俺、サザンジール=ルキノ=ラピシェンタはラピシェンタ王国王太子だ。
ただの生まれ順に何の利があるのか知らないが、俺は生まれた時から次期国王になることを求められていて。同時に、次期王妃を娶ることを定められていた。
その将来の伴侶を紹介されたのは、齢五つの時だった。
「サザンジール。彼女がルルーシェ。お前の妻になる女の子だ」
正直、妻とか言われても。
やや丸っこい父親の後ろに隠れた幼女の黒髪しか見えない。艷やかな黒い長髪。それは我がラピシェンタ王国では珍しい髪色らしいことは、母から聞かされていた。どうやら異国の者の特徴らしく、彼女の母親は『異国の美姫』の二つ名を持つ美女とのこと。
......母としては、面白くないのだろうな。国一番の称号は、王妃である自分であるべきと思うのだろうから。しかもそのライバルの娘が自分の後継者となり、将来国を背負って立つ妃となるのだから。
まぁ......そんな大人の事情、当時二歳や五歳の俺たちには関係ないわけで。
「庭で仲良く遊んできなさい」
大人の話があるからと、俺はルルーシェの世話を任された。当然まわりに侍女たちはいるのだが......俺の行動が気になるのだろう。基本観察に徹するようである。
――さて、困ったぞ。
俺は考えた。彼女と同い年の弟はいるが、今日に限って風邪を引いて寝込んでいる。もちろん、女の子の世話など初めてである。たまに母の参加する
でこんな幼女、少女たちを見かけるが、挨拶するだけ。一緒に遊んだりなどしたことがない。ましてや――父親と離され、今にも泣きそうな女の子をどうすればいいんだ!?
「す、好きな遊びはなんだ?」
「花に興味あるか? 庭を案内するぞ」
「菓子でも用意させようか?」
「う、馬になるか? 俺が」
「おうましゃん」
............どうしてそこには反応するんだ!?
そうして両親が迎えに来るまでおよそ二時間。俺は延々と彼女を背中に乗せ、四つん這いになっていて。
「陛下......自分には将来の夫婦像が見えてしまった気がします」
「まぁ、男は女の尻に轢かれていた方が幸せという話もあるから」
そういや、彼らは学生時代からの『マブダチ』と話していたな。そんな二人がどこか遠い目をしていたが――背中の黒髪の幼女がケラケラと楽しそうに笑っていたから、まぁいいか、なんて思ったりもして。
そんなこんなで、定期的に彼女と会うようになった。
婚約者同士といっても、成長したとて八歳と五歳。会ってすることと言えば、庭を駆けずり回ったり、一緒に虫を探したり――そんなことばかりだ。
「ところでルルーシェ。今日もカエル探しなどでいいのか?」
「なんでー?」
彼女は無邪気な少女だったと思う。母親が異国の者だからか、あまりマナーなど気にしないらしい。祖国で第三王女だったという話だが......まぁ、よその国のことなど、外から偉そうに言うものではないな。
俺は目の前の少女のご機嫌取りで目一杯だ。
「だって、ルルーシェは女の子だろう? 絵本でも読んでやるぞ? 一緒にお絵かきしてもいい」
「おうちで遊ぶのきらいー」
昨日は雨が降っていた。だから、きっと雨の化身であるカエルがまだ庭にいるはずだ!(そんな絵本を読んだらしい)――とのことで、水たまりのそばに二人してしゃがみこんでいたわけだが。
ルルーシェは頬をぷくっと膨らませる。
「こないだね、おかあさんとおさいほうをしたの」
「ほう。何を作ったんだ?」
「うさぎのぬいぐるみ」
「すごいじゃないか」
「でも、かわいくないの」
彼女はそう言って、俯いてしまう。水たまりに映った彼女は――泣きそうな顔をしていた。
まだたったの五歳だぞ? 裁縫ができないくらいで、そんなに落ち込むことなのか?
