重ねられた手からじんわりと魔力が伝わってくる。カラカラに乾いた土地にじょうろで水をまくようなもので、直ぐに土にしみて消えていくが、２時間もやっていると若干湿り気を帯びたようにはなる。これこそが今の私の命を繋ぐものだ。
「エラ、どうだ？少しは楽になったか？」
「ええ。ありがとう。お兄様。」
私がそういうと、兄のエリアスは驚いたように目をまるくした。そりゃそうか。私は兄に感謝などしたことがなかった。自己中心的で我儘。それが私だった。
子供の頃から兄より私の方が出来が良かった。兄も魔力量は決して少なくないが、私の方が格段に多く、兄がそよ風を吹かせる横で私は小さいながらも見事な竜巻を作った。
勉強も王太子の婚約者となるべく、日々努力していたから二つ上の兄よりも高度な勉強をしていた。私に馬鹿にされたり、生意気な口をきかれて兄は良く道を外さなかったと思う。
地道にコツコツ努力して父の跡をつぐべく魔術師団に入って、王太子の右腕と称されるまでになった。
だが、私のことは憎んでいただろう。聖女の力を疑い、陛下や殿下に意見した私を反逆者と呼んだのは他でもない、兄である。幽閉された魔塔を脱出して、舞踏会会場を襲ったときも、兄は何の迷いもなく魔力を込めた剣で私を攻撃した。私の力の前にはなすすべもなかったが。
今の私は兄に魔力を融通してもらわなければ呼吸もできない。あれほど馬鹿にしていたのに。皮肉なものである。国内有数の侯爵家に生まれ、生まれながらにして権力も財力も手にしていた。強大な魔力を持っていたし、自分より優れた人間などいないと思っていた。自分は特別なのだと信じて疑わなかった。
「時間を取らせて…迷惑をかけますね」
私がそういうと、兄はやはり驚いた顔のままで、でも徐々に目元をほころばせ、優しく笑った。
「…たった一人の妹のためだ。俺こそ悪いな。もっと魔力があれば充分に供給してやれるのに。」
「いいのです。お兄様のおかげで起き上がれるようになりましたから。眠っている間も魔力を与えて下さっていたのでしょう？」
「いや…そんな…」
生まれて初めて妹から言われる感謝の言葉に兄はどう反応していいか困っているようだ。父と同じ、明るい栗色の巻き毛にエメラルドグリーンの目。目鼻立ちの整った精悍な顔つきになる前の少年っぽさを残した顔つき。武術の訓練をしているとかで、記憶よりも均整のとれた体躯をしている。時折、私を憎しみに満ちた目で見つめる兄の顔がフラッシュバックする。だが、目の前にいる兄は幼い頃と変わらない、いやもっと穏やかな顔をしている。
魔力を分け与えるのは体力がいる。魔力は生命とも繋がっているから、血を分けるようなものだ。兄の魔力は人より多い方ではあるが、搾り出すように与えるので、時間も体力もかかる。それを毎日やってくれているのだ。
以前の自分は気付かなかった。兄が妹を思う気持ちを。我儘で傲慢不遜な妹だが、兄にはそんなところがあったのか、と、今、時間を取り戻せることの喜びで目元が潤む。兄は私の目元に指先をやって拭い、頭を撫でた。
「エラ…。その…ルドルフが見舞いに来たいと言ってるんだが。どうする？お前が眠っている間も毎日来てくれてたんだが、その…気にするか、と思って断ってたんだが…」
エリアスが、額に滲んだ汗をふきながら言う。
＿ん？ルドルフって王太子殿下？私が気にするって、この真っ白になってしまった髪のことか。それとも血色の悪い顔のことか。
「なぜ…殿下がいらっしゃるの？」
「なぜって…。そりゃ婚約者だから見舞いくらいくるだろ。それにしても毎日朝晩はやりすぎだと思うけどな。」
ははっと兄は白い歯を見せた。
＿は？婚約者？私が？何のことだ？
確かに、私は王太子殿下の婚約者候補だった。四大侯爵家のうち３つの侯爵家に、王太子と同じ年頃の娘がおり、他に伯爵家からの数人と共に幼い頃から婚約者候補として競わされてきた。私は絶対に婚約者の地位を勝ち取りたかったから、教養もダンスも、マナーも、どんなに厳しいレッスンでも歯を食いしばって、時には涙ながらに努力した。そして、教師をして完璧と言わしめるほどのものを身につけたのだ。
どの候補者よりも自分は優れているから、婚約者に選ばれるのは間違いないと思っていた。それは決して自惚れではなかったと思う。両親も、兄も、他の候補者もそうだったはずだ。
そう。男爵令嬢ミア・オットーが光の魔法使いと判明し、聖女となるまでは。
だから私は「婚約者」ではなかったのだ。
王太子ルドルフ殿下と初めて出会ったのは、まだ幼い頃、王宮でのお茶会だった。かしこまった舞踏会とは違って気軽なガーデンパーティーで、幼い貴族の子弟も招かれた。広い王宮の中庭に興奮して、兄エリアスと追いかけっこをしたり、木登りをして遊んでいた。
中庭で一番背の高いクスノキの天辺の枝に座っていたとき、兄が、「よぉ、ルドルフ！」と声を掛けた。そちらの方を見ようとした私はバランスを崩して、木の枝からすべり落ちた。
落下する瞬間にあっと声をあげたが、あっという間に地面に身体が打ち付けられる…と思ったら直前でふわりと身体が浮いた。
