Love Letter From The Future

The Fifth Imperial Princess, Shi-en.

Born of the noble blood of dragons, she was an ambitious schemer. Gifted with eyes that read hearts, a strategist who manipulated the desires of others and plotted from behind the scenes.

She was a girl born into the royal family, growing up without lack.

She had never known failure, nor had she missed out on anything she desired. Thus, it was only natural for her to develop an arrogant disposition as she matured.

Of course, Shi-en paid no heed to this at all.

Arrogance?

That was merely the depravity of the unworthy. Unlike others, Shi-en was a special being and thus fully deserving of looking down upon the world.

Dragons do not doubt themselves.

They always take the initiative, meticulously organizing the board and achieving their goals based on that. Wasn’t that a virtue instilled in her from her childhood?

Awoken to the blood of dragons, Shi-en was unstoppable.

The guilt that had weighed upon her was long gone. All that remained was to seize the man she loved by any means necessary.

Shi-en was taking her grand first step towards this goal.

Knock, knock.

“Y-Yuridina-senpai?”

Gulping down a dry swallow, her trembling voice refused to calm.

The girl trembled, listening quietly. She was anxious that there might be an answer from behind the door.

However, even after waiting for a while, no sound brushed against her eardrum.

There was no sign of life, not even a faint sound. Shi-en felt even greater terror at that fact.

‘W-what should I do?’

The last battle had taught Shi-en many lessons.

Even when outmatched, victory was not impossible. That living a life hiding would yield nothing. Sometimes one must sacrifice flesh to obtain bone, and so forth.

But that day’s incident did not leave behind only valuable lessons. Shi-en inherited debts alongside her fortune, and now the time to repay that debt was approaching.

Ceria’s mother.

In her excitement, Shi-en killed the mother of her precious comrade. Even if there were unavoidable circumstances, it was an action that left ample room for ethical condemnation.

Furthermore, the other party was one of the juniors that the man she loved held dear.

It was a situation where reconciliation was necessary both morally and for the future. So Shi-en was waiting with a pitiful expression, sobbing as she anticipated the absence of a response.

Repeating endless apologies.

“I-I’ve come to apologize… O-of course, this won’t alleviate your anger! I had no choice but to make that decision to save my life! But I must fulfill my moral responsibility for killing your mother…”

Bang!

However, no matter how much she pleaded, all she received in return was that noise.

What could it possibly mean?

Did it mean she didn’t want to hear excuses? Or perhaps it meant she didn’t want to hear her voice and wanted her to go away?

Even Shi-en’s proud “Eyes of the Dragon” were of no use. After all, Ceria was behind that invisible door.

In the end, Shi-en had to turn back, tears welling in her eyes.

In truth, she knew as well. Without the “Eyes of the Dragon,” her intuition was lamentably lacking.

There was only one option left.

Swallowing her pride, she would seek counsel.

As the saying goes, it is no shame to ask. Shi-en headed for her trusted aide.

“Lady Airen!”

Bang, the sudden entrance of her superior made the Lady Knight flinch.

But it wasn’t only Airen who was surprised. Shi-en, too, could only widen her eyes at Airen’s attire.

An apron.

For a woman who had lived her life wielding a sword, it was an overly domestic outfit.

With a bewildered expression, Shi-en could only ask.

“Lady Airen, what are you doing?”

“Ah, well…”

Of late, the Lady Knight’s confidence had noticeably dwindled. Her gaze wandered aimlessly. Upon closer inspection, she was not holding a sword but a kitchen knife.

How much deeper had Shi-en’s confusion grown?

Airen quickly squeezed her eyes shut and confessed.

“I-I was thinking of taking priesthood classes…”

“……?”

Shi-en tilted her head in confusion.

Priesthood classes? Just a while ago, hadn’t she been openly proclaiming her marriage to her sword?

However, Shi-en’s curiosity was short-lived, as she was faced with a more pressing matter.

“Um, Lady Airen… I have something to ask… Of course, it’s something I heard about!”

Thus, Shi-en began to unravel her concerns disguised as a friend’s story.

She had committed an irreversible mistake against a precious friend, and ever since, that friend had not wanted to see her face. No matter how much she apologized, the situation remained the same. Still, she yearned to be forgiven somehow.

