I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 173

Ariel’s first impression when she encountered the man named Kelrag was this.

It was reminiscent of her thoughts about her father, Yulken, but while that was a heavy and grand feeling like a mountain, this was a grandeur sharp as a spire.

It felt as if she were looking at an artificially polished structure that was finely sharpened.

One could say the atmosphere was tense. In any case, he was a man unlike anyone she had ever seen so far.

That said, she wasn’t overwhelmed, as she had a strong heart.

“They say I’m Kelrag of the Carvita Tribe. Though we’re a small tribe, I lead my fellow tribesmen.”

To think this foreign tribe was casually addressing the master of one of the empire’s noble houses!

A few of Ariel’s subordinates were about to step forward angrily, but Edgar held them back.

After all, she appeared to care nothing about it.

“I’m Ariel Robeheim. Given our relationship, I’ll skip the formalities.”

“Good. That’s what I was hoping for.”

It felt odd to talk politely when they were once enemies aiming their swords at each other.

Burik had only formally addressed Ariel because he was taking a low stance to seek her help.

“You’ve probably heard the story from your subordinates, right?”

“Yes. Honestly, I was skeptical. May I ask why you accepted this condition?”

“Even if I tell you, will you really believe me?”

Ariel raised one corner of her mouth in a way that suggested she didn’t think so.

For a moment, Kelrag looked at her with a stunned expression before he smiled and nodded.

It was a rhetorical question. Why would she expect any lengthy explanations when there wasn’t trust between them?

“My thinking was shallow. You are indeed the master of the Robeheim family.”

“I don’t need any flowery words. We don’t have that kind of time.”

Ariel only needed one man in the world to adorn her face with flattery.

Beyond that, whether they spoke sincerely or not, it wouldn’t touch her heart.

Moreover, she had no desire to get chummy with the leader of a foreign tribe unless a true change occurred.

“Anyway, you said Burik? That man will come with me to Hespania tomorrow. This operation will be kept secret from the higher-ups, so don’t cause a fuss.”

“I see. You don’t intend to create a fuss until the identity of the person who gave us this order is revealed, do you?”

“I like that you understand. I thought the leader of a foreign tribe would be a fool with a rigid mind.”

Despite Ariel’s sharp remark that pierced straight into his heart, Kelrag just smiled.

“You must be quite the woman to have such a prized warrior.”

When Kelrag’s gaze turned toward Edgar, a bitter smile emerged on Edgar’s face.

Meanwhile, Ariel scoffed, as if dismissing the thought, and coldly blocked his gaze.

“He’s mine. If you ever think of taking him, know that I’ll sever your head right then and there, treaties be damned.”

“I’ll make sure to mind my own business.”

At Ariel’s fierce tone, Kelrag raised his hands in a gesture of reassurance and then proceeded to the abode where he was to stay.

They had to leave for Hespania as dawn broke, so there was no time to waste.

* * * * * * *

Thus, the company returned to Hespania accompanied by Kelrag and Burik just as the snow began to lessen and the weather grew milder.

Their transportation was conducted with utmost secrecy.

Even the soldiers were not informed, and only those in responsible positions in Bruholme were aware of the matter, moving while hiding his identity as much as possible.

Fortunately, this effort was successful, and until the moment they arrived and he entered the castle, no one knew about it.

Even Yulken himself learned of it only when Edgar returned to report.

When Edgar arrived at Yulken’s study and conveyed the news, Yulken uttered a sigh with a complex expression—not one of anger or confusion.

“Wow, I’m amazed to the point of being speechless. I never imagined the leader of a foreign tribe would set foot in Robeheim Castle…”

This was something that had never happened in the history of the Robeheim family.

Ariel’s actions were that groundbreaking, even managing to surprise Yulken, who had a strong heart.

Meanwhile, Edgar bowed his head and offered an apology.

Even if the current head of the family was Ariel, it was still an enormous matter for her to undertake so shortly after assuming the position.

He was anxious that Yulken might be displeased that she had not given prior notice or sought advice.

“I apologize if I upset you by proceeding without reporting.”

“No need to concern yourself. After all, the current head is that girl. Besides, even if you were to apologize, it wouldn’t be your fault.”

Yulken had a strong aversion to subordinates apologizing for mistakes made by superiors.

