「わざわざ呼び出してすまんな。さあ、座りなさい」
「お父様? お母様まで? いかがしましたか?」
父の書斎に赴いたアリシアを両親が出迎えてくれた。
父だけではなく、母までいたことに、なにかあったのではないかとアリシアが首を傾げながらソファーに腰を下ろす。
両親も、テーブルを挟みアリシアと向かい合うようにしてソファーに座った。
「最近、我が家はトラブルも続いたがそれ以上に祝い事があり賑やかになったな。そこで、と言うのも変だが、ロバート子爵がアリシアとの縁談を進めたいと言ってきてな。お前の気持ちを確認しておきたいと思ったのだ」
「それは、つまり......ジム様に嫁ぐようおっしゃりたいのですね」
「少なくとも先方と、他ならぬジムがそう望んでいる」
ロバート子爵家は、母親同士が学生時代の友人ということもあり以前から付き合いのある家だ。
長男ジムは、魔法学校に通う少年であり、アリシアの幼なじみだった。
幼い頃からジムはアリシアに好意を向けているのだが、当のアリシアはがさつで、人の話を聞かず自分のことばかりのジムをあまり得意としていない。
「ジムが、今年で魔法学校を卒業する。当主になるまで時間があるので、魔法軍に入隊する予定だ。これを機に、アリシアを妻として迎えたいようだ。そうだな、彼の卒業までは婚約者で、卒業後に結婚という流れになるだろう」
「ジムは悪い子ではありません。魔法使いとしての才能もあるようですし、なによりも幼い頃からアリシアを一途に慕っています。いいお話だと思ったからこそ、進めているのですよ」
「......わたくしは」
乗り気な両親に対して、アリシアの声は暗い。
それもそのはず、彼女に取ってジムは結婚したいような相手ではなかった。
彼が悪い人間ではないことは知っているが、相性が悪いのだ。
「もちろん、お前の気が進まないのなら断ってくれても構わない。リーゼの件があったのだから、お前たちには望んだ結婚をしてほしいと思っている」
「......あなたの意見に逆らうつもりはありませんが、それで嫁き遅れてしまっても大変ですのよ」
「わかっている。だが、まだ焦る年齢でもなかろう。まだアリシアは十七歳ではないか。学校にも通っているし、せめてこの子の卒業まで待っても悪くはないと思うぞ」
「そんなことを言って、娘を嫁に出すのが寂しいだけでしょう」
「こ、こら、アリシアの前でやめなさい」
「おほほほほ、失礼しました」
仲睦まじい両親を見ていると、結婚というものに憧れる。
ふいにサムの顔が脳裏をよぎった。
「さて、アリシア、いかがですか? 殿方が苦手なあなたでも、幼なじみのジムなら違うでしょう? 月に一度は顔を合わせていますし、あの子もあなたのことを理解してくれるはずですわ」
母としては友人の息子とアリシアが結ばれてくれると嬉しいのだろう。
そう思うと、ジムのことが苦手であるとは言い辛い。
そんなことを言えば、きっと母は残念に思うからだ。
しかし――このまま流されるままジムと結婚の話が進んでしまってもいいのか、とアリシアは自らに問いかける。
(ジム様、ごめんなさい。わたくしは、やはり――)
母やジムの期待に応えることはできそうもない。
アリシアは大きく息を吸い込んで、まっすぐに両親を見据える。
(勇気を出すのです。ちゃんと言わなければいけません!)
このまま事が進んでしまえば、ジムを傷つけることになる。
自分だって望まない結婚は嫌だ。
貴族の娘としては失格かもしれないが、胸に抱く感情を捨てることはできそうもなかった。
「......ジム様は苦手です」
勇気を振り絞って一言発してしまうと、次の言葉が自然と出てきた。
「あの方は、ご自身のことばかりで、わたくしのお話を聞いてくれたことは一度もありません。いつも自分の自慢話ばかりです。それを延々と聞かされるのは、嫌でした。サム様のように、わたくしのお話をちゃんと聞いてくれる方ではありません」
「――アリシア、もしかして、あなた」
"Sorry for calling you out like this. Now, please have a seat."?
"Father? Even Mother is here. What's going on?"
