66
シェリアが帰ってきてから、丁度いい時間になったのでレオルドは
思えば、真人の記憶が宿ってから家族に会うのはこれが初めてなのだ。父親とは会っているが、母親と双子の弟と妹には会っていない。
勿論家族と会うのが楽しみではあるのだが、同時に不安も感じるレオルド。母親は問題ないのだが、双子の弟と妹には嫌われているのだ。
それはどうしてかと言われれば、過去のレオルドの行いが原因である。双子の弟と妹は兄であるレオルドと血が繋がっている事が恥ずかしいと言っている。
それもそうだ。金色の豚と馬鹿にされた兄を持った弟と妹の気持ちを考えて欲しい。公爵家という由緒ある立場の人間なのに、やっている事は外道そのもの。
両親が咎めても表向きは反省しているが、裏ではやりたい放題。
そんな兄を見て心を痛める両親を見ては、弟と妹が愛想を尽かすのも当然と言えるだろう。
「着いたか......」
レオルドが見上げる先には、オリビアが予約したと言う王都でも有名なレストランだ。
これから向かう先には、両親と自分を嫌う双子の弟と妹が待っている。
先程、シェリアの惚気話を聞いて軽く鬱になっているところだ。まだ、家族には会ってもいないというのに、既に胃がキリキリと痛みを訴えている。
(もしかして殺しに来てるのかな?
だとしたら大成功ですよ!
信頼してたシェリアはジークに惚れて、頼りのギルは孫娘の応援!
精神的に死ぬから!
は
「はあ~~~」
「どうかなさいましたか、坊ちゃま?」
「いや、なんでもない。それよりも中で皆が待っているかもしれないから早く入るぞ」
レオルドは予約されていた時間の五分前に到着している。家族が中に入っていくのを見ていないので分からないが、もしかしたら先に入っているかもしれない。
そう考えると、レオルドは待たせるわけにはいかないと思いレストランへと入る。
中へ入るとレオルドにウェイターが歩み寄る。
「レオルド・ハーヴェスト様でございましょうか?」
「ああ、そうだ」
「それではこちらへご案内致します」
連れて行かれた先は最奥の部屋だ。煌びやかな装飾が施された扉が見える。レオルドはこの扉の先に家族が待っているのだと分かると、大きく深呼吸をした。
ウェイターは案内が終わると下がり、ギルバートが扉を開ける。
開いた扉の先には、中央に長方形の長テーブルがあり、壁際には絵画や花が飾られていた。そして長テーブルには、既に四人の男女が腰掛けている。
上座にいるのは父親のベルーガ、母親のオリビア。そして、レオルドとは違って細身のイケメンである双子の弟、レグルス。そして、これまた美少女のレイラ。
一番最後に来たレオルドは、正直離れた場所に座りたかったが、ご丁寧に父親の近くがわざと空けられていた。
現在レオルドは、長男というだけで次期当主というわけでもない。だから離れた席でも良かったのにと心の中で愚痴りながらも席に着いた。
「うむ。久しいな、レオルド。お前がゼアトに行ってから半年程か。しかし、此度の件は公爵家として、そして父として喜ばしいことだ」
「ありがとうございます」
「しかしな、レオルド。一つ、どうしても聞きたいことがあるのだ」
「はい。なんでしょう?」
「いったいお前に何があったというのだ?
聞けば、ゼアトに行く前から様子がおかしいとギルから報告を受けてな。しかも、ゼアトに着いたらダイエットがしたいと言い出して、今も頑張っているそうじゃないか。
だから、気になってしまってな。お前が何故、急に心変わりをしたのかと」
完全に不意をつかれたレオルドは、どう返答しようかと困ってしまう。視線を上下左右に動かしては乾いた笑い声を上げて、誤魔化そうとしているが、ベルーガの目は誤魔化せない。
流石に真人の記憶が宿って人格に変化が生じたなど信じては貰えないだろう。いや、両親なら信じてくれるかもしれないが、受け入れてもらえるかどうか自信が無い。
「なにか後ろめたい事でもあるのか?」
「どうせ、兄さんのことですから、何か企んでるんですよ」
「そうですね。私もそう思います。父様も母様も、今まで兄さんが何をしてきたか見たでしょう?
