The Banished Prince's Survival in a Romance Novel

A week before the Crown Prince's birthday celebration, Rin found himself at the Vermillion Bird Palace, standing across from the Vermillion Princess, Takigawa Rei. The training grounds were quiet, save for the rhythmic clashing of their wooden swords. Rin was able to deflect her swift strikes with ease, his movements almost effortless as he matched her speed.

The Vermillion Princess's attacks were precise and elegant, showcasing her immense skill and discipline. Despite her best efforts, Rin remained calm, sidestepping and parrying each blow with a calculated ease that left her impressed. His focus was unwavering as he studied her fighting style, noting the grace in her footwork and the sharpness of her strikes.

Rei's fiery red eyes narrowed slightly as she launched another series of strikes, her posture unwavering. Rin couldn't help but admire her discipline and the intensity in her eyes, even as he deflected her sword once more.

"You're quick," Rin said, his voice steady but with a hint of amusement. "But your movements are still a little predictable."

Rei smirked, stepping back and adjusting her stance. "Is that so?" She inclined her head slightly, a challenging glint in her eyes. "Then show me how it's done."

Rin's expression softened, his stance ready as he awaited her next move. He didn't need to be forceful in this spar; instead, he focused on teaching, subtly guiding Rei's movements. He knew that as skilled as she was, the Vermillion Princess still had room to grow in refining her technique.

With a quick, fluid motion, Rin blocked the Vermillion Princess's strike and spun, disarming her effortlessly. The wooden sword flew from her hand, landing on the ground with a soft thud. Rin stood a few steps away, his expression calm as he lowered his stance, keeping a respectful distance.

"Your form is impressive," Rin said with a slight smile, "but when it comes to sword dance, it's about balance and grace, not just strength."

Rei exhaled sharply, brushing a lock of her fiery hair back as she met his gaze. "I know," she said, her voice a mix of frustration and determination. "But I'm struggling to find the right flow. The balance you talk about isn't something I can master overnight."

Rin nodded thoughtfully, stepping toward her. "It's not about mastering it quickly, it's about letting it come naturally. The sword dance is a performance, an expression of your movements in sync with the rhythm of the world around you."

Rei frowned slightly but took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I'm relying on you to guide me through this. The Crown Prince's birthday celebration is coming up, and I can't afford to fail."

Rin gave her a reassuring nod. "You won't fail. You just need to trust yourself more. The sword dance is just like any other fight—you don't control it with force, but with your own grace and understanding of your body's flow."

With that, Rin picked up her wooden sword and handed it back to her. "Let's go again. This time, focus on the rhythm of the movements rather than the strike."

Rei gripped the sword tightly, her gaze sharpening as she prepared for another round, determined to improve with Rin's guidance.

Rin and the Vermillion Princess stood together, both contemplating the upcoming performance for the Crown Prince's birthday celebration.

"I still don't see how you can go easy on me with your strength," Rei said, adjusting her stance, her fiery red eyes focused on Rin. "You're skilled, and if we're sparring in front of everyone, it will be hard for me to outshine you."

Rin smiled, a calm look in his eyes. "I'll make sure to hold back, but we'll need to use a different approach. I'm too strong to use a proper blade. If I went full force, you'd be lucky if the sword didn't snap before you could land a strike."

Rei raised an eyebrow. "So what do you propose?"

Rin gestured to the blade he held in his hand—a dull, old sword that looked worn with age. "This will work. I'll use this, and my magic will reinforce it to make sure it doesn't break too easily. That way, I won't hurt you, but I'll still make it challenging. We can keep the rhythm and choreography, but I'll be able to counter your strikes without going overboard."

Rei hesitated but nodded. "And I'll focus on the performance, the flow of my movements. My role is to showcase my swordsmanship, so I'll focus on being graceful and precise."

Rin gave her a firm nod. "Exactly. We're not here to defeat each other. The purpose is to put on a beautiful display for the audience. I'll make sure to play my role as a counter, but you'll lead the dance with your technique."

