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 32: Naphna, Suffering

◇◇◇◇

One hour before Yoan answered the visitor—

The Music Hall was a reservation-only venue for social gatherings, and on this day, a gathering of A Class was being held there.

They were elegantly enjoying the music being performed. The current A Class had that kind of leisure.

“Naphna, if you are not feeling well…”

It was the concerned voice of her attendant, Larsen.

“…I’m fine.”

Her voice came out lower than usual.

She had not been in top form since yesterday. It was because she had been thinking about a certain person.

—Yoan Joachim Rodenze.

Her fiancé. Ever since that shocking encounter two days earlier, and including the incident from earlier that day, the more she thought about it, the more unnatural everything seemed.

First, there was one point: his level and abilities were clearly out of balance.

However, that might have been the effect of the “Revelation of the Hero” Yoan possessed, so for now, it was simply something that required observation.

The problem was the other point.

That was—that her best friend Fryure had joined Yoan’s faction.

She recalled the scene from the earlier pair selection.

◇◇◇◇

“I choose—Serta-san as my pair.”

Fryure had declared it suddenly the moment her turn came.

Needless to say, shock had rippled through all of A Class.

In A Class, where passing the “Level Attainment Exam” was already assured, deciding pairs had originally been unnecessary.

However, choosing to do so anyway in A Class carried a special meaning.

Because in that place, the fact of “who paired with whom” mattered as a display of political ties.

In other words, what Fryure’s action meant was—

—participation in the Third Prince faction.

“…Margrave Grayash’s daughter, is that your choice?”

Prince Roberto had asked with a suspicious expression.

“Yes, Prince Roberto. I will never take your hand again. Although, you yourself know that best, don’t you?”

The First Prince faction had tried to buy support from the nobility by suppressing the Margrave Grayash family. As a result, Serbul’s engagement had been annulled.

However, that plan had failed, and the First Prince’s scheme had also been exposed.

“…Why do you side with them? Why try to associate with a Lv. 1 small fry? That is the most foolish choice.”

“No. This is the best choice in my life. Because I decided to walk together with that person.”

Fryure’s change had been too dramatic.

The Fryure Naphna knew should have been a girl who always kept one step back and looked at things from a bird’s-eye view.

Put nicely, she had always been steady and placed her family’s interests first.

Put bluntly, she had merely been a “clever” young lady who did as her father Hraesvelgr said.

And yet now, Naphna had seen Fryure’s own firm resolve in those eyes.

“Hah, it seems the Margrave Grayash’s daughter has become delirious. Well, it is fine if you stay that desperate. But eventually, you will realize your mistake. You will learn with your own body just how fragile the existence you look up to as your master truly is.”

Prince Roberto had spat out that parting shot.

And with that, Fryure had broken with the First Prince.

After the pair selection ended, Naphna had gone over to Fryure.

“…Fryure, you’re overdoing it.”

This had been an unexpected outcome for Naphna as well.

Because she, who was close to Fryure, would now also be strongly seen as part of the Third Prince faction.

That was not a development she wanted.

“Ara, I wonder why, Naphna. We are now officially part of the Third Prince faction, you know? Aren’t you happy for me?”

“That may be so, but I don’t understand your motive. What is the relationship between you and Yoan-sama?”

“Th-That is… um…”

Fryure had stumbled over her words, blushing.

It was rare for her to behave this suspiciously.

“Come to think of it, Yoan-sama called you ‘Fryure,’ didn’t he? Since when did you become so intimate…?”

“Ah—! N-No… We aren’t particularly in that kind of relationship…”

Fryure had grown flustered.

That way of denying it, no matter how one looked at it…

(…As expected, there is something between the two.)

Judging from their exchange at noon, Naphna had sensed an unusual atmosphere.

It was clearly strange that Fryure, who had refused even handshakes until now, would allow physical contact with Yoan.

“It’s definitely strange for you to let a man touch your body like that. …Did he do something indecent to you…?”

The possibility that Yoan held some sort of leverage over her still remained.

However, Fryure denied it.

“I-Indecent things, nothing like that… Ah…! No… but that was… just touching a sensitive place… a little…”

“A sensitive place…?!”

Naphna had been violently shaken.

