Inside the Azure Dragon Palace, whispers spoke of a girl born with a rare, coveted gift—psychic magic. In a world where such talent was almost unheard of, it drew the attention of high officials who swiftly secured her future under the Empire's watchful eye.
Born to humble beginnings, she was adopted into the Chinen family, who nurtured her potential until even the Emperor took notice.
They called her beautiful—eerily so. Long, flowing black hair like a silken waterfall. Eyes the color of maple leaves in autumn, glimmering with depth and quiet brilliance. She moved with a grace that felt… otherworldly. Elusive. Enigmatic.
Her name was Chinen Suzuki, the Princess Consort of the Azure Dragon Palace.
Rin stepped through the ornate halls, his footsteps echoing softly. He was led by Rina, Suzuki's head maid—her face unreadable, her pace brisk.
The White Elder had sent him alone. A rare decision.
And Rin's instincts didn't like it.
The moment he entered the princess's private chambers, the air shifted.
Dim light flickered from hanging lanterns. The thick scent of herbs and incense coiled through the air like invisible mist.
His gaze found her instantly.
A frail figure lay upon a grand, canopied bed, curled among silken sheets. Her skin was pale, her breaths shallow, her expression pained even in unconsciousness.
Then—
A low groan escaped her lips.
Rin stepped forward, voice calm and precise.
"Azure Princess, I've come at the White Elder's request… to assess your condition. Allow me to help."
No reply.
Then suddenly—
A voice that didn't belong to her slithered into his thoughts:
"Kill her… end her suffering."
The words cut like blades—cold, foreign, absolute.
Rin staggered. His body tensed. The room tilted.
The voice pressed deeper, coiling around his mind like a serpent of shadow.
His hand moved on its own.
Fingers wrapped around the hilt of his dagger.
"Kill her."
The command tore through him like a curse.
And yet—
Somewhere, beneath the haze—
He resisted.
His eyes snapped to the girl on the bed.
And suddenly—
He felt it.
An unseen force was radiating from her—pulling at him, pushing into him. Psychic threads trying to override his will.
The compulsion was hers.
Rin gritted his teeth. His training surged to the surface like a tidal wave. Mental discipline forged from years of harsh combat and deeper secrets.
Then—
A pulse of light exploded behind his eyes. His irises flared to violet, casting an ethereal glow.
Quantum Eyes: Activated.
Time slowed. The fog lifted. The voice shattered.
The dagger slid back into its sheath.
He was himself again.
Now clear-headed, Rin studied the girl with new understanding.
Her state was worse than expected—far beyond any normal illness. Her soul was flickering, on the verge of collapse.
This isn't poison. Or disease…
This is Constitution Overload.
A rare, often fatal affliction.
The body overwhelmed by power it couldn't contain. Magic spilling over, rupturing the vessel it should have empowered. It wasn't just her body breaking.
It was her soul.
And she's losing the battle.
Rin's jaw tightened.
He had seen this before.
In a life long past.
There was a way—a forgotten method, ancient and precise, to ease the burden. To save her.
But in this era, it had been lost.
Buried by time.
And if he did nothing—
She would die.
With silent resolve, Rin stepped closer to the trembling girl.
He knelt at her bedside and spoke, voice barely above a whisper:
"I will save you."
She stirred weakly. Her lashes fluttered. Then, slowly, her pained eyes met his—dull, hollow, swimming with exhaustion.
"...It hurts..."
Her voice cracked.
"...So much…"
Her fingers gripped the sheets, white-knuckled.
Rin's expression softened. He gently touched her wrist.
"I know. But you're not alone anymore. I'm here now."
Her eyes flickered—faint recognition, or maybe hope. But it was fleeting.
With a sudden gasp, her psychic magic lashed out again.
A second compulsion—wilder, more desperate.
Not to control him.
But to make him end it.
The force slammed into his mind, raw and brutal.
End me. Please…
Rin's defenses held.
Shatter.
The attack broke harmlessly against his mental walls.
The princess gasped, staring at him in disbelief.
"...How…?"
Her voice trembled. "You're still… yourself?"
Rin didn't answer with words.
Instead, he reached for her hand—cold, fragile.
"You've endured so much, Lady Suzuki," he murmured. "But you don't have to fight alone anymore."
His mana flowed into her, smooth and controlled.
She stiffened, then shivered.
The chaotic storm within her… began to calm.
Where her power had surged unchecked, Rin's presence was like an anchor. A balm.
And for the first time in months—
She could breathe.
Then, softly…
A melody filled the room.
A hum—low, quiet, gentle.
His voice carried the tune like a memory passed through lifetimes. A lullaby from another era. Forgotten by the world, but not by him.
Around them, the air responded.
Tools drifted to life. Cloths danced across dusty tables. The stagnant air turned fresh. The very palace room seemed to listen.
Suzuki's eyes widened as the pain dulled, the storm receded, and warmth seeped into her bones.
This can't be real…
But it was.
The pain was bearable. The weight was lifting.
Her eyelids drooped.
Her vision swam.
And as Rin's song whispered into the stillness, she slipped into peaceful sleep.
Rin looked down at her resting form.
The pain lines on her face had eased.