こないだ彼女が五歳の誕生日を迎えてから、正式な妃教育が始まったという。その一部を俺も見学させてもらったが――とにかく母上が怖かった。元より厳しい人で俺や弟のザフィルドもよく折檻を受けているが......それに輪をかけて、母が目くじらをたてていたと思う。
正直、俺には我慢できないだろう。泣いて逃げだしているはずだ。だけど、彼女はいつも涙を堪えて、グッと母上に付いていこうとしているから。
......少しくらい甘やかしたって、いいじゃないか。
「それなら、俺にくれないか?」
「なにを?」
「そのぬいぐるみだ。もうじき、俺の誕生日だからな。そのうさぎのぬいぐるみがほしい」
彼女は目を大きく見開いていた。白い肌に浮ぶ黒真珠のような瞳がくりくりと俺を見つめている。だけど、その視線はすぐに下がってしまった。
「でも、もうそれ捨てられちゃったし」
「なら、また作ってくれ」
「それでいい」
すると、彼女が小さく吹き出して。「殿下変なのー」とケラケラ笑う彼女は、もっと幼い頃の面影ばかりだ。......少し前までは、「お兄ちゃん」と呼んでくれていたんだがな。その頃が遠い昔のようで、寂しいけれど。
「楽しみにしている」
ルルーシェが楽しそうにしているなら、何でもいい。
それは、俺が幼心に抱いた婚約者への誓いだ。
「約束したぬいぐるみは......やはり殿下に相応しくないので。だから、こちらを」
そして俺の誕生祝賀会の時、そう大人びた口調でルルーシェがくれたものは、既製品の万年筆だった。俺の名前の刻印と一緒に小さなうさぎが彫られているのは、約束を反故にしたせめてもの償いなのだろう。大勢の前だからか、彼女は緊張した面持ちで両親や母上の様子を窺っていた。
だけど、俺は知っている。
本当に、彼女は一生懸命ぬいぐるみを作ろうとしていたこと。そもそも、様子を見に行った俺に「これ失敗したから捨てといて!」と投げて寄越したのは彼女だからな。
だから、俺はその万年筆を大切に受け取り――遠目からでもわかるよう、大袈裟に笑みを作る。
「ありがとう。とても嬉しいぞ!」
「それなら......良かったです」
でも、ルルーシェ。きみは知らないだろう?
俺のジャケットの内側には、きみが捨てられたと思っている不細工なうさぎが入っているんだ。きみから貰ったものを、俺が捨てるわけがないだろう? きみの努力を、きみの優しさを――俺は生涯大切にしよう。
「あぁ、最高の誕生日プレゼントだ」
I, Sazanjill Lukino Lapisenta, was the first prince of the Kingdom Lapisenta. That made me the crown prince.
I didn't know what benefits the order of birth offered. All I knew was that my duty was to become king ever since I was born. At the same time, the future queen had also been discussed.
My future spouse was introduced to me when I was 5-years-old.
"Sazanjill, this is Lelouche--the girl who'll be your wife."
Even if she's called my future wife...
I could only see the black hair of a little girl hiding behind her slightly rotund father. Her long black hair was actually graceful. My mother told me that such a color was uncommon in our kingdom, Lapisenta. Apparently, it seemed to be the characteristic of a foreigner. Her mother was apparently a beautiful woman referred to as the 'Foreign Beauty.'
...I didn't think my mother found it as amusing, as that sort of title should be reserved for her, the queen. Furthermore, the daughter of her rival had become her successor. Said daughter would become my wife and would stand while shouldering the future of the kingdom.
...Well, that kind of adult situation had nothing to do with us. We were five and two years old at the time.
"Play with your friend in the garden."
As there was going to be an adult discussion, I was entrusted with taking care of Lelouche. Of course, there were maids around but... She seemed curious about my actions. She was immersed in observing me.
Well, I'm in trouble...
I had a younger brother who was of the same age as her, but he was currently asleep with a cold. Of course, that was my first time looking after a girl. Occasionally, I saw some little girls at the salon of the tea ceremony my mother participated in, but I only greeted them. I never played with any of them.
As such, what should I do with this girl who seemed ready to cry at being separated from her father?
"What is your hobby?"
