――あと65日。
「ほら、ルルーシェ様ですわ」
「また今日も汚らしい御姿で......未来の王太子妃も形なしですわね」
「そりゃ、婚約者に逃げられるくらいですから」
「それでも、格下いじめに余念はないらしいですわよ」
校内を歩くたびに、厭らしい視線と小話に晒されない日はない。
まぁ、それも仕方ないですわ。
毎日の剣術の訓練で肌も焼けてきてますし、手には無骨なテーピングが常に巻かれています。黒髪を結う時間も惜しいから、朝から低い位置で三編みにしてもらってますし。化粧もすぐに汗で溶けてしまうから、何も塗っておりません。
元から、彼女たちにとってわたくしは目障りだったのでしょう。
エルクアージュ家は昔からの由緒ある公爵家ですが、その分金回りも派手だったりします。特にお父様がお母様を娶ってからは、『異国の美姫』であったお母様に惨めな想いをさせないため、裁かれない程度にお金と権力を振りかざしているご様子。
お母様譲りの黒髪も、この国では珍しいものだから嫉妬の対象のようね。さらに異国との良好な関係維持のために、その娘であるわたくしを王妃に祀り上げるのだから......そりゃあ面白くないと思う人もいるでしょう。
取り巻き? 元からそういう媚売りの方々は信用しないと決めておりますので、こちらからお断りしております。
――そんなわたくしが女を捨てているのだから。声を掛けてくるなんて......よほどの変わり者くらいでしょう。
「ルルーシェ。悩みがあるのなら聞くぞ」
登校一番に会うということは、わたくしを待っていてくれたのでしょうか。校門を潜った途端、金髪のまばゆいサザンジール殿下が声を掛けてきます。見渡すも、レミーエ嬢の姿はありません。
「今日はレミーエさんはいらっしゃらないのですか?」
「今日は休みだ。熱を出したらしい」
「あら。では放課後に課題を届けないと」
レミーエ嬢はよく頑張っていると思いますわ。こないだの小テストでも満点だったとか。わたくしとの授業の時は常に頭に本を乗せているのですが、だいぶ落とすことも減りました。相変わらず毎日泣いているため、すっかり奥二重なってしまいましたが......時が来れば、すぐに愛らしい二重に戻るでしょう。
なので、知恵熱が出ていても頭に入りやすい本でも見繕わなければ――と算段を付けていると、目の前の殿方......及び、サザンジール殿下が深い溜め息を吐く。あらうっかり。すっかりお話の途中なことを失念してしまいましたわ。
「お見舞いの品は『各国有名絵画辞典』と『ナナシの独白経典』のどちらが良いと思います? わたくしとしては、後者で自国信教の歴史を深めた方が、今後他国の方との会話が弾むと思うのですけど」
「......いや、すまん。俺が無理を言って休んでもらった。どうしても、きみと二人で話さなければと思ったんだ。放課後、時間をもらえないか?」
「申し訳ございません。今日の放課後は予定がありますの」
「そ、それは俺よりも大事なことなのか!?」
「えぇ。わたくしの死活問題に値しますわ」
殿下はうろたえていますが、本当に猶予はないのです。まだまだ肝心の問題が何も解決していない――どころか、取りかかれてもいませんので。
わたくしがまっすぐ殿下を見つめていると、殿下の喉仏が大きく動いた。
「そうか......なら、また今度誘おう」
その時は......本当に最後の時でしょうけど。
でも、お約束しますわ。必ず、わたくしからお話したいと申し上げますから。
その時は、お互い笑顔でお話したいですわね。
後任の王太子妃の教育も進んでいる。いざという時の訓練も軌道に乗り始めた。
ならば、そろそろ次の『万が一』に備えた準備に取り掛かる必要がある。
レミーエ嬢が休みなら都合がいい。その空いた時間を有効活用すべく、わたくしは授業が終わり次第、即座に帰宅した。
「ルーファス、いる?」
わたくしは弟の自室の扉をノックする。返事はない。だけど、いないわけがないんですの。だって弟であり我がエルクアージュ家の跡取り、ルーファス=エルクアージュは引きこもり令息なんですもの。
なのに、中から悲鳴にも似た可愛い弟の声が聞こえる。
「姉さん......!?」
ルーファスに当たったら危ないわ。わたくしが手を止め、しばらくするとゆっくりと扉が開いた。
現れたのは、わたくしと同じ黒髪の少年。わたくしの三つ下の十三歳。寝癖も付いている。あらやだ。まだパジャマのまま筆を持っているのね? 絹のパジャマが無駄にカラフルになってますわ。
そんな弟が、半泣きで詰め寄ってきた。
「本当......最近、姉さんどうしたの!? 朝晩無心に剣なんか振っちゃって......怖いんだけど!? 父さんも母さんも、姉さんが悪魔に取り憑かれたんじゃないかって、教会に相談しに行っているよ?」
ふふっ、なんて奇遇。わたくし、毎晩神様とお話しているのよ。神様にお世話になりっぱなしだわ。今度お礼に何か贈らないと。何がいいのかしら?
