Love Letter From The Future

My hometown was far from the bustling cities.

In the realm, most major cities fell under direct imperial rule. Apart from the expansive territories of the five major noble families, smaller domains faced limitations to their prosperity.

The installation and upkeep of warp gates, the lifelines of civilization, incurred immense costs. As a result, only a select few cities reaped their benefits.

This left nobles to rely on traditional carriage travel.

Our journey followed this pattern as well. After arriving at a nearby city by using the warp gate, we left on the carriage arranged by my family for the homeward stretch

The road ahead stretched for two more days, winding through landscapes that occasionally stirred a twinge of regret within me.

The Percus territory was not well-off. Consequently, this hindered investment in essential infrastructure like roads.

Thus, our route through the poorly maintained paths, prolonged the journey.

With such circumstances plaguing the territory, my younger sister aimed to earn money to maintain and improve the roads.

Understanding firsthand the plight caused by these dilapidated roads, her dedication to their improvement was beyond imagination.

Not long ago, she had excitedly shared news of nearing her goal through a letter.

However, that dream fell apart not long after.

It was due to her foolish brother.

Looking back, I did regret it, but the choice was inevitable at that time.

Of course, it was also because of the implicit trust in my sister's capabilities, something that was borne from years of my observation of her.

She never surrendered, always standing firm.

Indeed, my younger sister lived up to my expectations splendidly.

While the trading company's collapse was inevitable, her letter hinted at the possibility of salvaging a considerable portion of our assets.

However, there was much to be gained from the Imperial Princess, so the letter included a request not to leak this information.

From now on, it was a problem that my younger sister would skillfully handle on her own.

After receiving that letter, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret for the Imperial Princess, who would be thoroughly exploited by my younger sister.

In a sense, it was not much different from taking advantage of the Imperial Princess's guilt.

However, this matter was already beyond my control.

All I could do for the Imperial Princess now was to return home and persuade my sister, since she heeded my words more than any other family member.

Amid such thoughts, the chatter of my companions snapped me back to reality.

"...What an impressive event, dispatching a Saintess on a service mission to such a remote place."

I stole a brief glance inside the carriage at the sudden voice that reached my ears.

Observing the scene, I noticed Celine wearing a slightly displeased expression, while on the opposite side, the Saintess sat with her customary benevolent smile.

Beside them, Senior Elsie was closely attached to my side, and Seria, maintaining her usual expressionless demeanor, was handling her sword.

In the corner, Leto enjoyed a nap with a book covering his face, while Yuren skillfully drove the carriage, making us a party of six inside the carriage.

In response to Celine's subtle jab, the Saintess made a cross over her chest.

"The grace of the Heavenly God is like sunlight, not discriminating between bustling places and remote areas. Even if there are limitations due to various circumstances, priests should not forget their duty. - Immanuel.”

Her words flowed with eloquence, yet Celine's hazel eyes sank into deeper gloom.

"I could chalk the last time up to a coincidence, but having the destination overlap twice... No matter how you look at it, it's strange, isn't it? And these days, the way you treat Ian Oppa is particularly peculiar…"

"Oh, Lord! Thank you for creating such a peculiar coincidence. Your little lamb must be waiting there for you."

A sigh finally escaped from Celine's lips.

It was a sign of resignation. It seemed like she intuitively understood that, no matter how much she provoked the Saintess, shedding a drop of blood was out of the question.

In response to her unsupported discontent, she pursed her lips. Since gaining four more companions, Celine had been like this all day, emphasizing her sulkiness as much as possible.

Her next target was Seria, who was quietly handling her sword.

"Hey, you loser."

"What's the matter, Ms. Haster?"

Seria's response was cold and arrogant, indicating she no longer cared whether she was called a 'loser' or not.

Perhaps even Celine considered calling her 'Loser' a sort of nickname.

Nevertheless, it seemed she realized that Seria was the only person she was closest to among the others, so Celine casually struck up a conversation with her.

"Are you going to lead the Yurdina family's soldiers?"

"For the time being."

"Then, will you be staying there temporarily?"

My gaze glanced briefly at Seria.

In theory, Seria should remain at the Yurdina family's headquarters. Yet, it could be her first time visiting a friend's home, which must have sparked a desire to stay with us.

Seria's decision weighed heavily on me.

As a member of the Yurdina family, she deserved the same care and attention as the Saintess or Senior Elsie.

If Seria chose to stay at Percus Manor, preparations would be necessary.

Seria's response to Celine's question remained perpetually calm and peaceful.

“Well, that's the plan, but... maybe staying at Percus Manor would be preferable, don’t you think?”

"Huh? Why?"

When Celine asked back in surprise, Seria revealed a rare beautiful smile.

"Because we're friends, aren’t we?"

Celine appeared momentarily dumbfounded. Nevertheless, Seria repeated one word in a firm tone.

"Friends."

Celine opened her mouth, then closed it again, sighing deeply and shaking her head.

"...Fine, do as you please."

Now, only one target remained.

