11月も中旬に差し掛かったある日の朝。女子寮の玄関で一人首をひねった。
「殿下がいない」
実は、朝食を食べて寮の玄関に向かうところから、女子生徒たちの黄色い声が聞こえて、私を見つけた殿下が目元を柔らかくするのを見るまでが、最近の日課だったのだ。道理で今朝は心なしか女子寮の元気がないはずだ。
校舎へ歩き出さずその場で思案した。男子寮まで行ってみようか、と。殿下は今朝何か急用があって来られなかったのかもしれない。でも昨日の帰りは「また明日」と微笑んでくれたではないか。
約束を守るのは人として当たり前。まして相手が婚約者なら尚更だ。...と、理屈をこねる自分を、一方では冷静に見つめる。
認めよう。寂しい、と。
「ひえ」
腹を括って男子寮まで来たら、大きなカラスがいて変な声が出てしまった。
大きさが通常の3倍はある。黒々とした羽が日を浴びてつやつや光っている。クチバシは私を食い殺せそうなほど鋭利だ。しかし同時に途方もなく理知的だった。
幻獣だろう。でも誰の?
攻略本を頭の中でめくり、「ああ」と思い当たってカラスに近づいた。黒い瞳が私を見つめている。舐められないよう見つめ返した。
横を行く男子生徒たちの不審な視線を受け止めつつ十数秒程その状態を続けた頃、カラスは一枚の紙を取り出し、飛び去っていった。
『レベッカ嬢
殿下 風邪 看病して差し上げろ
フリード・ネヘル』
紙、もといフリードからの短すぎる手紙を見て私はあっと声をあげた。
「『季節の変わり目・風邪看病イベント』!」
風邪看病イベント――それは学園での風邪大流行に端を発する。あっちで咳が聞こえ、その隣でだれかがくしゃみをし、その向こうで人が発熱により倒れる。今一番倒れたいのは養護教諭で間違いない。
そんなてんてこまいの養護教諭の手伝いで、治癒魔法使いである主人公に攻略対象の看病の任が回ってくるのだ。 『冬』に気を取られすぎて完全に失念していた。レベッカは一切登場しないはずだったのでそれで良かったのだが、シナリオ通りでない展開にはもはや慣れた。
寮の職員に殿下の部屋の場所を教えてもらった。扉の前で一度立ち止まる。深く息を吸う。吐く。吸う。吐く。ドアノブを回した。
「失礼します。レベッカです」
扉に鍵がかっていないのは察せられた。あの無口な従者が主人に気を遣ったのだろう。中に入ると、しんとして返事はない。けれど人の気配はする。
心持ち静かに靴を脱いで上がった。奥の寝室の扉を開けると、ふわりと殿下の匂いが――したかもしれないが、気づかなかったことにした。いつだったか殿下に抱きしめられたときのことを思い出――してない。おっほん、断固、ない。
殿下はベッドで眠っていた。ぴたりと閉じられた目と口。額が少しだけ汗ばんでいる。布団は規則正しく上下しているものの、少し息苦しそうで胸が痛――みそうだったので自分で掴んで落ち着かせた。
あまり勝手に見ないようにして静かに扉を閉めた。そのままキッチンに入る。頼まれて来たんだし勝手に使っても多分大丈夫だろう。
食材を探し始め、お粥を作れそうなことに安堵した。手際よく調理を始める。料理という貴族令嬢らしからぬ特技があるのは、小さい頃から母が教えてくれていたからだ。
攻略本によると、主人公は攻略対象に治癒魔法を使う。そして一日中彼の手を握ってそばにいてあげるという『甘々イベント』である。
看病の役目が回ってくる時点で好感度はかなり高いといえ、発生率の低いイベントだと書いてあったのを思い出した。
つまり、殿下の私への好感度はなかなか高――いのかもしれないが、それは今置いておこう。そもそも私は婚約者なのだから、こういうときに仕えるのも義務の1つである。これは義務、ただの仕事。心の中で呟いて気持ちを鎮める。再び深く息を吸う。吐く。吸う。吐く。
