40話 小さなお花見
こうして手洗いのために離脱した
厠所がどこにあるのかわからず、無駄にウロウロしたというのも敗因である。
「きゃははは!」
聞き覚えのある子どもの笑い声が耳に飛び込んできた。
声がするのは、人気のない場所からだ。
雨妹は声の方をそっと覗いてみる。
「これ、温かいね!」
「はい、台所番の宮女が温め直してくれましたからね」
すると視線の先には、若い娘とそんな会話をする
茂みに囲まれた場所の芝生に敷物を敷いてあり、いくつか料理の盛られた皿が並べられている。
二人だけで花見をしているのか、これでは宴というよりまるで野遊びをしているようだ。
娘はあの件の後に新たに付けられた世話役なのだろう、料理を小皿に取ったり友仁皇子の口元の汚れを拭ったりと、懸命に世話を焼いている。
――よかった、元気そうにしてる。
彼女に一生懸命に話をしている友仁皇子の表情は明るく、怯えた様子も見られない。
雨妹が二人の様子をなんとなく眺めていると、偶然こちらを向いた友仁皇子とパチリと目が合う。
「あ!」
途端に表情をぱあっと明るくした友仁皇子が皿から饅頭を一つ取ると、敷物から立ち上がりこちらへ駆け寄って来る。
「殿下、どうなされたのですか!?」
突然の行動に驚いた娘も慌てて立ち上がり付いて来る。
彼女を置いてけぼりにした友仁皇子は、雨妹の前で止まると元気に挨拶をした。
「こんにちは!」
ニコニコ笑顔の友仁皇子に声をかけられ、そっとこの場を去る選択肢が消えた雨妹は、深々と頭を下げる。
「こんにちは友仁皇子殿下、お元気そうでなによりでございます」
雨妹がそう声をかけると、友仁皇子はさらに表情を輝かせた。
「やっぱりその声、あの時の助手の人ですよね!」
嬉しそうに言ってくる友仁皇子に、雨妹は首を傾げる。
あの時の雨妹は頭巾と布マスク姿で顔を晒していなかったはず。
それなのに何故自分だとわかったのか。
その答えを、友仁皇子は語ってくれた。
兄上に伺ったら青っぽい髪をした人だと教えてもらったので、きっとそうだと思ったのです」
どうやら情報元は太子らしい。
雨妹にこの青い髪を隠すように言ってきたのは、太子が遣わした
あの時は「目立つな」というようなことを言われたのだったか。
この忠告は立彬を介した太子のものだろうと思っている。
目立つ行動をしてしまったのだから、これ以上目立つのを避けろと言いたかったのだろう。
もしや太子も友仁皇子に教えてほしいと相当強請られ、困ってペロッと喋ったのかもしれない。
――でも、教えちゃった詫びに蒸しパンくらい強請ってもいいかも。
目立たずに後宮ウォッチングをするのが目的の雨妹にとって、身バレは決して喜ばしいことではないのだから。
雨妹の太子に対する苦情なんて知るはずのない友仁皇子が、笑顔で話を続ける。
「おかげであれから僕、とっても元気です!」
そう言う友仁皇子はまだ痩せているものの、健康的な範囲であろう。
しっかり食事がとれているようだ。
――顔が少しふっくらしたかな? 血色もいいようだし。
雨妹が目視で友仁皇子の健康を確認していると。
「あの、このお饅頭は美味しいんですよ!」
友仁皇子が饅頭を差し出しながら告げた。
「はい、お饅頭が好きだって兄上に聞きましたから!」
――なにを言ってくれてるんですか、太子殿下!
饅頭好きだと言われると、まるで食いしん坊みたいではないか。
それに雨妹が特別食い意地が張っているのではない。
この国では一日二食が基本だとしても、労働者にはどうしてもその間にもう一食必要となる。
Chapter 40
Yui Mei separated from them to go to the washroom, but she ended up walking for a while.
