「セドリック様。これはどういうことでしょう? わたくしは招待客のはずですけれど」
「白々しい。リリアが行方不明になった! お前の仕業だろう!」
壇上から降りたセドリックが、荒々しい足取りで、衛兵に両腕をとられ押さえ込まれたアイリーンの前までやってきた。穏やかなオーケストラの音はやみ、皆が息をひそめてこちらを伺っている。
「お前が魔物と手を組もうとしているとマークスから報告を受けた。リリアに何かあったら、ただではすまさない......!」
「わたくしがどうしてリリア様をさらわなければなりませんの」
笑いを堪えるために、うなだれた。
唇を噛み締める姿をどう思ったのか、セドリックは幾分か勢いを和らげる。
「俺は、今回の夜会をせめてものお前の名誉挽回のためにと招待したのに......! お前はいつだって、人の善意を踏みにじる」
悟られないようにちらりと視線を壇上に動かすと、父親の姿が見えた。厳しい顔つきだが、あれはにやにやしたいのを必死で堪えている顔だ。自重していただけて何よりだ。
(他にも、結構な大物貴族がいるわね......皇帝と皇后は、さすがにいないけれど)
お遊びの延長で学園のパーティーと同じ面子かと思ったが、皇太子主催となるとそうもいかないのだろう。けれどセドリックはその意味を分かっていない。
あの大物貴族達は、もうすぐ学園を卒業するセドリックが皇太子としてどう振る舞うのかを見に来ているのだ。
「脅迫文もお前だろう。言え、リリアはどこだ」
「存じ上げません。セドリック様に愛想をつかして出て行かれたのでは?」
迷いのない前向きな思考だ。見習いたい。
「――セドリック様。わたくしはリリア様の誘拐など目論んでいません。そもそもそんな証拠がどこに御座いますの。ちゃんと調査なさいました?」
「まだ言い逃れを......そんなもの必要ない。国民の税金で無駄な調査費など払うなど、無能のやることだ。そもそもお前以外に誰がこんなことをする理由がある!」
「......。本当に、わたくしはどうしてこんな無能な男に懸想していたのかしら?」
思いのほか、声が明るく響いた。
ぱちりとまばたいたあとで、セドリックが聞き返す。
「――なんて言った、今」
「あなたみたいなクズで馬鹿で無能で将来性のない男がどうして好きだったのかしら、と言いました。聞こえまして?」
今度こそ聞き間違えなかったのか、セドリックが沈黙した。
「セドリック様。もう一度申し上げますが、わたくしはリリア様を誘拐しておりません」
「......。ま、まだ言い訳をするか。俺と復縁するにはリリアが邪魔なんだろう」
「復縁? セドリック様なんてお金を払ってでも誰かに引き取っていただきたいです」
「――嘘をつけ! お前は俺を慕っていると、未練がましく言った!」
ああ、あれがこの盛大な思い込みの原因か。冷めた目でアイリーンは吐き捨てる。
「これだから男は」
「慕って『いた』と申し上げました。過去形です。今はもう欠片も、興味も御座いません。勘違いなさらないでくださいます? わたくしはあなたを愛してなどおりません」
間抜け面で、セドリックは惚けていた。溜め息を吐いて、アイリーンは繰り返す。
「二度言いますわね。わたくしはあなたを愛していません。未練もないし、もうかかわりたくもありません、正直同じ空気を吸っているだけで気分が悪くなります。さっさと婚約破棄したいので、どうか書面に署名させてくださいませ」
「......。ど、どうしてだ! そんなはずがない。そんな――わ、分かったぞ。お前、まだ俺の気を引こうとしてるんだろう!」
顎を乱暴につかまれた。
ぎらぎらしたセドリックの両目に息を飲む。
「だから正直に言うんだ。リリアをさらったのはお前だろう......嫉妬にかられて、俺を忘れられずに」
両腕をつかんで拘束していた衛兵達が、セドリックの態度にひるんだのか力がゆるんだのが幸いだった。自由になった手で、セドリックの手首をつかみ、はがそうとする。だがびくとも動かない。息をするだけで精一杯だ。
「俺達だって無用な争いは起こしたくない。リリアをさらったと認めろ。そうすれば考慮してやる。お前はドートリシュ公爵家の令嬢だ、その立場を尊重しての、俺の慈悲だ......!」
「だ、れが」
「せ、セドリック様。ご令嬢相手に、これ以上はいくらなんでも」
「黙れ! 皇太子の俺に指図するな。......これは俺の女だ!」
誰がお前の女だ。怒りで目が眩む。瞬間、悲鳴が上がった。
背後から出てきた大きな影に、セドリックが腰を抜かす。解放されたアイリーンは背後を見た。自分の影だ。
太い前脚、人間など一飲みしてしまいそうな口。どう猛な爪と、鋭い牙。魔物だ。
(フェンリルの親!? どうして――いいえ、そんな場合じゃないわ!)
