食堂は寮の一階に二部屋ある。一部屋はとても広い造りになっており、寮に住まうほとんどの生徒が利用する。もう一部屋は先の部屋よりも一回り小さいが、ここを使うのは上級貴族だけだ。学校の規則として、敷地内では生徒の身分は考慮されないことになっているが、生徒の部屋といい食堂といい、やはり上級貴族は扱いが変わっている。
リリアが広い食堂に入るのは、これが初めてのことだ。普段はもう一方を使うため、こちらに入ることはまずあり得ない。そんなリリアが食堂に入ると、部屋が静まりかえるのは当然のことだろう。
静かになった食堂を、リリアはゆっくりと睥睨する。リリアと目が合った誰もが、慌ててすぐに目を逸らしていた。わずかに不快感を覚え、やはりやめておくべきかときびすを返そうとしたところで、
「リリア、どうしたの? 行こうよ」
ティナの声。振り返ると、笑顔でこちらを見つめてくるティナと目が合う。一切目を逸らさず、楽しげな笑顔だ。
「ええ、そうね。行きましょう」
思わずリリアも口角を上げてしまう。先ほどの不快感など綺麗さっぱり忘れてしまった。
食堂には長テーブルがいくつも並んでいる。ティナは静かになった食堂を、何も気にすることなく中へと入っていく。二つ並んでいる席を見つけると、リリアを手招きして呼んでくれた。
この静寂を気にしないのは、むしろリリアに気を遣っているのだろう。少しだけありがたく思っていると、
「リリアはここに座っていてね。注文してくるから。それにしても、今日はどうしてこんなに静かなんだろう?」
違った。何も気にしていないだけだった。
――もしかしてこの子、ちょっと天然?
「リリア、代わりに注文に行くけど、何食べる?」
「貴方に任せるわ。同じものでいいから」
「分かった。ちょっと待っててね!」
ティナはそう言うと、奥の方、カウンターになっている場所へと向かう。カウンターの奥には大勢の料理人がいて、そこで注文して料理を受け取り、席につくという流れになっている。食堂の料理は全て無料でお代わりも自由だ。
リリアはいすに深く腰掛けると、ゆっくりと息を吐き出した。周囲の生徒はようやく会話を再開し始めた。注目が少なくなり、ようやく落ち着くことができた。
ちなみにアリサは同行していない。邪魔しては悪いからと、学園の外の食堂へと向かったようだ。
ふと周囲を見る。いつの間にか向かい側と両隣の席がいくつか空いていた。軽く周囲を見ると、食事の載った盆を持ってそそくさと移動している一団がある。リリアを怖れて逃げ出したのだろう。少しだけ寂しさを覚えてしまう。
――やっぱりティナは良い子だね。
――そう、ね......。私はああはなれないわよ。
――さすがに求めてないよ。あんなリリアは気持ち悪いよ。
――いい加減怒るわよ?
心の中でさくらと雑談をしていると、ティナが盆を二つ持って戻ってきた。一つをリリアの目の前に置き、ティナはリリアの隣に座る。ティナが持ってきた盆の上には、湯気の立つ暖かそうな白いご飯に肉入りの野菜炒めの二品。それのみだ。
――どう考えても冷遇されすぎじゃないかな!