She didn't know where the restroom was, so she had been circling around uselessly.
"Kyahahaha!"
A familiar child's laughter resounded.
It was coming from an unpopular place.
Yui Mei, softly peeked towards the direction of the voice.
"This is warm!"
"Yes, the court lady in the kitchen warmed it again."
A young girl was conversing with Imperial Prince Youren at the place she was looking at.
They had spread a mat on the lawn in a place surrounded by thickets, and a few dishes were lined up together.
They were probably having their own cherry blossom viewing with just the two of them; rather than a feast, it looked more like a picnic.
The girl must be the newly appointed lady-in-waiting. She placed the dishes on small plates, and she also wiped the stains around Imperial Youren's mouth, clearly doing her best to take care of him.
'What a relief, looks like he's healthier now.'
Imperial Prince Youren's expression was clear with no traces of fear.
While Yui Mei was gazing at the two of them, Imperial Prince Youren suddenly turned towards her, and their eyes met.
"Ah!"
Imperial Prince Youren's expression brightened in an instant, and he took one of the manju from the plates. Afterward, he stood up and rushed towards her.
"Your Highness, what happened!?"
The maid was surprised at the suddenness of his movements, so she hurriedly stood up to follow.
Imperial Prince Youren left the maid on her own as he stopped in front of Yui Mei and greeted her energetically.
"Hello!"
When Imperial Prince Youren greeted Yui Mei while grinning broadly, her option to leave this place sneakily vanished, and she bowed her head deeply.
"Good day, Your Highness the Imperial Prince Youren, your health is our greatest fortune."
Imperial Prince Youren's countenance radiated when he heard Yui Mei's words.
"As I thought, that voice, you are the assistant that time, right!"
Yui Mei was perplexed as Imperial Prince Youren happily remarked.
At that time, Yui Mei had covered her face with a kerchief and a cloth mask.
Despite that, how did he know that it was her?
Imperial Prince Youren told her the answer.
"I wanted to thank you no matter what. When I asked Elder Brother, he told me that it was a person with bluish hair, so I thought that's it."
Apparently, the crown prince was the source of information.
The one who told Yui Mei to hide her blue hair was Libin, who was supposedly sent by the crown prince.
At that time, he did tell her "do not stand out", if she was not mistaken.
She had thought that it was a warning from the crown prince which he sent using Libin as the messenger.
It was as if he was saying she already did an eye-catching thing, so it would do her well to refrain from standing out more than this.
Perhaps, Imperial Prince Youren pleaded with the crown prince and because he was bothered, he unwittingly said it.
'But, maybe I could use this to pester him to give me a mushipan as an apology.'
Yui Mei's objective was to watch the Inner Harem inconspicuously, so she wasn't happy that her personal information was revealed.
Imperial Prince Youren, unaware of Yui Mei's resentment against the crown prince, continued to speak while beaming.
"Because of you, I am now very healthy!"
Imperial Prince Youren was still skinny, but it was now within the healthy range.
It seemed like he was eating properly.
'Did his face become a bit rounder? His complexion is good, too.'
Yui Mei gauged Imperial Prince Youren's health as she gazed at him.
"Ahm, this manju is delicious!"
Imperial Prince Youren said as he offered the manju.
"Yes, I heard from Elder Brother that you like manju!"
'What have you been saying, Your Highness the Crown Prince?'
Being told that she loves manju, isn't that tantamount to being told to be a glutton?
Besides, it was not like Yui Mei was a glutton.
In this country where the standard was two meals a day, a laborer needed to eat one more meal in between.
Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
百花宮のお掃除係～転生した新米宮女、後宮のお悩み解決します。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/housekeeper-of-the-hundred-blossom-palace/
Fantasy Romance Shoujo Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Ancient China Complex Family Relationships Different Social Status Female Protagonist Imperial Harem Love Interest Falls in Love First Reincarnated in Another World Royalty
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4104ev/
黒辺あゆみ