「駄目、戻りなさい! 人間を傷つけては――」
フェンリルが、大きな口を開ける。その牙を見たセドリックが悲鳴を上げた。
「ひっ――う、ああぁぁぁぁ!」
そしてフェンリルは、ぺっとセドリックに向けて唾を吐きかけた。
会場に静寂が広がる。
唾液で全身べとべとになったセドリックも、そのまま固まっていた。
ふんと鼻を鳴らしたフェンリルは、アイリーンの横に大人しく座る。立ち上がったアイリーンは、みっともなくへたりこんでいるセドリックとフェンリルを交互に見て――それから扇で口元を覆った。
「......仮にも皇太子に、唾を吐きかけるなんて......ふふ、ふふふ、おかしい」
アイリーンは手を伸ばし、その巨体を撫でた。
「恩を返しにきたということ? 結界の外に出るなんて......クロード様が怒るわよ」
「ギャウ」
「......他の子にもわたくしは大丈夫と伝えて」
そう言って、ぽんとその体を叩く。
「助けてくれて有り難う。下がりなさい」
聡明な瞳でアイリーンを見返したフェンリルは、そのままするりとアイリーンの影に飲みこまれていった。
魔物の姿が消えたことで、固まっていた会場の人間達が顔を見合わせる。
アイリーンは深呼吸して、へたり込んだままのセドリックを見下ろした。
「百年の恋もいっぺんに冷めますわね」
「わたくしが署名する書面はどちらに? あの壇上かしら」
「待て――待て! まだ俺の話は終わっていない!」
踵を鳴らして歩き出そうとしたアイリーンのドレスの裾を、セドリックがつかんだ。
べっとりしたその手に眉をひそめるが、蹴飛ばすのも不憫だ。哀れみの眼差しで、セドリックを見下ろす。
「な、なんだその顔は――なんなんだ! なんで俺がお前に、そんな目で見られなきゃならない! 婚約破棄されるのはお前なんだぞ!」
「嬉しいですわ。有り難うございます」
「どうしてだ、どうしてだ! お前みたいな女、もらってやれるのは俺しかいないんだ。頭を下げろ! 皇太子から婚約破棄された疵物だ、一生、誰にも――」
「セ、セドリック様!」
転がり込むように、兵士がやってきた。セドリックのみっともない姿も目に入らないくらい動揺し
た様子で、あえぐように口を動かす。
「そ、その、――クロード皇子が......魔王が、空に......!」
――瞬間、ドーム型に覆われていた硝子の天井が音を立てて割れた。
[Cedric-sama. What do you mean by this? I am supposed to be the guest of this party, aren't I?] (Aileen)
[Shameless. Lilia whereabout is unknown! It's your deed, isn't it?!] (Cedric)
Cedric came down from the platform with a violent stride and stood in front of Aileen whose both arms were immobilized due to being held by the palace guards. The gentle sound from the orchestra had stopped; everyone was trying to breathe as quietly and inconspicuously as possible while waiting for things to happen over here.
