――リリア。落ち着いた?
さくらの声に、リリアは顔を上げた。ここに入ってからどれだけの時間が過ぎただろうか。少なくとも授業はもう始まっているはずだ。本来なら急がなければならないが、リリアは目元に触れてため息をついただけだった。
――落ち着いたわ。けれど、授業には出られないわね。
――まっかっかだね、はれてるね。王子にあれだけ言っておいてその顔だと情けないね。
――うるさいわね、分かってるわよ。
リリアは立ち上がると、服についた汚れを簡単に払った。扉からそっと顔を出して辺りを窺う。微かに人の話し声が聞こえるが、少なくとも近くには誰もいないようだ。今なら寮の自室に戻るのも容易だろうが、アリサを心配させてしまうだろう。
――時間がもったいないし、図書室で勉強でもしない?
――そうね......。そうしましょう。
静かに教室から出ると、リリアは周囲を警戒しながら移動を開始する。誰かに見咎められても連れ戻されるようなことはないが、この泣きはらした顔を見られたくはない。後々誰に何を言われるか分かったものではない。
ほとんどの生徒が授業を受けているためか、二階にある図書室まで誰にも会わずにたどり着いた。静かに扉を開けて、体を滑り込ませる。すぐに閉じて、ふうと一息ついた。
この学園の図書室はかなり広い。当然ながら本棚も多く並んでいるため、奥の方にいれば誰かに見られることは少なくなる。特に今のような授業中なら、生徒にはまず見つからないだろう。教師が一人必ずいるはずだが、この時間なら本棚の整理に追われているはずだ。よく使われる本はやはり手前の本棚なので、奥の方は死角になっている。
リリアは図書室の奥へと入っていく。最奥までたどり着いたところで、一息ついた。周囲の本棚を見てみると、この国の歴史についての本が数多く並んでいた。ここなら、人は来ないだろう。
――さて、紙もペンもないけど、勉強だ! 何教えようかなあ。
さくらがリリアに勉強を教える時、その声はとても活き活きとしている。本当に楽しそうな声で、しかしかなり厳しい。辛いこともあるが、さくらの楽しそうな声を聞いているだけで、もう少しがんばろうという気にもなれる。リリアがさくらの用意した難問に正解した時など、我がことのように喜ぶのでリリアの方が照れてしまうほどだ。
今回もやはりとても楽しそうに考えていたが、しかしリリアはそれを遮った。
――さくら、その前に貴方の意見を聞いておきたいことがあるのだけど。
――ん? なにかな?
――これから......ティナとどう会えばいいのかしら?
ああ、とさくらが唸り、静かになる。きっと何かしら考えてくれているのだろう。リリアももう一度考えてみるが、どのような顔をして会えばいいのか分からない。
王子はティナが好き、だと思う。そしてティナも、王子を嫌ってはいないはずだ。ティナが王子に対して好きだという言葉を言ったことはないが、そう考えても問題はないだろう。でなければ自分の立つ瀬がなくなる、というのもあるが。
リリアは王子と完全に決別した。リリアから突き放したのだから、和解などまずあり得ないだろう。自分と友人になったティナは、王子とリリアとの間に立ってしまうことになる。それがとても申し訳なく思ってしまう。
――ティナが心配なの?
さくらの問いを、リリアは鼻で笑った。
――あの子のことなんて関係ないわね。私に火の粉が飛んでくるのが気にくわないだけよ。
――うん。そういうことにしておくね。
――どういう意味よ......。
――あはは。本題だけど、そんなに気にしなくていいんじゃないかな。多分ティナは、二人が鉢合わせしないように、程度の気は遣うと思うけど、それだけだと思うよ。王子もリリアの話題には触れないようにするだろうし、リリアから振らない限りは気にしなくていいと思う。
そういうものだろうか。リリアはまだティナの人となりが分からないので判断することができない。
――むしろ距離を取ると余計にティナが気を遣うと思うよ。普段通りにすればいいんじゃないかな。
――それが難しいのだけど。
――うん。がんばれ!
――他人事だと思って......。
苦笑しつつ、しかし反論はしない。リリアが答えを出すことのできないものなのだから。
――さて、それじゃあ今度こそ勉強だ!
