The reception hall of the Shinegori mansion carried an atmosphere that was both refined and suffocating.
Tall windows framed the darkening sky outside, the last strands of evening sunlight filtering through crimson curtains embroidered with the crest of the Shinegori family. Candles had already been lit by servants, their flames dancing softly against polished marble floors and carved wooden pillars.
Yet despite the elegance of the room, the air inside felt heavy.
Akane, Rin, and Rei stepped inside together.
Immediately their gazes fell upon the two men already seated comfortably in the reception area as if the mansion belonged entirely to them.
Akane stopped walking.
Her amethyst eyes narrowed.
The familiar smug confidence she usually carried was gone. In its place was something far colder… something sharper.
For the first time that evening, Rin thought she looked less like a merchant and more like a true Shinegori.
The two men turned toward the entrance.
One was a young man around Rin's age, elegant and composed with the same dark hair and proud posture typical of Shinegori blood.
Beside him sat an older man—calm, dignified, his presence alone carrying the weight of authority.
Both looked perfectly comfortable.
Too comfortable.
Akane's expression hardened.
"It seems," she said coolly, "you two have made yourselves at home."
Her tone was polite.
But the chill behind it could freeze water.
She stepped forward, stopping several meters away.
"Father… Brother."
She bowed slightly.
Then straightened, the cold smile returning to her lips.
"Unannounced visitations are quite rude, you know."
The younger man chuckled softly.
The smile on his face looked warm at first glance.
But Rin immediately felt the same thing Akane probably felt.
A Shinegori smile.
Polished.
Carefully controlled.
Hiding intentions beneath it.
"Now now, Akane," the young man said gently. "I believe family is exempted from such formalities."
Akane didn't respond to him.
Instead she turned her gaze toward the older man.
"Speak quickly," she said bluntly. "I have two guests waiting, and as you can see…"
Her eyes briefly shifted to the figures standing behind her.
"…they are not small fries."
Rin and Rei stood calmly.
Both carried the quiet elegance expected of nobles.
Yet simply standing there was enough to create a subtle pressure in the room.
After all, one was the Vermillion Consort of the Crown Prince.
The other was the heir to the Sumeragi Dukedom, the most influential among the Five Great Families.
Their presence alone forced the Shinegori visitors to behave.
Rei noticed the shift immediately.
A moment ago she had practically been treated like an inconvenience clinging to Rin.
Now, because Akane openly acknowledged her as a guest…
She had been elevated.
From nuisance…
to honored guest.
Rei hid a small smile behind her sleeve.
Interesting.
The older man stood.
He gave a proper noble bow.
"Vermillion Consort Takigawa Rei. Heir to the Sumeragi Dukedom, Sumeragi Rin."
His voice was calm and refined.
"I greet the two of you. Thank you for being friendly with my daughter."
He straightened and introduced himself.
"My name is Shinegori Togo."
The current Duke of the Shinegori family.
Akane's father.
Technically.
Rin knew enough about the situation to understand the awkward truth.
Akane was an illegitimate daughter.
While she carried the Shinegori name, she had never truly been treated like part of the main family.
Not like the young man standing beside Togo.
The young man gave his own bow.
"Shinegori Kato," he introduced himself. "Heir of the Shinegori main family."
Which meant he held the same position Rin did in his own house.
Future Duke.
Yet despite their friendly expressions, neither Rin nor Rei felt any sincerity from them.
Rin thought quietly.
Yeah… these two are definitely not here for a family reunion.
Akane crossed her arms.
"What do you two want?"
Her voice was sharp.
She didn't bother hiding her irritation.
"I have already informed the main family that I have no intention of cooperating."
Her gaze sharpened further.
"It has been like that since I was young. So why should that change now?"
Everyone in the room knew the answer.
Because she had become the White Consort.
A consort of the Crown Prince.
That title alone gave her enormous political weight.
Even without her family.
Especially when paired with her reputation as the Merchant Queen.
A genius trader who built a vast network of businesses through her own efforts.
