夜空を走る馬車に、憧れない乙女はいない。
アイリーンは窓の外を流れていく夜空と、煌めく皇都を眺める。
またたき始めた星の光。扇形に広がる、瓦斯灯や家から漏れる灯りの数々。中でも商業区である第三層あたりは色も輝きもきらびやかだ。
「きれい......」
「――そうしていると、普通の令嬢に見えるな」
紅潮した頬で窓に張り付いていたアイリーンは、その声で我に返った。真向かいの席にクロードが足を組んで座っている。観察するような眼差しに、咳払いをした。
「失礼なことを仰らないでくださる? わたくしは普通の令嬢ですわ」
「普通の令嬢は魔王に媚薬をもろうとしたりしないと思うが」
「......でも、どうして助けてくださったんですか?」
「それはお前が何にも言い返さないからだ、娘!」
突然聞こえた声にアイリーンはきょとんと馬車の中を見回して、ぎょっとした。
窓の外にベルゼビュートが張り付いている。
「窓からの眺めが台無しですわ......!」
「やかましい! どうして言い返さなかった、娘! 万倍言い返すと思ったのに」
「あなた、それを聞きに空をわざわざ飛んでますの?」
「王が我々は出るなと仰るから、ここまで我慢したんだ」
「ソウダ! 娘! 説明!」
反対方向の窓は鴉で埋まっている。アイリーンは真顔になった。
「......クロード様。ひょっとして今、この馬車の周りは」
「魔物で埋まっているが?」
「......色々、本当に台無しですわ......折角の素敵な夜空の旅が」
「いいから答えろ、娘! 王が返事をお待ちだ」
どう見ても返事を待っているのはこの馬車を囲む魔物達だ。
深い溜め息を吐いたあと、アイリーンは行儀良く座り直して簡潔に述べた。
「都合がよかったからですわ」
クロードは相変わらず静かにアイリーンを見つめている。そのおかげで淡々と説明できた。
「わたくしの目的はあの事態を穏便におさえることです。多少の誤解は些事でしょう。大事なのはあの魔物の子供が無事で、かつ人間側から言いがかりをつけられずにすませることです」
「......そう、かもしれないが......」
「それに、うまく言いくるめる方法も思いつかなくて」
ふう、とアイリーンはわざとらしく溜め息を吐いた。
「学園での信用が最底辺なわたくしが、あの男子学生が先に手を出していたと言ったところで誰も信用しませんでしょう? むしろますます立場が悪くなるだけ――」
「違ウ! 違ウ!」
「まあ、わたくしが嘘をついているとでも?」
「そうではなく、どうして我々に証言をさせようとしなかった!」
思いがけない憤りをぶつけられ、アイリーンはぱちぱちと長い睫毛を上下させる。そしてその後で、ぼそりとつぶやいた。
「そんなことをしたらもっと厄介なことになったような気がしますわ......」
「ど、どういう意味だ」
「あなた方が何か証言したところで、わたくしが魔物をたぶらかしたと思われて余計事態が悪化するだけです。というわけで、余計な気遣いですわ」
「なんだと!?」
苦虫をかみつぶしたような顔で、ベルゼビュートが窓硝子に顔を近づける。そのむきになった顔に、アイリーンは淑女らしく微笑みかけた。
「あなた方に助けられるほど落ちぶれておりません、ということです」
「オ前、ダカラ嫌ワレル! 可愛クナイ!」
「あらご明察。わたくし、恩を売られるのが大嫌いですの。恩を売るのは好きですけれども」
「......ベルゼビュート。全員、下がれ」
静かにクロードが命じた瞬間、窓硝子ごしに睨んでいたベルゼビュートの表情が真顔になった。今までのいがみ合いが嘘のように、優雅な一礼を返し、ふっと姿が消える。
反対側の鴉もいなくなり、あっという間に静かになったところで、クロードが口を開いた。
「魔物達は君を好ましいと思い始めている」
目が真ん丸になった。
「わたくしを......ですか」
「いいか悪いかでの評価ならほぼ悪いだが、フェンリルの子供を助けたからな」
「たかが一回子供を助けただけで、単純すぎません?」
「魔物達は人間のように上っ面を重視しない。君が身を挺してまで仲間を助けた、どんな理由だろうがそれがすべてだ。気にさせまいと悪ぶっても、あまり意味はない」
