Chapter 46: Political Battles

As the two approached the Consort Palace, the palpable tension weighed heavily on Rin. His usual calm demeanor was more brittle today, only because of the personalities he was about to face. Harumi, however, seemed quite amused by the predicament he was in.

"You know, Rin," Harumi chuckled, her voice laced with playful mischief, "looks like you're walking straight into a lion's den today. Don't worry, I'll be safe here. But you, well... you might want to watch out for those other lions."

Rin glanced over at her, eyebrow raised, but there was no hiding the slight quiver in his hand as he turned the pages of the curriculum.

"I'm the one who has to teach them," Rin muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Harumi. "You think they'd go easy on me? I've got no interest in that kind of attention."

His voice was almost laced with dread as he continued scanning the lesson plan. He already knew about their varying skill levels, but it was another thing entirely to face them directly. If the rumors were true, then his lessons might be a bit... overwhelming for some.

Harumi grinned, enjoying the rare sight of Rin's composure cracking under pressure. She teased him further, her tone almost mockingly sweet. "You're shaking like a leaf! It's just the consorts, Rin. They're just people."

Rin shot her a glare, unamused, and then with swift precision, swatted her lightly with the paper he was holding. "Focus on the preparations, Harumi," he snapped, his voice betraying a sense of urgency. "I'm not here to joke around. We need to make sure this session goes smoothly."

Harumi, not fazed in the slightest, simply laughed and continued to walk alongside him. "Relax, Rin. You've handled worse. This will be easy."

But even as they approached the grand door leading into the consorts' chambers, Rin couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Each step felt like a decision that might seal his fate. How would the four princess consorts react to his presence? How far would they take their infatuation?

The doors to the consort's meeting room opened, and the two were greeted with a mixture of formality and subtle curiosity. Rin, for the first time, felt the weight of their gazes upon him.

Rin and Harumi stood before the four princess consorts with poised and professional expressions, maintaining the air of capable apprentices serving under the White Elder. Despite their composure, the atmosphere within the room was anything but neutral.

Chinen Suzuki, the Azure Princess, was practically glowing with excitement. Her gaze never wavered from Rin, the joy in her eyes barely contained. It was as if she had been given an unexpected gift, her hands delicately folded in her lap, yet her body language betrayed the fact that she was eager to speak with him.

Takigawa Rei, the Vermillion Princess, attempted to maintain her usual collected demeanor, but her subtle fidgeting gave her away. Her fingers traced idle patterns on the table, and though her expression was composed, her eyes lingered on Rin in a way that spoke volumes.

Urakawa Miharu, the Black Princess, remained silent as she observed the two apprentices. A sense of nostalgia flickered in her gaze as she looked at both Rin and Harumi. They were once her friends in the White Flower Palace, yet something had changed. Her focus, however, quickly shifted to Harumi. The realization that Harumi had been by Rin's side for the past weeks, solving cases and earning prestige together, made her uneasy. A new rivalry had bloomed within her—Harumi was no longer just a friend, but a potential adversary in matters of the heart.

And then, there was Shinegori Akane, the White Princess, who watched with keen amusement. Rin had barely reacted to the overwhelming attention directed at him, maintaining an air of pure indifference. His ability to act as though he did not notice the lingering stares and silent affections was impressive. Knowing his true identity as the Second Imperial Prince, Akane was fascinated by how effortlessly he concealed himself. The fact that three consorts of the Crown Prince were enamored with him only added to the complexity of the situation.

Harumi, ever perceptive, quickly picked up on the tension in the room. With a sly smirk, she nudged Rin subtly, whispering just low enough for only him to hear, "You really are in a lion's den."

Rin, still flipping through the lesson notes, responded in the same hushed tone, "I need a way out of here."

Harumi bit back a laugh but straightened herself as she addressed the consorts formally. "Shall we begin, Your Highnesses?"

Rin finally lifted his gaze and met the eyes of the consorts. Keeping his voice measured and professional, he spoke, "We will be going over the basic principles today. Regardless of current proficiency, a strong foundation is essential."

His voice was calm, his demeanor impeccable. Yet, despite his efforts, there was no mistaking the way the consorts watched him—each with their own silent intentions.