「大丈夫？」
そう声をかけてくれたのは、太陽の光のような煌めく金髪に、サファイアのような碧い目をしたとんでもない美少年。それが王太子ルドルフその人だった。兄と同い年とは思えないほど落ち着いていて、穏やかな微笑み。私は一目で恋をした。
その日から私は何が何でも王太子の婚約者になると決めたのだ。侯爵家の財産と権力にものを言わせて最高の家庭教師をつけた。王立アカデミーでは入学以来たゆまぬ努力で首席をキープし続けたし、王太子妃に相応しい人間だと思っていた。殿下も幼い頃と変わらず穏やかに微笑んでくれて。私は誰より彼に愛されていると感じていた。
でも。今思えば、あれはただの愛想笑いだ。家柄が良く、成績も優秀で、国でも有数の魔力の持ち主。有力な婚約者候補を、国を、王家を背負って立つ王太子が無下にはできまい。
実際、ミアが聖女だと判明してから、彼女には自然な笑顔を向けていた気がする。兄や、外務大臣の息子のクラウスを含めてアカデミー内のカフェや中庭で談笑する姿を目にしていた。私は婚約者候補たち全員が招待される月に一度のお茶会で会話する程度で、それも次第に煩わしさを隠さなくなってきていた。そしてミアは婚約者に内定した。
殿下の婚約者になるのは私だったはずなのに。
殿下だけでなく、兄も、両親も、国王陛下も。あまつさえ他の婚約者候補の令嬢たちまで聖女ミアを褒め称える。そんな状況に私は嫉妬した。
聖女なのに神殿での務めを果たさず、舞踏会三昧。それはいかがなものかと苦言を呈した。元々平民育ちの彼女に貴族としての礼儀作法がなっていないと言った。
べつに彼女を貶めようとしたわけではないけれど。ミアは、元々平民育ちのために貴族としての礼儀作法を身につけていなかった。そのことで他の令嬢から色々と言われることもあったようだ。まぁそれも全部なぜか私が命令してやったことになっていた。
私がやったのは、身分の順に着席する茶会で真っ先に、しかも侯爵令嬢の私を差し置いて上座に座ったことを責めこと。別に理不尽なことではないし、キツイ言い方をした記憶もないけれど、父と兄には聖女を貶め、恥辱を与え、名誉を毀損したと言われた。もちろん何の根拠もない。
でも。ミアに対して醜い心をもたなかったわけではない。ただただ羨ましかった。大して努力もせず、ただ光の魔法を使う聖女だというだけで皆から愛されて。
聖女に対してそんな醜い気持ちを持つこと自体が罪だったのか。
「何て性根の醜い女だ！貴様のような女が婚約者の第一候補だったとはおぞましい！」
吐き捨てるように言った王太子ルドルフの顔が浮かぶ。光をまとったような黄金の髪に、色香を漂わせる切れ長の碧い双眸。非の打ち所のない整った美貌とカリスマ性。完璧と称される彼もまた、私をひどく非難した。
「殿下…お気を鎮めて…。私なら大丈夫です…。」
桃色のふわふわと柔らかな巻き毛を揺らしながら、ルドルフに寄り添うのは、聖女ミア。
「ミア。自分に害をなそうとした奴にまで優しくする必要はない。この女には然るべき罪を受けさせねばならない」
「いいえ。殿下…。エラ様も反省なさっています…。」
しおらしくうつむくその仕草にルドルフは息をついてその小柄な身体を優しく抱き寄せる。
「心優しき聖女に免じて、死罪は免じよう」
＿は？死罪にするつもりだったの？出処も定かでない噂話程度を証拠にして？
そう思っても反論も許されず、魔塔への幽閉が決められた。私の溢れ出す膨大な魔力を封じ込めるにはそこしかなかったからだ。
今の私は。兄に魔力を供給してもらわなければベッドから上体を起こすこともできない。婚約者有力候補たる所以の魔力を失っている。殿下への恋心は、聖女との仲をあれだけ見せつけられて、さらに憎しみも向けられて、もはや未練はない。
なぜ今、婚約者候補から婚約者になっているのかはわからないけど、ここは円満に解消してもらわないと。疎ましいだけの私との婚約など喜んで解消してくれるでしょう。
私は兄に、ルドルフ殿下に来ていただくようお願いした。今の姿を見られても大丈夫なのか、と言われたが、構わない、と言った。真っ白になってしまった髪。衰えた容貌。百年の恋も覚めるだろう。婚約解消を願うには却って良い。
「…わかった。今日は騎士団の訓練をしてからうちに寄ると言っていたから、そのときにきてもらうよ。」
＿ん？騎士団？殿下はアカデミーを卒業後は魔術師団に入ったはず…。
何だか所々記憶と違うことになっているらしい。
The magic power is gradually transmitted from the overlapping hands. It is like watering a parched land with a watering can, and the water immediately soaks into the soil and disappears, but after two hours, it becomes slightly moist. This is what keeps me alive now.
