7
青年は飛び込んできた私を危なげなく抱きとめると、私を抱えたまま素早く走り始めた。
「待って...ラリー様と、せんせ、が」
うまく声が出ない。顔を伝う雨が口に入った。思えば両手足にもちゃんと力が入らない。
が何なのかは知らないが、お前に魔法をかけるためかなり消耗していた。間も無くあの形を留められなくなって消えるだろう。それよりお前をあれから引き離すことのほうが重要だ」
魔法をかけられていたのか。頭に触れられた時からだろうか。道理で。
右手をぐ、ぱーと動かしてみる。上手くできない。体も先程からぞくぞくしたままで震えが止まらない。
明らかに体が異常を訴えているのに、私はその実ひどく安心していた。抑揚のない低い声がちゃんと全部を説明してくれるからか。それかこの人の体が温かいからかな。
「あったかい...」
青年は私にちらりと目をやった。
「...体温が下がっているな」
少しして彼は止まった。そこは大きな木の
彼が私を抱えたまま中に入る。やっと雨から逃れられて嬉しかった。
「ここは学園でも有名だ。『薬草の森の巨大樹のうろ』」
ごおと音がして体が温風に包まれた。みるみる体と服が乾いていく。炎魔法と風魔法の合わせなのだろう、器用なことだ。
それでも寒気は消えない。
「...『魔力当て』を強制的に起こさせられているように見える。俺の魔力で中和する。悪いがもう少しこの体勢で我慢してくれ」
そういうと彼は私を抱え直した。膝の間に私を座らせ、手はゆるく背中をさすってくれる。
すると彼に触れている場所から優しく何がが染み込んできた。それは私の体を包み、じわじわ温めて、冷たい何かを取り払っていく。
しかも彼は何だか落ち着くことができる良い匂いがして、そうなるともう体から力が抜けてしまう。
我慢なんてとんでもない。あったかいしきもちいいしさいこう。
彼は私の様子を見て「魔力の相性が良かったか」と呟いた。私は余裕が出てきて、試しに顔を上げてその顔を正面から覗き込んだ。随分と至近距離だが、相手も目を逸らさない。
先程、うす暗い上に濡れていてよくわからなかった髪は今、輝かんばかりの金だとわかる。恐ろしく整った顔立ち。あまり感情がのらないせいで、ともすれば『無愛想』とも言われるだろう。それでもやはり目にとまるのは群青の瞳。きっと深海よりも深い青だ。そこには確かに私への心配が見て取れる。そのせいなのか、表情の乏しい彼のことを『冷たい』などとは間違っても思わない。仏頂面だとは思うけど。
この美貌に、鷲とくればまず間違いない。
「ルウェイン、殿下?」
「その通りだ、婚約者。初めまして」
私を見つめる目元が、少しだけ柔らかくなるのを見た。
「殿下は...よく、私がわかりましたね」
「お前のことは前からよく見てい...あ。何でもない」
「どういうことですか」
どういうことだ。『初めまして』ではなかったのか。
殿下は口が滑ったみたいな顔をした。実際口が滑ったのだろう。
「そういう魔法がある...それはいい。それより、今まで会いに行かなくて悪かった」
いやよくないと言いかけてやめた。殿下の目が真剣だったからだ。
「王太子の仕事を二週間分先に終わらせられれば会いに行かせてやると父に言われていた。だが式典やらパーティやら、そもそも二週間予定が空くことがなかった」
驚いて息を呑んだ。
殿下には私と婚約を続けようという意志がある?これはシナリオと違う。この人は、シナリオと違う。
「『春』開始から魔法と幻獣を使ってずっとお前を探していた。かなり遠かったが見つけられてよかった」
殿下はそう言って、冷たく見える美貌にまたもや何か柔らかい感情を乗せた。私の心臓がよくわからない音を立てる。
「ありがとう、ございます。助けてくださって。見つけてくださって」
そう伝えたら、殿下が少し嬉しそうな顔をしたように思えるのは、私の気のせいなのか。
それより、と思考を振り払う。今は『春』だ。
「殿下、私はヒントの人間です。あと先ほど偽者を見破ってこれを頂きました」
スカートのポケットから小箱を取り出す。この中に閉じ込めてある魔法が何なのかは、攻略本で知っていた。
「ああ、『転送』か。その様子だとヒントの内容も知っているな」
こくりと頷いた。
殿下もご存知なんですねと口にすると、お前を探す途中で襲ってきた人間を20人程
「そろそろ回復したか。それを使ってもう行け。俺は自分で行く」
殿下は私と今から別行動を取るつもりらしい。「助けてくれたのだから一緒に」と言いかけたところで、ふと疑問を感じた。
「殿下はなぜ私を探されていたのですか?」
そのとき――殿下の手が私の髪に触れた。触り心地を確かめるように撫でられ、毛先を指に巻きつけて弄ばれる。
「――――会いたかった。少しでも早く」
殿下は何だか満足そうに笑って一人で外へ出た。残された私は、ぴしりと硬直したまま、ぎぎぎ、と首だけで殿下の方を振り向いた。
雨は止み始め木々の合間から久しく見なかった日の光が漏れている。
私を背にかばうように立った殿下が全身に魔力を行き渡らせたとき、複数の人間に取り囲まれていることにやっと気がついた。私がヒントの人間であるせいか、殿下が三強であるせいか。
「行け。まだ開始から1時間も経っていない。今ならかなりの高順位が狙える」
否とは言えなかった。私は彼の足手まといにしかならないからだ。もし一緒に行こうと行っても、彼は頷いてくれないに違いない。
「また、会えますか」
すみませんでもありがとうございますでもなく、そんな言葉が口をついて出た。
