Chapter 62: Harumi the Trusted Co-worker

The suffocating pressure loomed over the four consorts.

They were trapped.

Forced down.

And then—

A new presence entered the illusion.

A carefree yawn broke the eerie silence.

"…Ahhh, man. Working overtime again?"

Harumi.

The four consorts snapped their heads up.

Harumi stretched her arms above her head as she casually walked toward the crying child Rin.

Miharu's eyes widened. "She's… moving?"

Suzuki's breath hitched. "How?!"

Rei clenched her fists. "The pressure—"

Akane narrowed her eyes. "It's barely affecting her…"

The unstable child Rin's head snapped toward Harumi.

"Why? Why? Why?!"

His tiny hands trembled.

With a flick of his wrist, another wave of psychic force surged toward Harumi.

Harumi stumbled slightly.

She clicked her tongue.

"Tch. Oi, brat, at least let me wake up properly before pulling me into this nonsense."

The four consorts gawked.

She wasn't struggling.

She wasn't even bothered.

She just kept walking.

Each step effortless.

As Harumi reached the child Rin, she didn't hesitate.

She wrapped her arms around him.

A warm embrace.

A soft whisper—

"It's alright… I'll keep you safe."

Her voice was gentle.

"Don't worry. I'm here for you."

The child Rin's body tensed.

His trembling fists slowly relaxed.

The suffocating pressure faded.

The four consorts gasped for air as they finally lifted themselves from the ground.

And before their eyes—

The child Rin dispersed into light.

The illusion shattered.

They were back in Rin's room.

The real Rin lay there, asleep, his chest rising and falling unevenly.

Beads of sweat covered his forehead.

Harumi sighed and wiped her face. "That took longer than expected."

The four consorts stared at her.

Suzuki stepped forward. "How…?"

Miharu furrowed her brows. "Why were you unaffected?"

Rei crossed her arms. "That pressure was unbearable, but you…"

Akane scoffed. "It can't be just proximity. That doesn't make sense."

Harumi blinked.

Then she tilted her head.

"Proximity? Close how?"

Suzuki hesitated. "W-Well, we saw… how you always came out of Rin's room… Your clothes disheveled… Looking exhausted…"

Miharu cleared her throat. "Not to mention… that satisfied expression."

Rei added, "It was too suspicious not to think that something… happened between you two."

Akane shrugged. "It's logical to assume you were taking advantage of him while he was weak."

Silence.

Harumi's eyebrow twitched.

"…Hold on."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Are you four seriously implying that I was doing that to Rin?!"

Suzuki flinched. "N-No! I mean, not exactly—!"

Miharu averted her gaze. "It was just a thought…"

Rei cleared her throat. "It's not that we didn't trust you, but the signs were there."

Akane simply shrugged. "Wouldn't blame you if you did."

Harumi rubbed her temples.

"...You all need to stop reading those trashy romance stories."

Harumi let out a sigh.

"The kid you saw was a defensive fragment of Rin."

They all stiffened.

Miharu frowned. "A… fragment?"

Harumi nodded.

"When Rin's body broke from Constitution Overload, it forced a part of his mind and emotions into a physical form."

She looked at them, unimpressed.

"And because all of you have your own selfish reasons for wanting to get close to him, you felt the full force of his defenses."

The four consorts were quiet.

Because… Harumi was right.

They had all come here for their own reasons.

Not just because they were "worried" about Rin.

Suzuki clenched her fists.

Rei bit her lip.

Miharu lowered her gaze.

Akane simply smiled.

"So, in the end…"

She tilted her head.

"You were the only one Rin's subconscious trusted."

Harumi didn't answer.

But she didn't deny it, either.

Harumi's golden-brown eyes swept over the four consorts, her expression unreadable.

"Even if you came here to check on the man you love…" she started, glancing at Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu, "do you really believe your feelings were pure?"

The room went silent.

Suzuki's fingers tightened around her sleeves.

Rei's lips pressed into a thin line.

Miharu looked away, biting her lip.

Harumi sighed. "Deep down, you must have thought about using this chance to make Rin indebted to you at his weakest."

A sharp tension filled the air.

