41話 怪しい男
友仁皇子に「饅頭好き」と思われたことに多少心に衝撃を受けた雨妹だが、このまま饅頭を差し出された状況を放置することができるはずもなく。
この饅頭を受け取るべきかと悩んでいると、友仁皇子付きの娘が声をかけてきた。
「あの、召し上がるのでしたらあちらでお茶をどうぞ?」
彼女はそうおずおずというか、オドオドした様子で言ってくる。
下っ端の雨妹に対してそう怖がることはないのに、何故か若干怯えられているのだが。
この反応は、
彼女もこの娘も、何故雨妹に対して下手に出るのだろう。
――私って怖そう? 偉そう?
前世では若い頃から「ベテラン感が滲み出ている」と同期に言われたものだが、それは今世でも健在なのか。
一方で雨妹が一緒に食べることを期待しているのか、友仁皇子がキラキラした目で見上げてくる。
これを無下に断って、しょげさせるのも申し訳ない気持ちになるもの。
それに実際手洗いに行って長時間戻らない宮女はいるので、彼女たちもどこかで息抜きしているのだろう。
なので雨妹もそれに倣うことにした。
「では、少しだけご一緒させていただきます」
「......! じゃあ、あっちの敷物へ行きましょう!」
雨妹が頷くと、友仁皇子が早速手を取って敷物の方へ引っ張って行こうとする。
「殿下、慌てては転びますよ!」
「平気!」
それにしても、友仁皇子が何故このような場所で野遊びのような真似をしているのか。
本来なら主会場の宴の中心部にいるべき人物だろうに、ここでこうして二人だけでいるのは不自然だ。
けれどその理由は雨妹にも想像がついた。
友仁皇子は食物過敏症の件で皇太后の意見を否定した形になり、不興を買っている。
そのため皇太后の周囲からの嫌がらせを避ける目的で、
友仁皇子は卵を食べられないことが知れ渡っているため、逆にわざと卵を混ぜて食べさせられることを恐れたのかもしれない。
――でも、この方が案外楽しいかもね。
たった二人きりの花見であっても、主会場の宴よりこちらの方が断然楽しそうに思える。
周りの大人の顔色を窺いながらの花見なんて、子供にとっては楽しくもなんともないだろう。
こうして雨妹は短時間ながら、思いかけず友仁皇子と花見を楽しむのだった。
皇子と交流をした後、今度こそ元の場所へ戻るべく移動していた。
――うん、残り時間を頑張れそう!
饅頭とお茶を貰い温まった身体で足取りも軽く。
ルンルン気分で歩いている雨妹は回廊を通っており、もうじき遠目に宴が開かれている庭園が見えて来るという時。
「おい、そこの宮女」
回廊の陰になっている場所から、若い男の声に呼び止められた。
雨妹は返事をしながら声のした方を振り向く。
するとそこにいたのは、明かに宦官ではない格好をした男だった。
宦官ではない男なら、皇子だということになる。
だが不思議なことに、男は一人だけで誰も連れてはいない。
「あの、どのようなご用でしょうか?」
本日訪れている皇子たちは、年に一度の後宮参りとあって舞い上がっている者が多く見受けられた。
酒の勢いもあり、少々乱暴な振る舞いも目撃していたりする。
彼らの様子を見ていると、簪をしておくのが自衛になるという
要はぱっと見で、手出しはマズい相手だとわかるようにしておけということなのだろう。
皇子たちは街へ出て花街へ行けば、遊び相手などいくらでもいるのだ。
わざわざ面倒な女に手を出して下手を打つような真似は、避ける方が得策というものである。
けれど一方で、この目の前の男がそうした手合いかというと、雨妹は違うと感じていた。
男からは酒の匂いがせず、酔っている風でも無いし、舞い上がっているようにも見えない。
――っていうか、こんな皇子があの庭園にいたかな?
男の歳は若く、自分とさして変わらないくらいに見えた。
皇子だとしたら太子の兄弟だろうが、雨妹はあの庭園で顔を見た記憶がない。
それにたとえ男があの庭園にはおらず、他の場所から移動してきたのだとしても、一人だけで他に誰も連れていないことには違和感がある。
「なるほど、確かに噂に聞いた青い髪......」
呟きが風に乗って聞こえた。
――なに、この人......。
雨妹は眉をひそめる。
この男はもしかして、自分が青っぽい髪をしているから呼び止めたのだろうか?
Chapter 41
Yui Mei's heart received a slight blow after being thought as 'manju-loving' by Imperial Prince Youren, but she couldn't just leave him while he offered the manju to her.
