上級学校は学年ごとにいくつかクラス分けされているが、全ての学年で共通しているクラスがある。それはリリアの所属するクラスであり、上級貴族だけのクラスのことだ。校舎内では設備備品含めて庶民と使っているものに差はないのだが、クラスだけは隔離されている。同じクラスにするともめ事が絶えないためだ。
教室に入ると、リリアはすぐに自分の席に向かう。席は横六列縦五列で等間隔に並ぶ。リリアの席は最前列だ。まだ朝早いためか、人は少ない。誰にも話しかけられることなく、自分の席に座ることができた。
――リリア。大丈夫?
――何が?
――いや......。隣の席。
さくらに指摘され、リリアは今の今まで忘れていたことを思い出した。右隣の席を見る。王子の席だ。
――無理......。
――そう、ね......。
王子が同じ教室にいることになってもそれは仕方がない。学校はそういうものなのだから、割り切れる。だが隣の席となると話は別だ。リリアはすっくと立ち上がると、窓際の方へと視線を向けた。
クリステル・アグニス。アグニス侯爵家の長女で、クリスと呼ばれている。リリアと仲がいいというわけではなく、むしろ敵とすら言える間柄だが、今は背に腹は代えられない。リリアは静かにクリスへと歩いて行く。
「あら」
すぐにクリスも気が付いた。意地の悪い笑みを浮かべ、リリアを見つめてくる。リリアはこの笑顔が大嫌いだ。
「おはよう、クリス。少しいいかしら?」
「あらあら、おはようございます、リリアーヌ様。何かご用でしょうか?」
口調こそ丁寧だが、言葉の端々から馬鹿にするような気配が伝わってくる。実に、不愉快だ。
「少しお願いがあるのよ」
「お願いですか? 私にできることでしたら、何なりと。公爵家の名をもってどうぞご命令ください」
本当にいいちいち癪に障る言い方だ。だが挑発に乗ると話が進まなくなる。リリアは全ての挑発を無視して、話を続けることにした。
「貴方の席と私の席、交換してくれませんか?」
クリスが驚いたように目を丸くした。それもそのはずで、リリアの席、王子の隣の席はリリアが半ば脅迫紛いのことまでして獲得したものだ。それは王子を含め全員が知っていることである。
「貴方が殿下との間で何かあったとは聞いたけど......。本気?」
クリスが驚きからか、口調が素になっていた。リリアは頷く。
「ええ。隣だけは絶対に嫌なのよ。貴方も殿下の隣が良かったと言っていたし、悪い話ではないでしょう?」
「それは、そうだけど......。何を企んでいるの?」
明確な敵意を込めてリリアを睨み付けてくる。リリアは肩をすくめて、何も、と答えた。
「私はね、殿下のことはもういいのよ」
「そう......。後でやっぱり戻せと言われても、知らないわよ」
「言わない。アルディスの名に誓いましょう」
それでもまだクリスは疑わしげにリリアを見つめていたが、すぐに破顔した。机の荷物を素早くまとめる。さらについでとばかりに、簡単にだが掃除までしてくれた。
「ささ、どうぞリリアーヌ様。この席はこれから貴方のものです」
「あ、ありがとう......。そこまでしてくれるとは思わなかったわ。私は掃除していないのだけど......」
「構いませんよ。では失礼しますね。うふふ......」
取り巻きを放置して、リリアの席だった場所へと向かう。その後を、取り巻き二人が慌てたように追いかけていく。クリスの気持ちも少なからず分かるリリアは小さく苦笑すると、譲られた席に座った。
――これで一安心ね。ああ、でもできればもっと後ろがいいわね......。
――目立ちたがりのリリアにしては珍しいね。
――あれは殿下の気を引きたかったからよ。今はもう、どうでもいいわ。
少し時間が経って、残りの生徒も登校してくる。一つ後ろの席の生徒が来るたびに交渉して、席を交換してもらっていく。それを三度繰り返し、ようやくリリアは窓際の最後尾の席を手に入れた。この席なら目立つことはないだろう。
――我ながら良い交渉術だったわね。
――いや、あのねリリア。あれはもう半ば強制だったからね。リリアのお願いは、ほとんどの人にとっては命令なんだからね。今日は目をつむったけど、他では控えるように。
――普通にお願いしたつもりなのだけど......。分かったわ......。
本当にただお願いしただけのつもりなのだが、どうやら相手は命令と感じていたらしい。通りで怯えたような目をしていたはずだ。初めてアルディスの名が邪魔だと思ってしまった。
いすに座り、一息ついたところで、
「リリアーヌ様、もういらしていたのですね。とても心配しましたわ」
三人のうちの一人が言って、他の二人が何度も頷く。
「ごめんなさい。私はもう大丈夫よ」
「ああ、良かった! 安心しました。ところで......。どうしてこのような隅の席にいらっしゃるのですか? まさか、クリステル様ですか......?」
女生徒の目が細められる。それを見たリリアはあからさまに嘆息した。この子たちの気持ちはリリアもよく分かるが、大人しくしておきたい今となっては少々うっとうしいと思ってしまう。リリアの嘆息を見た三人は目に見えて狼狽していた。
「あ、あの......。リリアーヌ様......?」
「何でもないわ。この席は私が望んだのよ。私と殿下の噂は聞いたでしょう」
「それは、まあ......。根も葉もない噂なので気にもしていませんでしたが」
「事実よ。私は今後、殿下と関わることは極力避けるからそのつもりでいなさい」
三人そろって驚きからか目を見開いた。それも当然だろう、とは思う。引きこもる前のリリアは可能な限り王子の側にいるようにしていたのだから。信じられないと言われてもおかしくはない。
話していた女生徒が大声を上げた。突然のことに思わず身構えてしまう。
「なに?」
「落ち込まないでください! リリアーヌ様なら必ず殿下の心を取り戻すことができます!」
