I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 25

Deciding on something doesn’t mean the worries just vanish.

After all, the problems that needed to be solved were still right in front of me.

Edgar, who had spent the night with his eyes wide open, left the Mansion as soon as morning arrived.

Strapped to his waist was the sword given to him by Helene, and in his hand was a wooden sword that he had already replaced three times.

When you’re deep in thought, the best remedy is simply to move your body.

Usually, it would be better to grab a quick breakfast and catch some sleep, but in my current state, it seemed nearly impossible to doze off.

“You’re a bit late today, huh?”


“What are you doing here?”

Arriving at the usual spot, he was surprised to find an unexpected guest had arrived before him.

Ariel, who had been waiting for him leaning against a shabby wooden box, stood up as soon as she spotted him.

“I just suddenly woke up early. I came to check out your magic too.”


“Thanks for that. I was actually thinking of asking you about it yesterday, but the atmosphere was just all wrong.”

With a smile that seemed to say she had anticipated this, Ariel slowly approached his side. On her left pinky, she wore a magical power catalyst ring, as if to signify she was ready to help with casting magic.

“What? Are you jealous?”


“What’s there to be jealous of when I can’t even use it?”

Edgar shrugged at Ariel’s teasing question and drew the sword at his waist.

Sure, it’s called a catalyst, but even he knew that the item in her possession was one that shouldn’t be handled carelessly. It was a magical item that maximized the user’s magical power but, in turn, consumed a significant amount itself.

If she wasn’t born into the Grand Duke’s bloodline, with its vast magical powers of domination, it would be a highly dangerous item to wield.

“Isn’t it a bit over the top just to watch me practice?”

He knew that ring was something she used to cast magic that was still a bit too advanced for her.

So he wondered if there was really a need to wear it just to come check out someone else’s magic, to which Ariel replied with a sharp tone.

“I’m showing you something too, okay? I’m not an idiot!”


“……. ”

He had a lot to say, but the fact that she wasn’t an idiot was also true, so he just swallowed his words.

To be fair, who could call a girl who started using magic at ten and began practicing advanced magic by fourteen an idiot?

They would probably praise her as an extraordinary genius.

‘To me, though, she just seems like a bit of a clueless princess.’

If that’s a type of charm, I guess it’s a charm.

At least for Edgar, the clueless and naive princess was better than the born genius daughter of the Grand Duke.

“What’s with that look? It’s kinda creepy.”


“Can’t you keep your mouth shut around friends?”

“Geez, then don’t give me that look!”

To stop the booming argument from echoing in the morning air, Edgar stuffed his fingers in his ears.

This provocation tactic had worked back when they were ten, and if he pulled it on her now while she was fired up…

“Just wait until I catch you!”


“Please, just try and catch me.”

And just like that, she charged at him like a wild boar.

Even in the midst of what turned into an unexpected chase in broad daylight, the victor was always clear.

Ariel wasn’t in bad shape, but she couldn’t keep up with Edgar, who trained diligently every day.

Eventually, panting and exhausted, she ended up slumped over the wooden box they had just been by.

“What if I faint before training?”


“Phew, phew… Just go away. I don’t even have the strength to reply right now…”

Hmm, maybe I went a bit too far with the teasing this morning.

Thanks to that, while he had done a proper warm-up, he seemed to have pushed his would-be mentor a bit too hard right from the start.

Edgar opened his canteen and handed it to Ariel.

Seeing her questioning him with a glare, he urged her to drink, and only then did she snatch it up and gulp down water as if she might choke.

“You’ve worn yourself out too, so let’s take a break from training. There’s something we need to talk about.”


“What about?”


“About yesterday.”

Only then did Ariel seem to realize the topic he was broaching, letting out a short sigh.

She had agreed to Helene’s proposal, but added that she still had more to think about, leaving a tinge of anxiety in the air.

Could it be that she was considering refusing? Did she not like the proposal?

Moving away from the only family she had known to live somewhere else was certainly no easy feat.

Ariel wanted him to be by her side despite knowing how tough that would be, but life doesn’t just flow as you wish it to.

Furthermore, Helene was the one who brought up the proposal, not Ariel.

In fact, at the end, she even hinted that whatever opinion he had would be respected, so Ariel had no right to meddle in the matter.

“… You can just handle it yourself. Mom said she respects your choice.”

As her joy over the possibility of returning to Hespania deflated, her tone turned a bit terse.

For someone who had spent so much time cooped up in the castle without a proper friend, Edgar’s acceptance of Helene’s proposal was like a rare piece of good news.

So it wasn’t just Edgar who had spent a sleepless night.

It was disappointing, but it was something she had to understand.

