The Shut-In Prince’s Splendid Social Debut — Me, a Villainous Imperial, Have Spent the Last Fifteen Years Fighting the “Wicked Thoughts” Eating Away at My Mind. When I Finally Returned to High Society, There Were Way Too Many People I Didn’t Recognize — - Chapter 23: Naphna Selene Perdraon

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I had never made a major failure until now.

Whenever I learned something, I quickly became able to do it, and even when problems occurred I was usually able to resolve them with my own ability. Before entering the academy, my magic had already reached the Fifth Tier, and I had mastered swordsmanship to a reasonable degree.

If people said I possessed talent, that was probably true. That was precisely why I had been chosen as the “White Dragon Priestess.”

I believed I had also been blessed with my family. My father was strict but respected my will, while my mother was kind to me, though she was particularly harsh toward Larsen.

Because Larsen was an illegitimate child and my half-Onii-sama, Mother held no affection for him. As a result, he was raised by foster parents and made to attend the Attendant School.

I always felt bitter about that. So when I overcame the Trial of the White Dragon at the “Dragon’s Shrine” at the age of ten and was chosen as the “White Dragon Priestess,” I nominated Larsen as my attendant. Mother opposed the decision, but since Larsen had already demonstrated considerable ability at the time, Father approved it.

At that moment, Father also revealed to me a secret regarding Larsen’s birth and said he would explain it when the time came. However, even now that I was fifteen, I still had not been told the truth.

After being chosen as the “White Dragon Priestess,” I left the Valley of Kings and began spending more time acting within the Azellan Empire.

At first, things did not go well. When I saw the nobles of the Imperial Capital for the first time, I honestly felt disgusted.

They seemed to do nothing but drown themselves in wealth and social gatherings, and it was obvious that none of them understood the threat of the “North.”

However, there was little a mere ten-year-old girl like me could do about that. The culture was different, their values were different, and their sense of purpose was different. I had to begin by understanding that.

Fortunately, I was allowed to act with relative freedom within the Azellan Empire. Because Yoan-sama could not appear in social circles, I was able to take command of the Third Prince faction in his place. Naturally many people mocked that situation, but I managed to parry their ridicule safely because I understood that dealing with them seriously would only be a loss.

As I continued working energetically, the attention of higher-ranking nobles gradually began to turn toward me.

Of course I knew they regarded me as a politically convenient pawn, yet even so I used those connections to prepare for the threat of the “North.”

Eventually I was able to gather information to a certain extent. When I heard rumors about an organization called the “Demon Worship Cult” operating in the shadows, I began to suspect the involvement of something from the “North.”

The deeper I investigated, the stronger that suspicion became, and it eventually became clear that my best friend Fryure—who carried the blood of the Ancient Romanians—was being targeted.

I began moving in order to save Fryure.

The core of the Demon Worship Cult turned out to be fallen nobles who had lost their titles or been demoted twenty years ago. When I realized the scale of it, I was shocked, and from then on I moved carefully so that my actions would not be discovered.

I also asked for the cooperation of Margrave Grayash Hraesvelgr-sama. When he heard I planned to use Fryure as bait, he initially hesitated, but once I explained it was to ultimately save her, he agreed to cooperate.

My plan had been perfect.

I had solved many problems before, and things had always worked out.

So I believed that this time would be no different.

◇◇◇◇

Impatience appeared clearly on Naphna’s face.

Riding the white dragon Pure through the sky, she searched the ground below.

“Please, Fryure… be safe.”

Fryure had been kidnapped.

It happened in an instant, at the exact moment Naphna began interrogating captured members of the “Demon Worship Cult” to learn the identity of their leader, the “Founder.”

(I let my guard down…)

Naphna felt as though she were chewing something bitter.

The Founder had been inside the very Knight Order she had assigned to protect Fryure.

It was entirely Naphna’s mistake.

Worse still, that was not the only problem.

“To think even Yoan-sama disappeared…”

His attendant Serta had asked her to search for him as well, saying that for some reason he vanished suddenly without warning.

What came to mind was the “Jewel of Teleportation.” Though extremely expensive, it seemed likely that such an item had been used in Fryure’s kidnapping.

If Yoan had also been caught up in the incident, then the situation was extremely serious.

However, it seemed strange that he had left words like “I will definitely return” to Serta.

But the greater issue was elsewhere.

Against an opponent capable of teleportation, searching from the sky was practically meaningless.

(What should I do…?)

Time continued to pass.

Fryure had disappeared early in the morning, and nearly two hours had already passed. The sun had risen high in the sky.

Naphna could not expect the Demon Worship Cult to show mercy toward their captive. It would not have been strange if Yoan had been taken hostage as well.

(…For now, I should return and share information.)

She would have to expand the search area.

And she also needed to consider the worst possibility.

With those grim thoughts, she returned to Serbul’s residence.

But someone was there who absolutely should not have been.

“…Fryu…re?”

Naphna froze as she saw the back of a silver-haired girl.

The girl turned around.

“Oh, Naphna. I’m glad you came back.”

Her tone was far too relaxed.

It made Naphna wonder who exactly was saying such a thing.

“…Fryure, why are you here? Weren’t you kidnapped…?”

Although Fryure’s clothes were dirty, she had no visible injuries.

“Yes, but I escaped by myself. I think it was the Founder. I defeated him too.”

The statement sounded unbelievable.

Certainly Fryure excelled in magic and staff combat, but defeating the Vice-Commander of the Knights was another matter entirely.

Even Naphna herself had not yet reached Lv.40, far below the Lv.60 wall known as the “Boundary Breaker.” Fryure should be around the same level, meaning Lv.40 at most.

Furthermore, it seemed unlikely she could defeat the Founder, who must have been concealing his true power.

