12
ティナの言葉を受けてリリアが不機嫌そうな顔になると、ティナは慌てたように言い直した。
「えっと......。呼び止めてごめんね、リリア」
「よろしい。構わないわ。こうしてお友達になれたわけだしね」
そう言って微笑みかけると、ティナも照れくさそうに笑った。挨拶を交わし、部屋へと急ぐ。ずっと黙していたアリサも、当然ながら後を追ってきた。
「ご立派でした、リリア様」
ありがとう、と返事をしつつも足は動かす。その場から逃げるかのように。
――さくら。あれで良かったのよね? 変に思われてないわよね?
――今までのことを考えるとどう考えても変だよ。偽物疑惑が出てくるね!
――ふざけないで。
――つれないなあ。まあ、うん。上出来だよ。むしろ予想の斜め上をいったね、いい意味で。いきなり友達になるとは思わなかった。
リリアが足を止める。後ろのアリサも足を止めて、首を傾げながらもリリアの動きを待つ。
――ああ、大丈夫だよ。さっきも言ったけど、上出来だから。よくがんばりました。
――なら......いいわ......。
自分でもかなり急ぎすぎていたとは思う。何も今友達宣言をしなくても良かっただろう。特に今まで辛く当たっていただけに、きっとティナは今頃気味悪く思っているはずだ。そう考えると、次にどんな顔で会えばいいのか分からない。
――あの子は普通に喜んでいたと思うけどね。
さくらのその言葉は、さすがに信じることができなかった。
三階の部屋は全て同じ造りだが、そのどれもが広い部屋だ。リリアの部屋も同様であり、屋敷の自室ほどではないにしろ、快適な暮らしができるように考慮されている。広い部屋には生活に必要な家具が配置されており、そのどれにも埃一つついていない。二週間以上留守にしていたとは思えないほど、掃除が行き届いている。
この部屋の側面の壁には扉が二つあり、そこは寝室と浴室に繋がっていた。
リリアは部屋の中央に配置されているいすに腰掛けると、ゆっくりと息を吐いた。
「リリア様。私はお荷物の確認をしてきますね」
「ええ。お願い」
アリサが一礼して寝室へと向かう。リリアの荷物は前日のうちに運び込まれている。故にリリアはここまで手ぶらで来ることができた。
――さて、リリア。明日からはどうする?
さくらの声に、リリアは少し考えて、答える。
――何も深く考えることはないでしょう。学校に通うわ。
――うん。現実逃避はよくないね。王子とティナのことだよ。
う、とリリアが言葉に詰まり、視線を窓へと向ける。入ってきた扉の反対側にあるその窓からは外の景色がよく見える。しばらくそれを見つめていると、
――おーい、リリアー、帰っておいでー。
さくらの声。リリアは頬を引きつらせながら、答える。
――ちゃんと、考えてる......。
――へえ。じゃあ、王子様と会ったらどうするの?
――できるだけ避ける......。私はもう殿下のことは諦めたつもりだけど、でも実際に会ってしまったら、どうなるか分からないから......。
――まあ賢明な判断だね。で、ティナは? お友達とはどうするの? さすがに避けられないよ?
そんなことはさくらに言われずとも分かっていることだ。ティナに関しては無視するわけにもいかない。リリアから友達になろうと言った以上、避けるようなことは、自分の言葉を覆すようなことはできない。
ティナだけならいい。会って、先ほどのように話をすればいいだけだ。問題は、そうしているとほぼ間違いなく王子が出てくるだろうことか。
――ちなみに私は、この件に関してはあえて何も言わないよ。リリアのしたいようにしてみてね。
――私を......試すつもり?
――さて、どうかな。
くすくすと、楽しげに笑うさくら。リリアは重たいため息をつき、そしてすぐに気持ちを切り替えるように首を振った。
――さくら。勉強をしましょう。
――おお、リリアから言うなんて珍しい!