He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, his fingers light as air.
"Sleep well, Lady Suzuki," he said softly.
"You're safe now."
The tools continued their quiet work, ensuring the space was clean and welcoming.
And Rin—ever methodical, ever precise—remained at her side.
For this was only the beginning.
She was far from saved.
But he would see this through.
He would not let her fall.
The Azure Dragon Palace had always been a place of quiet elegance, but now it carried a breathless tension, its halls steeped in unspoken sorrow. The Princess Consort's illness lingered like a shadow over every corner, her absence felt even when unspoken.
In the receiving room, Rin sat with composed authority. The light from the paper windows fell across his face, highlighting the calm certainty in his eyes—a stabilizing force amid the palace's unrest.
Rina, the head maid, stood across from him, hands clasped and head bowed. Her expression carried a blend of gratitude and unease.
"Lady Suzuki is currently resting," Rin stated calmly. His voice, level and measured, held an assurance that made Rina exhale softly. A flicker of hope—long absent—touched her features.
"Thank you, Master Rin," she said earnestly, bowing deeper. "What are the next steps we should take?"
Rin leaned forward slightly, his gaze unwavering.
"The next phase involves teaching Lady Suzuki a breathing technique to control her psychic overload. It's gradual, but it's the only sustainable path without relic-tier artifacts or ancient formations."
Rina nodded, absorbing every word. For months, they had been helpless—trapped watching their mistress suffer while unable to do more than hold her hand through the worst of it.
But Rin's voice took a sharper turn.
"However, the psychic magic she's used as a defense may still surface when she feels unsafe. If she lashes out again, even involuntarily, it could endanger anyone unprepared."
He let the warning hang, then added:
"For that reason, I will continue entering her chambers alone for the next seven days."
A flicker of concern crossed Rina's eyes. In any other context, a man—an outsider—being left alone with the Princess for extended periods would be unthinkable.
But now, it was necessary.
"Understood," she said finally. "I'll make the arrangements."
There was no argument. Everyone understood the unspoken truth:
The Azure Princess's fate rested in Rin's hands.
Rin remained for a week.
Each day, he entered her chambers alone.
Each time, he faced the lingering psychic shadows of a mind once pushed to its limit. The attacks, once powerful and desperate, gradually weakened—Suzuki's control growing under his steady guidance.
The maids had watched in silence at first. A warrior from the White Flower Palace—a commoner—entrusted with the life of their lady? It was unorthodox. Risky. Almost scandalous.
But day after day, Rin never wavered.
He taught her patiently, braving the occasional mental lash, grounding her, guiding her.
He never raised his voice.
He never flinched.
And slowly—she responded.
By the third day, the oppressive weight that clung to the Azure Princess's chambers had noticeably lifted.
Even the younger maids began to notice.
"Will he truly be alright?" whispered Kaho one afternoon, peeking toward the chamber doors.
Rina folded her arms, voice quiet but firm.
"He's different," she said. "He doesn't waver."
By the fifth day, Suzuki had begun speaking again—truly speaking, not just muttering in pain.
During one session, while Rin guided her through another breathing pattern, she hesitated before whispering:
"You… don't seem afraid of me."
Rin met her eyes calmly.
"Why would I be?"
Her lips parted slightly. For so long, fear had been the default. Her magic terrified others. Her illness pushed people away. Her presence chilled entire rooms.
But not this man.
Not once had he looked at her with pity, or fear, or even reverence.
Only clarity. Calm. Care.
That night, Rin found his meals already prepared, his quarters tidied. Someone had even left warm tea, its scent fragrant and soothing.
"I can take care of myself," he remarked quietly to Rina when she passed by.
She merely smiled.
"And yet, you take care of our mistress without hesitation. Let us offer this much."
He said nothing—but the quiet smile that tugged at his lips didn't go unnoticed.
By the seventh day, laughter returned to the Azure Dragon Palace.
Lightness seeped into the halls. Servants walked with straighter spines. The oppressive silence was gone.
And the Princess?
She sat up on her own now. She smiled softly when he entered.
She no longer recoiled from touch.
That final night, Rin entered the chambers for the last time.
There was no resistance in the air.
The psychic haze had thinned into gentle whispers—barely present, almost peaceful.
Suzuki was sitting upright, wrapped in soft silks, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like ink in moonlight. Her gaze, usually distant, was fixed on the stars through the window.
She didn't turn as he approached, only spoke, her voice faint.
"They're beautiful tonight…"
Rin set a small tray beside her bed—porridge, steamed vegetables, a delicate tea blend he'd brewed himself.
"I'm glad you're starting to enjoy the little things again, Princess," he said quietly.
She turned then, her face more alive than he'd ever seen it.
"I never thought I'd get the chance."
A pause.
"It feels like I've woken up from a very long nightmare."
Rin picked up the spoon, dipping it into the porridge, and raised it to her lips.
He'd done this before—quiet, efficient.
But this time… it felt different.
A strange stillness settled over him.
She's not trembling.
Her hands aren't clenched anymore.
She's… calm.
He lifted another spoonful, slower this time.
She trusts me now.
She no longer sees a stranger—she sees someone who stayed.