The senior section separates cla.s.ses into their respective years, but there is also a cla.s.s containing students from various levels. This was the cla.s.s Lilia is a part of, a cla.s.s for upper n.o.bles. The school equipment and furnis.h.i.+ngs were the same for even commoners, and it was only the cla.s.s that is segregated from the rest. Since there would be no end to trouble if they were to be put with everyone else.
Entering the cla.s.sroom, Lilia went straight to her seat. The seats were s.p.a.ced in six columns and five rows. Lilia's seat was front row. Probably because it was so early, there were only a few people. Unapproached by anyone, she managed to sit down at her desk.
--Lilia. You gonna be okay?
--What is it?
--Well... the seat beside you.
Having it pointed out by Sakura, Lilia remembered something she had forgotten about until now. Looking at the seat to her right. The Prince's seat.
--Definitely not alright.
--Yeah, let's see...
There's no helping that the Prince was in the same cla.s.s. That was just how school was, so she could make do. But having an adjacent seat was a different story. Lilia shot up from her seat, and turned her gaze towards the window.
Krystel Agnis. The eldest daughter of the Marquis Agnis, she was referred to as Kris. It couldn't be said that she particularly got along with Lilia. Rather, you could even say that they were enemies, but at the moment she was the lesser of two evils. Lilia quietly walked towards Kris.
"Oh?"
Kris soon noticed as well. Floating a mean-spirited smile, she gazed at Lilia. Lilia hated this smile.
"Morning, Kris. A bit of your time?"
"My my, good morning, Miss Lilianne. What may I help you with?"
Her speech was polite, but the ridicule hanging on to every word was thoroughly conveyed. Absolutely unpleasant.
"I'd just like to ask for a small favour."
"A favour is it? If it is something within my capabilities, by all means. In the Duke's name, do bestow upon myself your commands."
It was a thoroughly irritating way of speaking. But if she rose up to her provocation, the conversation will never get anywhere. Lilia ignored all the goading and continued to speak.
"Our seats, would you be willing to switch with me?"
Kris's eyes went wide with surprise. That was to be expected, as Lilia's seat, the seat beside the prince, was something Lilia had half threatened her way into obtaining. Everyone, the prince included, knew about this.
