Love Letter From The Future

In the clearing of the forest, silence loomed. It was a rare occurrence. Normally, whenever Ceria and I met in this clearing, we would typically wield swords or exchange shouts.

However, the stillness that settled in the clearing now was chilling. The atmosphere was tense, as if it were about to snap like a tightly drawn string, ready to produce a sharp sound at any moment.

In the very center of that precarious situation stood me, while Ceria, perhaps not pleased even with that, kept pushing me towards the edge.

A fragrant scent, only a woman could emit, tickled my nose. And no matter how many times I looked, her harmonious features filled my vision, leaving me in awe.

No matter how beautiful she was, one could normally find at least one flaw up close, but even that was absent in Ceria. She was truly blessed with extraordinary genes. The beauty of Senior Delphine, whom I had observed closely, was also perfect to the point where I could find no faults.

If it were up to me, I would have loved to savor the sight of her beauty leisurely. If only her eyes weren’t clouded with a dull light.

At least in the current atmosphere, it seemed impossible to appreciate her in a ‘leisurely’ manner. As I looked at the shadows devoid of light in Ceria’s eyes, cold sweat began to trickle down my back.

“Um, yesterday? With Senior Delphine, you see…”

I briefly recalled the memories of the previous night. Unpleasant memories were mixed within, but ultimately it had been a time filled with many gains.

The expensive wine, I had even managed to give Senior Delphine a slap at the end, and I learned a lot, and above all, Senior Delphine’s pure white body.

For the sake of Senior Delphine’s honor, I ought to forget it, but the scenery of that day was still deeply etched in my mind.

Human memory isn’t so convenient that it just disappears when you want it to, and stays when you want it to either. Let alone such an impressive sight.

No matter how much I wanted to forget, I couldn’t. It was unfortunate for Senior Delphine, but I considered it my luck.

My gaze, tracing the memories of the previous night, momentarily grew hazy. Then, blue flames sparked in Ceria’s eyes.

As she tightened her grip on my collar, she whispered to me in a chilling voice.

“Ian, you were thinking of another girl just now, weren’t you?”

“No, you were the one asking what happened with Senior Delphine yesterday!”

I shouted in frustration, but from the beginning, Ceria didn’t seem rational enough to make such a judgment. Ignoring my excuses, she lowered her head with an anxious expression.

A chilling mumble began to escape from her lips.

“After all, it’s happening again… I, I can’t let that happen, it’s precious… I, I don’t want to lose it again…”

The initially vague mutter grew clearer as it gradually added colors of emotion.

Anxiety, anger, jealousy, hatred, inferiority complex, and so forth. Various emotions mixed like thick mud and fell to the ground in clumps. Ceria’s murky eyes were shaking violently.

The trembling voice testified to her unease. One hand, which had been gripping my collar, gently slipped away. She instinctively brought her fingernails to her mouth.

A faint, tiny cracking sound echoed. She bit her fingernail just slightly. With that alone, I realized something was distinctly wrong with Ceria’s state.

Bringing fingers to one’s mouth when anxious is said to stem from a lack of maternal presence during childhood. It was said that dissatisfaction from not receiving enough breast milk is instinctively resolved that way. Perhaps Ceria was the same.

I didn’t know why she was reacting so extremely like this. One thing was certain, though—I was at the point where I had to gently persuade her to stop.

But how? I fell into deep thought, feeling at a loss.

Then, briefly, the girl who had been nibbling at her fingernails jerked her head up. A strange emotion flickered in her eyes. A somewhat creepy gaze.

From her lips, a mixture of emotions spilled out.

“Ian, you absolutely must not…!”

Just as Ceria was about to shout something, my hesitation came to an end.

My arm immediately wrapped around Ceria’s shoulders. Ceria, perhaps not expecting me to react this way, fell right into my embrace.

The soft and warm sensation satisfied me. I tightened my grip around her.

Ceria was wide-eyed in surprise, her lips merely trembling.

I recalled something I had heard not long ago. That when Ceria felt anxious, her mother would soothe her in this way.

If biting her nails was related to a lack of maternal presence during childhood, then I should soothe her in a similar way. It was such a simple thought.

The effect was immediate. Ceria, who had been rigid while in my arms, soon relaxed and burrowed into me.

Her arms slightly wrapped around my body. The murky light that had surrounded her eyes had become calm, like a sea after a storm.

I whispered softly, trying to calm her.

“Ceria, I’m not going anywhere.”

Upon hearing my words, Ceria remained still for a while. Her eyes slowly closed, and her breaths, which had been quickened, began to calm.

