It was spring, and the petals of cherry blossoms drifted gently down over the Hoshimi Empire. The streets of Tsukiji, one of its bustling cities, were alive with activity. Merchants called out their wares, children laughed as they ran past stalls, and the aroma of fresh food filled the air.

Near the busy marketplace, a young woman leaned against a wall, catching her breath. Beside her was a large bag of rice. She brushed a stray petal off her shoulder and sighed deeply, unaware of the gaze fixed on her.

A young man, dressed in a striking red formal military uniform, stood nearby. The sword at his waist glinted in the sunlight, but it was the look of quiet admiration in his eyes that stood out.

The woman glanced up and froze momentarily before quickly bowing. Her kind smile lit up her face.

"Ah, I am honored to meet you, Officer Tsutomu!" she said, her voice warm and polite. "I was just taking a little break from carrying rice back to the Golden Dragon Palace."

The officer's composure faltered briefly as her words reached him, but he quickly adopted a calm demeanor. His gaze shifted to the bag at her side.

"It looks heavy for you to carry," he said smoothly. "Let me assist you, Miss..."

Before she could protest, Tsutomu hoisted the bag effortlessly with one hand.

"Thank you for the kind gesture, Officer," she said, flustered but grateful. "I am Urakawa Miharu, a junior maid working at the Golden Dragon Palace."

The girl smiled shyly, her warmth once again leaving the officer captivated. As they walked toward the Golden Dragon Palace, Tsutomu found himself glancing away, his cheeks faintly reddening. He looked down at the ground, murmuring softly under his breath.

"A light hidden in secret, huh... You're quite beautif—"

Before he could finish, a sudden rustling in the nearby bushes broke the moment. Both of them turned their heads just as a wild boar burst out, charging aggressively.

"Get back!" Tsutomu shouted, instinctively stepping in front of the girl, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword.

But before the officer could draw his weapon, a rope sailed through the air, perfectly looping around the boar's neck. A young man emerged from the bushes, leaping high into the air.

In one fluid motion, he landed, locking the other end of the rope under his foot, halting the boar's momentum. As the rope tightened around the beast's neck, the young man closed the distance in a flash, plunging a knife cleanly into the boar's head.

The boar collapsed with a thud, lifeless. The man knelt briefly, pulling out his knife and shaking the blood from its blade before sliding it back into its scabbard.

"Looks like tonight's menu just got a new addition," the man said casually, a grin on his face. "Luckily, I got here before anyone got hurt."

Then his gaze shifted to the two figures standing nearby. His grin faltered, replaced by wide-eyed recognition. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee, bowing deeply before them.

"Greetings, Officer Tsutomu," the young man said, bowing slightly. "I am Shimizu Rin, an apprentice warrior of the White Flower Palace. I was tasked by the White Elder to capture a wild boar near the Tsukiji Marketplace, as directed by his divinations. I'm relieved to see that neither of you were harmed."

The officer's gaze studied the young man standing before him. Dressed in black apprentice robes adorned with a subtle flower pattern along the arm, Rin had a lean yet well-defined build. His sharp features carried an air of nobility, as if he might hail from a distinguished lineage.

"So, you're the rumored apprentice warrior of the White Flower Palace..." Tsutomu said, his eyes shifting to the fallen boar at Rin's feet.

The boar bore no visible wounds except for a single, precise strike to the head. It was the mark of an expert, cleanly targeting a vital point. The officer's respect for the young warrior grew as he assessed the feat.

Rin gave a faint smile, breaking the silence. "I shall take my leave now, Officer. My apologies for rudely interrupting your... little date with this young lady."

Miharu's face flushed red, and she stammered, "I-it's not a date!"

Tsutomu's composure cracked as he flailed for words. "That's—absolutely not—wait—"

But before either could protest further, Rin crouched to plug the boar's wound with a small cloth. With practiced ease, he slung the massive animal over his back and stood upright.

"Goodbye," he said with a smirk, before leaping effortlessly into the trees.

Tsutomu blinked, stunned at the speed with which Rin had disappeared, even while carrying such a heavy load. He stared at the spot where the apprentice had vanished, his brow furrowed in disbelief.

"I wasn't on a date," he muttered defensively, though Miharu's quiet giggle beside him only deepened his embarrassment.

The branches swayed gently as the young man glided through the trees, his steps as light as the wind. A faint green glow shimmered around his body, its ethereal trails shifting with his movements. As he leapt down to the stone-paved courtyard in front of the White Flower Palace, he swiped a hand in front of him, manipulating the air.

