The grand halls of the palace had quieted. The once vibrant energy of the year-end celebration had faded into the soft crackles of fireworks lingering in the night's memory. Nobles and foreign guests departed, the echoes of their laughter and clinking glasses growing distant. But for Rin, the night was far from over.
Dragged—almost ceremoniously—by his two younger sisters, Rin found himself pulled through polished hallways until the door to one of the more intimate royal rooms opened. Waiting inside were familiar faces: the four consorts, their loyal headmaids, Arata and Yoshito, the Four Empresses, Emperor Masaki, Crown Prince Kazuo, and a modest cake resting at the center of the room. Rin paused at the threshold, instantly understanding their intention.
He frowned slightly, sighing. "You guys… really didn't have to do this."
"Oh hush," Izumi waved him in, arms crossed with a smug grin. "You never celebrate your birthday, so this year, you have no choice."
Aya giggled, linking arms with her brother. "We even timed it! The year-end celebration ended right at midnight. It's officially your birthday now, Rin."
Despite himself, Rin smiled faintly. He could see the fatigue on everyone's faces. The year-end event had taken so much from them—especially the consorts who had spent the entire evening acting as Kazuo's public fiancées—but they still made time for him. That alone was enough to make his heart ache with appreciation.
He barely had time to think before the consorts descended on him.
"You didn't think you were getting away without opening our gifts, did you?" Rei teased, nudging a wrapped box into his arms.
"I personally selected this," Miharu whispered into his ear with a wink, "with a little something just for you."
Akane handed hers with a smirk. "It's practical. Like me."
And Suzuki, looking like she could collapse from exhaustion but glowing all the same, placed hers atop the others. "It's from the heart."
Before Rin could protest, the four pulled him into a group hug. And while he usually tried to maintain boundaries, tonight, he gave in—raising his arms and returning their embrace, cheeks slightly flushed. None of them went too far. But their happiness radiated, infectious and warm, even as they playfully jostled to get closer to him.
Across the room, the three older men observed in silence.
"So," Arata started, arms crossed, watching the spectacle. "Your Highness. How does it feel to not be the one smothered in affection?"
Kazuo exhaled like a man dodging a storm. "Frankly? Relieved. It's overwhelming just watching them throw themselves at Rin. He looked like he wanted to escape."
Yoshito let out a chuckle. "Yet he didn't. That boy's softer than he lets on."
Masaki, arms behind his back, gave a nostalgic smile. "It's like watching the past. You know… those four remind me of my own Empresses when they were young. Each so different, but united in loving one man."
Kazuo gave a sideways glance. "So Rin's already walking your path, Father."
"It's more than that," Masaki replied seriously. "He's doing the impossible—earning the loyalty of future Empresses this early. It wouldn't surprise me if even more good women fall for him."
Kazuo's expression turned thoughtful. "Are you thinking of the Saintess Elaine?"
"She's one of them," Arata nodded. "By fate or by divine scheme, she was led to Rin… to ask him to reform a corrupted faith. She's only the beginning."
"Then there's Higashi Harumi," Yoshito added. "The White Elder's second apprentice. He has a soft spot for her, doesn't he?"
"We don't know their full relationship," Masaki said, "but if fate really is guiding Rin, then the people around him—those who stay—might just be part of what breaks the cycle."
"The cycle..." Kazuo's voice lowered. "Of death and rebirth."
Arata nodded. "We've seen the reports. Every time Rin dies, the world resets. Over and over again."
Yoshito's face darkened. "It's cruel. As if the world refuses to live without him."
Masaki's gaze lingered on Rin—now laughing as his sisters bragged about their presents, a rare softness on his face. "He's the center of what's to come. Whether by divine design or cursed fate, this world revolves around him."
For a moment, the room fell into a thoughtful silence, the tension of truth weighing heavier than any crown.
But at least, in this moment, it was quiet.
Rin was smiling. Surrounded by those who fought to stay by his side.
And for now… that was enough
Rin had barely escaped the iron embrace of his four fiancées—still flustered and trying to recompose himself—when yet another force wrapped around him.
"Rin!" came the voice, soft and overflowing with emotion.
He looked up, and there she was—Nao, the Azure Empress, his own birth mother. Without waiting for permission, she pulled him into a tight, soul-deep hug.