While she was inwardly debating whether she would receive this, the girl attending to Imperial Prince Youren spoke to her.
"Ahm, would you like to have tea over there if you will eat it?"
The girl said timidly, or to be more precise, she said so with nervous diffidence.
Even though there was no need for her to be so scared, somehow, she was frightened.
This reaction was somewhat similar to that of the maiden serving Yu Xiu.
She and this girl, why would they be so awkward in front of Yui Mei?
'Am I scary? Or do I look imposing?'
She had been told she was 'exuding the aura of a veteran' since she was young in her previous world, but was it the same in this world?
On the other hand, Imperial Prince Youren's eyes were shining as he looked up at her, perhaps anticipating that she would eat together with him.
If she rejected him outright, he would probably become dejected.
Besides, there were court ladies who did not return for a long time after going to the washroom, so they must have been taking a breather somewhere else.
And so, Yui Mei decided to imitate them.
"Then, please let me accompany you for a little while."
"...! Well then, let's go to that mat over there!"
When Yui Mei nodded, Imperial Prince Youren quickly took her hand and pulled her towards the mat.
"Your Highness, you will fall down if you hurry like that!"
"I'm fine!"
Nevertheless, why did it seem like Imperial Prince Youren was having a picnic in such a place?
Ordinarily, he should be one of the VIPs at the banquet's main venue; it was unnatural that there were only the two of them in this place.
However, Yui Mei was also aware of the reason.
Because of the incident with Imperial Prince Youren's food hypersensitivity, the empress dowager's declaration had been negated, causing her displeasure.
Imperial Concubine Hu must have secretly arranged for him to have the flower viewing here in order to avoid harassment from being within the empress dowager's surroundings.
She must have feared that since it was already known that Imperial Prince Youren could not eat eggs, somebody might intentionally feed him by mixing it with the other dishes.
'But it's unexpectedly more enjoyable this way, probably.'
Even though there were only the two of them, it was more pleasant by a long shot compared to the banquet they had at the main venue.
It would not be fun for a child if he had to look at the complexions of the adults around him while looking at the flowers.
In this way, Yui Mei enjoyed the cherry blossom viewing with Imperial Prince Youren without worry for a short time.
After interacting with Imperial Prince Youren, Yui Mei then made her way back to the banquet.
'Alright, I'll do my best for the remaining time!'
Yui Mei's footsteps were lighter after her body was warmed by the manju and tea she received.
Yui Mei happily walked through the corridor, then she could see the garden where the feast was being held from afar. It was at that time.
"Hey, that court lady over there."
From a secret place in the corridor, a young man's voice stopped her.
Yui Mei answered as she turned towards the direction of the voice.
There was a man who obviously did not have the bearing of a eunuch.
If he was not a eunuch, then he must be an imperial prince.
However, the strange thing about it was that he did not have a single attendant with him.
"Excuse me, how may I help you?"
There had been plenty of men making merry among the imperial princes who came for the once-a-year visit to the Inner Palace.
She also observed some of them energetically drinking, and there were also those who behaved carelessly.
She also agreed with Libin's comment that wearing a hairpin would be for her self-defense after watching those guys.
In short, she could see at a glance that it would be terrible to have anything to do with those guys.
If the imperial princes went out of the city towards the red light district, they would find plenty of playmates over there.
It would be a good plan to avoid those who deliberately mess around with a woman looking after them and assaulting her.
On the other hand, however, Yui Mei could sense that the man before her was different from them.
He did not have the smell of alcohol on him, he didn't seem drunk, and he didn't look like he made merry.
'Rather than that, was this imperial prince in that garden?'
She could see that he was young, probably around her age.
If he was an imperial prince, then he must be the brother of the crown prince, but Yui Mei did not remember seeing him in the garden.
Besides, even if he was not in the garden and was staying at another place, him being alone without a single attendant gave her a sense of unease.
"I see, the blue hair is just like the rumors..."
She heard his faint whisper.
'What's with this person....'
Yui Mei knit her brows.
Did this person call out to stop her because of her bluish hair?
Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
百花宮のお掃除係～転生した新米宮女、後宮のお悩み解決します。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/housekeeper-of-the-hundred-blossom-palace/
Fantasy Romance Shoujo Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Ancient China Complex Family Relationships Different Social Status Female Protagonist Imperial Harem Love Interest Falls in Love First Reincarnated in Another World Royalty
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4104ev/
黒辺あゆみ