第三十六話 悪意の女王(Side:マリス)
エルマの代わりにエドヴァン伯爵家次期当主となったマリスは、〈加護の儀〉においてエルマが追放された騒動以降、分家の住まう別邸から本邸へと移り住むことになった。
エルマ追放騒動の翌日、マリスは現当主でありエルマの父であるアイザスの付き添いの許、領内の僻地にあるとある村へと向かい、そこで〈命移し〉と称されるレベル上げを行っていた。
〈命移し〉は、一部の上級貴族や王族が秘密裏に行っているレベル上げの方法である。
高レベルの罪人の腕や足を斬りつけて弱らせてから、レベルの低い貴族の子息子女に殺させて経験値を移すのだ。
純粋な戦闘ではないため取得経験値は大きく減少するが、〈加護の儀〉を経たばかりの子供のレベル上げには充分過ぎる程である。
〈命移し〉を終えて伯爵家本邸へと戻ったマリスは自室で一人、彼女特有の仄暗い笑みを浮かべていた。
「ここでエルマが、十五年間暮らしていたんだ。ああ、エルマのものなら、何も捨てなくてもよかったのに。勿体ない」
マリスは舌舐めずりをし、恍惚とした表情を浮かべる。
今こそ彼女の部屋となっているが、ここは元々エルマの部屋であった。
現当主アイザスがエルマの荷物を全て捨てさせてしまったため、既にこの部屋に彼の痕跡は何も残っていないが。
マリスは物心ついた頃から、本家の少年......エルマに憧れていた。
エルマは正義感が強く、誠実で明るく、家臣達から慕われ、当主アイザスからも期待されてた。
分家で日陰者として生きる自分とは、あまりに対照的であった。
「あんなことになるとは思ってなかったけど......それにしても当主のあの様子、母様の言ってたこと、本当だったんだ。元々疑ってはいなかったし、まぁ、どうでもいいことだけど」
マリスは幼少の頃から、ある変わった趣向......厄介な悪癖があった。
何が切っ掛けだったのかは今となってはわからない。
ただ、大事なもの程、愛しているもの程、自分の手で台無しにしたくなるのだ。
「ボクはエドヴァン伯爵家の跡継ぎの座にも、あの当主の男にもさして関心はないけど、利用できるものは利用しないと。追い出されたとはいえ、エルマが実家を潰されて平然としているような人でないことは知っているもの。時間を掛けて......丁寧に、ゆっくり追い込んであげないと。そうでしょう?」
マリスは姿見へと手を触れ、そこに映る自分へと言い聞かせるようにそう口にした。
「エルマが、都市ロンダルムで家名を出して好き放題しているというのは本当か!」
そのとき、外から怒鳴り声が聞こえてきた。
アイザスの声である。
どうやら執務室で、部下である私兵を怒鳴りつけているようだった。
マリスは姿見の前から立ち、自室を出て執務室の方へと向かった。
「エドヴァン伯爵家の名を出しているかはわかりませんが......ただ、エルマ様によく似た御方が、異例の功績を挙げているとは......」
「ギルドで家名を持ち出して、職員を言いなりにしたに決まっておろうが! 最低限の分別は持っているかと思っていたが、家を出てなおこの俺に泥を塗るような真似をするとはな! こんな真似をして、俺が見逃すと思っていたのか! ただでさえ俺の期待を裏切り......浅はかにも、エドヴァン伯爵家の名を汚すとは! もはや親子の情はないと思えよ、エルマ......!」
「まだ噂の段階で、詳しいこともわかっておりません。それにエルマ様は聡明で高潔な御方......ずっとお仕えしていた私には、エルマ様がそのような暴挙に出たとは思えません。まずは、事実の確認を。お願いいたします、アイザス様......!」
「チッ、トマスよ、二人連れて都市ロンダルムへ向かえ。もしエルマが家名を持ち出していたのならば、冒険者ギルドからの除名と、再登録の禁止を命じよ! そして次にこのような真似をすれば、命はないと警告しておけ!」
「ありがとうございます、アイザス様......! 必ずや、エルマ様の潔白を証明してみせます!」
マリスは話を聞いて、口許を歪めて笑みを浮かべていた。
それから表情を繕い、執務室の扉を叩く。
「当主様、ボクです」
「おお、マリスか、入りなさい」
アイザスは部下を怒鳴っていたときとは打って変わって、猫撫で声でマリスを招く。
マリスは丁寧に扉を開き、執務室へと入った。
「しかし他人行儀だな、マリスよ。お前は次期当主......この俺の跡継ぎ。父と、そう呼んでもよいのだぞ」
「先程の話ですが、処遇が甘いかとボクは。トマスではエルマに肩入れしすぎます。それに......冒険者ギルドからの除名というのも中途半端です。生活の糧を失ったエルマは、更に手段を選ばなくなり、エドヴァン伯爵家の名を汚す愚行を重ねるのではないかと。山賊にでもなられたときには、エドヴァン伯爵家の大きな汚点となります」
「ふむ......話はもっともだな、マリスよ。ではまず、トマスは外すとしよう」
「いえ、此度の事件、対応を誤れば酷く尾を引くことになりかねません。私兵如きの裁量に任せるべきではないかと」
「何が言いたい、マリス」
「ボクと当主様で、都市ロンダルムの冒険者ギルドへと視察に向かいましょう。そこで直接判断するべきかと」
マリスの提案に、アイザスは苦い表情を浮かべた。
「何を言っている、マリスよ。そんなこと、無駄に騒動を大きくするだけだ。奴は既に、エドヴァン伯爵家の人間ではない。俺やお前が、そのような時間を割く価値はないのだ。何を拘っている?」
マリスはアイザスへと大きく頭を下げた。
「お願いします。ボクは分家で、その上に女の身......エドヴァン伯爵家の次期当主として、相応しい教育を受けても来ませんでした。当主様がまだエルマに気を掛けているのではないかと......」
「何を馬鹿なことを言うのだ、マリス。この俺がいつ、そのような素振りを......」
「こんなボクを次期当主だと......実の娘のように扱っていただけるというのであれば、どうかこの我が儘を聞き入れてください。当主様が既にエルマに対して父子の情を抱いていないということを、どうかボクに安心させていただきたいのです。滑稽にお思いかもしれませんが、ボクはどうしてもそれが気掛かりでなりません。いつかまた、当主様......いえ、父様が思い直してエルマを呼び戻し、ボクを捨てるのではないかと......不安でならないのです」
「そのようなことはない! 案ずるでない、マリス。エルマは......いや、あの男は、この俺の期待を踏みにじったのだ。クラスは人を映す鏡......剣聖とは、高潔な精神の何よりの証明。重騎士などと、臆病な怠け者のクラスを得たあの男は、次期当主の器ではなかったのだ」
