段々蒸し蒸しとしてきた七月の半ば。私は王宮で開催される夜会に出席するため、馬車の中にいた。
始まりは夏季休暇に入る二週間ほど前だ。
珍しくまだ明るい時間に私の部屋を訪ねてきた殿下の、こんな一言によるものだった。
『レベッカ、イベント発生だ』
殿下と二人で攻略本を広げる。彼の指がとんとんと一つのページを指した。
『『夏季休暇・夜会イベント』......』
殿下の説明は攻略本とほぼ一致していた。フアバードン王国王宮でこの夏、小規模な夜会が開催される。私は殿下のパートナーとしてそれに呼ばれているのだ。
つまり、殿下の婚約者としては初めて公式の場に出るということだ。
自然と身構えてしまうが、殿下はそんな私の顔を覗き込んだ。私の髪を手でとくようにして耳にかけてくれる。
『あまり大袈裟に考えなくていい。レベッカはいつもの通りでいればそれで問題ない。それより、一緒にドレスを作りに行こう』
優しい言葉に胸がジーンとした。殿下はそんな私に、「とびきり似合って、それでいて露出の少ないもの」と念押しした。
そのすぐあとの休日に殿下とドレスを仕立てに行ったが、あんなにドレス選びに精を出したのは正直初めてだった。
失敗は許されないのだから気疲れもするというもの。
そもそも夜会とは。
男女がくるくると踊り狂い、小洒落た会話を楽しみ、高級料理と年代物のワインに舌鼓を打つ――。
あそこにいるのはたぬきかきつね、それでなければ被捕食側の子ウサギのみである。楽しもうなんて生半可な気持ちで行ってはいけない。
私は夜会の日の午前中から王宮に滞在させてもらうことになっている。
普通は家で準備をして夜にやってくるものだが、そこは殿下の婚約者なので、部屋をもらえるという特別待遇である。
午後から準備を始め、夜いざ出陣という流れだ。
揺れる馬車の窓から、全貌が見えないほど大きく絢爛な王宮を見上げた。
「王宮なんて、屋根なら乗ったことさえあるし、大丈夫、大丈夫」
殿下の婚約者を名乗りたいなら、今日は一つのミスだって許されない。
馬車が王宮に到着し、国王陛下、王妃殿下にご挨拶する。お会いするのは実は二回目だ。この前の春季休暇中、私は王妃様主催のガーデンパーティーに招待されて参加した。
王妃様はその途中全員参加で本気の「かくれんぼ」を始めるという厄介、ではなく、遊び心のある方で、大変だった記憶がある。
挨拶を済ませると私室に案内された。広いというよりだだっ広いという表現が合う部屋。調度品も豪華で、私と侍女三人には勿体無いくらいだ。
殿下は夜会まで会えないと聞いている。夜会開催まで、準備のため多忙を極めるのだ。
学園の友人たちは出席するのだろうか? いるなら会いたいが、変に出歩いて何か失敗したらどうしようという気持ちが強い。
私は慎重に、準備を始める時間まで、それはもう大人しく過ごした。
女性の準備というのは大変だ。いや、男性の準備がわからないが、とにかく夜会の準備は大変だ。
浴室で身体中磨かれて、腰を縛り上げられて、重たい宝石を装備して。一分の隙もなく完成させなければならない。
顔面なんてもはやキャンバスにでもなったかと錯覚する。
貴族の素養は万事問題ないと評価をもらってる私だって一つくらい苦手なものもある。
コルセットである。
「マリー、こんな、細く、なきゃ、だめ?」
「頑張ってください、お嬢様......!」
私が机に掴まり、侍女のマリーが私のコルセットを渾身の力で引っ張る。正しく締まった頃には、私は人間離れした細腰の持ち主になっていた。
私はその間首を絞められた鳥みたいな声を上げていただけなので全てはマリーの功績だ。父さまに特別手当を出すよう頼もう。
全て準備を終えて少し休憩していたときだ。
ノックが聞こえ、私はガバッと顔を上げた。
殿下が迎えにきたのだ!