‘How do you feel now, Ella? Feeling a little better?”
“Yes, I feel better. Thank you, brother. Thank you, brother.
When I said that, my brother Elias rolled his eyes in surprise. I had never thanked my brother. I had never thanked my brother. Self-centered and selfish. That was me.
Even as a child, I was better than my brother. My brother had no less magical power, but I had significantly more, and I created a small but magnificent tornado while he blew the breeze.
I was also more advanced in my studies than my brother, who was two years older than me, because I was working hard every day to become the Dauphin’s fiancée. I am amazed that my brother did not go astray because of my taunts and cocky talk.
He worked steadily and diligently to follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the Order of Magicians and becoming the Dauphin’s right-hand man.
But he would have hated me. It was my brother, of all people, who doubted the power of the saint and called me a traitor for speaking out against His Majesty and His Highness. When I escaped from the evil tower where I was imprisoned and attacked the ballroom, my brother attacked me with a sword filled with magic power without hesitation. But he was powerless against my power.
Now I cannot even breathe without my brother’s magical power. I had made fun of him so much. It is ironic. Born into one of the country’s most prestigious marquis families, I had power and wealth from birth. He possessed powerful magical powers and believed that there was no one better than him. He believed that he was special.
I’m sorry to take up so much of your time.
When I said this, my brother’s face was still surprised, but gradually his eyes began to smile and he laughed softly.
I’m sorry,” he said, “but it’s only for one sister. I’m the one who should be sorry. If I had more magic power, I would be able to supply you with enough.”
It’s okay. I’m not sure what to do with it. You gave me magic power even while I was sleeping, didn’t you?”
No…no…”
The brother seems to be at a loss as to how to react to the words of gratitude from his sister for the first time in his life. Like his father, he has light chestnut curly hair and emerald green eyes. His face retains a boyish appearance before he became fearless with a well-defined nose and eyes. He has a more balanced physique than I remember from his martial arts training. Occasionally, I flash back to my brother’s face as he stares at me with hate-filled eyes. But the older brother in front of me looks as he did when I was a child, or perhaps even more peaceful.
It takes physical strength to share magic power. Since magical power is connected to life, it is like sharing blood. My brother has more magic power than most people, but it takes time and energy to squeeze it out of him. He does it every day.
I didn’t realize it before. I didn’t realize how much a brother loves his sister. My eyes well up with joy at being able to get time back now, wondering if my brother had that in him, even though she is selfish and arrogant and irreverent. My brother wiped my eyes with his fingertips and stroked my head.
“Ella… Well….Rudolph wants to come visit me. What do you say? He’s been coming every day while you were sleeping, but I, uh…I thought you might mind, so I turned him down…”
Elias says, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
_Hmm? Rudolph is the crown prince? Do you mean that I care about this hair that has turned completely white? Or is it about my pale face?
Why… is His Highness here?
Why…? Why? But I still think that every morning and evening is a bit much.
The brother showed his white teeth.
What about _? Fiancee? Me? What are you talking about?
Indeed, I was the Dauphin’s prospective fiancée…. Three of the four great marquise families had daughters the same age as the Dauphin, and along with several others from the count’s family, I had been vying for the position of potential fiancée since I was a child. I absolutely wanted to win the position of betrothed, so I gritted my teeth and worked hard, sometimes to the point of tears, no matter how tough the lessons were, whether it was culture, dance, or manners. And I acquired so much that I could make a teacher say I was perfect.
He thought that because he was better than any of the candidates, there was no doubt that he would be chosen for his fiancée. I don’t think it was ever egotism. I’m sure my parents were, my brother was, and all the other candidates were.
So it was. Until Baroness Mia Otto turned out to be a wizard of light and a saint.
So I was not a “betrothed”.
I first met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Rudolph at a tea party at the royal palace when I was still a child. Unlike a formal ball, this was a casual garden party to which young noble children were also invited. Excited by the spacious courtyard of the royal palace, I played games with my older brother Elias, chasing each other and climbing trees.
