The moment the two imperial princesses stopped before the Sumeragi faction, the surrounding nobles instinctively straightened.
Conversations softened into murmurs.
Fans stilled.
Even the music seemed to fade into the background.
Hoshimi Aya stood radiant beneath the chandelier light, crimson silk cascading around her like a blooming rose kissed by gold. Her hair ornaments glittered delicately—each one chosen after hours of indecision.
Eight hours.
Izumi almost sighed remembering it.
Behind her serene smile, Hoshimi Izumi replayed the chaos of the dressing room: Aya pacing, swapping jewels, asking if her waist looked wider, panicking over half a pound.
All for one man.
And now that man stood before them.
Sumeragi Rin.
Composed.
Handsome in restrained formal wear that emphasized his tall frame rather than drowning it in decoration.
"Princess Aya. It has been a while," Rin said smoothly, bowing with precise courtesy.
Aya froze.
Two full seconds.
Her mind, usually running five times faster than anyone else's, stalled completely.
"Ah! Sir Rin! Yes! It… has been… quite some… time…"
Each word grew softer.
Izumi blinked.
This was the same sister who negotiated trade agreements without blinking.
Rin tilted his head slightly, offering a gentle smile.
It was subtle.
But devastating.
Inside Aya's mind, alarms rang. Her Brilliant Light technique accelerated her thoughts uncontrollably.
He's smiling. Is my hair straight? Does he notice the ruby pin? Should I have chosen emerald? Why is he so—
Her gaze dropped.
And landed.
On the arm.
A masked girl clinging to Rin.
Their arms linked naturally.
Matching tones.
Close.
Too close.
Aya's bright eyes darkened.
The temperature around them seemed to dip.
Rin felt it—a faint shift in emotional pressure.
Ah.
Jealousy.
Princess Aya's thoughts spiraled at light speed.
Who is she? Why is she holding him? Why isn't he moving away? Since when—
Before that tension could crystallize—
Shinegori Akane stepped forward gracefully.
"Princess Aya," Akane greeted with perfect etiquette, bowing lightly.
Aya inhaled sharply.
Reset.
Mask on.
Her posture straightened instantly, perfect princess persona sliding back into place.
"Lady Akane. I did not expect to see you here beside the Sumeragi faction."
Akane's lips curved.
"I am simply accompanying my business partner," she said lightly, glancing at Rin.
Business partner.
Aya's eyebrow twitched.
The words barely registered logically—but emotionally they echoed differently.
Partner.
Akane leaned slightly closer to Rin, fan brushing against her lips. "He has been quite reliable."
Aya heard only the tone.
Not the context.
Reliable.
Close.
Comfortable.
Her Brilliant Light technique accelerated again—overanalyzing micro-expressions, distances, breathing patterns.
Is she flirting? Is this alliance political? Romantic? Am I late—
Before sparks could ignite into something dangerous—
Izumi stepped forward brightly.
She bowed cheerfully, her pale lavender gown swaying gently.
"Sister, we still need to greet the other main families," she said sweetly.
Her tone was light.
But her grip on Aya's sleeve was firm.
Izumi's eyes briefly shifted toward Rin.
And for a split second—
Her Soul Light activated.
The ballroom dimmed in her perception.
Souls appeared as glows.
Most nobles shimmered faintly.
Some flickered murky gray.
Akane burned sharp and cold like polished crystal—controlled, layered.
Harumi's glow trembled softly but warmly.
Then—
Rin.
Izumi nearly flinched.
His soul blazed.
Not violently.
Not arrogantly.
But intensely bright—like compressed starlight.
Too bright.
Almost self-consuming.
Is he some kind of self-sacrificing hero? she thought, uneasy.
That level of brightness often meant someone who bore burdens quietly.
She turned the ability off immediately.
Normal vision returned.
At least… my sister chose well.
Still.
Why is he that bright?
Izumi smiled politely. "It was lovely seeing you, Sir Rin. Lady Akane."
She gently tugged Aya.
Aya resisted for half a second—eyes lingering on Rin—before allowing herself to be led away.
As they stepped back into the flow of nobles, Aya leaned closer to Izumi.
"Did you see that masked girl?"
"Yes," Izumi replied calmly.
"Who is she?"
"Someone important to him, it seems."
