Masuk実の家族に虐げられ、希望も見えぬ日々を送っていた王女アイリス。彼女はある日、百年の盟約を果たすための生贄として、恐ろしいと噂される「冥府の国」へ送られることが決まってしまう。 それは事実上の死刑宣告であり、アイリスは深い絶望に突き落とされる。 しかし、死をも覚悟して辿り着いた冥府の国で彼女を待っていたのは、冷酷な運命ではなかった。そこで出会ったのは、美しくも謎に包まれた冥府の国の王子。彼から注がれるのは、アイリスが生まれて初めて知る、戸惑うほどに甘く、そして激しい「予想外の溺愛」だった──。 これは、虐げられた王女が絶望の淵から、冥府の王子に愛され、本当の幸せを見つけていく物語。
Lihat lebih banyak"My Queen,"
Frustrated, Gwen gripped the pen in her hand and looked up, ready to scowl at the person who interrupted her. But her words stuck in her throat when she saw who it was. Looking as dashing as ever, Gwen simply could not take her eyes off of her husband as he approached her. Even though it had been six years since they got married she still flushed when she saw him in his regal attire.
Ace had a smile on his face and tray in his hand as he approached her. It was a couple of hours past noon and Gwen had been stuck in her office for the entire day and completely skipped out on lunch. It was only when she had this realization that she figured out that the reason she was feeling so bad was due to lightheadedness.
"Are you alright?" he asked as he set the tray down. It had an assortment of fruits and finger foods on it. Gwen's stomach grumbled immediately upon looking at it.
"Just tired." she gave him a weak smile.
Her recent dilemma was figuring out ways to develop trading routes between Paria-Drae, the country she ruled, and other countries on and off her continent, but it was not going as smoothly as she hoped. Because of the countries track record, no one wanted anything to do with them and was not even willing to give her a chance. It was all the actions of the past rulers but because Gwen inherited the position, she had to shoulder the consequences.
Ace put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a little massage before he leaned down and kissed her neck. "Why don't you take walk, clear your head. Get out of this stuffy room."
His lips brushed against her neck as he spoke and made her shiver, causing goosebumps to break out on her skin. As much as Gwen wanted to say no, it seemed like stepping away was the best thing for her. She was getting nowhere and pushing her brain to try and come up with a solution was a dead end. Maybe getting some fresh air would stimulate something in her mind.
And so, with the tray hand, Gwen walked out of the office. Side by side, the Queen and King walked through the castle, people bowed and greeted them as they passed. Even after nine years of being a ruler, Gwen was still looked at with shock and admiration for what she had done in the past. She never acted like the typical Queen and that caused her name to always be in the mouths of the people.
It was especially crazy when Gwen married Ace, a mere soldier from Paria-Drae's neighbor, Estril. If a royal were to get married then they would do so with someone close to their social status, so Gwen was not even moved when she heard the comments of shock and protest from her close advisors.
But Gwen ignored them and it was for the best. She looked up at Ace as he guided her through the halls with his hand on her lower back. It seemed like a dream to be married to him. To have him all to herself. Well, her and two others as of late.
Once they reached the garden, Ace picked a spot under a large tree and they both sat down. The silence was enough. They both ate from the tray enjoying each other's company. Gwen would feel Ace's gaze on her but stayed forced on the scenery around her. That was until she felt a tug of her hair.
Ace was looking at her hair and twirling it around his finger tenderly. "It's gotten quite long," he murmured.
Gwen passed a hand over the length of her hair before holding it up. Her long wavy blond hair was now almost down her tail bone. It had never been that long before and Gwen had no desire to cut it.
"Well, now that I'm allowed to wear it long so I will. I've had enough of short hair." Gwen then turned her attention to Ace and looked at his hair. He had also let it grow a bit. He had these beautiful brown curls that Gwen adored and always pestered him not to cut him. It was a cute messy style on his head and more often than not, Gwen found her hands in her hair.
"I can say the same about you." she smiled.
"Well how could I not give you what you want." he gave the lopsided smile that always made her heart skip a beat.
Gwen rolled her eyes and brushed her hair over her shoulder. "Exactly. Ignoring the Queen of Paria-Drae would have dire consequences."
Ace smirked. "And what would those be?"
Gwen hummed and simply ate a grape off of the tray. "I'm not sure a peacock like yourself would be able to handle it."