"Mom—!" Rin groaned, muffled slightly by the royal silk robes smothering his face. "You're squeezing the life out of me…"
But even as he protested, he returned the hug—hesitantly at first, then with more sincerity. She smelled faintly of mana-laced perfume and warm memories. Nao didn't let go. In fact, she held him tighter, as if she could anchor this fleeting moment and never let it go.
"You've only just come back into our lives, my sweet child," she whispered, eyes twinkling with a rare mix of mischief and maternal warmth. "You should be hugged more. Be a good son and accept it."
Across the room, the consorts stood quietly, watching. And each of them—Miharu, Suzuki, Rei, Akane—noticed something they always knew but rarely saw displayed this clearly:
This was the side of Rin he kept buried. The real Rin. The one who opened his heart to those he already loved, who didn't hide behind aloof smiles or indifferent distance. The way he sighed but still hugged back… the way he let Nao fuss over him like a child.
It made something stir in them. A craving.
A craving to be let in that far. To be the one Rin dropped his walls for.
They all pouted silently in sync. Rei crossed her arms. Akane clicked her tongue. Suzuki mumbled something into her sleeves. Miharu's eyes narrowed with playful envy.
Then—like the quiet voice of reason—Asami, the White Empress, gently placed a hand on Nao's shoulder.
"If you keep hugging him like that, he'll die before the next birthday," she said dryly.
Nao chuckled but finally relented, reluctantly letting Rin go. "Fine, fine. But don't think I'm done."
Before she stepped back, she handed him a finely bound, azure-blue magic book. "I found this during one of my diplomatic trips. It's rare—only one of its kind. I thought of you the moment I saw it."
Rin blinked, then gave her a small, sincere smile. "Thanks… Mom."
Asami followed suit, presenting him with a shimmering pen shaped from silver-blue crystal. "This pen converts mana into ink. You can write even in complete darkness… or underwater. Useful for your studies, yes?"
"Very," Rin replied with quiet gratitude.
Minako, in her typical calm, almost elusive manner, handed him a sleek black-and-purple mask.
"This will help you disappear when needed," she said simply. "Infuse it with Shadow Magic, and your presence will vanish like smoke. I had it enchanted for someone like you."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "You always know what I need before I do."
Minako smiled faintly. "Mother's instinct."
Last was Hikari, ever bold, ever proud. She placed a small, curved karambit wrapped in red silk into his palm.
"An assassin tried to kill me in a foreign kingdom," she said with a grin. "I liked the blade, so I took it. Thought it'd suit you better. You've always had a flair for combining techniques."
Rin gave a half-laugh. "You're giving me an assassin's weapon as a birthday gift?"
Hikari shrugged. "It's called practicality."
The four consorts watched quietly, hearts fluttering with a mix of longing and determination. These women had history with Rin—maternal, political, familial. But they, the consorts, wanted something else entirely.
That kind of love. Not as mothers. But as women. Lovers. Partners. The ones Rin would whisper his love to in the dark. The ones he would hold close not from obligation—but from desire.
They made a quiet vow in that moment, together in their hearts:
One day… we'll reach that part of you, Rin. One day, you'll hold us like that—and never want to let go.
And on that night, surrounded by soft candlelight, glowing gifts, and quiet laughter…
Rin was loved.
Even if he still didn't know just how much.
.The celebration carried on well into the night, laughter echoing across the grand halls of the Hoshimi Imperial Palace. Warm candlelight flickered gently. The imperial family, the four consorts, and Rin were gathered around a beautifully crafted birthday cake—white and gold, decorated with fine spells and enchantments that made it shimmer like the stars themselves.
Just as someone reached for the first slice, a sudden golden glow flared from the heart of the cake.
The room froze.
Empresses shifted forward, hands twitching toward magic seals. Arata and Yoshito tensed near the doors. Even the headmaids instinctively reached into their hidden sleeves. The consorts stepped in front of Rin without hesitation, their eyes scanning for magical traces.
But as the light dimmed, all that remained was a single object resting beside the cake—
A golden envelope, pulsing faintly with divine mana.
And not just any mana.
Nao's eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth.
Minako narrowed her eyes. "No… It can't be."
