ベルゼビュートが引きずり出した人間は、可愛らしい出で立ちをしていた。
柔らかそうな髪に甘い顔立ち。ふっくらとした唇も大きな瞳も可憐だ。
(これがセドリックが選んだ女性か。アイリーンを捨てて)
王座に頬杖を突いて見下ろす。
改装が終わったばかりの大理石の王の間で魔物に囲まれた少女は、不安そうに瞳をまたたかせた。
「......すみません、案内していただいて......あ、私、リリア・レインワーズといいます。やっぱりあなたが魔王様、なんですよね......よかった。私のこと覚えてらっしゃいますか?」
長い足を組み直してクロードは気になっていたことだけを尋ねる。
「どうやって僕に気づかれず結界に入りこんだ?」
「え? なんのことですか?」
まっすぐに赤い瞳を見つめてくる少女に、目を細める。そこに畏れはない。
(魔力に対する耐性が強い。......聖剣の乙女の関係者か?)
だから森の結界をこえられた。
納得するクロードに、もの言いたげな眼差しをベルゼビュートが向ける。嘆息して、クロードは立ち上がった。
「まあいい、ではお帰り頂こう」
「えっ......あの、待って下さい! お、怒ってらっしゃるんですよね。この間、マークスがあなたに失礼なことをしたから......!」
「興味がない」
「私、ずっと謝らなきゃと思っていて。それと、セドリックと仲直りして欲しくて......!」
眉根を寄せると、リリアは立ち上がって胸の前で手を組んだ。
「お話は聞いています。ずっと離れ離れで育ったって......セドリックは気にしてました。魔物に囲まれて、人間と争いにならないよう魔王としてのつとめを果たして――そんなの、悲しすぎます。みんなあなたに任せっぱなしで、ひどい。ひとりぼっちで......」
――あなたの強さを、わたくしは尊敬致します。
真反対の言葉が蘇った。あの言葉を聞く前だったら、自分は何を思っただろう。
何か言いかけたベルゼビュートを目線で制し、クロードは口を開いた。
「この森は今、そのセドリックが差し向けた兵に囲まれているんだが?」
「それは誤解です。マークスもセドリックも優しいから、私を心配して......脅迫文のこともあって先走ってしまっているだけなんです」
「君が先走らせている、の間違いだろう。脅迫文の犯人は君なんだから」
大きな瞳を瞠目させて、リリアの動きが止まる。そのあとで、肩を落とした。
「......ご存知だったんですね。それは悪かったと思います。私だって気が引けたけど......でも、アイリーン様を止めるためにはこれしか方法がなくて」
「止める?」
「こっちがアイリーン様の企みを見破ってるって教えたかったんです。あなたが優しい人だというのは一目で分かりましたけれど、人間と魔物の下手な接触は争いの火種になってしまうでしょう? この間マークスとも争いになっちゃったじゃないですか」
まさに今、下手に接触して不戦条約を破るきっかけを作っているのはこの女なのだが、クロードは黙って聞くことにした。
「だから私、アイリーン様が罪を犯す前に、自分で逃げることにしたんです。セドリックとマークスは優秀だもの、アイリーン様を捕まえてしまう。あの三人、幼馴染みなんです。そんなのよくないわ」
「私が自作自演で逃げてしまえば、アイリーン様は罪には問われません。あとでみんなにはきちんと説明します。きっと分かってくれますから」
そうだろう、と冷めた思考でクロードは同意した。
馬鹿な周囲は、アイリーンの罪をかばうため優しいリリアが嘘をついたのだと感動するに違いない。
そしてアイリーンは証拠がないだけの、罪人扱いをされるのだ――いや、それ以前に。
「君の話を聞いていると、アイリーンが君に危害を加えることがまず前提になっているみたいだが?」
「......アイリーン様は、本当にセドリック様を好いてらっしゃったから」
恨まれてて当然です。
そうしおらしくリリアは眉を下げる。
その思考がどれだけ傲慢か、気づきもせずに。
「それに私、どうしてもあなたを一人で放っておけなくて......もう一度、会って話をしてみたくて」
かすかに頬を赤く染めて、リリアがそっと見上げる。
その瞬間、クロードの不快指数が限界値を振り切った。
突風が巻き起こる。哄笑と一緒に王の間に吹き荒れる嵐に、魔物達が耳を塞ぎ、身を寄せ合う。リリアも立っているのがやっとのようだった。だが爆風から耳を塞ぎながら、まだ声を上げる。なかなか見上げた根性だ。
「ご、ごめんなさい! いきなりこんなこと言われても困りますよね。でも、私」
「困る? 僕は困ってなんかいない。愉快でたまらないんだ。アイリーンも、なかなかかわいげがあるじゃないか。こんな程度の女にしてやられるなんて」
びしりと王座をささえる支柱にひびが入った。かまわず、クロードは感情の嵐が吹き荒れる中で、静かに歩を進める。
「だが、その原因がセドリックにあると思うと不愉快だ」
こんな女にしてやられるほど目が眩んでしまったのは、セドリックへの恋心ゆえだ。
今だって、自分に近づくのはセドリックへの意趣返しがほんのわずかでも混ざっているのではないか。だからエスコートに『セドリックより』なんて条件がつくのではないか。
どうしてだろう。それがただの可能性でも許しがたい。妄想でも引き裂いてやりたい。
「興が削がれた」
その言葉と一緒に、ぴたりと嵐が止まった。
冷め切った眼差しで、クロードは人間の女の鼻先に顔を近づける。
「失せろ、女。僕は忙しい」
「え......で、でも、私の話がまだ」
うろたえる女の姿が、薄くなった。あっという間に強制転移されないのは、やはり何か魔に対する耐性を持っているからだろう。だがもう興味を完全になくしたクロードは背を向け、ベルゼビュートに向き直る。
「行くぞ、ベルゼビュート。遅刻だ」
「は。ですが森の外は」
「キースが手を回しているはずだ。どうせ入ってこられはしないと思うが」
「あ、あの――待って下さい! ど、どうして? どうしてですか? 何が悪かったの?」
霞のように薄くなった女が混乱して髪を振り乱している。クロードは冷めた目で分かりやすく説明した。
「ただ僕が君に、毛ほども興味が持てないだけだ」
きっと生まれてから、誰かに拒絶などされたことがないのだろう。
そうと分かる驚愕の表情を最後に、うるさい人間の女が消えた。
指を鳴らして荒れた王座を直し、身だしなみをととのえ、懐中時計を見る。
とっくに夜会は始まっている時間だった。
The human whom Beelzebub dragged out was dressed with a seemingly lovely appearance.