でも間違いではなかったのだろう。振り返った殿下は今までで一番優しい顔をしていたから。
彼の言葉にしっかり頷いてから箱を開いた。
偽者を見破ったことで教師から得られる魔法、それは『転送』。半径2キロ以内の任意の場所に飛ぶことができる強力な魔法だ。難易度の高さゆえに生徒たちは使えないので、大きなアドバンテージになる。
半径2キロ以内に男子寮があることを祈りつつ、『男子寮の東の外装の飾りに最も近い場所』と念じた。
目まぐるしく世界が変わる感覚がしても今度は最後まで目を瞑らなかった。私を庇って立つ殿下の背中を、少しでも長く目に焼き付けていたいと思ったのだ。
Ch 7
The young man leapt in and embraced me without hesitation, then quickly began running while still holding me.
"Wait... Larry-sama and... Sen-se...," I stammered.
My voice wouldn't come out properly. Rain was getting in my mouth. I couldn't even move my arms and legs properly.
"It's okay. I don't know what that was, but it looks like it used up a lot of magic to cast on you. It'll probably disappear soon because it can't maintain that form for much longer. More importantly, we need to get you away from there."
So I had been under the effect of magic. It must have been when he touched my head. That makes sense.
I tried to move my right hand, but I couldn't do it well. My body was still trembling and I couldn't stop it.
Even though my body was clearly telling me something was wrong, I felt incredibly relieved. Maybe it was because the low, monotone voice explained everything so clearly, or maybe it was because this person's body was warm.
"It's warm..." I murmured.
The young man gave me a quick glance.
"...Your body temperature is dropping," he said.
After a moment, he stopped. We were in front of a large tree hollow. It was the perfect size for the both of us.
He carried me inside, and I was finally able to escape the rain. I was relieved.
"This is the famous [herb forest's giant tree hollow] at the Academy," he said.
A sound of warmth echoed and my body was enveloped in warm air. My body and clothes began to dry quickly. It must be a combination of fire magic and wind magic, it's quite skillful.
Even so, the coldness did not disappear.
"... it looks like you're being forced to use [magic]. I'll neutralize it with my magic. Sorry, but please bear with this position for a bit longer."
With that, he embraced me again. He sat me on his lap, his hands lightly stroking my back.
Then, from the places where he was touching me, something gentle began to seep in. It enveloped my body, slowly warming it and driving away the coldness.
Plus, he had a really calming smell about him and when that happened, I could no longer keep my strength.
