Chapter 1

「To My Beloved Olivia

Spring, which resembles you, is still here, yet you are not.

I gently buried you under your favorite cedar tree. Do you like the flowers? They are the ones you first gifted me, and I hope they please you.

My hands keep trembling, making my writing a mess. I hope you understand.

When I said I would write to you every day, everyone said I was crazy. Do you think I’m truly mad, writing down words I’ve never spoken aloud?

Yes, perhaps I am mad.

But you know, I must do this futile and crazy thing. Selfishly, I want to atone for my sins in this way.

Even if there is no way to reach you, even if I can never see you again.

Olivia, Liv.

My days ahead will be hell, won’t they? Don’t worry. I’m not planning to follow you right away. My sins are endless, and this is just the first letter.

Liv, Liv.

I earnestly hope this messy letter, my atonement, reaches you.

This year’s spring is unusually long. But this spring will pass soon, won’t it?

I don’t think I can visit you this spring. I have much left to atone for, and above all, the war is not over yet.

When everything is over, I will come to you.

Let us meet again then.

In the spring of 1820, which is still not over」

***

Olivia frowned as she recalled the letter she received in the morning.

Even on second thought, it was a truly strange letter.

There were countless things to point out from start to finish. Listing them would be endless.

It was 1817, a very peaceful time with no war. Yet the letter kept treating her as if she were dead, while she was very much alive.

Above all, her nickname was not Liv.

She had a beautiful nickname, Via, so why was she being called something else?

Olivia shook her head from side to side, trying to shake off the thought. At that moment, someone called her sternly.

“Olivia.”

It was her teacher.

He had been by her side ever since she was born.

A bit eccentric, but special because of it.

He gently pushed Olivia’s forehead. The only person who could treat the Marquis’s young lady like that was her teacher.

“Teacher!”

“So you do recognize me as your teacher.”

Olivia pouted and glared at him.

“Now that I’m twenty, I guess I don’t need a teacher anymore.”

“No way.”

Ending the chatter there, he tapped the book in front of him. Olivia sighed deeply and sat up straight. He smiled, seemingly satisfied.

“There must be a reason you’re so distracted today, right?”

At his question, Olivia’s eyes sparkled as she asked.

“Teacher, do you think it’s possible to receive a letter from three years in the future?”

He tilted his head at her question.

“What kind of prank is it this time?”

“It’s not a prank! I’m serious.”

Olivia fidgeted with her fingers, whispering her protest. But given her past antics, she glanced at her teacher.

Watching Olivia gauge his reaction, he shook his head.

“Not long ago, you asked me to get you a book because you were interested in the background of theology, and now you want me to bring a letter from three years in the future?”

“It was just a question.”

“It was an interesting question.”

Hearing the reluctant answer from her teacher, who seemed to know everything, Olivia felt deflated.

Yes, it must be someone’s prank.

“Never mind. I guess it really was a prank.”

Olivia’s eyes drooped. She pouted and tapped her fingers on the desk.

Seeing her reaction, he shrugged and sighed softly.

“Let’s focus on what’s in front of us.”

Usually, Olivia got what she wanted this way. But this time, her teacher had no intention of falling for her trick and opened the book for her.

“Let’s talk about why everyone hushes up about the background of theology.”

Olivia tried hard to erase the thoughts swirling in her head. Then she focused on her teacher, who was explaining diligently in front of her.

“Actually, theology and its background aren’t that different. In both, Gods can compose the world and are usually benevolent. The explanation that there are other worlds is the same too.”

“Then why are those who believe in the background called heretics?”

“Fundamentally, they are similar, but this part is different. In theology, Gods are perfect beings, but in the background, Gods make mistakes and fail just like humans.”

Olivia looked at the book open in front of her.

Depicting the face of a God was close to blasphemy, so in theology, no one tried to know the face of a God. But in this book, a God was depicted.

Of course, it was drawn vaguely, so the face couldn’t be recognized.

Olivia squinted and rubbed the page. Watching her actions, her teacher spoke.

