I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 146

“Are you really going to tell the Emperor?”

As the carriage entered the Imperial Palace, guided by a guard, Edgar slyly brought up what had just happened to Ariel.

Edgar thought she would surely raise her voice, insisting it was the obvious thing to do, but contrary to his expectations, Ariel responded in a somewhat calm tone.

“If you say I shouldn’t, I might think about it.”

“I don’t plan to say you shouldn’t. Of course, assuming it’s under the pretense of a reasonable punishment.”

“…Really? I thought you would definitely tell me to drop it.”

Ariel glanced at Edgar with a look of surprise as she revealed her true thoughts, prompting a bitter smile to form on his lips.

Edgar, who had been watching the situation through the window just moments ago, wasn’t about to say Ariel had overreacted this time.

Of course, there were definitely misunderstandings on their side, and someone might feel that Ariel had overreacted a bit.

Edgar empathized with that point.

However, it was also true that saying they had acted purely according to their duty was somewhat misleading.

Even though it was a situation where they could have communicated smoothly, they had looked down on Shuri and used words that were a bit excessive.

Edgar thought from their perspective that Shuri seemed insufficient to represent the Duke’s family.

In other words, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that they changed their attitude the moment they recognized their opponent as weaker than themselves.

Ariel merely returned the same favor.

“You just became the head of the household, right? I think it was somewhat necessary.”

“You hate this kind of stuff.”

“What I hate and what is publicly necessary are two different matters.”

Edgar shrugged his shoulders, indicating he didn’t really care.

Above all, she was now the head of the Duke’s family and the representative of all members of the Robeheim Family.

Sometimes, even if it seems a bit showy, there’s a need to showcase one’s authority.

Even though she had just stepped into the position, was it right for a mere guard in the palace to maintain indifference when she had personally appeared?

If they had softened a bit at that moment, given how they might be looked down upon externally, it could have even diminished her prestige.

“Still, as I said, it’d be better to keep it at a reasonable level.”

“The Emperor will handle the punishment as he sees fit.”

Though Ariel said that, she didn’t plan to blurt this out the moment she met the Emperor.

She didn’t know how their communication system worked, but with this much ruckus, whether they liked it or not, it would have reached the Emperor or his closest aides.

If they subtly leaked this information, she could either agree or only then step forward if needed.

It was literally just handing over the authority to punish them back to them.

“If the Emperor or any nearby people decide to give severe punishment, it’d be good if you held back at a reasonable level.”

“Do we really have to do that?”

“I think that’s a way for both sides to go home with a good reason and benefit.”

With a grin, Edgar offered this advice while gently holding Ariel’s hand, which had been flailing around aimlessly.

“Exhibiting authority is important, but there’s no need to come off as a cold-hearted person. After all, even if you hold back, they won’t just sit still.”

“…True, that’s correct.”

Even if Ariel said she didn’t wish for their punishment, if this got out, they would still feel the need to show sincerity.

A mere guard sticking to stubbornness without recognizing the true identity of the head of the Duke’s family would mean that they were attempting to gloss over things, which would only tarnish their own honor.

“So, what you’re saying is that regardless of their true sentiments, it’s to leave a benevolent impression on those around?”

“Exactly.”

Being inherently intelligent, Ariel quickly understood Edgar’s underlying message.

Even if it was just acting, she didn’t want to utter words asking for mercy for those who had insulted Shuri, but since it wasn’t a matter of life and death, she felt it was all the same to her.

In that case, it was better to focus on practicality whenever possible.

She could impose a suitable punishment, ensuring the prestige of the Robeheim Family wouldn’t drop, and thanks to her pleas, she could even be regarded as magnanimous.

Meanwhile, the two people quietly listening to their conversation couldn’t help but let out low gasps.

Though Edgar usually seemed like a playful person who enjoyed teasing Ariel, they were reminded once more that he was a man with deep thoughts.

“Edgar surprisingly has a broad view, doesn’t he? Right, Hagel?”

“I agree. I just thought the punishment would end there, but he seemed to be seeing at least two moves ahead.”

In response to their praise, Edgar raised one corner of his mouth in a subtle smile.

It wasn’t that he was particularly profound; he merely remembered well the request that Yulken and Helene had made to him in private before.

Ariel was fundamentally competent, but she occasionally let her emotions take the lead when acting, so he was just asking them to keep that in mind.

As her advisor, he wanted to remain as the person who could guide her before she took another step forward.

Ariel felt a mix of emotions as she watched Edgar.

She realized again why her mother had given her that advice before.

“…Seeing you, I feel like I understand why Mom said that.”

“What did she say?”

“She said, ‘Even if you end up ignoring Dad and Mom, you must listen to Edgar.’”

“Ha.”

Edgar merely let out a subtle chuckle without confirming or denying it.

He wasn’t sure if he could repay that trust, but he resolved to do his best nonetheless.

* * * * * * *

After getting off the carriage and finally reaching the outside of the Imperial Palace, the sight was perfectly lavish.

Even though Edgar had seen it before, he couldn’t help but be amazed by its grandeur as he stepped inside with the others.

“Oh, is that His Grace the Duke?”

As they passed the entrance guarded by the palace guard and reached a corridor wide enough for twenty people to walk comfortably, a man with a bushy beard and a large stature stood in their way.

His name was Ludrick Orman.

Unlike other knights, he was the leader of the Imperial Guard, serving directly under the Emperor, and had also attended Ariel’s succession ceremony.

