ハイリゲンクロイツ王国。大陸を十字の形に横断する国で、北には優駿な山々を、南には美しい海を抱く自然豊かで、文化産業も発展している。
建国の祖が光の魔法を使ったとされ、大陸各国にある神殿を統括する聖地でもある。
この地を代々治めるのはバーベンベルク家。
王太子ルドルフは、現王レオポルト３世と王妃マリアとの間に唯一の男子として産まれた。３人の姉がいてようやく産まれた男子とあって、生まれながらにして王となるべく育てられた。
輝く黄金の髪に、サファイアの碧い瞳。整った顔立ち。穏やかな微笑みは、人々を魅了し、王国の小さな太陽と呼ぶに相応しい威厳とカリスマ性を備えていた。
首都にある王立アカデミー。貴族と平民の区別なく、魔力を持つ者は入学が義務付けられている。学問だけでなく魔力のコントロールの方法などの実技も学ぶ。
「ルドルフ！」
魔術師団長の息子エリアスが廊下の向こうから走ってくる。
王太子に対してあまりにくだけた呼び方をするが、幼馴染で小さな頃から一緒に育ったようなものなので、特別に許している。もっとも同じように幼馴染である宰相の息子のクラウスは、一貫して様づけで呼んでいるが。
「どうした？エラに何かあったか？」
「ああ。ようやく目を覚ましたんだ。」
「そうか…。よかった。」
ほっと息をつく。婚約者のエラが王立アカデミーの入学式を前に倒れたのが一週間前。全く目を覚まさないというのには心配した。
毎日見舞いに通ったが、侯爵夫人が会わせてくれなかった。
「では、午後に見舞いに行くからな。」
「いや…それが…」
エリアスが口ごもる。
「何かあったか？」
「実は…。」
エリアスが伝えるエラの現状には一瞬言葉を失った。だが、それでも会わせてくれるように頼んだ。
私の中に浮かんだ一つの可能性を試してみたかったのだ。
生まれながらにして王となる宿命である。
帝王学を幼い頃から叩き込まれた。代わる代わる何人も教師がついて、勉強漬けの日々。
たまに一緒に学んだり、剣術や魔術の相手をしてくれるエリアスやクラウス、騎士団長令息のアレクと過ごすくらいしか息抜きできる時間はなかった。
国のため、民のため。それだけを第一に考えるように育てられた。
我ながら大変優秀な王太子だと思う。
国王陛下や側近の期待に応え、教育係には一目置かれ、言うことには諾々と従ってきた。
だが。それだけでは国は守れない。
私はもう過ちは犯したくない。
わずか10歳のエラを婚約者に、と望んだ。カレンベルク侯爵は喜んでいたが、他の侯爵家や有力貴族は、
「まだ婚約者に絞るのは早いのでは？」
「うちの娘も優秀ですよ。」
などといって二の足を踏んだ。だが、頑として譲らなかった。国王陛下は、ずっと従順だった息子が我を通そうとするので驚いていたが、
「あいつにも頑固なところがあるんだな。」
といって、許してくれた。
婚約者としてのエラはそれまで以上に勉学や魔術の訓練に励んでいた。ときに高慢な言動をしたらしいとクラウスや側近が伝えてくることもあったが、私は意に介さなかった。
そうだ。王太子妃はエラでなければ。それが、彼女を、そしてハイリゲンクロイツ王国を守ることになる。
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侯爵邸で久しぶりに会った彼女はまるで別人だった。
魔力をほとんど失ってしまったとは聞いていたが、ベッドの上でやっとのことで頭を起こしていられるまでに弱り切っている姿を見ることになるとは思わなかった。
艶やかな長い黒髪は色が抜けて白くなり、意志の強く、厳しいほどだった眼差しは儚げに瞳を潤ませている。
高慢ささえ感じさせた口元を今は弱々しく優美に動かして、力なく、それでも私を気遣う言葉を紡ぐ。
気が強く、プライドが山より高い彼女のことである。もちろん血のにじむような努力に裏打ちされたものではあるが、神からのギフトたる膨大な魔力を失ったとあっては、さすがに気落ちしているだろうと思っていた。
だが、彼女は、こうなってかえって良かった、と言った。
一瞬、彼女のプライドから出た強がりではないかと思った。だがそこには、噓偽りのない、本当に心から発せられた清々しさがあったのだ。
私を驚かせたのは、それだけではない。婚約を破棄してくれとまで言ったのだ。あれほどまでに私に、王太子妃の地位に執着していたのに、それをあっさり手放そうというのだ。
寝たきり状態では王太子妃は務まらないからだ、というが、それは私が思いついていた一つの可能性が解決してくれるかもしれない。
実際、私の予想は当たり、私はエラに魔力を供給することができた。
クラウスに大神官アルノルトを呼びに行かせ、エラが私の「器」であると確認させた。
そう。これで彼女に魔力を与えることができるのは私だけ、ということだ。血の繋がった家族でさえも、ここまで魔力の相性が合うものは滅多にない。
エラの場合、兄のエリアスがかろうじて魔力を与えることができたが、私の比ではない。
「ようやく、妹に頼ってもらえると思ってたのに…」
自分より遥かに優秀で、馬鹿にされることもあるが、妹のことは溺愛しているエリアスが、残念そうにしているが。
残念だったな。エラはもう、私なくしては生きていけないのだ。
魔力を回復したエラが腹の虫を鳴かせた。
恥ずかしがって顔を赤くしているのが、可愛らしい。どこをとっても完璧な貴族令嬢。その仮面を外してくれたのが嬉しくて、思わず笑ってしまった。
彼女を必ず守り通す。二度と過ちは犯さない。
Kingdom of Heiligenkreuz. The Kingdom of Heiligenkreuz crosses the continent in the shape of a cross. It is rich in nature, with graceful mountains in the north and beautiful seas in the south, and its culture and industry are well developed.
