Two weeks had passed since Hoshimi Rin returned to the Imperial Palace.
During this time, he had seamlessly stepped into his role as the 2nd Imperial Prince, careful not to attract too much attention. The last thing he needed was the court debating who was the better candidate for Crown Prince.
Even so…
There was one undeniable change in his life.
He officially had four secret fiancées.
The very same four consorts from Golden Girl's Rise.
The very same four women he had once intended to guide toward their original fates.
That plan was dead. Gone. Completely unsalvageable.
No matter what he did, he could no longer set things back on track.
So instead, he decided to keep the novel moving as close to its original course as possible. Kazuo was fulfilling his duties seriously, and compared to Rin's past responsibilities at the White Flower Palace, his current role was surprisingly light.
However…
There was one problem.
Rin was stuck in a waiting game.
Waiting for the Golden Princess to arrive.
And in the meantime, dealing with them.
Four women who were far too pleased knowing he had an official duty to them now.
Today marked the start of the consorts' personal training under the Four Empresses—a private, highly classified affair. Only the Imperial Family and the consorts themselves were aware of it.
Naturally…
Rin had the (unfortunate) honor of escorting them upon their arrival.
Maintaining his formal, composed demeanor as the 2nd Imperial Prince, he ensured they stayed in line before they did anything reckless. After all…
They were still quite immature in some ways.
Raised as noblewomen, they now had to integrate into the Imperial Family—a family with a very unique way of thinking.
And as expected…
Rin's primary duty was to make sure they got along.
Which was, of course, nearly impossible.
They were all competing for his love.
Things could escalate quickly if left unchecked.
The carriages arrived at the grand entrance of the Imperial Palace, their wheels rolling to a halt as palace guards stepped forward.
From each carriage, a Princess Consort stepped down, adorned in their most elegant robes. Their expressions were composed—but their hearts brimming with excitement.
Because standing before them…
Was Hoshimi Rin.
The 2nd Imperial Prince.
The former 1st apprentice of the White Elder.
And now…
Their beloved, handsome fiancé.
It had only been two weeks since Rin's return, yet their entire world had changed.
From the moment they received the Imperial Family's private decree—confirming that their engagement had shifted from Kazuo to Rin—it felt like a dream.
For Suzuki, the most obsessed among them, it was a divine miracle.
"I worked hard… I prayed for this… and now, my prayers have been answered."
She clenched her hands to control her emotions—she couldn't afford to appear too eager. Not yet.
For Rei, ever the warrior, it was an unexpected turn.
"I never thought the Imperial Family would make this decision… But I won't complain. I'll just have to work even harder. My blade and archery will be my proof."
She nodded to herself, already setting new training goals to stand proudly beside Rin.
For Miharu, the one most openly affectionate, it was pure victory.
"I still can't believe this! Rin actually chose me! As the Black Princess Consort!"
She barely restrained herself from running straight into his arms. Deep inside, she had only one goal—
"I want things to be like before… back in the White Flower Palace, when it was just us…"
For Akane, the most calculating, it was simply confirmation of what she already believed.
"You have no idea, Rin… but you are mine now. And I will always be here if you need someone to listen to you."
She adjusted her sleeves gracefully, already strategizing how to deepen their bond.
Each of them had their own thoughts. Their own plans.
But they all responded in perfect unison, their voices refined and courtly.
"Yes, Your Highness."
However…
The moment they heard Rin's next words, their minds completely blanked out.
"Please, you can just call me Rin in private."
There was a pause.
A very long pause.
Then, Rin continued.
"By that, I mean when there are no court officials. You are still Kazuo's fiancées in name… Although," his golden eyes gleamed, "that has now changed. You four are mine now."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The consorts did not hear anything else after that.
The only thing ringing in their heads was—
"You four are mine now."
Their hearts skipped a beat.
Miharu nearly collapsed on the spot.
Rei had to clench her fists to keep herself steady.
Suzuki felt like she was floating in a dream.
Akane… well, she was very, very pleased.
Meanwhile, Rin sighed internally, watching their dazed expressions.
This is going to be a long day.
Standing behind their mistresses, the four headmaids silently observed the unfolding scene.
They had heard the stories.
They had witnessed their mistresses fall for a man who, at the time, had wanted nothing to do with them.
And yet, here he was now—
Hoshimi Rin.
The same man, yet not quite the same.
No longer Shimuzu Rin, the commoner warrior, but Hoshimi Rin, the 2nd Imperial Prince.
And now… their mistresses' official fiancé.
The headmaids exchanged knowing glances.
"He's really doing fine for himself now, huh?"
It was still hard to believe. The same man who once actively avoided their mistresses at all costs was now standing before them, facing them head-on.
Then again…
He had no choice now.
He was a prince.
He was tied to them.
Rin turned, ready to escort them to their assigned rooms. He fully expected them to follow without complaint.
Instead…
Not a single one of them moved.
It was subtle at first—a moment's hesitation, a shift in body language.
Then…
Suzuki fidgeted.
"…Um… Rin?"
She spoke softly, her fingers gripping her sleeves, as if mustering the courage to continue.
Rin raised an eyebrow.
"Can we… postpone going to our rooms?"
Rin's gaze sharpened slightly. "Why?"
Suzuki looked away, cheeks tinged pink.
"…I mean… can we have tea together first?"
Rin blinked.
Before he could respond—
"Yes, let's have tea." Rei nodded, as if she had already planned this.
"I… I think that would be nice." Miharu smiled, clearly relieved someone else had said it first.
"Fufu… I was just about to suggest that myself." Akane giggled, resting a delicate hand on her chin.
Rin exhaled quietly, a small smile forming.
