事の発端は三月始めに行われた卒業式だ。
私の兄であるヴァンダレイ・スルタルクを始め、オリヴィエ・マーク、セクティアラ・ゾフ様といった、そうそうたるメンツが卒業を迎えた。
卒業式の後には生徒主催の送別会が開かれるのが伝統だ。
教員すら不在の気軽な集まりで、いわば無礼講。毎年必ず羽目を外しすぎる生徒が出る。
そして今年度最も羽目を外しすぎたのが誰かと言えば、まず間違いなく、オリヴィエ・マークだ。
「ねえ誰か、私と飲み比べしよう!」
酒瓶を両手に抱えて周りを見渡した彼女。白い歯と快活な笑顔が眩しい。
フアバードン王国では十六歳から飲酒が許されていて、オリヴィエはめっぽう強い事で有名だ。強すぎてもう誰も飲み比べの相手をしてくれない。
今夜も周りの人間は彼女と目を合わせないように努めるばかりである。
そこで白羽の矢が立ったのが、殿下と二人で立食スペースの料理に舌鼓を打っていた私である。多分兄さまが酒に強いせいだ。
オリヴィエが近づいてきたとき、殿下はあからさまに嫌な顔をして、私を自分の背中に隠した。
「マーク、レベッカはあまり酒を飲まない」
「そうなの? レベッカちゃん、楽しいからやってみよ! 騎士団ではよくやるんだ」
在学中『戦闘神』の名をほしいままにしたオリヴィエは、そういえば騎士団長の娘だった。思い出しつつ口を開く。
周囲が軽くざわめく。オリヴィエは「そうこなくっちゃ」と手を叩いた。私は渋い顏の殿下を安心させるべく微笑んでから一歩踏み出した。
ここにいるのは生徒だけだ。少しぐらいなら酔ってしまっても問題ないだろう。
何より、『冬』でお世話になった憧れの先輩であるオリヴィエには、楽しい思い出と共に卒業してもらいたい。
周りに野次馬が集まり始め、私とオリヴィエはそれぞれ一杯目のグラスをあおった。
正直お酒を飲んだことは数えるほどしかないのだが、酔いそうだと思った時点で止めればいいのだから大丈夫だ。
そして三杯目のグラスを飲み干した瞬間から記憶がない。
ふわりと、温かい風が頬を撫でた。薄く目を開くとよく見慣れた天井が目に入った。窓から差し込んでいるのは柔らかな朝の光だ。
私は寮の自分の部屋のベッドに寝ていた。
横になったまま軽く伸びをし、自分の左側に目をやる。
私の枕元で眠るのが習慣の白蛇に、いつものようにおはようを言うためだ。
「クリスティーナお、は............」
しかし今日は最後まで言えなかった。いつもとは違うものが視界に入ったのだ。
が私の頭の下を通って伸びている。
白い布に包まれた細長いそれを目で追っていったら、先から出ているのは人の手だった。
......腕?
不思議な気持ちで自分のを確認する。二本ともきちんと付いていた。
じゃあ誰のだ? 寝ぼけた頭を傾げた直後、ようやく状況を理解した。
私の右隣で誰かが寝ている。
ついでにいえば私はその人の腕を現在進行形で枕にしている。
静かに冷や汗をかき始めた。後ろにいるのは一体誰だ。いや誰って、彼しかありえないのだが、もし違ったらどうしよう。
硬直している間にも背後からは規則的な寝息が聞こえている。
ついに勇気を振り絞って振り返った瞬間、隣の誰かが同時にぐらりと動いた。そして私を盛大に巻き込んで寝返りを打った。
「......レベッカ、おはよう......」
「ひゃ!」
私の体をほとんど押しつぶすみたいにして抱きしめたのは、やっぱり殿下だった。
普段より幾分掠れた声が、ほとんど私の耳に口をつけるみたいにして囁いてきたものだから、あまりの声の良さに奇声を発してしまった。
「おもい、おもいです殿下......!」
本気で呻く。殿下が少しだけ動いて、圧迫感がなくなった。
そして彼は私が呼吸できるようになったのを確認するが早いか、
再び安らかな寝息を立て始めた。
「殿下!? 人の上で二度寝ですか!?」
「冗談だ......」
たまらず悲痛な声を上げる。殿下はやっと私の上から退き、再び私の隣で横になった。
私は体を起こしてそんな彼をまじまじと見つめた。小さく寝息が聞こえる。なんとも堂々とした二度寝である。
その場に座り直して勝手に寝顔を見ることにした。殿下は身じろぐ気配すらない。目と口をぴたりと閉じて胸を上下させている。
朝に弱いんだろうか。意外な一面を知ることができて嬉しい。
誰も見ていないのをいいことにによによと口元を緩ませていたが、ふと当然の疑問が浮かんだ。
なぜ殿下が私のお布団にいるんだ?
