The Shut-In's First Love (1)

"I miss him...."

It was a phrase that had become a habit on Nero's lips ever since her encounter with Sieg. When she was eating. When she was sleeping. Even when she was casting magic.

"S-Sieg...!"

Thanks to that, she sometimes messed up her incantations and caused accidents. It was the first mistake she'd made in her entire life. But she didn't really mind. Her entire mind was focused on Sieg, which had made her neglect the strictness she usually maintained toward magic.

She used to think people who were head over heels in love were fools. But now she felt that becoming a fool would be fine if it meant she could see Sieg every day.

"M-maybe I should go see him?"

And she often caught herself worrying about the same things her older sister once had. When she'd heard those words back then, she'd thought lightly, If you miss him, just go. What's the problem? But it wasn't that simple. She worried that showing up might burden him. Their relationship was so precious that she desperately hoped it wouldn't worsen.

Besides, her current self wasn't worthy of Sieg. In that case, perhaps she could get help from magic?

"Is there something like a love potion, by any chance?"

"There's no way something like that exists. This isn't a novel."

She asked the old ladies at the Magic Tower for help, but nothing useful came of it.

"What about magic to seduce a man?"

"There's no such thing. Though there is hypnosis magic, which is faster and simpler... but it erases the self."

Even magic—her area of expertise—didn't help with human love. She could push a mountain aside with ease, part the sea in an instant, lead wars to victory, and even cure hair loss! Yet it couldn't help her seduce a man.

At times like these, she resented knowing nothing but magic. She regretted not studying men in advance.

"What men like... They like flowers, right?"

"Men seem to like kind and gentle women."

"Above all, isn't money the best??"

"No matter what anyone says, it's huge breasts! That's the ultimate way to stimulate a man's heart!"

These were the answers she received when she asked the servants what men liked. A colorful variety of opinions. In the end, they weren't helpful at all. Because everyone said something different, her confusion only grew.

'At this rate, my sister might steal him away.'

When you thought about it, the reason her mother had begun searching for husband candidates for her sister Morgan was because of Sieg. She had to make the first move before Morgan—who knew far more about men than Nero—could do anything.

So she decided. In one of the rare moments she'd ever taken the initiative in her life, she would step out of her room on her own two feet. And she would personally go to greet him at this banquet.

She wanted to be with Sieg that badly.

"U-um, w-welcome."

When the carriage door opened, Nero only peeked her face out slightly and spoke in a tiny voice. Half her face visible beyond the door.

Nero wearing makeup?

In the original story, she was the type who found dressing up more bothersome than anything else. Yet here she was, wearing makeup? Her natural features were already cute, so it suited her perfectly, but the sheer fact that Nero had put on makeup hit me like a shock.

On top of that, the fact that she'd left the imperial palace not once but twice was also shocking. In the original work, wasn't she the ultimate hikikomori who stayed in her room doing research even if the capital was under attack?

"Princess Nero, what brings you...?"

Daeho approached Nero and asked. The reply was short.

"To greet."

"We appreciate the thought, but we already have a carriage prepared..."

Just as Daeho said, another carriage was already waiting in front of the lodging.

"...Since the princess has gone to the trouble of bringing her own carriage, it would be rude to refuse such kindness."

Daeho smiled brightly and climbed into the carriage. Then she pointed at her own chest and gave me a signal. She was probably indicating the sealed left hand of Lucifer.

During our last meeting, she'd declared she would try to build a connection with Nero. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. If the magic genius Nero and Daeho combined their powers, they might be able to turn this crisis into a chance.

Seeing Daeho looking so cheerful, I nodded in agreement. Lucifer was the enemy who had destroyed her family with a curse. Daeho wanted to stop her with everything she had. If there was a way to block her, Daeho wouldn't hesitate over the means. As one of her biggest fans, I wanted to lend a hand too.

If Nero helped, while Daeho broke through the Demon King's Army's barrier, Nero could counterattack the demon forces with magic. Especially since Corps Commander Chierre was weak to magic, she would make an excellent counter.

"Please get on... S-Sieg, you too... please."

With Nero's permission, Soho and I boarded the carriage next. Perhaps because it bore the imperial crest, it was on a completely different level from any carriage I'd ridden before. The interior was far more spacious than it appeared from outside. The seats were luxurious, perfectly comfortable for the hips and back, and strangely, there was no shaking at all.

Snacks and tea had been prepared along the walls. The unfamiliar sight made me look around curiously. Was this also done with magic?

"I-it's by expanding the s-space with m-magic."