――部屋の違いだけだと思っていたわ......。こちら側はこんな夕食なのね。
夕食を持って来てもらうまで気にもしていなかった。少し離れた席に座る生徒の夕食を見る。リリアのものと大差ないものだった。
「どうしたの? リリア」
ティナに問われ、リリアは慌てて首を振った。笑顔を貼り付け、何でも無いと言う。
ティナと共に祈りを済ませ、そしてリリアは動きを止めた。どうやって食べればいいのか分からない。いやそもそも、ナイフとフォークはどこにいった。なんだこの、二つの棒きれは。
「あ、もしかしてリリア、お箸って使ったことない?」
「ああ......。これがそうなの。ないわね」
「そっか......。別のものを頼めばよかったかな。どうしよう......」
「ティナ。ちょっと使ってみせて。見て覚えるわ」
「え......」
ティナが一瞬呆けたような顔をするが、すぐに気を取り直して分かったと頷いた。リリアの目の前で、丁寧にお箸というものを持つ。見たこともない持ち方で、ティナが指を動かすとお箸も動き、実際に野菜炒めの野菜を持ってみてくれる。
なるほど、とリリアは頷きながら、ティナの真似をする。初めてのためかなかなか難しいが、何度か動かすとすぐにコツを覚えた。ティナと同じように、野菜炒めの野菜を取って口に入れる。
「うん。悪くないわね」
リリアが満足そうに頷く隣では、ティナが今度こそ呆けていた。
「どうしたの?」
「あ、えっと......。リリアって、要領がいいというか......。わたしはお箸をちゃんと使えるようになるのにすごく時間がかかったのに......」
「へえ......。これがねえ......」
お箸を動かしながら、リリアは興味なさげに呟いた。そしてすぐに食事に戻る。
――なんというか、リリアって才能の塊というか......。すごいよね。記憶力がいいのかな。
――あら、褒めても何も出ないわよ。
――性格すごく悪いけど。
付け加えられた嫌みにリリアはわずかに頬を引きつらせた。周囲の視線があることを思い出し、すぐに表情を隠す。笑顔で無理矢理覆い尽くす。
「どうかな、リリア。こっちのご飯は」
「そうね......。いかにも庶民のご飯だけど、悪くないわね」
適当な野菜と肉を炒めただけでこれほど美味しくなるとは思わなかった。食べ慣れていないこともあるだろうが、新鮮に感じるそれはとても美味しく思える。また機会があれば来てもいいかもしれない、と思いながら野菜を口に運び、
――みぎゃあああ!
「わあああ!」
さくらの悲鳴にリリアまで驚いて大声を上げてしまった。ティナが動きを止めて目を点にしてリリアを見つめ、周囲もどうしたのかとリリアの表情を窺っている。リリアは我に返ると、周囲に視線を走らせると、
「何でもないわよ、おほほほ」
自分でもわざとらしいと思うが、今はそれどころではない。リリアはさくらを呼ぶ。
There were two dining halls located in the first floor of the dorm. The first was built as a large hall, used by most of the students living in the dorm. The other one was a size smaller than the first, but it was for the exclusive use of the upper cla.s.s n.o.bles. According to the school regulations, on school premises, a person's status was irrelevant. However looking at the students' rooms and dining hall, it was clear that the upper cla.s.s n.o.bles were treated differently after all.
This was the first time entering the larger dining hall for Lilia. Because she normally used the other one, coming here in the first place was impossible. Since that was the case, it was probably natural that the entire room fell quiet when she came in.
Lilia slowly swept her gaze across, through the quieted dining hall. Anyone that met her gaze all fl.u.s.teredly averted their eyes. Feeling some discomfort, she thought it might be best to give up and go back after all when,
"Lilia, what's wrong? Come let's go."
Came Tina's voice. Turning around, she met eyes with Tina who was looking at her with a smile. Not avoiding her gaze in the slightest, a cheerful smile.
"Yes, you're right. Let's go."
The corners of Lilia's mouth also ended up lifting up into a smile. The discomfort and such felt just earlier were cleanly erased and forgotten.
Countless long tables were lined up in the dining hall. Not paying any mind to the hushed atmosphere, Tina headed inside. Finding two seats together, she beckoned to call Lilia over.
Not giving notice to the quietness was probably a courtesy towards Lilia. Just when she was feeling somewhat grateful for that,
"You just sit tight here Lilia. I'll go to order. Nevertheless, I wonder why it's so quiet here today?"
Wrong. She actually just didn't notice anything in the first place.
--Perhaps this girl, is somewhat of an airhead?
"Lilia, I'm ordering for you too, so what would you like?"
"I'll leave it to you. I'll just have what you're getting."
"Got it. I'll be right back!"
