I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess – Chapter 68

The exhaustion from yesterday’s commotion must have gotten to him.

The next day, Edgar got out of bed somewhat late and left the mansion.

Sure enough, in his right hand, he firmly gripped a wooden sword he had always wielded since his time in the mansion.

“Huff! Huff!”

While continuing to swing the sword for what felt like the umpteenth time, sweat started to bead on his forehead, even though he showed no signs of fatigue.

He had heard from Creed countless times about the importance of basics, so he had never missed this morning routine.

By now, if he skipped it, his body would probably feel sluggish, making it hard to get through the day.

“You’re working hard this morning.”

“Eh?”

Edgar, who was focused on his movements, maintaining a sharp gaze toward the tip of the sword, tilted his head upward at a voice coming not from beside him but from above.

There was a woman looking down at him elegantly, resting her chin on the terrace railing.

“You should have stayed in bed a little longer; you look tired.”

Knowing how much Ariel loved her sleep, it must have been quite a struggle for her to be up at this hour after not fully shaking off the fatigue from the day before.

Edgar, aware of her struggles, spoke with concern, and she replied with a faint smile, as if caught off guard.

“Is that something someone wielding a wooden sword first thing in the morning should say?”

“I’ve gotten used to it, but you haven’t.”

“I’m used to it now too! Hmph.”

Ariel huffed, annoyed that he still thought of her as a sluggish snail, turning her head away with a snort.

Meanwhile, Edgar, watching her, tilted his head in confusion, sensing a faint déjà vu.

He couldn’t recall exactly when, but he felt like a similar situation had happened once before.

“Were we like this before?”

“Like what?”

“Um… It’s hard to express in words, but I was out here and you were talking to me from the terrace like now.”

“I doubt it. Maybe when we were in Hespania, but…”

Edgar tilted his head, wondering if she really thought so in response to Ariel’s firm tone.

He had indeed seen her peeking over that high balcony in Hespania a few times.

Yet, the lingering images in his memory told him this was a tale from the time they were in this mansion.

He wasn’t sure, as the memories weren’t vividly clear.

“…Ah!”

“Eh? What is it? Did you remember something?”

As Edgar set down the wooden sword and continued to think, he let out a soft exclamation, causing Ariel to lean over the railing, curious.

Edgar flashed an oddly ominous smile, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as they shifted toward his beloved.

“Ariel, do you remember anything from our childhood?”

“When?”

“Was it when we were ten? I think it was the day after you told me the ‘Story of the Starry Night.'”

That day’s memory was fairly clear in Ariel’s mind as well.

They had definitely looked up at the waterfall of stars together, returned to the mansion to sleep, and the next day, she had secretly watched Edgar train from the terrace…

“……!”

“Looks like you remember now?”

“I… I don’t remember anything! Don’t pin weird things on me!”

Ariel abruptly halted the fragmented images of that day resurfacing in her mind.

But considering Edgar knew her well, escaping his clutches would prove difficult.

“On that day, you got up unusually early and went to the terrace, right?”

“I don’t know! If you keep saying strange things, I’ll get mad!?”

“Seeing your overly sensitive reaction makes it more suspicious. Did I ask anything weird? I’m just asking if you went to the terrace.”

Realizing her blunder too late, Ariel flushed deeply and squatted down.

She should have acted casually, as if forgetting an important detail instead.

Why did she show any weakness to him?

“Th-That’s right! I went! What’s the big deal about that!?”

“There’s nothing wrong at all. I’m just curious why you went.”

Internally, Ariel wanted to slap the smug grin off his face for being so cheeky but…

At this point, with such a direct question, he likely had already guessed most of what happened.

Yet, his mean spirit showed that he wanted her to admit it directly.

But even if she tried to dodge it now, while it seemed she could get past the immediate hurdle, he’d definitely attack again at any moment.

In the end, it meant she would inevitably have to spill the truth someday.

“Ugh, do I really have to say it? You already know…”

“I don’t know. It would be better if you came down here and told me directly.”

“So annoying!”

With the final negotiation having collapsed, Ariel reluctantly got up and grasped the railing with both hands.

Then, with a swift motion…

*Thud!*

She elegantly leaped over the railing.

“Ariel!”

Edgar, realizing just a beat too late, rushed forward and managed to catch her as she fell.

Despite the sudden situation, he caught her perfectly without losing his stance, so Ariel playfully congratulated him.

“You’re fast, as expected. I was thinking of using magic if you couldn’t catch me.”

“That was a close call!”

“Hmph, that was revenge for teasing you!”

“Even so, don’t surprise me like that. It’s too dangerous.”

Though he understood her desire for revenge, he couldn’t allow her to get hurt, even if it meant facing the danger himself.

As Edgar spoke sternly to her, Ariel, slightly embarrassed, averted her gaze and nodded quietly.

