The Imperial Convoy moved steadily toward the gates of the Crimson Valor Kingdom. As per protocol, they would soon undergo an inspection before being allowed entry. Inside the most secure carriage, the 2nd Imperial Prince Hoshimi Rin and the Vermillion Princess Consort Takigawa Rei sat in silence—well, almost.
Rei, exhausted from the journey, was peacefully asleep against Rin's shoulder.
Across from them, her headmaid, Yori, sat with a knowing smile, watching as Rin allowed Rei to rest undisturbed. Anyone outside the Hoshimi Family and the consorts' trusted circle would have been scandalized by this scene. After all, Rei was publicly betrothed to Crown Prince Hoshimi Kazuo, even if it was Rin she was truly engaged to. But in the privacy of the Imperial Carriage, none of that mattered.
Rin glanced down at Rei, silently observing her. In public, she was fierce, confident, and direct—a warrior through and through. But here, with him, she looked so uncharacteristically vulnerable. It was a rare sight. She really does love me, Rin mused to himself.
His gaze shifted to Yori.
"Tell me," Rin said, voice quiet yet firm. "How did Rei hold up back when I was just Shimuzu Rin?"
Yori chuckled softly. "Back then? She was… duty-bound."
She met Rin's gaze, her expression thoughtful as she recalled the past.
"Rei was chosen as the Vermillion Princess Consort not just for her talent but for her family's unwavering loyalty to the Empire. She was determined to prove herself—to elevate the Takigawa name and ensure her family's place in history."
Rin remained silent, listening as Yori continued.
"But then… she met you."
A knowing smile crossed Yori's lips.
"It started with the Crown Prince's Birthday Celebration. Rei needed a worthy partner for her sword dance. That was when she first heard of you—Shimuzu Rin, the 1st Apprentice of the White Elder, a warrior both skilled in swordsmanship and magic. At the time, you had just saved Azure Princess Consort Suzuki from an outbreak of magical illness, so your name was already spreading."
Rin sighed, already recalling those events. "So Suzuki brought Rei along to the White Flower Palace."
"Yes. And when Rei saw your skills firsthand, she knew she had found her match."
Yori's gaze softened as she recalled that moment.
"That day, she admired you as a rival. But after the Celebration… that changed."
Rin exhaled, already knowing what she meant.
"Because I nearly died."
"Yes," Yori confirmed. "You were injured and bloodied, having risked your life to save people. Seeing the man she saw as her equal—her rival—nearly lose his life not in battle, but to protect others… That was when admiration turned into something deeper."
A soft sigh escaped Yori as she clasped her hands together.
"After that, she had no reason to visit you. No excuse to see you. And it tore her apart."
Rin looked at Rei's sleeping face once more. So that was why…
Yori smiled.
"She missed you so much that she asked me to gather any information about you—what you were doing, how you were faring. And so… I did."
Rin turned back to Yori, his expression unreadable.
"You're quite loyal," he finally said.
Yori nodded, no hesitation in her voice. "My mistress' happiness is what matters to me."
There was a brief silence before Yori lowered her head.
"And besides… I owe you my life."
Rin raised a brow. "Because of the incident at the Celebration?"
"Yes," Yori confirmed. "If you hadn't stepped in, I wouldn't be here now. So… thank you, Your Highness."
Rin waved off the formality, returning his attention to Rei.
"She's changed," he mused aloud.
Yori nodded.
"Before, she was someone who lived for duty—for the Empire. But after she fell in love with you, she found herself trapped between duty and her heart."
Rin remained quiet as Yori continued.
"And when she found out the truth—that you were actually the 2nd Imperial Prince—she was relieved. Because when the engagements were revised and your name appeared as her fiancé… she didn't have to choose anymore."
Yori's voice softened.
"But… if you had remained a commoner? She was prepared to abandon everything just to be with you."
As the Imperial Carriage came to a stop, the sudden motion nearly caused Rei to topple forward.
But before she could fall, Rin caught her, steadying her effortlessly.
Still groggy from her nap, Rei blinked up at him, a drowsy but genuine smile forming on her lips as she processed who was holding her.
Rin sighed. "Hey now… we've arrived, my dear fiancée."
The word fiancée made Rei's eyes widen slightly before a deep blush bloomed across her cheeks. Even now, hearing Rin call her that so casually made her heart race.
Still stretching, she yawned and leaned into Rin's warmth for a few extra seconds, utterly unbothered by their audience.
Rin chuckled, watching her easy comfort around him. He really had no idea how to deal with this woman sometimes.
With a creak, the carriage doors swung open, revealing a towering figure clad in military regalia—Grand General Takigawa Yoshito.
