もう周囲は暗かった。庶民街の街灯は、夜が更ける前に切れてしまう。だから、十代の子らが出歩くのにギリギリの時間。ましてや公爵家の令嬢令息がお供も付けずに二人きり。明かりが消え次第、あっという間に誘拐されてしまうだろう。
その瀬戸際で、わたくしは声を張る。
「お願いします! この子は絵の天才なんです! 一度でいいから、ちゃんと彼の絵を見てもらえませんか!?」
「何度来られても、うちにこれ以上弟子をとる余裕はねーんだよ」
「そこをなんとかっ!」
いくら鍛え始めたといえど、大の男に突き飛ばされてしまえばそれまでだ。
――年の割のゴージャスなひげのくせに! 似合ってませんわ!
と罵るのは、胸中に納めなくては......。それなのに、わたくしが尻もち付くやいなや、周囲に比べて少しだけ小綺麗な家の扉が音を立てて閉められてしまう。
「姉さんっ、怪我は!?」
後ろでおどおどしていただけのルーファスが駆け寄って来るわ。大きな鞄を背負っているだけでなく、もう少し本人にもやる気を持ってもらいたいものだけど......いきなり連れて来たんだもの。仕方ないわよね。
「大丈夫よ」
このくらいの尻もちは、ザフィルド殿下との訓練で日常茶飯事だ。それよりも、わたくしが抱えていたルーファスの絵が破れていないようで何より。さすがに、家出でルーファスの描いた絵を全部は持って来れなかったから。彼が特別上手く描けたという二枚だけを持ってきたのだ。湖畔の風景画と......恥ずかしながら、わたくしの絵。湖畔は五年前に家族旅行で訪れた隣国の風景である。まだ彼が引きこもる前。その家族みんな仲が良かった頃の時のことを思い出して描いた絵画らしい。
うぅ......、我が弟ながら、なんて家族想いで優しい子なのかしら......!
姉としては、こんな可愛い弟が路頭に迷った挙げ句に人身売買にかけられる未来なんて、絶対に防がなくてはならないわ! どうせなら、彼が高笑いあげちゃうくらい幸せな未来を掴む礎を......高笑いは言いすぎね。彼は男子ですもの。ふふっ。
だから、これくらいへっちゃらよ。わたくしは小さく笑いながら、腰を上げる。
「さすがにこれ以上夜分遅くには失礼ね。今日の所はお暇しましょうか」
「......家に帰るの?」
「まさか」
家出初日に家に帰る根性なしがどこにいる。今頃わたくしたちの書き置きを見た両親が大騒ぎしている頃だから――そんな最中に帰ったら、外出一つ制限されることになってしまうわ。それはルーファスもわかっているみたい。
「それなら宿でもとるの? この時間に予約もなしで泊まれるものなのかなぁ?」
その点、わたくしたちは世間知らずだ。わたくしも一見さんの宿マナーはさっぱりだわ。
それでも、わたくしはルーファスの師匠(予定)のご自宅兼アトリエを見上げる。煉瓦調の少し派手な家は、師匠(予定)が異国文化を取り入れたこだわりらしい。元は男爵家の嫡男だったようだが、熱い美術への情熱ゆえに家を出て、その腕ひとつでアトリエを持つまでになったのだ。ご実家とも、最近少しだけ交流を持ち始めたとか。こんなルーファス向きの奉公先が、他にある?
「大丈夫よ。ちゃんと当てがあるから」
だからこの程度の困難で、わたくしの笑みを崩せるとは思わないでおいて。お姉ちゃんにどんと任せなさい!
それでも、通いで通学している生徒も少なくないんですの。なぜなら我がエルクアージュ領内は多くの学術機関があるわ。そのため教授職や研究職に就いている爵位持ちの貴族が、別邸を構えているケースが多くあるの。そんな父親や親戚の家に三年間お世話になる令息令嬢も少なくない、というわけね。
なので、彼女の場合もその例に漏れず――、
「夜分遅くにご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ございません」
「いえいえ、ルルーシェ様にはいつも娘がお世話になっておりますので。お食事はお摂りになりましたか?」
わたくしが和やかに宿主と話している、その奥で。
見覚えのあるご令嬢がガタガタと震えていた。どうして、どうして私の家に泊まりに来るの――そう言いたいのが丸わかりですわよ? 『顔をつくる』という技術を、もう少し身に着けてもらわないとですね。
その手本を見せるように、わたくしは彼女に優雅に微笑んでみせた。
「レミーエさんもごめんなさいね。具合が悪いというのに、お泊りのお願いなんかしてしまって」
「はひっ!! い、いえ......あの......」
「そういえば、わたくしが贈った本は読んでくれまして? もし快復されたのなら、デザートついでに感想を聞かせて――」
「うわーーんっ! ごめんなさ~~いっ!」
あらあら。泣きながら奥に下がってしまったわ。でもこの分なら、明日までに本を読破してくれそうね。感想はまた朝食をいただきながらお伺いするとしましょう。
ルーファスがちょいちょいと「あの人に何したの?」と訊いてくるけど、わたくしは何もしてませんわ。ただ毎日お勉強のお手伝いをしているだけですし。
有り難く今日も御夕飯をご相伴いただこうとしていると、宿主改め、経済学者の称号も持つアルバン男爵がゴージャスな眉毛を寄せてきた。
「ところでご両親......エルクアージュ公爵らには、本当に使いを送らなくて宜しいので?」
友達の家に泊まるだけとて、双方の親御に許可をとるのは当然の習わしだ。その当たり前の親切を無碍にするのは申し訳ないけれど。
わたくしはぎゅっと目を閉じてから、ひとしずく涙を零す。
「ご迷惑おかけしてしまい、申し訳ございません......でも、今は両親とは......」
その涙に、アルバン男爵は大慌て。
「あ、だ、大丈夫ですよ! お心が休まるまで、我が家で休養されてくださいね!」
「お心遣い、痛み入りますわ」
あぁ、ぜひレミーエ嬢に見てもらいたかったわ。女の涙には、使い所というものがありますのよ。
再び後ろからルーファスが服を引っ張ってくるけど知らんふり。あなたはどうか、こんな女の涙に騙されない紳士になってくださいね。あの世から期待しておりますわ。
Our surroundings were already dark. The streetlights along the common streets went out before the end of the night. It wasn't a time for teenagers to go out. Even more so, the daughter of a duke. As soon as the lights went out, she'd be kidnapped in no time.
