13
リリアの魔法の成績は、中の上、もしくは上の下、といったところだ。悪くはない成績なのだが、身内にいる比較対象が悪かった。リリアの母、アーシャは数多くの魔法を生み出している。当然ながら学園での魔法の成績も常にトップだったらしい。そんな母を持つが故に、いつも誰かに比べられていた。
アーシャ様ならこんなものはすぐに理解するのに。
アーシャ様ならこの程度の魔法陣、何も見ずとも書けるのに。
アーシャ様なら。アーシャ様なら。お母様なら。
それに比べてリリアーヌ様は。それに比べて、私は......。
「リリア様」
アリサの呼びかけに、リリアははっと我に返った。見ると、アリサが心配そうにこちらの顔をのぞき込んでいた。
「大丈夫ですか? どこかお体の調子が悪いのでは......」
リリアは首を振って苦笑する。
「大丈夫よ。アリサ、私に魔法を教えてくれる?」
アリサは何度か目を瞬かせると、すぐにどこか嬉しそうに頷いた。
さくらはアリサの講義を、リリアを通して聞いていた。リリアは基礎はできているので、応用に関することが多い。それを聞きながら、さくらはここに来る前に聞いた話の一部を思い出していた。魔法に関することを。
この世界の魔法は、小説やゲームによくある万能なものではない。この世界の魔法とは、世界を構成する要素の一つである精霊と対話し、契約を交わし、力を行使するための魔法陣を用意して行うことができるものだ。精霊たちは全ての魔法に一つ一つ、力を貸し与えるための条件をつけている。それが一つでも守られていなければ、魔法陣を用意しても無駄になる。
この世界に魔力という概念は存在せず、あるのは精霊と対話できる才能と、魔法陣を書くことができる知識量のみ。知識さえあれば万人が使うことができる。それがこの世界の魔法だ。
精霊との対話も魔法陣を作るために必要なものであり、魔法の行使そのものには必要ない。ある意味では実にお手軽なものだ。
「いいなあ......」
さくらはリリアを通してアリサの説明を聞く。興味深そうに。羨ましそうに。
「私も使ってみたいなあ......」
魔法陣さえ用意すれば誰でも使える。そのなんと素晴らしいことか。それなら間違いなく、自分でも使えるのだから。
アリサが何かの本を開き、それに載っている魔法陣を一つずつ説明していく。リリアはただ説明を聞いているだけのようだったが、さくらはその魔法陣を食い入るように見つめ、その全てを頭に叩き込んでいく。
「いつか使えたらいいな」
楽しそうなその言葉を、人が見たら底冷えするだろう冷たい笑顔で呟いた。
太陽が沈み、街がゆっくりと眠りにつき始めた頃、ようやくリリアは目の前の本を閉じた。対面に座るアリサは、己の主人の前だというのに机に突っ伏してぐったりとしている。リリアは怒ることはせず、仕方がないなと苦笑するだけだった。
「アリサ。そろそろ夕食にしましょう」
「はい......。食堂で......何かもらってきます......」
立ち上がり、覚束ない足取りで扉へと向かう。リリアはそんなアリサの背中を心配そうに見つめていたが。特に何も言うでもなく出て行くまで見送った。テーブルの上に置かれている小さな時計を見て、リリアは首を傾げた。まだこんな時間か、と。
「情けないわね。この程度で疲れてしまうなんて」
――あはは。いい感じで感覚が狂ってきたね! 普通の人なら六時間も休憩なしに勉強をしていたら疲れるよ。
――ちょっと待ちなさい。まるで私が普通じゃないみたいじゃない。それにそもそも、貴方が発端でしょうに。
――何の話かな?
