翌日とその次の日は大して何もない一日だった。早めに起床して自室で朝食を済まし、教室で授業を受ける。朝は取り巻き三人が話しかけてくるので適当に流しておく。授業が終われば食堂でサンドイッチをもらい、図書室の個室でレイと食べる。そのままレイに勉強を教えて、早めに貴族用の食堂で食事を取り、自室に引きこもる。それが二日間続いた。
その二日とも、夕食後に密偵の少女と会っている。どうやら一日につき一人、しっかりと調べてくれているらしい。まずは取り巻き二人が調べられ、名前や家族関係などを聞くことができた。
――あの二人とは付き合わない方が良さそうね。
――うん。でも完全無視はよくないからね。適当に話を合わせておけばいいと思うよ。
――そうするわ。
二人の実家に後ろ暗いところがあるわけではない。ただ、リリアとの接点があまりにもなさすぎた。時折開かれる夜会などでも会っていないはずだ。アルディスの名に釣られて何とかリリアに取り入ろうとしているのだろう。無駄なことを、と思う。もう王子との婚約もないというのに。
――ティナに媚びを売った方がいいと思うけどね。
――貴族のプライドが許さないのでしょう。くだらないわ。
――リリア。鏡がそこにあるから見てみるといいよ。
――どういう意味よ......。
それ以外に目立ったことは特になかった。ティナが訪ねてくることも、だ。王子の目が届きそうな時に誘うとリリアに迷惑がかかるとでも思っているのだろう。そう思われても仕方がないので、しばらくは大人しくしていることにした。
そして週末。この学園は週末二日は休みになっている。形式的には初日は自習をする日となっているが、真面目に勉強をしている者がどれだけいるだろうか。
――結構多いと思うけどね。レイは間違いなく勉強してそうだし、ティナもしてるだろうし。
――そうね。
――あ、もちろんリリアもだよ。さすがはリリアだよ! だから早く問題といて! 遅い!
――もうちょっと......。
本当に、勉強になると厳しくなる。しかし決して無理難題を言ってくることはないので、リリアは黙々と勉学に勤しむ。今はさくらが用意した問題を解いているところだ。
昼になり、アリサに取りに行かせたサンドイッチを食べながら、勉強を続ける。休憩は取らない。必要性を感じない。ただただ目の前の問題に集中する。
ようやく解き終わり、さくらの解説を聞いていると、寝室の扉がノックされた。
「リリア様。招待状が届きました」
「招待状? 何の?」
扉まで向かい、アリサから封筒を受け取る。しっかりと封のされた封筒を開き中を読む。今日の夜会への招待状だった。
この学園は広大な敷地を持っている。月に一回から二回程度、週末にはその一角を使い、夜会が開かれていた。主催は王家であったり学園であったり、様々だ。そして主催者により、招待される者は変わってくる。極端に言えば、王家主催であれば上級貴族が呼ばれ、学園主催なら庶民含め全員呼んでもらうことができる。
リリアは公爵家なので、全ての夜会で必ず招待状が届いている。一応恒例なのだが、この三週間があまりに濃すぎて夜会の存在そのものをすっかりと忘れてしまっていた。
「リリア様。いかがなさいますか?」
リリアは招待状をさっと読み、主催者を確認する。王家だ。当然ながら王子も来ることを考えれば、本来ならリリアが行かないわけにはいかない。だがどうせ王子もリリアの出席など望んでいないだろう。仮病でも使おうかと思ったところで、
――リリア、待って!
さくらの声に、口を閉じた。
――なに?
――夜会って、雨が降ってなければ外でやるんだよね。
――出入り自由だよね。
――人目につかない場所もあるよね。
――ちょっと早めに出て、そこで着替えってできる?
――できるわね。
一体何を言いたいのか。早く結論を言えと苛立ち始めたところで、
――じゃあ、こっそり南側に行かない?
その提案に、リリアは息を呑んだ。目を伏せ、しっかりと考える。南側に行けないのは、リリアの顔がこの近辺では有名であることと、そしてリリアの家柄の問題だ。ならば顔を隠すことができれば、いけるのではないか。
――さくら。
――なにかななにかな!
――その話、乗ったわ。
さすがリリア、とさくらは嬉しそうに笑った。リリアは小さく頷くと、アリサへと向き直った。
「行くわ。準備をお願いできる?」
これまでの経緯からまさか行くとは思わなかったのだろう、アリサが目を見開いて絶句していた。しかしすぐに気を取り直すと、恭しく一礼した。
「畏まりました」
そうしてアリサが部屋を出て行き、リリアは机に戻る。さて、とこれからのことを考えようとしたところで、
――さくら。変装はどうすればいいの?
