「ザフィルド殿下、ようこそいらっしゃいました!」
『ようこそいらっしゃいました!』
ブラックスーツを着込んだ店員たちが、一斉に頭を下げてくる。
貴族街手前の庶民でも足を運びやすい立地。本来なら、背伸びしたい庶民や中流階級に向けた店なのだろう。
外壁の一部に使われた青いタイルは異国のものらしい。金のランプ。変わった形のシャンデリア。これらは我が母『異国の美姫』の祖国のものだろう。織物産業が盛んなのだ。店内にも異国の調度品が多く並べられており、なるほどこれが流行りの店かと胸が躍る。
わたくしだって、流行りに興味がないわけではございませんのよ?
ただ公の場ですと、古き良きを重視する方も多いですから。わたくしみたいに見た目で特徴のある者は、オーソドックスでいるのが一番無難なのです。流行りの最先端だから美しいとは限りませんしね。
そんな貸し切りの店内を呑気に見渡していると、「面白い店だね」とザフィルド殿下が話しかけてきて。
そうですわね、と答えようとした時、ひとりの店員が声を掛けてきた。
「僭越ながら......そちらの女性とはどのようなご関係で?」
こらっ、と叱ってから、上司らしき店員が「失礼しました!」と頭を下げている。こんな詮索なんて、貴族を商売相手とする店にとって論外の言動。
急に人気が出て、まだ社員教育が行き届いてない様子に、連日王族を連れてきてしまったことの申し訳無さを覚えつつ......ザフィルド殿下は悠然と「いいよいいよ」と微笑む。
「この子は......僕が口説き落としたいひとなんだ」
片目を閉じて、口元で指を立てる殿下。
「彼女のドレスを選ぶ前にさ......先日兄上が頼んだドレスを見せてもらえないかな?」
仮縫いくらいは出来ているんだろう、と尋ねる殿下に、店員はあからさまに戸惑っている。他人の依頼品を見せてくれなど、普通は要望されないのだろう。
「で、ですが......その注文は特注でして......」
「無理を言ってごめんね。でも、兄上と似たようなドレスを僕も贈るわけにもいかないし......今回は僕もかなり本気なんだよ」
両手を顔の前で合わせて「だからお願い」と頼む第二王子殿下に......店員さんたちは顔を見合わせて。「どうかご内密にお願いします」と、バックヤードへ下がっていく。
「やったね」
小声でそんなやり取りをしていると、すぐにそのドレスは出てきた。
唖然ですわ......。
派手なピンクのサテン生地に、これまたピンクのリボンがこれでもかと付いている。トレーン部はレース生地と二重になっているが......淡いとはいえ、ピンクはピンク。胸元がこれでもかと開いており、首元にはこれまたリボンをモチーフにしたピンクゴールドのネックレスを付けるらしい。宝石は当然ピンクダイヤモンド。靴も当然ピンクのスパンコールが敷き詰められている。
これでもかというピンクの大洪水に、思わず訊いてしまう。
「これを身につける方は......どんな方ですの?」
「桃色の髪が愛らしい方、でした」
でーすーよーねー? 間違いなくレミーエ嬢ですわよね!?
色々と疑問に浮かぶことがあるものの......ザフィルド殿下も考えることはわたくしと同じようだ。
「これを......兄上が選んだのかい?」
「......はい。それはもうノリノリ......こほん。嬉しそうに選んでおりました。その......今までの女性は、こういうのを着てくれなかった、と」
ザフィルド殿下が横目で見てくる。
「......ルーナ。あの色以外なら何でもいいよ。好きなドレスを頼むといい」
「あら。本当に買ってくださるおつもりですの?」
「もちろん。君を口説きたいって言ったろ?」
「ドレスひとつで口説けるほど、安い女と思われるのは心外ですわね」
その言葉が店員に対して失礼だとわかった上で。
わたくしは帽子を取る。さらりと落ちる黒髪を掻き上げた。
「それでは――真っ赤なドレスを」
「ルル......」
ザフィルド殿下はわたくしを本名で呼ぶか悩んでいるのだろう。店員らも、わたくしの特徴のある髪色に驚いているようだ。エルクアージュに嫁いできた『異国の美姫』は平民にも有名ですものね?
