浮かれて廊下を歩いていると、突然腕を引かれて。「えっ」と声をあげた時には、人気のない階段の下で連れ込まれてしまっていた。薄暗い中、襟足の長い銀の髪が逆光に照らされる。壁に肘までついた腕の中に閉じ込められて、彼の瑠璃色の瞳がとても近かった。
「まだまだだね、ルルーシェ。このくらいとっさでも抜け出さないと」
「......そんなこと言いながら膝まで間に入れないでくださいます? ザフィルド殿下」
鼻と鼻が触れてしまいそうな距離。相手が殿下だからまだ良いものの......他の殿方相手だったらあり得ないですわ。殿下とて、女生徒に騒がれる程度に美形なのですから。心臓に悪いです。わたくしが視線を逸らすと、耳元に顔を寄せた殿下が小さく笑う。
「良かった。ちゃんと男扱いしてくれるんだね?」
「いつも殿方だと思ってますわよ。頼もしい師匠で心強い限りですわ」
「今日の訓練サボったのに?」
「あら。待っていてくださいましたの? それは申し訳ないことをしましたわ」
いつも通り――このくらいの平常心を装うことくらい、令嬢の嗜みですわ。ですが、どうしても紙袋を抱える手が震えますわね。だってあからさまに殿下の様子がおかしいですもの。
「ねぇ......今日は兄上とどこに行っていたの?」
「市街地を散策しておりましたわ。日頃の息抜きに付き合ってもらいましたの」
「婚約破棄したのに?」
我ながら、自分の浅はかさに呆れてしまうわ。筋が通っていないにも程がある。それでも......全部を忘れて、思い出を作っておきたかったんですもの。いくら切り捨てようとしていても、わたくしの数少ない“近しいひと”には変わりないのですから。
ねぇ、ザフィルド殿下。それはあなたも変わらないのよ?
「本当はザフィルド殿下もお誘いしたかったのですよ?」
「なら誘えばよかったじゃないか。ルルーシェからのお誘いなら、僕も喜んで学校なんてサボったよ」
「でも、あなたはわたくしに大きな嘘をついたでしょう?」
わたくし怒ってますのよ? ――そう、伝えれば。
殿下はくつくつと、くつくつと笑い出す。そしてひとしきり笑い終えたかと思えば、わたくしの頭の上の壁をドンッと強く叩いた。思わず肩を竦めて紙袋を落としてしまう。だけど容赦なく彼は叫びだした。
「あぁ、そうだ! そうだよ!? 僕は根っからの大嘘つき者さっ! それで愛想が尽きたって!?」
「......あまり大きな声を出されない方が。放課後とはいえ、人がいないわけではございませんわ」
「僕に近寄られると兄上への外聞が悪いと!?」
「そんなこと申しておりません。でも......わたくしも正式に婚約破棄が受理されているわけではございませんので」
わたくしへの悪評は今更ですが、このままではザフィルド殿下の悪評が立ってしまいます。兄の婚約者に攻め寄ろうとしているとか、今後の殿下の婚約に影響出かねませんもの。この距離感は幼馴染と言い訳も付きませんわ。......それがわからないひとではないでしょうに。
ザフィルド殿下はわたくしの言葉を鼻で笑い飛ばす。
「でも結局、兄上がいいんだろう? 明後日のエスコートも結局兄上に頼むんだろう?」
「......いえ。それは先程、再度断りを入れてきましたわ」
「は? どういうことだよ。結局『ほかの好きな人』っていうのもデマカセのくせに」
「デマカセではございませんわ」
「じゃあ、誰?」
わたくしはザフィルド殿下を見上げる。その気迫と焦りを見せたご様子に......正直に申すしかございませんわね。
「......ナナシ様ですわ」
「ナナシ?」
「えぇ......『ナナシの落日』。ご存知でしょう?」
「ふざけるなっ!!」
でも、やっぱり怒鳴られてしまいます。ふざけてなんかいないのですが......あぁ、どうしましょう。さすがに手詰まりですわ。どうしたら殿下を納得させられるの?
思いあぐねていると、ポタッと頬が濡れる。校内だ。雨なんか降るはずがない。最後顔を上げれば――瑠璃色の瞳から、ぽろぽろと雫が溢れていた。
「ふざけないでくれ......ルルーシェ。僕は、本当に君のことが......」
「わたくし......明後日で死ぬ運命ですの」
「......は?」
「なので、誰からの気持ちも受け取るつもりありません。わたくしの身は神に捧げます」
......そうですわよね。こんなこと言われても、普通信じてもらえませんよね。それは当たり前のことなのに、どうしてかしら? わたくしも泣きたくなってしまうわ。でも、それは明らかに自分勝手だから。わたくしは緩んだ腕の隙間から抜け出し、紙袋を拾う。
「では、レミーエさんが待っておりますので」
「遅れてしまい申し訳ございません――お菓子を買ってきましたの。良ければ一緒にいかが?」
その日、帰宅する前に剣術部の倉庫に行った。
いつものことなの。さすがに授業中とか鞄に剣を入れておくなど物騒でしょう? だから使わない時は一緒に管理してもらえるよう、きちんと申請していたのです。
なのでそれを持ち帰るべく、今日もその倉庫に寄ったのですが――。
わたくしがわたくしのために選んだ、決して剣術部の方が使わない小さな剣。どこを探しても、それが見つかることはなかった。
『あら、わたくしおかしなこと言いましたか?』
その日の夜。当然クッキーは神様にも買ってありましたわ。ただ神様にお出しした分は割れたものが多くて......それでも、彼は何も言わずにそんなクッキーを食べながら恥ずかしそうに視線を逸らしていた。
『その......わたくしの身は神に捧げるとかなんとか......』
『ふふっ。よくある問答じゃないですか』
『そ、そうだよね! 聖職者がよく言うことだよね。ははははっ!』
『まぁ、本心からそう思っておりますけどね』
『ふぁっ!?』
ふふっ、真っ赤になって。脳天気でお可愛らしい。でも......今はそんないつも通りの態度が嬉しいですわ。
『そんなことより、今日も楽しかったんですのよ? わたくし実は射的の才能があったらしく――』
街で遊んだこと。食べたもの。感動したこと。そんなことを無邪気に口走るわたくしの話を、神様は適当な相槌を打って聞いてくれる。それが、何よりも有り難かった。
だって、わたくしは最期まで笑っていたいんですから。
I was pulled behind a secluded staircase. In the dim light, a man's long, silver, hair shone from the backlight. As both of his elbows trapped me against the wall, I could see his lapis lazuli eyes from up close.
