I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 278

Ariel quietly entered the hall and made her way to Edgar’s side.

Under normal circumstances, Edgar would have visited for the speech and quickly moved on, but today she was curious about how the young friends were having fun.

As she approached her husband humming a tune, she widened her eyes at the unexpected sight beside him.

It was Serina, who she assumed would be with her peers, still standing quietly by Edgar’s side.

“Serina, why aren’t you off with the others?”

“Because it’s most comfortable by Dad.”

“…Sigh, I could almost mistake you for my daughter.”

With a response as expected, Ariel let out an exasperated laugh and sighed.

Still, it was a rare adult ceremony, and a chance to socialize, so she thought it would have been fine for her to mingle a little with others.

Looks like blood ties can’t be denied.

After all, in her younger years, she wouldn’t have dreamed of talking to anyone while sticking close to Edgar.

“It seems like Serina is worse than you. There are friends you got close to at the academy over there.”

But mocking her thoughts, Edgar pointed somewhere off into the distance and said that Ariel was the more refined one.

At least Ariel pretended to make an effort to approach clos friends like Silvia, but Serina wouldn’t even walk over to her distant friend who was right there.

“But they’re friends from way too long ago.”

Of course, Serina had her reasons for putting up excuses.

It had been over five years since she graduated from the academy, and the friends she saw over there were just familiar faces she had passed by in social circles since then.

If she suddenly went over and tried to chat, she could only imagine making it awkward.

“But didn’t you say you ran into them a few times since graduating?”

“It was just meeting, really. We exchanged greetings saying it had been a while, but they probably don’t remember me at all.”

Serina thought that because she wasn’t as active as Evan and didn’t have a bright personality, she hadn’t gotten along well with others at the academy.

Maybe that’s why she hesitated to reunite with her friends from those days.

It wasn’t that she avoided all meetings altogether, though.

“Serina, why don’t you just go over? Those friends might be waiting for you.”

Ariel gently nudged her daughter’s back, encouraging her.

Though she didn’t know every detail about Serina’s school days, she understood that her daughter had a pleasing disposition that wouldn’t make her the type to be disliked anywhere.

Moreover, she knew that Serina didn’t have many friends compared to Evan, who was a lot more sociable.

This meant that, despite the passage of time, they must be people she had grown fairly close to during her academy days.

Thus, even if they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, as long as there were no hard feelings, she believed they could start talking again easily.

“Do you think…?”

“Yes. Plus, from their perspective, they might not approach you easily since you’re always close to Dad.”

“Oh….”

Casting a glance at Edgar standing beside her, Serina thought that could be true.

After all, how many would have the guts to casually walk over when the second most powerful person in the Robeheim Family was right there?

“Right. Your mother is right. Just go say hi. It doesn’t mean you have to have a long conversation, just say hello and come back.”

“Ugh….”

With both Ariel and Edgar piling on, Serina looked again at the friends gathered in a tight-knit group.

Honestly, it didn’t sound fun.

Her usual spot had always been beside her father, and she’d never thought even once that she wanted to stray from there.

Yet today, there was an unusual stir of nerves simply because it was an adult ceremony.

Arriving at the starting line at last, she felt like a new milestone was approaching for her, and maybe today was it.

“Okay, fine. I’ll go.”

Finally persuaded by the trio, Serina nodded with a stiff expression and stepped away from Edgar’s side.

Edgar, pleased with this, gently placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to ease her tension with a little joke.

“Have a good time. And if you find a decent match for a husband, remember to introduce him to Dad.”

“I-I don’t have anyone like that!”

“Just kidding, just kidding.”

With Serina’s sudden outburst causing Edgar to burst into laughter, he playfully nudged her back.

Receiving send-offs from both, Serina slowly approached her friends, who she had just been observing.

Though she had never thought speaking to someone was particularly hard, for some reason, her heart was pounding heavily.

“Um….”

Serina, unsure of how to break the ice just like a shy countess from another family, pondered what to say first.

Fortunately, one of the ladies noticed her mumbling.

“Yes…? Huh?”

Staring in disbelief at the girl with moss-green hair peering out, Serina’s eyes widened as she hastily rubbed her own eyes to ensure she wasn’t seeing things.

No matter how she looked, it was the face she remembered.

It was the one she had seen at the social event held three months ago.

“Se, Serina?!”

Her startled voice drew the attention of the others gathered around.

It was an unexpected name that popped out.

“Oh, it’s been a while. Everyone. Did I surprise you by suddenly talking…?”

She had originally used casual speech, but without thinking, Serina slipped into using formalities even with her friends like Claire.

