燭台の灯りだけが頼りの暗い廊下が続く。真っ先に疑問の声を上げたのはドニだった。
「おっかしいなあ。外から見た時はこんな造りじゃなかったのに......」
「魔王様の魔法ってやつじゃねーの。どっちが正しいのかなんて考えてもわかんねーよ」
やがて両開きの扉がもう一つ現れた。それも、ひとりでに開く。
足を踏み入れた瞬間、あまりの明るさに目をつぶった。
大理石の床に銀のシャンデリアが煌めき、光を反射する。首を上げなければ見えない高い天井には、硝子の薔薇窓が彩られていた。雨に打たれているらしく、音が聞こえる。右も左も贅沢に広い白亜の空間に、天鵞絨の絨毯がまっすぐ玉座まで続く。
王の間だ。
エルメイア皇国の王城にも劣らぬその場所に、アイリーンの背筋が伸びる。
たった一人、玉座に腰掛けているのはクロードだった。足を組み、頬杖を突いて長い睫毛を伏せている。
「クロード様。客人をお連れしました」
キースの声に、クロードが瞼を持ち上げる。
紅玉のような深い赤の瞳が、すべてを睥睨した。
「......あれが、魔王、か」
小さくアイザックが呟く。
最後尾から抜け出たキースがクロードの玉座の左側に立つ。同時に硝子の天井をすり抜け、翼を広げたベルゼビュートが玉座の右側に降り立った。
魔王と、その双璧だ。はっきりとそれを指し示される。
(......。ベルゼビュート様の登場の仕方がわりと普通だったわ)
クロードが止めたのだとしたら有り難い。クロードと同じく人外じみた美しさを持つベルゼビュートも黙って立っていれば、大変に威圧感がある。
「貴君らに望むのは一つ。魔物達を傷つけない、その生活を脅かさないことだ」
頬杖を突いた体勢のまま、胡乱気にクロードが口を開いた。
「ここが結界内である以上、大体の行動は僕に筒抜けになる。意識して見る、聞くをしなければ分からないことだが、逆にそうしようと思えばいくらでもできる――ということを忘れずにいることだ。キース」
「はいはい。報酬についてはアイリーン様が提示した通り、お支払い致します。まさかの幻とかじゃないので、そこは安心してくださいね」
「えーっと......いいですか。あの、城の修繕って僕聞いたんですけど、どこを直せば?」
アイザックの後ろからドニが顔だけ出す。クロードはぱちんと指を鳴らした。途端に白亜の王座が消え去り、アイリーンが見慣れたうらぶれた王座が現れる。
「へ? あれっ」
「わわわわ、雨! 雨が!」
「――ということだ。雨に降られたくないだろう。直すところは山ほどある」
もう一度指を鳴らして、クロードが空間を元に戻した。要は魔力で作った空間だと説明したのだろう。
一瞬だけ雨に打たれてしまった全員が、情けない顔になる。リュックが手の雫を払った。
「うーん......これは、お気遣い感謝しますって言うべきなのかなあ......?」
「......。天候が荒れると、植物が育てにくい......」
「それについては努力してもらうしかない。できるだけ荒らさないよう、僕も努力はするが」
そう言ってクロードは手を横に払った。その瞬間に、全員の水気が飛ぶ。乾いてしまった上着を見ながら、アイザックが呟く。
「すげぇ......魔法だよな、これ......便利すぎる」
「僕からはそれくらいだ。何か質問は?」
「あ、はい! どんな城を作ればいいですか!」
建築のことになると怖い者知らずになるドニが、目をきらきらさせながら尋ねた。
「好きに――」
「お待ちになってクロード様。ドニに好きにしろと言ったら本当に好きにされますわよ」
「あっハイ、好きにしていいなら!」
アイリーンの忠告をきちんと聞き届けたらしく、クロードは少し考える仕草をした。
「......。できるなら、魔物がすごしやすいよう頼む」
ドニが目をまん丸にした後、両腕を組んだ。
「魔物......魔物ですか......うーん......魔物から話って聞けるんですかね......」
「ベルゼビュート。訳してやれ」
「承知した、王」
「細かいところはキースに聞けばいい。何かあれば随時、僕が判断する。では、僕は失礼する」
そう言ってクロードが王座から立ち上がった。アイリーンは眉をひそめて声をかける。
「クロード様。どこか体のお加減でも悪いのですか?」
「......どういう意味だ?」
「クロード様は無表情で無駄口を叩かないのはいつものことですし、きちんと立場をわきまえてらっしゃるので、人前だとこういう演出をなさるのは分かるのですけれど......いつもよりぴりぴりしてらっしゃいません? 雨もどんどんひどくなっているような......」
憂鬱なクロードの気分を表しているようだ。気になって仕方ない。
「何かご不満があるなら言って下さいませ。善処致しますわ」
「......。特に善処してもらうことはないが。そうだな、質問なら一つある」
「なんでしょう」
「君はその面子を引き連れて成功して、本当にセドリックが喜ぶと思ったのか」
思いもよらない質問に、きょとんとしてしまった。
(......セドリック様? どうして今、セドリック様?)