"Are you four not tired?" he asked, golden eyes scanning them.
The consorts shook their heads in perfect unison.
He sighed, adjusting his stance before turning to a nearby attendant.
"Prepare a room," he instructed smoothly. "Provide us with tea and some snacks."
The attendant bowed deeply before hurrying away.
Rin turned back to his fiancées, his smile widening slightly.
"Very well," he said lightly. "I will adjust my schedule… but for my dear fiancées, who are so eager to spend time with this lowly prince—" his golden eyes gleamed mischievously, "—I suppose I can take a little time off."
Silence.
Then—
Their hearts were pierced.
Suzuki's face turned completely red, her hands clutching her sleeves tightly.
Rei's ears burned, but she crossed her arms and tried to act composed.
Miharu's knees weakened, her mind replaying the words my dear fiancées over and over.
Even Akane, the most calculating among them, felt her heartbeat quicken.
"This guy…" she thought, biting the inside of her cheek. "Even though he's changed… he still talks so honestly."
And that honesty—so effortless, so natural—was what made resisting him impossible.
Behind their mistresses, the four headmaids watched in silence.
They had expected chaos.
They had expected competition.
But even they hadn't expected Rin to unknowingly deliver such a lethal strike.
They shared another glance.
"Yeah… he's doomed."
Whether Rin realized it or not, this wasn't just a simple tea gathering.
This was the beginning of something far more dangerous.
A battlefield of love.
The room was quiet.
The tea had been served. The snacks had been placed on the table.
Yet no one spoke.
Rin took a sip of his tea, his golden eyes casually sweeping over the four consorts seated around him.
They were… stiff.
Too stiff.
Fidgeting, stealing glances at him, then looking away the moment their eyes met.
"Isn't this supposed to be a casual tea gathering?" Rin thought, suppressing a sigh.
It was obvious why.
They didn't know how to talk to him.
If this were before—when he was still Shimuzu Rin, the commoner warrior—they would have approached him confidently. After all, they were noble ladies, and he had been beneath them in status.
But now?
Now, he was a prince.
Suzuki, despite her deep obsession, was too nervous to act boldly.
Rei, usually the most straightforward, hesitated, unsure of what was appropriate.
Miharu, the only one who had once been a commoner, was completely lost—she had no idea how to act around him now.
Even Akane, who typically controlled conversations with ease, seemed to be analyzing him, trying to understand his new identity as Hoshimi Rin.
They were overthinking everything.
They wanted to impress him.
They wanted to make him like them.
But they didn't even know what this Rin liked.
Not Shimuzu Rin.
Not the warrior of the White Flower Palace.
But Hoshimi Rin, the 2nd Imperial Prince.
Seeing their struggle, Rin put down his cup and leaned back slightly. His voice was calm yet direct.
"You know," he said, breaking the silence, "if this keeps up, we'll just be sitting here staring at our tea all day."
The consorts snapped their attention to him, their cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
He sighed lightly, his expression softening.
"I get it," he continued, his fingers lightly tapping the table. "Things feel… different now that I'm a prince."
They said nothing, but their silence was answer enough.
Rin gave them a small, knowing smile.
"Since I'm bound to you all, whether I like it or not," he said, his tone light but firm, "I'll make things easier for you."
They perked up slightly, curious.
"You want to know what I like? What kind of person I am?" He rested his chin on his hand, eyes half-lidded as he observed their reactions. "Then just ask."
They blinked.
He smiled again—this time, a little more teasingly.
"I don't like formality in private. I wasn't raised like that." He took another sip of tea. "So stop treating me like I'm above you."
He placed his cup down, golden eyes glinting.
"Just treat me the same way you did before—only with a little respect."
Suzuki clutched her sleeves tighter, her heart pounding.
"So we don't have to be too formal? That means I can still…!"
Rei exhaled, feeling a wave of relief.
"Then I don't have to overthink things… Good."
Miharu, who had been struggling the most, suddenly felt at ease.
"So I can talk to him normally… just like before?"
Akane's lips curled into a small, amused smile.
"He really does make things easy for us…"
The air in the room shifted.
The tension eased.
And just like that—
The conversation finally began.
The conversation had been flowing smoothly, drifting from light topics—like food and hobbies—to more personal questions about Rin himself.
But then—
Rei, usually the most direct, suddenly hesitated.
Her cheeks reddened. Her gaze flickered between Rin and the teacup in her hands.
"Rin…" she started, then paused, fidgeting slightly.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Um… since we're now… you know…"
She gulped.
"What do you… think about us now that we're your… umm… f-fiancées?"
The other three froze.
Even Akane, who was normally composed, tensed slightly.
They all turned to Rin, waiting for his answer.
Rin sighed, closing his eyes briefly before leaning back in his chair.
"Honestly?"
His golden eyes flickered toward them, his tone calm but firm.
"You're all a burden."
The room went still.
The consorts' expressions shifted—shock, disbelief, a hint of hurt.
Even the headmaids behind them widened their eyes.
Rin, however, continued before they could react further.
"But," he added, his voice steady, "in the end, every single one of you is going to be my wife now."
Their breath hitched.
"I won't hate you unless you truly disappoint me," Rin said plainly. "And trust me, I know this isn't entirely your fault. The current mess in the Imperial Family and the succession—" he gestured vaguely, "—is because you four fell for me."
Their gazes lowered.
"But it's also my fault," he admitted. "I helped you back then. I couldn't just leave you to suffer."
They understood his words.
If Rin had never interfered in their lives—if he had never saved them, supported them, or been kind to them—then none of this would have happened.
But Rin was never the type to turn a blind eye to suffering.
And so, here they were.