Chapter 57: Aftermath of the Purge

The road back to the White Flower Palace felt endless.

Rin walked forward, his steps heavy, his body aching from exhaustion. Every muscle screamed for rest, but he didn't stop. Not yet.

He had fought, he had survived, and he had fulfilled his duty.

Now, he was finally going home.

As he neared the palace, his sharp eyes caught a familiar figure standing watch—the White Elder.

Despite his weakened state, the old man stood tall, his gaze sweeping over the palace grounds. Even now, he remained vigilant, ensuring that this place remained a safe haven for the people. A symbol of unwavering protection.

Rin let out a slow breath.

There was nothing more he needed to do.

He had no mana left. No more potions to keep him going. No more battles he could fight.

His job was done.

But as he stepped past the final stretch—his body worn down from the carnage—he saw something unexpected.

The White Flower Palace was filled with survivors.

Men, women, and children who had escaped the Dark Order's attack now stood within its gates. Some injured, some lost, but all of them… alive.

Rin's gaze softened.

Despite everything, there was still hope.

Then—his eyes landed on someone standing at the gate.

Harumi.

She stood there, arms crossed, her eyes watching him with an unreadable expression. But then—she smiled.

"Welcome back."

Her tone was light, but the warmth in her voice was unmistakable. Then, with an amused tilt of her head, she added, "You look awful."

Rin let out a breath—something between a chuckle and a sigh.

At that moment, as he finally stepped through the gates of the palace, his exhaustion—**the weight of the battle, the blood, the demons, the endless fight—**all of it finally caught up to him.

His body swayed.

And before he could stop himself—Harumi caught him.

"Whoa, easy there." Her voice was teasing, but her grip was firm as she steadied him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "You're seriously making a woman carry your heavy body inside?"

Rin exhaled, allowing himself to finally—finally—rest.

"…I'll let it slide this time."

Harumi scoffed, shaking her head as she helped him walk inside. "Tch. You're lucky I'm in a good mood."

And with that, Rin finally returned home.

Morning came, but the Imperial Capital bore deep scars.

The repelled attack from the Dark Order and the success of the Second Official Purge were victories in name, but the destruction spoke for itself. Half the Imperial Capital lay in ruins. Buildings had crumbled, streets were littered with debris, and the air still carried the scent of fire and blood.

Yet, the Hoshimi Imperial Family wasted no time.

By dawn, evacuation centers had been set up, workers and craftsmen hired for reconstruction, and relief efforts were already underway. The swift response of the Imperial Family ensured that the people did not suffer more than they already had.

Beyond the Empire's borders, the world watched.

News of the Empire's state had spread to other nations, but none dared to interfere.

The Azure and Black Empresses, Nao and Minako, had ensured that the foreign fronts remained stable. Their diplomatic influence and military presence made it clear—any attempt to strike while the Empire was recovering would be met with absolute force.

Thus, the Hoshimi Empire, though wounded, remained untouched.

Within the grand halls of the Imperial Palace, two figures sat in the war room, surrounded by endless stacks of documents.

Emperor Masaki and White Empress Asami worked tirelessly, navigating through the mountain of paperwork required to stabilize the Empire.

Masaki sighed, rubbing his temples as he looked at the endless reports. "This is ridiculous. How are you so fast at this?"

Across from him, Asami barely looked up, her quill gliding across parchment with effortless precision. "Because unlike you, I actually enjoy doing my job."

Masaki groaned. "I'd rather be out there swinging a sword."

Asami smirked. "Yes, yes, but if I left this to you, the entire empire would collapse in a week."

Masaki grumbled something incomprehensible under his breath but didn't argue.

Meanwhile, Vermillion Empress Hikari leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching Asami closely.

Less than a day ago, this woman had stood against a Lord-Class Demon, nearly died, and was now… here.

Not resting. Not recovering. But yelling orders and handling the Empire's internal matters like nothing had happened.

Hikari exhaled through her nose. "You really don't stop, do you?"

Asami finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. "And let things fall apart? Please."

Despite herself, Hikari couldn't help but respect her. She hated paperwork with a passion, but Asami… she made it seem like an art.

Her efficiency, her decisiveness, and her unwavering dedication to the Empire—this was why she was the White Empress.

Still, there was one more thing that needed handling.

The Second Official Purge had unearthed many secrets—truths that had been buried in the First Official Purge.

Among them, the fallen Urakawa Family.