“Is that… true…?”

“Yes. This is proof. A personal item he had.”

Fryure handed her a black, dull jewel.

“…Is this a ‘Teleportation’ Jewel?”

“It seems it’s already been used.”

That alone increased the credibility of her story.

Naphna finally allowed herself to breathe again.

“I see… I’m truly glad you are safe, Fryure.”

“I’m sorry for making you worry. You were searching for me all this time, right? Thank you, Naphna.”

“Yes… but I still cannot relax. Yoan-sama is also missing.”

Naphna’s mission was not over.

Her fiancé was still unaccounted for.

However, Fryure suddenly said something unexpected.

“…If it’s Yoan-sama, I saw him earlier.”

“Yes?”

Now Naphna was truly confused.

“I saw him being scolded by a red-haired girl while crying as he returned to his room earlier. They seemed quite close.”

Fryure said it with a distant expression.

Apparently it was true.

“…Haaah.”

Strength left Naphna’s body.

The tension she had maintained while desperately searching suddenly snapped.

The incident seemed to have resolved itself somewhere beyond her knowledge.

(What in the world is going on…?)

She could not rejoice sincerely.

It was the first time nothing had gone according to her plans.

It was also the first time a situation had resolved itself despite her being completely unable to act.

(I… failed.)

That realization weighed heavily on her.

For Naphna, who had never failed before, it was not something she could easily dismiss.

She bit her lip and clenched her fist in frustration.

Still, she did not accept Fryure’s explanation completely.

Something about Fryure’s behavior felt strange, and parts of the story did not align properly.

Inevitably, one person came to mind.

A young man whose swordsmanship rivaled Larsen’s despite being only Lv.9.

—Yoan Joachim Rodenze.

The fact that he disappeared at the same time Fryure was kidnapped was far too suspicious.

(Could he have been involved somehow…? No, that’s impossible.)

Naphna immediately rejected the idea.

There was no benefit for Yoan in saving Fryure.

Moreover, there was no way he could locate Fryure when Naphna herself could not.

It was unthinkable that she would be outperformed by someone who had spent fifteen years as a shut-in.

(Then did Fryure truly escape by herself…?)

Something still did not sit right.

In any case, she would ask her fiancé directly.

With lingering doubts, Naphna headed toward Yoan’s room.

◇◇◇◇

By the time evening arrived, I was riding back in a carriage.

Serta was sleeping soundly on my lap, breathing softly.

Her sleeping face looked adorable.

I gently stroked her bright red hair.

It seemed she had been searching for me the entire time, and perhaps because she finally relaxed, she had fallen asleep.

I recalled what happened earlier.

“Onii-sama… Serta was worried…”

Serta had cried.

She was not angry—only sad.

“…I won’t ask what happened. But there are people who become sad if Onii-sama gets hurt. There are people who cherish you. There are people waiting for you to return. So please… cherish yourself more, Onii-sama.”

…My chest hurt hearing that.

But I believed Serta understood why I had acted.

“Sorry, Serta.”

“…Yes, please reflect. Until you do, keep patting my head.”

“That’s an easy task.”

Because she understood, she promised to keep it secret from Mother.

She truly was a capable little sister.

After that, Naphna also questioned me.

I had silenced Fryure about the truth, but Naphna’s suspicions clearly remained.

I explained that I had gotten lost, stumbled into the Demon Worship Cult’s hideout, and was rescued by Fryure.

She did not look convinced, but perhaps realizing pressing further would be pointless, she eventually left.

“Then, Naphna-dono. I look forward to seeing you at the academy tomorrow.”

“Yes. It was a very interesting story. Please tell me the details of how you got lost again someday, Yoan-sama.”

There had been a bit of pressure in her tone.

That fiancée of mine could be surprisingly persistent.

Still, probing me would not lead to anything useful.

Then there was Serbul.

He initially pretended not to remember our agreement.

But when he summoned hidden knights and tried to betray me, I simply knocked all of them unconscious in an instant.

Afterward, I grabbed Serbul by the tie, slammed him onto the floor, and stepped on his face.

Then I reminded him of the promise he had made.

That if I returned Fryure safely—

he would lick my shoes.

And so, with great reluctance, Serbul complied.

Thus was born one of the future members of Yoan’s Four Heavenly Kings.

“Shoe-Licking Serbul.”

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The carriage stopped.

“We’ve arrived, Serta.”

“Nn… Onii-sama?”

She slowly sat up.

“I-I’m sorry… even though Onii-sama must be more tired…”

“I don’t mind. Letting my precious sister lean on me is the greatest honor a brother could have.”

Serta blushed.

“…Onii-sama is mean.”

“Sorry.”

Then I looked toward the academy in the distance.

“Tomorrow the Hero Academy begins. I wonder what dorm life will be like.”

“Please leave Onii-sama’s care to me. I will not allow you to suffer any inconvenience.”

Serta would attend the academy as my attendant.

That meant I would see my beloved sister in uniform every day.

“Thank you, Serta. I’ll be counting on you.”

“Yes. After all, Onii-sama is the kind of person who might do anything. Serta will stay by your side and watch over you carefully.”

She smiled warmly.

“…Of course, as a relationship more than family.”

…Yes.

Eventually, I might have to take responsibility for Serta.

Or perhaps it would be the other way around.

In any case—

My Academy Arc was about to begin.

What I needed to do would not change.

I simply had to continue carving out the Survival Route and destroying Ruin Flags.

And I would also need to hide my power.

Demons were dangerous, but humans could be just as dangerous.

After all—

I still did not know the identity of the person who would poison me in the future.

…Well, that was not something to worry about right now.

I would investigate it gradually.

For now—

I will keep moving forward.

For the sake of my own happiness.