166 【Stay Home企画】アルマ・マクレガー少尉の憂鬱 (中)
馴染みのトランドルの森での採取依頼だったというのに、思った以上に疲労がのしかかる。マルとシューになけなしの魔力を奪われたから?でもあれだけ私にひっついて癒してくれたのだから、全く問題ない。
とはいえ、隊舎に帰るには遅すぎる。私は王都の父のタウンハウスに戻ることにした。
父は私が騎士学校を卒業したときに、そこの二階の一部屋を私のために空けてくれた(セシルも泣いてすがって私の隣の部屋をもぎとった)。
私は騎士学校時代に集めた可愛らしいもの、セレフィーや先輩たちとの思い出の品などをそっくり移し、今ではその部屋が私の心のよりどころだ。
裏手に回って厩で一通り馬を世話してねぎらっていると、裏口が開き、明かりが差した。
「誰だ!......アルマ?」
「お父様!」
私は馬におやすみと背を撫でて、父にパタパタと駆け寄り、ともに室内に入る。
「アルマ......こんな夜更けに年頃の女性が一人歩きなど危ないじゃないか!」
父が眉間にシワを寄せて叱ってきた。
「お父様こそ、なぜ?宰相公邸にいらっしゃるとばかり」
てっきり無人の家への帰宅と思い込んでいた。
「......たまには仕事から離れたいときもある。その格好はトランドル帰りか?ひとまず汗を流しておいで。全くかわいい女の子が遅くまで何をやってるんだ......」
ぶつぶつと独り言をいいながら、護身用の剣を片付ける機嫌の悪そうな父の様子に、私は大急ぎで身体を清めた。セレフィーにもらって以来愛用しているマーカスのグリーンのパジャマを着て、カチャカチャと音のするダイニングキッチンに小走りで向かう。
父は私がいつかの誕生日に贈った、やはりマーカスのグレーのパジャマにエプロン姿で、フライパンを握っていた。侯爵家出身とは思えない光景だ。まあ私たちはとうにそこに背を向けたけれど。
素朴な白木のダイニングセットに静かに座ると、丸いパンに焼いたベーコンと卵を挟んだホットサンドを私の目の前にドンとおかれた。トクトクトクとミルクも注がれる。
「食べなさい!全くこんな疲れさせて、陛下め......アルマもアルマだよ?週末はしっかり休まなきゃダメだろう!何、ギルドでまで働いているの!」
「だ、だって、早くランクを上げなきゃ、活躍するみんなに置いていかれ......」
話の途中で、香ばしい匂いにお腹がぐーと鳴る。頰が熱くなる。恥ずかしい。
「い、いただきます」
一口カプっと噛みつく。熱熱だ。
「どう?」
「とっても......マスタードが効いてる......美味しいです」
「ゆっくり食べなさい」
そう言いながら父は向かいに座った。手には私がいつか作ったグラス。何か透明のアルコールが入っているようで、氷を鳴らしながら飲んでいる。
父はこの数年、通いの家政婦さんはいるものの、ここで一人で研究三昧の生活をしてきた。宰相公邸でたくさんの使用人に囲まれて過ごすことが息苦しいのかもしれない。マクレガーの本邸を思い出して......それは私も同じ。久しぶりの父は白髪が少し増えて、顔がくすんでみえる。
そんな父を眺めながら、モグモグ食べる。今日はあのマルの果実以外何も口にしていなかった。お腹が空いてるわけだ。
そう言えば、マルの果実を帰りぎわ、あと二個もいでギルドに持ち帰ると、オリエンの実という名の、稀少な果実であることがわかった。
『ほれ、神殿に、疲れ果てた旅人に女神が水分代わりに施している絵が飾ってあるじゃろ?あの実じゃ。食べ頃にならんと赤く目立つ色にならんから気がつかない。その食べ頃はせいぜい二日。なかなか手に入らん。さすが
と、ジークギルド長が膝に抱いたマルとシューを撫でながら教えてくれた。私はマジックルームから一つ取り出す。
「お父様、これ今日の森のお土産です」
父が眼鏡をかけ直す。
「......なんだろう?見たことないね」
「ジークギルド長によるとオリエンの実だそうです」
「......まさか、〈旅人の実〉か!?︎」
すごい、なんでもご存知だ!さすがお父様!
