Chapter 63: Azure Empress Nao

The air was tense in the receiving hall.

The reason? A very important guest had arrived.

Seated at the head of the room, the Azure Empress Nao—one of the four ruling empresses of the Hoshimi Empire—exuded an elegant yet commanding presence.

With her flowing cerulean robes, embroidered with golden patterns of swirling waves, she radiated the air of an imperial ruler. Sharp yet calm azure eyes scanned the room, analyzing every movement, every word spoken.

Before her, Harumi stood as the representative of the White Flower Palace.

Though usually stationed by Shimuzu Rin's side, today, Harumi had taken up the duties that the 1st Apprentice had momentarily left behind due to his illness.

Nao had come for one reason:

To personally assess the four princess consorts of the empire.

And so, the conversation began.

Empress Nao took a sip of her tea, her gaze on Harumi. "I heard that my son's consorts have been performing their duties well. Tell me, how have they been faring?"

Harumi bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, I shall provide my report."

She began with Suzuki.

"Azure Princess Suzuki has been overseeing the food distribution for the workers. Under her guidance, the workers have received consistent and sufficient rations, ensuring they have the energy to continue reconstruction efforts efficiently. There have been no complaints regarding shortages or quality."

Nao gave a small nod. "A crucial role. Hunger breeds discontent." She turned to Suzuki, who sat quietly beside the other consorts. "You have done well."

Suzuki bowed her head. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Next was Rei.

"Vermillion Princess Rei has been managing resource allocation. She ensures that the materials required for rebuilding are properly distributed according to priority. Due to her efforts, we have prevented unnecessary delays and have maximized productivity."

Nao's lips curled into a pleased smile. "Efficient management of resources is key in times of reconstruction. It seems you are fitting well into this role."

Rei gave a small, confident nod. "It is my duty, Your Majesty."

Harumi then continued with Miharu.

"Black Princess Miharu has been in charge of organizing the workers' accommodations. With so many people involved, lodging arrangements must be handled carefully to prevent conflict or disarray. She has ensured that each worker has a place to rest after a long day's labor."

Nao's expression softened slightly. "Comfort affects morale. It is good that you have taken this responsibility seriously."

Miharu bowed. "It is an honor to serve."

Finally, Akane.

"White Princess Akane has been responsible for managing the inflow and outflow of resources. She tracks the materials being brought in and used, preventing wastage or miscalculations. Under her management, supply lines have remained stable and efficient."

Nao looked at Akane with an approving gaze. "Logistics is not an easy task. A single mistake could cause shortages."

Akane simply smiled, tilting her head slightly. "I wouldn't allow such a mistake to happen, Your Majesty."

Harumi finished, "Overall, the four consorts have been diligent in their duties, contributing significantly to the efforts here."

The four consorts subtly exhaled in relief.

Despite what had happened two nights ago, Harumi had not mentioned a word about their late-night intrusion into Rin's room.

If she had…

Nao might have scolded them severely.

But it seemed, at least for now, Harumi had chosen to remain silent on that matter.

The conversation then took a sudden shift.

Nao placed her teacup down gently, her expression thoughtful.

"I also heard that Shimuzu Rin has fallen ill."

At this, the atmosphere tensed.

Harumi's tone remained calm. "Yes, Your Majesty. The 1st Apprentice is currently recovering from a magic-induced illness."

Nao's gaze sharpened. "A magic-induced illness?"

Harumi nodded. "Yes. It is called Constitution Overload. His body is currently undergoing an internal transformation due to the forced change of his soul."

Nao fell silent for a moment, her expression unreadable.

Suzuki, Rei, Miharu, and Akane watched carefully—this was the first time the Empress was hearing of this.

After a brief pause, Nao finally spoke, her tone unreadable.

"…I see."

She lifted her teacup once more, taking a slow sip.

Then, her calm yet piercing gaze landed on Harumi again.

"How severe is his condition?"

Harumi kept her composure as she answered, "He is recovering, Your Majesty."

Empress Nao nodded slightly, before stating, "Then, I would like to see him."

The room stilled.

The four consorts—Suzuki, Rei, Miharu, and Akane—looked at each other, then back at Nao.

Even though it wasn't an outright order, it was close enough.

