episode_0013

Under the shade of the trees on the podium, Heidi and I looked into each other’s eyes for a moment.

“If what I saw was not an illusion…Can you tell me why?”

“Heidiera… ”

A gentle breeze blew, making the leaves rustle softly.

The surrounding noise faded away and for a moment my mind was completely focused on the girl in front of me.

A momentary worry crossed my mind.

What you can say and what you can’t.

If you had this much insight into the fact that something was wrong with me, then there was no point in denying it now.

Because deep down, she is already convinced.

Above all, it would be disrespectful to the person who was so genuinely concerned about me to act like a fool now.

“That’s… ”

I made up my mind and decided to tell her the truth.

“I’ll let you know when the time comes.”

A deferral, not a denial.

That was my answer.

“Give me some time to think about it. It won’t take long.”

Since the fact that I had broken up with Tirisia would have to be revealed to everyone sooner or later, it was ultimately a matter of order.

However, since an agreement with the parties involved was needed before making that fact public, for now we will acknowledge that there is a problem, but give it some grace.

Of course, I had no intention of ever revealing the real truth about Tyrisia having an affair with another man.

The only truth that others should know is that Tirisia and I broke up.

I think the change in me that Heidiera is worried about probably stems from that deeper truth, but that sordid detail absolutely had to be kept in the dark.

This is for Tirisia, but fundamentally, it is for myself more than anyone else.

For my desired goal to be achieved in some way, I needed to just remain detached and watch everything unfold.

So, it is uncertain whether Heidiera’s questions will be answered, but unfortunately, only a part of the story can be revealed.

Even that will take a little more time.

Really, it’s a pity.

“Is that so… ”

Heidiera listened to my answer and lowered her bangs that she had pulled up.

The strange sense of oppression that had been rising from her body disappeared and a soft smile appeared on her lips.

“I guess we still need more time, Lord Leto.”

“Really, just a little bit will do.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. This isn’t a compulsion, it’s just a worry. I’ll just wait until Lord Leto musters up his courage.”

“Then… I’ll say thank you.”

“Instead, I want you to remember just one thing, Lord Leto.”

“What is it?”

Heidiera reached out her hand over the spread out lunch boxes, as if asking for a handshake.

I looked at her face and palm alternately, and naturally placed my hand on top of her large hand.

Kkuk-

A stronger force than I expected grabbed my hand.

“No matter what you think or choose, Lord Lotto, I will always be by your side as your friend. Don’t bear everything alone. Please don’t forget that there is a place here where you can lean on when things get tough.”

“Heidiera… ”

Although she usually just seemed like a weak and timid girl, when you look at her like this, you see that she is a very strong-willed and tough girl.

I smiled in gratitude and shook our intertwined hands up and down.

“Okay, I’ll definitely remember that. Thank you so much.”

“… … ”

After looking at each other for a moment with a warm atmosphere, Heidiera suddenly realized that she was holding his hand and took it back with an awkward cough.

“K, hm! Ahem! Good, good! Then that’s enough! Haha… I, I was so absorbed in what I was going to say that I did something embarrassing… ! Ma, how reckless! Lord Leto! ”

“You’re suddenly blaming me? You were the one who reached out!”

“Mo, I don’t know! I didn’t say anything to catch him! Lord Leto is a thug who harasses women!”

“… Okay, let’s just say that.”

It was such a cute criticism compared to what I usually hear from Lucica or Seldianne, so I ended the situation with a hearty laugh.

“Anyway, let’s finish eating quickly. I’m going to get cold.”

“Oh, I see. I babbled on for too long during the meal. Come on, Lord Leto. I will join you.”

“Eat a lot. I prepared this just for you.”

“Hoooo…?!”

Heidi, who was putting food in her mouth, trembled and muttered in a small voice.

“But, does this place last every day…?”

“Well, since Tirisia isn’t here, I’m still alone, but I feel bad asking other people to hang out with me every day. After we say hello, I’m just going to eat alone.”

“Hmm… Is that so? Uhh… ”

The corners of Heidiera’s mouth twitched strangely. It was a strange atmosphere, one could not tell whether she was smiling or thinking of a sinister scheme.

“Huh, if that’s true, how about doing it like this?”

“What?”

“If no one speaks to Lord Leto first after the scheduled work is over… I, I will fill the empty seat at any time. Anytime.”