「もいだ瞬間から傷みだすそうなので、急いで食べてください。あ、私は食べましたので遠慮なく」
「なんと......」
父は研究者らしくあらゆる角度から眺めまわして、静かに頭上に戴いて祈りを捧げてから、そっと口にした。そして目を丸くする。
父がいつもどおり穏やかに笑った。少し顔色も明るくなった?それにしても、
「私なんかに会えて、疲れが和らぐのですか?」
つい鼻で笑ってしまった。
「私なんかってなんだい?アルマは私の最愛で自慢の娘だ。嬉しいに決まっているだろう?」
「ですが......私は一人、くすぶっております。セレフィーもエリスさんもササラさんもニックもエベレストも......セシルすらそれぞれの持ち場で輝きながら前進しているのに......」
父はそっと私の手を両手で包んだ。
「アルマの......控えめな性分は、私に似たのかもしれないね。かつて私の周りも華やかだった。輝かしいトーマス殿下、美しく溌剌としたリルフィオーネ、そして我々を先導するギルバート殿下......私には眩しくて仕方がなかった」
父は懐かしそうに目を細める。
「やがて我々はいろんな思惑のせいでバラバラになり、悲劇に見舞われた。私はそんな事実に目を背け、一人引き篭もった」
グラスを傾け一口飲む。氷がカラン、と音を立てる。
「皆、気弱な私に優しく、親愛の情を注いでくれた。私の前で口論することなどなかった。そんな非力な私ならばこそ、ドンドンと立場を変えていく皆をつなぐことができたのではないか、支えることができたのでは?皆が肩の力を抜いて集える場所を用意できたんじゃないか、と今でも後悔に苛まれる」
自重気味に笑った父は、私と目を合わせた。
「......今の私の幸せはアルマが笑っていることだ。アルマが今後幸せに過ごしていけるように、陛下の元で働いている。陛下とは見つめる先が一緒だからね。ようやくこの歳にしてたどり着いた、私の生きる道だ」
「お父様......」
「アルマ、お前が外で活躍したいというならば、私はいくらでもサポートしよう。軍籍が邪魔ならば辞めてもいい。お前の教育にかかった費用は私が返還する。でもね、アルマはまだ若い。アルマが今もエルザ様を目標にしているのなら、もう少し軍で実務を経験したほうがいいと思うよ?」
そうだ。私の目標はエルザ様のような、信念を持って国を守り抜く本部参謀。見失っていた......。思わず俯いてしまう。
「それにね、皆が輝くために、敢えてその場に踏みとどまり、持ち場をつつがなく守ることも大事なことだ。地味だけれど誰かが灯台守をしなくては、外に出る役回りの人間は安心して羽ばたけない」
そういえば、父は前宰相と180度違って、必要最小限しか表に出ない。表舞台は全て陛下のものだ。
「足場を固めて......いつでも持ち場を万全に保つことも、大好きな人の助けになると?」
「そうだ。でもそれも簡単なことではない。高波に呑まれることも、仲間の留守を狙って襲われることもある。甘言に誘惑されることもある。常に情勢に敏感でいて、己を鍛え続けなければ。忍耐力も必要だしバカでは務まらない。愛するもののためでもなければやってられないね」
「私に......そうなれと?それがつとまると?」
「もちろんつとまるよ。努力と......辛抱が伴うけれどね。アルマならばそれができると信じて、陛下もお側に置いている。信用できるものが少ないというのも残念な事実だけれど、無能な人間を使う余裕など、陛下にもないんだよ」
父は右手で、私の前髪を横に流し耳にかけて、そのまま不器用に私の頭をゆっくりと撫でる。幼いころの私がして欲しかったこと。
「エルザ様を目指すということと、皆のホームを守ることは相反するものではないよ。ときに華やかな世界を闊歩する友を羨む気持ちで心が荒んでしまうこともあるだろうけれど、そのときは......私とアルマ、地味親子同士で派手なセシルに八つ当たりでもしようか?」
「......それ、セシルなら案外喜びますよ?」
「そうか?まあじっくり考えなさい。慌てる必要はない。アルマには時間はまだ十分あるのだから。頑張るのもいいけれど、休息もとること。人のこと言えないけどね」
「......そうですね」
私はようやく......ちょっぴり微笑むことができた。
そんな私を見て、父は頭を撫でていた手を移動させて私の左頰を包み、愛おしげに笑った。
「どんな選択をしようとも、私はいつでもアルマの味方だ」
胸がバクバクと鳴る。不意打ちなんて卑怯だ。
私は父の温かな手の上に、自分の手を重ねた。
166 166 [Stay Home Project] Ensign Alma Mcgregor'S Depression (Medium)
I feel more tired than I thought when I said it was a request to collect in the woods of a tame trundle. Because Mal and Shoo robbed you of your magic powers? But that's all that stuck on me and healed me, so no problem at all.