Rei smiled, her determination shining through. "Then let's get started. I'll need all the practice I can get before the celebration."

Rin stepped back, holding the old blade loosely in his hand, ready to follow through with the plan they had devised. "Whenever you're ready, Vermillion Princess."

With that, the two began their sparring, each focusing on their respective roles: Rei's elegant movements, and Rin's careful counters, making sure not to overshadow her. It was a delicate balance, but one they had mastered together.

After the intense spar with the White Elder, the Vermillion Princess, Rei, made her decision. She chose Rin as her sparring partner until the Crown Prince's birthday celebration. The White Elder, agreed without hesitation. The Azure Princess, on the other hand, was reluctant, her gaze heavy with a mixture of jealousy and concern. However, seeing no way to change the situation, she remained silent.

Rin couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. For a moment, he had felt like he was trapped, caught between the expectations of the Azure Princess and his own discomfort with her growing feelings. But the Vermillion Princess, with her confident and assertive demeanor, had come to his rescue. She treated him like a simple sparring partner, with no hidden agendas or complicated emotions, and that made him feel at ease.

As the days passed, Rin's duty shifted to assisting the Vermillion Princess in preparing for the celebration. Their sparring sessions became routine, and despite his initial reluctance, Rin found himself growing comfortable in the role. Rei never once pressured him, and her straightforward attitude made it easier for him to focus on the task at hand. He couldn't deny that, in some strange way, he had come to respect her for her professionalism and composure.

And so, as the days dwindled down to the eve of the celebration, Rin continued his training with Rei, fulfilling his role as her sparring partner while trying his best to ignore the tension that lingered in the air whenever the Azure Princess was nearby.

The day of the grand celebration had finally arrived. The Immortal palace grounds were filled with lively music, colorful decorations, and nobles dressed in their finest attire. Rin sat quietly in the private stands reserved for the Vermillion Princess's entourage, his eyes scanning the grand scene before him.

From his vantage point, he could see the Emperor and the Crown Prince seated in the Imperial Pavilion, a testament to the empire's power and prestige. The Emperor exuded an air of authority while the Crown Prince however he felt sad for him.

As Rin's gaze drifted toward the Imperial Pavilion, his eyes landed on the Crown Prince. Dressed in majestic regalia befitting his station, the prince sat with perfect posture, but his eyes told a different story. They were vacant, hollow, the eyes of a man living without purpose or direction. To the gathered nobles, he appeared dignified, even serene, but Rin saw through the façade.

He felt a pang of sadness for his brother. "You look like a caged bird, living a life dictated by others," Rin thought to himself. Though their paths had diverged, Rin couldn't help but feel a lingering connection to the Crown Prince. He knew that beneath the emptiness, his brother was capable of greatness, and Rin held onto the hope that one day, the prince would find his purpose and break free from his chains.

With a deep breath, Rin tore his gaze away from the Imperial Pavilion, reminding himself to focus. This day wasn't about the past or the future—it was about ensuring the Vermillion Princess's performance shone bright under the eyes of the entire empire. He adjusted his position slightly, the weight of the day's expectations pressing on him. Soon, it would be time for the talent showcase, and the Vermillion Princess would step into the spotlight. As her chosen partner, Rin had to ensure her performance went smoothly.

Niwa Yori, the head maid of the Vermillion Bird Palace, approached Rin with a polite smile. She was a woman of calm demeanor, always composed, yet there was a sharpness to her gaze that reflected her experience and loyalty to the Vermillion Princess.

"Rin, how are the preparations for the performance going?" she asked, her voice soft but firm.

Rin straightened up and nodded, ready to get to work. "I'm prepared and ready to assist whenever the Vermillion Princess needs me," he replied with confidence, making sure his tone matched the importance of the moment.

Niwa Yori, who had been the second person working closely with him whenever the Vermillion Princess was finished with her practice, gave a satisfied nod. She was trusted by the Vermillion Princess and had proven herself helpful to Rin, especially during his stay at the Vermillion Bird Palace.