ともかく、私はエミリアではないので、治癒魔法の代わりに普通に看病するしかない。
だけど一つ考えていることがある。これがゲームのイベントで殿下が攻略対象である以上、攻略本に則って会話を進めれば好感度が上がるのでは、ということだ。上げられるものなら上げたいというのが本音だ。
攻略本をポケットから取り出した。最近はいつも持ち歩いている。今回のイベントは前に軽く目を通しただけなのできちんと確認したい。目次の『風邪看病イベント』を参照し、一番好感度が上がる選択肢を目で追う。
『エミリア?』
『養護の先生に頼まれまして、看病に伺いました。あの、勝手してしまってごめんなさい』
『いいや...礼を言う』
『どういたしまして!殿下、体調はどうでしょうか?』
「...うっ」
まだ読み始めたばかりなのに気分が悪くなった。自分の婚約者と親友の仲睦まじい会話を熟読するのは精神衛生上よろしくない。
私は一旦攻略本をしまって粥を火から下ろし、味付けをした。
出来上がった粥を味見して、つい顔を綻ばせ、
「うん、おいしい」
「これは夢か?」
文字通り飛び上がった。
「で、殿下!」
バクバクする心臓を抑えて台所の入り口に目をやる。いつのまに起きたのか彼はそこにしっかりと立っており、こちらを見ていた。顔色も普通だ。
体調は思ったより悪くないのかもしれない。良かった、ほっとした。
「ネヘル様に頼まれまして、看病に伺いました。あの、勝手してしまってごめんなさい」
一語一句間違えずに暗誦した。胸がドキドキする。攻略本をこんな用途で使うのは初めてだ。
しかし返事がない。『ただのしかば――』じゃなかった、焦り始めて母のよくわからない口癖が出てしまった。
殿下はじっとこちらを見つめたまま動かない。私は首をかしげた。そんなに見つめられると、何かおかしかったかと不安になる。
「あの、殿下...?」
何より、殿下の格好が。頰が赤くなってしまった気がして目をそらした。いつもと違ってクシャッと崩れた髪とか、第三ボタンまで開いたラフなシャツとか、そこからのぞく逞しい体とか、滝のように流れる汗とか――――汗?
殿下はいつまで経っても「いいや...礼を言う」と言ってくれない。代わりにゆらりと一歩踏み出し、私に向かって腕を伸ばした。
そして次の瞬間、すごい音をさせて床と一緒になった。
床と一緒に、って待って違うこれは、倒れた!?
「殿下!顔に出ないタイプですか!?」
慌てて肩を貸して立ち上がらせる。触った腕が熱すぎてこちらが目眩がしてくる。風邪だ。もう本当に風邪だ。頼むから最初からもっと風邪っぽい顔をしていてほしい!
非力な私による長身男性の運搬は難航し、やっとのことで殿下をベッドに運ぶことができた。というより正確には、一緒にベッドに倒れこんだ。
ふう、やり遂げた。達成感すら感じつつベッドからどこうとした私を、むしろ意識的に他のことを考えないようにしていた私を、お腹に回された腕が邪魔した。
「!?」
引き寄せるように後ろから抱きしめられる。顔に熱が集まった。必死に逃げ出そうとしてもお腹がホールドされていてびくともしないし、それでも逃げようとしたら脚まで絡みついてきた。
まずい。まずい。まずい!
そのとき、ずっと懸命に殺していた感情が私の中で炸裂した。
は、ははははは恥ずかしい!
婚約者だから看病ってなんだ。こっちは初めて殿下の部屋に入るんだ。好きな人と彼の部屋で二人きりって、どんな顔で看病しろっていうんだ。
わからなさすぎて柄にもなく主人公の真似事までした。シナリオをなぞれば上手くいくんじゃないかと思ったのだ。それなのにもう、すごい!何一つ攻略本通りに進まない!
