第十六話 侯爵邸
後日、俺とルーチェはスノウに招かれ、ハウルロッド侯爵家の館へと訪れることになった。
〈幻獣の塔〉での事件について、改めて礼を言いたい、とのことであった。
イザベラに連れられ、侯爵邸の廊下を歩む。
「こんな立派な建物、初めて来ました......。アタシ、浮いてないですか? やっぱりエルマさんだけで来た方がよかったんじゃ......」
ルーチェがおどおどと周囲を見回していた。
「何を言うか。二人共、お嬢様の大恩人だぞ? 気遅れすることなど何もなかろう。それに......あまり大層なもてなしを期待されても困るぞ。今回の場に、当主様は一切関与していないからな」
ルーチェの様子に、イザベラが苦笑する。
「娘の恩人の歓待に、父であるハーデン侯爵様も顔を出すのが筋ではあるが......大変忙しい御方でな」
イザベラがやや申し訳なさげに口にする。
「ハーデン侯爵様は、娘であり、跡継ぎ候補の筆頭であるスノウ様に対しても冷たさが目立つ。体面や礼儀より実益を優先する御方で、元々こうした場にまともに出ることの方が珍しい。気を悪くはしないでくれ」
「えへへ......アタシ、それを聞いてむしろ、ちょっと安心しちゃいました......。おっかない人だって聞いてたもので、顔を合わせたらどうしようかと......」
ルーチェが頭を掻きながらそう話す。
俺としては、できればこの地の領主である、ハーデン侯爵とは顔を合わせておきたかった。
この都市ラコリナで頻発する、異常な〈
〉を利用して、何か悪しきことに用いようと企てている人物がいることは明らかなのだ。
放置しておけば取り返しのつかないことになる、という確信があった。
この辺りを探るには、俺はハウルロッド侯爵家について、あまりに情報が少ない。
ハウルロッド侯爵家は容疑者であると同時に、この都市を守る最大規模の戦力でもある。
この場を利用して、頭であるハーデン侯爵と顔を合わせて、彼の様子を探りつつ、一連の事件に対する侯爵家の姿勢を確認しておきたかった。
「イザベラさん、ハーデン侯爵様って、すっごくおっかない顔をしてるって本当ですか......?」
ルーチェが声を潜めてイザベラへと訊く。
「......ルーチェ、あまりそういう話を館の人間にするものじゃないぞ」
「ご、ごめんなさい、噂で聞いて、気になっちゃってて......」
イザベラは周囲をちらりと見て他に人間がいないことを確認すると、ニヤリと笑った。
「ああ、凄くおっかないぞ。とんでもない強面で、竜のような大きな口、悪魔のような尖った耳鼻、小鬼のようにギョロリとした目......。フフ、お嬢様が母親似の愛らしいお顔でよかったものだ」
イザベラが手をワキワキと動かし、ルーチェを脅かす。
......この人、意外とノリがいいな。
スノウにもかなり冷たいようなので、イザベラとしてもハーデン侯爵はあまり好きではないのかもしれない。
イザベラは扉を開けながら、言葉を途切れさせた。
豪華なシャンデリアに、上品な長机が視界に飛び込む。
......そしてその中央には、竜のような大きな口に顎、悪魔のような尖った耳鼻、小鬼のようにギョロリとした目玉を持つ、壮年の大柄な男が座っていた。
「あ......ハーデン侯爵様......」
ルーチェが顔を青くして呟いた。
「吾輩も、妻似でよかったと思っておる。美人だろう? スノウは」
男がイザベラを見て、ニヤリと笑った。
イザベラは顔を真っ青にして、パクパクと口を動かしていた。
「どどど、どうして客間に......?」
「いかんのか? 父親が、愛娘の歓待の場に顔を出しては」
「すみません、イザベラ。父様が、やはりエルマさんと話をしてみたい、と......」
ハーデン侯爵の傍らのスノウが、しどろもどろとそう口にした。
「座りたまえよ。君と話がしてみたかったのだ、エルマ君」
俺はぎこちなく頭を下げた。
ハーデン侯爵と顔を合わせられたのは思わぬ幸運だったが、しかし、どうにも不気味な雰囲気の男だった。
聞いていたより冷酷な印象はない。
飄々としており、むしろ陽気で明るい人物にも思える。
ただ、対峙しただけで、得体の知れなさを覚える。
ただの人相の悪い、お茶目な父親というわけがない。
全員で席に着き、すぐに豪華な料理が運ばれてきた。
「エルマさん、エルマさん、アタシ、マナー合ってますか? おかしなところあったら、言ってくださいね? ね?」
ルーチェが不安げに、俺へとチェックを求める。
「そう硬くならずともよい。吾輩らしかおらんのだからな」
ハーデン侯爵が大きな口を開き、笑みを浮かべる。
その後、自身の皿の上のステーキを切り、豪快に口へと運んでいく。
ルーチェはぺこぺこと頭を下げてから、安堵したように息を吐く。
「思っていたより怖い人じゃなさそうですね、エルマさん」
明らかに、スノウとイザベラが委縮している。
エドヴァン伯爵家では、父アイザスがよくハーデン侯爵の悪口を言っていた。
自尊心が高く、底意地の悪い男だ......と。
ルーチェは平民であるし、俺も既にエドヴァン伯爵家より廃嫡された身である。
ハーデン侯爵が平民である俺達に何かを仕掛けてくるとも考えにくいが、それをいえば、娘の恩人にわざわざ直接会いにくるような人物でもないと、イザベラからそう評されていたのだ。
多少身構えておいた方がいいかもしれない。
Volume 3 - Ch 16
The next day, Luce and I were invited to the mansion of the Howlod Family.
