――あと8日。
制服は諦めて新しいのを買い直しました。せっかくいただいたお下がりも、泥だらけで汚れが落ちそうにありませんでしたからね。せっかく節約しようとしましたのに......なかなか上手くいきませんわね。
でも、追試まで失敗するわけにはいきませんわ。あと3日ですわね。
勉強もラストスパート。朝のサザンジール殿下の指導にも熱が入っておりましたわ。
でも殿下、
「ルルーシェさえ良ければ、学校を休んで俺らの屋敷で追試まで過ごさないか? 授業分の勉強も俺が教えるし......足りないというのなら、家庭教師も用意しよう」
「謹んでお断りいたしますわ」
わたくしがいじめに遭わないように隔離しようなんて、余計なお世話ですわ。
それでも、殿下は諦めない。
「だが、ルルーシェは昨日もいじめ――」
「わたくしの楽しみを邪魔しないでくださいまし」
「えぇ、楽しみですわ!」
ほら、見てください。差し入れ係のザフィルド殿下は「やっぱり」と嘆息を吐かれております。まだわたくしのことを理解してくださっているようですよ?
どうしてもの場合は逃げるのも大事だと思いますが......どうして被害者が立ち退かないといけないのでしょう? 場所を譲るのは加害者であるべきではなくて?
――と、教室に向かいながらザフィルド殿下に説いていると。
教室のわたくしの席の上には、綺麗なお花が飾られていた。小さな花弁でたくさん縁取られた白い花。あぁ――たしかこれは、東方の『シラギク』という花だったかしら? 人生の最期を彩ってくれる花......と教えてくれたのは、誰だったでしょう?
わたくしがその親切な方を見やれば、彼女らはくすくすと笑っている。
ザフィルド殿下は顔をしかめていた。
「ルルーシェ、これは?」
「あぁ......親切な方からの贈り物ですかね?」
わたくしは花瓶から一輪取り出し、髪に差す。
「似合いますか?」
目を細めたままのザフィルド殿下は賛辞をくれないけれど。
窓にうっすら映る自身を見やれば、その花は黒髪にとても映えていた。
ですが、残念ながら小さな机ですから。授業中、花瓶は退けさせていただきましたわ。
いつも通り授業を受けたあとは、久々の剣術の訓練です。珍しくザフィルド殿下からお誘いいただけましたの! でも剣を握る時間はほとんどなく、受け身の復習や相手に掴まれた時の対処法を教えていただきましたわ。最終的には股か顔をぶち抜け、ですって。ふふ、物騒ですわね。
そんな楽しい時間を過ごし、再び教室に戻ります。
さて、次の授業は――と鞄に手を入れますと。
「きゃあっ」
カソコソと手を這う触感に慌てて手を引き抜けば、そこには親指の爪サイズの茶色い生物。いえ......鈍色、と称すべきでしょうか。細い手足が何本でしょう? 手の周りをぐるぐると動いてしまうので、数えられませんわ。
自席に座ろうとしていたザフィルド殿下が決死の表情で様子を見に来てくださったので、虫這う手を掲げます。
「ねぇ、殿下。この虫はなんていうんですの?」
「ぎゃ、ぎゃああああああああああああああ!?」
まあ! 殿下の絶叫の方が驚いてしまいましたわ!
虫も手から落ちて、床をカサカサと走っていってしまいました。
殿下はへっぴり腰ながらも、わたくしの心配をしてくださっているようです。
「ルル、ルル......シェ、そ、それは......」
「だから何の虫かわかりませんの......あ、鞄にまだまだいらっしゃいますわね?」
わたくしが鞄をひっくり返せば、ザフィルド殿下を筆頭に教室中に絶叫がこだまする。さっきの鈍色の虫に......あ、このニョロニョロしたのはミミズですわ! 畑にたくさんいると、良い土の証拠になるそうです。アルジャーク男爵が教えてくださいました。他にも蜘蛛やらたくさん......よくもこんなに集めたなぁ、と感心してしまいますわね。
じろじろと観察してますと、袖を掴まれる。
「ル、ルル......ルルル......」
涙ぐんでいる瞳の震える指先から察するに、逃げようと言いたいのでしょう。
だけど......こうもクラスメイトの大半が教室から逃げてしまった手前、誰かが片付けないと授業が始められないでしょう?
