I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess

Ariel's eyes were filled with a look of bewilderment that she had never ever had before in her life.

Thinking that she was probably hallucinating, she extended her hands to pinch his cheek, and Edgar bluntly slapped her hand away.

“Uh, how did you get up there? At this time, there must be a barrier… … .”

The Robeheim family has a security structure that is more impregnable than any other family's.

That is….

The invisible sensory barrier surrounding this huge castle.

The vast barrier automatically activates when the sun sets and by that time, all the people in the castle must have also returned to their respective quarters one by one.

Original site: Galaxy TL

The security outside the wall of the castle is tight but the inside is very lax, giving the impression that one could break in easily from the outside.

But as soon as the invisible sensory barrier is touched, the man will eventually meet a terrible end.

So, how the hell did this boy break through that barrier and make it alive all the way here?

There is only one way to break through that barrier. To open the barrier itself in any way and enter the castle.

But Ariel knew better than anyone else that this man didn't have that kind of magic ability.

A deep smile formed on Edgar's lips as he faced Ariel's rolling pupils.

At the same time, a strange phenomenon came to Ariel's senses.

“… you, please.”

Even though he was clearly in front of her eyes, she couldn't feel his presence, for a moment, as if he was not there.

It wasn't the conceal technique that assassins use, such as making their presence low, but the person is literally in front of one's eyes, but one couldn't feel the vitality of a living person.

Just like a floating ghost without the presence of a living and breathing human being.

Only then was Ariel able to deduce how her childhood friend broke through the impenetrable barrier.

It's such an absurd thing. However, considering the bloodline of his family, it seemed to be not an impossible thing.

Ariel shakily pointed her finger at him, but Edgar, who was at ease with himself, shrugged his shoulders and lifted his eyebrows at the same time, comfortably took an empty chair for himself and sat down.

“As expected, geniuses are different. You notice it right away.”

“The mana(life force) that flowed through your body… Did you stop it?”

"That's right. There was something like that written in the book you showed me before.”

It's a story about when Edgar was in the middle of magic training.

Ariel, who frequently visited Ardenum, once brought a pile of books, all of which were related to magic.

Among them, there was a book containing information about all kinds of barriers and various spells, and the structure of how they work was also described in detail.

So, when he got a chance, he tried to make a small barrier technique and made it, and it ended quite successfully.

Of course, he studied all kinds of tricks while studying to make one of the barrier techniques, but it was funny that he couldn't even keep it up for a time worth a cup of tea to cool down at most.

“You did something really outrageous.”

“I’m coming to see a friend who is socially high-ranked, so I, of course, have to do this much.”

He has already overheard about the Robeheim family castle surrounded by a barrier from Helena more than a year ago.

Ofcourse, his notion for learning about barriers and spells isn't to use it in this situation, but he is glad that the results were positive in any case.

"Well, it's only possible because it's you. If it is someone else's, it is impossible.”

The sensory barrier is set to alarm if a body of an object with Mana

(life-force) flowing through its body interlocked with the wavelength of the barrier when the body of the object invades.

Then, what would happen if you passed the barrier with the magical power flowing through your body, completely stopped?

When the mana of his whole body has stopped, it means that he has made himself into a body like a weed rolling on the side of the road.

Mana is present, but it doesn't flow, so the metaphor of a weed rolling on the road side will be more appropriate than anything else.

Then? Of course it's imperceptible. However, it is safe to say that there is no one who can make a settlement like Edgar.

"How many people don't have mana?"

Mana is similar to blood. To have its value is only when it exists in the body and keeps circulating.

There is no human being who can consciously stop the blood flowing through the body in the first place.

But Edgar was the exception.

Although he was born with mana in his body, he was born with a constitution that did not flow mana and could not use magic.

He succeeded in overcoming his natural body constitution with the sword Helena gave him, achieving the current state of the circulation of mana.

In addition, he succeeded in consciously returning his body to its original state thus stopping the flow of mana.

