私、レミーエ=アルバンは勉強が嫌いだった。
父が学術機関の所長補佐をしている手前、当然それなりの知能や知識を要求されたけど......。父が専門としている美術から読み解く歴史学とか、まるでさっぱりで。
『レミーエは女の子なんだから無理しなくていいんだよ』
『ほら、レミーエは裁縫が得意なんだから。きっと素敵なお嫁さんになれるね』
そんなフォローをされるたび、本当に自分が情けなくて。
学者である父の娘と紹介されるのが嫌で、社交界からも足が遠のき。次第に勉強すること自体が怖くなったの。
それでも『結婚するにしても学歴があって損はないからね』と爵位と父のコネで入学した貴族学院。
爵位があるといっても、うちは所詮男爵だから。噂で聞くような華やかな令嬢令息たちは、ただただ眩しいだけだった。次第に、すぐに腰が引けていた私はいじめられるようになって。
困ったなぁ。もう学校行きたくないなぁ。でも惨めな自分をお父さんに知られなくないなぁ。と、四面楚歌だった時――私は、あの方に出会った。
「あの......落ちましたよ?」
始めは、そんな高貴な方だと思わなかったの。だって、落としたのが桃色のうさぎのぬいぐるみだよ? しかも超絶不細工なやつ。妹からでも貰ったのかなぁ、いいお兄ちゃんなのかも......と微笑ましい気持ちで金髪の背中に声をかけたら。
「あぁ、感謝する」
――なっ、なにこのカッコいいひとおおおおおお!?
こんな綺麗な顔面、絵画とか彫刻でしか見たことない。王子様とかかな? でも王子様がこんなものを持っているはずがないし......あぁ、でもほんと眩しいこと眩しいこと......。それですぐに押し付けて立ち去れば良かったのに、思わず手を離すタイミングを誤って――。
『あっ』
うさぎの首がもげた。......多分、元からほつれていたんだと思うんだよね。だって細い糸がプチプチと逆だっているし。相当古い物だと思うんだ。それを王子様みたいな人も承知だった様子。
「あ......気にしないでくれ。古い......そう、とても古い物なんだ......」
――もうなんでそんな泣きそうな顔してくれちゃってんのよおおおおおお!?
そうだよ! 仕方のない事故だったんだよ。王子様じゃなくても、ここは貴族の学校なんだから貴族でしょ? そんなもの幾らでも買えるでしょ!? むしろそんな不細工なのは売ってないってか。え、そんなレアなの? もしかして今は亡き著名な裁縫家が最期に縫った国宝級の逸品だったり......!?
何を血迷ったか――私は分不相応なことを口走る。
「わ、私......直しましょうか?」
「直せるのか!?」
「お裁縫は、得意なので......」
だって勉強するのが嫌で嫌で、そんなことばかりやってたからね。お母さんからは「いっそ平民だったら幾らでも仕事があるのに」と泣かれたくらいだ。
すると、王子様(っぽい人)のサファイアブルーの瞳はキラキラと輝く。
「ぜひに頼む......いや、きみさえ良ければ、俺に裁縫を教えてくれないだろうか!?」
「ふえっ!?」
それが私と彼の不運の始まり――いや、そんなこと言ったらルルーシェ様に怒られちゃう......。でも、私の転機だったのは間違いない。
そして、人気の少ない時間に裁縫を教える日々が始まった。中庭の隅の花壇に座って、チクチクと格闘する日々。
「だから、針に糸を通して――」
「糸が裂けたぞ。不良品か?」
「いえ、先輩が不器用なだけです」
私は糸の先を斜めに切ってあげて、もう一度渡す。
うぅ......自分でやった方が何倍も早いよぉ。この人、いつになったら針に糸を通せるようになるんだよぉ......。
やはり私に何かを教わるのは恥ずかしいのか、指定された時間はこんな朝早く。早起きが苦手だから放課後が良かったんだけど......どうにもこの人忙しいらしく、朝の十分とか二十分しか時間が取れないということで懇願されてしまった。こんな綺麗な人に真剣に頭下げられたら、断れないよぉ......。
まぁ、どうせ二、三日の辛抱だと思ったら――。
針に糸を通るので三日。玉止めできるようになるまで一週間。その頃にはまた針に糸を通せなくなっているので、二日戻って......その後も一日ひと針、ふた針な日々を過ごしていたら、あっという間に仲良くなりました。
だって頑なに私にやらしてくれないんだもん! 手本のひと針すら解けと言われたからね。なんだったら私が一から全部作り直した方が圧倒的に早い。この程度のぬいぐるみなら、授業中の合間に目をつぶってでも一日で作れる。
いくら王子様(っぽい人)の頼みとはいえ、飽き飽きしていた私はそれをやんわりと提案すると――彼は泣きそうな顔で、首を横に振った。
「それだけは呑めん。これは......ルルーシェが俺にくれた物なんだ。俺が手ずから直してやりたい」
ルルーシェ......? どこかで聞いたことある名前だけど、誰だっけ?
