Chapter 79: The First Letter (79)
Chapter 79: The First Letter (79)
In a clearing where moonlight poured down like curtains, two people stood amidst the silence of the deep night.
It was Ian and Seria. The man stared at Seria’s back without a word. Her fingers, clasped behind her back, were fidgeting restlessly—a habit that surfaced whenever the woman was nervous.
It was a familiar sight by now. Ian, who had long since adjusted to Seria’s lacking social skills, decided to wait until she relaxed. Patience, after all, was a virtue of the nobility.
After waiting a long while for her to speak, the girl finally seemed to make up her mind and turned around. Her gray hair fluttered, catching the chilly moonlight.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she immediately bowed her head. It wasn't the typical attitude of one noble addressing another; it was clearly the deference shown to a superior.
She bent so deeply at the waist that she was nearly at a right angle. The man looked down at her with bewildered eyes. A moment later, a clear voice rang out through the clearing.
“Tha—thank... ugh, thank you very much, Senior Ian!”
To think she was that nervous just to say thank you.
Ian started to let out a hollow laugh but ended up with a bittersweet smile instead. He shook his head instinctively. Then again, it was very much like Seria to tremble over something so ordinary.
At first, he had found it frustrating, but now it seemed cute. The nickname "The Rude Brat of Yurdina" didn't suit such a lovely girl at all. Her emotional expression had become quite rich before he knew it.
It had only been a month, but he had gone through so much with Seria. It was funny. Until then, they had been mere acquaintances who only knew each other's faces, yet they had become this close in such a short time.
Ian felt a strange sense of fate. Yes, this too had all started when the letters began to arrive.
“I’m grateful to you too, Seria. So, you don’t have to bow that low.”
“B-but...”
However, Seria only hesitated, unable to straighten her back. Her stubbornness over the strangest things was also a very characteristic response.
Knowing this all too well, Ian subdued her with a single sentence.
“Then should I bow too? It seems we both want to express our gratitude to each other...”
“N-no! I’ll stand up right now!”
Seria practically sprang upward, immediately raising her head and straightening her posture. To an outsider, it might have looked like a terrifying senior disciplining a poor junior.
But there were no eyes watching them here. At least, not as far as the two of them were aware. Thus, the man could maintain an even more relaxed demeanor.
He asked Seria, who was avoiding his gaze with a bright red face:
“So, do you feel a bit more at ease now?”
It was a simple question. Much of the context was omitted, but because of the secret they shared, Seria understood his meaning instantly.
She cast her eyes downward. After staring at the ground for a long time, a small sigh escaped Seria’s lips.
“...I don’t know.”
That was to be expected. Though she was still young, it was a shadow she had carried her entire life. Even though she had achieved a decisive victory, the darkness cast over her heart wouldn't vanish completely just like that.
Thinking so, Ian pulled out the canteen he had hung at his waist in advance. Sensing that the conversation might get long, he took a drink to quench his thirst.
Only after they were alone did Seria begin to pour out her inner thoughts.
“At first, I was a bit dazed. Did I really beat my sister? Honestly, I felt like it was your victory, Senior Ian, rather than mine. Since there wasn't much that I actually did...”
“We wouldn't have won without you.”
There was no hesitation in Ian’s speech. At the sound of his voice, which carried such firm conviction, Seria bit her lip slightly.
In the forest where moonlight spread like mist, the man stared at her with glowing golden eyes.
Even the way he gulped down water from the canteen felt reliable. That was what 'Senior Ian' had become to Seria. At some point, her feelings of respect had turned into admiration, and that admiration had shifted once more into an unknown emotion.
With every step they took together, her emotions were painted in vivid colors. Sometimes, Seria found it mysterious.
Her life had been colorless and odorless. Like someone colorblind, her world had been steeped in black and white. Those days when most people felt meaningless, and even she herself felt insignificant.
There were times when Seria felt she had no emotions at all. They might exist, but they were so faint that she couldn't laugh and chat like others.
The life of the Lizardmen living in the jungles of the Southern Kingdoms—who would unhesitatingly sever an arm or a leg if it were poisoned—suited Seria better.
A life where she cut away all emotions and joy, devoting herself solely to the sword.
Suddenly, light had been cast upon that life. Perhaps it was because that change was even more bewildering than defeating her half-sister that Seria couldn't quite process the reality of it.
“But, Senior Ian, you played the most decisive role.”
“I couldn't have done it without you. It was only possible because you held off the demonic beasts and ambushed Senior Delphine from behind.”
Though he had every right to boast of his own exploits, the man’s tone was nothing but calm. It meant he was being sincere.
