第11話 ドラゴン
城の裏手の奥まったところに、簡素な造りの大きな木造の建物が建っていた。屋根はあるが壁は板張りのままで、ところどころ隙間が空いている。
とても開放的な造りだ。
「ドラゴンたちの厩舎だよ」
ドラゴンは一匹ではないのだ。
アンジェリクとセルジュの後ろにはエリクとジャンが付いてきていた。
セルジュと同じように騎士とよく似た服装をしている。動きやすさを重視した丈の短い上衣とピッタリしたズボン。乗馬用のブーツ。幅の広い革のベルトで胴と背中を保護していた。
二人は従僕であるだけでなく、ドラゴン使いのリーダーでもあるという。
門番兼従僕兼ドラゴン使いのリーダー。
それぞれ三人の部下を従えて、一匹ずつドラゴンを世話しているという。
「ドラゴンは二匹いる。この厩舎は今年の春にできたばかりなんだ。それまでは城の一階で飼っていたんだよ」
イケメンの笑顔はやけに眩しかった。
六歳で初めてドラゴンに会ってから、セルジュはすっかりドラゴンの虜になってしまった。
八歳から十八歳まで貴族の子女が通う、学費がバカみたいに高い学園に入ってからも、ドラゴンのことばかり考えていたという。
成績はよかったので特に注意もされなかったが、十六歳で社交界にデビューする直前、急に学園を辞めて隣国のエスコラに行きたいと言い出したあたりから、バルニエ公爵の機嫌は急速に悪化した。
ブールよりも東側で、アンジェリクたちが住むアルカン王国と国境を接する北の国エスコラは、ドラゴンを有する国として知られている。
他国の人間には決してその姿を見せないため、エスコラのドラゴンも伝説上の生きものではないのかと言う者が多かった。
だが、子どもの頃からドラゴンについて調べ続けたセルジュは、エスコラのドラゴンは伝説ではないと確信した。
兄に万が一のことがあった場合、セルジュがバルニエ公爵家を継がねばならない。
セルジュは、要するに公爵家にとっての保険なのだ。
どうしても行くと言うのなら勘当すると言われ、セルジュは勘当される道を選んだ。
供もなく単身エスコラに向かい、王立ドラゴン研究所の門を叩き、弟子入りしたのが十六歳の時。
四年の修行を経て、ドラゴン二匹を連れて帰国した。
荒れ地ばかりで捨て置かれていた領地ブールに勝手に住み始めると、勘当を解かないまま、バルニエ公爵は母方のボルテール伯爵の位を、これも勝手にセルジュに冠した。
家を守るための保険として、縁戚作りの駒として、出来損ないの息子でも使い道はあると踏んだのだろう。
「貴重なドラゴンを、よく二匹ももらえたわね」
ドラゴン研究所の研究者たちが、セルジュの知識を認めた証だという。
「ドラゴンは、エスコラの西とこのブールの北に挟まれた森の奥に住んでいる可能性が高い。新たなドラゴンを捕まえて慣らすまで、サリとラッセを使っていいと言ってくれたんだ。もらったわけじゃない。十年の約束で借りている」
サリとラッセは番であるため、卵の孵化に成功すれば、生まれたドラゴンはセルジュのものにしていいそうだ。
本当にいたのだ。
厩舎の入口でセルジュが誇らしげに屋内を示した。
「さあ、見て。これがサリだよ」
明るい日差しの差し込む厩舎には、薔薇色の鱗をキラキラ光らせた美しいドラゴンが静かに座っていた。アンジェリクを見下ろして、緑色の目をまばたく。
「綺麗......」
「サリは、女の子だよ」
「サリ......、とても綺麗な子」
アンジェリクは頬を上気させてドラゴンを見上げた。
ドラゴンは大きかった。
かすかに思ったが、不思議と怖いとは思わなかった。
(この子には、人の心が通じている)
なぜかそう思った。
奥のほうで、もう一匹のドラゴンがこちらを見ていた。
「あれが、ラッセ。近くで見ると、サリよりもっと大きい」
「素敵......。なんて綺麗なの......」
「気に入ってくれた?」
エリクとジャンが嬉しそうに笑う。
Chapter 11: Dragons|Read translated stories and daily updates at: Awebstories.com
A large wooden building of simple construction stood behind the castle. It has a roof, but the walls are still boarded up with some gaps.
