Rin, still wearing the calm, sharp mask of Hoshimi Rin, stepped into the grand ballroom once more.
Eyes turned immediately—some in curiosity, others in calculation.
But this time, it wasn't just him they were focused on.
He wasn't alone.
Everyone was used to seeing him alongside Takigawa Rei—his publicly acknowledged, fiercely loyal sister-in-law. Her crimson presence was almost an extension of his own.
But today…
He brought someone else.
And more importantly—Rei had allowed it.
Gasps whispered behind fans. Brows lifted. A tremor of curiosity rippled through the room.
Who is she? Why is she with him?
Nobles, as always, circled Rin like moths to flame, seeking his advice for their territories, their problems, their ambitions. And as always, he delivered—confident, composed, slipping into the role of a natural-born ruler with grace no one could deny.
But soon… the questions stopped being about land.
And the gazes turned to her.
The unfamiliar woman at his side. Quiet, composed, and trembling ever so slightly under the weight of their scrutiny.
"Lord Rin, if I may be so bold…" a noble finally asked. "Who is this lady you've brought into our midst?"
Rin smiled, warm and deliberate—each word chosen like a knife sheathed in silk.
"This," he said, his voice clear and carrying, "is Saintess Elaine, the Saintess of Benevolence."
Gasps bloomed across the ballroom like firecrackers.
"The Saintess? Here?" "Isn't she with the Heavenly Doctrine?" "Why is she with Lord Rin of all people?"
Elaine tried to keep her expression calm, but her fingers curled slightly at her sides. Her Enlightened Eyes were active, and what they revealed made her stomach churn.
So many in the room—tainted by greed, stained by ambition, hollowed by deceit.
It was suffocating.
But then—
Her gaze landed on him.
Rin's soul shone like sunlight breaking through the storm. A radiant golden brilliance—so bright, so clean—it drowned out the filth around her. She straightened her spine, using that light as her anchor.
Beside her, Rei leaned toward Rin, still playing the part. Her voice was low, formal, yet edged with genuine concern.
"Lord Rin, are you sure about this? The Empire and the Doctrine… we've never been allies."
Rin didn't flinch. Instead, he spoke with quiet confidence—loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Saintess Elaine is not like them."
Murmurs again.
"She is someone," he continued, "who has shown herself to be different. Honest. Courageous. Uncorrupted."
Another noble couldn't help but press, eyes gleaming with suspicion. "Different how, Lord Rin?"
He swept his golden gaze across the hall. A practiced, deliberate pause followed.
And then he spoke.
"The Hoshimi Empire does not despise the Heavenly Doctrine," he said calmly. "What we resent are those who have twisted its teachings to serve their own selfish desires."
That silenced the room.
He turned to Elaine.
"She… follows the true teachings. The original path—untainted by political ambition or divine posturing."
Then, with a soft smile and eyes like molten sunlight, he added—
"And that is why I find her…"
His voice dropped, just a hint. Enough to make everyone lean in.
"…utterly fascinating."
The nobles froze.
Elaine's eyes widened. Her cheeks turned a rosy pink.
Even Rei stiffened.
That damn word…
A declaration like that in this setting—it wasn't just praise.
It was interest. Public interest.
Whispers returned, now more frantic and fevered.
Saintess Elaine had just become the center of the ballroom.
He was planting seeds—seeds of doubt, seeds of wonder, and above all, seeds of change.
By openly aligning himself with Saintess Elaine, Rin wasn't just introducing a woman to high society—he was introducing a question.
The Hoshimi Empire's rejection of the Heavenly Doctrine had always been rooted in history, politics, and divine betrayal. But now?
If Rin, the golden son of the Empire, respected a Saintess of the Doctrine...
Didn't that imply there was corruption within it?
Didn't that imply… reform was possible?
Already, the nobles were whispering, reevaluating, wondering if perhaps not all was black and white.
Then—Rin smiled.
A brilliant, radiant thing. Not the smirk of a strategist. But a captivated, almost tender smile.
"Saintess Elaine truly is the embodiment of Benevolence," he said, loud and smooth. "Her title suits her perfectly."
The murmurs bloomed into low gasps.
"Lord Rin is interested in the Saintess?" "A saintess and a prince?!" "Could this be… love?"
Elaine turned scarlet.
"L-Lord Rin!" she whispered, flustered beyond belief.
Beside them, Rei exhaled sharply—her patience worn thin. She kept her public mask up, but beneath it, she burned.
"…You're insufferable," she muttered lowly, the words sharp but laced with frustration.
Rin merely chuckled, his thumb brushing lightly across Elaine's knuckles in a subtle act of reassurance.
He wasn't doing this for theatrics.
He was doing it to secure her future.
Let the nobles misinterpret. Let the rumors fly. It was all part of the plan.
