Love Letter From The Future

Eventually, Ceria cuddled into my arms. It was something I couldn’t help.

Honestly, would there even be a man who could refuse a beautiful girl like Ceria when she asked for a hug?

Of course, there could be some. One of them could have been me.

However, when I saw Ceria looking gloomy again after a while without any response from me, anyone would have to hug her.

The anxiety that she might cry again also played a part. Ceria looked unstable to anyone’s eyes.

She buried her face in my chest, rubbing against it a few times as if feeling the sensation. I felt like I would die from embarrassment, but Ceria seemed to be oblivious to it, perhaps still intoxicated by the relief.

When she finally came to her senses, it was a little while later. She suddenly opened her eyes wide as if realizing something and looked up at me.

My face was flushed to the point of being red, and I had long avoided Ceria’s gaze. This meant that the situation was quite embarrassing.

Seeing my reaction, Ceria finally seemed to understand the current situation.

A junior was nestled in the arms of a senior, rubbing her face on his chest in a state of relief. That alone was enough to be misunderstood as a couple.

In an instant, Ceria’s face flushed. She fumbled and broke free from my embrace. Her eyes darted around.

“W-What, um… S-Senior Ian? This, uh…”

“No, it’s fine. Just calm down…”

In truth, Ceria appeared to be in a greater panic than calming down, but I intentionally didn’t point that out.

I only hoped that lending her my embrace would help. As I tried to move on, Ceria desperately stopped me.

“P-Please listen! This, um, it’s because of my mother!”

“…Mother?”

Thus began Ceria’s story. A memory of her mother I had heard a few times recently.

However, today’s tale wasn’t about the nightmare-like memories we had shared up until now. Rather, it was more about the happy memories that remained in the past.

Before I knew it, Ceria and I were walking on a quiet walking path. We had to head to class soon, so it was inevitable.

The path led into the forest, where flowers and grass were growing in various spots. It was the perfect atmosphere for the two of us to have a conversation.

“When I was little, whenever I cried, my mother would hug me.”

“I see, you must have cried a lot back then.”

Remembering the time she had just bawled her eyes out, Ceria lowered her head lightly, slightly flushing her cheeks. Her voice trembled with embarrassment.

“Well, my mother was a maid, so she often had to leave. Even after she gave birth to me, she was called away often.”

“…Is that really possible?”

She was a woman who gave birth to the child of the head of the family. No matter how much the Yuridina clan adhered to blood purity, that was too harsh. To summon her like a mere servant was unreasonable.

Ceria’s voice sank further. She couldn’t even muster a wry smile. As always, her expression was blank.

Knowing it was a mask to hide her feelings, I held my tongue.

“It wasn’t that she was worked like a servant. It was just that there were some elders in the clan who disapproved, so they would summon her to say something… That was all.”

Yet even as a child, Ceria couldn’t have been oblivious to the fact that her mother was being looked down upon.

In fact, in such cases, the younger the child, the more sensitive they were to the adults’ emotions. Most children use that kind of sensitive intuition for their own benefit.

It seemed Ceria could not do that. The reduction in her speech and her increasingly blank expression likely stemmed from that time.

Proving my inference correct, Ceria continued her confession.

“Actually, I shouldn’t have been that anxious, but I vaguely knew back then. I could sense the atmosphere of the family was uneasy with my mother around.”

“So that’s why you cried, fearing she might leave.”

“…Yes.”

Ceria nodded slightly, her cheeks still flush. She was sneaking glances at me.

Now that I think about it, her words would inevitably remind me of her mother.

While I couldn’t think of her as my own mother, it meant she was an equally precious presence. I thought I should be grateful for that.

Perhaps it was because she was my first friend. As she gradually expanded her social circle, she would come to realize that too.

In truth, there were no friends who would end a friendship over a few words, and moreover, there was no need for her to treat me any differently.

When that time comes, I would feel a little lonely, but it would mean Ceria had grown more, so I had to accept it humbly.

Still, feeling slightly sulky, I teased Ceria.