Aya's shoulders stiffened.
Across the room, Rin exhaled quietly.
Harumi whispered from behind her mask, "Young master… the princess looked scary."
Akane's fan snapped open softly.
"How interesting," she murmured, eyes gleaming.
The ballroom's golden light shimmered.
But beneath the elegance—
Rivalries had begun to breathe.
The golden chandeliers shimmered softly as the murmur of noble conversation swelled once more.
Rin and Akane remained slightly apart from the densest clusters of guests, the glow of polished marble floors reflecting beneath their feet. Harumi still clung to Rin's arm, though she was now more focused on the desserts balanced on a delicate porcelain plate.
Akane, however, was in her element.
Her fan rested lightly against her lips as she looked up at Rin with unmistakable smug satisfaction.
"The first barrier device has been successfully reconstructed," she said, voice smooth as silk. "Based exactly on the structural principles you outlined yesterday."
Rin nodded calmly. "That was faster than I expected."
"Of course it was." Her eyes gleamed. "The Shinegori workshops are not incompetent."
He didn't comment on the subtle implication behind that statement.
Akane lowered her fan slightly. "When this event concludes, I would like you to personally inspect the manufacturing base. I want your assessment of the product quality."
Rin considered for a moment before nodding. "I will open a day to visit."
"And you will inform me beforehand," she added immediately.
"You don't need to do that, Lady Akane."
She shook her head, auburn hair swaying gently. "If I cannot understand the quality standards you set, then I would be unworthy as your business partner."
Her smile widened faintly.
Smug.
Confident.
Possessive.
Rin couldn't help the slight upward curl of his lips.
She truly was meticulous.
Few nobles bothered to understand the substance behind their enterprises. Most simply enjoyed profits. Akane wanted comprehension. She wanted control.
"I will inform you," Rin said at last.
Her expression softened—just barely—before returning to its usual poised sharpness.
Behind her mask, Harumi finished her final pastry bite and happily leaned closer to Rin again, content now that she was no longer under direct scrutiny. She seemed relaxed… but her eyes were not idle.
They searched.
Carefully.
Observing the other factions.
To the left stood the Takigawa faction, radiating warmth and easy camaraderie. Laughter rose gently from their circle. At their center stood the heir of the Takigawa family—older than Rin by several years, broad-shouldered and composed.
Beside him was Takigawa Rei, speaking quietly to her older brother. Rei's posture was elegant, her expression kind yet perceptive.
The Takigawa faction had always been known for cooperation and mutual aid. Their influence was built on loyalty.
Harumi nodded slightly to herself before shifting her gaze.
The Sarada faction stood in quiet clusters further back. Their robes were darker, their expressions reserved. They spoke little—but watched everything.
Information brokers.
Espionage houses.
Families whose reach extended far beyond the empire's borders.
If news stirred outside the Hoshimi Empire, the Sarada faction likely already knew.
Her eyes moved again.
The Chinen faction.
A faint shimmer of mana seemed to linger around them, subtle yet undeniable. They were practitioners, researchers, ritualists.
At their center stood the Chinen heir alongside Chinen Suzuki, who idly twirled a strand of her hair with aloof detachment, as though the ballroom bored her entirely.
Harumi blinked slowly.
This truly was the world of the novel.
And right on cue—
The music halted.
The grand doors opened.
An announcer's voice rang clear through the hall.
"His Highness, Crown Prince Hoshimi Kazuo, has arrived."
Instantly, every noble straightened.
Rin lowered his head.
Akane followed.
Harumi mirrored them carefully.
The future emperor of the Hoshimi Empire entered.
Hoshimi Kazuo walked with perfect posture, each step measured and dignified. His formal attire was immaculate—midnight blue embroidered with silver phoenix patterns.
Yet his eyes—
Empty.
Calm.
Unmoved.
They were not cruel. Not cold.
Simply hollow.
Harumi felt it immediately.
This was before he met the protagonist, Miharu.
Before warmth reached him.
Before his heart remembered how to beat for something other than duty.
Kazuo walked toward the elevated balcony overlooking the ballroom. He paused there, gazing over the young nobles gathered below.
Children.
Future leaders.
Future enemies.
Future allies.
His gaze darkened slightly, though his expression did not change.
He had already visited the chosen consorts.
