23
朝起きてすぐ部屋のカーテンを開けた。そこに花もカードもないのを確認して、深いため息をつく。
こんな日がもうしばらく続いていた。
長らく私の朝を彩ってくれたカードのやりとりは、「少し忙しくなりそうだ」という走り書きを最後にめっきり頻度を減らしてしまった。
どうか体を壊さないでほしい、私のことは気にしなくていい。今はそれだけ伝えたい。でも忙しくて返信ができない相手に追って連絡するのは気が引ける。
私はもう一度ため息をついた。
最後に殿下に会ってからちょうど一ヶ月が経とうとしていた。
のろのろ支度をして校舎に向かう。沈んだ気分の私とは対照的に、学園はどこか騒がしいように思えた。
どこかへ向かう生徒たちを追うように足を進めたら、中庭に『夏』の結果が出ていた。例年より時間がかかったのはサジャッドとガッドの喧嘩の調査が入ったからだろう。
結果を遠目に眺める。
十位 ハンナ・ホートン
九位 サジャッド・マハジャンジガ
八位 ガッド・メイセン
七位 ブライアン・マーク
六位 ジュディス・セデン
五位 キャラン・ゴウデス
四位 レベッカ・スルタルク
三位 エミリア
二位 ルウェイン・フアバードン
一位 オズワルド・セデン
ガッドの評価にそこまでの打撃はなかったようで、ほっと息をつく。
私は四位になれた感慨もなく一位の名前見つめていた。だから反応が遅れた。気づけば一人の男が私の隣に並んでいた。
「やあ」
「......ごきげんよう」
サジャッド・マハジャンジガは、相変わらず癪に触る笑みで私に声をかけた。
聞こえなかったふりをしようかとすら思ったが、ギリギリ乾いた微笑みを返す。
「最近ルウェイン殿下をお見かけしないが」
「公務で忙しくされています」
「なるほど......あなたも難儀だ。前から一つお伺いしたかった。王妃になる覚悟というのは、いかようなものか」
私のことを慮っているかのような口ぶりに虫唾が走って見上げれば、サジャッドがわざとらしく肩をすくめた。
「年中無休で『民』なんぞのために心身を費やす。身を粉にして働いても結果次第で罵声を浴びる。どうしてその地位に就こうと思える?」
平民の次は王族を馬鹿にするのか。この世に嫌いなものしかないのだろうか。
苛立ちを露わにしないよう努めて穏やかな声を作る。
「滅多なことをおっしゃっては王族への侮辱と取られてしまいますよ」
「まさか! 私はそのような高尚な精神を持つ方々のお考えを知りたいだけさ」
「王妃としての覚悟など、学生の身分の小娘が偉そうに語れるはずもありません」
サジャッドがこの問答で何をしたいのかは知らない。だから正直に話すのみ。
「私はただ、あの人の隣にあるのはいつだって私であってほしいと心から思っていますから。王妃として身を尽くす理由なんて、それだけで十分です」
一際優雅に笑いかけて思い切り惚けてやれば、サジャッドは砂を吐きそうな顔になった。してやったり。
「お話できて楽しかったです。ではまた」
サジャッドにしっぺ返しを食らわせるのは思ったより気分が良く、私は本心からそう述べて中庭を後にした。
その夜のことだ。寝台に入る直前になって、コツンコツンと小さな音が聞こえた。
――――窓が外から叩かれている。
驚いて小さな白蛇を抱きしめたら、クリスティーナは「キュイ」と鳴いて私に「大丈夫だよ」と伝えてくれた。
ならグルーかもしれない。殿下から連絡だろうか。
そう思って、急いでカーテンを開けた、次の瞬間。
一瞬見えたのは金色の髪と夜の空だ。星が降ってきたのかと思ってしまった。
殿下。
名前を呼ぶ暇もない。気づいたら唇が重ねられていた。
「......今日、嬉しかった。ありがとう」
ひどく静かな声だった。そのままうつむくように、殿下は額を私の肩に押し付けた。その手が私の手を取って握る。
私は心底驚いていた。殿下が窓から入ってきたことにでも、会いにきてくれたことにでも、なぜか今日のサジャッドとの会話が知られているらしいことにでもない。
顔を見せないようにされていることと、肩に体重を預けられたことだ。
――――弱ってる。珍しいというか、初めて見た。