He stood with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze assessing the scene inside the carriage. But instead of reprimanding anyone, his stern expression quickly softened into a knowing smirk.
"Well, well," Yoshito mused, his voice laced with amusement. "I see my daughter is already making good use of her time."
Rei immediately groaned, her previous sleepiness vanishing in an instant.
"Ugh. Father, don't start."
Despite her words, Rei instinctively clung to Rin tighter, as if silently telling Yoshito that she wasn't going to let go just yet.
Yoshito chuckled. As doting as ever, he took great pleasure in teasing Rei, much to her annoyance.
Rin, for his part, offered a polite nod to the Grand General, but the amused glint in his eyes suggested that he was quite entertained by the dynamic between father and daughter.
Meanwhile, Yori, who had silently observed everything, held back a laugh at her mistress' rare display of childishness.
For now, though, they had officially arrived. It was time to step into the Crimson Valor Kingdom.
Inside the Hoshimi Delegation Headquarters in the Crimson Valor Kingdom, Rin, Rei, Yori, and Yoshito gathered to discuss their agenda for the day.
Having just arrived, they didn't have any official duties yet, which meant there was free time—something that didn't come often on official visits.
Rin, naturally, already had a plan.
"I'll be heading out into town," he said casually, leaning back in his seat. "I'll be using a disguise—preferably my Shimuzu Rin persona."
Yoshito's expression immediately soured. "Absolutely not—"
Before he could argue, Yori smoothly cut in with a smile.
"He can take care of himself, General."
Yoshito clicked his tongue, clearly reluctant but unable to refute the fact that Rin had survived years as a commoner without detection.
Meanwhile, Rei pouted. "I want to go too!"
But she knew she had other responsibilities.
The Gawad Clan awaited their visit.
This was important—it was the ancestral clan of the Takigawa Family before they became vassals of the Empire.
Rin smiled at Rei and gently poked her forehead.
"You have duties, my dear fiancée. Don't worry, I'll bring something back for you."
Rei groaned but didn't argue further, though her eyes still held clear dissatisfaction.
Yoshito sighed. "I don't like the idea of you wandering around alone, Prince Rin."
Rin chuckled. "I've spent years living as a commoner. If no one figured out who I was then, they won't now."
Yoshito knew there was no winning this argument. Rin had survived war, politics, and countless assassination attempts—he wasn't some fragile noble.
Still, it didn't sit well with him.
The Gawad Clan had once been their ancestors, but five generations ago, one of their forebears had been cast out—a nameless warrior abandoned by their own people.
Wandering, that ancestor had eventually crossed paths with a Crown Prince of the Hoshimi Empire—the one who would later ascend to the throne.
Through loyalty and valor, the cast-out warrior and his followers earned their place in the Empire, receiving the name Takigawa from that Emperor himself.
Their role in protecting the Hoshimi Imperial Family during an era of war and chaos cemented their place as one of the most trusted warrior clans in the Empire.
They had always been outsiders who became family.
Unlike the Shinegoris, who had been loyal for generations, the Takigawas had chosen their loyalty.
This visit was important—it was a return to their lost roots.
Just as they were wrapping up, Rei suddenly stepped up to Rin and hugged him—tight.
Then, to everyone's surprise, she began rubbing herself all over him like a spoiled cat.
"Don't go out and seduce other women as Shimuzu Rin again, alright?!" she demanded, glaring up at him.
Rin raised an eyebrow, completely thrown off.
"What was that for?"
Rei smirked. "Marking my territory."
Yoshito and Yori exchanged looks, then sighed at the same time.
But they couldn't help but smile as they watched Rei's blatant possessiveness.
She was always a forward girl.
Rin strolled through the bustling streets of the Crimson Valor Kingdom, blending seamlessly into the crowd with simple commoner's clothing.
The marketplace was alive with energy—vendors shouting their wares, children running past with laughter, and merchants haggling over prices.
Despite the kingdom's reputation for military might, the market had its own charm.
One particular shop caught his attention—a poorly maintained stall tucked between larger, wealthier establishments.
The sign was faded, the wood chipped, but inside, the shelves were filled with exquisitely handcrafted wooden goods.
Rin inspected the work closely.
The craftsmanship was remarkable.
The cuts were clean, the designs intricate—this was the work of someone truly skilled.
Yet, when he inquired about the materials, the shopkeeper admitted he only had low-quality wood to work with.
What a waste of talent.
The man's technique was excellent, but without proper resources, he was stuck making inferior goods.
Rin silently took note of the shop before purchasing a few souvenirs.
As Rin continued through the market, he noticed a trend.
Many of the artisans, craftsmen, and traders seemed incredibly skilled, yet they were all struggling.
