Unearthing Memories
Was it because he had spent the previous day in such a clamor while still weary from travel? The next morning, Edgar rose from bed rather late and stepped out of the mansion. Sure enough, his right hand gripped the wooden sword he had swung every day during his stays here.
“Huup! Hup!”
He had already lost count of how many swings he had taken. Though he showed no outward sign of strain, beads of sweat were beginning to form on his forehead. Having heard from Creed until he was sick of it that fundamentals were everything, he had never once skipped this morning routine. These days, skipping it would leave his body so stiff that the rest of the day felt impossible.
“Working hard from the crack of dawn, I see.”
“Hmm?”
Edgar had been continuing his forms with sharp eyes fixed on the tip of the wooden sword. At the voice coming not from beside him but from overhead, he looked up in confusion. There, leaning her chin on the terrace railing and gazing down at him with a dignified air, stood a woman.
“You must be tired. Why not stay in bed longer?”
Ariel had always been a heavy sleeper. For her to rise at this hour before fully shaking off yesterday’s fatigue must have taken considerable effort. Knowing this better than anyone, Edgar spoke with concern. She answered with a faint smile, as if the idea were absurd.
“Is that something a man swinging a wooden sword since sunrise should say?”
“I’m used to it. You aren’t.”
“I’m used to it now too, you know? Hmph.”
It annoyed her that he still saw her as a slow, snail-like girl. Ariel snorted and turned her head away with a huff. Edgar, watching her, tilted his head at a strange sense of déjà vu. He couldn’t recall exactly when, but he had the distinct feeling something like this had happened before.
“Did we ever do this in the past?”
“Do what?”
“It’s hard to explain, but… I was standing here and you spoke to me from the terrace like this. Has that happened before?”
“I don’t think so. Maybe back in Hespania, but not here.”
At Ariel’s firm tone, Edgar muttered, “I suppose not,” and tilted his head again. He had seen her peek out from that high balcony in Hespania several times. Yet the image lingering in his memory insisted it had taken place right here at this mansion. The memory was hazy, leaving him uncertain.
“…Ah!”
“What? Did you remember something?”
Edgar had set down his wooden sword and was lost in thought when a low exclamation escaped him. Ariel leaned farther over the railing, clearly curious. He flashed her a grin that carried a strangely ominous glint. His gaze settled on his lover, whose eyes sparkled with interest.
“Ariel, do you remember when we were children?”
“When?”
“Around ten years old? The day after you told me the Story of the Stars.”
That day remained vivid in Ariel’s mind as well. They had watched stars pouring down like a waterfall together, returned to the mansion, and fallen asleep. The next morning she had woken early and secretly watched Edgar training from the terrace…
“……!”
“I can tell you remember.”
“I don’t remember anything! Stop accusing innocent people!”
Ariel hastily shut down the fragments replaying in her head. But escaping Edgar—who could read her like an open book—was no easy feat.
“That day you woke up unusually early and went to the terrace, didn’t you?”
“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about! Keep saying weird things and I’ll get angry!”
“You’re reacting far too sensitively. Did I ask something strange? I only asked if you went to the terrace.”
Ariel realized her mistake too late. Her cheeks burned crimson as she squatted down on the spot. She should have acted indifferent and claimed she simply couldn’t recall the important details. Why had she shown that man an opening?
“F-fine! I went! Is that such a crime?!”
“Not at all. I’m simply curious why.”
Part of Ariel wanted to hurl a fireball at his smugly smiling face. The fact that he was asking so openly meant he had already pieced everything together. Yet his insistence that she say it aloud revealed his wicked temperament.
Even if she denied it now, she might dodge the immediate crisis, but he would surely press the attack again later. In the end, she would have to confess.
“Ugh, do I really have to say it? You already know…”
“Do I? It would be even better if you came down here and told me in person.”
“So annoying…!”
With her last attempt at negotiation shattered, Ariel rose to her feet and gripped the railing with both hands. Then—tap!—she vaulted gracefully over it.
“Ariel!”
Thud.
Edgar realized a beat too late and rushed forward, barely managing to catch her in his arms. Despite the suddenness, his posture remained flawless. Ariel, safely nestled there, offered playful praise.
“As expected, you’re quick. I was ready to use magic if you missed.”
“You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Hmph. Consider it payback for teasing me.”
“Even so, don’t scare me like that. It’s too dangerous.”
He understood her desire for revenge, but while he could accept harm to himself, he could never tolerate Ariel getting hurt. When Edgar spoke to her with a serious expression, she grew embarrassed, averted her eyes, and gave a small nod. Even she recognized how childish the idea had been.