Had she read my mind? Nero kindly explained it to me. She even added commentary on exactly what spells had been used, but since my knowledge of magic was limited to healing spells, I simply nodded along. I couldn't just ignore her when she was explaining so earnestly.

"To think such complex magic was used. That's amazing."

Daeho chimed in supportively at Nero's explanation.

"By the way, is there any particular topic you've been focusing on lately?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"...."

But for some reason, only silence returned. It was night and day compared to how she acted toward me. Still, Daeho didn't give up.

"Are you perhaps also researching the magic of the demon race?"

"...?"

Nero had turned her body away, showing complete disinterest, but her ears seemed to perk up instantly. It looked like she'd taken the bait.

Come to think of it, Daeho had once mentioned investigating Nero's activities. She was using that information to spark interest.

"Recently I've also grown interested in the unique magic of the demon race and have been researching something."

"What is it?"

It was the first time Nero had made eye contact with Daeho.

"This."

Daeho slightly parted her dress to reveal her cleavage and pulled out a blue orb.

"This is the left hand of Lucifer, the First Corps Commander of the Demon King's Army. What do you think? Would you like to take a look?"

"...!"

Nero swallowed hard. It clearly bothered her. It definitely looked that way. Seeing her reaction, I became certain—we'd caught her interest.

Daeho and I met eyes and nodded.

But—

"It's fine."

Nero refused.

The same Nero who was practically a corpse without magic research had turned it down? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Why? Had she found some other interest?

"Right now there's something else I need to pay attention to."

Then she glanced at me subtly. Daeho and I, unable to understand what that cryptic remark meant, were so shocked we couldn't say a word.

The imperial banquet hosted by the Arcadia royal family was in full swing. Many nobles had already gathered in the hall.

Unlike usual, a crowd of young noblemen had assembled, all sharing the same goal.

"A Garcia necklace? Wow, where did you get that?"

"If you're going to stand before Princess Morgan, don't you need at least this much?"

It was all to catch Princess Morgan's eye.

Empress Diana had made the announcement. She would find a husband candidate for Princess Morgan at this very banquet. It was explosive news. Normally, to strengthen the imperial authority, one would form an alliance with a specific family first and then select a husband. This time, however, they would choose from those who stood out at the banquet itself.

This was a golden opportunity for advancement! A few nobles criticized the decision, claiming it was simply because the pleasure-loving princess was too fond of men, but what did that matter? They had a chance to claim the position of the princess's husband. Perhaps even the seat beside the future emperor.

Nobles from the Arcadia Empire and scions from noble families of other nations were all busy showing off in one place.

Idiots...

Some among them looked down on the rest. The son of Marquis Griffon was one of them, snorting at the crowd.

No matter how much Princess Morgan had changed recently, the fact that she loved women hadn't. Taking such a good-for-nothing as a spouse was hardly proper. They must not know that Princess Nero is also looking for a husband.

It was a rumor recently circulating in the imperial palace. Not only Princess Morgan but Princess Nero as well was seeking husband candidates. The young masters who knew this had begun aiming for Nero rather than Morgan.

Nero was a maiden who spent all day shut in her room doing nothing but magic research. A pure girl who knew absolutely nothing about men. On top of that, having come from the Magic Tower where only women lived, she had probably never even held a man's hand. A woman like that would be easy to handle, and once she fell in love, she would be incredibly devoted.

Many said Morgan would become the next emperor, but since it wasn't confirmed yet, becoming Nero's husband wasn't a bad choice at all. The noble scions who understood this were eagerly searching for her, yet—

What the hell? Why are there so many?

When the son of Marquis Griffon looked around, he saw quite a few other young masters who clearly had the same idea.

Still, I'm the best among them.

Perhaps thanks to all the effort he usually put into his appearance. His hair, face, clothing style, and accessories were all impeccable. And recalling how he had melted the hearts of many noble daughters so far, he was confident he could seduce Princess Nero ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠immediately.

Bring it on, anyone.

No matter who the competitor was, he was sure he would win. It was exactly then that the announcement rang out.

Princess Nero had entered the banquet hall. The moment he heard it, the son of Marquis Griffon headed straight for her. He planned to make the first move.

But the man standing beside her...

Who is that...?

Nero was shyly looking up at him. It was the very picture of a girl in love.

And there was one more woman who witnessed that sight.

"Sieg?"

The Saintess of the One God Church, who had come by imperial invitation. It was Freya Badanis.

Crack—

She had squeezed too hard. The glass in her hand shattered with a sharp sound.