「気に入ってもらえたみたいで良かった! これはね、学校の南側の商店街で買ったんだよ」
「南側......」
学園の敷地はある意味で境目になっている。学園の北側は貴族などが住まう住宅街へと繋がっており、それ故に北側の店は貴族が好んで利用する店が多い。対して南側は庶民や下級貴族が住まう場所に繋がっている。当然、南側の店は庶民向けだ。このお菓子には興味があったが、南側となるとリリアは行けないだろう。
アルディス家の建前とプライドの問題なだけではあるが、無視できない問題だ。
「良ければまた買ってくるよ」
リリアの葛藤を知ってか知らずか、ティナがそう言う。リリアはわずかに眉尻を下げると、お願い、と頼んでおいた。
ティナからもらったお菓子をアリサに預け、ティナと共に部屋を出る。残りのどら焼きはアリサと密偵の三人で食べるように言っておいた。残りは五個だったので、帰れば一個残っているかもしれない。むしろ残っていてほしい。言っておけばよかったと後悔する。
――そんなにまだ食べたいなら言えばいいのに。
――みんなで分けるように言えと言ったのは誰かしらね?
――私です。ごめんなさい。
これも人の心を掴むためだから、とさくらは言うが、どら焼きで掴めてしまう心など安すぎると思うのだが。そう思っていると、
「リリアって実は優しいよね。実を言うともっと怖い人だと思ってた......」
妙なところで効果があったらしい。取り憑いてる悪霊の指示だなどと言えるわけもなく、リリアは曖昧な笑顔を浮かべた。
――やっぱりティナは良い子だね。ところでリリア、今さらっと失礼なこと考えなかった? 悪霊とか。
――あら。悪霊でしょう?
――はっきり言ったね! 天使だよ! 天使ちゃんだよ! リリアを助ける天使ちゃんだよ!
――自分で言って悲しくないの?
――容赦なく痛いところをつくね! べ、別に痛くな......。
さくらの言葉が途中で止まる。リリアが怪訝そうに眉をひそめると、さくらがうあ、と嫌そうな声を出した。
――リリア。王子様。
――は......?
リリアが頬を引きつらせるのと、
「何をしている?」
その声が聞こえたのは同時だった。
「あ......。殿下......」
ティナが呆然としたような声を出す。リリアは声のした方向、背後へと振り返った。
「あら、殿下。いかがなさいました?」
「とぼけるな。ティナを連れてどこに行くつもりだ?」
王子がリリアへと詰め寄ってくる。リリアは面倒くさそうにため息をつくと、笑顔を貼り付けた。それは、
「......っ」
いつもの、笑顔だ。
「殿下。連れて行くも何も、ティナさんが先導しているのが分かりませんか? 私はこれからティナさんと共に夕食に向かうところですわ」
「ふん。信じられるか。ティナに前を歩くように言っただけではないのか? 誰かに......。例えば私に見られても言い訳できるようにな」
――うわ、何こいつ。うっとうしい。
――今回はさくらに全面的に同意するわ。
いつもなら王子への苦言は注意するところだが、リリア自身、この男には冷めてしまったので咎めるつもりはない。さくらと二人で、面倒な男だな、という思いを共有していると、
「どうした、何故何も言わない? 図星ということだろう?」
勝ち誇ったような王子の笑み。
――これがいわゆるドヤ顔か! どやあ!
――どや......。なに?
――何でもないよ。強いて言うなら今の王子様の顔。
――ああ。握り潰したい顔ってことね。
――怖いよ! 過激すぎるよ! でも同意する!
さくらとの現実逃避気味な会話をしつつ、リリアは小さくため息をついた。王子から視線を逸らし、ティナへと向き直る。王子は気づいていないのだろう、ティナが今にも泣きそうな表情になっていることに。
安心させようと笑みを柔らかくすると、ティナも眉尻を下げたままだったが笑顔を見せてくれた。
「せっかくのお誘いだったけど、無粋な邪魔が入ったからやめておくわね」
「はい......。ごめんなさい、リリア様」
「いえいえ。無粋な、邪魔をした、どこかの誰かが悪いだけですから」
しっかりと言葉を句切り、王子を一瞥することも忘れない。王子の顔が赤くなっていくが、どうでもいいことだ。
「では、失礼致しますね」
その場できびすを返す。自室へと戻る前に、口だけ動かして言葉を送る。
またね。
それが伝わったのかは分からないが、ティナはしっかりと頷き返してくれた。
王子が何かを、リリアを止めるような言葉を叫んでいたが、そんなものは完全無視だ。認識すらしてやらない。馬鹿が何かわめいている、程度で聞き流し、自室へと戻る。
自室に入ったリリアを、目を見開くアリサが出迎えてくれた。
「ずいぶんと早いお帰りですね......。驚きました」
アリサがそう言って、リリアは肩をすくめた。
「殿下と鉢合わせしてしまったのよ。面倒だから帰ってきたわ」
「言葉が過ぎますよ、リリア様」
そう注意されるが、しかしアリサは苦笑していた。本気で咎めるつもりはないらしい。アリサも昨日のリリアと王子のやり取りから思うところがあったのだろう。リリアは、分かっているわよ、と肩をすくめた。
「夕食、食べ損ねたわね......」
――ごはん......。
さくらと二人、重たいため息をついた。それなりに楽しみにしていただけに、ショックも大きいものだ。
「リリア様。どら焼きが一つ残っておりますが、どうします?」
「もらうわ。それを食べたら、もう寝る」
完全なふて寝だが、今回はアリサとさくらも何も言ってこなかった。アリサからどら焼きを受け取ると、そのまま寝室に入り、適当に着替えてそのままベッドに横になった。
"I'm so glad you like it! I bought this from the shopping district to the south of the school."