Wind Trail Art: Cushion

The green glow gathered beneath his feet, softening the impact as he landed gracefully. The trails dissipated into the air like scattered leaves.

Dropping the boar to the ground with a thud, Rin stretched his limbs, easing the tension from his body. He glanced at the sky, his gaze distant and reflective.

"To think I'd meet the protagonist of the novel there," he murmured to himself. "That scene... It should have been their first meeting, and it seems Officer Tsutomu is already smitten."

He sat atop the boar, letting the momentary quiet settle over him. His thoughts wandered to memories buried deep, words spoken long ago resurfacing in his mind.

"I can't bear to see one of my sons die in this place. Leave for the White Flower Palace. Live your life however you wish."

Fifteen years. It had been fifteen years since Rin had reincarnated into this world. In that time, he had come to understand the truth of his surroundings: this was the world of The Golden Girl's Rise, a romance fantasy novel his younger sister had adored. Though he had never been fond of such stories, her enthusiasm had ensured he remembered its plot and characters vividly.

From the moment he realized this, Rin had made a single, unwavering decision: to avoid interfering with the story's progression.

Leaning back on his hands, he sighed. "Since I was secretly banished, I've had no choice but to prepare for the future. Still, it seems the story is finally moving forward. The protagonist, Urakawa Miharu, has met Officer Tsutomu."

His gaze hardened slightly as he stared into the horizon, recalling how the tale unfolded.

The story's end was a grand one: Urakawa Miharu, once a humble maid, rose to become the Crown Prince's bride and the most powerful woman in the Hoshimi Empire. Her journey was riddled with trials, each shaping her into a resilient and formidable figure. In the climax, she inherited the power of the Golden Dragon, solidifying her fate as the Empire's protector and the favored child of destiny.

"Classic fate," Rin muttered with a wry smile. "But... the trials ahead will be dangerous, and those around her—"

He shook his head, dismissing the thought. "No. It's not my place to interfere. I just need to stay in my lane, far from the Imperial Palace."

And yet, as he sat there in the tranquil courtyard of the White Flower Palace, he couldn't help but wonder if fate had a different plan for him.

Fate has a way of being ironic. The young man dragging the boar through the courtyard wasn't just any apprentice warrior—he was the estranged brother of the Crown Prince himself.

Rin had willingly stepped away from his princely life the moment he realized that this world was, in fact, the setting of The Golden Girl's Rise, a romance fantasy novel he had once listened to his sister gush over.

He still remembered the faces that cemented his realization.

The first was his older brother, the Crown Prince, whose charisma and presence were unmistakable. The second and third were the Red Princess Consort and the White Princess Consort, two pivotal figures in the story. Rin's epiphany had struck during a grand birthday celebration, where he had been expected to formally greet the Imperial officials and nobility.

The recognition had stiffened his smile, and the realization that he was tangled in the web of the novel made his head spin.

"Being royal is too much trouble," Rin had thought back then, his resolve firming. "I'm much better off living as a commoner."

Now, the man once known as Prince Hoshimi Rin had taken on a new identity: Shimizu Rin, apprentice warrior of the White Flower Palace.

Setting the boar down on the butcher's table, Rin rolled his shoulders and smiled to himself. "I don't want to get tangled up in the story. I'll just let it play out without me."

The chaotic life of the Imperial Palace wasn't for him. Endless bureaucratic headaches, officials vying for favor, military disputes, foreign diplomacy, and, of course, the events of The Golden Girl's Rise—it was all a recipe for migraines. Rin had decided long ago that his sanity was better preserved far from that madness.

With practiced ease, he began cutting up the boar, his hands deft and precise. The knife moved with the grace of someone who had spent years mastering the craft. Not a scrap of meat was wasted, the blood drained perfectly, and his robes remained spotless. If anyone had seen him at work, they'd never guess he was once a prince.

Mid-cut, Rin paused, his brows knitting together. "Ah... I forgot to report the boar subjugation to the White Elder."

He sighed, quickly finished his task, and cleaned up before making his way to the main room of the White Flower Palace.

As he walked, he greeted the few workers in the palace with a warm smile.

"It's a beautiful day today!" he called out cheerfully. "Let's live without worries again, everyone!"

Their responding smiles gave Rin a small sense of comfort. The simple life he had carved out for himself felt far removed from the grand machinations of the Imperial Palace, and he hoped it would stay that way.

As he reached the White Elder's quarters, he glanced at the vibrant cherry blossoms swaying gently in the breeze.

"I hope this peace lasts until the novel ends," he murmured, his smile tinged with wistfulness.