I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 46

Two people returned to the ballroom together after a brief commotion.

In the meantime, Shuri expressed her confusion at the sight of her silent master, who had his head bowed low.

“Edgar, what’s wrong with her?”

“Ask her yourself. I can’t say if she’ll answer, though.”

Edgar barely managed to suppress a chuckle as he pointed his chin towards Ariel.

In response, Ariel quickly reached out her hand and shook her head vigorously, indicating that she had no intention of speaking.

‘What the heck was she thinking, that idiot!’

There was clearly some kind of spell cast on her. Unless that was the case, she wouldn’t have made such a statement amidst all that attention that could easily lead to misunderstandings.

The reason she could call him her fiancé in front of Diliort yesterday was simply that there was no one else there but the four of us.

‘What do you mean I have to be by your side! Are you out of your mind?!’

Even now, she vividly recalled the reactions from those around her when she voiced that statement.

The young ladies from other families sitting beside Edgar gasped as they began to interrogate what kind of relationship the two of them had.

Ariel, uncharacteristically flustered and unable to handle the situation, was only saved from further embarrassment because of Edgar’s quick intervention.

However, in hindsight, she wondered if that had really been the right course of action.

‘The rumors must be spreading like wildfire by now. What should I do?’

To be honest, it was absurd to be worrying about this after what had happened yesterday, but it was just a matter of circumstance.

If Diliort was in his right mind, he wouldn’t dare discuss what happened yesterday with anyone else.

Ultimately, “Lady Robeheim has a fiancé” would have to be spread around as hearsay.

Not definitive information, but something like “I heard it from someone, and it seems credible.”

But what had just happened was on a different level altogether.

She had outright declared in front of so many people, “This man is mine, so keep your hands off.”

It wasn’t just gossip anymore; she had openly put it out there as proof.

“How long are you going to keep that grumpy face on? We should head in soon.”

“…Shut up, you fool. It’s all your fault.”

Well, why was he getting entangled with women he didn’t even know?

If he had come as her attendant, he should’ve at least stayed close to her and not turned his gaze elsewhere.

Looking back, she realized that her blushing embarrassment was all because of this man who completely forgot his role.

“Alright, I get it. Let’s just go in. We can’t be loitering here.”

“Humph, offer an escort or something.”

With a huff, Ariel stood up, and Edgar promptly extended his hand for her to take.

Seeing him smile, she pouted and reluctantly placed her hand on top of his.

Shuri, observing this, couldn’t help but smile softly.

Just before they entered the ballroom, she checked Ariel’s dress and makeup.

Given all the chaos, it was remarkable how composed she still looked.

“Well, there isn’t really a set order for events, is there?”

“Probably not. Once we’re in, we can just dance a bit and leave.”

“Not very ambitious, are you?”

“It’s the truth, what can I do?”

While many young ladies dreamed of stepping into society, Ariel’s reaction was rather businesslike; she seemed intent on finishing her duties and getting out.

So, the two stood at the door, without any excitement, catching their breath.

Finally, Edgar opened the grand doors of the ballroom, which were larger than him, with a flourish,

*Creeeak.*

“Wow.”

Before them unfolded a scene resembling the Milky Way.

Marble was laid everywhere, with a tall centerpiece decorating the center.

Young people danced all around, and there were quite a few faces visible beyond the second-floor railing.

The colorful lights bursting from every direction were dazzling enough to make one’s head spin, and the garments worn by the gathered flowers sparkled under the light.

“Just now, you looked surprised too, didn’t you?”

“Surprised? Not at all. I just thought it looked nice, that’s all.”

Unable to hold back, Edgar poked Ariel in the side and spoke teasingly, which made her realize she had been standing there blankly and whip her head around in annoyance.

Though typically cold and terse, Ariel seemed like a genuine lady.

Her attempt to hide it only made Edgar find her adorable.

Now, all that was left was to escort her as per her request.

Nevertheless, the gazes from those around them were quite bothersome.

Ariel certainly stood out amid the crowd.

As the person accompanying her, he felt he needed to carry a certain weight.

“Shall we?”

“Pfft, what? Don’t be so cheesy. You can just act normal.”

Edgar exaggeratedly stepped forward, extending his hand once more in a formal manner, which made Ariel uncontrollably laugh.

He had jokingly called her “Lady” or “Princess” a few times in a jesting manner, but today it felt oddly pleasant.

What was it that made her feel so different this time?

She herself couldn’t understand.