まぁ、そんなことルーファスに相談したら、本当にキチガイと間違われそうなのでしませんけど。あらやだ。キチガイもはしたない言葉ね。口に出す前に笑顔でこの場をやり過ごさないと。
「大丈夫です。わたくしは人生で一番やる気に満ちた毎日を過ごしておりますわ」
「そのやる気が怖いって言ってるんだよ!?」
あと六十数日しか、わたくしには残されていませんのに。
「それはそうとて......失礼しますわね」
ルーファスの許可を得るよりも先に、わたくしは彼の部屋に入る。
その雑多な部屋は、わたくしの予想通りだった。至る所に、絵画。絵画。絵画。風景画や人物画、その種類はさまざま。でも、全部油絵ね。その臭いで噎せてしまいそう。ベッドまで絵の具塗れだわ。さすがに病気しないか、心配になってしまう。
だから窓を開けて――わたくしは振り返った。
「ねぇ、ルーファス。絵を描くの、好き?」
「え? そりゃあ......」
ルーファスは答えに淀むけど......愚問でしたわね。この部屋を見れば、聞かずとも答えはわかるもの。
彼が即答しないのには訳がある。両親が絵を描くのを反対しているから。小さい頃は、ルーファスの描いた絵に両親ともメロメロでしたのよ? でも大きくなってからも、彼は絵を描くことに夢中だった。公爵家の男子たるもの、それじゃあ困るわ。もっと勉強しろ。身体を鍛えろ。社交性を身に付けろ。そう強要すればするほど、ルーファスは絵に夢中になって――あっという間に引きこもり令息が完成した。
その鬱憤を晴らすように、両親は社交界で着飾り、散財し......名声だけが立派なエルクアージュ家の出来上がり。その名声も、長女が『未来の王太子妃』ということで成り立ってたりいなかったり。
そんなエルクアージュ家に、弟なりに罪悪感もあるのだろう。
そんな彼に、わたくしは改めて聞くの。残酷ね? でも、彼の今後一生に関わるのだから。
わたくしの愛情が通じるかなんて知ったこっちゃないわ。
見返りを求めたとて、受ける時間がないんだもの。
「それならルーファス。家出しましょうよ!」
「え?」
「何から何まで、わたくしが手配してあげますわ!」
--65 days remaining.
"Hey, isn't that Lady Lelouche?"
"She looks as filthy as always... our future princess is so unsightly..."
"...No wonder her fiance abandoned her."
"I've heard that she often tries to bully his new partner."
Whenever I walked around school, there wasn't a single day I wasn't exposed to those unpleasant stares and gossip.
Well, that couldn't be helped either.
Due to my daily swordsmanship training, my skin was being burned. My hands were enveloped in callouses. I didn't have time to tie my black hair, so I had left it hanging in a low braid from the morning. I didn't wear any make up because my sweat would only ruin it.
From the beginning, I must had been an eyesore to them.
As a duke family, the Elcage Family was one with a long history. We also had exuberant wealth. After father got married, he wanted to create an impression of wealth and authority to keep my mother, a 'foreign beauty', from feeling miserable.
My black hair, which I inherited from my mother, was considered rare in that kingdom. As such, it became a target of jealousy. Moreover, to maintain good relations with the foreign kingdom, I, her daughter, was made into the future queen. Thus, some people might find the idea distasteful.