「農作業で虫には慣れておりますから、ここはお任せください!」
ふふっ。それにしても知りませんでしたわ。
ザフィルド殿下、虫が苦手でしたのね? やはり生きていると、毎日面白い発見がたくさんですわ。そのことが嬉しく......少しだけ寂しくあるのが、唯一の心残りね。
「――そんなに苦手なら、手伝ってくださらなくても良かったのに」
「いや......そういうわけにはいかないでしょ......」
教室中に広まった虫たちと鬼ごっこして、無事に校舎裏へ解放できた時には、とっくに授業開始の鐘が鳴ってしまっていた。教室も一度掃除夫が徹底的に清掃することになり、不幸にも午後の授業は中止となってしまいました。虫の追い出しも掃除夫にしてもらう案も提示されたんですけどね。それじゃあ......ねぇ? クラスメイトの皆様の善意にお応えできないじゃないですか。
まあ、そんなこんなで空き時間ができましたので。ここぞとばかりに剣術の続きを訓練してもらいたいのですけど......こんな青白い顔をしている殿下にお願いできませんわ。さすがにカフェテリアで休憩です。クラスメイトの大半は、皆で遊びに出かけたようです。「ルルーシェ様は追試の勉強頑張ってくださいね」と声を掛けられましたの。応援してくださるなんて、本当お優しいですわ......本当にね。
とりあえずひと休憩。わたくしは運ばれてきた冷たいダージリンティーに口を付けて――止まった。向かいに座る殿下を見やれば、彼はアイスカフェオレを飲もうとしている。だけど、わたくしの視線に気がついてくれたみたい。
「ん? どうかした?」
「あ、飲まない方がいいかと思いまして」
「どうして?」
「変な味がする気がします」
白葡萄のような風味に、雑味があるような気がして。
わたくしが小声で告げれば、殿下が無理やりグラスを奪ってくる。
「......貸して」
言うのが早いか、彼は少量を口に含み、咀嚼するように味わってからナプキンに吐き出した。
「軽い痺れ毒だね。一口なら問題ないと思うけど......大丈夫? 気持ち悪いとか手が痺れるとか出てない?」
「今の所大丈夫ですわ。殿下も大丈夫ですの?」
「あぁ。僕は毒に慣れているからね」
その発言に一瞬慄くものの......そうか、と思い出す。
サザンジール殿下も昔話していたわ。小さい頃に、敢えて毒を飲まされる習慣があったと。それこそいつ命を狙われるかわからないから、習慣的に軽い毒を摂取して耐性を付けられているらしい。そのため、必然的に毒に詳しくなるという。
そんな悲しい宿命を――わたくしは敢えて鼻で笑っておく。
「あら、なんか王族っぽいですわね」
「あぁ。残念ながら、これでも王族なんだよ」
一応ね、とザフィルド殿下もわざとらしく笑って。
だけどすぐに表情を引き締め、声を潜められた。
「どうする? 従業員全員呼び出して問いただそうか?」
「いえ、結構ですわ。下手なことして、過去の王子様の悪戯が明るみに出るのも面倒ですし」
「王子はちゃんと何重にも人手を使ってたから、そうそう尻尾は出ないはずだよ?」
「あら。直筆のお手紙をくださる方だから、もっと律儀な方だと思ってましたのに」
わたくしがあっけらかんと言いのけると、ザフィルド殿下は苦笑する。そして自身のカフェオレを口に含んでから「こっちは大丈夫」とそちらを差し出してくれた。
「本当......ツメが甘いよね。ただ、構ってもらいたかっただけなのかも」
「え?」
お礼の代わりに出るのは疑問符だ。それでも殿下はテーブルに頬杖をついて。襟足を弄びながら見つめる先は、どこでもない。
「好きな人にさ、頼られるでも、罵られるんでも......ただの義理の関係から抜け出せるなら、それで良かったのかも」
「............」
わたくしは何も言うことができず、いただいたカフェオレを飲む。シロップが入れられていないせいか、口の中には想像以上の苦味が広がって。
殿下はそれに気がついたのか、テーブルに備え付けられているシロップを指先に垂らして確認してから、カフェオレに入れてくれた。
「それで......この事態をどうやって解決するつもりなの? 手立ては考えてあるんでしょう?」
「あー、頼まれた通り準備しているけど......でも早くても明後日になると思うよ?」
「追試の当日ですか」
「......まぁ、試験あとのリフレッシュ、てことじゃダメかな?」
なるほど――つまり、それまでお父様が動かないよう調整すればいいのね、と頭の中で計算しながら。
わたくしは「楽しみにしてますわね」と笑顔を作る。
--8 days remaining.
