先ほどまでの真面目な空気はどこへやら、さくらは苺大福の味にご満悦だ。リリアは、仕方ないなと苦笑しつつ、もう一個購入して次の店に向かった。
その後はどうでもいいような雑談を交わしつつ、アイラの紙に書かれた店を巡る。途中、気になる店や料理は数多くあったが、それらは一つの例外を除いて全て無視している。その例外が苺大福なわけだが。
そうしてぐるっと一周して最後の店で買い物をしていた時に、
「お嬢様。そろそろよろしいでしょうか」
男の声。振り返らなくても声だけで分かる。密偵三人のうちの一人だ。そう言えば密偵の少女はこの男のことを父上と呼んでいたが、やはり親子なのだろうか。少しだけ気にはなるが、詮索するようなことでもないので口には出さなかった。
「分かっているわ。これを買ったら帰るわよ」
リリアの目の前で小さな紙箱が包まれていく。それを店員から手渡されたリリアは、わずかに口角を上げながら目の前に見えている学園に向かう。
門にたどり着くと、兵士はリリアを一瞥すると何も言わずに道を空けた。リリアも特に何も言わずに、そっとその場を通る。いつの間にか密偵の男はいなくなっていた。そしてそのまま着替えた教室に戻ると、出た時と同じようにアリサが待っていた。
「お帰りなさいませ、リリア様」
アリサが丁寧に頭を下げる。リリアは頷きを返し、持っていた紙箱を机に置いた。
「これを私の部屋に持って行っておいてくれる? 私は夜会に顔を出してくるわ」
「はい。畏まりました」
「ああ、ちなみにこのうちの一個はアリサのものだから。先に食べておいていいわよ」
アリサが驚きからか大きく目を見開いた。少しだけ声を震わしながら、
「よろしいのですか......?」
「いいと言っているでしょう」
「ありがとうございます!」
アリサが勢いよく頭を下げる。リリアは不思議に思いながらも、着替えの手伝いだけ命じて、後はそのまま部屋に戻らせた。
夜会に戻ると、入口に立っている男がわずかに目を見開いた。
「お帰りなさいませ、リリアーヌ様。その、申し訳ないのですが......」
「もう少しで終わりなのでしょう? 構いません。挨拶をするだけですから」
「失礼しました。では、どうぞ」
男の側を通り、会場に入る。ここを出た時と違い、大勢の人がその場にいた。テーブルには未だに数多くの料理が並んでいる。
――リリア。食べないの?
――さすがにもう食べられないわよ......。
――まあ、それもそうだね。
街を回っている間に食べたお菓子ですでに腹は満たされていた。食べられないことはないが、無理して食べる必要はないだろう。
ふと視線を感じて周囲を見回す。こちらを見ている何人かと目が合ったが、すぐに相手の方から逸らしていた。少しだけ不機嫌になりつつ、用事を済ませるために目的の人物を探す。その人物を中心としてちょっとした集まりができているので、すぐに見つけることができた。
そちらへと向けて歩き出す。リリアに気づいた周囲が静まり返り、リリアのために道を空ける。いつもの光景だ。その中にはティナの姿もあった。
――え?
