43 アルマ・マクレガー侯爵令嬢も振り返る
珍しく、まだ暗いうちに目が覚めた。窓を開けて新鮮な空気を入れると、目の端に何か動くものが入り込んだ。
「セレフィー......」
私の初めての親友がグレーの身を隠すためにあるような全身を覆う服を着て、見たことのない武器を両手に握り、一心不乱にシャドウトレーニングをしている。セレフィーの動きがあまりに細かく、相手がまるでそこにいるかのように見える。攻撃対象は小さめのジャンプ力のある獣だろうか?一体何を想定しているのだろう。
激しい息遣い、突然距離をとり、ジリジリと回り込む様子、目はギラギラと光り対象を睨みつける。真剣そのもの。
窓枠に頬杖をつき眺める。ふふふ、と笑ってしまう。
「こりゃ、勝てっこないよ」
私の親友は誰より強くてかっこいい!
親友への醜い嫉妬はとっくに霧散していた。
◇◇◇
私はマクレガー侯爵家に四人目の子供として産まれた。私が産まれたとき、侯爵である祖父は「女か、つまらん」と言い放ち、その態度は今も変わらない。
マクレガー家は代々王家に仕え、近衛騎士団という最も王族に近いところでお守りすることを誇りとする家柄だ。家のランクもあり、必ず騎士団長を拝命してきた武の家系。肩に団長の証である星が三つ並んでいるのが当たり前。
しかし、父は祖父の期待に応えることができなかった。騎士学校を首席で卒業しなかった父を祖父は激しく罵倒したらしい。それ以降祖父は父に話しかけない。この家で祖父は絶対。誰も異を唱えない。
祖父は簡単に父の婚姻を決め、さっさと結婚させた。そして長男が産まれると、この孫に侯爵位を継がせると宣言した。
長兄も次兄も優秀で、祖父の教えそのままに成長し、騎士学校を首席で卒業し、騎士団に入団した。父はもうこの屋敷の空気でしかない。双子の兄ですら、まだ何もなし得てない立場というのに父をバカにする。男子を三人も産んだ母の方がこの家での立場は上だ。
私は父のように、空気になりたくなかった。蔑ろにされたくなかった。だから全てセシルと同じようにした。セシルと同じだけ稽古し、同じだけ勉強し、同じように食べて身体を作った。しかし祖父も兄達も疎ましそうに眺めるだけ。セシルには武道も勉強も家庭教師がついたのに私にはなかった。
魔力検査、我が家は皆〈魔力なし〉。特に問題にもならないのだが、私に限って、
「女である上に〈魔力なし〉だと?本当に使えないやつだ。嫁の貰い手もないぞ」
そう祖父に言い放たれた。
騎士への道の指導はもちろん、侯爵令嬢にふさわしい嫁入りのための教育すら施したこともないくせに!女としても、男としても扱われない、とことん不要な存在の私。
悲しくて悲しくて部屋にこもり泣いたが......それでも見限られたくない。私は黙って一人、鍛錬を続ける。同い年のセシルが祖父や母に愛されるのを横目にみながら。
私の相手をしてくれるのは、皮肉なことに空気でしかない父だけだった。
「アルマ、こんなに可愛いのに騎士になるのかい?」
「あ、あなたのように、なりたくないからでしょ!」
私が顔を真っ赤にしてそう叫ぶと、父は悲しそうな顔をした。
「そうか......、ちょっと待って」
父はたくさんの蔵書の中から、一冊の本を探しあてた。
「騎士を目指すのなら、こんな狭い家の中の出来事を理由にするのではなく、素晴らしい騎士を模範にしたほうがいい。この本からお気に入りの英雄を探してごらん」
父のくれた本はこの国の近代戦史の入門書だった。近代に入ってからの、世界と我がジュドール王国との間で起こった戦争と内戦が時系列で説明され、戦ごとの兵力の分析、収束までの日数、総大将や指揮を取ったものの名前、戦術、勝因敗因......子供にはかなり難しいものだったが、私は必死に読みふけった。
そしてようやく私の英雄を探しあてた。
二つの大戦を勝利に導いた軍師、参謀本部に千人の敵がなだれ込んだときも、冷静に短剣一本で返り討ちにした腕も超一級の戦姫、エルザ大佐。大の男でも全く手の届かない、高みに立つ女性。
エルザが参謀本部に在籍していた時代はエルザの立てた作戦しか採用されなかったともある。当時の参謀本部の名簿には......祖父の名前。
「ふふふっ、ははは!」
私はエルザ様を目指そう。
その日から、私は日々の鍛錬を二倍に増やした。兄達は我が家の伝統ゆえに槍術を鍛えていたが、将来馬上で槍を振るう自分の姿は想像できなかったので、見よう見まねで片手剣を稽古した。
「私相手では物足りないだろうけど、手段は選べないだろう?」
父が相手をしてくれるようになった。父は日頃鍛錬をしているわけでもなく、体つきからして力などない。それゆえに、ヒラリヒラリとかわしてスキを突く、真っ直ぐではない...マクレガー的に言うならば...姑息な剣だった。私は悔しいながらも父の剣技を少しずつ盗んだ。手段は選べないのだ。
「女のお前なんかがどう鍛えたって俺には勝てないさ。いい加減諦めろよ。目障りだ!」
セシルがニヤニヤ笑いながら、剣を構え、飛びかかってきた。体が勝手に動き、セシルの懐に飛び込んで柄でみぞおちをえぐった。
「え?」
この出来事はいつのまにか改竄され、私が卑怯な手を使ってセシルを嵌めたことになった。私は祖父から頰を張られた。セシルは窓の外を眺めていた。
私は双子ゆえに......最後まで家族と信じていたセシルも諦めた。
そうこうしているうちに私の身体は成長期を迎え、女らしく変化する。脂肪が付き、胸が大きく邪魔になり、ただでさえ動きづらいというのに月のものもやってくるようになる。対してセシルはグングン背は伸び逞しい身体になる。
目標はエルザ様とはいえ、妬ましい気持ちは抑えられない。
セシルの古着は足は長すぎて、胸囲はきつすぎた。
43 43 Looking Back On Marquis Alma Mcgregor'S Daughter
Unusual, I woke up in the dark. Opening the window and injecting fresh air, something moving into the edge of my eyes.
