It's a little sad to open my eyes in the morning in my soft bed.
　It's too big.
　For Izuna, the opulent bed in the aristocratic mansion was too big.
　Even if she laid down in a large figure, there was still plenty of room for her.
　When I looked to the side, I saw that my parents were no longer with me.
　They must have been working early in the morning.
　Izuna blinked a few times, then combed her bangs down and left the room with a relaxed gait.


　The Demon Eye Clan, its only survivor - that was Izuna.
　It is said that among the human race, Izuna is the only one with a demon eye. At least in Estor, there was already only Izuna.
　A fixed star that blinks in the darkness like the night sky.
　The cursed eye that rejects the demon.

　Estor's tactical weapon - Izuna Lendl Greenfall.
　House Greenfall was just a weapon.
　A weapon to be used in warfare by giving them the lowest level of knighthoods and surrounding them as nobles, such a weapon.
　The demons of war, the cursed knights, the Greenfall of annihilation, the history of disparagement upon disparagement and the ever-spreading rumor mill, had been going on long before Izuna was born.

　That's why Izuna couldn't go to school.
　If she did, the only thing waiting for her was persecution and violence.

　There is no tutor.
　No one was willing to take on the task. Instead, my father and mother taught me academics, magic, and how to fight.
　I haven't lived eight years yet.
　But Izuna had gained the strength to live.
　Izuna understood now why her father had imposed such rigorous training on her, and now she understood that it was also love.

　He rarely walked the streets.
　Because she didn't want to be stoned.
　Because I don't want to shed blood.
　So I walked the back streets.
　I searched and searched and walked where there was no one else.

　They hate me--
　I didn't need a reason.

　She didn't need a reason to--
　It was predestined to be so from birth.

　They hated--.
　The eyes of the people who looked down on me were impossibly scary.

　They hated me!　She hates me!　She hates me!　She hates me!　She hates me!

　I sank for no reason, hated it, and sank.

　I sank to the bottom of the ocean.
　They hated me, they hated me, they killed me.
　Esther, the king, the king, the nobles, the people, the people, the people, they all hated everyone.


　It's a big house, Izuna thought as she walked through the house where she belonged.
　Flowers arranged in a white porcelain vase, whose price is unimaginable, caught her attention. Even a mere passage is elaborate and designed.
　When I saw it, I knew this was the real thing.
　Such a place where there is a maid, a butler, and someone important.
　Izuna slowly opened the door to the dining room table.

'Oh, good morning--I've been waiting for you, Izuna--today's omelet is delicious, let's eat it together.'
　The woman who said that and smiled kindly.
　She is the only person who has reached out to Izuna.
　The one person who gave me a home, clothes, a place to stay, food, and kindness.
　And most of all, he was the one person who had reunited me with my father and mother.



I finished earlier--I'm at work, okay?　I don't want you to get in my way.

Yes.

Izuna is a really nice girl...
　I once asked her why she was being nice to me.
　And she replied--.

'Half of it is a miscalculation, because I want the power of the magic eye - a quarter of it is my duty as a nobleman. There's no reason why I shouldn't help a girl who's in Esthar's best interest. The other quarter is because you're a child. It's a grown-up's job to help them. Spoil them a lot, Izuna.
　If Izuna is going to be used by her, he thinks that's fine.
　If she could repay her debt of gratitude for giving her everything she had for nothing, she would be fine with that.

　Still, she was strange. The bewitching hair, the cool eyes, the body that exuded color and scent.
　All of it, somehow distant.

　You could say that there are walls.
　I'm not sure why, but for some reason, I can't spoil her from the bottom of my heart, and she refrains from doing so.
　That was Analicia and Izuna's relationship.

''Come to think of it--you're late coming home lately, where are you and what are you doing?''
　It's a gentle tone, as always.
　But when I looked into his eyes, I couldn't help but feel a faint pressure.

''Well ... well ... and I was playing with my friends, and ...''
　I wonder to myself.
　How did I become friends with that girl?
　I don't know if I trust the word 'friend', which is so flimsy.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

　Annalicia, who looked at Izuna like she was observing her, says, still looking happy.

Yes, it's good for you, Isuna. You've made a friend too - please introduce me to it next time.

Yes.
　Izuna was happy.
　Hopefully, this happiness would last forever and ever - and so the girl clutched at the stagnation.





◇




　The shade of the trees in the bleak, poorly lit hall is awfully cool.
　The sound of wood creaking in the shade reaches my ears.
　There are two sounds.
　The two girls were sitting on a swing draped from the branches that spread their leaves.
　Izuna opens her mouth in frustration in the midst of an empty world, just the two of them.

''That's why you can't be like that, Aisha... if you spoil him better, I'm sure his father will respond.''

But it's embarrassing and...

"Well Aisha should be more assertive she should at least say that she wants to be with you tonight... ...
　Mufu,　
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time. No, I don't have any evidence other than the corners of her mouth are slightly raised, but I'm sure her hidden eyes must be poking fun at Aisha.

''I mean, I think that has different implications!

"..........?　What do you mean...?
　When Izuna tilted her head slightly, Aisha shushed her.

........nothing........

.........?
　Aisha sighs heavily beside Izuna, who looks quizzical.
　When Aisha told her about the situation since she came here, Izuna told Aisha to get to know her father better, as if she was pretending to be her senior for some reason.
　We talked a lot about that.
　Today, they were still working hard at chatting with a crepe in hand that Aisha had bought before coming here.

'Are you close with your parents, Isna?'

'Well of course it's fine I slept with you yesterday until the middle of the night. My mom and dad are so nice to me.

I see...
　Aisha looked down slightly as if to escape from pure Isna's words.

''Well Aisha, don't you want to get along with your father?''
　Aisha thought for a moment about how she herself should respond to Izuna's words.
　What do I want to do?
　As if searching for the answer to that question.

'I want to get along--'
　Then, before Izuna can say a word, Aisha continues.

'I want to be friends with Izuna and Nacht-sama--'

　In many ways, the two of them made an effort to plan a strategy to get closer to their father. No, Aisha couldn't help but wonder if it was right to call that an effort.

'Head good, begging mission.
　Or something.
"Operation Homemade Chocolate
　Or something.
"A pat on the shoulder, for filial piety.
　Or so it seemed.
　The two of us talked every day, listening to what Isna had been doing, discussing what we should do, and then we were embarrassed to do it.
　We tried a lot of things, even though we thought it would be pointless, and all we found out was one fact--there was only one.

I have to say goodbye. That's why I want to be friends with Izuna and Nacht-sama.

"...why?　Aisha doesn't like her dad!
　Aisha shook her head quietly at Izuna's increasingly wordy words.

'I loved it, you know, Izuna--I loved my dad--I loved him.

Well, then...

That's why it's different!　You know it's IZNA, don't you...　It's only been a week and I can tell, so there's no way Izuna doesn't understand. You're just like me, pretending you don't understand.

No!

　Aisha shakes her head quietly.

'It's no different. I know it's hard, I know it's painful, I know I want to cling to you - but I can't stay like this forever. I'm Nacht-sama's squire.
　There is a distinct difference between understanding and acceptance.
　Understanding alone won't get you off your chest and you will remain in pain. The heart refuses to understand with the head.
　That's why I gave it time, Aisha thinks.
　Aisha jumped off the swing and smiled to cover her loneliness.

'Izuna helped me make up my mind. Because Izuna became my friend, I was able to look at the present - thank you, Izuna.

Aisha.............................

I'll see you tomorrow, Izuna.
　With that, Aisha ran out of the small hall.