「それじゃあ私は夜会の準備があるから」
「あ、ああ......。まあ、気をつけて......。あ、そうだ。紙とペン、あるかな」
リリアは怪訝そうに眉をひそめながら、机からさくらとの勉強で使っているものを取り出した。受け取ったアイラが、やっぱり高級品だ、と恐れおののいているが、気にすることでもないだろう。何をするのかと思って見守っていれば、アイラは何かを紙に走り書きしていた。
そして無言で渡されたそれを見てみれば、地図だった。学園からいくつかの店を回るコースが書かれている。これは何かという意味を込めてアイラへと視線をやると、アイラは少し頬を染めてそっぽを向いていた。
「あたしたちがよく行く店だ。その通りに行けば順番に回れるよ。夜会を抜け出して、だとあまり時間ないだろ? 初めてならそれがおすすめだよ」
「あら......。ありがとう。使わせていただくわ」
リリアは紙をしげしげと眺めると、それを丁寧にたたむ。
「ああ、それと。他の店には行くなよ。興味があるものがあれば後で言ってほしい。おすすめの店を教えてやるから」
外れが多いからな、とアイラが苦笑する。ここまでされると、さすがに疑ってしまう。
「ずいぶんと良くしてくれるけど......。何か目的があるの?」
そう聞くと、アイラはそうなるのか、と少し驚いたようだった。どう説明しようかと考えるようにあごに手を当て、考え始める。そのまま少し待っていると、やがて首を振った。
「うまく言葉にできない。まあ、目的ならあるよ」
「なにかしら。これに見合う価値のものなら、応えてあげるけど」
「はは。それだと何もしてもらえなくなるよ」
リリアにとってはこの情報はそれなりに価値のあるものなのだが、どうやらアイラはそう考えてはいないらしい。訂正するつもりもないので、アイラの要求を待つ。
「別に難しいことじゃない。これからもティナと仲良くしてやってほしい。それだけだ」
「それは......。もちろんそのつもりだけど。貴方自身は何もないの?」
「ないね。まあ、そうだなあ......。今後ともよろしく、てことで」
アイラはそう言って笑顔を見せると、それじゃ、と手を上げて退室していった。そのまま、部屋の前で待機していたのだろうアリサと共に気配が遠ざかっていく。リリアはゆっくりと息を吐き出すと、いすに深く腰掛けた。
――自分のことよりティナのことだなんて......。理解できないわ。
――親友、なんだろうね。いいなあ、羨ましいなあ。あ、でも私はリリアのこと、親友だと思ってるよ。
――やめて、気持ち悪い。
――ひどい!
さくらがどれだけリリアのことを考えているか、というアピールを長々と聞いていたが、リリアはそれらを全て黙殺した。アイラから受け取った紙を広げて眺めるリリアの口角がわずかに上がっていたのだが、リリア自身は最後まで気づかなかった。
夕方になり、時間が迫ってきたところでリリアは自室を出た。後ろには木箱を持ったアリサが続く。リリア一人で出ようとしたのだが、さすがにその荷物を持っていては不自然だとアリサに止められてしまった。
「リリア様がお出かけになっている間、荷物はしっかり見ておきます」
そう言ったアリサは満面の笑顔で、リリアの計画は完全に見抜かれているらしかった。それでも止めようとしないのは、リリアが考えを変えるとは思っていないためだろう。面倒な説得がないのなら最初から説明をしておけば良かったと少しばかり後悔した。
――でも良かったんじゃないかな。次からはこんな無理をしなくても、アリサに協力してもらえるよ。
――間違いなく心配されるでしょうけどね。
――まあ、密偵さんたちが来てくれると思うから大丈夫でしょ。
誰からも聞いていないのに確信しているような言い方に、少しだけだが違和感を覚えた、まさか、と思いつつ周囲を軽く見回しながら、
――どこかに......いるの?
