Love Letter From The Future

Since the knife incident, Celin had secluded herself in the corner of her room. She did not step out until that night.

Though there seemed to be a few lectures left, it was of no concern to her. Even when some of her friends knocked on her door to check on her, there was no response.

It was unusual for someone as sociable as Celin to behave this way, not welcoming any visitors.

However, there was nothing she could do about it. The shock she had received was immense and profound. She lay with the covers pulled over her head, constantly recalling the image of the past.

That continuously replaying scene was of Ian witnessing the quarrel between Celin and Seria.

His angry face, the cold golden eyes, and the voice laden with irritation pierced into her mind like an electric shock. Celin’s body trembled.

This should not be happening; she could not let her relationship with Ian deteriorate.

Celin kept repeating such thoughts. It had always been like that since childhood. Though she acted like a bold girl, she was deeply dependent on Ian. He was the object of her unrequited love for over ten years.

It had been a long time since feelings of affection had sprouted in her heart. He was the boy who willingly took her hand when all the tragedies were over, and she needed a new light in her life.

She could not help but love him. Even knowing that Ian did not see her in a romantic light. Wasn’t Celin perceptive enough to grasp that?

On the day the Haster Clan fell due to the power struggles of high nobles, Celin had to bear a heavy burden.

She still vividly remembered her father, who was straining his neck from the bills, and the silver eyes that gazed at him indifferently.

Alphenhausen, one of the five prestigious families of the Empire. Those silver eyes, unable to read the focus like a blind person, were a characteristic unique to the Alphenhausen Clan. They had intervened in the Haster Clan’s business interests.

All the tragedies had begun when a gold mine was discovered in Haster Territory. The Haster Clan had an iron mine that had existed for a long time, and suddenly gold was found in that vein, which had been problem-free for over a hundred years.

Upon hearing the news of the gold mine’s discovery, the Haster Clan rejoiced. Not just the clan, but the entire territory was excited. Baron Haster was a beloved lord among the residents, and he generously shared the noble’s portion with them.

It seemed obvious that the territory would develop rapidly under that momentum. Until the high nobles led by the Alphenhausen Clan intervened.

The Alphenhausen Clan, known for producing prime ministers for generations and holding the keys to the Empire’s treasury, had a meticulous yet secretive method.

They borrowed enormous sums of money to develop the gold mine and cut off supplies while mobilizing their connections to encroach upon the market of Haster Territory.

There was no way to develop a gold mine without capital assistance. When the high nobles intervened, the delay in gold mine development became clear and led to inevitable bankruptcy. Seeing the staggering amount of debt, Celin’s father collapsed on the spot. The capital market of the territory was grasped in the hands of the Alphenhausen Clan.

They couldn’t secure even the iron they had been mining originally, let alone the gold mine. The economy of Haster Territory was shattered that day. The mine was one of the few profitable businesses in the small rural territory.

Chewing her lips, Celin glared at the man presenting the bill with moist eyes. The man from the Alphenhausen Clan declared in a calm tone.

“One gold coin.”

“……What did you say?”

Her father had just collapsed, wheezing heavily. The young Celin, heightened in sensitivity, could only respond sharply knowing how high the man’s noble status was.

The man from the Alphenhausen Clan seemed unaffected by her attitude. He adjusted his monocle and spoke in a voice devoid of any interest.

“I will buy your grudge with one gold coin. Wouldn’t it be better to forget it cleanly? Personally, I enjoy pricing things.”

“What kind of nonsense…?”

“What if you don’t forget? The world isn’t easy enough to crumble for a pitiful noblewoman from a rural barony with grievances.”

At first, Celin thought his words were mockery. An insult typically hurled by the victor at the vanquished, but the man’s expression was utterly indifferent.

So Celin felt a bit of a chill. She had heard that there had been a tremendous fight surrounding the gold mine. In the end, the Alphenhausen Clan took possession of the gold mine. It would have been normal to feel joy or relief, to experience some emotional change.

But the man remained completely unperturbed. There was not a flicker of emotion. He seemed like a human made of paper.

“This is the world. Even nobility has their hierarchy according to power. No matter how much the Haster Clan struggles, they will never reach the Alphenhausen Clan. It’s not just the Alphenhausen Clan; it’s the same with any high noble family…”

The man continued his story for a long while. A cruel chain of reality that Celin, not yet even ten years old, could only listen to in a daze.

To her understanding, his words were too complex. But one thing was certain. The conclusion of that long tale was this:

The grudge of the Haster Clan was meaningless.

He was a man of the Alphenhausen Clan. Surely they had an abundance of gold coins. Bringing forth just one gold coin likely meant it was too bothersome to bother with silver or other currencies.

It was unreasonable. Even at her young age, Celin thought so.

Baron Haster was a respected lord. The residents had not lived in wealth under his leadership, but they hadn’t lived in hunger either. Haster Territory was such a happy and cozy place.

To ruin all of that and say that one shouldn’t harbor even a grudge? Was that what the world was?

At the end of that advice, whether it was counsel or scorn, the man made one last suggestion.