He scoffed. "Still calling me peacock after all these years."
With a curious gaze, she raised an eyebrow. "Am I wrong?"
It seemed like that was enough to shut him up and Gwen smiled victoriously. Even now, she could still make him speechless. It had been something so hard to achieve in the past. Gwen moved closer to Ace, pushing the tray away from them.
"You used to be so hard to deal with, but look at you now, at my mercy. If I knew that making you fall for me was all I had to do was defeat you I would have done it from the start." She put her arms around his neck and pulled him close to her.
Ace hummed and put their foreheads together, placing his hands on her hips and pulling her against him. "If I had known that all I had to do was kiss you in order to have you begging for more then I would have done it from the start."
Gwen rolled her eyes, rubbing his nape with her fingers. Gwen knew that that was his weak spot and so she always aimed for it when they were intimate. Ace let out a small groan and leaned down, making their lips brush.
"You always play dirty," he muttered.
"Is that anything new?" she asked as she connected their lips.
Ace wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up on his lap, he bit onto her bottom lip and sucked on it for a couple of seconds causing Gwen to let out a whimper. And just as he was about to deepen the kiss they were interrupted.
"Mommy!"
"Daddy!"
「ふんふん、ふーん」 カイルは一人、城の地下へと続く階段を降りていた。ジェームズが向かったであろう書斎や、リリーが感じ取る魂の残響など、彼は信じない。物事の真実は、いつだって埃と瓦礫の下に眠っているものだ。それが元騎士である、彼の現実的な哲学だった。「やれやれ、この城も主と同じで古ぼけてやがる。何千年ものの骨董城なんだ?ここは」地下はひどく湿っぽく、黴と古い土の匂いがした。壁からは水が染み出し、床には幽霊蜘蛛の巣が、びっしりと張られている。「おっと失礼。スケスケ蜘蛛のお嬢さん方。こんな薄汚いとこに住んでると美容に悪いぜ?まあ俺ほどの名物件な、らどこにいたって輝いちまうけどな」カイルはそんな光景に、心底うんざりした顔で悪態をついた。「しっかし、こんなじめじめした場所は、気分まで滅入る。俺のこの国宝級の顔が、さらに腐っちまうだろ。しょうがねえ。俺様の美声でこの陰気な城を少しは清めてやるか」彼はそう言うと、どこで覚えたのか陽気な酒場の歌を、鼻歌で歌い始めた。その場違いに明るい旋律が、薄暗く静まり返った地下通路に虚しく響き渡る。彼は腐って開かなくなった扉を、容赦なく蹴破りながら進む。「はーっ!いちいち扉が腐ってやがる。あの引きこもり公爵は、城の手入れって言葉を知らねえのかね。まあおかげで、俺の騎士時代のキックが錆びてねえって証明にはなるか」彼は瓦礫の山をかき分けながら、独り言を続ける。「どれもこれもガラクタばかりだな。こんなもん大事に溜め込んでるから、心までカビが生えるんだ」そうやって軽口を叩き続けながらも、彼の目はただ一つの価値ある手掛かりを見つけ出すため鋭く、そして冷静に輝いていた。カイルは次に、城の厨房へと足を踏み入れた。そこは巨大な石窯がある、だだっ広い空間だった。しかし、何百年も火が入れられていないのだろうその窯は、ひやりと冷たく