――うん。でも油断はしないでね。一人だけみたいだから、大勢に襲われたらどうしようもないよ。
――そうね......。気をつけるわ。
リリアは何も知らないふりをしつつ、会場へと足を運んだ。
いつの間に準備をしていたのか、校庭には多くのテーブルが並べられ、様々な料理が運ばれてくるところだった。リリアより早くに来ていたらしい何人かが、集まって談笑している。校庭の入口にはテーブルと男が二人。男たちはリリアを認めると、恭しく一礼した。
「いらっしゃいませ、リリアーヌ様」
そのうちの一人にリリアは招待状を渡した。拝見いたします、と受け取り、しかし中身など確認せずにどうぞ、と入るように促してくる。
「聞いておきたいのだけど、出入りは自由かしら」
「はい。いかがなさいましたか?」
「少し忘れ物があったから、取りに戻るわ。終わるまでには戻るから、私のことは気にしないように」
「畏まりました」
男二人の礼に送られ、リリアはその場を後にする。そして側の校舎に入ると、教室の扉の一つを開けようとする。しかし当然ながら鍵がかかっていた。
「リリア様。失礼します」
アリサとは違う声。かつ、アリサとリリアよりも高い声に内心で驚きながら振り返る。黒装束の少女がそこにいた。少女は懐から鍵を取り出すと、その鍵で教室を開けてしまった。
「どこから持ってきたの?」
「父上に預かりました。この鍵を使うだろう、と」
「そう......」
リリアの頬がわずかに引きつり、見守っていたアリサが苦笑を浮かべた。
――完全に行動パターン読まれてるね。というより秘密の計画が秘密でも何でもなくなってるね。
――私の気苦労は何だったのよ......。
――無駄。無意味。あほだね!
――言い出したのは貴方ではなかったかしら?
――だめだよリリア。過去にとらわれたらだめだよ! 未来を見ないと! お菓子が私たちを呼んでるよー!
ずいぶんと元気な声だが、先の話題を無理矢理に逸らそうとしているのは明白だった。やれやれと首を振りつつも、さくらの提案に乗ったのは間違いなく自分自身なのでそれ以上は何も言わないことにした。
教室で素早く着替えを済ませる。着替え終わったリリアを見て、少女二人が歓声を上げた。
「似合っていますよ、リリア様!」
「とてもかわいらしいです!」
"Well then I must prepare for the evening party."
"Ah, ahh... Well, take care then... Ah, right. Got some paper and a pen?"
Lilia had an inquisitive look on her face, as she took out what she'd been using to study with Sakura from her desk. Such high cla.s.s stuff, shuddered Aira as she received it, but was it really that amazing? As Lilia was looking over Aira wondering what she needed it for, it seemed the girl was scribbling something on the sheet.
So after she wordlessly handed it over and Lilia took a look, it turned out to actually be a map. A route running from the Academy to a number of stores was marked out. When Lilia looked at Aira with a questioning gaze, Aira's cheeks reddened and she turned away.
"It's the stores we usually go to. If you take that route you can visit them all in order. Sneaking out of the evening party won't leave you with much time yeah? If' recommend those for your first time."
"My... Thank you. I'll gratefully make use of it."
Lilia carefully scrutinised the map, and carefully folded it up.
"Ahh, also. Don't go to any other stores. Just let me know if anything else catches your interest. I'll give ya my recommendations. 'Cause there's lot's of bad ones out there."
Said Aira as she gave a wry smile. To go this far for her, Lilia actually started to suspect there was something to it.
"You're treating me awfully well here... What's your objective?"
When asked that, Aira asked is that how it is? and seemed somewhat surprised. She began thinking about how to explain as she put her hand to her chin. After a little bit, she finally shook her head.
"Can't really put it into words that well. Though, if it's an objective then I do have one."
"What might that be? If it's something befitting the value of what you've given me, I'll certainly provide."
"Haha. Then there wouldn't really be anything I could ask for."
For Lilia the information was in it's own way quite valuable, but it seemed that Aira didn't feel the same way. She didn't intend to correct her either way, as she waited for Aira's demands.
"Well it's not anything that hard really. Just want you to keep getting along with Tina. That's all."
"That's... Of course I intend to do so. Is there nothing regarding yourself?"
"Not really. Well, let's see... Best regards from here on out, I guess?"
