ダンスタイム
「ふぅ、疲れたな」
俺は溜息を吐くと、首を絞めつけているネクタイを緩めた。
「ちょっと、エルト君。まだパーティーは終わっていないんだけど」
口を寄せ耳元でアリスがささやく。
「それにしても、次から次に挨拶されるから料理を食べる暇がない」
開始時にテーブルに並べられていた豪華な料理はあらかた食べつくされていて、皆は酒を片手に歓談を楽しんでいる。
俺も見たことがない豪華な料理を味わうのを楽しみにしていたのだが、途切れることのない挨拶回りで一切口にすることができなかった。
「今後は定期的にパーティーに招かれることになるから料理はその時食べればいいじゃない?」
アリスは給仕から受け取ったコップの一つを俺に手渡す。中身はどうやらワインのようだ。芳醇な香りが鼻を撫で、赤い液体に自然と喉がなる。
「プハッ! 美味いな!」
立って話してばかりいたのでそれを一気に呑むとアリスが眉根をひそめた。
「エルト君、そういうのは一気飲みしちゃだめなのよ? まずは私と乾杯してからエスコートしている女性を褒めるのが常識なのに......」
「せ、せめて二人きりの時はいいだろ?」
まさか、お酒一杯吞むのにすら礼儀作法が存在しているとは思わず、俺は顔を歪めるとアリスを見る。
「まあ、そこまで細かい礼儀を守っている人もそんなにいないけどね」
アリスは周囲を見渡しながらコップに口をつけた。
こうして俺が気を抜いている間にも索敵をしてくれているので、今回のアリスの提案には感謝しかない。特にパーティーが始まるまでの二週間、彼女は俺につきっきりで色々教えてくれたのだ。ダンスの練習やら衣装合わせなど。俺がパーティーで恥をかかないように考えてくれていた。
「今回は本当に助かった。礼を言うぞ」
「何よ急に?」
突然、俺が礼を言ったのでアリスは目を大きく開いた。
「アリスがいなかったら、あの人たちの中に放り込まれてどうにもならなくなっていたに違いないからな」
邪神を筆頭に凶悪なモンスターから殺意を向けられるのには慣れてきた俺だが、思惑が読めない人たちに様々な感情が混じった視線を向けられるのには慣れていなかった。
時には政治的な話をもちかけられたりしたのだが、知識もなければ政策も知らない俺にしてみれば答えようもない。
中には邪神の懸賞金について寄付をして欲しいと申し出る連中もいたのだが、アリスが間に入ってくれたおかげで本当に助かった。
もし、彼女がいなかったら、妙な取引を持ちかけられたり詐欺にあっていたかもしれない。
俺が改めてアリスに礼を言うと、
「別に、エルト君のためだけってわけでもないし。あなたに変な女性が付いて、既成事実を作られたらアリシアやセレナが可哀そうだと思っただけよ」
あながち冗談に聞こえない。パーティー会場にいる令嬢からは熱い眼差しを向けられ、令息からは睨まれている。
半分はアリスを独占しているやっかみなのだろうが......。
俺が原因の元であるアリスの横顔を見つめていると、
「エルト君の気持ちがどっちに向いているのかわからないけど、告白をしてくれた女性を無視して他の女性に気を向けるのはやめてよね」
アリスが顔を動かしじっと俺を見てきた。
「ああ、そこは中途半端なことはしないと誓うよ」
そう答えるとパーティーの雰囲気が変わり始める。音楽団がステージに立ち、楽器の準備を始めた。
「そろそろ場も暖まってきたようね。ここからはエルト君の健闘を祈るわよ」
「正直もう帰りたくなったぞ」
アリスの言葉に俺はげんなりする。話に聞かされてはいたがここからはダンスタイムになるからだ。
最初に踊る相手はアリスに決まっているが、この手のパーティーでは曲が変われば相手を変えるのが基本らしい。
社交の場なので、なるべく多くの相手と踊る必要があり、この時ばかりはアリスも王女の役割を果たさなければならないようだ。
従って、これまでアリスが牽制していた令嬢たちからダンスを申し込まれることになると予想がされている。
「それもいいかもね。なんなら私を連れてパーティー会場を出てみる?」
そう言って手を差し伸べるアリス。俺は彼女の手を取り抱き寄せると、
「さっき中途半端なことはしないと言ったばかりだぞ」
彼女を睨みつけると音楽に合わせてダンスを始めるのだった。
「今回は目論見が外れましたな」
パーティー会場では若い男女がダンスを踊っている。
ダンスが始まってまだ最初ということもありゆったりとしたテンポの曲だ。
そんな中、周囲が注目しているのは一際目を引く美男美女のダンスだ。
男の方はどこかぎこちない動きで顔もこわばっているのだが、女の方が上手く補助をしているので美しいダンスに魅せている。
最初はぎこちない動きをしていた男だったが、踊りながら女に何かをささやかれてからは緊張が解けたのか笑顔を浮かべている。おそらくはあれが素の表情なのだろう。
「まさかイルクーツ王国がこうまであからさまな態度に出てくるとは」
「しかし、かの英雄の故郷はイルクーツであり、今回の発端はイルクーツからの生贄が邪神を倒したことによるもの」
基本的に邪神討伐を成し遂げた英雄は国家間のパワーバランスを考えて中立となる。だが、どうしたって故郷の影響は残ってしまう。
もし仮に他国が「不公平」と糾弾したとしても「面識があって話をしているだけ」と答えられてはそれ以上追及もできないのだ。
特に他国にしてみればイルクーツが用意した生贄なので、当然国とエルトの間にはそれなりのやり取りがあったと考えるからだ。
「彼女、イルクーツの第一王女アリス様でしたか?」
皆の前ということもあり品の良い作り笑いを浮かべているアリス。だが、微妙に現れる仕草にエルトとの親しさを感じさせられる。
「イルクーツが正妻になるとしても第二夫人や第三夫人ならばまだ可能性もある。いずれにせよこの曲が終わってからが勝負でしょう」
壁の花となった令嬢たち。ダンスを申し込まれた者もいるが、エルトと踊るために待機をしている。