Spoken to them.
Fulfilled his duty.
He felt nothing.
From childhood, expectations had wrapped around him like chains. As the only male heir among the three imperial siblings, his path had never been questioned.
He was crown prince.
Therefore he would be emperor.
Choice had never been offered.
He stepped forward.
The hall quieted completely.
"Tonight," Kazuo began, his voice steady and refined, "marks not only my coming of age, but the continued promise of our empire's future."
His tone was flawless.
Polished.
Practiced.
"You who stand here represent the next generation of noble houses. The strength of the Hoshimi Empire does not lie in one throne alone—but in the unity and resolve of its pillars."
His gaze swept across the factions.
"May you cultivate wisdom, honor, and loyalty. May you stand firm when adversity comes. And may you uphold the dignity of the empire you inherit."
He paused briefly.
Then, softer—
"For now, enjoy the music. There are… further preparations to be made."
A faint murmur passed through the room.
Everyone knew what that meant.
The announcement of the Four Holy Consorts.
The orchestra resumed, strings rising into elegant melody.
Couples began to form.
The prelude dance commenced.
Above them, Crown Prince Kazuo watched.
Expression unchanged.
And somewhere within that empty gaze—
The quiet storm of a future yet to unfold.
The first pairs of noble children stepped gracefully into the center as the orchestra shifted into a lilting waltz.
Silk skirts swayed.
Polished shoes glided.
Soft laughter rose beneath crystal chandeliers.
Akane watched for a moment, then slowly turned her head toward Rin.
Her fan lifted just enough to hide the curve of her lips.
"Do you intend to dance, Lord Rin?"
Her eyes slid pointedly toward the masked girl wrapped around his arm.
"After all," she continued smoothly, "bringing a partner would imply such intentions."
Smug.
Entirely smug.
Rin almost sighed—but there was no irritation in him.
Only mild amusement.
As long as she didn't attempt to metaphorically stab him with that fan, her pride was harmless.
He turned slightly toward Harumi.
A memory surfaced unbidden—
A quiet afternoon in the Sumeragi estate gardens.
Harumi, polishing silverware beneath a tree, had once murmured, almost to herself:
"I wonder what it feels like to dance properly in a grand ballroom… even just once."
Rin had heard.
He always heard.
Without another word, he took her hand.
Harumi blinked.
"Y–Young master?"
And then—
He pulled her toward the center.
Her entire body stiffened.
"W-Wait—!"
Dozens of gazes turned.
Whispers flickered like sparks across dry grass.
The mysterious black-masked girl.
The one clinging to the Sumeragi heir.
Now stepping into the dance floor.
Harumi's heart pounded.
In private, she was used to indulging him.
But in public?
Before noble heirs?
"I-If possible… perhaps we can postpone this request?" she whispered urgently. "We still have to confirm the characters—"
"No," Rin replied calmly.
The music shifted—faster, more rhythmic.
He spun her gently.
Harumi internally screamed.
Young master!
She didn't know this dance.
Her steps faltered—
But before panic fully bloomed—
Rin's voice lowered near her ear.
"Leave it to me."
A subtle pulse of mana spread.
Magic Technique — Fifth Form: Control.
Harumi felt it immediately.
A delicate thread of magic wrapped around her limbs—not forceful, not invasive—just guiding.
She could resist.
If she wished.
She didn't.
She trusted him.
Her body began to move effortlessly, feet gliding, posture straightening, turns flowing as though she had practiced for years.
It felt natural.
As if she were dancing of her own will.
Yet she knew—
It was him.
Leading her.
Supporting her.
The dance unfolded like a blooming flower.
Rin guided her into a sweeping turn; her dark dress flared softly. He drew her close, then released her into another spin, catching her hand precisely on the beat.
Gasps murmured around them.
The Future Duke Sumeragi.
Dancing flawlessly.
With a masked maid.
Harumi's gaze kept drifting upward.
To his face.
Calm.
Focused.
Gentle.
"You're enjoying this too much," she muttered shyly.
Rin's lips twitched. "You wanted to dance."
"…Not in front of everyone."
He dipped her slightly.
"Too late."
She squeaked quietly.
As the rhythm softened, their steps slowed.
Memories surfaced naturally.
"I was terrified when I first met you," Harumi admitted softly as they turned.
