そう言いながらも、さくらの言いたいことは理解できる。リリアも以前はこの紙を送りつけた者と似通ったことをしていたと言いたいのだろう。自分自身が情けないと今なら素直に思える。
――そう思えてるなら、リリアは大丈夫だよ。
――ならいいのだけど。
紙をめくりながら、とりあえず目を通していく。そして最後の一枚を見た時、リリアの動きが止まった。
「リリア? どうしたの?」
かわいらしく首を傾げるティナに、リリアは曖昧な笑みを返した。最後の一枚だけ抜き取り、他のものは元の場所に戻しておく。
「ティナ。これは捨てないようにね。不愉快なのは分かるけど」
「え? うん。いいけど......」
実に不本意そうだったが、これはいずれ使うかもしれない。捨てさせるわけにはいかないものだ。
「リリアが持ってるそれは?」
「これは......。ちょっと預かるわ。返せないかもしれないけど、いいかしら?」
「いいけど......。何をするの?」
不安そうに問いかけてくるティナ。今でこそティナと普通に話しているリリアだが、リリア自身、以前はもっと過激な行いをしていたものだ。そのリリアが、心無い言葉が書かれた紙を持って行くという。嫌な予感しかしないだろう。そしてリリアも、隠すつもりはない。
「この字には見覚えがあるから、本人に聞いてみるわ」
その言葉が予想通りだったのだろう、ティナはどうにも複雑そうな表情をしている。ティナにために動くというリリアに喜ぶべきか、この後を考えて怖がるべきか、と。
「あの、リリア。わたしはそんなに気にしてないから......。だから、ひどいことしないでね?」
「分かっているわ。貴方の意志を尊重する。注意するだけよ」
ティナの顔をしっかりと見て、笑顔でそう告げる。ティナは安堵のため息を漏らすと、ありがとう、と力なく微笑んだ。
「じゃあ私は行くから。そうそう、洋服だけど、もう少しの間借りていてもいいかしら?」
「うん。あ、そうだ。あの服で良ければ上げるよ。お父さんにもそうするように言われたから」
いつの間に父と会っていたのか。少しだけ驚きつつも、ティナの好意に素直に甘えることにした。ティナはともかく、その父は何か考えがあるのかもしれないが、直接会ったわけではないのであまり気にする必要もないだろう。何か言われれば、全力で叩き潰すまでだ。
――容赦ないなあ......。
さくらの苦笑を流しながら、リリアはティナに軽く手を振ると、その部屋を後にした。
部屋を出て、歩き出そうとしたところで、
「リリアさん」
声をかけられ、立ち止まった。振り返ると、アイラとケイティンがそこにいた。
「その......。ティナの様子、どうだったかな......」
アイラのその問いに、リリアはわずかに眉をひそめた。自分で確認すればいいだろうに、と思うが、とりあえず素直に答えておく。
「何も。いつも通りだったわよ」
「まあ、明らかに無理はしていたけれど」
付け加えられたその言葉に、顔を輝かせていたアイラとケイティンの表情が凍った。少しずつ気落ちしたものに変わっていく。
「どうしよう......。あたしたちだと何も力になれない......」
「せめてもう少し上の貴族だったら......少しぐらい支えられたかもしれないのに......」
「心配するわりに部屋には入らないのね」
この二人はこの程度だったのか。若干の失望を込めてそう言うと、アイラがリリアを睨み付けてきた。
「朝から何度も会ってるよ。でもあたしから見てもあいつはいつも通りなんだ。無理をしてるってことは何となく分かってたけど......」
ティナの力になりたいとは思っているようだ。少しばかり安堵しつつ、その意志があるなら大丈夫だろうと頷く。ケイティンの方を見ると、じっとこちらを見つめていた。
「リリア様ならどうにかできませんか?」
「さて、ね......」
二人から視線を逸らし、ティナの部屋の扉を見る。物音の一切しないその扉。ティナは今、何を考えているのだろうか。
「貴方たちにお願いしたいことがあるのだけど」
ぽつりと漏らされたその言葉に、二人が大きく目を見開いた。そんなに自分がお願いするのが意外なのかと少しだけ腹を立てながらも、口にして仲違いをしても意味がないと口には出さない。しっかりと二人を見据えて、言った。
「今後、ティナが出歩く時は、貴方たちも一緒に行動しなさい。それだけでずいぶんと変わるはずだから」
「え......? そんなことで?」
「変わるのよ。一人きりを狙った方が嫌がらせっていうのはやりやすいもの」
――さすが経験者。
――うるさいわね。
「あとこれも渡しておくわ」
そう言いながらリリアが取り出したものは、複雑な魔法陣が描かれた大きめの紙だ。それを目の前で四つに折り、アイラへと差し出す。アイラは困惑しながらそれを受け取り、問いたげな視線をリリアへと向けてきた。
「風の精霊の力を借りて、声を任意の相手に届ける魔法陣よ。対象は私にしてあるから、何かあればいつでも連絡しなさい」
「い、いいのか?」
「ええ。ただしそれは私に届くだけで返事は送れないから。くだらないことには使わないように」
念のために釘を刺しておくのは忘れない。緊急の対応が必要な時以外に使われても正直困るだけだ。それも分かっているのだろう、アイラとケイティンはしっかりと頷いた。
「そろそろ行くわね。ああ、そうそう、アイラさん。地図をありがとう。また今度、お願いするわね」
「ああ、ちゃんと役に立ったなら良かったよ。あんなのでよければいつでも言って」
リリアは頷くと、今度こそその場を後にした。
リリアは自室に戻ると、寝室に入り、いすに深く腰掛けた。これからどう動こうかと考えを巡らせていく。
――やっぱり注意だけじゃないんだね。
――当然でしょう。あんな顔を見てしまうとね。
ティナは確かに平静を装っていた。実際にあの時はもう落ち着いていたように見える。だがリリアは気づいてしまった。ティナの目元に、泣きはらしたあとがあることに。それを思い出すだけで、怒りがふつふつとこみ上げてくる。
Even having said that, Lillia understood what Sakura was getting at. Not long ago, it would be easy to imagine Lillia writing a similar note. But now, Lillia could freely admit that her past actions were deplorable.