Harumi hesitated for a brief moment. It was the White Elder's order that no one aside from herself and the Elder himself should enter Rin's room. But now, standing before her was an Empress of the Hoshimi Empire.

It would be impossible to refuse.

And more than that—Nao was an exceptional magic user, known to be the strongest among the four Empresses in terms of multi-element mastery.

If Rin's condition was truly critical, perhaps Nao could help.

Harumi lowered her gaze briefly before speaking, "…Then, I shall guide Your Majesty."

Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu exchanged confused glances.

Nao wanted to see Rin?

That was unexpected.

Suzuki furrowed her brows, whispering softly to Rei and Miharu, "I thought only Harumi and the White Elder were allowed near him."

Rei crossed her arms, "Exactly. Why is the Empress herself suddenly interested?"

Miharu glanced at Akane, noticing her expression was unreadable.

"…Akane?" Miharu called out, studying her reaction.

Akane, who had been silent until now, tilted her head slightly, tapping her fingers against the table in thought.

Unlike the other consorts, she had a clue as to why Nao wanted to see Rin.

She smirked slightly, whispering under her breath, "…Of course she does. Why wouldn't she?"

Rei narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

Akane looked at the three consorts and simply smiled, "You'll see."

Her cryptic words only added more confusion to Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu.

But one thing was certain—there was something they didn't know.

The atmosphere in the receiving hall grew heavier.

Nao had turned her gaze towards the four consorts, her eyes scanning them as if searching for something hidden beneath the surface.

Her expression remained soft, almost gentle, yet the air around her carried an undeniable authority.

The four consorts instinctively stiffened.

It felt as if Nao was waiting for them to speak.

"…Shimuzu Rin is quite a famous name these days," Nao finally said, her voice smooth and deliberate.

Suzuki, Rei, Miharu, and Akane remained silent, unsure of what she was getting at.

"A capable man like him suddenly falling to an illness… naturally, I was concerned," Nao continued, her words slow but carrying a weight that pressed down on them.

A pressure.

Not one created by magic, but one that forced them to think carefully before speaking.

Suzuki's hands tightened slightly on her lap.

Feeling the invisible force behind the Empress's words, she instinctively activated her Mana Eyes to try and read Nao's emotions.

Yet—

Nothing.

She saw nothing.

There was no flow of mana, no emotions leaking through.

Just like Rin.

Just like Harumi.

Her lips parted slightly in shock. Who was this woman?

Nao's gaze lingered on them for a moment longer.

A silent pressure.

A pressure that made them feel like they needed to speak.

But they couldn't.

Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu all knew that if they admitted anything—

If they revealed that they felt something for Rin—

It would mean his death.

He was a commoner in the eyes of the Imperial Family.

They were Princess Consorts of the Crown Prince.

If Nao, an Empress, discovered that they were emotionally involved with another man…

They couldn't even imagine the consequences.

Akane, however, wasn't focused on that.

She was focused on something else.

The way Nao spoke.

The way her eyes looked.

Black eyes.

Eyes that looked exactly like Rin's.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She connected the dots instantly—

Nao was Rin's mother.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she realized the danger of the situation.

Nao wasn't just an Empress.

She was the mother of the man Akane had been trying to trap into a debt of favors.

She swallowed.

This woman is dangerous.

Akane had been so confident in playing her game. She had thought she had an advantage in knowing Rin's true identity.

But now—

This is bad.

If Nao ever found out what she was trying to do…

If she found out any of them were after Rin in a way that could harm him—

Akane could already feel the consequences.

Nao, still watching them, let out a soft chuckle.

"You all seem rather tense."

She smiled gently, but none of them were comforted by it.

"Why is that?" she asked, tilting her head ever so slightly.

No one answered.

No one could.

The Empress's black eyes gleamed.

She was waiting.

And none of them knew what to say.

Harumi, sensing the growing tension, finally spoke up.

"Azure Empress Nao, I believe they simply hold gratitude for Rin."

The four consorts turned to her in surprise.

Harumi continued, her voice steady and respectful.

"Princess Suzuki—Rin helped her through the same illness he now suffers."**

Suzuki flinched slightly at the mention, but Harumi went on.

"Princess Rei—Rin saved many lives during the Subspace Kidnapping Incident, and she was there to witness his efforts firsthand."

Rei clenched her fists on her lap, lowering her gaze slightly.