“It’s been a while, Sir Orman. Thank you for visiting during the succession ceremony.”

“It’s not necessary to thank me for something that was just a given. But what brings you to the Imperial Palace today…?”

“My fiancé received an Imperial decree from His Majesty and we stopped by for a moment.”

At Ariel’s calm reply, Ludrick let out an ‘Ah!’ and then looked over at Edgar.

He had heard enough about Edgar during the succession ceremony to know who he was, but it seemed age had made him forgetful.

He quickly offered his overt apologies and greeted the two others standing behind.

“Congratulations in advance, Sir Edgar. So that was why His Majesty had summoned the ministers to their posts today.”

“Is that so? It sounds like quite a burden for me.”

Edgar hadn’t expected today to be a light affair either, but he hadn’t realized other ministers would be gathered, so he showed a bit of discomfort.

Honestly, he didn’t think he deserved this much praise, and if he showed any humility, it would belittle Yulken, whom he had saved, so he couldn’t do that either.

It was truly a bizarre situation.

“Haha, there’s no need to think of it that way. The birth of a hero should be widely known at any time.”

As the Emperor’s closest aide and the commander of the guard, Ludrick was one of the few people who understood that what Edgar had done wasn’t easy.

Besides, since the person he had saved was the head of the Duke’s family, when the current Emperor was informed of this, he might have felt it would be embarrassing just to nod and move on.

It was possible he was looking to create an impression on his subjects and those around him that ‘the current Emperor stands firm on rewards and punishments.’

Above all, those receiving the accolades only needed to accept with pleasure.

“Then, besides the Emperor, this will be the first time for the other three to meet His Majesty.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Ariel had met the current Emperor once when she was a child.

Even someone with a good memory like her could only vaguely recall it, but it meant it wasn’t their first meeting.

On the other hand, it would be the first time for the other three to meet and converse with him, even if they had seen him from afar.

As a result, among them, especially Hagel, who had extraordinary loyalty toward the Emperor, was already trembling with both hands.

“Before the Emperor bestows his rewards, you will likely have an opportunity to meet him. He’s quite pleasant and straightforward, so you needn’t worry too much.”

“He seems to have a character similar to what my father told me.”

“Exactly. His late Majesty had numerous encounters with him, so he probably knows him well.”

Ludrick, with a kind smile, soon expressed he had other places to attend to and moved to take his leave, but in that instant, another man casually walked toward their group down the corridor.

He was a slender man dressed in a black tailcoat.

His expression was somewhat inscrutable, leaving Edgar puzzled about whether he was sullen or angry.

To put it nicely, he seemed mysterious; to put it harshly, he had a somewhat grim impression.

“Hmm? Lord Albrecht, what brings you here?”

“I heard some commotion while passing by and decided to check. But I didn’t expect to find Your Majesty here.”

Albrecht Bertus.

When listing the people with the most power in the Empire, he would be mentioned alongside the Emperor and the head of the Duke’s family, and he was also recognized as the Empire’s foremost wizard.

He frequently visited the Mage Tower and the rumors of a close relationship with the current head of the Mage Tower circulated, but those were unconfirmed facts; he was also known for his surprisingly youthful appearance despite his age.

In some sense, he was a weighty figure, perhaps even more so than the Duke, making it rare to catch him outside of his estate or the Mage Tower, but today, he somehow made his way into the Imperial Palace.

Ludrick had been taken aback when he heard he was coming here, as he was indeed an elusive individual.

‘What a peculiar day.’

Not only was it strange for him to visit the palace, but now he was wandering around inside it.

Ludrick couldn’t help but wonder if it was going to be a day when the sun rose in the west.

“I am Albrecht Bertus. Congratulations on becoming the head of the Duke’s family, Your Majesty. I regret not being able to attend the succession ceremony due to scheduling conflicts.”

Though Albrecht expressed his apologies politely, nobody here genuinely accepted his words.

His bowing posture and manner of speaking seemed without fault, yet it felt strangely vacant, as if only an echo resounded in their hearts.

It was as if only an empty reverberation echoed within.

“By the way, you are the one who performed brilliantly in Whitewood, aren’t you?”

“Yes, that’s correct. She’s my fiancé.”

“Is that so? I apologize for not realizing that sooner.”

The fact that he rarely bowed stiffly to anyone, other than the Emperor, made Ludrick even more bewildered as he observed Albrecht bowing frequently today.

It was so unusual that he felt he might be mistaken, thinking this man before him wasn’t Albrecht but someone else cloaked in his skin.

“……”

Meanwhile, as Edgar accepted Albrecht’s handshake, he couldn’t take his eyes off the man standing before him.

A strange sensation engulfed him.

He could confidently declare that it was the first time he felt such a thing, that it was an entirely alien aura.

The man didn’t seem bad.

But the absence of any discernible positivity in that impression didn’t mean he was reassuring.

In other words, he was a man from whom nothing could be felt.

“I’ve heard rumors and wanted to see you at least once; it seems this opportunity has presented itself. I was told that His Majesty greatly praised the emergence of a young hero.”

“…Thank you, Your Grace.”

It was a line that everyone he met during the succession ceremony had said generously, but Edgar had never felt it so hollow before.

He tried to maintain his smile while attempting not to reveal this peculiar feeling.

Even though they were shaking hands, for some reason, he felt utterly devoid of warmth from this person.

Why was that? Even when he asked himself, he couldn’t find a suitable answer.