I had to let go of my uniform and buy a new one. I tried to save money, but... it didn't work very well.
However, I couldn't afford to fail until the retest. There were only 3 days to go.
My studies were also on their last spurt. That morning, I was enthusiastic to receive tutoring from His Highness Sazanjill.
But, His Highness...
"If Lelouche isn't feeling well, why don't we take a break from school and spend the rest of our time until the exam in the mansion?"
"I'm sorry, but I will have to refuse."
He was trying to isolate me so that I wouldn't be bullied.
Still, His Highness refused to relent.
"But yesterday, Lelouche was bullied, too--"
"Don't disturb my enjoyment."
"I'm looking forward to it!"
His Highness Zafield was sighing, "As I thought." He seemed to understand me.
I thought that it was important in cases of unavoidable circumstances, but... why should the victim have to evict? Shouldn't it be the perpetrators who give up the place?
--While heading to the classroom, such was my preaching to His Highness Zafield.
Upon entering, beautiful flowers were displayed on my seat in the classroom. There were a lot of white flowers with small petals. Ah, were they the ones called 'Shiragiku' from the East? The flowers with the meaning of the end of life...?
As I admired those flowers, I heard gigglings.
His Highness Zafield frowned.
"Lelouche, what is this?"
"It's a gift from a kind person?"
I took a flower from the vase and put it in my hair.
"Am I pretty?"
His Highness Zafield, who narrowed his eyes, didn't compliment me.
When I looked at my faint reflection in the window, the flower shone against my jet-black hair.
Unfortunately, my desk was too small. During class, I had to vacate the vase.
After having my classes as usual, it was finally time for sword practice. Unusually, His Highness Zafield invited me! Although, I didn't spend much time holding the sword. Instead, I was taught passive techniques and what to do when being tackled. The solution was to pierce either the groin or the face.
After having a good time, I returned to the classroom again.
Well, the next lesson was--and when I put my hands inside my bag.
"Kyaaa."
There was a tactile sensation of crawling on my hand. On it was a brown creature the size of a thumb nail. How dull? It had many thin limbs. They couldn't be counted because it kept moving around.
His Highness Zafield, who was about to sit down, came to check the situation with a grim expression. Thus, I held out my hand.
"Your Highness, what's this?"
"Gy, gyaaaaaaaaahhh--!?"
Oh dear! His Highness' scream surprised me!
The insect also fell from my hand and scurried across the floor.
Despite his shock, His Highness was still concerned about me.
"Le, Lelouche, that's..."
"I don't know what kind of insect that is... Oh, I still have more in my bag."
When I turned my bag over, His Highness Zafield's scream rang throughout the classroom. Apparently, they were earthworms! For them to have procured so much, it was evidence of good soil--or so Baron Aljerk said. There were others as well, such as spiders. I was impressed at how they managed to collect so many spiders.
When I was observing them, someone grabbed my sleeve.
"Le, Lelouche..."
His fingertips were trembling while his beautiful eyes were moist. I wanted to tell him to just run.
But, most of my classmates had fled from the classroom. Wouldn't it be impossible to start class without someone cleaning up?