仕事続きで疲れてしまったのか。何か嫌なことでもあったのかもしれない。少なくとも、とんでもなく忙しい合間を縫ってここに来たということだけは確かだ。
疲れた顔を見せるのは嫌なくせに、殿下は私に体重を預けに、甘えにここに来てくれたのだ。
殿下の手を引きながらニ、三歩後ろに下がったら、殿下はうつむいたままついてきた。私がそのままぽすんと寝台に腰掛けると、殿下も私の前で膝をつく。
彼の頭をおなかに抱え込むようにして軽く引き寄せた。
「人のおなかって安心するらしいですね」
もぞ、と動いた彼が、その言葉を聞いて止まる。大人しく収まってくれる気になったようで、私の腰に腕を回し、体重をかけてきた。
柔らかい金髪を梳くようにして撫でていた。どれくらい時間が経ったのかわからなかったが、殿下が満足するまで、いつまでもそうしていた。
それからというもの、夜に殿下が訪ねてくるのが新しい習慣になった。
彼は決まって私が眠る直前になって現れて、口数も少なく入ってくる。
一回目のとき味をしめたのか、私を寝台に座らせて、私の腿やお腹を枕にする。やはり顔をちゃんと見られるのは嫌がっていつもうつ伏せだ。
髪を梳かすとうとうとするが、一時間もすれば起き出して、「また来る」と言い残して出て行く。
かなり心配だが、弱いところを見せてくれるのは嬉しい。彼の受け皿になったのが自分で良かったと心底思う。
だから、殿下が何か言わない限りは、このままでいいのだと思っていた。
――――あの夜までは。
その夜も殿下はいつものようにやって来て、私の太ももでうとうとしてから帰っていった。
だからそのあと私もいつものように眠りについた。
いつもと違ったのは、『夢』を見たことだけだ。
私はどこか明るい場所に立っていた。顔を上げたら、化け物じみた大きさの龍がじっと私を見ていた。目玉だけで私の背丈ほどある。
しかし恐怖は一切なかった。躊躇うことなくその鼻先に手を伸ばす。
『クリスティーナ』
姿形が変わっても魂は同じ。愛しい幻獣を私が見間違えるはずもない。
クリスティーナは目を細め、嬉しそうに私に鼻を近づけた。そして私に語りかけた。
『れべっか』
幼児のような舌ったらずなそれがクリスティーナのものだということも、私にはちゃんとわかる。初めて声を聞けて嬉しかった。
だけどクリスティーナが次いで口にしたのは。思いも寄らない言葉だった。
『おきて。るうぇいん、あぶない』
勢いよく上体を起こす。学園の寮の自分の部屋で、私は目を覚ましていた。息が荒い。暗い中今さっき見ていた白い獣を探す。
クリスティーナは白蛇の姿で私のお腹の上に乗っていた。びっしょり汗をかく私を見て、こくんと頭を動かした。
それを見た瞬間、私は上掛けをかなぐり捨てた。
クリスティーナを抱えて転がり出るように寝台を出る。部屋の窓を開くと同時に飛び降りる。
「クリスティーナ!」
白い蛇が白い龍に姿を変えた。しかしさっきまでの巨大な姿ではなく、見慣れた大きさだ。
落下する私を地面すれすれで掬い取り、一直線に男子寮へ向かう。
汗で濡れた肌に冷たい夜風が当たった。ひどい胸騒ぎと悪寒に体を震わせる。クリスティーナがちらりとこちらに視線をやる。
「大丈夫、今はとにかく殿下のもとへ」
クリスティーナは言わずとも私の気持ちをわかってくれていた。かつてないほどのスピードで白い矢のように夜空を切り裂き、ものの十秒で男子寮の殿下の部屋の窓に到着した。
窓は鍵が開いている。殿下は私の部屋から帰って、鍵を閉める余裕もなかったのか? 中に入ればそこが寝室だ。
寝台に駆け寄る。彼は人が入ってきたのに目を覚ます様子もない。
「殿下、殿下!」
傍らに膝をついてその体を揺する。彼は眉間に深い皺を刻み、ひどく汗をかいていた。息が浅い。頬が氷みたいに冷たい。うなされたまま全く目を覚ましてくれない。
「なんで、どうしよう、どうしたら」
医者を呼ぶべきか? 直感的に違うと思った。異常なのは発汗でも低体温でもなく、彼が全くその目を開かないことだ。
そこには色濃い魔法の気配がある。
――――サジャッド・マハジャンジガ。
確証はなかった。でもあの男の仕業だと思った。
