The next day, Hoshimi Rin, the 2nd Imperial Prince, was assigned a task by White Empress Asami—to survey the slums for a reconstruction and revitalization project that the Emperor had placed on his agenda. Leaving early in the morning, Rin was accompanied by his sisters, 1st Imperial Princess Izumi and 2nd Imperial Princess Aya, both eager to see their dear brother in action once more as a Hoshimi. To avoid unnecessary attention, the three disguised themselves as merchants, for wearing their Imperial robes would only draw unwanted eyes.
With Rin absent, the four Empresses summoned the four Consorts to the Imperial training hall—a place reserved only for members of the Imperial Family. As future Empresses, the Consorts would eventually have unrestricted access to this sacred place, where generations of rulers had trained in body, mind, and spirit.
The training hall was lavish, equipped with the most advanced tools, weapons, and magical apparatus. Every known form of training equipment was present, from enchanted dummies that mimicked real battle to gravity-adjusting arenas for endurance training. The hall also contained a vast library, holding volumes on advanced magic theory, ancient spellcraft, warfare, administration, and even the intricacies of human psychology.
Though each Consort had access to their respective palace's training grounds and libraries, nothing compared to the depth of knowledge and resources stored within these walls. This was a testament to the Hoshimi Imperial Family's superiority—a family that valued talent and ensured that those deemed worthy had access to the knowledge required to shape the empire's future.
Standing in the center of the training hall, the four Consorts—Suzuki, Rei, Miharu, and Akane—dressed in light, form-fitting training robes—couldn't hide their astonishment. However, their awe quickly faded when they noticed the serious and grim expressions on the faces of the Empresses.
Before they could ask why they had been summoned, the Empresses spoke, their voices steady and heavy with meaning:
"What will you do if you know that the fate of your beloved is tied to death?"
The words struck like a thunderclap, making the Consorts flinch. The air in the room grew heavy as the weight of the question settled upon them.
What did they mean? What fate awaited Hoshimi Rin?
The four Consorts stood in silence, their expressions shifting from shock to unease as the four Empresses revealed the truth—the truth that the Hoshimi Imperial Family had long debated before deciding to entrust Rin with them.
Rin had already spoken to them once about the theory of timelines—how the Azure Empress Suzuki's entity had emerged from another world to corrupt him during the 7th day of the Imperial Courtship. At the time, they had only grasped a fragment of what was truly happening. But now, they were about to learn the full scope of the cycle that had haunted Rin's existence.
This world had been reset, over and over again. Each cycle ended the same way:
Hoshimi Rin's death.
Each time, after his death, time was rewound—not naturally, but by someone's hand. That person was none other than Higa Ayumi, the Golden Princess—the very woman who had once forced the Imperial Family to allow Rin to leave the palace.
Each time the world reset, Rin was burdened with the task of saving it. He was never meant to live a peaceful life. He was meant to be a Hero—the one who carried the weight of an empire, a people, and an entire world. But he was never alone.
The Golden Princess was always there.
Each time, when Rin fell, she would reset the world, guiding him back to the path of salvation. Each time, she would come for him, pulling him away from the life he built, the bonds he formed, and the people who loved him.
And soon, she would come again.
The Consorts flinched, their hands tightening into fists as the weight of the revelation settled in.
Rin… would willingly follow her.
It was in his nature. Self-sacrificing, noble, stubbornly devoted to his duty. He would leave behind his title, his loved ones, and even his life if it meant fulfilling what he believed to be his fate.
The Golden Princess might even love him.
There was a theory—one that suggested she, too, had fallen for Rin in a past cycle. It would explain why, out of all people, she continuously sought him—why it was always him.
The Consorts' faces twisted in disgust.
Another one?
Another woman trying to claim Rin? Another person trying to take him away?
No.
Not when they had only just begun to experience happiness as his fiancées.
The Empresses watched their reactions before delivering their final message:
"Help us tie Rin to a different path. The path of an Emperor."
Right now, he refused. He saw himself as nothing more than a pawn of fate—chosen by the Golden Princess, validated by the words of the Entity Azure Empress Suzuki, and bound by the idea that he was always meant to walk the path of a Hero.
But fate could be rewritten.
Rin could become the Emperor. He could remain by their side, build a future where he wasn't doomed to die for a world that demanded his sacrifice.
And the Consorts would make sure of it.
