――ちょっと、どうしたのよ。大丈夫?
――ああ、リリア......。私はもうだめだ......。
――え、ちょっと......。どうしたの?
真に迫ったその声に、リリアは表情を青ざめさせた。これほどしおらしいさくらの声など聞いたことがない。不安な気持ちのままさくらの声を待つ。
視線を落とす。野菜炒めを見る。ピーマンが入っていた。
――これ、だけで......? ピーマンの味なんてしなかったけど......。
いつも元気な声が、続けて沈んだ声を出しているとリリアも不安になる。申し訳なく思いながら、ごめんねと謝罪した。
「リリア、どうしたの?」
ティナの声。リリアは何と答えていいか分からずに口を閉ざしてしまった。それでもティナの心配そうな瞳は変わらず、リリアは小さくため息をついた。
「ごめんなさい、ティナ。急用を思い出したから失礼するわね」
夕食はまだ半分も食べられていない。正直腹は満たされていないが、このままさくらを放置するわけにもいかないだろう。リリアは席を立つと、唖然としたままのティナへと笑顔を見せた。
「先に言っておくけど、貴方が何かをしたとかじゃないから安心しなさい。それじゃあ、またね」
軽く手を振り、その場を後にする。食堂から出たリリアは、自室へと急いだ。
自室に戻ったリリアは寝室に駆け込むと、机の引き出しの一つを開ける。そこには小さな布の袋が入っていた。質素な造りだが、生地そのものは上等なものだ。リリアはそれを開けて中身を確かめる。少なくない銅貨や銀貨が入っている。小さく頷くと、さくらを呼んだ。
――さくら。聞こえる?
――ん......。なに?
返事はあったが、相変わらず元気がない。まさかピーマン一つでここまでになるとは思わなかった。
――今から外に出かけるわ。
――何か食べたいものはある? 遠くへは行けないけど。
――果物!
途端に元気な声が頭に響いた。現金だなと苦笑しつつ、リリアは部屋を出た。
「リリア様? もう夜なので、出かけるのはさすがにご遠慮いただきたいのですが......」
「そ、そうね......。分かっているわ」
頬を引きつらせながらすごすごと部屋へと戻る。せっかく元気になりかけたさくらがまた落ち込んでいるのがすぐに分かった。
――うう......。かみもほとけもいないのかー......。
意味は分からなかったが、嘆きだけは伝わってきた。
部屋の戸を未だに閉めないままアリサが口を開く。怪訝そうに振り返ると、
「お客様です」
アリサの後ろに、ティナがいた。
「ティナ? どうしたの? ご飯は?」
食堂を出てからまださほど時間は経っていない。それなのにどうしてもうここにいるのか。疑問に思いながらティナの言葉を待っていると、ティナはおずおずといった様子で手に持っていたものを差し出してきた。
小さな紙袋だ。不思議に思いながらも、ティナへと歩き、紙袋を受け取る。中を見てみると、みかんのような果物が入っていた。
「あの......。ご飯、口に合わなかったみたいだから......。食べてね」
そうして勢いよく、ごめんなさいと頭を下げてくる。リリアはぽかんと間抜けに口を開けていた。
「それじゃあ、わたしは食堂に戻るね。またね、リリア」
そうして部屋を出て行こうとする。リリアは慌ててその背を呼び止めていた。
「え......? どうしたの? あ、もしかして果物も苦手?」
「そんなわけないでしょう。その......。今日のは、たまたまだから。よければまた誘ってくれる?」
事実、夕食そのものは美味しいと感じていた。さくらのことがなければおそらく完食していただろう。さすがにリリア一人では入りにくい場所なので、ティナに誘ってもらわなければ入ろうとは思えない。
ティナはきょとんと呆けていたが、やがてすぐに笑顔になった。
「うん! また誘うね!」
そうして手を振って去って行く。リリアはそれを見送ってから、安堵のため息を漏らして扉を閉めた。
――リリア! みかん! みかんか知らないけど! みかん! 食べようよ!
途端に頭に響くさくらの声。リリアは苦笑すると、アリサに紙袋を差し出した。
「申し訳ないけど、いくつか用意してもらえる?」
「はい。畏まりました」
――ああ、美味しいなあ、幸せだよう......。
ゆっくりと味わいながら、苦笑する。その笑顔をどう受け止めたのか、アリサも優しく微笑んでいた。
翌日。リリアが一階のエントランスに行くと、ティナが昨日と同じようにリリアを待っていた。だが昨日の王子との一件を気にしているのか、挨拶を交わしただけだった。
――なにあの子。挨拶のために私を待っていたの?
――時間の無駄ね。
――リリアはぶれないね!
さくらが何事かを嘆いているようだが、気にする必要もないだろう。足早に校舎へと向かう。
校舎は寮の側だ。三階建ての石造りの建物で、とても広い造りになっている。リリアの教室は二階だ。やはり足早に廊下を歩いて行く。本当はそれほど急ぐ必要はないのだが、どうにも周囲の生徒から見られているような気がする。これは被害妄想ではなく、実際に視線を感じた方を見ると、目が合った生徒が慌てたように視線を逸らしていた。
王子との婚約破棄の次は、昨日の騒ぎだ。注目を集めるのも当然だろう。せめてもう少し人が少ない場所でならまだ良かったのだろうが、後の祭りだ。
--Hey, what's wrong with you. You okay?