Rin arched a brow. "Terrified?"
"You barged into Duke Arata's office declaring you needed a personal maid."
The memory replayed vividly.
She had been standing stiffly beside Duchess Nao, freshly taken in from wandering the Sumeragi lands.
Lost.
Alone.
Uncertain.
Then the door burst open.
Young Rin, serious beyond his years, walked in.
"I require a personal aide."
Nao had lightly pushed Harumi forward.
Her heart nearly stopped.
She bowed too quickly.
"I-I am H-Harumi… I will s-serve you, Y-Young M-Master—!"
She had nearly bitten her tongue.
Even after rigorous training, she had feared rejection.
Feared he would find her lacking.
"That was a dumb fear," she murmured now.
Rin guided her through a close turn.
"You were competent from the start."
She smiled behind the mask.
"You're the greatest young master I've ever served."
"…You've only served me."
"Exactly."
They both laughed softly.
Another memory surfaced.
The day she confronted him.
Back when suspicion had grown unbearable.
"You're reincarnated, aren't you?"
Rin had been eating cake at the time.
The fork slipped.
The piece fell.
He stared at her, mouth opening and closing silently.
"W-What do you mean by that?!"
She had folded her hands calmly.
"I won't tell anyone. I'm reincarnated too."
Silence.
Then she'd exclaimed brightly—
"I'm so glad I'm not the only one reincarnated in this novel world!"
Rin's expression back then—
Absolute devastation.
On the dance floor now, Rin twirled her smoothly.
"I didn't know it was a novel," he muttered.
She returned into his arms seamlessly.
"To think someone like you never read it."
"I heard the title. I was busy."
"Too busy for a social life?"
"I didn't live normally in my first life."
She perked up mid-step.
"Right… what did you do?"
He guided her into the final sweeping pose as the music began to crest.
"You don't need to know."
"Mmmmmm… so secretive."
The orchestra reached its finale.
Rin dipped her gently, one hand firm at her waist, the other holding hers aloft.
They froze in perfect alignment.
Silence.
Then—
Applause erupted.
Harumi's face burned beneath her mask.
Rin straightened her carefully.
He adjusted a stray lock of her hair with quiet tenderness.
That simple gesture sent another ripple through the watching nobles.
They returned toward the Sumeragi faction.
Harumi hid slightly behind him as applause followed.
Rin accepted the praise as if it were ordinary.
Harumi sighed softly.
Reliable in everything that mattered.
Hopeless in the rest.
That was why she served him.
Around the ballroom, nobles whispered.
Who was she?
How had she earned such favor?
Speculation brewed—
But it was interrupted.
Two figures stepped gracefully into the center once more.
Hoshimi Aya.
And Hoshimi Izumi.
The music had not yet resumed—
But the atmosphere shifted again.
The true stage was about to begin.
The applause for the dance gradually faded as the orchestra softened into a dignified instrumental prelude. At the center of the ballroom, beneath the towering chandeliers of crystal and gold, the two imperial princesses stood poised like twin pillars of light.
Hoshimi Aya spoke first.
Her posture was immaculate, chin lifted just enough to command attention without arrogance. Every word she delivered was polished, deliberate, refined by a mind that moved faster than any ordinary noble's.
She praised her elder brother—his discipline, his devotion to the empire, his tireless preparation since childhood. Her voice carried warmth, yet not a syllable was wasted. Each sentence flowed seamlessly into the next.
Rin watched calmly from the Sumeragi faction's position.
Still…
Why is Princess Aya staring at me?
It wasn't constant.
But every few moments, her gaze flickered in his direction before she swiftly redirected it back to the audience.
Rin kept his expression neutral.
Beside him, Harumi stood quietly, hands folded, still slightly flushed from their dance.
Princess Hoshimi Izumi followed with her own speech. In contrast to her sister, Izumi's tone was brighter—more cheerful, though no less respectful. She teased Kazuo lightly about how serious he had been as a child, earning a faint ripple of polite laughter from the hall.
The atmosphere warmed.
Yet even as Rin listened, his senses remained active.
His Spatial Recognition never truly slept.
A subtle ripple brushed against the edge of his perception.
Movement.
Not dramatic.
Not violent.
But… deliberate.
Rin's awareness shifted toward the Chinen faction.
