ファルコを追い払った後、手紙を受け取ったラミリオはうめいた。
「......今度はルクレツィアの父親か」
紋章入りの封蝋は見覚えのあるものだ。字も本人からのもので間違いない。
そして中には、くだらないことが書いてあった。
『状況が変わったので、ルクレツィアを嫁がせるのをやめる』
『娘を引き取りに、近々そちらの領地まで行く』
――ろくに婚約の取り決めもせず、身一つで追放同然に送り出してきたくせに、今更止めるとはなんだ。
それはラミリオも、当初は彼女の境遇に同情し、療養だけで帰してやろうと思っていた。
しかし、彼女が断片的に語る父親のことを聞けば聞くほど、ろくな親ではないのではないか、という想像が頭を占めるようになっていたのである。
今回急に『やめる』と言い出したのも、何か理由があってのことに違いないとラミリオは睨んでいた。たとえば、金に困って、別の男に娘をやる口約束をしてしまった、とか。あるいはラミリオをゆすろうという魂胆なのかもしれない。
「......ふざけるな、と送り返してもいいだろうか」
「おやめになった方がよろしいかと」
「なぜだ。一度は『娘をやる』と言ったんだぞ。証拠の手紙だってある。裁判だろうと何だろうとやってやるが」
「イルミナティの法では、三十歳未満の貴族子女は、親の同意なくして結婚できません。婚姻の事実がなければ、争っても無効にされるだけです」
諭されても、納得できない。
ラミリオは頭に来ていた。
――どいつもこいつも、ルクレツィアのことをなんだと思っているんだ。
利用することしか考えていない輩に囲まれている彼女が、不憫でならなかった。
「分かった。婚姻の事実があればいいんだな?」
「それはそうですが、何をなさるおつもりで......?」
「彼女の親が来る前に、とっとと結婚する。司祭の前で誓いを立てて、軽く披露宴でもすればいいんだろう? すぐできる」
「いけません! 女性が披露宴にどれほどこだわりを持っているかよくお考えを! 決して簡単に済ませていいものではありません!」
「豪華なパーティなんか後でいくらでもできるだろう」
ボスコは処置ナシとでもいうように、目を陰険に細めた。
「......知りませんよ、振られても」
ラミリオはぐっと言葉に詰まる。確かに、ちょっと彼女が可哀想かな、という気持ちがどこかにあった。
「振られなきゃいいんだろ。納得してもらえばいいんだ。父親が押しかけてきそうなことも説明して......」
そこまで言って、ラミリオはまた黙った。
――そんなことしたら、彼女、すごすごと帰るんじゃないか?
脂汗が浮く。
実の父親に『結婚は中止だ。帰ってこい』と言われたら、ごくまっとうな淑女教育を受けた人間は、まず言う通りにする。それだけ父親の意見は絶対的だ。娘とは、父親の保護下にあるべきもの、というのがディヴィーナ教の教えだからである。
いくらラミリオが『君の父親は酷いと思う』などと言っても、理解してもらえるかどうか。そういうものだと強く刷り込まれたら、なかなか覆らないのが人間である。
醜悪公のもとに嫁げという命令にもめげず、大人しくやってきた彼女なのだから、『お父様のお役に立てるのなら喜んで』などと言って自分を借金のカタにしかねない。
ラミリオは計画を少々修正することにした。
――父親のことは伏せて、とにかく結婚を急がせよう。
騙すような真似をするのは気が引けるが、それが彼女のためなのだ。
ラミリオは鬼になることに決めた。
――先触れがついているということは、本人も数日以内に到着するはず。
なんとか誤魔化して、父親への引き渡しを遅らせつつ、ルクレツィアに了承させねばならない。
――そうと決まれば、さっそく彼女に結婚の申し込みを......
そこまで考えて、ラミリオは固まった。
――結婚の申し込みって......つまり......あれだよな?
結婚してください、と彼が膝をついて頼まないとならないのだ。
それも、数日以内に。
ラミリオは生まれてこのかた、女性に対して強引なアプローチなどしたことがない。理由は単純そのもので、嫌われるのが怖いのだ。
婚約をするときも、『どうかうちの娘を』と言われるまで待っていた。自分から申し込んで断られるのが嫌だったからだ。
そのラミリオに、いきなりのプロポーズは少々難易度が高すぎた。
彼はどうしていいのか分からなくなった。
無意味に風呂に入り直し、ヒゲを剃り直して、ちょっと失敗して頬に傷をつけた。
着ずにとっておいた新品の服を下ろして、髪を夜会のときのように丁寧になでつけてみた。......やりすぎて、髪が艶だしのハニーワックスでテカテカになった。
そわそわと落ち着かないラミリオが、視線を感じて振り返ってみても、熱心に書き物をしているボスコがいるだけで、誰も彼を見ていない。
――くそっ。俺はなんでこんなにうろたえてるんだ。
「......ちょっとルクレツィアのところに行ってくる。あとは頼んだ」
「承知いたしました。ごゆっくりどうぞ」
ボスコがやけに優しく送り出してくれた。ありがたいが、腹が立つ。
***
屋敷のテラスで。
ルクレツィアは新しい日記帳を手に、じっと考え込んでいた。
真新しい革の装丁で、すべすべの白い紙がたくさん挟まっている。手触りがいいのと作りが美しいのとでずっと眺めていた。
――何を書こうかしら?
