年越しに先駆けて行われるお祭りで、ルクレツィアは古くからパストーレの宮廷で行われていた行事を復活させた。
この日は家臣を集めて盛大な神事と舞踏会を開く習わしだったらしいと、書庫から発掘してきた文書から割り出したのだ。
カッシア夫人を始めとした領内の有力な家にも協力を依頼し、かくて十年間途絶えていた儀式が復活することになった。
聖堂から大司祭を招いて大規模な祈りを捧げさせ、最高の楽団を招いて、誰も聞いたことがないような新しいオペラを連日演奏させた。
宗教劇にも新しいオペラの劇形式を取り入れたので、遊興施設に乏しいパストーレの人たちには新しく見えたらしい。
「すごいわ、宗教劇があんなに面白いものだなんて思わなかった」
「奥様はイルミナティからいらっしゃったのでしょう? あちらはやっぱり楽しいところなのでしょうね」
「ラミリオ様のお召し物も最新流行なのでしょう? 男ぶりがますます際立って......」
「イルミナティの王子様ってあんな感じなのかしら」
「ねえ、ちょっと憧れてしまいますわよね」
ルクレツィアは地味な喪服を身にまとい、表情も控えめに取り繕ってはいたけれど、ラミリオが褒められに褒められているので、鼻高々だった。
――そうよ、旦那様は素敵なのだから。
ルクレツィアは表情隠しの扇子をパタパタッと広げ、にっこりと言う。
「きっと服のせいでそう見えるのですわ。皆さまやそのお連れ様にも着飾っていただいたら、この宮廷はもっと目の保養になることでしょう」
パストーレの民が憧れるような、素敵な宮廷にしたい、というのがルクレツィアの野望だった。
「奥様こそ、喪服でなくなったときがどんなに楽しみかしれませんわ」
と、お追従を口にしたのはカッシア夫人だった。
「今日はお料理も催し物も本当に素晴らしかったですわ。まだお若くていらっしゃるのに、なんてすごいのかしら。わたくし感心しきりでしたのよ」
「まだまだ半人前ですわ」
「まあ、でしたら来年はもっとすごいものが見られるのね。本当に頼もしいこと」
そう思ってもらわねば困るので、ルクレツィアは余裕のそぶりで笑っておいた。
来年も、再来年もまた来たいと思ってもらえれば、宮廷はますます栄えていくことだろう。
「ラミリオ様」
ダンスの始まりになって、ようやくルクレツィアはラミリオと二人で会話する隙を得た。
「今日、わたくしが何度羨ましがられたかお分かりかしら? 皆様、ラミリオ様が王子様みたいっておっしゃるんですのよ」
「勘弁してくれ」
嫌そうな顔をするのは照れ隠しだと、ルクレツィアは知っていた。
「皆様、夢を見ていらっしゃるのですわ。壊さないようにお気をつけあそばせ」
「知らないよ、本当に噂ってのは勝手なことばかり言われるもんだな」
ゆるやかなステップですれ違い、向かい合い、踊りながら軽口を叩き合う。
「仕方がありませんわ、ラミリオ様のその見た目では」
「またずいぶん派手な服を着せてくれたな。不死鳥みたいだ」
炎の中から蘇るという金の鳥がラミリオの着ている服と絶妙に似ているので、ルクレツィアは声をあげて笑わないようにするのが大変だった。
「とてもよくお似合いですわ。ラミリオ様の漆黒の髪に映えて」
「まあ、君が喜んでくれるならいいけど」
「わたくしとっても喜んでおります!」
真紅の刺繍は、ラミリオがふと気を緩めた瞬間に見せる猛禽のような鋭いまなざしにもよく合っていた。
もっとも、ルクレツィアには、柔和な、甘すぎるくらいの笑顔しか見せてはくれないのだが。
いくつものダンスを、笑いながらラミリオと踊った。
少し休憩が挟まれ、ルクレツィアはラミリオに連れられて、二階の書斎に戻った。
深夜で誰もおらず、扉を閉めたら真っ暗闇になってしまい、ルクレツィアは慌ててラミリオの掲げた手燭の方に寄った。
かつん、と音がして、手燭がどこかに置かれたのだと分かる。
「ルクレツィア」
呼び声を頼りに近づいていくと、いきなり抱きすくめられた。
言葉はもう、いらなかった。
夢中でキスを交わし、無言で固く抱きしめ合う。
「あぁ......喪の終わりが長いな。まだ半年もあるのか」
ラミリオのぼやきにくすくすと笑って、ルクレツィアは幸福にひたりきった。
At the festival that preceded New Year's Eve, Lucrezia revived an event that had long been held at the court of Pastore.
