「ベルゼビュート、待て!」
アイリーンに手が届く前に、ベルゼビュートが止まった。
思った通りの流れに、ほくそ笑む。――ここでヒロインであれば、大人しくベルゼビュートにつかまり、空を飛ぶという貴重な体験をして家まで強制送還させられるのだが、別に選択肢があるわけでも好感度にかかわる展開でもないので、大丈夫だろう。
(むしろ脚色していかないと。わたくしを愛してもらわなければ意味がないんだし)
ベルゼビュートを止めたクロードが、眉を少しひそめる。
「なんの真似だ」
「家に帰るならば、自分で帰ります。婚約者でもない殿方に抱かれて空を飛んで家に戻すなんて、わたくしの悪評をさらに広めるおつもり?」
「殿方?」
ベルゼビュートが自分の顔を指して怪訝そうな顔をしている。浮かせた腰を椅子に戻し、クロードが言った。
「普通に帰そうとしただけだ」
「いやクロード様。ベルゼビュートさんに抱かれて空から帰るのは普通ではないですよ。おうちの方が卒倒しますって」
「......。分かった、考慮するからその剣を戻せ。心臓に悪い」
「お優しいんですね」
無表情のクロードに、微笑んでアイリーンは剣を元に戻す。キースが顎に手を当てた。
「評判はあれですが、度胸のあるお嬢さんですねえ。......ドートリシュ公爵家といったら王家とも繋がりがある大貴族だし、確か聖剣の乙女の血もひいてるんですっけ。これを逃す手はないかも......」
「キース、無駄話はやめろ。......とにかく君の話は却下だ。帰ってくれ」
ぽんと両手を叩いてアイリーンはにっこり笑った。
「求婚に『はい』と言っていただければわたくし、帰りますわ。簡単でしょう」
「だからそうなる意味が分からない。君と僕は初対面だろう。なのに、どうして僕と結婚したがるんだ。――その」
表情は変わらないまま、クロードが言い淀んだ。
ふわっと部屋の中にそよ風が吹いた気がして、アイリーンはまばたく。
「――君は、僕が、好きなのか?」
「いいえ?」
きょとんと返すと、返事の代わりに部屋の中で強風が巻き起こる。
慌ててキースがクロードをなだめにかかった。
「ク、クロード様落ち着いて! 竜巻は勘弁してください!」
「じゃあ一体なんなんだ......!?」
「王よ、心情をお察しする」
「だって初対面でしょう」
「初対面で求婚してきたのは君だろう! 大体、セドリックに婚約破棄されたばかりでよくもそんな破廉恥な真似が――」
ぴたっと風がやんだ。
アイリーンがクロードの鼻先に剣を突きつけたせいだろう。冷静になったのだ。
主君に剣を向けられているのに、ベルゼビュートもキースも涼しい顔だ。それはそうだ、アイリーンなど、クロードが本気になれば一瞬で消し炭にできるに違いない。
それでもアイリーンの矜持にかけてこれだけは言わなければならない。
「では、わたくしにめそめそ泣いていろとでも? 冗談ではありませんわ。あんなゴミ屑男のためにわたくしは人生を一秒たりとも無駄にする気はありません」
「......ゴミ屑。ずいぶん手厳しくなるんだな」
「ええ。女は恋を積み上げるものです。わたくしは、あなたを愛すると決めました。さあ、愛を育みましょう」
「剣を突きつけてか?」
冷めた目のクロードに、アイリーンはできる限り美しく微笑んだ。
「愛していると言い続ければ、その内本当になるらしいですわ。試してみません?」
「なるほど」
少しも抑揚のない声で応じたあと、クロードが手を伸ばしてきた。思わず剣を胸に抱いたアイリーンの肩から落ちた髪を、そっと長い指がすくい、赤い瞳が怪しく眇められる。
「つまり君は、魔王を口説きにきたと?」
[Beelzebuth, wait!] 
Beelzebuth stopped his movement before he could reach Irene.
I let out a chuckle at the expected current course of event. ----If I were to be the heroine, Beelzebuth obediently will capture me and sent me home while I get to experience the thrill from flying in the sky; but, I think it's fine if I don't get to experience such thing because, at the moment, none of us have a favorable impression on each other; thus, for me to have such chivalry from them is very unlikely.
(Perhaps it's preferable if I die a dramatic death now (1), but  ... if he doesn't love me, there's no meaning to it)
Claude who had just stopped Beelzebuth, creased his eyebrows a little.
[What are you trying to do?] 
[If I want to go home, I can go home on my own. Are you trying to further smear my name by sending me home by flying in the sky while being held by a gentleman who's not even my fiancee?] 
[A gentleman?] 
Beelzebuth said that while pointing a finger to his own face, his face making a dubious look upon hearing her words. Claude sat back on his chair and said...
[He's only sending you home in a normal way] 
[No Claude-sama. Sending her home while being held by Beelzebuth-san while flying in the sky is not something normal, you know?  Everyone in her house will end up fainting] 
[....... I understand, since I already made some consideration, drop down the sword, it's bad for my heart] 
[How considerate of you] 
Irene sheathed back her sword while smiling at the expressionless Claude. Keith put a hand on his chin.
[Reputation aside, what a brave lady.......Speaking about D'Austriche Ducal House, it's a great n.o.ble house that is related to the royalty by blood; and, if I'm not mistaken, there's also Maiden of the Holy Sword's blood flowing in her veins. Maybe we shouldn't let this chance slip......] 
[Keith, stop making useless theories. ......Anyway, I reject your theories. Please go home] 
Irene grinned while clasping her hands.
[If you say {yes} to my proposal, I'll definitely go home. It's simple, isn't it?] 
[I don't understand your reason. We've just met, you know. So, why do you want to marry me?----I mean] 
Claude asked her, expressionlessly.
Irene felt dazzled by the gentle breeze blowing inside the room.
[----Do you, like me?] 
[No?] 
When she replied to his question without an ounce of hesitation, a strong wind suddenly blew inside the room.
Keith quickly tried to calm Claude down.
[Cl- Claude-sama calm down! Please don't create a tornado!] 
[ThenYi why......!?] 
[King, settle down your emotions] (2)
[After all, I mean, we've just met, right?] 
[It was you who proposed to me right after meeting me though! Besides, you've just had your engagement annulled by Cedric, how dare you act with such disgraceful behavior----] 
Suddenly, the wind stopped blowing.
It was probably because Irene pointed the tip of the sword right in front of Claude's nose. The temperature in the room suddenly turned cold.
Even though a sword was being pointed at their King, Beelzebuth and Keith still maintained a cool composure. Because for someone like Irene, if Claude decided to get serious, he can easily turn her into charcoal in a blink of an eye.
Still, Irene held on to that sword, needing to say the words she's been keeping to herself.
[Then, should I cry miserably? Don't joke with me. I don't have the desire to waste my life away, not even a second, for trash like him.
[......Trash. That's quite hurtful] 
[Yes. Women are all about acc.u.mulating love. I've decided to love you. Now, let's nurture our love together] 
[By pointing swords to each other?
To the Claude who had a cold look in his eyes, Irene smiled as beautifully as she could.
[If we continue to say "I love you" to each other, it seems like it'll really going to become true. Why don't you try saying it?] 
[I see] 
After answering her request in an emotionless voice, Claude reached out his hand. Suddenly, his long fingers were gently scooping Irene's hair that fell down from her shoulder to her chest while she was still holding on to the sword. His red eyes were scrutinizing her suspiciously.
[In other words, you came here to seduce the Demon King?]
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