With an uncharacteristically uncomfortable gaze, Celine addressed Senior Elsie with a furrowed brow.

"Um, Senior Elsie?"

"Yes?"

Senior Elsie tilted her head inquisitively.

With such an adorable gesture from her, even Celine's attitude softened for a moment. However, she quickly regained her composure, directing a question at Senior Elsie with deep curiosity.

"Why do you keep sticking to Ian Oppa?"

Just as she said.

Senior Elsie had consistently remained close to me. No matter how hard I tried to shake her off, she clung steadfastly.

Even now, she leaned against my arm, rubbing her head against it.

Perhaps unprepared for such direct scrutiny, Senior Elsie cleared her throat and blushed slightly.

"W-What! Why! Do you have a problem with it?! How dare a junior have the audacity to question a senior's actions..."

"Well, Brother Ian might feel uncomfortable."

The one supporting Celine's stance was none other than the Saintess.

Senior Elsie was momentarily silenced by this unexpected blow. Eventually, she cast a fierce glare towards the Saintess, who remained silent, hands clasped.

A subtle chill emanated from her narrowed, light pink eyes.

"Even if you're close, there are differences between men and women, you know..."

"M-Master and I have a special relationship, you know?!"

"…Whatever it is, I believe it's not a romantic one."

Senior Elsie was soon rendered speechless by the solemn tone of the Saintess.

She only cast a pitiful glance.

It was a silent plea for help. I was at a loss for what to do.

In the end, a sigh mixed with words escaped my lips.

"…Just let her be."

"Yes, of course, as she should... huh?"

The mixed feelings that arose because of that one sentence was palpable.

The Saintess, who had assumed my response, nodded, only to widen her eyes at my reply.

On the other hand, Senior Elsie's face brightened up. Her sparkling gaze, seemingly moved by my words, was slightly overwhelming.

Regardless, the answer I was going to give remained unchanged.

"Let Senior Elsie do as she wishes. After all, nothing will change just because a rumor spreads, right?"

Indeed, Senior Elsie and I were already in an inseparable relationship.

Since she had declared me her master and expressed her desire to serve me, no force could tear her away.

Even if whispers of romance were to circulate, her reputation couldn't be further tarnished.

In that case, it was better to let Senior Elsie be happy, however small.

Reflecting on the situation, I couldn't help but sigh deeply.

If I couldn’t resolve this, I had no choice but to shoulder the responsibility for Senior Elsie.

However, the Saintess’ reaction to my words was somewhat peculiar.

"Is, is it that you favor that woman now?"

She uttered this with faint tears in her eyes, leaving me slightly dumbfounded..

It was unlike the Saintess I had known thus far.

The term 'that woman' was an expression she rarely used, something that would come out only when she had stripped away her facade. Even Celine and Seria appeared taken aback, their eyes widening.

"Master..."

Only Senior Elsie remained oblivious, continuing to rub her head against my arm.

In fact, I had sensed a strange tension with the Saintess for a while now.

To be exact, since we met at the warp gate, there had been a strange atmosphere lingering between us.

It felt like the Saintess was expecting something from me.

Perhaps her reactions nowadays were connected to that.

As I grappled with my confusion, a long yawn interrupted my thoughts.

"...Let's quiet down a bit, everyone."

It was Leto.

Awakening from his sleep, he rubbed his eyes and adjusted his posture, the book that had concealed his face now long forgotten.

"We're nearly at the Percus territory. You guys won't even have the time to fight properly once we get there."

All eyes, except Celine's, turned to Leto in curiosity.

A palpable tension hung in the air, particularly around the Saintess and Senior Elsie, as Leto's gaze lingered on them with a mischievous glint.

With a chuckle, he made a comment.

"Ria is not an easy opponent, you know."

The weight of Leto’s words was felt only by Celine.

She sighed in exasperation, then quickly averted her gaze, resting her chin in her hand.

An awkward silence settled over the carriage.

Soon, the wheels crossed into Percus territory.

****

The carriage passed through a serene countryside village before entering the town.

Amidst the center stood a single structure worthy of the title 'manor’ within the Percus territory.

It was Percus Manor.

Waiting for us in front of it was a slender girl.

With ebony-hued, straight hair, fair complexion, and delicate limbs, she exuded an air of fragility. Yet, her golden eyes, emblematic of the Percus lineage, hinted at an underlying strength.

The intense gaze created a crack in the girl’s seemingly fragile impression.

She was beautiful, fragile, and strong.

The juxtaposition of fragility and strength lent a captivating allure to this young woman.

She gracefully lifted her skirt and bowed her head.

"...A pleasure to meet you. My name is Ria Percus, the youngest daughter of the Percus family. It's an honor to welcome such esteemed guests today."

With those words, my younger sister wore an inexplicable smile.

"Thank you for taking care of my foolish older brother... Please, entrust him to me from now on."

I finally returned to my hometown.

Accompanied by three unfamiliar women.

And the first meeting between my younger sister and these women was not particularly pleasant.

A chilly silence settled in, casting a shadow over our reunion.

***

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