第8話 セルジュの家族
「その前に、荷物を運ばせなくちゃかな」
「あ、そうね」
フレデリクたちを外に待たせたままだ。
「荷物はどこに運べばいいの?」
「二階は、少しはマシだから......」
階段を上がってみると、確かに少しマシだった。
フレデリクの指示で、御者やお供の侍女たちが荷物を運び始める。
セルジュの城の使用人たちも手を貸してくれた。
二階もだいぶ古く、床も壁も傷んでいるが、調度品が壊れたままということはなく、ドアや窓もきちんと嵌っている。
掃除もきちんとしてあった。
小さな城だった。
もともと部屋数もあまり多くない上、何しろ屋根が半分崩れている。西側にある部屋はほとんど使い物にならないようだった。
主の部屋がある東の棟は無事で、主寝室に荷物を運び入れた侍女たちは、夫人用のクローゼットにドレスをしまった。
セルジュと並んで室内を眺めていたアンジェリクは、その部屋には天蓋付きの大きなベッドが一つあるだけだということに気づいた。
「寝室は、ここだけ?」
「客用寝室と子ども部屋がいくつかあるけど、今のところ使っているのはここだけだね」
「使っているのは......?」
「使える部屋が......、ここだけ、です」
やっぱり。
「問題あるかな?」
ふっと笑われて、アンジェリクは首を振った。
結婚式はまだだが、証文には王のサインがある。
今夜から、この部屋でアンジェリクは寝るのだ。
セルジュと二人で......。
切ないような苦しいような気持ちになった。ドキドキしすぎて胸が痛い。
エルネストと結婚すると決まっていた時には、少しもこんなふうにならなかった。
夫婦になれば、まあ、そういうこともするのだろうなと、そういう分野専門の教育係であるブリアン夫人から説明されて、なんだか面倒くさそうだなと思っただけだった。
「あ。そういえば、ご家族は?」
唐突にアンジェリクは聞いた。
ほかの部屋は使っていない(使えない)ということは、ここにはセルジュしかいないということになる。
聞いてしまってから、悪いことを聞いただろうかと不安になった。
しかし、セルジュは「家族は王都にいる」と答えた。
アンジェリクはほっとした。健在なら何より。
でも、複雑な事情で離れて暮らしているのだとしたら、やはりこれ以上は聞かないほうがいいのだろうか。
王都に城を構えている貴族が、こんな辺境で暮らすのはかなりワケアリな気がする......。
知らずに難しい顔をしていたらしく、セルジュがぷっと噴き出す。
「そんな顔しなくても、平気だよ。上に兄がいるから、僕は余り物を賜っただけ」
「あ、そうなのね。でも、お兄様がいるのに伯爵ってことは......」
治めているのは辺境の地とはいえ、セルジュの身分は伯爵だ。
実家は相当な家柄なのだろうか。
アンジェリクの疑問を察したように、セルジュが教えた。
「僕の生まれはバルニエ公爵家なんだ」
モンタン公爵家に並ぶ名家だ。
それを聞いてアンジェリクは、心のどこかで得心していた。
だから父も折れたのだ。
王もおそらく同じだ。いくらエルネストが怒って破談にしたいと言ったからといって、まがりなりにも王子の婚約者だった令嬢をただの田舎領主に嫁がせたのでは、格好がつかない。
せめて侯爵か、伯爵でも中央で高い地位にいる者を選びたかったはずだ。
気にはなったが、その一方で、その結果アンジェリクに転がり込んできた運命に感謝した。
すっかり納得しかけたアンジェリクだったが、セルジュはここで爆弾発言を投げつけてきた。
「実家には、勘当されてるけどね」
Chapter 8: Serge's family|Read translated stories and daily updates at: Awebstories.com
"First of all, I need to have my luggage carried."
"Oh, yeah."
They left Frederic and the others waiting outside.
"Where do you want me to carry my luggage?"
"It's a little better upstairs..."
She went up the stairs, and it was indeed a little better.
The servants and their assistants began carrying the luggage at Frederick's direction.
Serge's castle servants also pitched in.
The upstairs was also very old, with damaged floors and walls, but the furniture was in good condition, and the doors and windows were not broken.
It had been thoroughly cleaned.
But it was a tiny castle.
There were not many rooms, and half the roof had collapsed. The rooms on the west side were almost unusable.
The east wing, on the other hand, which housed the master's rooms, was undamaged, and the ladies-in-waiting, who had taken Angelique's belongings to the master's bedroom, placed her clothes in the ladies' dressing room.
As Angelique looked around the room with Serge, she noticed that there was only one large bed with a canopy.
"Is that the only bedroom?"
"There's a guest room and several children's rooms, but I'm only using this one at the moment."
"You only use this one?"
"It's the only usable room..."
As expected.
"Is there a problem?"
Angelique shakes her head and laughs.
The wedding had not yet taken place, but the deed had been signed by the king. There was nothing wrong with them sleeping in the same bed, since they were already married on paper.
Angelique would sleep alone with Serge in this room starting tonight.
At that time, Serge and I will...
She was sad and bitter, but also a little nervous and excited.
This had never happened to her before, when she was to marry Prince Ernest.
She had just assumed it would be difficult because Mrs. Berean, a special education teacher, had told her that they would have to do things like this once they were a couple. It's a little gross, but everyone else puts up with it, so she figured she would too.
"Ah, that reminds me, what about your family?"
Angelique inquired abruptly.
The other rooms are empty. That means Serge is the only one present.
After asking, she was concerned that she had asked the wrong thing. She was sorry if there was any inconvenience.
Serge replied.
Angelique was relieved. It is comforting to know that they are still alive and well.
But if they are living apart for some complicated reason, it's best not to ask any more questions.
But it's really strange that a nobleman who has a castle in the capital lives in such a remote place.
Serge gushes out, noticing that she is making a difficult face.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm fine. I have an older brother, so I was just given the extras."
"I understand. But if you're a count and you have an older brother..."
Serge is a count despite ruling a remote region.
His family must have a high standing.
As if sensing Angelique's doubt, he told her.
"I was born a son of the Dukes of Barnier."
It was a famous family like the Dukes of Montan.
Angelique knew in her heart that she was already convinced after hearing that.
That explains why his father agreed so quickly.
The king probably felt the same way. Even if Ernest was angry and wanted to end the marriage, it would not look good if the duke's daughter, who was betrothed to the prince, was married to a simple landlord.
At least they could choose a marquis or even a count who held a high position in the center of the kingdom.
On the one hand, she was curious about Ernest's behavior, but on the other hand, Angelique was grateful for the fate that had fallen into her lap as a result.
Angelique was almost convinced, but then Serge dropped a bombshell.
"My parents disowned me, though."
I’m Going to Marry a Poor Count in the Middle of Nowhere and I’m Going to Work Hard to Reform My Territory
【ノベル3巻発売＆コミカライズ２巻まで発売中】辺境の貧乏伯爵に嫁ぐことになったので領地改革に励みます
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/im-going-to-marry-a-poor-count-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-and-im-going-to-work-hard-to-reform-my-territory/
Comedy Drama Fantasy Romance Shoujo
Adapted to Manga Arranged Marriage Broken Engagement Domestic Affairs Doting Love Interests Doting Older Siblings Dragon Riders Dragons Early Romance European Ambience Female Protagonist Management Nobles Pregnancy Royalty Time Skip Tomboyish Female Lead
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5996gy/
花波薫歩