Speaking of a sensitive place, that could mean the lips, inside the mouth, or… somewhere lower. …In any case, it was a serious matter.

Naturally, it should have been somewhere a woman would not want touched.

(But, if it wasn’t that…)

If Fryure had allowed even that… then Naphna had no choice but to suspect that it really was that sort of relationship after all.

Or something just one step short of it.

“Fryure, could it be that you and Yoan-sama…”

“Nnngh~~~!!”

Fryure had grown more flustered than ever before.

There was no mistaking it.

For some reason, Naphna had felt as though a haze had settled over her heart.

She did not want to direct such feelings toward her best friend.

But just as she thought she had to press her—

“—Fryure, let’s go. Brother must be hungry.”

Serta had called out to Fryure.

Naphna wondered when they had become such good friends.

“I-I’m coming.”

Or had they been close from the very beginning?

If Fryure had been connected to her fiancé since long ago, that was entirely possible.

One suspicion after another welled up regarding her best friend.

“L-Listen… Naphna, you probably have all kinds of thoughts too, but since you are Yoan-sama’s fiancée, um… support him properly. Because that is something I cannot do.”

“…”

Even after hearing that, Naphna had been unable to respond properly.

Because she could not tell whether those words had come from Fryure’s heart.

Part of it was also that her thoughts had not yet caught up.

If she were to put it in order, it would be like this.

Her best friend Fryure had someone she loved. It was unclear since when.

The circumstances would change greatly depending on whether it had been before or after his return to society.

If Fryure had hidden it all along, then the situation was grave.

Because that would mean Fryure had been in a honeymoon-like relationship with her fiancé.

Moreover, it was an extraordinary relationship that allowed for “touching a sensitive place.”

Setting her own feelings aside for the moment, that would clearly amount to betrayal.

(Fryure… Why on earth?)

All she could do was watch the back of her best friend as her beautiful silver hair fluttered.

◇◇◇◇

Even though she was listening to elegant music, none of it entered her mind at all.

The possibility that she had been betrayed by her best friend weighed heavily on her heart—zushin.

At that moment, a young man with neatly arranged green hair called out to her.

“—Hey, Naphna. It seems yesterday was rough.”

Noel Lord Strat—one of the “Seven Stars,” and heir to the Duke Strat family.

He was one of the top three students in this year, and his level was 39, the same as Naphna’s.

They were acquaintances who had met many times at social gatherings until now.

(Perfect…)

She had wanted to distract herself from her gloomy mood by speaking with someone.

“Yes, well.”

“It seems you played a major role. To think you captured that ‘Demon Worship Cult.'”

“I only fulfilled my duty, Noel. But in the end, I failed…”

She was still dragging yesterday’s failure behind her.

The impatience she felt at the possibility of losing her best friend had sunk in deeply.

“There is no need to worry. It seems word is also spreading that you rescued Fryure-dono.”

“…Why? I wasn’t the one who saved Fryure.”

She had not been able to save Fryure.

Fryure had returned through her own strength. …Together with her fiancé.

“Ah, but the nobles do not care for such a story. The fact that the ‘White Dragon Priestess’ prevented the evil deeds of the ‘Demon Worship Cult’—that fact alone is enough.”

“…”

For one of the “Seven Stars,” manipulating information like that was easy.

It was probably more convenient to make it her achievement than that of the hated Margrave Grayash family.

“…You don’t look very happy. I thought building a foundation in this country was—one of your goals?”

“That is true…”

She had never told Noel her purpose.

However, he had likely grasped most of it.

Because the young man named Noel was the sort of person who had that much power.

“Do not worry. I guarantee your position in this country. No matter what means the Third Prince takes, your standing likely will not waver.”

“…”

The Third Prince’s name recognition was effectively zero.

If some incident was resolved, it would directly connect to the achievement of the “White Dragon Priestess”—in other words, to her personal evaluation.

Of course, that was the result of her own efforts.

The Third Prince would not stand at the forefront in the future either.

(Is this really all right…?)

And yet, at the very least, something about her sense of justice was being distorted there.

It was not as though she felt no hesitation about Noel and herself nipping that possibility in the bud.

She did not know whether Noel had seen through that hesitation.

“I do not think there is any chance of it, but since the Third Prince has returned, I suppose I should ask just in case…”

After saying that much, Noel continued.