侍女が応対してくれている間、おかしなところがないか鏡で確認する。夜会という名の戦いのため万全を期さねばならない。へまをすれば嘲笑ものだ。
「あのう、お嬢様」
しかし、焦りを覚える私に対して、戻ってきた侍女は浮かない顔をしていた。
「ルウェイン殿下ですが、夜会までエスコート出来ないそうです。問題が起きて対応しないといけないとか」
「............え」
急速に気持ちが萎むと同時、私ははっと気づいた。
そうだ、これはイベントだ。
「それでその、代理の方がいらっしゃって――」
侍女の言葉は最後まで届かなかった。
人が真横から近づいてきたのに気付くが早いか、その人物は両腕の中に私を包み込んだのだ。
殿下じゃない。なのに抵抗しようと思わない。
勢いの良い声が頭の上から聞こえたからだ。
「会いたかった! また美人になったな、俺の可愛いレベッカ!」
太陽みたいな笑顔が向けられた。と思ったら、ぽかぽかしたその腕の中にまた閉じ込められていた。今度は私も抱きしめ返す。
「私も会いたかったです、兄さま!」
ヴァンダレイ・スルタルク。三強で学園を卒業した次期公爵であり、加えてとても男らしくてかっこいい見た目をしている。
第一部では『憧れの先輩』ポジションの攻略対象だった。第二部では『憧れの卒業生』に昇格である。
夜会のエスコートを代わりにしてくれるのは、『ヴァンダレイ・ルート』でのご褒美イベントだ。気を揉みすぎて失念していた。
今の私は思ったより余裕がないらしい。
兄さまは私を散々抱きしめてやっと離したと思ったら、「最後にもう一度」と言ってまた押しつぶした。
「レベッカ可愛いぞ! 国を救える!」
「ありがとうございます」
褒め方が幼児に対するそれで笑ってしまう。
兄さまは私の頭を撫でたいらしく手を伸ばしてきたが、芸術品のように複雑に編まれているそれを触ってはいけないと思い直したらしい。
最終的に私の頭の上の空気を撫でた。
「殿下に招待されたんですか?」
「ああ、セクティアラが出席できないから今日の夜会はパスする予定だったんだがな!」
兄さまは目を閉じ腕を組み、しみじみと口を開いた。
「突如部屋の窓が砕け散って、馬車でも突っ込んできたかと思ったら、殿下の幻獣だった! 嘴に咥えられて空を飛んだのは初めてだ! もはや誘拐だったな!」
それからすぐ王宮の一室で支度をして、そのままここまで来てくれたらしい。
グルーは勢い余ってしまったのだろうか。それか「ヴァンダレイは丈夫だから多少雑で構わない」と殿下に言われた可能性がある。
なんとなく遠くを見つめていたら、兄さまが私の前に跪き、恭しく手を差し出した。
「殿下は既に会場内にいるそうだ。王子のもとまで、俺にエスコートさせてくれるか?」
「はい!」
私はお姫様にでもなった気分でその手を取った。
It was the middle of July and it had become increasingly hot. I was in a carriage, on my way to attend a night event held at the palace.
It all began about two weeks before the start of summer vacation.
It was unexpected when His Highness came to visit my room during daylight hours, and said this to me.
"Rebecca, an event has come up."
His Highness and I spread out the strategy guide. He pointed to one page with his finger.
[[Summer vacation, evening event.]...]
His Highness' explanation matched the one in the strategy guide. A small night event will be held at the palace of the Huaverdon kingdom this summer, and I have been invited as His Highness' partner.
In other words, this is the first time I will be officially appearing as His Highness' fiancee.
I naturally tense up, but His Highness looks at my face and gently combs through my hair.
"Don't think about it too much. Just be yourself, Rebecca. Let's go make a dress together."
His kind words made my heart flutter. His Highness said to me, "Choose something that will look great on you, but doesn't reveal too much."
We went to make a dress together during the holiday that followed, but honestly, I had never put so much effort into choosing a dress before.
I had to be perfect, so I was a bit exhausted.
So, what is an evening party anyway?
Men and women dance wildly, enjoy witty conversations, and indulge in high-end cuisine and vintage wines----you might think that's an elegant gathering. But you would be very wrong.
Only raccoons or foxes are there or, at best, prey animals like rabbits. You can't just have fun at an evening party.
I will be allowed to stay at the palace from the morning of the evening party.
Normally, you would prepare at home and come to the party at night, but since I am His Highness' fiancee, I have the special privilege of having a room.
I start preparing in the afternoon and then head out to the party at night.