"I had heard that something happened between you and His Highness but... Seriously?"
In her astonishment Kris's speech returned to her normal tone. Lilia nodded.
"That's right. If nothing else I definitely don't want to have the adjacent seat. You had said that you'd wanted to be beside His Highness before so, it's not a bad deal is it?"
"That, it is not but... What are you scheming?"
She glared at Lilia with open hostility. Lilia shrugged, signalling 'nothing at all', and responded.
"You see, I'm already through with His Highness."
"That so... Then even if you want switch back later, it ain't happening alright?"
"I won't. I will swear so on the Aldis name."
Even so, Kris looked at Lilia with suspicion, but quickly turned it into a broad smile. She quickly gathered the belongings on her desk. What's more just for the occasion, albeit simple, she even gave it a quick cleaning.
"Well then, here you are Mistress Lilianne. From now on this seat is yours."
"Th-thanks... I didn't think you'd go that far. I haven't cleaned mine at all though..."
"I don't mind. Well then I'll be off. Ufufu..."
Leaving behind her followers, she headed towards the place that used to be Lilia's seat. After that, the two followers hurriedly went after her. Somewhat understanding what Kris must be feeling, Lilia made a bitter smile, and sat down in the vacated seat.
--With this I can rest easy. Ahh, but if possible I'd like to be further back...
--Quite rare for the attention seeker Lilia huh.
--That was only because I wanted to attract the attention of his highness. Now though, I don't really care anymore.
After a little while, the rest of the students had arrived. Negotiating with the student in the seat behind her, she exchanged seats with them. That was repeated three times, and Lilia finally acquired the window seat in the last row. If it's here, she shouldn't stand out.
--That was some good negotiating if I do say so myself.
--No, here's the thing Lilia. That was because you were basically coercing them you know. Lilia's requests, to most people, would be taken as an order. I'll overlook it for today, but please try to restrain yourself in the future.
--I was just trying to normally ask for a favour though... I understand....
She had really just been trying to ask for a normal favour, but it seems like the other parties felt like they were being commanded. It's no wonder that all of them had fear in their eyes. It was the first time she ended up feeling that the Aldis name was a hinderance.
Sitting in her chair, as she took a breath,
"Miss Lilianne, so you had already arrived. We were very worried!"
One of the three said, and the other two nodded repeatedly.
"Sorry. I'm alright now."
"Ahh, that's great! What a relief. By the way... Why might you be sitting in the corner of the cla.s.s like this? Don't tell me, Miss Krystel has...?"
The girls' eyes narrowed. Seeing that, Lilia openly heaved a sigh. Lilia also understood the feelings of the girls very well, but the current her who wanted to stay out of anything troublesome felt a slight annoyance at this. The three who noticed Lilia's sigh were visibly fl.u.s.tered.
"Uh, umm... Miss Lilianne...?"
"It's nothing. It was I who desired this seat. You must have heard about the rumours between me and His Highness?"
"Well, yes... They seemed like baseless rumours so I hadn't paid them any mind though."
"They're the truth. From now on, I will do my utmost to avoid being involved with His Highness so please also act accordingly."
The three's eyes widened in astonishment together. That was probably to be expected, though. The Lilia before she shut herself away would try to be by the prince as much as possible after all. It wouldn't be strange if they said that they couldn't believe it.
The girl who was speaking raised a loud voice. Lilia reflexively raised her guard at the suddenness of it.
"What?"
"Please don't feel down! If it's Miss Lilianne then you can definitely take back His Highness's heart!"
Haunted Duke’s Daughter
取り憑かれた公爵令嬢
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/haunted-dukes-daughter/
Comedy Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo Slice of Life Supernatural
Broken Engagement Character Growth Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Female Protagonist Friendship Hard-Working Protagonist Heartwarming Loyal Subordinates Maids Nobles Otome Game Possession Royalty Second Chance Servants Sharing A Body Sword And Magic Unrequited Love Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5708cr/
龍翠