43
異例の『冬』の処理は難航を極めた。ランスロットの罪はスルタルク公爵家ならびに王家への反逆、王太子とその婚約者の殺人未遂、公文書偽造、王家の魔法具の持ち出し等々。騙された人と被害を受けた人の数が多すぎた。
正式な処分が決定するまでランスロットはひとまず王宮の地下牢に捕らえられ、父親のチャリティ宰相は責任を取って職を辞した。
学園の教師が異変に気付いて駆けつけたとき、殿下はぐずる私を撫でたり抱きしめたりしてあやしている真っ最中だった。つまりピンピンしていた。しかし念を入れて絶対安静の運びとなったのも仕方ない。一時は胸に風穴が空いたのだから。
よって殿下の「必要ない」という言葉は聞き入れられず、彼がその腹いせに自分を運ぶための担架まで誰の手も借りず堂々と歩いて行ったのには笑ってしまった。
殿下が運ばれた後、やっとクリスティーナを箱から出せた時はもう感無量で、『冬』で手を貸してくれた全ての人に頭を下げて回った。エミリアがそんな私にくっついてまわり、九尾がそれについてまわったので、軽い騒ぎになったことは言うまでもない。
生徒たちは通例通り寮に戻ったが、舞踏会は一週間後に延期された。渦中の私はといえば父さまが迎えに来てくれ、兄さまと共に王都の父の家でそれまでの時間を過ごすことになった。
父の家に到着した夜。遅くまで兄さまとお話をした。兄さまはこの一年間の私の話を全て楽しそうに聞いてくれる。私も何か聞きたいとねだったところ、『先日セクティアラを舞踏会に誘ったら泣いてしまった』とか『殿下は初対面のとき『義兄上』と呼んできた』とか、色々なお話が聞けて楽しかった。
話し疲れると自室に戻った。一人になったことを確認して胸元からペンダントを取り出す。ピンク色の花のモチーフのそれは、ランスロットに渡された、オウカからの品だ。
「オウカ」
「よおレベッカ」
軽く握って声をかければ真後ろから声がした。振り返るとオウカがくつろいだ様子でソファに座っている。
久しぶりに見た彼は、髪の色は大分濁ってもう茶色に近いし、なんだか体が霞んでいる。
「俺はそのペンダントに込められた魔力の分の分身ね。一応意思はあるけど、もう残滓に近いわな。何てったって本体が完全に封印されちまってる」
「オウカ、ゲームが終わったわ。もう話してくれない?」
オウカは口を閉じた。へらへら笑うのもやめた。
「この一年間、あなたは何がしたかったの」
最初はシナリオ破りの男だと。次はシナリオに戻そうとしている男だと。『秋』でわからなくなってしまって、今はそのどちらでもないのだろうと思っている。
そしてその目。どうしてわたしをそんな目で見るのだ。夏のイベントでも見た、保護者のような慈愛をたたえた赤茶の目。
「私、最後くらいちゃんとあなたの話が聞きたいわ」
オウカは観念したみたいに一度肩をすくめてから口を開いた。
「俺は、『精神体』。この意味がわかるか?」
「いいえ」
「俺は、全ての世界の俺と、意識や記憶を共有できるってことだ」
―――全ての世界?