It is said that the founder of the country used the magic of light, and it is also a sacred place that oversees temples in various countries on the continent.
The Babenberg family has ruled this land for generations.
The crown prince, Rudolf, is the only son born to the current king, Leopold III, and Queen Maria, and was raised to be a king from birth, having three older sisters.
He has shining golden hair and sapphire blue eyes. His face is well-shaped and his gentle smile attracts people. His gentle smile captivated people, and he had the dignity and charisma to be called the little sun of the kingdom.
The Royal Academy in the capital. Regardless of whether they are nobles or commoners, those with magical powers are obliged to enter the academy. Not only do they learn about academics, they also learn practical skills such as how to control their magical powers.
Rudolph!”
Elias, the son of the head magician, comes running from the other side of the corridor.
He calls the Dauphin very casually, but since they have been childhood friends and have grown up together since they were small children, I give him special permission. He is a childhood friend and has been with him since he was a little boy, so I give him special permission.
What’s wrong? Did something happen to Ella?
‘Oh, she woke up at last. She finally woke up.
I see… I’m glad.
He breathed a sigh of relief. It was a week ago that my fiancée Ella collapsed before the entrance ceremony of the Royal Academy. I was worried when she did not wake up at all.
I went to visit her every day, but the marchioness wouldn’t let me see her.
‘Well, I will visit you this afternoon,’ she said.
‘No… that’s…’
Elias clammed up.
‘Is there something wrong?’
’Actually…’
I was momentarily at a loss for words when Elias told me about Ella’s current situation. But I still asked him to let me see her.
I wanted to test a possibility that had occurred to me.
It is my destiny to be a king from birth.
Imperialism was drilled into me from an early age. I had several teachers who took over for me, and I spent my days immersed in study.
The only time he could relax was when he spent time with Elias and Klaus, who would occasionally study with him and help him with swordsmanship and magic.
For the country, for the people. That is the only thing I was raised to think about first and foremost.
I think I am a very talented crown prince.
He has lived up to the expectations of His Majesty the King and his entourage, has been admired by his educators, and has always complied with what they have told him.
But that is not enough to protect the country. But that is not enough to protect the country.
I don’t want to make any more mistakes.
I wanted Ella, who was only 10 years old, to be my fiancee. The Marquis of Cullenberg was delighted, but the other marquises and leading nobles were not.
“Isn’t it too early to narrow it down to a fiancée?”
Our daughter is also very talented.
But he was not willing to budge. But he was adamant. His Majesty the King was surprised that his son, who had always been so obedient, would try to assert himself.
He forgave him, saying, “He has a stubborn streak, too.
He forgave her, saying, “He has a stubborn streak in him, too.
As his fiancée, Ella worked even harder than before on her studies and training in magic. Sometimes Klaus and his aides told me that she had behaved in a haughty manner, but I did not care.
But I did not care. The Dauphine had to be Ella. That would protect her and the Kingdom of Heiligenkreuz.
*
*
She was a different person when I met her at the Marquis’ mansion after a long time.
I had heard that she had lost most of her magic power, but I never expected to see her so weak that she could barely keep her head up on the bed.
Her long, lustrous black hair had lost its color and turned white, and her eyes, which had once been strong-willed and severe, were now fragile and moist.
Her mouth, which had once been haughty, now moved with a weak, graceful movement as she spun words of concern for me, albeit without effort.
She is strong-willed and has more pride than a mountain. Of course, it was backed up by her blood-soaked efforts, but I had expected her to be depressed after losing her enormous magical power, a gift from the gods.
But she said she was glad it turned out this way.
For a moment, I thought it might have been her pride that made her say that. But there was a sense of freshness that came from her heart, without any lies.
That was not the only thing that surprised me. She even asked me to break off the engagement. She had been so attached to me and to her position as crown princess, and now she was willing to give it up so easily.
He said it was because he could not serve as Dauphine if he was bedridden, but that might be solved by a possibility that I had thought of.
In fact, my prediction came true and I was able to supply Ella with magic.
I sent Klaus to call the High Priest Arnold to confirm that Ella was my “vessel”.
So. This meant that I was the only one who could provide her with magical power. It is not often that even blood family members are so compatible in their magical powers.
In Ella’s case, her brother Elias could barely give her magic power, but it was nothing compared to mine.
’Finally, I thought I could count on my sister…’
Elias, who is far superior to me and is sometimes mocked, but who dotes on his sister, looks disappointed, though.
Too bad. Ella can no longer live without me.
Ella, who has regained her magical powers, makes a stomach rumbling sound.
She is blushing with embarrassment, which is adorable. A perfect noble daughter in every way. I was so happy that she took off that mask that I couldn’t help but laugh.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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