"Princess Miharu—Rin played a key role in her rise as the Black Princess Consort, something I'm sure you remember."

Nao's expression remained unreadable, but her gaze flickered towards Miharu, as if recalling something.

"And Princess Akane—she has always been kind, offering small gestures of help to Rin when he needed them."

At this, Akane narrowed her eyes slightly, but she did not deny it.

Harumi carefully chose her words.

She wasn't saying anything dangerous.

She wasn't implying love or attachment.

Only gratitude.

Nao closed her eyes for a moment before letting out a small hum.

"…I see."

When she opened them again, her gaze was softer.

"It is good to hear that Shimuzu Rin has been helping those around him. I feel proud to know that my—" she stopped herself, "—that he has done such things."

A mother's pride.

Even if she hadn't finished her sentence, Akane caught it.

Nao had nearly said, "my son."

Then, out of nowhere—

"Would you four like to come with me to see Rin?"

The consorts froze.

Suzuki's breath hitched. Rei and Miharu widened their eyes. Akane's fingers twitched slightly.

Nao smiled at their reaction.

"I assume you would like to see him as well, yes?"

Harumi's expression turned slightly strained.

"Empress, I must object—"

"Oh?" Nao tilted her head, still smiling.

Harumi held her ground.

"Rin has a self-defense mechanism—an illusion that activates if someone with harmful intentions enters his space."

Nao's smile did not waver.

Harumi continued, voice steady.

"It is Supreme-Tier magic."

The room grew silent.

The consorts all stiffened.

Nao's eyes glinted with curiosity.

"Is that so?"

Harumi nodded.

"If anyone with even the slightest ill will approaches, they will be forced down."

A warning.

A test.

Nao's gaze swept over the four consorts.

They all understood what Harumi was implying.

If their true feelings contained any selfish desire—

If they wanted to use this opportunity to gain favor, to manipulate, to bind Rin to them—

The illusion would crush them.

Nao smiled softly.

"Then I shall take responsibility for their safety."

The consorts exchanged uneasy glances.

Why was Nao suddenly so interested in bringing them along?

Why did she want them to be there when she met Rin?

Was she… testing them?

Did she suspect something?

Each of them had different thoughts running through their heads.

Suzuki was nervous—if Rin's illusion could see deep into her heart, would it expose something she didn't even realize?

Rei clenched her jaw—she hated the idea of losing to a mere illusion.

Miharu narrowed her eyes—if Harumi had walked through it easily, could she?

And Akane…

She was very aware of who Nao was now.

Nao was a mother who had spent years away from her son.

What was she planning?

Akane exhaled lightly.

She had a bad feeling.

The room shifted again, just like before.

But this time—

The air was calm.

Instead of a suffocating weight pressing them down, there was a lightness in the air, a peaceful warmth.

And at the center of it all—

A young boy stood, his dark eyes filled with genuine joy.

A child version of Rin.

This wasn't the burdened Rin they had seen before—

No, this was Rin in his most relaxed state.

The 4 consorts and Nao stiffened.

Harumi exhaled softly beside them.

"Each illusion reflects a part of Rin's hidden self."

The consorts turned to her.

"The one you saw last time—the one who was in pain—was a manifestation of Rin's burdens."

Miharu furrowed her brows. "And this one?"

Before Harumi could answer—

"Hawumi!"

A bright, childlike voice rang through the room.

Before anyone could react—

The young Rin ran forward and wrapped his arms around Harumi.

Harumi barely flinched, simply catching him with ease.

She gently patted his head, her hand smoothing over his soft black hair.

"Yes, yes, I'm here."

Young Rin's smile grew even brighter, his grip around her tightening slightly, like a child clinging to his mother.

Nao and the four consorts watched in stunned silence.

Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu all felt a strange, uncomfortable tightness in their chests.

Akane's lips parted slightly.

Nao's eyes narrowed.

The scene before them was natural.

Too natural.

Like this wasn't the first time.

Like Young Rin was used to running to Harumi for comfort.

And Harumi—

She didn't hesitate.

She instinctively patted his head, her expression soft and patient.

"Hawumi…" Young Rin murmured.

"Mhm?" Harumi hummed, her hand still stroking his head.

"You smell nice."

Harumi chuckled. "Do I?"

"Yeah…" He buried his face against her, as if comforted by her presence.

The room remained silent.