If they believed Rin was smitten, if they believed he had fallen for the Saintess… then she would no longer be just a religious outsider.
She'd become someone worthy of walking beside him—even inside the heart of the Empire.
And so, Rin tightened his grip on Elaine's hand.
Gentle. Reassuring. Unyielding.
His smile softened, voice lowering into something sincere—something real.
"Saintess Elaine," he said, his words echoing across the ballroom, "even if you are from an enemy religion… my heart tells me that you are the one."
The room froze.
Not a whisper. Not a breath.
Just stunned silence.
Elaine's eyes widened in horror—and awe.
"L-Lord Rin, this is… too much—" she stammered, trying to pull away, her heart hammering in her chest.
But Rin didn't let go.
He leaned in just slightly, his tone becoming intimate, laced with iron will.
"You came to me for help, didn't you?"
She looked at him, stunned.
"Then I will gladly use everything within my power… to answer you."
It was quiet.
But it was a vow.
And everyone heard it.
Elaine froze.
Because Rin meant it.
Every word. Every line. Every gaze.
She could feel it not just in his voice—but in the warmth of his hand, the certainty in his soul.
The nobles looked on, captivated.
A forbidden romance. A tragic love. A prince defying fate for a saintess from an enemy religion. But in this story—he wasn't foolish. He wasn't swayed by beauty or impulse.
He saw something real.
A soul worth saving.
A doctrine worth defending.
A future worth changing.
A love worth risking everything for.
It was intoxicating.
And standing beside them—Rei's jaw clenched.
Rin…
She knew it was all calculated. She knew it was to protect Elaine's right to walk inside the Empire. That this was about cycles and fate—about the woman who might know the truths Rin desperately needed.
But…
But it still hurt.
Because he was good at it. Too good.
And worse, he meant it, in that Rin sort of way—half plan, half heart, and always impossible to fully understand.
She's more important than we realized, Rei thought grimly.
She might just be the key to saving Rin from that cursed cycle of death and rebirth.
So, she stayed silent.
Even though every part of her wanted to scream.
Even though the nobles were falling under the spell Rin wove—
She stayed.
Because if saving Rin meant turning the Saintess into a heroine of fate?
Then so be it.
But that didn't mean Rei had to like her.
Not one bit.
The ball had ended.
With the night drawing to a close, Rin escorted Saintess Elaine out of the grand ballroom, Rei walking beside them in stoic silence.
Their steps echoed through the marble hallway until they reached the Imperial Carriage waiting outside.
The moment Grand General Takigawa Yoshito spotted them—his daughter walking beside Rin, and another woman slipping into the carriage—his brow twitched.
He opened his mouth, but Rei preemptively sighed.
"We'll explain everything, Father. Just ensure no one listens in."
Yoshito narrowed his eyes at the mysterious woman, glanced at his daughter, then nodded once.
"…Understood."
The carriage door closed.
And Rin immediately slumped back into the seat with a deep, exhausted sigh.
Elaine, watching him closely, saw his expression shift with stunning ease—from the poised, lovestruck prince to the cool strategist underneath.
His hand slid over his face.
"Ugh… I feel like I embarrassed myself back there," Rin muttered. "That was way too lovestruck…"
Rei crossed her arms, pouting ever so slightly. "Seriously? You just had to go that far to secure her a temporary position?"
"It was the most effective route," Rin replied without lifting his head. "The Empire-Heavenly Doctrine relationship is already walking on eggshells. If Saintess Elaine doesn't have a personal reason to enter the Empire, they'd block her at the gates or worse—send someone to replace her."
Elaine, cheeks pink, raised both hands to cover them in disbelief.
"You… You lied in front of everyone like that! How can you just—?!"
"Politics, Saintess Elaine," Rin interrupted smoothly, now sitting upright again. His golden eyes met hers, calm and calculating. "And besides, it gave you leverage. Having someone from the Imperial Family openly favor you shifts the power dynamics."
He leaned back against the seat, arms folded.
"Think about it. You're trying to reform the doctrine, right? That means you need support. A powerful nation publicly acknowledging your version of the true Heavenly Doctrine forces the current leaders to pause. They can't denounce you without risking diplomatic backlash."
Elaine blinked rapidly. "B-but… still! You didn't have to say you liked me—!"
"It was the most direct method," Rin said firmly. "If I danced around it, they'd just treat you as a passing acquaintance. They'd send another saintess to replace you and use your weakness as justification. But if you're the one I publicly support, the one I'm supposedly interested in—"
He paused, voice growing colder.
"—They'll hesitate."
Elaine opened her mouth to argue—
Then closed it.
Because… he was right.
She couldn't refute any of it.
The silence stretched.
Then—
A very dark, amused smile curled on Rei's lips.
She leaned her elbow casually on the window sill and looked at Rin with barely disguised glee.
