Chapter 77: Bond of the Imperial Family

Rin was just about to charge in again when—

Shadows erupted beneath the Lord-Class Demon.

Dark, twisted arms emerged from the ground, wrapping tightly around the struggling demon.

"GRAAAAAH!" It screamed, its demonic flames flaring wildly—but it was useless.

The shadow arms didn't burn.

Instead—

They tightened.

They ripped through the demon's flesh.

Its legs snapped apart first, then its arms were torn off next, the sound of tearing flesh and cracking bone echoing through the battlefield.

Finally—

The demon's head was ripped from its body, its final scream dying midair before its lifeless remains vanished into the void.

Silence fell.

But only for a moment—

The shadows moved again.

Like a living tide, they swarmed across the battlefield, devouring the remaining Elite-Class demons still fighting against the defensive line.

One by one—they were crushed.

Rin, Izumi, and Aya watched in tense silence.

This magic—this kind of destruction—

It was forbidden-tier shadow magic.

There was only one person who could use it.

And just as they thought—

A dark figure emerged from the swirling shadows, stepping onto the battlefield.

Rin let out a deep exhale.

Izumi and Aya lowered their weapons.

The Black Empress Minako.

Aya's biological mother.

Her golden eyes scanned the battlefield, filled with a mix of relief and concern as she looked at them.

She was never supposed to be here.

She had been in the Raksha Sword Kingdom, working with King Theo to secure his reign—but the moment she sensed something was wrong, she rushed here immediately.

And it was a good thing she did.

Because she never expected her own children to be in danger.

Minako sighed, crossing her arms.

"I see you three survived."

Rin, still bleeding from the head, gave a tired smirk. "Barely."

Aya placed a hand on her hip. "You could've shown up a little earlier, you know."

Izumi shook her head. "Still… thank you, Mother."

Minako's gaze softened. "You did well."

She stepped forward, assessing the battlefield. Most of their side had only sustained injuries—but there were no deaths.

That alone was impressive.

She turned back to them. "You passed with flying colors."

Izumi and Aya blinked. "Passed?"

Minako nodded. "This whole mission—to meet with King Theo—was a test."

Aya's eyes narrowed. "A test?"

Minako continued, "We needed to see if you could navigate political alliances correctly. With Rin as your escort, you managed to choose the right ruler to support."

Rin let out a dry chuckle. "Was getting attacked by the Dark Order part of the test too?"

Minako's expression darkened. "No. That… was our mistake. We underestimated how deeply the Dark Order had embedded themselves in this conflict."

She sighed. "And now, thanks to this attack… I'll have to kill Prince Callen."

Rin, Izumi, and Aya exchanged glances.

Minako's voice was cold.

"There's no doubt now. Callen is involved with the Dark Order. And thanks to this battle, I now have the evidence to pressure King Theo into moving against him."

Her golden eyes flickered. "I'll handle things here. You three need to return home."

Moments later—

A squad of Imperial reinforcements arrived, taking down the remaining assailants and cultists who had been scattered across the battlefield.

They brought with them another Imperial Carriage and healers who immediately tended to the wounded.

Rin, still bleeding from the head, was forced to sit down as a healer tended to his injuries.

He grimaced. "I can heal myself, you know."

The healer gave him a sharp glare. "Shut up and let me work."

Aya and Izumi, now relieved of combat, sat down beside Rin, their exhaustion finally catching up to them.

Minako, standing above them, watched them with a soft, unreadable smile.

"Rest for a while," she told them. "You've earned it."

The sun was still high in the sky.

For now—the battle was over.

The delay in their return due to the attack meant that news of their arrival had already spread throughout the Imperial Capital.

And so—coincidence or not—when the Imperial Carriage finally arrived at the palace gates, they were seen.

By the four consorts.

Chinen Suzuki, the Azure Princess, known for being the most obsessive when it came to Rin.

Takigawa Rei, the Vermillion Princess, the most passionate and forward in her feelings for Rin.

Urakawa Miharu, the Black Princess, Rin's former co-worker—who had never let go of their bond.

And Shinegori Akane, the White Princess, the manipulative strategist—but also the only one who knew the truth about Rin's royal identity.

They had coincidentally gathered at the Imperial Palace for their training as consorts when they saw it—

The Imperial Carriage arriving.

And stepping out of it—

Shimuzu Rin.

With a bandage on his head.

Supported by the two Imperial Princesses.

The four women froze at the sight.

Rin—wounded.

Immediately, their hearts clenched in worry.

But—they held themselves back.

They weren't just any women. They were the consorts of the Crown Prince—watched by countless eyes.

Still—

Why? Why was Rin injured?

Their eyes drifted to his attire.

An Imperial Guard Uniform.

The insignias of both Imperial Princesses dangling from it.

The realization struck them—

He was their escort.