Once a noble house, once loyal to the Empire… but now nothing more than a victim of past mistakes.

Hikari's expression hardened. "We need to deal with the aftermath of the Urakawa incident."

Asami nodded, her gaze sharp. "Yes. We'll ensure that justice is served this time. No more mistakes."

Masaki set his quill down, exhaling. "It's about time we start making things right."

And so, as the Empire recovered, rebuilt, and prepared for what lay ahead, the Hoshimi Imperial Family once again proved why they stood above all.

Vermillion Empress Hikari stood before Masaki and Asami, recounting the events of the long, bloodstained night.

The usual massacre of Dark Order members was expected—traitors to the Empire met their rightful end. But amidst her report, one name made them pause.

Rin.

Or rather— Hoshimi Rin.

Masaki's hand froze over his papers. Asami, who had been efficiently signing off on directives, looked up sharply.

Hikari met their gazes. "The Second Imperial Prince—he's the one who saved Asami and lured the second Lord-Class Demon away from the civilians."

Silence.

Then, Masaki exhaled slowly, tension clear in his frame.

Asami, however, was still as stone. She had already told Masaki how Rin had saved her—how, if not for him, she would have died before the reinforcements ever arrived.

But hearing it from Hikari, hearing that Rin had single-handedly manipulated the battlefield, orchestrating a strategy while fighting an enemy beyond his level— it made the reality of what had happened settle deeper in their bones.

Hikari crossed her arms. "Asami confirmed that she killed one Lord-Class, but the Dark Order summoned a second. They were prepared for a counterattack. If Rin wasn't there, Asami wouldn't have made it out."

Masaki clenched his jaw. "The Dark Order is getting bolder."

Hikari nodded. "They were prepared for Imperial Royalty. We should assume they have more of these demons waiting."

Masaki's expression darkened. "That's an entirely different problem."

Right now, his mind was on Rin.

He had left the Imperial Palace years ago, choosing to walk his own path. He wasn't supposed to be involved.

And yet—he was.

Hikari sighed. "I checked the battlefield before leaving. He outdid himself."

Masaki and Asami looked at her.

"The entire area where he lured the Lord-Class Demon was littered with dead Dark Order members and low-to-elite class demons."

She gave a wry smirk. "Rin may not have been able to kill the Lord-Class, but he made sure it wasn't alone. Most of the Dark Order members who summoned it? Dead. Their bodies were either sliced cleanly— the same way Rin's blade cuts—or they were crushed by the Lord-Class itself."

A terrifying tactic. Use the enemy's own weapon against them.

Even with no mana left, exhausted, and bleeding, he had still kept the situation under control.

Hikari leaned back. "I don't think you understand how ridiculous this was. He was fighting while constantly running for his life, and he still had the awareness to manipulate the battlefield."

Masaki closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. A mix of pride, frustration, and worry settled in his chest.

Asami sighed, rubbing her temples. "That child…"

She knew Rin had grown strong. But hearing what he had done in such an impossible situation… he was still carrying too much.

Hikari shook her head. "By the time I got there, he was already at his limit. The moment I killed the demon, he just—"

She mimicked someone dropping to their knees. "Out like a light. His uniform even de-materialized because he ran out of mana completely."

Masaki didn't even bother hiding the deep sigh he let out. "And where is he now?"

Hikari smirked. "Where else?"

All three of them knew.

The White Flower Palace.

Where he always returns.

Hikari crossed her arms as she finished recounting Rin's battle, then smoothly transitioned to her next report.

"The Imperial Army has successfully regrouped. Grand General Takigawa Yoshito is currently securing key zones in the capital to ensure no lingering enemies or summoned demons remain."

Masaki nodded. "Good. And Shinegori Arata?"

Hikari smirked. "As expected, he's already handling the manpower issue. He's organizing labor forces and coordinating with the nobility to mobilize rebuilding efforts. Half the capital is in ruins, but thanks to the Azure and Black Empresses' work abroad, no foreign nations dare interfere. That buys us time."

Masaki leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh. "At least that part is going smoothly."

Hikari hesitated for a brief moment before continuing, "That said… We now have another situation on our hands."

Masaki raised a brow. "Go on."

Hikari exhaled. "The four princess consorts are still in their two-week basic training, but given the capital's current state, it's been postponed until further notice."

At this, Asami's eyes lit up.

"Perfect," she said, tapping a finger against her chin. "Then, we'll put them to work."

Masaki and Hikari both looked at her with suspicion.