Nevertheless, it is too late to return to the battalion. I have decided to return to my father's townhouse in King's Capital.
My father vacated a room upstairs for me when I graduated from Knights School (Cecil cried and took the room next to me).
I moved the adorable things I collected during my knight's school, the celebrities, memorabilia with the seniors, and so on, and now that room is more than my heart.
Turning back and looking after the horse all the way at the stables, the back door opened and the lights turned on.
"Who!... Alma?
"Father!
I stroke my horse good night and back and rush over to my father with a pat and go indoors with him.
"Alma... it's dangerous for a woman this late in the night to walk alone!
My father came scolding me with a wrinkle between my brows.
"Your father is the one, why? I just said you were at the Chancellor's residence."
I thought it was going home to a deserted house.
"... sometimes I want to get away from work. Is that outfit going back to Trundle? Let me sweat for a second. What's a totally cute girl doing late..."
I was in a great hurry to cleanse myself of the look of my father, who seemed in a bad mood to clean up his sword for protection, with a good bump and solitude. Wearing Marcus' green pyjamas, which I have been using ever since I got them for Celebrity, I head for the dining kitchen for a small run that sounds like a mess.
My father was still in apron to Marcus' grey pyjamas, which I gave him for one birthday, and he was holding a frying pan. It's a sight I don't think you're from the Marquis. Well, we turned our backs there by the way.
Sitting quietly on a rustic white wood dining set, I was donned a hot sandwich with roasted bacon and eggs in a round bread in front of me. Toctok and milk are also poured.
"Eat! Makes you so tired at all, Your Majesty... Alma is Alma too, isn't it? I'll have to take a good weekend off! What, you even work at the guild!
"So, because I need to get my ranks up fast, everyone who works leaves me..."
In the middle of the conversation, my stomach growls at the fragrant smell. My cheeks get hot. Embarrassing.
"Yes, I'll take it"
Bite a bite cup. It's hot.
"What do you say?"
"Very... mustard works... delicious"
Eat slowly.
With that said, my father sat across the street. In my hand is a glass I made one day. There seems to be some kind of clear alcohol in it, and I drink it whilst ringing the ice.
Although my father has been a housekeeper in attendance for the past few years, he has lived here alone in a research threesome. It may be hard to breathe to spend time surrounded by many servants at the Chancellor's residence. Remember McGregor's main residence...... that's the same for me. It's been a long time since my father has a little more gray hair and his face looks dull.
Looking at my father like that, I eat a mogmog. I didn't say anything today but that mare fruit. I'm hungry.
Speaking of which, when I returned Mal's fruit to the guild with two more, I found that it was a rare fruit, named Orien's fruit.
"See, the temple is decorated with paintings of exhausted travelers with goddesses replacing moisture? That fruit. I don't notice it because it looks red and noticeable when I don't get around to eating. Two days at most around that time of day. I can't get it. That is the guidance of the Spirit (Mal and Shoo). Alma take this home. They found it for you. It's not something you can distribute. Why don't you just eat it before it hurts?
and taught me as Chief Siege Guild stroked Mal and Shoe in his lap. I take one out of the magic room.
"Father, this is a souvenir of today's forest."
My father puts his glasses back on.
"... what is it? You've never seen it before."
"According to Chief Siegild, it's Orien's fruit."
"... No way," Traveler's Fruit "or !?"
Wow, you know everything! That's your father!
"They're going to hurt you from the moment you die, so hurry and eat. Oh, I ate, so don't hesitate."