At the brink, I screamed.
"Please! This child is a genius painter! Only once, can you please look at his paintings properly?!"
"No matter how many times you come, I can't afford to take any more disciples."
"Shut up!"
--well, until the huge man hit me, that is.
--Even though he had such a gorgeous beard for a man his age! He turned out to be such a ruthless man!
I could only spew curses inwardly. As soon as I reached home, the door of my house, which was a little more beautiful than my surroundings, closed with a bang.
"S, sister!? Are you injured!?"
Rufus rushed towards me in fear. Since he was carrying a large rucksack, I wanted him to exercise caution... but indeed, what happened was sudden. It couldn't be helped.
"I'm alright."
After all, such mishap was a daily occurrence in my training with Zafield. More importantly, it seemed that Rufus' paintings, which had I brought with me, weren't torn. As a matter of course, I couldn't bring all of his paintings. I brought only two of his best pieces. One was a landscape painting of a lake... I was ashamed to admit that I was also depicted within said painting.
...Uu, he is such a gentle boy! What an eye-opener!
As an older sister, I absolutely must prevent a future in which my cute brother got trafficked! Anyway, I wanted to bring about a future where he could laugh boisterously.
Therefore, I mustn't give up. With a small laugh, I raised my hips.
"Unfortunately, it's already late tonight. Let's end our search for the day."
"...Are we going home?"
"No way."
To go home after a day of leaving our home, where was the coolness in that? As of now, our parents should be making a fuss after seeing our letters. If we went home during the middle of that, we'd be severely punished. Rufus seemed to also be aware of that.
"If so, should we rent an inn? Is it possible to find one at this time without reservation?"
In that respect, we were naive. At first glance, staying at an inn sounded refreshing.
Still, I looked up at the home and atelier of Rufus' master (potential). That its owner had adopted foreign culture was self evident from the brick-like, slightly flashy, house. He used to be a baron's son, but due to his passion for art, he left home and single-handedly created an atelier. I heard that he recently got into contact with my parent's house. I wondered if there were any other ateliers like that.
"It's okay, I have a good guess."
That level of difficulty wouldn't break my smile.
Still, there were many students who opted to stay in the villas. After all, there were many academic institutions in Elcage territory. Therefore, there were many cases of aristocrats with a professorship or research position owning a villa. There were also many ladies who had been taken in by such fathers and relatives for their three years at the academy.
In my case, well--
"--I'm sorry for the inconvenience, especially considering that it's late at night."
"No, my daughter will always be indebted to Lady Lelouche. By the way, have you dined?"
I was talking peacefully with an acquaintance behind his house.
--"Why, why is she here!?", "Why would she come to stay in my house!?"
Thus, I gracefully smiled at her, as if to set an example.
"Forgive me, Ms. Lumiere. Even though you were sick, I am disturbing your rest."
"Hyaa!! N, no, not at all..."
"By the way, did you read the books I gave you? Since you've recovered, let me know your opinions during dessert."
"Waaah--! I'm sorry--!"
Oh dear, she ran away while crying. But I was positive that she'd read through the books by tomorrow. I should remind her to tell me about her impressions during breakfast.
Rufus asked me in a small voice. "What did you do to her?"
Thankfully, Baron Alban, who was the host and also the bearer of title 'Economist.', welcomed us with a dinner.
"By the way... your parents, is it alright to not deliver a message to them?"
It was the norm to get permission from both parents to stay at a friend's house.
--I closed my eyes tightly and shed tears.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion, but as of the present, my parents and I..."
Baron Alban was immediately taken aback.
"T, then, it's alright! Please stay at my home until you've mended your heart!"
"Thank you, I'm indeed in pain."
I truly wanted Lumiere to witness that--the use of a woman's tears.
Rufus tugged my clothes from behind once again, but I pretended to not notice. I hoped that he'd grow into a gentleman who wouldn't be deceived by the tears of such women. I shall be looking after him from above.
The Villainess who Only Had 100 Days to Live Had Fun Every Day
【コミック２巻発売中】１００日後に死ぬ悪役令嬢は毎日がとても楽しい。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-who-only-had-100-days-to-live-had-fun-every-day/
Drama Fantasy Josei Romance Slice of Life Tragedy
Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Death European Ambience Female Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdoms Late Romance Misunderstandings Nobles Psychopaths Revenge Romantic Subplot Second Chance Slow Romance Villainess Noble Girls Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8024hd/
ゆいレギナ