"Are you interested in flowers? Let's admire the garden."
"Or, would you like me to prepare some sweets?"
"Uh, what about horses? I can be one..."
"Horse!"
...Why did she only react there!?
About two hours passed before her parents decided to pick her up. I carried her on my back endlessly and was on all fours the entire time.
"...Your Highness, I feel like I caught a glimpse of the future couple."
"Well, some say that a man is happier when he's driven by a woman."
As they made those remarks, her parents' eyes seemed distant. But I was wondering if it was alright, since the little, black-haired, girl seemed to be enjoying herself.
Then, I started meeting her regularly.
Even though we were engaged, we were still but eight and five years old at the time. All we did was roam around the garden looking for bugs together.
"By the way, Lelouche, is it alright for you to be looking for frogs today?"
"Why?"
I thought of her as an innocent girl. She didn't care much about manners--probably because her mother was a foreigner. It was said that her mother was a third princess in her homeland... Well, I didn't mean to badmouth another kingdom I knew nothing about.
Because of the girl in front of me, I was enjoying myself.
"I mean, Lelouche is a girl? Don't you want to read a picture book? We can draw together."
"I hate playing at home."
As it had rained yesterday, Lelouche felt sure that there were still some frogs in the garden. (It seemed that she had read it in a picture book.)
Lelouche puffed her cheeks.
"Yesterday, I was sewing with my mother..."
"Well, what did you make?"
"A rabbit plush toy."
"Isn't that amazing?"
"But it isn't cute at all."
She said so and lowered her face. Reflected upon the puddle was her almost crying expression.
She was only five years old, right? Why was she so depressed at not being able to sew?
It was said that the formal princess education would start after she celebrated her fifth birthday. I was allowed to see her for a bit, but my mother was truly stern. She was much stricter than she used to be. My younger brother, Zafield, and I were often punished... But I felt that my mother was even stricter with Lelouche.
That girl should've been crying and running away. But instead, while holding back her tears, she tried to face my mother's strictness upfront.
...Then, isn't it alright to spoil her a little?
"If so, can you give me the plush toy?"
"What?"
"That stuffed animal. It'll be my birthday soon. I want that stuffed rabbit."
Her eyes went wide. Those black, pearl-like eyes, which contrasted her bright skin, were staring at me. But, she quickly dropped her gaze.
"But, I already threw it away."
"If so, make it again."
"It's alright."
Then, she laughed a little. "Your Highness is weird." Until a while ago, she called me, 'Onii-chan.' It felt like it had been a long time ago, and I felt lonely.
"I'm looking forward to it."
As long as it made Lelouche happy, anything was fine.
That was the vow I had made towards my fiancee in my childhood.
"The stuffed animal I promised... is unbefitting of Your Highness. So, I'll give you this instead."
During my birthday celebration, what Lelouche gave me in such a mature tone was a ready-made fountain pen. The small rabbit carved with the engraving of my name was probably compensation for breaking her promise. Perhaps, because she was in front of many, she felt nervous. She kept glancing at her parents and my mother.
However, I was aware of it.
She must had done her best to make a stuffed animal. In the first place, she was the one who threw it away when I wanted to see it.
--I carefully accepted the fountain pen, and put on an exaggerated smile that everyone could see.
"Thank you! I'm very happy!"
"Then, that's a relief..."
But, Lelouche--did you know?
Inside my jacket was the ugly rabbit you thought you had thrown away. There was no way I could dispose of something she had made. Her efforts, her kindness--I wanted to cherish her for the rest of my life.
"This is the best birthday gift."
The Villainess who Only Had 100 Days to Live Had Fun Every Day
【コミック２巻発売中】１００日後に死ぬ悪役令嬢は毎日がとても楽しい。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-who-only-had-100-days-to-live-had-fun-every-day/
Drama Fantasy Josei Romance Slice of Life Tragedy
Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Death European Ambience Female Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdoms Late Romance Misunderstandings Nobles Psychopaths Revenge Romantic Subplot Second Chance Slow Romance Villainess Noble Girls Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8024hd/
ゆいレギナ