"Of course… not that you actually like her or anything… right, Rin?"
Rin let out another long, tired sigh and turned his face to the side.
"Yes."
Rei smirked in satisfaction.
Elaine, still burning red, could only mutter under her breath, "…Cruel…"
"Saintess…"
Rin's voice was quiet—but not gentle.
"It won't be long before you're sent to the Hoshimi Empire. When that happens, I strongly suggest you separate yourself from the corrupted doctrine."
Elaine flinched.
He continued anyway.
"Of course, I don't mean abandon your faith. I mean build something new. The true Heavenly Doctrine. The one you believe in. The one they buried."
"…I can't," Elaine whispered, her voice trembling. "I… I won't abandon the Heavenly Doctrine. It's flawed, yes, but it's not lost. If I walk away, I'm just another traitor in their eyes. I have to change it from within."
Rin exhaled slowly.
Then, as if speaking to a particularly stubborn child:
"You're too kind."
Elaine blinked. "What… does that mean?"
"It means you're naïve in every possible sense," Rin replied, expression unreadable. "You speak of change like it's a sermon, but the world doesn't work that way. It's not sunshine and sacred chants. It's politics. Power. People clinging to authority wrapped in scripture."
Elaine sat in stunned silence, unable to speak.
Rin leaned forward, eyes gleaming like polished amber.
"You of all people should know that. You see the purity—or the rot—inside others. Don't pretend the corruption at the top surprises you."
"But—!"
"This is why you're lost, Saintess Elaine," Rin said, voice soft, almost pitying. "You don't have a path. You have ideals. That's not enough."
Elaine looked down, her hands clenched tightly on her lap.
Rin's next words were quieter. And somehow, sharper.
"Think of me not as a prince, or even as someone who likes you. Think of me as the one the Voice of Heaven told you to seek."
He leaned back.
"And I'm telling you now: before you can save anyone… you have to save yourself. No doctrine can help you if you don't know what you're really trying to build."
Elaine said nothing.
But something in her heart shifted.
Rin reached into the folds of his robe and pulled out a small, intricately crafted insignia—an emblem marked with the sigil of the Hoshimi Imperial Family. A personal item that carried his authority.
He held it out to Elaine.
"I'm quite certain the corrupted Doctrine will take advantage of this," he said calmly. "They won't let the opportunity pass—not when the entire Empire just witnessed my public declaration."
Elaine looked at him, wide-eyed, as he placed the insignia gently in her palm.
"When that time comes," he continued, "bring this with you. Present it at the Imperial Palace gates. You will be received as a guest of the Second Imperial Prince."
Rei's eyes narrowed instantly, her jaw tightening.
"You're so lucky," she muttered darkly, arms crossed. "Being handed something like that… a symbol of trust from a member of the Imperial Family…"
"Rei," Rin warned, tone soft but firm.
She huffed. "I know! But you can't just—"
"She's important," Rin interrupted, voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "You know that."
Rei scowled, then looked away, arms crossed tighter.
"I know… I just…" she clenched her fists, biting back words. "Tch. Whatever."
Rin gave her a sidelong glance, then turned back to Elaine.
"You know I can't ignore someone who has knowledge of the previous cycles," he added calmly.
Rei glared at Elaine, cheeks puffed in frustration. "I hate you so much right now, Saintess."
Elaine flinched, pressing the insignia against her chest. "I-I'm sorry…?"
"Don't mind Rei," Rin said with a faint chuckle. "She'll get over it."
"I won't," Rei muttered under her breath.
Rin ignored her. "Now then, Saintess, where should we drop you off?"
Elaine blinked, then quickly answered, "U-Um… just near the marketplace. The one where we first met."
Rin nodded. "Alright."
The carriage rolled on through the moonlit streets, carrying with it three very different hearts tied by the same fate.
Back at the Hoshimi Delegation Headquarters, the mood was heavy.
Rei walked ahead, her heels clicking sharply against the stone floor. Rin followed behind, a half-sigh escaping his lips.
"Rei… are you alright?" he asked gently.
She didn't respond at first—just kept walking—until finally stopping in the central hall, arms crossed and brow furrowed.
Behind them, Grand General Yoshito had just entered. He paused, eyes narrowing slightly at the obvious tension.
"…Care to explain," Yoshito began, his tone stiff, "why a Saintess was seen boarding the same carriage as His Highness?"
Rin turned toward him calmly. "Let's just say she's important for the future of the Hoshimi Empire. I simply made sure she has a reason—and the ability—to come to our Empire freely."
Yoshito's gaze sharpened. "…Politics, then."
"Of course," Rin nodded.
Rei huffed and turned away, clearly still upset. Rin chuckled lightly at her reaction. "Don't be sad, Rei," he teased. "It's not like she's my fiancée. Unlike you—and the other three—I'm not planning to add more. It's already difficult managing the four of you."