From the swaying carriage window, I looked up at the grand and glittering palace, which was so big that I couldn't see the whole thing.
"A palace is just a roof, I've even been on the roof before, it's okay, it's okay," I tell myself in the carriage, straightening my back.
If you want to introduce yourself as His Highness' fiancee, today you can't make even one mistake.
The carriage arrives at the palace, I greet His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen. It's actually the second time we met. Last spring vacation, I was invited to attend a garden party hosted by Her Majesty.
Her Majesty the Queen is a difficult and troublesome person, but a playful person who started a real "hide-and-seek" game with everyone participating. I had memories of her being very playful and having a good time.
After finishing the greetings, I was guided to my room. A room that can be said to be not just wide, but overly wide. The furnishings are also luxurious, and it's a waste for me and the three maids.
I heard that I won't be able to see His Highness until the evening party. He is extremely busy preparing for it.
Will my friends from the Academy attend? If they're there, I want to see them, but I'm also worried that if I go out too much, I might make a mistake.
I carefully spend the time until the preparation begins, in a calm manner.
Preparations for women are difficult. I don't know about men's preparations, but in any case, preparations for the evening party are difficult.
Being polished all over the body in the bathroom, having my waist tied up, and wearing heavy jewels. I have to finish everything without a single gap.
My face has become like a canvas.
Even for me, who is highly rated for my manners as a noble, there are still things that I am not good at.
It's the corset.
"Marie, does this have to be this tight?"
"Please bear with it, My Lady...!"
I hold onto the desk, as Marie, my maid, pulls my corset with all her might. By the time it is properly tightened, I have become a holder of a slender waist that is beyond human.
All the while I was screaming like a strangled bird, so all credit goes to Marie. I'll ask Father to give her a special bonus.
It was then that we finished preparations and took a short break.
I heard a knock and looked up quickly.
His Highness has come to greet me!
While the maid was attending to him, I checked myself in the mirror to make sure there was nothing strange. I have to be perfect for this battle called evening party. If I make a mistake, I'll be the laughing stock.
"Um, My Lady."
But the maid who came back had a face without a smile, to my dismay.
"His Highness Llewayne can't escort you to the evening party. He has a problem he needs to take care of."
"...Eh."
As my feelings rapidly wilted, I suddenly realized something.
That's right, this is an event.
"Well, then, there's someone who can take his place as an escort----."
The maid's words didn't reach the end.
I noticed the person approaching from the side too late, and that person enveloped me in both arms.
He's not his highness, but I don't think I want to resist.
I heard a powerful voice from above my head.
"I wanted to see you! You've become a beauty again, my cute Rebecca!"
I thought a sun-like smile was directed at me. And then, I was closed in his warm arms again. This time, I hugged him back.
"I missed you too, Niisama!"
Vanderlei Slutarch. A graduate of the academy, former three strongest and the future Duke, and also has a very manly and stylish appearance.
In the first part, he was the [Admired senior] position of the capture target. In the second part, he was promoted to [Admired graduate].
Being an escort for the evening party instead is a reward event in the [Vanderlei Route]. I had forgotten about it because I was too excited.
It seems that I am not as comfortable as I thought.
When I thought Nii-sama had finally released me from his embrace, he said, "One more time." and pressed me again.
"Rebecca is adorable! You can save the country with that alone!"
"Thank you very much."
The way he complimented me made me laugh as if it were for a child.
Nii-sama reached out his hand as if he wanted to stroke my head, but he seemed to have remembered that he should not touch it like a work of art, which is intricately woven.
Finally, he stroked the air above my head.
"Did His Highness invite you?"
"Yeah, I was planning to pass on tonight's party because Cectiara can't attend, but!"
Nii-sama closed his eyes and folded his arms, then opened his mouth and said with feeling.
"Suddenly the window of the room shattered, and I thought a carriage had crashed into me, but it was His Highness' Phantom Beast! It was the first time I've flown in the sky on someone's beak! It was already an abduction!"
He immediately went to a room in the palace to get ready and then came here.
Maybe Grue was too excited. Or perhaps he was told by His Highness that "Vanderlei is strong, so it doesn't matter if it's rough."
As I stared off into the distance, Nii-sama knelt in front of me and respectfully held out his hand.
"His Highness is already in the venue. Will you allow me to escort you to His Highness?"
"Yes!"
I took her hand, feeling like a princess.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