I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 238

Two months just zipped by in the blink of an eye.

As the couple received early congratulations from friends and acquaintances who received the wedding invitations, they found themselves swamped with busy days planning the traditional gifts and arrangements.

On the day of the wedding, guests filled the castle to the brim as they lined up to enter.

The Robeheim Family’s great reputation played a part, but there were also many acquaintances who had grown close to Edgar since the last big event, and of course, they were all invited.

“Did we invite too many people?”

Edgar mumbled awkwardly, gazing out the window at the still-arriving guests.

There would be a significant number invited just from the Robeheim side, and with the additional guests he had personally invited, it felt like the crowd had grown exponentially.

“More is better, right?”

Ariel, sitting next to him and looking out the window as well, smiled and shared her viewpoint.

Traditionally, it’s considered a taboo for the groom to meet the bride on the day of the wedding, but that rule didn’t apply to these two.

After all, the moment Ariel changed into her wedding gown, she had insisted on showing it to him as quickly as possible, which was precisely how he ended up here.

“Really? I thought you’d prefer quieter gatherings.”

“That’s true. But wouldn’t it feel nice to be celebrated by a lot of people?”

“Fair point.”

On the happiest day of one’s life, being blessed by the largest possible crowd must be a universal dream.

“Miss, Miss Silvia has arrived!”

As their conversation flowed, Shuri, who had been standing beside them, came up to announce the guest’s arrival.

“Okay, I’ll be right there.”

At the familiar name, Ariel nodded eagerly.

It was a friend who was expected to have her wedding next year. Knowing she’d probably be envious, she was ready to tease her today.

With a thud, the door opened, and Silvia entered the bride’s waiting room, arms wide open to approach Ariel but then stopped short.

“Ariel, I came… Wow!”

“Why, what’s wrong?”

Ariel was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected intensity of her friend’s reaction.

Did she really come here after having a drink before the wedding, she wondered fleetingly.

“You look so beautiful! Where did you get this dress?”

Rather than a typical flowy gown, it was a more fitted dress adorned with intricate embellishments at the hem.

It complemented Ariel’s somewhat sharp features perfectly, causing Silvia’s eyes to sparkle as she inspected the dress’s details.

“This was custom-made by our family’s tailor. The timeline was a bit tight, so the tailor was less than satisfied, though.”

“Using that? Must be a perfectionist.”

“I think so too.”

From the perspective of at least the two of them, it was nearly impossible to find any flaws.

That also implied that the Robeheim family’s tailor was quite the stickler, much like the lord himself.

“Oh, Hagel. Long time no see.”

Meanwhile, Edgar raised a hand to greet his friend who had just entered.

Being in the bride’s waiting room, Hagel hesitated a bit, gauging the situation, but upon spotting a familiar face, he approached with a welcoming smile.

“I knew you’d be here, Edgar. Silvia wouldn’t let me leave without you.”

“That sounds about right.”

Hagel shrugged lightly, a smile creeping onto his lips as he bantered with his friend.

Looking back, they had always been inseparable—like a needle following a thread.

That certainly held true even on the wedding day when the standard rules didn’t apply.

“Anyway, congratulations! After receiving the invitation, Silvia gave me the look for a while…”

“Did something happen?”

“Well, we’ve been dating longer, so I figured the time was right for talks about marriage.”

“Ah….”

Only then did Edgar realize the ordeal Hagel had been through.

From Silvia’s perspective, seeing Ariel getting married so soon after their own relationship had developed only added to the pressure, making her tease him about when he’d pop the question.

“Have you given it any thought?”

“Yes, in fact, we had our parents meet last week. We’re planning the wedding for about six months from now…”

By then, the weather would be just right, making it an excellent choice.

The rapid pace of their own wedding preparations was unusual, as it was typical to allow more time.

Edgar extended a hand and congratulated his friend on this news.

“Congrats. It’s a double celebration today.”

“Thanks! I want to share my invitation with you two first, so I’ll be sure to deliver it at the right time.”

“That sounds delightful.”

While getting the invitation first might not seem like much to outsiders, it signified leaving a significant mark on each other’s lives.

For a friend, that’s about as gratifying as it gets, and Edgar shook Hagel’s hand with a bright smile.

“Master, you should probably head out now…”

At that moment, Elin, who had been anxiously checking her watch, came over to speak.

It was time to head for the ceremony, as the preparations for the event were nearly complete.

“Is it already time?”

“Yes, you should go with the others…”

“I’ll take him. You wait here with Shuri.”

Traditionally, the groom should be the one to go out first to prepare, but this couple’s wedding was slightly different, requiring them to leave together.

Edgar subtly signaled Ariel that it was time to rise, and after exchanging looks, she gently placed her hands on the table and stood up carefully.

“Is it uncomfortable to walk?”

“Not really. The attire for formal events is harder to wear.”

“That might be true.”

She wasn’t just referring to the dress; there was also the matter of a mantle emblazoned with the Robeheim family crest and the fitted outfit.

In simpler gatherings, it was usually replaced by a dress, but in certain formal settings, Ariel often complained about having to wear them.

