―妃殿下…？
王太子の執務室にいた家臣たちは突然の王妃の登場に驚きの色を隠せなかった。それでも最上級の礼を持って迎える。王妃はそれを全て無視してつかつかと彼女の息子のところへ向かった。
「母上…どうなさいました」
ルドルフは長椅子から立ち上がった。
「どうもこうもありません」
いつものように品の良い落ち着いた声ではあるが、その声色には燃え盛るような怒気が含まれている。
「何があったのです」
ルドルフと私は先程まで腰かけていた長椅子を王妃に勧めたが、彼女はそれに首を振った。そして一つ息を吐いた。
「陛下に新しい愛人ができたようよ。」
ルドルフは眉を寄せる。そして溜息をついた。
「そんなことをわざわざ？あの…女優とは切れたのですか」
「違うわ。市民劇場の踊り子ね。それは随分前に捨てられたそうよ。小金持ちの商人を装っていたのだけれど、若い貴族に乗り換えられたのですって。」
さっきの剣幕はどこへ行ったのやら、天気の話でもするかのような砕けた会話に私は面食らった。
―そうか…陛下には愛人が…。
王妃との別居生活は随分長く及んでいるからそりゃあ愛人がいたっておかしくはないのだけれど…。陛下が変装してお忍びで出かけているのはそういうことだったのか。
「そうですか。で、新しい愛人がどうしたのです」
息子の言葉に王妃は、はっと本題を思い出したようだ。
「そう、それよ。とても若いの。まだアカデミーの学生ですって。貴方と同い年らしいけれどもっと幼く見えるわ。」
「アカデミーの学生…？」
「そう。でも問題はそれじゃないわ。その子に陛下は身分を明かしているのよ。ご自分の宮に読んだりしているの。これは正式に愛妾にするつもりかもしれない…とんだ醜聞だわ」
もし、側室に迎えて、その女が男子を産んだら後継者争いが起こるかもしれない、貴方の立場が危うくなるかもしれないから何とか対処して側室にさせるのは阻止した方がいい。マリア王妃はそのようなことをまくし立てたが、あまり良く頭に入ってこなかった。私の頭には一つの恐ろしい予感に支配されていた。
腕を組み、顎に手をやって考えこんでいたルドルフは、私の予感を現実のものとする質問を母親にした。
「その…女の名は？」
「名前…？たしか…ミア、とか言ったわ」
ガツンと殴られたような衝撃が私の脳を揺さぶる。
「まじか…」
兄が呟く声が聞こえた。
「あら。みんな知ってるの？まあそうよね。アカデミーにいるっていうから…ん…？でも確かにどこかで聞いたような名前ねぇ」
室内にいる全員が重苦しい心持になっていて、王妃の無邪気でとぼけた声が沈んだ空気をさらに際立たせた。
＊
＊
＊
ガチャリガチャリと金属音があちこちで響いている。
「急げ！あと20分で支度しろ！」
「騎士団！アレク・グリュックハイム以下10名準備完了！」
「魔術師団、追加招集しています！」
「あちらの様子は？」
「近衛兵が通常警備にあたっています！」
「動かせるな？」
「はい！」
廊下や他の部屋から聞こえてくる怒号を耳にしながら、私も自室で魔力防御用の鎧を身につけた。これがどれほどの効果があるのか見当もつかない。だが、無いよりはいささかましなはず。
王太子の執務室に戻ると、ルドルフは銀の鎧をまとい、剣を手入れしていた。私の姿を確認して沈痛な面持ちになる。
「本当にお前も行く気か？」
「当たり前です。ルドルフがわずか３週間前にかけた加護を突破されたのですよ？陛下がどんな洗脳を受けていて、どう行動されるかわかりません。下手したら大暴走を起こすかもしれないのですから。戦力は多いに越したことはないでしょう。」
「お前を危険に晒すつもりはなかったのだが…不甲斐ないな…」
黄金色の前髪をくしゃりと掻く。冷徹で不遜なルドルフが一回り小さくなったようだ。こんな状況であるにも関わらず私は彼が愛しくてたまらなくなってしまった。彼の肩に手を置き、顔を近づける。
「…私は大丈夫です。ミアがどうやって監視を抜けたのかはわかりませんが…今は彼女を取り押さえ、陛下をお救いすることが先決です」
「そうだな…ああ…本当に。すまない…」
謝罪の言葉を繰り返す彼の背を私はそっとさすった。
「全くだわ」
声の主はマリア王妃である。
「散々警戒していたというのに、どうして肝心なところでこう抜けているのかしらね」
「母上…」
流石は王妃だ。全く持って容赦がない。
「陛下の警備とミアの監視の不備は後で追及するとして。二人が一緒にいるところを取り押さえるなら閨の方がいいのではない？夜まで待ったら？」
―閨…。
王妃はさらりと言ってのける。全裸の陛下とミアが絡み合う様子を想像してしまい、私はいたたまれなくなった。
―たしかに…防御が薄くなる状況ではある…
ルドルフは息を吐いた。
「ミアの魅了は、性的なものではないのです。むしろ不可侵的な存在のように思わせるのです。唯一神を崇め、その神の言葉が絶対的な命令である教えをもつ国がありますが、そのよう思いこませる力です。母上はミアが陛下の愛人になったとおっしゃいましたが、肉体関係はおそらくはないでしょう」
陛下とミアのそういう場面を目撃する可能性は低いということに、私は若干安堵した。だが、のちに私はかえってそちらの方がましだったかもしれないと思うことになる。
「殿下、準備が整いました！」
アレクが告げに来た。
「行こう」
ルドルフは、立ち上がる。ガチャリと鎧がぶつかる音がした。
“Find out who His Majesty has been in contact with recently. It’s possible that someone has been infiltrating the temple. Dean, it was Mia Otto who approached Ella at the temple. Strengthen the surveillance on her.”