The Shinegori family had ignored her existence for years.
But the moment she was announced as a consort…
They suddenly remembered she existed.
Akane thought bitterly.
Now they come crawling.
Meanwhile Rin silently watched.
He knew another reason the Shinegori family was nervous.
Him.
Akane's business partner.
And the person she trusted with information even before her consort appointment.
The Sumeragi family already held the greatest influence among the Five Great Houses:
ShinegoriTakigawaSaradaChinenSumeragi
If Akane and Rin strengthened their alliance further…
The Sumeragi family's influence could grow even more.
Something the Shinegori family absolutely could not allow.
Kato spoke calmly.
"Akane."
"You should listen to your family and accept the business proposal we have sent you."
He sighed lightly.
"You have rejected it repeatedly for the past two weeks. Each time we revised it and resent it to you."
He reached into his sleeve and produced another document.
"This is the newest draft."
He handed it to her.
"Consider this visit a personal request."
Akane took the document.
The room grew quiet as she read.
Rin watched her expression carefully.
Her eyes moved quickly across the paper.
Once.
Twice.
Then suddenly—
She threw it back.
The papers slid across the table toward Kato.
"So sloppy."
The room froze.
"Did you think those terms and plans were something I would accept?"
Her voice carried open disdain.
"You placed most of the operational burden on me."
She pointed to the document.
"Using my current market reach, my merchant network, and my distribution channels."
Then her eyes sharpened.
"And yet you offer me thirty percent?"
Kato calmly folded the document.
"You must consider the situation," he said.
"The Shinegori family holds the ownership rights to the product."
Akane laughed.
A cold laugh.
"You want me to use my own resources to sell and market a product that does not even exist yet."
Her voice became sharper.
"You focus on research while I create the entire market."
She leaned slightly forward.
"And you get seventy percent?"
She scoffed.
"Please."
"Even my existing businesses earn more profit with less effort than that."
Kato maintained his composure.
"Thirty percent is generous."
He spoke as if explaining something obvious.
"It is Shinegori policy that outside parties receive thirty percent shares."
He smiled.
"However, since you are part of the family, you will naturally receive more support from the remaining seventy percent."
Akane stared at him like he had just said something stupid.
"Do you think I run charities?"
Her tone turned icy.
"Thirty percent would barely cover the marketing costs alone."
She began counting on her fingers.
"New departments. Personnel. Distribution networks. Administrative operations."
Her eyes glowed dangerously.
"And you expect the White Consort to lower herself for that share?"
Togo finally spoke.
His voice carried authority.
"Akane."
"You are being greedy."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"Among the many businesses under the Shinegori family, only six receive such arrangements."
"This would be the seventh."
He looked at her sternly.
"It is an honor."
"You should be grateful to receive thirty percent while also gaining the support of the family's seventy percent share."
Akane stared at him.
Then she slowly shook her head.
"Father."
"You misunderstand."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I am carrying the majority of the burden."
She tapped the table.
"You have a product."
"But without my network…"
She leaned forward slightly.
"Your market does not exist."
Her gaze swept across the room.
"Tell me."
"Do you have another way to sell it?"
"Using your current manpower?"
"Your current businesses?"
Silence filled the hall.
The air turned cold.
Kato's smile faded slightly.
Togo's expression hardened.
Finally Togo spoke.
"Are you implying the Shinegori family cannot do what you can?"
Akane didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The blunt answer landed like a hammer.
Kato's eyes narrowed.
"This product will sell."
"It is valuable to the empire."
Akane crossed her arms.
"Then sell it yourself."
Her voice was calm.
"If it is that easy."
The tension in the room became suffocating.
Rin stood quietly between them.
Inside his head he sighed.
…Why does every meeting I attend turn into a battlefield?
He glanced at Rei.
She was watching the scene carefully, her calm smile hiding sharp curiosity.
Rin thought again.
Yep.
This night is definitely going to get worse.