Hikari cursed under her breath, her hand tightening around the hilt of her blade. Even Asami—the ever-composed White Empress—stood still, lips drawn in a sharp line.
The mana signature was unmistakable.
Golden Princess Higa Ayumi.
The very same letterhead, the very same glow, the very same pressure that had once forced the Imperial Family to accept Rin's departure. A letter that shattered their hearts and stole their son away under divine justification.
Now… it had returned.
But this time, the recipient was clear:
"To Hoshimi Rin."
Gasps filled the room.
Suzuki clutched her chest. Rei stepped back in disbelief. Miharu blinked rapidly, as if the letter would vanish. Akane's expression hardened, a storm brewing behind her eyes.
Masaki, ever the stoic Emperor, looked to Rin. "It's for you."
Rin stared at the letter in silence before slowly reaching for it. His fingers brushed the surface and a soft warmth spread from the seal. It opened itself without his command.
No divine decree this time.
No royal command.
No conditions.
Just…
"Happy Birthday, my dearest Rin."
A letter.
No.
A love letter.
Rin blinked.
The letter continued:
"Even if you do not remember me now, I will always be your first love. Across cycles, across time—I remain constant. You always meet me the same way. Watching me from afar… with that same kind smile. Even now, in this life, you wore it again."
The room went silent. A few dishes clinked faintly from somewhere in the distance, but no one spoke.
The consorts flinched. Every word felt like a dagger cloaked in silk.
"I understand that you do not remember, my love. But I have not forgotten. I cannot forget. We are bound by fate far beyond what this world comprehends."
"And to the four consorts who now stand by his side—do not misunderstand. I once hated you. In many cycles, I watched as you stole Rin from me. But over time, I chose differently. I allowed his heart to reach you all first. So be thankful. Cherish him until I return… because he is not just yours."
"He is mine, too."
The air thickened like fog, magic rippling subtly from each of the consorts. Jealousy. Fury. Fear.
It wasn't the threat of the letter—they knew no harm would come from it.
No.
It was the certainty within it. The familiarity. The confidence of a woman who had walked through countless lifetimes, holding Rin's soul like a treasured gem.
Even Akane—who prided herself on manipulation—felt rattled. Because the letter made her question:
Was their love Rin's choice… or hers?
"He had to leave the palace," the letter explained, "to reclaim his regrets… and to win your hearts once more. I orchestrated it. Your meeting with him was so natural that it sometimes reminded me of how Rin seduced me in the original timeline. Still it was a necessary move to save the world."
"I will return soon Rin. When I do, I will still and always be the your first. Of course I don't mind sharing you with the consorts and perhaps the others."
At the bottom was a single line written in shimmering gold:
"PS: You always introduce yourself the same way. From a distance. With that perfect, kind smile. And this time, in this cycle it was no different. I fell for you again in that moment."
Rin's hand trembled.
The letter slipped from his fingers and fluttered to the floor.
He slumped to his knees like a puppet with cut strings, face pale. The entire room jolted into motion.
"Rin!" Nao was the first to reach him, catching him before he collapsed fully. She cradled him as panic spread through the room.
"I'm fine…" Rin muttered weakly. "I think my soul just left my body for a second."
His gaze was distant.
"Mom…" he whispered. "How do you seduce someone you've never met?"
Nao blinked. "W-What kind of question is that?!"
"I mean…" He swallowed, eyes flicking to the golden letter. "She wrote with such certainty. Like… I'm hers. She's confident. That kind of confidence only comes from knowing someone deeply. From being loved back."
He looked at the four consorts—each of whom now bore grim expressions, a dark aura simmering around them.
"She said she orchestrated it. That you all fell for me because she let it happen…"
The words hurt more than he wanted to admit.
"She stole my agency," Suzuki murmured, voice shaking.
"She gave us Rin?" Miharu's fists clenched. "As if we're just… stand-ins."
Akane said nothing. Her eyes were fixed on the letter with an unreadable expression.
Rei growled. "No. I don't care if she's from another timeline or another world. I love Rin because I chose to. Not because she let me."
The tension thickened. The air sparked faintly with mana.
"I request," Rin said, standing slowly, "to return to being a commoner."
"Denied."
Four voices.
Four empresses.
And then—
"Absolutely not."
Masaki.
Izumi.
Aya.
Kazuo.
The family was united this time.