--If you can think like that, you're okay, Lillia.
--I'm glad if that's the case.
For the moment, Lillia decided to read through the notes. But when she saw the last one, Lillia froze.
"Lillia? What's wrong?"
Seeing Tina innocently tilting her head, Lillia responded with a vague smile. She took only the last note, and returned the others to where she found them.
"Tina, don't throw these away. I realise keeping them around is unpleasant, though."
"Huh? Um, sure. That's fine..."
Tina seemed reluctant, but these might be useful later. Lillia couldn't afford to throw them away.
"You're taking that, Lillia?"
"Yes...I'm just borrowing it for a while. I might not return it, though. Is that okay?"
"I don't mind...but what are you going to do with it?"
Tina asked that question nervously. Right now, Lillia and Tina were able to have a normal conversation. However, in the past, Lillia had done some frightening things. And that same Lillia was about to take that note full of malicious intent, with her. Lillia's actions inspired nothing but bad implications. And Lillia had no intention of hiding it.
"I recognise the handwriting, so I'm going to pay a visit to the person who wrote it."
Those words seemed to confirm Tina's suspicions, and her face clouded over into a complex expression. Tina didn't seem to be sure whether she should be happy that Lillia was taking action for her sake, or whether she should be scared about what she was going to do.
"Um, Lillia. You don't have to worry so much about me...so, don't do anything cruel, okay?"
"I understand. I'll respect your will. I'm only going to give them a warning."
Lillia looked straight at Tina, and said that with a smile. Tina breathed a sigh of relief, and thanked her with her own weak smile.
"I'll be going, then. Oh yes, about the clothes...is it okay if I borrow them for a while longer?"
"Sure. Ah, right. If you're happy with those clothes, you can have them. My father told me to tell you that."
Lillia wondered when she could have met with her father. She was a bit surprised, but decided to happily accept Tina's good will. Tina aside, her father might be hiding some other intentions behind those words. But not even having met him before, she decided not to worry about it too much. If something did come of it, however, she wouldn't be holding back.
--You've got no mercy, huh...
Pus.h.i.+ng Sakura's strained laughter out of her mind, Lillia gently waved goodbye to Tina, and left the room.
As soon as she closed the door,
"Miss Lillia."
Someone called out to her, so she stopped. When she turned around, she saw Aira and Kayten.
"How...how is Tina doing?..."
Hearing that, Lillia frowned a little. Why don't you check yourself, she wanted to say, but for the moment, she answered honestly.
"She's fine. She was the same as usual."
"Of course, she's clearly pus.h.i.+ng herself."
When she added that, Aira and Kayten's happy expressions froze over. They became rather disheartened.
"What can we do?...We don't have the power to do anything..."
"If our n.o.ble t.i.tles were just a little higher...maybe we would be able to support her..."
"Despite your concern, you didn't even set foot into her room, huh."
Were these two really that useless, Lillia thought to herself. When Lillia rebuked them with some disappointment, Aira scowled at her.
"I spoke with Tina countless times today. But from what I could see, she didn't seem any different. Somehow, though, I knew she was pus.h.i.+ng herself..."
It looks like she wants to become Tina's strength. Lillia felt somewhat relieved. If that was her intention, then that's good. Lillia nodded in affirmation. When she looked Kayten's way, she was staring right back at her.
"Isn't there something you can do, Mistress Lillia?"
"Well, now..."
She averted her gaze from those two, and looked toward the door of Tina's room. She couldn't hear a thing through the door. Tina...what are you thinking right now?
"I have a favour to ask of you two."
When they heard that, both of their eyes opened wide. Their surprise that Lillia would request something of them irritated her just a little, but there was no point in getting into an argument over it, so she didn't say anything. She looked at both of them sternly and spoke.
"From now on, when Tina goes out, please go with her. Even just doing that will make all the difference."
"Huh...? Just by doing that?"
"Yes. It's a lot easier to hara.s.s somebody when they're on their own."
--You are the expert, Lillia.
--Quiet, you.
"Also, take this."
Lillia brought out a large piece of paper with a complicated magical formation drawn on it. She folded it twice and held it out to Aira. She looked clearly confused, but took it and looked back to Lillia for an explanation.
"By borrowing the power of the wind spirits, this magic formation will carry your voice to anybody. The target of this spell is me, so if there's ever any trouble, contact me anytime."
"I-Is that really alright?"
"Yes. However, your message will only be delivered to me. I won't be able to respond. So don't waste it on something trite."
Lillia warned them, just in case. If Aira used it outside of emergencies, it would be a real problem. Aira and Kayten nodded firmly in understanding.
"It's about time I got going. Oh yes, before I forget, Miss Aira, thank you for the map. I'll be counting on you again in the future."
"Ah, I'm glad it came in handy. If you're fine with those stores, feel free to ask me more anytime."
Lillia nodded, and started heading back.
After getting back, Lillia headed into her bedroom. She sunk into her chair and started planning her next move.
--As I thought, you're not settling for just a warning, are you?
--Obviously. Not after seeing her face.
Tina was admirably putting on a facade of calmness. In fact, back then it seemed like she'd already calmed down. However, Lillia saw it. Her eyes were swollen red. Tina had been crying her eyes out. Just the thought of it had Lillia simmering with rage.
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