Shouldn’t you be the first one to step up and draw the bow?!

Right? Or let someone else do it.

now that I think about it, the maidens / princesses and the prince are half-siblings, aren’t they? Since they should all share a common father: the emperor

I don’t think so. The maidens are from the same clans as the consorts, but I don’t think they’re the consorts or the emperor’s children. Reirin is the empress’ niece, Seika is the Kin consort’s niece and Shu Keigetsu is not Gabi’s child for example