今更、真面目になったところで信じられません」
真人の記憶からも、二人からは嫌悪されている事は知っていたが、この場でこれほど露骨に言われるとは予想しなかった。
「あ、あはははっ......」
レオルドはもう涙が出てきそうだった。ここに来る前にはかませ犬だと痛感させられて、血を分けた弟妹には憎悪の目を向けられている。
いくらレオルドの過去の行いが酷かったとしても、今のレオルドが成したことまでは否定して欲しくはなかった。
真人の記憶が宿って別人格になってしまったが、根本的な部分には本来のレオルドがいる。
最愛の家族からここまで言われたら、性格が歪んでおかしくはない。
確かにレオルドは自分の才能に増長して胡坐をかいて慢心していたが、今は違うだろう。
(来なければ良かった......!
ジワリと視界が滲む。ここで泣いてはダメだ。
泣くなら、せめて誰もいないところで泣くべきだ。
レオルドは涙を堪えてベルーガの質問に答えようとした時、今まで黙っていたオリビアが口を開いた。
「よく頑張りましたね、レオルド。母は貴方を誇りに思いますよ。
レグルスとレイラが言った事は間違ってはいないけれど、でも、過去は過去で今は今なの。
過去の事は無かった事には出来ないけれど、今は貴方の選択次第で変えることが出来る。
だから、レオルド。貴方が己の身を省みず、ゼアトの騎士達を守り抜いた事を私は誇りに思います」
「は、母上......」
我慢していた涙が零れ落ちそうだった。父親からは疑いの目を向けられ、弟と妹からは否定されていたのに、唯一母親のオリビアだけは何も言わずにレオルドを信じたのだ。
これが無償の愛なのだ。一切の見返りを求めず、ただ愛を与える。オリビアにとってはレオルドも掛け替えのない一人の息子。
ならば疑う事も否定する事もない。ただ、受け入れる。だって、愛しているのだから。
「ベルーガ。何があったかなんてどうでもいいでしょう?
今は、ただこうして元気な姿を見せてくれた事を喜ばなきゃ。だって、私達の子供なんだから」
「ん......む、そうだな。すまない、レオルド。無粋な質問だったな」
「ち、父上......」
「僕は間違った事を言ったつもりはありません。今までの兄さんの事を考えれば、十分にあり得る事ですから」
「私もです。どうしても信じる事は出来ません」
久しぶりの食事会は終わった。レオルドにとっては苦い思い出になったが、それ以上の救いがあった。両親が信じてくれたことだ。
結局、双子の弟と妹とは和解出来なかったが、失ってしまった信頼は今後の行いを積み重ねて取り戻そうとレオルドは誓う。
Ch 66
After Shelia came back, it was just the right time,  to Leolde  to go to the restaurant where  his mother Olivia had made a reservation.
Thinking back, this was the first time he had seen his family since his  past life memories had been awakened . He had met his father, but not his mother, twin brother and sister.
Of course, he is looking forward to seeing his family, but at the same time, he feels anxious. His mother is fine, but his twin brother and sister don't like him.
If you ask why, it is because of Leolde's behavior in the past. His twin brother and sister are embarrassed to be related to him ,  .
And so it is. Think about the feelings of the  brother and sister who have an older brother who was mocked as a golden pig.  he was  in a venerable position as dukes, but what they  he is  done is outrageous.
Even though his parents blame him, on the surface he is remorseful, but  on inside  he  was doing whatever he wants.
It's only natural that the  brother and sister would run out of love for him.
"Have we arrived? ......"
The place that Leolde looked up at was a famous restaurant in the royal capital that Olivia had made a reservation for.
Where  he is headed now is where  his parents and brother and sister who hate me are waiting for  him .
He feeling a little depressed after hearing about Shelia's love affair earlier. He  haven't even met  his family yet, and already  his stomach is churning with pain.
(Could it be that they're here to kill me?)
)If so, it's a huge success!)
Shelia, whom  he  trusted, is in love with Zeke, and Gil, whom  he rely on, is supporting his granddaughter!
(I'll die mentally!)
"Ah, ah~......"
"Well, hahaha~......"
"What's wrong, Master
"No, it's nothing. No, nothing at all. We'd better hurry up and get in there, because people might be waiting for us inside."
Leolde arrived five minutes before the appointed time. He didn't see his family go inside, so he didn't know, but they might have gone in before him.
Thinking about this, Leolde  decided that he couldn't keep them waiting, so he went into the restaurant.
Once inside, a waiter walked up to Leorde.
"Are you  Leolde Herbst?"
"Yes, I am."
"I'll show you this way, sir."
They were taken to the innermost room. There can be seen  a door with gleaming decorations. He took a deep breath when he realized that his family was waiting for him at this door.