わたくしはにこりと微笑む。
「飾りは何も要りません。ただただ上質な生地で、真っ赤なドレスを仕立ててくださいまし。伝票はルルーシェ=エルクアージュでお願いしますわ」
『きみは本当何をしてるの?』
『充実した祝日を過ごしただけですわよ?』
今宵も真白な世界で、わたくしは指折り数えてみせる。
お父様とアルジャーク男爵を引き合わせ、
これ以上充実した祝日なんて、考えられませんわ!
わたくしが小鼻を膨らませれば、神様がまたため息を吐く。これはさすがに注意が必要かしらね?
『ため息を吐く癖は直した方が宜しいのでは? 幸せが逃げてしまいましてよ?』
『誰のせいだ、だ・れ・の!?』
あらいやだ。そんな誇張されなくても......さすがに気にかけていただいていることは承知しております。
でも美しい死に様を目指すには、これが最善――と説明しようとした時、神様がジト目で訊いてくる。
『第二王子の顔に泥を塗ってよかったのかい?』
......気になる点はそこですの?
わたくしの中ではまるで当たり前のことに拍子抜けしつつ、訊かれたことには答えます。
『さすがにザフィルド殿下に買ってもらうわけにはいきませんもの。それに――死装束は自分で用意したかったですし』
もし他の男にドレスを贈ってもらうとすれば......許されるのはお父様くらいのものだろう。ただ何も知らない父からの贈り物を血で汚すのは忍びないですから。
わたくしが視線を落とせば、神様は目ざとい。
『弟殿下は、きみに惚れているんじゃないの?』
『そうかもしれませんわね』
『きみも嫌いではないのだろう?』
男性として好きかといわれれば......そういう目で見たことがないから、わからないのだけど。幼馴染みたいなものだもの。勿論、嫌いではないわ。
そんなわたくしに、神様が真面目な顔で言ってくる。
『誰かに愛される最期じゃなくて、いいの?』
それに、わたくしは応えない。ただ小さく『ふふっ』と笑うだけ。
だけど、神様はしつこいから。
『本当に......いいのかい?』
『神様もあのドレスはお気に召しませんか?』
本当は、白いドレスと悩んでいたのだ。わたくしにだって、人並みの憧れはある。人生に一度、花嫁衣装を着てみたかった。だけど――。
『......あら、もしかして。あのドレスを着たわたくしに惚れてしまいそうだとか?』
『なっ、なんでそうなるんだ!?』
『あらあら。神様も照れた時はお顔が真っ赤になりますのね?』
わたくしは公爵令嬢だから。
今宵も、弱音は笑顔の裏に隠す。
"Your Highness Zafield, welcome!"
""Welcome!""
The clerks who were donning black suits all bowed at once.
The store was located at front of the aristocratic district. It was strategically placed so that even commoners could easily visit. In the first place, the store was intended for the commoners and the those of the middle-class who wanted to appear classy.
The blue tile used for part of the outer wall seemed to originate from a foreign country. The gold lamp and unusually-shaped chandelier probably hailed from my mother's--the Foreign Beauty's--homeland. The textile industry was thriving. Many pieces of foreign furniture were on display in the store. I was truly excited to see what such a fashionable store had to offer.
It isn't like I'm uninterested in fashion?
However, in public places, there were many who still embraced tradition. For those who had a distinctive appearance like me, becoming orthodox was the safest option. Besides, just because a certain style was trendy, it didn't mean it was beautiful.
As I looked around the store, His Highness Zafield commented, "It's an interesting store."
When I was about to reply, a certain clerk remarked.
"...Pardon the intrusion, but what kind of relationship do you have with this lady?"
Right after that, a person who seemed to be the manager immediately bowed down and apologized profusely. Said clerk was scolded. For a store that deals with aristocrats, such out of line behavior should be unthinkable.
The manager's explanation was, it wasn't every day that said employee got to see a member of the royal family. As the store had suddenly gotten popular one day, their education was still incomplete...
"...This lady, she is the one I want to propose to."
Winking, His Highness Zafield raised a finger to the corner of his mouth.
"Before choosing a dress for her, could you show me the dress my brother requested the other day?"
