9
婚約破棄からエンディングまでの間で、アイリーンの進退に関係する重要なイベントは二つある。
一つは自分の死因に直結する魔王覚醒に関するイベント。
そしてもう一つは、セドリックがアイリーンとの婚約破棄を公にし、リリアとの婚約発表をする夜会イベントだ。
悪役令嬢のアイリーンは婚約破棄を承諾せず、リリアとセドリックの婚約発表を阻止しようと、ならず者を雇ってリリアを誘拐し、夜会に出席できないよう企む。ところがこれは当て馬キャラ――マークスがこれに当たるとアイリーンは見ている――によって未然に防がれる。
そうとも知らずセドリックとよりを戻そうと夜会に出席したアイリーンは、会場に現れたリリアから告発を受け、ドートリシュ公爵家からも切り捨てられてしまい、平民として下町に放り出されるのだ。アイリーンにとってできれば阻止したい展開だった。
なぜならば、平民になって生きていけるだけの能力がない。
生憎、前世にもなかった。
かといって、夜会に出席しないという選択肢も、もう選べない。
今朝、一応父親に「やっぱり夜会は欠席しようかしら」と探りを入れてみたら、驚いた顔で「平民になりたいのかい?」と返された。あれは本気だ。あの父親は絶対やる。欠席が同じ結果を生む。
かといって起こるかどうかも分からない誘拐を防ぐ作戦を立てるのは、リリアに近づくという意味で、誘拐を目論む行動と紙一重だ。怪しまれるのも危険である。
つまり現状、ゲームのフラグ回避については、具体的に打つ手がなかった。
(でもせめて、クロード様を夜会にパートナーとして連れて行って、婚約破棄が心の底から嬉しいと周囲にも分かるようにしておくくらいはしておかないと......!)
そうすれば別の誰かがリリアを誘拐しても、アイリーンの方に動機がなくなる。何が起こるか分からない以上、まず確実に打てる手を打つべきだ。
あとは、父親の『ドートリシュ家に損失を補填しろ』という任務もこなさねばならない。
(時間がないわ。――同時並行で進めるしかないわね)
そんなわけで、昨日の今日にもかかわらず、アイリーンは森の小道を歩いていた。
清楚な白のワンピースに、編上げのブーツ。大きめのバスケットを持ち、パラソルをくるくる回して歩く姿は我ながら完璧なご令嬢だと思う。
問題は、ぐるぐる小一時間、同じところを歩かされていることだろう。
「これは結界というやつかしら」
目印代わりに木の枝に結んでおいたハンカチをほどき、アイリーンはパラソルを閉じた。
空を見上げても影一つない。鬱蒼とした木々も、どこか作り物めいて見えた。
「森に入る柵まではいつも通りだったのに......誰かいらっしゃらない?」
ぐるりと見回すと、不自然なまでにしんと沈黙が返ってきた。
ためしにもう一声、投げてみる。
「わたくしごときを怖がって姿を現さないなんて、ずいぶん魔王様は臆病でらっしゃるのね」
風景は変わらない。だが、気配がした。魔王を侮辱されて怒ったのだろう。
(私にだけ誰も見えていない、とか? ゲームでもそうだったけれど、本当に魔物に好かれてるのね)
そしておそらく、クロードも魔物達に弱い。
アイリーンはしおらしくため息を吐いた。
「わかりました、今日お会いするのは諦めます。でも誰かいらっしゃるんでしょう。出てきてくださらない? お詫びの品を持ってきたの」
返事はない。だが、戸惑いの空気だけはなんとなく伝わる。
アイリーンは持っていたバスケットのふたを開け、誰もいない空間に中を見せた。アーモンドにチョコととりそろえたたくさんのクッキーだ。
意外なことに魔物が人間の食べ物を好んで食べるというのは、ゲームのおかげで知っている。
「わたくしが作ったの。お口に合うかどうか分からないけれど、もらっていただきたいわ。それとこれを、カラスの皆さんにと思ったのだけれど」
そう言ってバスケットの内ポケットから一つ、小さな蝶ネクタイを取り出した。深紅の絹のリボンはすべらかで、決して安物ではない。
それを片手ににっこりアイリーンは笑う。
「昨日も言いましたけれど、カラスの皆さんの出迎えは魔王様の評判にかかわります。なので魔物の皆様にも、品位を持っていただきたいの」
風景は何も変わらない。変わらないが、戸惑いの空気だけは肌で感じた。
「そのためのアクセサリーです。カラスの皆様の中で一番強いまとめ役の方だけでも、これをつけていただけないかしら。魔王様が信頼している門番の証として」
声も聞こえない。だが、門番の証、という声が聞こえた気がした。
昨日のベルゼビュートの片腕というつぶやきと同じ、浮かれた声色だ。
「代表で誰か出てきてくださらない? それとも魔王様はそれも駄目とおっしゃる?」
「人間ノ娘、ヨコセ!」
ばさあっと突然何もない空間からカラスが飛び出てきた。
アイリーンが薄く微笑んだことも知らないで。
CHAPTER 9
There were two important events related to Irene's advancement or regression which happened in between the engagement annulment event up until the ending.
