31
翌日、食堂でばったり会った殿下は何か言おうと口を開きかけた。私は踵を返して立ち去ることにした。
「レベッカ、待ってくれ」
待てと言われると不思議なことに足は自然と早くなる。急ぎ足になり、早足になり、あっという間に駆け足になった。
殿下は逃げる婦女子を追いかけたりしないはずだ。紳士だからだ。婚約者をベッドに連れ込んでキスはするが、紳士なので。
案の定殿下は追いかけて来ない。代わりに会えば必ず声をかけてくる。眉を下げて、他の人に向ける仏頂面が嘘かと思うほど色んな感情をのせて。
朝は正面玄関も裏口も使わず、一階の部屋の窓から出れば殿下に会うことはない。殿下はそんなこと見越しているかもしれないが。
一階の部屋の主たちは事情も聞かず快く窓を貸してくれた。心なしか生温かい目で見られている気がして少し気になるが、話がわかる人たちで本当に助かる。
ちなみに昨日エミリアは宣言通り一日中離れず私の風邪をきっちり治し、何故か私の部屋に泊まっていった。今朝私と一緒に窓を跨ぎながら「『スパイ映画』みたい」とよくわからないことを言って笑った彼女は大層楽しそうだった。
そんな風にして三日が過ぎた。
その日の殿下はしつこかった。一度強引にでも話し合う必要を感じたのだろう。実のところ私も感じている。殿下の顔を見ると、足が勝手に逃げていくだけで。
「はあ、はあ」
先程、相手に気づいたのは私が先だった。遠くに殿下を見つけたのでそっとその場を離れた。振り返ったら殿下がこちらに向かって来ていて、焦って人のいない方に走ってしまったのは私の落ち度だ。
辿り着いたのは普段はあまり使われていない講堂。
とりあえず中に入ってしまおう、一旦でも殿下をまきたい。
とまあ急いでいたせいで中を確認しなかった。だからって、後ろ手に扉を閉めると同時に他人の胸板に鼻をぶつけるなんて、誰が予想できるだろうか。
「っ!」
「うわっ、ごめんよ大丈夫?」
その硬い胸板は見たことがない男子生徒ものだった。深い森のような髪と瞳。年上のお姉様方に人気のありそうな可愛い系の顔立ちと、逞しい体を併せ持った、紛うことなきイケメンだ。
あれ?やっぱり見覚えがある気がしてきた。どこで見たんだっけ。
まじまじと相手を見ていたら思考が驚きに霧散した。彼が私の目元にそっと触れてきたのだ。
「泣いているの?誰かにいじめられたのなら僕に話してごらん。力になれるかもしれない」
涙目になっている自覚はある。今さっきあなたの鉄壁の胸板、略して
どうしよう、この人から距離を取ったほうがいいかな。鼻をさすりながら少し考えたけどやめた。彼は純粋に心配してくれているだけだ。表情からそうわかるし、ポケットのクリスティーナも大人しくしている。これはただの親切な人である。
「ご親切にどうもありがとうございます。でも大丈夫なので、」
ご心配なく。そう続けようとした私の頭に、攻略本の一節が降りてきた。
『いいえ、あの、ご親切にどうも...でも大丈夫なので!ご心配なく』
『いいや、泣いている女性を放っておいては男が廃る。そこに座って。僕はオズワルド・セデンという。少し話をしよう』
これは主人公が本来四月に終わらせるはずの出会いイベント。そして彼こそは、五高が一人にして最後の攻略対象、オズワルド・セデン!
