Chapter 101: Rin's Fate

Then, with a flick of his wrist, the shadows around him stirred, and something began to take shape in his palm—an insignia gleaming with a familiar azure hue.

The room fell into silence.

As soon as the insignia was fully formed, the atmosphere turned heavy. The symbol carried a weight that none of them could ignore—the craftsmanship was unmistakably Imperial.

It was an Azure Empress Insignia.

Nao's breath hitched slightly as she placed a hand over her chest, feeling the faint resonance between her own insignia and the one in Rin's hand.

This was real.

And more importantly—it wasn't from this timeline.

Kazuo, already aware of what had transpired, exchanged glances with the Emperor. The rest of the family quickly pieced together the implications.

The Azure Empress Suzuki from another future… another fate… had appeared in their present.

Rin spoke carefully, his voice steady but carrying a dark undertone.

"This insignia belonged to the Suzuki I encountered in the valley during the Imperial Courtship. It proves that in another time, she rose to become the Azure Empress."

The Imperial Family remained silent as they listened.

Publicly, the attack on the seventh day of the Courtship had been explained as an apparition—a mysterious enemy who took Suzuki's form and struck the Imperial convoy. Many soldiers were lost that day.

The families had been compensated, and the incident was officially closed.

But privately…

Kazuo had already informed them about what Rin had discovered.

The real Azure Empress Suzuki had appeared. And she had tried to kidnap Rin.

Hikari leaned forward, her sharp vermilion gaze narrowing. "And you encountered her… directly?"

Rin nodded.

"We were scouting ahead of the convoy, preparing to return to the Capital. That's when she appeared." He clenched his fist slightly, the insignia shimmering for a moment before the shadow magic dispersed it. "She defeated me."

Nao's eyes widened. "Rin—"

"I'm fine," he reassured quickly, sensing her rising concern. "But… she did something to me. She tried to stain me with corruption."

The air in the room grew colder.

Corruption.

A word that carried the weight of ancient history.

Before the Hoshimi Empire was born, the world had once teetered on the brink of annihilation. It was destined to fall to the Absolute Corruption—an all-consuming force that threatened to erase everything.

Only two Hoshimis had stood against it.

One had sacrificed himself to sever its hold on the world.

The other had survived—and from his victory, the Hoshimi Empire was founded.

This wasn't just an attack. This was something far more dangerous.

Minako's voice came softly from the shadows. "…And you cleansed it?"

Rin met her gaze and nodded. "Yeah. I took care of it."

Nao exhaled in relief, but Hikari crossed her arms, frowning. "You 'took care of it'? Just like that?"

Rin shrugged. "It wasn't that hard."

The entire family stared at him.

Kazuo pinched the bridge of his nose. "…Rin. You do realize that corruption isn't something you can just wash off like dirt, right?"

Rin gave him a deadpan look. "Well, I did."

Minako rubbed her temples. "I hate how that sounds believable coming from you."

Asami sighed. "Honestly, Rin."

Nao, still visibly worried, gripped his hand. "If anything changes—anything at all—you will tell us immediately."

Rin softened slightly, feeling the warmth of her hand. "…Of course."

The room fell into thoughtful silence.

The attack wasn't just an anomaly.

It was a warning.

And the fact that a future version of Suzuki had appeared meant that something far greater was happening behind the scenes.

The room remained silent as Rin stood before them, holding out the Azure Empress Insignia once more.

"You all heard my theory from Kazuo, right?" Rin said, his voice calm but firm.

The Theory of Timelines—a concept he had begun to piece together.

A place where the threads of time all converged toward a singular fate—one that ended in eternal darkness.

With a simple flick of his fingers, shadow threads emerged from the insignia, twisting and weaving into a tangled network before them.

The family watched intently as the threads thickened toward one inevitable point at the very end.

A dead-end.

A point of no return.

Rin studied their reactions before speaking again. "Look closely at the start of the threads."

He turned to Nao. "Mom, can you use a Forbidden-tier illusion to conjure a projected image?"

Nao's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. With a graceful motion, mana surged, and an illusion materialized above the threads.

The starting point of fate.

As the misty vision solidified, the Imperial Family collectively held their breath.

They saw it.

A moment burned into their memories.

The day Rin had requested to leave the Imperial Palace.

The illusion perfectly replicated the past—the tense atmosphere, the carefully chosen words, the weight of Rin's decision.

Rin looked up at them, his expression unreadable.

"I was meant to leave the Imperial Palace."

His words carried an eerie certainty.

The threads of time—the fate that had been designed—all started from this moment.

"Someone needed me to leave."

He let the words linger.

Then, with a knowing look, he asked:

"I'm sure you all remember who supported my decision back then... right?"

The room fell into heavy silence.

Because they all knew the answer.

Silence filled the room as Rin's words settled in.

Everyone already knew who had supported his departure back then.

The Golden Princess—Higa Ayumi.

