CHAPTER 124: WELCOME TO THE HAREM!

The carriage finally rolled to a stop before the massive palace gates, the golden crest gleaming under the late evening sun. Rin adjusted his coat, smoothing out the fabric before stepping down onto the cobblestone path. The guards standing at the entrance lowered their spears, blocking his way with stern expressions.

"State your business," one barked, his voice sharp and commanding.

Rin gave them his best bored-but-polished smile, his crimson eyes glinting faintly. "I came to see the Crown Prince."

The guards exchanged quick looks, their postures stiffening. The one who spoke narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on his spear. "Do you have an invitation from His Highness?"

"...No." Rin folded his arms, his tone calm but firm. "But he knows me. Let me in. Tell him Rin is here."

The guard sneered, his voice dripping with scepticism. "We don’t let just anyone in here. Without an invitation, you wait outside."

Rin’s jaw tightened, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. He hated lowering himself, but the sun was dipping lower, and he needed those forbidden texts in the palace library. Time was not on his side.

Swallowing his pride, he let out a heavy sigh and spoke, the words bitter on his tongue. "...Fine. I’m from the brothel. Sent to His Highness personally."

The guards blinked, clearly caught off guard. The shift in their expressions was immediate... one went from suspicion to discomfort, clearing his throat awkwardly. "...From the brothel?"

"Yeah." Rin scratched his head, his voice flat. "Now will you let me through?"

The guards muttered among themselves, their voices low and uncertain. Finally, the one in charge nodded, his face still uneasy. "Very well. Follow me. Don’t touch anything and don’t wander off."

Rin groaned under his breath as he followed the man inside, his boots clicking on the polished stone. "I can’t believe I had to say that out loud," he muttered, his crimson eyes scanning the towering walls of the palace.

The guard ignored him, leading him through long hallways lined with ornate tapestries and polished floors that gleamed under the dim candlelight. The air smelled faintly of parchment, wax, and something floral, likely from the vases of fresh flowers tucked into every corner.

The palace was a maze, every turn leading to another corridor, each more lavish than the last. Rin kept his hands in his pockets, his expression neutral, but his mind was alert, cataloguing every detail.

"He’s been buried in work for days," the guard said casually as they walked, his tone softening slightly. "Barely eats. Barely sleeps."

Rin rolled his eyes, his voice dry. "And I’m supposed to care?"

The guard glanced at him but said nothing more, stopping in front of a large wooden door carved with intricate patterns. He gestured for Rin to wait and slipped inside, leaving Rin alone in the hall.

Rin leaned against the wall, his crimson eyes scanning the shadows. For someone who despised noble life, being in the heart of the palace felt surreal. ’So this is the palace... huh?’ he thought, his lips twitching into a faint smirk. It was grand, sure, but it reeked of politics and power plays... things he wanted no part of.

Before he could dwell on it, the door flew open. "Rin!"

Caspian stood there, his golden hair loose around his shoulders, strands falling into his tired brown eyes. Ink stained his hands and the cuffs of his burgundy tunic, and dark circles shadowed his face. He looked exhausted, but his entire expression lit up at the sight of Rin, a grin spreading across his lips.

Behind him, a knight blinked at Rin in surprise, clearly not expecting a visitor like him. Caspian cleared his throat quickly, dismissing the man with a sharp wave. "Leave us," he said, his tone firm. The knight bowed and stepped away, his armour clanking as he retreated down the hall.

The moment the hall was empty, Caspian grabbed Rin’s wrist, pulled him inside, and wrapped him in a tight hug. "Rin!" he said again, his voice warm with relief.

Rin stiffened, his voice sharp. "...You’re ruining my clothes."

Caspian pulled back quickly, his hands raised in apology. "Sorry! Sorry... I just... goddess, you’re here. You actually came."

Rin sighed, peeling off his outer coat and tossing it over the nearest chair. "You’re a mess."

The office was dim, lit only by a single lamp on Caspian’s desk. Piles of parchment were stacked high, some spilling onto the floor, their edges stained with ink. Books and scrolls littered every surface, and a faint smell of coffee lingered in the air. Caspian scratched his head sheepishly, his ears turning red. "Yeah. I’ve been trying to finish everything before..." He trailed off, his eyes darting away.

Rin arched a brow, crossing his arms. "Before what? Despite being so busy, you still found time to visit the brothel, didn’t you?"

Caspian laughed nervously, his ears reddening further. "I-I’m not a pervert, okay? I just..." He walked toward his desk and sat down, fiddling with a quill before blurting out the truth. "My rut is in five days. I thought if I... spent time with you, it would trigger early. That way, I could spend it with you instead of being stuck here alone."