ともすれば叫びだしそうなほどの羞恥で頭がいっぱいになる。が、急に現実に引き戻された。
熱い息が、背後から私の耳にかけられたのだ。
更なる羞恥に身を震わせる。声も出せず耳を押さえ、あわあわと振り向いた。そしてそれが失敗だったと悟った。
彼は流れるような動作で私を仰向けにひっくり返し、私の手首をベッドに縫い付けて覆いかぶさった。下から見上げた彼の瞳の中に、飢えた獣のごとくギラギラしたものを見て目を瞠った。
唇が彼のそれで塞がれた。
熱い。吐息と瞳が、体温よりも、火傷しそうなくらいに。
彼は私に覆いかぶさったまま、硬直した私をあやすように、頰に、まぶたに、額に、丁寧にキスしていき、また熱っぽく私を呼んで、
笑った。
この世で一番愛しい。そう言われているのかと思った。
殿下。
私の返事は彼の口の中に消えていった。
再び落ちてきた口付けをぎこちなく受け入れると、手首から手が離され、代わりに一度ぎゅっと抱きしめられた。身体中彼の匂いに包まれてくらくらする。
殿下は私の後頭部を片手で支え、私と自分の隙間を一切なくすようにして何度もキスをした。
「レベッカ、可愛い」
その瞬間、頰がカッと熱くなり、心臓が一際大きな音で鳴った。
―――今、なんて言われた?
しかし、彼が一度唇を離し、今度は熱い何かが唇を割って私の口内に入ってきたそのとき――――
「くくくクリスティーナ、クリスティーナーーーー!」
ポケットで眠っていた私の幻獣。名前を呼んだ主人に応え、全身から光を発した。
目を開けていられないほどのまばゆい輝きに殿下が呻いた隙を狙い、転がるようにベッドから出て一目散に駆け出した。男子寮を出て女子寮の自分の部屋に着くまで走り続けた。
部屋に入って扉を閉める。ずるずるしゃがみこんだ私をクリスティーナだけが心配していた。荒い息と熱い顔は、しばらく落ち着かなかった。
朝も早いというのに、部屋の扉が無遠慮に叩かれている。
「レベッカ様ぁ。エミリアですぅ。開けて下さーい」
申し訳ないがそれはできない。開けたくないわけじゃないが、開けられない。返事をしたくないわけじゃないが、返事ができない。
私にできるのは、脳筋な友人が腕力にものを言わせる前に早く帰りますようにと願うことだけだ。
「昨日は殿下を看病されたそうじゃないですか。実は私も風邪を引いちゃったんです。レベッカ様に看病していただこうと思って来ちゃいましたぁ」
いやほんとに帰って。ここまで来てそれだけ騒げる人間は決して風邪などではない。
本当の風邪というのはもっと恐ろしい。
「あれ...?レベッカ様中で倒れていらっしゃったりしませんよね。心配になって来ました、実力行使に出ますね」
バキィと派手な音がしたのをベッドの中で聞いていた。パタパタと音がして顔をのぞかせたエミリアは、身につけていたマスクと分厚い上着をいい笑顔で脱ぎ捨て、
「レベッカ様のお顔を見たら私の風邪は吹き飛んじゃいました。治癒魔法をかけて一日中手を握ってそばにいて差し上げますから、安心して下さいね」
ベッドで咳き込み喉を枯らした私に、そう言った。
One morning in the middle of November, I found myself at the entrance of the girls' dormitory.
"His Highness isn't here."
As a matter of fact, it has been my routine lately to hear the yellow voices of the female students as I eat breakfast and head for the entrance of the dormitory, until I see His Highness' eyes soften when he spots me. It's no wonder that the atmosphere in the girls' dormitory is not so good this morning.
I stood there, contemplating whether I should go to the boys' dormitory or not. His Highness might have had some urgent business that kept him from coming this morning. But he smiled and said "See you tomorrow" when he returned yesterday.
Keeping a promise is something that should be taken for granted, especially when the other person is your fiance... I thought about this while calmly observing myself.
I'll admit it, I'm lonely.
"Ugh."
I held my stomach and walked to the boys' dormitory, but when I got there, I saw a large crow and let out an odd sound.
It was about three times larger than a normal crow. Its black feathers shone in the sun. Its beak was sharp enough to kill me. But at the same time, it seemed incredibly rational.
It was probably a Phantom Beast. But whose?
I flipped through the strategy book in my head and thought, "Oh." Then I approached the crow. Its black eyes were looking at me. I looked back, trying not to show any fear.
While ignoring the suspicious glances of the boys walking by, after about ten seconds, the crow took out a piece of paper and flew away.
[Miss Rebecca
Please take care of His Highness's cold.