"I'll pass along your readiness to Her Highness," she said with a respectful bow. "Your cooperation has been invaluable, Rin. The Vermillion Princess has always spoken highly of you."

Rin felt a weight lifted off his shoulders at the compliment. He had come to appreciate Niwa Yori's quiet presence, and he was grateful for her assistance as the Princess's performance drew closer.

As Rin leaned back against his seat in the Vermillion Bird Palace's private stands, his thoughts wandered to the storyline of The Golden Girl's Rise, the novel he had read in his past life. This exact moment in history felt like a prelude to one of the pivotal events in the book.

This part of the story revolved around the protagonist, Urakawa Miharu, meeting the Crown Prince for the first time under extraordinary circumstances. Rin recalled the details vividly: during the grand celebration, a terrorist would activate an ancient artifact that created a subspace, trapping many individuals, including the Crown Prince and Miharu, within it. The subspace was a cruel dimension filled with low- to mid-class demons, forcing its inhabitants to survive against relentless attacks for three harrowing days.

According to the storyline, Miharu, despite her humble origins, would stumble upon the unconscious and severely injured Crown Prince. Displaying her remarkable courage and ingenuity, she would tend to his wounds and keep him hidden in a secluded cave, evading the demons until the timer on the artifact expired. This event marked the beginning of Miharu's rise as a hero and her complicated relationship with the Crown Prince.

Rin couldn't help but sigh. If this happens today, what am I supposed to do? He already felt like a walking anomaly, being part of the world yet carrying knowledge of its "script." He could only hope the story played out as it should, without his interference.

Rin sat deep in thought, his expression grim as he considered the possible consequences of the event he knew was coming. *There will be so many casualties... but should I interfere?* He wrestled with himself, unsure whether his actions would make things better or spiral into unforeseen chaos.

His brooding was interrupted by a familiar voice. "Oi, Rin!" Harumi's cheerful tone cut through his thoughts. He looked up to see her waving enthusiastically as she approached the Vermillion Princess's pavilion, accompanied by the White Elder.

"Hey, what's with the long face?" she asked, leaning slightly closer with a curious expression. "You look like you've already lost before the big day's even begun."

Rin gave her a tired smile, trying to mask his worries. "Just... thinking about the celebration. Making sure everything goes smoothly," he replied evasively.

Harumi raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Well, you better not mess up. It'd be embarrassing for the Vermillion Princess if her 'secret weapon' wasn't ready," she teased, crossing her arms.

Rin sighed, standing up and brushing off his robes. "Don't worry, I'm prepared. How are things with the White Elder?"

Harumi glanced back at the old master, who was already engaging in quiet conversation with Niwa Yori. "Same as always. But you should really loosen up, Rin. You're wound tighter than a spring," she said, patting his shoulder.

Her carefree attitude was almost infectious, and Rin allowed himself a brief chuckle. Yet, in the back of his mind, the looming shadow of what might come kept him on edge. *Should I really let this unfold as the story dictates... or should I act?*

Harumi smacked Rin's back hard enough to make him stagger slightly. "Hey, quit overthinking and just do things you won't regret!" she said with a grin. "And if you mess up during the sword dance later, I'll laugh at you so hard you'll wish you'd trained more!"

Rin blinked, her words sinking deeper than she probably intended. *Do things I won't regret...* It was the clarity he needed. Harumi, without knowing anything about the knowledge he carried from his past life or the events about to unfold, had inadvertently given him his answer.

He straightened, a small smile forming on his lips as he looked at her. "Thanks, Harumi," he said, his tone carrying more weight than usual.

Harumi raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback by his sudden sincerity. "Uh, sure? Don't go getting sentimental on me, though," she muttered, trying to mask her surprise.

But Rin just chuckled, feeling lighter than he had in days. Whatever lay ahead—on the stage of the Crown Prince's celebration or within the shadows of the novel's plot—he would face it head-on, doing what he believed was right.