For a while, we both felt each other’s warmth in silence.

Ceria suddenly opened her eyes wide in shock. A stammer escaped her lips, as if she just regained her senses.

“Ah, uh, ah, ah…”

Ceria’s face turned bright red. I could even feel the heat radiating off her. It seemed that the odd behavior she had shown a moment ago was due to her not being in her right mind.

Now that she seemed to have regained her senses, she appeared embarrassed, and I couldn’t help but smile wryly while teasing her.

“Were you that worried?”

Ceria jumped, her body reacting as she escaped from my embrace, instantly filling the void with a chilly breeze. I felt a bit lonely.

With a face all flushed, Ceria twisted her hair around her fingers. It seemed to be a habit she exhibited when she was troubled or extremely embarrassed.

Her eyes spun around anxiously. She began to stutter, looking pitiful.

“Ah, um, th-that is!”

“Don’t worry too much, most of those rumors are just nonsense.”

The accusations that I had attacked Senior Delphine or stripped her to humiliate her—was that even a plausible story?

Or perhaps the rumor that I was secretly Senior Delphine’s lover had also spread. It seemed to stem from something Senior Elsi had said the other day.

In hindsight, that was quite infuriating, and I thought about visiting Senior Elsi once more.

Ceria, slightly reassured by my assertion, lowered her head but showed a hint of happiness.

“Th-that’s good to hear…”

Saying this as if she believed it, when just moments ago she looked suspicious.

However, I decided to stop teasing her further, lest she begin to cry. Ceria’s rich expressions seemed rare, and I could hardly resist wanting to tease her a little more.

However, I felt something nagging, so I fiddled with my lips, unsure whether to speak or remain silent.

When I thought about it, Ceria and I had already shared numerous secrets. It was silly to hesitate now. Especially if it was a matter that could cause her to momentarily lose her sanity.

Ceria, unable to bear her embarrassment, was only scratching the ground with her foot. I cautiously asked her so that she wouldn’t be surprised again.

“…Ceria, by the way, I noticed you seemed to be worried about something.”

“Y-yeah?! Uh, um…”

I lowered my voice for consideration, but the already tension-filled Ceria seemed taken aback by my question.

In her haste to respond, she ended up biting her tongue after a long time. Her face flushed even more.

She looked quite cute. I let out a small smile and asked her.

“Well, you said you didn’t want to lose it, right?”

A sigh of regret escaped Ceria’s lips. She seemed surprised, her eyes widening for a moment before she drooped back down, looking morose.

“That, did I…?”

Her expression was gloomy. I wondered if a sad memory was involved. No, it was almost certain. There was no way that such a reaction wouldn’t arise otherwise.

If things continued this way, it might end in tears once more. So, I decided to lighten Ceria’s mood and teased her.

“Yeah, you said you didn’t want to lose me.”

“Th-th-that, th-that’s a different matter…!”

As expected, Ceria showed the anticipated reaction.

Her slumped body straightened again, her eyes darting around, unable to find their place, and she could only stutter through her words.

Ultimately, it all led to one conclusion.

After a while of panic, Ceria released a sigh. Her strength washed away like water leaking out of a bottomless well.

“…It’s true, I’ve frequently been taken from by my sister since I was a kid.”

I swallowed my words in silence.

I had expected something like this, but hearing it directly from her didn’t sit well. It seemed Ceria felt the same way.

A lonely expression flickered in her eyes. She must have been anxious.

She had grown up without anything to call her own. I was probably the first friend she had, and she would have been afraid of losing even that.

Ceria continued her confession.

“Ian, I’ve liked swords since childhood.”

“I can see that.”

“But not once have I ever used a sword that I liked.”

My gaze instinctively went to Ceria’s waist. Now that I think about it, her sword was quite a high-end product, but it felt like it was somewhat lacking for a child of the Yuridina family.

After all, she was hunting monsters and engaging in practical battles. A sword was like a backup life. She could certainly have been using something of better quality.

I recalled the fight with Senior Delphine from last night. How was the dagger she used?

It was sharp like a masterpiece crafted by an artisan. When the golden flash split my vision, it felt as if my eyes were burning. At that time, I had thought it was merely indicative of Senior Delphine’s meticulous nature.

But now I remembered. Before meeting Senior Delphine, Ceria had given me a warning.

She would achieve what she desired by any means necessary.

The best items within reach of Yuridina would all belong to Senior Delphine. Therefore, it was clear what Ceria could possess.

The things left by Delphine did not matter to Ceria’s heart. The only question was whether it appealed to Delphine or not.