"You might not have meant to," Harumi continued, "but Rin's subconscious must have seen it. That's why the Young Rin reacted the way he did."

She then turned to Akane.

"…As for you."

Akane raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Are you going to lecture me next?"

Harumi sighed again but shook her head. "No need. You already know what you're doing."

A small smirk tugged at Akane's lips. "Heh. At least you understand me."

Rei exhaled through her nose. "If you're saying we all had some selfishness in coming here, then what about you, Harumi?"

Suzuki nodded, a small glimmer of challenge in her eyes. "You claim to be unaffected, but don't you have desires for Rin too?"

Miharu crossed her arms. "You said Rin's subconscious trusts you, but why? What exactly do you feel for him?"

The three consorts stared intently at Harumi, waiting for an answer.

Harumi tapped her chin thoughtfully.

Then, with complete seriousness, she said—

"…I want to pinch his cheeks."

Silence.

The three consorts blinked.

Akane snorted.

Suzuki's mouth fell open.

Rei's eye twitched.

Miharu looked like she was about to collapse.

"…Excuse me?" Rei finally said.

Harumi shrugged. "Well, think about it. The usual Rin always has that composed, unreadable face, right? But now, he's weak. His guard is down. His face looks… pinchable."

She nodded to herself.

"Yes. Very pinchable."

Rei covered her face with her hand. "I… refuse to believe you only desire to pinch his cheeks."

Suzuki cleared her throat. "Th-That's a very… modest desire, Harumi."

Miharu looked at the ceiling. "I snuck out of my chambers in the middle of the night… for this?"

Akane, on the other hand, had both arms crossed, trying not to laugh.

"…You know, Harumi, I think I underestimated you." She chuckled. "I expected something ridiculous, but this? This is next-level."

Harumi just smiled. "Well, I'm not greedy like you four."

Harumi walked toward the bed, kneeling beside Rin's sleeping figure.

His breathing was steady, but sweat still clung to his forehead.

She gently placed a hand on his forehead, checking his temperature.

"…Still warm," she muttered. "But he's doing better."

At that moment, Rin shifted slightly.

His eyebrows furrowed, his body tensing for a brief second before relaxing again.

Miharu watched closely. "Is he… in pain?"

Harumi shook her head. "No. He's just recovering."

With that, Harumi stood up and clasped her hands together.

"Well then." She tilted her head.

"I politely ask that you four return to your rooms now."

The consorts didn't move.

Harumi's smile widened.

"Or should I report to the White Elder that the four princess consorts tried to assault a sick man in the middle of the night?"

The atmosphere turned cold.

Suzuki, Rei, Miharu, and Akane visibly stiffened.

Miharu inhaled sharply. "T-That's—! We wouldn't—!"

Rei narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't actually—"

Harumi just kept smiling.

"Wouldn't I?"

Harumi glanced at Rin before looking back at them.

"Besides…" she added.

"Rin wouldn't like a woman like that."

The words hit like a blade.

Suzuki froze.

Rei gritted her teeth.

Miharu lowered her gaze.

Akane remained silent.

The four consorts had no choice.

They lost to a maid.

With reluctant sighs and unreadable expressions, they turned and left the room.

Harumi watched them go, then turned back to Rin.

She sighed, kneeling beside him again.

"…Seriously, Rin. You really know how to attract trouble."

With that, she gently brushed his bangs aside and let him rest.

The next morning, the four consorts gathered in their private dining room, the atmosphere filled with quiet tension. Their four headmaids—Rina, Yori, Fumiko, and Emi—stood attentively nearby, listening in as their mistresses conversed.

Rei leaned against the table, tapping her fingers against the wood. "So… Rin wouldn't like a woman like that, huh?"

Suzuki crossed her arms, deep in thought. "I don't understand. What exactly does Harumi think Rin likes, then?"

Miharu sighed, resting her chin on her palm. "That's what I'd like to know… Does she think we aren't good enough?"

Akane, who had been stirring her tea lazily, chuckled. "That maid sure knows how to get under your skin." She took a sip before smirking. "But I suppose… it does make me wonder."

Seeing the expressions on their mistresses' faces, the four headmaids exchanged glances.