So even when he was in charge, he would bow his head and apologize directly for situations caused by his own misjudgments.

In the first place, there was no reason to apologize for this incident.

If the decision was made by Ariel, he had no grounds to meddle.

However, his earlier reaction was merely a reflex in response to feeling that Ariel’s actions were quite unexpected.

Considering her personality, he had thought she would have beheaded the person who came there waving a white flag.

“I wonder if my daughter’s personality has softened much.”

“I doubt that’s the reason. If anything, it must be due to the wish she once blurted out carelessly.”

“A wish? What do you mean by that?”

Yulken blinked with eyes widened even more than when he had heard the earlier report, and a faint smile appeared on Edgar’s face.

It was a smile reminiscent of a father realizing his child’s growth.

“She could never bring herself to tell a father who bravely fights the enemies, but she has always hated war. She has often pondered whether it’s right that someone must get hurt.”

“…Well, I can relate to that. However, it was my duty to fight regardless.”

Yulken’s role was to protect the Robeheim family and, further on, the residents of the North.

Even without someone telling him that war was bad, he knew that very well.

Yet, wars had to be waged to protect those he cherished.

“That doesn’t mean it was wrong. In fact, Ariel has always respected you. She simply said that she wanted to cut the chains once she became the head.”

“So she means to walk a thorny path. The child who always appeared to despise foreign tribes… how unexpected.”

To Yulken, Ariel appeared as a girl who openly expressed hostility towards foreign tribes, not much different from himself.

However, he never imagined she had such a hidden side.

It was a sign showing that even a father could not know everything.

“I suspect that was a kind of self-hypnosis. In order to truly care for the residents of the North, she must reject those foreign tribes that are troubling them as enemies…”

Edgar knew Ariel’s true feelings from long ago.

He understood how much she truly cherished the residents of the North.

That was not a notion instilled by family education, nor was it a mere superficial value.

In Edgar’s speculation, the category of those residents might also include the foreign tribes.

Just the inhabitants who survived while cultivating this icy Northern land.

Ariel had wanted peace in the truest sense as she did not wish to see residents of the North fighting amongst themselves.

“Truly… it seems I’m becoming more thoughtful. I too had such questions in my youth. Why are we fighting those others? How deep is the emotional chasm history has created that we must resent each other this much?”

“Yet that question didn’t last long. The moment I could see those who were to be cherished being played with by the others, all I could think was to annihilate the enemies before me.”

Yulken did not think that was wrong.

It was something that had to be done, and no matter what the truth of history might be, the reality was too harsh to afford hope based only on uncertain assumptions.

Even so, his daughter had not cast aside that thought in her heart.

It was merely a matter of difference.

Though she had not opened her heart, at the very least, she had not closed it, allowing her to extend her hand first.

“Of course, the future is unpredictable. That two-year truce could end because of a breach on their part, or that short peace could bring chaos once again.”

“That’s right. But still, what you aimed to pursue in change is quite admirable. It’s something even I couldn’t accomplish.”

If Ariel had been just a little younger, if Yulken had been there that day…

The outcome would have been different.

Perhaps he would have beheaded Burik on the spot and rallied the soldiers to raid them.

Yet, it was Ariel who was present, and it was because of her that this small change occurred.

It was a result that only she could have produced.

“With this, I’ve gained two benefits. The first is perhaps the chance to uncover the enemy lurking within, and the second is a two-year peace.”

“No, it’s three.”

“Huh?”

Yulken paused, tilting his teacup with a puzzled expression at Edgar’s words.

“There’s also the possibility of helping one person’s dream come true. There isn’t a greater benefit than that, is there?”

“…I see. My thinking was myopic.”

Then, he listened to the words that followed and smiled contentedly while sipping the now lukewarm tea.

Though it might not warm his mouth or throat, he felt a peculiar warmth in his heart.

He was glad that this choice wouldn’t just leave his daughter as a young girl following in her father’s footsteps.

“Perhaps this man is the reason for the change.”

Was she always such a girl from the beginning? Or did someone influence her to bring about such positive changes?

Whichever it was, Yulken regarded it as a good thing.

Slurp.

On a day he usually didn’t care for the flavor of tea, he found it particularly sweet today.

He suddenly thought that it wouldn’t be bad to start liking tea along with his wife from now on.