While sitting on a branch at the top of the tallest camphor tree in the courtyard, my brother called out, “Hey, Rudolph! I turned to look at him. As I turned to look in your direction, I lost my balance and slipped off the branch.
I let out a yelp as I fell, and in the blink of an eye, my body hit the ground…but just before I hit the ground, my body floated away.
Are you okay?”
The one who called out to me was an extraordinary beautiful boy with blond hair that shimmered like sunlight and blue eyes like sapphires. That was the crown prince Rudolph himself. He had a calm and gentle smile that made it hard to believe he was the same age as his older brother. I fell in love with him at first sight.
From that day on, I was determined to become the Dauphin’s fiancée at any cost. With the wealth and power of the marquise’s family, I got the best tutor. I had worked tirelessly since entering the royal academy and had maintained the top ranks, and I knew that I was the right person to be the Dauphin’s consort. His Highness smiled at me with the same serenity as when I was a child. I felt that he loved me more than anyone else.
But… Looking back, I realize that it was just an affectionate smile. He was from a good family, had excellent grades, and was one of the most powerful men in the country. The crown prince, who stands on the shoulders of the country and the royal family, could not disregard a promising potential fiancée.
In fact, I think he had been smiling naturally at Mia since she turned out to be a saint. I had seen her chatting and laughing in the cafes and courtyards of the Academy, including with her brother and Klaus, the son of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I only conversed with her at the monthly tea parties to which all the potential fiancées were invited, and even that was becoming less and less bothersome to hide. Then Mia was unofficially offered to be my fiancée.
It should have been me who would have been His Highness’ fiancée.
Not only His Highness, but also my brother, my parents, and His Majesty the King. Even the daughters of other prospective fiancées praised the saintly Mia. I was jealous of such a situation.
Even though she is a saint, she does not fulfill her duties at the temple and spends all her time at balls. I complained that this was not a good thing. I told her that she had originally been raised as a commoner and that she did not have the manners and etiquette of a noblewoman.
I was not trying to put her down. Mia had originally been raised as a commoner and had not mastered the etiquette of an aristocrat. She was sometimes criticized by other daughters for that. Well, for some reason, all of that was done under my orders.
What I did was to blame her for being the first one to be seated at the tea ceremony, where people are seated in order of status, and for sitting on the top seat without me, the marquis’s daughter. It was nothing unreasonable, and I don’t remember saying anything harsh, but my father and brother said that I had disgraced, humiliated, and defamed a saintly woman. There was no basis for any of this, of course.
But. I did not have an ugly heart toward Mia. I just envied her. She was loved by everyone simply because she was a saint who used light magic without much effort.
Was it a sin to have such ugly feelings toward a saint?
What an ugly woman! It’s horrifying that a woman like you was my first choice for a fiancée!”
The face of the crown prince, Rudolph, who said this to her as if he were throwing up, comes to mind. His golden hair, which seemed to be cloaked in light, and his slender blue eyes, which exuded a hint of color, were impeccably shaped and beautiful. His impeccable good looks and charisma. He, too, who is known for his perfection, reproached me.
His Highness…please calm yourself…. I’ll be fine…”
Sitting close to Rudolph, shaking her peach-colored, fluffy, soft curly hair, is Saint Mia.
Mia. There is no need to be kind even to those who tried to harm you. This woman must be given the punishment she deserves.
‘No, Your Highness. No, Your Highness. Your Highness… Ella-sama is sorry too…”
Rudolph breathes in on the gesture of her sullen, depressed face, and gently embraces her petite body.
In the name of the saintly woman with a kind heart, I absolve you from the penalty of death.
What about _? You were going to condemn her to death? Using as evidence a rumor of uncertain origin?
Even if I thought so, I was not allowed to argue, and I was imprisoned in the evil tower. It was the only place to contain the enormous amount of magical power that was overflowing from me.
I am now. I can’t even raise my body from the bed without my brother supplying me with magical power. I have lost the magical power that makes me a strong candidate for a fiancée. My love for His Highness is no longer unfulfilled after he showed me how close he was with the saint and how much he hated her.
I don’t know why I’ve gone from a potential fiancée to a fiancée now, but I have to have this place dissolved amicably. He will gladly break off his engagement with me, which is just an estrangement.
I asked my brother to ask His Highness Rudolf to come. He asked me if it would be all right for him to see me now, but I said it was fine. My hair had turned completely white. My appearance had deteriorated. A love affair of a hundred years would be awakened. It was a good way to ask for an end to the engagement.
I understand. He said he would stop by my house after training with the knighthood today, so I’ll have him come over then.”
_Hmm? The Order of the Knights? His Highness should have joined the Order of Magicians after graduating from the academy….
It seems that things are somehow different from my memory in some places.
コメント