Chapter 59: Duties of a Consort

Rin's smile was calm and composed, yet to Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu, it felt heavier than any reprimand.

They had made a grave error.

They had arrived at the White Flower Palace under Imperial decree, meant to assist in reconstruction efforts, yet they had done nothing but waste valuable time—Rin's time.

And Akane?

She had not only recognized their duty but had also acted upon it without hesitation.

She had earned Rin's respect.

The realization stung.

They had always seen each other as rivals, competing for status and recognition within the Imperial Palace. Never had they considered Akane a threat.

Yet now, she stood ahead of them.

And they hated it.

Before they could dwell further, Harumi sighed and gently tugged at Rin's sleeve, urging him forward.

"Enough, Rin. You're tired, and we still haven't eaten. Let's go."

Rin gave a slight nod, then turned back to face the four consorts, his tone returning to its usual formal elegance.

"Princess Suzuki, Princess Rei, Princess Miharu, Princess Akane."

His voice was composed, yet firm.

"Your accommodations have been arranged. You may retire to your quarters at your convenience. Lady Harumi and I shall tend to the White Elder first, after which we shall check on you."

He gave a courteous bow. "I trust that you will make use of your time here well. Good evening."

With that, Rin turned and left, Harumi following beside him.

The room was silent.

The three consorts stood still, their emotions complex and tangled.

Akane, on the other hand, merely smiled to herself, before gracefully turning on her heel and heading toward her quarters.

She had won today.

The four consorts silently made their way to their respective quarters, each deep in thought.

For Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu, the weight of the day's events pressed down on them.

They had come here under an Imperial decree—to assist in the reconstruction efforts—yet they had done nothing but burden Rin.

Shimuzu Rin.

The man who had guided them, trained them, protected them. The one they had admired, respected, perhaps even grown attached to.

And yet, today, they had failed him.

They had been so caught up in their own feelings, their own desires, that they had forgotten the purpose of their presence here.

Rin had never scolded them.

He hadn't needed to.

That look of quiet disappointment… That subtle yet unmistakable shift in his demeanor… It had spoken louder than words.

And it hurt.

Suzuki sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands. "I disappointed him today…" she whispered to herself.

Rei clenched her fists, frustration and regret swirling in her chest. "I came here to prove myself, yet all I did was waste his time."

Miharu lay on her futon, eyes fixed on the ceiling. "He always gives his all… yet today, we only took from him."

They had never wanted to be a burden to him.

Yet today, that was exactly what they had been.

They vowed, in their own hearts, that tomorrow would be different.

Meanwhile, in her own quarters, Akane stretched her arms and let out a sigh.

"That was exhausting."

She had accomplished quite a bit today, and while she didn't mind the work, she could feel the weight of fatigue creeping up on her.

She laid down, closing her eyes.

"Hopefully, I get to eat something delicious tomorrow."

With that simple thought, she drifted off to sleep.

As the first light of dawn crept into the sky, Urakawa Miharu stirred from her sleep.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes as yesterday's events replayed in her mind.

She had disappointed Rin.

The thought made her chest tighten. She had come here to help, yet all she had done was waste his time.

With that thought lingering, she quickly got up and left her room, still in her pajamas.

Her head maid, already awake, gave a startled look but said nothing as Miharu stepped outside.

—

As she made her way through the corridors, she soon arrived near the servants' quarters.

There, just as she had expected, she saw Rin and Harumi.

They were already preparing breakfast.

Harumi stood by the cooking station, pouting.

"Come on, Rin, just let me do it today! You're always cooking!"

Rin sighed, blocking her path as he moved the ingredients onto the counter. "Harumi, the last time you cooked, half the kitchen staff wanted to resign."

Harumi groaned, crossing her arms. "That was one time!"

"That was three times," Rin corrected, not looking up as he continued organizing the ingredients.

Harumi huffed. "You're exaggerating."

Rin glanced at her with a deadpan expression. "You set rice on fire."

"That was an accident—"

"We were boiling it."

Harumi opened her mouth to argue but then sighed, giving up. "Fine, fine. But one day, I will cook, and you will like it."

Rin didn't even dignify that with a response.

—

Miharu stood quietly, watching their interaction.

