I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 21

Every time the Robeheim mother and daughter came to Ardeunum, they felt a certain warmth.

It wasn’t their hometown, just a place they frequented, but there was a peculiar coziness that came from the scenery.

Hespania, where their family home was located, was a city impressively large and grand, almost overwhelming at first glance.

On the other hand, Ardeunum had a relatively simple and orderly vibe, aside from a few noble castles.

While the initial sight of glamour and grandeur was captivating, once you got used to it, it became just another ordinary view.

Perhaps the reason why the two preferred the scenery of Ardeunum was that it allowed them to feel a sense of simplicity amidst their daily lives filled with dazzling sights.

“This place is always nice to visit.”

Helene stepped off the carriage and took a big breath, fully savoring the fact that she was in Ardeunum.

On the contrary, the two soldiers of the Billhark family who were guarding the gate stared wide-eyed at the sudden appearance of the dignitaries.

They had heard news that two people were coming, but for the relatively new guards, how often had they had the chance to meet the mistress and daughter of the Robeheim family?

Fortunately, they had received prior notice, or they surely would have been taken aback right away.

“Is it alright to enter?”

“Yes, yes! Please wait just a moment!”

As Helene approached and spoke carefully, the guards stiffened up as if every eye was on them, determined to perform their duties to the best of their abilities.

Click.

“You may enter now, ma’am. Sorry for making you wait.”

“Thank you. Come on, Ariel.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Today, since Shepi wasn’t here, Helene had to take on the representative’s role all by herself.

But sometimes, she thought, it wasn’t so bad.

Usually, she would sit in the carriage waiting, only stepping out discreetly, leaving her feeling a bit awkward at times.

She smiled at the guards with thanks and stepped inside, where Ariel hurriedly followed.

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t make sense for the gate to be so wide open when the mistress of a grand duchy visits, but that was thanks to Helene’s prior word.

Since they visited so often, Helene had asked them not to make a fuss each time and to treat them as casual guests.

Of course, at first, this wasn’t executed properly, but through trial and error, they had reached the current situation.

“Hmm?”

On the path leading to the mansion through the open gate, a boy who seemed to be waiting for someone caught the attention of the mother and daughter.

Standing by the door like a pole, staring off into space.

He looked so lost in life, like someone who had transcended worldly matters, that Helene couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“You don’t need to wait outside, do you, Ed?”

“I’m just doing what I like. Please give me your things.”

As time passed, Edgar’s demeanor towards Helene had lost its previous stiffness, yet his customary, not overly formal respect remained.

Realizing she had come without a servant, he immediately reached out and took her burdens.

Meanwhile, Ariel felt cold towards her childhood friend, who didn’t even say hello to her.

‘Tsk, is he ignoring me?’

It wasn’t that she cared for his greetings, but it was a matter of how one treats others.

No matter how old friends may be, is it acceptable to receive no greeting from a guest who traveled this far?

While Ariel busied herself in her head, lamenting the breach of etiquette she usually wouldn’t let slide, Edgar and her mother were happily exchanging recent happenings.

On the impeccably clean mansion floor, while she stepped noisily, she quickly bumped into something.

“Ouch.”

Letting out a cute yelp as she came to her senses, Helene had already walked ahead.

However, Edgar, who had somehow grown about a head taller than her, stood there, gazing quietly at her.

“What’s going on… why don’t you follow Mom?”

“…….”

Ariel pointed at Helene, shrinking back as she got used to the sudden intense gaze directed at her.

However, despite her reaction, Edgar merely continued to watch her silently.

As if he were trying to uncover something.

“Speak! What’s the deal? It’s uncomfortable.”

Uncomfortable felt more like an understatement; it was actually quite embarrassing. But a girl at her age typically said things like that.

How long did they stand there, silently?

Eventually, as if he had reached a conclusion, Edgar suddenly widened his eyes and pointed toward her stomach.

“You’re pretty.”

“Uh… huh?”

Pretty? What? Me?

This wasn’t something that boy would normally say—was there some sudden change of heart?

While Ariel struggled to process the unexpected compliment, Edgar very nearly ruined the mood with his next remark.

“That dress. I haven’t seen it before; you must have bought it new?”

“…….”

One comment crushed her rising anticipation in an instant.

With an icy sensation washing over her blood, her rapidly beating heart suddenly returned to normal.

Of course, what could she expect from that clueless boy?

But in contrast to her frozen expression, she felt oddly relieved.

With a mix of resignation and comfort, Ariel poked him in the side and stepped forward.

