義弟は買収した海賊と共に行動していたが、ある時から連絡が来なくなり、そのまま戻らず仕舞。
その上、海賊討伐で利民が出払うため、守りが薄くなる利民の屋敷を見張り、あわよくば潘公主を襲うように計画していた夫が、今回佳で合流できないと危惧していたのだが。
まさか、このような変わり果てた姿になっていたとは。
「これは、どういうことなの!?」
誰ともなしに問いかけた黄県主だったが。
「どういうことかは、そちらがよく理解されているものだと思うが?」
軒車の外からそう声がしたかと思ったら、バン! と扉が開いた。
「先程ぶりであるか、黄県主」
そしてそう呼び掛けてきたのは、宴にいた都人の武人の男であった。
「お前、太子殿下の使者か!?」
黄県主の問いかけに、男が小馬鹿にするような顔をする。
「そのような事すら知らぬとは、宴の席で誰からも相手にされなかったと見える。
男はそう言うと、腰から剣をスラリと抜いて、こちらに突きつけてきた。
「ぶ、無礼者! わたくしにそのような態度をとって、しかも、わたくしの夫にこのようなことを......!
黄県主が叱責すると、男は眉を上げて見せた。
「ほう、黄県主はまだ今の状況を理解できないか。
夫は、どうやらあちらの手に落ちたようだ。
だが利民の屋敷は戦力が出払い、一網打尽にする絶好の機会ではなかったのか?
夫とて黄家の端くれで、それなりに腕に覚えのある男であったはずなのに。
しかも潘公主はともかくとして、太子の使者の娘を攫うと、この男は言った。
若い女好きの夫は、どうやら娘であったらしい太子の使者をも狙ったようだ。
だが、あの宴にそのような都人らしき娘がいただろうか?
この男と一緒にいるのを見かけた娘は、都人らしからぬ見た目であったので、違うだろう。
男がそう言い放った直後。
「いやぁーーっ!!」
娘が現状に精神が耐えきれず、恐慌状態になったのか、悲鳴を上げながら軒車の反対の扉を開けて外に出ようとする。
しかし、その足もすぐに止まってしまう。
飛び出した娘に、剣が突きつけられている。
暗闇に紛れている黒ずくめの姿の者たちに、軒車は取り囲まれていたのだ。
「わ、わたくしは黄県主!
「そんな、そんなはずはない!」
ここまできて黄県主はようやく現状が分かってきて、ガタガタと震え出す。
自分が自分であるための土台が、崩れ落ちていく音がする。
「助けて、お母様!
軒車の外で娘の悲鳴が聞こえても、黄県主は身体が動かず、その身の無事を確かめることすらできない。
ただただ、震えて座っているだけの黄県主が、御者席側の窓から剣が差し込まれたことに気付いたのは、その剣が己の身に沈み込んだのと同時のことだった。
弱々しいうめき声が、黄県主の最後の言葉となり。
そう言った男――立勇が手を上げると、黒ずくめの一人が軒車に火を放つ。
佳の郊外にて、火事で燃え尽きた軒車が発見されたのは、その翌日のことであった。
Her brother-in-law had been with the pirates, but she never heard from him again at some point, and he didn't return, either.
Moreover, her husband attacked Li Min's mansion, taking advantage of the fact that the security was weak given that Li Min went all out in order to subjugate the pirates. However, she became uneasy when she didn't meet him in Kai this time around.
She couldn't imagine that he would be disfigured to this extent.
"What's happening here!?"
Huang County Lord's unwittingly asked.
"I thought you already knew very well what's happening here?"
The door forcefully opened right after she heard someone speaking outside the carriage.
"Nice to see you again so soon, Huang County Lord."
It was the soldier that she saw at the banquet, the one who looked like he came from the city.
"You, are you His Highness the Crown Prince's envoy!?"
The man scoffed when he heard what the Huang County Lord said.
"You don't even know such a trivial thing. It's really obvious that nobody entertained you back in that banquet, huh. I'm the guard, and the envoy is another person."
The man pulled out his sword and sauntered towards them.
"I-impudent! You know what will happen to you right? Disrespecting me like this, and you even did this to my husband!"
The Huang County Lord shrieked, but the man just raised a brow.
"Hoh, so Huang County Lord, you don't really understand the situation you are in right now, huh. Then let me enlighten you. That owner of that severed head had tried to kidnap and rape either Princess Pan or the maiden who was the envoy of the crown prince. He did such an abominable thing, so of course he would end up like this."
So her husband fell from the hands of the enemy.
However, wasn't it supposed to be the best time for Huang County Lord's party to make their move and seize the mansion in one fell swoop?
Her husband was not an easy person to deal with, considering that he was also part of the Huang family.
Moreover, not to mention the princess, this man said that her husband had tried to kidnap the crown prince's envoy.
Her husband was fond of young women, so he apparently targeted the maiden, too.
However, she couldn't remember any girl who looked like she could be from the city among the attendees.
The girl beside this man didn't look like she could be one, so it was probably a different girl.
Immediately after the man said those words --
"Kyaaahhh!!!!"
Her daughter's mind could no longer endure the situation, so she tried to go out of the opposite door while screaming in panic.
However, she was stopped soon enough.
A sword was thrusted in front of her daughter.
Several men clad in black, looking like they blended into the night, surrounded the carriage.
"I-I am the Huang County Lord!! Grand Duke Huang will never let this pass if something happened to me!"
"T-that's impossible!"
Understanding finally dawned on the Huang County Lord, and she realized just how precarious her current situation was. She trembled in horror.
Her status, which had been the foundation that she relied on, had crumbled underneath her.
"Mother, help!!!! Gyahhh!!"
The screams of her daughter outside the carriage rang into the night, but the Huang County Lord couldn't move a muscle, let alone secure herself.
She could only collapse on the floor shaking, so by the time she noticed the sword from the driver's window, it had already pierced her body.
That weak cry became the last words of the Huang County Lord.
The man -- Li Yong raised his hand and gave the signal after he said those words. The men in black shot arrows of fire towards the carriage.
Because it was in the outskirts of Kai, it was already the next day before the charred remains of the carriage were discovered.
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