「あなた......この間の、フェンリルの子供......!?」
最後にフェンリルのふさふさの尻尾が出てきたところで、影がアイリーンの形に戻り割れ目も消えた。
穴から這い出たフェンリルはくるんと空中で器用に回転し、着地する。
「君の影を、魔物達の出入り口にしておく。こうしておけば、魔物達が君の背後からいつでも勝手に出てこれるようになる」
何気なくとんでもないことをクロードが言った。
「お待ちになって、わたくしの影になんてことなさいますの」
「だがこれで君がどこを動き回ろうと魔物達も納得する」
(......つまり、監視ということ? この子が)
アイリーンは出てきたフェンリルの子供を見つめる。
怪我は見当たらず、薄汚れていた毛並みもつやつやだ。好奇心一杯のきらきらした小さな目が元気なことを物語っていた。よかったと内心で安堵して、眉をひそめた。
「あなた、そんなところに立ってはだめです。下りなさい」
テーブルの上に立ったフェンリルの子が目をまたたく。
仕方なく、しゃがんでフェンリルの子供と目線の高さを合わせ、床を指さして繰り返した。
「行儀が悪いから下りなさい」
指さしで理解したらしいフェンリルの子は、ぴょんとテーブルの上から下りる。
そしてどうだと言わんばかりに胸を張った。その様子に口元がほころぶ。
「あなたは賢い子ね。見込みがありそうだわ」
「もしこの間のことを恩に感じているのなら必要なくってよ。あれは人間達の方が明らかにクズだったわ。本当に情けないったら。......あなたは本当にいい子だったわね」
フェンリルの子が首を傾けたあと、撫でろと言わんばかりにしゃがんだアイリーンの胸に頭を押しつけてきた。苦笑いしたアイリーンは、その頭を撫でてやる。
それで満足したのか、フェンリルの子がぱっと駆け出した。応接間の扉の前に立ち、アイリーンに振り返る。まばたいていると、フェンリルの子の横にベルゼビュートが並んだ。
それでアイリーンは自分が何をしようとしていたかを思い出す。
「あなたも城の中を案内してくださるの?」
「助けてもらった礼がしたいんだそうだ。連れて行ってやってくれ」
クロードの言葉に、フェンリルの子とベルゼビュートをそれぞれ見比べる。ベルゼビュートは鼻を鳴らした。
「王のご命令だ。行くぞ、娘。いつまで待たせる」
「......。二匹のげぼ......いえ、騎士ですわね。素敵」
「き、騎士、だと」
フェンリルの子がぴんと大きな耳を立て、ベルゼビュートがうろうろ視線をさまよわせる。
やや離れた場所からキースが声を上げた。
「ベルさぁん、その前にアイリーン様はこう言いかけましたからね。げぼ――」
「さあベルゼビュート様。こういう時は扉を開けてくださいな。騎士の心得です」
「王が通られる場合は扉が勝手に開くが......人間は面倒だな」
「わたくしはか弱き淑女でしてよ。騎士なら先に出て危険がないか確かめるべきでしょう」
「そういうものか......?」
「そういうものです。第一、フェンリルの子では扉を開けませんもの。魔王様の右腕たるあなたが手本をみせなければ!」
「なるほど!」
「うわあ、完全に掌のうえですねえ。クロード様......いいんです?」
「楽しんでいるならかまわない」
無事クロードのお墨付きをもらったアイリーンは、ベルゼビュートが開いた扉の外へ出た。
「あなたは扉を閉められる?」
目を輝かせたフェンリルの子が前脚で勢いよく扉を蹴る。ばあんと派手な音を立てて扉が閉まった。力加減がまだきかないらしい。
「......。今度は静かに閉められるようにしましょうね」
「いくぞ娘。王に気に入られたからと言って調子にのるな」
「わたくしがクロード様に気に入られた? 影から魔物に監視させておいて?」
「魔物達がお前に興味を持ったから、会いたい連中は会いに行けという許可だ。そしてそれはすなわち、王がお前に興味を持ったということでもある」
廊下を数歩進んだところで、ベルゼビュートが振り向く。
「王はお前の名前を覚えただろう」
そういえば、さっき初めて名前を呼ばれた気がする。
まったく気づいていなかったのに、意識するとじんわり頰が熱くなった。子供の頃、父親や兄達や、セドリック――尊敬する誰かが振り向いてくれた時みたいに。
それを見たベルゼビュートが怪訝な顔をする。
「変な女だ。あれだけ厚顔無恥に振る舞うくせに、そんなことで恥じらうのか」
「なっ......!」
「まあどうだっていい。さあ頭を垂れるがいい、我が王の部屋だ!」
自慢したくて堪らないのだろう、うきうきした顔でベルゼビュートが両開きの扉を押す。
(......。一番高位な人物の部屋の位置を、あっさりと教えてどうするの)
おいおい教育せねばなるまいと、一気に冷静になったアイリーンは溜め息をついた。
[You......the Fenrir's pup from the other day......!?] 