Feeling guilty for making him worry during that fall, she decided to be honest—this once—about what she had done that day.
“So… about that day you mentioned…”
“Yes?”
“…The truth is, while you were training in the garden, I hid on the terrace railing and secretly watched you.”
How could such a trivial fact be so embarrassing? Ariel finished her confession with her face buried in her proud black hair. A warm smile spread across Edgar’s lips as he listened.
At the same time, he felt sorry for only now understanding the meaning behind her actions from back then. As an apology, he pressed a light kiss to the hair covering her cheek. Startled, she swept the “curtain” aside and blinked at him with wide eyes.
Realizing what the sensation had been, she gave a small, deliberate cough and poked her own cheek. This time Edgar kissed her properly on the cheek before carefully setting her down.
She had been beautiful even from a distance, but seeing her this close made her seem even lovelier. He felt a surge of pride that such a woman was his lover.
All in all, it was a truly delightful morning.
After finishing breakfast, Edgar wondered if there was anything he could do together with Ariel. He considered a quick trip to the village, but decided it would be too much since she likely hadn’t recovered from yesterday’s fatigue.
Just then Ariel burst into his room, eyes sparkling.
‘Ed! Come outside, quick!’ She looked like she had reclaimed the pure innocence of her childhood.
“Why? Did you find something fun?”
“Yes! I think you’ll be excited too.”
“Oh? That interesting?”
It was surprising that this quiet countryside held anything capable of lighting up his eyes, but there was no harm in following her. When they reached the first floor and stepped outside, Shuri, who had been waiting at the entrance, bowed politely.
“Is Shuri coming with us too?”
“Yes, I asked her to help.”
“…Help?”
The word felt odd if they were simply going to play. Edgar looked puzzled.
“You’ll understand when we get there. Let’s go first.”
“Alright.”
Following Ariel had been an enjoyable tradition since childhood, so Edgar nodded without further suspicion and fell into step beside them.
“Is this your first time at our family estate, Shuri?”
“I visited once before, when the young master came to Hespania. Though staying overnight like this is a first.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Edgar had completely forgotten and gave a small nod as the memory returned.
“Has Ariel been treating you well since then? Or is she still too busy playing with you?”
“What are you even saying!”
Ariel, who had been walking ahead in silence, suddenly grew heated at the whispered gossip. Shuri let out a small “Pfft” of laughter.
“Shuri! You know what will happen if you talk nonsense, right?”
Despite her mistress’s warning, Shuri hummed playfully and pretended to look nervous. In the past she would have shrieked and crumpled on the spot, but it seemed even she had grown with time.
“Hmm, let’s see… I’d like to say something helpful for the young lady, but…”
“Y-you…!”
Ariel shuddered at the betrayal. Oblivious to her distress, Shuri decided this was the perfect moment to reveal her mistress’s past misdeeds and spoke plainly to Edgar.
“It does seem she still does that from time to time.”
“Hoo.”
“……”
When Edgar let out a small sound and turned a questioning gaze on Ariel, she avoided his eyes and scurried over to the quince tree—an obvious attempt to escape reality.
“E-Ed! Don’t you remember this?”
She placed her hand on the trunk and leaned against it in an exaggeratedly haughty pose, though her voice trembled slightly. She was clearly afraid he might mention what Shuri had just revealed.
“This? Ah…”
Edgar tilted his head, wondering what was special about the tree, then recalled a memory and let out a soft sigh. Ten years old—roughly eight years ago—he remembered the object they had buried here along with their memories.
A time capsule.
They probably hadn’t used that exact term, but the meaning was the same. They had promised to dig it up together once they became adults. Yet this impatient young lady couldn’t even wait a single year and had demanded they open it early.
“…Good grief. You couldn’t wait even one year?”
“Taking it out a year early won’t cause any problems. Besides, I’m dying of curiosity.”
“Well… so am I.”
Honestly, he couldn’t remember what he had written. The same went for Ariel. What had their ten-year-old selves decided to leave behind? If they had never remembered, they could have let it stay buried. But once they knew it was here, resisting the urge to dig it up proved impossible.
“Then let’s open it. I’m sure our eight-years-ago selves would forgive us for being a year early.”
“Right?”
Having successfully persuaded him, Ariel flashed a bright smile and signaled Shuri with her eyes. Shuri pulled three small trowels from her bag. Only then did Edgar realize what she had been carrying and gave a wry smile.
The memories from eight years ago that they would now see a little ahead of schedule. What stories had they sealed inside? His chest already tingled with rising curiosity.