Even when it was dangerous.
As she swallowed, their eyes met.
And for a moment, he saw it—a tenderness in her gaze that hadn't been there before.
Something vulnerable.
Something quiet.
Something… yearning.
He set the spoon down gently.
"This will be the last time," he said.
Her expression shifted.
Even though she had control of her body and mind again… she didn't want the moment to end.
"...You're leaving?" she asked, barely audible.
Rin nodded. "The maids will take over from now on, as it should be."
He stood to go—but her fingers found his sleeve.
Soft. Trembling. Desperate.
"Please… stay a little longer."
The words caught him off guard.
He knelt beside her bed, letting her hand rest in his.
"You'll be fine on your own, Princess. You've grown stronger. You don't need me anymore."
But his own words echoed strangely in his ears.
She's different now… but so am I.
Suzuki stared at him, heart pounding.
He brought me back from the brink.
He never turned away.
He hummed me to sleep. He fed me like I wasn't something broken.
And now… he was leaving.
For the first time in her life, Chinen Suzuki wanted to be selfish.
She clung to his warmth for just a moment longer.
And when he finally pulled away, she let him go…
But something inside her ached.
He's already gone… and yet…
He took a piece of my heart with him.
It had been only three days since Rin returned to the White Flower Palace, settling back into his usual routine. For a brief moment, he had allowed himself to believe that everything would return to normal.
Then she arrived.
Azure Princess Chinen Suzuki, fully recovered, stepped through the gates of the White Flower Palace with her head maid, Rina, following closely behind.
The moment Rin laid eyes on her, a cold chill ran down his spine.
It wasn't because of her sudden visit. Nor was it because she had recovered far faster than expected.
It was because of the way she looked at him.
Her deep, maple-colored eyes were filled with an emotion Rin had hoped never to see directed at him.
Love.
Even Rina, who walked beside her mistress, seemed to silently pray for him, her expression torn between pity and concern.
Rin already understood one thing.
His life was now balanced on the edge of a blade.
And that blade was in Princess Suzuki's hands.
If he made one wrong move, he would lose his peace. If he made another, he might even lose his life.
He cried inwardly but maintained his usual composed expression.
"Your Highness," Rin greeted smoothly as he approached. "It is an honor to receive you at the White Flower Palace."
Suzuki smiled warmly—too warmly.
"Rin," she said, her voice carrying a quiet fondness. "It is good to see you again."
He nearly flinched.
This wasn't the distant, sorrowful woman he had met in the Azure Dragon Palace. The broken princess who had once begged for death was gone.
Now, she was radiant. Her beauty had only grown more refined, her presence graceful yet commanding. And worst of all…
She was staring at Rin with unmistakable affection.
Rin quickly refocused.
"I was informed of your arrival, Princess," he said, maintaining his usual polite tone. "I will escort you to the White Elder."
Suzuki nodded, her eyes never leaving his face.
They began walking, Rin leading her through the palace halls, with Rina following behind. He could feel the head maid's gaze on him, silently urging him to handle this carefully.
As they walked, Suzuki spoke.
"It was fortunate," she said softly, "that the White Elder specializes in both Illusion and Psychic magic."
Rin stiffened slightly but kept his steps steady.
So she had come here to train under the White Elder. That made sense. It was a logical decision. A convenient reason.
But Suzuki's gaze softened further as she added, "And even more fortunate that this is where you are."
There it was.
Rin internally sighed. He had suspected it, but now he had confirmation.
Suzuki had always planned to train here. But now, she had even more reason to stay.
She wanted to be where he was.
His fingers twitched slightly, but he kept his expression neutral.
"I see," he responded, careful with his words. "Then it is fortunate indeed."
Suzuki's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile.
They continued in silence until they reached the doors of the White Elder's chamber.
Before Rin could announce their arrival, Suzuki suddenly turned to him.
"You've been avoiding my eyes, Rin," she said softly.
His breath hitched for a brief moment, but he quickly recovered.
"Forgive me, Your Highness," he said smoothly, finally meeting her gaze. "That was not my intention."
Her expression didn't change, but there was a knowing glint in her eyes.
Rin felt his stomach drop.
She knew.
She knew he was wary of her.
She knew he was trying to keep his distance.
And yet, she only smiled.
"Good," she said quietly. "Because I wish to see you clearly, Rin. And I want you to see me as well."
His mind raced.
He who was currently living as a commoner.
He who just wanted to proceed with the story of the novel, The Golden Girl's Rise.
He who didn't want a major character to cling to him.
He who knew she was already betrothed to his brother, Crown Prince Kazuo.
If she pursued him… if the Hoshimi Imperial Family caught wind of this…
He would be dragged back to the palace.
And if outsiders found out who he really was?
He would be executed.
Yet standing before him was Chinen Suzuki, the Azure Princess, who had already set her heart on him.
He kept his composure.
With steady hands, he pushed open the doors to the White Elder's chamber.
"Please enter, Your Highness," he said smoothly.
Suzuki gave him one last lingering glance, then stepped inside.
As Rin closed the doors behind her, he stood still for a moment.
His expression remained unreadable.
But inside?
He was screaming.