'To thank you for what happened in the Phantasmal Beast Tower once again', they said.
Led by Izabella, we were walking the corridors of the mansion.
"This is the first time I've been inside a magnificent building like this..... Aren't I kind of out of place here? Maybe you should've come here alone after all, Elma-san...."
Luce was looking around timidly.
"What are you saying? You both saved ojou-sama's life, did you not? There is no reason to lose your nerve here. Also....you shouldn't expect any over the top ceremony either. The Lord will not involve himself in these incidents at this time."
Izabella smiled wryly at Luce's state.
"Normally, it would be expected from ojou-sama's father, Marquee Harden, to welcome the saviors of his daughter, but.....he's an exceedingly busy person."
Izabella said with a somewhat apologetic expression.
"Marquee Harden is exceptionally cold even towards Snow-sama, despite the fact that she is his daughter and the leading candidate to inherit his title. He much prefers concrete action rather than manners or appearances, so he rarely appears at times like this. So please don't be discouraged by it."
"Eheheh....Actually, that makes me somewhat relieved instead.... I heard that he was a scary person, so I was a bit afraid of meeting him....."
Luce said while scratching her head.
As for me, I would've liked to meet Marquee Harden, a Lord of a territory different from ours.
The unusual Dungeon calamities that manifested near La Colina.....and the item that caused them, the Mourning Trapezohedron.
It's clear that some people intend to make use of the natural disasters of the world, the Dungeons, in their evil scheme.
I believe if we don't respond to this in time, this might turn into a situation where there is no coming back from.
We simply don't have enough information about the Howlod Family to make inquiries around these parts.
The Howlod Family is indeed a suspect in this case, but they are also the largest organization that protects this territory at the same time.
Using this chance, I wanted to meet with their leader, Marquee Harden, and try to feel out his stance on the incidents that have been happening lately.
"Izabella-san, is it true that Marquee Harden has a really scary face....?"
Luce whispered her question to Izabella.
"....Luce, don't ask a question like that from people from their own household."
"I-I'm sorry, I just heard this rumor and I was curious, so....."
Izabella checked our surroundings to make sure no one else was around, then broke into a grin.
"Yeah, he's extremely scary. He always has a fierce look on his face, a large mouth like a dragon, pointy ears and nose like a devil, and imp-like bulging eyes.... I'm glad that ojou-sama took after her mother instead with her charming appearance."
Izabella wiggled her fingers, trying to scare Luce.
.....this person is unexpectedly good at playing along.
It seems Marquee Harden is quite cold towards Snow as well, and he doesn't seems to be Izabella's favorite person either.
Izabella's words cut off as she opened the door.
A luxurious chandelier and a high quality long table came into view.
.....and at the head of that sat a large man who looked to be in his prime, had a large mouth like a dragon, pointy ears and nose like a devil, and imp-like bulging eyes.
"Ah.....Lord Harden....."
Luce whispered with a pale face.
"I'm also happy that she took after her mother instead. Snow's quite pretty, isn't she?"
The man looked at Izabella with a smiling expression.
Izabella was white as a sheet; her mouth kept moving, yet no sound came out.
"W-w-why is the Lord here in the drawing room.....?"
"Can't a father be here to welcome the guests of his beloved daughter?"
"Sorry, Izabella. Father said that he wants to talk with Elma-san after all...."
Snow hesitantly interjected from beside Marquee Harden.
"Take a seat, everyone. I wanted to speak to you, Elma-kun."
I awkwardly bowed my head.
It was quite a fortunate happenstance that I managed to meet Marquee Harden here, but the man himself had a somewhat eerie atmosphere around him.
He didn't seem to have the cold bearing I've heard about.
Rather, he seemed to be an easygoing, jovial person instead.
Only, coming face to face with him left me with a mysterious feeling.
There is no way he's just a mischievous dad with an unfortunate face.
We all took a seat, then delicious looking food was served right away.
"Elma-san, Elma-san, I'm not doing anything against manners, right? You will tell me if I do something wrong, right? Right?"
Luce anxiously asked me to check her conduct.
"No need to be so formal. We are the only ones here after all."
Marquee Harden said with his large mouth curving into a smile.
After that, he cut up the steak on his plate and brought it to his mouth in a cheerful manner.
Luce bowed her head a few times, then sighed in relief.
"He doesn't seem to be as scary a person as the rumors say, Elma-san."
Snow and Izabella are obviously very tense.
During my time in the Edvan household, my father, Izas, frequently complained about Marquee Harden.
He said that he's an arrogant and spiteful man....
Luce is a commoner and I'm cut off from the Edvan Family as well.
It's unlikely that Marquee Harden would try to do anything to us, but as Izabella said before, he shouldn't be someone that would go out of his way to meet the rescuers of his daughter like this either.
I think it would be best if I keep my guard up for this.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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