CHAPTER 126: BEFORE MEETING THE KING!

Rin stopped in his tracks, his crimson eyes narrowing as he glanced over at the group of concubines snickering nearby. One of them, a woman with sharp features, raised a delicate hand, her painted nails catching the light.

"Oops! Sorry, I missed also," she said, her voice dripping with mockery as the others burst into laughter.

Rin stared at them for a long second, his expression flat and unreadable. "...Pathetic," he muttered, turning to continue walking down the marble corridor, his boots clicking softly.

He wasn’t surprised when a bucket of cold water splashed down from above, drenching him from head to toe. The icy liquid soaked his tunic and pants, dripping onto the polished floor. The hall erupted in laughter, the sound bouncing off the walls, sharp and mocking.

Rin stood there, water clinging to his silver-white hair, his crimson eyes glowing faintly as he clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. He tried not to show any trace of anger on his face. That would mean giving these people what they wanted. But the air that was heavy around him was proof of his anger.

The Head Concubine appeared at the end of the hall, flanked by her entourage of loyal followers, their silks rustling as they moved. Her voice cut through the laughter, sharp and commanding. "That’s what you deserve for refusing to pay respects, boy."

Rin turned his head slightly, his veiled face hiding his expression as he met her cold gaze. She stepped closer, her heels clicking, her words biting.

"Just a quick reminder... You are nothing here. I repeat. N O T H I N G! There won’t be food, nor water, nor comfort... unless you bow. I am the leader here, and you... You are beneath me. Do you understand?"

Rin exhaled through his nose, his voice calm but edged with defiance. "...Are you done?"

The laughter faltered, the concubines exchanging uneasy glances. The Head Concubine’s face twisted in anger, her eyes narrowing as she grabbed Rin’s silver hair roughly, yanking his head back.

"Are you done? How dare you ask me that?" she yelled, her voice echoing. She expected him to scream, to beg, but Rin’s face remained blank, his crimson eyes steady behind the veil. Frustrated, she sneered, "Why do you hide your face? Are you so ugly you can’t bear to show it?" Her fingers reached for his veil, ready to rip it away.

But her hand never touched it.

Another hand grabbed Rin’s arm and pulled him back, out of her reach. The Head Concubine froze, her eyes widening as she saw who it was.

Caspian.

The Crown Prince’s golden hair gleamed under the chandelier’s light, his brown eyes narrowed dangerously as he stepped between Rin and the Head Concubine. The air in the hall shifted, the concubines falling silent, their laughter dying in their throats.

"Your Highness!" the Head Concubine said, bowing quickly, her voice dripping with sudden sweetness. "We were only teaching him the rules..."

"Enough." Caspian’s tone was ice-cold, cutting through her words. He ignored her completely and turned to Rin, his hands gentle as he checked him over. "Are you okay?"

Rin shrugged him off, his voice flat. "I’m fine." Water still dripped from his clothes, pooling on the floor beneath him.

Caspian’s gaze darkened, his jaw tightening as he looked at the soaked fabric clinging to Rin’s frame. He faced him again, his voice softer but tinged with concern. "Why did you leave your room?"

"I couldn’t wait for you," Rin replied, his tone casual but firm. "So I thought I’d visit your room instead."

Caspian sighed, guilt flickering across his face. "I’m sorry. I had an urgent meeting with my father."

The concubines exchanged shocked glances, their whispers starting up again.

’The Crown Prince, apologising to a mere concubine?’

They’d never seen this side of him... never seen him smile so softly, treat anyone with such care. To them, Caspian was distant, commanding, untouchable. But with Rin, he was different.

Caspian’s voice sharpened as he turned back to Rin. "But why stand here and let them humiliate you?"

Rin’s crimson eyes glowed faintly as he swept his gaze across the harem, his voice cold and steady. "...Am I allowed to kill them?"

The room fell into stunned silence, the air heavy with tension. The concubines trembled, their hands clutching their fans or skirts, their eyes wide with fear. Even the Head Concubine froze, her confidence wavering.

Caspian chuckled softly, the sound breaking the silence. He lifted Rin’s hand, still damp from the water, and pressed a gentle kiss to his knuckles, his lips brushing the wet skin. "You’re allowed to kill anyone who wrongs you."