Because Hoshimi Rin belonged to them.
The four Consorts stood before the Empresses, their resolve firm. The weight of their mission had sunk in—they had to make Rin love them enough to choose them over fate itself.
The Empresses—mothers who deeply loved Rin—felt a tinge of guilt for Higa Ayumi, the Golden Princess, who had suffered through countless cycles of failure, desperately trying to save a doomed world. But no matter how much sympathy they had for her, they could not afford to lose Rin.
Even if Ayumi commanded him using her authority as the Emissary of the Golden Dragon, even if she demanded his obedience, Rin would hesitate. He would at least be careful—but hesitation alone was not enough.
Thus, the Empresses made a decision.
If the Consorts truly wanted to steal Rin from fate, they would have to earn his heart completely.
White Empress Asami stepped forward, her calculating gaze sweeping over the Consorts.
"From today onward, you four will undergo rigorous training—both as future Empresses and as the women who will stand by Rin's side. Managing an empire is not just about standing behind your husband; you must be capable, refined, and strong in both mind and body."
Black Empress Minako crossed her arms, her expression unreadable.
"You will undergo training in administration, warfare, and court politics. You will be tested in battle, both physical and magical. And most importantly…"
Vermillion Empress Hikari smirked, her sharp eyes gleaming with mischief.
"You will learn to understand a man's heart and how to make him yours."
Azure Empress Nao sighed, shaking her head with amusement.
"This may feel ridiculous, but seduction is part of being an Empress. Even the greatest of men can be swayed by the right woman."
The Consorts' eyes widened.
"S-Seduction?!" Rei stammered, her face turning red.
"Isn't that a bit… underhanded?" Miharu muttered, frowning slightly, though the flicker of interest in her gaze was unmistakable.
"T-There's no need to go that far, right…?" Suzuki asked hesitantly, though her voice lacked conviction.
Akane, on the other hand, grinned like a fox.
"Oh? I don't mind at all. If this is what it takes to win, then I'll play along."
Nao chuckled, seeing the mix of reactions.
"Don't misunderstand. We're not asking you to throw yourselves at him. What we're saying is… you must learn to make Rin love you so much that he won't even consider leaving you."
White Empress Asami stepped forward, holding four very thick books, each at least a thousand pages long. With a small, knowing smile, she handed one to each Consort.
The title read:
"The Complex Mind of a Man: A Comprehensive Study of Male Psychology"
The Consorts looked at the books in horror.
"You expect us to finish this?!" Rei exclaimed.
"In one day?!" Miharu added, flipping through the densely packed pages.
Suzuki's lips trembled. "Even I… might not be able to read this fast…"
Akane sighed dramatically. "This is practically torture."
Asami smiled, ignoring their complaints.
"You have until this afternoon to read as much as you can. We will be conducting a quiz later. And whoever scores the highest…"
She let the words hang in the air, waiting for the anticipation to build before dropping the final incentive.
"…will be given the chance to spend time alone with Rin when he returns."
A moment of silence.
Then—
The atmosphere instantly shifted.
The Consorts snapped their gazes toward each other, eyes burning with competition. The air between them crackled with intensity.
"I'll be the one to win." Suzuki thought, her grip tightening on the book.
"I have to do this, no matter what." Rei clenched her teeth, steeling her resolve.
"This is my chance…" Miharu's eyes glowed with determination.
Akane smirked, already flipping through the pages. "Heh. This game is mine to win."
The Empresses watched in satisfaction as their future daughters-in-law dove into their books with desperate fervor.
Their training had only just begun.
Evening had fallen, and Hoshimi Rin sat in his room, still reflecting on the day's events. The slum survey with his sisters, Izumi and Aya, had gone smoothly, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with them toward the end of the trip. They had been acting strange—whispering to each other, giggling behind his back, and exchanging mischievous glances.
And now, as he sipped his tea, the door burst open.
"Eh—?!"
Before he could react, Miharu was shoved inside, stumbling a few steps forward before catching her balance.
Behind her, his two Imperial sisters grinned knowingly.
"Do your best, Miharu~!" Izumi teased.
"Make it count!" Aya added with a wink before—
SLAM.
The door shut behind them.
Rin blinked. Once. Twice.
Then, his gaze shifted to Miharu, who stood frozen in place, her cheeks flushed bright red.