Akane, taking in the scene, could only think one thing.

How will you escape this, Rin?

Rin began the lesson with a poised and professional introduction, his calm smile radiating both confidence and warmth. The effect was immediate—Chinen Suzuki, Takigawa Rei, and Urakawa Miharu found themselves momentarily dazed, their attention fully captured. Even Akane, though composed, remained keenly observant, taking in every detail.

Seizing the moment, Rin transitioned seamlessly into the topic at hand, his voice steady and clear.

"The fundamental structure of magic is often categorized into tiers—Low-tier, Mid-tier, High-tier, Master-tier, Supreme-tier, Forbidden-tier, Ascendant-tier, and lastly, Divine-tier."

He paused briefly, scanning the room. "Most of you are already familiar with these classifications. They are widely accepted and taught as the framework for magical advancement."

The princess consorts nodded in agreement. It was common knowledge, something they had learned long ago. This introduction, though expected, was nothing new to them.

Then, without hesitation, Rin dismantled that expectation.

"But," he continued, his gaze sharp yet composed, "you may as well discard that kind of understanding."

A flicker of surprise crossed their faces.

"Magic is not strictly defined by these tiers," Rin explained, his tone unwavering. "Rather than focusing on artificial classifications, one must first understand the true foundation of all magic—the relationship between mana and the individual's ability to control it."

His words hung in the air, resonating deeply. Even for those already proficient in magic, it was rare to hear such an unconventional perspective.

"Power is not dictated solely by classification," Rin elaborated. "It is determined by control, refinement, and comprehension. One who can wield Mid-tier magic with absolute mastery will always surpass someone who haphazardly wields Supreme-tier spells."

Harumi, standing beside him, smirked slightly, watching the princess consorts process Rin's words. He had done it again—shifting the conversation beyond the surface level and forcing them to think critically.

Chinen Suzuki, previously prepared to brush off the lesson as too basic, now sat up straight, her interest piqued.

Urakawa Miharu's gaze softened in nostalgia—this was exactly how Rin had taught her back in the White Flower Palace. His lessons had always gone beyond mere classifications.

Takigawa Rei, who valued skill and control, found herself nodding subtly, acknowledging the truth in Rin's words.

Akane, as always, was watching carefully. She had expected Rin to be competent, but the way he so effortlessly captured their full attention was something else entirely. He had once told her not to fall for him—yet the three consorts in front of her had already failed that test.

With the foundation of the lesson set, Rin moved forward, effortlessly steering the discussion into deeper waters.

Rin raised both hands, conjuring a simple low-tier lightning spell in one and a mid-tier lightning spell in the other. The difference in intensity was immediately apparent—the mid-tier spell crackled with stronger energy, arcs of electricity dancing with more force compared to the dimmer sparks of the low-tier spell.

"The primary distinction between spell tiers," Rin began, his voice steady, "is the amount of mana poured into them. At their core, spells are merely constructs of mana given form and function."

With a swift motion, he brought the two spells together. The moment they collided, the mid-tier spell devoured the low-tier one effortlessly, its superior mana overwhelming the lesser energy. The demonstration was simple but effective.

"This," Rin continued, "is the conventional understanding of spell tiers. The more mana a spell consumes, the stronger it is. But—" he lifted a finger, "this is an incomplete perspective."

He extended his hand again, conjuring the same low-tier lightning spell—but this time, it was different. The energy no longer remained a simple bolt. Instead, the lightning slithered and split into a chain of crackling energy, linking together in a controlled, flowing motion. It was still a low-tier spell, yet something about it felt different.

Rin turned to Harumi. "Throw a high-tier wind spell at me."

Harumi raised a brow but complied, conjuring a stormy wind blade and sending it toward him.

The moment the sharp gust approached, Rin moved. With a simple flick of his wrist, the lightning chain struck the spell—and shattered it effortlessly. The wind blade unraveled, its mana dispersed as though it had never existed.

Silence.

The four consorts stared, their expressions shifting from curiosity to astonishment. Even Miharu, a master of high-tier wind magic, was left stunned by the ease with which Rin had dismantled the spell.

Rin calmly lowered his hand. "Mana can be cut with mana. Tiers are not the sole determining factor of power—control is. The ability to refine and shape mana effectively is what truly dictates the strength of a spell."