The tension in the reception hall lingered for a few more moments after the last exchange.
Then, quite suddenly, Shinegori Akane walked toward the center table and calmly took a seat.
The movement was deliberate.
Graceful.
And unmistakably commanding.
She crossed one leg over the other and leaned back slightly in the chair, resting her elbow on the armrest as if she were the one receiving guests rather than the other way around.
Which, technically, she was.
Her amethyst eyes looked at the two Shinegori men.
"I believe I have already entertained this discussion long enough."
Her tone was calm, but it carried the quiet authority of someone used to giving orders.
"You may leave."
She didn't phrase it like a request.
It was a dismissal.
Behind her, Sumeragi Rin silently rubbed the bridge of his nose.
She didn't even try to soften that…
The two Shinegori men exchanged a brief glance.
Neither of them seemed particularly offended.
In fact, both looked as if they had expected exactly this outcome.
Finally, the younger man, Shinegori Kato, spoke again.
"If that is your decision, then we will not force the matter today."
He folded his hands politely.
"But before we leave…"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…what terms would you accept?"
Akane's lips curved.
Ah.
So they were finally negotiating.
Good.
She tapped the table once with her finger.
"Sixty percent."
The room fell silent.
Kato blinked.
Beside him, Shinegori Togo frowned slightly.
"That is impossible."
Kato shook his head.
"The Shinegori family cannot go beyond thirty percent."
Akane didn't even look surprised.
She had expected that.
She leaned back slightly and sighed.
"Fine."
She waved a hand lazily.
"Then we approach this differently."
Both Shinegori men listened carefully.
Akane spoke slowly.
"Thirty percent stays as my share."
Kato nodded slightly.
Reasonable so far.
Then she continued.
"But you will pay ten percent commission on total sales."
The room went quiet again.
Akane continued calmly.
"That commission covers the creation of a new department."
She began counting on her fingers.
"Sales."
"Promotion."
"Distribution."
"Administrative support."
"All operational expenses related to selling your product."
Her amethyst eyes sharpened slightly.
"I do not work for free."
She leaned forward slightly.
"And the thirty percent?"
A faint smile appeared.
"That is profit for attaching my name to the product."
She tapped her chest lightly.
"I am the White Consort."
"If I support your product publicly, it will sell."
Her gaze returned to them.
"You are paying for that influence."
Kato and Togo both stared at her.
For a moment neither spoke.
Because the implications were obvious.
Ten percent commission from total sales.
Then after production expenses and taxes—
Another thirty percent profit share to Akane.
From a business standpoint…
It felt like they had just been robbed.
Rin quietly observed from behind Akane.
…Actually that's pretty fair.
He mentally calculated.
The ten percent commission would cover the operational department.
Which meant the Shinegori family wouldn't need to spend resources building their own distribution network.
All they needed to focus on was the product itself.
Production costs.
Research.
Manufacturing.
Everything else would be handled.
They still profit from seventy percent of the product line before commission deductions…
Yeah… it's not a bad deal.
But the problem was—
The Shinegori family valued profit maximization above all else.
And giving away ten percent of total sales felt painful.
Togo frowned deeply.
"That commission is excessive."
Akane shrugged lazily.
"Then build your own sales network."
She gestured vaguely.
"Hire people."
"Create departments."
"Train them."
"Establish merchant routes."
Her smile sharpened.
"Or perhaps your current staff can handle it?"
Silence again.
Everyone in the room knew the answer.
They couldn't.
Rin remembered something Akane had once told him during a late-night strategy meeting.
The Shinegori system is toxic.
Their merchant branches were run with minimal staff.
Employees were pushed to their limits.
Hiring more workers was nearly impossible because their compensation structures were terrible.
It was efficient.
But brittle.
No flexibility.
Meanwhile Akane's own organization—
Akane Merchantry—
offered higher pay.
Better conditions.
And stronger incentives.
Which meant talented merchants constantly tried to join her instead.
And now…
With her new title as White Consort…
Working under Akane carried prestige as well.