Lucrezia discovered from documents she had unearthed in the archives that it was customary to hold a grand ritual and ball for the vassals on this day.
The cooperation of Mrs. Cassia and other influential families in the territory was requested, and thus the ceremony, which had been discontinued for ten years, was restored.
Lucrezia invited the high priest from the cathedral to pray on a large scale, and the best orchestra to play new operas that no one had ever heard before every day.
She also introduced a new form of opera into the religious drama, which seemed new to the people of Pastore, who lacked entertainment facilities.
"It's amazing, I never thought religious theater could be that interesting."
"The duke's wife is from the Illuminati, isn't she? It must be fun there."
"Ramilio-sama's clothing seems to be from the latest fashion too, right? His masculinity is becoming more and more prominent...."
"I wonder if the Illuminati princes are like that..."
"Hey, I kind of admire him."
Lucrezia was dressed in plain mourning clothes, and although her expression was modestly mended, she was proud as Ramilio was praised for his effort.
'That's right, my husband is wonderful.'
Lucrezia flipped open her fan, which concealed her expression, and grinned.
"I'm sure it's the clothes that make him look that way. If all of us were all dressed up, this court would be even more of a feast for the eyes."
It was Lucrezia's ambition to make the court as lovely as the people of Pastore, a place where they could admire the beauty of it.
"I can't wait to see you when you're no longer in mourning."
Mrs. Cassia was the first to offer her compliments.
"The food and the entertainment today were absolutely wonderful. How amazing for someone so young! I was so impressed."
"I still have a long way to go."
"Well, then I guess we'll see something even more amazing next year. I'm really looking forward to it."
Lucrezia smiled with an air of reserve because she knew she must have that impression.
If people wanted to come back next year, and the year after that, the court would flourish even more.
"Ramilio-sama."
At the beginning of the dance, Lucrezia finally had a chance to talk with Ramilio alone.
"Do you know how many times I've been envied today? Everyone says that Ramilio-sama is like a prince."
"Give me a break."
Lucrezia knew that the disapproving look on his face was a sign of embarrassment.
"I'm sure everyone is dreaming. Be careful not to break them."
"I don't know, really, rumors can be so self-serving."
They passed each other with gentle steps, faced each other, and talked lightly to each other while dancing.
"It can't be helped, with the way you look, Ramilio-sama."
"It's because you've dressed me up in fancy clothes again. I look like a phoenix."
It was hard for Lucrezia not to laugh out loud, because the golden bird that was said to rise from the flames was exquisitely similar to the clothes Ramilio was wearing.
"It suits you very well. It looks great against Ramilio-sama's jet-black hair."
"Well, I hope you're pleased with it."
"I'm very pleased!"
The crimson embroidery matched well with the sharp, raptor-like gaze that Ramilio showed at the moment he relaxed.
Lucrezia, however, only showed a soft, almost too-sweet smile.
She danced several times with Ramilio, who laughed.
After a short break, Lucrezia was taken by Ramilio back upstairs to the study.
At midnight, no one was there, and once the door was closed, it was pitch black, so Lucrezia hurriedly moved closer to the hand candlestick held up by Ramilio.
She heard a click and realized that the candle had been placed somewhere else.
"Lucrezia."
As she approached closer to the sound, she was suddenly embraced.
Words were no longer necessary.
They kissed madly and embraced each other tightly in silence.
"Haaa... The end of mourning is so long. Is there still six months to go?"
Lucrezia giggled at Ramilio's grunt and basked in her happiness.
My Sister Took My Fiancé and Now I’m Forced to Marry the Ugly Duke
書籍・漫画化／妹に婚約者を取られてこのたび醜悪公と押しつけられ婚する運びとなりました～楽しそうなので張り切っていましたが噂が大げさだっただけで全然苦境になりませんし、旦那様も真実の姿を取り戻してしまい
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/my-sister-took-my-fiance-and-now-im-forced-to-marry-the-ugly-duke/
Action Adventure Romance
Aristocracy Arranged Marriage Broken Engagement Calm Protagonist European Ambience Family Conflict Female Protagonist Hard-Working Protagonist Hated Protagonist Multiple POV Nobles Sharp-tongued Characters Underestimated Protagonist Wealthy Characters
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3436hc/
くまだ乙夜