ここで一度ダンスを踊っておき印象を付けられれば、後日。ティーパーティーにさそう口実ができる。
今回はそこまで切り込めれば上等と考えているのだ。だが、それを見ていたひとりが口元を緩める。
「アリス王女に関してはなんとかなるかもしれませんぞ」
「それは、どういうことですかな?」
一人が質問をしながら首を傾げると、
「イルクーツ第一王女についてある情報がありましてね。どうやら神殿に【誓約】しているらしいのですよ」
「ほぅ。詳しくお聞かせいただけますか?」
その言葉にその場の全員は興味を持ち、共通の敵であるアリスを追い落とす話をし始めるのだった。
Ch 89
"Phew, that was exhausting."
I let out a sigh and loosened the tie that was strangling my neck.
"Hey, Elt-kun. The party isn't over yet."
Alice whispered into my ear.
"But then again, I don't have time to eat my food because they keep greeting me one after another."
The sumptuous dishes that had been laid out on the table at the start of the event were already devoured, and everyone was enjoying the conversation with a drink in hand.
I was looking forward to tasting some of the most sumptuous food I've ever seen, but the constant round of greetings prevented me from eating any of it.
"You'll be invited to parties regularly from now on, so why don't you just eat the food then."
Alice handed me one of the cups she had received from the waiter. The contents of the cup seemed to be wine. The rich aroma caresses my noise, and the red liquid naturally makes my throat burn.
"Fuuh! It's delicious!"
Alice's eyebrows furrowed as I gulped it down in one gulp since I had been standing and talking.
"Elt-kun, you know you shouldn't chug those things, right? It's common sense to toast to me first and then compliment the woman you're escorting..."
"I, isn't it alright to do that when we're alone?"
I had no idea that there were etiquette rules even for a single glass of sake, and my face contorted as I looked at Alice.
"Well, there aren't that many people who follow such detailed etiquette."
Alice sipped from her cup as she looked around.
I can't help but be grateful for Alice's suggestion, as she has been searching for the enemy while I've been distracted. I was especially grateful for the two weeks she spent with me before the party started, teaching me everything I needed to know. She taught me everything from dance practice to costume fitting. She made sure that I wouldn't embarrass myself at school.
"You were really helpful this time. Thank you."
"What is it, all of a sudden?"
Alice's eyes widened as I suddenly thanked her.
"Because if it weren't for you, I would've been thrown in the middle of all these people and I would have been helpless."
I had gotten used to the killing intent from the Evil God and the other vicious monsters, but I wasn't used to people whose intentions I couldn't read just by looking at them.