When the waiter finished ushering him in, he stepped back and Gilbert opened the door.
At the end of the door, there was a long rectangular table in the center, with paintings and flowers on the walls. Four men and four women were already seated at the long table.
In the upper seat was Beluga, the father, and Olivia, the mother. And his twin brother, Regulus, who, hate Leolde, is slim and handsome. And then there was Leila, his sister .
Leolde was the last one to arrive, and to be honest, he wanted to sit somewhere far away from his father, but the space near his father had been carefully reserved for him.
At present, Leolde is only the eldest son, but he is not the next head of the family. So  he took  his seat, complaining in  his heart that it would have been better to sit farther away.
"Mmm. It's been a long time, Leolde . It's been about half a year since you was sent to Ze'at. But this is a pleasure for us to see you again .
"Thank you"
"But, Leolde, there is one thing I must ask you.
"Yes,  What is it?"
"What is it that's happened to you?"
"I heard from Gil that you were acting strangely even before  you got to Ze'at. I , and that you had been trying to lose weight since  you arrived."
"That's why I'm curious about you. I was wondering why you suddenly changed so much ."
Completely caught off guard, Leolde  was at a loss as to how to respond. He moves his gaze up and down, left and right, and laughs dryly, trying to cover it up, but he can't avoid   Beluga's  gaze.
He would never believe that   his personality had been changed by the past life memories . No,  his parents might believe it, but he is unsure if they would accept it.
"Do you have something to be ashamed of?"
"I'm sure my brother is up to something.
"That's right. I think so too. Father and mother have seen what    you has been up to, haven't they?"
I can't believe you're being so serious now."
he know from  his own memories that the two of them dislike  him , but  he  never expected them to say it so blunt
"Ah, hahaha ......."
Leolde was already on the verge of tears. He was made to feel that he was a bastard before he came here, and his brother and sister who share his blood look at him with hatred.
No matter how bad Leolde's past deeds were, he didn't want anyone to deny what Leolde has done now.
Although he has become a different person with the past life memories  he is still the original Leolde at the core.
If his beloved family had told him so much, it would not be strange if his personality was distorted.
It's true that Leolde had been sitting on his laurels and was proud of his talent, but now he  was different.
(I shouldn't have come to ......!
His vision is blurred. He can't cry here.
If  he going to cry,  he  should at least cry in a place where no one is around.
As he was about to answer Beluga's question, Olivia, who had been silent until now, opened her mouth.
"You' worked hard , Leolde.  mother  is very proud of you."
What Regulus and Leila said is not wrong, but the past is the past and the present is the present.
You can't  forget the past, but you can change the present by your choice.
"So, Leolde. I'm proud of you for defending the knights of Ze'at without any death ."
"Thanks, Mother. ......"
The tears he had been holding back were about to spill over. His father looked at him with suspicion, his brother and sister denied him, but only his mother, Olivia, believed him without saying a word.
This is what free love is all about. ; giving love without asking for anything in return. To Olivia, Leolde was her only son.
Then, there is nothing to doubt or deny. She just accepts him. Because shee loves him.
"Beluga. It doesn't matter what happened in the past , right ?"
Right now, we should just be happy that  he alive and well. He is our son ."
". I'm sorry, Leolde . That was  meaningless question.
"Hey, Dad, ......"
".I didn't mean to say anything wrong, because it's quite possible, considering what  you has done so far."
"Me too. I just can't believe it."
The dinner party after a long time was over. It was a bitter memory for Leolde, but it was more than a relief. It was that his parents believed in him.
In the end, he could not reconcile with his brother and sister, but he vowed to regain the trust he had lost through his future action.
Eroge Reincarnation, Struggle of a Golden Pig Aristocrat Against Fate
エロゲ転生　運命に抗う金豚貴族の奮闘記
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/eroge-reincarnation-struggle-of-a-golden-pig-aristocrat-against-fate/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Butlers Character Growth Complex Family Relationships Cowardly Protagonist Crafting Dense Protagonist Domestic Affairs Doting Parents Elemental Magic Emotionally Weak Protagonist Empires Fallen Nobility Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fat Protagonist Fat to Fit Galge Handsome Male Lead Hard-Working Protagonist Harsh Training Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Late Romance Lost Civilizations Loyal Subordinates Magic Magic Formations Maids Male Protagonist Management Manipulative Characters Marriage Misunderstandings Modern Knowledge Monsters Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Time Skip Transmigration Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4214gk/
名無しの権兵衛