国王とひと時の時間を過ごしたサムは、時間が許せばステラと会いたかったのだが、彼女は乗馬中らしく邪魔をするのも躊躇ったので、そのまま帰路に着くことにした。
「城下町でリーゼ様たちにお土産でも買って帰ろうかな」
昼間、女子会をしていることを知っているサムは、クッキーでも、と考えた。
「サミュエル」
「ん?」
その時、誰かが名を呼んだ気がした。
(――誰だ?)
少なくとも見覚えはなかった。
貴族だということは身なりを見ればわかる。
杖をついた老人に、なにか御用ですか、と尋ねようとするよりも早く彼が口を開いた。
「サミュエル・ラインバッハでよいかな?」
「いえ、人違いです」
サムははっきりと告げた。
同時に、関わることを完全にやめた。
老人に会釈をし、立ち去ろうとするも、
「......いや、君は」
「わ、わしの話を」
「だが、君は」
老人がどこの誰か知らないが、面倒なことになりそうな予感がした。
そもそも自分の名を、サミュエル・シャイトとではなく、サミュエル・ラインバッハなどというふざけた名前で呼ぶような人物がまともであるはずがない。
サムはあくまでもシャイト家の人間であり、家族はウォーカー伯爵家しかいない。
無論、ラインバッハ領に住まう人たちや、家族同然のダフネとデリックは別だが、それでも、もうあの家に関わることはしたくないのだ。
(まさか、あんな田舎の男爵家の知り合いが王都にいるとは思わなかった。ちょっと油断していたな)
「じゃあ、人違いということをご理解していただけたと思うので、俺は失礼しますね」
「ま、待ってくれ!」
老人はサムを呼び止めたが、構わず地面を蹴った。
身体強化魔法を使って大きく跳躍すると、そのまま飛翔魔法で空を飛びウォーカー伯爵家の中庭に向かう。
魔法を解除し、地面に静かに着地すると、屋敷の二階から声が掛けられた。
「サム、お帰りなさい」
「あ、リーゼ様。ただいま帰りました」
「王妃様のご用件は何だったの?」
「よくわかりませんが、大した用事ではありませんでしたよ」
とてもじゃないが、リーゼたちと別れてレイチェル王女と婚約しろなどと言われたとは伝えたくない。
リーゼも不快に思うだろうし、いちいちそんなことを言って煩わせたくない。
「リーゼ様、お加減はどうですか?」
サムは再び飛翔魔法を使い、二階へ飛ぶ。
行儀が悪いが、窓から屋敷の中に入った。
「ええ、いい調子よ。あまり心配ばかりしないで。私はそんなにか弱くないのだから」
「すみません」
「心配してくれるのは嬉しいのよ」
そう言って、サムの頬にリーゼがキスをした。
「俺にですか? あ、ダフネかな?」
「違うみたいよ。宛名だけ見てしまったけど、リーディル子爵と書いてあるわ」
「リーディル子爵ですか......聞いたことがないなぁ。あれで、でも、どこかで」
聞き覚えがあるようで、ないような名前だ。
どこかで聞いた気がするが、覚えていない。
「とりあえず、開けてごらんなさい。そうすればわかるでしょう」
「ですね。じゃあ」
手紙を開けて、中身を確認する。
「――はぁ」
「どうかしたの?」
「リーディル子爵家って、元弟の婚約者の家らしいです」
「元弟って、ラインバッハの?」
「ええ、ただ婚約は解消したそうですね。ダフネからの手紙で、なんでも隠し子が後継者になったと聞いていますから、それらの関係で婚約解消でもされたんでしょう」
「残念だけど、貴族では珍しくない話よね」
「ええ、まあ、そうなんですけどね」
かつて元弟マニオンはラインバッハ男爵家の跡取りだった。
自分があの家から出て行ったあと、なにがあったのか詳細までは知らない。
ただ、腹違いの弟がもうひとりいて、その子が後継者になったらしい。
(自分が後継者になると絶対的な自信があった子だったよねぇ。ま、関係ないか。顔も思い出せないし)
「どうしたの? なんだか歯切れが悪いというか、眉間に皺を寄せて」
「実は、リーディル子爵が一度俺と会いたいそうなんです。ご息女と一緒に」
「サム、それはおそらく」
「そういうことですよねぇ。もう、うんざりですよ、こういうのって」
直接的なことは書かれていないが、サムに娘を、と考えているのが丸わかりだ。
宮廷魔法使いになるためアルバートを倒したあたりから、ウォーカー伯爵家経由で縁を結ぼうとする家から連絡があったようだが、すべてジョナサンが処理してくれていた。
だが、最近では婚約者が四人になったことで、あわよくば自分たちにもチャンスがと考える家から、断っても繰り返し連絡が来るそうだ。
もしかすると、先ほどサムに声をかけてきた老人もその類かもしれない。
「仕方がないわ。サムは宮廷魔法使いだもの。それに、婚約者にはステラ様もいるのですから」
「ですよねぇ。でも、ちょっと気になることがあって」
「リーディル子爵の御息女が、俺と再び会えることを楽しみにしているって書かれているんですが、俺にはお会いした記憶がないんですよ」
「その、言いづらいけど、そういう作戦じゃないかしら」
なにか忘れているような気がする。
「あら、サムにしては珍しいわね。子爵家のご令嬢に興味津々なのかしら?」
「ち、違います! そういうのじゃないですって。でも、記憶のどこかに引っかかるんですよねぇ」
もしかしたら、今の自分になる前のサムと面識があったのかもしれない。
サムもかつての記憶をすべて覚えているわけではないので、彼女のことを思い出すことができない可能性がある。
だとしたら、別人になった自分を見て、その子はなにを思うのだろうか。
After spending some time with the king, Sam wanted to meet with Stella if time allowed. However, since she was apparently out riding a horse, he didn't want to disturb her and decided to head back home.