アイザスはそう言うなり、席から立ち上がった。
「確かにあの男が妙なことをしでかしているのならば、二度とそのようなことをしでかさぬよう、重い罰を加えねばならん。俺の娘も同然であるマリスにも、これ以上不憫な想いはさせられん。直接、都市ロンダルムへと向かうとしよう」
「ありがとうございます、当主様......いえ、父様!」
頭を下げたマリスの顔には、いつもの邪悪な笑みがあった。
マリスにとって、エルマは大事な、大事な相手であった。
だからこそ、時間を掛けて、丁寧に台無しにする。
エルマが伯爵家を追い出されてなお、折れずに冒険者として必死に活動しようとしていると知り、マリスは嬉しくてならなかった。
エルマの今の生き甲斐を、彼の実の父の前で奪う。
それがマリスの目的であった。
理由を付けて、冒険者の命である腕を落とす。
だが、いきなり利き腕を落としては勿体ない。
今回は左腕からだ。
「待っててね、ボクのエルマ」
マリスが小さく呟く。
Ch 36
After being declared the next Lady of the Edvan Family during the incident at the Divine Blessing Ceremony when Elma was banished, Mariss was moved from the secondary dwelling where the branch family lived to the main mansion.
From the next day after Elma was banished, Mariss spent her time at some remote villages within the Edvan territory on the invitation of the current Lord, Izas, the father of Elma, raising her level via the method known as Life Shifting.
Life Shifting was a leveling method used in secret by only select high ranking nobles and those that are part of the royal family.
It's a method where criminals with high levels are weakened by cutting their arms and legs off, then having noble scions with low levels kill them and therefore shifting their experience points to themselves.
Since that cannot be called a battle, the amount of experience points is severely reduced, but for children who just underwent the Divine Blessing Ceremony, it's more than enough.
After finishing with her Life Shifting, Mariss returned to the main mansion of the family and was currently in her room with a characteristic gloomy smile on her face.
"Elma lived here for fifteen years. Aah, they shouldn't have thrown out Elma's things. What a waste."
Mariss licked her lips with an expression of pure rapture on her face.
This became her room, but it originally belonged to Elma.
Although after the current Lord, Izas had everything that used to belong to Elma thrown out, there was no trace of him left in it anymore.
As long as Mariss remembered, she always looked up to Elma, the boy from the main family.
Elma always had a strong sense of justice, he was honest and spirited. Their retainers loved him and Lord Izas had high expectations for him.
He was the polar opposite of her, who lived in the branch family as a social outcast.
"Although I didn't think it would end up like that....The way the Lord was acting; I guess what mother said was true after all. Well, it's not like I really doubted her, but it doesn't matter anyway."
Ever since young, Mariss had a somewhat troublesome habit.
She doesn't even remember what caused it anymore.
However, the more important something was to her, the more she loved something, the more she had the urge to destroy it with her own hands.