"Due to the farm work, I'm used to all manners of insects! Leave it to me!"
Fufu. Even so, who would've thought?
His Highness Zafield apparently wasn't good with insects. As long as one was alive, there were many interesting discoveries to be made every day. I was happy about that... and also a bit lonely, which was my only regret.
"--If you aren't good with insects, there's no need to force yourself to help me."
"I, I can't do that."
By the time I was able to finish playing tag with the insects that had spread across the classroom and safely released them behind the school building, the bell rang. Unfortunately, the afternoon classes were canceled because the classroom needed a thorough cleaning. I was also offered a plan to have my classmates serve as cleaners to do away with the insects, but I seemed unable to respond to such good intentions from my classmates.
After all, if I had free time, I'd prefer to continue my sword practice. However, I couldn't request His Highness Zafield, who was still pale, for training. As expected, I had to take a break in the cafeteria. Most of my classmates appeared to have go out to play together.
For the time being, I needed a break. I sipped some cold Darjeeling tea I had brought with me. I stared at His Highness who sat across of me. He was about to drink a Cafe au Lait. However, he seemed to have noticed my line of sight.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Oh, I was wondering if I shouldn't drink this."
"Why?"
"I feel like the taste is odd."
I felt like the tea, which should have a hint of white grape, had another miscellaneous taste.
When I muttered that, His Highness took the glass from me.
"...Lend it to me."
He put a small amount in his mouth, tasted it as if chewing something, and then spit it out on a napkin.
"It's a mild numbing poison. I don't think you will be harmed from swallowing a bit, but are you alright?"
"I'm alright for now. What about Your Highness?"
"I'm fine. I'm used to poison."
That remark frightened me for a moment, but then I remembered...
...His Highness Sazanjill also said something similar a long time ago. When he was little, he had a habit of being poisoned. His Highness Zafield also didn't know when his life was going to be targeted. He must have habitually ingested light poison to build up resistance. Therefore, he was inevitably familiar with poison.
Such a sad fate--still, I laughed.
"My, you sound like royalty."
"Unfortunately, I still am part of the royal family."
For the time being, His Highness Zafield laughed on purpose.
However, he immediately changed his expression and suppressed his voice.
"What do we do? Should we call all the employees and interrogate them?"
"No, it's fine. It would also be troublesome if someone were to use that as blackmail material against you later."
"As a prince, I have a lot of manpower. Therefore, do you believe I have need for moles?"
"--and here I thought you were more disciplined. After all, you did used to deliver a particular someone handwritten letters."
When I voiced my concern, His Highness Zafield smiled bitterly. After sipping his cafe au lait, he offered me the drink. "This one's alright."
"...Such petty tricks. Maybe they just want to be taken care of."
"Eh?"
Instead of thanking him, I raised a question. His Highness rested his chin upon the table. As he fiddled with his collar, I had nowhere else to look.
"Even if I were to be relied on or cursed by the person I like, if it could get me out of a mere in-law relationship, that might be good."
"..."
I couldn't say anything, so I drank the cafe au lait I received. Perhaps because it didn't contain any syrup, its bitterness was stronger than I expected.
As if he had noticed, His Highness fetched some syrup and poured it in the cafe au lait.
"So, how are you going to resolve this situation? Are you thinking of a way?"
"I'm preparing it, but... I think it'll be ready the day after tomorrow at the earliest?"
"The day of the follow-up exam?"
"You'll be feeling refreshed after the exam, won't you?"
In other words, my father mustn't move until then.
I smiled and said, "I'm looking forward to it."
The Villainess who Only Had 100 Days to Live Had Fun Every Day
【コミック２巻発売中】１００日後に死ぬ悪役令嬢は毎日がとても楽しい。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-who-only-had-100-days-to-live-had-fun-every-day/
Drama Fantasy Josei Romance Slice of Life Tragedy
Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Death European Ambience Female Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdoms Late Romance Misunderstandings Nobles Psychopaths Revenge Romantic Subplot Second Chance Slow Romance Villainess Noble Girls Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8024hd/
ゆいレギナ