第19話 愛のお肉
馬車を降り、とぼとぼと城に戻ったアンジェリクは、夫人用のクローゼットに置いてある小さなチェストに手紙をしまった。
ドレスが減ってすっきりした衣装掛けに掛かるひらひらのナイトドレスに目を留め、その道の教育係ブリアン夫人を思い浮かべた。
彼女に会いたいと思う日が来るとは想像もしていなかった。
興味がないことをおざなりにするのはアンジェリクの悪い癖だ。
学園で起きた事件についてもそうだったし、ブリアン夫人の話だってもっとよく聞いておけばよかった。
手紙だって、もらって初めて、そのよさに気づく。
自分は頭でっかちなばかりで、心に潤いがないのだと思った。
今朝、出かける前にセルジュが言った言葉を思い出すと、心がざわざわし始めた。
『きみのやることに間違いはない。僕から言うことは、何もないよ』
同じ言葉を、以前エルネストからも言われた。
屋敷の者たちや領民たちは言うまでもなく、学園の友人たちやシャルロット、妹たちや、父でさえ、アンジェリクのすることや考えに異を唱えることはないのだ。
アンジェリクの思う通りにすればいいと言う。
『アンジェリクは頭がいい』
『知恵が回る』
『仕事が早くて、的確だ』
父の右腕として成果を上げ、一目置かれ始めた頃、アンジェリクは、どこか人を見下すところが、自分にはあるのではないかと不安になった。
能率や合理性ばかりを優先して、無駄なものを切り捨てすぎているのではないかと。
無駄の一つも許せないような考え方は優しくない。
ブリアン夫人が教えてくれたことは、セルジュとアンジェリクにとって、領地の運営と同じくらい大事なことだった。
なのにアンジェリクはちゃんと向き合うこともしないで、仕事で疲れたからといって勝手に寝てしまっていた。
「どうしよう......」
城には相談できる人がいない。
けれど、夫を亡くして寂しい思いをしている人に、聞くことではないと思った。
しゅんとうなだれて歩いていると、厩舎から戻ってきたセルジュが「どうしたの?」と駆け寄ってきた。
「怪我? いいえ。大丈夫よ?」
「じゃあ、何か悪いものでも食べた?」
もう一度「いいえ」と首を振る。
「きみが元気がないなんて、初めてだから」
アンジェリクはつい苦笑してしまった。
(私って、どれだけ強いと思われてるのかしら?)
けれど、セルジュは眉を寄せてアンジェリクを覗き込んできた。
「本当に、どこか辛いところはない?」
毎日たくさん働いても、ぐっすり眠れば元気になるアンジェリクを、セルジュはいつも頼もしく思っていたという。
「一度、ゆっくり休んで」
優しく言われて、気持ちが安らいだ。
「なんでもないの。ちょっと考え事をしてただけ」
「お腹が痛いわけでも、ないんだね?」
「アンジェリクのために、今日はいいものを用意したんだ。きっと元気が出るよ」
「いいもの? 何?」
「とてもいいもの。おいで」
セルジュに手を引かれて食堂に入った。
くんと鼻が勝手に動いた。
ああ、いい匂い......。
「この匂いは......」
「きみの大好きなものだ」
「お肉! お肉なの?」
料理人のドニと執事兼給仕係兼御者にもなったエミールが、セルジュに負けないくらいにこにこしながらアンジェリクを待っていた。
「ヴィニョアのモンタン農場に行くって言ってたから、エミールに言って肉を買ってきてもらったんだ」
「でも、お金が......」
「そのくらいはなんとかなる。今まで食べさせてやれなくて、ごめん」
こつんとアンジェリクの額に、セルジュが額をくっつけた。
長い睫毛をそっと伏せる。
「きみに愛想を尽かされても、当然だ」
「えっ? 私、別に......」
「ドラゴンにばかり肉を食べさせて、妻であるきみにはパンとスープしか出せなかった」
「セルジュ、そんなこと......」
だけどね、とセルジュは続ける。
「セルジュ......」
アンジェリクの目からポロリと涙が零れた。
(嫌われたわけじゃなかったのね......)
アンジェリクは精いっぱい大きく頷いた。
ドニとエミールが顔を見合わせて何かコソコソ言っていた。肉がどうとかと......。
「やはり、肉でしたか」
「肉でしたな」
そんなやり取りが聞こえた。
セルジュがそっと涙を拭ってくれる。
「アンジェリク、ふがいない夫でごめんね」
「私こそ、自分の言いたいことばっかり言って、セルジュの気持ちを考えられなくて、ごめんなさい......」
「これからも、きみの思う通りに、いろんなことをやってみてほしい」
「きみを信頼している。僕の妻になってくれて、ありがとう」
セルジュは優しく繰り返し、香ばしく焼いた厚い肉の前にアンジェリクを座らせた。
背後からつむじにキスを落とし、「愛しているよ」と囁く。
Ch 19
Angelique hid the letter in a small chest in her closet after she got out of the carriage and trudged back to the castle.
