「どういうこと、アンジェリク」
学園の中庭に呼び出されたアンジェリクは、はしばみ色の瞳をいっぱいに見開いた。
周りを囲むのは、上級貴族ばかりで作った学園でも特に目立つグループ。公爵家の第一令嬢であるアンジェリクも、不本意ながら仲間の一人に数えられている。
「私とフェリシーがシャルロットを悪く言ってるなんて、誰から聞いたのよ」
え、ふつうに廊下で言ってたよね。どちらかというと聞こえよがしに。わざと大きな声で。
アンジェリクは口には出さずに、エメリーヌの顔を見た。
フェリシーが、いかにもおろおろしながら続ける。
「シャルロットから聞いてびっくりしたわ。私たち、ちっともシャルロットのこと、嫌ってないのに」
嫌ってはいなかったかもしれないけど、すっかりバカにしてたわ。
これも口に出さずに、アンジェリクはフェリシーの顔を見た。
「私とフェリシーの靴に釘を入れたのも、あなたなんですってね」
「エメリーヌの服にインクをこぼしたのも」
「何の話?」
ほかにも誰それの何にどうしたとか、こうしたとかいう小さな事件のあれこれを、エメリーヌたちは語り続けた。
そして、それらの事件の犯人は、全てアンジェリクだったことがわかったのだと言った。
いったい何を言っているのだろう?
「もう言い逃れはできないわよ」
言い逃れも何も、どれ一つ身に覚えのないことだ。
ぽかーんと口を開けていると、フェリシーとエメリーヌがものすごい形相で睨んできた。
後ろに控えた二、三人の仲間もアンジェリクを睨んでいる。
「エルネスト様とのご婚約も、これで解消ですって」
「そうよ。人を陥れようとするような卑しい令嬢は、第二王子とは釣り合わないでしょ」
「ちょっと待って。何の話をしてるの?」
「何もご存じないのね。先日からあなたのことは、学園中の噂になってたのに」
知らない。全然、知らない。
「とうとう陛下のお耳に入って、エルネスト様からの申し出もあって、はっきり決断されたそうよ」
「ええ。今頃、モンタン公爵もカンカンに怒ってらっしゃるでしょうね」
「名門、モンタン公爵家の面汚しですわね」
おほほほほ、と笑う令嬢たちの声を聞きながら、アンジェリクは呆然となった。
「お父様......」
だが、父の立場を悪くするのは本意ではない。
(だけど......。それにしても......)
いったい何がどうしてこうなったの?
「それ、全部、濡れ衣だわ......」
アンジェリクの呟きは、令嬢たちの高笑いにかき消された。
"How could you, Angelique!"
When Angelique was called into the schoolyard, her hazel eyes widened. Her auburn hair shimmered slightly as she was surrounded by a group of young ladies.
The school's most prominent group, made up entirely of high-ranking aristocrats, surrounds her. Angelique, the Duke's first daughter, is a reluctant member.
"Who told you that Felice and I gossiped about Charlotte?!"
Well, you said it in the hallway. I think you rather wanted us to hear what you said.
Angelique looked at Emmeline without saying anything.
Felice followed, her face flushed.
"I was surprised when Charlotte told me. We didn't hate Charlotte at all!"
Maybe you didn't hate her, but you thought she was stupid. You were the one who laughed at her and looked down on her and said she would never get married because of her freckles and straight hair. But personally, I don't remember saying anything against Charlotte.
Angelique looked into Felice's face without saying anything.
"I heard that you were the one who put nails in mine and Felice's shoes!"
"You're the one who smeared ink all over Emmeline's clothes!"
"What are you talking about?"
Emmeline and the others went on to describe other minor incidents for which they claimed she was to blame, as well as who and how she did it.
They claimed to have discovered Angelique as the perpetrator of all these incidents.
What on earth are they talking about?
"You're not going to get away with this anymore."
There's no excuse, because I don't know anything about any of this.
Felice and Emmeline gave her a grim look as her mouth fell open, unable to speak.
Angelique was also watched by Felice's and Emmeline's friends, who were standing behind them.
"Fufu, I heard that your engagement to Ernest-sama has been broken off."
"Yes. A lowly lady who tries to deceive others is not a suitable match for the second prince!"
"Wait a minute. What are you talking about?"
"You have no idea? The whole school was talking about it the other day."
I don't know. I have no idea.
"His Majesty finally got wind of it and Ernest-sama voiced his opinion, after which he decided to break off the engagement."
"Fufu, yes. I'm sure the Duke of Montana is already furious."
"What an insult to the illustrious Duke of Montana."
Angelique was taken aback when she heard the ladies laugh.
"Oto-sama..."
She is not interested in her engagement to Ernest. But it is not her intention to make her father's situation worse.
Nevertheless...
What happened, and how did it happen? What exactly do you mean by "done wrong"? Am I supposed to be mean to whom?
"This is all a false accusation..."
But the ladies' laughter drowned out Angelique's mutterings.
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