楽しげなさくらの声に、リリアはこめかみを押さえながらため息をついた。
屋敷でのリリアの生活は、朝早くに起床、その後は食事や風呂など以外は全て勉強というものだった。少なくとも十二時間以上は毎日勉強していたことになる。当初はリリアも一日の終わりの頃には疲れ果てていたものだが、三日程度で慣れ始め、今では苦にもなっていない。
――リリアは勉強は嫌いじゃないんだよ。だからすぐに慣れるし、続けられる。
――誰も嫌いだなんて一言も言ったことないけど。
――............。そう言えばそうでした。
これも知識違いか、とさくらの小声が聞こえたが、一先ず気にしないことにした。
それからしばらくして、アリサと、もう一人、メイド服姿の女が料理を運んでくる。学校に雇われている使用人の一人で、特定の主を持たず、この寮に住む全員の世話をしている。当然ながら一人ではないし、リリアたちが雇っているわけでもないのでリリアたちが命令することはできない。あくまで、手伝ってほしい時に依頼する形になる。
「リリア様、お待たせしました」
アリサがリリアの目の前のテーブルに食事を並べる。並べられたものは、アルディス家の朝食と似通ったメニューだった。
「なにこれ......」
「申し訳ございません、アルディス様。このお時間になりますと、この程度のものしかご用意できませんでした」
女が深々と頭を下げる。そのままリリアの言葉を待つ。まるで、いつでも怒鳴ってくださいと言っているかのように。そして眉間にしわを寄せていたリリアも当然のように罵声を浴びせようとして、
――リリア。
さくらの声で我に返った。
――はい、深呼吸。
さくらに促されるまま、ゆっくりと息を吸って、吐き出す。そしてもう一度女へと視線を向けると、怪訝そうにしている女と目が合った。
「アルディス様?」
何も言わないリリアに不審を抱いたのか、疑わしげにリリアを見つめている。リリアはその目をしっかりと見返して、言った。
「構いません。このような時間に夕食を頼んだ私に非があります」
女が目を見開き、アリサは嬉しそうに微笑む。女は再度しっかりと頭を下げると、部屋を退室していった。
――これでいいのよね?
――ばっちりだよ! さすがはリリア、惚れちゃいそう!
――え、やだ。
――ちょっと、冗談にまじめに拒否しないでよ、へこむから......。
尻すぼみになるさくらの言葉に、リリアはわずかに口角を上げる。
「それじゃあいただきましょう。アリサはそこに座っていいわよ」
「そこって......。対面、ですか。いいのですか?」
「私がいいと言っているの」
「はい。失礼しました」
アリサは終始どこか嬉しそうだ。リリアは少しだけ不思議に思いながらも、遅めの夕食に手を伸ばした。
Haunted Duke's Daughter Chapter 13
Lilia's grades in magic could be described as above average, or rather less than great. They weren't bad per se, but it was unfortunate that her target of comparison were her relatives. Lilia's mother, Ascha, gave birth to countless new magics. As a matter of course, it seemed her grades at the academy were consistently at the top. With such a mother, Lilia was constantly being compared to her by others.
If it were Madam Ascha, she would quickly understand such a thing though.
If it were Madam Ascha, she could write a magic formation of this degree even without looking though.
If it were Madam Ascha. If it were Madam Ascha. If it were Mother.
Compared to her, Miss Lilianne is... Compared to her, I am...
"Mistress Lilia."
At Alisa's call, Lilia came back to her senses with a gasp. Alisa seemed worried as she peered over into her face.
"Are you alright? You are not feeling ill anywhere are..."
Lilia shook her head and gave a bitter smile.
"I'm alright. Alisa, will you teach me magic?"
Alisa blinked several times before happily nodding.
Sakura listened to Alisa's lecture through Lilia. Lilia's existing foundation in magic often came in handy. While listening, Sakura recalled a portion of the things she had heard before coming here. Things regarding magic.
The magic in this world was not omnipotent like those found in novels or games. What was known as magic here, was interacting with the spirits that made up a part of the world, contracting them, and making use of their powers through magic formations. For the spirits, attached to each and every magic were their specific conditions for lending out their power. Breaking even one of these requirements would render everything null, even if you had prepared the magic formation.
The idea of "Magical Power" was non-existent in this world, where ability was measured only by one's talent for interacting with the spirits and the amount of knowledge one had in writing magic formations. This was the "magic" of the world.
Conversing with spirits and magic formation creation being the requirements, the skill of actually "using" magic was not needed. It was actually quite a simple thing in a certain sense.
"How nice..."
Sakura listened through Lilia to Alisa's explanations. She listened, it seemed, with great interest and apparent envy.
"I wish I could try it out as well..."
What a wonderful thing it was, that having a magic formation prepared meant anyone could use it. In that case, without a doubt, even she herself would be able.
