金属のこすれる音がした。
こめかみに痛みが走る。髪がこびりついているのが分かった。多分、血のせいだろう。
「――じゃあ、リリア。行こう。この塔は狭いし、あっちでゆっくりした方がいい」
「そう......ね。セドリック様......あの」
「リリア。分かってくれ。君を幸せにするためにも、僕は皇太子でなければならない。一度だけだ。正妃は、君だから」
「......あ......アイリーン様、目を覚ましたわ」
セドリックを見上げていた瞳からあっさり涙を引っ込めて、リリアが笑う。
一度深呼吸をして、アイリーンは尋ねた。
「......これは、何の真似かしら?」
手首には鉄の枷がはめられており、そこからのびた鎖は寝台の柱にぐるぐるに巻き付けられている。粗末だがしっかりと作られた寝台を引きずらないと身動きできない仕様だ。
――そう、アイリーンは寝台に横たえられていた。頭の上に両手首を縛られた格好で。
「......私、さっきのこと許します。きっとアイリーン様は混乱してたんだと思うから」
もう赤くない頬に手を当てて、リリアが儚げに微笑む。
「私、アイリーン様を尊敬してます。だから一緒に頑張りましょう」
「......第二妃とか一緒にとか、どういうことですの。わたくしとセドリック様との婚約は破棄されたはずでしょう。他ならぬあなたのおかげで」
「そうなんですけど、やっぱり私は嘘をつきあったり騙し合ったりする汚い貴族の方とお話しするの、苦手みたいで......でも、アイリーン様なら得意でしょう? 助けて欲しいの」
話が読めてきた。
あの夜会の軽率な振る舞いで、リリアの皇妃としての資質――ひいてはセドリックの皇太子としての資質が疑問視されたのだろう。男爵家ではあるが、リリアの実家は大きな力を持っていない。そのあたりから軽んじられるようになり、彼らは間抜けにもこう考えた。
皇妃の仕事や煩わしいことは全てアイリーンに押しつけ、自分達はそのまま安泰な地位を保持することを。
「助ける、ね。――リリア様、あなた、セドリック様のために努力する気もないのね」
「そんな。ただ、人は誰だって得意不得意があるから」
「いいんだ、リリア。俺はリリアを格式張った古い慣習に押し込める気は最初からない」
「そんな子供の反抗期みたいなことを言って、皇帝はなんて仰ったの?」
見事に詰まったセドリックとリリアの反応で分かった。皇帝は相手にしなかったのだ。
「――マークス。リリアを連れてここから出ろ」
マークスに肩を抱かれ、リリアが出て行く。重い鉄の扉が唯一の出入り口らしい。ご丁寧に施錠の音まで聞こえた。さらに内側からかんぬきをかけて、セドリックが寝台の脇に座る。
そして冷たい双眸で、アイリーンを見下ろした。
「ずっと考えていた。――いつからお前は兄上とできていた?」
「......何を、仰ってますの」
「父上もどうしてお前みたいな尻軽の方が皇妃にふさわしかった、などと言うんだろうな。挙げ句、どうしてもリリアがいいと言うなら、皇妃にふさわしい側室を他に作れ、などと......!」
「それでわたくしとよりを戻そうと? でもわたくしを監禁して、どう――」
途中で思い至って、口を噤んだ。
(今晩中に、わたくしを、第二妃にする方法)
あるじゃないか。そうされたら、アイリーンはもう、セドリックに嫁ぐしかない。
何故なら皇室の血を残すことは、この国の貴族の子女にとっては義務だ。
「む、ぐっ!」
「うるさくされると冷める。リリアに聞かせたくはないし、舌をかまれても困る」
ハンカチを取り出したセドリックが口に噛ませるようにして巻き付ける。そして小さなナイフで、アイリーンの胸元を縛る紐と一緒に生地を切っていった。まるで作業のように。
「んー! んー!」
「お前がこのまま僕に抱かれれば、第二妃。ドートリシュ公爵家の後ろ盾だって得られる。邪魔ができるとしたら兄上だろう。――でも、どんな顔をするだろうな?」
ばたつかせた足がのしかかってきたセドリックの鳩尾を蹴った。
怒りに目を燃やしたセドリックが、アイリーンに馬乗りになってその頬を殴る。続けて反対側を。さらにもう一度、殴る。
「俺だって! こんなことを! したくないんだ! どうして分からない!」
「......っ!」
「好きだった男の役に立てるんだ、有り難く思え......!」
力任せに首回りの服の生地が引き裂かれる。せめて時間稼ぎだけでもできないか。
それとも、この後どう立ち回るか冷静に考えた方が賢いのか。
(この後)
考えるより先に血の気が引いた。――クロードに、知られたら。
殴られた時に切れた口の中で、じんわり血の味が広がる。
クロードはきっと、それだけでアイリーンを拒むなんてことはしない。けれどあの美しい魔王の瞳に、自分は疵物として映ることはさけられないだろう。
耐えがたかった。それ以上に驚きだった。
このアイリーン・ローレン・ドートリシュが、たった一人の男の視線を気にするなんて。その人の中では、一番綺麗でいたいだなんて。
そんなの、まるで恋をしているみたいじゃないか。
(――だったら余計、この状況をなんとかすべきでしょう! しっかりしなさい......!)