That’s right. Mia. She attracts people and is liked unconditionally. Even if it is because of her constitution, I can’t stop envying her. She used to easily steal away Rudolph’s heart and even stole my parents’ and my brother’s feelings. Now she doesn’t even have the status of a saint, yet she tries to win popularity and drag me down from my position as Dauphine. She is behind what His Majesty has said. There is no proof of any of this. But there certainly is. I stiffen as I feel a long, dark, peach-colored, lovely, dark shadow reach out and reach my feet.
Wait a minute! Please wait!
I heard the panicked voice of the chamberlain. The door to the office was opened with a bang. I was surprised to hear that he had opened the heavy door by himself. My shoulders shook.
Standing there was Queen Maria, with a beautiful face and a pale face.
59 (57)
-Her Royal Highness…?
The vassals in the Dauphin’s office could not hide their surprise at the queen’s sudden appearance. Even so, they greeted her with the highest courtesy. The queen ignored them all and went to her son.
Mother…how can I help you?
Rudolph rose from the couch.
There’s nothing wrong.”
His voice, as always, was gracious and calm, but there was a burning anger in his tone.
What happened?
Rudolph and I offered the queen the couch she had just been sitting on, but she shook her head. She shook her head and let out a breath.
It seems His Majesty has a new lover.”
Rudolph raised his eyebrows. Then he sighed.
I don’t know why you’re telling me all this. Did you break up with the actress?
No,” Rudolph said. A dancer at the public theater. It was abandoned a long time ago. She posed as a rich merchant, but was replaced by a young nobleman.
Where was the swashbuckling he had just displayed? I was taken aback by his casual conversation, as if he were talking about the weather.
-I wondered if his Majesty had a mistress.
His Majesty has been separated from the queen for quite a long time, so it’s not surprising that he has a mistress…. Was that the reason why His Majesty was going out secretly in disguise?
I see. And what about your new mistress?
At her son’s words, the queen seemed to have remembered the main topic.
Yes, that’s it. She is very young. She is still a student at the academy. She seems to be the same age as you, but she looks younger.
A student at the academy…?
Yes. But that’s not the problem. His Majesty is revealing his identity to that girl. He reads it in his palace. This could be an attempt to make her his official concubine… it’s an ugly story.
If you accept her as a concubine and she gives birth to a son, there may be a struggle for the heir, and your position may be in jeopardy, so you should deal with it somehow and prevent her from taking you as a concubine. Queen Maria was rambling on and on about such things, but I couldn’t really wrap my head around it. My mind was occupied with a terrible premonition.
Rudolph, his arms crossed and his hand on his chin in contemplation, asked his mother a question that confirmed my premonition.
‘What is that… woman’s name?
‘Her name…? I think she said… “Mia,” or something like that.
A shock shook my brain as if I had been punched in the face with a sledgehammer.
“Seriously…?”
I heard my brother mutter.
‘Oh my. You all know about this? Well, yes, of course. I heard that he is in the academy…hmm…? But I’m sure I’ve heard that name somewhere.
Everyone in the room had a heavy heart, and the queen’s innocent and bland voice accentuated the somber atmosphere.
I’m sure I’ve heard that name somewhere….
The queen’s innocent, bland voice further accentuated the somber atmosphere.
- * *
The sound of metal clanks and rattles echoed everywhere.
Hurry up! Get ready in twenty minutes!”
Knights! Alec Gluckheim and ten others are ready!
The sorcerer corps is assembling!
What’s going on over there?
The Kingsguard is standing guard.
Are you ready?
Yes, sir!
I put on my magic defense armor in my room, hearing the angry shouts coming from the corridor and other rooms. I have no idea how effective it is. But it would be somewhat better than nothing.
When I returned to the Dauphin’s office, I found Rudolph in his silver armor, grooming his sword. He looked somber when he saw me.
‘Are you really going too?
‘Of course I am. Rudolf has broken through the blessing he put on you only three weeks ago, you know? I don’t know what kind of brainwashing His Majesty has received and how he will act. If he is not careful, he might go on a rampage. It would be better to have more forces.
I didn’t mean to put you in danger, but… you’re not worthy…”
He brushed his golden bangs. The cold-hearted and irreverent Rudolph seems to have become one size smaller. Despite the circumstances, I can’t help but love him. I put my hand on his shoulder and bring my face close to his.
He says, “I…I’m fine. I don’t know how Mia got past the surveillance, but…our first priority now is to seize her and save His Majesty.”
I know…oh…really. I’m sorry…”
I gently rubbed his back as he repeated his apology.
I’m so sorry…”
The voice belonged to Queen Maria.
How is it that after all the precautions I’ve taken, you’ve managed to slip up at the most crucial moment?
“Mother…”
It is the queen, after all. She is the queen. She is absolutely relentless.
The two of them were seen together in the middle of the room. If we’re going to seize them together, wouldn’t it be better to do it in their bedroom? Why don’t we wait until night?”
-The bedroom….
The queen says it without hesitation. I couldn’t help but imagine the sight of a completely naked His Majesty and Mia entwined together.
-It’s true… it’s a situation where the defenses are thinned…
Rudolph exhaled.
‘Mia’s fascination is not sexual in nature. Rather, it makes her seem inviolable. It is the power of a nation that worships the one God and teaches that His word is an absolute command. Mother said that Mia has become Your Majesty’s mistress, but they probably did not have a physical relationship.
I was somewhat relieved that I was unlikely to witness such a scene between His Majesty and Mia. Later, however, I would come to think that it might have been better.
Your Highness, we are ready!
Alec came to tell me.
Let’s go.
Rudolph stood up. There was a clash of armor.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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