After the Fenrir's fluffy tail finally came out of her shadow, Irene's shadow return to its normal form. Even the cracks disappeared.
The Fenrir crawled out of the hole, then it skillfully made rotation mid-air and landed on its feet.
[I'll make your shadow as the entrance for the monsters. If I do that, the monsters will be able to leave freely from behind you any time they want] 
Claude casually said something outrageous.
[Wait a moment, what have you done with my shadow?] 
[But with this, the monsters will have a  grasp of your presence no matter where you move] 
(......In other words, I'm being monitored by this child?)
Irene fixed her gaze at the Fenrir's pup that had just emerged from her shadow.
She didn't find any injuries, and its dirtied coat of fur had turned glossy.
[You, can't stand on such a place. Get down] 
The Fenrir that was standing on top of the table, blinked its eyes.
Reluctantly, she bent her knees to level her eyes with the Fenrir's pup, pointed at the floor, and repeated her previous instruction.
[Because it's bad manners to stand on the table, you have to come down] 
The Fenrir's pup that seems to understand the meaning of her pointed finger nimbly got down from on top of the table.
It puffed its chest as if to say "how about that?". It smiled broadly in that state.
[You're a smart child. You seem promising] 
[If you feel like you owe me a favor for the other day's matter, it's not necessary, you know? That's obviously because those humans are some piece of trash. They're truly pathetic.......You're truly a good child] 
Leaning its head, the Fenrir's pup then pressed its head to Irene's chest as if to say "pat me". Irene who was kneeling, gave a pat to its head while bitterly smiling.
Probably feeling satisfied with that, the Fenrir's pup immediately ran off. Irene who was standing in front of the reception room's door turned around. When she blinked her eyes, she saw the Fenrir's pup standing beside Beelzebub.
At that, she remembered what she was supposed to do.
[Are you going to guide me inside the castle as well?] 
[It seems like it wants to thank you for the help it received. Let it come with you] 
At Claude's words, the Fenrir's pup and Beelzebub respectively had a different reaction. Beelzebub snorted.
[It's the King's command. Let's go, girl. How long do you plan to make me wait?] 
[....... Two serva......no, it's knights. How wonderful] 
[K-knights, you say] 
The Fenrir's pup ears stood erect, and Beelzebub's eyes restlessly wandered around.
Keith let out an "Oh my!" from a different place.
[Bel-san, before that, Irene-sama called you something like this, right? Serva----] 
[Come on, Beelzebub-sama. At times like this, you need to help me to open up the door. It's the Knights' rules] 
[When the King wants to pa.s.s by, the door will be opened by itself, but......Humans are troublesome] 
[I am a weak maiden, you know? As a Knight, you need to go out first to check for danger, right?] 
[Is that how it is......?] 
[That's right. First, the Fenrir's pup can't be the one to open the door. As the right-hand man who served the Demon King, if you don't become a role model!] 
[I see!] 
[Uwaa, she completely had him on the palm of her hand. Claude-sama......is it okay?] 
[If they're enjoying themselves, then I don't mind] 
After receiving Claude's approval, Irene went out of the door opened by Beelzebub.
[Can you close the door?] 
With sparkling eyes, the Fenrir's pup vigorously kicked the door with its forefoot. The door closed with an especially loud sound. It seems like it hasn't learned how to adjust its strength, yet.
[....... Next time, let's be able to close the door quietly, okay?] 
[Let's go, girl. Don't get carried away just because the King is interested in you] 
[Claude-sama is interested in me? When he summoned a monster from my shadow to monitor me?] 
[Because the monsters are interested in you, those who want to meet you have received permission from the King to go meet you. So, that's what I meant by the King is interested in you] 
Beelzebub turned around after advancing several steps in the hallway.
[The King remembers your name, right?] 
Now that he mentioned it, she had a feeling that he called her name for the first time a while ago.
She really didn't realize about it, but after becoming aware of it, her cheeks gradually warmed. The feeling was almost the same as when she was a child, her family members such as her Father and her Brothers, as well as Cedric----that moment when any people she admired turned around to look at her.
Beelzebub made a puzzled expression when he saw that.
[You're one weird woman. After behaving shamelessly to that degree, you're blus.h.i.+ng from such a thing?] 
[Wh......!] 
[Well, whatever. Now you can bow your head, it's our King's room!] 
She was sure that he couldn't help but boast, so with a cheerful face, he pushed the double door.
(....... What are you doing to easily reveal the room's location of the most eminent figure in this castle?)
Oioi, it seems like I have to educate him myself; immediately regaining her composure, Irene let out a sigh.
Villainous Daughter Aims for the Last Boss
悪役令嬢なのでラスボスを飼ってみました
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/villainous-daughter-aims-for-the-last-boss/
Drama Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Bloodlines Broken Engagement Business Management Businessmen Calm Protagonist Demon Lord Demons Female Protagonist Handsome Male Lead Hated Protagonist Kuudere Multiple Reincarnated Individuals Nobles Otome Game Politics Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Saints Sword And Magic Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2766dz/
永瀬さらさ