72
拍手喝采を浴びた二人に多くの人間が押し寄せた。と言っても全員男であるが。
理由は勿論、シルヴィアにダンスの申し込みだ。レオルドはシルヴィアが多くの男性に囲まれている隙に逃げ出した。
壁際にまで逃げ伸びると、やっと解放された事に一息つく。
喉が渇いたので使用人から飲み物を受け取り、壁と同化するように佇む。
遠くからシルヴィアが困っている様子を眺めながら喉を潤していく。喉を冷たい飲み物が潤してくれる感覚に小さく唸りを上げる。
「くぅ~~~! うめえ~」
また音楽が流れ始めてダンスが再開される。今度は踊る必要もないのでレオルドは、ぼんやりとダンスを眺めていた。
が近付いてきた。
「先程のダンスは見事だったわ、レオルド」
「お褒め頂きありがとうございます」
「一つ気になるのだけれど、どうやってシルヴィア殿下を口説き落としたの?」
「口説いてなんていませんよ。何故かは知らないですけど、気に入られたみたいです」
「あら~。よかったじゃない! もうレオルドは結婚出来ないかと思っていたけど、まさかシルヴィア殿下に気に入られるなんて!」
「と、突然何を仰るのですか、母上!
「確かに貴方は罪を犯したわ。だけど、結婚が出来ない事はないはずよ」
「それはそうかもしれませんが......だからと言って相手が殿下ということもないでしょう?」
「あら、そう思う? レオルド。貴方は忘れてるのかもしれないけど、公爵家に殿下が嫁ぐ事はおかしくはないのよ?」
オリビアの言うとおりだ。確かに王族の女性は他国との結びつきを強くする為に、他国へと嫁ぐ事も多い。
だが、自国の貴族との結びつきも強くする為に降嫁に出ることもある。
つまり、公爵家であるレオルドにも可能性はある。ただし、どちらかと言えば次期当主であるレグルスにこそ相応しいとも言える。
「可能性はあったとしても周りが認めないでしょう。それに陛下が何と仰るか」
「そうね。でも、なんとなくなのだけど私は大丈夫だと思うわ」
「どういうことですか?」
「母の勘です。それ以外ありません」
なにせ、運命48ではサブヒロインだったシェリアという実例を目の当たりにしてしまったのだから。
(まあ、関係ないか。俺は生き残る事に専念しよう)
グビッと残り僅かだったワインを飲み干すレオルド。
やがてパーティは終わり、解散となる。レオルドは家族と共に実家へと帰る。
帰りの馬車では
これにて王都での用事は終わった。明日はゼアトへと戻ることになる。レオルドはこれでようやく、頭を悩ませたり胃を痛めることがなくなる。
安心して眠りについた。
翌日、気分よく目が覚めたレオルドは、使用人に連れられて食堂へと向かう。食堂には
挨拶をして席に着くレオルドだが、何を話せばいいかわからず沈黙する。
「レオルド。実はお前に話したい事がある。食事が終わり次第、私の仕事部屋に来てくれ」
唐突に言われたので焦ったレオルドだが、落ち着いて返事を返した。
その後、
今日レオルドが帰ると知っているからか、レグルスとレイラの機嫌が良い。ただその一方で、オリビアの気持ちは沈んでいる。
久しぶりに会えたと思ったのに、短い時間しか一緒にいられなかったので、オリビアとしては物足りなく感じていた。
レオルドは家族のそんな対照的な反応を見つつ朝食を続ける。特に何か言う事はない。むしろ、何か言えば片方が大きく反応する。
あっちを立てればこっちが立たずという状況だ。家族団欒と言うのに嘆かわしい。
朝食を済ませたレオルドは、ベルーガに呼ばれていたのでベルーガの仕事部屋へと向かう。
「うむ。実はお前に一つ頼みたい事があるのだ」
「父上が私にですか? レグルスではなく?」
「ゼアトの全権をお前に任せたい。つまり、ゼアトにおいては領主代理という形だ」
「ふぁっ......?」
王都に来てから何度フリーズすればいいのだろうか。もうレオルドの頭はオーバーヒートして燃え尽きてもおかしくはない。
「ゼアトはお前も知っている通り、私の領地であり管轄だ。だが、今はお前がいる。そして、今回の功績は非常に大きく、また騎士達からの声援も多い。
だから、レオルド。お前にゼアトを任せてみたいんだ」
「私は咎人ですよ!? 今まで通り父上が治めている方が民達は安心できるはずです。
光栄な話ですが、やはり私には荷が重過ぎるかと......」
(おお! わかってくれたか!)
「お前がそう言うと思っていた。だから、既に陛下から勅命を貰っている」
「ヴぁっ!?」
「これでもまだ嫌だと申すか、レオルド?」
「身命を賭してゼアトを治めてみせます!」
(ちくしょう! どうしてこうなった!)
嘆くレオルドだが、全て身から出た錆びである。ただ生き残るだけならば、ひっそりと鍛錬を積み、来たる時にだけ力を見せればよかったのだ。
しかし、今回は父親に命じられたという仕方のない部分もあるが、騎士を救おうと頑張ったのは自分の意思だ。
Ch 72
The two were applauded, and many people crowded around them. They were all men, though.
The reason, of course, was to ask Sylvia to dance. Leolde ran away while Sylvia was surrounded by many people .