Her eyes were drawn to the fluttering nightgown hanging on the empty dresser, and she remembered Madame Berean, her s "s*x education teacher.
'I never thought the day would come when I would want to see her.'
Angelique has a bad habit of ignoring things that don't interest her.
She should have paid more attention to what Mrs. Berean had to say and what had occurred at school.
She doesn't appreciate letters until she receives one.
'I felt that I was too stubborn and not spiritual enough.'
Her heart began to race as she remembered what Serge had said to her this morning before she left.
[You're doing the right thing, I have nothing to say.]
Ernest once told her the same words in a dismissive tone, as if to push Angelique away.
Angelique often gets to hear similar things, though not in the same way as Ernest. Not to mention the people in her home, on the estate, her school friends, Charlotte, her sisters, and even her father, who don't care what Angelique does or thinks.
They tell Angelique that she can do what she wants.
[Angelique is smart.]
[She is quick-witted.]
[She works efficiently and precisely.]
Angelique was worried that when she became known as her father's right-hand woman, she would be looked down upon by others.
She mistakenly believed that she prioritized efficiency and rationality and excluded too many unnecessary things.
It is not kind to think in such a way that she cannot tolerate even a single waste. She thought that was a bad thing and was therefore cautious.
What Mrs. Berean taught Angelique is as important as running the estate.
Angelique, on the other hand, had fallen asleep on her own because she was tired from work and hadn't really dealt with it.
"I'm at a loss for what to do..."
There was no one at the castle she could talk to about it. It was not something she could discuss with a man, and the only woman she knew was Mrs. Cello, who was easy to talk to and with whom she would not have hesitated if it had been about something else.
But she didn't think it was appropriate to ask someone who had just lost her husband and was lonely.
As she walked along, Serge came out of the stables, ran up to her and asked, "What's wrong? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Hurt? No, I'm fine..."
"Did you eat something unhealthy?"
"No." She shakes her head. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I've never seen you look so depressed before."
Angelique couldn't help but giggle.
'How weak does he think I am?'
Serge, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow at Angelique. He really looked very worried.
"Are you sure there's nothing wrong with you?"
Angelique's good health after a restful night had always reassured Serge, even though she worked a lot every day. But as expected, she's pushing herself too hard, so he hugged Angelique and stroked her hair.
"Get some rest."
He said it gently, and she relaxed.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking."
"Do you not have a stomach ache?"
"Because I made something special for Angelique today. It will cheer you up."
"What is it? Is it something good?"
"Something very good. Come here."
Serge took her hand and led her into the dining room.
Her nose moved of its own accord as she entered.
'Oh, it smells delicious.... It's savory and juicy...'
"This smell..."
"It's your personal favorite."
"Meat! Is that meat?!"
Doni, the cook, and Emire, the butler, both smiled as they waited for Angelique.
"When you told me you were going with Emire to Montan Farm in Vignoa, I asked him to buy meat."
"But the money..."
"I can handle that much; I'm sorry I couldn't feed you."
Serge rested his forehead against Angelique's.
His long lashes were softly lowered.
"It's no wonder you're sick of me."
"Eh? I don't..."
"I've been feeding meat to the dragons all this time, and serving only bread and soup to you, my wife; it's only natural that you should be sick of me..."
"It's not that, Serge..."
"I know it sounds like an excuse, but..." continues Serge. "The meat I feed Sari and Lasse is much too tough for human consumption. And there isn't a single restaurant in the area that serves meat... This is also because I have neglected my lands..."
"Serge..."
Serge panicked as tears welled up in Angelique's eyes.
'He didn't hate me...'
Angelique nodded as loudly as she could.
Doni and Emire exchanged glances and whispered something.
"Was it, after all, the meat?"
"It was the meat."
They were having similar discussions.
Serge gently wiped away her tears.
"Angelique, I apologize for being such a bad husband."
"I also want to apologize for saying what I wanted to say without thinking of Serge's feelings..."
"I want you to keep trying everything you want to try."
"I trust you. Thank you for being my wife."
Serge says it again softly and puts Angelique in front of a thick piece of perfectly cooked roasted meat.
He kisses her on the lips and whispers, "I love you. Eat a lot and be healthy, my sweet and reliable wife."
I’m Going to Marry a Poor Count in the Middle of Nowhere and I’m Going to Work Hard to Reform My Territory
【ノベル3巻発売＆コミカライズ２巻まで発売中】辺境の貧乏伯爵に嫁ぐことになったので領地改革に励みます
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/im-going-to-marry-a-poor-count-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-and-im-going-to-work-hard-to-reform-my-territory/
Comedy Drama Fantasy Romance Shoujo
Adapted to Manga Arranged Marriage Broken Engagement Domestic Affairs Doting Love Interests Doting Older Siblings Dragon Riders Dragons Early Romance European Ambience Female Protagonist Management Nobles Pregnancy Royalty Time Skip Tomboyish Female Lead
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5996gy/
花波薫歩