I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 103

Yulken’s heartfelt words resonated deeply with many.

They struck a balance between overly optimistic and painfully realistic, which only amplified their impact.

As he received thunderous applause and quickly disappeared from view, the hall buzzed with voices of those who felt a sense of loss.

Although Yulken might not have wanted to interrupt the young people’s moment, many present were not satisfied with just a single encounter with him.

That aspect of their differing thoughts had slipped his mind.

—

“Still, the atmosphere has lightened up a bit.”

“True.”

Interestingly, thanks to Yulken’s actions, Ariel found herself assisted in a rather unexpected way.

After Yulken gathered the crowd’s attention and then left, all eyes had inadvertently fallen away from her.

This allowed Ariel to wander around more freely with Edgar.

Sally and Gria had stepped away to greet other friends, leaving just the two of them together.

—

“Who’s that skinny guy? I don’t recognize his face.”

Even with the shift in attention, Ariel’s striking appearance naturally drew eyes, especially from men outside her circle.

And among them, many regarded Edgar, who was by her side, with lingering disapproval.

Thankfully, not every whisper reached Ariel’s ears; if they had, a sword fight might not have been out of the question.

—

“Watch your mouth. They say he’s the beloved of the Robeheim Princess.”

“Beloved? Looks like someone’s spreading wild rumors.”

“Well, I had my doubts, but seeing him in person doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.”

It’s often said that when someone is blinded by emotion, rational judgment is lost, leading to prejudice.

In essence, for those who had long coveted Ariel, it was impossible to see Edgar in a favorable light.

However, this also implied that those able to view Edgar objectively might arrive at different conclusions.

—

“Who might that be? He’s been beside the princess for a while now…”

“A personal attendant wouldn’t accompany her here, so he must be the beloved of the Robeheim princess.”

“No way. I haven’t heard any such rumors. I think he’s more likely a close friend or relative.”

—

Among the two women in conversation, one with light green hair shook her head in denial, as if rejecting reality.

Meanwhile, the other, who had been chatting amiably, noticed her friend’s discomfort and playfully poked her side, a mischievous smile on her face.

“Looks like you’ve taken a liking to him? Just go say hi.”

“Are you crazy? What if I offend the princess…!”

—

If there were no relationship at all, it wouldn’t matter, but if they were indeed a couple, it could lead to disaster.

The girl with green hair vehemently shook her head, but her friend gently nudged her forward.

It’s said that a courageous man can win a beauty’s heart, and the same holds true for women.

—

“Hey, did you know? My mother once said that the more attractive a man is, the more people hesitate to approach him, so they often end up alone.”

“Really…?”

“Besides, no one expects you to throw yourself at him! Just strike up a conversation. I’ll help you out!”

“Wait a second…!”

Ultimately, the girl was pulled right up to Ariel by her friend’s insistence, suddenly finding herself in a position to speak.

Fortunately, her friend initiated the conversation, so there was no awkwardness, but her heart still raced.

—

“Ariel Robeheim, right? Nice to meet you!”

“Um? Who…?”

Caught off guard by the energetic girl’s sudden appearance, Ariel tilted her head, displaying an unexpectedly naive reaction for someone of her stature.

It was hard to dislike her, considering how cheerful she was.

—

“I’m Eryl Diora! I’ve wanted to meet you for a while, so I took the liberty to say hello… Is that inappropriate?”

“…Heh.”

Ariel couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

It wasn’t that she felt bad, but rather that Eryl’s bluntness was amusing.

She had seen men try to flirt subtly and noble heirs trying desperately to make connections, but Eryl was different.

Typically, people in such situations often came off as overly smooth or overly humble, but Eryl seemed genuinely lost, looking a bit sheepish after her forwardness.

In either case, it wasn’t an unpleasant encounter.

—

“It’s fine. After all, that’s what events like this are for. Right, Edgar?”

“Indeed.”