何もかも見透かしたような口調が釈然としないが、理解はした。
「すぐに騙されて痛い目をみそうで、クロード様は目が離せませんわね」
「君だって似たようなものだ」
「はい? わたくしは騙されたりしませんでしてよ」
クロードは答えない代わりに、ちらと視線だけを流した。あえて指摘しないと言いたげな眼差しに、ぴくりと眉を吊り上げる。
「......元婚約者のことをおっしゃりたいなら、余計なお世話でしてよ......?」
「君は泣きもせず、言い訳もせず、助けも求めない人間なんだということは分かった」
目の前の謎を紐解いていくような、同情もなにもない赤い瞳で、クロードは続ける。
「だから愛してもいない、しかも人間ですらない僕になぜ求婚しにきたのか、その理由を言わないんだな。今も、言う気はないのか?」
「言っても信じてもらえないと思いますけれど」
「信じるか信じないか、それを決めるのは君じゃない」
それはそうだ。ふむと頷いたアイリーンは、にっこり笑った。
「では申し上げますわね。実はわたくし、前世の記憶があるのです」
「は?」
「実は、この世界は私の前世にあった乙女ゲームなんですの。リリア様がヒロイン――主人公で、私は悪役令嬢。いわゆる当て馬のやられキャラですわね。そして婚約破棄は、なんと私が死ぬ未来のフラグなのです。魔王として覚醒したクロード様に殺されるんですのよ」
クロードの目が冷たい。ものすごく冷たい。かまわず、アイリーンはにこにこと説明を続けた。
「でも愛の力ってありますでしょ? だからてっとり早くクロード様を私のものにしてしまえば殺されずにすむと、そう考えて求婚しに参りました。うふふ、ご理解いただけました?」
「......ああ。よくわかった」
クロードがしらけた相槌を返した瞬間、ぱっと周囲が星空だけになった。馬車が消えたのだ。
頬を撫でる夜風と、眼下に広がる皇都。足元には何もない。
当然、落ちる。
「君がどうせ理解できないだろうと馬鹿にして話していることは、よく理解できた」
悲鳴が落下に飲み込まれた。雲の隙間を突き抜けるスカイダイビングだ。
(嘘! 死ぬ!)
恐怖で悲鳴も凍る。パニックを起こしたアイリーンは伸ばされたクロードの腕にとっさにつかみ、首に腕を回してしがみついた。それでも加速度的に増していく落下は止まらない。
下からの強風に耐えていると、耳元でくすりと笑う声が聞こえた。背中から落ちていくアイリーンの視界いっぱいに、夜空が広がる。
(あ、流れ星)
落下がやわらいだのはその時だった。
クロードの靴先が芝生の上を踏む。クロードの首に抱きついていたアイリーンの足も、ゆっくりと爪先から地面に触れた。
そのまま、へなへなと芝生にへたり込む――と同時に、怒鳴った。
「なんってことなさいますの! 殺す気ですか! 人でなし!」
「ああ。僕は魔王だからな」
「開き直りましたわね!? 一体どういうつもりでわたくしを墜落死させようとなさったの!」
「夜会には出席しよう」
「――え?」
唐突な承諾に、怒りが削がれた。へたり込んだまま、芝生の上に立つクロードを見上げる。
「それで貸し借りなしだ」
「ど、どうし、ましたの。いきなり」
「どう、とは?」
「......どうして、笑ってらっしゃいますの」
「ああ。笑っているのか、僕は」
壮絶に妖艶な笑みを口元に浮かべているご本人には、自覚がなかったらしい。
「魔王らしい感情だな、と我ながら思うな」
「説明を――いえいいです、なんだか嫌な予感が」
「君を泣かせてみたくなった」
は、と言葉が空気が抜けるような音に変わった。
とんと軽い音を立ててクロードが地面を蹴り、夜空に浮かぶ。その背後でまた流れ星が落ちるのが見えた。今日はよく流れ星が落ちる日だ。
いや、そうじゃない。クロードの感情が流れ星を落としている。やたらときらきら星が輝いているのはそのせいだ。
(そ、それってどういう感情!?)
呆然とするアイリーンをドートリシュ公爵家の中庭に放置して、赤い瞳の美しい魔王は、三日月の夜空に姿を消した。
There would be no maiden who wouldn't fall in love with a carriage that flew underneath the night sky.
