36
「殿下。貴方は何を考えているのですか?」
「何がだ」
「招待状を受け取るのはほとんど上級貴族の方々です。そんな中で一人、ティナさんだけがこの場にいる。あの子がどのような思いをするのか、分かっているのですか?」
「どういうことだ。私が呼びたいと思って呼んで何が悪い」
――あ、だめだこれ。理解しようともしてない。リリア、諦めよう。
――そうね。ティナには申し訳ないけど、私には手に負えないわ。
さくらと二人でため息をつき、王子に背を向けた。これ以上言葉を交わしても無駄だと分かった以上、ここにいる意味はない。顔見せの目的は果たしたのだし、部屋に戻ることにした。街巡りの上機嫌が嘘のような嫌な気分になりながら、リリアは何も言わずに歩き出した。
「待て、リリアーヌ! 話は終わっていないぞ!」
王子の言葉に足を止め、振り返らずに答えた。
「いいえ、終わりました。貴方と言葉を交わす意味がないと分かった以上、私にはここにいる意味がありませんもの」
それ以上は今度こそ何も言わずに歩く。背後から王子が何事かを叫んでいるが、その全てを無視した。
リリアの帰り道をふさぐものは誰もいない。誰もがリリアの顔を見るなり、蜘蛛の子を散らすかのように逃げていく。だが出口付近まで来て、逃げない者が一人だけいた。
「リリア様......」
ティナがこちらを心配そうに見つめていた。他の上級貴族がいるためか、気安い言葉は控えているようだ。リリアはティナを一瞥するだけで、何も言わずにその横を通り過ぎる。
「がんばりなさい」
「......っ!」
去り際に短く告げたリリアの言葉にティナが大きく目を見開いた。その後の姿を確かめることはせず、リリアは足早にその場を立ち去った。
自室に戻ると、アリサが紅茶の準備をして待っていた。わずかに驚きつつも、アリサに促されるままに席につく。紅茶を一口飲み、ようやく人心地つけることを実感した。
「お疲れ様でした、リリア様」
この少女はどこまで知っていて言っているのだろうか。不思議に思いながらも、リリアは小さく肩をすくめるだけで返事はしなかった。
「明日のご予定は何かございますか?」
「別に何も......。いえ、あるわね。けどアリサたちに手伝ってもらうことは何もないから、貴方たちは休みでいいわよ。休日ぐらい休みなさい」
そう言うと、アリサは困ったように眉尻を下げた。アリサが口を開こうとしたので、先に言っておく。
「これは命令ということでいいわ」
「う......」
「休みなさい」
アリサはまだ何かを言おうとしているようだったが、やがて諦めたようにため息をついた。しかしそれは諦めであり、納得したわけではない。アリサはまだしばらく考えていたようだったがやがて、では、と口を開いた。
「お昼だけ休ませていただきます。よろしいでしょうか?」
「............。勝手にしなさい......」
なぜそこまで休みたくないのかと疑問に思うが、これ以上はアリサも譲りそうにはなかったのでそれで納得することにした。
――リリア、明日は実際に何をするの?
――別に。少しだけ根回しをするだけよ。
――ティナのために?
――いいことなんだから、誤魔化さなくてもいいのに。
さくらは楽しそうに笑ってそう言った。
翌日。朝食を済ませ、街に買い物に行くというアリサを見送った後、午前中はさくらと共に自分の勉強をした。昼食は昨日買った菓子で済ませ、昼過ぎにリリアも自室を出た。
二階のエントランスに出ると、部屋がまた静まり返った。だが昨日ほどの衝撃はないのか、すぐにリリアから視線を逸らし、ぽつりぽつりと会話を再開させ始める。それでもまだリリアを見て固まっている者は何人かいたが、リリアは気にせずに足を動かした。
そうしてたどり着いたのは、ティナの部屋だ。ノックをすると、はい、とティナの声が聞こえてきた。
「ティナ。私よ」
「リリア? ちょっと待ってね」
その声のすぐ後に、扉が開かれる。顔を出したティナは、少しだけ疲れているようだった。
「いらっしゃい、リリア。どうしたの?」
「いえ、別に......。中に入ってもいいかしら?」
ティナに続いて部屋に入る。ティナの机には、教材とノートが広げられていた。真面目に勉強をしていたのだろう、何故だか少しだけ嬉しくなった。
――お姉ちゃんみたいだね。
――は? お姉ちゃん?
――何でもないよ。
楽しげに笑っているところから何でも無いということはないと思うのだが、答えるつもりがないのなら聞いても無駄だと分かってはいる。
「ティナ。昨日はあの後はどうだったの?」
ティナに聞くと、ティナは弱り切った笑顔を浮かべた。
「帰るまでは何もなかったんだけど......」
ティナの視線が机の隅に向けられる。そこには小さく折りたたまれた紙が何枚かあった。怪訝そうに眉をひそめながら、リリアはそれを手に取り、中を読んだ。そしてすぐに、目が細められた。
――リリア、怖いよ。でも気持ちは分かるよ。
――何なのよ、これは......。
紙は六枚。そのどれもに、お前は王子にふさわしくない、調子に乗るな、などといった言葉が並んでいた、ティナを知る身としては全ての言葉が的外れすぎて、呆れることしかできない。
――量産型リリアだ。
――意味は分からないけど馬鹿にされたことだけは分かったわ。
――じゃあ、あれだ。量産型旧リリア!