?Alicia's parents welcomed her into her father's study.
Alicia couldn't help but wonder if there was some particular reason both her father and mother were present. She sat down on the sofa, curious.
Both her parents took seats on the sofa, facing Alicia across the table.
"Lately, our house has had its fair share of troubles, but it's also become more festive with some good news. To the point, Viscount Robert has expressed his intention to pursue a betrothal with you, Alicia. We wanted to confirm your feelings about it."
"Does that mean... you want me to marry Jim-sama?"?
"At the very least, the other party, and none other than Jim, wishes for it."
The Viscount Robert House had been acquainted with Alicia's family for some time, primarily due to their mothers being friends from their school days.
The eldest son, Jim, was a young boy attending a magical academy and Alicia's childhood friend.
Jim had held affection for Alicia since childhood, but Alicia, who was somewhat brash and didn't enjoy listening to people prattle on about themselves, didn't think too highly of him.
"Jim will graduate from the magical academy this year. He plans to enlist in the magical army. It's at this juncture that he wants to take Alicia as his wife. Indeed, they plan to be engaged until his graduation, after which they will get married."
"Jim is not a bad person. He has talent as a mage, and above all, he has sincerely admired Alicia since childhood. That's why we've been pushing forward with this arrangement."? magic
"...I..."
?Facing her enthusiastic parents, Alicia's voice was heavy.
It was no surprise, as Jim wasn't the kind of partner she wanted to marry.
She knew he wasn't a bad person, but they simply weren't compatible.
"Of course, if you're not inclined to go along with it, you're free to decline. Considering what happened with Lise, we want you both to have the marriage you desire."?
"...I don't intend to oppose your opinion, but it would be quite challenging if you ended up marrying late."
"I understand. However, it's not an age to rush, is it? Alicia is still only seventeen, isn't she? She's still attending school, and I don't think it would be a bad idea to wait at least until she graduates."
"You're just saying that because you'll be lonely when our daughter gets married."
"Hey, hey now, stop that in front of Alicia."
"Hohohoho, my apologies."
Watching her affectionate parents, Alicia felt a longing for marriage.
Suddenly, Sam's face flashed in her mind, and once again, her chest ached.
"Now then, Alicia, what do you think? Even if you're not fond of gentlemen, wouldn't it be different with your childhood friend, Jim? You see him at least once a month, and I believe he will understand you."?
As a mother, she must be delighted at the thought of Alicia marrying a friend's son.
Thinking that way, it became difficult for Alicia to say she disliked Jim.
She refrained from speaking about it because she was sure her mother would be disappointed if she found out.
?However, Alicia began to question herself, wondering if it was okay to let Jim and the marriage proposal proceed this way.
?(Jim-sama, I'm sorry. After all-)
?She couldn't seem to fulfill her mother's and Jim's expectations.
Alicia took a deep breath and looked straight at her parents.
?(I must gather the courage. I must speak up!)
?If things continued as they were, she would end up hurting Jim.
She didn't want an unwanted marriage.
As a noble's daughter, she might be considered unfit, but she couldn't seem to let go of the feelings in her heart.
"...I'm not fond of Jim-sama."
?Summoning her courage, she spoke that one word and the rest came naturally.
"He's always so self-absorbed, and he's never once listened to me. It's always just about his accomplishments. I hated having to endlessly listen to his self-praise. He's not someone who listens to my stories like Sam does."
"Alicia, could it be that you..."
The Reincarnated Wizard Who Will Eventually Become the Strongest
いずれ最強に至る転生魔法使い　〜異世界に転生したけど剣の才能がないから家を追い出されてしまいました。でも魔法の才能と素晴らしい師匠に出会えたので魔法使いの頂点を目指すことにします〜
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-wizard-who-will-eventually-become-the-strongest/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Slice of Life
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Child Protagonist Childcare Cute Children Death of Loved Ones Demon Lord Demons Depictions of Cruelty Dragons Fantasy World Female Master Kingdoms Magic Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Multiple POV Nobles Older Love Interests Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Pregnancy Reincarnated in Another World Reincarnation Resurrection Royalty Student-Teacher Relationship Summoned Hero Sword And Magic Time Skip Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1154gq/
飯田栄静＠市村鉄之助