With the night sky that seemingly flows, the view of the Imperial capital outside the window of the carriage seemed to sparkle.
The stars have begun to twinkle once again. Varieties of light coming from a source like gas lamp shone through people's houses around the fan-shaped area of the Imperial capital. Even the commercial district on the third layer was surrounded by dazzling colors and brilliance coming from the lights.
[So beautiful......] 
[----And what we have here is not the usual Lady that we've always seen] 
Irene who was blus.h.i.+ng while clinging to the window of the carriage came back to her own senses after hearing his voice. Claude was sitting cross-legged on the seat across Irene's. He was gazing at her as if he was observing her, so Irene cleared her throat.
[Can you please not say something rude? I am obviously a normal Lady] 
[But I think that a normal lady, for example, won't serve the Demon King an aphrodisiac though] 
[......But, why did you help me?] 
[That was because you did not retort anything to them, girl!] 
Irene was startled when she heard an unexpected voice. She looked around inside the carriage in puzzlement.
Beelzebub was clinging outside of the window.
[The view from the window was ruined......!] 
[You're noisy!why did you not retort anything back, girl!I was expecting you to retaliate a million times back there] 
[You, did you purposely fly in the sky to hear my answer?] 
[We've endured it up until this point because King had forbidden us not to come out ] 
[That's right!Girl!Explain!] 
The opposite window was covered by crows. Irene's face turned serious.
[......Claude-sama. By any chance , currently, the surrounding of this carriage] 
[Is surrounded by the monsters?] 
[......Many things, were truly being ruined......my precious journey underneath the dreamy night sky was] 
[Just answer my question, girl!The King is waiting for your answer] 
No matter how you look at it, the one who was really waiting for my answer was not the King himself but rather the monsters surrounding this carriage.
After letting out a deep sigh, Irene sat back in a proper manner and stated simply.
[Because it was convenient] 
Claude as usual calmly fixed his eyes on Irene. Thanks to that, Irene was able to explain her reasoning indifferently.
[My aim was simply to control the situation . A little misunderstanding is nothing, isn't it?. What's important was that the pup was safe and the problem ended right before the humans could establish false accusation against the pup] 
[......You are probably right, but......] 
[Besides, I also couldn't think of a way to skillfully talk it over] 
Fuu~, Irene let out a forced sigh.
[Since I have the lowest reputation in the academy, no one would believe me if I were to say that it was the male students who made a move against that pup first, right? Rather, my position will only get increasingly worse----] 
[Wrong! Wrong!] 
[My, did you accuse me of lying?] 
[It's not like that. Why did you not ask us to testify for you?!] 
Irene incessantly blinked her long eyelashes at Beelzebub's unexpected indignation. And then after that, she softly murmured.
[If I were to do that, I had a feeling that it would become more troublesome......] 
[W, what does that mean?] 
[By the way, if all of you were to testify for me, I would be deemed as someone who might have been seduced by the monsters, and thus, the situation would only excessively get worse. So basically, it was an unnecessary consideration from your part] 
[What did you say!?] 
Beelzebub brought his face closer to the windowpane, looking as though he had swallowed a bitter bug or something. Irene laughed girlishly at his irritated face.
[What I meant was, I haven't fallen low enough for all of you to help me] 
[You, that's why you are hated! Not cute at all!] 
[My, what an insight. I hate owing a debt to someone. But, I love having someone owe me a debt] 
[......Beelzebub. Everyone, withdraw] 
The moment they heard Claude's calm command, Beelzebub who was initially scowling by the windowpane suddenly turned serious. It seemed as if his snarling expressions up until now was a lie. He then returned an elegant bow, and with a puff, his figure vanished from sight.
The crows at the opposite window also disappeared per Claude's command, and just like that, the place turned quiet once again; then, Claude spoke.
[The monsters had started to think that you are likable] 
Her eyes widened.
[Me......?] 
[Between good and bad, their evaluation about you are mostly bad, but you did help the Fenrir's pup] 
[I only saved that one child, though. Aren't they just too simple?] 
[The monsters are like humans, they do not regard appearances as important. It doesn't matter on what basis you risk your life to save our friends because for them that's everything. Your good or bad intention for taking such action means nothing to them.] 
