I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 130

The relationship between the two was no secret in the 양 family, so what had just happened was not all that surprising.

However, for Ariel, being so forward in front of her future in-laws felt a bit embarrassing, and she still couldn’t lift her face.

‘What a strange perspective.’

With her ears flushed red, Ariel fidgeted with her hands.

Edgar, who was watching her closely, couldn’t help but smile wryly at her incomprehensible worldview.

It was fine to sneak a kiss in a crowded ballroom, but hugging in front of her lover’s parents was embarrassing?

It was a standard that was truly hard to understand, at least from his point of view.

“D-Don’t pet me. It’s embarrassing…”

When Edgar lightly reached out to pat her head as she was counting the patterns on the table absentmindedly, she lifted her flushed face slightly and protested.

Liking the pats was one thing, but with her face already burning, it was unclear when she would regain her normal color with this extra blow.

“Why are you embarrassed? Your father and mother already know everything.”

“…That’s different.”

“Is it now?”

Edgar found it hard to grasp her reasoning, but since she was the one feeling this way, he figured there must be a reason and refrained from saying more.

Watching the two sink into their own world even among the crowd, Yulken smiled contentedly rather than feeling disturbed.

He thought it was likely that Ariel, with her strong personality, needed a man to hold her reins, and the more he looked, the more he felt they were a compatible pair.

“I’m sure thanks to you two, the relationship between our families will strengthen. You’ll soon be family, so don’t overthink it.”

“I-I’m honored, Your Highness.”

As Yulken addressed Ransel and Katria from his elevated seat, the two quickly bowed their heads in response.

Thanks to Helene’s consideration since childhood, Edgar and Ariel had grown close as friends, forgetting the affairs of their families.

Even this was a luxury; to think now they were also being observed as a potential match for the next generation.

From the perspective of someone below them, it wasn’t just joy but a bit of pressure as well.

“By the way, I’ve been remiss in thanking you. Please wait a moment.”

Yulken called over a nearby servant with a glance and nodded.

Since they had previously discussed this matter, the servant promptly nodded and left the reception room, returning shortly with a collection of items in hand alongside other users.

It was clear at a glance that these were no ordinary items.

Inside a luxurious pouch were gleaming gold bars and jewels, while the items carried by the users were exquisite artworks so valuable that it was hard to estimate their worth.

Not stopping there, more users came back with even more jewels than before.

The Billhark family members were all left speechless, merely watching the spectacle unfold.

“Your Highness, this is…?”

Ransel was the first to regain his composure and ask about the treasures filling the room.

While he had some guess regarding its nature, hearing it directly from the person involved was a different matter altogether.

“It’s a token of appreciation. Of course, it might be insufficient compared to the life I’ve saved, but this is my personal reward, and I’ll be sure to confer proper recognition in a formal setting.”

This meant that the vast treasures, which perhaps only a lesser noble family might glimpse once in many generations, were gifts to commend Edgar’s merits.

Helene added that while this might not suffice, it was a gesture of goodwill, and even Edgar, who typically remained unflappable, found himself at a loss for words.

‘So that’s why. I hadn’t heard a thing.’

It struck Edgar as odd since Yulken, who had always been thorough about rewards, had no intention of making a grand show of gratitude this time.

While he didn’t mind carrying out his actions without seeking a reward, he couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t typical of him.

Yet to think he had stashed away such a trump card.

“Knowing you, I’m sure you’d refuse these treasures no matter what. Even if it makes my heart uneasy.”

Yulken had accurately gauged Edgar’s character.

He could imagine that refusing to accept rewards after saving his future father-in-law would be something Edgar would struggle with.

Hence, he had devised this approach.

“Of course, it doesn’t mean you’re materialistic. I merely believed you’d accept these treasures more cool-headedly out of consideration for my reputation.”

This tactic was as Helene had advised.

Unlike her, Yulken had very little contact with the Billhark family, which meant that he didn’t know much about Ransel and Katria’s personalities apart from Edgar’s.

So, he asked Helene what to do if he were to offer a reward, and she suggested inviting Edgar’s parents instead.

“There isn’t a lot here, but surely it can be useful in revitalizing the family.”

“…”

Ransel almost blurted out that this was plenty, but he bit his tongue and stared blankly at the mound of treasures before him.

These were clearly gifts meant to commend Edgar’s accomplishments.

Accepting them wouldn’t make him an ungrateful person, and considering Yulken’s position, it could be the right thing to do.

However, Ransel found himself pondering whether it was truly his place to step forward in this situation.

His son, now grown past mere infancy and having undergone coming-of-age, was at an age where he could navigate his own path.

Thus, he thought it should be solely up to Edgar whether to accept or decline this reward.

“Ed, what do you want to do?”

“You mean me?”

“Yeah. While His Highness did ask your mother and me, it seems to me that this isn’t a decision for us to make.”

Not using his usual casual tone, Ransel asked with gravity, prompting Edgar to fall silent for a moment.

That didn’t mean he lacked an understanding of the treasures’ worth.

He simply didn’t want to refuse them solely because he had not expected any rewards in the first place.

To put it another way, he now felt he owed something in return for what he had received, and he hesitated to take them.

“Ed, wouldn’t it be better to accept them? If you refuse, your husband might find it hard to make eye contact with you.”

“Mother’s right. Even if you acted without expecting a reward, if the accomplishment is significant, you deserve to be compensated. What matters is your intent, not the outcome.”

Seeing Edgar hesitate, Helene and Ariel pressed for a decision.

Having watched him for so long, they understood his feelings well. But this time they felt it was okay to step back.

Finally, after some time of contemplation, Edgar lifted his head with a faint smile.