“…So, in other words, it would be beneficial for the lady to forget her grudge with one gold coin. They say it’s a rational choice; I particularly enjoy that phrase. ‘Rational’—hahaha.”

His laughter was that of an empty human. Though laughter flowed from his lips, his eyes and the corners of his mouth did not move at all. Only then did Celin snap back to reality.

One gold coin? Even though she was a noble’s daughter, to Celin, who had not yet turned ten, that was a large sum. Nevertheless, she felt no inclination toward the proposal.

Shaking with rage, Celin shed a tear. Her father was heaving, eyes bloodshot, seemingly filled with rage as he merely breathed heavily.

Perhaps because the knight of the Alphenhausen Clan stood guard at the door, the servants, despite hearing the commotion, did not dare to enter the room.

Only Celin was allowed to enter merely because she was a noble. Her hazel eyes filled with resentment. And tears.

“…I will never forget.”

“Hmph,” the man seemed to swallow with regret. Then, as if he didn’t care, he rose from his seat. Dressed in a pristine white suit and a white top hat.

He was a completely white human. He tried to leave the room without even a farewell.

“Celin Haster.”

Before the voice of the young girl grasped his departing steps.

He paused for a moment but did not turn back. That was fine. Celin warned him, filled with bubbling hatred.

“My name, Celin Haster… remember it, twig. I will take my revenge someday.”

Only then did the man’s silver eyes glance toward Celin. He looked at the lovely girl glaring at him while desperately holding back tears and wore a faint smile.

It was the first sign of expression on his face.

“Very well, three gold coins… Ah, and my name is Dalton. If you ever feel like making a deal later, seek Dalton of the Alphenhausen Clan.”

From that day onward, Celin made desperate efforts. The Haster Clan had fallen, and the territory was in shambles. With no possibility of adequate support, Lady Haster decided to send Celin to her elder sister.

That sister was Ainstern, which was the turning point for Reto and Celin to grow up like real siblings since childhood.

However, despite the devotion of the Ainstern family, Celin did not regain her smile. She only gripped the sword with gritted teeth.

Having innate magical power, her body managed to endure somehow, but it felt as if she had forgotten all the joys of life during those times.

That was when she met Ian.

Celin still treasured the memories from that blooming flower garden.

She had loved, loves, and would continue to love. She wanted to share her future. She wanted to date, marry, and start a family.

Three to four children, combining boys and girls? She would dream about having a responsible son as the eldest and smile over such fantasies.

Yet the reason Celin could not confess to Ian was due to Ian’s attitude.

Ian believed that Celin should find a good match and restore the Haster Clan. If it were not for Ian, Celin might have been inclined to consider such a future for herself.

But not now. Nevertheless, Celin had endured for a long time. No matter how much time passed, she thought Ian would have to notice her eventually, and so she waited for several years.

Suddenly, a bothersome woman clung to Ian’s side. Moreover, she was a high noble. Celin gritted her teeth every night in fury.

He had taken away her father, the future of the territory, and now Ian too?

That could not happen. Perhaps that was why she was so agitated. The outcome was, above all, tragic.

Tears dropped from Celin’s hazel eyes. She buried her face between her knees. The pain of being hated by the man she loved was indescribable.

And she felt hurt. Ian, who had unconditionally sided with Seria without even asking for the details, hurt her deeply.

It was then that a note arrived for her, who was sobbing alone in her room. The note blew in under the door like a breeze, stating that she should come to the clearing in the forest by a certain time that night.

From the handwriting, it was undoubtedly from Ian. So, Celin hastily washed up, dressed up, and applied the fragrant cleansing tools that Ian had praised before rushing outside.

She would beg for forgiveness. That was the priority right now.

Nothing could begin without restoring her relationship with Ian. Even being mere simple friends as they used to be would be fine. Ian was the only one for Celin.

As she ran to the clearing in the forest, she saw Ian’s back. The dim moonlight illuminated his back.

“I-Ian…?”

Even as she called out to Ian with a trembling voice, there was no response. Celin felt a pit in her stomach.

Was he very angry? She had called him to talk, but now he wouldn’t even speak. What if he decided to cut ties after much deliberation?

She was prepared to plead on her knees. If only she could receive forgiveness, she would do anything.

A moist voice escaped her lips.

“About today… I was wrong, okay? I’ll accept any punishment. Just, please see what’s become of me! I never meant it that way, Ian… Please?”

She had so much to say about feeling hurt for unconditionally siding with Seria, that she too had grievances, but when she actually stood before Ian, the only words she could utter were those asking for forgiveness.

There would be time to explain herself later. Just as Celin implored him in a desperate tone, Ian finally spoke.

“…Celin.”

Only then did he turn around, and his heavy lips opened. A light came to Celin’s face.

As long as they could communicate, that was enough. Afterward, no matter what, as long as she received forgiveness from Ian, she would be happy. Just that thought was enough to make her heart swell with joy.

But the words Ian uttered were beyond anything she had imagined.

“Let’s have a duel.”

Her hazel eyes became vacant. Regardless, the scabbard that Ian tossed while drawing his sword merely rolled on the ground.

Celin could not help but murmur inwardly.

Is he insane?

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