わけが分からない。アイリーンの反応を見こしていたのか、クロードは返事より先に口を開いた。
「......まあ、それでもセドリックのやりようを肯定できるわけではないが」
「仰りたいことはなんですの。はっきりしてくださいませ。あなたはセドリック様とは違うでしょう」
アイリーンの強い口調に、クロードはほんの少し瞠目した。その後で、真顔に戻る。
「平民になるかもしれないというのはなんだ?」
今度はアイリーンが瞠目する番だった。
「......。その話を、どこから」
「先程も言ったが結界内の話は聞こうと思えば聞ける。そこの男に話していただろう」
しまった。初歩的なミスを痛感しながら、アイリーンはうつむく。
「......だって、クロード様を飼うと啖呵を切って夜会にお誘いしたのに、自分が公爵令嬢ではなくなるかもしれないなんて、恥ずかしいじゃありませんか」
「......。そんな理由で?」
「そんな、ですって? クロード様、平民がどれだけお洒落ができないか分かりませんの!」
頭にきてアイリーンは美貌の魔王を睨め付ける。
クロードはたじろいだようだったが、それでもその美しさも気品も失われない。それに余計腹が立った。
「平民になったらこんな質素なワンピース一つ着られなくなりますのよ! そりゃクロード様なら、ぼろを着てても全裸でも美形なので気にならないでしょうけれど!」
「......いや、全裸はさすがに......」
「クロード様、そこに突っ込まなくていいです今は」
「わたくしが今クロード様の前で堂々とできるのは、高いドレスと化粧品と身分で武装してるからでしてよ! 普通の女性だったら、あなたの横に立つなんて死んだってごめんです! 公爵令嬢で綺麗に着飾っているから、あなたを誘えるんです! お分かり!?」
まくしたてた後も、クロードはしばらく黙っていた。肩で息をしながら、アイリーンはにらみ続ける。
「......僕は、約束は守る。君がどんな立場でも」
やっと口を開いたクロードの赤い瞳が、真摯にアイリーンを見つめる。
「それに、君が公爵令嬢でもそうではなくなっても、何も変わらないと思うが」
お約束の言葉だ。世の中はそんなにうまくいかない。
なのに、妙な動悸がした。クロードの眼差しが痛い。
「ですよねぇ。むしろ全裸とかおいし――べるべびゅーほはん、はひふるんへふか」
「王がお前に殺意を向けられた。よく分からないが、王の希望だ。死ね」
「口を塞ぐだけでいい、ベル。......では僕は失礼する」
「ちょっと待ってください。結局、クロード様はどうして機嫌が悪かったんですの」
そこが解決していない。なのに、クロードはふっと唇を綻ばせた。
「さあ? 僕もよく分からない」
言い返そうとしたらクロードの姿が消えた。同時に、白亜の王座も消えてなくなる。
「なん、ですの......一体......」
「いやいや、いいんじゃないですか。機嫌直ったみたいですよ、クロード様」
そう言ってキースが空を指さす。そこには雨空ではない、晴天が戻っていた。
The endless dark corridor was illuminated by some mere candlesticks. The one who first raised his suspicion was Donny.
[This is so weird. It didn't have this kind of structure when I saw it from outside......] 
[Maybe it's the Demon King-sama's magic? I don't know which one is right anymore] 
Soon, another double-leaf door appeared. Even that door was opened by itself.