Aira said that and smiled, see ya, and left the room with a wave. She seemed to leave, seen out by Alisa who was standing by beside the door during this. Lilia slowly let out a breath, and sank deep into her chair.
--To be thinking about Tina before even herself... I cannot understand it.
--It's cause they're best friends, I guess. How nice, I sure am jealous~. Ah, but I think of you as a best friend too.
--Stop it, that's gross.
--How cruel!
Sakura started going on at length about just how much she'd been thinking about Lilia all this time, but she completely ignored that. As she spread out and gazed at the map she received from Aira the corners of Lilia's mouth were already slightly raised, but Lilia herself didn't notice that all the way to the end.
Evening came, and the time was drawing near so Lilia left her room. Following behind her was Alisa carrying the wooden box. Lilia had intended to leave alone, but she was stopped by Alisa who pointed out that it would be strange for her to be carrying such luggage by herself.
"During Mistress Lilia's excursion, I shall properly watch over the belongings."
Alisa said so with a bright smile, so it seemed her plans were completely seen through. She probably didn't try to stop her, because she already knew that Lilia wouldn't have changed her mind. Lilia felt a bit regretful; if she didn't have to deal with convincing her then she should have just explained everything to Alisa from the start.
--But isn't it fine? Even if you don't go all out of your way next time, you can just get Alisa to help.
--She'll definitely be quite worried though.
--Well, the agents will probably be going with you so it should be fine.
Even though there hadn't been any indications Sakura sounded pretty certain, she felt a bit of discomfort, lightly looking around in disbelief.
--Are they... Somewhere around here?
--Yup. But don't let your guard down. Seems it's just one person, so if you're attacked by a group there's not much they could do.
--Right... I'll be careful.
Pretending to not know about her follower, she brought herself to the party location.
They seemed to have made all the preparations at some point, as there were tables arranged around the schoolyard, and an a.s.sortment of food was being brought out. A few who had gotten here even earlier than Lilia, were gathered together chatting amongst themselves. At the entrance to the schoolyard was a table and two men. When the two men recognised Lilia, they bowed respectfully.
"Welcome, Mistress Lilianne."
Lilia handed the invitation to one of them. He politely received it, but without actually confirming the contents they invited her to enter.
"I'd just like to ask, but are we free to come and go as we please here?"
"Indeed. What might be the matter?"
"If I find that I've forgotten something, I'll be going back to retrieve it. I shall return by the end, so please don't mind me."
"Understood."
The two men sent her off with a bow, as Lilia left the entrance behind. And entering the nearby school building, she attempted to open the door to one of the cla.s.srooms. However naturally there were locked up.
"Mistress Lilia. Please excuse me."
It was a different voice from Alisa's. And, surprised at the voice that was higher pitched than Alisa's or her own she turned around. There was a girl dressed in all black. the girl took a key out from her bosom, and used it to unlock the door.
"Where did you get that?"
"Father entrusted me with it. You'll probably be using it, he said."
"I see..."
Lilia's face twitched slightly, and Alisa who was watching over this expressed a wry smile.
--Seems your actions were completely seen through. In fact the secret plan isn't really secret or anything else at this point huh.
--Just what was all my worrying for...
--It was useless. There was no point. Sure was dumb!
--Was it not you who had made those suggestions?
--That's no good Lilia. You can't be caught in the past! Look to the future! The snacks are calling for us~!
Her voice was quite cheerful, but it was plainly obvious she was now trying to avoid that earlier topic. Good grief, Lilia shook her head, and since it was none other than herself that had took up Sakura's suggestions she decided to say no more.
She quickly changed her outfit in the cla.s.sroom. the two other girls both let out cheers.
"It really suits you, Mistress Lilia!"
"It's lovely!"
Haunted Duke’s Daughter
取り憑かれた公爵令嬢
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/haunted-dukes-daughter/
Comedy Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo Slice of Life Supernatural
Broken Engagement Character Growth Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Female Protagonist Friendship Hard-Working Protagonist Heartwarming Loyal Subordinates Maids Nobles Otome Game Possession Royalty Second Chance Servants Sharing A Body Sword And Magic Unrequited Love Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5708cr/
龍翠