As she nodded to herself in acknowledgment, a voice with an air of confusion reached her ears.

“What do you mean? You said you would go.”


“… Huh? You’re coming? So that means the thing you need to talk about…”

“Even if I say I’m going, there are still things that will happen after, right? Besides, I haven’t heard anything properly yet, so let’s talk it through together.”

The matter of where he would stay was a dilemma, and the situation regarding their relationship once they reached Hespania was another one.

Though they were friends in private, in public, they were heirs to rival noble families.

Even with Helene’s permission, it wouldn’t be easy to treat her casually in front of others.

This was a point that held more significance in aristocratic society than most would think — prestige and honor were paramount.

“Even if I stay with your family, there would still be plenty of problems. Not many people would look kindly on a sudden outsider.”

Helene might have hinted to those around how to perceive this situation, but at least the individuals of the empire’s most powerful family would not look favorably at a rookie whose skills were not yet known.

This was not about petty territorialism or unfair cultures; it was simply a fundamental distrust of the unproven.

“I can handle that.”


“You idiot. It’s not that simple.”

Though Ariel spoke nonchalantly, to Edgar, it was pure naïveté in power—she had never experienced the situation herself.

Regardless, to stay within the massive walls of the Robeheim Family, he needed to create a chance to prove his worth to them.

If he failed to do that, even Helene and Ariel, who were trying to protect him, would not be able to shield him from harsh criticism.

That was the worst outcome Edgar could imagine.

“So, from my perspective… at least for the next few months, it would be best to avoid any contact.”


“Why? Do we really need to be cautious of others?”


“It’s a difference in perspective. Of course, you might have a hard time understanding.”

For Ariel, who had lived her life without having to consider others, trying to explain his circumstances would only yield repetition and confusion.

Still, Edgar saw this as the best approach.

He wasn’t hoping for an extended timeline.

His only goal was to endure until he could prove he belonged in the Robeheim Family and was worthy of Helene’s protection.

It was about changing how people perceived him.

If he stuck by Ariel’s side and claimed a spot next to her before gaining recognition, he would come off as a talentless kid with high aspirations and no abilities—certainly something they would dislike.

However, if he earned acknowledgment first, even if he was just circling around her, his presence wouldn’t be seen as a threat compared to the other scenario.

‘As long as I can stay under the radar for the time being, be it for good reasons or bad.’

Even if you hide your talons like a hawk, they will eventually be revealed.

Edgar didn’t have an overabundance of confidence in his abilities, but he understood enough that he wasn’t entirely lacking.

This opportunity was merely a hurdle he had to clear at some point.

After all, once he chose to stay by the girl’s side, he had already resolved to prove himself to the world—a fact made clearer by the happy little push from his benefactor, Helene.

“Why do you want to go to such lengths? If I just put in the effort, I could…”


“Is that really what you want to say?”

Of course, if he relied on a friend’s help, he could easily disregard the whole perception issue and stay by her side.

But that would only mean that he was there on the coattails of the Grand Duke’s heir, not because of his own strength.

“A man has his pride. I’ll carve out my own place.”

With that, he rolled up his sleeves and grinned proudly. Seeing him like that, Ariel started laughing uncontrollably.

“You’re so silly. There’s an easy path, yet you insist on taking a difficult one?”


“I don’t need an easy path. I just need one that will get me to my destination for sure.”

Relying on her help was like strolling down a neatly paved road shrouded in mist.

The destination unclear, and he would only have the ability to walk just because it was comfortable.

On the other hand, the road he wanted to take might be rocky, but it was one that clearly led to the summit.

That’s why Edgar chose the latter.

To fulfill the promise he made the first time he met this girl, he had to be able to stand by her side from any position.

“I’ll let Helene know today, so you should come and listen too.”


“Hmph, just try and run away halfway because you’re tired. I won’t let you off.”


“Is that what you’re secretly hoping for?”

With a playful tone, he threw that quip at her and began gulping down the water from the canteen that Ariel had just put her lips to.

A look of bewilderment crossed Ariel’s face, and her cheeks flushed red, reminiscent of a sunset he had seen in childhood.

“Wow, this is refreshing. I just wasted time chatting instead of getting to the business of training… Huh? Are you sick or something?”


“Oh, I’m just sick of you being such an idiot that I can’t even look at you.”

“You, buddy, can’t respect a friend’s choice…”

And so, the two of them ended up finishing their morning routine without barely even practicing at all.

It wasn’t until the brisk morning breeze ceased to ruffle their hair that the two of them returned to the Mansion.

When Helene asked where they had been together, Ariel turned red and dashed straight into her room without a word.