“Hang in there, Ariel. We’ll be watching from the audience.”

“And Edgar, as now you’re going to be a husband, you better take care of her.”

The two, Silvia and Hagel, offered their encouraging words as they left the waiting room.

The couple simply smiled in response as they exited the area.

Today, the ceremony was to be held outdoors.

Given the high number of guests, there wasn’t enough suitable space within even the vast Robeheim Castle. Of course, there were also Ariel’s own personal desires at play.

“You’ve arrived. How do you feel? Are you nervous?”

As they arrived at the location where the ceremony would take place, the parents of both families, who had been waiting there, greeted them warmly.

The moment of connection was clearly represented as Yulken and Katria each fussed over the other’s children.

“Feeling good! I’m just excited to get the ceremony underway.”

“Haha, that’s how a man should feel.”

Edgar’s bold reply made Yulken smile in satisfaction, and as they shared the moment, Helene approached playfully with a teasing grin.

“Oh my, weren’t you trembling on your wedding day holding my hand? Acting tough in front of your son-in-law is just a bad look.”

“W-What? When did I ever do that?”

Edgar awkwardly coughed and averted his gaze, eliciting laughter from everyone around.

It was rather surprising. Who would have thought the great Yulken would tremble during his marriage ceremony?

Perhaps that only showed how much he valued the sanctity of the procedure.

“By the way, this is unique. It’s the first time I’ve seen both the groom and bride enter together.”

Ransel, who had heard about the planned ceremony, rubbed his chin in an intrigued manner.

The reason for the couple leaving the waiting room together was precisely because of this.

Traditionally, the groom would enter first, followed by the bride escorted by her father.

In contrast, today they would walk in together, side by side, to the altar.

“It was Ariel’s request; I thought it sounded fun, so I agreed.”

Initially, the ceremony was planned to follow the usual way, but Ariel, unfamiliar with the proceedings, had a strong objection when she learned how it was originally arranged.

Though it was a minor section of the ceremony, it felt completely different from the way she’d always dreamt of it.

Having wanted to keep pace with Edgar since childhood, she now wanted to walk side by side with him as equals.

However, on the day that they would kick off a fresh start, Edgar was to enter the venue first.

That was something Ariel simply couldn’t overlook.

Thus, she proposed the idea of entering together, and Edgar, understanding her reasoning, agreed without hesitation.

In a way, it showcased Ariel’s competitive spirit, even still on such an important occasion.

“You two really are a perfect match. I hope everything goes smoothly. And…”

After a brief pause, Helene stepped closer and pulled them both into a hug.

Though it took considerable effort to embrace both the now-grown Edgar and Ariel, she found much joy in the moment.

Once children playing in her skirt, and now they had grown up to promise one another a lifetime.

Feeling overwhelming emotions, she managed to hold back tears. After all, the stars of this day were ultimately these two.

“Thank you both.”

“…Mother, please.”

“It’s us who should thank you.”

As Helene released her embrace and smiled, a distant bell chimed softly.

The ceremony was about to begin, signaling for all guests to take their seats.

From here on out, it was solely about the two of them.

Soon, a man standing next to the altar announced the commencement of the proceedings.

It was none other than Leonel, Edgar’s close friend and comrade.

“Let’s go, Edgar.”

“Right.”

As the attendants on either side guided them, the couple took their first steps together.

Carefully, one step at a time.

What usually felt like just ten steps now seemed to stretch infinitely.

With Yulken’s lead, the atmosphere became quite festive.

The guests were exuberantly showering them with blessings, cheers, and compliments about being the perfect couple.

The ceremony itself followed the typical process known to everyone without any surprises.

That meant the long-awaited moment wasn’t far off.

Watching Ariel standing on her tiptoes, Edgar couldn’t help but smile.

Even without the bridal makeup, her vibrant red lips had a striking way of catching anyone’s eye.

Her usual gesture of pouting those lips for a kiss made them look even more alluring today.

“Now, the bride and groom will share a kiss of commitment…”

With the officiant’s guide, Edgar leaned in and gently pressed his lips against hers.

How long was it?

As Ariel’s hand slipped around Edgar’s back, he barely managed to pull away.

“Ah…”

“Gotcha.”

From Ariel’s perspective, that grin was annoyingly charming.

He must have done that on purpose.

As that thought crossed her mind, she boldly reached out.

“Stop right there!”

Then, she pulled his tie to bring his face closer, lifting herself up once again to embrace his neck tightly.

What resulted was a rather passionate kiss for a wedding ceremony.

When at last they pulled apart, Ariel’s cheeks were filled with warmth, but there was no blush left on her face now.

Such audacious actions no longer brought her any embarrassment.

Now they were a married couple, with nothing left to hold back.

“I love you, Edgar.”

“…I love you too.”

Hearing that bold confession befitting a lord of the North, Edgar embraced her warmly.

Though now she was a matured woman, in his heart, Ariel Robeheim would forever remain the charmingly coy young noble lady with a penchant for being a little troublesome.

For as long as they lived.

‘The Northern Grand Duke’s Childhood Friend’ [End]