Because of that, Seria felt her heart grow a little warmer. Even if she couldn't trust her own judgment, she could trust Ian’s words. That was how deeply Seria relied on him.
A faint smile played on her lips. She posed a question.
“...Then, from now on, will I not have to have nightmares anymore?”
The man didn't bother to ask what kind of nightmares they were. There was only one kind of nightmare that would haunt Seria.
The memory of the day her mother was kicked out. Since that day, Seria had lived her life obsessively devoted to the sword. To prove her worth to the family, always living in fear.
Despite that, she had lived her life being broken by Senior Delphine. Every time that happened, the seed of the nightmare planted in her chest grew rapidly, its roots tightening around her heart.
Because her clear limitations as the illegitimate daughter of the Yurdina family were highlighted in stark contrast, like light and shadow. Delphine Yurdina was the winner and the legitimate heir, but Seria was not.
A loser and a lowborn—those were the words that described Seria Yurdina’s life.
But yesterday, she had snatched victory from Delphine Yurdina. It was a crucial test to prove her qualification as a successor. It might be her first and last victory, but regardless, she had won.
The Yurdina family divided the world into a binary of winners and losers. No one would dare to ignore Seria or speak of kicking her out now.
Unlike her mother, Seria had proven that she was not weak. Therefore, she would remain.
There was no major flaw in that logic. Nevertheless, Ian couldn't give an answer right away.
He remained silent, and silent still.
Eventually, he shook his head. A small sigh escaped his lips.
“No, it’ll be hard. Even so, your mother isn't coming back.”
It was a blunt statement. Depending on the listener, it wouldn't have been strange for them to get angry at such harshness. However, Seria’s reaction was nothing but serene.
As if she had expected it, the girl wore a sad smile that looked even more pitiful under the moonlight.
The nightmare of that day was a problem beyond winning or losing. Just because she had achieved victory didn't mean her wounds would heal completely. She would simply be freer from the obsession of having to prove her utility.
She almost sank into a gloomy mood, but Seria quickly snapped herself out of it. Regardless, the fact that she owed a great debt to Senior Ian remained unchanged. She couldn't thank him enough, even if she did it hundreds of times.
There was no point in creating a depressing atmosphere when she had gone through the trouble of making time for just the two of them. She wanted to express more gratitude, and then...
What should I do? Seria’s thoughts came to a screeching halt, as if tripping over a stone.
Come to think of it, wasn't this situation prone to misunderstanding? A clearing in the middle of the night, a man and a woman slightly tipsy, gathered alone. The reason: because she had something to say.
Even Seria, ignorant as she was of human relationships, knew what that usually implied.
A confession. And since it was Seria who had called Ian out, she was the one who had to have the "business" to discuss.
Seria’s head began to spin. Her fingertips felt hot for no reason, and she fidgeted, fumbling with her fingers.
B-but, I don't like Senior Ian like that.
Isn't this feeling 'friendship'? She had heard that 'love' was a much more special emotion.
That your heart races just by looking at them, that you're captivated by their eyes as if possessed, and that your head becomes filled with thoughts of them like a sponge soaked in water.
Of course, if asked what she thought of Senior Ian, he was cool, reliable, and if she had to choose, he was close to an ideal spouse, but...
How could someone like her ever be Ian’s partner? Seria’s thought process, which had begun to tangle into delusions, did not return to normal quickly.
That was why she didn't notice. The fact that the man had already approached her within arm's reach.
“...Um, Seria.”
Suddenly, the man’s presence surged toward her like a heatwave. Startled, Seria looked up at his face with wide eyes.
He looked somewhat awkward. Avoiding her gaze slightly, the man cleared his throat with a "Ahem." It seemed he was trying to soothe his own embarrassment.
Seria thought to herself. That was dangerous. Her heart had almost stopped. She didn't know why yet. However, her eyes slowly drifted toward the hand the man was holding out.
It was a necklace. A small pendant made of silver. And on its surface, a single flower was embossed.
It had six petals. Since it was silver, the color couldn't be captured, but if it were painted, it would surely be sky-blue.
It was a 'Sepia flower.' Her bewildered eyes turned back toward the man.
The man was scratching his cheek with his free hand. His cheeks were slightly flushed. It surely wasn't just because of the alcohol.
“It’s a gift. You mentioned before that your mother liked them, right?”
Dazed, the girl stared at the pendant held out before her. Then, she carefully took it.
She felt the cold touch unique to metal. Seria stared endlessly at the flower embossed on the pendant.
It was the flower her mother had loved. Come to think of it, she had mentioned it to Senior Ian once. That she felt particularly at peace whenever she saw this flower.
Was that why he prepared this? Seria wanted to say something, but her mouth simply wouldn't open. Her lips only quivered, creating empty echoes.