Suzuki bit her lip, her fingers tightening on the fabric of her sleeve. Why was he with them?

Rei's fists clenched. Why wasn't she there to protect him instead?

Miharu's gaze darkened. How dangerous was his mission that he ended up like this?

Akane, unlike the other three, remained calm—but she was watching Rin carefully. Judging his every reaction.

None of them knew.

None of them knew that the Imperial Princesses were actually Rin's sisters.

To the Consorts, they are just women tied to the Crown Prince and if the Imperial Family ever found out about their feelings for a commoner who was Rin—

Rin would be executed.

The thought made their stomachs twist in fear.

They couldn't let the Imperial Family know.

They couldn't let the Imperial Princesses know.

They had to be careful.

Little did they know—

The Imperial Princesses already knew everything.

Rin, upon seeing the consorts, immediately put on his composed, unreadable expression.

But inside—

("WHY ARE THEY HERE?!")

His heart dropped.

His mind screamed.

He had just survived an assassination attempt—he did not need this right now!

Yet, here they were.

Watching him.

And judging the two Imperial Princesses holding onto him.

Izumi and Aya, upon seeing their dear older brother's immediate reaction—

Smirked.

They knew exactly what was happening.

And they knew exactly how to have fun with it.

After all—

Rin had told them everything.

How these four consorts had fallen in love with him.

How they didn't know his true identity.

How they wanted to protect him from the Imperial Family.

And now—

They were face-to-face.

And Rin had to act as Shimuzu Rin, the commoner and White Elder's apprentice.

While they—

Had to act as Imperial Princesses.

Aya glanced at Izumi, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Izumi gave her a look that said—

("Shall we?")

Aya's smirk widened.

("Oh, absolutely.")

And so—with the grace of Imperial Princesses—they tightened their hold on Rin just slightly…

And stepped forward.

"Ah, what perfect timing," Izumi said with an elegant smile, her voice dripping with amusement. "We were just about to return to the palace—weren't we, dear escort?"

Aya tilted her head, looking up at Rin with feigned innocence. "You must be exhausted, Rin. After all, you worked so hard protecting us~"

The four consorts stiffened.

Rin, keeping his composed expression, internally screamed.

This…

Was going to be a nightmare.

Akane recovered quickly, her usual composed mask slipping into place as she greeted the two Imperial Princesses with a polite bow.

Despite knowing that Aya and Izumi were Rin's allies, she couldn't reveal Rin's true identity to the other consorts.

No—

This was her advantage over them.

And so, she maintained her act—expressing worry for Shimuzu Rin, the commoner and the White Elder's apprentice.

Aya and Izumi, however, were far from clueless.

They knew that Akane was the only consort aware of Rin's true royal lineage.

And judging from her calculating gaze, she already assumed that the two of them were aware of the other consorts' feelings for their dear brother.

So—

Why not have some fun?

Still holding onto Rin, they deliberately refused to let him step away, much to his silent suffering.

An intimate sibling gesture—one that looked far too affectionate to the three unsuspecting consorts.

Suzuki's fingers trembled slightly, her lips pursed in agitation.

Rei's sharp golden eyes narrowed, a vein appearing on her temple.

Miharu's usually calm expression darkened, her grip tightening on her sleeves.

And—

Even Akane's fingers twitched at the sight, despite knowing the truth.

If one didn't know they were siblings, their current interaction…

It looked far too romantic.

Rin, who definitely noticed the three consorts' reactions, felt a chill run down his spine.

His face remained calm and composed on the outside—

But inside?

("Damn it! I'm really going to hit these two later!")

Aya, completely ignoring Rin's silent death glares, smiled sweetly at the consorts.

"Ah, it's such a relief we made it back safely. Don't you agree, Sister?" she said, looking at Izumi.

Izumi nodded, glancing at Rin with admiration. "Yes. And all thanks to this brave escort of ours."

Aya sighed dramatically, leaning a little into Rin as she spoke. "You have no idea how terrifying it was. The explosion, the demons… we would have been killed if not for him."

Suzuki, Rei, and Miharu stiffened.

Izumi continued, smiling as she looked at Rin with genuine warmth.

"Rin protected us from the blast with his magic, shielded us from arrows, and fought off dozens of enemies just so we could reach safety. It was truly heroic."

Her voice was filled with gratitude—but to the three consorts…

Every word was another stab of jealousy.

Rei's fists clenched so tightly that her nails nearly drew blood.

Suzuki's usual obsessive gaze sharpened in irritation, as if she was re-evaluating the two Imperial Princesses as rivals.

Miharu, who always prided herself on her self-control, felt her heart twist uncomfortably as she fought the urge to step forward.

To them—

It wasn't just admiration that Aya and Izumi were showing.

It was affection.

And that pushed them to the edge.

