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 7: Serta Renea Trauden (Part 1)

I am Serta Renea Trauden.

The daughter of Ange Renea Trauden, and a maid serving Yoan-sama.

My mother apparently served an “Important Person” of this country.

When did I first realize that?

Since my mother, Ange, had been that “Important Person’s” wet nurse, it seemed I was raised alongside that “Important Person.”

As for me, perhaps because we were separated before I was old enough to understand, I did not remember much about that time.

But because of that background, that “Important Person” always held a place in my heart.

The first time I met that “Important Person” was when I was five years old, I thought.

I heard stories that in the highest room of the Imperial Palace, a boy was always alone, suffering from some kind of illness.

My young heart felt pity for that “Important Person.”

At the time, I did not have anyone to play with and was bored, too.

So, unable to suppress my curiosity, I snuck into the room.

—A dimly lit room.

There was a beautiful, blonde-haired boy lying on the bed, suffering.

At that time, I did not understand why he was suffering, so I approached that “Important Person.”

Then, the “Important Person” made a slightly scary face and said, “Don’t come near me…”

I got scared and ran away at that time.

Then, when I told my mother about it while crying, she taught me, “Yoan-sama is the person who will become your master.”

That was the first time I learned that the “Important Person’s” name was “Yoan-sama.”

I asked my mother why Yoan-sama was suffering.

It was too difficult for me to understand, but in the end, she said, “Yoan-sama is too kind, that is why he is suffering.”

But to me, it did not seem that way.

Because I could not forget that scary face and voice from that time.

While harboring such thoughts, I gradually began to take care of Yoan-sama more often.

The staff at the Tiarma Imperial Palace gradually decreased, and we became short-handed.

So, although I was scared, I took care of Yoan-sama.

Serving meals, cleaning, tending to his personal needs, and so on.

But at some point, I realized something.

Yoan-sama seemed scary from his face and words, but he never punished me at all.

Far from it, he painfully said “Thank you” to me.

I began to realize that Yoan-sama “(might not be a scary person).”

Once I understood that, taking care of Yoan-sama became enjoyable.

I was happy to be of use to someone.

My mother seemed to want me to train in magic, but I prioritized studying cleaning and manners over that.

Because I wanted to quickly become a maid like my mother.

So, I took the plunge and got a new maid outfit, one for adults.

My body was gradually becoming more adult-like, and I became embarrassed to be in a child’s maid outfit in front of Yoan-sama.

The length was a bit long, but I stretched myself, thinking I would surely soon become a stylish maid like my mother.

One day, I was heading to Yoan-sama with hot water.

It was to wipe Yoan-sama’s body with a cloth.

While I wiped him with the cloth, Yoan-sama continued to scream in pain, but I had gotten used to that, too.

It was strange because even that voice sounded pure to me, like the sound of a bell.

Perhaps because I was thinking such things, an incident occurred.

I must have let my guard down.

“Yoan-sama, I will wipe your bo… Ah!”

I stepped on the hem of my skirt and fell.

I saw the bucket filled with hot water overturn and rain down on me.

But at this moment, I was relieved just a little.

(Thank goodness, it didn’t hit Yoan-sama…)

That was the thought I harbored.

But… the hot water never rained down on me.

Because…

“Are you hurt, Serta?”

Yoan-sama had shielded me and taken the bath of boiling water.

It must have been absolutely hot, but Yoan-sama prioritized worrying about me.

“Tsk…”

To think that at this moment, my heart was stolen by those beautiful sky-blue eyes.

From his open chest, revealed by his disheveled loungewear, Yoan-sama’s scent wafted, and my heart was beating loudly enough to be noisy.

That was the moment something sprouted within me.

It was a while after that when I returned to my senses.

“Hah! Th-This is terrible… Yoan-sama is… Yoan-sama is!”

I panicked.

The gravity of putting my master in danger due to my own blunder came rushing over me only now.

“Calm down, Serta…! This is nothing. Besides, getting covered in hot water is something I did on my own. …I am just happy that Serta was safe.”

“Tsk~~…!!”

Yoan-sama said that while grabbing my shoulders.

At that moment, I realized it as if I had received a divine revelation.

(I see… Yoan-sama is surely doing this to “protect” everyone…)

I knew that gossipmongers ridiculed Yoan-sama as the “Shut-in Prince.”

That was not limited to just outside the Third Prince faction.

Even the people within our own Third Prince faction, while respecting Yoan-sama, somewhere denied Yoan-sama’s will, thinking, “If only Yoan-sama would change his mind.”

Wrong, it was fundamentally different.

What Yoan-sama was resisting was surely—for everyone’s sake.

A person with this much kindness would not continue to endure without any reason.

I did not know what exactly it was for.

Even so, I understood it was for some great purpose.

Without being understood by anyone, he was accepting it all alone with that small body.

I was frustrated more than anything.

That Yoan-sama’s “true kindness” was understood by no one—

“Serta, are you alright?”

Yoan-sama peered into my face worriedly while enduring the pain.

I wiped my tears.

“Tsk… I am terribly sorry. I will bring water immediately.”

I strongly thought at this time.

—No matter what happens, let only me be Yoan-sama’s ally.

From that day, something began to change.

I did not know specifically, but should I say work became my reason for living?

I felt pride in being able to care for Yoan-sama.

But that was—strictly a surface story.

I cajoled my mother and took over that work as much as possible.

Because I wanted to be the only one to take care of Yoan-sama.

