Chapter 12

She’s towering at over 180 cm tall, which counts as “gigantic” for a girl.

And the bushy, curly black hair takes up about two-thirds of that height.

It’s not just high up but spreads out sideways too, accentuating an impressively large chest and backside for her size.

While her strong physique might suggest she could be a general, all those outward traits disappear behind her girl-next-door vibe.

She treads dark paths as if intentionally avoiding the world, with bangs covering her eyes and a mouth that mumbles, failing to convey her thoughts.

Add to that her timid, jumpy personality that never approaches others first, and her grand build only pushes people away.

The Academy ranking isn’t precise, but I think it’s in the three-digit range. She’s a girl who doesn’t like to fight.

Probably from a small noble family in a backwater area, using a unique dialect like Rusika Rafisle.

Haidiera Aisidel.

Today, she was again trying to hide from the sunlight streaming through the bars, snugly wedged into a corner of the hallway.

“Why are you just sitting there?”

With a smirk and a wave to come over, she approached with surprisingly quiet and agile steps, despite her hefty frame, almost reminiscent of a bug.

“I, I was looking for a good spot to talk to Lord Erto…”

“You can just walk over and talk anytime.”

“How could I just waltz up to a man in front of a crowd? If I act recklessly, the rumors will spread! Like I’m in love or something!”

“Well, it’s not like anyone would attach such rumors to me…”

It feels weird saying this, but until I broke up, my identity at the Academy was firmly established as Tirisia’s sunflower.

“And I, I’m never startled when you call.”

“Just call me normally, okay? Don’t suddenly pop up and whisper in my ear.”

“But I’ve only followed your advice today…”

“You took it too far!”

“Um… I’ll keep the moderation in mind next time…”

“Yes, that’s how you grow. So, do you need to talk about something?”

Since Tirisia was waiting, we couldn’t chat for long, so I cut to the chase, causing Haidiera to panic and wave her hands.

“It’s, it’s nothing big! I was just on my way to see Lord Bruerd!”

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

“Then… I, I wanted to ask you something.”

“Sure.”

Haidiera glanced around cautiously, confirming no one was eavesdropping, then covered her mouth with her hand and whispered to me.

“Um… didn’t you go on a date with Lady Rafisle today?”

“What?”

“What happened? You’re giving your offerings, usually for Lord Bruerd, to another woman? You’re playing with fire here!”

“Offering? Can we just call it lunch?”

As I chuckled, Haidiera shook her fists in front of her substantial chest.

“That’s not the point!”

“And who says I can’t share a lunch with someone else?”

“Well, that makes sense, but why wasn’t Lord Bruerd there?”

“Hmm…”

I had the sense that explaining things here might cause the conversation to drag on.

Maybe I’ll just leave the details for tomorrow.

I lightly tapped Haidiera’s shoulder and smiled in a vague sort of way.

“Let’s do this. Come to the lectern tomorrow during lunch, Haidiera.”

“Huh?!”

“Got it? It’s a promise! I’ll see you later?”

“L, Lord Erto? Wait… just the two of us? Huh?”

“See you tomorrow~”

I waved goodbye to the bewildered Haidiera, who was patting her head with both hands like a confused chinchilla, and headed to the classroom where Tirisia was waiting.

Well, since my next destination was her anyway, it worked out perfectly.

Given her size, I should probably pack more lunch for her tomorrow.

*

The next day, while waiting under the lectern’s trees with a blanket laid out, I noticed a dark aura stirring behind the trees by the entrance.

A girl with a hefty frame was hiding behind a tree, peeking out with just her scraggly hair visible.

As I waved for her to come over, she scuffled quickly across the grass, making a rustling sound.

“Is it really okay… to meet just the two of us in such a crowded place…?!”

“Relax, without Tirisia, no one cares about us, just come sit down.”

In reality, the famous one in the Academy is Tirisia; even during my days as her boyfriend, I was treated like a worthless bag of straw.

Erto is just an ordinary peasant with no memorable traits or exceptional skills.

Standing next to Tirisia, my presence gets overshadowed by her brilliance, so most students who know we were dating don’t even remember my name.

With the gloomy, unnoticeable Haidiera next to me, we must be the definition of extras that nobody gives a second glance to.

“Huh?! I think someone over there is whispering about us!”

“Cut it out with the delusions.”

“Ugh… this is unsettling… the sun is too strong…”

“That’s why we found a spot in the shade.”

Haidiera, with her shoulders drooping, sat gingerly beside me.

“Here, eat.”

As I handed her chopsticks over the opened lunch box, Haidiera accepted them carefully with both hands.

“Th-thank you… but I still don’t understand what this is about…”

“If you’re curious about anything, just ask.”

“Where did Lord Bruerd go? Why is Lord Erto eating alone?”

“He’s caught up with some urgent matters during lunch hour. Not sure when he’ll be back.”

“Hmm… Ah, well, thanks for the meal.”

“Sure.”

As Haidiera started eating, she seemed lost in deep thought.

“Is it to your taste?”

To break the thick atmosphere, I asked, and she jerked her head up, fumbling her hands in front of her chest.

“Ah! I-it’s really delicious! Whoever gets served this every day is truly lucky!”

“Glad to hear that.”

“Um, I-I wonder if it’s alright for me to take up this spot even for a moment…”

“No way, I might not get to see Tirisia during lunch from now on. It’s nice having you here.”

At that, Haidiera quietly placed her bowl on her lap, staring at my face.

From behind her unruly bangs, her amethyst eyes radiated a calm pressure.

“Um… Lord Erto.”

“Yeah.”

“I-I might be overstepping my bounds, but I just can’t let it slide without saying something.”

“What is it? Take it easy.”

“To me, it seems like you’re dealing with something serious, Lord Erto. Am I wrong?”

“What? No, nothing like that.”

“Is that so… But your behavior has changed a lot lately.”

“Really? I don’t think I’ve changed much.”

“I know Lord Bruerd has a lot of busy duties as a high noble. I’m not doubting that.”

“Mhm, yeah?”

All of a sudden, Haidiera, engrossed in the conversation, spoke without stuttering, revealing the dignified grace of an aristocrat whenever she was fully focused.

“It’s not trivial that the two of you, who used to be inseparable, are spending more time apart lately. People can face difficult situations in the flow of life.”

“Ah… Right.”

“So no matter how much distance is visible to the eye, I wouldn’t think much of it.”

“…”

This was the first time I saw Haidiera being so serious.

I quietly urged her on for her next words.

“So?”

“What’s concerning me is… your gaze, Lord Erto.”

“My gaze?”

That was a conclusion I never saw coming, leaving me dumbfounded.

Haidiera raised her palm to the air as if to support my eyes.

“For a while now, when you look at Lord Bruerd… it feels like there’s no soul in it.”

“Huh, no soul? That’s awfully abstract all of a sudden.”

“I think other people don’t feel anything weird because Lord Erto keeps acting tough like it’s all fine. But since I have this sneaky nature of observing quietly in the shadows… I sensed something different.”

As she placed her hand on her bangs, Haidiera brushed it away, revealing her amethyst eyes meeting my gaze.

“In your eyes, Lord Erto, I saw emptiness. And it seemed so deep and dark.”

“…”

I had no words to counter that.