そう、とリリアは頷きつつ、だがあまり嬉しいとは思えない。リリアにとってはどうしても地味なように思えてしまう。これで外を出歩くのか、と思うと少しだけ気分も落ち込んでしまう。
「ちゃんと庶民に見えるかしら?」
リリアがそう聞くと、アリサと密偵の少女二人ともが目を逸らした。え、と固まるリリアに、慌てたようにアリサが言う。
「だ、大丈夫です! 庶民、とはまた違いますが、お忍びで来ているお嬢様、ぐらいには見えますよ!」
「そうです、少なくとも公爵家のご令嬢には見えません!」
それは安心していいのだろうか、喜んでいいのだろうか。リリアにはどうにも答えが分からず、曖昧な笑みを浮かべるしかなかった。
「リリア様。これもどうぞ」
そうして渡されたのは麦わら帽子だ。これも一緒に入っていたらしい。それをかぶると、少女二人は満足そうに頷いた。
「大丈夫そう?」
「ええ。大丈夫です」
「何かあってもお守りしますので安心してください」
この少女に守られるのか、と少しだけ怪訝そうに見つめると、少女はリリアの考えを察したのかすぐに首を振った。
「何かあった時は私では対応しきれません。学園を出てからは、父上が陰ながら同行させていただきます」
「そう。一緒に歩いてくれてもいいのだけど」
――え? いいの? リリア、想像して。ちょっといいところのお忍びのお嬢様とそれに並んで歩く黒ずくめのおっさん。
――おっさん、て貴方ね......。
苦言を呈しつつも、想像してみる。すぐに、これはない、と首を振った。
「ごめん。訂正するわ。一人で歩きたい」
苦笑しつつ、では戻りますね、と少女が一礼して教室を後にした。その後ろ姿を見送りながら、ふと思い出したことがあった。
「そう言えば私、あの子もそうだし、他の二人の名前も結局聞いてないわね」
「そうでしたね。お答えしましょうか?」
「いえ、いいわ。機会があれば自分で聞くから」
それよりも早く行かなければ帰りが遅くなってしまう。リリアが扉へと歩き出すと、アリサは黙したまま頭を下げた。
学園の門には常に国の兵士が常駐している。門を通るためにはここで様々な手続きするのが普通だ。まずここでどうやって誤魔化すか、もしくはどう内密にしてもらうかを考えていたのだが、
「いってらっしゃいませ」
何も言われずに通されてしまった。
――どういうこと?
――うん。あとで密偵の人たちにお礼を言っておいてね。先に話を通してくれたみたいだから。
その言葉に、リリアは目を丸くした。そんな話は聞いたことがなかったのだが。
――そこまで怒ったつもりはないのだけれどね。
――いや十分怖かったからね?
学園の南側すぐは、左右に延びる広い通りと真南のさらに広い通りになっていた。そのどちらにも、何かしらの店が並んでいる。リリアはアイラから受け取った紙を広げると、地図に従って歩き出す。だがすぐに立ち止まった。
――さくら。この地図、分かる?
――うん。分かるけど......。ああ、そっか。これは要所要所しか書いてない地図だからね。案内してあげる。
さくらの指示の元、リリアは南側の街の中へと繰り出した。
――この国にはね、百年前に賢者様がいたんだよ。賢者様は多くのことをこの国に伝えたんだけど、特に力を入れたのか食べ物なんだって。何でも、自分が好きなものが何一つないってことですごくがんばったらしい。なんて素晴らしい人なんだ! ところでリリア、聞いてないでしょ。あ、そこ右。
――聞いてるわよ。ただ私は貴方ほど食べ物に執着していないけど。
さくらの案内に従い、リリアは賑やかな通りを一人で歩いて行く。行き交う人々がリリアをを見て振り返っているが、学園では当たり前のことでもあるので気にもしない。それ故に、何故注目を集めているかを考えることすらしていないのだが。
さくらは案内を始めてからすぐに、この国の歴史について講義し始めた。歴史といっても、食べ物のことばかりだ。確かに美味しいものを食べたいという願望はあるが、さくらほど執着しているわけではない。食べ物に改革をもたらした賢者など興味もない。
それはさくらも分かっているというのに、ずっと話し続けている。わざわざ、時折聞いているかと確認してまでだ。
――何がよ。
――塩のちゃんとした作り方も知らないのに、当然のようにどこにでもあるんだよ。
ぴたり、とリリアは足を止めた。
この国には様々な調味料が揃っている。当然ながら塩や砂糖もある。そしてそれらは、魔法陣で精霊たちにお願いすることにより、作成過程を省略して原料から作られているものだ。
本来なら作成過程を知らなければ精霊たちに願うことすらできない。故に誰かは作成過程を知っているはずだというのに、作り方として知っているのは魔法陣によって作る、ということだけだ。それが当たり前だと思っていたが、指摘されると妙な話だと分かる。
――ね。不思議だね。
楽しげに笑うさくらに、リリアは薄ら寒いものを覚えてしまう。この声の主は、それらの作成方法を知っていた。魔法陣に頼らず作る方法を。
――さくら。貴方もしかして、その賢者だったりするの?
少しばかりの確信を込めてそう問うたが、しかしさくらは、違うと即答した。
――ただ、その賢者さんは私と似通った人なんだろうなとは思うよ。私みたいに誰かに取り憑いていたのかは分からないけど、ね。あ、リリアそこのお店! すごいよ苺大福だよ買って買ってねえ買って!