それなら今すべきことは、殿下を『夢』から目覚めさせることだ。
でもどうやって? 何を使えばいい?
必死に周りを見回す。クリスティーナと、殿下の幻獣グルーも、殿下の側に寄り添っている。
クリスティーナは私の夢の中に現れた。幻獣と主人は強い絆で魂が結ばれているからだと思っていた。でもそれならグルーは殿下の夢に入り込めるはずだ。
――ではグルーは何故今こうして、殿下を助けられずにいる?
額を押さえた。考えろ。殿下とグルーは夢を共有できないと仮定する。なら私とクリスティーナは特別なケース。
脳が擦り切れるかと思った。火花が散ったかと錯覚する衝撃と共に、私は答えにたどり着いた。
――――魔力の共有。
去年の『秋』以降、私は幾度となくクリスティーナから魔力を分け与えられてきた。
それが私とクリスティーナの夢の共有を可能にしているとすれば。
「クリスティーナお願い、殿下に魔力を分けられる?」
これは賭けだ。私は去年の『冬』でエミリアの九尾と魔力の共有に成功した。それはエミリアが私の『忠臣』だからだ。
――だがもし、私と殿下の間に、『忠臣の儀』を取り行った者同士に匹敵するほどの絆があるなら。
クリスティーナが殿下の上半身によじ登る。「キュイ」という一声と共にその体から濃い魔力が滲み出た。
それは緩やかに殿下を包み込んで、弾かれることなく、染み込んで消えていく――成功だ。
これで私と殿下はクリスティーナの中で繋がった―――― 仮説が正しいなら。
殿下の前髪をかき分け、汗に濡れた額にキスを落とす。少しでも体温を分け与えられるよう隙間なくその体を抱きしめる。
私は強く目を瞑った。
絶対に助け出して見せる。世界で一番大切な人。
Ch 69
As soon as I woke up, I opened the curtains of my room. I confirmed that there were no flowers or cards there, and let out a deep sigh.
Such days have been continuing for a while now.
The exchange of cards that had long brightened my mornings had gradually decreased in frequency, with a hasty note as the last, saying "I'll be a little busy."
Please don't get sick, and don't worry about me. I just want to tell you that now. But it's frustrating to chase after the person who can't reply because they're busy.
I let out a sigh again.
It had been exactly one month since I last saw His Highness.
I slowly got ready and headed to the school. In contrast to my depressed feelings, the academy seemed somehow noisy.
As I walked, following students heading somewhere, I found that the results of the [Summer] exam were posted in the courtyard. The reason they took longer than usual was probably because of the investigation into the fight between Sajad and Gadd.
I looked at the results from a distance.