次いで昨日の記憶がないことにやっと気づいた。背筋を冷たいものが流れる。
「......もしかして私、お酒に酔って粗相を」
「いや、圧勝だったぞ」
「圧勝だった」
いつのまにか薄く目を開いた殿下が体を起こす。そして「オリヴィエ・マークとの飲み比べ」と言葉を続ける。
「マークがギブを言っても、レベッカは顔色ひとつ変えずにっこり笑っていた......だが少し違和感を感じて連れ出した。普通に立ち上がって歩いていたから杞憂かと思ったら、講堂を出た途端、『ところで殿下は今日四人いらっしゃるのですね』と」
「『どうしましょう、私は今日も一人しかいないんです』と」
「部屋まで送って寝台に寝かせて出て行こうとしたら、『あの、でんか、かえっちゃうんですか』、と――」
「わかりましたからもうやめてください――!」
わっと両手で顔を覆う。誰か、頼むから昨日の私を力一杯叩いて目を覚まさせてきてほしい。
大勢の前でこそ根性で令嬢面をしていたらしいが、肝心の殿下に思い切り迷惑をかけているではないか。
『酔いそうだと思った時点で止めれば大丈夫』とか言ったの誰だ。私だ!
「レベッカ」
殿下が優しい声で言った。顔を覆う手から目だけ出したら、殿下が私を覗き込んでいた。
「俺の隣はそんなに居心地が良いか?」
きょとんとした私に、殿下は愛しいものを見るような視線を送った。
「人前ではちゃんとしていたのに、俺と二人になった途端、酔っているのがわかるようになった。俺といるときは気が休まるということか」
私は眉根を下げた。
酔っ払いに迷惑をかけられたら、人は怒るべきなのだ。間違ってもそんな風に嬉しそうな顔をするべきではないのだ。
「......はい、殿下といると安心します」
なんとなく再び顔を隠してから言うと、そのまま抱きしめてもらえた。私もその背に手を回す。
しかしそのとき、はたとあることに気がついた。
「婚姻前に同じ寝台で寝るって問題じゃないですか......?」
婚約者という関係上よろしくない。半年程前、初めて殿下に好きだと言ってもらえた日も、彼は私の部屋に一晩いないで自分の部屋に戻っているのだ。
「大丈夫だ、問題ない」
至って落ち着いた声が返ってきた。
「そうでしょうか」と返すと、殿下は私を抱きしめたまま事もなげにこう言った。
「ああ。式を挙げてしまえばいい」
「しき?」
「結婚式だ」
「ああ。今から急ぎ準備して......夏季休暇に間に合わせよう」
首をひねる。
「で、殿下、私たちまだ学生です!」
「問題か?」
「もちろんです! 早すぎます!」
たまらず殿下の腕の中から抜け出た。しかしするりと両手を取られる。顔を上げれば殿下が私を見つめている。
「レベッカは俺と結婚したくないのか」
「いえっ、ちが、そんなことは」
「うっ!」
「俺と結婚してくれ。一生大切にする。絶対幸せにする」
「ううっ......!」
『こうか は ばつぐんだ!』。殿下の怒涛の愛の言葉を受け、亡き母がかつて妙に片言で言っていた言葉が頭をよぎった。
だが流されてはいけない事態だ。よく考えながら口を開く。
王立貴族学園在籍中に結婚する貴族はそうそういない。ましてや殿下は未来の国王。
「学生結婚は、やっぱり......。その、殿下はもう一人前でいらっしゃるかもしれませんが、私はまだまだ半人前ですから......」
殿下は真剣な顔をした。そして少し考えるようにしてから、なるほどと呟いた。
「なら次の『春』で勝負をしよう。俺が勝ったらすぐに式を挙げよう」
「......えっ」
よく意味がわからなかったのでもう一度お願いした。聞き間違いかと思ったが、そっくり同じ言葉が繰り返されただけだった。
「............何でですか!?」
「ちなみに俺は本気でやる」
「勝てる気がしない!」
大きな声を出したら、気持ちよさそうに眠っていたクリスティーナを起こしてしまったようだ。じとっと視線を感じる。でも今ピンチなのだ。許して欲しい。
その日親友二人に事情を話した。
エミリアは「もちろん私はレベッカ様の味方ですから! 任せてください、『春』であの男に出くわしたら背後から爆破してやりますっ!」と意気込んだ。
メリンダはただ静かに「諦めなさい」と言った。
諦めるなんて選択肢はない。もとはといえば私がお酒に酔ったのが悪いのだが、ここまで来るともう意地だ。
こうして、私にとって去年にもまして気合の入る『春』が始まったのだ。
The beginning of the matter was the graduation ceremony held at the beginning of March.
