I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 48

After finishing the meal and chatting with various people, the sun had already set.

Ariel, wanting to take a little fresh air, led Edgar to the balcony. She leaned against the railing, inhaling the air and looking up at the night sky.

While the air of Hespania felt refreshing and cleared her mind, the air here was warm and cozy, filling her heart.

‘Is it because it’s night?’

As that thought crossed her mind, Ariel chuckled softly and shook her head.

Realizing she had become somewhat sentimental, a strange itch stirred in the corner of her heart.

‘I haven’t felt this way in a long time.’

It wasn’t a bad feeling, but it seemed out of character for her.

Removing her arms from the railing and turning her body, she noticed the stars that had filled her vision disappearing, and only the lights of the ballroom returned to her sight.

Meanwhile, Edgar, who had been silently watching her with crossed arms, finally pushed himself off the wall.

Thinking he might give her some space since she seemed to want some alone time, it was only for a brief moment.

Having to discuss the schedule for tomorrow, he reluctantly broke the atmosphere and spoke to her.

“What do you want to do about the ball tomorrow? Are you staying another day?”

“Of course, a day is enough fun, so it’s time to go back.”

Ariel replied as if it were unnecessary to answer Edgar’s question, slowly approaching him and leaning her back against the wall beside him.

The ball would continue for three days until the day after tomorrow, and attendance was entirely voluntary.

The debutante ball was really just a big event on the first day.

After that, it was merely a modest social gathering for those who had just entered society.

Of course, most young ladies who found such events new and exciting might enjoy the full three days, but that was a story unrelated to Ariel.

“There’s still so much to do. I plan to follow my father to the battlefield in about three years. I need to learn enough to not fall behind by then.”

“In three years.”

That timeline felt absurdly fast.

Barely eighteen. She was still not even an adult and already talking about going to the battlefield.

But that was the weight of obligation pressing down on Ariel’s shoulders, serving as a mission that supported her as well.

Thus, Edgar didn’t utter a word about recklessness.

He simply resolved to accompany her if she wished to go somewhere.

“When did the head of the family say he would return?”

“He probably doesn’t have an exact schedule yet. War is like that.”

A war isn’t like a child’s game where they decide, ‘Let’s start fighting now!’ and then end it by saying, ‘Now, let’s stop fighting.’

Although Ariel had yet to experience war, she understood how violent and brutal it could be.

That’s likely why her father prioritized teaching her coldness over compassion and pity when he educated her.

So she could throw herself into battle at a young age. So she could turn her gaze away even after witnessing death.

To exclude the unnecessary. To kill what is designated as an enemy. To keep only those she deemed her own.

“…Riel, Ariel.”

“Uh, yes?”

Thinking of her father’s vague face, which she hadn’t seen in almost a year, made her heart feel oddly heavy.

Just as she realized she hadn’t even heard the voice of her childhood friend calling her and came back to her senses, she saw concern etched on Edgar’s face.

“What are you thinking so deeply about? Is there something worrying you?”

“There’s nothing to worry about… It’s nothing.”

Ariel lightly shook her head and gazed up at Edgar, who was about half a head taller than her.

“Edgar, aren’t you curious about our father?”

“I am curious. I’ve never seen him.”

He knew his name and face vaguely.

The annex of the Robeheim family that Ariel had once shown him held portraits of the previous heads of the family displayed in frames.

And based on Ariel’s past behavior, he could tell that the relationship between the two wasn’t particularly smooth.

After all, whenever he had asked Ariel about her father, the replies were always consistent.

“He is a man worthy of being the head of the Robeheim family.” “He is someone I aspire to be like.” Among many praises, he had never heard her say anything like, “He’s a good father.”

It was purely the respect for the ‘head of the Robeheim family’.

He had never felt a sense of affection or bond regarding the ‘father.’

And whenever she referred to her mother in front of Edgar, it was always ‘Mom,’ but when it came to her father, it was always ‘Father.’

Even in that small gap between titles, Edgar felt a sense of alienation.

“Now that you mention it, you stopped asking about our father at some point, didn’t you?”

As Ariel pondered and recalled, she straightened up from the wall and faced him directly, tilting her head in wonder.

It seemed like he had been intentionally avoiding that topic.

Whenever she brought up anything concerning the family, her mother, or even herself.

He would somehow prevent the conversation from leading there and change the topic.

“I know how to read the mood. I won’t pry into things you don’t want to talk about.”

“You’re quick to pick up on strange things.”

With a little hiss of air escaping from her, Ariel walked slowly back toward the railing with her arms crossed.

Edgar felt as if she looked so unsteady that she would jump off any second.

“Ed, if you had to choose between conviction and duty, which one would you pick?”

“That’s a strange question. Can’t I place them on the same level?”

“Okay. If the conviction you want to uphold leads you on a completely different path from the duty you’ve been given, what would you do then?”

Faced with this sudden dilemma, Edgar fell into silence, deep in thought.

This would be a situation like this:

If a hero vowed never to kill, yet found himself in a situation where he must kill someone to protect a loved one.

Would he uphold his conviction or fulfill his given duty?

As he continued to ponder deeply, Edgar eventually reached a conclusion.

He pulled himself away from the wall and gazed at Ariel intently, then suddenly flicked his finger to slap her forehead.

Whack.

“…!? Why the sudden hit, you fool!”