10th place: Hanna Horton
9th place: Sajad Mahajanjiga
8th place: Gadd Maysen
7th place: Brian Marc
6th place: Judith Ceden
5th place: Kyaran Goudes
4th place: Rebecca Slutarch
3rd place: Emilia
2nd place: Llewayne Huaverdon
1st place: Oswald Ceden
It didn't seem like Gadd's evaluation was hit that hard, so I let out a sigh of relief.
I was staring at the name of the first place without any feeling of becoming fourth, so my reaction was late. Before I knew it, a man was standing next to me.
"Hey."
"...Hello."
Sajad Mahajanjiga, as always, approached me with a frustratingly annoying smile.
I almost thought of pretending not to hear, but I barely managed to return a dry smile.
"I haven't seen His Highness Llewayne recently."
"He's busy with official business."
"I see... you're also busy. I've always wanted to ask you one thing. What's your readiness to become a queen?"
As he spoke as if he was worrying about me, I felt a chill run down my spine and looked up to see Sajad deliberately shrug his shoulders.
"Working tirelessly for the people, sacrificing body and mind, but getting cursed no matter the outcome. Why would you want to take that position?"
You mock commoners, then royalty... Is there nothing in this world he does like?
I try to keep my anger from showing and make a calm voice.
"Saying such things would be considered an insult to the royal family."
"Oh, come on! I just want to know the thoughts of such noble-minded people."
"As a student, I, a little girl, cannot speak pretentiously about my readiness to become a queen."
I do not know what Sajad wants to do in this conversation. So I will speak honestly.
"I just want to be next to that person always. Being a queen and dedicating myself is reason enough for me."
Sajad made a face like he was about to spit out sand when I smiled gracefully and acted carefree.
"It was nice talking to you. See you later."
It felt better than I thought it would to give Sajad a taste of his own medicine, and I said that honestly as I left the courtyard.
That night, just before going to bed, I heard a small sound like someone tapping on the window.
--------The window is being tapped from the outside.
I hugged the small white snake in surprise, and Christina told me "Cuey(It's okay)."
Maybe it's Grue. Is it a message from His Highness?
I thought that as I quickly opened the curtains, and in the next moment, the window opened on its own. Someone slid in and the wind blowing in carried the smell of the outside.
I saw golden hair and the night sky for a moment. I thought the stars were falling.
His Highness.
I didn't even have time to say his name. Before I knew it, our lips met.
"...I was happy today. Thank you."
It was a very quiet voice. As if he were going to bow his head, His Highness pressed his forehead to my shoulder. He took my hand and gripped it.
I was deeply surprised. Whether it was the fact that His Highness had come in through the window, that he had come to see me, or that it seemed that today's conversation with Sajad was known, I didn't know.
It was the fact that kept me from seeing his face was the way that my shoulder was being leaned on.
--------is weak. It is rare, or rather, I have never seen it before.
Maybe he was tired from continuing to work. Maybe something unpleasant had happened. At the very least, I was certain that he had come here during an extremely busy interval.
Even though he didn't want to show his tired face, His Highness leaned on me, like he was asking for a favor.
When I walked three steps back, pulling His Highness' hand, he followed me with his head down. When I sat down on the bed as I was, His Highness also knelt in front of me.
I hugged his head and brought it close to my stomach.
"It seems like people feel safe when they have their head on someone's stomach."
He moved slightly, but stopped when he heard those words. He seemed to have decided to be obedient, and wrapped his arm around my waist, leaning on me.
I stroked his hair like I was combing it. I didn't know how much time had passed, but I continued to do that until His Highness was satisfied.
After that, it became a new habit for His Highness to visit at night.
He always appears just before I fall asleep, and he comes in with very few words.
The first time, he seemed to have tasted it, he made me sit on the bed and used my legs and stomach as a pillow. Anyway, I knew he didn't want me to see his face properly.
He would doze off as I combed his hair, but after an hour he would wake up and say, "I'll come back again."
I am quite worried about him, but I am glad that he shows his vulnerable side. I'm glad that I became his receptacle.