“You’re not thinking of going back to how things used to be now, are you?”

Noel spoke with an easy smile.

However, there was no laughter in the depths of his eyes.

“…Yes, of course.”

That was how she answered. She did not say anything explicit.

Even so, it had been the signal that their quietly complicit relationship still continued.

“I am relieved to hear that, Naphna. Since we have become part of the same class, let us continue to get along from now on as well.”

“Yes.”

They exchanged a handshake.

Noel’s position was neutral. He had not joined any prince’s faction.

Though he was relatively close to the First Prince, he kept a certain distance.

That was precisely why their interests aligned.

Naphna decided to leave her seat.

“…Oh, leaving already?”

Even after speaking with Noel, she had not been distracted.

If anything, a vague unease had continued to bubble up—futsu futsu.

“Yes. I only came to show my face as a member of A Class this time. If I stay any longer, suspicious eyes will be turned toward Yoan-sama.”

“Hmm… If that is the case, I will not stop you. Even so… the Third Prince, hm. Is he someone you care about?”

Noel asked, sounding somewhat displeased.

He probably did not care in the slightest about a Lv. 1 prince. Normally, that would only be natural.

“…I cannot afford any further failure. So I will do what I believe is best. …That is all.”

With only that said, Naphna left the Music Hall.

All the while, she could feel Noel’s gaze on her back.

◇◇◇◇

She headed to the dormitory.

Because she thought she had to speak with Yoan.

The dorm mother told her which room was his.

“Larsen, could you return to your room first?”

“…………Are you going to Prince Yoan’s place?”

Larsen asked with a suspicious expression.

Did he not think well of Yoan?

“Yes, I want to speak with him alone.”

Larsen’s face tightened slightly with dissatisfaction.

“………………………………………………………Understood.”

But in the end, he nodded.

Naphna climbed the stairs and stopped in front of Yoan’s room.

(I have to ask… about many things…)

First, she had to ask what he had been doing while supposedly shut away.

Then she had to ask where and how he had met Fryure, and what kind of relationship they had.

She had to ask what it meant that he had touched Fryure’s “sensitive place.”

And then, and then…

But as she let those thoughts run, she suddenly realized something.

“…No, this won’t do.”

This was just a repeat of their exchange at noon.

Looking back, she had been too wary of Yoan.

Perhaps because of that, she had only made Yoan more wary in return.

They said people were mirrors that reflected one another.

Just as she had directed suspicion at Yoan, if Yoan too had no choice but to harbor suspicion, then this was her blunder.

It was not the attitude one should direct at someone who had been a shut-in for fifteen years.

No—at this point, even whether he had truly been a shut-in was doubtful, but…

Even so…

“First, I have to apologize…”

She believed she had been entirely in the wrong regarding what had happened at noon.

So after swallowing down all those other questions, her first words should begin with an apology.

For that purpose, she had bought ingredients at the school store.

Spicy miso, chili peppers, Sichuan pepper, vegetables, and lamb.

Since the [Valley of Kings] remained cold even in summer, hot pot was a staple there.

With a new life beginning now, he was probably lacking in ingredients.

And if he truly had been shut in for fifteen years, then all the more reason he would not be able to cook.

So it was not strange for her to prepare a meal for him.

Jii. (Doorbell)

She pressed the room bell.

Footsteps sounded from inside. As expected, Yoan had already returned.

Then, a few seconds later, the door opened.

“…Naphna-dono, do you need something?”

A young man with blond hair and slightly long bangs stood there, his appearance carrying a somewhat sorrowful air.

His eyes were clear like the sky, as though they might draw one in.

Yoan turned a soft smile toward her.

In response, she too put on her usual smile.

“Yoan-sama, please forgive the sudden visit. I wanted to apologize for the incident at noon…”

The moment she tried to voice her apology—

“—Yoan-sama, who is it?”

A familiar voice came from inside.

And then the owner of that voice peeked her face out from the door at the far end of the hallway.

—It was the silver-haired girl Naphna knew all too well.

For some reason, Naphna’s smile deepened.

Apparently, this was the kind of moment that made her smile.

The thought of apologizing had vanished from her mind almost at once.

“—Yoan-sama, could you tell me why Fryure is in your room?”