でもそっか。この人、恋人がいたのか......。そりゃ、そーだよね。こんなカッコいいんだもん。恋人の一人や二人いない方がおかしい。
その事実にちょっとだけ落ち込んでいた時、彼に聞かれてしまう。
「ところで、今日は革靴ではないのか?」
「ふおっ!?」
思わず変な声出しちゃった......。靴ね、靴......。昨日体育で運動用の靴に履き替えた時に、制服用の革靴を隠されちゃったんだよね。それを見つけることができなくて、買うにも学校特注だから時間かかるし。親から事情を説明してもらえれば融通効かせてもらえるのかもしれないけど、いじめられているなんて話したくないし。仕方なく、運動靴のまま登校していたのだけど。
私はアホっぽく笑う。
「あはは~。革靴、失くしちゃったんですよねぇ」
「......普通、失くすようなものではないだろう?」
「私、馬鹿だからぁ」
成績も悪い。勉強もできない。馬鹿なのは事実。だから学者の娘のくせに、といじめられる。
それを仕方ないと笑って流そうとしていると、なぜかその王子様(っぽい人)は「わかった」と頷いた。
「あ、ようやくコツ掴んでくれました?」
「違う......当分、なるべくきみと行動するようにしよう」
なんで? なんでそうなるの!?
私が戸惑っていると、鐘が鳴る。そろそろ大勢の人が登校してくる時間だ。だから、私たちは解散――のはず。だけど、彼は花壇から腰を上げなかった。
「......教室に行かないんですか?」
「だから、ギリギリまでレミーエと共にいよう。少しは被害が減るはずだ」
「......私、名前教えましたっけ?」
「あぁ。そりゃあ世話になる者の名前くらい調べるさ。こちらこそ名乗ってなくてすまなかったな」
そして彼は立ち上がり、完璧なまでに眩しい微笑で手を差し出してくる。
「俺の名前はサザンジール=ルキノ=ラピシェンタ。改めて宜しく頼む」
I, Lumiere Alban, hated studying.
Since my father was an assistant director of an academic institution, it was expected of me to have some intelligence and knowledge. I found reading the history of art that my father specialized in quite refreshing.
"Lumiere is a girl, there's no need to push yourself so hard."
"Look, Lumiere is good at sewing. I'm sure you'll become a wonderful bride."
Every time I heard something like that, I felt truly sorry for myself.
I didn't want to be introduced as my father's, a scholar's, daughter. Thus, I eventually distanced myself from the social circles. Gradually, I became scared of studying itself.
Nevertheless, through the connections of my father and my peers, I managed to enter into an aristocratic academy. I was told that, "Even if you get married, there'll be no loss since you have an education."
No matter how many connections I had, I was still a baroness. I wasn't a gorgeous noble lady, someone described as dazzling in every rumor. Soon, I started to be bullied, especially because I was the odd one out.
I was in trouble. I didn't want to go to school anymore. Despite that, there was no way for my father to know.
"Did you drop this?"
During our first meeting, my first impression of that person was that he wasn't a noble. Because what he had dropped was a stuffed peach rabbit. What was more, it was ugly. He probably received it from his sister, or brother...
"Oh, thank you..."
W, what's with this handsome person!?
I had only seen a face that beautiful on paintings and sculptures.
"Ah."
The rabbit's neck tore... It must had been frayed since the beginning. The thread was already thinning. The doll was quite worn out. Even the prince-like man was aware of it.
"Ah... don't worry, it's worn... since it's very old..."
W, why do you look like you're about to cry!?
