――あと6日。
昨日も特に何事もなくいじめられまして。
今日も順調に過ごしておりました。サザンジール殿下との勉強会も、今朝で終わり。さすがに直前は自分で復習した方が効率が良いということになったのです。まぁ、さすがにここまでしていただいて、不甲斐ない点数をとるわけにもいきませんし。今日は早めに家に帰って、おとなしく勉強をすることにしましょう。
――と、思っていたのだけど。
「困りましたわね......」
わたくしは薄暗い密室の中で、途方に暮れております。
閉じ込められてしまいました。授業後に先生に荷物を運ぶよう頼まれましたの。そんな重い物でもありませんでしたし、ここで「公爵家のわたくしに所用を頼むのですか!?︎」などと恥ずかしい事言う趣味もございません。いち学生として、簡単なお手伝いをしただけなのですけど......それが間違いでしたわね。
しかし下宿中でも公務が回されるとは......国王陛下もスパルタですわね。それだけお二人に期待しているという現れなのでしょう。
他にわたくしを助けてくれそうなひと......。
そうですわね......今いる用具倉庫は学校の裏手にありますし、わざわざ用事のある生徒はいないでしょう。部活道具は各々他の倉庫ですしね。本日この倉庫を利用する方の見当はつきません。
あと警邏の方ですが。わたくしでしたら買収して、本日ここらを警邏させません。そのくらいの知恵は働いてほしいものですわね。
なので――、
「うん。手詰まりですわ」
このまま一晩はこの場所で過ごすことになりそう。
などと小一時間試してみますが、火なんかてんで起こせず。玄人さんはこのような道具だけで火を起こせるらしいですけどね。なかなか上手くいきませんわ。
そうこうしているうちに、日が暮れてしまいました。ますます真っ暗。勉強しようにもほとんど見えませんし......明日に備えて寝るしかありませんわね。
「ただ、また風邪を引いてしまいそうね......」
何か暖を取れる物は......と藁にもすがる思いで鞄を漁ってみますと。
「あら。可愛らしいお友達がいましたわ」
そういや、ずっと返しそびれていましたわね。
これを出したら、また婚約破棄を告げた日のことを思い出してしまいそうで。それでまた、気まずくなるのが怖くて。
ずっと持ち歩いていた不恰好なうさぎのぬいぐるみの鼻をつんっと突いてから、わたくしはぎゅっと抱きしめる。
「一緒に寝てくれますか?」
わたくしは鞄を枕に、寝転んで。
小さなお友達は、わたくしの頬にぬくもりを与えてくれる。
でもね、わたくしは元より寂しくはありませんでしたの。だって――。
『――というわけでびっくりでしたわよ』
『いや『びっくりでしたわよ』じゃないよねぇ!?︎ 閉じ込められたんだよ! 軟禁? 監禁? 幽閉? とにかくもっと怖がろうよ!?︎』
『今日も声真似がお上手ですわね』
わたくしがパチパチと賛辞を送っても、神様はまるで聞いてくれない。それどころか、どこからともなく毛布を取り出しては椅子に座るわたくしに巻き付け、慌ててあつあつの紅茶を淹れてくださる。
夢の世界は熱くも寒くもないのだけど......これ、意味はあるのかしら?
それでも気持ちは嬉しいから。ありがたく紅茶に口をつけるけど。ジンジャーの香りがピリピリと心地良いわ。わたくしは思わず微笑む。
『だって、夢でこうして神様に会えるのですよ?』
『え?』
『それがわかっているのに、寂しがる必要はございませんわね』
神様が急に動きを止めた。あら、お顔が真っ赤ですわよ? まあ、紅茶が美味しいからしずしず飲んでいるフリをしてあげますけど。
あっという間に飲み干してしまったので『おかわりをいただいても?』と首を傾げれば、神様は気を取り直して二杯目を注いでくださる。
だけど、相変わらず心配は続くらしい。
『てかさ、明日は朝一で追試なんじゃないの!?︎ どーするの、それまでに出られなかったら』
『あ、シナモンスティックはございまして? あと蜂蜜も欲しいですわ』
『あるけどさぁ!!︎』
これまたドンッと置かれた蜂蜜をカップに注ぎ、いつの間にかソーサーに備え付けられている茶色いスティックでそっと混ぜる。そして優雅に香りと甘みを楽しんでいると、神様が大きな嘆息をしながら対面の椅子に座った。
『......嘘つき』
『あら、何がですの?』
本当に嘘吐きと言われる心当たりはございませんわ。小首を傾げれば、神様は横を向きながら頬杖をつく。
『寂しくなかったのは、その子がいたからでしよ?』
その子......該当するといえば、机の上に置いてあるぬいぐるみのことかしら。
サザンジール殿下の落とした不細工なぬいぐるみである。縫直しすらぐちゃぐちゃの、良く言えば手作り感満載の子ですわ。
こんなの......と逡巡してから、わたくしは敢えてその子を抱きしめる。
『嫉妬ですの?』
『違うから! もう、どうしてきみは......嫉妬されたいの!?』
しれっと応えて見せると、地団駄を踏んでいた神様がピタッと止まる。
......これを繰り返すのも面白いんですけどね、気になることがございますの。
『しかし神様。さすがに物に嫉妬とは可愛すぎるのではなくて?』
『今の論点はそこではありません』
『だって、それはきみの大切な思い出の品だろう?』
『サザンジール殿下の忘れ物ですわよ?』
『だから、きみが小さい頃にプレゼントしたものだろう?』
......え?