入学してからというもの度々名前を目にしていた彼。攻略本には「攻略対象、五高、第2学年、深緑の髪、幻獣は
この前発表会で見たのに、研究ばかりに目が行ってちゃんと顔を見ていなかったようだ。武器に付加する補助魔法の組み合わせと効果の研究、とても興味深かったです。完成度が高く私より評価が高いのも納得の研究だった。
オズワルドは確か、穏やかで優しいが実は強い正義感を持った人だ。第1学年に妹もいる。
講堂でよく日向ぼっこをしている猫に餌をやるべくここに通っている。四月、エミリアがレベッカに嫌味を言われた後『講堂に行く』を選択すると彼に出会える。私はそもそも嫌味を言っていない。
「でも大丈夫なので――――いいえ、大丈夫じゃないです、あなたの鉄板にぶつけた鼻が痛いです」
とっちらかった思考を経て、結局私にできたのは正直でいることぐらいだった。彼は「それはすまなかった」と言って心配そうに私の鼻の頭に軽く触れた。
吹き飛びそうな勢いで扉が開いて殿下が入ってきたのはちょうどその瞬間のことだった。
***
地を這うような低い声。これが魔王ですと言っても信じる人間は多いに違いない。
少なくとも私は、これは私をオズワルドから隠すように抱きしめる婚約者の声ですと言われても信じない。
「オズワルド......釈明があるなら聞くが」
「えっ?...あ、しまった!ルウェイン、スルタルクのご令嬢は君の婚約者か!」
オズワルドは慌てているようだ。何もなかったと私からも言うべきだろうか。首だけをやっとの思いでぐぐぐと回すと、オズワルドは体を90度に曲げて頭を下げていた。
「許してくれ。君の婚約者だと気づいていなかった。邪な気持ちを抱いていたのではないと誓う。すまなかった。信じてくれ」
私はまた首だけを動かし、私を固く抱きしめている殿下を見上げる。巻き込んで謝らせてしまって申し訳ないと思ったのだ。殿下は表情なくオズワルドの頭を見下ろしていたが、私と視線を合わせて少しした後、諦めたように息をついた。
「わかった。顔を上げてくれオズワルド。お前じゃなかったら何を白々しいと叩き切っていたかもな」
物騒な言葉に驚愕した私を見て、殿下はとってつけたように「冗談だ」と言った。オズワルドがありがとうと手を振りつつ出て行っても、私はまだ殿下に抱きしめられたままだった。ここ最近接触が多くて困る。二人きりになったらまた逃げ出したくなってきた。
「何で逃げる」
殿下はそう言って私の肩に顔を埋める。柔らかい金髪が首に当たってくすぐったい。子供みたいにすねる彼をかわいいと思ったことを素直に認めよう。
「恥ずかしかったので」
とどのつまりそれに尽きる。他に特に意味はない。殿下にされたことが嫌だったわけじゃない。そのことが伝わればいいと思って抱きしめ返した。
「...そうか。俺は」
私の腰に殿下の腕が回った。
「粥が美味かった。ありがとうと伝えたくて」
ああ、あのお粥。どうなっただろうと思っていた。食べてくれたんだ、嬉しい!
感極まって思わず彼の頰に唇を寄せる。続けて「治って良かった」と言おうとしたのに、耳元で囁かれたせいでそれは出来なかった。
「だがその気持ちがどこかにいきそうになったな、ここに男と二人でいるお前を見つけたときは」
...あれ。
流れが不穏だ。ごくりと言葉を飲み込んだ。殿下は私の耳にお返しとばかりにキスをして、ゆるく笑う。
「愛してる、レベッカ。こんな言葉じゃ足りないほど。次に同じようなことをしたらもう外には出られないと思ってくれ」
私はコクコク頷いた。そうしないと今すぐにでも
Ch 31
The next day, when I unexpectedly ran into His Highness at the cafeteria, he opened his mouth to say something. I decided to turn my heel and leave.
"Rebecca, wait."
When I'm told to wait, it's strange how my feet naturally start moving quickly. I start to hurry, then walk fast, and before I know it, I'm running.
His Highness shouldn't chase after a woman who runs away. He's a gentleman. He'll bring his fiance to bed and kiss her, but he's a gentleman.
As expected, His Highness doesn't chase after me. Instead, whenever we meet, he always speaks to me with various emotions on his face, making you wonder if his frown and Buddha-like expression he puts on other people is a lie.
In the morning, I can avoid meeting His Highness by leaving through the window of the first floor room instead of using the front or back entrance. He may have taken that into account.
The residents of the first floor room kindly let me use their window without asking for an explanation. I feel like they're looking at me with warm eyes, which makes me a little uncomfortable, but they're people I can talk to and they're really helpful.
By the way, yesterday, Emilia took care of my cold all day long, as she declared, and stayed in my room for some reason. This morning, while crossing the window with me, she said something like "it's like a [spy movie]" and laughed, and she seemed to have a lot of fun.
That's how three days passed.
"His Highness that day was persistent. He must have felt the need to force a conversation. To be honest, I also feel it. When I see His Highness' face, my feet just want to run away.
"Ah, ah."
Earlier, I was the first to notice the other person. I quietly left the scene after spotting His Highness in the distance. When I looked back, His Highness was coming towards me and in a hurry, I ran towards a place where there was no one, it was my mistake.
I ended up at the lecture hall, which is not often used.
Let's just go inside for now, I at least want to shake off His Highness.
Anyway, because I was in a hurry, I didn't check inside. But still, who could have predicted that I would close the door behind me and bump my nose into someone else's chest.