さくらが今度こそと叫んだのと、
「あれ......? どなたかいらっしゃいます?」
その声が聞こえたのは同時だった。
息を呑み、ゆっくりと振り返る。そこにいたのは、見覚えのない少年だった。短い銀髪の少年で、学校の制服を着ていることから生徒だと分かる。ただこちらに見覚えはなくとも、彼にはきっとあるだろう。この学園でリリアのことを知らないという者はほとんどいない。
そう思っていたのだが。
「えっと、先輩、でしょうか。授業はいいんですか?」
リリアを知らないようだが、これは本当に知らないのか、リリアには判別がつかない。
――さくら。この子のことは知ってる?
――ごめん、知らない。悪い子ではなさそうだけど......。
ならばもう少し様子見か。リリアがそう決めて、笑顔を貼り付けた。
「私は少し調べ物があってここにいるの。君は?」
――すごい猫かぶりだ! 猫リリアだ!
――黙りなさい。
頭の中で叫ぶさくらに苦言を呈し、少年の反応を伺う。少年はすぐに答えてくれた。
「その......。僕はここで勉強しています。クラスに馴染めなくて......。幸い試験の点はそれほど悪くないので、見逃してもらっています」
――え、ありなのそれ?
――ありなのよ。試験で結果さえ出しておけば、授業に欠席していても許されるわ。でないと私は二週間も休めないわよ。
――ああ、なるほど。言われてみれば確かに。
だが、とリリアは思う。一人で勉強は確かにできるだろうが、効率がいいとは言えないだろう。クラスに馴染めなくても、授業ぐらいは出るべきだと思う。そんなことを言ってみると、少年は曖昧に笑っただけだった。
――訳あり、かしらね。
――どうするの?
――助けを求められたわけでもないし、無視しましょう。
少年とはここでたまたま会っただけだ。わざわざ助けてやる義理はないし、そもそもリリアにもそんな余裕はない。時間的にも、そしてそれ以上に精神的にも。
「深くは聞かないわ。まあがんばりなさい」
--Lilia. Calmed down?
Hearing Sakura's voice, Lilia lifted her face. Just how much time had pa.s.sed since she came in here? At the very least, cla.s.ses should have already began by this point. She really should have been rus.h.i.+ng over, but Lilia only felt around her eyes and sighed.
--I've calmed down. Though, I can't really go to cla.s.s.
--They're bright red huh, swollen too. Quite a pitiful face after having said all that to the Prince.
--Oh be quiet, I'm fully aware.
Getting to her feet, she lightly brushed the dirt from her clothes. Gently peeking out from the doors she examined the surroundings. She could faintly hear the sounds of conversation, but at least it seemed that there was no one immediately nearby. It would be easy to return to her room back at the dorm, but doing so now would probably cause Alisa to worry.
--We're just wasting time, so how about we go study at the Library or something?
--You're right... Let's do that.
Quietly leaving the cla.s.sroom, Lilia maintained vigilance towards her surroundings as she began to move. Though it wasn't as if she would be dragged back to cla.s.s if someone reported her truancy, she certainly didn't want anyone to witness her cried out face here. It wasn't something she wanted to find people discussing about later on.
Maybe due to most of the students being in cla.s.s right now, she managed to arrive at the library on the second floor without running into anyone. Quietly opening the door, she slid herself inside. Immediately shutting it once in, she breathed a long sigh of relief.
The library in this academy was quite large. Naturally, due to the large number of bookshelves lined up, it'd be hard to be seen by someone if one went deep inside. Especially now in the middle of lessons, one probably wouldn't be found by any students. Though there should definitely be a teacher here, around this time they would be running around organising the bookshelves. Since the often used books are generally gathered near the front, the back had mostly become a blind spot devoid of people.
Lilia went deep into the library. As she reached to the farthest reaches back, she took a breath. Looking at the shelves around her, placed here were a great number of books about this country's history. If it's here, there definitely shouldn't be anyone coming around.
--Well then, there's no pen or paper, but it's study time! I wonder what I should teach.