The way they spoke, the way they bickered—it was so natural. So familiar.

She had seen it before, back when she was still just a commoner.

Back when Rin had guided her.

Back when he had pushed her forward.

For a moment, a small, aching thought surfaced in her mind.

"I… I like him."

The realization startled her, but it wasn't something she could dwell on right now.

What mattered now was that she wanted to help.

Not because she wanted to be close to him.

Not because she wanted his attention.

But because she didn't want to disappoint him again.

Miharu turned away before they could notice her and hurried back to her quarters.

As she entered, her head maid gave her a questioning glance.

Miharu took a deep breath and spoke firmly. "Prepare me a set of simple clothes. Something easy to move in."

The maid's eyes widened slightly in surprise but quickly bowed. "At once, Your Highness."

Miharu walked toward the bath that had been prepared for her, her expression set in determination.

She recalled Rin's words from the past—words that had shaped her into who she was now.

"Don't dwell on your mistakes. Acknowledge them, learn from them, and move forward."

Yesterday, she had been selfish.

Today, she would do better.

Tomorrow, she would do even more.

And the day after that…

She would continue to move forward.

The breakfast hall was quiet, yet there was a strong determination in the air.

Seated around the table, the four consorts were eating, but unlike yesterday, their expressions were focused.

Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu had a noticeable change in attitude. Their determined gazes and simpler attires showed their shift in mindset.

Among them, Miharu stood out the most.

Her outfit, while simple, still carried the dignity of the Black Princess Consort. It was a stark contrast from her usual elegant dresses, a clear statement that she understood her purpose here now.

Akane, on the other hand, remained unfazed. She had already adapted from the beginning. Her focus was on work, not Rin.

—

As they finished their meal, the doors opened.

Rin and Harumi entered, accompanied by several Imperial Officials.

The four consorts looked up.

Unlike yesterday, there was no hesitation, no selfishness in their gazes.

Rin's sharp eyes scanned them, and for a brief moment, his lips curved into a small, relieved smile.

They understood now.

They weren't here to chase after personal desires.

They were here to help and learn.

—

One of the officials stepped forward and addressed them formally.

"Your Highnesses, today you will be assigned to different officials to oversee reconstruction efforts. Each of you will assist and learn the operations necessary for rebuilding the Imperial Capital."

Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu nodded firmly. They were ready.

Akane merely gave a small, satisfied smirk. She had already anticipated this.

Without hesitation, the four consorts stood up, their movements sharp and decisive.

They did not spare a glance at Rin anymore.

Their focus was on their duties.

Rin watched them exit the hall, following their assigned officials.

—

As the doors closed behind them, Rin and Harumi were left alone in the room with the four headmaids.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

Rin suddenly clenched his fist in victory.

"Plan 'Cold and Disappointed'— success!"

Harumi, who had been holding back, immediately cheered and clapped.

"I knew it! I knew it would work! Making them feel guilty was the best strategy, Rin!"

Rin smirked, crossing his arms. "It wasn't just guilt. It was about making them realize their purpose here. They're not just noblewomen anymore—they're princess consorts. They have responsibilities."

Harumi grinned. "Yeah, yeah. But admit it, seeing them so serious today felt kinda satisfying, right?"

Rin chuckled. "A little."

—

As the two celebrated, three of the headmaids—Fujiwara Rina, Niwa Yori, and Ito Fumiko—watched in silence.

Their expressions were… complicated.

They all knew one thing.

Their respective consorts had feelings for Rin.

And now…

They were unknowingly improving themselves because of him.

This was dangerous.

If the Imperial Family ever caught wind of these feelings, their consorts could be deposed.

Their eyes flickered with quiet understanding.

None of them would speak of this.

—

Only one person was oblivious to this entire matter.

Nakamura Emi, the White Princess Consort's headmaid.

She tilted her head in confusion, glancing at the other three.

"Why do you all look so troubled?"

Fujiwara Rina, Niwa Yori, and Ito Fumiko immediately shook their heads.

"Nothing."

"It's nothing."

"Just overthinking things."

Nakamura Emi raised an eyebrow but let it go.

Unlike the others, she knew Akane wasn't in love with Rin.

Akane was ambitious, intelligent, and ruthless when necessary—but romance?

Not a chance.