The one who oversees the fate of the Empire.

She had sent the Golden Letter, demanding that Rin be allowed to leave. And now, it was clear—she needed him to follow his fate.

Rin exhaled. "The White Elder told me before his death that I walk a fate of death and rebirth."

He glanced at the threads still floating in the air, the illusion of his past decision shimmering faintly in the background.

"If we connect both his words and Ayumi's interference... we can conclude something terrifying."

He clenched his fist.

"Our lives have gone through countless cycles. This world is stuck—resetting every time I leave the Imperial Palace."

His words made the Imperial Family tense.

They had lived through this moment before.

But they had never realized it.

Rin took a slow breath, letting his thoughts settle before continuing.

"It's not fully confirmed, but we all need to prepare."

He lifted the Azure Empress Insignia once more, letting its weight settle in his palm.

"Azure Empress Suzuki lost her Rin."

A chill spread through the room.

"She made a deal with the corruption. And to undo her mistake, she needed to corrupt me—this timeline's Rin."

Kazuo stepped in, his tone grave. "She even apologized to Rin… for not being able to stop him from awakening."

A deep frown settled on his face. "She failed to corrupt him. Because Rin—our Rin—is fated to walk the path of a hero."

Rin gave his brother a tired look.

"You all understand now, don't you?" His voice was quiet but firm.

"This timeline revolves around me."

No one refuted his words.

Because they all knew it was true.

Rin sighed. "If I die, the world resets. And no one—not even you—remembers the past cycle."

The weight of his statement made the air feel heavier.

And then, he spoke the final truth.

"The Golden Princess… she's the one who casts Divine Magic: Reset every time I die."

Everyone stiffened.

A magic that broke the rules of time.

A magic that allowed only her to remember everything—to try and change the fate of the world.

That was why she was respected on the same level as the Hoshimi Imperial Family.

That was why her word carried enough power to command an empire.

Because she had been fighting alone.

And then, Rin hesitated.

"…I still don't know her full intentions."

His fingers curled around the insignia.

"But she let me grow in the White Flower Palace without interference. She never pressured me to become stronger. She never even met me."

His gaze darkened.

"Which means either I'm already at my strongest… or she has another plan."

The Imperial Family stayed silent, absorbing the sheer gravity of his words.

Because now, there was one lingering, unspoken thought.

They would meet the Golden Princess again.

Soon.

The room had grown unbearably heavy.

Rin sat there, still wearing that same calm expression.

Like it was nothing.

Like the revelation of his countless deaths was merely a passing inconvenience.

"Are you okay with this, Rin?"

It was a simple question, yet it carried the weight of every life he had lost.

Because accepting this truth meant accepting that Rin had died—again and again—without ever remembering.

The entire Imperial Family stared at him, waiting for his answer.

Rin only sighed, shaking his head with a small chuckle.

"I never would've thought my fate was tied to something like this."

He leaned back, resting his arms behind his head. "I left the Palace back then because I wanted Kazuo to be the Crown Prince."

"Now I find out… that I've been dying this whole time."

His voice was light, but the words cut deeper than any blade.

A heavy silence settled before Rin continued, his golden eyes thoughtful.

"I'm the type who wants to live."

His voice was casual, as if death was just another passing event.

"So if I died, then that means I was willing to die."

His words shattered something in his mother.

Nao's hands slammed against the table.

"That's cruel."

Her voice shook with fury.

"My son—my Rin—died? Died fighting something that hasn't even appeared in this timeline?!"

Her eyes burned with grief and rage.

Masaki's fist clenched tightly. Even the Emperor—the most composed of them all—looked ready to break something.

They had raised him.

They had watched him grow.

They had loved him.

And now, they were told that he had died countless times, forgotten by the world each time.

Rin was their family. Their son. Their brother.

And now they had to accept that he had been sacrificed again and again—all for the sake of the world.

Kazuo exhaled sharply, his hands gripping the arms of his chair. "That means every cycle, she takes you away."

His voice was quiet, but his anger was unmistakable.

"The Golden Princess drags you along to fight. And you… you follow her every time."

Rin didn't deny it.

Because it made sense.

If he kept dying, then that meant he kept choosing to fight.

And that meant…

He had always walked this path willingly.

His family hated it.

They couldn't accept it.

And yet… Rin simply smiled.

That same, mature, resigned smile.

The one that said:

"This is just the way things are."

And it only made them angrier.

"Now, it isn't the Golden Princess's fault."

Rin's quiet words only fanned the flames of their anger.

"Why!?"

Nao's voice trembled, her hands clenched into fists. "Why are you even defending her?!"

Izumi's usual lazy demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Aya looked like she wanted to break something. Even Kazuo, who rarely let emotions take over, couldn't keep his composure.

"She took you away from us!" Aya snapped.

"You said you haven't even met her in this cycle!" Izumi added.

"She's a stranger to you! And yet, she keeps dragging you into this!"