I had decided to never trust people who sold admiration, so I refused them from the beginning.
Just because I had been forsaken by my fiance, they called out to me... what a bunch of weirdos.
"Lelouche, if you have any problems, I'll hear you out."
As soon as I hurried across the school gate, the dazzling blond prince--Sazanjill, called out to me. I didn't see Lumiere anywhere.
"Where's Ms. Lumiere?"
"She's absent today. She seems to have developed a fever."
"Oh, then I shall deliver her assignments after school."
Lumiere did her best. She got a perfect score on the last quiz. Whenever we studied together, her head was always buried in books. The number of mistakes she made were decreasing considerably. She still cried every day, so she had double-eyelids... However, after some time, they'd soon return to their old, adorable, form.
Even if she had a fever of wisdom, she still had to study. Of course, I'd give her a book with an easier topic that time around--
"Which do you think is better? An'Encyclopedia of Famous Paintings From Each Country', or the 'Dictionary to Help with Foreign Monologues'? As for me, I think that the former is best for deepening the knowledge about the customs of each country, while the latter will encourage conversations with foreigners in the future."
"...No, sorry. I'm the one who told her to take a rest. I really thought I had to talk with you. Can we meet after school?"
"I'm sorry, I have plans for after school today."
"I, is it more important than me?"
"Yes, it's a matter of life and death."
The core problem hadn't yet been solved--it hadn't even been tackled, let alone that.
Under the pressure of my gaze, His Highness gulped.
"T, then, I'll invite you another time."
...And the next time, will also be the last.
But I promised--I'd definitely talk to him.
When that happened, I hoped we could talk with each other with smiles.
The education for my successor was progressing well. I had also trained her for emergencies.
It was time to prepare for the next step.
The fact that Lumiere was taking the day off made it easier. In order to make effective use of that free time, I returned home as soon as classes were over.
"Rufus, are you there?"
I knocked on the door of my younger brother's room. There was no reply--even though there should be one.
At the same time, I could hear the screams of my cute little brother.
"...Sister!?"
It'd be dangerous if I hit Rufus. Thus, I stopped. After a while, the door slowly opened.
A boy with the same black hair as me appeared. He was 13-years-old. He also had a bad sleeping habit. He looked afraid.
My younger brother ran towards me while half-crying.
"Sister... what ails you?! In the morning and evening, you keep swinging a blade... it's scary! Father and mother have decided to consult with the church, thinking that you've possessed by something evil..."
Fufu, what a bizarre situation, even though I talk to god every night. Not to mention, I was indebted to him. I had to thank him next time. What should I do?
If I were to explain everything to Rufus, he'd truly think his sister had gone mad. Oh, no, a madman wouldn't use that sort of word when referring to herself. I had to get through that life with a smile before I could say it.
"I'm alright. In fact, this is the first time I've ever been this motivated."
"What is that, how scary!?"
...Even if he said that, what should I do other than being motivated these days? I had only about 60 days left...
"More importantly--excuse me."
I entered his room without waiting for permission.
The room was as I expected--paintings were everywhere. There were various types of landscape and portraits. They were all oil paintings. The smell made me want to cry. Oh no, even his bed was soiled with paint. I was worried that he might get sick.
Thus, I opened the window. Then I turned around.
"Rufus, do you like drawing?"
"What? That's right..."
Rufus stuttered... but indeed, it was a foolish question. After looking at his room, the answer should be obvious, already.
There was a reason why he didn't answer immediate. It was because our parents were against his hobby. When he was little, my parents had already showed some objection towards his hobby. Even after he grew up, Rufus liked to paint to an extreme degree.
To relieve their frustration, my parents dressed up extravagantly in social circles and splurged... such was the Elcage Family, whose only fame was its wealth. The fame might not even be based on the fact that their eldest daughter was the future princess.
In a way, that might also be my family's way of showing remorse for leading my brother towards such a development.
It might be cruel, but it was for his future.
I didn't even know if he'd understand my affection.
Even if I wanted such a reward, I wouldn't have enough time to receive it.
"Then, Rufus, let's run away from home!"
"What!?"
"I'll arrange everything from A to Z!"
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