「ソニアさんは『ルート』と呼んだ」
聞こえた名前に自分の耳を疑う。
「ソニアさん――レベッカ、あんたの母親のことが、俺は好きだった」
ソニア・スルタルク。オウカが大事そうに呼んだのは私の母の名前だった。
「母さまを、知ってるの?」
「19年前、俺は学園の第2学年で、ソニアさんは第3学年だった」
彼はゆっくりと話し出した。
「初めて会ったときは驚いた。まるで異質だった。俺は魔法の才能が人一倍だったし、登場人物の一人ってだけでなく精神がさまざまな同じ生を経験しているからわかった。『別の世界の魂が入り込んだ』ってな」
「転生...」
「ああ。面白いと思って接触した。ソニアさんはまだ完全に記憶を取り戻してなくて転生者っていう自覚もなかったが、夢で見る『変な世界』の話を俺にしてくれた。楽しそうに、懐かしそうに。俺も飽きもせずよく聞きに行った。
ある日『桜』を見たっつって、勝手に俺の名前に『漢字』を当てた。『
オウカの口調はとても静かで穏やかだった。閉じた目を時折薄く開いては、懐かしむように笑う。
「ソニアさんは既にあんたの父親と相思相愛で、俺はソニアさんが幸せならそれでよかった。だから、いつもは時を狂わせる魔法を使って学園長に封印されていたが、代わりに死期を伸ばす方法を研究したんだ。それでも封印された。理を外れる、つってな。シナリオの強制力ってやつだな。それでも色々やった。結局ソニアさんは決められた日時に亡くなったが...前日まで死ぬなんて思えないくらい元気だっただろ?」
はっとして顔を上げた私にオウカが微笑む。
「俺の魔法だ。最後まで楽でいてほしかった。他にも、あんたがまだ赤子のときソニアさんが父親を引きずって現れただろ。あれも俺の魔法。ソニアさんの腕力を三倍にしたんだ」
「え」
今度こそ口に出す。問題の解決の仕方が物理的すぎやしないか。
思わず笑いそうになった私にオウカは「笑うな」と言うが、自分が一番笑っている。
「全く、感謝してほしいね。シナリオではあのまま父親にずっと会えずじまいで、あんたは自分が父親に愛されていないと思っていたんだぞ」
「...あ、『春』で初めて会ったとき、シナリオより髪がくすんでたのは」
「ああ、そんなことばっかして魔力を使ってたからだな。他にも色々、言い切れないくらいある。変えられないことも多かったが、変えられたこともあったから。それで色んな歪みが出た」
オウカがふと真剣な表情になる。
「あんたに惚れたルウェインやランスロットはその典型だ。エミリアはちょっと異質なんで置いておくが...メリンダやヴァンダレイもそうだな。なあ、知ってるか?シナリオでもルウェインは窓を作ってレベッカを覗くんだ。たった一回だけな。それで近い将来立派な悪役令嬢になるレベッカを見た。その一回で切り捨てちまった」
話の風向きが変わって、私は下を向いた。愛されている自覚がある今でも、愛してくれていない殿下の話を聞くのはつらい。
すると大きな手が伸びてきた。私の頭をゆるく撫でる。そういえば『春』でも、こんな風に頭を撫でられた。
「ソニアさんが亡くなればこの世に未練などないと思ったが甘かった。あんたがいたよ、レベッカ。幸せにしようと思った。いや、幸せになれるようにしようと。つまり俺がしたかったのは、あんたと殿下をくっつける、ただこれだけなんだよな」
ランスロットの一件も、あんたとルウェインなら乗り越えてもっと強くなれると思ったから。
そう言った彼はどこまでも優しい顔をしていた。ずっとその目を『保護者』みたいだと思っていた。間違いじゃなかった。実際父親のつもりだったのだ。
「...オウカ、私が殿下に愛されなかった世界は、どれくらいあるの?」
小さな声で聞いた。
「勘違いするな。他の世界はパラレルワールド。同時には存在しない世界、つまりこの世界は唯一絶対の現実だ。それにな、俺からすれば、悪役令嬢のあんたも可愛いもんだったよ」
オウカは私の不安を振り払うみたいにしっかりした声で答えた。
しかし、悪役令嬢が『可愛い』?
「レベッカはただ、愛が欲しかったんだ。父は自分に会いに来ない。亡くなった母は病気であまり話した記憶はないし気難しくて近づくこともできない。兄は育てられ方のせいで自分に関心がなく、いないも同然。使用人達は自分を公爵様に愛されていない子と陰口を叩いている。レベッカは愛に飢えた。誰でもいいから愛して欲しいと思った。だから婚約者に執着したし、誰からも愛される主人公が憎かった」
そんな世界を想像する。どれほど辛いだろうと胸が軋んだ。
「でもそれで、レベッカがエミリアを殺そうとしたか?殴ったか?何をした?口での脅しと、子供みたいな嫌がらせだけだろ?」
オウカは顔を歪ませ、畳み掛けるように喋る。私よりも誰よりも辛そうに見えた。
どうかわかってくれ、辛かった悲しかった寂しかった、
そう懇願するみたいに話す。
「レベッカは、子供だったんだ。見た目ばかり大人みたいに綺麗だったが、心は寂しい、愛が欲しいと泣き叫んでいるだけの小さな子供だった。『悪』なんかじゃなかった。ただ『幼』かっただけなんだよ」
最後の言葉が終わったとき、目的が叶ったことを察知したみたいにオウカの体が薄くなり始めた。
「あんたが今こんなにも幸せそうで、心から嬉しいよ。俺はあんたに、ソニアさんに会えてよかった」
「私が幸せなのはオウカのおかげだったんだね。今までありがとう。オウカ、きっとまた会おうね」
「ああ、きっと、またな」
言い終えると同時にオウカは消えた。これが最後のお別れだと自然と理解していた。一年間という短い付き合いだったが、私も彼に会えてよかったと思った。
Ch 43
The handling of the unprecedented [winter] was extremely difficult. Lancelot's crimes include rebellion against the Duke of Slutarch and the royal family, attempted murder of the Crown Prince and his fiancee, forgery of official documents, and stealing of royal magical items, among others. The number of people who were deceived and harmed was too great.