"I don't really care about being able to rule Edvan County, nor do I care about the current Lord, but I will make use of what I can. Even if he was banished, I know that Elma is not someone that would stand by and watch as his family fell into ruin. I need to take my time and slowly....carefully, push him to the edge. Isn't that right?"
Mariss touched the full-length mirror and said to her reflection as if trying to persuade it.
"Is it true that Elma is in the city of Rondalm, doing as he pleases by using his family name!?"
At that moment, shouting could be heard from outside.
It was the voice of Izas.
It seems he was shouting at a subordinate in his office.
Mariss stood up from in front of the mirror and left her room, heading for the office.
"I don't know if he used the Edvan name or not, but....There was a report of someone fitting the description of Elma-sama who has accomplished extraordinary feats....."
"It's obvious he used his family name to have the Guild staff dance to his tune! I thought he had the slightest bit of judgment, but to think even after leaving the family he would try to besmirch my name like that! Did he think I would just overlook this!? It's not enough that he betrayed my expectations, he even thoughtlessly brings shame to the Edvan name! Elma, do not count on me being sentimental over you being my son anymore...!"
"It is still just a rumor with nothing concrete. Also, Elma-sama is a bright and virtuous individual.... As someone who served him for a long time, I don't think Elma-sama would do something like that. We need to ascertain the facts first. Please, Izas-sama....!"
"Tsk, Thomas, bring two people with you and head to Rondalm. If Elma really used his family name, then order the adventurer's guild to expel him and ban him from registering again! And warn him that if something like this happens again, then his life is forfeit!"
"Thank you very much, Izas-sama....! I will prove Elma-sama's innocence for sure!"
Hearing the conversation, Mariss broke into a smile.
Then she hid her expression and knocked on the door of the office.
"My Lord, it's me."
"Oh, Mariss, come in, come in."
Izas changed from shouting at a subordinate to inviting Mariss in with a coaxing voice in a blink of an eye.
Mariss politely opened the door and walked into the office.
"Why are you so distant, Mariss. You will be the next Lady of the house....you are my heir. You can just call me father."
"I overheard some of the previous conversation and I don't think the current way of dealing with the problem is thorough enough. Thomas is too biased in favor of Elma. Also.... simply having him expelled from the adventurer's guild isn't enough either. That would just cause Elma to have even less options that would lead to him bringing shame to the Edvan name again and again. If he were to become a bandit, then it would be a huge disgrace for the Edvan Household."
"Hnn....What you say is true, Mariss. Then let's send someone else instead of Thomas."
"No, if we don't handle this incident perfectly, then it could leave a lasting effect on the future. We should not leave it at the discretion of some lowly guards."
"What are you saying, Mariss?"
"Let the two of us head out to inspect the adventurer's guild in Rondalm, my Lord. We will then act according to what we find."
Hearing Mariss' suggestion, Izas had a frown on his face.
"What are you saying, Mariss. If we do that, then it will just create an unnecessary commotion. He is not someone from the Edvan Household anymore. We don't have the time to waste on him. Why would we involve ourselves?"
Mariss bowed deeply in the direction of Izas.
"Please, my Lord. I'm from the branch family and a girl even....I haven't even received a suitable education befitting the next Lady. I'm afraid that my Lord still has attachments towards Elma...."
"What foolishness is that, Mariss. When did I give that impression...."
"If you really think of me as the next Lady... if you really consider me your daughter, then please listen to my selfishness this one time. Please let me have peace of mind by proving that my Lord doesn't have any parental feelings for Elma anymore. It might be laughable, but I still can't help but worry about this. I can't help but feel uneasy that my Lord...no, father, would someday change his mind and call Elma back once again....throwing me away at the same time."
"That is simply impossible! Don't worry, Mariss. Elma...no, that man trampled on my expectations. The Class is a mirror reflecting a person's true self....the Sword Saint is proof of a noble spirit. Someone who received the Class of cowards and lazies, the Heavy Knight, was not someone who had the qualification to be the next Lord."
Izas said this as he stood up from his chair.
"Indeed if that man is doing something strange, then we have to punish him enough that he won't do something like that again. We can't have you Mariss, my daughter, experience such doubts anymore either. Let's head straight for the city of Rondalm."
"Thank you very much, my Lord....no, father!"
Unseen due to her bowed head, a malicious smile was present on her face.
To Mariss, Elma was a beloved, beloved person.
That's why she will slowly, carefully, destroy him in time.
Mariss was overjoyed to hear that instead of breaking, Elma was desperately working as an adventurer.
She will rob him of his reason for living right in front of his own father.
That was the goal of Mariss.
She will make up some excuse to have one of his arms, the life of an adventurer, cut off.
However, it would be a waste to deprive him of his dominant arm right away.
She will start with the left this time.
"Wait for me, my Elma."
Mariss quietly whispered.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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