episode_0012

A tall woman, over 180 cm tall, considered ‘huge’ by women’s standards.

And the curly black hair that makes up about two-thirds of her height.

A large chest and buttocks that spread out as much as they rose upward, making them stand out from their size.

Considering the grandeur of his frame, he is worthy of the title of general, but all of his external features are useless compared to the girl’s aura.

A nocturnal personality who only walks on paths with dark shadows.

Her bangs cover her eyes as if she wants to be cut off from the world, and her mouth mumbles and cannot fully convey what she wants to say.

Add to that his cautious personality, which makes him shy and never approach others first, and at this point his tall frame was nothing more than a factor that made others avoid him.

Her Academy ranking isn’t exact, but I think it was in the three digits. She’s a girl who doesn’t like fighting.

A noble student from a weak family in the outskirts who speaks a unique dialect, perhaps similar to Lucica Lapisle.

Heidiera Icedel.

Today, too, she was wedged in at the corner of the hallway, avoiding the sunlight pouring in through the bars.

“Why are you doing that there?”

When I gestured for her to come over with a smirk, Heidiera approached me with quiet and quick steps that did not match her heavy body, and her movements were reminiscent of those of an insect.

“I was looking for a suitable place to talk to Lord Leto… ”

“You can just talk to me whenever you want.”

“How can you talk to a man in front of a crowd? If you act so rashly, you will be talked about by people! I, I said I was angry!”

“I don’t know about other people, but I’m sure that kind of rumor won’t spread to me…?”

I hate to say it myself, but before we broke up, I was known as Tirisia Sunflower within the Academy.

“And you, you’re never surprised when I call you.”

“Just call me normally, normally… Don’t suddenly appear in my ear and whisper.”

“Today is the day I applied that advice… ”

“You went too far!”

“Um… Next time I’ll consider the middle ground… ”

“Yeah, that’s how it’s going to develop. So, is there something you want to do?”

Since Tirisia would be waiting, I couldn’t have a long conversation here, so I asked her directly, but Heidiera waved her hand in embarrassment.

“Rice, it’s not like I have any special business to attend to! Are you on your way to the Duke of Brouard?”

“Ah, right. But it’s not urgent, so if you have something to say, say it.”

“Then… oh, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Yeah.”

Heidi looked around cautiously, then, when she was sure no one was listening, covered her mouth with her hand and whispered quietly to me.

“Didn’t you have a date with Princess Lapis today?”

“What?”

“What happened? You gave the tribute that was supposed to be given only to Duke Brouard to another woman. Isn’t that something to be ashamed of?”

“Tribute? Can you call it a lunch box?”

As I answered with a hollow laugh, Heidiera waved both her fists in front of her large chest.

“That, that’s not the point!”

“And it’s just a lunch box… Isn’t it okay to share it with other people?”

“Mu, of course that makes sense, but why wasn’t there a Lord Brouard?”

“Um… ”

I had a feeling that if I explained the situation here, the conversation would go on for a long time.

Let’s postpone the detailed story until tomorrow.

I patted the giant girl on the shoulder and gave her a vague, condescending smile.

“Let’s do this. Come to the podium at lunchtime tomorrow, Heidiera.”

“Huh?!”

“Okay? It’s a promise? I’ll go now?”

“Rrrrr, Lord Leto? Wait… Two, two of you? Huh?”

“See you tomorrow~”

I waved to Heidiera, who was looking embarrassed and stroking her head with both hands like a chinchilla washing its face, and walked towards the classroom where Tirisia was.

Well, it worked out well since her was my next destination in the first place.

Since you’re so big, I’ll pack a bigger lunch tomorrow.

*

The next day,

As I was waiting on a mat spread out under the trees lining the podium, I saw a black aura rippling behind the trees near the entrance.

A girl with her heavy body hidden behind a tree, with only her head sticking out.

When I waved my hand to tell her to come over, she came quickly walking across the grass, making a rustling sound.

“Hey, is this even possible…? For two people to meet in such a crowded place…!”

“Come sit down, no one will care about us without Tirisia.”

In reality, the only celebrity within the academy was Tirissia, and even when I was her boyfriend, I was treated like a worthless barley sack.

Erto was just a commoner man with no special features, neither a particularly memorable impression nor outstanding skills.

When I stood next to Tirisia, my presence was buried in her halo, so most of the students knew that I was dating her, but they didn’t know my name.

Add to that the gloomy and insignificant Heidiera, and we were now just extras that no one even paid attention to.

“What the heck?! Hey, I think someone was gossiping over there!”

“Oh, stop dreaming.”

“Ugh… It’s burdensome… The sun is too strong… ”

“So you settled down in the shade.”

Heidiera sat down quietly next to me, her shoulders hunched.

“Okay, eat.”

When I handed her chopsticks over her unfolded lunch box, Heidiera respectfully accepted them with both hands.

“, thank you… but I still don’t know what’s going on… ”

“If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“Where on earth did Lord Brouard go? Why is Lord Leto eating alone?”

“I have some busy work to do during lunch time. I don’t know when it will end.”

“Hmm… Ah, first of all, thank you. I will eat well.”

“Yeah.”

Heidi began to eat, deep in thought.

“Does it fit your taste?”

When I asked her to break the heavy atmosphere from the start, she raised her head with a start and groped her hands in front of her chest.

“Ahh! Wow, the food is really delicious. Those who are treated to this every day are truly blessed.”

“Thank goodness.”

“I don’t know if it’s okay for me to take that place for a little while… ”

“No, I might not be able to meet Tirissia for lunch anymore. It would be nice if you were here by my side like this.”

At those words, Heidiera put down her bowl of rice on her knees and looked at my face.

Her purple eyes radiated a calm and commanding presence from behind her bushy bangs.

“That… Leto Gong.”

“Yeah.”

“I know this may be presumptuous, but I feel uneasy about letting it go.”

“What is it? Take it easy.”

“In my eyes, there seems to be something wrong with Lord Leto. Am I wrong?”

“Huh? No, there’s no such thing.”

“I see… But lately, Lord Leto’s behavior has been very different from before.”

“Is that so…? I don’t think much has changed.”

“I know very well that Duke Brouard is a great noble and has a lot of work to do. I don’t particularly doubt that.”

“Hmm, really?”

Heidi, who had become absorbed in the conversation, spoke without a stutter, displaying the quiet dignity of a noblewoman that she sometimes displays when her mind is completely focused.

“I don’t think it’s something to be taken lightly, that two people who used to be like one body are now spending more time apart. It’s natural for people to have unfavorable circumstances as they go through life.”

“Ah… That’s right.”

“So no matter how far you are from me, I don’t think much of it.”

“… ”

This is the first time I’ve seen Heidiera speak so seriously.

I quietly urged her on to her next words.

“Then?”

“What is on my mind is…your gaze, Lord Leto.”

“Eyes… light?”

I was dumbfounded when I came to a conclusion I had never expected.

Heidi put her palms in the air as if to support my pupils.

“I’ve been getting the feeling that the way Lord Leto looks at Lord Brouard lately…isn’t filled with soul.”

“Ho, soul? It’s suddenly too abstract.”

“Since Lord Leto acts so bravely as if nothing happened, others probably don’t feel uncomfortable. However, since I have a sinister personality that likes to spy on others from the shadows… I felt something different.”

Heidiera brought her hand to her bangs, swept it back, and met my gaze with her amethyst eyes.

“In the eyes of the Lord Lotto, I saw emptiness. And it must have been deep and dark.”

“… ”

I had nothing to say in rebuttal.