Chapter 50: The Visit Of the White Empress

It had been two weeks since Rin and Harumi took on the role of instructors for the consorts.

Two long weeks.

Rin had barely managed to survive the relentless advances of Princess Suzuki, Princess Miharu, and Princess Rei—each of them attempting in their own way to get closer to him.

But surprisingly, his greatest ally in this battle was none other than Princess Akane.

Despite her devilish nature and her love for collecting favors, Akane had become something akin to his guardian angel.

Or perhaps… his guardian devil.

She took great joy in watching the other three consorts fail in their attempts to trap Rin. Whether it was through verbal maneuvering, playful sabotage, or simple misdirection, she ensured that Rin remained out of their grasp—while simultaneously using the situation to her advantage.

Whenever Rin found himself cornered, Akane would step in with a smirk, redirecting the conversation or subtly manipulating the situation to keep the others at bay.

Of course, it wasn't out of kindness.

No, this was entertainment for her.

And every time she saved him, she made sure to remind him that he owed her yet another favor.

Rin sighed internally.

At this rate, he'd be drowning in debts to Akane before the month was over.

But if it meant keeping his head off the execution block, then it was a small price to pay.

It was just like any other lesson that day.

Rin stood at the front of the training hall, his voice calm and professional as he explained the theories behind High-Tier magic.

The four consorts—Suzuki, Miharu, Rei, and Akane—were gathered around him, listening attentively.

By now, all four of them had reached the level where they could begin grasping High-Tier magic techniques.

Though, among them, Princess Suzuki and Princess Miharu were already slightly ahead of the other two.

Just as Rin was about to continue his lecture, the doors to the hall suddenly swung open.

A sharp voice echoed through the room.

"Announcing the arrival of the White Empress—Hoshimi Asami!"

Silence fell instantly.

Rin's expression remained composed, but his mind sharpened.

The White Empress?

What was she doing here?

A regal woman stepped inside, her presence alone commanding the attention of everyone in the hall.

White Empress—Hoshimi Asami.

Her snow-white robes trailed behind her as she moved with the elegance of an Empress who had long been accustomed to power. Her cold, calculating gaze swept across the room, taking in every detail—the four consorts, Harumi, and finally…

Rin.

The moment their eyes met, Rin felt it.

A flicker of recognition.

She knew.

She knew exactly who he was.

But instead of exposing him, the White Empress simply gave him a knowing look, her expression unreadable.

Rin remained still, his face a perfect mask of calm.

This was dangerous.

Does she plan to reveal me? Does she have other motives?

But then, the Empress turned to address the room.

"I have come to evaluate the progress of the Basic Imperial Training," Asami announced, her voice smooth yet authoritative.

The consorts immediately straightened up, their expressions turning serious.

Harumi bowed respectfully. "It is an honor, Your Majesty."

Asami gave a slight nod before turning her attention back to Rin.

"Rin, you will provide me with a progress report—now."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the room.

Right in the middle of the lesson?

Harumi glanced at Rin, but before she could say anything, the Empress continued:

"We will speak privately in my chamber."

The weight of her words left no room for argument.

Rin lowered his head in acknowledgment. "As you command, Your Majesty."

As he stepped forward, he could feel the eyes of the four consorts on him.

Suzuki, Miharu, and Rei looked vaguely uneasy.

Akane, however, had a smirk on her face, as if enjoying the sudden shift in events.

The Empress turned, her flowing robes brushing against the floor as she led Rin out of the hall.

Left behind, Harumi hesitated for a moment before sighing.

"Well then," she said, turning back to the four consorts. "It seems I'll be taking over for the rest of today's lesson."

The consorts exchanged glances, still processing what had just happened.

But one thing was clear.

The White Empress had come for Rin.

And no one knew why.

The moment the door closed behind them, White Empress Hoshimi Asami let out a soft sigh and broke her composed regal expression.

A gentle smile replaced her usual cold and calculating demeanor.

"It's been a while, Rin."

Her voice no longer carried the weight of an Empress addressing a subject. Instead, it was warm—the voice of a mother speaking to her child.

Rin exhaled slowly, his posture finally relaxing.

"I didn't expect you to leave the Imperial Palace, Your Majesty."

Asami chuckled, walking over to a nearby sofa and gracefully sitting down.

"Oh? And here I thought you knew me better than that. Do you really think I'd let my second son work so hard without checking up on him?"

Rin smirked slightly but remained standing.

"I assume the Emperor has twice the workload today?"

Asami let out a soft laugh.