He sounds like he doesn't feel satisfied with it as if he can see through anything and everything. But, I understood.
[Claude-sama, you have a dreadful experience of immediately being deceived by others, so you can't take your eyes off it] 
[You also experienced something similar] 
[Pardon? I have never been deceived by others, you know] 
Instead of responding to Irene, Claude averted his line of sight. His gaze seemingly wanted to say something, but he didn't dare to say it. Irene's eyebrow lifted with a twitch.
[......If you want to talk about my ex-fiance, it's none of your concern......?] 
[I understand that you are the kind of person that will not cry, will not make some excuses, and will not seek help from other humans] 
As if unraveling a mystery, his pair of red eyes did not reflect any sympathy or the likes of such emotion; so Claude continued.
[You did not want to tell your reasons to propose marriage to me, whose someone you don't love and not a human either. Do you still feel like not telling me even now?] 
[But I think that even if I tell you, you will not believe me ] 
[It is not up to you whether or not I will believe in your reasons.] 
He's right. Irene nodded her head while smiling.
[Then I'll tell you. The truth is, I have memories of my past life] 
[Huh?] 
[The truth is, this world is an otome game in my past life. Lilisama is the heroine----the main character. My character, on the other hand, is the villainess: the so-called cannon fodder character. For some reason, the engagement annulment turns out to be a flag that will lead me to my eventual death in the future. When you are finally awaken as the Demon King, I will die in your hand ] 
Claude's eyes were cold. It was extremely cold. Grinning, Irene continued her explanation while ignoring the cold gaze sent by Claude.
[But, there's this thing called the power of love, right? That's why if I were to quickly make Claude-sama as mine, I will not be killed and will be able to continue living. Using that line of thought, I had come to propose. Ufufu~, do you understand now?] 
[......Yes. I perfectly understand] 
After listening to that unamused response by Claude, Irene was suddenly surrounded by the starry sky. The carriage had vanished.
Night breeze gently blowing over her cheeks and beneath her was the wide Imperial City.
Without a doubt, she's falling.
[I completely understand that you don't think I could understand your reasons, so you decided to make fun of me by making up a ridiculous story] 
Her scream was swallowed by her fall. She was skydiving through the gaps in the clouds.
(No way! I'll die!)
Her shriek was also frozen by her terror. Panicked, Irene quickly grasped Claude's stretched arm, and then, she circled her arms around Claude's neck to clung onto him. But they were still falling at a quick speed.
While she was enduring the strong wind coming from below, she heard Claude's chuckling. Irene was still falling, but, she got to see a full view of the starry night sky from Claude's back.
(Ah, there's a shooting star)
It was at that time their fall started to slow down.
The tip of Claude's shoe finally stepped on the gra.s.s. Irene who was still clinging onto Claude's neck felt her feet slowly touching the ground.
She weakly sank down on the gra.s.s----At the same time, she shouted at him in anger.
[What have you done! Are you trying to kill me?!You monster!] 
[Yes. I am a Demon King after all] 
[Are you being defiant now!? Was your intention to make me die from falling!] 
[Let's attend the evening party] 
[----Eh?] 
Her anger subsided because of his sudden compliance. She looked up at Claude who was standing on the gra.s.s while she was still on her knees.
[That is not a loan] 
[W, What's wrong? Suddenly] 
[What do you mean?] 
[......Why are you laughing?] 
[Ah. Am I laughing?] 
It seems like the owner of that outrageously bewitching smile did not have self-awareness.
[I don't think I'm feeling an emotion typical of a Demon King] 
[Explain----No, it's fine, somehow, I have a bad premonition] 
[I wanted to see you cry] 
(1)Huh, the peculiar sound of the word was similar to the sound of air pa.s.sing by.
With a particularly gentle sound, Claude kicked the ground and rose to the night sky. Once again, she could see stars falling down from the night sky that was currently serving as Claude's background. Today seems to be the day for countless shooting stars.
No, that's not it. It was Claude's feelings causing those shooting stars to happen. That's why stars were s.h.i.+ning excessively.
(W, what kind of emotion is that!?)
Leaving dazed Irene at the D'Austriche Ducal House's courtyard, the figure of the beautiful Demon King with a pair of red eyes vanished underneath the night sky of the crescent moon.
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