As she said that, Heidiera smiled awkwardly. It was the kind of expression a cat would make after making eye contact with its owner while trying to steal a fish from a fishmonger.

Well, why are you telling a good story while being cautious?

I nodded without hesitation.

“Of course I like it, but if that’s the case, why don’t you just eat it every day? Why bother only when there’s no one around? ”

“That, that’s…?!”

Heidiera wiggled her index fingers in front of her massive chest.

“Bo, if you take the place that should be the original position of the Duke of Brood every day as if it were natural, won’t you stand out? You might even get the disapproval of other nobles or bad rumors…! So, that position is too burdensome for me… ”

“Well… I guess other people don’t really care where Tirisia is, they don’t really care who’s next to me.”

I was stuck next to the Academy’s most famous celebrity, Tirissia Bruard, so it seemed like I was sharing the spotlight, but in reality I was just a piece of luggage next to her, so if I were alone, no one would pay any attention.

The interest that shines on me and Tirisia is that when Tirisia moves, every single one of them follows her without leaving a single one behind.

Isn’t that no problem?

Then Heidi lowered her voice a little and whispered secretly in my ear.

“Sa, in fact, more than that… I am afraid of incurring the resentment of those who wish to sit next to the Duke of Leto… I am a weak family from a distant eastern land with no power… However, I must refrain from rash actions… ”

“Huh?”

That was something that really didn’t make sense.

It was as if there were people fiercely vying for the seat next to me.

Are you the kind of person who covets your lunch box so much that you hold a grudge if someone steals it from you?

That’s strange… As far as I know, there’s no one like that?

I raised an eyebrow and questioned the large girl approaching me.

“Who would want to eat with me like that? No one would do that, right?”

“… … ”

Heidiera, who had been bitten, took a bite of the side dish and spoke in a calm voice.

It was a firm tone of voice, as if shouting out a slogan in a chess game.

“Do you really think so?”

“… ?”

What on earth are you talking about? I don’t really understand.

*

After a meal with some serious conversation, we saw each other off to our next lecture.

Before waving, Heidiera asked me a question.

“Le, Lord Leto, are you still coming home with Lord Bruard every day?”

“Huh? Oh, right. We usually go to and from the academy together. Otherwise, it’s hard to see each other. He’s been really busy with this and that lately.”

I don’t think I need to explain what I’m busy with. In fact, I don’t even know.

Heidi nodded, smiling as if something had been reassuring her.

“I see… I’m glad that you and Lord Broward are still on good terms despite your busy schedule.”

“Well, it’s almost become a habit now. Even before we started dating, we were childhood friends who were naturally attached to each other.”

At those words, Heidiera’s smile slightly disappeared.

“Nothing is taken for granted in this world, Lord Leto. There must be someone’s great effort behind it. It is important not to forget its value.”

“Hmm… That’s a good point.”

I don’t know who she was referring to when she said those words, but they sounded a little different to me now.

I took it for granted that Tyrissia was by my side for a long time.

And I recently realized in the worst way that I was wrong about that.

Nothing is taken for granted.

Was it me or Tirisia who forgot its value?

I don’t know.

I just hope that one day we’ll know the answer clearly.

Perhaps the answer will help fill the huge hole in my heart, even if only a little.

“I learned a lot today, I’ll keep it in mind.”

When I smiled and waved, Heidi waved with a gloomy smile, as if she was satisfied.

*

Before moving to the next classroom, I briefly returned to the men’s dormitory to store my finished lunchbox.

The dormitory was a multi-purpose building with a large bathroom for showering after training and a private room for storing belongings, where students with nothing to do in their spare time could come to study or rest in bed.

When I arrived at my private room and reached for the doorknob, I found a small piece of paper stuck under the door.

“Huh?”

What is this? A letter?

When I picked up the paper and examined it, I saw that it had an antique seal stamped on the sealing wax, which was the type of letter often used among the nobility.

There are many nobles within the Academy, but who would bother to leave a letter instead of coming to see them in person?

Since there is no postman in the academy, this means that he put it there himself.

Who? Why?

“Oh, wait.”

This seal stamped on wax… If you look closely, you can see a familiar family symbol drawn on it.

“… ”

I frowned and went into the room, broke the seal, took out the contents of the letter, and unfolded it.

There were two sentences written very clearly and neatly in large letters, as if expressing something angry.

[You are ignoring a lady, you deserve to die!]

[I’ll be waiting for you in the garden for lunch tomorrow!]

… …

Eww.