Alisa opened up some sort of book and proceeded to explain the magic formations contained within one by one. While Lilia seemed to simply be listening to the explanation, Sakura was staring intently at the formations as if to consume them, driving their entirety into her head.
"It would be great if I could use them one day."
Those enthusiastic words, if one were able to see her face, were muttered through a penetratingly cold smile.
With the setting sun, the streets began to quiet down into slumber, and with this, Lilia finally closed the book before her. Alisa was sitting across from her and, despite being before her own master, had fallen prostrate, limply splayed out on the table. Lilia herself was without anger, simply giving a wry smile thinking it was unavoidable.
"Alisa. It's about time, let's get some dinner."
"Yes... I will... go bring something from the dining hall..."
Getting up, she headed for the door with uneasy footsteps. Lilia watched her back with concern, silently sending her off until she finally made her exit. Glancing at the small clock placed on top of the table, she tilted her head, as if slightly taken aback by how early it still was.
"How pitiful, to be exhausted from just this much."
--Ahaha. What a luxurious confusion of common sense. For a normal person, studying without rest for six hours straight would leave them exhausted for sure.
--Wait just a minute. It's almost as if you're saying that I'm not normal. Besides, in the first place, you were the cause of all this.
--Whatever could you be talking about?
At Sakura's delighted voice, Lilia pressed her forehead as she sighed.
Lilia's life back at the mansion would start with waking up early every day and, other than meals and baths, consisted solely of studying. At least twelve hours were dedicated to studying every day. At the start, Lilia was also completely exhausted by the end of the day, but she started to get used to it after three days, so now she had no trouble at all with this lifestyle.
--Well hey, you don't exactly hate studying. That's why you grew accustomed so quickly and could continue.
--I haven't exactly expressed my dislikes in general though.
--...Now that you mention it, that is true.
Sakura whispered to herself wondering if this too was different from her previous knowledge, but for now, Lilia chose to pay it no heed.
A short while later, Alisa, accompanied by another person dressed in maid attire, brought in the meal. The maid was employed by the academy, so without any single master, she took care of all the residents living here. Naturally, she wasn't alone in her work, and they weren't employed by the residents, so students like Lilia couldn't actually give them orders. At the very most, if they required the maids' help, it would simply be more of a request.
"Mistress Lilia, thank you for waiting."
Alisa set up the meal upon the table before Lilia. Displayed on the table was a meal resembling the menu of an Aldis family breakfast.
"What is this..."
"My deepest apologies, Mistress Aldis. Since it has become this time already, what could be prepared could only amount to this much."
The woman lowered her head deeply. She remained in that position awaiting Lilia's response, as if awaiting Lilia's angry shout to erupt at any moment. And thus, with wrinkles gathering between her brows and about to shout as if it were the natural thing to do,
--Lilia.
With Sakura's voice, she calmed down.
--There, deep breaths.
With Sakura's urging, she slowly took in a breath, and let it out. Once again bringing her gaze to the woman, she met the eyes of the confused maid.
"Mistress Aldis?"
Perhaps unable to comprehend the silent Lilia, the woman stared at her with doubt in her eyes. Lilia steadily returned her gaze and spoke.
"Don't mind it. It is unreasonable of me to request dinner at a time like this."
The woman's eyes went wide, and Alisa was smiling widely. Lowering her head again, the woman departed from the room.
--Is this okay for you?
--That was perfect! As expected of Lilia, seems like I'll fall for you!
--Eh, no way.
--Hey hey, don't reject my joke so seriously, that hurts...
At Sakura's weeping reply, the corners of Lilia's mouth raised just a tad bit.
"Well then let us dig in. You should take a seat over there, Alisa."
"There as in... Facing you, is it? Is it really alright?"
"I am saying that is it alright."
"Yes. Excuse me."
Alisa seemed happy from top to bottom. While thinking it somewhat strange, she simply reached out her hands to begin her late dinner.
Haunted Duke’s Daughter
取り憑かれた公爵令嬢
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/haunted-dukes-daughter/
Comedy Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo Slice of Life Supernatural
Broken Engagement Character Growth Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Female Protagonist Friendship Hard-Working Protagonist Heartwarming Loyal Subordinates Maids Nobles Otome Game Possession Royalty Second Chance Servants Sharing A Body Sword And Magic Unrequited Love Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5708cr/
龍翠