They weren't wrong.

Rin knew that.

He could see the pain in their eyes—the pain of knowing that he, their son and brother, had been taken away by a fate beyond his control.

And yet…

His expression softened.

It was a sad smile, one tinged with disappointment, but not at them.

He wasn't upset that they were angry.

They had every right to be.

But even so…

Rin set down his teacup with a quiet clink.

His golden eyes swept across the room.

"I am Hoshimi Rin."

His voice was steady.

"A person who wants to protect those who are alone."

His siblings stiffened.

Kazuo.

Izumi.

Aya.

They knew.

Because they were once those people.

"You three should know better than anyone." Rin continued, his gaze firm. "I was always the one taking care of you back then."

They didn't respond.

Because they couldn't deny it.

Kazuo, the once timid crown prince who had struggled under expectations.

Izumi, the brilliant but unmotivated first princess who needed guidance.

Aya, the youngest, often got lost in the shadows of her siblings.

Rin had always been there for them.

And now…

The Golden Princess was alone.

"Imagine this," Rin continued. "The Golden Princess… She remembers everything."

His family fell silent.

"Every attempt to save the world. Every timeline that collapsed into ruin. She resets time over and over, meeting the same people, talking to the same faces—only to lose them every single time."

The weight of his words sank into them like lead.

"Do you truly believe… that I, who die and reset without memories, suffered more than her?"

The room was quiet.

Too quiet.

Rin exhaled softly. "I can't let her suffer alone."

His voice was gentle, yet unshakable.

"Even if it means I will die, I want to help her."

His fingers traced the rim of his teacup, his golden eyes deep in thought.

"Maybe in a past cycle, I was the one who found her when she was lost."

"Or maybe, in the very first timeline, we promised to save the world together."

"Whatever the case… I feel it."

His chest ached with an unexplainable longing.

A connection that transcended lifetimes.

"I want to help her."

His voice was firm. "So please… don't be angry at the Golden Princess."

His family remained silent.

Somewhere deep down, they knew.

This was who Rin had always been.

A man who would never turn away from someone suffering.

Even if it meant walking a path filled with death.

Even if it meant leaving them behind.

"Fine. But until the day she comes to get you, you will fulfill your duties as the 2nd Imperial Prince."

Emperor Masaki's decree was final.

Rin, still composed, nodded in understanding. It was a fair request.

But then…

"That said," Masaki continued, his voice growing heavier with meaning, "while Kazuo will remain the Crown Prince, we must also ensure the future of the Hoshimi Imperial bloodline."

Rin raised an eyebrow. "Huh? What do you mean?"

The Empresses smiled.

A knowing, mischievous smile.

"It's simple."

Nao, Hikari, Minako, and Asami all looked at each other before turning to Rin.

"We'll have Kazuo act as the Emperor. He will handle all the official responsibilities…"

"But," Hikari continued, her grin widening, "since the consorts are completely in love with you—"

"You," Asami said sweetly, "will be their Crown Prince in private."

"HUUUUUUUUUUUUH!?"

Rin's soul nearly left his body.

He stared at his family, waiting for them to burst into laughter and reveal that this was just another one of their ridiculous jokes.

They didn't.

They were serious.

"Since you're so willing to die for the sake of the world," Minako added nonchalantly, "you should at least leave behind your blood."

"WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME DO THIS?!" Rin shouted.

Kazuo, meanwhile, looked completely at peace.

"I accept remaining the Crown Prince," he said with a suspiciously satisfied expression. "Besides, not dealing with the consorts is a win for me."

Rin felt betrayed.

Kazuo was actually relieved to pass that responsibility to him!

"And if," Kazuo continued, "my talented younger brother happens to produce an heir with the future Empresses, I will gladly let them decide on the next Emperor."

"You better start getting along with your fiancées now, Rin."

"Wait—WHAT?!"

The Imperial Family nodded.

"Yes, let's prepare to transfer the Crown Prince position to Rin in private."

Rin grabbed his head.

"I'M TOO YOUNG TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT!"

Nao waved him off. "Don't worry. We'll make sure you'll want them. You already have a good opinion of them, after all."

Rin's eye twitched.

"You do realize this is an absolutely insane plan that could turn into a massive scandal, right?"

Masaki dismissed his concerns with a laugh.

"Not at all. This is quite normal in other countries."

"A man stealing women who were bound to another while the other man supports it…" Minako mused.

"That's literally the plot of a ridiculous romance novel!" Rin protested.

"Then let's turn it into reality!" Hikari declared.

Rin slumped forward, defeated.

He had forgotten.

The Hoshimi Imperial Family was one of the most unpredictable, insane gatherings of people in the world.

They may have built a vast and powerful empire, but at the end of the day…

They just wanted to have fun.

And so, with his return to the Imperial Palace…

Rin found himself engaged to the four consorts he had originally tried to avoid.