"You're not running," Asami said gently, stepping beside him. "Not again."
Rin closed his eyes.
A long, exhausted sigh escaped his lips.
"If she says we've met in every cycle…" he whispered, "then I think I've already met her. In this one."
He slowly picked up the letter again, his fingers trembling.
"She said… 'you always had the same smile.' That I wore it again in this cycle."
"I haven't met anyone like her," he said. "At least… not that I remember."
The consorts, still seething, all thought the same:
Then she's hiding.
She's already close to Rin.
Watching.
But that only raised one haunting question in all their minds:
Who is she now?
And how close is she already…
…to claiming Rin once more?
Silence still lingered in the wake of the golden letter, everyone frozen in their own thoughts—until a sudden, unexpected sound broke through the tension:
Sniff.
Chomp.
Everyone turned.
Rin… was eating the cake.
He had taken a slice, hands shaking, eyes red, tears streaming funnily down his face—but his mouth was full. Bite after bite. Frosting smeared a little on the corner of his lips.
"I feel like this is my last supper," Rin mumbled between sobs. "At least the cake… is delicious…"
Tears flowed like twin waterfalls, but his fork never paused.
"Very delicious… huhuhu… another bite…"
Everyone stared, unsure whether to be concerned, horrified, or impressed.
"This is so tragic it looped back to funny," Miharu whispered, wide-eyed.
"I've never seen him like this," Suzuki said, stunned.
Akane had her arms crossed but twitched every time he let out a hiccupping sob. "He's unravelling."
Rei almost reached out—but hesitated.
And then—
SMACK.
Rin jolted.
Kazuo stood behind him, hand still in mid-air from the flick he'd just delivered to the back of Rin's head. "Get it together, you emotional roller coaster of a brother!"
Rin sniffled, eyes wet. "Someone once told me the same thing… when I realized I seduced the four consorts one after another without knowing… Look how that turned out."
Kazuo stared. "You're impossible."
Rin, undeterred, took another bite of cake. "Huhuhu… One more slice… before the universe sends another fiancé to ruin what's left of my soul…"
Aya leaned toward Izumi, whispering, "Do you think we should help him?"
The four consorts also turned toward the sisters with matching looks of concern. "Should we… do something?"
Izumi sipped her juice nonchalantly. "Nah, just leave him."
Aya nodded sagely. "He's in contemplation mode. He acts weak and pitiful, but if you say anything now, he'll ignore you completely and wallow harder."
Rei blinked. "So… this is normal?"
"Oh, yeah," the sisters said in unison. "Super normal."
"Think of it like a phoenix molt," Izumi added, eyes glittering with amusement. "Let him burn dramatically in his own emotions. He'll be back to cool-headed scary Rin tomorrow."
The consorts, after exchanging helpless glances, sighed and backed off.
Suzuki crossed her arms, muttering, "I still want to stab someone…"
Miharu frowned. "What if I give him a hug?"
"Don't," Akane warned. "You'll trigger a monologue."
Rei groaned. "Too late. He's preparing."
Sure enough, Rin stood up slowly, cake still in hand, one hand dramatically pressed to his heart. His eyes were shimmering.
"I… am but a man… with a long history of seduction I never asked for…"
Kazuo palmed his face.
"I was once normal… I only wanted a peaceful life… but now…"
Another bite of cake.
"…I'm trapped in a timeline full of dangerous women… and worse…"
He looked up at the ceiling like it could explain fate.
"…they all love me."
Nao patted his back awkwardly, resisting the urge to either comfort or strangle him.
The four empresses watched silently from a distance, drinking wine.
"It begins," Hikari muttered.
"What?" Minako asked.
"The new year," Asami smiled faintly. "It always begins with one truth."
"What truth?" Nao asked.
Asami raised her glass in toast.
"Another woman has fallen in love with Rin."
The clock struck midnight.
Outside, fireworks exploded in the sky—brilliant bursts of gold and silver lighting up the heavens.
Inside the palace, Rin dramatically collapsed onto the couch, whispering into a pillow, "Please… just let me become a villager in peace…"
The four consorts surrounded him silently. Despite everything—the pain, the frustration, the confusion—one thing was certain:
He was theirs. And they weren't letting him go.
Not even if the stars themselves fell in love with him next.