So, as long as His Highness doesn't say anything, I think it's okay to be like this.
--------Until that night.
That night, His Highness came as usual, and after dozing off on my thigh, he left.
So after that, I went to sleep as usual.
The only thing that was different from usual was that I had a dream.
I was standing somewhere bright. When I looked up, a dragon of monstrous size with a face like a monster was looking at me intently. The pupils were as big as my height.
But there was no fear at all. Without hesitation, I reached out to its nose.
[Christina]
Even if the shape changes, the soul is the same. I could never mistake my beloved Phantom Beast.
Christina narrowed her eyes and happily brought her nose close to me. And then she talked to me.
[Rebecca]
It was like a baby's stuttering, but I understood that it was Christina's. I was happy to hear her voice for the first time.
But what Christina said next was an unexpected word.
"Wake up, let's go, dangerous"
I woke up suddenly in my room at the Academy's dormitory. I was breathing heavily. In the dark, I looked for the white beast I had just seen.
Christina was on top of my stomach in the form of a white snake, looking at me while sweating and nodding her head.
At that moment, I threw off the blanket.
I got up from the bed and rolled out of it, holding Christina. I opened the window of the room and jumped out at the same time.
"Christina!"
The white snake changed shape into a white dragon, but not as big as before, just the familiar size.
Christina scooped me up as I fell and headed straight for the men's dormitory.
The cold night wind blew on my sweat-soaked skin. I was shaking with severe palpitations and chills. Christina glanced this way.
"It's okay, for now, let's go to His Highness."
Christina understood my feelings without me having to say anything. She arrived at the window of the boy's dormitory room at an unprecedented speed, like a white arrow slicing through the night sky.
The window was unlocked. Had the prince returned from my room and not had time to lock the key? Inside was the bedroom.
I rushed to the bed. He did not show any signs of waking up even though someone had entered.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
I knelt beside him and shook his body. He had deep wrinkles on his forehead and was sweating profusely. His breath was shallow. His cheeks were cold like ice. He wouldn't wake up no matter how much I shook him.
"What should I do, what should I do."
Should I call a doctor? My intuition told me that wasn't the answer. The abnormal thing was not the sweating or low body temperature, but the fact that he wouldn't open his eyes at all.
There was a strong presence of magic there.
--------Sajad Mahajanjiga.
I didn't have any proof. But I thought it was that man's doing.
In that case, what I should do now is to wake His Highness from the [dream].
But how? What should I use?
Desperately looking around, Christina and His Highness's Phantom Beast Grue were also by His Highness' side.
Christina appeared in my dream. I thought that Phantom Beast and master had a strong bond because of their souls being connected. But if that's the case, Grue should also be able to enter the master's dream.
---- So why is Grue not able to help His Highness now?
I pressed my forehead. Think. Assuming that His Highness and Grue cannot share a dream, what could be the factor that makes me and Christina have a stronger spiritual connection? Then Christina and I are a special case.
I thought my brain was going to wear out. Along with the shock that seemed like sparks were flying, I reached the answer.
--------Sharing magic.
Since last [fall], I have received magic from Christina many times.
If that is what makes it possible for me and Christina to share a dream,
"Christina, please, can you share your magic with His Highness?"
This is a gamble. I was successful in sharing magic with Emilia's Kyuubi in [Winter] of last year because Emilia was my [Loyalist]."
----But if, between me and His Highness, there is a bond that rivals that of those who have performed the [Loyalist's Rite].
Christina climbed up His Highness' upper body. With a voice of "Cuey," dense magic oozed out of her body.
It gently enveloped His Highness, without being repelled, and merged and disappeared----it was a success.
With this, His Highness and I were connected in Christina----if the hypothesis is correct.
I parted His Highness' bangs and kissed his sweating forehead. I tightly embraced his body to give him as much body heat as possible.
I closed my eyes strongly.
I'll definitely save and show him. The most important person in the world.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