When Sakura taught Lilia, her voice would always be full of vigour. While a joyous voice, she was also quite strict. Though there were hards.h.i.+ps too, just hearing Sakura's joyful tone, Lilia could feel the motivation to work even a little harder. Whenever Lilia got one of the difficult questions prepared by Sakura correct, she would become overjoyed as if it were her own success leading Lilia to the point where she was the one to start feeling embarra.s.sed.
This time too she was happily thinking away, but Lilia interrupted that.
--Sakura, before that, I'd like to get your opinion on something though.
--Nn? What would that be?
--From now on... I wonder how should I be facing Tina.
Ahh, Sakura groaned and fell silent. She was probably thinking up something regarding that. Lilia also tried to give it another thought, but still didn't know what kind of face she should have the next time she sees Tina.
It can be a.s.sumed that the Prince likes Tina, as well as that Tina also did not particularly dislike the Prince. Tina hasn't exactly said that she liked the Prince, but it was probably alright to think that way. At least if she didn't think like this, she'd be losing all face in such a situation.
Lilia had completely broken off everything with the Prince. Lilia was the one rejecting here, so any reconciliation was almost certainly impossible. Tina, who had become her friend, was thrust right in the middle between Lilia and the Prince. She ended up feeling quite bad about creating such a situation.
--Worried about Tina?
At Sakura's question, Lilia snorted.
--This has nothing to do with that girl okay. I just don't want to feel responsible for getting someone caught in the crossfire here.
--Yup. Let's just leave it at that then.
--What do you mean by that...
--Ahaha. Back to the real topic, it's probably fine to not worry about that too much though. Tina will probably, to not have you two b.u.mp heads, act with a certain degree of caution in mind, that's what I think. The Prince will most likely also avoid touching on the topic of you, so as long as you don't stir things up, I don't think there's any reason to worry.
Would it be as simple as that? Lilia still didn't really know what Tina's temperament was like, so she couldn't come to a solid conclusion.
--Rather, I think if you were to keep your distance, it'll just cause Tina to mind things more. Wouldn't it be fine to just act as usual?
--Though that would be kind of difficult.
--Yup. Do your best!
--Talking like it's none of your business...
Though she was smiling wryly, she did not object. Lilia couldn't come up with any other answers herself after all.
--Well, with that, now it's studying!
Just as Sakura was exclaiming now--
"Oh...? Whom might be present here?"
--that voice was heard at the same time.
With a gulp, Lilia slowly turned around. There stood a boy she didn't recognise. It was boy with short silver hair, and by the school uniform he was wearing, it could be seen that he was student here. Although she had no recollection of him, it was probably not so for the boy. There was hardly anyone in this academy that did not know about Lilia.
That was what she thought but.
"Umm, Senpai, is it? Is it fine to not be in cla.s.s?"
It seemed that he didn't recognise her, but whether he really didn't know or was just acting so, Lilia couldn't
--Sakura. Do you know about this kid?
--Sorry, no idea. Though he doesn't seem like a bad guy...
In that case, let's see how this turns out for a bit. Lilia decided so and fixed a smile to her face.
"I had something to look up so I'm here for that. What about you?"
--Such convincing innocence! It's innocent Lilia!
--Be quiet you.
Presenting a retort to Sakura who shouted in her head, she sought for a response from the boy. The boy quickly answered.
"Well... I am studying here. I don't really fit in with the cla.s.s... Fortunately, my grades on exams are not too bad, so they're leaving me be."
--Eh, is that really okay?
--It is indeed. As long as you can get results on the exams, they'll allow it even if you're absent from lessons. If not for that, I wouldn't be leaving school for two whole weeks would I.
--Ahh, I see. Now that you mention it that is so.
However, thought Lilia. You can certainly study on your own, but that can't be said to be very efficient. Even if you didn't fit in with the cla.s.s, she felt you ought to at least attend the lessons. When she voiced some of these doubts, the boy only smiled vaguely.
--Perhaps there are some circ.u.mstances, huh.
--What'll you do?
--It's not as if he was seeking me for help, so let's just ignore it.
She just happened to run into the boy after all. She didn't have any responsibility to go help him, and Lilia herself wasn't someone who really had the leisure to do so anyways. Not in terms of time nor, more importantly, emotionally with what she was already dealing with.
"I won't pry any deeper then. Well do your best."
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