は不思議に思ってそう立彬に尋ねる。
そう、いくら太子宮といえども話が伝わるのが早くはないだろうか?
「知らせがあったからな、そっちの男から」
――いつの間に?
雨妹は目を丸くして男を見る。
彼がそのような手配をしている気配はなかったのだが、雨妹が掃除道具を片付けに行った隙に知らせをやったのだろうか?
こんな雨妹と立彬のやり取りを、「我関せず」といった様子でいた男であったが。
「そうだ、丁度良い所に来た。
男の唐突な物言いに、立彬はしかめっ面になる。
「......私をなんだと思っているんだ」
立彬はそう言いながらも、しかしお茶は淹れてくれるようで、竈があるという隣の部屋へ向かう。
――立彬様ってば人が良いというか、真面目というか。
頼まれたら断れないとは、なにかと損をしそうな性格な気がする。
雨妹は立彬の姿を目で追いながら、男に尋ねた。
「あの、立彬様とは知り合いだったのですか?」
この疑問に、男は「ああ、そんな名前だったか」と言ってから答える。
「まあそうだな。
「同期の方でしたか」
雨妹は納得して頷く。
となると、立彬としての事情を知っている人は、あちらこちらにある程度いるのだろうか?
けれどそれも当然で、あのような博打のような身分を、立彬の努力だけで貫けるものではない。
周囲の協力があるからこその無茶だということであろう。
「でも、立彬様のお友達っていう人と、私初めて会いました」
雨妹の言葉に、男は口の端を微かにクッと上げてそう話す。
雨妹が「ふむふむ」と考えていると。
「お前たち、なにやら失礼なことを話していただろう」
立彬がそんなことを言いながら、茶器を載せた盆を持って戻ってきた。
「いいえ、そんなことはありません。
雨妹は隠すことでもないのでサラりと告げると、立彬がジロリと睨む。
「それが失礼だと言うのだ。
雨妹は慌てて訂正するも、立彬がこめかみをひくつかせる。
「だから、その『友達が少ない』という人聞きの悪い言い方を止めろ」
そしてそんなことを言われた。
「楽しそうだな、お前たちは」
その様子を観察していた男に、呆れ交じりにそう言われてしまった。
なにはともあれ、立彬が淹れてくれた美味しいお茶を無事に貰えた雨妹は、渇いた喉を潤す。
「それで、何故雨妹が刑部にいるのだ?」
そこで、立彬が改めて尋ねた。
これに男が上品にお茶を飲んで答える。
「情報提供者を疑うのは捜査の上で当然の事ではあるが、今はとりあえず情報の確認だ」
――あ、やっぱり一応疑われはしていたのか。
前世の刑事ドラマでも第一発見者は怪しまれるものだった気がするので、雨妹としてもそこは意外でもない。
A bewildered Yui Mei asked Libin.
Indeed, even if it was the crown prince's imperial palace, wasn't it to early for them to learn about this incident?
"That guy over there informed us."
'When?'
Yui Mei's eyes widened as he stared at the man.
He didn't seem to have made any arrangements -- perhaps he did it while Yui Mei was putting away her cleaning tools?
The man just sat there, his appearance screaming 'it has nothing to do with me'.
"Oh, right, you came at the perfect time. Brew some tea, will you."
Libin frowned at the man's abrupt words.
"...Who do you think I am."
Libin grumbled, but he still went to the next room, probably where the stove was.
'Libin-sama's such a softie, huh, or should I say he's the diligent type?'
She couldn't help but feel that he got a personality that was easily taken advantage of, since he couldn't refuse if somebody requested something from him.
Yui Mei followed Libin with her eyes while posing a query to the man.
"Ahm, are you acquainted with Lord Libin?"
"So he's going by that name, now, huh", the man muttered to himself, before replying to Yui Mei.
"Well, that's about right. We started serving here around the same time, so we're quite at ease with each other."
'So you're contemporaries, huh."
Yui Mei nodded in understanding.
In that case, the people who knew about Libin's circumstances should be all around, to a certain extent?
But then, it must be natural. It was a kind of gamble that Libin wouldn't be able to carry out just by his own efforts.
He could readily do this role precisely because there were other people involved in aiding him.
"Still, it's the first time I met a friend of Libin."
The man smirked faintly at Yui Mei's words.
Yui Mei nodded while thinking like that.
"You guys are probably talking about something rude, huh."
Libin came back and said that while carrying a tray with utensils for tea.
"No, it's not like that. We're just confirming whether it's a fact that Lord Libin is a lonely person with few friends."
Yui Mei didn't even attempt to gloss over it, and just bluntly replied. Libin glared at her.
"That's what I'm saying as rude. You don't want to drink tea, it seems."
Yui Mei hastily tried to correct her words, but it just made Libin's temples twitch.
"Like I said, saying unpleasant stuff like "doesn't have friends" is rude, so stop that."
He then replied.
"Seems like you guys are having fun."
The man commented, apparently dumbfounded at the scene.
At any rate, Yui Mei was able to quench her thirst with the delicious tea that Libin brewed.
"So, what are you doing here at the Ministry of Justice, Yui Mei?"
Libin then asked again.
The man elegantly sipped his tea before answering.
"It's only natural to investigate suspicious informants, but for now, we're confirming the information."
'Ah, so they really suspected me, after all.'
Well, Yui Mei wasn't surprised. Even in her previous world's investigation dramas, the first one to be suspected would be the one who discovered the crime scene.
Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
百花宮のお掃除係～転生した新米宮女、後宮のお悩み解決します。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/housekeeper-of-the-hundred-blossom-palace/
Fantasy Romance Shoujo Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Ancient China Complex Family Relationships Different Social Status Female Protagonist Imperial Harem Love Interest Falls in Love First Reincarnated in Another World Royalty
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4104ev/
黒辺あゆみ