Rei suddenly turned and grabbed the front of his robe with both hands, holding him close.
"I love you, Rin," she said firmly, her crimson eyes unwavering. "You already know that. I know… you don't love us the same way yet. But I'm glad to be one of your fiancées."
Rin's gaze softened. "Rei…"
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I truly care about you—about all four of you."
Rei's grip trembled slightly. "Back when you were hiding your identity… when you were Shimuzu Rin," she said quietly, "I was seriously thinking about abandoning my duties as the Vermillion Princess Consort. Just to chase after you."
Rin blinked, surprised.
"When we were secretly told that you were going to be our new fiancé… we were all happy," Rei continued, voice lowering. "Even Akane. Even Miharu. Even Suzuki. You brought something into our lives that we didn't know we were missing."
Her voice caught for a moment before she smiled bitterly. "So please… don't abandon us now."
Rin pinched her cheek gently, pulling a small pout from her. "I know," he whispered. "I'm not abandoning any of you. I'm just… settling myself still. I can't say I love any of you yet… but I do care. Deeply."
Rei looked up at him, eyes shimmering faintly. "I'll wait," she said. "Even if it takes years. Just don't push us away."
Then, with a sudden burst of emotion, she threw her arms around him—hugging him tightly, burying her face into his chest. Her familiar scent drifted to him, comforting and warm. Rin sighed, arms slowly wrapping around her in return.
"…You know," Yoshito finally spoke from behind, arms crossed, "you two are being awfully noisy for an engaged couple. Not that I disapprove. But this sort of display will send the servants into gossiping fits."
Rei peeked from Rin's chest with a rare blush. "Tch… old man," she muttered. "Can't you just let me have this moment?"
Yoshito smirked. "You're still my daughter. I'm entitled to one or two jabs."
"Make that your last one," she muttered, still clinging to Rin.
Yoshito let out a quiet laugh, then turned toward Rin. "Still, Your Highness… if you're going to protect someone like that Saintess, make sure you don't lose the ones beside you first."
"I know," Rin answered with a small nod. "Believe me… I know."
Later that night, the garden behind the Hoshimi Delegation Headquarters was quiet and dimly lit by lanterns and starlight. The soft chirping of crickets echoed in the distance.
Rei had taken Rin by the hand, tugging him outside without a word. Now, the two of them sat across from each other at a small wooden table, a freshly brewed pot of tea between them. The petals of blooming night lilies swayed gently in the breeze around them.
It was Rei's idea—a quiet moment as her "reward" for enduring Rin's outrageous declaration at the ball.
"Honestly," Rei said with a grin, sipping her tea, "you owe me so much more than this."
"I gave you the best dramatic scandal of the year," Rin replied dryly. "Aren't you proud?"
"Proud? No. Entertained? Absolutely," she said with a smirk. "You're lucky I love you."
Rin smiled softly, allowing the calm to settle before they drifted into nostalgic chatter.
Rei began talking about her childhood—how she would sneak into the training grounds to watch her father swing his sword, pretending she was strong enough to match him. "I used to tie up my hair and wear Kazuo's old practice uniform. I looked ridiculous."
"I'm sure you looked adorable," Rin said.
"Oh? So you do think I'm adorable?"
"I said 'looked.' Past tense."
Rei squinted. "You really want me to kick you right now, don't you?"
They both laughed.
Then Rin shared stories of his childhood—how he, Izumi, Aya, and Kazuo would get into endless trouble. "Izumi was always the ringleader," he said, rolling his eyes. "Aya was her accomplice, Kazuo tried to be the responsible one, and me? I was the one dragged along."
Rei chuckled. "You must've been the mature one even back then."
Rin's face twitched. He looked up at the stars.
(Well, that's not wrong… If you count both lifetimes, I'm pushing late forties mentally.)
(Which makes this… extremely weird.)
(Wait—does this mean I'm technically a middle-aged man with four teenage fiancées?)
Rin blinked slowly.
(Am I… a walking scandal?)
As he quietly spiraled into existential horror, Rei tilted her head. "You alright? You suddenly look like you aged a decade."
"I… just had a very disturbing thought."
"Oh?"
Rin cleared his throat. "Nothing important."
Rei smirked, leaning forward on the table with her chin resting in her hands. "Whatever it is, I bet it's dumb."
(If only you knew, Rei…)
Still, despite his inner turmoil, Rin couldn't help but laugh. There was something disarming about being around Rei like this. She didn't need explanations. She didn't ask complicated questions. She just stayed.
"I love you, you know," she said casually, as if it wasn't the hundredth time.
"I know," he said softly.
"And someday, I'll make you say it back. Without hesitation."
"…I'm sure you will."
Rei looked at him, the moonlight catching in her eyes.
For a moment, nothing more needed to be said.