[I received a report from Max that you tried to form an alliance with the monsters. If something happens to Lilia, I'll make you pay for it......!] (Cedric)
[Why must I be the one who kidnaps Lilisama?] (Aileen)
For the sake of holding up her laughter, she wore a crestfallen look on her face.
She didn't know how Cedric would perceive her figure who was currently biting her lips, but his momentum became somewhat softened.
[I invited you to this evening party for the sake of helping you to at least restore your honor, and yet......!You always trample on others good will] (Cedric)
When she moved her line of sight towards the platform as if not understanding what he meant, she saw her father's figure. Although he had a strict countenance on his face, he definitely looked like he was desperately trying to force himself not to grin. Above all, it was amazing that he was able to restrain himself.
(Other than that, there are quite a lot of great aristocrats present in this party......But as expected, there's no Emperor and the Empress present, though)
He certainly thought that this evening party would be like the extension of the parties that they'd played around in the academy, but a party organized by a Crown Prince was different than a child's play. However, Cedric didn't understand what that meant.
Those great aristocrats actually came here to observe Crown Prince Cedric's way of conduct who will be graduating from the academy soon.
[You're also the source of the threatening letters, aren't you? Speak, where is Lilia?] (Cedric)
[I don't know. Maybe she left because she was exhausted from Cedric-sama's affection?] (Aileen)
It was a positive thought without an ounce of hesitation. I want to follow that as an example.
[----Cedric-sama. I never have the intention to do things like kidnapping Lilisama. Where did you find that kind of evidence in the first place? Did you investigate it properly?] (Aileen)
[You're still denying it......Doing that kind of thing is unnecessary. It's inefficient to use citizen's tax money to pay for useless things like an investigation cost. Who else other than you have the reason to do things like this in the first place!]  (Cedric)
[....... Truly, I wonder why did I fall in love with this kind of incompetent man?] (Aileen)
Surprisingly, her voice was clearly being heard even from far away.
After blinking his eyes in bewilderment, Cedric asked her to repeat those words again.
[----What did you just say?] (Cedric)
[I said I wonder why did I like a jerk, a stupid, and an incompetent man with no future prospects like you. Did you hear me?] (Aileen)
Cedric was silent; maybe because he didn't hear wrongly this time around.
[Cedric-sama. I'm going to tell you once again, I did not kidnap Lilisama] (Aileen)
[....... Y, you still make excuses? Lilia is a nuisance for you to reconcile with me, isn't she?] (Cedric)
[Reconcile? Cedric-sama no matter how much money you pay to someone, someone will still want to take it] (Aileen)
[----Liar! You said you're unwilling to let me go because you love me dearly!] (Cedric)
Aah, so that was the cause of this grand wrong impression. With cold eyes, Aileen spat out at him.
[This is why men are...]  (Aileen)
[I told you {I used to} love you dearly. It's past tense. Right now, I don't have, not even an ounce of interest towards you. Can you please not misunderstand me? I do not love you] (Aileen)
With a foolish look on his face, Cedric was befuddled. Aileen repeated her words after breathing a sigh.
[I will not say this again. I do not love you. I don't have any lingering attachment towards you; I also don't want to have anything to do with you anymore, and honestly, just breathing the same air as you make me feel sick. I want to immediately break off our engagement, so please give me the doc.u.ment that I need to sign] (Aileen)
[....... W, why?! This isn't supposed to go like this. There's no wa----I, I understand. You still want to capture my heart, aren't you?!] (Cedric)
He roughly grasped Aileen's chin.
Cedric's dazzling eyes took her breath away.
[So, tell me honestly. You're the one who kidnaps Lilia, aren't you?......You're driven by your own feelings, unable to forget me] (Cedric)
It was fortunate that the strength exerted by the palace guards who were restraining Aileen by her arms slackened, maybe due to their surprise from Cedric's behavior. Her freed hands, gripped Cedric's wrist to rip him off of her. However, he didn't budge an inch. She could only breathe as best as she could.