Among them were my brother Vanderlei Slutarch and esteemed individuals such as Olivier Marc, Cectiara Zoff-sama who graduated.
After the graduation ceremony, it is traditional to have a farewell party organized by the students.
It is a casual gathering where even teachers are absent, in other words, it's informal. Every year, there are always students who go too far.
And this year, the one who went too far was undoubtedly, Olivier Marc.
"Hey, who wants to drink with me!"
She held bottles of wine in both hands and looked around. Her white teeth and happy smile were dazzling.
In Huaverdon Kingdom, drinking is allowed from the age of sixteen, and Olivier is famous for being too strong. Too strong that no one wants to drink with her anymore.
Tonight, everyone around her is trying not to make eye contact with her.
That's when I, who was eating and chatting with his Royal Highness in the standing eating space, was the one who stepped up. Probably because my older brother is good at drinking.
When Olivier approached, His Highness clearly made a disgusted face and hid me behind his back.
"Marc, Rebecca doesn't drink much."
"Really? Rebecca-chan, it's fun, so let's try it! We do it often in the Knight's Division."
Olivier, who made the name of the [god of battle] her own while studying, remembered that she was also the daughter of the Knight's Captain.
The surroundings became slightly noisy. Olivier clapped her hand and said, "That's the way to do it." I smiled to calm the gloomy-faced His Highness and took a step forward.
Only students are here. It's not a problem if they get a little drunk.
Above all, I want to graduate with my beloved senpai, Olivier, who has taken care of me in the [winter], along with fond memories."
As people around us began to gather, Olivier and I each raised our first glass.
To be honest, I have only had a few drinks, but as long as I stop when I feel like I'm going to get drunk, it will be fine.
And from the moment I finished my third glass, I have no memory.
A warm breeze brushed my cheeks lightly. I opened my eyes thinly and saw the familiar ceiling. The light coming in through the window was the soft light of morning.
I was lying in bed in my own room in the dormitory.
I stretched lightly while lying down and looked to my left.
I was accustomed to seeing the white snake sleeping by my pillow, so I tried to say good morning as usual.
"Good morn...,"
But I couldn't finish it today. Something different had entered my field of vision.
Something was stretching out under my head.
As I followed with my eyes the long, slender thing wrapped in white cloth, I saw that it was a human hand sticking out from the front.
...An arm?
I felt strange and checked my own arms. Both were attached normally.
So whose arm is it? As I tilted my groggy head, I finally understood the situation.
Someone was sleeping next to me.
To put it differently, I was currently using that person's arm as a pillow.
I quietly began to sweat. Who could be behind me? No, who could it be? It had to be him, but what if it wasn't?
While I was paralyzed, I could hear regular breathing from behind me.
Finally, I mustered up my courage and turned around. At the same moment, the person next to me moved lightly and rolled over, sweeping me along with them.
"...Rebecca, good morning..."
"Kyah!"
The person who hugged me tightly, almost crushing my body, was none other than His Highness.
His voice, which was a bit rougher than usual, whispered almost in my ear, and I couldn't help but let out a strange sound because of the beauty of his voice.
"It's heavy, it's heavy, His Highness..."
I moaned in earnest. His Highness moved a little, and the pressure disappeared.
And as soon as he confirmed that I could breathe again,
He started to breathe peacefully again.
"His Highness?! Are you sleeping on someone?!"
"I'm joking..."
I couldn't help but let out a painful voice. His Highness finally got off me and lay down again next to me.