There, among the cluster of mana-focused nobles, stood a young man.
Handsome.
Sharp-featured.
Well-dressed in robes embroidered with intricate arcane sigils.
Yet—
There was something unpleasant about him.
Not openly malicious.
But oily.
Insistent.
Rin narrowed his eyes slightly.
The young man stood close to Chinen Suzuki.
Suzuki's posture was relaxed, one hand loosely playing with a strand of her long silver-blue hair. Her expression was, as always, aloof.
But her eyes—
They were tired.
Annoyed.
The young man leaned slightly closer, speaking animatedly.
Rin enhanced his spell.
Isolation — Sound Amplification.
Mana extended outward like an invisible veil. He isolated the air vibrations around the pair and redirected them toward himself.
The voices became clear.
"Lady Suzuki," the young man said, smiling with practiced charm, "surely you cannot continue to dismiss me so coldly."
His name surfaced through faction whispers Rin had overheard earlier.
Daisuke Taiko.
A rising talent within the Chinen faction.
"I have admired your talent for years," Daisuke continued. "Your control over mana threads alone surpasses many elders. It would be only natural for someone of equal potential to stand beside you."
Suzuki blinked slowly.
"Stand beside me…?"
"Yes," Daisuke said eagerly. "Our union would strengthen the Chinen lineage. Imagine it—two prodigies combining research. The advancement we could achieve—"
"I am not interested."
Her tone was flat.
Direct.
Final.
Daisuke's smile faltered for half a second before returning.
"You misunderstand. I am not merely speaking of romance. Think strategically. Our families would benefit—"
"I said," Suzuki repeated, her azure eyes sharpening slightly, "I am not interested."
He laughed lightly, as if she were joking.
"You are simply shy. I understand. You've always isolated yourself for research. But companionship is not weakness, Lady Suzuki."
Her fingers stopped playing with her hair.
"I have already refused you three times this evening."
Daisuke leaned closer.
"And I will continue until you reconsider."
Rin felt a faint twitch in his brow.
Persistent.
Obnoxious.
Suzuki's gaze shifted suddenly.
Directly toward him.
Rin almost dropped the spell.
Their eyes met across the ballroom.
For a brief, strange second—
It felt as though she was looking straight through him.
Not at him.
Through him.
Then—
She began walking.
Toward him.
Wait.
Why is she coming here?
Rin maintained composure, but internally—
Why is Daisuke Taiko glaring at me now?
Indeed, Daisuke's eyes had shifted as well. He followed Suzuki's movement and noticed her trajectory.
Toward the Sumeragi heir.
His expression darkened.
Suzuki stopped in front of Rin.
Up close, her presence was even more striking.
Long silver-blue hair cascading down her back like liquid moonlight.
Clear azure eyes that seemed almost translucent.
Skin pale and flawless beneath the ballroom's glow.
She tilted her head slightly upward to meet his gaze.
They stared.
One second.
Two.
Five.
Nearly a full minute passed in silence.
Harumi shifted awkwardly beside Rin.
Finally, Suzuki spoke.
"Sir Rin."
Her voice was smooth and quiet.
"You have been watching me earlier. Did you need something?"
Calling him Rin instead of Sumeragi was unexpected.
Yet her tone carried no disrespect.
Only directness.
Rin smiled politely.
"Lady Chinen, it is a pleasure to meet you. I apologize if my gaze lingered. I was merely curious about the gentleman speaking to you. He appeared… infatuated."
Suzuki blinked slowly.
"You may call me Suzuki. We are the same age."
A pause.
"And can you please stop eavesdropping?"
Harumi froze.
Rin's smile did not falter.
"Whatever do you mean, Lady Suzuki?"
Her eyes glowed faintly.
A soft azure light shimmered within her pupils.
"I can see your mana."
Rin felt his Spatial Recognition tremble slightly.
"You have been spreading it across the ballroom," she continued calmly. "Mapping positions. Monitoring movement. Enhancing specific areas."
Her gaze sharpened just slightly.
"It is harmless. So I allowed it."
Harumi glanced between them.
Suzuki tilted her head.
"But you deliberately amplified the sound around me."
Rin sighed internally.
Magic prodigy indeed.
"I was curious," he admitted lightly. "He seemed rather persistent."