Until a formal punishment is decided, Lancelot is temporarily captured in the underground prison of the palace, and his father, Prime Minister Charity, takes responsibility and resigns from his position.
When the teacher from the Academy came running over upon noticing the incident, His Highness was in the middle of comforting me, but was groaning. In other words, he was fine. But it couldn't be helped that he was definitely brought along for rest. After all, for a moment there was a hole in his chest.
Therefore, His Highness' words of "not necessary" were not accepted, and I couldn't help but laugh when he confidently walked without borrowing anyone's hand to carry the stretcher for himself.
After His Highness was carried away, when I finally managed to get Christina out of the box, I was overwhelmed with emotions and thanked everyone who helped me during the [winter]. Emilia stuck to me, and Kyuubi followed, so it became a small commotion.
The students returned to the dormitory as usual, but the ball was postponed for a week. As for me, my father came to pick me up and I ended up spending the time until then at my father's house in the Royal Capital with my older brother.
On the night of my arrival at my father's house, I talked with my older brother late into the night. My older brother listened to all my stories from the past year with interest. I also had things I wanted to ask him, like why he invited Cectiara to the ball and she cried, or how His Highness addressed him as "brother-in-law" when they first met. It was fun to talk about various things.
When we were tired of talking, we returned to our own rooms. I confirmed that I was alone and took out a pendant from my chest. It was a pink flower motif and was given to me by Lancelot as a gift from Ouka.
"Ouka."
"Yo, Rebecca."
When I lightly held it and called out, a voice came from behind me. When I turned around, Ouka was sitting on a sofa with a relaxed expression.
It had been a long time since I saw him, and his hair was now a bit darker and closer to brown. His body also seemed hazy.
"I'm a copy of the magic that was put into that pendant. I have some consciousness, but I'm more like a remnant. Anyway, my original body is completely sealed."
"Ouka, the game is over. Can you not talk to me anymore?"
Ouka closed his mouth and stopped laughing.
"What did you want to do for the past year?"
At first, he was a man who broke the scenario. Then, he was a man trying to return to the scenario. I don't know anymore in the [fall], and now I'm thinking it's neither of those things.
And those eyes, why is he looking at me like that? I saw them in the summer event, eyes filled with a love like that of a guardian.
"I want to listen to you properly at least at the end."
Ouka opened his mouth as if he had given up.
"I am a [spiritual body]. Do you understand what that means?"
"No."
"I can share consciousness and memory with all versions of myself in all worlds."
------All worlds?
"Sonia-san called it [route]."
I doubted my own ears at the heard name.
"Sonia-san, Rebecca, I liked your mother."
Sonia Slutarch. The name Ouka spoke of so fondly was the name of my mother.
"Do you know my mother?"
"19 years ago, I was in the second grade of the Academy, and Sonia-san was in the third grade."
He slowly began to speak.
"When I first met him, I was surprised. It was so different. I knew because I was more gifted with magic than anyone else and I was not only one of the characters, but my spirit had been through many lifetimes. It's like [a soul from another world has entered]."
"Reincarnation..."
"Yeah. I thought it was interesting and contacted her. Sonia-san hadn't fully regained her memories and didn't even realize she was a reincarnator, but she would tell me about her dreams of a [weird world]. She would talk about it happily and nostalgically, so I would often go listen to her.