Togo understood all of this.
Which made the situation frustrating.
Akane held the leverage.
She had the manpower.
The merchant networks.
The administrative systems.
Without her—
The product would struggle to reach markets.
Finally Kato sighed.
He exchanged another look with Togo.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Very well."
Akane's eyebrow rose slightly.
"The Shinegori family accepts."
"Thirty percent share."
"And ten percent commission from total sales."
Akane smiled faintly.
"Pleasure doing business."
Togo stood.
Kato followed.
Both men bowed politely toward Rin and Rei before leaving.
"Thank you for your time."
Then they turned and exited the mansion hall.
The heavy doors closed behind them.
And just like that—
The oppressive tension disappeared.
Akane remained seated for a few seconds.
Then her shoulders dropped slightly.
"…What a pain."
She rubbed her temple briefly.
Rin chuckled quietly.
"You handled it well."
Akane waved dismissively.
"I always do."
Then she turned toward the two remaining guests.
"Please sit."
She gestured to the couches near the tea table.
"Sorry for the unsightly interaction earlier."
Rin sat first.
Rei followed gracefully, folding her hands neatly over her lap.
Akane leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms again.
Her expression returned to the annoyed look she had whenever Rei was nearby.
"As you can see…"
She smirked slightly.
"…I do not get along well with my family."
Rei tilted her head.
"That much was obvious."
Akane didn't seem embarrassed.
If anything, she looked amused.
"My values and standards differ from theirs."
She shrugged lightly.
"I prefer doing things my own way."
Then she turned toward Rin.
Her expression changed slightly.
A hint of smugness.
A hint of hope.
"I hope what you just saw does not make you reconsider working with me, Sir Rin."
Rin sighed softly.
He already expected this question.
"Our contract still stands."
Akane leaned forward slightly.
"Even after that display?"
Rin nodded calmly.
"I will help you with anything."
Then he added carefully,
"…other than that specific thing."
Rei tilted her head curiously.
"And what might that specific thing be?"
Akane immediately replied.
"That is none of your business."
She shifted her chair slightly closer to Rin.
Close enough that her shoulder nearly brushed his.
"It is an agreement between Sir Rin and myself."
Her voice softened slightly.
Almost sweet.
Rin immediately sighed.
Then he calmly slid his chair a little farther away.
Akane pouted slightly.
"That distance was unnecessary."
Rin ignored the comment.
"It is simply business," he said calmly.
"I will help you with anything… except that."
Akane studied him for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"Fine."
She stood up and clapped once.
A servant outside immediately opened the door.
"Prepare tea."
Her lips curved into a small smile.
"For my two guests."
She paused briefly.
Then added,
"Sir Rin…"
"And the promoted bug."
Her eyes flicked toward Rei.
Rei simply smiled warmly.
As if she hadn't been insulted at all.
And somewhere deep inside his mind—
Rin screamed once more.
Why do these two hate each other this much…
The reception hall gradually settled into a calmer atmosphere after the departure of the two Shinegori men.
Servants moved quietly through the room, their footsteps soft against the polished floors. The documents left behind from the negotiation were collected and removed, replaced instead with a refined porcelain tea set arranged carefully on the lacquered table.
The faint clink of cups and saucers echoed gently through the large chamber.
Lantern light shimmered across the polished wood, casting warm reflections that softened the earlier tension.
At the center of it all stood Shinegori Akane.
Unlike earlier, she had loosened the wide sleeves of her elegant robe slightly as she began preparing tea herself.
Steam rose slowly from the kettle.
Her movements were practiced and precise—another skill she had learned during her time entertaining noble merchants and political figures.
Across from her sat two people.
Sumeragi Rin.
And Takigawa Rei.
Akane poured hot water over the tea leaves, watching them slowly bloom inside the porcelain pot.
"Well," she said casually.
Her amethyst eyes glanced between her two guests.
"Since we are already gathered like this…"
She tilted the pot slightly as fragrant steam filled the air.