She had no idea why she just went and slapped him like that, creating a fuss, but she continued talking, purposefully ignoring it.

“Yeah, well, I didn’t wear it just to show you or anything.”

“Good grief, I have no interest in that. Anyway, there wasn’t anything particular about today, was there?”

“Yeah, it was just the same as usual.”

Honestly, it wasn’t quite the same, but she knew better than to expect that fool to care.

“Is Mom just going to leave me alone like this?”

“She just told me to drop the stuff, and we were supposed to go play, I think. She probably wants to go see your mother.”

“Well, considering how much she’s been singing…”

Though they had a master-servant relationship as a family, in private, there was a friendly camaraderie between Ariel and Edgar.

Even Helene, who had frequented the Billhark family since before Ariel was born, had a true friend and confidante in Katria.

Of course, if she were to tell Katria about this, she would dismiss the notion as overdoing it.

“Do you know the way to the room? I’ll go drop my things first, so wait outside for me.”

“Wait? For what?”

She had planned to lounge about on the bed to shake off her travel fatigue, so what on earth was going on?

Edgar, without clarifying her confusion, simply flashed a grin and vanished down the hallway.

‘It’s probably nothing serious.’

Maybe he just wanted to show some magic he learned. Whatever it was, she certainly wasn’t expecting much from it.

After all, since the past four years during which he delved into the new study of magic, his magic tutor had been Ariel.

Because of that, whenever she visited, he was too busy analyzing what he could ask her about magic, neglecting to even greet her.

While her scholarly fervor was commendable, it felt as if her existence had been overshadowed by magic, resulting in her visiting the Billhark family less frequently over the past year.

‘Tsk, foolish boy.’

After dropping off her luggage in the guest room which she had always used, she gazed absentmindedly at the full-length mirror beside the bed.

If he was going to say she was pretty, he should have included her as part of that praise.

Pointing out just the dress was the kind of manners she didn’t understand at all.

But part of her thought perhaps she should be grateful that the dense boy noticed she wore something new.

“Ahh.”

Right.

Since he acknowledged her outfit, maybe she should play the role of teacher for a day.

With a short sigh, she cleared away all feelings of disappointment, and again, the spark returned to her eyes.

Clunk.

“What? You’re out quickly.”

“You can unpack when you come back. Hurry and guide me.”

So, he wanted her to see his magic, huh?

As if he could see right through her, Ariel flicked her hair and replied.

Then, stepping boldly toward the garden, just as before.

However, upon hearing a perplexed voice from behind, her legs had no choice but to come to a halt.

“What do you mean by magic?”

“……?”

Ariel’s head filled with large question marks as she saw her childhood friend’s puzzling behavior of scratching his head and tilting his head.

Wasn’t he the one who called her over to come see magic? So what could he possibly want now?

A few years ago, they had gallivanted in the mountains and dug around in the garden, but that age was long past.

And yet, sitting decorously for tea and conversation didn’t seem like a fitting match for him…

As her curiosity intensified, something was extended toward her face.

It was none other than the hand of her childhood friend, who had grown calloused from wielding a wooden sword every day.

This time, it was Ariel who tilted her head.

“I told you. Lady Helene said for us to go play.”

“And?”

“Why are you circling around like this?”

His behavior was uncharacteristically vague.

In some ways, he was usually more straightforward than she was, and he was the type who would say what needed to be said.

As Ariel pressed him for clarification, Edgar rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“I thought we could go out for a bit. Though it’s a rural area, there should be some springtime fun in town.”

“…Huh?”

What did that mean?

“You asking me out on a date?”

“Are you crazy?”

Please make sense.

But Edgar too felt awkward due to the spontaneous thought and quickly attempted to dismiss it.

“Pfft, okay then. Want to show off your escort skills? I want to eat dinner at a nice place.”

“Looks like you plan to eat me out like that… it must be my fault for saying such ridiculous things to you.”

“Hey, I can’t hear you!”

Of course, even if he was hinting at a date, it didn’t mean it was in her interest, but nonetheless, the sudden invitation made her heart flutter.

Ignoring Edgar who murmured behind her, Ariel hopped out of the mansion, light on her feet like a rabbit.

The previously harsh sunlight somehow felt warm now.

Resolving to extract double for the treatment she’d received, she nodded, her face beaming with a smile.

It wasn’t that she had any feelings for a guy like that, but it wouldn’t be courteous as a lady to reject his invitation today.

So she accepted simply for that reason.