It has a very open construction.
"These are the stables of the dragons."
There is more than one dragon.
Erick and John are standing behind Angelique and Serge. Erick was a young man with red hair who seemed to be a year younger than Serge. John, who had dark hair, seemed older than Serge. Both had green eyes.
They were also dressed like knights, with a short coat and tight-fitting pants for ease of movement. Riding boots and a wide leather belt protected their upper bodies and backs.
The two men are not only servants but also leaders of the dragon riders.
Gatekeepers, servants, and leaders of dragon riders. It's a difficult job, but they seem to enjoy it.
Each of them was accompanied by three men, each responsible for one dragon.
"We have two dragons; the stables were built only this spring; before that, they were housed on the first floor of the castle." explained Serge.
The handsome man's smile shone brightly.
Serge had been interested in dragons ever since he first saw one when he was six years old.
Even after he went to a ridiculously expensive academy for children of noble families between the ages of eight and eighteen, he was still crazy about dragons.
He was good, so he didn't stand out much, but just before his social debut at the age of sixteen, he abruptly announced that he wanted to leave the academy and attend Escola in the neighboring country, which quickly spoiled the Duke of Barnier's mood.
Escola, the northern country east of Bourg bordering the kingdom of Alkan where Angelique and her family live, is famous for its dragons. It is said that Escola is the home of all dragons, of which there are only about a dozen in the world.
Many people have wondered if the dragons of Escola are mythical creatures because they are never seen by people from other countries.
Serge, who had grown up studying dragons, was convinced that the dragons of Escola were not a myth. So he decided to find out for himself. Not only did he want to see for himself, but he also wanted to become a dragon master and take care of the dragons.
And Serge would have to take over the Duchy of Barnier if his brother died prematurely.
Serge is virtually the duke's insurance policy. He will not let him be selfish.
Serge was told that he would be disowned if he left, and unexpectedly, he chose to be disowned.
He went to the Escola alone, without any offers, knocked on the door of the Royal Dragon Institute, and became an apprentice at the age of sixteen.
After four years of training, he returned to his country with two dragons.
When Serge moved to Bourg, an abandoned country estate, the Duke of Barnier took the title of Count of Voltairel from his mother's side and gave it to him, even though he was no longer a member of the Barnier family.
The Duke must have thought that he could still use his defective son as an insurance policy to protect the family and as a pawn. Serge claims that he has lived here with his dragons for two years since then.
"How did you get two priceless dragons?"
The Dragon Institute researchers recognized Serge's knowledge, effort, and talent.
"The dragons are probably deep in the woods between Escola and Bourg. They told me I could use Sari and Lasse until I caught a new dragon and got used to it, but they didn't give them to me. They are on loan to us for ten years."
Serge gets to keep any dragon born if the eggs hatch successfully, because Sari and Lasse are partners. The time it takes for the dragon to grow up is also taken into account: ten years.
Sure enough, there they were.
Serge proudly showed her the inside of the stables at the entrance.
"Come, take a look. This is Sari."
A beautiful dragon with shimmering pink scales sat calmly in the stables, looking down at Angelique with its green eyes.
"Beautiful..."
"Sari is a female..."
"Sari... She's gorgeous."
Angelique's cheeks flushed as she looked up at the dragon.
The dragon was huge. Its back was twice the size of a human's. It would be a disaster if she got angry and attacked her.
She muttered something, but strangely, she was not afraid.
'This child understands the human heart.'
She had the impression.
Another dragon was watching her in the background. Its deep blue scales glistened in the sun.
Up close, he's even bigger than Sari."
"How beautiful..."
"Do you like them?"
Erick and John beamed, and Serge's eyes lit up with a warm glow.
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