"…we might as well talk about the other two."
Rin immediately knew what she meant.
The remaining consorts.
Among the Five Pillar Families of the Empire.
Shinegori.
Takigawa.
Chinen.
Sarada.
Sumeragi.
Four of those houses had produced consorts.
And the last—
The Sumeragi family.
Even without a consort candidate, Rin's position as heir to the most politically influential family meant he still stood on equal footing with them in many discussions.
After all, the Sumeragi house controlled nearly half of the Empire's administrative departments.
Akane placed a tea cup in front of Rin.
Then one before Rei.
"I'm curious," she said lightly.
"What do the two of you think about the Azure Consort and the Black Consort?"
She finished pouring the tea.
The delicate aroma of high-grade leaves spread throughout the hall.
Rei lifted her cup gracefully.
"You mean Lady Suzuki."
She took a small sip.
Her tone remained composed.
"But if we are speaking honestly… she is quite impressive."
Akane raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Rei nodded slowly.
"I visited the Chinen Dukedom once when I was younger."
Her eyes grew slightly distant.
"My father sometimes travels there to cooperate with their magicians."
The explanation was simple.
The Takigawa clan specialized in martial combat.
Swordsmanship.
Spears.
Physical discipline.
But even the greatest warriors occasionally required magical support.
Meanwhile the Chinen clan possessed the deepest magical knowledge in the empire.
Cooperation between the two houses happened more often than most people realized.
Rei continued.
"That was when I first saw Lady Suzuki training."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"She was casting her magic technique…"
"Psychic Elemental."
Rin quietly lifted his cup.
He already knew where this was going.
Chinen Suzuki.
A magical prodigy.
Her rare magic technique allowed her to manipulate multiple elemental spells simultaneously through psychic control.
Rei continued.
"She controlled four elements at once."
"Fire."
"Water."
"Earth."
"Wind."
Akane paused mid-sip.
"All four?"
Rei nodded.
"And not separately."
"She cast them simultaneously."
Her finger tapped lightly against the porcelain cup.
"The precision was overwhelming."
Her voice carried genuine respect.
"Each spell was perfectly controlled."
"No wasted mana."
"No delay."
Rin remembered that moment clearly.
In the story Harumi had once described to him, Suzuki was considered a walking natural disaster in battle.
But…
She had one glaring weakness.
Without magic—
She was practically helpless.
Rin's thoughts briefly drifted back to the kidnapping incident.
Chains wrapped around Suzuki's wrists.
Magic suppression restraints.
Her spells completely sealed.
The two of them running through the abandoned mansion near the outskirts of the Hoshimi Empire.
The Parley faction pursuing them through collapsing hallways.
Suzuki searching desperately for an escape route.
Rin holding off the attackers.
Too many enemies.
Too little time.
And when they were finally cornered—
Rin silently pushed that memory aside and took another sip of tea.
Rei was still speaking.
"I once asked her for a duel."
Akane nearly choked on her tea.
"You did what?"
Rin blinked.
"You challenged her?"
Rei nodded calmly.
"I wished to test my martial arts against her magic."
Akane burst into laughter.
"That sounds like suicide."
She leaned back smugly.
"You would lose."
Rei remained perfectly calm.
Akane slowly turned toward Rin.
"Isn't that right, Sir Rin?"
Ah.
There it was.
The baton had been passed.
Rin could practically feel the invisible trap snapping shut around him.
If he agreed with Akane—
Rei might feel slighted.
If he defended Rei—
Akane would sulk for the rest of the night.
Rin calmly placed his cup down.
Neutral diplomacy activated.
"Lady Suzuki is not invincible."
Both women looked at him.
"Everyone has their strengths."
He gestured slightly toward Rei.
"Lady Rei's martial training as a Takigawa differs entirely from the magical specialization of Lady Suzuki."
He continued smoothly.
"Each Dukedom cultivates different advantages."
Akane watched him quietly.
For just a moment—
A faint sadness flickered in her eyes.