言葉はからかっているものだが、本当に驚いているらしい。確かにリリアは、初日以外は自分から勉強をやろうとはしていない。いつもさくらに促されている。その理由は単純で、さくらの話が難しすぎて、少し辛いと思ってしまっているためだ。
だが今日だけは、それでいいと思う。また現実逃避だと言われるかもしれないが、とにかく何かに集中したい。
――でも、今日は別の人を教師にしようか。
さくらから帰ってきた言葉はそんなものだった。予想外の提案にリリアが目を丸くする。自分にしか聞こえない声のさくらが、一体どうやって他の人に頼むというのか。
――アリサは魔法に詳しいはずだから、今日はアリサから魔法について学びましょう。はい、本人に相談する!
そう言えば、と思い出す。リリアは屋敷に戻っていた間、魔法の勉強は一切していない。さくらから他のものを学ぶようになってからも、魔法と作法だけは触れていなかった。その点、アリサはさくらが分からないものについて詳しい。まるでさくらを補うためにいるかのように。
だがそれでも、メイドから学ぶというのはどうしても避けたいものがある。リリアが難しい表情で唸っていると、
「リリア様、いかがなさいました?」
いつの間にか、目の前にアリサが立っていた。いつものメイド服に、リリアを心配そうに見つめてくる瞳。リリアは薄く苦笑すると、何でも無いと首を振った。
「アリサ。貴方は確か、魔法に詳しかったわよね?」
「え? そう、ですね......。奥様に比べると児戯のようなものですが、学園を卒業できる程度のものまでなら覚えています」
――なにこの子、実はすごいの?
――うん。もともと魔法が苦手なリリアのためにできるだけ魔法に詳しい子、てことで雇われてるから。
――初耳なんだけど。
――聞いてるはずだよ。聞くつもりがなかった頃だと思うけど。
ということは引きこもる前の話だろう。そうであるなら、確かに興味のないことはほとんど聞き流していたと思う。
――私は魔法が苦手、ということでもなかったけど。
――よく言うよ。いつもお母さんと比べられて、お母さんほどできない自分に自己嫌悪していたくせに。
――............。
Haunted Duke's Daughter Chapter 12
When Lilia face showed displeasure at hearing her words, Tina fl.u.s.teredly corrected herself.
"Uhmm... Sorry for keeping you, Lilia."
"Very good. I do not mind. Since with this we managed to become friends after all."
Saying so with a smile, Tina also gave an embarra.s.sed laugh. Having exchanged their greetings, Lilia hurried towards her room. Alisa who was silent throughout, naturally followed also followed suit.
That was splendid, Mistress Lilia.
'Thanks you' was Lilia's reply as she continued to advance. Almost as if she was escaping from that location.
--Sakura. Everything was fine back there right? She won't think it strange right?
--With all that's happened up until now, it's quite strange no matter how you think about it. There should be some suspicion of being fake yeah!
--Stop messing around.
--How cold~. Well, yup. You did well. In fact it was completely contrary to expectations, in a good way. I hadn't expected you to suddenly become friends.
Lilia's feet came to a halt. Behind her Alisa also stopped, tilting her head as she waited for Lilia's next move.
--Ahh, everything's fine okay. As I said earlier, you did great. You really worked hard!
--Then... Very well...
Lilia herself thought that she was being quite hasty back there. If anything it should have been better if she didn't declare a friends.h.i.+p right then and there. Especially due to having been treated so badly, Tina certainly should have been harbouring resentment at this point. Thinking about it, Lilia didn't even know what kind of face she should be making the next time they meet.
--I think that girl was simply happy about it though.
However, in the end she just couldn't fully believe in Sakura's words after all.
While all of the rooms on the third floor were of the same construction, but they were quite large all the same. Lilia's room was no exception; while not as large as her room at the Estate, it was still reminiscent of a comfortable life. In the large room all the furniture needed for daily living were prepared, with nary a speck of dust on any of them. It was such a thorough cleaning, one would not think that the place had been left by it's owner for over two weeks.
On one side of the room two doors stood out from the wall, leading to the separate bedroom and bathroom.