Chinen Suzuki's eyes gleamed with interest, absorbing his words. This was why she had forced him to teach her before. His lessons always stripped away conventional thinking and provided new insights.

Takigawa Rei, ever the warrior, instinctively analyzed the implications. If she could master this kind of precision control, she could enhance her combat techniques beyond brute force.

Urakawa Miharu clenched her hands slightly. She had already been trained by Rin in the past, yet he continued to prove himself far beyond what she had imagined. How much more had he grown since then?

Shinegori Akane remained composed, though inwardly, she smirked. This was the true difference between Rin and the others—he wasn't bound by what was expected of him. And despite his efforts to appear indifferent, he was undeniably capturing their attention.

As the consorts processed the lesson, Rin spoke again, his tone firm.

"I should warn you all—do not attempt this on your own. My level of mana control is far beyond normal standards due to years of training under the White Elder. If mishandled, this technique could just as easily backfire."

The room remained silent, the weight of his words sinking in.

The lesson was clear—power was not about rank. It was about mastery.

Rin let out a composed breath, glancing at the four princess consorts who had just witnessed his demonstration. His warning of "do not attempt this on your own" was supposed to deter reckless attempts. Instead, it had the exact opposite effect.

The three consorts—Miharu, Suzuki, and Rei—now stared at him with unmistakable admiration, their gazes practically burning with determination.

Akane, watching the entire scene unfold, could already feel that Rin was about to get himself killed by their affections.

Before any of them could speak, Rin smoothly cut off any possible romantic pursuits with a strategic move.

"Since both Harumi and I are assigned to guide you all in magic, it would be more efficient to have two consorts under each of us," Rin stated with a professional smile. "Harumi is just as capable as I am—both of us have attained Master-tier magic now, so either of us will be able to guide you properly."

Silence.

Then, realization hit the three consorts at the same time.

There were only two spots available under Rin.

The air shifted instantly. Miharu, Suzuki, and Rei—who just moments ago were passively observing the lesson—were now locked in a quiet but intense battle of wills. Their expressions remained composed, but their auras burned with pure, unrelenting competitiveness.

Akane didn't even need to look at them directly. She could feel the fire in their eyes.

"That means only two of us will be personally guided by Rin..." Miharu murmured, her gaze darkening with thought.

"Then it's obvious," Suzuki smirked slightly. "It should be the two of us with the highest magic aptitude. Miharu and I have already reached high-tier mastery. It only makes sense that Rin teaches those who can understand his lessons best."

"Magic isn't just about ability. It's also about adaptability in battle," Rei countered coolly. "I may specialize in swordsmanship, but my magic can be refined just as well. Someone with practical combat experience should take one of those spots."

Akane, who had not planned to get involved in this mess, sighed internally. She fully expected Rin to choose Miharu and Suzuki based on skill. That was fine. She had no intention of fighting them for a position she didn't even want.

But then—

"As for the first student under me... it will be Shinegori Akane."

A pause.

A deadly silence.

Akane's body stiffened on instinct. What?

All three consorts slowly turned their heads toward her.

The air grew heavy.

"Why her?" Miharu's voice was eerily soft.

"Yeah, Rin," Suzuki's expression remained smiling, but the sharp glint in her eyes said otherwise. "Based on ability, shouldn't Miharu and I be the obvious choices?"

Even Rei, who had been more reserved about her feelings, was clearly questioning this decision.

Akane could feel the metaphorical blades pointed at her throat. She looked at Rin, betrayal written all over her face.

Rin, however, was completely unfazed.

"Because," Rin explained smoothly, "Akane's magical aptitude is comparatively lower than the rest of you. If we divide it purely based on ability, she might not benefit as much from a general group lesson. Instead, I will personally help her understand magic from the fundamentals so she won't fall behind."

Akane's fingernails dug into her palm. You son of a—

That reasoning was logical. It was reasonable. And it made it impossible for her to refuse.

Rin's gaze met hers, calm and unreadable. You're not escaping this, Akane.

Akane's smile was perfectly composed, but inside, she was seething. Rin had thrown her into the battlefield with no armor.

He's making me fight a political war with him. He's dragging me into his suffering.