"!"
"Ow, sorry, are you okay?"
That hard chest belonged to a male student I had never seen before. He had deep forest-like hair and eyes. He is undeniably a handsome man with a cute face and a strong body that would be popular with older sisters.
Hm? I feel like I've seen him before. Where did I see him?
As I stared at him, my thoughts were interrupted by surprise. He gently touched my eyes.
"Are you crying? If someone is bullying you, talk to me. I might be able to help."
I'm aware that I'm teary-eyed. It's because I just bumped my nose on your iron wall of a chest, or simply put, his iron plate.
What should I do? I wonder if it's better to distance myself from this person. I scratched my nose and thought for a moment, but gave up. He's just genuinely worried about me. You can tell from his expression and how calm my Christina in my pocket. He's just a kind person.
"Thank you for your kindness, but it's okay. I'm fine," I tried to say.
But in my head, a passage from my strategy book came to mind.
[No, that, thank you for your kindness... but it's okay! Don't worry about it.]
[No, I can't just leave a crying woman be. Sit here. My name is Oswald Ceden. Let's talk for a bit.]
This is the encounter event that the protagonist was originally supposed to finish in April. And he is the one and only, the final target for conquest, Oswald Ceden!
Ever since I entered school, I've often seen that person's name. In the strategy book, it says "Target for conquest, Class 5, Second year, Dark green hair, Phantom Beast: Mole, Note: Has a reputation as one of the next top three."
At the presentation last time, I saw him, but my eyes were on research and I didn't look at his face properly. He was very interested in the research on the combination and effects of auxiliary magic added to weapons. It was a very interesting research, and it is no wonder that it was more highly evaluated than mine.
Oswald is definitely a person with a calm and kind personality, but he also has a strong sense of justice. He has a younger sister in the first grade.
He comes here to feed the cat that often sunbathes in the auditorium. In April, when Emilia chooses to go to the auditorium after Rebecca sarcastically tells her to go there, she meets him. I didn't speak ill of her in the first place.
"But it's alright----no, it's not alright, your iron plate hit my nose and it hurts."
After thinking in a scattered way, in the end, all I could do was be honest. He said "I'm sorry" and worriedly touched the tip of my nose lightly.
It was just at that moment that the door opened with a burst of energy and His Highness came in.
***
A low voice like crawling on the ground. Even if it's said that this is the demon king, there's no doubt that there are many people who believe it.
At least for me, even if I am told that this is the voice of my fiance who embraces me to hide me from Oswald, I won't believe it.
"Oswald...if there's an explanation, I'll listen."
"Eh?... Oh, darn! Llewayne's fiancee, the daughter of Slutarch?!"
Oswald seems to be in a hurry. I should also say that nothing happened. When I finally turn my head, Oswald was bending his body at 90 degrees and lowering his head.
"Forgive me. I didn't realize you were engaged. I swear I didn't have any wicked feelings. I'm sorry. Please believe me."
I also moved my head, and looked up at His Highness who was tightly embracing me. I felt sorry for making him apologize. His Highness was looking down at Oswald's head expressionlessly, but after a little while, he breathed out as if giving up, and met my gaze.
"Alright. Raise your head, Oswald. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably beat the shit out of you for being such a whitewash."
Surprised by the ominous words, His Highness said "I was just joking." as if to brush it off. Even when Oswald waved goodbye saying thank you, I was still being embraced by His Highness. Recently, there's been too much contact and it's starting to become a nuisance. When we're alone, I feel like running away again.
"Are you going to run again?"
His Highness buries his face on my shoulder and says that, his soft golden hair tickling my neck. I honestly admit to finding it cute when he pouts like a child.
"I was embarrassed."
That's all there is to it, nothing else. It wasn't that I hated what His Highness did to me. I hugged him back thinking that was enough to convey that.
"...I see. You are."
His Highness' arm wraps around my waist.
"I liked the porridge. I wanted to thank you for it."
Oh, that porridge. I wondered what happened to it. He ate it, I'm glad!
Feeling touched, I unconsciously press my lips to his cheek. I was going to say "I'm glad you're better" but couldn't because of what he whispered in my ear.
"But it seems like that feeling might have gone somewhere when I found you here, alone with another man."
...oh.
The atmosphere becomes tense. I gulp down my words. His Highness kisses me on the ear as if in response and laughs lightly.
"I love you, Rebecca. It's not enough to say that. If you do something like this again, you won't be able to leave this place."
I nod with a dry throat (gulp). I note here that this is a strategic defeat, due to my realization that if I didn't, I would be punished right away.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