Asami smiled, her usual calculating expression returning. "I've been watching them. Unlike us, they actually work well together."

Masaki let out a tired chuckle. "You mean, in contrast to when the four of you became empresses and nearly tore each other apart?"

Hikari scoffed. "We turned out fine."

Asami smirked. "Eventually."

She continued, "The four consorts have already proven they can lead their own palaces and organize their people. And during the chaos, they managed to coordinate their way to the Imperial Palace effectively. I say, instead of keeping them idle, we let them assist in the rebuilding efforts."

Hikari hummed. "Not a bad idea. Most of the corrupt factions that secretly supported them have already been purged."

"Exactly," Asami nodded. "So, we can allow them more freedom."

Masaki tapped his fingers against the desk. "And what of their connection to Rin?"

Asami smiled. "Now that's where it gets interesting."

Masaki and Hikari exchanged glances. Whenever Asami had that look, things always got more complicated.

She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "From what I've observed, three out of the four consorts are constantly watching Rin."

Hikari blinked. "Watching? You mean—?"

"They're infatuated." Asami's smirk grew wider. "Except for Akane, who seems to have a purely professional relationship with him, the other three are noticeably conscious of him."

Masaki groaned, rubbing his temple. "Rin isn't even the Crown Prince…"

Hikari sighed, shaking her head. "If they really harbor feelings for him, that's going to cause problems later."

But Asami simply chuckled. "No, it's an opportunity."

Masaki narrowed his eyes. "Go on."

Asami's voice turned almost playful. "We can use this as an excuse to bring Rin back to the Imperial Palace."

Masaki's fingers stopped tapping. The room fell silent.

Then, Hikari let out a low whistle. "That's… bold."

Asami's smile remained. "The Golden Princesses may have forced the Imperial Family to accept Rin's departure, but let's be honest—"

Her sharp golden gaze flickered between Masaki and Hikari.

"None of us ever truly accepted it."

Asami leaned back, a knowing smirk gracing her lips. "If we allow the four consorts more freedom, at least three of them will inevitably seek out Rin."

Masaki sighed, rubbing his forehead. "And Rin?"

Asami chuckled. "Dodging them left and right, as always. Well, except for Akane. She's the only one keeping things strictly professional."

Hikari let out a low whistle. "So, we're watching history repeat itself."

Asami grinned. "Exactly. Their interactions with Rin mirror what we went through when we fought for your attention, Masaki."

Masaki groaned. "I still remember the endless chaos."

Hikari smirked. "Ah, good times."

Asami's expression grew thoughtful. "But more importantly, they're growing." She tapped her fingers against the desk. "And Rin? Whether he realizes it or not, he's acting as the catalyst for that growth."

Masaki's gaze darkened slightly. "Meanwhile, Kazuo is struggling."

The room grew heavy.

The Crown Prince had not been the same since Rin left. Though competent, his shoulders visibly sagged under the weight of the crown. The adults of the Imperial Family all saw it—Kazuo wasn't ready. The responsibilities were crushing him.

Hikari clicked her tongue. "It's obvious. Kazuo needs Rin back."

Asami nodded. "And we have our perfect excuse."

She placed a hand on the stack of reports in front of her.

"The four consorts will be given permission to leave their palaces to help with the rebuilding. But more importantly—"

She smiled, her golden eyes glinting with undeniable cunning.

"They'll be placed directly under the White Flower Palace."

Masaki and Hikari straightened.

Asami continued, her voice smooth.

"The White Elder is bedridden. His condition worsens by the day. And Rin? As the First Apprentice, he's been managing the White Flower Palace in his stead."

Masaki's fingers tightened around his chair.

"If the White Elder passes away… Rin will have no choice but to leave. A new management will take over, and Rin will have three paths before him."

Asami lifted a single finger.

"One: He returns to the Imperial Palace."

She lifted a second.

"Two: He joins another palace."

Then a third.

"Three: He runs away."

A pause.

Asami's smile deepened.

"I have no intention of letting him choose the third option."

Silence.

Then—

Hikari grinned. "You really are scary when you scheme, Asami."

Masaki let out a long exhale, but eventually, a small smile played on his lips. "I suppose… If we can finally bring him back—**with a reason—**then this is the best way."

Hikari stretched, rolling her shoulders. "Then it's decided. We bring the consorts to the White Flower Palace, and when the time comes—"

She smirked.

"We take back our Second Prince."