"Naturally. If I were to leave my duties behind so easily, Masaki would take it as a personal offense. He's already grumbling about me taking a 'day off.'"

Rin shook his head. "Father does love his efficiency."

Asami gestured for him to sit, her motherly gaze studying him carefully.

Though the atmosphere was lighter, Rin could sense that she hadn't come just to check on him.

And soon enough, Asami's smile faded slightly, her tone turning serious.

"Rin, I came here for more than just idle talk. I wanted to update you on the situation within the palace."

Rin nodded. He had expected this much.

"The Crown Prince," Asami continued, "Kazuo has been… empty for a long time."

Rin remained silent.

He already knew.

"It's both good and bad," she explained. "Good, because your father can use this as a way to bait out the Dark Order. Weakness is an invitation to snakes, after all. And if they finally reveal themselves, the Imperial Family will eradicate them completely."

"And the bad?" Rin asked, though he already knew the answer.

Asami sighed.

"Kazuo is not fulfilling his duties as Crown Prince. He doesn't talk to anyone unless absolutely necessary. He has lost his fire. The very same fire he had when you were still in the Imperial Palace."

Rin clenched his fists subtly.

In the original story, Kazuo had remained like this until he met Urakawa Miharu, the Black Princess Consort, during the Imperial Courtship.

That was their turning point.

She had ignited something in him.

The once hollow Crown Prince finally found a reason to move forward.

But there was a problem.

The same Urakawa Miharu was currently in love with Rin.

That event… might never happen.

If Miharu never met Kazuo as intended… then the story would spiral into unpredictable chaos.

Rin couldn't tell Asami that.

He couldn't tell her that Kazuo's fate was in danger of completely changing.

So instead, he stayed silent.

Asami studied his face, her sharp Empress instincts picking up on his hesitation.

"You know something."

It wasn't a question.

It was a statement.

Rin forced a small smile. "I always know something, Mother."

She sighed, shaking her head.

"You really are your father's son…"

Rin let out a small chuckle. "An insult or a compliment?"

"Both."

Despite her teasing words, Asami's worry for Kazuo was genuine.

Rin could see it in her eyes.

And that…

That was the hardest part.

Rin leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he watched Asami sigh to herself.

He tilted his head slightly. "That deep in thought, Mother?"

Asami glanced at him, her expression unreadable.

"I was just thinking..." she murmured before shaking her head. "No, never mind."

Rin raised an eyebrow. "You're never one to leave a thought unfinished. What is it?"

She gave him a wry smile. "I was simply reminded of how ridiculous this situation is."

Rin blinked, waiting for her to continue.

"Even now," Asami said, tapping her fingers lightly on the table, "even after leaving the palace, even after being stripped of your status, even after deliberately lowering yourself to that of a commoner... you're still the best candidate for the throne."

Rin sighed, rubbing his temples.

"I thought we were past this discussion."

Asami's eyes softened. "We are. But even if we don't speak of it, the truth remains."

She leaned back in her chair, reminiscing.

"Do you remember how shocked we all were when you requested to leave?"

Rin nodded. "I expected resistance. Instead, I was met with a Golden Letter."

A letter written by the Golden Princess, the emissary of the Golden Dragon's Will.

Its arrival was almost too perfectly timed.

"We couldn't defy it," Asami admitted. "No one can oppose the will of the Golden Dragon. It supported your decision to leave, and the Imperial Family had no choice but to accept it."

Rin knew this well.

The Imperial Family valued bloodline and power, but above all, they revered the Golden Dragon's Will.

That decree had sealed his fate.

His father, Emperor Masaki, had no choice but to let him go.

But...

That didn't mean the family had accepted it emotionally.

Asami's gaze lingered on Rin, her fingers now resting against her chin in thought.

"Even now, you're leagues ahead of your peers. Even the consorts—who are among the best of their generation—are still struggling to reach the level you were at years ago."

Rin remained silent.

He already knew.

"Magic, swordsmanship, politics..." Asami's voice was laced with quiet admiration. "You maneuver them all with terrifying ease. Your brother, Kazuo, has the title of Crown Prince, but without you at his side, he has lost his drive."

Rin tensed slightly but quickly hid it.

Asami, of course, noticed.

"Is that why you left?" she asked. "Was part of your reasoning to push him forward?"

Rin exhaled. "Partially, yes."

Asami studied him carefully, before her lips curled into a soft smile.

"I see. You're still looking out for him, even now."

Rin simply shrugged. "Kazuo will return to himself eventually."

Asami sighed again. "I hope you're right."