動けなくなった自分を叱咤した。体の上を這いずるこれは芋虫みたいなものだ。人間が負けるわけがない。だから諦める必要なんて、泣く必要なんて、どこにもない。
「うぐっ!」
動きが止まったせいで、大人しくなったと勘違いしたセドリックにもう一発お見舞いしてやった。だがそれだけだ。
(足技で男を殺せる方法をお母様に教えてもらっておけばよかった!)
「い、いい加減、諦めて、大人しく――」
「イタ! 魔王様、アイリーン、見ツケタ!!」
くぐもった声の方向に目を向ける。鉄格子の窓にべったりはりついたカラスがいた。かろうじて首元に蝶ネクタイが見える。アーモンドだ。
目を見開くと同時に、天井が吹き飛んだ。一気に視界が広くなる。
(クロード様)
薄紫の夜空から降り立ったのは、人間でいる限りは何者にも負けない王。
胸一杯に広がったのは安堵だった。悔しさも意地もない。やっと震えがこみ上げて、横に倒した頬に、ぽろりと涙が零れる。しゃくり上げた。
(助けにきてくれた)
大丈夫だ。これで、何も怖くない。
だが、アイリーンは気づいていなかった。
クロードから、この状況がどう見えるかということに。
She heard the sound of metal sc.r.a.ping.
Pain was running through her temple. She found out that her hair was sticky. It was probably from the blood.
[----Well then, Lilia. Let's go. This tower is cramped, so you better take a rest over there] (Cedric)
[You're......right. Cedric-sama......umm] (Lilia)
[Lilia. Please understand. For the sake of your happiness, I have to be the Crown Prince. This is going to happen just once. Because the first princess consort is you after all] 
[......I......Irene-sama, has woke up] (Lilia)
Lilia easily withdrew the tears from her eyes to look up at Cedric and smiled to him.
Irene asked after taking in a deep breath once.
[......I wonder what kind of behavior is this?] (Irene)
Irene's wrists were cuffed by iron handcuffs, and from there, an extended chain was wrapped around the pillar of the bed. Although the sight was crude, those handcuffs were well-built; it couldn't be moved without pulling the bed with it.
----That's right, Irene was being laid down on the bed with both of her wrists being tied above her head.
[......I'll forgive you for the thing that happened a while ago. Because, I think that Irene-sama was surely confused by the situation] (Lilia)
Lilia put her hand on her no longer red cheek and laughed delicately.
[I respect Irene-sama. So, let's do our best together] (Lilia)
[......What do you mean by Second Princess Consort or being together or whatever this is? My engagement with Cedric-sama should have been annulled, right? It was all thanks to none other than you] (Irene)
[Yes, that is so; but as expected, it seems like I'm not good at talking to those dirty n.o.bles who told lies and only knows how to cheat each other......But, Irene-sama is good at it, isn't she? So, I want you to help me] 
She had read the story.
With her thoughtless conduct at that evening party, not only Lilia's disposition as an Empress----but also Cedric's disposition as the Crown Prince was probably being doubted. Despite coming from a Baron House, her House didn't possess a large authority. Because of those circ.u.mstances, the situation had reached the point where Lilia was being looked down on. Even those idiot n.o.bles thought of the matter this way.
They'll impose all Empress' duty and other complicated matters to Irene, and they'll be able to securely maintain their social position as it is.
[Help you. Right----Lilisama, you don't even feel the need to put some effort for Cedric-sama's sake, right?] (Irene)
[That's not it. We humans each have their own strong and weak points after all] (Lilia)
[That's fine, Lilia. I have no intention to imprison you by making you adhere to formalities and antiquated customs from the very beginning] (Cedric)
[What would the Emperor say to this kind of child who spoke like a rebellious teenager?] (Irene)
From the way Cedric and Lilia turned completely loss at words from her mocking question, Irene already knew the Emperor's reaction. The Emperor had given Cedric the cold shoulder.