As Ariel grabbed her forehead, looking upset from the unprovoked violence, Edgar raised one corner of his mouth, instantly deducing her feelings.

“Whenever you hit a snag, you always ask me, ‘What would you do?’ So I thought you might do the same this time.”

“Seriously, can’t a friend ask for help without it being such a big deal!?”

Wondering how he knew that, she simultaneously felt quite wronged.

After all, she’d tried to get some indirect advice from a childhood friend, and instead of getting a response, she got flicked.

How can he be so clueless about the mood? He’s such an idiot.

On the other hand, watching a sulking Ariel, Edgar reached out and gently patted her head.

Continuing his grumpy tone about how her hair was messed up, she still didn’t push his hand away – truly a childish lady.

A smile deepened on Edgar’s face.

“The reason I hit you is to tell you not to worry too much right now.”

“…”

“You’ve been like this since a long time ago. You worry about things that haven’t happened yet, ask me, and even cry saying you’re scared.”

“I-I didn’t cry!”

Did she?

Edgar casually replied to her last protest as he shrugged his shoulders and slightly bent his legs to meet her gaze.

“Anyway, stop stressing over pointless things. You have Count Helene and the family’s retainers beside you, and I’m here too. It won’t be too late to ask for help when it’s hard to make a choice.”

“Still… you never know. What if I end up lost and confused on my own?”

Ariel carefully countered, her eyes wide open.

In response, Edgar scoffed as if to say, ‘Why are you asking something so obvious?’ and poked her forehead with his finger before pointing to himself.

“That’s what friends are for. If you do something embarrassing, I’ll hit you for real, so don’t worry.”

“Do you really have to hit me? You know, you come off as super violent.”

After all, there were plenty of alternatives to express concern, like hugging or comforting her.

Does it really have to involve slapping first to wake someone up?

As Ariel sulked and meekly protested, Edgar made a boastful declaration, landing a firm fist against his chest.

“Have you heard of a ‘love tap’? It all comes from caring and affection for a friend.”

“Hmph, affection my foot.”

It was nothing but crude stuff, without a touch of any elegant words to beautify it.

Yet, strangely enough, she felt oddly reassured. It was quite a mysterious feeling.

They say sincerity gets through, so perhaps this was similar to that principle.

In the strange ambience of mutual gazes held in silence, it was Edgar who broke the eye contact first.

He slowly walked toward the balcony railing, casting his gaze out into the distance, slowly speaking.

“Of course, you have so many worries. I can’t even guess how many challenges you’ll have to face ahead. But still, Ariel, remember this one thing.”

He knew this speech was cheesy and childish even to himself.

Yet Edgar wanted to reassure his precious childhood friend, to let her know she wouldn’t be walking alone.

“There will always be someone willing to lay down their life for you. Just say the word when you find yourself in some perilous situation. Well, I guess I’m not exactly a remarkable knight, so you might not trust me too much.”

The last remark was his way to soothe his own embarrassment.

Realizing this, Ariel couldn’t help but let out an adorable giggle, stepping closer and leaning her arms against the railing beside him.

Even after hearing such words, her heart didn’t race like it had during the day.

It wasn’t because the night breeze was somewhat cool or because she couldn’t hear the beating of his heart.

She herself couldn’t figure out the reason.

Reaching out her right arm that had been resting on the railing, she gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

And then, tap. She silently tapped his shoulder with her fingers.

Like the gentle tickle of a cat, Edgar’s head turned, and their gazes connected in the empty space.

Ariel saw Edgar’s face turn red for the first time that day.

It wasn’t just a trick of light reflecting or that the starlight happened to shine red that night.

Smiling slyly,

Ariel came to realize that she had just achieved a rare victory.

Seeing the boy who always teased her now resembling her made something inside her feel a tickling sensation.

‘Always teasing me.’

In these fifteen years, she must have never managed to reverse the attack on him even once.

So today was the day she wanted to settle the score.

With her hand that had brushed against his shoulder, she reached out and pinched his cheek with her index finger.

His skin felt surprisingly soft for a man, and she could easily tell that his cheek was rather warm.

His face bloomed with confusion, and as the blush deepened on his cheeks, she decided to say something completely unnecessary to tease him even more.

Words she would’ve never uttered until now, equally cheesy and cringe-worthy, just like the ones he said earlier.

“…, …. ……. …….”

A sudden gust of night wind swept in, drowning out her voice.

Of course, her embarrassment that surged at the last moment contributed to that too.

Edgar’s face grew puzzled at her delay in response, and he somehow managed to ask again what he hadn’t heard moments ago, but the carriage had already passed.

Ariel resolved never to speak that line again, turning slightly away while trying to hide her hands behind her back.

Was it because she had finally won against him? Her now racing heart began to thrum dramatically.

Indeed, no matter the time or place, the thrill of victory is the most exhilarating feeling.

On a day like today, it was only natural that her heart would race.

‘The wind is chilly.’

Could it be that the wind blowing from her homeland is in the air?

If only she could ride it and drift away, she would soon arrive at Hespania.

She felt a twinge of regret that she would be embarking on a directionless journey in a carriage starting tomorrow.

She hoped that after sleeping tonight, she would wake up having reached Hespania.

With that small wish in mind, Ariel took her childhood friend’s hand and headed towards the room.

Somehow, it felt like it would be tough to sleep tonight.