Lilia proceeded to the middle of the room and sat down on the prepared chair, and sighed deeply.
"Mistress Lilia. I shall go confirm the luggage now."
"Right. Please do."
Alisa gave a bow and headed for the bedroom. Lilia's belongings were delivered and carried in the day before. Therefore Lilia herself had arrived empty-handed.
--Well then, Lilia. What will you do from tomorrow on?
At Sakura's prompt, Lilia gave a little thought, and answered.
--That's not something to think too deeply about right. I will go to school.
--Uh huh. Hey escaping from reality is no good. I'm talking about regarding the prince and Tina.
Lilia's words were cut by an "Uu", and she diverted her eyes to the window. Opposite to the door they entered from was a window that provided a good view of the outside scenery. After having looked out for a while,
--Ooi, Liliaaa, come on baack.
Sakura called. With a cramped face, Lilia responded.
--I'm, thinking...
--Really... Then, what will you do when you meet the prince?
--I will avoid him as much as I can... I have already resolved to give up on His Majesty, though when I actually see him again, I have no idea how it will turn out.
--Well that's a pretty wise judgement. Then, about Tina? What will you do about your 'friend'? This is certainly unavoidable.
This was something Lilia understood even without being told by Sakura. She definitely couldn't ignore the matter concerning Tina. Saying that they should become friends, avoiding her immediately after and going back on her words was something she could not do.
It would be fine if it was just Tina. Meeting her, she could talk to her like she just did earlier. The problem was, that in doing so the prince would almost certainly appear as well.
--By the way, I won't make a peep regarding this stuff you know. You should try doing what you want to do.
--Are you... Trying to test me?
--Well then, I wonder.
Sakura snickered happily. Lilia heaved a heavy sigh, then shook her head as if changing gears.
--Sakura. Let us study.
--Ohh, it sure is rare hearing that coming from Lilia!
While her words were mocking, it seemed Sakura was actually surprised. Other than on that first day Lilia herself had never suggested studying. It was always Sakura urging her to do so. The simple reason being that Sakura's lessons were so hard, that she ended up feeling it was somewhat tough to go through.
Today however, she felt that it was better to do so. It could be said that this was more of her escaping from reality, but at the very least she wanted to concentrate on something else.
--But, for today how about we have a different person instruct you.
So came this response from Sakura. Lilia's eyes widened at the unexpected proposal. For the Sakura whose voice no one else could hear, how on earth could she possibly request for anyone else.
--Since Alisa is quite knowledgeable in magic, today let's learn some things regarding that. Alright, let's go ask her!
Now that she mentioned it, Lilia also recalled - during her time back at the mansion there wasn't a sliver of magic in her studies. Even as she learned everything else from Sakura, only the topics of magic and etiquette were not touched upon. On that point, Alisa was knowledgeable on these things Sakura did not know, almost as if she was there to perfectly compensate for what Sakura lacked.
But even so, having to learn from a maid was something she wanted to avoid no matter what. Lilia made a difficult expression as groaned when,
"Mistress Lilia, is something the matter?"
Before she knew it, Alisa was standing before eyes. In her usual maid outfit, looking at Lilia with worry in her eyes. Presenting a lightly bitter smile, she shook her head to a.s.sure Alisa that it was nothing.
"Alisa. If I am not mistaken, you are knowledgeable in magic yes?"
"Eh? Yes, indeed... Compared to the Madam it would seem like mere child's play, but I should know enough to the degree of being able to graduate from the academy."
--What is with this girl, is she actually something amazing?
--Yup. In the first place for the sake of the magically inept Lilia they wanted a girl well versed in magic, which led to her being hired here.
--First I've heard about this.
--You should have heard about it. Though you probably just had no intention of paying attention around then.
That being the case this was probably from before her shut-in period. If that was the case, she certainly paid no heed to anything she held no interest in then.
--About me being poor at magic, there was no such thing though?
--Like you can say that. Even though, always being compared to your mother, you'd be in self loathing at how you couldn't be as great as her.
--......
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