“I’m just trying to set the mood, so humor me a bit.”

“Okay, I guess I have no choice. Consider it an honor.”

“Like that’s an option.”

Ariel placed her hand over his with a smile that suggested she would let him have this one, lightly lowering the ends of her dress as she gracefully moved in time with Edgar’s actions.

The melody filling the ballroom created a wonderfully brisk atmosphere.

Although she didn’t know the title, it was definitely more suited to Edgar’s taste than a slow, calm tune.

Cautiously, the two stepped onto the dance floor, taking their positions.

Along the way, Ariel teased in a small voice that this wasn’t how one danced, but Edgar merely raised his eyebrows, signaling that everything was fine.

He had received foundational etiquette training as part of his upbringing, including dancing, and had long endured endless lessons in the Robeheim family up until the ball.

He might actually be a better dancer than Ariel at this point.

“Hey Sally, look over there. It seems Lady Robeheim has arrived.”

As their presence became known, two women watching closely straightened up in surprise.

It was none other than the culprits who nearly humiliated Ariel just a moment ago, albeit not intentionally.

“It’s true. I was looking for a chance to apologize for earlier, but I guess she just arrived.”

“By the way, they really look like a perfect pair, don’t they? The way he confidently holds the lady is….”

Edgar’s build was indeed solid enough to stand out in this ballroom.

Though he was still young, his muscle and height gained from relentless training through the years compensated for his youth.

In fact, it was his sturdy figure that had attracted the gazes of those two ladies earlier, making him noticeable among the crowd.

Most noble young men, if they were not heirs to a martial family, tended to be short or lean.

Meanwhile, Ariel sensed the two ladies’ attention while continuing with the dance.

Leaning in close to Edgar, she whispered into his ear.

“Looks like you’re popular.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Those girls from earlier, they’re looking at you.”

They weren’t even ladies; she called them ‘girls’ instead.

The sudden demotion of those who hadn’t done anything wrong got Edgar to let out a wry smile.

“Should we go apologize together after this?”

“Am I crazy? I didn’t do anything wrong, so why should I apologize?”

Whether she was pretending not to know or genuinely oblivious, while Ariel certainly had her own reasons for feeling angry, threatening those she’d just met was indeed a misstep.

But whether there was a need to apologize was a matter of individual perspective.

However, Edgar didn’t particularly want her to apologize; he simply wanted to clarify the misunderstanding from earlier.

If an embarrassing rumor went around, it would be Ariel who suffered the consequences.

“I spoke out of turn. You can apologize as you wish, but let’s clear up this misunderstanding first.”

“Rumors aren’t a big deal if you just ignore them, right?”

“Is it that easy?”

With a firm request to act as he said, Edgar finally got Ariel to nod her head, resigned.

His point made sense after all.

Though one concern remained,

“Are you interested in those girls or something?”

“Why? Do you want me to help you out if I said yes?”

“Do you want to die?”

At her joking remark, an ominous red light sparked in Edgar’s eyes, causing him to avert his gaze.

Seemed she was serious about that question.

At such a moment, being overly friendly could lead to trouble, so it was best to smooth things over for now.

“Just kidding. Why would those girls even take an interest in me?”

“Yeah, well, I’m glad you at least seem to know your place.”

“Dude, what kind of way is this to talk to a friend?”

Finally, they managed to chat casually, just like always, and the song that had been playing changed into a gentle tune that lightened the mood even more.

“Anyway, don’t worry. I’m not interested. You said that first after all.”

“What was it I said?”

Ariel twisted her head as if genuinely trying to remember.

In response, Edgar took a step back, gently pulling her hand into his embrace while whispering softly.

“While we’re here, I’m yours.”

“……!”

Edgar smiled deviously as he returned her bold words from before.

Ariel’s face turned beet red in an instant, and she bowed her head deeply while still in his hold.

Because of the very words she had blurted out, she had turned the tables on herself.

Clearly, this man had an unmatched knack for teasing her.

It was evident he never missed an opportunity to get close, regardless of the situation.

Thump. Thump.

Somewhere, she felt a strong heartbeat, but Ariel convinced herself it was Edgar’s and shifted her focus away from reality.

There’s no way I could be fluttering around a guy like him.

Seriously, pretending not to care is a waste when even a girl like me makes him feel nervous, right?

In that case, she thought she could pretend not to notice until her heart calmed down.

As a friend, she thought she could show that much understanding. Better appreciate my broad-mindedness, you fool.