昨日買った雑貨のことを書こうとして、思いとどまる。
最初のページに記すのがお小遣いの使い道だなんて、いかにも味気ない。後年になって誰かが日記帳を見つけたとしても、読まずに素通りしてしまうかもしれない。
――最初のページを飾るにふさわしいできごとは......
ラミリオが顔を出したのはちょうどそのときだった。
日記帳に影が差し、顔をあげた先に、オールバックのラミリオがいた。
「やあ、ルクレツィア。少しいいかい?」
「まあ、旦那様」
ラミリオがぎくしゃくした様子で言うので、ルクレツィアも、どんよりした目つきでニマッと微笑んだ。彼女のこの目つきはいつものことだったが、ラミリオは固まってしまった。
――旦那様を怯えさせるなんて、わたくしはどうしようもない女ね。
悲しい気持ちで、笑顔をもっと深くする。
ラミリオは顏を背けたが、恐怖のためか、頬は桃色に染まっていた。薬の副作用で肌の色も薄くなっているから、ささいな顔色の変化が如実に表れる。
「誤解しないでくださいませ、旦那様。わたくしのこの顔は、生まれつきなのです」
「ああ......まあ、生まれつき可愛いんだろうな、と思うよ」
「え? いえ、そうではなく、わたくしの目は死んだ魚のようでしょう?」
「え?」
「いつもこうなのですわ。子どもの頃から表情に乏しくて、楽しいことがあっても、顔色が悪いと言われるのでございます」
「そうか......?」
ラミリオは遠慮がちにルクレツィアの顔を見て、またすぐに視線を外した。
「......俺はいつも、ユノみたいだと思っていた」
「ユノ。......?」
はて、何のことだったろうとルクレツィアは思案し、それが美しく貞淑な家庭生活の守護神であることを思い出して、すぐさま忘れた。
――女神がこんなどんよりした目つきなわけがないわ。
そこでふいに、ラミリオが変な顔をした。
「......いや、待ってくれ。君に顔色が悪いだなんて、誰が言っていたんだ?」
「お父様ですわ」
「......」
ラミリオがスッと目を細めた。
どうしたのだろうと思いつつ、ルクレツィアは続ける。
「あと、義理のお母様と、妹にも。わたくしは目つきが悪いから、一緒にいても気分が悪くなる......とか、あとは、顔色が悪いときは無理してパーティには出てこず、すぐに帰るように、とよく言われておりました」
「君の家族って......」
ラミリオはつぶやいて、それきり黙ってしまった。
――わたくしの家族がどうしたのかしら。
きょとんとして、ラミリオの端整な顔立ちを見つめる。
After driving Falco away, Ramilio groaned when he received a letter.
"... It's Lucrezia's father this time?"
The wax seal with the crest was familiar. The letter was undoubtedly from him.
Inside the letter, there was a bunch of nonsense.
[As the circumstances have changed, I will no longer give you permission to marry Lucrezia.]
[I will be coming to your territory shortly to retrieve my daughter.]
He had sent her off into exile without a proper engagement agreement, and now he wanted to stop her from getting married?
At first, Ramilio felt sorry for her situation and thought that he would just let her recuperate, then send her home.
However, the more he heard of her father, the more he began to imagine that he might not be a good parent.
Ramilio suspected that there must have been some reason for his sudden decision to annul the engagement. For example, perhaps he was in need of money and had promised to give his daughter to another man. Or perhaps he was trying to extort Ramilio.
".... Can I write "don't screw around" and then send it back to him?"
"I suggest you don't do that."
"Why not? He once said, "I'm going to give you my daughter". I even have the letter as proof. I can handle it if he wants to take it to court."
"According to Illuminati law, aristocratic children under the age of 30 cannot marry without parental consent. If there is no marriage proof, any dispute will only be invalidated."
Even though he was admonished, he wasn't convinced.
Ramiro was getting mad.
'What do they all think of Lucrezia?'
He couldn't help but feel pity for her, surrounded by people who only wanted to take advantage of her.
"I understand. All we need is proof of a marriage, right?"
"That's true, but what do you intend to do....?"
"Before her father arrives, we'll just get married quickly. We can take our vows in front of the priest and have a light reception, right? It won't take long."
"No, you can't! Think about how much women care about their wedding receptions! It's not something that can be done easily!"
"We can have a lavish party as much as we want later."
Bosco's eyes narrowed sharply while looking at him, as if he was a lost cause.
".... I don't know anything, even if you get dumped."
Ramilio was at a loss for words. Certainly, there was a part of him that felt a little sorry for her.
"I'm not going to get dumped. I just have to convince her and explain that her father is going to come here and...."
After saying that, Ramilio was silent again.
'If I did that, she would leave in a huff, wouldn't she?'
He was sweating.
