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 33: What Flag Is This?

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

The sun had already set, and night was beginning to fall.

For some reason, Naphna had come to my room.

She wore a smile I had never seen from her before.

“…We were having a welcome party. For Fryure.”

“A welcome party… I see. And was that, um… just the two of you…?”

For some reason, Naphna looked anxious.

“No way. Serta and Fryure’s attendant, Ryuma-san, are here too.”

“…Is that so. …Hoo.”

Naphna placed a hand to her chest and let out a breath, as though in relief.

“Naphna-dono?”

“…However, Yoan-sama, I think you should be a little more considerate of me, your fiancée. I do not feel very good about you inviting three female students into your room without informing me. So if something similar happens in the future, could I ask you to at least tell me first?”

…I got scolded fair and square.

“…Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It is fine, as long as you understand.”

The blue-haired girl returned to her usual soft smile.

I had not invited Naphna because I had heard she was attending the A Class gathering, but well, that was probably just an excuse.

“…It feels awkward standing here, so if you’d like, why don’t we talk inside?”

“…Since I’m already here, I will intrude. I also bought ingredients for hot pot, if you’d like.”

As she said that, Naphna lifted the tote bag in her hand.

It looked packed full of chunky ingredients. One long green onion that would not fit was sticking out with a little bounce—pyon.

The sight of the heroine looking like a housewife in the evening left me confused.

“A-Ah, thank you. But about the hot pot…”

“…?”

I invited Naphna into the room.

She took off her shoes at the entrance and stepped up into the living room.

It felt oddly unnatural how casually the heroine entered my room.

“…We already started.”

“…Is that so.”

The moment Naphna stepped into the living room, her shoulders drooped slightly.

I did not know for sure, but she had probably wanted to make hot pot too.

“…Sorry. You bought all sorts of things too.”

“…No, please do not worry. If you’d like, you can eat them later.”

“Thanks.”

Nice. More ingredients.

“—Ara, Naphna? Weren’t you going to attend the A Class gathering?”

“Yes, but I wanted to talk to Yoan-sama no matter what, so I slipped out halfway through. It is thanks to you teaching me various things, Fryure…?”

Naphna answered Fryure’s question with a strangely emotional smile.

“L-That’s right… Since you are fiancées. Deepening your relationship is a very good thing.”

Fryure picked at the pot with an awkward smile.

Her hand trembled slightly.

…The atmosphere was a little heavy, girls. Since you were best friends, couldn’t you just get along?

“—The spicy miso is delicious.”

Serta, who had tried the spicy miso Naphna had brought, let out an impressed groan all by herself.

Nice one, Serta. Even if it was accidental, the atmosphere became a little calmer.

“Fufu, that is good. Serta-san, if you’d like, shall I teach you the recipe for the Perdraon family’s special hot pot next time?”

“…Would that be okay?”

“Yes, of course. It is the ultimate dish for driving away the cold in a single blow.”

And just like that, Naphna won Serta over as well.

As expected of the Naphna of this world, a perfect superhuman. Her communication skills seemed extraordinary too.

(But don’t make it too spicy, okay?)

I spent some harmonious time together with four beautiful women.

Then I decided to ask what each class was like.

Apparently, A Class was basically free to do as it pleased when it came to dungeon raids.

It seemed the First Prince was trying to establish himself as a leader-like figure.

However, since there were several members of the “Seven Stars” there, whether they would truly unify depended on the First Prince’s efforts going forward.

As for B Class, I heard about that from Ryuma-san.

From the sound of it, it would likely become a class centered early on around Arterisia.

She was an important figure in the Ordis Church, and her charisma was outstanding.

She also had a track record of organizing believers back in the ERT era, so that was only natural.

Unfortunately, there was no information on C Class.

The Second Prince, Elmef, would probably settle into the role of leader, but since I still had no contact with him, I had no idea what sort of person he was.

We also talked about D Class, the class I belonged to.

There was information about one of its members: the beautiful black-haired girl with long hair, Yunoshi Lyla Snowden.

“Yunoshi-san’s family is the Snowden Marquis house, known as quite a militant faction even among the central nobility. And—it is also one of the ‘Seven Stars.'”

