I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 147

After a rather strange meeting, the four of them followed a woman who guided them somewhere.

Given the vastness of the Imperial Palace, even a slight change in the shape of the corridors made it tough to figure out where they were headed.

If she hadn’t hastily said, ‘The Emperor is waiting for you,’ they might have looked like they were being dragged off somewhere.

“By the way, are we two also allowed to meet the Emperor?”

In the midst of their steps, Hagel couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked the guide a question.

The fact was that only Edgar had officially been invited today, and Ariel wasn’t supposed to be here either.

However, Ariel didn’t need to seek separate permission since her position allowed her to come, while the other two were technically uninvited guests who hadn’t even announced their arrival.

They simply believed what was written in Edgar’s decree, which said, ‘Companions are allowed,’ and came alongside him.

In response to Hagel’s inquiry, the guide nodded with a formal demeanor and calmly replied.

“Yes, that’s fine. The Emperor personally allowed companions to accompany him.”

“Oh… that’s a relief. I was worried we might be offending the Emperor.”

“The Emperor is always quite meticulous about what he himself has said, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

Hagel felt reassured upon receiving a definitive answer and then subtly matched his pace with Silvia, who seemed to casually take his hand as if to say, ‘So you made it, huh?’ He was a bit flustered by the action but soon met her grip with a faint smile.

With a fluttering heart, they hurried their steps toward the audience room, and soon, a new, expansive space unfolded before their eyes.

The ceiling felt almost ethereal in height, and the symmetry of the structure created a sense of stability.

Still, rather than feeling orderly, it struck more as dazzling, hinting at the beautiful decorations that adorned the space.

“If you keep walking straight, you’ll reach the audience room. The Emperor is waiting for you there.”

As they entered the audience room, it became evident that even the palace’s residents were now scarcely seen in the corridor.

In other words, it was a solemn place where even those who had long dwelled here couldn’t waltz in carelessly.

“By the way, Your Highness, the Emperor inquired about what your plans are after this…”

“I intend to return directly to the villa if it wouldn’t be a bother to the Emperor. My friends will do the same.”

Ariel said this as if it were no big deal.

Originally, since it was a gathering invited by the Emperor, they should ideally stay for at least a day to honor him.

However, as Yulken had told her the night before leaving, the current Emperor wasn’t particularly fond of stale etiquette or false formalities, so she thought it wouldn’t be a problem to say so.

“I see. I had expected the Emperor to say something like that, considering you are the daughter of the late Emperor.”

As Ariel spoke, she added that no separate accommodations had been prepared for them, but if there were any changes in feelings, they should freely inform him, and then she fell silent.

As the magnificent space, which seemed to extend infinitely, began to narrow, a massive door appeared before them, signaling they had arrived at their destination.

“By order of the Emperor, I have brought the esteemed guests. Please let them in.”

“…”

At her request, the men, standing on either side of the door, silently nodded before signaling inside.

Before long, another woman’s voice softly echoed from within, granting permission.

Upon hearing this, the two men guarding the door exchanged glances before simultaneously nodding and placing their hands on the massive door, pushing it open with considerable weight.

The grand door opened with such tranquility that it didn’t even creak, revealing a central red carpet that led to a man sitting with dignified posture at the end.

He looked to be around fifty.

While Yulken exuded a fierce and wild aura, this man appeared sharper yet somewhat frail.

His arms were quite thin, and his overall frame looked rather slight, so much so that Edgar immediately felt concern for his health.

“Welcome. You’ve traveled a long way, and it must have been quite the hassle for you.”

Bartheus Helbenior, the owner of the Helbenior Empire and its primary authority, greeted his guest warmly.

“We meet His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Good to meet you.”

As Ariel and the others knelt on one knee and lowered their heads, the Emperor offered a faint smile and nodded, encouraging them to relax.

“Lady Ariel… no, I suppose I should call you the Grand Duchess now. It feels like just yesterday when I last saw you.”

Bartheus gestured toward the armrest of his throne, measuring Ariel’s height from that day.

The Ariel he remembered then was the embodiment of a mischievous little girl, now positioned as the head of the Grand Duchy.

For someone like him, eternally residing in the palace who hardly felt the passage of time, it was these changes that served as markers of how time had flown.

