「あの、私、あんまり目立ちたくないんですけど」
雨妹がおしろいの粉でくしゃみをしたくなるのを懸命に堪えながら告げると、しかし美娜は笑顔で返す。
「安心しな、アンタよりも目立つ派手なのがゴロゴロしているから」
この台詞に、雨妹は気合が入り過ぎて空回り気味の宮女の面々を思い浮かべる。
――まあ確かに、仮装大会に出場するのかっていう人がいたけどね。
なんかすごく派手な鳥の羽を頭に刺して、とにかくすごい出来栄えだった。
あれに比べれば、確かに少しの化粧は地味だろう。
そんな安心できるのか微妙な対比を考えながら、頬にも軽く色を入れられ、唇に紅をひかれる。
「よし完成! アンタって化粧が映える顔だね」
満足そうな美娜に、雨妹は眉を寄せた。
「......それって顔が平凡だって意味ですよね?」
化粧というのは目鼻立ちがはっきりしているよりも、薄い顔立ちである方が、効果を発揮するものなのだ。
ともあれ、顔が完成すれば次は髪を整える番だ。
美娜は慣れた手つきで髪を綺麗に纏めると、置いてあった簪を取った。
「この簪どうしたんだい?
美娜が簪をさしながら興味深そうに尋ねる。
普段の雨妹はこんなものをしていないし、部屋に置いてあるのも見たことないからだろう。
立彬
「これは貰ったんです」
雨妹は嘘をつくこともないので、本当のことを話す。
「なんだい、アンタも隅に置けないねぇ」
「よく話す宦官の方から、簪の一つでも持ってろって言われて貰ったものなんですけどね」
「宦官をひっかけたのかい?
――まあ、そういう感想になるよね。
美娜の反応は、宮女にとっては普通のものだ。
宦官を相手にしても子が望めないので、どんなに美青年でも彼女たちにとっては相手になり辛いのである。
そんな話はさておき、美娜のおかげで雨妹もこうして一応、花見の花としての体裁が整ったわけで。
それから慌ただしく会場の最終準備をすると、いよいよ花の宴が始まった。
主会場となっている庭園に集まった
「今年も花が美しく咲いたこと」
そう言葉を交わし合う姿は優雅である。
雨妹はその様子を遠目に納めながら、会場の端っこの方でぼうっと立っていた。
美娜たち台所番などは料理の追加などで忙しくなるが、雨妹たち下っ端宮女はそうした仕事はもうない。
強いて言えば、賑やかし要員としてそこいらに並んで立っているのが仕事である。
――これじゃあちょっと料理をつまみ食いなんてできそうにないね。
そうなると雨妹には、人間観察くらいしかすることがなく。
自分の青っぽい髪が目立たないように、背の高い宮女たちに紛れるように立ちつつも、妃嬪たちの様子を覗き見する。
その代りよく見えるのが上級妃嬪たちである。
「まあその髪飾り、新作ではなくって?」
「そちらこそ、その衣装は最近流行り出した染め物ですわね」
しかしよく見れば、彼女らは二つの集団で纏まっていることに気付く。
庭園の奥の最も景色のいい場所に陣取っている妃嬪たちと、そこから離れた場所に固まっている妃嬪たちとに自然と分かれているのだ。
――皇太后派と、そうじゃない人たちかな。
宮女たちのひそひそ話に耳を澄ませば、庭園奥の集団で中心に座る年配の女が、噂の皇太后だという。
確かに、そのあたりからことさら賑やかそうに声が流れてくる。
「そこの女、こちらに酒を回せ」
「こちらには料理を持って来い」
女官や宮女に命令口調で指示するのは、宦官ではない男たちだ。
皇太后の周囲に数人侍っている男たちは、どれも皇帝と同世代に見える。
彼らは皇帝の兄弟皇子だろうか。
それ以外にも若い男の姿があり、妃嬪たちと楽しそうに話している。
そちらの方は太子の兄弟皇子だろう。
――アレが近づいたらダメな人たちか。
ここで宮女たちに埋もれている間は、恐らく彼らの視界に入ることはないと思われるので、ここでじっとしておくのが吉だと思われた。
暖かくなってきたとはいえ、じっと立っているだけだとだんだん身体が冷えて来るもの。
冷えると尿意を催すのは自然の摂理であるからして。
「ちょっと、お手洗いに行ってきます」
雨妹は近くの宮女にそう断って、その場を離れることとなった。
"Ahm, I don't want to stand out too much."