(これ、は──)リリーの意識は、眩い光に包まれた。それは冥府の国で、は決して見ることのできない、生命力に満ちた太陽の光。彼女が見ている光景は、、生者の世界の美しい庭園だった。色とりどりの花が咲き乱れ、小鳥たちの歌声が響き渡り、風は花の甘い香りを運んでくる。(これは、誰かの心象風景……?きっとそうだわ。誰かに忘却された、悲しい記憶の欠片……)その庭園の木陰で、ま若き麗しい青年が愛用の竪琴を奏でていた。その表情は穏やかで、喜びに満ちている。彼の前には、一人の美しい女性が座り、その旋律にうっとりと耳を傾けていた。「その音色、とても素敵ね。でも、もう少しだけ……そう、春の最初の蝶が舞うような、軽やかさが欲しいわ」女性が楽しげにそう言うと青年は優しく笑った。「春の最初の蝶が舞うような軽やかさ……うーん、君はいつも難しい注文をするね。まぁいいさ。やってみよう」青年が奏でる、軽やかな旋律。その音色に、リリーははっとした。(こ、この旋律は……!)間違いない。これは城で絶えず流れている、あの物悲しい旋律。でも違う。全く違う。この記憶の中で奏でられる歌は、悲しみの響きなど、微塵も帯びていない。それは愛する人への喜びと、未来への希望に満ちた、明るく優しい恋の歌だった。青年は竪琴を奏で終えると、満足げに微笑んだ。「どうだろう、エララ。今の旋律は。君の言う春の蝶のように聞こえたかい」エララと呼ばれた女性は、楽しそうに悪戯っぽく笑う。「ふふ、そうですね。蝶というよりは、少し慌てん坊の蜂さんのようでした」「蜂か。それは手厳しいな」
ジェームズとカイルがそれぞれの調査へと向かった後、リリーは一人城の静かな回廊に佇んでいた。「うーん、このお城、とっても古いですわ……私よりも……あれ、私って何歳でしたっけ?」 彼女の目的、は文献や物理的な証拠ではない。この城の石の一つ一つに染み込んだ、公爵の魂の痕跡、そのものを辿ること。それができるのは、幽霊である彼女ただ一人だった。リリーは、アイリスのあの悲しげな、しかし決意に満ちた瞳を思い出す。「姫様のためにも頑張らなくては!」彼女はそう小さく呟くと、そっとその半透明の目を閉じた。そして意識を研ぎ澄まし、この城に渦巻く感情の流れに耳を澄ませる。「とてもたくさんの野良幽霊が、住み着いてますわ……」怒り、後悔、諦念、そして深い悲しみ……。無数の感情の残響が、彼女の魂に流れ込んでくる。しかしその中でもひときわ強くそ、して複雑に絡み合った想いを放つ場所があった。それはやはり、あの未完の旋律が、永遠に響き続ける音楽室。リリーは目を開けると、迷うことなくその場所へと、ふわりと漂い始めた。そして、天井をすり抜け、壁をすり抜け、色々とすり抜けること少し。無事、音楽室に着いたリリーは、音楽室の最も奥に置かれた、巨大なピアノの前に立った。「とても立派なピアノですこと……」黒檀と骨で作られたその荘厳な楽器からは、他のどの楽器よりも強く、深い感情の残滓が放たれている。彼女はおずおずと、その半透明の手を伸ばし、そっと鍵盤に触れた。すると、ピアノの側面が音もなく滑らかに開き、中から一つの隠された引き出しが現れた。「こ……これは!?」その引き出しの中に、ただ一冊だけ、古びた楽譜が眠っていた。
落下するジェームズ。ガシャンという派手な音を立てて、ジェームズは石の床に叩きつけられた。その衝撃で彼の骨の身体は、無惨にもバラバラになってしまう。「痛たた……わたしの気品あるボディが、あちこち外れてしまったではないか。ああ、我が麗しの肋骨が一本足りぬ……」彼は暗闇の中で、自分の骨を探しながら、情けない声でそう愚痴をこぼした。やがてジェームズは、なんとか自らの身体を組み立て直し、立ち上がる。そして自分の眼窩から放たれる青白い光を頼りに周囲を見渡した。「ううむ……ここは……?」そこは下室だった。空気はひどく乾燥し、何千年もの間積もったであろう、分厚い埃が全てを覆っている。壁には色褪せた古い星図がかけられ、腐りかけた木の机の上には、用途の分からぬ奇妙な道具が並んでいた。「かなり古い場所のようだが……」そして部、屋の奥には石でできた棚があり、そこには風化しかけた無数の巻物が眠っている。ここは間違いなく、何千年もの間、誰一人として足を踏み入れていない場所だった。ジェームズはその光景に息を呑む。「……!ここは……まさか古代の書庫か?オルフェウス公が心を閉ざされるよりずっと昔の……」彼は自らの失態が、とんでもない発見に繋がったことを悟り、興奮にその骨の身体を震わせる。「な、なにか手掛かりが見つかるかもしれん!これは好機!公爵には悪いが、調べさせていただこう!」ジェームズは慎重に、そして丁寧に古代の書庫を調べ始めた。しかし、何千年という時の重みはあまりに過酷だった。「うぅむ、脆い……流石に






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