It seemed my encounter with Senior Delphine had touched upon Ceria’s painful memories. Ceria’s lonely confession continued.

“I wanted to have just one sword after seeing the knights’ swords when I was young. But I never received one.”

“Why?”

“Because my sister wanted it.”

I nodded knowingly. From what I saw of Senior Delphine yesterday, she would certainly want it. She was a woman with a strong competitive streak and a strong desire to possess.

She must have thought it her rightful claim. In her worldview, she was the victor, and Ceria was the loser.

“It wasn’t just swords. Most things were the same. Even on the day my mother was chased out, my opinions held no weight. Because Ceria Yuridina is a commoner and a loser…”

“…That doesn’t mean you deserve to be treated that way.”

“That’s how it is in the Yuridina family.”

My obvious consolation didn’t soothe Ceria. She looked weary as she responded that way. It felt as if she had resigned herself, while simultaneously emanating a restrained heat.

It was a determined will. If that was the case, then it seemed she had no option but to contend following the Yuridina way, with such resolve.

After chewing on her lips for a while, she eventually smiled awkwardly. The smile of a girl who had never known how to smile in her life was pitiful and hardly seemed like a smile at all.

She had grown up without friends, having everything she wanted taken from her.

Such a life would rob her of laughter and happiness as well. It was a truly cruel tale. Is it the case that anyone who delves deep enough into such depths will uncover equally sad stories?

Ceria, feigning calmness, spoke to me.

“It’s strange; I usually don’t talk about myself much. But why is it that in front of Ian… So, shall we train?”

Ceria glanced at me slyly, suggesting she wanted to bury everything here.

I agreed with the very intent. Continuing the conversation would only lead to more embarrassing outcomes.

However, the reason I couldn’t speak carelessly was because the weight of my own heart began to tilt.

I remembered Senior Delphine. Nonchalantly prying into someone’s wounds, holding a bold conviction that it was only right for victory.

She had taken everything from Ceria, including her mother, and was about to trample on her half-sibling, writhing in feelings of inferiority.

“…Ceria.”

“Yes, y-yes?! U-um…”

Ceria bit her tongue again at my quiet call. She became downcast again. But I felt no particular emotion, as I was lost in my own thoughts.

I was merely staring into the distance as I asked Ceria.

“You said you were going to participate in the Hunting Festival, right?”

“…? Yes, that’s correct.”

I looked at Ceria with suspicion. She tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand.

“Have you gathered your team members?”

Ceria flinched, shaking in response. My question hit home.

The Hunting Festival proceeds in groups of four. Naturally, Ceria couldn’t participate alone. If that was the case, it meant she needed to gather team members, and given her already narrow social circle, it would be impossible with the recent rumors swirling around her.

Ceria slumped further. In a small voice, she replied.

“…Ah, no.”

She looked gloomy. However, my next words immediately turned her mood around.

“Should I gather them for you?”

“Are you really serious?!”

At my suggestion, Ceria’s face lit up instantly. Seeing her brighten like that lifted my mood as well.

It was the most dramatic change I had witnessed in Ceria’s reactions. Normally, her expression was haughty and cold, and even when she attempted to show emotion, it was only a slight movement in her eye or mouth corners.

It was a clear sign of how welcome my suggestion was. I chuckled and nodded.

“Sure, I also happen to have things to do in the Hunting Festival.”

However, Ceria didn’t seem to pick up on my additional comments. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and she muttered quietly.

“…As expected, I can trust Ian. All the rumors about my sister must have been lies after all.”

“Of course. Were you still doubting me?”

Ceria shook her head at my bewildered response. She seemed to finally believe me.

Sighing in relief, she asked me one last question.

“Well, it was a ridiculous rumor. That Ian would see my sister’s nude body or something…”

In an instant, my once confident demeanor froze. Of all the exaggerated rumors, the only truth was the one that had slipped from Ceria’s lips.

Ceria looked at me with intense trust, asking.

“That’s a lie, right, Ian?”

“U-uhm…”

My response was exceedingly awkward. As I couldn’t even meet Ceria’s gaze, she tilted her head once more.

Then I noticed the light starting to fade from her eyes again. Her gaze sank into a deep, murky color.

“…Ian?”

“No, well… what I mean to say is, Ceria…”

I was sweating bullets, unsure of how to respond to Ceria’s chilling voice, and I eventually sighed as if there was no other choice.

Then I smiled widely and said.

“That part is true.”

In that moment, the shadows vanished from Ceria’s aquamarine eyes.

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