Belladonna's Lover

Himeko loves the character Kitaoji-kun from the shoujo manga *Ice Princess*. She dreams of the day when a boy like Kitaoji-kun will call her "princess." Tamako Ichinose, also known as Ouji-chan, is a popular classmate who looks a bit like Kitaoji-kun. One day, Himeko bumps into Ouji-chan during a classroom change and discovers their secret… (Source: Ciao, translated)

Bella is cursed with a poison that takes the lives of anyone she touches. The way to break the curse is to be given "true love." She was rumored to be a "poisonous witch" and lived alone in the forest, but one day she met Anna, a painter who couldn't sell her art...

*Note: First published in the May 2025 issue of Monthly Spirits.*