何かにつままれたような顔をする神様は――あぁ、この方。金色の瞳をしてましたのね。一番星のようで、本当に綺麗で。だけど見惚れる余裕を、彼はくださらなかった。
『え、覚えてないの?』
--6 days remaining.
Without a hitch, I was bullied yesterday.
That day, I was doing fine as well. My study sessions with His Highness Sazanjill would end that morning. Because of him, I was having an easier time reviewing my lesson afterwards. Regardless, that still wouldn't guarantee me a good score. As such, I decided to go home early that day and study quietly.
As I was thinking that.
"...This is a problem."
In a dimly-lit, closed, room, I was at a loss.
I was trapped. After class, my teacher asked me to help her carry her bags. To me, it was a menial task. There was no reason I should resort to spouting an embarrassing line like, "Seriously, you're asking the duke's daughter for this kind of thing?" As a student, I obliged.
It was said that upon returning to the boarding house, they were buried in their duties with public affairs. The king appeared to be spartan. Although, that much should've been expected.
...Then, another possible source of help--
--That was right. The equipment warehouse I was trapped in was located behind the academy. There'd be no student bothering to visit that place. The equipment for club activities were in other warehouses, weren't they? I had no idea if anyone would come to that warehouse.
Of course, there was also the matter of security. However, I was sure that the one who planned this ensured there would be no security around that day. At least, if it was me, I'd plan with that much forethought.
That was why--
"--Yep, I'm stuck."
It seemed that I'd be spending the night in that place as it was.
--However, after relentlessly trying for about an hour, no fire was produced. It seemed that only experts could light a fire with such a tool.
While doing so, the sun went down. It was getting darker and darker. Even if I tried to study, I would barely be able to see a thing. I had no choice but to sleep.
"...But I might catch a cold again--"
When I hugged my bag, wishing that it'd keep me warm--
"--My, I have a pretty friend."
I wasn't able to return it.
Looking at the item reminded me of the day I had requested the annulment of my engagement. I felt awkward.
After burying my nose in the clumsily-made stuffed rabbit for a long time, I embraced it tightly.
"Won't you sleep with me?"
I lied down with my bag as a pillow.
My small friend gave warmth to cheeks.
I wasn't lonely, because--
"--Hence, it comes as a surprise to me."
"No, you really should be surprised?! You're trapped! You're being confined? Imprisoned? Anyway, be more scared?!"
"You're expressive today."
Even if I were to compliment him, the god wouldn't listen to me. On the contrary, he took out a blanket from somewhere and wrapped it around me while I was on a chair. Then, he rushed to brew some hot tea.
The dream world was neither hot nor cold, but... how does this make sense?
Nevertheless, I was happy. I was grateful for the cup of tea. The scent of ginger was both tingling and pleasant. I smiled involuntarily.
"I mean, I can still meet god in my dreams?"
"Eh?"
"Because of that, there's no reason for me to feel lonely."
The god suddenly paused.
When I nodded, god regained his composure and poured me a second cup of tea.
However, he seemed more worried as usual.
"Don't you have a test tomorrow morning? If you don't get out by then--"
"Do you have any cinnamon sticks? I also want some honey..."
"I do--more importantly!"
I poured some honey into the cup. Afterwards, I gently mixed it with a cinnamon stick. While gracefully enjoying the scent and sweetness, god exhaled a loud sigh.
"...Liar."
"What are you talking about?"
I didn't really think that I was a liar. God puffed his cheeks.
"You aren't lonely because you have that child, right?"
That child... Speaking of which, I wondered why that stuffed animal had been placed on the desk.
It was an ugly stuffed animal left there by His Highness Sazanjill. It was a cluttered stuffed doll that had its eyes resewn. To word it better, it... totally seemed handmade.
I dared hug the stuffed animal.
"Are you perhaps jealous?"
"That's not it! Why would I be jealous?"
When I responded as such, god suddenly stopped moving.
...It was quite interesting. I wanted to repeat my sentence, but there were times when even I got curious.
"For a god like you to be jealous of such a thing, aren't you adorable?"
"--That's not the issue."
"It's one of your precious memories, isn't it?"
"What? Isn't this merely something His Highness Sazanjill forgot?"
"Wasn't it a gift you gave him back when you were children?"
...What?
I could only stare at the god. He seemed as if he was being pinched by something. Right, he had golden eyes. They were as mesmerizing as the evening's first star. Regardless, I couldn't afford to swoon at the moment.
"Y, you don't remember?"
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