Fried Neher]
I let out a sigh as I looked at the short letter from Fried, or rather, the paper.
"[Seasonal change and cold nursing event]!"
The Cold Nursing Event----that's when a cold outbreak occurs at the Academy. You can hear coughing from one side, someone sneezing from the other side, and someone collapsing from fever on the other side. The person who wants to collapse the most right now is definitely the school's nurse.
With the help of such a troublesome school nurse, the main character, who is a healing magic user, ends up taking care of the target of the conquest. I completely forgot about it because I was too focused on [Winter]. Rebecca was not supposed to appear at all, so that was good, but I'm already used to developments that don't go according to the scenario.
I asked the dormitory staff where His Highness's room was. I stopped in front of the door once. I took a deep breath. Exhaled. Breathed in. Exhaled. I turned the doorknob.
"Excuse me, this is Rebecca."
I noticed that the door was not locked. His silent servant must have been concerned about his master. When I entered the room, there was no answer. But I could feel the presence of someone.
I took off my shoes calmly and went upstairs. When I opened the door to the bedroom in the back, there was a faint smell of His Highness----maybe, but I decided not to remember. I didn't remember the time when His Highness hugged me. I definitely don't miss it. Ah, um, definitely not.
His Highness was asleep in bed. His eyes and mouth were tightly closed. His forehead was slightly sweaty. Although the bedding was neatly arranged, his breath seemed a little short and his chest seemed to hurt, so I grabbed it and calmed myself down.
I closed the door quietly so as not to look too much and went into the kitchen. I came here because I was asked to, so it should probably be okay to use it as I pleased.
I started looking for ingredients and was relieved to find something that could be made into porridge. I started cooking skillfully. My cooking skills, which are not like those of a noble lady, are from my mother teaching me from a young age.
According to the strategy book, the protagonist uses healing magic on the target of the strategy and spends the whole day holding his hand and staying by his side in the [sweet event].
When it was time for nursing, I remembered that the book said that the event was one with a high degree of affection and a low occurrence rate.
In other words, the favorability of His Highness towards me may be quite high, but let's leave that for now. After all, I am an engaged person, so serving at a time like this is also one of my duties. This is a duty, just a job. Whisper it in my mind and calm my feelings. Take a deep breath again. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
Anyway, since I am not Emilia, I can only treat him normally instead of using healing magic.
But there is one thing I am thinking about. Since this is an event in the game and His Highness is the target of the conquest, if I follow the strategy book and proceed with the conversation, will the favorability increase? That is what I am thinking. If it can be increased, I want to increase it, that is my true feeling.
I took the strategy book out of my pocket. I have been carrying it around lately. I just glanced through it for this event, so I want to check it properly. Refer to the [Cold Nursing Event] in the table of contents and follow the choice that increases the favorability the most with my eyes.
[Emilia?]
[I was asked by the school nurse and came to treat you. Uh, sorry for being presumptuous.]
[N-No... thank you]
[You're welcome! How are you feeling, Your Highness?]
"... Ugh."
I already felt sick, even though I just started reading. It is not good for my mental health to read the intimate conversation of my fiance and best friend.
I put away my strategy book and took the porridge off the fire, seasoning it.
I tasted the finished porridge and couldn't help but smile,
"Yeah, it's delicious."
"Is this a dream?"
I literally jumped up.
"Y-Your highness!"
I held back my racing heart and looked towards the entrance of the kitchen. Somehow, he was standing there firmly, looking at me. He looked normal.
Maybe his condition wasn't as bad as I thought. That's good, I felt relieved.
"I came here to check on you as Neher-sama asked. I'm sorry for being presumptuous."
I recited each word without a mistake. My heart was pounding. This was the first time I used my strategy book for this purpose.
But there was no response. [It's just a----] No, I was getting anxious and my mother's inexplicable phrase came out.
His highness continued to stare at me without moving. I tilted my head. Being looked at like that made me feel like something was wrong.
"Um, your highness...?"
Above all, his highness's appearance was... I felt like my cheeks were getting red and I looked away. His hair that was usually neat but now looked disheveled, his rough shirt that was open to the third button, the sturdy body that could be seen from there, the sweat that flowed like a waterfall----sweat?