Akane, who had been carefully watching all this, let out a slow, quiet breath.

So, this is how they wanted to play.

She was already certain that Aya and Izumi were aware of the consorts' love for Rin—

And now, they were pushing them on purpose.

Fine.

Then she would pry into this further.

With a perfectly placed look of concern, Akane tilted her head slightly and spoke.

"Princess Izumi, Princess Aya, please forgive my bluntness… but isn't this level of closeness… unusual?"

Her words were careful, deliberate—poking at the delicate line between propriety and intimacy.

"For an Imperial Princess to show such affection toward a commoner, even one as commendable as Rin… surely the court would not approve?"

The words were meant to separate them.

To remind them of their status.

And more importantly—

To keep Rin away from them.

Aya blinked, looking completely unbothered as she gave a soft, amused chuckle.

"Unusual? But it's only natural, isn't it?" she said, feigning innocence.

Then—without hesitation—

She gently placed a hand on Rin's cheek.

Rin froze.

The three consorts nearly collapsed.

"After all," Aya continued, her gaze warm and gentle as she looked up at Rin, "he risked his life for us. Shouldn't we express our gratitude properly?"

Izumi, not missing a beat, smiled softly and touched Rin's arm.

"Yes. How could we not cherish the one who protected us so bravely?"

Suzuki staggered back a step. ("This… this can't be real.")

Rei's entire body trembled in frustration. ("They… they can't possibly…!")

Miharu bit her lip, her usual calm composure cracking. ("Even the Imperial Princesses…?")

Akane narrowed her eyes, feeling the sharp sting of territorial frustration—even though she was supposed to be the composed one.

This…

This was far worse than she expected.

Aya turned to the consorts with an apologetic look, feigning sympathy.

"Oh dear… are you all right? You seem rather troubled."

Izumi tilted her head, looking at them curiously.

"Yes… you've all been so quiet. Did something upset you?"

Rin, internally—

("THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING!")

And the consorts?

On the absolute verge of exploding.

Just as Aya gently stroked Rin's cheek and Izumi grasped his arm, Rin—who had reached his limit of suffering—pinched both of them.

Hard.

The two didn't flinch, but Rin could feel their suppressed laughter through their shoulders.

His fingers were practically screaming, "Enough already!"

Aya and Izumi let out a small sigh, their amusement still lingering, before finally releasing Rin from their affectionate hold.

Aya's eyes twinkled mischievously as she smiled at the consorts.

"Ah, my apologies," she said sweetly. "It seems we got carried away. But it's only natural, isn't it? After all, our dear escort went through so much for us."

Izumi nodded, her expression just as composed.

"Indeed. But we should stop here, since our precious Rin seems uncomfortable," she said, placing a hand lightly over her lips as if just realizing it.

Rin internally groaned.

("Now you realize it?!")

Still, the two finally backed away, leaving Rin feeling slightly relieved—though he made a mental note to get back at them later.

The consorts—except for Akane—felt like they had lost a battle they didn't even know they were fighting.

They couldn't do anything.

Aya and Izumi weren't just any women competing for Rin's attention—they were Imperial Princesses.

Their status alone made them untouchable.

To interfere now would be dangerous—not just for them, but for Rin as well.

Suzuki's obsessive gaze flickered with frustration, but she forced herself to stay composed.

Rei crossed her arms tightly, her face dark with irritation, but she said nothing.

Miharu's expression was unreadable, but the way she pressed her lips together showed her silent frustration.

They could only watch as Rin followed Aya and Izumi into the Imperial Palace.

Akane, on the other hand, remained calm.

She wasn't shaken.

If anything, her eyes gleamed with newfound amusement.

Aya and Izumi may have won this round, but Akane wasn't about to lose the war.

As Rin disappeared into the palace, the three consorts stood in silence—each plotting their next move.

Rin sat stiffly on the medical bed, his bandaged head aching—not from his injuries, but from his sisters' antics.

Aya and Izumi stood before him, hands on their hips, wearing identical smug expressions.

It was clear.

They thought they had won.

Rin glared at them—his usual calm demeanor shattered, his face a mixture of betrayal and despair.

It only made the two burst into laughter.

Aya wiped a fake tear from her eye. "Ah, what a rare sight. Our ever-composed Rin, looking like he's about to cry. We should celebrate this moment."

Izumi nodded dramatically. "Truly a historic day. Perhaps we should record it in the Imperial Archives?"

Rin's eye twitched.

He opened his mouth—then closed it.

He wanted to say something—anything—but the words refused to come.

Instead, he settled for burying his face in his hands.

The two finally calmed down, though their smiles still lingered.

Izumi smirked. "Still, we really confirmed it today. Those consorts of Kazuo's… they're in deep."

Rin's shoulders stiffened.

He slowly lifted his head. "...Wait. Those three, yeah, I know. But you said… four?"