Without thinking about what that meant.

And so time passed, and changes visited little by little.

To my eyes, I could see that Yoan-sama’s body was growing.

The face I once thought was cute had become dignified before I knew it.

However, it was not just Yoan-sama who was growing; I was the same.

I… was scared of my own body growing.

I thought I would eventually have a beautiful figure like my mother, but that did not happen.

Instead of growing vertically, if anything, I grew horizontally.

My body became rounder, and specifically, my chest and hips became larger.

Every day, I stood in front of the mirror and started worrying about my clothes and hairstyle.

With the maid outfit, I could hide my figure to some extent, which was good, but I still worried about it.

When I consulted my mother, she laughed and said, “When I was about your age, I was like that too.”

But to the me of that time, it did not seem so.

It seemed like a serious worry, as if it would determine my life. Because.

I didn’t want to be disliked—by Yoan-sama.

◇◇◇◇

Yoan-sama reached his twelfth birthday.

On that day, there were visitors at the Tiarma Imperial Palace.

Together with Crescella-sama, I welcomed those people.

What was surprising was perhaps that they came riding on two dragons.

A large black dragon, and a small white dragon.

On the large black dragon, two men were riding.

“I am the Head of the Perdraon family, Virio Roy Perdraon. And this is—my attendant, Larsen.”

One was a blue-haired middle-aged man with the air of a warrior. He was the Head of the Perdraon family.

And the other attendant was a boy with black hair and crimson eyes, about the same age as me.

The boy called Larsen bowed modestly.

When the boy raised his head, our eyes met.

“Tsk…”

I felt an unknown fear somewhere in those eyes.

Becoming scared, I averted my eyes.

And when I saw the girl who descended from the white dragon, my breath stopped involuntarily.

A beautiful girl with hair like the deep sea.

A slender figure, and dragon knight attire.

Her beautiful golden eyes appeared to shine sparklingly.

“I am the daughter of the Perdraon Head Virio, —Naphna Selene Perdraon.”

The girl curtsied elegantly and smiled like a goddess.

I felt a different kind of fear in those eyes than the fear I felt toward Larsen earlier.

—(It was like someone stepping into “my own beautiful flower garden” with muddy shoes…)

I headed to the guest room while remaining somewhat dazed, and waited by Crescella-sama’s side.

At first, they started with small talk, and eventually moved on to the main topic.

“—Is Yoan-sama still unwell?”

Naphna-sama asked about Yoan-sama’s condition with concern.

It did not sound like she was saying it sarcastically.

“Yes, I am truly sorry. Even though it is a precious day for a meeting, his condition is particularly poor today…”

On this day, hearing that Naphna-sama was coming, I tried to persuade Yoan-sama, but on this day of all days, he stubbornly refused to come out.

Naturally, we could not say such a thing, so Crescella-sama showed a humble attitude.

“Save the excuses. Twelve years have already passed. Is Yoan-sama still resisting the ‘Revelation of the Hero’?”

Virio-sama, the Head of the Perdraon family, spoke overbearingly.

That Yoan-sama held the “Revelation of the Hero” had naturally been conveyed to the Perdraon family.

It was unavoidable in order to maintain the engagement with Naphna-sama.

However, for Virio-sama to actually voice it meant a clear intent of protest.

“…That is.”

“There is not much grace period remaining. The Tiarma family should know that as well. As those who protect the ‘Great Northern Ridge of Daylago’ together, we must unite this Azellan Empire and concentrate our war potential in the ‘North.’ To that end, we must have Yoan-sama change his mind as soon as possible…”

Virio-sama blamed Crescella-sama with a menacing look, speaking as if rebuking her.

At that moment when I felt a terribly hostile atmosphere.

“Now, now, Father. Yoan-sama surely has his own thoughts, and if we make a fuss, it will surely affect Yoan-sama’s condition.”

It was Naphna-sama who extended a helping hand.

Naphna-sama dared not to mention the “Revelation of the Hero” and treated it strictly as an illness.

What that meant was that she appealed to her broad-mindedness and, by admonishing her father, sold a favor to Crescella-sama. …It was a magnificent performance.

But what I thought was something else.

—(I don’t want you to speak as if you know Yoan-sama.)

I felt like my own pettiness as a human being was being brought into relief.

“…I thank you for your concern.”

Crescella-sama understood that and stated words of gratitude.

This was the current relationship between the Tiarma family and the Perdraon family.

The relationship that had been equal until now had, at some point, taken a form that relied heavily on the Perdraon family.

“Please do not worry about it. We of the Perdraon family wish to continue building a good relationship with the Tiarma family in the future as well.”

“Does that mean… we can take it that you have the intention to continue regarding our ‘Pact’ in the ‘Azellan Charter’?”

Crescella-sama asked with a somewhat tense expression.

Because the ‘Pact’ with the Perdraon family was also a lifeline for the Tiarma family.

Naphna-sama showed a cheerful smile.

“Yes, of course. —There is no way we would dissolve the engagement with Yoan-sama. I pray from the bottom of my heart that Yoan-sama’s condition recovers.”

Naphna-sama concluded like that.

Zushin, I felt like my heart was crushed by a heavy weight.

For some reason my chest hurt, and it was painful even to breathe.

Composure even in front of Crescella-sama, and dignity as a royal.

Naphna-sama demonstrated capacity worthy of being the “Princess of the Perdraon Family.”

That was only natural. Because this person was…

—The one who will become Yoan-sama’s fiancée.