“Am I that precious? Comparable to your mother?”

“W-Well, um…”

Ceria immediately stammered, trying to come up with an excuse, but her red face was already betraying her true feelings.

I chuckled softly. My hands naturally clasped Ceria’s hand. Startled, Ceria’s gaze met mine. I spoke earnestly.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere because of that.”

It was a message meant to reassure her not to feel anxious moving forward.

According to Reto’s advice, speaking in a decisive tone while holding a girl’s hand would give her more confidence. Of course, maintaining eye contact was essential.

Whether Reto’s words were effective, Ceria’s face grew warm again. She then slightly averted her gaze and spoke in a voice filled with a strange emotion.

“…Okay.”

I was satisfied and finally released Ceria’s hand. She let out a small sound of disappointment but soon quietly cradled her hands.

As if to feel the remaining warmth. She was indeed a child who felt lonely to such an extent.

I would need to pay more attention to her from now on. At least until Ceria made a few more friends.

While I was contemplating such thoughts and walking alongside Ceria, I suddenly halted upon discovering a flower blooming on the side of the road.

A sky-colored petal caught my eye. Six petals fully opened, showcasing their beauty. I had seen the name of that flower somewhere before.

When I stopped, Ceria followed my gaze with a puzzled expression. Then she let out a small gasp.

Her voice was laced with quiet joy.

“Oh, it’s a Sephia flower.”

“…You know?”

I casually asked back, somewhat surprised. Though my voice had been somewhat subdued, Ceria didn’t seem to notice because she was focused on the Sephia flower.

She spoke in her usual tone.

“Yes, it’s the flower my mother liked. When I was little, she would pick a flower and pin it to my ear.”

A gentle smile graced Ceria’s lips. It was a rare sight. Ceria rarely smiled, indicating she must have many memories linked to the Sephia flower.

Thus, I was at a loss for words.

A name written at the end of a letter flashed to my mind.

The alias “Sephia” suddenly crossed my thoughts. The incident with the monster during the swordsmanship practice and the upcoming hunting festival.

My gaze quietly shifted towards the woman standing beside me. She, who always resembled an ice sculpture, now looked down at the flower with warm eyes. The contrast was significant.

My heart fluttered at that moment.

“Even now, seeing a Sephia flower makes me feel warm inside. It’s one of the few memories my mother left me…”

Could she perhaps be the ‘Sephia’?

It was a moment when a question I had buried in my heart for a long time revived.

That afternoon, I walked along the academy’s main road without saying anything.

My head was crowded. The memories of today with Ceria were disturbing my mind like fish scattering in water.

“Is Sephia really Ceria?”

If I considered that she was the one who sent a love letter from the future and the warnings someone hastily scribbled, it meant that we had to become lovers.

Only then could the world’s destruction be prevented. To be honest, it was a story that didn’t feel real at all, yet that phrase pierced my heart like a sharp stone.

Then did that mean I would become lovers with Ceria in the future? Compared to a country baron’s second son, that would be quite the ascent. No matter how much I thought of her as a commoner, she carried the name Yuridina.

That meant I could be tied by blood to one of the five great noble families of the empire. Furthermore, Ceria was not only talented but also stunningly beautiful, worthy of praise.

However, it was precisely because of that that I felt doubtful.

Could it really be me? Would I become her lover?

I might just be overthinking things. There was no way to be sure that she was ‘Sephia’ based merely on this.

As I pondered all sorts of things while walking, I suddenly felt a soft impact on my arm. I looked over to see the cause of the shock.

With black hair and hazel eyes, the lovely girl was someone I knew all too well.

Celine Haster, with an unusually awkward smile, clung to my arm.

“W-Wha, what a coincidence! Ian, oh… Brother? Have you been well?”

“…?”

I stared at her with a look that said, “What’s wrong with this girl?” but Celine continued to watch me, as if gauging my reaction. Only then did I recall the conversation I’d had with Reto that morning.

Now that I think about it, he predicted that Celine would come to patch things up with me. It seemed that his prediction was correct, as they had grown up like siblings. Unfortunately for him, who wished to see Celine behave like this, he wasn’t actually here.