I got up and looked at him intently. I could hear his small breathing. It was a very bold second sleep.
I sat back down and decided to look at his sleeping face. His Highness didn't show any signs of stirring. His eyes and mouth were tightly closed and his chest was moving up and down.
Is he weak in the morning? I'm happy to know this unexpected side of him.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching, I relaxed my mouth, but suddenly a natural question came to mind.
Why is His Highness in my bed?
Then I finally realized that I had no memory of yesterday. My back felt a chill.
"...I wonder if I got drunk and acted recklessly."
"No, you won."
"It was a crushing victory."
Before I knew it, His Highness opened his eyes thinly and got up. And he continued with the words "A drinking comparison with Olivier Marc."
"Even if Marc said give up, Rebecca smiled without changing her expression... but I felt a little discomfort and took her out. I thought it was just my worries because she was standing up and walking normally, but as soon as we left the auditorium, [By the way, Your Highness, there are four of you today, aren't there?]"
"[What should I do, I'm the only one here today.] and."
"When I tried to take her to her room, put her to bed and leave, [Ah, Your Highness, are you going back~], and----"
"I understand, so please stop it already----!"
I covered my face with both hands. Someone, please hit me as hard as possible and wake me up from yesterday.
I seem to have been able to maintain my composure in front of a large crowd, but I'm really causing trouble for His Highness.
[as long as I stop when I feel like I'm going to get drunk, it will be fine], who said that? I did!
"Rebecca."
His Highness said in a gentle voice. When I peeked out from the hand covering my face, His Highness was looking at me.
"Is my company so unpleasant?"
His Highness sent me a loving gaze, as if looking at something dear.
"Even though she acted properly in front of others, as soon as she was alone with me, she became drunk. Is it because she feels relaxed when she's with me?"
I frowned.
If you get bothered by a drunk person, you should get angry. You shouldn't make a face that looks happy by mistake.
"...Yes, I feel safe when I am with His Highness."
Saying it as if hiding my face again, he hugged me. I also wrapped my arms around his back.
But at that moment, I realized something.
"Isn't it a problem for us to sleep in the same bed before we are married...?"
It is not appropriate in our relationship as an engaged couple. Even half a year ago, on the day when His Highness first told me he loved me, he would always return to his own room instead of spending a night in my room.
"It's okay, there's no problem,"
His voice came back extremely calm.
"Is that so?" I replied, and His Highness, still hugging me, casually said this:
"Oh. Let's just have the ceremony."
"Ceremony?"
"The wedding ceremony."
"Yes. Let's hurry and prepare... and make it in time for summer vacation."
I tilted my head.
"But, Your Highness, we are still students!"
"Is that a problem?"
"Of course it is! It's too soon!"
Unable to bear it, I slip out of His Highness' arms But I'm caught by the wrists. When I look up, His Highness is staring at me.
"Does Rebecca not want to marry me?"
"No, no, that's not it."
"Ugh!"
"Marry me. I'll treasure you for the rest of my life. I'll definitely make you happy."
"Ugh...!"
[This is outrageous!]. Recalling the words my deceased mother had once spoken, I can't help but feel swept away by His Highness' passionate words of love.
But I can't let myself be swept away. I open my mouth, thinking carefully.
Nobles who get married while still in school at the Royal Academy are rare. And His Highness is a future king.
"Marriage while in school, well... that is, His Highness may already be considered an adult, but I am still just half an adult."
His Highness has a serious expression. And after thinking for a moment, he says "I see."
"Then, let's have a contest next [spring]. If I win, we'll have the ceremony right away."
"...Eh?"
I didn't understand, so I asked again. I thought I might have heard wrong, but he repeated the same words exactly.
"...Why?!"
"By the way, I am serious about doing it."
"I don't feel like I can win!"
I made a loud noise and it seems to have woken up Christina, who was sleeping comfortably. I feel her gaze fixed on me. But I'm in a pinch. Please forgive me.
On that day, I told my two best friends the situation.
Emilia said, "Of course, I am Rebecca-sama's ally! Leave it to me, if we run into that man in [spring], I'll blow him up from behind!" with enthusiasm.
Melinda just quietly said, "Give up."
Giving up is not an option. It's my fault that I got drunk in the first place, but now that things have come this far, it's a matter of pride.
Thus, for me, a spring filled with motivation began, even more so than last year.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