Miharu looked anywhere but at Rin, her fingers fidgeting nervously at the hem of her sleeves.
Rin narrowed his eyes, setting his teacup down.
"…Alright." His voice was calm but firm. "What are they up to this time?"
Miharu gulped.
She knew what she had to do. She had won the Empresses' challenge, proving herself as the most knowledgeable about a man's psychology—or at least, she had memorized enough of that absurdly thick book to ace the quiz.
Her reward?
Alone time with Rin.
But now that she was actually here, her mind had gone blank.
She had spent hours strategizing, thinking of ways to approach him, make herself more appealing, act more natural—
Yet now, in the quiet of Rin's room, with his sharp golden eyes focused entirely on her…
All of that training had fled her mind.
Rin sighed, rubbing his temple.
"If you're not going to explain, then—"
"W-Wait!" Miharu blurted out, finally snapping out of her daze. "I-I just… I wanted to spend time with you!"
Rin arched an eyebrow. "That's all?"
"Yes! I mean—No! I mean—" Miharu groaned, shutting her eyes. Why was this so difficult?!
She took a deep breath, then squared her shoulders, forcing herself to meet Rin's gaze.
"…May I stay?" she asked, her voice quieter now, more sincere.
A flicker of surprise crossed Rin's face.
After a beat of silence, he exhaled.
"…Alright." He gestured to the seat across from him. "Come sit."
Miharu hesitated for just a moment before obeying, her heart pounding louder than it should.
Outside the door, Izumi and Aya pressed their ears against the wood, giggling.
"I bet Miharu's panicking right now." Izumi whispered.
"Of course she is." Aya smirked. "She was all confident earlier, but Rin is Rin. He won't make it easy."
The two sisters shared a look before snickering.
Tonight was going to be interesting.
Rin let out a slow sigh as he watched Miharu settle onto the cushion opposite him. Even though she had finally sat down, her posture was stiff, her fingers fidgeting slightly in her lap.
"Calm down," he said, his tone even but laced with quiet amusement.
Miharu tensed up even more before taking a deep breath and forcing herself to relax.
Rin, wordlessly, reached for the tea set on the table, pouring a fresh cup for her with practiced ease. The faint aroma of jasmine filled the space between them.
Miharu watched him, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her eyes.
"You're good at this," she murmured.
Rin glanced up as he handed her the cup. "I used to prepare tea for myself all the time."
Miharu hesitated before accepting the cup, her fingers brushing against his for just a second. It was warm.
She swallowed, trying to focus on the tea instead of the fact that she was alone with Rin in his room—a situation the Empresses and her fellow Consorts had fought tooth and nail to put her in.
She needed to say something.
"…Did you enjoy your trip to the slums?" she asked, bringing the tea to her lips.
Rin studied her for a moment before answering. "It was productive. There's a lot that needs to be done, but it's manageable."
Miharu hummed in thought. "Izumi and Aya seemed excited when they came back."
Rin gave her a knowing look. "Excited enough to throw you in here, apparently."
Miharu nearly choked on her tea.
"I—I mean, they were just—!" She stopped herself, realizing there was no way to talk her way out of this. Rin already knew.
She sighed, lowering the cup. "Yes. They set this up."
Rin leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "And you? Why did you agree?"
Miharu stiffened.
Why?
Because the Empresses had assigned her this task? Because she had won the competition? Because she was supposed to steal his heart away from the Golden Princess?
Or…
Because she wanted to be here?
Her fingers tightened slightly around her cup as she met his gaze, a quiet determination settling in her eyes.
"Because I wanted to spend time with you."
Rin blinked, caught slightly off guard by her honesty.
Miharu exhaled, setting her cup down. "I know I'm not the best at this. And I know you're probably tired from today. But… I'm still here, so at least let me make it worth your while."
A beat of silence.
Then—
Rin chuckled, shaking his head. "You're overthinking this."
Miharu scowled. "Says the guy who overthinks everything."
Rin smirked at that but said nothing, simply taking another sip of his tea.
For a while, they simply sat there, the tension in the air gradually easing. The silence was no longer awkward—just comfortable.
Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.
Miharu sat across from Rin, gripping her teacup a little tighter than necessary.
Rin, as calm as ever, took another sip of his tea before placing it down with a soft clink.
"I won't be surprised if you won a reward," he mused, golden eyes studying her. "I heard from the Empresses that they tested you four, and they were quite surprised at how closely you all scored."