If her own father told her to cancel the marriage and come home, a person with a proper ladylike upbringing will do as she is told. That's how absolute the father's opinion is. That is because the Divine religion teaches that daughters are to be under the protection of their fathers.
No matter how much Ramilio said things like, "I think your father is terrible," it was doubtful that he will be understood. Once a person is strongly imprinted as such, it is very difficult for them to change their mind.
Since she had been so quiet and unperturbed by the order of marrying the Ugly Duke, she might say things like, "I would be happy to be of service to my father," and use herself as a means to pay his debts.
Ramilio decided to modify his plan slightly.
He wouldn't tell her about her father, but he would hasten the marriage anyway.
He didn't feel comfortable deceiving her, but it was for her own good.
Ramilio decided to be the bad guy.
The fact that the letter came with a forewarning meant that he himself should arrive within a few days.
He must somehow deceive and delay her extradition to her father, while getting Lucrezia to agree.
'If I've decided to do so, I have to immediately ask her for her hand in marriage....'
Ramilio froze as he thought about it.
'A marriage proposal is... In other words... that, right?'
He had to get down on his knees and ask her to marry him.
And that too, within a few days.
In all his life, Ramilio had never made such an aggressive approach to a woman. The reason is simple: he was afraid of being disliked.
When he got engaged, he waited until he was told, "Please take our daughter". He didn't want to be rejected after making an offer himself.
For Ramilio, a proposal out of the blue was a bit too difficult.
He didn't know what to do.
He bathed again for no good reason, shaved his beard, and made a bit of a mistake and scratched his cheek.
He used his new clothes for the first time, which he had kept without wearing, and carefully brushed his hair as if he was going to an evening party. However, he overdid it.... and so, his hair became shiny with glossy honey wax.
Ramilio, who was restlessly fidgeting, felt eyes on him and turned around, but no one was there except Bosco, who was writing diligently.
'Damn it. Why am I so flustered?'
".... I'm going to Lucrezia's for a bit. Take care of the rest."
"I understand. Please take your time."
Bosco sent him off in a very kind manner. He was grateful, but his nerves were rising.
***
On the terrace of the mansion.
Lucrezia sat pondering while holding her new diary in her hands.
It was bound in brand-new leather, with lots of smooth white paper inserted in between. She kept looking at it, thinking how nice it was to the touch and how beautifully it was made.
'What should I write about?'
She was about to write about the miscellaneous goods she'd bought yesterday, but then she thought better of it.
How tasteless it was to write on the first page about how you spent your allowance. If someone finds the diary in later years, they may pass it by without reading it.
'The event that deserves to be on the first page is....'
It was just then that Ramilio showed up.
A shadow appeared over her diary, and when she looked up, she saw Ramilio with his all-back hair.
"Hey, Lucrezia. Do you have a minute?"
"Of course, my husband."
As Ramilio said this in an awkward manner, Lucrezia, too, smiled at him with a dull look in her eyes. She always had this look in her eyes, but Ramilio froze.
'I'm such an awful woman, scaring my husband like this....'
With a sad feeling, she made her smile deeper.
Ramilio turned his face away from her, but his cheeks were dyed pink, perhaps from fear. The side effects of the drug had made his skin pale, so the slightest change in his complexion would be apparent.
"Please don't misunderstand me, husband. I was born with this face."
"Ah... Well, I guess you were born cute."
"What? No, it's not that. My eyes are like dead fish, aren't they?"
"What?"
"They've always been like this. Since I was a child, I have always lacked facial expression, and even when I am having fun, people say I look pale."
"Is that so....?"
Ramiro looked at Lucrezia's face with reserve, then quickly looked away again.
".... I always thought you looked like Juno."[1]
"Juno...?"
Lucrezia pondered what he was talking about, remembered that she was the patron goddess of marriage and motherhood, and promptly forgot about it.
'A goddess wouldn't have such a glum look in her eyes.'
Then suddenly, Ramilio made a strange face.
"..... No, wait. Who told you that you looked pale?"
"It was my father."
"...."
Ramilio narrowed his eyes quickly.
Lucrezia continued, wondering what was wrong.
"Also, my mother-in-law and my sister. I was often told that because I have a bad expression, I make people feel uncomfortable.... and that if I looked pale, I shouldn't force myself to come to the party and leave immediately."
"Your family is...."
Ramilio mumbled and then fell silent.
'What's wrong with my family?'
She was staring at Ramilio's handsome face.
My Sister Took My Fiancé and Now I’m Forced to Marry the Ugly Duke
書籍・漫画化／妹に婚約者を取られてこのたび醜悪公と押しつけられ婚する運びとなりました～楽しそうなので張り切っていましたが噂が大げさだっただけで全然苦境になりませんし、旦那様も真実の姿を取り戻してしまい
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/my-sister-took-my-fiance-and-now-im-forced-to-marry-the-ugly-duke/
Action Adventure Romance
Aristocracy Arranged Marriage Broken Engagement Calm Protagonist European Ambience Family Conflict Female Protagonist Hard-Working Protagonist Hated Protagonist Multiple POV Nobles Sharp-tongued Characters Underestimated Protagonist Wealthy Characters
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3436hc/
くまだ乙夜