The first one was related to the awakening of the Demon King event which was directly connected to the cause of my death.
And then the second one was during the evening party event in which Cedric and Irene's engagement annulment was made public and Cedric's engagement with Lilia was announced.
The villainess Irene who couldn't accept the engagement annulment tried to stop Lilia and Cedric's engagement announcement by hiring ruffians to abduct Lilia to prevent her from coming to the evening party. However, the other potential candidate for the main character----Max, perfectly foresaw Irene's plan----and was able to prevent it from happening.
Without knowing her plans had failed, Irene came to the evening party to get back together with Cedric, but she was instead accused by Lilia who appeared in the hall. Later, Irene ended up being expelled from the D'Austriche Ducal Family and was thrown out as a commoner at the low-lying area of the town. If possible, Irene wanted to prevent that development from happening at all cost.
Because I don't have the ability to live as a commoner.
Unfortunately, not even in my previous world.
Having said that, not attending the evening party was also no longer an option.
Just in case I tried to find out from Father this morning[As I thought maybe I should not attend the evening party after all] , and with a surprised face, he replied[ do you want to be a commoner?] . He was serious when he said those words. This father of mine will definitely do it. Being absent will produce the same result.
Having said that, there was a paper-thin difference in the meaning of getting close to Lilia to act on kidnapping her and to create a strategy to prevent an abduction that I don't know whether or not could happen. It was also dangerous to be a suspect.
In this current situation, there was still no specific way to avoid the game flag.
(But at least, I need to make Claude-sama as my partner to take me to the evening party, and if I could at least show my surrounding that I am happy about the engagement annulment from the bottom of my heart......!)
If I do that, even if some other person had kidnapped Lilia, Irene would become someone without a motive to do that. Before something uncertain happens, I should strike while the iron is hot.
Next, I have to complete Father order to{recover losses of the D'Austriche Family } .
(I don't have much time.----I can only move forward with the concurrent situation)
Such being the case, regardless of what happened yesterday, today Irene walked through the trail of the forest as well.
She was wearing a neat one-piece white dress with high laced boots. Bringing a large basket, turning the parasol around while walking, for me I think I'm a perfect lady.
The problem was I seemed to be walking around the same place for nearly an hour.
[I wonder if this is the thing they called the barrier] 
Irene untied the handkerchief she tied around a branch of a tree she made as her mark and closed her parasol.
Looking up, she didn't see any shadow at all in the sky; but, she saw something unique somewhere underneath the dense trees.
[Even though I came through the fence as usual......is there anyone here?] 
She looked around only to be greeted by unnatural silence.
She tried to cast out her voice one more time.
[Don't tell me you're so scared of me because of that time, so you are afraid to show yourself to me. The Demon King-sama is pretty cowardly] 
The scenery did not change. But, there's a presence. They must have been angry since she just insulted the Demon King.
(Or am I the only one who can't see anyone? It was like that even in the game, but he was truly loved by the monsters)
And probably, Claude was weak for the monsters as well.
Irene let out a gentle sigh.
[I understood. I will give up trying to meet him today. But, there must be someone here, isn't there? Can you come out? I brought some goods as an apology] 
There's no answer. But, at least, confusion was somehow transmitted around the air.
Irene opened up the lid of the basket she brought and showed something of its inside that no one has ever seen before. There was a lot of a.s.sortment of almond and chocolate cookies inside.
Surprisingly, the fact that I know that monsters like to eat human food was thanks to the game.
[I made it myself. I don't know whether or not it fits your taste, but I'd be glad if you were to receive it.  And also this, I thought I want to give this to the crows] 
As she said that, she took out one small bow neck-tie from the inner pocket of the basket. The crimson silk was smooth and by no means cheap at all.
Irene held that on her hand while grinning broadly.
[I think I said this yesterday, but greetings done by all of you crows are related to Demon King-sama's reputation. That's why I want even the monsters to have some grace] 
There was no change in my surrounding. There's no change, but I can feel the air of confusion on my skin.
[This accessory was because of that. Even the strongest and the most authoritative amongst the crows may not put this on. This is the proof of a gatekeeper trusted by the Demon King-sama] 
I didn't hear a single sound. But, I felt like I heard the word "proof of a gatekeeper".
It was almost the same as the delighted tone of voice muttered by Beelzebub yesterday when I called him as the "right-hand man"
[Can someone come out as the representative? Or does the Demon King-sama said no to this as well?] 
[Daughter of human, give me that!] 
Suddenly, a crow flew out from an empty s.p.a.ce.
It didn't know that Irene was letting out a small smile.
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