His Highness never says [N-No...thank you.] no matter how long it takes. Instead, he casually took a step forward and reached out to me.
And then, the next moment, he made a loud noise and fell to the floor with a thud.
Fell to the floor, wait, no this is wrong, he collapsed?!
"Your Highness! Are you the type to not show it on your face?!"
I hurriedly lend him my shoulder to help him stand. My arm that touched him is too hot, and I feel dizzy. He has a cold. He really has a cold. I wish he would have looked more like he had a cold from the beginning!
Carrying the tall man who is weak like me is difficult, but finally, I was able to move His Highness to the bed. Or rather, more accurately, we collapsed onto the bed together.
Phew, I did it. I even feel a sense of accomplishment as I tried to get out of the bed, but my stomach was held down by an arm, preventing me from moving.
"?!"
I was embraced from behind as if being pulled closer. My face is hot. Even though I desperately try to escape, my stomach is held down and I can't move my legs.
This is bad. This is bad. This is bad!
At that moment, the emotions that I had been desperately trying to suppress exploded within me.
Ha, haaaaaaaaaaa! This is embarrassing!
I'm just his fiance, so why am I taking care of him? This is the first time I'm entering the prince's room. Taking care of the person you like, alone in their room, what kind of face am I supposed to have?"
I couldn't understand the situation because it was too difficult, so I even tried to imitate the main character. I thought if I followed the scenario, it would work out. But even then, it's amazing! Nothing is going according to the strategy book!
I was about to scream in embarrassment and my head was full. But suddenly, I was brought back to reality.
Hot breath was applied to my ears from behind.
I shivered with further embarrassment. I couldn't speak and held my ears, and then turned around in confusion. And then I realized it was a mistake.
He turned me over on my back with a flowing movement, and sewed my wrists to the bed and covered me. I looked up at him from the bottom and saw something sparkling in his eyes like a hungry beast.
My lips were blocked by his.
Hot. His breath and eyes were, more than his body temperature, as if they were burning.
He kissed me carefully on my cheek, eyelid, and forehead, while still covering me, and called me warmly again,
And laughed.
The most beloved in this world. I wondered if that's what he was saying.
Your Highness.
My reply disappeared into his mouth.
When I received the kiss that fell again clumsily, his hands were released from my wrists and instead I was tightly embraced. My whole body was wrapped in his scent and I felt dizzy.
His Highness supported the back of my head with one hand and kept kissing me repeatedly, closing all the gaps between me and him.
"Rebecca, you look lovely (cute)."
At that moment, my cheeks became hot and my heart beat loudly.
----What did he just say?
But when he parted his lips and something hot broke through my lips and entered my mouth----
"Chris Chris Chris, Christina, Christina--------!"
My Phantom Beast that was sleeping in my pocket. Responding to its master's call, it emitted light from all over its body.
His Highness groaned at the dazzlingly bright light and took advantage of the opportunity to roll off the bed and run away. I continued to run until I left the boys' dormitory and reached my room in the girls' dormitory.
I entered my room and closed the door. Christina was the only one who worried about me as I slumped down. My rough breathing and hot face wouldn't calm down for a while.
Even though it was still early in the morning, the door of my room was being knocked on without any hesitation.
"Rebecca-sama, it's Emilia. Please open the door."
I'm sorry, but I can't. I don't want to open it, but I can't. I don't want to reply, but I can't.
The only thing I can do is just hope that my brainy friend will come back before I talk about something with my muscle-brain) friend. (Alt: talked into something by her muscle-brain friend)
"I heard that you took care of His Highness yesterday. Actually, I caught a cold too. I came to have Rebecca-sama take care of me."
Really, go home. Anyone who comes all the way here and only causes a commotion like this definitely doesn't have a cold.
The true cold is much more terrifying.
"Hm...? Rebecca-sama, you're not collapsed inside, right? I'm getting worried, I'll go check it out."
I heard a loud noise(crack) and a clattering sound while lying in bed. Emilia peeked her head out, took off her mask and thick coat with a smile,
"Once I saw Rebecca-sama's face, my cold blew away. I'll put healing magic on you and hold your hand all day, so please relax."
She said that to me, who was coughing and hoarse, lying in bed.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