"Celefi ..."
My first best friend wears a full-body outfit to hide his gray body, holds a weapon he's never seen in both hands, and performs indiscriminately shadow training. Selefy's movements are so detailed that it looks as if the opponent is there. Is the attack target a small jumping beast? What the heck is going on?
Intense breathing, suddenly taking a distance and scurrying around, eyes glaring and glaring at the target. Seriously.
Look at the cheek stick on the window sill. He laughs.
"Hey, I can't win."
My best friend is stronger and cooler than anyone!
The ugly jealousy of his best friend was long gone.
***
I was born as a fourth child to the Marquis McGregor family. When I was born, my grandfather, the marquis, said, "Woman or boring," and that attitude has not changed.
The McGregor family is a family proud of serving the royal family for generations and guarding them near the Royal Family, the Knights of the Guard. There is also the rank of the house, and the family of Take who has always ordered the leader of the knights. It is natural that three stars, which are proof of the leader, are lined up on the shoulder.
However, his father failed to meet his grandfather's expectations. His grandfather apparently abused his father who did not graduate from the knight school at the top. After that, my grandfather does not talk to my father. My grandfather is absolutely in this house. No one disagrees.
His grandfather easily decided on his father's marriage and married him quickly. When his eldest son was born, he declared that his grandchild could succeed the marquis.
Both the eldest brother and the eldest brother were excellent, grew up with the teachings of the grandfather, graduated from the Knight School at the top of the ranks, and joined the Knights. My father is just the air of this house. Even my twin brother stupidizes his father in a position where nothing has been done yet. The mother who gave birth to three boys is better at home.
I didn't want to be air like my father. I didn't want to be despised. So everything was the same as Cecil. He trained as much as Cecil, studied as much as he did, and ate in the same way. However, my grandfather and my brothers just look sparsely. Cecil had a martial arts and study tutor, but I didn't.
Magic test, all of my home is . It doesn't matter, but for me,
"I'm a woman and have no magical powers! I can't really use it. I don't have a bride."
I was told by my grandfather.
Not only did you teach the path to the knight, but you've never been trained to marry a marquis daughter! I who is completely unnecessary, not treated as a woman or a man.
I was sad and sad and cried in the room ... but I still don't want to see it. I keep training alone, silently. Looking sideways at the same age, Cecil is loved by his grandfather and mother.
Ironically, my father was nothing but air.
"Alma, how cute is she a knight?"
"Oh, I don't want to be like you!"
When I turned my face red and shouted, my father looked sad.
"I see ... wait a minute."
My father searched for a book from many books.
"If you want to be a knight, don't rely on the events in such a small house, but on the example of a great knight. Look for your favorite hero in this book."
My father's book was a primer on the modern history of the country. Wars and civil wars between the world and our kingdom of Judor since the beginning of the modern age are described in chronological order, analysis of troops in each battle, days to convergence, names of generals and commanders , Tactics, victory and defeat .. It was quite difficult for children, but I desperately read through.
And finally, I was looking for my hero.
The army who led the two wars to victory, even when a thousand enemies flowed into the Chiefs of Staff, Colonel Elsa, a super-class war princess who was calmly returned with a dagger. A woman standing at a height that is completely out of reach of even large men.
When Elsa was at the Chiefs of Staff, only operations set by Elsa were adopted. The roster of the Chiefs of Staff at that time ... the name of my grandfather.
"Fufufu, hahaha!"
I aim for Elsa-sama.
From that day, I doubled my daily training. The older brothers practiced spearing because of their home tradition, but since they could not imagine themselves spearing on horses in the future, they practiced one-handed swords by imitating them.
"I wouldn't be enough with my opponent, but wouldn't you have the choice?"
My father started to deal with me. My father is not exercising regularly and has no strength from the body. Therefore, it was a straightforward sword that, unlike a gleaming glance, pierced the skis and wasn't straight. I regretfully stole my swords little by little. There is no choice.
"I can't beat me how a woman you trained. Give me a break. It's annoying!"
Cecil laughed grinning, holding his sword and jumping. The body moved on its own, jumped into Cecil's pocket and went through the sculpture with a handle.
"e?"
This incident was tampered with, and I used a sneaky hand to fit Cecil. I was struck by my grandfather. Cecil was looking out of the window.
Because I'm a twin ... Cecil, who believed in my family until the end, gave up.
In the meantime, my body enters a growth period and changes femininely. Fat is attached, the chest becomes big and disturbed, and even if it is hard to move, the moon will come. Cecil, on the other hand, has a gunggun tall body.
Although the goal is Elsa-sama, envy cannot be suppressed.
Cecil's old clothes were too long and the chest was too tight.
The Reincarnated Young Lady Aims to Be an Adventurer
転生令嬢は冒険者を志す
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-young-lady-aim-to-be-an-adventurer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo
Adapted to Manga Beast Companions Beautiful Female Lead Child Protagonist Cute Story Doting Older Siblings Doting Parents Female Protagonist Guilds Magic Magic Beasts Monster Tamer Multiple POV Multiple Reincarnated Individuals Ninjas Nobles Older Love Interests Reincarnated in Another World Reincarnation Royalty Sister Complex Strong to Stronger Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transmigration Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2024er/
小田 ヒロ