"To not be able to defend against this kind of situation, you still have a long way to go, Lelouche."
"...Your Highness Zafield, please don't corner me while saying something like that?"
We were at a distance where our noses were likely to touch. Thankfully, the other party was His Highness Zafield. Otherwise, it'd have been impossible for me. Popular with the girls, His Highness Zafield was handsome like usual--as such, it was bad for my heart. When I averted my gaze, His Highness Zafield leaned to my ear and chuckled.
"...What a relief, you still see me as a man."
"I always think of you as a gentleman."
"Why did you skip today's training?"
"Oh, did you wait for me? My apologies."
As usual, it was common practice for young ladies to pretend like nothing happened. However, my hand trembled as I held the paper bag. It was obvious that I was behaving strangely.
"Hey, where did you go with my brother today?"
"We took a stroll around the city for a change of pace."
"Even though you're no longer engaged with him?"
After he had pointed it out, I was amazed by my own shallowness. Still... I wanted to forget everything else and make memories. I knew it wouldn't make sense. No matter how much I tried to cut them off, they were still the few, closest, people I had.
Did you know? That includes you too, Your Highness Zafield...
"In truth, I'd have liked to invite His Highness Zafield out, as well."
"If that's the case, then why didn't you invite me? I would've gladly skipped school if Lelouche had asked."
"But you told me a great lie, didn't you?"
...I'm angry with you.
His Highness Zafield chuckled. When I thought that he had finished laughing, he slammed his fist against the wall right above my head. Involuntarily, my shoulders flinched, and I dropped the paper bag.
"--Yes! That's right!? From the very start, I'm a big liar!! Is that why you discarded me!?"
"...Don't raise your voice, please. Even if it's after school, it's not like there are no people--"
"--Are you worried about the implications!? What, is it because it might affect my brother's reputation!?"
"...That's not what I'm saying. But he hasn't officially accepted the annulment of our engagement."
It was too late to salvage my own reputation. But if things went on like that, His Highness Zafield would suffer the consequences, as well. By trying to assault his brother's fiancee, his future engagement could be affected. Besides, even if we were childhood friends, there was no excuse for such a close distance.
His Highness Zafield scoffed at my words.
"But in the end, you still prefer him, don't you? The day after tomorrow, you'll ask my brother to escort you!"
"...No. I've just turned him down again."
"Ha? What do you mean by that? Don't lie to me by saying that you have someone else you like."
"That's not exactly a lie."
"Then, who is it?"
I looked up at His Highness Zafield. Both his fervor and frustration left me no choice.
"--Nameless."
"...Nameless?"
"Yes. 'Nameless' Sunset.' Surely, you're familiar with him?"
"--Don't mess with me!!"
Nevertheless, I got yelled at once again. I wasn't joking... What should I do? I was truly at a loss. How was I supposed to convince him?
Suddenly, something hot dripped on my cheek. I was confused. We were inside the academy, it shouldn't have been rain. When I finally lifted my face--I saw that His Highness Zafield's azure blue eyes were overflowing with tears.
"...Don't play around with me, Lelouche. Don't you know how I feel about you?"
"I... am destined to die the day after tomorrow."
"...What?"
"So, I have no intention of reciprocating anyone's feelings. I shall dedicate my whole being to god."
However, that'd be selfish of me. I slipped out of his loose hold and picked up the paper bag.
"Then, I shall excuse myself. Lumiere is waiting for me."
"I'm sorry for being late. I bought some sweets. Would you like to eat them together?"
That day, I went to the storage room belonging to the swordsmanship club before returning home.
As one could imagine, keep a sword with me during class or in my bag was dangerous. Therefore, I stored it properly when I wasn't using it.
The reason I dropped by the warehouse was to take it home with me.
It was a small sword that I especially chose. No one from the swordsmanship club would've ever used it, but I couldn't find the sword anywhere.
"--What? Did I say something strange?"
During nighttime. Of course, I also bought god some cookies. However, many of them had crumbled. Yet, god still ate them without saying anything.
"...That, you're dedicating yourself to god..."
"Fufu, isn't that a common answer?"
"T, that's right! It's something that priests often say! Hahaha..."
"Still, those were my honest feelings."
"Fwah--!?"
Usually, I'd have been astonished by the gap in character, but I had become accustomed to it. At the same time, I was also elated.
"More importantly, you seem to have had fun today. You also have a talent for shooting--"
I spoke to god about the things we did in the city and what we ate. God listened to my innocent talk and give appropriate responses. I was most grateful for that.
Because until the end of my life, I wanted to keep smiling.
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