Saying that, Tina headed for the inner part of the dining hall where the counter was. Behind the counter was a crowd of cooking staff, where you ordered and received your food to bring back to your seat. The food in the dining hall was all free of charge and you could ask for more helpings as you please.
Sinking into her seat, Lilia slowly let out her breath. The surrounding students were finally starting to talk normally again. With the attention on her letting up, she could finally calm down.
Incidentally Alisa was not with them. Saying that she didn't want to be a bother, it seems like the girl headed for the dining hall outside of campus.
Lilia casually looked around. At some point many of the seats in front and to her sides had been vacated. Lightly glancing around, there was a group holding their food trays quickly moving away. They had probably run away in fear of Lilia. She ended up feeling just a tinge of loneliness from that.
--Tina really is a good girl huh.
--Yeah... I won't become like that though.
--Yeah no I'm definitely not looking for that. That sort of Lilia would be kinda gross.
--I'm really gonna get angry you know?
As she was chatting with Sakura in her mind, Tina returned carrying two trays. Placing one in front of Lilia, Tina sat down beside her. On the trays Tina brought over were two menu items, steaming warm white rice and fried vegetables with meat.
--No matter how you look at it isn't this treatment a bit too unwelcoming!
--I was under the impression that it was just a difference in rooms... So this is the kind of dinner they have over here.
The food wasn't even brought to over for them. Looking at the students sitting a bit away from them, their food wasn't too different from Lilia's.
"What's wrong, Lilia?"
At Tina's question, Lilia hurriedly shook her head. Putting on a smile, she replied that it was nothing.
After offering their thanks for the meal, Lilia's movements came to a halt. She was lost as to how she was supposed to eat the meal. In the first place, there was no knife and fork. What were these two strange sticks for?
"Ah, perhaps Lilia, you've never used chopsticks before?"
"Ahh... That is true. I've not."
"I see... I probably should have asked for something else. What to do..."
"Tina. Let me see how you use it. I'll learn from watching."
"Eh..."
Tina looked lost for a moment, but quickly regained her focus and nodded. She held the things called chopsticks for Lilia to see. With an unfamiliar holding method, the chopsticks moved with the movement of Tina's fingers and actually picked up a piece of the fried vegetables for Lilia to see.
Nodding in understanding, Lilia tried to imitate Tina's movements. Perhaps due to this being her first time it was quite difficult, but after moving the sticks repeatedly she managed to get the hang of it. Just like Tina, she picked up a piece of the fried vegetables and brought it to her mouth.
"Yeah. It's not bad."
Lilia nodded in satisfaction, while beside her Tina really seemed befuddled this time.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, umm... Lilia, you seem to be really clever or... Even though it took me quite a while to be able to properly use chopsticks..."
"Is that so... This thing..."
Moving the chopsticks around, Lilia muttered disinterestedly. She quickly returned to eating.
--Somehow, Lilia you really seem to be a bundle of talent or something... Quite impressive. Maybe it's because of your good memory?
--My, nothing will come of your flattery though.
--The personality is horrible though.
Lilia's face twitched at the layering of sarcasm in their conversation. Remembering that there were gazes from the surroundings on her, she quickly hid her expression. She forcibly covered it with a smile.
"How is it, Lilia? The food over here."
"Well... It really is food for commoners, but it's not bad."
She didn't think that simply frying random vegetables and meat together could make something taste as good as this. It was probably also due to the fact that she wasn't too familiar with eating such things, but the freshness of the experience was quite delicious. It might be good to come again at the next opportunity, she thought as she carried the vegetables to her mouth,
--Migyaaah!
"Waaah!"
Sakura's shriek made Lilia give a loud shout that surprised even herself. Tina stopped moving as she stared at Lilia with her eyes dotted in surprise, and their surroundings were also examining Lilia's expression wondering what had happened. When Lilia calmed down, driving away the surrounding gazes,
"It's nothing at all, ohohoho."
Even she felt that line unnatural, but now wasn't the time to be worrying about that. Lilia called out to Sakura.
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