The clerk was visibly confused by His Highness Zafield's request. Normally, one wouldn't ask to look at someone else's request.
"Unfortunately, the order was for a custom-tailored dress..."
"I'm sorry for the odd request, but I don't want to give her a dress that looks similar to my brother's. I want to give it my all--so, please..."
Towards the second prince, who put his hands together in front of his face and pleaded, the clerks stared at each other.
"We did it."
After we whispered towards each other, the dress was immediately brought to us.
...I was stunned.
...The flashy pink, satin, fabric was adorned with pink ribbons. It was doubled with a lace fabric, which while pale, was still pink. The chest part was open. Around the neck, a rose-gold necklace with ribbon motif could be seen. Naturally, the jewel was a pink diamond. ...Naturally, the shoes were also covered with pink sequins.
I instinctively asked about the flood of pink.
"Who'd, what kind of person would wear this...?"
"She's a lovely woman with pink hair."
Who else would it be if not Ms. Lumie!?
Just like me, His Highness Zafield had a lot of question.
"Did my brother truly request this...?"
"...Indeed, the one who choose this messy thing is--ahem. He looks truly happy when he ordered it, because according to him, no women has ever worn anything like this before..."
His Highness Zafield glanced at me.
"...Luna, you may ask for a dress. Anything other than that color is fine."
"Oh my, are you truly going to buy one for me?"
"Of course, like I said, I'd like to propose to you."
"How surprising, do you honestly believe you'll be able to persuade me with a single dress?"
Those words might have come off as rude to the clerk.
I proceeded to remove my hat. Then, I combed my cascading black hair.
"Then--a bright red dress."
"Lulu..."
His Highness Zafield was probably wary of calling me by my real name. The clerk seemed surprised by my distinctive hair color. After all, wasn't the beautiful princess, the Foreign Beauty, who had married into the Elcage family, famous among commoners?
I said with a smile--
"--Nothing too flashy, please. Just a bright red dress made of fine fabric is fine. Please send the invoice to Lelouche Elcage."
"...What were you thinking?"
"I was merely enjoying my day off to the fullest?"
That night, in a pure white world, I was counting off using my fingers.
I had brought Baron Aljerk and my father together. I had inquired about the dress that my fiance, His Highness Sazanjill, was about to secretly give to Lumiere. On top of that, I had also ordered a dress for myself, thanked Baron Alban, helped Lumiere study, and then went home where I enjoyed a meal made by Baron Aljerk and my mother.
In short, I couldn't think of a more fulfilling day off!
Thus, I sighed in satisfaction. The god sighed again. Was it something to be concerned about?
"Shouldn't you focus on fixing your habit of sighing? If you stay that way, happiness will elude you?"
"Whose fault is that!?"
Well, even if he didn't exaggerate it like that, I was aware that he was truly bothered about it.
But when I tried to explain that it was the best way to aim for a beautiful death, the god stared at me and asked--
"--Was making the second prince lose face alright?"
...Is that what he's concerned about?
I answered what I was asked--
"--I couldn't bear to let His Highness Zafield to purchase that. Besides, I want to prepare the shroud myself."
If another man were to give me a dress, then that man could only be my father. However, I couldn't bear to stain a gift from my father, who was ignorant of what was to come, with blood.
When I was looking down, god asked me.
"His younger brother, isn't he in love with you?"
"Perhaps."
"You don't hate him, do you?"
If I were to be asked if I like him as a man... I didn't know, I hadn't experienced love. To me, he was like a childhood friend. Of course, I didn't hate him.
God spoke to me with a serious face.
"Wouldn't dying while being loved by someone else be better?"
I didn't respond. I just laughed softly.
However, god was persistent.
"...Are you truly alright with this?"
"What do you think of my dress, god?"
Actually, I had contemplated asking for a white dress. Even someone like me had a longing, like everyone else. Just once, over my entire lifetime, I wanted to wear a bridal dress.
"--...By any chance, would you fall in love with me in that dress?"
"W, why would I!?"
"Oh, dear. So, when god is embarrassed, his face also turns red..."
--I was a duke's daughter.
That night too, I hid my vulnerability behind a smile.
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