Miharu straightened slightly, trying not to let her pride show too obviously. "Well, it was just theory anyway, right?" she said casually. "Besides, I've always been good at absorbing information and adapting to it quickly."
Rin smirked. "That much is true. You even learned how to act like a consort back when you were training under me at the White Flower Palace."
Miharu hummed, taking note of his words.
Always have a topic to talk about.
That was one of the rules in the book she studied. A conversation was a weapon in the art of seduction, a way to draw the other person in, to set the stage.
Rin had made himself comfortable, reminiscing about their past as co-workers. A golden opportunity.
Miharu leaned in slightly, shifting her posture—just a little bolder. Her shoulders relaxed, her chin tilted up just so, her body language subtly inviting. Not too obvious, just enough to send a message.
I want you to touch me.
Rin noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
He said nothing, his expression calm, but Miharu felt his awareness, the way his eyes flickered ever so slightly.
She kept going. She let her fingers trail along the rim of her cup, slow and deliberate. She met his gaze, holding it for longer than usual.
Rin continued watching, letting her play her little game.
Then—
He countered.
It was subtle, almost effortless.
He didn't push her away. Instead, he indulged her.
"You're trying too hard," he murmured, amusement lacing his voice.
Miharu stiffened.
"…W-What?"
Rin chuckled, leaning forward slightly. "If you're going to seduce someone, Miharu, you shouldn't make it so obvious that you're following a script."
Miharu's ears burned.
Damn it! She had been too calculated.
Rin took his time observing her. His sharp gaze softened slightly as he noticed something.
A strand of Miharu's hair had stuck to her cheek, likely from the slight sheen of sweat that had formed during their "battle."
Without a word, he reached out.
His fingers brushed against her skin as he tucked the stray strand behind her ear.
Miharu froze.
Her breath hitched, and her entire body tensed.
Rin smirked. Got her.
He leaned in just slightly, voice dropping to a low, teasing whisper.
"Flustered?"
Miharu's brain short-circuited.
"…Eeeep—!"
Rin laughed.
Miharu, now thoroughly flushed and defeated, buried her face in her hands. Damn it, how did this happen?!
She was supposed to seduce him!
Yet, somehow…
She was the one who got completely overwhelmed.
Rin, as always, remained untouchable.
Miharu trudged back to the living quarters of the consorts, her mind an absolute mess.
The moment she stepped inside, the other three consorts were already waiting for her. Their head maids stood nearby, a mix of curiosity and amusement in their expressions.
Suzuki, Rei, and Akane all zeroed in on her.
"Well?" Rei asked, arms crossed. "How did it go?"
Miharu didn't answer.
Instead, she dropped to her knees, covered her face, and groaned.
"I never would have thought—" she muffled into her hands. "That Rin would try to seduce me back!!!"
The room fell silent.
Then—
Suzuki blinked. "Wait. What?"
Akane's smug grin twitched. "Oh?"
Rei raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "So he fought back, huh?"
Miharu lifted her head.
Her face was completely flushed, her eyes filled with a dangerous mix of defeat and adoration.
"He let me sink my fangs into him," Miharu admitted, voice soft, "but when I thought I had him…" She exhaled sharply. "I realized I was the one who got caught."
The realization sank in.
Rin had effortlessly turned the tables on her.
She had walked into his room with a plan. A strategy. A well-thought-out approach to making him see her as a woman, not just a comrade.
And yet.
She had walked out more in love with him than before.
Miharu let out a soft, lovestruck sigh.
Suzuki, Rei, and Akane stared.
They all thought the same thing.
"Pathetic," Akane clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "You crumbled too easily."
Rei sighed. "I would've expected you to last longer, Miharu."
Suzuki, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes. "But that means Rin won't just sit there and take it, huh…?"
The three consorts exchanged glances.
This just became more difficult.
They had been given a mission. A purpose.
Tie Rin to them.
Save him from the Golden Princess.
But now, the challenge was clear.
Rin was not an easy target.
He was a warrior, a strategist, and worst of all—he understood them.
And if Miharu—a trained warrior and a woman who had once been able to keep up with him—fell in love with him even deeper just from a single encounter…
Then none of them were safe.
They would not work together.
They couldn't.
Because at the end of the day—
They all wanted Rin for themselves.