--Ahh, Lilia&h.e.l.lip; I'm already done for&h.e.l.lip;
--Eh, hey wait&h.e.l.lip; What's wrong?
Hearing that truly strained voice made Lilia's expression pale. She had never before heard such a meek voice from Sakura. She waited anxiously for Sakura's response.
She lowered her gaze and looked at the fried vegetables. There were green peppers in it.
--Just, with this&h.e.l.lip;? I didn't really taste much of the green peppers though&h.e.l.lip;
Hearing that usually energetic voice continue to sink, it made Lilia worry as well. While feeling sorry, she apologised in her head.
"Lilia, what's wrong?"
It was Tina's voice. Not knowing how she should answer, Lilia ended up shutting her mouth. Even so the worry in Tina's eyes didn't go away, and Lilia gave a small sigh.
"I'm sorry, Tina. I just remembered some urgent business, so I must excuse myself here."
She hadn't even managed to eat half of her dinner yet. In fact, her appet.i.te was still unsatisfied, but she couldn't just keep going with Sakura in this state. Lilia rose from her seat and showed a smile to the dumbfounded Tina.
"I'll say this now, but please rest a.s.sured that this isn't because of anything you did. Well then, see you later."
Lightly waving her hand, she departed. After exiting the dining hall, Lilia hurried to her room.
Lilia rushed into her bedroom and, upon returning to her room, pulled out a drawer from the table. In there was a small cloth bag. It was of simple make, but the material itself was high cla.s.s. Lilia opened it and checked the contents. There was a sizable amount of copper and silver coins inside. With a small nod, she called out to Sakura.
--Sakura. Can you hear me?
--Nn&h.e.l.lip; What is it?
There was a response, but it was still just as weak. She didn't think a single piece of green pepper could have caused her to become like this.
--We're going to head out now.
--Is there anything you want to eat? Though we can't go too far.
--Fruit!
The energetic voice rang in her head momentarily. How mercenary thought Lilia as she smiled wryly, leaving the room. She soon ran into Alisa.
"Mistress Lilia? It's already late so, I think it best to hold off on going outside&h.e.l.lip;"
"R-right&h.e.l.lip; I understand."
Her cheek stiffening, Lilia dejectedly returned to the room. That Sakura's energy that she finally managed to restore all faded out again was also apparent.
--Uuu&h.e.l.lip; There is no G.o.d or Buddha huh&h.e.l.lip;
She didn't understand the meaning, but the lamentation was clearly conveyed.
Keeping the door open until now, Alisa opened her mouth. Dubiously turning around,
"It's a visitor."
Behind Alisa, there stood Tina.
"Tina? What's wrong? What about dinner?"
It hadn't been too long since she left from the dining hall. So why was Tina already here? Lilia wondered while waiting for her words, when Tina timidly presented the thing in her hands.
It was a small paper bag. Though thinking it strange, she approached Tina and received the bag. Looking inside, there was a mandarin like fruit.
"Umm&h.e.l.lip; Dinner, didn't seem to be to your tastes so&h.e.l.lip; Please have some of this."
And then she vigorously lowered her head in apology. Lilia was flabbergasted as she opened her mouth, it ending up lamely hung open.
"Well, I'll be heading back to the dining hall then. See you later, Lilia."
Saying so she made to leave the room. Lilia hurriedly called her for her back.
"Eh&h.e.l.lip;? What's wrong? Ah, is it that you dislike fruits as well?"
"Of course not. Just&h.e.l.lip; Today, there really was something unexpected that came up. If it's alright with you, please do invite me again sometime?"
In fact, she felt that the dinner itself was quite tasty. If not for Sakura, she probably would have finished it all. As expected, the place would be somewhat difficult for Lilia to enter alone, so she wouldn't think of going again without being invited by Tina.
Tina seemed to be blankly befuddled, but before long, an instant smile came to her face.
"Yup! I'll invite you again sometime!"
And so, she waved her hand and left. Seeing her off, Lilia let out a sigh of relief as she closed the door.
--Lilia! Mandarins! I don't know if they're actually mandarins but! Mandarins! Let's eat!
Instantly, Sakura's voice rang out in her head. Lilia smiled wryly and held out the paper bag to Alisa.
"Sorry, but could you prepare a few of these?"
"Yes. Certainly."
--Ahh, it's delicious, I'm in heaven&h.e.l.lip;
Slowly savouring the flavour, she smiled wryly. Somehow interpreting that smile, Alisa also beamed affectionately.
The next day. Going to the first floor entrance, Tina was there just like yesterday waiting for Lilia. However, perhaps minding the matter with The Prince from yesterday, she only exchanged her greetings.
--What's with that girl. She waited for me just to say hi?
--What a waste of time.
--Lilia's thinking never changes eh!
Sakura was lamenting over something again, but she probably didn't need to pay it any mind. She briskly headed for the school building.
The school building was beside the dormitory. A three story stone building, it was made to be quite a large structure. Lilia's cla.s.sroom was on the second floor. She still kept her brisk pace walking through the hallways. There wasn't actually any need to hurry that much, but it couldn't be helped that she felt she was drawing the gazes of the students around her. This wasn't just an overly self-conscious imagination either, as when she actually looked at the people she felt gazes from, they would hurriedly avert their gazes when she met their eyes.
The following act from The Prince's engagement annulment was all the uproar from yesterday after all. It was obvious that she would gather a lot of attention. If only it had happened somewhere where there were less people, but it's a bit too late for that now.
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