――あと18日。
それは雨の日も。
「ルルーシェ=エルクアージュ! 改めて俺のプロポーズを――」
――あと17日。
木枯らしの強い日も。
「ルルーシェ=エルクアージュ殿! せめて話だけでも――」
――あと16日。
当然、紅葉が綺麗な晴れた日も。
「ルルーシェ=エルクアージュ様!! 後生ですから俺の話を――」
――あと15日。
「頼むから俺を見捨てないでくれ~~!!」
その日もスタスタとサザンジール殿下の横を通り過ぎ、待っていてくれたレミーエ嬢と教室へ向かった時だった。
「エルクアージュ君。少々話をしたいんだけどいいかい?」
「えぇ、うっかり二教科......わたくしもびっくりでしたわ」
お昼休み。今日も今日とてザフィルド殿下にお声掛けして、剣術の訓練をしてもらおうとした時でした。いつものグラウンドの隅で二人きりになった途端、壁に寄りかかった殿下が腕を組んでいる。
「まぁ、そんなことより今日も訓練をお願いします。たしか腹部を狙われた時の対処法でしたわね?」
「いやいやいや。それどころじゃないでしょ。勉強しなきゃ」
「必要ありませんわ」
わたくしは小剣をぶんぶん振りながら即答する。
だって赤点だろうが落第だろうが、あと十数日で死ぬ者からしたらどーでもいいことですからね。両親はびっくりだろうが......娘が死んだら、成績どころじゃないでしょうし。まぁ、あと十数日は教師に賄賂でも握らせて、親への報告を遅らせてもらうことにしましょう。
それよりも剣術です。体捌きです。正直、サザンジール殿下の暗殺の件ははっきりしておりませんので......。
「あ、ザフィルド殿下。サザンジール殿下に暗殺者を仕向けるご予定は?」
「なにそれ。そんな気安く訊くこと?」
「重々しく訊いた方が答えてくれるんですの?」
わたくしが小首を傾げれば、ザフィルド殿下は苦笑する。
「毎朝あんなに惨めな兄上を、わざわざ殺す理由は見当たらないな」
「惨め......ですかね?」
「その点でいえば、とてもルルーシェに感謝しているよ。明日の朝も楽しみだ」
「まあ、お役に立てているようなら何よりですわ」
そうか。とりあえず殿下が暗殺者に狙われる件も杞憂で終わりそうなのね。
なら、わたくしが剣術を極める必要もなくなったのですけど――。
「せっかく始めたことを途中で終わらせるのは気持ち悪いですわ。さあ、早く続きを教えてくださいませ!!」
「いや、それはそうと勉強をね!?」
あらあら。話を戻されてしまいましたわ。
結構ザフィルド殿下も頑固ですわね......と、わたくしは剣を下ろす。
殿下はまるで子供に説教するようでした。
「......で? 今回はどうしてこんな低い点数を? 直前まで風邪で休んでたとはいえ......案外元気そうだったし。そもそもルルーシェなら直前に勉強しなくても、平均点くらい軽く取れそうだと思うけど?」
「平均点といっても、うちのクラスは八割軽く超えているじゃないですか。試験問題が同じなのに赤点の基準が違うなんて狡いですわ」
「それはそう......いや、誤魔化されないよ! 『アン』クラスの者が赤点なんて前代未聞だからね!?︎」
......えぇ。たしかに、本来なら常に成績上位をキープしてましたので。そう思われるのも当然かもしれませんが、案外隠れて猛勉強した上での成績でしたのよ? 王妃様から習うマナーや歴史などの教養と学校で教わる算術や経営学といった学問はまた別ですから。後者もそれなりに努力をしていたのです。
しかも休んでた一週間のみならずここ百日、その労力を常に他に向けていましたからね。授業には出ていたといえ、とても集中していたとは言い難いですし。自己学習の一切を行っていなければ......そんなものですよ。わたくしなんて。
「サザンジール殿下の成績はどうでしたの?」
「......さあ? でも兄上のことだから、そこは抜かりないんじゃないかな。『成績が下がりでもしたらルルーシェに顔向けできなくなる!!』て、深夜に絶叫が響き渡っていたから」
屋敷で働く皆様、わたくしのせいで申し訳ございません。それはホラーでしたわね。
まあ、過ぎてしまったことは仕方ありませんわ! わたくしは己の為すべきことをやるしかないのですから!!
「それなら、安心して訓練を開始しましょう!!」
「いや、だからルルーシェは勉強をね!?」
......とても不本意ですが。今日のお昼休みは勉強をするよう説かれて終わってしまいました。
その日の放課後。さて本日もレミーエ嬢へ妃教育を施しましょう、と空き教室へ赴くやいなや、待っていたレミーエ嬢に聞かれてしまいました。
『次期国王陛下を尻に敷く悪女ルルーシェ=エルクアージュがまさかの赤点!?』という噂は、レミーエ嬢の『トロア』クラスにも知れ渡っているようですね。
......あら。いつの間に『悪女』になりましたの?