"Maybe I should buy some souvenirs for Lise-sama and the others in the town."
Knowing they were having a girls' gathering during the day, Sam thought of getting some cookies.
"Samuel."
"Hmm?"
At that moment, he felt like someone was calling his name. He looked around to find an elderly man staring directly at him.
(--Who is this?)
At the very least, he didn't recognize the man.
One could tell he was a noble by his attire.
Before Sam could inquire if the man needed something, the man spoke up.
"Is your name Samuel Reinbach?"
"No, you've got the wrong person."
Sam replied clearly.
At the same time, he decided to completely sever any involvement with this man.
He gave the elderly man a nod, intending to leave. However, the man didn't give up easily.
"...... No, you're--"
"I-I'm talking about--"
"But you--"
Despite not knowing who this old man was, Sam had a bad feeling that this would lead to trouble.
After all, anyone who called him by a ridiculous name like Samuel Reinbach instead of Samuel Scheidt was bound to be up to no good.
Sam was, after all, a member of the Scheidt family, and his only family was the Count Walker household.
Of course, this didn't include the residents of Reinbach territory or Daphne and Derrick, who were practically family. But even so, he wanted nothing more to do with that family.
(I didn't expect anyone from such a rural baron's family to be in the capital. I was a bit careless.)
"Well, now that you understand it's a case of mistaken identity, I'll take my leave."
"W-Wait!"
The old man called out to Sam, but he paid no heed and leaped into the air, using body enhancement magic to make a powerful leap.
Then, he used flight magic to soar through the sky and head back to the Count Walker estate.
Upon deactivating the magic and landing quietly on the ground, he heard a voice from the second floor of the mansion.
"Sam, welcome back."
"Oh, Lise-sama. I'm back."
"What did the queen want from you?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but it wasn't anything major."
Sam didn't want to mention that he had been urged to get engaged to Princess Rachel.
Lise would likely find it unpleasant, and he didn't want to bother her with such matters.
"Lise-sama, how have you been feeling?"
Using flight magic again, Sam flew up to the second floor.
It might have been impolite, but he entered the mansion through the window.
"I'm fine, thank you. Don't worry too much about me. I'm not that fragile."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm happy that you're concerned."
Saying this, Lise kissed Sam on the cheek.
"For me? From Daphne, perhaps?" magic
"It seems different. I only looked at the address, but it's written to Viscount Riedl."
"Viscount Riedl... I've never heard of that name before. Well, I might have, but..."
The name sounded familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
He felt like he had heard it somewhere, but he couldn't remember.
"Anyway, why don't you open it? That way, you'll find out."
"Sure. Alright."
He opened the letter and checked its contents. Sam let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh..."
"What's wrong?"
"It seems like the Viscount Riedl family is the former fiancee of my former younger brother."
"Former brother? You mean the Reinbach?"
"Yes, that's right. However, it seems their engagement was canceled. I heard from Daphne's letter that it was because a hidden child became the heir, and that led to the dissolution of the engagement."
"It's unfortunate, but such stories are not uncommon among nobles."
"Yes, well, that's true."
His former brother, Manion, was the heir of the Baron Reinbach family.
After Sam had left that family, he didn't know the details of what had happened.
However, he knew that Manion had a half-brother, and it seemed that the other child had become the heir.
(He was the one with absolute confidence that he would become the heir if I left. Well, it doesn't concern me. I can't even remember his face.)
"What's wrong? You seem a bit off, with a furrowed brow and all."
"Well, it's just that the Viscount Riedl seems to want to meet me once. With his daughter."
"Sam, that's probably..."
"Yeah, I get it. It's probably something like that. I'm getting tired of these things."
Although it wasn't explicitly mentioned, it was clear that he was considering asking for his daughter's hand in marriage.
Ever since Sam had defeated Albert to become a court wizard, there had been contacts from families who wanted to establish a connection with him through the Count Walker family.
Recently, with four fiancees, they were receiving repeated requests from families hoping for a chance.
Perhaps the old man who had approached Sam earlier was also from a similar category.
"Well, there's nothing to be done. After all, Sam is a court wizard, and there's also Princess Stella among your fiancees."
"Yeah, I guess so. But there's something that's been bothering me a bit."
"In the letter from the Viscount Riedl, it's written that his daughter is looking forward to meeting me again. The thing is, I don't have any memory of meeting her."
"I see. Isn't that part of the plan?"
It felt like he had forgotten something.
"Oh, Sam, that's unusual for you. Are you showing such keen interest in a viscount's daughter?"
"No, it's not like that! I mean, it's not about that. But there's something about it that's bugging me."
Perhaps he had known her before becoming his current self.
Sam didn't remember all of his memories, so there was a possibility that he couldn't recall her.
If that were the case, he wondered what that girl would think when she saw the person he had become.
The Reincarnated Wizard Who Will Eventually Become the Strongest
いずれ最強に至る転生魔法使い　〜異世界に転生したけど剣の才能がないから家を追い出されてしまいました。でも魔法の才能と素晴らしい師匠に出会えたので魔法使いの頂点を目指すことにします〜
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-wizard-who-will-eventually-become-the-strongest/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Slice of Life
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Child Protagonist Childcare Cute Children Death of Loved Ones Demon Lord Demons Depictions of Cruelty Dragons Fantasy World Female Master Kingdoms Magic Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Multiple POV Nobles Older Love Interests Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Pregnancy Reincarnated in Another World Reincarnation Resurrection Royalty Student-Teacher Relationship Summoned Hero Sword And Magic Time Skip Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1154gq/
飯田栄静＠市村鉄之助