What should she do in such a case?

After listening to the story, Airen swallowed hard and murmured.

“In that case, empathy is important.”

“……Empathy?”

It was a surprisingly plausible solution. As Shi-en’s eyes began to shine with anticipation, Airen cautiously continued her advice.

“Yes, empathy. Most problems stem from the failure to consider the other’s perspective. So by finding commonalities between yourself and the other person, and showing that you fully understand your friend’s feelings, their heart will soften significantly.”

“Indeed!”

Convinced by Airen’s logic, Shi-en set forth again.

Focusing on commonalities and emphasizing the understanding of the other’s feelings.

Shi-en resolved to put that advice into practice without hesitation.

Ahem, ahem.

Clearing her throat and steadying her emotions, warm words began to flow from the girl’s lips.

“Yuridina-senpai, I really understand your feelings well. I lost my mother when I was young too… In other words, we’re both in the same situation of having lost our mothers, right? How about it, senpai? Talking freely with someone who shares that experience…”

Bang!

Then, an even more irritable sound echoed back, and Shi-en could do nothing but frown again.

Lady Airen, you are incompetent!

She lamented the lack of her aide’s abilities.

In the end, Shi-en had to resort to her last means.

She decided to employ the “special limited edition doll made from actual clothing worn by Ian.”

The clothes once worn by Ian were precious. Even for Shi-en, giving away a creation made with utmost care was not something she wanted to do, but this was an exceptional emergency.

She had no choice but to sacrifice and keep her tears at bay.

After last giving the doll a compassionate stroke with her eyes, Shi-en gently placed the doll in front of Ceria’s door.

“A-Ah! Here’s a special limited edition doll made from actual clothing worn by Sir Ian! This is strange…”

And then she hid.

Shi-en crouched behind the corner where the hallway turned, holding her breath while keeping an eye out for Ceria’s reaction, praying that her prey would take the bait.

Perhaps her earnest wish had reached the heavens.

The door that had been firmly closed for so long began to open silently. Shi-en stifled her heartbeat by covering her mouth and hiding her body.

Could she finally break her seclusion?

Ceria’s slowly emerging figure paused, her gaze fixated on the doll, which was accidentally positioned away from the angle at which the door was opening.

Hesitating, pausing, groping for a bit.

Just when it seemed she would reach out her hand towards the doll.

Suddenly, Ceria shook her head and dashed to the floor. The window opened, and with movements so agile they did not adhere to the hallway, she flew into the void.

“W-what…?”

In her confusion, Shi-en hurriedly ran after her. Fortunately, with the “Eyes of the Dragon,” there was no difficulty in tracking her down.

However, chasing after a woman who seemed to fly was an impossible feat.

With all her might, she sprinted, and before long, she found herself in front of a clearing in the forest.

Shi-en hastily held her breath and hid behind a tree. In the distance, there was a figure.

A small woman standing against the moon of the night sky.

With her light green pupils scattering brilliance, a witch who was holding a horn pipe, wearing a disinterested expression.

At least according to what Shi-en knew, there was only one person who could embody such a figure.

“The Great Witch.”

Now her mentor, she stood, her hands crossed behind her back, welcoming a new guest.

A girl with gray hair.

“…You have come.”

At that question, Ceria looked away without a word, as if she lacked confidence in her decision.

The reason the girl had come to see the Great Witch was simple.

“Dear niece.”

She was the last remaining bloodline of the lady.

The chillier breeze brushed past the girl’s gray hair. The blue eyes concealed within gleamed with a sorrowful light.

A season just before winter.

On one autumn day, the girl decided to determine her fate.

A few days later.

The girl’s eyes, which had been stuffed away in her study, glimmered with light for the first time in a long while. With a pointed hat pushed down firmly, the face of the woman who had stayed up all night was terribly haggard.

Like that of a corpse.

Yet her eyes were shining with undeniable joy.

“I did it…!”

The one from the future, Elsi Rainelle, exclaimed, clenching her teeth.

“…Wait for me, Ian Fercurus.”

In order to meet her first love.

The countless sleepless nights were worth it, and reunion was now at hand.

One day before the meeting of the two sisters from the future.

A method to save those infected by the vampire had been discovered.

It was around the time when the leaves had fallen profusely.

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