Enduring is out of the question. It's warm and feels good.
He looked at me and muttered, "Our magic is compatible, huh." I relaxed and, trying something, looked up to face him directly. We were quite close but he didn't look away either.
The hair that was damp and hard to make out in the dim light is now clear to see as shining gold. A face that is frighteningly well-shaped. Due to a lack of emotion, one might call him unfriendly, but still, what catches the eye is his deep blue eyes. Surely deeper than the deep sea. In them, one can definitely see worry for me. Is that why I don't think of him as cold, despite his expressionless face? I think he has a pouty face.
With these good looks and an eagle, there is no doubt about it.
"Llewayne, Your Highness?"
"That's right, my fiance. Nice to meet you."
I saw that his gaze towards me softened a little.
"Your Highness... well, I understand why now."
"I've been keeping an eye on you for a while... ah, it's nothing."
"What do you mean?"
What does he mean? Wasn't this the first time we met?
The crown prince had a slip of the tongue kind of face. He probably really did slip up.
"There's magic like that... that's good. More importantly, I'm sorry I couldn't come and see you before."
He started to say it's not good, but stopped. That's because the crown prince's eyes were serious.
"If I could finish the crown prince's work two weeks early, I was told by my father that I could come and see you. But with ceremonies and parties, and in general, there was never a two-week gap in my schedule."
I was surprised and took a deep breath.
Does His Highness have the intention to continue our engagement? This is different from the scenario. This person, is different from the scenario.
"[Spring], I've been using magic and the Phantom Beast to search for you since the beginning. I'm glad I finally found you, even though it was quite far."
Your Highness said that, and once again put some soft emotion on his cold-looking beauty. My heart makes a sound I don't understand.
"Thank you, for your help. For finding me."
When I said that, it seemed like His Highness had a slightly happy face, but maybe it's just my imagination.
Anyway, I shake off that thought. Right now it's [Spring].
"Your Highness, I am a human hint. And just now, I discovered a fake and received this."
I take a small box out of my skirt pocket. I knew what the magic sealed inside it based on the strategy book.
"Ah, [Transfer], is it? From the look of it, you also know the contents of the clue."
I nod.
His Highness says, "So I already know that while searching for you, I defeated about 20 humans who attacked you. And among them, there was a hint." Apparently, when it comes to the three strongest, the rivalry is fierce.
"You've recovered by now. Use that and go. I'll go on my own."
It seems that His Highness plans to take separate action from me now. I began to question him as I started to say "Since you helped me, let's go together," but then I felt a doubt.
"Why were you looking for me, Your Highness?"
At that moment, His Highness's hand touched my hair. He stroked it as if to confirm the feeling, and twined the ends of my hair around his finger.
"----I wanted to see you. As soon as possible."
His Highness looked satisfied as he smiled and left by himself. I was left behind, still stiff and staring at His Highness's back with my head only.
The rain had stopped and the light of the sun that I hadn't seen in a long time was leaking through the gaps between the trees.
When His Highness, who was standing with his back to me as if protecting me, let his magic spread throughout his body, I finally noticed that we were surrounded by multiple people. Because I was a hint of a human, or because he was one of the Three Strong.
"Go. It's only been an hour since it started. You can aim for a high rank now."
I couldn't say no. Because I would only be a liability to him.. Even if I try to go together with him, he wouldn't nod.
"Can I see you again?"
I didn't say thank you or I'm sorry, but those words came out of my mouth.
But it wasn't a mistake. Because His Highness, who turned around, had the kindest face he had ever had.
I firmly nodded to his words and then opened the box.
The magic that can be obtained from the teacher by seeing through the imposter is [Transfer]. It is a powerful magic that can fly to any location within a radius of 2 kilometers. Because of its high difficulty, students cannot use it, making it a big advantage.
While hoping that there was a boys' dormitory within a radius of 2 kilometers, I thought of [the place closest to the exterior decoration of the east side of the boys' dormitory].
Although the sensation of the world changing rapidly was still there, I did not close my eyes this time. I wanted to burn into my memory the back of His Highness who was protecting me for as long as possible.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