さくらとそろって心の中で声を発し、不自然にならないように視線だけで右前方を見る。確かに、ティナだ。豪奢なドレスを着ているティナは、とても居心地が悪そうに見えた。
――馬鹿王子の仕業だろうね。
――ほんっとうに......。ろくでもない......。
少しはティナの立場を考えろ、と今なら思える。確かにティナは男爵家だが、王家主催の夜会に呼ばれるほどの家柄ではない。周囲のほぼ全員が上級貴族の中、ティナはどのような心境でここにいるのだろうか。王子は、嫌なら断れば良いと思っているかもしれないが、男爵家のティナが王子の誘いを断れるはずもない。
そんなことにも頭が回らないのか、と軽く失望しつつも、リリアは目的の人物、王子の目の前で立ち止まった。
「リリアーヌ。何しに来た」
開口一番のそのような言葉に、リリアは思わず眉をひそめた。周囲からも戸惑いの声が漏れている。リリアはすぐに笑顔の仮面を貼り付けると、
「まあ、招待状を届けさせておいて、その言い方はあんまりですわ」
笑顔は笑顔でも嘲笑ではあったが。
「こちらも送りたくて送ったわけではない。公爵家の者を呼ばないわけにはいかないとうるさかったのだ」
「私だって来たくはありませんでしたけどね。王家から招待状を受けて欠席するわけにもいかないでしょう。私としては、貴方を視界に入れることすらしたくありませんのに」
王子が眉を吊り上げた。怒鳴るために息を吸い込み、
「少しは立場を考えていただけませんか、殿下」
「貴様に言われたくはないわ!」
王子の、怒鳴り声。周囲の空気が張り詰めるが、リリアにとっては知ったことではない。
――いやでも、一応場所が場所だし、リリアも自分の立場を考えないと。家族に迷惑がかかるよ。
――それは......。そうね、気をつけるわ。
荒み始めていた心を何とか落ち着かせ、リリアは王子を睨み据える。それはやめないんだね、とさくらが苦笑するが、さすがにこれは直せない。
「そうですね。私も場所を考えずに言い過ぎました。申し訳ありません」
そう言って頭を下げる。周囲から驚きの声が漏れる。滅多に頭を下げないリリアが素直に下げたのだから当然とも言える。
「ふん。分かればいいのだ」
「はい。反省しましょう。反省した上で申し上げます。少しは立場を考えてください」
な、と王子が絶句し、そして顔を怒りで赤くする。リリアは今度は謝罪せずに、ちらりと背後を振り返り、すぐに王子へと視線を戻した。
「殿下。どうしてこの場に男爵家のティナ様がいらっしゃるのでしょうか」
「そんなものは決まっている。私が呼んだからだ」
「何故?」
「貴様には関係ないだろう!」
――馬鹿だ。馬鹿がいるよ。
――だめよ、さくら。失礼じゃない。
――誰に?
――馬鹿に。
心の中でさくらと軽口を交わしつつ、それを清涼剤にしてリリアは微笑んだ。さくらのおかげで、怒りすぎないでいられる。
Sakura was enraptured by the tastes of the strawberry daif.u.ku. Just where did all that seriousness from earlier go? Making a helpless smile, Lilia bought one more and headed for the next shop.
After that they just continued with some pointless chatter as they went around to the shops marked out on Aira's map. Along the way, they ran into many stores and foods that piqued their interest, but but with only one exception they ignored them all. The exception being the strawberry daif.u.ku of course.
And so after circling the entire route and while shopping at their last destination,
"Milady. Perhaps it is about time."
It was a mam's voice. She recognised it even without having to turn around, as it was one of the agents. Thinking about it, that girl agent had referred to this guy as 'father', so were they parent and child? She was a bit curious, but it wasn't something she needed to pry into so she left the question unasked.
"I got it. I'll head back after I buy this."
A small paper box was being wrapped up in front of her. Receiving it from the store clerk, she cracked a slight smile as she headed back towards the academy that was now within her sights.
As she reached the gate, the guard took a glance at her before silently making way. Lilia also didn't say anything, and quietly went through. The agent had disappeared
"Welcome back, Mistress Lilia."
Alisa politely lowered her head. Lilia returned a nod, and put the paper box on a desk.
"Could I get you to bring this back to my room? I'm going to go show my face at the evening party for a bit."
"Yes, certainly."
"Ahh, by the way one piece in there is for you, so feel free to go ahead and eat it if you'd like."
Alisa returned a look of astonishment as she widened her eyes. With a bit of trembling in her voice,
"Is that really alright...?"
"I did just say so didn't I?"
"Thank you very much!"
Alisa gave an energetic bow. Lilia was a bit perplexed, but simply got her to help change outfits before getting her to return to the room.
When she got back to the evening party, the man at the entrance slightly widened his eyes.
"Welcome back, Mistress Lilianne. Well, I am sorry to say but..."
"It shall be over soon yes? I do not mind. I'll just be going to greet some people."
"Please excuse me. Well then, right this way."
