10
「別にいいじゃない。前例がないなら、これから作ればいいのよ」
「ですけど、他の方から何を言われるか......」
まだぶつぶつと言い続けるアリサに、少しずつだが苛立ちが募ってきた。さっきまで自分に言いたい放題だった彼女はどこへいったのか。リリアは不機嫌を隠そうともせずに、声を発した。
「アリサ。アリサ・フィリス」
「......っ! はい」
アリサが緊張の面持ちで姿勢を正す。それも当然のことで、この国の貴族にとって、家名を含めたフルネームで呼ばれるということは、それだけで特別なことだ。多くの場合、重要な命令や重たい叱責などが続く。
リリアはアリサを睨み据えると、ゆっくりと口を開いた。
「貴方は、周囲の視線が気になるの?」
「それは......。はい......」
誤魔化そうとしていたようだが、リリアの視線を受けて素直に頷いた。リリアが続ける。
「どうして?」
「は......。その......どうして、と言われると......」
「アリサ・フィリス」
リリアがもう一度名前を呼ぶと、びくりとアリサが体を震わせ、リリアの視線から逃れるように顔を伏せた。少し待つと、おずおずといった様子でリリアの表情を窺い見てくる。
「貴方の主人は誰かしら?」
「リリア様、です」
「声が小さい」
「リリアーヌ・アルディス様です!」
アリサが背筋を伸ばし、叫ぶように言う。リリアは、リリアーヌ・アルディスは満足そうに頷いた。
「そう。貴方は私のもの。私のメイドよ」
「はい」
「私のメイドでありながら、一体何を怖れているの?」
そしてリリアは笑顔を見せる。
この学園の、誰もが怖れ、畏怖した笑顔を。
「堂々としなさい。他でもないこの私が、誰にも文句を言わせないわ。貴方に対する侮蔑は、この私が許さない。何かあれば、言いなさい」
叩き潰してあげるから。
背筋が寒くなるような、低い声。それでありながら、表情が笑顔。この学園の誰もが怖れる、公爵令嬢の姿がそこにはあった。
「さあ、行くわよ」
リリアが階段を上がる。今度はアリサも、黙って後に続いてきた。
――リリア怖い! かっこいい! 惚れ直した!
――あら。これぐらい当然よ。
――さすがは公爵令嬢様ですなあ! ところでね、リリア。
改まったようなさくらの声。階段を上りながら、リリアは眉をひそめた。
――リリアって、リリアーヌって名前だったんだね。
「今更それ!?」
思わずリリアが大声を発し、突然叫んだように聞こえたアリサは大きく身をのけぞらせた。
「わ、わ......!」
そのまま倒れそうになるアリサの手を掴み、引っ張って体を支えた。
「あ、ありがとうございます、リリア様......」
そんなアリサの声は、無視だ。それどころではない。
――ちょっとさくら、ふざけないで。貴方、私のフルネームも知らなかったの?
――リリア・アルディスだと思っていました。
――な、ん......! ......っ!
目の前のアリサが怯えているのを見て、リリアは引きつった笑顔を貼り付ける。すぐに視線を逸らすと、少し急ぎながら階段を上る。
――さくら。私は貴方を信じていいの?
――も、もちろんだよ? 私は貴方を助ける天使ちゃんです!
――それなのに私の名前は知らなかった、と。
――あう......。だって、私が持ってた本には書いてなかったから......。
さくらの言葉に眉をひそめる。さくらの言葉を信じるなら、彼女はリリアのことが書かれていた本を持っていたということになる。リリアはその立場上、それなりの知名度があるとは思っているが、それは貴族の間だけの話だ。少なくとも何らかの本に名前が載るようなことはない。
――それは何の本?
問いかける。だが答えは分かっている。こういった時、さくらの答えはいつも決まっている。
――あー......。こっちの話。
彼女は自分に関することを話さない。話しても無駄だと思っているのか、それとも話すことができない内容なのか、リリアには予想することもできなかった。せめて少しでもさくらのことが分かれば、いくらでも調べようが出てくるのだろうが。
そう考えたところで、リリアは自嘲気味に笑った。さくらから勉学を教わっていた時から何度もした思考であり、そしてそれはいつも同じ結論になる。調べて、そしてどうするのかと。そうして答えのない思考を捨てたところで、三階にたどり着いた。
階段を上った先も、一階と同じようなエントランスになっている。ここにもやはりテーブルやいすなどがいくつも並んでいるのだが、この階にあるものは他の階とは違い、全てが一目で高級品だと分かるものだ。もっとも、アルディスの屋敷にあるものと比べるとやはり下のものではある。
この部屋からいくつか廊下が延び、それぞれの部屋に繋がっている。リリアは自分の部屋へと繋がる廊下へと向かおうとしたところで、
「あ......。リリアーヌ様?」
その声に、大きく目を見開いて足を止めた。まだ何の覚悟もしていなかったがために、その声を聞いた瞬間、リリアの頭は真っ白になっていた。
「何者ですか?」
リリアのすぐ後ろからの声。アリサが、声の主へと問いかける。
「あ、その......。ティナ・ブレイハ、です......」
「ブレイハ? 男爵家の?」
ティナの声は少し震えているようだった。今までリリアが辛く当たっていたのだから無理もないと言える。だがそれなら何故、わざわざ声をかけてきたのか。怯えるぐらいなら、話しかけなければいいと思うのだが。リリア自身、今は会いたくなかったのだから。
だが声をかけられた以上は無視するわけにもいかない。問題がないと言えば問題ないとは言えるのだが、まるで自分が逃げたかのような形になるのはリリアのプライドが許さなかった。リリアは小さくため息をついて、振り返った。
Haunted Duke's Daughter Chapter 10
"Isn't it fine. If there has been no precedent, then we will create one."