Sweet features with soft looking hair. She looked cute with her plumped lips and her big eyes as well.
(So this is the woman that Cedric chose over Aileen)
Claude looked down on her while propping himself on the throne by resting his chin on his hand.
In between the King and the monsters that were surrounding her, the young lady was standing on the recently remodeled marble floor while blinking her eyes nervously.
[......I'm sorry for making you show me the way......Ah, I, my name is Lilia Rainworth. As I thought, you're the Demon King-sama, aren't you?......Thank G.o.d. Do you remember me?] (Lilia)
Recrossing his long legs, Claude asked her the only thing he was curious about.
[How do you get into the barrier without me noticing?] (Claude)
[Eh? What do you mean?] (Lilia)
Claude narrowed his eyes towards the young lady who was candidly fixing her gaze on his red eyes. There was no uneasiness in her eyes.
(Her tolerance towards magic is strong. ......Is she related to the Maiden of the Holy Sword?)
That's why she could go past the forest's barrier.
As understanding dawned upon him, Claude turned towards Beelzebub whose gaze seemingly indicated that he wanted to say something. Claude stood up with a sigh.
[Whatever, let's return] (Claude)
[Eh......Umm, please wait a minute! Y, you're angry, aren't you? Because Max was being rude to you the other day......!] (Lilia)
[I'm not interested] (Claude)
[I always thought that I need to apologize. And, I want you to reconcile with Cedric......!] (Lilia)
Frowning, Lilia crossed her hands in front of her chest while standing.
[I heard a story. You've always been raised separately from each other......so, you're interested in Claude-sama. Surrounded by monsters, sure enough, you took upon the Demon King's role to prevent conflict between humans and the monsters. That kind of thing is too sorrowful. It's terrible when everyone left everything to you. All alone......] (Lilia)
----I respect your strength. (Aileen)
He recalled the exact opposite of those words. He wondered what he would think if he was to listen to those words before listening to Aileen's.
With his gaze, Claude restrained Beelzebub who was about to say something. Then, he spoke to her.
[But right now, this forest is currently surrounded by the troop sent by that Cedric, though?] (Claude)
[That's a misunderstanding. Both Max and Cedric are kind; they're just worried about me......They're being impertinent because of the threatening letters] (Lilia)
[Isn't your mistake the cause for their impertinence? (1) Because the culprit behind the threatening letters is you after all] (Claude)
Lilia's big eyes were gazing at him in wonderment, and she stopped moving. After that, she dropped her shoulders.