The Crimson Valor Kingdom was a nation built on martial strength—they valued warriors and soldiers above all else.
Most of their goods were imported, and those without combat ability were often left behind.
Rin's mind raced.
This place is a goldmine of talent… they're just stuck in the wrong country.
If these people were born in the Empire, they would have flourished under Hoshimi rule, where talent—no matter the field—was nurtured and cultivated.
But they weren't.
They were here, trapped by fear of the outside world and a system that didn't value them.
Rin smirked to himself.
"Hmm… what should I do about this?"
Before making any moves, he needed concrete proof.
He decided that once he returned, he would request a formal investigation from the delegation.
If his suspicions were confirmed, the Empire could make its move—perhaps through diplomacy… or something more subtle.
His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a group of children running excitedly toward the town center.
The streets were shifting—people were gathering in large numbers.
Something was happening.
Curious, Rin turned toward the crowd, his golden eyes gleaming.
Time to see what's going on.
The marketplace's lively chatter dimmed as a carriage rolled into view, its insignia distinct and unfamiliar to most locals.
This was not the emblem of the Crimson Valor Kingdom.
Nor was it from the Hoshimi Empire.
Instead, it bore the symbol of the Heavenly Doctrine, the dominant faith outside the Empire—one that often stood in quiet opposition to the teachings of the Golden Oath.
Rin's expression remained neutral, but his thoughts sharpened.
"A Saintess? Here?"
The Hoshimi Empire never outright rejected the Heavenly Doctrine, but tensions always existed.
The Golden Oath, established by the Golden Dragon and upheld by the Golden Princess, was an ancient pillar of the Empire.
To the followers of the Heavenly Doctrine, however… it was an obstacle to their faith.
Even if no wars had been waged over it, there was an undeniable friction between the two beliefs.
And now, standing before the gathering crowd, was a figure of that faith.
As the carriage halted, the air grew tense.
Whispers spread like wildfire through the onlookers.
"A Saintess? Here in Crimson Valor?"
"Why would the Heavenly Doctrine send someone?"
"Is it a diplomatic mission? Or... something else?"
The door creaked open, and from within stepped a young woman.
Draped in flowing silver robes, her presence was serene yet commanding.
Her long platinum hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her calm blue eyes swept over the people with a gentle gaze.
This was Saintess Elaine, known as the Benevolent Saintess—one of the three Honored Saintesses of the Heavenly Doctrine.
Benevolence. Compassion. Justice.
She was the lowest-ranked among them, but she was known for her acceptance of different beliefs—including the Empire's Golden Oath.
Unlike the Saintess of Compassion, who wished to convert all, or the Saintess of Justice, who openly criticized the Empire, Elaine was the only one who remained neutral.
Yet, despite her reputation, there was still unease.
"Why would she come here, of all places?"
"Did something happen with the Heavenly Doctrine?"
Rin, standing amongst the crowd, remained silent.
From the corner of his vision, he could see some knights in the distance, standing at alert.
This was not a mere visit.
Something was about to unfold.
Saintess Elaine stepped down gracefully, offering her greetings and blessings to the people of Crimson Valor.
Her voice was gentle, soothing, yet held an undeniable air of authority—not the authority of a ruler, but of someone truly devoted to her cause.
Rin observed from the crowd, his expression unreadable.
Something was off.
Despite her high status, Elaine had almost no attendants.
The only knight accompanying her stood rigidly by her side, but Rin's trained eye saw through him instantly.
Weak. Untrained. Barely any real combat experience.
"So she really does have no power..." Rin mused to himself.
It made sense.
Unlike the other two Saintesses, Elaine's neutral stance toward the Golden Oath had left her isolated within the Heavenly Doctrine.
She likely had no strong backers, no faction of her own—just her faith and whatever small support she could gather.
Even so, she did not waver.
She moved with purpose, directing her knight to distribute supplies to the gathered people.
As crates of food, medicine, and blankets were opened, the crowd fell into a hush.
The silence didn't last long.
A moment later, people naturally formed a line, stepping forward one by one to receive her aid.
It was an expected sight.
A Saintess fulfilling her role, tending to those in need.
Rin decided that he wanted no part in this.
This wasn't his business.
He turned, ready to slip away—
"You there!"
Rin froze.
The voice was clear, ringing through the air like a chime.
He turned back just in time to see one of the Saintess' attendants—a young cleric—smiling at him.
Her voice was warm, inviting.
"No need to be shy," she said kindly. "You may come forward and receive aid as well."
The crowd's attention shifted.
People turned to look at Rin.
Whispers spread.
"Is he a traveler?"
"Maybe he's poor?"
"He doesn't really look like a local..."
Rin sighed internally.
"...Great."
This was exactly what he had wanted to avoid.