Aya and Izumi exchanged glances.

Then, they nodded.

Aya grinned. "That's right. Four. Princess Akane included."

Rin blinked.

Then, he blinked again.

"No, no, no. Akane is fine. She didn't react like the others."

Izumi sighed, shaking her head. "Rin, for someone with those Quantum Eyes of yours, you're really blind when it comes to this."

Aya leaned in slightly, voice dripping with amusement. "Think about it. Who was the only one trying to separate you from us?"

Rin paused.

"...Because you two were acting ridiculous?"

Izumi ignored his excuse. "Who was watching you with a worried expression the entire time?"

"...Because I had a head injury?"

Aya smirked. "Who's the only consort who actually knows your true identity, and yet has never tried to use it against you?"

Rin's brain stalled.

Aya gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Face it, Rin. You now have four consorts to deal with. Congratulations."

Rin slumped forward onto the medical bed.

He hugged the pillow tightly, face buried deep within it.

A muffled voice came from the fabric.

"This is just a dream… This is just a dream…"

Izumi and Aya burst into laughter once again.

As Rin buried his face in the pillow, sulking about his unfortunate fate, he suddenly felt a warmth surround him.

Izumi and Aya had wrapped their arms around him, holding him close.

Rin froze for a moment, then sighed as he relaxed slightly in their embrace.

He could feel it.

Even though they had been teasing him moments ago, right now, this hug was genuine.

They understood.

They understood why those four consorts had fallen for him.

Izumi spoke softly, her voice unusually tender. "You know, if we weren't siblings… I think we would've fallen for you too."

Aya nodded, resting her head against his shoulder. "How could we not? After all, you shielded us from that explosion without hesitation."

She chuckled slightly. "You saved us, protected everyone, fought an entire army, and even held your own against a Lord-Class demon. How is anyone supposed to resist that?"

Rin sighed.

"Well, you two are my sisters. The 'mystery air' around me is gone for you. So, to you, I'm just your capable older brother, right?"

Izumi and Aya were silent for a moment.

Then, their arms tightened around him.

Aya whispered. "Even if you weren't mysterious, even if we know everything about you… You're still our hero, Rin."

Izumi nodded. "And that's why we want you to stay. Can't you just come back and be our brother again? As Hoshimi Rin?"

Rin smiled softly and patted their heads.

"One day. When everything is stable, I promise I'll return. But for now… I have too much to do."

Izumi and Aya held onto him even tighter.

Much tighter.

Painfully tighter.

Rin's eye twitched. His neck and head throbbed in pain as their grip turned into a near-death chokehold.

"…Wait."

"Ow—wait—stop! My head! My neck! HEY!"

That's when it hit him.

These two little devils were trolling him again.

Izumi grinned. "Oh? The mighty Rin, defeated by a simple hug?"

Aya smirked. "Should we call this technique… the 'Imperial Sibling Submission Hold'?"

Rin flailed.

"I SWEAR TO THE HEAVENS—"

Their laughter filled the room, drowning out Rin's protests.

The doors to the Medical Room opened as Royal Physician Terada Ken and White Empress Asami stepped inside.

The sight that greeted them?

Rin—struggling for his life as Izumi and Aya squeezed him like an oversized stuffed toy.

The two adults sighed.

It was almost nostalgic.

Seeing these Imperial Children, still playing around like this, filled them with relief.

After all, in many Imperial Families, siblings often became rivals—enemies—when the succession struggle began.

But here?

Even after Rin had left the throne behind, even after Kazuo became Crown Prince in his place, these three had never turned against each other.

A rarity.

Asami watched quietly, her gaze lingering on Rin.

—The second prince who abandoned his right to the throne.

Even now, she thought about it.

Kazuo, the current Crown Prince, had been in despair ever since Rin left.

It was as if a piece of him had been hollowed out.

He felt nothing.

No joy, no anger, not even sadness.

Simply… empty.

If Rin had stayed, perhaps he would have been the one suffering under the pressure of the Imperial Throne.

Instead, fate had chosen differently.

A single letter from the Golden Princess had changed everything.

That letter, coincidentally arriving just as Rin was about to become Crown Prince, had given him the perfect excuse to leave.

And so, the Hoshimi Imperial Family had fractured.

Yet, everything still turned out well… somehow.

Ken, meanwhile, moved to check on Rin, who had finally escaped the sibling death grip.

As he examined Rin's head injury, Asami quietly observed him.

—Tomorrow, Rin would return to his identity as Shimuzu Rin.

—Tomorrow, he would no longer be a prince.

But for now?

Just for today?

Asami let herself forget the responsibilities of the Empire.

She approached Rin and gently placed her hand on his head.

A simple, warm gesture.

Not as an Empress.

Not as the ruler of the Hoshimi Empire.

But as a mother.