――あ......。
そう。変装するにしても、持ち合わせがない。リリアの部屋にあるのは制服か、華美なドレスばかりだ。今から買いに行くにしても、現在リリアが行ける店は北側のみ。当然ながら変装できる服は売っていない。
The next day and the day after that weren't very eventful. Waking up early and finis.h.i.+ng breakfast in her room, then going to cla.s.s. In the mornings the three followers would start talking to her so she would halfheartedly go with the flow. After the lessons ended she would go to dining hall to get some sandwiches, before heading to eat with Ray in his room at the library. There she helped him study, and after that went over to the n.o.ble-use dining hall to get have a meal before shutting herself in her room. That was what continued for two days.
Of course during those two days, after dinner she would meet the girl agent. It seems that working on a person each day, they had been properly looking into her request. Firstly was two of her followers, and she was able to find out about the names and relations in their families.
--Seems it's better to not be involved with those two huh.
--Yep. But suddenly ignoring them completely isn't good. I think it would be fine to just casually go along with their conversations.
--Indeed.
It wasn't like their families had shady dealings or anything. It's just, they really should've had nothing to do with her. She probably hasn't even ever met them before at the occasional evening party. They were probably just drawn in by the Aldis name and tried to get in on the opportunities. It really was pretty pointless. She wasn't even engaged to the Prince anymore.
--I think it'd be better for them to be sucking up to Tina at this point.
--Their n.o.ble's pride probably wouldn't allow for that. How idiotic.
--Lilia. There's a mirror right there so I think you should try take a look in it.
--What do you mean...
Other than that there wasn't anything else that really stood out about her days. Tina didn't come visit either. She probably thought that if she invited her when the Prince was looking it'd probably cause trouble for Lilia. Well it couldn't be helped that she thought that at this point, so Lilia decided to also lay low for a while.
And so the weekend arrived. This academy had two days off during the weekend. Officially the first day was supposed to be for 'self-study', but just how many people would actually take that seriously and study?
--Well I think there should be quite a few. Ray seems like he'd definitely be studying, and Tina probably is as well.
--Right.
--Ah, of course that includes Lilia too. As expected of Lilia! So hurry up and solve that problem! Too slow!
--Just give me a bit more...
She really got strict when it came to studying. But she never gave truly unreasonable demands, so Lilia could only tacitly work hard at her studies. She was currently working to solve one of the problems Sakura had prepared.
As lunch came by, she ate the sandwiches she had sent Alisa to retrieve, as she continued to study. No breaks. She didn't feel the need. Simply concentrating on the problems in front of her.
After finally finis.h.i.+ng the problems, she was listening to comments on them when there was a knock on the door.
"Mistress Lilia. An invitation has arrived."
"An invitation? For what?"
Heading to the door, she took the envelope from Alisa. She opened up the tightly sealed envelope and read the contents. It was for an evening party tonight.
The grounds of this academy were vast. Once or twice every month, on the weekend they would use a corner of this place to hold an evening party. The organisers could be the royal family or the academy itself, depending on the event. And so based on the organiser, different people would be invited. Putting it bluntly, if it were the royals holding it then high cla.s.s n.o.bles would be invited, and if it were the academy organising then everyone including the commoners would get an invitation.
Lilia was of a Duke House, so she was certain to get invitations to all of the evening parties. It may have been a regular happening, but from how hectic the last three weeks have been she'd completely forgotten all about it.
"Mistress Lilia. How shall we respond?"
Lilia skimmed through the invitation, and confirmed the organiser. It was the royal family. Since the prince would obviously be there, the old Lilia would have definitely not missed the event. But the prince probably didn't even wish for Lilia's attendance here. Just as she thought about using a feigned illness to excuse herself,
--Lilia, wait!
Hearing Sakura's voice, she closed her mouth.
--What?
--This evening party, if it's not raining would be held outdoors right?
--And people are free to come and go right?
--There will also be less visible places there right?
--If you leave a bit early, will you be able to change outfits there?
--That is doable.
Just what did she want to say? Hurry up and get to your conclusion already. Just as Lilia was starting to get irritated,
--Then, wanna go sneak into the south side?
Lilia gulped at that proposal. She lowered her eyes, and thoroughly gave it some thought. The reason she couldn't head to the south side, was that her face was well known around these parts, and her status would cause issues. If she could hide her ident.i.ty, then wouldn't it work out?
--Sakura.
--What is it what is it!
--Your idea, I'm in.
As expected of Lilia, Sakura laughed happily. Lilia made a small nod, and then turned to Alisa.
I'll go. Can I leave the preparations to you?
With the current situation and all Alisa probably didn't expect such an answer, as her eyes widened and she was speechless for a moment. However she quickly recovered, and gave a respectful bow.
"Certainly."
And so Alisa left the room, and Lilia returned to her desk. Just as she was about to start thinking about the things to come,
--Sakura. What are we going to do for the disguise?
--Ah-...
Yes. Even is they wanted to use a disguise, they didn't actually have one on hand. The only clothes in Lilia's room were uniforms, or flashy dresses. Even if they were to go buy something now, Lilia currently could only go to the north side stores. An there was no way they would be selling clothes she could use as a disguise.
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