"It was annoying," Suzuki replied.
Her voice remained even, but the faintest crease appeared at her brow.
"I refused him. He continued. He interprets rejection as encouragement."
Rin's lips twitched faintly.
"That is… unfortunate."
She studied him.
"How did you know it was me?" he asked.
Her eyes glowed again.
"I can distinguish mana signatures."
She gestured subtly toward him.
"Your magic technique is extremely refined. The layering, the compression, the directional flow… very detailed. Purposeful."
Rin remained silent.
"That level of control is rare."
She paused.
"Even among elders."
He inclined his head slightly.
"You flatter me."
"I do not flatter."
The corner of Harumi's lips twitched behind her mask.
Suzuki's gaze lingered on Rin.
"You are interesting."
Before Rin could respond—
A shadow fell over them.
Daisuke Taiko stepped forward.
His smile was no longer charming.
"Lady Suzuki," he said stiffly, "I was not aware you had business with Lord Sumeragi."
His eyes flicked toward Rin.
"And I was certainly unaware that Lord Sumeragi found it necessary to interfere in private faction matters."
Rin met his gaze evenly.
"I was merely observing."
Daisuke's tone cooled.
"Observing… or intruding?"
Suzuki exhaled softly.
"I approached him."
Daisuke's jaw tightened.
"Lady Suzuki, you need not lower yourself to speak with someone outside our faction simply because of—"
"I approached him," she repeated, a hint of steel entering her voice.
Silence fell between the three.
The orchestra continued playing softly in the background.
Nobles nearby had begun subtly watching.
Daisuke forced a smile.
"Of course. If that is your wish."
But his eyes never left Rin.
A silent challenge.
Rin returned the look calmly.
Spatial Recognition remained active.
He noted Daisuke's mana fluctuations.
Unstable.
Prideful.
Possessive.
Interesting.
Suzuki turned slightly back toward Rin.
"I will resume my observation of the ballroom," she said quietly.
Then, as if remembering something, she added:
"Your technique is efficient. But you leak a trace of resonance when shifting frequencies."
Rin blinked.
"…I see."
A faint pause.
"If you refine that, detection becomes harder."
Harumi stared at Suzuki.
Was she… giving him advice?
Daisuke's expression darkened further.
"Lady Suzuki," he said through clenched teeth.
Suzuki glanced at him.
"Yes?"
He swallowed his irritation.
"May we continue our earlier discussion?"
She looked at him for a long second.
"No."
And just like that—
She walked away.
Daisuke remained standing before Rin.
The music continued.
The ballroom glittered.
But between the two young men—
The air had grown sharp.
And something told Rin—
This would not be the last interruption of the evening.
Daisuke Taiko did not follow Suzuki.
Instead, he stepped closer to Rin.
Too close.
Close enough that the polite space between nobles vanished, replaced by tension that hummed just beneath the music.
The ballroom lights gleamed off Daisuke's dark hair, his jaw tight, his eyes sharp with barely restrained hostility.
"You," he said quietly, though the venom in his voice did not require volume. "I suggest you refrain from involving yourself with Suzuki."
He said her name so familiarly.
Suzuki.
Not Lady Chinen.
Not even Chinen.
Rin's gaze lowered slightly, calm and unhurried.
Ah.
So that was it.
Possessiveness.
Entitlement.
Rin could almost hear Harumi's internal commentary beside him. And across the polished floor, Akane had turned just enough to observe—fan hiding a smile that was undoubtedly insufferably smug.
Daisuke continued, his voice tightening. "She does not require interference from another faction. Especially not from someone who spreads his mana across the hall like a surveillance net."
Rin raised a brow faintly.
So he noticed that part.
Impressive.
But still foolish.
"Is that so?" Rin replied mildly.
Daisuke leaned in a fraction. "Suzuki is… special. You would do well not to misunderstand her kindness as interest."
Rin's lips curved—not warmly.
"Kindness?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"From what I observed, Lady Chinen Suzuki appeared rather… inconvenienced."
Daisuke's expression darkened.
"You overstep."
Rin's voice remained even.
"The one overstepping, Daisuke Taiko, is you."
He deliberately used his full name.
A subtle reminder of hierarchy.
"Just moments ago, she rejected you. Quite clearly, I might add."
Daisuke's nostrils flared.