Yui Mei said as she desperately tried not to sneeze from the face powder; however, Mei Na smiled and replied.
"Relax, people who are more eye-catching than you are scattered all around you."
Yui Mei recalled each and everyone of the court ladies who was were too invested about this to the point that they were running around like headless chickens.
'Well, that's true, though there are also people who looked like they're participating in a costume competition.'
She stuck an extremely gaudy feather on her head; anyway, the result was truly something to look at.
Compared to that, a little bit of make-up did seem plain.
While she was thinking about whether she should be relieved with that stark contrast, color was lightly dabbed on her cheeks, and rouge rubbed on her lips.
"Alright, your done! You have a face that takes well with powder, huh."
Mei Na was brimming with satisfaction, and Yui Mei raised her brow at her remarks.
"...That means my face is mediocre, isn't it?"
The effect of powder could be more readily seen on people with plain faces compared to those who had distinct features.
Anyway, it was the arrangement of hair after the face was done.
Mei Na deftly fixed her hair beautifully, then she took the hairpin that was lying there.
"What's with this hairpin? I thought you didn't have a hairpin?"
Mei Na curiously asked as she inserted it in her hair.
Yui Mei didn't usually have such a thing, and she never saw this in her room before.
After Libin put it on her, she took it off soon after, so nobody saw it.
"Somebody gave this to me."
Yui Mei didn't know how to lie, so she told her the truth.
"Oh, even you can't be left in a corner, huh."
"A eunuch I frequently talked to told me to own even just one, so he gave it to me."
"Did you hook up with an eunuch? Might be good, but might be futile.'
'Well, that impression is natural, huh.'
Mei Na's reaction as a court lady was ordinary.
Even if she partnered up with a eunuch, a child was impossible, so no matter how much of an Adonis one was, it was difficult for them to be his partner.
Leaving that aside, Yui Mei's appearance was in good order as one of the flowers in the flower viewing all thanks to Mei Na.
After the flurry of last-minute preparations, the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet finally began.
The garden became the venue for the event, and the concubines who were gathered there engaged in pleasant chit chat while sipping tea.
"The flowers are blooming beautifully this year as well."
Their figures were elegant as they exchanged words like this.
Yui Mei stood absentmindedly at the edge of the venue, and she gazed at them from afar.
Mei Na and the rest of the kitchen staff were busy with cooking and food preparation, but the low-ranking court ladies like Yui Mei did not have work anymore.
To put it strongly, their job was to stand there in a line as lively staff.
'I can't sneak a bit of food at this rate.'
In that case, Yui Mei had nothing to do but observe the people.
In order not to stand out with her bluish hair, she mixed in with the tall court ladies, and she peeped at the concubines from behind them.
In exchange, she could clearly gaze at the higher-ranking concubines.
"Oh my, those hair ornaments are new, I presume?"
"Likewise, your clothes are dyed ones that came into fashion recently."
However, if one looked closely, one would notice that these women gathered into two groups.
They were naturally divided into the group who was further into the garden where the scenery was most wonderful, and another group who huddled together in a distance.
'Empress dowager's faction, and those who are not, I guess.'
She tried to strain her ears so she could hear what court ladies were whispering about, and she learned that the elderly woman sitting in the middle of the group of concubines who were further into the garden was the rumored empress dowager.
Indeed, lively voices flowed from that direction.
"That woman over there, serve wine over here."
"Bring the dishes here."
Men who were not eunuchs ordered the maids and court ladies around in commanding tones.
There were several men serving around the empress dowager, and no matter how you looked at them, they seemed to be from the same generation as the emperor.
They were probably the brothers of the emperor.
Aside from them, there were also young men who chatted happily with the concubines.
They must be the brothers of the crown prince.
'Going near them is a no no, huh.'
Since she was buried among the court ladies, she probably wouldn't enter their field of vision, so it would be fortunate if she managed to stay still in place.
Even though it became warmer, if she stood in place without moving, her body would gradually become colder.
When it gets colder, it would also be natural that she would get the urge to use the toilet.
"Excuse me, I will go to the washroom for a moment."
Yui Mei explained to the court lady nearby, then she left that place.
Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
百花宮のお掃除係～転生した新米宮女、後宮のお悩み解決します。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/housekeeper-of-the-hundred-blossom-palace/
Fantasy Romance Shoujo Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Ancient China Complex Family Relationships Different Social Status Female Protagonist Imperial Harem Love Interest Falls in Love First Reincarnated in Another World Royalty
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4104ev/
黒辺あゆみ