I was about to tell her that I was no longer angry, but my curiosity spiked, and I looked down at her without saying anything.

I wanted to see how Celine would react. She grew increasingly anxious.

She began to dab at her eyes with her sleeves, pretending to cry.

“I-I, Celine, couldn’t rest a single day thinking of you… I couldn’t forget that cold back of yours as you left in anger…”

“It hasn’t even been a day; it’s not surprising you couldn’t rest.”

“A-Anyways!”

As I pointed this out, Celine, who usually would have been irritated by my remark, seemed to momentarily sputter before returning to gauge my mood again. She clung to my arm once more, a wide smile on her face.

“I’ve reflected deeply, and what I did then was a bit much. So please, will you forgive me?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why not?!”

Celine began to stomp her feet, her expression one of distress as she pleaded with her appealing voice.

“Please forgive me, okay? I promise I won’t fight in front of you anymore.”

“If it’s not in front of me, will you continue to fight?”

“No! It’s just that annoying girl keeps provoking me… No, no! I won’t do it! Celine completely surrenders! I’ll listen to everything Ian says!”

As Celine was on the verge of making a fuss, she quickly declared her surrender when I tried to push her away.

A suppressed laugh escaped my lips. Her appearance was quite cute.

Upon hearing my laugh, Celine’s face lit up. Excitedly, she asked me.

“D-Did you just laugh? Did you just smile, brother? Are you not angry anymore?”

“Well, it depends on how you act.”

“Come on, you’re no longer angry, are you?”

She poked me in the side and continued to check my mood, as if she really wanted to confirm that I wasn’t angry.

Of course, my anger had long subsided, so there was no need for that. I shook my head as if to say, “You’re hopeless.”

Celine didn’t hide her delight. Soon, she brightened and leaned in closer to whisper playfully in my ear.

“If you’re really still upset… how about a bit of affection?”

Her voice was tempting, sweet. As her breath tickled my ear, a tingle ran up my spine.

However, I could only respond in one way. My fist came down sharply on Celine’s forehead.

“Ow!”

“Be careful!”

“Hey, that hurts!”

Celine yelled in protest and began muttering something next to me.

Something about how a man didn’t turn down a beautiful girl like her, and how rejecting her was a crime against history. It was nothing but complaints.

Of course, I chose to ignore her. It would never end if I played along with her teasing. I simply felt pleased that our relationship had returned to normal.

Celine and I quickly resumed our playful banter, and while we were walking together, someone suddenly blocked my way.

I felt a curious gaze land before me. There stood a girl wearing a hooded hat typically worn by mages.

With noble-looking brown hair and mysterious blue eyes, she was smaller than Celine, but the hat made her appear slightly taller. Though she still looked like a child.

I quickly recognized her identity. The boy beside her wearing a sulky expression was someone I knew well.

Ru Pin Rainelle. He was the boy I had once knocked down. I had warned him not to come back, yet it seemed he had made a return.

Or perhaps it was also possible that he hadn’t come on his own accord. He started trembling like a aspen leaf as soon as he saw me. I calmly directed my gaze toward the girl.

Upon further examination, she wasn’t merely a girl. The black cloak draped over her shoulders signified her grade level.

Fourth year, the highest grade. Now that I think about it, I had heard that they were returning one by one for the hunting festival, and it seemed she was among them.

“Elsi Rainelle,” one of the prodigies in the prestigious Rainelle clan. She was undoubtedly one of the skilled seniors among the fourth years.

Then, a few burly seniors began to cluster around me, led by Elsi Rainelle. It was her entourage.

I had heard rumors about them, that despite their doll-like appearances, they were akin to a criminal organization.

A groan escaped my lips.

While I could guess their purpose, I decided to pose a question to maintain at least a modicum of respect toward my seniors.

“Senior Elsi, what brings you here?”

“I hear you hit my little brother?”