As far as Nakamura Emi was concerned, this was all just business.

And yet…

She still couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on.

The day began in full motion. The reconstruction of the Imperial Capital was progressing swiftly, and now, the four princess consorts were officially part of the operations.

They were each assigned to different areas, and Rin's role today was not to actively intervene—but to observe and assist when necessary.

Princess Chinen Suzuki had been assigned to oversee the food distribution for the workers.

Despite her noble upbringing, she did not complain about the heat of the kitchen or the long lines of workers. She listened attentively to the officials, carefully following instructions on how to ensure an efficient distribution.

However, halfway through the morning, she ran into a problem—one of the storage records had incorrect numbers.

She furrowed her brows, trying to recalculate the food portions, but it was clear she was struggling.

Just then—

A hand lightly placed a corrected report in front of her.

"Princess Suzuki, you miscalculated the rice stock by two crates."

She turned and saw Rin standing beside her, calm and composed.

Her face grew warm, but she quickly shook off the feeling.

"T-Thank you, Rin. I will correct it right away."

Rin merely nodded and walked away, letting her continue.

Suzuki tightened her grip on the report.

He's just helping me do my job. Focus, Suzuki.

And so, she forced herself to push away her flustered thoughts and worked harder.

Princess Takigawa Rei had been assigned to the construction site to assist in resource allocation.

With her usual intense personality, she had immediately taken the initiative to direct workers where needed, ensuring that tools and materials were delivered to the right places.

But while Rei was strong-willed, she lacked experience in efficient delegation.

At some point, she overloaded a section with materials while another part was running low.

She gritted her teeth, frustrated.

Just as she was about to run back and forth to fix the issue, she heard a calm voice behind her.

"Princess Rei, you should reorganize the list by priority. Otherwise, the flow of construction will be uneven."

Rei turned, locking eyes with Rin.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she immediately turned back to her report.

"Right… I'll do that."

Without another word, Rin walked away.

Rei gripped the list tightly.

I will not disappoint him again.

This time, she adjusted her strategy and worked even harder.

Princess Urakawa Miharu had been assigned to organize the workers' accommodations.

This required meticulous planning to ensure every laborer had a place to sleep, proper rations, and fair shifts.

Miharu had taken this task very seriously.

She moved around the site, checking records and ensuring that everyone was taken care of.

But as midday arrived, she started to feel overwhelmed.

There were too many names, too many locations.

Just as she was about to lose track, a soft voice interrupted her.

"Princess Miharu, you forgot to assign two workers their quarters."

She turned her head and saw Rin handing her the updated document.

Her breath hitched for a moment.

He was so close.

Too close.

Her face grew hot, but she quickly turned back to her papers.

"I-I see. Thank you, Rin. I will handle it properly."

Rin gave a small nod and left.

Miharu clutched the paper in her hands.

I was the one who wanted to work harder…

I won't let a little distraction shake me. I'll prove myself.

With renewed focus, she pushed forward.

Princess Shinegori Akane had been given the task of managing resource inflow and outflow.

This was a job of precision. Every mistake could lead to delays in the reconstruction process.

Unlike the other consorts, Akane did not struggle.

She worked calmly, efficiently, and flawlessly.

Her calculations were perfect.

Her decision-making was precise.

She needed no help.

She was, without a doubt, better at this type of work than the others.

Rin knew this.

That was why, instead of helping her, he merely watched from a distance.

Akane noticed his presence, but pretended not to care.

However, when she completed her reports faster than expected, she turned to Rin and smirked.

"Well, Rin? Did I do better than the others?"

Rin met her gaze, his expression neutral.

"I never doubted you, Princess Akane."

Akane blinked, a bit surprised.

For a moment, it felt like she had just lost the battle.

But instead of arguing, she merely let out a small chuckle.

"I'll make sure you owe me more favors."

Rin shook his head and walked away.

Akane smiled to herself and returned to her work.

Unlike the others, she wasn't working to gain Rin's favor.

She was simply doing what she did best.

The four consorts had worked tirelessly.

By sunset, they had proven that they could contribute to the reconstruction.

Each of them felt exhaustion in their bones.

Yet at the same time…

They felt proud.

And the most important thing was—

They did not disappoint Rin today.