Rina, Suzuki's headmaid, cleared her throat and spoke up first. "Princess, if I may… You are a woman of great beauty and grace. It's impossible for Lord Rin not to notice your charm."

Suzuki's lips twitched. "…Hmph. You're just saying that."

Yori, Rei's headmaid, nodded firmly. "It's true, Your Highness. You are strong, elegant, and highly respected. Surely Lord Rin would acknowledge that."

Rei exhaled but said nothing.

Fumiko, Miharu's headmaid, placed a hand over her heart. "Princess Miharu, you are kind and intelligent. Any man—Lord Rin included—would be lucky to have you."

Miharu glanced away, looking unconvinced.

Finally, Emi, Akane's headmaid, looked toward her mistress. Unlike the others, however, she wasn't sure if Akane needed encouragement.

Still, she hesitated before saying, "…Princess Akane, you as well—"

But Akane waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, don't bother. It doesn't really matter to me."

The other three consorts turned toward her.

"You're really just fine with this?" Suzuki raised an eyebrow.

Akane shrugged. "It's not like I was expecting him to fall for me or anything." She smirked, resting her cheek against her palm. "But… I will say this—"

She leaned forward, her eyes sharp with amusement.

"To think that Harumi is someone who can say that so confidently…" She chuckled. "She really knows Rin, huh?"

Miharu frowned. "It makes sense. Rin trusts her enough to let her stay by his side during his weakest moments."

Rei crossed her arms. "It's frustrating, but… we have to admit it. If we want to get through to Rin right now, we have to deal with Harumi first."

Suzuki sighed. "And that won't be easy."

Akane chuckled again. "Well, good luck to the three of you."

Rei, Suzuki, and Miharu glared at her.

"You're in this too, you know."

Akane smirked. "Oh, I know."

Despite their frustration, the princess consorts had responsibilities to fulfill.

"Tch. We don't have time to do anything yet," Suzuki muttered. "We still have our official duties to take care of."

Miharu groaned. "If only we didn't have so much work…"

Rei sighed. "We'll just have to deal with Harumi after we're done."

Akane smiled, stretching. "Well, good luck with that."

The headmaids, still standing nearby, exchanged nervous glances.

They had a feeling that Rin wasn't going to have a peaceful recovery anytime soon.

It had been two days since their last attempt to check on Rin, yet Harumi hadn't let up for even a second.

No matter how subtle their inquiries were, Harumi either dodged the questions or gave them the same response:

"Rin is recovering just fine. No need to worry."

That was it. Nothing more, nothing less.

For two whole days, not a single consort had caught a glimpse of Rin.

Harumi had stationed herself near his door whenever she wasn't tending to his needs. Even their headmaids, who usually managed to gather information, could only report the same thing:

"Lady Harumi has been spending most of her time by Lord Rin's side."

"He's still recovering."

"No, I didn't see him."

"No, Lady Harumi isn't allowing any visitors."

It was infuriating.

Suzuki sighed, tapping her nails against the table. "This is ridiculous. We can't even catch a glimpse of him."

Rei crossed her arms, scowling. "Two days, and she hasn't slipped once. Just how strict is she?"

Miharu leaned back, groaning. "At this rate, we won't get another chance…"

Akane, who had been listening with an amused smile, finally spoke. "She's good, I'll give her that."

The other three turned toward her.

"You don't seem too bothered," Suzuki muttered.

Akane shrugged. "Unlike you three, I'm not desperate to see his face right now." She smirked. "Though I do admit… I'd like to know why she's so dedicated."

Rei sighed heavily. "Whatever the reason, she's clearly not letting her guard down anytime soon."

Miharu sat up, resting her chin on her palm. "Should we try again tonight?"

Suzuki hesitated. "…After what happened last time?"

They all remembered—the overwhelming force of Rin's illusion, the child-like version of him that had literally knocked them to their knees, and Harumi walking through it effortlessly.

"…I don't want to experience that again," Rei admitted.

Akane chuckled. "Smart choice."

Suzuki sighed. "So what now? We just wait?"

Rei scowled. "I hate waiting."

Miharu looked down at her hands. "There has to be some way to get through…"

Akane smirked. "Then figure it out fast."

Because as it stood, Harumi had completely shut them out.