The moment they stepped inside, they closed their eyes from the excessive brightness.
The marble floor reflected the light from the sparkling silver chandelier. The high ceiling that one will not get to see without looking up was adorned by a gla.s.s porthole. It sounded like the ceiling was being hit by rain. Right and left, the wide white-walled s.p.a.ce was filled with extravagance; the seemingly endless velvet carpet was placed on a straight path to the throne.
It was the King's s.p.a.ce.
Even Elmeier Kingdom's Imperial Castle was inferior to this place; Irene straightened her back.
The only one who sat on the throne was Claude. His legs were crossed while he propped himself up by resting his chin on top of his hand. His long eyelashes were lowered.
[Claude-sama. I brought the guests in] 
At Keith's voice, Claude lifted up his eyelids.
His pair of profound ruby-like red eyes was lording over everything.
[......So that's the Demon King?] 
Isaac muttered softly.
Keith walked out from the end of the line and stood at the left side of Claude's throne. At the same time, Beelzebub made his way down through the gla.s.s ceiling with his wings spread open, and then, stood at the right side of the throne.
It's the Demon King and his two greatest authorities. It was something that was being clearly pointed out.
(....... Beelzebub-sama's entrance was quite normal than usual)
If Claude-sama did stop him from making a grand entrance, then I'm grateful. There was an enormous sense of intimidation when Beelzebub silently stood next to Claude who similarly possessed extraordinary beauty.
[I only have one wish from all of you. Don't hurt the monsters; or, in other words, do not threaten their life] 
While still maintaining his position in the throne despite the questionable atmosphere, Claude spoke.
[Since this is inside of the barrier, everyone general movement will be leaked out to me. (1) I will not know anything if I don't consciously look for and hear, but conversely if I had thought of doing those, I can do whatever I want----Remember that. Keith] 
[Yesyes. Regarding the remuneration, everyone will be paid according to what Irene-sama had suggested. All of you can rest a.s.sured that it won't be an illusion or something] 
[Umm......Can I say something? Umm, we came here to repair the castle, but which part of this castle that needs repairment?] 
Donny only showed his face from behind Isaac. Claude snapped his fingers. As soon as he did that, the white-walled throne room disappeared, and the shabby throne that Irene was familiar with appeared.
[Heh? Eh?] 
[Woahwoahwoahwoah, rain! The rain is!] 
[----So, there you have it. You don't want the rain to pour down on you, right? There are a great number of things that you have to fix] 
When Claude snapped his fingers again, the s.p.a.ce returned back to what it was before. In short, he probably wanted to explain the situation by creating a s.p.a.ce using magic.
Everyone who was instantly drenched by the rain made a miserable face. Luc wiped away the drop of liquid by using his hand.
[U~m......I wonder if I should say thank you for your consideration here......?] 
[....... If the weather is bad, then it'll be difficult to raise the plants......] 
[We have no choice but to put in more effort regarding that. I as well shall put in more effort to make sure they are not going to be destroyed as much as possible] 
While they were having a mini-discussion between them, Claude swept his hand sideways.  At that moment, the dampness on everyone vanished. Isaac muttered while looking at his dried jacket.
[Awesome......This is magic, isn't it?......It's too convenient] 
[That's all from us. Do you have any questions?] 
[Ah, yes! What kind of castle should I make?!] 
As someone who is fearless when it comes to architecture, Donny's eyes were sparkling while he was asking the question.
[Whatever you plea----] 
[Please wait a moment, Claude-sama. If you tell Donny to do as he pleases, he'll truly do whatever he likes] 
[Ah, yes, if I can do as I please, then!] 
Claude made a gesture as if acknowledging that he will properly think about Irene's warning.
[....... If possible, ask the monsters of what will they be comfortable about] 
After rounding his eyes, Donny crossed his arms.
[Monsters......Monsters, is it?......U~n......I'll ask the monsters for their preferences......] 
[Beelzebub. Be their interpreter] 
[Understood, King] 
[You can ask Keith for minor details. If something happens, I'll make the decision as needed. Then, excuse me] 
Done with his instruction, Claude stood up from the throne. Irene knitted her eyebrows and called out to him.
[Claude-sama. Do you feel any discomfort within your body?] 
[......What do you mean?] 