"Oh my..."
My father looked around from all angles like a researcher, quietly dressed overhead and prayed before speaking softly. And round your eyes.
My father laughed calmly as usual. A little brighter, too? Nevertheless,
"Do you see me and relieve tiredness?
I laughed with my nose.
"What am I? Alma is my beloved and proud daughter. Would you be happy to decide?
"But...... I'm alone, I'm dull. Celeby, Ellis, Sassara, Nick, Everest... even Cecil is moving forward glowing at their respective holding..."
My father gently wrapped my hands in both hands.
"Maybe Alma's... modest qualities resemble mine. It used to be gorgeous around me too. The glorious His Highness Thomas, the beautiful and dazzling Lilfione, and His Highness Gilbert who leads us...... I couldn't help but be dazzled"
My father narrows his eyes in nostalgia.
"Eventually we were torn apart because of all our thoughts and tragedy befell us. I turned away from such a fact and drew one."
Tilt the glass and take a sip. Ice makes a sound, Karan.
"They were all kind to me, weak, and loving. There was no arguing in front of me. If I were such a powerless person, wouldn't I have been able to connect with Don and everyone changing their position, or to support him? I still regret that we have a place for everyone to gather out of their shoulders."
My father, laughing at himself, looked me in the eye.
"... my happiness now is that Alma is laughing. I work for His Majesty so Alma can be happy in the future. Your Majesty and I have a stare ahead of us. I finally got there at this age, it's my way of life"
"Father..."
"Alma, if you want to be active outside, I'll give you as much support as I can. You can quit if your military nationality gets in the way. I will refund the cost of your education. But, you know, Alma's still young. If Alma is still targeting Elsa, I think we should go through some more practice in the military, right?
Yes. My goal is headquarters staff, like Master Elsa, who defend the country with conviction. I had lost sight of it...... I lean over unexpectedly.
"Besides, it's important for everyone to dare to stay on the spot and protect their possessions. It's plain, but someone has to guard the lighthouse, and the people who play outside can't feel safe winging."
Speaking of which, unlike the former prime minister, my father is 180 degrees and only appears on the table with the minimum required. All the stage of the table belongs to His Majesty.
"Consolidate your scaffolding... that keeping your space in full at all times will also help those you love?
"That's right. But that's not easy either. Sometimes they are swallowed by high waves or attacked for the absence of their companions. Sometimes I am tempted by sweet words. You must always be sensitive to the situation and continue to build yourself up. You need patience, and you don't serve stupid. You can't do it if it's not for what you love."
"Tell me... do you want me to? You think that's gonna stick?
"Of course I'll stick around. It takes hard work and... patience, though. Believe that Alma can do that, His Majesty also has it on his side. It's a shame there's not much to trust, but there's no room for an incompetent human being."
My father, with his right hand, flushes my forehead to the side and ears, caressing my head slowly as it is clumsily. What I wanted you to do at a young age.
"Aiming for Elsa is not at odds with protecting everyone's home. Sometimes my heart will get rough with the feeling of envying my friends who walk around the glorious world at times, but then... shall we even hit eight against me and Alma, plain parents and children and flashy Cecil?
"... and Cecil would be delighted?
"Really? Well, think carefully. You don't have to panic. Alma still has plenty of time. It's a good idea to work hard, but also to take a break. I can't talk about people, though."
"... right"
I could finally... smile a little.
Seeing me like that, my father moved his hand, which was stroking his head, wrapped my left cheek and laughed with love.
"Whatever choice you make, I'm always on Alma's side"
My chest buzzes. It's cowardly to strike unintentionally.
I lay my hands on my father's warm hands.
The Reincarnated Young Lady Aims to Be an Adventurer
転生令嬢は冒険者を志す
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-young-lady-aim-to-be-an-adventurer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo
Adapted to Manga Beast Companions Beautiful Female Lead Child Protagonist Cute Story Doting Older Siblings Doting Parents Female Protagonist Guilds Magic Magic Beasts Monster Tamer Multiple POV Multiple Reincarnated Individuals Ninjas Nobles Older Love Interests Reincarnated in Another World Reincarnation Royalty Sister Complex Strong to Stronger Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transmigration Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2024er/
小田 ヒロ