deeply I appreciate you. This gift is not merely an object, but a representation of my feelings for you.

The pendant is imbued with my personal magic—it will glow whenever I am near, so you will always know when I am close by. It is a token of my trust, my affection, and my deep connection to you.

May it guide you as you've guided me.

Yours always,

Chinen Suzuki"

Rin's breath caught in his throat. His chest tightened, and for a moment, he felt as if the air had been knocked from his lungs. He could already sense the pendant's power, its ethereal glow faintly flickering from the paper as he held it in his trembling hand. Chinen Suzuki... Her feelings for him were clear, and it made his skin crawl with guilt. But it wasn't just the guilt—it was the realization that he was helpless to stop her, just as he had been unable to stop the others. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to steady his breath, but his body was shaking uncontrollably. I can't... I can't handle this...

Next, Rin reached for the second gift—the one from the Vermillion Princess, Takigawa Rei. He had seen the head maid's face earlier, knowing there was something serious in the way Rei had entrusted this gift to him. The crimson wrapping was elegant, the scent of incense wafting off it as he carefully untied the ribbon. As he opened it, a soft, velvety fabric was revealed—inside, a beautiful red fan with intricate gold patterns along the edges. He recognized it immediately.

It's a fan used in her dance...

Alongside the fan was another letter, this one written in the Vermillion Princess's delicate yet firm hand:"Rin,

I wanted to give you something that symbolizes my strength, the strength I strive to embody each day. This fan, though delicate in appearance, carries the weight of my spirit. When you hold it, think of the passion that drives me—the same passion that I have for you.

The next time I see you, I hope we can dance together—my sword and your will joining in the rhythm of battle, as one.

Yours in fire,

Takigawa Rei"

Rin's vision blurred as he read the words. The fan was a symbol of her affection, a delicate and dangerous weapon wrapped in beauty. His hands were shaking so violently now that the fan almost slipped from his grasp. He didn't know if he could take any more of this—the Vermillion Princess... Rei had always been so direct, and now she had made it clear: her feelings for him were intense, and overwhelming, and they seemed to echo in the fan's every intricate curve. Rin's pulse raced, and his mind was in turmoil. I can't bear this... Why is this happening?

Finally, Rin turned his attention to the last gift—the one from the Black Princess, Miharu. His stomach churned as he slowly opened the wrapping, revealing a small black box. He swallowed hard, already knowing what it contained. With trembling hands, he opened the box.

Inside, nestled in a bed of soft velvet, was a simple yet elegant bracelet—dark leather with a single onyx gem set into the center, gleaming faintly with its own inner light. Rin had seen the onyx gem before, though not in a bracelet. He had once seen it in the Black Princess's own possession.

A note accompanied the bracelet. Rin hesitated, almost afraid to read it, but the compulsion was too strong. The words, written in Miharu's familiar handwriting, seemed to jump out at him:

"Rin,

This bracelet is a token of my heart—my gift to you, given in a moment of honesty and trust. The onyx is a symbol of protection, and it will keep you safe, just as I want to keep you safe. I hope that when you wear it, you'll know that I am always with you, even when we are apart.

Please, Rin... Don't doubt me. I want to be with you.

Forever,

Urakawa Miharu"

Rin's breath caught in his throat as his heart shattered into a thousand pieces. Miharu... Miharu... She had always been the most innocent, the one who truly believed in him, and now her heart was laid bare before him. The onyx gem in the bracelet seemed to pulse with a warmth that felt almost too intimate. The words were too much for him—too painful, too honest.

Tears welled in his eyes as his hands clenched around the bracelet, but he couldn't stop the shaking. His entire body trembled as the weight of his situation bore down on him. How did I get here? The truth hit him like a dagger—he had no way out. The three princesses, each one with their own feelings for him, had now unknowingly bound him in an inescapable web of affection and guilt.

Rin's hands were still trembling as he carefully unfolded the last letter, the one from the White Princess, Shinegori Akane. His breath hitched in his throat, his mind racing. For a moment, the room around him felt suffocating, the weight of everything pressing down on him. His fingers gently tugged at the delicate folds of the parchment, the faintest crinkle of the paper breaking the heavy silence.

The letter was sealed with the familiar emblem of the Shinegori family, an unmistakable mark of authority. Rin hesitated, his heart pounding as he slowly broke the seal, the wax crumbling with a soft snap. As he unrolled the letter, the words in the White Princess's elegant script seemed to blur before his eyes.

The letter began in a neutral tone, but Rin's gaze tightened as he read the words carefully. Invitation to the White Tiger Palace... His breath caught, and for a fleeting moment, relief washed over him. She doesn't suspect me, not yet. She doesn't know...

But as he reached the last line, everything shifted. The words leapt off the page with an unsettling clarity. "I hope to meet with you soon, Shimuzu Rin... or should I say... Hoshimi Rin?"

Rin's world seemed to freeze for a heartbeat. His eyes darkened, his grip tightening on the paper until it crinkled under the pressure. The name "Hoshimi Rin" echoed in his mind like a curse. How could she know? How did she know?

His face remained calm, but beneath the veneer, a storm was brewing. The White Princess knows... The realization hit him like a physical blow, and for the first time since he had begun his life as a commoner, he felt the weight of his past closing in on him with suffocating intensity. Akane's sharp mind had uncovered the truth—she had seen through him.

His fingers released the letter, allowing it to fall gently to the floor. Rin stood up in a single, fluid motion, his posture unyielding, his eyes cold and distant.

I can't let her expose me. I can't let her know... His thoughts were sharp, his decision already made. He had no choice now. He would have to confront her, silence her before she could unravel everything.

With his heart pounding in his chest, Rin moved to the wardrobe, his hands steady despite the turmoil raging inside. He began to strip off the robes of the White Flower Palace, each movement precise, almost mechanical, as if the fabric itself knew the shift in his intent. Slowly, his warrior uniform began to shift.

The fabric seemed to respond to him as if it had a life of its own. The soft silk of his tunic shimmered faintly, glowing as the fibers rearranged themselves, weaving into something new, something darker. The black pants melded with subtle silver patterns, hinting at the palace's elegance but with the precision of an assassin's gear.

His upper body was now cloaked in a pristine, long-sleeved white shirt, the intricate silver embroidery echoing the palace's emblem—refined, yet deadly. Over this, a light blue coat fell, the flowing fabric belying its lethal purpose.

The faint floral patterns, once symbols of nobility, now whispered of danger and shadow. It was no longer the attire of a warrior; it had become the garb of someone far more dangerous—a silent, lethal force moving through the night.

Rin's eyes, cold as ice, narrowed with deadly focus. She will not live to expose me.

Without another glance at the letter or the gifts scattered around him, Rin moved swiftly to the door. His footsteps were silent, a whisper of movement in the quiet halls of the White Flower Palace. The urgency of his mission burned in his chest, and yet, as he stepped into the night, a strange calm settled over him.

The White Princess would never see it coming.

With the shadows at his back and the weight of his decision heavy in his heart, Rin moved like a shadow through the night. His every step was calculated, his mind focused on one thing and one thing alone: reaching the White Tiger Palace and silencing Akane's threat once and for all.