Rin remained quiet.

Because he knew.

Kazuo's future wasn't just a matter of time.

The story dictated that his recovery would only happen because of Urakawa Miharu.

The same Miharu… who was currently in love with Rin.

If nothing changed, then…

The Crown Prince may never rise.

And that?

That was the real problem.

Asami rested her chin on her palm, observing Rin with keen eyes. "Since you're personally teaching the consorts, I'd like to hear about their progress."

Rin nodded, already expecting the request. "I'll summarize based on my own observations and Harumi's reports."

He started systematically:

"Princess Suzuki has already mastered high-tier illusion and psychic magic. Recently, she awakened a third element—Shadow—but she has yet to utilize it properly."

Asami raised an eyebrow. "Shadow magic, hmm? A dangerous affinity if one doesn't learn to control it."

Rin nodded. "She's working on refining her control, but it will take time."

He moved on.

"Princess Rei has reached high-tier in fire magic, and her earth magic is at mid-tier. She has yet to awaken her third element, but her refinement of fire is going well."

Asami hummed in approval. "Fire and earth—a strong combination. She must have a tenacious personality."

Rin smirked slightly. "You have no idea."

He continued.

"Princess Miharu is already well-versed in high-tier wind and ice magic. She recently awakened light magic as her third element, but she hasn't cast any spells with it yet."

Asami tilted her head. "Light magic as a third element? That's uncommon."

Rin agreed. "She's hesitant about it. But I believe she'll adjust with time."

Finally, Rin reached the last consort.

"Princess Akane has light and enhancement magic, but interestingly enough, her enhancement magic has progressed much faster than her light magic. She's a natural at it."

Asami's eyes flickered with interest. "Enhancement magic? That would explain why she's been able to keep up with the others despite having only two elements."

Rin nodded. "It's not just about power—it's about how well she utilizes it. Her control over enhancement magic is far beyond what we expected."

Asami leaned back, crossing her arms. "They're all quite talented for their age. But..."

Her golden eyes sharpened. "Compared to your growth at their age, they still fall short."

Rin immediately frowned. "That's not true."

Asami's expression remained unwavering. "Rin, at six years old, you were already casting magic. By the time you were seven, you had reached mid-tier."

Rin opened his mouth to argue, but Asami continued.

"Lightning and shadow magic—two elements that naturally make their users difficult to track. You were a slippery child, always sneaking out and gathering information from places you shouldn't have been."

Rin chuckled lightly. "I like to think of it as being resourceful."

Asami sighed, shaking her head with amusement. "Resourceful? The Black Empress used to call you the most difficult child to handle."

Rin smirked. "But she also said I was mature for my age."

Asami's lips twitched upward. "Only because you didn't make reckless mistakes."

She studied him for a moment before speaking again.

"Even now, you underestimate your own abilities."

Rin exhaled. "I don't underestimate myself—I simply refuse to compare my situation to theirs. They're growing at their own pace."

Asami softened slightly. "Perhaps. But the fact remains that you are leagues ahead of them."

Rin fell silent.

Because deep down, he knew she wasn't wrong.

Asami rested her cheek on her palm, her golden eyes twinkling with amusement. "You know, Rin, if you were the Crown Prince right now… it would almost look like a husband carefully molding his future wives in the shadows."

Rin immediately stiffened, his body instinctively tensing.

"..."

His fingers twitched slightly, but he quickly masked his reaction, turning to meet Asami's gaze. He studied her expression carefully. Was she implying something deeper? Did she—?

No… She didn't know.

Rin forced a composed smile. "They are Kazuo's fiancées."

Asami didn't react, merely tilting her head slightly, waiting for him to continue.

Rin let out a slow breath. "It would be… improper for me to overstep. Kazuo is my brother. Stealing what is rightfully his would mean my execution."

Asami blinked, then suddenly chuckled, shaking her head.

"Execution?" she repeated with amusement. "Oh, Rin, you're thinking too dramatically. You wouldn't die."

Rin narrowed his eyes slightly. "And what would happen then?"

Asami smiled slyly. "You'd simply be dragged back to the Imperial Capital, where you'd be closely watched and kept under control."

Rin grimaced. "That's even worse."

Asami let out a soft laugh. "Perhaps. But I doubt you'll let things escalate to that point, will you?"

Rin sighed, rubbing his temples. "I have no intention of causing trouble."

Asami smirked. "That's what makes you dangerous, Rin. The fact that you have no intention, yet things naturally move in your favor."

Rin **stayed silent. Because, once again, she wasn't wrong.