――いい度胸してるわね......。
Chapter 36
"Your Highness. Just what are you thinking here?"
"About what?"
"The recipients of the invitations are mostly those of the upper n.o.bility. Within all that, Tina alone is the exception here. Might you have any idea, just what that girl might be feeling because of that?"
"What do you mean. What's wrong with inviting her because I wanted her to come?"
--Ah, this guy's hopeless. He's not even trying to understand. Lilia, let's give up here.
--You're right. I feel bad for Tina, but this is out of my hands.
Sighing together with Sakura, she turned her back to The Prince. Now that she knew there was no point in any further conversation, she had no more reason to be here. She'd already fulfilled her obligation to show up, so she decided to head back to her room. As she felt an unpleasantness that made her good mood from touring the town earlier seem like a lie, Lilia wordlessly started walking away.
"Wait, Lilianne! Our conversation's not over!"
She stopped at The Prince's words and answered without turning around.
"No, it has concluded. Now that I have realised the pointlessness of any further exchange of words with you, there is no longer any reason for me to be here."
more. The Prince was shouting something or other from behind her, but she completely ignored it.
There was no one who impeded her path of return. Anyone who saw Lilia's face all scattered like away like a flock of birds. But when she neared the exit there was one person standing there who didn't flee.
"Mistress Lilia..."
Tina was looking at her with a worried expression. Probably because there were other upper cla.s.s n.o.bles around, she seemed to be holding back from being too familiar with her words. Lilia gave just one glance at Tina, before pa.s.sing her by.
"Hang in there."
"...!"
Tina widened her eyes at the short parting Lilia sent before leaving. Without turning back to see her reaction, Lilia quickly took her leave from the place.
When she got back to her room, Alisa had prepared some tea and was waiting for her. Slightly surprised, she was guided to her seat by Alisa. Taking a sip of tea, she felt a bit of life returning to her.
"Good work out there, Mistress Lilia."
Just how much does this girl know in saying that? While thinking it strange, Lilia simply gave a small shrug and didn't respond.
"Might there be any plans for tomorrow?"
anything requiring your a.s.sistance, so it's fine if you guys have a rest. At least take a break on the weekends."
Hearing that, Alisa had a troubled look. It seemed like she was going to say something, so Lilia spoke first.
"You can take this as an order."
"Uu..."
"Take a break tomorrow."
Alisa looked like she still wanted to say something, but soon gave up with a sigh. However that was just giving up, and didn't mean she had accepted it. Alisa seemed like she was thinking for a while, before eventually opening her mouth.
"We shall take a break during noon only. Will that be acceptable?"
"...Suit yourself then..."
She was wondering just why she was so opposed to taking a day off, but it didn't seem like Alisa would budge any further than this so she gave her consent with this.
--Lilia, what are you actually doing for tomorrow?
--Not much. Just going to make a few arrangements.
--For Tina's sake?
a good thing, so there's no need to deceive yourself you know?
Sakura said so with a cheerful laugh.
The next day. Finis.h.i.+ng her breakfast, she saw out Alisa who went to buy things in town, and spent the rest of the morning working on her studies with Sakura. Making do with the snacks she bought yesterday as her lunch, Lilia left her room as well when afternoon rolled in.
When she got to the second floor entrance, the hall once again fell silent. But perhaps lacking in the shock factor compared to yesterday, the people quickly averted their gazes, and bit by bit returned to their own conversations. Even so there were still some who froze just from seeing her, but Lilia paid it no mind and moved her feet.
She arrived at Tina's room. When she knocked, there came Tina's voice from the door.
"Tina. It's me."
"Lilia? I'll be right there."
Following right after that voice, the door was opened. The face Tina revealed seemed just a bit worn out.
"Welcome, Lilia. What's up?"
"Well, not much... May I come in?"
Tina led her into the room. On her desk, study materials and notebooks were strewn about. So she was diligently studying, for some reason Lilia felt a bit happy at that.
--You're just like an older sister huh.
--Hah? Older sister?
--Oh it's nothing.
She didn't think it was really 'nothing' from the way Sakura was happily giggling to herself, but she could tell that Sakura had no intention of answering her so asking would be useless anyways.
"Tina. How were things last night after that?"
When she was asked that, Tina gave a tired smile.
"There wasn't anything up until I left but..."
Tina turned her gaze to a corner of her desk. There were numerous scrunched up pieces of paper there. With a doubtful frown, Lilia picked them up and read their contents. And instantly, she had her eyes narrowed.
--Lilia, that's scary. Though I get how you feel.
--What in the world, is with this...
There were six pieces of paper. On each of them words such as 'You're not fit for The Prince', or 'Don't get ahead of yourself' and so on were lined up on the pages, seeming so far off the mark to someone who actually knew about Tina that they could only be shocked.
--It's a ma.s.s produced Lilia model.
--I have no idea what you're talking about but the fact that you're making fun of me is clear.
--Then, it's that. The ma.s.s produced former-Lilia model
--You sure have some guts there...
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