“Flowers wither when you pick them, but a pendant lasts forever. So, um... I just hoped you wouldn't have any more nightmares from now on.”
Seria clutched the pendant tightly in her hand. Her mind was a total blank. She didn't know what to say or how to react.
Then, suddenly, the thought that she had to express her gratitude struck her. That emotion flared up like a wildfire and rose like steam. The moment Seria, who had been looking down at the pendant for a long time, snapped her head up again—
She lost her words. Ian was stealing glances at her, checking her reaction. It was the Ian she always knew. But the Seria looking at him was different.
Thump. Her heart raced. It had been doing that all along, but now it was even more violent.
She had only met his eyes. And yet, and yet...
This sensation of her heart racing just by looking at him, of being captivated by those golden eyes as if possessed, and her head being filled with thoughts of him like a sponge soaked in water.
Was this also 'friendship'? There was no light except for the moon, so why did the world turn phantasmagoric, and why was her heart being dyed in technicolor?
As she stood unable to say anything because she couldn't derive the answer, the man asked cautiously.
“Do you like it? I hope you do.”
Do I like it?
Only after receiving that question did Seria realize. It was thanks to the exclamation that burst out inside her.
Ah, very much.
Yes, you.
She liked him very much. So much that there was no way to stop her pounding heart. Her throat felt tight, and she couldn't even speak properly.
She only lowered her head, suppressing her tears.
“...Yes, so very much.”
Only then did Seria realize the name of this pale pink emotion tickling her chest.
In the language of flowers, the 'Sepia flower' meant 'First Love.'
* * *
Reto was wandering through the forest, scratching his head. Since Ian, the hero of the day, hadn't returned no matter how long he waited, Reto had decided he should go look for him.
He didn't pass out somewhere because he's drunk, did he?
That would be hilarious. The winner of the Hunting Festival sprawled out in the forest because he couldn't handle his liquor.
He was forcing himself past his laziness when he saw a familiar face in the distance.
It was a girl, staring blankly at a certain clearing.
It was Celine. Reto raised a hand to greet her.
“Hey, Celine. What are you do—”
But Celine didn't say a word back. She simply bit her lip and turned away with an expression filled with an unidentifiable emotion.
She even bumped into Reto’s shoulder as she passed, but offered no apology. Reto let out a hollow, dry laugh.
What’s with her? Is it that time of the month?
As he was about to keep walking, he heard Celine’s annoyed warning barked from behind him.
“...Don't go toward that clearing, you oblivious bastard!”
What is she talking about? Reto tilted his head and peeked toward the inside of the clearing.
He saw a girl crying while clutching something precious, and Ian, looking flustered as he tried to comfort her.
Only then did Reto let out an "Ah." He felt like he finally understood Celine’s reaction.
In this situation, there was no way he could call Ian over for a drink. He clicked his tongue a few times in bitterness and turned around.
I hope Celine doesn't get too hurt.
Never dreaming that this would be the prelude to a grand conflict, Reto simply walked away with long strides.
It was a day when the moonlight was beautiful.
* * *
The night the After-Party ended, I fell asleep with a heart that felt lighter than it had in a long time.
I had won the Hunting Festival, there were no casualties in the process, and as a result, Emma was able to regain consciousness.
I felt comfortable, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. When the letters first started coming, I wondered what I should do, but in the end, I was glad everything worked out well.
However, the pseudonym 'Sepia' still weighed on my mind. Looking back at the contents of the letters from the future, the person who fit that condition best was Seria.
Could it be that in the distant future, Seria and I become lovers?
It was impossible to know for now. For her—with her outstanding skills, great beauty, and immense family prestige—to become lovers with someone like me, a mere second son of a rural viscount...
It was hard to imagine. As I shook off various stray thoughts and my consciousness faded to black, and then when I opened my eyes again—
I felt a splitting headache. I felt a burning thirst. I fumbled and reached for the table near the head of the bed. I picked up the canteen and poured water down my throat.
Only then did my mind clear. It was still dawn, time to go out for training, but since I had overdrank the day before, it was better to sleep a bit more.
As I was about to lie back down, a sight I had seen before caught my eye.
The calendar had been turned.
From the Month of the Bow to the Month of the Wheel. I shouldn't have turned the calendar yet.
In an instant, my skin crawled. My eyes immediately scanned the top of the table. Right then, a single, luxurious envelope caught my eye.
I stood there staring at it, lost for words, before eventually picking up the envelope with trembling hands. Then, I checked its contents.
It was a letter. And it was a letter sent to me from seven years in the future.
“...Oh, for fuck's sake.”
It seemed my future fiancée still had more she wanted to say to me.