The rare meeting had made it that awkward.

“Surprised, you say! I was just a bit shocked!”

“Yeah, for real, it’s been so long, Serina.”

“We saw each other three months ago, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah! Of course, I remember. I didn’t think you all would remember me, though….”

Overwhelmed by the warmer welcome than she had expected, Serina fidgeted restlessly, unable to keep her hands still.

Watching this with an incredulous expression, a blonde-haired boy piped up.

“What’s with the formal speech? Serina, did you always talk to us like that?”

“No, that’s Eris. Serina used to talk in plain speech with us. How can you not remember that?”

“Of course, I remember. But it was just odd that you suddenly started speaking formally.”

“Right? I was curious about that too. Did your way of speaking change?”

Caught off guard by the flurry of questions, Serina looked around, wondering where to start.

Was it really this hard to converse?

She thought all she had to do was answer the questions and say what she wanted to say, but today it felt notably chaotic.

“Why don’t you each ask one question at a time? You’re making her anxious.”

A short boy who had been standing at the back stepped forward to calm the frenetic energy of their group.

Serina’s memory of him was of someone she had seen a few times since graduating from the academy and looking slightly more mature.

“Sorry, Serina. I guess they were too excited to see you again. Just speak comfortably.”

“Uh-huh, I’m the one who should apologize. Um….”

Thankfully, her tone returned to normal, but the problem was she couldn’t remember the names of her friends after such a long time.

Not wanting to admit that, Serina swallowed the words and stiffened her expression.

Noticing her struggle, the boy with blue hair revealed his name without showing a hint of displeasure.

“I’m Levin. Not sure if you remember.”

“Oh. I-I remember.”

Upon hearing the name, Serina finally matched the face within her memories and let out a small gasp.

Yes, Levin Lilford.

While most of her friends were bright and outgoing, there had been one who quietly stood by, and that was this boy.

“Please tell me you haven’t really forgotten us? I would get a bit hurt.”

Just as she was lost in recalling the past, someone suddenly surprised her.

It was that lively-looking lady with moss-green hair who had noticed Serina first.

Having overheard the conversation with Levin, she pouted her lips while the blonde boy beside her chided her.

“Hey, why are you saying that? What does that make Serina feel like?”

“Why! I’m just being a little hurt! I’ve met Serina just three months ago! Right?”

“Yeah.”

Serina, who had indeed seen them only a second ago, nodded without thinking.

With that, the moss-haired noblewoman promptly perked up her chest in triumph, declaring, “See? I told you!”

“Then Serina, do you still remember my name?”

Starting with her, the rest of them, excluding Levin, began to eagerly ask if she remembered them too.

Serina smiled subtly, nodding her head softly.

Of course she remembered.

How could she forget those who had brought vibrancy to her quiet school days?

She had only been startled for a moment; one by one, she could recall all of them clearly.

“Nella, Luke, Marine. Right?”

“Oh, you really remember us?”

Luke, the boy who had spoken, opened his eyes wide in disbelief as Marine, who had just scolded him, elbowed him with a playful glare.

“You didn’t trust Serina?”

“No, it wasn’t that I didn’t trust her, I just wondered if she would remember me.”

His point made sense since, even among the children of nobility, Serina was seen as someone who was far above their level along with Evan.

At least Evan, with his natural charm and sociability, felt more approachable, while Serina, being quieter and always reading books, often left them wondering how they had become friends in the first place.

Though these four thought of Serina as a friend, they didn’t know her true feelings.

As Levin and Marine playfully bickered, a girl with sky-blue hair stepped forward with a frown.

“Can you all keep it down? It’s so hard to talk to Serina with you guys making a ruckus.”

“No, this isn’t my fault—it’s Marine’s fault!”

“What are you talking about? You got scolded by Nella, you loser.”

“You all are at a ceremony, and this is how you’re acting…?”

It was a chaotic exchange among that lively group.

“Heh.”

Watching from a distance, Serina couldn’t help but smile.

She felt foolish for having thought it would be complicated.

She had simply assumed their bond had faded over time.

Maybe bonds remain as long as you don’t let go of them.

Was it a relief that she finally mustered the courage?

At last, she took a step forward, cautiously joining in with her friends.

Marine began reminiscing about what happened three months ago, and Serina finally joined in, starting to speak.

“Looks like you’re all doing well?”

“Yeah? Good to hear.”

Watching the moment from afar, Edgar smiled approvingly, while Ariel took his hand and quietly led him out of the hall.

From now on, it would be the young friends’ turn to shine at that feast.