One day, she said she saw cherry blossoms and arbitrarily assigned [kanji] to my name. [Sakura Ouka], or something like that. She explained what kind of flower it was by drawing a picture of it. She did it happily, with a smile on her face. That's when I first decided to change the scenario. I decided to resist the [scenario] that I had been following without any complaints up until then. Because, Rebecca's mother is supposed to die when Rebecca is 15 years old.
Ouka's tone was very quiet and calm. He occasionally opened his closed eyes thinly, and smiled nostalgically.
"Sonia-san is already in love with your father, and I was fine with that as long as Sonia-san was happy. So, I always used magic to warp time and was sealed by the Principal, but instead, I researched a way to extend her lifespan. It's crazy, right? It's the force of the scenario. Still, I tried various things. In the end, Sonia-san died on the predetermined date... but until the day before, she was so healthy that I couldn't even think she would die?"
Ouka smiled at me as I raised my head in surprise.
"It's my magic. I wanted her to be comfortable until the end. And also, when you were still a baby, Sonia-san appeared while holding onto your father, that was also my magic. I tripled Sonia-san's strength."
"What?"
I finally said it out loud. I wondered if the solution to the problem was too physical.
Ouka, who seemed to be about to laugh, said "Don't laugh." But he was the one laughing the most.
"Seriously, you should be thankful for that. In the scenario, you would never have been able to see your father, and you would have thought that your father didn't love you."
"... Oh, when I first met you in [spring], your hair was duller than in the scenario."
"Ah, that's because I've been using my magic all the time. There are also other things, so many that I can't put them into words. There were many things that couldn't be changed, but there were also things that could be changed. So many distortions came out of that."
Ouka suddenly had a serious expression.
"Llewayne and Lancelot who fell in love with you are typical examples. I'll leave Emilia aside because she's a little different... Melinda and Vanderlei are also like that. Hey, do you know? In the scenario, Llewayne also makes a window to peek at Rebecca. Just once. And with that one time, he saw Rebecca becoming a great villainess and decided to cut her off."
The conversation turned, and I lowered my head. Even now, when I feel loved, it's painful to hear about His Highness who doesn't love me.
Suddenly, a big hand reached out. Gently stroking my head. Come to think of it, he stroked my head like this in [Spring], too.
"I thought that after Sonia-san died, I wouldn't have anymore regrets in this world, but I was wrong. You were there, Rebecca. I wanted to make you happy. No, I wanted to make you able to be happy. In other words, what I wanted to do was to bring you and His Highness together, that's all."
I thought that if you and Llewayne could overcome Lancelot, you would become stronger.
He said that while wearing a very kind expression on his face. I had always thought that his eyes looked like those of a guardian. I wasn't wrong. In fact, I thought he was my father.
"... Ouka, how many worlds are there where I was not loved by His Highness?"
I asked in a small voice.
"Don't misunderstand. Other worlds are parallel worlds. Worlds that do not exist at the same time, in other words, this world is the only absolute reality. And, from my perspective, even you as the villainess were cute."
Ouka answered in a firm voice, as if trying to dispel my anxiety.
But, "cute" as a villainess?
"Rebecca just wanted love. Her father never came to see her. Her mother, who had passed away, didn't talk much due to her illness and was difficult to get close to. Her older brother wasn't interested in her due to the way he was raised and was practically non-existent. The servants talked behind her back, saying she wasn't loved by Duke-sama. Rebecca was hungry for love. She wanted to be loved by anyone. That's why she was so obsessed with her fiance and hated the protagonist who was loved by everyone."
Just imagining such a world, no matter how hard it must have been, made my chest ache.
"But, did Rebecca try to kill Emilia? Did she hit her? What did she do? Was it just verbal threats and child-like bullying?"
Ouka twisted hIS face and spoke as if he was folding something. He looked more painful than anyone else.
Please understand, it was painful, sad and lonely, the feelings of the Villainess Rebecca.
He spoke as if he was pleading.
"Rebecca was just a child. She looked like an adult only in appearance, but her heart was lonely, crying out for love. She was not [evil], she was just [young]."
When the last words were finished, Ouka's body began to fade, as if sensing that his purpose had been fulfilled.
"I'm happy to see you so happy now. I'm glad I met you and Sonia-san."
"It's because of Ouka that I am happy. Thank you for everything until now. Ouka, let's see each other again."
"Yes, definitely, let's meet again."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ouka disappeared. I naturally understood that this was the last goodbye. It was a short association of one year, but I also felt that I was glad to have met him.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