The three consorts, who now saw her as the woman who stole one of their precious spots, were not pleased.

And now, there was only one spot left.

Miharu, Suzuki, and Rei's gazes locked onto each other once again.

This time, the competition was deadly serious.

Rin maintained a calm and gentle smile, the kind that masked his true intentions well.

His reasoning was fair and logical—Miharu, Suzuki, and Rei had already been taught by him in some way in the past. The only one who hadn't received his guidance was Akane.

Moreover, Akane, unlike the other three, was not hopelessly infatuated with him. That made things infinitely easier.

Yet, despite the flawless reasoning, the atmosphere was undeniably tense.

The three consorts, now fully realizing that there was only one spot left under Rin, could not stay silent.

"If that's the case," Miharu started, her eyes sharp, "then I should be the one to take the last spot."

Suzuki's sweet smile didn't waver, but her tone was firm. "Your reasoning is flawed, Miharu. If it's based on prior lessons, then that means I should also be ineligible. But if we're considering talent and learning speed, wouldn't I be the better option?"

Rei, who had been quietly observing, crossed her arms and sighed. "Both of you are arguing based on magic ability alone. I agree that Miharu and Suzuki are better in terms of mastery, but when it comes to combat efficiency, my magic still has more room for growth. Wouldn't it be better for Rin to guide someone whose improvement would have the most practical effect?"

The three locked gazes, and Rin immediately regretted everything.

He had hoped that by giving Akane a slot, the others would settle down. Instead, this just made the competition more intense.

Akane, who had no choice but to sit through this disaster, sighed internally.

"And here I thought this lesson would be boring," she murmured, "but I suppose watching a battlefield unfold in front of me has its entertainment value."

Rin chose not to respond to that. He simply let them talk a little longer, hoping—praying—that they would settle it among themselves.

But deep down, he knew.

This was not going to end without consequences.

Rin, still smiling, dropped the weight of the decision on Akane's shoulders.

"It would be best if the White Princess made the decision," Rin said smoothly. "After all, it would be problematic if the two consorts under my guidance didn't get along."

Akane internally screamed.

Oi…!

Why was he pushing this onto her?

If she could read Rin's mind, she had no doubt that he would be giving her a smug, authoritative speech, something like:

"If you want to secure more power, you better be ready to make enemies."

The nerve of this man. He was basically dragging her down into suffering with him!

But fine. If he wanted her to play the game, she would play it right.

Akane kept her expression poised and thoughtful, hiding her irritation beneath a practiced elegance. She let her gaze sweep across the three consorts, carefully considering each option.

Miharu? No.

The Urakawa family had fallen from grace, and while Akane knew the truth of their innocence, associating with Miharu might lead to unnecessary complications.

Suzuki? Absolutely not.

She was annoying, unpredictable, and, worst of all, obsessed with Rin. Akane had no doubt that Rin would use her as a shield, letting Suzuki target her instead. Not happening.

Which left…

Takigawa Rei.

Rei was from the prestigious Takigawa clan, a family known for its warriors. She wasn't as obsessed with Rin as the others, but she had enough infatuation to be useful.

Akane lifted her chin slightly, her voice smooth and decisive.

"Vermillion Princess Takigawa Rei would be the most suitable choice."

A brief silence followed.

Rei blinked, clearly not expecting to be chosen, but quickly masked her surprise with a small, satisfied smirk.

Suzuki, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes. "Oh? I wonder why the White Princess made such a decision."

Akane smiled gracefully. "Since Miharu and Suzuki are already highly skilled, I believe it would be most beneficial for someone who still has room to grow to receive direct guidance from the esteemed apprentice of the White Elder."

Rin, watching this exchange, felt a deep satisfaction settle in his chest.

Good. This works out perfectly.

Akane felt her brow twitch.

Wait.

Why did it seem like Rin had wanted this from the start?!

She turned to look at him, and there it was—the tiniest, almost imperceptible flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

Akane's fingers clenched beneath the table.

This bastard was two steps ahead.

Rin accepted the decision with a nod, his tone completely neutral.

"Then it's decided. Princess Takigawa Rei will be my second apprentice for these lessons."

Akane's eye twitched again.

But fine. Let him win this round.

She would get her payback.