When he reached the edge of the  hall , he breathed a sigh of relief that he was finally free.
He was thirsty, so he took a drink from a servant and stood there as if he were a part of the wall.
From a distance, he  watched  Sylvia's distressed face as he  moisten  his throat. He  let out a small groan at the sensation of the cold drink moistening  his throat.
"Mmm~! YUMI~!"
The music starts playing again and the dance resumes. This time there was no need to dance, so LeoLde just watched the dance in a daze.
Olivia, his mother, came up to him.
", "That was a beautiful dance, LeoldE.
"Thank you for the compliment."
"I'm curious, how did you seduce His Highness Sylvia?"
"I didn't seduce her. I don't know why, but I think she  interested in me."
"Oh, my. I'm so happy for you! I thought Leolde would never get married, but I never thought that His Highness Sylvia would  be interested in him!
What are you saying all of a sudden, Mother? A sinner like me with Your Highness is nothing short of terrifying!
"It is true that you have sinned.  but that doesn't mean you can't get married."
"That may be true, but just because it's ...... doesn't mean it's not possible for  me to marry His Highness, does it?"
"Oh, you think so? Leolde. You may have forgotten, but it's not unusual for a duke to marry a princess."
Olivia was right. It is true that royal women often marry into other countries in order to strengthen their ties with them.
But there are also times when they surrender in order to strengthen their ties with the nobility of their own country.
In other words, as a duke, there is a possibility for Leolde. However, if anything, it is Regulus, the next head of the family, who deserves it.
"Even if there was a possibility, the people around would not accept it. And what would His Majesty say?
"Yes. But I have a feeling that  it will be fine."
"What do you mean?"
"Mother's intuition. That's all "
After all, he had just witnessed the example of Shelia, who was a subheroine in Destiny 48.
(Well, what does it matter? I'll just focus on survival.)
(I'll just focus on surviving.) Leoldo gulped down the last of the wine.
Soon the party was over and  guests left  Leolde returns to his parents' house with his family.
On the way  back to home, his father, Beluga, asked him the same questions as his mother, and he laughed constantly. In addition, his brother and sister were full of hatred for him, saying that he must have used some kind of cowardly trick.
This was the end of   his business in the royal capital. Tomorrow they would return to Ze'at. Leorde would finally be free of the headaches and stomach aches that plagued him.
He went to sleep feeling relieved.
The next day, he woke up feeling good, and his servant took him to the dining room. He found only his father, Beluga, in the dining room.
He greeted  him and took a seat, but was silent,  he was unsure what to say.
"Leolde, there is something I want to tell you. As soon as you finish eating, come to my office .
Leolde was in a hurry because of the abruptness of the statement, but he calmly replied.
Later, his mother Olivia and his brother and sister came to the dining room. to have breakfast.
Regulus and Leila are in a good mood, probably because they know that Leolde is  returning today. On the other hand, Olivia's mood is somber.
It had been a long time since they had seen each other, but they had only been able to spend a short time together, so Olivia felt inadequate.
Leolde continued to eat breakfast while watching the contrasting reactions of  his  family. There was nothing in particular to say. In fact, if he said something, one of them would react in a big way.
It's a situation where one side stands up for the other side, and the other side stands down. It's a pity that this is a family reunion.
After finishing breakfast, Leolde went to Beluga's office , as Beluga had called him.
"Yes. There is one thing I would like to ask you."
"You want me to do something for you? Not Regulus?"
"I wants you to have full authority over Ze'at. In other words, you'll be acting as  lord of Ze'at."
"Huh. ......?
How many times do  he  have freeze since he  came to the capital? Leoldoe's head could have overheated and burned out by now.
"Ze'at, as you know, is my domain and jurisdiction. But now I have you. And you've done a great job this time, and the knights are supoorting you .
So, Leolde. I'd like to put Ze'at in your hands."
"I'm a blameless man! The people will be more at ease if father continues to rule as he has until now."
"It's an honor, but I think it's too much for me to handle. ......"
(Oh! I get it!)
"I knew you would say that. That's why I've already received an imperial order from His Majesty.
"What?"
"You still don't like it, do you, Leolde?
"I'll risk my life to rule Ze'at!"
"Damn it! How could this happen?"
Leoldd is grieving, but it is all rust from his own body. If he only wanted to survive, he should have trained in secret and only shown his strength when the time came.
But this time, he was ordered by his father to do so, which was partly unavoidable, but it was his own decision to try his best to save the knights.
Eroge Reincarnation, Struggle of a Golden Pig Aristocrat Against Fate
エロゲ転生　運命に抗う金豚貴族の奮闘記
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/eroge-reincarnation-struggle-of-a-golden-pig-aristocrat-against-fate/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Butlers Character Growth Complex Family Relationships Cowardly Protagonist Crafting Dense Protagonist Domestic Affairs Doting Parents Elemental Magic Emotionally Weak Protagonist Empires Fallen Nobility Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fat Protagonist Fat to Fit Galge Handsome Male Lead Hard-Working Protagonist Harsh Training Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Late Romance Lost Civilizations Loyal Subordinates Magic Magic Formations Maids Male Protagonist Management Manipulative Characters Marriage Misunderstandings Modern Knowledge Monsters Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Time Skip Transmigration Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4214gk/
名無しの権兵衛