Love Letter From The Future

In a clearing where moonlight poured down like curtains, two figures stood against the stillness of midnight.

It was Ian and Seraia. The young man gazed silently at Seraia’s back, his fingers twitching behind him. It was a habit that surfaced whenever the woman felt nervous.

It was a sight he had grown accustomed to. Before long, Ian, who had adapted to Seraia’s lacking social skills, decided to wait until she relaxed. Patience was a virtue of the nobility, after all.

After a while of waiting calmly, Seraia finally turned around, perhaps having made up her mind. Her gray hair flowed in the cold moonlight.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she bowed her head directly. It was not the demeanor one would expect from a noble toward another noble. It was clearly the respect due to a superior.

Her deeply bent waist was nearly at a right angle. Ian looked down at the woman with bewildered eyes. After a moment, a clear voice resonated in the clearing.

“Th-thank you… I-I’m grateful, Senior Ian!”

She had been so tense just to express her gratitude.

Ian almost smiled, but quickly wore a bitter expression instead. He shook his head instinctively. It was typical of Seraia to tremble even in such ordinary circumstances.

Initially, it was frustrating, but now it appeared cute. A girl so lovely did not suit the nickname “Yuridina’s Brat.” Before long, she had become quite expressive with her emotions.

Although it had only been a month, Seraia and Ian had shared many experiences. It was amusing. Just a short time ago, they were merely acquaintances who recognized each other’s faces, and now they had grown so close.

Ian felt a peculiar connection. Yes, it all began with a letter coming into his life.

“I was grateful too, Seraia. So you don’t have to bow your head that low.”

“B-but…”

However, Seraia hesitated, unable to straighten her waist. It was quite representative of her stubbornness in odd places.

Ian, who understood her too well, managed to assert himself in a single statement.

“Should I bow my head too? It feels like we both want to express our gratitude…”

“N-no! I-I’ll straighten up right now!”

Seraia leaped up and immediately lifted her head to correct her posture. To anyone watching, it might have appeared as if the intimidating senior was scolding the pitiful junior.

Yet there were no eyes watching this moment. At least, that was how it felt to them, which allowed Ian to maintain a more relaxed demeanor.

He asked Seraia, who was blushing and avoiding his gaze.

“So, are you feeling a bit better?”

It was a straightforward question. Much was implied and left unsaid. Nevertheless, due to the unspoken secret they shared, Seraia understood his meaning immediately.

She directed her gaze downwards. After staring blankly at the ground for a while, a small sigh escaped Seraia’s lips.

“…I don’t know.”

That made sense; she was still young and inexperienced, yet it was a shadow she had carried throughout her life. Though she had achieved a decisive victory, the darkness that lingered in her heart would not simply vanish.

Ian thought about this and pulled out a water flask that he had tied to his waist beforehand. It seemed their conversation might extend, so he took a sip to quench his thirst.

Once they were alone, Seraia began to open up.

“At first, I was a bit dazed. Did I really win against my sister? In truth, it felt more like Senior Ian’s victory than mine. I hardly contributed…”

“If you hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have won.”

There was no hesitation in Ian’s words. His tone conveyed solid conviction, and at that voice, Seraia lightly bit her lip.

Under the moonlight spreading like mist in the forest, a man with golden eyes was gazing at her.

Even the sight of him drinking from his water flask felt reliable to her. For Seraia, the presence of “Senior Ian” was just like that. At some point, her feelings of admiration had transformed into yearning, which in turn morphed into an emotion she could not entirely grasp.

Step by step, he painted her feelings in vibrant colors. To Seraia, it sometimes felt mysterious.

Her life had been colorless and odorless. Like someone with color blindness, her world was marked only in black and white. Most people seemed meaningless, and even she felt a sense of insignificance during those days.

There were times she believed she had no emotions. They existed, but they were so faint that she could not laugh or chat with others like everyone else.

The way of life of the Lizardmen living in the southern kingdom’s jungle, who would mercilessly sever an arm or a leg if poisoned, was more fitting to Seraia.

A life where all emotions, joys, and everything were severed to concentrate solely on the sword.

Suddenly, light had cast its glow upon that life. Perhaps it was more bewildering than winning against her half-sister, and so Seraia found it hard to realize.

“But, Senior Ian, you played the most crucial role.”

“If you hadn’t been there, it wouldn’t have been possible. You caught the monster and ambushed Senior Delphine from behind. That’s how it all worked out.”

Even though he could have boasted about his achievements, Ian spoke in such a subdued manner. It showed his sincerity.