Even she felt that thought was rather childish.

Feeling guilty that he must have been nervous during her fall, she decided to be honest this time about her actions that day.

“Hey, you know… about that day you mentioned…”

“Yeah.”

“…Actually, when you were training in the garden, I hid by the terrace railing and watched you secretly.”

How shameful it was that something so trivial was making her blush.

Having confessed in this way, Ariel covered her face with her dark hair.

Edgar, listening closely to her confession, wore a broad smile.

Realizing only now what her past actions had meant, he felt a twinge of regret, leaning over to lightly kiss the lock of hair covering her cheek.

Startled, Ariel brushed aside the veil of hair covering her face and looked up at him wide-eyed.

Eventually realizing what that soft touch had been, she cleared her throat and lightly poked her cheek with her finger.

This time, he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, carefully setting her back down on the ground.

She had been pretty from afar, but up close, she appeared even more beautiful.

Feeling a sense of superiority that such a woman was his girlfriend was an undeniable thrill.

Anyway, it was a truly delightful morning.

* * * * * * *

After finishing breakfast, Edgar found himself pondering what he could do with Ariel.

He thought about taking a quick trip to town, but guessed he wouldn’t have the energy today with the lingering fatigue from yesterday.

In the meantime, Ariel came bursting into his room, her eyes sparkling.

“Ed! Get up quickly!” she called, resembling a child reclaiming her childhood innocence.

“Why? Did you find something fun?”

“Yeah! You’ll probably be excited to hear it too!”

“Oh, really?”

It was surprising that something exciting could exist in this countryside, but regardless, with nothing to lose, Edgar decided to follow.

By the time they reached the first floor and stepped outside the mansion, Shuri bowed her head lightly and greeted Edgar.

They hadn’t had the chance to exchange pleasantries since this morning.

“Are you going with us, Shuri?”

“Yeah, I asked Shuri for some help.”

“…Help?”

Edgar, puzzled by the word “help,” since they were supposed to be playing together, expressed his confusion.

“You’ll see when we get there. Let’s just head out for now.”

“Sure.”

Following Ariel had always been enjoyable since childhood, so Edgar nodded without suspicion and took his steps along with her.

“Is this your first time visiting our family?”

“I came once when the young master visited Hespania. Although I hadn’t stayed like today.”

“Oh, right.”

Now recalling it, Edgar nodded slightly.

“Does Ariel treat you well? Or is she still too busy playing?”

“What are you talking about!”

Ariel suddenly blushed at Shuri’s teasing, who had been quietly leading the way, causing Shuri to burst out laughing.

“Shuri! You know what’ll happen if you say things like that, right?”

Despite her master’s warning, Shuri playfully feigned innocence.

They would have squealed and sunk in embarrassment before, but it seemed time had toughened them.

“Hmm, indeed… I’d prefer to suggest advice that would be helpful to the lady, but…”

“You!”

Ariel shivered at the betrayal of the one buying time to reveal her past misdeeds.

However, Shuri couldn’t resist exposing her master’s past sins before the opportune moment passed.

“It seems like it still happens occasionally.”

“Oh?”

When Edgar let out a small gasp, gaze demanding an explanation, Ariel averted her eyes and dashed toward the quince tree.

Attempting to escape into reality, as they say.

“Ed! Don’t you remember this?”

As she planted her hand on the quince tree, leaning back with what seemed like arrogance, she questioned him.

The moment her voice trembled a little was likely because she feared Edgar might bring up Shuri’s previous accusation.

“What about this?”

“Ah…?”

Edgar tilted his head, trying to recall something on the quince tree, before ultimately letting out a low sigh of realization.

About eight years ago when they were ten, something buried here surfaced in his memory.

“A time capsule.”

Though he didn’t think it was referred to by that name here, its essential meaning remained the same.

It was something they had promised to dig up together once they became adults.

But this impatient young lady couldn’t wait even a year and insisted on unearthing it early.

“Seriously, you couldn’t wait just one year?”

“Waiting a year isn’t a big deal. Besides, I’m too curious.”

“True, I feel the same way.”

Honestly, he couldn’t remember what they had written down back then.

And Ariel was no different.

What on earth had they put in it eight years ago?

If they had passed by it without realizing it was buried there, they might have ignored it, but now that it was acknowledged to lie in this spot, it became impossible to withstand the curiosity.

“Then why not open it? A year shouldn’t be too much for eight years ago, right?”

“Right?”

Having successfully convinced Edgar, Ariel beamed, signaling Shuri.

To which Shuri pulled out three small garden spades from her bag.

At that point, Edgar finally understood the nature of the bag Shuri had been carrying and let out a wry smile.

A glimpse into the memories of eight years ago that would soon be unveiled.

What stories would they have preserved back then?

The bubbling curiosity in his chest made him feel a ticklish excitement.