[----Max. Bring Lilia out of this place] (Cedric)
Embracing Lilia's shoulder, Max led her out of the room. It seems like the heavy iron door is the only exit and entrance to this place. She could hear the sound of the door being locked properly. Moreover, after securing the bolt at the door from inside, Cedric sat on the bedside.
And then, he looked down on Irene with his cold eyes.
[I've been thinking about this for a long time. ----Since when did you become closer to my brother?] (Cedric)
[......What, are you talking about?] (Irene)
[Father as well, I wonder why did he say that a frivolous woman like you is suitable to become an Empress and so forth. In the end, if Lilia is as good as I said, let the Empress made her a concubine worthy of the Emperor, and so forth......!] (Cedric)
[Is that your reason to reconcile with me?But, I'm in confinement, how----] (Irene)
Amidst all of this, she realized something that caused her to stay silent.
(During this evening, the method of making me the Second Princess Consort...)
There is, isn't there? If Cedric does so, Irene has no choice but to marry him.
It was the n.o.ble children's obligation in this Empire to produce an heir to the Imperial Household after all.
[Mu, ugh!] 
[This is to prevent you from being loud. I don't want to let Lilia hear this. Plus, I'll be troubled if you were to bite your tongue] 
Cedric took out a handkerchief and shoved it into Irene's mouth while making sure to wreathe it around her head. And then, he used a small knife to cut the strings together with the cloth that was binding Irene's breast as if he was doing a surgery.
[Nnn-!Nnn-!] 
[I'm going to embrace you just like this and make you my Second Princess Consort. With this, I'll be able to earn the support of the D'Autriche Duke House as well. If we become intimate, the one who will become a nuisance is brother, right?----But, I wonder what kind of face he's going to make?] 
Clattering around, she bent her knees and kicked Cedric's solar plexus.
With eyes burning with anger, Cedric began to straddle Irene and strike her cheek. Then, he continued to strike her other cheek. Again, once more, he would strike her.
[Even I!Don't want to do!This kind of thing!Why can't you understand?!] 
[......Ugh!] 
[You can be useful to the man you used to like, you should feel grateful......!] 
He tore off the cloth around her neck with all of his strength. Couldn't she at least find a way to stall some time by herself?
Or perhaps, is it wiser to calmly think about how she was going to conduct herself after this?
(After this...)
Irene grew paler earlier than she could think about that. ----If Claude-sama knows about this...
Gradually, she could taste the blood inside her mouth coming from the injuries caused by Cedric's continuous strikes on her cheeks.
Claude-sama surely won't reject Irene just because of that. However, she couldn't avoid being reflected as an unvirtuous girl in that beautiful Demon King's eyes, could she?
She wanted to resist. She was even more surprised with herself.
To think that this Irene Lauren D'Autriche would care about the gaze of only one man. And to think, she wanted to be the most beautiful amongst those people in his eyes.
That sort of thing... it was as if she was falling in love him, wasn't it?
(----If that's the case,  you definitely have to do something about this situation!You need to get a hold of yourself......!)
She reprimanded herself who had stopped moving. The thing that was crawling on her body was like a caterpillar. Because there's no way she would lose to humans like him. That's why, there was no need for her to give up, and she did not need a place to cry as well.
[Ugh!] 
Cedric who had misunderstood Irene's lack of resistance as obedience tried calling out to her. But only to that extent.
(I wish I had asked Mother to teach me how to kill a man with my foot!)
[T-that's enough, just give up, obediently----] 
[She's here!Demon King-sama, I found Irene!!] 
She s.h.i.+fted her attention to the direction of that m.u.f.fled voice. There was a crow clinging to the window's bars. She could barely see the bow tie around the base of his neck. It was Almond.
The ceiling was blown off at the same time her eyes were widely opened. Her field of vision was instantly expanded.
(Claude-sama)
Coming down from the light purple night sky, there stood the King who will not be defeated by anyone as long as he is a human.
Her heart was overflowing with relief. She was neither mortified nor awkward. Finally, she felt herself trembling and tears were rolling down on her beaten cheeks. She was heaving with sobs.
(He came here to save me)
It's alright. With this, there's nothing to fear about.
However, Irene didn't realize the impact of this situation.
Especially how this situation looked like from Claude's perspective.
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