I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 192

After strolling through the garden in a cozy duo, the two returned to the palace and headed to their respective rooms after dinner.

Normally, they would gather in one room to spend time together, but Ariel had slipped away, asking for a moment of privacy.

“Hmm… this perfume isn’t bad. I wonder if Edgar will like it?”

As she headed to her room, Ariel was busily preparing herself.

Since she hadn’t brought Shuri today, she thought about seeking help from another user in the palace, but she was now skilled enough to manage without assistance, so she didn’t bother.

*Click. Click.*

She sprayed the new perfume on the outside of her wrists and the area where her hair brushed against her, wearing a satisfied smile.

Perhaps because it was a gift confidently presented by Silvia, who had a keen interest in these things, the quality was certainly there.

The luxurious scent of lilac and jasmine, strong yet not overpowering, tickled her nose, and she was convinced that even Edgar, who wasn’t fond of perfumes, would appreciate this one.

‘That fool never says if he dislikes something.’

Whether out of consideration for her or simply laziness to express his feelings, Edgar had rarely stated outright what he didn’t like.

Even eating food he wasn’t too fond of was just something he accepted.

If the perfume she sprayed was a little too strong for his liking, he’d likely let it slide as well.

Thus, Ariel had to rely largely on intuition to guess his tastes, which turned out to be more taxing than anticipated.

To put it positively, that meant he never voiced negative opinions when she offered something to him.

‘Or am I just too picky?’

Ariel tilted her head at the sudden thought, taking a moment for self-reflection.

Though she had never thought of herself as an easygoing person, perhaps feeling more rigid next to the relatively easygoing Edgar made her seem like a rough stone.

At one point, Helene had even jokingly suggested that if she continued to be so uptight, Edgar might run away…

Although she believed she had softened a bit since then, she also felt it might be time to loosen her metaphorical belt a little more.

Of course, she had no expectation that she could.

‘I am who I am. Plus, that fool has never asked me to change.’

If Edgar were to tell her to change her personality, she might put in the effort to try, but unless that happened, she intended to maintain her current self.

After all, while her family and everyone around her were precious, Edgar always came first.

Everyone has their own center in their world, and surprisingly, the center of Ariel Robeheim’s world was not herself but her beloved.

Originally, she had her own world with herself at the center.

Her father and mother were important, but more important was herself.

In a way, this was a value system fitting for someone like the heir of the Robeheim family.

However, everything changed the day he left for Whitewood and returned unconscious.

Hearing the doctor’s bleak words, she vowed upon seeing him lying there.

If this man were to awaken and embrace her again, even if he became a villain in the future, her world would revolve solely around him.

It might seem like a twisted form of love, but at least she had never thought it was wrong.

No, rather, it felt like a shift in her world that had always existed solely for herself.

That was both the greatest blessing she could hardly ever experience in life and a notion she couldn’t dismiss as unjust.

‘Sigh, I want to see him again. I really must be hopelessly smitten.’

Just the thought of seeing his face by merely walking down the hallway made Ariel smirk as she touched her cheek.

It felt like she had come a long way, considering that even the thought of him made her cheeks heat up, but she found it amusing that she had no intention of fixing it.

But what could she do?

Honestly, even when she inherited the title of the Robeheim family, the fulfillment she felt was minuscule compared to when she became his lover.

Now it was beyond the point of no return.

It felt like someone was constantly adding logs to the fire that resided in her heart.

Do all those who love live this way?

Probably not. She must be uniquely different.

‘What about Edgar?’

Ariel suddenly found herself curious.

She had never doubted that he loved her, but did the depth of his love measure up to her feelings?

What would it feel like to peek into each other’s hearts? Would such magic ever be created in the future?

‘Well, that’s a bit romanticizing things.’

As those thoughts crossed her mind, Ariel shook her head and chuckled softly.

It was precisely because they didn’t know each other’s hearts that they cherished one another this much.

I wish you would love me as much as I love you.

I hope that as much as you love me, I love you too.

In the constant cycle between those two wishes, the water wheel of her heart only grew larger.

Yawn.

Lost in her musings, Ariel suddenly felt an unexpected wave of sleepiness and yawned.

She would have to visit Edgar’s room soon, but she worried that even if she just lay down for a moment, she might fall asleep immediately.

‘Should I take a short nap?’

Just to check the time, she saw it was 8:10.

At this point, there was still plenty of time left.

Even if she took just an hour to rest, she could meet Edgar with a much lighter mind.

Ariel called for her assigned maid, instructing her to wake her in an hour before settling onto her bed.

She really wanted to lie down and sleep, but she worried that if she did, she might wake up with a messed-up head.

‘I bet he doesn’t realize how hard this is for me.’

Not that she particularly wanted him to acknowledge it, Ariel gently closed her eyes, hoping for sleep.

While anticipating seeing Edgar’s face shortly.

* * * * * * *

As the clock was just striking nine, the sound of a woman’s footsteps filled the corridor.

Dressed in somewhat casual clothing, she was heading straight to Edgar’s room.

In front of it stood a maid assigned to Edgar, holding an oil lamp as she kept watch.

“I greet Your Grace,” the raven-haired woman said, bowing politely upon recognizing Ariel.

Ariel merely nodded with an indifferent expression and inquired about her lover’s whereabouts.

“Is Edgar… um, is Edgar inside?”

“Yes, I haven’t seen him leave, so he should still be inside.”

Ariel smiled with satisfaction, nodding and giving a command.

“Then leave everyone here, including yourself.”

“Y-Yes? B-but…”

Though this was an annex separate from the imperial palace, the servants here were still under the emperor’s orders.

Asking them to step aside might seem trivial enough, but asking everyone on this floor to leave was tantamount to an abuse of power.

Seeing the maid’s distressed face, Ariel’s gaze sharpened.

“Why? Is my command not a command?”

“That… that’s not it at all.”

“Then get them to leave immediately. I want to enjoy a cozy night with him.”

Ariel’s blunt words made the maid’s cheeks flush.

She could roughly guess what kind of activities were likely to occur inside, and she was surprised to hear such frankness from someone of her rank.

“If that’s the case, I will inform the others. However, if it’s not too much trouble…”

“I get it. You mean to keep it a secret, right?”

“I-I’m truly sorry.”

When Ariel anticipated the maid’s response and rephrased it, the maid, although looking uneasy, nodded in agreement.

Regardless of how high her status might be, the employees here had their own duties.

Moreover, if it came to light that she had made such an unreasonable request, not only Ariel but also the servants who complied with her would face serious consequences.

That’s why she desperately made the request, knowing that some trust was needed to feel secure leaving people behind.

“Alright. If this leaks, I will take care of it, so don’t worry. Just go and get some rest now.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Much to her relief, Ariel reassured the maid, promising to keep it a secret and be her shield should anything escalate.

The maid nodded repeatedly, her expression brightening.

Surely, no one would think that someone of the duke’s heir could change her words so easily.

“Then go without worry. Keep your promises.”

“Of course, Your Grace. Have a good night.”

With that, Ariel entered Edgar’s room, and the maid, watching her leave, tilted her head in confusion.

‘Something about her feels different compared to earlier.’

A more rigid and authoritative vibe than the Ariel she saw during the day.

The maid held onto that small discrepancy in thought, but soon shook her head and buried her questions deep within her heart as she walked away.

Tonight, the moon outside felt particularly bare and dark to her.