"The south side..."
In a certain sense, the school grounds could be split up by region. The north was connected to the area n.o.bles resided in, and so much of the stores in the north side were geared towards catering to n.o.bles. In contrast the south side was connected to where commoners and lower cla.s.s n.o.bles lived. Naturally, the shops there were more oriented for the ma.s.ses.
While going to buy it only posed a problem of face and pride for the Aldis family, it was still a problem that couldn't just be ignored.
"I can bring some more next time if you'd like."
Though it was unclear if she had seen through Lilia's internal conflict, Tina said such. Lilia slightly lowered the corners of her eyes, and gratefully accepted her offer.
Leaving the snacks she received to Alisa, Lilia left the room with Tina. She left telling Alisa she and the three agents could try the remaining dorayaki. There were five left, so there might still be one remaining when she got back. Actually she hoped they would leave the last one, and was regretting that she didn't tell Alisa so.
--If you wanted to eat more you could have just said so.
--And just who was it that told me to tell Alisa to share it with everyone?
--It was me. Sorry.
It was to capture people's hearts, was what Sakura said, but what kind of cheap heart would it be if it was swayed by some dorayaki? When she was thinking that,
"Lilia's actually really kind huh. To tell you the truth I'd thought you were a much more scarier person..."
That sentence seemed to come with freakishly on point timing. There was no way she could admit that it was by the instructions of the evil spirit possessing her, so Lilia just gave a vague smile.
--Tina's a really good girl after all. By the way Lilia, wasn't there something pretty rude that slid out of your thoughts just now? Something about an evil spirit.
--Oh my. Aren't you one?
--I've said it clearly haven't I! I'm an Angel! A dear Angel! I'm the dear angel that's here to help you!
--Isn't it depressing to say that on your own?
--You're really not holding back where it hurts huh! I-it's not like that actually hurts or ...
Sakura's words stopped midway. As Lilia made a confused expression, Sakura went 'uwah', and said with a disgusted voice.
--Lilia. It's the Prince.
--Hah...?
Lilia's face stiffened.
"What are you doing?"
And that voice was heard at the same time.
"Ah... Your Highness..."
Tina let out a dumbfounded voice. Towards the direction the voice came from, Lilia turned her around.
"My, your Highness. What might be the matter?"
"Don't play dumb. Just where are you thinking of dragging Tina to?"
The Prince drew closer to Lilia. Lilia made an annoyed seeming sigh, and fixed a smile to her face. That was,
"......!"
The usual, smile.
"Your Highness. To say nothing of dragging around, did you know that Miss Tina is the one leading the way here? I am currently going with Miss Tina to head for some dinner together."
"Hmph. As if I'd believe that. Aren't you just instructing her to walk out in front? So that if someone... If for example myself were to see you would have an excuse."
--Uwah, what's with this guy. How annoying.
--I must currently wholeheartedly agreeing with you there.
Normally she would have openly cautioned her about such thoughts, but Lilia herself, seemed to have cooled down towards this man so she had no intention of finding fault with it. Together with Sakura, the two of them shared their feelings about what a troublesome guy this Prince was when,
"What's wrong, why aren't you saying anything? Cause I hit the bulls eye right?"
The Prince said with a triumphant smile on his face.
--So this is the so called doyagao! Doyaa!
--Doya... What?
--It's nothing. If I had to describe it, then it's basically the Prince's face right now.
--Ahh. So a face that makes you want to crush in your hands huh.
--Scary! That's way too much! But I agree!
While making some banter with Sakura as a form of escapism, Lilia breathed a small sigh. She looked away from the Prince and turned to Tina. The Prince, he probably hasn't even noticed Tina's expression that's been driven to the brink of tears.
As she tried to rea.s.sure her with a soft smile, Tina, though still with the corners of her eyes drooping, returned a smile in kind.
"Despite your kind invitation, since there's been a boorish interruption let us call it off here."
"Yes... Sorry about that, Miss Lilia."
"No need for apologies. A certain boorish, intruding, someone from somewhere is to blame after all."
Firmly punctuating her words, she eyes didn't spare a single glance away from the Prince as she said so. The Prince's face was turning seething red, but whatever.
"Well then, I will take my leave."
She turned around on the spot. Before heading back towards her room, she moved just her lips to mouth a farewell.
See you later.
She wasn't sure if it was properly conveyed, but Tina gave a firm nod in return.
The Prince shouted something or other in an attempt to stop Lilia, but she completely ignored such a thing. It didn't even register in her mind. No matter what the idiot is shouting, it was all ignored, and she headed back towards her room.
When she got back, she was greeted by a wide-eyed Alisa.
"This is quite an early return... I'm surprised."
As Alisa said so, Lilia just shrugged.
"We b.u.mped into his Highness. It was troublesome so I returned."
"Those words may be too much, Miss Lilia."
Even though she cautioned her, Alisa also had wry smile all the while. It seemed she wasn't actually serious about it. Alisa probably had some of her own thoughts after seeing Lilia's exchange with the Prince yesterday. Lilia simply accepted Alisa's words, and shrugged her shoulders.
"It seems, we've missed out on dinner tonight..."
--Food...
Together with Sakura, she gave a heavy sigh. Since they were indeed quite looking forward to it, the shock was all the greater.
"Miss Lilia. There is one dorayaki still remaining, how about it?"
"I'll take it. After I eat that, I'm going to sleep."
She was totally just going to sulk in the bed, but this time neither Alisa nor Sakura said anything about it. Receiving the dorayaki from Alisa, she went into her bedroom just like that, half-halfheartedly got changed and laid down on the bed.
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