Of course.
Rin would never openly support her in conflicts involving the other consorts.
That had always been their agreement.
He would support her in anything.
Except matters involving the consorts.
Rei nodded thoughtfully.
"That is true."
Her eyes brightened slightly.
"Still… I wish to test myself against her someday."
Then she suddenly added,
"I also heard something interesting."
Her gaze shifted toward Rin.
"Rumors say that Sir Rin once saved Lady Suzuki."
Akane's eyes widened.
"Oh?"
Rei leaned slightly forward.
"They say you nearly escaped together during the kidnapping incident."
Her gaze sharpened with curiosity.
"I wonder how strong you actually are, Sir Rin."
Both consorts stared at him.
Rin felt a sudden urge to jump out the nearest window.
Why would she bring that up now…
He coughed lightly.
"It was a difficult situation."
He chose his words carefully.
"Lady Suzuki contributed as well."
A partial truth.
In reality Suzuki had been completely restrained by the chains.
But she had stayed calm.
Analyzing escape routes.
Planning their path.
So technically…
She had helped.
Just not in combat.
Rin quickly redirected the conversation.
"But speaking of the other consort…"
He lifted his tea cup again.
"What about Lady Sarada?"
Akane and Rei exchanged a glance.
Ah.
The infamous one.
Sarada Himeko.
Rei spoke first.
"I have heard many rumors."
Akane smirked.
"The seductive one."
Rei nodded.
"Apparently she knows everything about everyone."
That reputation came from her family.
The Sarada clan controlled the empire's largest intelligence network.
If information existed—
They likely already knew it.
Rin knew that better than anyone.
In the story Harumi had told him, Himeko's greatest weapon wasn't beauty.
It was knowledge.
Secrets.
Weaknesses.
Desires.
Once she understood those…
Winning someone over became easy.
Rei continued thoughtfully.
"They say she can charm almost anyone."
Akane snorted.
"Seduction as a political weapon."
She rested her chin in her palm.
"Quite shameless."
Rei tilted her head.
"Effective, though."
Both women slowly turned toward Rin.
"What do you think?"
Rin calmly lifted his cup.
"I cannot say much."
Akane raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know her?"
"The Sarada Dukedom lies the farthest from Sumeragi territory."
Rin shrugged slightly.
"We have never met."
Technically true.
At least in this timeline.
"I only know rumors."
Inside his mind however—
He knew far more.
But that knowledge came from the story Harumi had once read.
A novel from her previous life.
One she had somehow dragged Rin into by sharing the plot with him.
Seriously… Rin thought.
Why would you hand the burden of future knowledge to an extra like me?
Though…
Their relationship had grown strange over time.
Master and servant.
But also friends.
Rin returned to the present conversation.
"For now, Lady Himeko remains a mystery to me."
Akane leaned back.
Rei nodded thoughtfully.
The discussion slowly turned speculative.
"How would you deal with such a rival?" Rei asked.
Akane scoffed.
"I have no intention of seducing anyone."
Rei replied calmly.
"Then you may fall behind."
Akane smirked.
"My merchants buy loyalty with results."
Rei countered smoothly.
"Charm can also create loyalty."
Akane's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh?"
And just like that—
The peaceful tea conversation began sliding toward another battlefield.
Rin slowly sipped his tea.
…here we go again.
Akane leaned forward slightly.
Rei remained perfectly composed.
Their gazes clashed silently across the table.
Another cold war had begun.
Rin stared into his cup.
And for the hundredth time that day he wondered something deeply troubling.
How does the Crown Prince deal with all of this…
Especially knowing something they didn't.
Something only he and Harumi knew.
That in the future—
All of these powerful consorts…
Would lose to a single girl.
A commoner.
Miharu.
Rin sighed quietly.
The night was far from over.
And despite the fact that his body never truly tired—
His mind absolutely did.
Because surviving battles of words between two future consorts of the empire…
Was somehow far more exhausting than fighting assassins.