Her words were direct. I briefly glanced at Ru Pin behind Elsi. He clung to her as if he were seeking help, letting out a shrill scream that didn’t match his noble looks.

“P-Please, sis… stop! This guy is no ordinary dude! He is deranged!”

However, Elsi glanced at him with a furrowed brow and simply spoke coldly.

“Are you quiet? No wonder you never hear anything good in the clan… Is it right for the successor of the Rainelle clan to be beaten by the second son of a country baron and say nothing?”

Ru Pin became as silent as a mouse after that. Yet, the way he occasionally peeked at me suggested he was still frightened.

Celine tightened her grip on my arm. When I looked over, I saw she was surveying the surroundings with a rather fearful expression.

Of course, they were seniors. And they were high-ranking nobles. It was natural for her to be frightened.

Under normal circumstances, I should have felt the same. However, after losing my memory, I had unnaturally grown bold and simply asked Elsi with an incredulous tone.

“Is this really okay? We’re in the middle of the academy, you know.”

“Yeah, it’s not. So let’s go somewhere quieter.”

With that, Elsi gestured to a direction with her chin. I wasn’t quite sure where she meant, but it likely indicated an isolated area.

Students passing by began to gather to gossip. While none of the onlookers were foolish enough to remain oblivious to the current situation, not a single one of them stepped forward.

The Rainelle clan was prestigious, and Elsi’s reputation was remarkable. The bunch she was leading must also be no ordinary talent, and they had still persisted through to the fourth year in the academy.

If I wanted to avoid taking the blame, it was best to remain quiet. Celine anxiously tugged at the hem of my clothing.

“Uh, Ian…”

I looked at her for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.

It was unavoidable. I spoke to Elsi in a straightforward tone.

“Can you let Celine go? After all, I’m the one you have business with.”

At that, Elsi paused for a moment to observe me, then smirked.

“Are you a man? Good, I don’t want to create unnecessary trouble either.”

Even on closer inspection, she was still an undeniably cute and endearing girl. The real problem was her demeanor.

As Elsi subtly signaled, a few large students stepped aside.

I pushed Celine toward them. She stumbled forward awkwardly, looking at me with worried eyes.

The situation was completely different from last time. There was no chance for a surprise attack, and the opponents were seasoned fourth-year students. Not to mention Elsi Rainelle, a capable mage.

At this rate, it seemed I would have to spend another time in the Intensive Care Room and face another scolding from the Lady Virgin Saint.

As I sighed, Celine, who had been looking at me with trembling eyes, bit her lips as if she had made a decision.

Then came a clear, sharp sound.

The body of one of the burly seniors surrounding me lurched forward.

With a thud, the heavyset boy collapsed to the ground.

Silence fell. It was something no one standing here could have anticipated. All eyes were on the fallen boy’s back.

There lay a small notebook. Did it hit him at the corner? But even a heavy notebook shouldn’t be able to knock down a fourth-year student in one hit.

That meant there was only one answer. The person who threw the notebook was an even greater talent.

Eyes shifted slowly. All gazes converged on the direction from which the notebook must have come flying.

People parted like the sea, leaving a path solely for one person. The woman receiving such treatment appeared to see it as a matter of course.

Brilliant golden hair caught my eye. Next were crimson eyes, smooth white skin, and a slender figure.

She looked like a model from a painting, a Northern beauty. Draped in a black cloak, she strode confidently, followed by several others.

A woman who boasted beauty like the sun, gathering people like moths to a flame— I had heard of her before.

Delphine Yuridina, the legitimate heir to the Yuridina clan, the golden lion protecting the North.

“…Delphine Yuridina,” Elsi spoke, her voice dripping with disdain. There was already an unmistakable hostility in her blue eyes.

Regardless of her feelings, Delphine Yuridina kept smiling.

Her confident demeanor suggested she saw Elsi and her entourage as nothing more than specks of dust in comparison to her.

“When a few kittens bully a litter of kittens, it can be a bit bothersome… what was the old saying? Ah, the “thorn in my eye” or something like that?”

She was the greatest wall Ceria had to overcome.

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