That was right! It was an accident! It couldn't be helped! Even if he wasn't truly a prince, it was still an aristocratic academy, right?! He should be able to purchase many such things!? Or, was it rare!? Maybe, it was a national treasure-class gem sewn by a famous seamstress who had died...!?
While being unsure of what I was hesitating about, I suddenly said such a thing--
"--D, do you want me to fix it...?"
"Can you?"
"I'm good at sewing, so..."
Because I didn't want to study, I always sewed instead. My mother even cried, "A commoner wouldn't even do as much as you!"
Then, the prince's(?) sapphire blue eyes sparkled.
"Please, if you would--no, if you don't mind, could you teach me how to sew?!"
"What!?"
That was the beginning of my misfortune with him--no, if I said that, Luche would scold me... But I was sure that was my turning point.
Then, the days of teaching him how to sew began. During those days, we'd sit near a flower bed in the corner of the courtyard as he struggled to learn.
"Then, pass the thread through the needle--"
"--This needle is frayed. Is it defective?"
"No, senpai is just clumsy."
I diagonally cut the end of the thread and handed it over to him once again.
Ugh... it would have been much faster if I were to do it myself... When will he be able to thread a needle?
Perhaps because he was embarrassed over learning something from me, our meetings were always early in the morning. I wasn't good at getting up early, so I'd very much have preferred after school... But he seemed to be busy, so I was begged to come about 10-20 minutes earlier in the morning. I couldn't say no when such a pretty person was bowing to me...
...Well, let's think of them as days where I practice my patience...
However, it had been three days. It had been three days since he started practicing how to thread a needle. Then, we had to take a break the following week due to there being a ball. During that time, he went back to square zero. Thus, we spent two more days of learning how to thread a needle again... in no time at all, we became friends.
Still, for some reason, he was adamant about me not doing anything! I couldn't even help him thread the needle! It'd be overwhelmingly faster if I remade everything from scratch. If it was something like that stuffed toy, I could make one with my eyes closed during class!
Even if it was a prince's request, I was fed up with it. So, I gently suggested that I make it instead--
"I can't. This is... something that Luche gave me. I want to fix it myself."
Luche...? I felt like I had heard of that name from somewhere. Who was it again?
Does he have a girlfriend? ...Well, that's only to be expected. After all, he's this handsome. It would be weird if he didn't have a lover or two...
When I was a little depressed about the fact, he asked me.
"By the way, you aren't wearing leather shoes today?"
"Oh!?"
When I changed into my athletic shoes during P.E class yesterday, my leather shoes were hidden. I couldn't find them. I would need some time before I could get a new pair, for it was custom. If I were to explain the situation to my parents, I might be able to quickly obtain a new set, but I refused to tell them about the bullying. As such, I had no choice but to go to the academy with these one.
I laughed like a fool.
"Haha~ I seem to have lost my leather shoes..."
"...Those aren't something you normally lose, do you?"
"I know, right? How stupid of me!"
My grades were bad. I was bad at studying. It was a fact--I was an idiot, despite being a scholar's daughter. No wonder I was bullied.
I was about to laugh and shrug it off, but for some reason the prince nodded.
"Did you finally understand how to do it?"
"No, I'll try to stay by you as much as possible for the time being."
B, but why?! Why would you do that?!
When I was at a loss, the bell rang. It was about time for a lot of people to leave academy. Hence, we would separate there. But he didn't get up from the flower bed.
"...Shouldn't you return to your classroom?"
"I'll stay with Lumiere until the very last minute. The hostility should be reduced a little."
"...Did I tell you my name?"
"I usually look into the names of those who help me. I'm sorry for not calling you by your name before."
Then, he stood up and extended his hand with an utterly dazzling smile.
"My name is Sazanjill Lukino Lapisenta, once again, please take care of me."
The Villainess who Only Had 100 Days to Live Had Fun Every Day
【コミック２巻発売中】１００日後に死ぬ悪役令嬢は毎日がとても楽しい。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-who-only-had-100-days-to-live-had-fun-every-day/
Drama Fantasy Josei Romance Slice of Life Tragedy
Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Death European Ambience Female Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdoms Late Romance Misunderstandings Nobles Psychopaths Revenge Romantic Subplot Second Chance Slow Romance Villainess Noble Girls Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8024hd/
ゆいレギナ