[......So, you're aware of that. I do think that it was bad. Even I feel ashamed of myself for doing that......However, this is the only way to stop Aileen-sama] 
[Stop her?] (Claude)
[I wanted to tell you that I've seen through Aileen-sama's scheme. I know at first glance that you're a kind person; however, isn't it easy for conflicts to be triggered when there's poor contact between humans and the monsters?Isn't there a conflict with Max the other day as well?] (Lilia)
Exactly right now, the one who made the chance to violate the peace treaty due to poor contact was this woman, but Claude said nothing and continued to listen to her.
[That's why I, before Aileen-sama can commit a crime, I will run away myself. Since Cedric and Max are excellent people, they will end up capturing Aileen-sama. Those three are childhood friends. That kind of thing is bad] 
[If I were to run away in my own self-made performance, Aileen-sama will not be charged with crimes. I'll properly explain to everyone later because I'm sure they will understand] 
Sure you will, Claude agreed with that chilling thought.
In that foolish surrounding, those people would definitely be moved by the kind Lilia who was lying for the sake of covering up for Aileen's crimes.
And then, Aileen would be handled like a criminal without evidence----No, before that.
[First of all, based on your story, it seems like Aileen had a reason to inflict injuries upon you?] (Claude)
[......Because Aileen-sama truly like Cedric-sama, after all] 
So, it was natural to feel resentment towards her.
When she meekly answered that, Lilia frowned.
She didn't even realize how arrogant that thought was.
[Moreover, I can't leave you alone no matter what......I want to meet you once again and have a talk with you] 
Lilia's cheeks were faintly dyed in red color; she softly looked up at Claude.
At that moment, Claude "uncomfortable index" broke off its threshold.
A gust of winding wind occurred. Together with a mocking laughter, a tempest blew violently around the King; the monsters blocked their ears and huddled their bodies together. Lilia finally seemed like she was in a difficult position. However, she still raised her voice while blocking her ears from the shock wave. She had rather admirable guts.
[F, forgive me! You would be troubled if I suddenly told you something like that. But, I] (Lilia)
[Troubled? I'm not troubled with that. I can't help but feel pleasant. Aileen too, there's a cute thing about her, isn't there? To think that she had been done by a woman of this standard] (Claude)
With a snap, a pillar supporting the throne cracked. Without minding about that, Claude silently walked forward into the tempest of emotions that was blowing violently.
[However, it feels unpleasant if you think that there's Cedric in that cause] (Claude)
Because Aileen was blinded by her love for Cedric, she had been done by this kind of woman.
Even now, didn't Aileen approach him to exact revenge upon Cedric even if it's in the smallest amount of desire? Isn't that the reason she made a condition{better than Cedric}  when she asked him to be her escort?
Why is it? It's unforgivable even if it was only a possibility. I want to tear it apart even if it's just a delusion.
[My amus.e.m.e.nt had been reduced] (Claude)
The tempest stopped precisely along with those words.
With a cold cutting look, Claude brought his face closer before the human woman's eyes.
[Get out of my sight, woman. I am busy] (Claude)
[Eh......B, but, my story is yet] (Lilia)
The figure of the fl.u.s.tered woman paled. The reason why she wasn't teleported instantly was certainly as one would expect: she possessed the resistance to opposing something evil. But, Claude who had already completely lost his interest on her ability, turned his back on her and faced Beelzebub.
[Let's go, Beelzebub. We're late] (Claude)
[Yes. However, outside of the forest is] (Beelzebub)
[Keith should have made the necessary preparations in secrecy. In any case, I think they will not be able to enter this forest] (Claude)
[Uh, Umm----Please wait for a minute! W, why?Why?What went wrong?] (Lilia)
The woman with disheveled hair who had become as thin as the spring haze was confused. Claude gave an easy-to-understand explanation with a cold look on his eyes.
[I don't have the slightest interest towards you] (Claude)
Undoubtedly, no one had ever done something like rejecting her from the moment she was born.
When she finally understood his words, Lilia had a look of shock on her face; and finally, the noisy human woman vanished.
With a snap of his fingers, the ruined throne was fixed; he arranged his appearance and looked at his pocket watch.
It had been a while since the evening party had started.
Villainous Daughter Aims for the Last Boss
悪役令嬢なのでラスボスを飼ってみました
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/villainous-daughter-aims-for-the-last-boss/
Drama Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Bloodlines Broken Engagement Business Management Businessmen Calm Protagonist Demon Lord Demons Female Protagonist Handsome Male Lead Hated Protagonist Kuudere Multiple Reincarnated Individuals Nobles Otome Game Politics Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Saints Sword And Magic Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2766dz/
永瀬さらさ