Rin stared at him, his expression flat. "...That’s your excuse?"

Caspian rubbed the back of his neck, smiling weakly. "It’s the truth."

Rin exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "...Fine. But I didn’t come here for that. I came to ask for your help."

Caspian straightened immediately, his eyes bright with curiosity. "Anything. Tell me."

"I want access to the forbidden texts in the palace library," Rin said, his voice steady.

The smile vanished from Caspian’s face, his eyes widening. "...Forbidden texts? Rin, why?"

Rin leaned back against the wall, his tone smooth and calculated. "Because the Academy was attacked. Demons were involved. I used to study there. I thought if I could learn more about them, I could help protect the royal family. Isn’t that what a loyal subject should do?"

Caspian softened at that, his lips curving into a smile again. "...You’re really something, Rin. But still... no one can access the forbidden texts unless they’re part of the royal family."

Rin tilted his head, his crimson eyes glinting. "Isn’t there something we can do about that?"

Caspian leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly, a playful edge to his voice. "...Join my harem."

Rin froze, his voice flat. "...Excuse me?"

Caspian grinned, half-teasing, half-serious. "Just temporarily. If you’re mine, I can give you access. After that, you can leave whenever you want. All I ask is that you spend my rut with me."

Rin rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his mind racing. A soft chime rang in his head, and glowing text appeared before his eyes.

DING!

[New Mission: Survive the Crown Prince’s Harem.]

[Duration: 7 Days]

[Condition: Do not expose your identity. Endure until the rut ends.]

He frowned at the glowing text, then looked back at Caspian, his expression unreadable. "You’re insane."

"I know." Caspian chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "But it works, doesn’t it?"

Rin thought about it, his mind weighing the risks.

’It’s definitely dangerous to stay in the palace. But useful. If the Vortellions find out I’m here, I can use it to my advantage. And if they don’t... I’ll gain knowledge no one else has access to’.

Finally, he grinned faintly, his voice low. "Fine. I’ll do it."

Caspian’s whole face lit up, and he nearly leapt from his chair. "Really?!"

"Don’t make me regret it," Rin said, his tone sharp but tinged with amusement.

Caspian rushed over and grabbed Rin’s hand, holding it tightly. "You won’t. I promise."

He led Rin out of the office, down another long hall lined with portraits of past royals, their stern faces staring down. The air grew warmer as they approached a pair of massive double doors, carved with intricate floral designs.

The harem chambers.

The moment the doors opened, every head inside turned. Men and women dressed in flowing silks and glittering jewels lounged on plush cushions and velvet chairs. Some quickly adjusted their dresses, exposing more skin, while others crossed their legs or tilted their heads to draw attention. Their whispers filled the room as their eyes locked on Rin, sharp with curiosity and something darker.

"Who is he?"

"Why is the prince escorting him personally?"

"Look at his hair... his eyes..."

Caspian ignored them all, his gaze never leaving Rin. He raised his voice, firm and commanding. "This is Rin. He’ll be staying here for the next week. Treat him well."

The head maid approached, bowing politely, her expression neutral but her eyes sharp with curiosity. "Greetings, Your Highness."

"Prepare a clean room for Rin," Caspian said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The maid’s eyes flicked to Rin, her curiosity sharpening, but she nodded. "At once, Your Highness."

Caspian waited, arms crossed, refusing to leave until Rin was settled. The whispers grew louder, a mix of jealousy, spite, and intrigue directed at Rin. The system chimed again.

DING!

[New Status Effect: Jealousy from the Harem +10%]

[Warning: Hostility toward you is increasing.]

Rin sighed under his breath. Just perfect.

The maid led them through the harem chambers, passing rooms filled with luxurious furniture and heavy curtains. Caspian rejected the first room, shaking his head. "Too small. He needs more space."

The second room was larger, with a wide window overlooking the palace gardens, but Caspian frowned. "The view’s nice, but it’s too close to the others. I want him to have privacy."

Rin groaned, his patience wearing thin. "Enough. I don’t care about the room. Just stop dragging me around."

Caspian looked guilty, scratching his cheek. "Sorry. I just... wanted you to have the best."

"...You’re exhausting," Rin muttered, rubbing his temple.

They finally settled on the second largest chamber, a spacious room with a four-poster bed draped in silk, a polished desk, and a balcony overlooking the city. Rin collapsed onto the bed, glaring at Caspian. "Happy now?"

Caspian only smiled, leaning closer, his voice warm. "It’s going to be a fun week."

Rin covered his face with one hand, groaning. "Fun week my foot! This is going to be hell."

DING!

[Mission Start: 7 Days in the Crown Prince’s Harem.]