Rin did not mention the earlier rejections Suzuki had referenced. There was no need to reveal that detail.
Instead, he added calmly—
"You are aiming rather high."
A deliberate pause.
"At someone else's woman."
It was a calculated jab.
After tonight, Chinen Suzuki would be announced as one of the Holy Consorts of the Crown Prince.
Untouchable.
Unreachable.
And Daisuke—
Would be nothing more than a bystander.
But Daisuke misunderstood entirely.
His eyes widened in outrage.
"Your woman?" he hissed.
Rin did not clarify.
He allowed the silence to stretch.
Daisuke's face flushed slightly.
"You… you Sumeragi nobles think you can claim anything you glance at—!"
His words began losing coherence, anger overtaking composure.
Rin simply looked at him, unimpressed.
The orchestra swelled softly in the background.
Nearby nobles had begun subtly pretending not to watch.
Finally, Daisuke exhaled sharply through his nose.
"This is not over."
He turned abruptly and walked back toward the Chinen faction, robes swaying sharply behind him.
Rin watched him leave.
Then sighed.
"That was unnecessary," Harumi whispered softly.
"Very," Rin agreed.
He turned—
And immediately met Akane's gaze.
She stood a few steps away, fan half-raised, eyes gleaming with open amusement.
Smug.
Entirely smug.
Rin narrowed his eyes slightly at her.
Those cheeks.
They looked pinchable.
Very pinchable.
His fingers twitched faintly at his side, unconsciously mimicking the motion.
He imagined it.
Pinching her cheeks.
Would she grow more smug?
Or would that sharp, dignified young lady persona crack and reveal an indignant glare directed solely at him?
The mental image almost made him smile.
Akane lowered her fan slightly.
"Sir Rin," she said sweetly, though her tone was anything but innocent. "You truly are a professional."
"I beg your pardon?"
She gestured subtly toward Harumi.
"You arrive with this mysterious partner."
Her eyes flicked toward the imperial seating area.
"And one princess stares at you from afar."
Rin resisted the urge to look.
Akane continued, savoring every word.
"Then the aloof Lady Chinen Suzuki approaches you of her own accord."
Her smile widened.
"How efficient."
Rin exhaled.
"It is not like that."
He glanced at Harumi.
Harumi nodded vigorously.
"Yes. Not like that," she affirmed quickly.
Akane tilted her head.
"Oh?"
"This girl," Rin said calmly, gesturing to Harumi, "is merely my partner for the ball."
Harumi nodded again, perhaps too enthusiastically.
Akane's eyes softened—just barely—before the smugness returned.
"Well then, Sir Rin."
She folded her fan with a soft snap.
"It appears the announcement is about to begin."
Indeed, subtle shifts were occurring around the ballroom. Attendants moved discreetly. The orchestra began transitioning into a more ceremonial arrangement.
Akane gave Rin one last lingering look.
"Try not to collect any more admirers before the night ends."
Then she turned gracefully and returned toward the Shinegori faction.
Rin watched her go.
"Smug," he muttered under his breath.
Harumi leaned slightly closer.
"You wanted to pinch her cheeks, didn't you?"
"…No."
"You did."
He ignored her.
Soon, members of the Sumeragi faction began surrounding them.
Young nobles approached with bright expressions.
"Lord Rin, that dance was extraordinary!"
"I did not know you possessed such elegance!"
"Your control of rhythm was flawless!"
Rin offered polite smiles, nodding occasionally.
"It was merely practice."
Harumi, however, had retreated fully behind him.
Only the top of her masked face peeked out from behind his shoulder.
She preferred invisibility in moments like this.
Rin answered questions smoothly, deflecting excessive praise, redirecting conversations toward neutral topics.
All the while—
His Spatial Recognition remained active.
Threads of mana extended outward, mapping positions, tracking fluctuations.
Daisuke had returned to his faction but remained tense.
Princess Aya's gaze still occasionally drifted toward him.
Suzuki had resumed her aloof observation, though her mana remained quietly attentive.
And near the elevated platform—
Imperial attendants were gathering.
The air shifted.
Anticipation thickened.
The announcement of the Holy Consorts was imminent.
Rin's expression remained calm.
But internally—
He adjusted his stance slightly.
The real ripples of tonight had yet to spread.