それを聞いた時、わたくしはおかしくて仕方ありませんでしたわ。憐れな婚約者令嬢からの転身ですもの。でも、レミーエ嬢はそれどころではない様子。
「も、もしかして......私に時間を割きすぎて、ご自身の勉強が――」
「あら。レミーエさんは、わたくしをそんな間抜けだと思ってたの?」
「ま、まさかそんな!?」
大慌てで否定してくださるけど......あなたの言う通り、わたくし間抜けですの。
人生初の追試に補講。しかも、多分補講はサボりますわ。なんだか最近、貴族としての義務とかどうとかも、どうでも良くなってきましたの。余命が残り少ないからですかね?
とにかくたしかなのは、決してレミーエ嬢のせいではないということ。全て、わたくしの自業自得。
半泣きの彼女に、どうにかそれを理解してもらわねば......と言葉を考えていた時だ。
「今こそ、俺の出番だなっ!!」
「お呼びしておりませんのでさようなら」
ドンッと扉を開いて登場した人物に、わたくしは即座にお帰りをお願いする。だけど残念ながら、相手はサザンジール第一王子殿下。いち公爵令嬢のお願いを無条件で聞く道理はない。
「だが断る! 在学三年間のほとんどをトップの成績で維持し続けてきた先輩が、今こそ役立つ時だろう!?」
「......そうですかね? むしろ赤点や追試の対策など、無用の長物だったのではなくて?」
なにやら殿下はパラパラと両手に抱えたたくさんのノートを解説してくるが――それに適当に応えながら、わたくしはレミーエ嬢に視線を向けた。「あなたが呼んだの?」そう問いかければ、彼女は頷く。まったく余計なことを。しかも彼女はわたくしに耳打ちしてくるではないか。
「当分、私の面倒は大丈夫ですから。早く仲直りしてくださいね」
「その間に、あなたはサボろうという魂胆ですか?」
「まさか。今回も自力でクラストップになれたんですよ。来年はルルーシェ様と同じクラスになってみせます!」
進級時のクラスは、過去一年間の成績や生活態度を加味して見直される。試験内容はどのクラスでも同一。たしかに今回のレミーエ嬢の成績は『トロア』クラスのトップ......どころか、『ドウ』クラスを超えて『アン』クラスの平均値よりも上回っているらしい。つまり、赤点のわたくしよりも遥かに良い点数だったということね。今までは『トロア』クラスでも平均点以下だったから......わたくしが風邪を引いている間、本当にひとりで頑張っていたということだろう。
「私、ルルーシェ様のお友達になりたいんです!」
少し恥ずかしそうに告げてくる元泥棒猫に、わたくしは苦笑した。
「もう友達のつもりだったんだけど?」
仕方ない。わたくしは殿下に「ぜひご教授お願いします」と頭を下げる。
だって自らの教え子にここまで言われちゃ......最期まで格好悪い所、見せられないじゃない。
それに――わたくしの言葉一つでこんなにきゃあきゃあ騒ぐんだもの。やっぱり令嬢としてはまだまだね。自分のことはさっさと片付けないと......まだまだ教えたいことが山ほどございましてよ。最期まで、きっちり付き合ってもらいますからね?
--18 days remaining.
During a rainy day--
"--Lelouche Elcage! I'm here to propose to you again--"
--17 days remaining.
Even on a day where the wind was strong.
"--Lelouche Elcage, at the very least, listen to my explanation--"
--16 days remaining.
Of course, even during a sunny day filled with beautiful autumn leaves.
"Lady Lelouche Elcage, this humble man beseeches you to listen to his story!"
--15 days remaining.
"--Don't abandon me!!!"
That day, too, I passed by His Highness Sazanjill and went with Lumiere to the classroom.
"Elcage, I want to talk to you for a moment, is that okay?"
"...Yes, on two subjects, as well. I was surprised."
During lunch break, I had a conversation with His Highness Zafield when I was about to ask for sword practice. As soon as we were alone in the corner of the usual academy grounds, His Highness leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
"Well, rather than that, please train me today as well. Last time, it was about how to anticipate a blow to the abdomen, right?"
"No, no, we can't have that. You have to study."
"It's not necessary."
I answered immediately while swinging my sword.
Whether it was a bad score or failure, it wouldn't matter. I'd die in a dozen days. My parents would be surprised, of course. But after the loss of their daughter, I didn't think my bad grades would matter. To delay the teacher from reporting that to my parents, I shall bribe her for the next dozen or so days.
Practicing swordsmanship was much more important than any of that. It was physical preparation. Although to be honest, I still didn't have much insight about the assassination of His Highness Sazanjill.
"By the way, Your Highness Zafield, are you planning to assassinate His Highness Sazanjill?'
"What? Why would you casually ask me that?"
"Well, will you seriously answer?"
I tilted my head, and His Highness Zafield smiled in response.
"I don't see any reason to kill such a miserable brother. He is already doing it to himself, every morning."
