I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 115

It was about three days after Yulken had arrived in Whitewood.

He stared wide-eyed, trying to gauge whether the news he had just heard from Elpelt was truly factual.

It was news that was so unbelievable, it was almost surreal.

“Kelrag? That guy requested negotiations?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I can’t believe it.”

Kelrag was undoubtedly a leader among the current foreign tribes. If Yulken was icy and cold on the battlefield against the enemy, Kelrag was far worse, being cruel and incredibly savage.

This was a man who had never once complied with countless requests for negotiation from Yulken, a true embodiment of self-existence.

Now, this guy proposes negotiations right after the Robeheim family’s army clashed with his in Whitewood? It truly felt odd, to say the least.

“Stall as much as you can and send out scouts. Those underhanded types always have some scheme up their sleeves; we can’t afford to underestimate them. Their proposal is likely a truce, right?”

Yulken inquired, seemingly knowing what to expect.

And that made sense, as foreign tribes often faced dire food shortages. Their motivation for raiding the small towns in the north was heavily tied to this need.

So, to request negotiations at this point would indicate that they were lacking sufficient resources for an all-out battle and wanted to pull back for a while to regroup.

However, the reply that came back through Elpelt was quite different from what Yulken had anticipated.

“Your Highness, actually, it’s…”

“Hmm?”

“They said it’s not a truce. They’ll depart once they fulfill their own objectives.”

“Objectives?”

At that unexpected response, Yulken’s brow twitched slightly.

“They’re asking for the Symbol of Dominion. They claim that if they receive it, they won’t spark any more wars on their end.”

“Ha, don’t make me laugh. That’s not just a treasure from Hespania, but also a legacy left by our ancestors.”

The Symbol of Dominion played a pivotal role in establishing Hespania as the largest and most vibrant city in the north.

With that, they endured the harsh climate of the north, could farm year-round, and allowed people to frolic in meadows instead of snowfields.

Could a mere foreign tribe even think they could make such a request, even if it was the emperor of this land?

At this point, it seemed as if they deliberately intended to provoke Yulken.

“Truly, what a bunch of idiots. Didn’t our first lord receive that as a symbol of their submission when he vanquished their kind while conquering the north?”

If he were to trace its origins, the Symbol of Dominion was indeed something that belonged to the foreign tribes.

But it was a mere trinket that carried no weight in their hands, which the first head of the Robeheim family, Elgrun, had taken after subjugating the rampaging foreign tribes.

The term “Symbol of Dominion” came about because they presented it as a token of their submission, claiming they wouldn’t stir trouble any longer.

In essence, they were now plundering while outright violating that promise and still had the audacity to demand the Symbol of Dominion.

What a ludicrous farce that was!

“Scum that should have been exterminated long ago…”

Yulken snarled, grinding his teeth at their shameless behavior.

The atrocities committed by the foreign tribes in the north were beyond what Yulken could even articulate.

Yet, the reason he hadn’t completely wiped them out was that engaging in war would inevitably bring repercussions that would hurt the family he was protecting and the residents of the north.

And yet, they come waving their strength around as if it were a badge of honor and have the audacity to propose negotiations.

It was absurd on a level beyond comprehension.

‘That fact is what troubles me the most. For now, I need to observe the situation closely.’

Though Yulken inherently disliked the foreign tribes, he didn’t consider them completely dull.

Given that they had brains and could think, they probably didn’t suspect the proposal would be accepted.

Thus, interpreting this action in another light would be the wiser choice.

One option was as mentioned earlier, a provocation.

By making an audacious proposition, they aimed to incite a response from Yulken, using that to gauge his actions and, in turn, weave a scheme of their own.

The second viewpoint is that if they made such an unreasonable proposition and the negotiations fell through, they must have built up enough power to engage in military action.

“First, inform the soldiers not to lower their guard, and maintain silence with the opposition. Even if they provoke us, we shouldn’t easily be drawn in.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Yulken was always one to assess situations as rationally as possible.

Even if they held an advantage in strength, he wouldn’t recklessly wield that power.

Just recalling the initial situation after he arrived here, he had easily quelled the foreign tribes attacking Whitewood but refrained from pursuing them any further.

These were moments where one should be most vigilant, especially after achieving victory.

‘I really miss my wife and daughter today.’

Yulken felt his head throb from the recent strange actions of the foreign tribes.

It would be nice to have his lovely wife and dear daughter by his side to ease his weary soul, but he knew that was a wish he could not entertain.

With that, Yulken warmed himself with the alcohol Elpelt brought and retired to bed a bit earlier.

He wasn’t physically exhausted, but perhaps due to the turmoil in his mind, he quickly drifted off as soon as he rested his head on the pillow.

In this way, even a ruler of the north had his share of difficulties.

—

In the darkness, only the bushy beard of a man seated at the high seat appeared faintly visible.

The man bowing before him didn’t even dare look up at his face, delivering the news relayed by his subordinate.

“There seems to be no sign of them agreeing to negotiations.”

“They’ve squandered their last chance. How did they react?”

“Yes, they are remaining completely silent.”