――真面目な話をしていたと思ったら......。もう少し続ける努力をしなさいよ......。
口では文句を言いつつも、リリアはさくらの示した店へと向かう。店頭に大福と呼ばれている菓子が並び、苺大福というものはそれらの真ん中に、目立つようにして並べられていた。それを一個だけ購入して、その場で口に入れる。
――へえ......。苺そのものが入っているのね......。
――いちごだいふくだあ! 味もいちごだいふくだ!
Said Lilia as she nodded, but she didn't really feel so within. It only felt kind of plain to her. She felt a bit down thinking about having to walk around outside in the dress.
"Do I properly look like a commoner?"
When Lilia asked that, Alisa and the agent girl both averted their eyes.
"It, it's alright! It's, not really like a commoner, but you do look like a rich lady going out incognito!"
"That's right! At the very least you don't seem like a duke's daughter anymore!"
Should she really be rea.s.sured, or happy with that? Lilia couldn't think of an answer, and could only give off a vague smile.
"Mistress Lilia. Please take this as well."
She was handed a straw hat. It was in the box with the dress. When she put it on, the two girls watching on both nodded with satisfaction.
"Does it fit?"
"Yes. No problems."
"You will be guarded no matter what happens so please rest a.s.sured."
Would she really be protected by this girl? Lilia looked at her a little doubtfully. The girl probably noticed, as she quickly shook her head.
"If something were to happen I would not be able to handle it myself. After leaving the academy, Father shall be covertly following behind."
"I see. It's fine even if we walked together though."
--Eh? Is that really fine? Lilia, just imagine it. Some well bred young lady walking together with some old
--Calling him 'some old dude', really you...
Though she was admonis.h.i.+ng her speech, Lilia did try imagining. Quickly, she came to the conclusion that it was no good, and shook her head.
"Sorry. Let me revise that. I want to walk alone."
While smiling wryly, the girl gave a bow and left the cla.s.sroom. As she was watching her depart, she suddenly remembered.
"Now that I think about it, with that girl, and the other two as well, I still haven't asked for their names huh."
"It seems so. Shall I inform you their names now?"
"No, it's fine. I'll ask them myself when I get the chance."
Leaving that aside she needed to get a move on or she'll be late in returning. As Lilia walked out the door, Alisa silently saw her out with a bow.
There were soldiers constantly stationed at the gates of the academy. Normally one would go through various procedures to pa.s.s through the gate. She was antic.i.p.ating just how she might talk her way past, or perhaps get them to let her through discreetly, but,
"Have a safe trip."
They just let her though without saying much at all.
--What's with that?
--Yup. Make sure you thank those agent people after. It seems they'd talked to them about it beforehand.
At those words, Lilia's eyes widened. She hadn't heard anything about this...
--I didn't really intend to get that mad at them though.
--Nah you were plenty scary back there alright?
So it was like that, thought Lilia as she left the school grounds. Right outside the south end of the academy was a wide road running parallel across the exit to either side, as well as an even bigger street that ran straight south from there. With either of the roads, there were all sorts of stores lined up along them. Lilia took out the paper she received from Aira and started walking down the indicated route. However she quickly came to a stop.
--Sakura. Do you, understand this map?
--Yep. I can read it but... Ahh, I see. Only the basic points have been marked out here. I'll guide you along.
Following Sakura's instructions, Lilia set out into the south side town.
--You see, a hundred years ago there was a great sage in this country. The great sage taught many things to the country, but the of all things it seems what he'd put the most effort into was food. There wasn't a single thing he enjoyed eating here, so he tried super hard to fix that. What a wonderful person! By the way Lilia, you're not listening are you. Ah, make a right there.
--I'm listening. I just don't have as much of an attachment to food as most n.o.bles.
a busy street by herself. The various people coming and going turned to look at her as they went by, but it was the same even in the academy so she paid it no mind. And so, she didn't even really think about why she was garnering all this attention either.
As soon as Sakura began guiding Lilia along she had started to lecture about this country's history. That said, it was mostly history related to food. She certainly had the desire to eat delicious things, but she wasn't as caught up in such a thing as Sakura. She had no interest in something like the great sage who brought about some revolution in food.
Sakura should be aware of that as well, but even so she continued to talk. She even periodically confirmed if she was listening properly.
--About what.
--The method to make salt isn't even known here, but it somehow became a common everyday item.
Lilia's feet came to a stop.
There were various seasonings gathered in this country. Of course salt and sugar were among them. And they, with a magic formation and the spirits' help, were created from raw materials while completely omitting the actual process of their creation.
Normally without knowing the actual process of making something you wouldn't be able to create such a magic. Therefore, it seemed that there was someone who indeed knew the full process for creating them,for creating them, and yet the only known way of producing them currently was using magic formations. It seemed like something quite obvious, but only after it was pointed out did she notice the strangeness of it.
--Right? It really is strange.
At Sakura who gave a cheerful laugh, Lilia felt a slight chill. The way she spoke made it seem like she actually knew all about the creation processes mentioned. The way to create them without relying on a magic formation.
--Sakura. Could it be that you, were that great sage or something?
She asked with a tiny bit of conviction, but Sakura immediately denied it.
--However, I do think that Mr. Sage guy was someone who resembles me quite a bit. Though I don't know if he'd also possessed someone like I did, eh? Ah, Lilia that store there! It's strawberry daif.u.ku buy some buy some hey buy some!
--Just when I thought we were having a serious conversation... Please put a bit more effort into staying on track...
Voicing her complaints all the while, Lilia headed towards the store Sakura pointed out. The treats called 'daif.u.ku' were lined up on the counter, and the one called a strawberry daif.u.ku was in the middle of them, lined up so that they stood out prominently. Buy just one, she put it in her mouth on the spot.
--I see... So the strawberry itself was inside the thing...
--A strawberry daif.u.ku! It tastes like a strawberry daif.u.ku too!
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