And so, Seraia felt her heart warm a little. While she could not trust her own judgments, she could trust what Ian said. That much, she deeply believed in him.

A faint smile touched her lips, and she asked a question.

“…So, does that mean I won’t have to have nightmares anymore?”

Ian chose not to inquire about what nightmares she was referring to. If it were nightmares that torment Seraia, there was only one.

It was the memory of the day her mother was cast out. Since that day, Seraia had lived, obsessively devoted to the sword. To prove her worth to the clan, always in fear.

Yet, she had still lived, being defeated by Senior Delphine. Each time, the seed of the nightmare planted in her heart grew, tightening around her heart like roots.

The identity of being the second daughter of the Yuridina clan contrasted sharply with the light and shadows, emphasizing her limitations. Delphine Yuridina was the victor and the legitimate heir, but Seraia was not.

Loser and born of a concubine, these were the words that characterized Seraia Yuridina’s life.

But she had won against Delphine Yuridina yesterday. It was a significant test proving her qualifications as a successor. It might be the first and last victory, but nevertheless, she had won.

The Yuridina clan divided the world into winners and losers. There should be no one who would dare to dismiss or cast Seraia out carelessly.

Unlike her mother, Seraia proved that she was not weak. Therefore, she remained.

There was no major flaw in that logical structure. Nevertheless, Ian could not provide an immediate answer.

He stayed silent, and after a moment of contemplating.

He shook his head. A small sigh escaped from his lips.

“No, it will be difficult. Even so, your mother will not return.”

It was a blunt statement. Depending on the listener, it might provoke anger for being too harsh. However, Seraia’s reaction remained calm.

As if she had expected it, the girl wore a sad smile that looked even more fragile in the moonlight.

The nightmare of that day was more than just about winning or losing. Just because she had achieved victory did not mean that her wounds would fully heal. She was only feeling a bit freer from the obsessive need to prove her worth.

Though she nearly fell into a despondency, Seraia quickly pulled herself back together. Still, the fact that she owed a great debt to Senior Ian did not change. She could never thank him enough.

Creating a gloomy atmosphere for no reason would defeat the purpose of having this moment for just the two of them. She wanted to express her gratitude a bit more and again.

What should she do? Seraia’s thoughts suddenly stumbled, feeling as if they had hit a rock.

Now that she thought about it, wasn’t there considerable room for misunderstanding? In the nighttime clearing, two slightly intoxicated individuals were gathered together. The matter at hand was that she had something to say.

Even Seraia, who was oblivious to human relationships, was not unaware of what that implied.

It was a confession. And since it was Seraia who had called Ian out, it must be her with something to say.

Seraia’s eyes began to spin. Her fingertips felt hot, and she fidgeted, tracing her fingers.

B-but I don’t actually have feelings for Senior Ian.

Wasn’t this feeling ‘friendship’? I had heard that ‘love’ was a slightly more special emotion.

When I see him, my heart races, I get captivated by his golden eyes as if enchanted, and my thoughts fill with him like a sponge soaked in water.

Of course, if someone were to ask how she thought of Senior Ian, she would say he was cool, reliable, and without a doubt close to the ideal partner.

How could someone like her dare to become Ian’s match? The delusions that began to unravel her thought process did not return to order in a short time.

So, she did not notice. That Ian had come close to her side.

“…S-Seraia.”

Suddenly, Ian’s presence surged like a gust of wind. Seraia gasped in surprise and looked up at his face with wide eyes.

He wore a somewhat awkward expression. Avoiding her gaze, he cleared his throat, as if trying to ease his embarrassment.

Seraia thought it was dangerous; her heart felt like it might stop. She could not grasp the reason. Yet, her gaze slowly drifted toward Ian’s outstretched hand.

It was a necklace. A small pendant made of silver. Engraved on its surface was a single flower.

With six petals, the silvery metal did not render its color, but if painted, it would likely be sky blue.

It was a ‘Sephia Flower.’ Her dazed eyes turned back to Ian.

He scratched his cheek with his free hand, which was slightly flushed. It wasn’t only due to the intoxication.

“It’s a gift. Last time, you said your mother liked it, right?”

Staring blankly, the girl looked at the pendant presented before her. She cautiously accepted it.

The cold touch of the metal was felt. Seraia, mesmerized, gazed at the flower engraved on the pendant.

It was the flower her mother liked. Now that she thought about it, she had mentioned it to Ian. Just seeing this flower brought her peace.

So, was this prepared for her? Seraia felt like she wanted to say something, but her lips would not open. They only trembled, producing empty echoes.