"Miserable... it is?"
"In that regard, I'm very grateful to Lelouche. I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning."
"Well, as long as I can help."
Truly, for the time being, it seemed unconceivable that His Highness Sazanjill would be targeted by an assassin.
If such was the case, then I didn't have to master swordsmanship anymore.
"--Still, it's unpleasant to quit in the middle of something you've started. Therefore, please continue!"
"No, I told you to study!?"
Oh dear, I almost forgotten the original topic.
His Highness Zafield was also stubborn, wasn't he?
Then, with a tone as if admonishing a child, His Highness asked me;
"...So? Why did you end up with such a low score? I know you were in bed due to a cold just recently, but you seem to be unexpectedly fine?"
"Although my score is considered below average, the standard in our class is over 80%. While the exam questions are the same, it's quite unfortunate that the standard score of each class is different."
"That's right--no, I won't be fooled! It's unheard of for an 'Un' class person to have such a bad mark!?"
Certainly, I always tried to stay on top. It might seem natural, but that was also the result of studying hard while no one else was looking? The etiquette and history I learned from the queen's education were different from the academics taught by the academy, such as arithmetic and business administration. As such, I also had to put in effort to cover the latter.
However, for the last 100 days, I had put my efforts elsewhere. Not to mention, I was absent for a week. Even though I went to class, it was difficult to say that I was concentrating. I also hadn't done any self-studying--
"How were His Highness Sazanjill's scores?"
"...Who knows? But since it's my older brother, I don't think he will be lackluster about it. 'If my scores are bad, I won't be able to face Lelouche!' That kind of scream kept echoing around midnight."
I felt sorry to everyone who worked in the mansion. It must had been terrible.
Well, it couldn't be helped that I didn't pass. I didn't have any choice but to do what I should do!
"Then, let's start training with confidence!"
"No, as I keep saying, Lelouche should study!?"
...I felt very reluctant. That day's lunch break ended after I was told to study.
After school that day, as soon as I went to the empty classroom to educate Lumiere, she asked me that.
It seemed that the rumors, 'The villainess, Lelouche Elcage, who has His Highness begging on his knees, received bad scores?!' were well known to Lumiere's 'Trois' class.
...Oh, my, since whenever did I become a villainess?
When I heard that, I couldn't help but feel curious. After all, it was quite a transition from the merciful fiancee. However, Lumiere didn't concern herself with that.
"Mayhap... you spent too much time on me, forsaking your own studies--"
"Oh, my. Lumiere, are you calling me stupid?"
"No, of course not!?"
But, like I said, I was stupid.
For the first time in my life, I had to a supplementary lecture for the additional exam. Moreover, it seemed that I'd have to skip the make-up class. Somehow, recently, my duty as an aristocrat felt irrelevant. Was that because I had only a little bit of time left?
Anyway, it wasn't Lumiere's fault. I did everything myself.
When I was thinking of a way to convey it to Lumiere who was half-crying.
"It's my time to shine!"
"Goodbye, because no one has called you."
I would have liked for the person who had burst through the open door to leave immediately. But unfortunately, that person was His Highness Sazanjill. There was no reason for a prince to unconditionally comply to a request of a duke's daughter.
"I refuse! It's time for a senior like me, who has maintained top grades for majority of his three years in school, to be useful?!"
"...Is that so? Rather, isn't your perfect track record useless against bad grades and additional exams?"
His Highness presented a lot of notes with both his hands. But while responding appropriately, I turned to Lumiere, "Did you call him?" She nodded.
"For the time being, don't concern yourself with my problems. Please make up your score quickly."
"You aren't planning on skipping, are you?"
"No way. I was able to reach the top of my class on my own this time as well. Next year, I will be in the same class as Lady Lelouche!"
Promotions of class were reviewed with consideration to the results and performance of the past year. The contents of the exams were the same for all classes. Not only did Lumiere managed to become the top of the 'Trois' class, her scores seemed to have exceeded that of 'Deux' and the average score of 'Un', as well. In other words, she had scored better than me.
"I want to be Lady Lelouche's friend!"
I smiled bitterly at the former thief cat who bashfully said that.
"Aren't we, already?"
It couldn't be helped. I bowed to His Highness.
As my student went so far to say that much, I couldn't avoid showing her a disgraceful sight at the end.
Also, even though I only said one sentence, she was already making such a fuss. As I thought, she still had a long way to go before she could become a proper lady. I had to help her improve as much as possible. At the same time, there were still many things I wanted to teach her.
The Villainess who Only Had 100 Days to Live Had Fun Every Day
【コミック２巻発売中】１００日後に死ぬ悪役令嬢は毎日がとても楽しい。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-who-only-had-100-days-to-live-had-fun-every-day/
Drama Fantasy Josei Romance Slice of Life Tragedy
Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Death European Ambience Female Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdoms Late Romance Misunderstandings Nobles Psychopaths Revenge Romantic Subplot Second Chance Slow Romance Villainess Noble Girls Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8024hd/
ゆいレギナ