“I’m merely sorry I haven’t been able to visit often.”

“Don’t mention it. By the way…”

As Bartheus’s gaze shifted to Edgar, who was next to Ariel, hers followed suit.

“Seeing that red hair, I can tell right away you are the young hero I’ve heard about.”

“I am Edgar Billhark, Your Majesty.”

“Billhark… Ah, that emblem of the enemy was indeed the Billhark Family’s symbol. Thank you for coming.”

Bartheus’s words didn’t strike Edgar as hollow.

Perhaps it was because he had just met Albrecht, who felt so devoid of emotion.

On the contrary, there was a warmth in each of Bartheus’s words, and Edgar felt satisfied.

“I also want to thank you for saving Yulken. Officially, we are the Emperor and Grand Duchess, but personally, we share quite a friendly relationship. Of course, due to our roles, we don’t get to see each other often.”

Whether they could be called close friends was debatable, but at the very least, Bartheus had spent a fair amount of time with Yulken when they were young due to their proximity in age.

And while their bond had diluted over time because of their responsibilities, that bond wasn’t something that vanished entirely.

“I merely wanted to express my gratitude for saving my friend, so please don’t feel burdened.”

“Haha, this young friend is quite sharp. Perhaps Yulken wanted to keep you close because he treasures you so.”

Bartheus burst into hearty laughter, his light-hearted demeanor contrasting with his frail appearance.

“You flatter me.”

Edgar replied humbly, merely flashing a modest smile so as not to come off too frivolous.

Noticing this, Bartheus couldn’t help but express his admiration for Edgar’s demeanor. Usually, those who meet the Emperor for the first time become stiff with nerves or at a loss for words, yet Edgar’s calmness was so striking.

One might think such ease comes with age or experience, but he’d heard that this man was just barely past his youth, which only added to the intrigue.

As the conversation shifted through various topics, Hagel and Silvia also revealed their identities, which brought a beaming smile to Bartheus’s face.

It was always a delightful experience to meet new people since those in the palace typically saw the same faces over and over.

“The name Lorentz is quite nostalgic. I heard Sir Damien has a daughter as beautiful as a rabbit. I questioned my ears when I first heard,”

Bartheus remarked, thinking of Silvia’s much more rugged father, Damien, contrasting with her delicate nature.

Silvia could somewhat grasp his intent and chuckled faintly as she recalled her father’s demeanor.

Even she thought there wasn’t much resemblance between them.

In personality and appearance.

“By the way, what a surprising coincidence that the second son of the Lukeville family has met the daughter of the Lorentz family…”

Bartheus thought the two families hadn’t had the best public relations.

While they weren’t openly hostile like certain families, it wasn’t exactly a friendly relationship either.

However, it was intriguing to witness the blossoming of love between members of these two families.

It felt like life had surprises in store after all.

On one hand, there might even be a chance for family unity sparked by these two, so viewed positively, it could be seen as a good thing.

“My father mentioned that no matter what happened in the past, it wasn’t for the youngsters to worry about, so we shouldn’t take it too seriously.”

“Well, Lord Lukeville is bound to say that. I concur.”

With a small nod, Bartheus pondered something for a moment before pulling his hand away tentatively, only to suddenly flinch and twitch his eyebrows.

“Your Majesty?”

“Are you alright? Your complexion…”

“…No, it’s fine. Just ignore it. It’s simply a side effect of aging; it happens occasionally.”

He had briefly stiffened his face but quickly waved it off with a casual demeanor.

Nonetheless, it was evident his color wasn’t great, prompting Ariel to sneak a glance at the other three behind her before finally addressing the Emperor.

“You don’t seem well, Your Majesty. Would it perhaps be wise to take a moment to rest…”

As Ariel suggested, Bartheus hesitated, slowly moving his lips for a moment before nodding gently.

“I apologize, Grand Duchess. Let’s save the long talk for another time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m sorry for not noticing sooner.”

“Don’t concern yourself.”

As Bartheus forced a smile and shooed the four of them away, not long after, he slumped against the throne, as though a thread had snapped in a puppet.

In the midst of heavy breathing, those who had heard of his state came rushing in, but the Emperor sent them all back.

The reason, only he would know.