That was what Fryure told me.

“So a pretty big name showed up after all, huh? But why is she in D Class?”

Yunoshi’s level was 21.

That was fairly low by the standards of upper nobles, so it felt a little strange that she was in D Class.

“I don’t know that much either… In fact, I have never met Yunoshi-sama in social settings. I have met Yunoshi-sama’s older brother several times, though.”

“She has a brother?”

“Yes. If I remember correctly, he should be in the third year at Hero Academy, and in A Class at that.”

Third-year A Class… He did not sound like an ordinary person.

“The Snowden Marquis house is a slightly unusual family. They say only someone who graduates from this Hero Academy in A Class can become the head of the house.”

Naphna added that explanation.

“So they’re that strict, huh… Then if all goes well, Yunoshi’s brother will take the position of family head?”

“Yes, probably.”

Graduating in A Class really must have been a mark of status for noble children.

Thinking about it that way, my attempt to drag Fryure and Serta down with me into D Class was actually pretty nasty, wasn’t it?

—The party was in full swing.

Just as it was about time to wrap things up—

“—Yoan-sama, there is something I would like to discuss with you alone for a little while. Would that be all right?”

Naphna suddenly spoke in a serious tone.

Perhaps because she had just eaten extremely spicy food, she was sweating slightly, and her cheeks were flushed.

Maybe that was why she looked even more alluring than usual, which troubled me a little.

“Yeah, okay.”

There was no reason to refuse.

In other words, she wanted us to talk honestly, right?

Things like that were best settled sooner rather than later.

“Sorry, I’ll be stepping out for a bit.”

“Yes, take care.”

I excused myself to Fryure and the others, then headed out with Naphna for a bit.

That said, we were not going far.

We sat down on a bench outside the dorm.

The stars were already twinkling in the sky.

Carried on the spring night breeze, Naphna’s scent drifted softly from upwind.

“It is the first time the two of us have spoken alone like this.”

“That’s true.”

There was a little distance between us.

It was a subtle sort of distance, enough for about two more people to fit between us.

“…Suu.”

Naphna closed her eyes and slowly took a deep breath.

“…Naphna-dono?”

“I’m sorry. I seem to be a little nervous. …We are fiancées, and yet until now, we have not really had the chance to talk like this, have we? So I thought it felt rather fresh.”

Naphna said that, then looked me in the eye with her fingers laced together.

She was not diving straight into the main topic.

It was a signal that she wanted a little small talk first.

“That is true. It would be difficult from here on if we know nothing about each other. Now then, what should we talk about…?”

Well, I already knew her one-sidedly.

And so, we spent a little while making small talk.

“…I was surprised when I first met you. To think there was a gentleman who would do something like that right in front of me… and on top of that, call himself my fiancé. I truly did not know what to do.”

“If you say that, I was surprised by your maneuvering too. You cornered your own best friend without the slightest hesitation, after all. When I thought, this person is my fiancée, I got a little scared.”

“My, Yoan-sama, saying you are scared of your fiancée is rather cruel.”

Naphna let out a giggle.

It seemed that once the conversation got going, her more casual manner of speaking came out naturally.

“…Hey, Yoan-sama. May I ask you just one thing?”

“What is it?”

Naphna glanced sideways at me and sent me a flirtatious look.

“Yoan-sama, there is something—you are hiding from me, isn’t there?”

“Tsk.”

This version of Naphna really was terrifying after all.

The moment I let my guard down even a little, she came straight for the kill.

“Talking with you is truly comfortable, Yoan-sama. I didn’t know you were such a wonderful person. And now, I sincerely want to become your strength from the bottom of my heart. So please—won’t you tell me everything?”

It was impressive how she made it sound as though it came from one hundred percent pure goodwill.

However, my answer did not change.

“…Sorry. I can’t tell you that.”

Things like the fact that I was effectively Lv. 380, or that I was thinking about breaking off my engagement with Naphna.

Naphna was probably much better than I was at reading hidden motives, and lies would not work on her.

So I had no choice but to stay silent.