“The flower wilts when picked, but the pendant remains forever. Therefore, I…I hope you won’t have nightmares anymore.”

Seraia tightly held the pendant in her hand, her mind going blank. She didn’t know what to say or how to react.

Suddenly, she decided she needed to express her gratitude. That feeling swelled and surged like a flame. After staring down at the pendant for a while, her gaze snapped back up at that moment.

Seraia lost her words. Ian was glancing at Seraia, trying to gauge her feelings. He was just like the usual Ian. But that wasn’t how Seraia saw him.

Her heart raced. It had always been like this but felt all the more intense now.

She had merely met his gaze. Yet, even so.

Just seeing him made her heart pound, and being entranced by his golden eyes, her mind filled with thoughts of him like a sponge soaked in water.

Was this also ‘friendship’? With no light except the moonlight, why did everything seem dreamlike, and her heart get painted in vibrant colors?

She could not derive the answer, unable to speak a word as Ian cautiously asked.

“Do you like it? I hope so.”

Do you like it?

Only after being asked did Seraia realize her internal excitement had burst forth unconsciously.

Ah, very much so.

Yes, you.

So very much. Her racing heart seemed impossible to calm.

Her throat felt tight, and she struggled to speak properly.

Just lowering her head, holding back the tears that were welling up.

“…Y-yes, very much.”

Only then did Seraia realize the name of this pink emotion that tickled her heart.

The language of the ‘Sephia Flower’ was ‘first love.’

After the night of the Hunting Festival, Reto was wandering through the forest, scratching his head. No matter how long he waited, the day’s main character, Ian, did not return, so he thought he should go find him.

What if he got drunk and passed out somewhere?

That would be amusing. The champion of the Hunting Festival unable to withstand alcohol and lying sprawled in the forest.

Overcoming his annoyance, he was about to move when he spotted a familiar face in the distance.

A girl standing blankly, staring into a clearing.

It was Celin. Reto raised his hand to greet her.

“Hey, Celin. What are you…?”

But Celin didn’t return a word. She simply chewed her lips, turning her body with an unreadable expression.

She lightly bumped into Reto’s shoulder and didn’t even offer an apology. He sighed and let out a small laugh.

What’s going on? Is it that day?

As he was about to take a step, he had to hear Celin’s irritated warning from behind.

“…Don’t go into that clearing, you clueless idiot!”

What? Reto tilted his head in confusion and peered into the clearing.

Inside were two scenes: a girl crying while clutching something precious and Ian, flustered as he tried to comfort her.

Only then did Reto exclaim, “Ah!” He felt like he finally understood Celin’s reaction.

Given this situation, it wasn’t appropriate to suggest drinking. With a bitter heart, he clicked his tongue a few times and turned away.

He hoped Celin wouldn’t be too hurt.

Little did he know this would mark the beginning of a grand conflict, as he merely ambled away, reflecting on the moonlit day.

*

That night, after the Hunting Festival had concluded, I fell into a restful sleep with a light heart.

I had won the Hunting Festival, there were no casualties during the event, and ultimately, Emma was able to regain consciousness.

It felt like I was finally putting down a heavy load. I had worried when the letter first arrived, but in the end, I was glad everything turned out well.

However, I still felt uneasy about my nickname, ‘Sephia.’ Reflecting on the contents of the letter from the future, the person who fit that description best was Seraia.

Could it be that in the distant future, Seraia and I would become lovers?

I had no way of knowing that now. It seemed unfathomable that someone so accomplished, beautiful, and from a prestigious family could become involved with someone like me, just a country squire’s second son.

It was challenging to imagine. While shaking off various distracting thoughts, my consciousness faded, and when I opened my eyes again.

I felt an excruciating headache. A burning thirst coursed through me. I groped for the table next to my bed. Then I grabbed my water flask and poured the liquid down my throat.

Only then did my mind clear. It was still early dawn; it was time to start training, but given my heavy drinking the day before, it was better to sleep a bit longer.

As I was about to lie down again, a familiar sight struck my eyes.

The calendar had flipped over.

From the month of the Bow to the month of the Wheel. I shouldn’t have flipped the calendar yet.

It was a moment that sent chills down my spine. My eyes shot to the table. Almost immediately, a luxurious envelope caught my attention.

Staring in disbelief at the envelope for a moment, I soon grasped it with shaky hands. I checked its contents.

It was a letter. A letter from my fiancée seven years in the future.

“…What the hell.”

It seemed my future fiancée had some things she wanted to share with me.

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