“If it becomes known that Gods make mistakes and fail.”

“Faith would plummet.”

“Moreover, theology believes it cannot connect with other worlds, but according to the background, it can connect with other worlds at any time.”

Listening to her teacher, Olivia slowly nodded in agreement.

“It would certainly make one suspect of heresy.”

“Exactly. What I told you today is what heretics learn, Olivia.”

He was telling Olivia that this teaching was also very dangerous.

Even if she were accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake, she showed no sign of fear.

Instead, she was curious and asked him.

“Then, Teacher, which God do you believe in, theology or its background?”

It was a chilling question.

If he answered the latter, it would be tantamount to denying all those who believe in theology.

Her teacher, who had been staring at Olivia, opened his mouth.

“Humans are byproducts of Gods. If Gods don’t make mistakes, humans shouldn’t either, right? ……But still, I’d rather believe in theology than the background. Whatever it is, it’s better if Gods are perfect, isn’t it?”

As expected, a strange answer came back.

Listening to him, Olivia blinked her eyes slowly. For a moment, a refreshing laugh burst from her lips.

“Teacher, you really are crazy.”

“Olivia, I hope you know you’re no less than me. You seem to be getting stranger by the day. Be careful in front of others.”

After giving his advice, he checked the clock.

Realizing it was the end of the lesson, her teacher tidied up and left the room with a neat appearance.

As he waited for the door to close, he called Olivia.

“Oh, by the way, Olivia.”

Annoyed, she waved her hand, asking why he was calling her.

“Why are you calling me, just go.”

“The letter earlier.”

He mentioned what Olivia was interested in.

“Don’t get too caught up in someone’s prank. It’s an impossible thing to happen.”

When Olivia turned around in surprise, her teacher was already leaving the room.

She pouted, wanting to reply that strange things can happen in the world, but he had already left the room.

After the soft sound of the door closing, silence filled the room.

Olivia took out the letter she had kept and placed it on the desk. Neat handwriting filled the white paper.

Ignoring her teacher’s words, she smiled brightly and murmured.

“Here, it should be ‘va,’ not ‘ve.’”

Perhaps not familiar with Frenchia, the writer of the letter made spelling mistakes here and there. Seeing the untidy style, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Besides, don’t you know you’re supposed to write the sender on a letter? I can’t write a reply.”

It wasn’t a tone of reproach.

Rather, she seemed more intrigued, humming a cheerful tune as she took out stationery. Then she began to write a letter.

It wasn’t in her native language, Frenchia.

It was in Silvest, the only language she made spelling mistakes in.

“If it’s a prank, so what? It brought a smile to my boring day, so I’ll at least write a reply.”

「To The Unknown Gentleman

No, in fact, how do I know if you’re a gentleman? Who sends such rude letters?

Actually, I was a bit surprised, 1820, you say.

War! Writing such dreadful stories so casually, you must be a terrifying person.

No matter how earnest your letter is, it won’t work.

I’ve already figured it all out. How is it? Isn’t it brilliant?

(Omitted)

Oh dear, did I talk too much?

But understand, if such a playful thing happens in a boring routine, anyone would be excited.

Feel free to keep sending letters.

I’ll read your atonement.

I don’t know if it will ease your mind, but who knows. By writing letters with words you can’t say to anyone, it might get a little better.

Don’t think of following her.

If you do, you’ll probably be hated by her forever.

As much as I enjoyed receiving your letter.

I’ll pray to God that this letter becomes your comfort, your strength to live.

I’ll stop here for today.

If you send another letter, I’ll diligently write a reply.

In 1817, where spring has just begun」

Olivia neatly arranged the letter and placed it on the desk.

Perhaps a shy someone might take it when she’s not around.

Of course, there was no one bold enough to enter the Marquis’s young lady’s study uninvited, but she didn’t think that far.

As Olivia tidied her clothes and left the room, the sun peeked through the window. And not long after, the letter placed on the desk disappeared without a trace.