“…Is that so.”

Naphna murmured those words with genuine sadness.

As though she had been hurt by someone she had believed in.

The small talk from earlier worked against me here.

Disappointing the expectations of someone you had just begun to feel close to hurt.

(This is a complete defeat…)

For Naphna, that alone was enough to make me feel guilty.

If she made me feel indebted to her, I would become easier to handle later, and someday, wracked with guilt, I might let something slip.

The moment I got caught in Naphna’s rhythm, I had probably already lost.

That said, I was not without a plan either.

I decided to strike back, at least a little.

“…Can I say one thing too?”

“…Yes.”

My goal was only one.

—To raise a breakup flag.

“—These past fifteen years, I caused you trouble. I am truly sorry.”

“Eh?”

Naphna blinked in surprise.

Lesson one: settle the past.

For now, bring up memories with a mood like, “A lot happened between us,” and create the kind of atmosphere that leads to a breakup.

However, since there was really nothing between Naphna and me, this part ended in about five seconds.

“I knew that Naphna-dono had been chosen as the ‘White Dragon Priestess.’ And that you bear the heavy duty of guarding Daylago. …But I could do nothing for someone like you. On the contrary, I only ended up holding you back. I am—not suited to be your fiancé.”

“…I am not someone so grand…”

Lesson two: negative mindset.

The Naphna of this world was overwhelmingly a radiant people-person. If I kept giving off this kind of negative aura, she should naturally grow tired of it.

“No, Naphna-dono, you are a truly wonderful woman. Compared to you, I am a Lv. 1 weakling. I am not a man worthy of standing beside you. Surely, from here on, I would only become a shackle that binds you.”

“…No, that isn’t…”

Lesson three: weak man move.

This world was overwhelmingly harsh on the weak.

Once you flaunted the number Lv. 1, people left.

Sadly.

“So, um… if you ever want to leave me, tell me anytime. The Azellan Charter doesn’t matter. …Because that is about all I can do for you.”

“—!”

I dangled the bait right in front of Naphna’s eyes.

By saying that myself, I lowered the hurdle for Naphna to throw divorce at me in one stroke.

(This is good…)

Thinking that, I looked into Naphna’s face.

“…”

Naphna was wearing an expression I had never seen before.

She should have been happy to be able to divorce the “Shut-in Prince.”

“…Yoan-sama.”

And yet—

why did she look so…

“Please… do not belittle yourself like that.”

—pained?

“…”

The moment I saw that expression, I lost my words.

I had a premonition that I had made some fatal mistake.

“…I have decided to put it on hold.”

After thinking for a while, Naphna said that.

“…Put it on hold?”

“Yes. I still know nothing about you. Therefore, as long as there remains a possibility that we may come to understand one another, I thought we should continue this relationship.”

…Wait a second.

What was happening?

Wasn’t this supposed to go straight to divorce?

“…Um, in other words, what does that mean?”

“Therefore…”

What on earth was this…

“————It means I will not annul my engagement to you.”

—What flag did I just raise?

“Eh”…”

“…That reaction is hurtful, as expected, you know?”

Naphna laughed awkwardly.

“No, but………… are you really okay with that, Naphna-dono?”

“Yes. I believe in my intuition. I will not say level does not matter, but a person’s character is important too. And after talking with you today, Yoan-sama, I truly do feel that you are a wonderful person, you know?”

“…I see.”

So instead, I had raised her affection.

…This was difficult.

“However, I too have limits to what I can tolerate. …Um, please restrain yourself when it comes to doing strange things to my best friend. Even if you mean to hide it, such things still make their way through people.”

As soon as Naphna said that, she slowly stood up and turned her back to me.

Her short skirt swayed softly.

Strange things? I had no idea what she meant.

“…Did I do something to Fryure?”

“…I hesitate to say it out loud myself. Um… please put your hand on your chest and think carefully.”

Naphna left behind those slightly cryptic words and walked away.

“…”

I silently watched the back of that beautiful blue-haired girl as she left.

(No, I really don’t remember doing anything, though…?)

And so, the first day of enrollment came to a safe end.