[Claude-sama was expressionless and didn't do any idle talk as usual.  Because you properly understand your own position, I understand why you stage this kind of thing in public, but......aren't you being tense more than usual? And I had a feeling that even the rain is gradually becoming worse......] 
It's like watching Claude's depressed feeling. I can't help but feel bothered by it.
[Please tell me If you have any complaints. I'll deal with the situation properly] 
[....... But, I have no particular situation that needs to be dealt with. Oh right. I do, however, have one question] 
[What is it?] 
[Do you think that Cedric will truly be pleased if you succeeded on regaining your honor back?] 
Towards his unexpected question, she ended up staring at him in puzzlement.
(......Cedric-sama? Why is he mentioning Cedric-sama now?)
She didn't understand. Maybe Claude had expected Irene's response, so rather than hearing her answer, he said something first.
[......Well, nevertheless, Cedric's way of doing something isn't something that I can give my affirmation to] 
[What is it that you want to say? Please be clear about it. You and Cedric-sama is different, right?] 
Claude gazed at Irene in just a little wonderment at her strong tone. After that, the serious look on his face returned.
[Then, what is it about you probably becoming a commoner?] 
This time, it's Irene turn to gaze at him in wonderment.
[....... That story, from where did you] 
[I told you not long ago, but if I had a thought to listen to a story inside this barrier, I can listen to it. You had that conversation with that man over there, right?] 
G.o.dd.a.m.nit. While fully realizing her elementary mistake, Irene casted her eyes downward.
[......I mean, isn't it embarra.s.sing that even though I spoke sharply and declared to keep you and invited you to the evening party, I'll probably no longer be the Duke's Daughter?] 
[....... Just for that reason?] 
[Just for that reason, you said? Claude-sama don't know how unfas.h.i.+onable a commoner can be!] 
Mad, Irene glowered at the Demon King's beautiful face.
It seems like Claude was flinching, but still, he didn't lose his beauty and his elegance.
[If I become a commoner, I won't be able to wear any of this modest one-piece dress! But if it's Claude-sama, even if you wear rag or your birthday suit, I'm sure you won't mind because you're a beauty!] 
[......No, being naked is still......] 
[Claude-sama, you don't have to tsukkomi (2) about what she said just now] 
[Right now, I can be brazen in front of Claude-sama because I'm armed with expensive dress, cosmetics, and social status!If I was to be an ordinary lady, I'd rather die than stand next to you!I was able to invite you to the party because I am still a beautifully dressed up duke's daughter!Do you understand!?] 
Claude stayed silent for a moment even after Irene finished rambling. While breathing heavily, Irene continued to glower at him.
[......I will keep my promise. No matter what your position is] 
At last, Claude spoke and his pair of red eyes was gazing on Irene sincerely.
[Moreover, I think nothing will change even if you're the duke's daughter or  not] 
It was a promise. In this society, things won't go as smoothly as that.
And yet, there's a strange throbbing inside my heart. Claude's gaze seemed to pierce me.
[Of course, right. Rather being naked was----Felzebob-shan, vat ayu zuin?] (3)
[Our king directed his murderous intent towards you. I don't really understand why, but it's the King's wish. Die] 
[You just have to cover his mouth, Bel.......Then, I shall excuse myself] 
[Please wait a minute. In the end, why did Claude-sama is in such a bad mood?] 
There's no solution to whatever his problem was. And yet, Claude was suddenly smiling broadly.
[Who knows? I don't quite understand as well] 
Even if she wanted Claude to repeat what he had said, his figure had already disappeared. At the same time, the white-walled throne room began to disappear as well.
[What the heck......is it......] 
[Wellwell, isn't it fine? It seems like Claude-sama is in a better mood now] 
As he said that, Keith pointed at the sky. The rainy sky had turned sunny.
Villainous Daughter Aims for the Last Boss
悪役令嬢なのでラスボスを飼ってみました
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/villainous-daughter-aims-for-the-last-boss/
Drama Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Bloodlines Broken Engagement Business Management Businessmen Calm Protagonist Demon Lord Demons Female Protagonist Handsome Male Lead Hated Protagonist Kuudere Multiple Reincarnated Individuals Nobles Otome Game Politics Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Saints Sword And Magic Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2766dz/
永瀬さらさ