“Contact that guy immediately. We will attack in two days.”

Despite the fact that he didn’t even provide a name, referring to someone just as “that guy,” the man bowing quickly understood the intent.

“What are your plans about Yulken?”

“I will use him as a bargaining chip. After all, he is their master; if we capture him, they will go to great lengths to retrieve him.”

From their perspective, Yulken was portrayed as a lawless killer who ruthlessly slaughtered his kin, yet if viewed from his shoes, he merely regarded the foreign tribes as targets of disdain for the miseries they inflicted on the northern residents.

So in such cases, they had to set aside the vengeance and hatred stemming from their differing viewpoints and focus on a greater benefit.

‘Ultimately, if I can fulfill a long-standing desire, I won’t mind sacrificing the life of that man.’

He had to succeed where his forbearers had failed.

After all, this was akin to the ambitious quest of Kelrag, the leader of the foreign tribes.

“Inform the tribe about this. We must be prepared within two days, so hurry.”

“Understood. Everyone has likely been awaiting your command, Lord.”

The man slightly raised his head, flashing a deep smile before bowing and disappearing into the shadows, leaving only a faint warmth behind to indicate he had been there.

Thus, the conversation between the two men faded away into the darkness.

—

Exactly two days after the letter from Yulken arrived.

Ariel was sitting in her usual spot, diligently carrying out her duties, but her heart was far from at ease.

After all, if she didn’t receive a response by tomorrow, she would have ordered reinforcements to be sent to Whitewood.

“Why not eat this while you work?”

“No interest.”

Ariel firmly rejected the snack Edgar had brought her, keeping her eyes glued to the documents.

There was no way she could eat with uncertainty hanging over what situation her father was in.

In truth, she hardly ate dinner tonight either.

It was only thanks to Edgar’s coaxing that she managed to consume anything at all; without that, she might have hardly taken a bite.

As she scanned the papers like someone under pressure, Edgar brought a chair over and quietly sat beside her.

Ariel was determined to ignore him, keeping her gaze fixed on the desk, but Edgar wouldn’t let it slide.

“If someone puts in the effort to make something, you should eat it at least once to show appreciation.”

Edgar held up a snack with a fork, presenting it to her.

Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned her head, alternating her gaze between the snack on the fork and Edgar, her skepticism evident.

“You actually made this?”

“Of course.”

“……”

With that, Ariel could no longer refuse.

Eventually, she surrendered and opened her mouth slightly, allowing the small pastry—she couldn’t tell if it was a cake or bread—into her mouth.

Munch, munch.

As she took her time savoring the taste, her eyes went wide, and she stared at Edgar with suspicion.

Before she knew it, the flavor was unexpectedly delightful.

As far as she recalled, Edgar could manage basic cooking, but she didn’t remember him being able to produce something this good.

“…Did you really make this?”

“Why?”

Edgar replied, wearing a playful grin as if anticipating her reaction.

“It’s just… so delicious. When did you learn to cook?”

“Hmm? I didn’t make it.”

Ariel, who had just taken a second piece, froze at Edgar’s answer.

“…But you just said you made it yourself!”

“I said I made it someone; I never said I made it myself. That was Shuri’s doing!”

“……”

Hearing Edgar’s innocent words, Ariel gripped her pen tightly, nearly breaking it out of frustration.

Things had seemed tranquil recently, but why did he have to joke around at such a tense time?

On the other hand, she somewhat understood his reasoning and couldn’t find the words to retaliate.

“…Is all this just about skipping meals?”

“You’re correct. Then starting tomorrow, focus on having proper meals.”

“Ugh.”

She guessed Edgar had purposely omitted mentioning Shuri to give the impression he had made it himself.

If so, he figured that out of guilt, she’d be forced to eat at least one of the treats.

It could also be seen as a bold measure for someone who refused to have any sustenance, unwilling even to have snacks.

“I get your intentions, but just neglecting meals won’t miraculously resolve anything, right?”

“…Hmph, so you think you could just say that?”

“Am I really the type to just talk?”

In jest, Edgar laughed while nudging another snack into Ariel’s mouth with the fork.

That made three pieces. He had completed his allotted quota for her care.

What a remarkable achievement it was.

Just after Edgar finished speaking, Ariel slammed her pen onto the desk, bolting upright from her chair.

She walked over to him, scanning from his face down to his legs, then plopped herself right down on his lap and leaned back against him.

“Are you a cat or something? You’re suddenly all lovey-dovey.”

“Don’t say what you want. At this point, you’ve made it so I don’t feel like working anyway.”

“Well, then you better take care of me.”

Edgar chuckled as he wrapped his arms around Ariel’s petite waist.

Compared to him, her small frame made him feel a deep fondness.

At the same time, he wished for her to come to no harm and to be free from danger.

If that was too much to ask, then he at least hoped that nothing would spiral into its worst case.

‘Tomorrow is going to be a critical turning point.’

With that thought in mind, Edgar resolved to push aside all his worries, listening to Ariel’s banter.

If nothing else, he just wanted her to get through tonight safely.