Sometimes they would ask me about politics, but as I didn't have any knowledge, I had no way to answer.
Some of them offered to donate money for the Evil God's bounty, but it was really helpful to have Alice here.
If it hadn't been for her, I might have been offered some strange deal or been scammed.
When I thanked her again, she said..
"It's not like I was only doing it for you, Elt. I just thought it would be a pity for Alicia and Serena if you had a strange woman attached to you."
It didn't sound like a joke. I'm getting a lot of hot looks from the ladies at the party, and a lot of stares from the boys.
I'm sure half of them are just jealous because I was with Alice, but...
I was staring at the source of the problem, Alice's profile.
"I don't know what you're feeling, Elt-kun, but don't ignore the woman who confessed to you and turn your attention to another one."
Alice moved her face to stare at me.
"Yeah, I swear I'm not going to do anything half-hearted."
As I answered, the atmosphere of the party began to change. The musicians took the stage and began to prepare their instruments.
"It looks like the place is warming up. Let's hope you can take it from here."
"Honestly, I'm ready to go home."
Alice's words made me cringe. I've been told that it's going to be dancing from here on out.
The first person to dance is always Alice, but it seems that at parties like this, you change partners when the music changes.
Since this was a social event, it was necessary to dance with as many partners as possible, and it seemed that Alice had to play the role of a princess on this occasion.
Therefore, it is expected that I'll be asked to dance by the ladies whom she has been restraining so far.
"That might be a good idea. If you want, why don't you take me out of the party?"
Alice reached out her hand to me. I took her hand and pulled her into a hug.
"I just said I wouldn't do half-hearted things."
I glared at her and began to dance to the music.
"My plan failed this time."
A young man and woman were dancing in the party hall.
The music just started, so the music was slow and relaxed.
In the midst of all this, the people around me were paying attention to the dance of a beautiful man and a beautiful woman who caught my attention.
The man's movements were somewhat awkward and his face was stiff, but the woman was assisting him well, making it a beautiful dance.
The man was moving awkwardly at first, but after the woman whispered something to him while he was dancing, he seemed to have lost his tension and was smiling. This was probably his true expression.
"I didn't expect the Ilkut Kingdom to be so blatant about it."
"However, the hero's hometown is Ilkut, and this time it was a sacrifice from there that defeated the Evil God."
Basically, the hero who accomplished the Evil God's defeat becomes neutral in order to balance the power between nations. But no matter what, the influence of their own homeland would remain.
Even if the other countries denounce the situation as "unfair", they would not be able to pursue the matter further because the answer would be "We are just talking because we know each other."
This is because the other countries think that there was a certain amount of communication between the kingdom and elt, especially since the sacrifice was prepared by them.
"Is she the first princess of Ilkut, Alice-sama?"
In front of everyone, Alice was smiling with an elegant fake smile on her face. However, the gestures she makes show how close she is to Elt.
"If Ilkut's princess were to become his wife, it is still possible that we would be able to be his second or third wife. In any case, it will be after this song is over."
The ladies became wallflowers. Some of them have been asked to dance, but they were waiting to dance with Elt.
If they can make an impression by dancing here, they'll have an excuse to invite him to the tea party later.
If I can get to that point this time, I'll be good. However, one of the people who was watching this relaxed his mouth.
"I think we might be able to work something out with Princess Alice."
"What do you mean by that?"
One of them tilted his head, asking the question.
"I have some information about the First Princess of Ilkut. It seems that she's pledged herself to the temple."
"Hoh. Can you tell us more about that?"
Everyone in the room was intrigued by his words, and they began to talk about getting rid of their common enemy, Alice.
I, the Sacrifice, Somehow Killed the Evil God (WN)
【書籍化】生贄になった俺が、なぜか邪神を滅ぼしてしまった件【コミカライズ】
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-the-sacrifice-somehow-killed-the-evil-god/
Action Adventure Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Charming Protagonist Childhood Friends Dense Protagonist Depictions of Cruelty Different Social Status Dragons Elves Evil Gods Eye Powers Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fast Learner Game Elements Gods Hard-Working Protagonist Hated Protagonist Healers Kind Love Interests Lack of Common Sense Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Magic Magic Formations Male Protagonist Monsters Multiple POV Nobles Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Popular Love Interests R-15 Royalty Spirit Users Spirits Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sudden Strength Gain Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7677gq/
まるせい