He met the gazes of Yulken, Helene, and the rest of the Robeheim family, and cautiously began to speak.

“If I may, I would like to express just one thing.”

“Of course.”

With Yulken’s permission granted, Edgar wasted no time finding his voice.

He had been nurturing this thought for quite some time and was now ready to share it.

“I have long come to consider Madam Helene as another mother to me. My relationship with Ariel could only have been possible due to your kindness.”

“…”

“And since I started living here, I have also received favors from His Highness, and I have resolved that I wish to repay these one day.”

This was Edgar’s unvarnished sincerity.

There was no pretense of creating false modesty in order to alleviate the burden of receiving such treasures, nor was it half-hearted flattery meant to curry favor.

It was simply an opportunity to express the feelings he had not had the chance to share until now.

“That is why I believe you can consider this matter as me repaying the kindness I’ve received. In fact, I always felt sorry for not having done anything in return until now, but now I believe I can finally raise my head.”

“…Being excessively humble is, in fact, arrogance. I’m sure both my wife and daughter would agree.”

Yulken knew well how much this young man had already done for them.

He saved his daughter from an assassin who had breached the castle, and he had unraveled the complex family troubles they were mingled in.

Thus, Yulken had very much considered that he owed Edgar a great deal; hence it was astonishing to hear him claim he had received more than he had given.

Yulken found it all the more fascinating because it genuinely seemed like he meant every word he said.

“Even if that is so, my thoughts remain unchanged.”

“Then, does that mean you refuse these also?”

“Yes, but please do not think I mean to belittle Your Highness’s honor with this reply.”

Worried that there might be a misunderstanding, Edgar added that phrase, and a faint chuckle appeared on Yulken’s lips.

“Even I’m not dull enough to think like that. However, this means I would have an even harder time looking you in the eye.”

“That’s what I wanted to say. I’ve found it difficult to face you until now, but now I might be able to raise my head.”

“Is that so? Then this means we can finally meet each other at the same eye level.”

Though Yulken hadn’t believed that to be the case, he uttered those words on Edgar’s behalf, glancing over at Ransel and Katria.

The two wore proud, beaming smiles at the thought that their son had refused the treasures without a care.

“As mentioned before, I’ll be sure to reward you in the near future. You must accept that for my sake.”

“Yes, understood.”

Though accepting personal rewards was one thing, it would be a loss of Yulken’s face if Edgar wasn’t publicly commended, so Edgar had no intention of refusing that either, nodding calmly in agreement.

As he watched Edgar, Yulken unexpectedly wore a playful smile.

“I think I understand your thoughts now.”

“Your thoughts, you say…?”

“Once you marry our daughter, the treasures of the Robeheim family will all become yours. Rather than be greedy for this little wealth, you’re trying to preserve my and my wife’s honor while maintaining your loyalty, aren’t you?”

“…What?”

Edgar could only reply in a daze, but meanwhile, Ariel let out a small gasp, looking him over.

Her eyes were wide, as if she was taken aback by the fact that he had considered matters so far ahead.

“Did you already think about marriage? You seemed indifferent to me, but you were actually keeping it in mind, huh?”

“N-No, I was…”

As he stumbled over his words in shock, Yulken wore a pleasantly amused smile.

Inferencing that Edgar wasn’t a fool, he had never believed he would act on such thoughts with any intent.

He had merely made a playful jest to lighten the atmosphere that was growing heavy.

“Not that we must decide right away, but it would be nice to get it settled sooner rather than later. What do you think, Ariel?”

“I prefer sooner. It’d be easier to keep him close that way.”

“What am I, an object?”

With Ariel’s comment, Edgar tried to make a retort, but it was quite ineffective given the overwhelming atmosphere of the Robeheim family.

“What do you think? We can’t unilaterally decide on a date, so when do you think it’s good to set a date?”

“I-I’ll follow your wishes, Your Highness.”

When the bowing parents of Edgar, who had remained quiet like stone statues, were brought into the discussion, they hurriedly responded, their faces pale with urgency.

They couldn’t easily imagine their son truly becoming a member of the Robeheim family.

Even though Edgar and Ariel were in love, to them, it was something impossible, a theme that felt extremely perplexing.

“Since we will be in-laws someday, come visit often to bond. Ideally, I’d like to go to Ardun myself, but my schedule is quite tight right now.”

“I-I’m honored. If you invite me, I’ll be sure to come.”

The thought of someone as prominent as Yulken visiting Ardun left Ransel feeling faint.

He felt that it would be easier to draw a carriage all the way to Hespania; anything that could somehow prevent that visit was a must.

“Katria, while we have a rare opportunity, wouldn’t it be good to go over there and have a chat? It’s been a long time since I last met my friend, and we haven’t had a chance to talk much.”

“Yes, yes… My lady.”

Meanwhile, on one side, a somewhat uncomfortable conversation was continuing.

Though Edgar and Ariel marrying would someday dissolve the distance, for the time being, the Billhark couple felt like distant acquaintances to the Robeheim couple.

“Boring! I’m bored!”

“Bored, you say? Fine then. Should we go outside and play? Sonia.”

“Yay!”

As the two children watched the adults converse from a distance, they were inevitably led out of the reception room by Sonia’s hand.

“Can’t you hold her with one hand?”

“I might drop her! Just wait a moment.”

“Humph…!”

There was a minor incident in which Ariel pouted because her hand wasn’t held while carrying Sonia, but they managed to move past it somehow.

‘One day will be tough, I see.’

What should he do about this princess who was even getting jealous of his younger sister?

Thinking he needed to come up with some kind of plan, Edgar gently tugged at Sonia’s cheek as she lay in his arms.

It seemed that until his parents returned to Ardun, a fairly noisy time was going to continue.