[We don't want to raise any unnecessary conflict. Confess that you do kidnap Lilia. If you do that, I'll take you into consideration. I'll grant you mercy considering your esteemed position as the lady of the D'Autriche Ducal House......!] (Cedric)
[So-someone] (Aileen)
[Ce, Cedric-sama. Your opponent is a lady if you do more than that] (Palace guard A)
[Be quiet! Don't order this Crown Prince. ......This is my woman!] (Cedric)
Who the heck is your woman? Aileen was lost in her fury. At that moment, someone screamed.
There was a large shadow coming out from her back; Cedric was paralyzed with fear. Aileen who was finally released, looked behind her. It was her own shadow.
Thick forefeet and a mouth that could swallow the likes of human in one gulp. Ferocious claws and a sharp fangs. It was a monster.
(The Fenrir's parent!? Why is----No, this is not the time for that!)
[You can't! Go back, now! If you hurt a human----] (Aileen)
The Fenrir opened up his big mouth. When Cedric saw its fangs, he screamed loudly.
[Hi----U, AAAAAAA!] (Cedric)
And then the Fenrir turned towards Cedric and spit on him "ptooey".
Silence spread around the a.s.sembly hall.
Cedric whose whole body became sticky after being covered by saliva was still petrified just like that.
With a humph, the Fenrir snorted and obediently sat beside Aileen. Aileen who was standing looked back and forth between Cedric who remained in his pathetically disgraceful figure and the Fenrir----After that, she covered her mouth with a folding fan.
[......To think that the Crown Prince himself was being spat on even for a joke......Fufu, fufufu, it's amusing] (Aileen)
Aileen reached out her hand and pat that large build beside her.
[Are you repaying a favor? For you to go out of the barrier......Claude-sama will get angry at you, you know?]  (Aileen)
[Gyau] (Fenrir)
[......Tell the other children that I am fine] (Aileen)
As she said that, Aileen pat that body with a pop.
[Thank you for coming to save me. Withdraw] 
The Fenrir that was looking back at Aileen with its pair of intelligent eyes, was swallowed back into Aileen's shadow while it was still sitting.
When the figure of the monster vanished from sight, the petrified humans in the a.s.sembly halls were now exchanging glances at each other.
Aileen took a deep breath and looked down at Cedric's sorry figure.
[It seems like even a century old love can fade all at once] (Aileen)
[Which doc.u.ment should I put my signature on? Is it at the top of that platform?] (Aileen)
[Wait----wait! I haven't finished my story yet!] (Cedric)
Hearing the clicks of Aileen's heel when she walked away, Cedric tightly grabbed the hem of Aileen's dress.
That sticky hand of his caused Aileen to knit her eyebrows, but it was pitiful to kick his hand away. She looked down on Cedric with eyes full of pity.
[Wh, what's with that expression----What the heck! Why do I have to be looked at by you with that kind of eyes?! The one whose engagement is annulled is you!] (Cedric)
[I am glad. Thank you very much] (Aileen)
[Why, why! The only one who can accept a woman like you is me! Bow your head to me! You're the unvirtuous lady whose engagement has been annulled by me, the Crown Prince, for all your life, no one will----] (Cedric)
[Ce-Cedric-sama!] (Palace guard Z)
A palace guard turned up stumbling into the a.s.sembly hall. He was so shaken up he didn't notice Cedric's shameful appearance.
He looked like he was struggling to move his mouth.
[Uh, umm----Prince Claude is......The Demon King is, at the sky......!] 
----At that moment, the dome-shaped gla.s.s ceiling made a sound and shattered.
Villainous Daughter Aims for the Last Boss
悪役令嬢なのでラスボスを飼ってみました
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/villainous-daughter-aims-for-the-last-boss/
Drama Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Bloodlines Broken Engagement Business Management Businessmen Calm Protagonist Demon Lord Demons Female Protagonist Handsome Male Lead Hated Protagonist Kuudere Multiple Reincarnated Individuals Nobles Otome Game Politics Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Saints Sword And Magic Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2766dz/
永瀬さらさ