The Head Concubine opened her mouth to protest, but Caspian’s glare silenced her instantly. She dropped her head, her hands trembling slightly. "You’ll be punished later," he told her coldly, his voice leaving no room for argument. Then he turned back to Rin, guiding him firmly away from the crowd, ignoring the whispers and stares that followed.

.

Outside the harem’s opulent halls, Rin wrung out his sleeve with irritation, water dripping onto the stone floor. "My clothes are ruined... Thanks to your fucking harem," he muttered, shaking his head.

"Hold on." Caspian lifted a hand, and a gentle breeze swirled around Rin, drying his clothes in seconds. His tunic and pants were pristine again, the water gone as if it had never been there.

Rin blinked, then muttered, "Thanks."

Caspian smirked, his brown eyes glinting with amusement. "You don’t seem surprised!"

"I’ve seen cooler magic," Rin replied simply, his voice deadpan.

Caspian laughed, the tension easing as they walked through the palace’s winding corridors. "That’s fair enough. I’ll lead you to the library now."

They talked idly as they moved, Caspian pointing out random details about the palace... portraits of past kings, a statue of a war hero, a tapestry depicting a famous battle. Rin nodded along, half-listening, his mind still on the confrontation in the harem.

’They’re testing me and they are not going to stop until they get what they want,’ he thought. ’But they’re not the real problem. I need those texts so I can leave from here,’

After several turns, they reached a pair of towering double doors, carved with intricate patterns of vines and crowns. Guards stood stiffly at attention, their spears gleaming under the candlelight.

"This is the Royal Library," Caspian said, his voice turning commanding as he addressed the guards. "He has my permission. Allow him access at any time."

The guards saluted sharply. "Yes, Your Highness!"

Caspian led Rin inside, the doors creaking open to reveal a vast chamber that seemed to stretch endlessly. Shelves upon shelves of books lined the walls, their spines glinting with gold and leather. Sunlight poured through high windows, casting beams of light that illuminated dust motes floating in the air. The scent of old parchment and ink filled the room, heavy and comforting.

Rin’s eyes scanned the endless rows, his lips twitching. "...Not bad."

A middle-aged man with a cunning smile scurried over, his robes swishing as he bowed deeply. "Your Highness! What an honour to have you visit today!"

Caspian ignored him completely, his attention fixed on Rin. He leaned down, his lips brushing Rin’s cheek in a quick, deliberate gesture. "Use this place as much as you want," he said softly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But remember... You belong to my harem now. Don’t allow yourself to be stomped on by anyone at all."

Rin didn’t react, his expression blank as he let Caspian’s words hang in the air. He wasn’t here to play the prince’s game, but he’d let him think otherwise for now.

When Caspian left, the librarian’s smile tightened, his eyes narrowing as he turned to Rin.

"Ah, so you’re the new favourite? What’s your name? Where are you from? How did you—"

"I don’t need to answer your questions, do I?" Rin cut him off, his voice sharp and dismissive.

The librarian laughed nervously, his hands fidgeting. "Haha! Seems like I rambled too much. I’m only curious."

Rin walked away, ignoring the man’s attempt to follow. "So, may I be of help to you?" the librarian persisted, his voice overly cheerful. "As the librarian who has worked here for many years, I know the location of every book and..."

"I don’t need your help," Rin snapped, his tone cold. "And also, don’t follow me."

The librarian’s face twisted in annoyance, but he stepped back with a huff, his eyes glinting with something darker. Rin didn’t notice; his focus was already on the shelves as he wandered into the darker, quieter section of the library.

After some searching, he found a row of tomes labelled with symbols he recognised... ancient runes tied to demons. He didn’t know how he was able to read the language, maybe because he’s a demon.

He pulled one down, its leather cover heavy in his hands, and flipped it open. His crimson eyes scanned the text hungrily, searching for answers about the demon Theron had warned him about. Asmodeus!

The pages were filled with accounts of demonic hierarchies, their powers, and their weaknesses. Rin’s lips moved silently as he read, his mind racing to piece together the puzzle.

But he didn’t notice the librarian watching him from a distance, his lips curling into a sneer. The man slipped away, his footsteps silent, his expression one of calculated malice.

Also, he had no idea that ignoring the cunning librarian would put him in deep trouble and later lead him to stand in front of the king with Evan Vortellion by the king’s side.

"...How the hell did it get to this?"

DING!

[New Obstacle: Face the King.]