I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 172

Burik, having finished his story, hurried back to the main camp to deliver the news, even though it was quite late.

As the stiff atmosphere seemed to lighten a bit, Edgar called Ariel aside into his room and silently embraced her.

“Why the sudden change?”

Ariel, who had not pushed him away but quietly nestled in his arms, eventually asked about the intention behind his actions.

But somehow, she had already guessed it. He often understood her better than she did herself.

“Didn’t you wish for this?”

“…You really know everything, don’t you? It gets a bit scary sometimes.”

With a strange expression that was neither joy nor dissatisfaction, Ariel let out a hollow laugh and reached out to wrap her arms around Edgar’s back.

As he said, Ariel was subtly seeking comfort.

It might have been closer to encouragement than mere comfort, but in any case, she wanted to feel the warmth of someone.

She had pondered deeply.

She wanted to make those who had caused distress to Yulken, Edgar, and even Helene pay the price.

What did it matter to her if it was just the head of someone else’s group?

In the first place, Ariel didn’t easily feel sympathy for others.

She was the type to only shower affection on those she strictly considered her own.

That’s why when she heard that Kelrag was in critical condition, her honest emotions lit up in her eyes.

However, this was a heavy choice to make, one that shouldn’t be taken lightly out of mere personal vengeance or hatred.

If she couldn’t root out the hidden darkness within through this opportunity, perhaps a sharp blade would aim for her throat when she opened her eyes again.

After all, two years of peace is an opportunity that’s harder to let go of than one might think.

Even if it meant merely closing her eyes for a moment, peace would come to the inhabitants of the North whom she cherished.

Now, she must act as the head of the family.

She didn’t want to wield power solely for personal gain and emotion.

Even if Yulken occasionally advised that it was acceptable to wield power for selfish desires, she didn’t want to remain just a child like that.

“I can’t keep clinging to the past forever.”

Ariel gazed silently at Edgar, who was looking down at her with a deep gaze.

The person who had brought about a change in her heart was standing right before her, but he probably wouldn’t understand her inner thoughts.

“Am I finally able to catch up?”

In her childhood memories, Edgar had seemed like a hero capable of anything.

It was always her who led him through mountains and fields, but deep down, she had known all along.

If there were a leader guiding the two of them, that would be Edgar.

He had simply been the adult.

He seemed to merely follow her lead, walking alongside her, as if walking next to her.

But as time passed, she realized that Edgar had always been a step ahead.

She hated it. She hated it so much.

What Ariel wanted from him wasn’t this kind of relationship.

She didn’t want to remain a child who whined while clinging to him.

What she desired was to walk beside him, never behind or in front of him.

To achieve that, Ariel thought she needed to break herself down.

Remaining as the girl who was intoxicated by her emotions would only leave her feeling contempt for herself while standing by his side.

Today’s actions were a stepping stone for that.

A way to engrave it into herself that she was changing and to show off to him.

The result, she found satisfying.

“Ed.”

“Why?”

“I feel like I’ve finally matched my eye level with you.”

“In what sense?”

Edgar tilted his head at her unusual, vague remark.

Matching eye levels could mean she had been too high up, or that he had been too elevated— it was confusing.

“Do you know? The reason I wanted to become the head of the Robeheim family was because of you.”

“Weren’t you just talking about the responsibilities of a family member?”

“Actually, that was a lie. It was just my self-satisfaction.”

Of course, there might have been a little sense of responsibility.

But the biggest reason she could endure the overwhelming burden of education and duty as a young girl was very simple.

It was because she wanted to catch up to the one she loved, who walked ahead of her.

They say a girl in love is strong, and that was exactly true.

“You may not know this, but more than ten years ago, I walked just by looking at your back.”

“I never thought there’d be anything you didn’t know about me.”

“Of course, there’s things I don’t know about you, just as you don’t know about me.”

Ariel pressed her lips against Edgar’s and smiled with a hint of bashfulness.

It was a smile that reminded one of Shuri, natural and a bit clueless, unlike her usual proud and haughty demeanor.

“So get to know more about me. I want to know more about you, too.”

“It’ll be a long time.”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind.”

“It’ll pass in no time, so quickly that we won’t even notice the long time.”

With that retort, Ariel once again nestled in his arms, feeling relieved as she set down the burdens she had been carrying.

She had finally grown enough to spread her chest as the head of the family and as a woman and friend.

That fact alone filled her with overwhelming joy.