Social circles are never about only meeting familiar faces.

Sometimes, it’s the norm to greet newcomers and enjoy drinks while speaking to them.

Ariel had no plans of only sticking to Edgar during today’s gathering.

That said, she also had no intention of smiling and making small talk with someone she didn’t find appealing.

Ultimately, she was open to happy encounters if they arose.

—

“Anyway, nice to meet you, Lady Diora. But who’s this next to you…?”

“Oh, this is my friend Rafi Eilgran. She’s a little shy, so please be kind to her.”

Eryl, with her brown hair tied in twin tails, tugged Rafi forward, urging her to introduce herself.

“I… I’m Rafi Eilgran! It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Robeheim…!”

“Ah… Yes, nice to meet you too, Lady Eilgran.”

Somehow, the two friends presented shockingly contrasting vibes.

Eryl screamed energy and vivacity, reminiscent of a lively squirrel or rabbit, while Rafi came off as a rabbit that had just seen a ghost.

Even Edgar, watching from the side, couldn’t help but wear a wry smile, feeling sorry for Rafi.

—

“Edgar, why don’t you introduce yourself?”

“Ah, right! I was standing here like a dummy.”

Meanwhile, Edgar finally realized he hadn’t introduced himself and stepped forward.

Though he wasn’t quite used to such gatherings yet, he was lucky Ariel had come to his aid, or he would have been branded as rude.

—

“My apologies for the delay. Nice to meet you. I’m Edgar Billhark.”

“You’re the Billhark heir…! Pleasure to meet you!”

“I-I’m also looking forward to working with you…!”

Eryl responded brightly to Edgar’s greeting, while Rafi hurriedly bowed, her voice barely audible.

Ariel, watching the interaction unfold, narrowed her eyes.

‘Something’s off.’

When Eryl had initiated contact, she assumed it was harmless, but it seemed the issue was coming from Rafi instead.

While she couldn’t quite confirm whether Eryl had spoken up for Rafi or not, she sensed the greater risk came from Rafi.

‘What an oblivious guy.’

Oblivious to all this, Edgar continued his pleasant conversation with the two.

Ariel felt a mix of frustration and resignation regarding Edgar.

It’s an unspoken thing between women that signals often get overlooked by clueless men.

And just then, as if to affirm her worries, a loaded question slipped from Rafi’s lips.

—

“So, what’s your relationship with each other…?”

“I was curious too. Since you’re the heir to the Billhark family, are you his… servant?”

The Billhark family wasn’t well-known to the public, but many were aware of their affiliation with the Robeheim family.

Eryl was among them, and with hopeful eyes, she turned to Edgar.

Perhaps her friend might just encounter a wonderful connection.

—

“Are you asking about our relationship? Actually…”

Ariel had previously instructed Edgar to be ready for such questions, emphasizing there was no need to hide their relationship. If asked, he should clearly state they were lovers.

As Edgar was about to comply, Ariel’s hand shot out, halting him.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Ari… Oof!?”

Just when Edgar was about to pose his question, he was suddenly hindered by Ariel, leaving him confused.

Ariel’s hand had reached for his tie, pulling him closer.

In an instant, Ariel’s tiny face filled his view, and he felt a sudden constriction in his throat.

The shrieks coming from the onlookers weren’t mere hallucinations.

Anyone witnessing this would react similarly.

As their lips parted after connecting, Ariel shot a sharp glance at Eryl and Rafi, then broke into a confident smile.

—

“This is the kind of relationship we have. Any problem with that?”

“…”

Ariel tried to act nonchalant, yet Edgar stood behind her in shock, his ears and neck turning as red as his hair.

She seemed determined, as if she’d decided to move forward no matter what today.

‘What a day.’

Edgar couldn’t help but wonder if they had switched roles as he went along with it, not having had a chance to intervene.

Thus, their romantic announcement came about in a dramatic and shocking way, once again at the hands of the ever-volatile princess.