"That may be so, but what will the others have to say about this..."
Alisa's continued misgivings caused irritation to slowly rise inside of Lilia. Where did that girl who just before unreservedly said everything on her mind go. Without trying to conceal her displeasure, Lilia spoke sharply.
"Alisa. Alisa Felis."
"...! Yes."
Alisa straightened up with a tense expression. This was to be expected, since to the n.o.bles of this country, including the family name and addressing someone by their full name was that special.
Lilia fixed a sharp look at Alisa, and slowly opened her mouth.
"Are you, concerned about the glances from your surroundings?"
"That is... Yes..."
Though it seemed like she wanted to deny it, upon receiving Lilia's gaze, Alisa nodded honestly. Lilia continued.
"Why?"
"Haa... Well... Even if you ask me that..."
"Alisa Felis."
As Lilia called her name once again, Alisa trembled and sought to hide her face in escaping her master's gaze. After a little while, she timidly took a peek at Lilia's expression.
"Who is your master?"
"It is, Mistress Lilia."
"I can't hear you."
"My master is Mistress Lilianne Aldis!"
Alisa straightened her back and declared with a shout. Lilia, Lilianne Aldis, nodded in satisfaction.
"Right. You are mine. My personal maid."
"Yes."
"As someone who serves me, what in the world are you afraid of?"
At that Lilia showed a smile.
The fearsome smile, that in this academy, brought terror to all.
"Stand proud. I am saying, that I would let none raise such an objection. Any scorn directed at you, I would certainly not forgive. If anything were to happen, speak out."
Since they will all be crushed.
It was a low, spine-chilling voice. All the while with a smiling expression. Able to bring fear to all in this academy, there stood the figure of the duke's daughter.
"Come now, let us go."
Lilia went up the stairs. This time Alisa as well, now silenced, followed suit.
--Lilia's so fearsome! So cool! I fell for you all over again!
--My. That much should be natural.
--As expected of Miss Duke's Daughter! By the way, Lilia.
Sakura put on a formal sounding tone. Lilia frowned as she climbed the staircase.
--Lilia, was actually Lilianne huh.
"That's what's on your mind!?"
Lilia accidentally raised her voice, and since it sounded like a shout, Alisa jumped up in shock.
"Wa-, Wah...!"
As Alisa was about to fall, Lilia grabbed her hand, pulling and supporting her body.
"Th-thank you very much Mistress Lilia..."
But Alisa was ignored. She was too preoccupied for that.
--Hey Sakura, are you kidding me? You, didn't even know my full name?
--I had thought it was just Lilia Aldis.
--What, you...! Nh...!
Seeing the frightened Alisa before her, Lilia's face turned into a cramped smile. Quickly averting her eyes, she climbed the stairs at a slightly heightened pace.
--Sakura. Is it really alright for me to put my faith in you?
--Of, of course you can? I'm your dear angel descended to help you!
--And yet you didn't even know my name, it seems.
--Auu... But, it wasn't written in the book I had after all...
Lilia frowned at Sakura's words. If Lilia were to believe what she said, it would mean that Sakura possessed a book that had things concerning Lilia written in it. Being of Lilia's status, that in itself would make her well known to some degree, but that was just between n.o.bles. At the very least it wasn't to the point where she would be mentioned in some sort of book.
--And just what book is that?
Lilia questioned. Though she already knew the answer. In these sort of situations, Sakura's response would be as such without fail.
--Ahh...Just talking to myself.
She would never talk about anything concerning herself. Whether she thought it was something pointless to talk about, or if there were things that couldn't be said, Lilia had no idea. If only she knew even a little about Sakura, she could begin learning more about her.
With those thoughts in mind, Lilia smiled in self-derision. She had thought about this countless times when Sakura was teaching her, and she would always reach the same conclusion. What would she even do, finding out? And so, just as she was casting away these questions without answers, they arrived on the third floor.
Similarly, from before they came up the staircase, an entryway just like the one on the first floor greeted them. As a matter of course this floor was also lined with tables and chairs, but what stood out here from the other floors, was that at first glance one could tell that everything consisted of high-cla.s.s goods. Naturally, if one were to compare it to the things in the Aldis estate they would be of lower cla.s.s though.
From this room stretched countless corridors, each leading to their respective residences. Just as Lilia was about to head down the corridor leading to her own room,
"Ah... Miss Lilianne."
At the sound of that voice, Lilia's eyes opened wide, and she was stopped in her tracks. Like she had still not completed some sort of preparation or other, upon hearing that voice, Lilia's head turned completely blank.
"Who might this be?"
The voice came from immediately behind Lilia. Alisa was questioning the owner of the voice.
"Ah, that is... I am Tina Breyer."
"Breyer? Of that Baron house?"
Tina's voice seemed to tremble slightly. It wasn't too surprising since up until now she had been the target of Lilia's grief. Since that was the case however, why was it that she was going out of her way to call out to Lilia? Holding fear towards her, it should have been fine to avoid greeting Lilia. Lilia herself certainly did not want to run into her right now.
However, now that she had been called out to, she couldn't just ignore it. If she were to say there was no problem with it, there wouldn't really be much issue with that, but having it seem like she was the one running away from the situation was not something Lilia's pride would allow. Lilia breathed a small sigh and then turned to face the girl.
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