Pa.s.sing by the man, she entered the venue. Different from when she had left, the place was filled with people. Even now the tables were still lined with numerous dishes.
--Lilia. Not gonna eat?
--I've don't think I can eat any more after
--Well, I guess that's true.
Her stomach was already filled with the various treats she ate as she touring the streets. She wasn't bursting at the seams per se, but there was no reason to force herself here.
She felt some gazes and looked around her. She met eyes with numerous people who were looking this way, but they all quickly averted their gaze. While feeling a bit displeased, in order to get her business over with she searched for the person she needed. A sort of gathering of people was being created with said person at the center so it wasn't too hard.
She headed over and began to walk. The surroundings that noticed Lilia fell silent, and opened up a path for her. It was the usual scene. Within that crowd Tina was there as well.
--Eh?
Letting out an exclamation inwardly in tune with Sakura, she turned just her sight to look towards the rightward area. Indeed, it was Tina. Dressed in an extravagant gown, Tina looked very much ill at ease here.
--This must be that idiot prince's doing eh.
--Really... How worthless...
Give a bit of thought to Tina's situation! Lilia could now see the trials this thoughtless Prince puts her through. Tina did certainly come from a house of barons, but that wasn't at the status to be invited to an event put on by the royals. Surrounded by essentially nothing but upper cla.s.s n.o.bles, just what kind of
So he can't even comprehend such a simple thing, Lilia felt some slight disappointment, as she came before the one she was looking for, The Prince.
"Lilianne. What did you come for."
With those being the first words out of his mouth, Lilia couldn't help but make a bit of a frown. The surroundings also let out voices in confusion. Lilia quickly stuck a smile on her face,
"My, after sending over an invitation, those words are a bit much."
Even a sneer was still within the definition of being a 'smile'.
"It's not like I invited you because I wanted to. They were just persistent in not leaving out anyone from a duke's house from the invitations."
"And it's not like I wanted to come either you see. But it wouldn't do to not answer to an invitation from the royal family no? Even though I didn't even want to have to see you in my field of vision."
The Prince's eyebrows shot up. Taking in a breath and getting ready shout,
"Might you please try to think about people's situation a bit more, Your Highness?"
"I don't want to hear that coming from you!"
The Prince shouted. The surrounding atmosphere tensed upatmosphere tensed up like a spring, but to Lilia it was no concern of hers.
--Well, hey, the place being what it is, you should probably think about your own situation a bit. It'll cause trouble for your family.
--That's... You're right, I'll be careful.
Somehow calming her heart that had begun to race, Lilia affixed a glare at The Prince. So you're still not gonna stop doing that though huh, said Sakura with a wry laugh, but she really couldn't fix that.
"That is so. Without thinking of the place I have said too much myself. My deepest apologies."
Saying so she lowered her head. Voices of surprise leaked out from the surroundings. That was probably natural seeing the Lilia who rarely lowered her head obediently bowing here.
"Hmph. As long as you understand."
"Yes. I shall apologise. And with that, I beseech you once more. Please think a bit about the situation."
Wh, The Prince was rendered speechless, and then his face was dyed red in anger. Without apologising this time, Lilia took a glance behind her, then quickly returned her gaze to The Prince.
"Your Highness. Why is it that Tina of Baron status is present here?"
"Is that not obvious? Because I invited her."
"Why?"
"That has nothing to do with you!"
--An idiot. We have an idiot here.
--Let's stop that, Sakura. Isn't that rude?
--To who?
--To idiots.
Exchanging some lighthearted banter with Sakura, she felt refreshed and made a smile. Thanks to Sakura, she got by without losing her temper.
Haunted Duke’s Daughter
取り憑かれた公爵令嬢
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/haunted-dukes-daughter/
Comedy Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo Slice of Life Supernatural
Broken Engagement Character Growth Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Female Protagonist Friendship Hard-Working Protagonist Heartwarming Loyal Subordinates Maids Nobles Otome Game Possession Royalty Second Chance Servants Sharing A Body Sword And Magic Unrequited Love Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5708cr/
龍翠