Perhaps it would be quite unfair if the caster of this barrier saw the same case as Edgar.

The barrier was a perfect settlement for the caster, but a guy, who breaks the mold of common sense appeared and easily broke through that settlement.

"To be honest, I too felt that I was gambling. But I'm honestly glad that it worked out."

Edgar giggled foolishly and handed her the doll in his arms.

A light brown fluffy teddy bear and the size was also quite large.

She felt the teddy bear and the texture was quite smooth. Imagine how comfortable it would be to hug it to sleep.

Wait, how did he get the doll?

Besides, how was he able to bring it at such an appropriate moment, as if he had heard the thoughts she just came up with.

"Oh, and I also bought some snacks outside. It's a little cold, but it's definitely delicious."

"…How did you come up with all this?"

Even though he has passed the barrier, it made no sense for him to climb up this high.

At first, she thought that he had used a rope to climb up but she couldn't see any rope tied to anywhere.

"There was a place to step in the middle. I ran moderately and came up."

"You really have such big guts."

Just because there is a barrier set in the first place does not mean that there are no patrol guards at all.

Of course, the number is small, but if he made a mistake anywhere, it is considered that he is already caught.

If he had been caught, he would have had his throat cut on the spot.

Why did he even take this risk to come here?

"That's what you say, but your smile really makes people think otherwise, Your Highness?"

"Hmph, it's just ridiculous. What the hell are you saying?….”

Edgar teased her by even using honorifics, but Ariel was not easily beaten and turned her head with a snort.

‘But what he said is true.'

Looking at the reflection of herself on the mirror opposite her, who was grinning from ear to ear, she felt like exploding from shame.

How can she actually not be happy?

She was truly grateful that her childhood friend came to see her, even at the risk of passing over the barrier and climbing so high up the building, she even wished to hug him right to express her gratitude.

However, as a maverick princess, who is not honest with her heart, Ariel's mouth busily shoots off a load of nonsense like any other day.

“I-I don’t even like stuffed animals very much… But since you already brought it, I'll accept it."

“Thank you so much for accepting my gift, I’m about to burst into tears.”

She said it like that, but Edgar knew that Ariel was interested in the doll.

That's also true, because the other day, when he was touring Ardenum with her, he saw her hanging out in front of a shop.

At first, he thought she wanted something, but later he found out that it was a place where stuffed toys were sold.

He bought it along with snacks while he was out, thinking about it at that time, but it seems to have been a good choice.

The muscles around her mouth twitched, representing her disingenuous feelings.

He wanted to expose her lie and bathed in delight at the expression she is going to make, but at the last minute, he decided to hold his mischievous deeds for today.

The pile of books on the desk right next to him is the evidence of how hard this childhood friend of his had been through until a while ago.

‘Why is the room so empty?’

It was truly abysmal for a fourteen-year-old girl's room.

He guesses it doesn't smell like people living there.

He initially expected something a bit more shiny and dainty.

He wondered if it is Ariel's taste, but it probably can't be.

“Why are you looking around a lady's room like that? CREEPY.”

"The lady has a high taste, anyone who doesn't know her would think that she has already had her Debut."

Debutante Ball.

It usually refers to a ball or event held for children of aristocratic families who are entering the social world for the first time.

Those who entered the social world through this are called debutants.

Depending on the family, the time to become a debutant differs considerably, but in general, the older the family, the earlier the girl's entry into the world of society.

Representatively, the Robeheim family belongs to that category.

"Chi, it's not too far away, is it?"

“When?”

“Probably next year. I will debut next year at the latest.”

It's definitely pretty fast.

Considering that the usual age of debutant is nineteen when one reaches adulthood, it means that she would have already entered the social world three years before reaching adulthood at the latest.

Although there are some people who have already debuted in the social world at the same age as the two of them, it is really a very small number of cases.

“Do you have anyone to go with?”

“Of course you should go with me. Mmm, of course if it is not too much for you.”

“Okay. Is it possible?”

Usually young girls entering the debutante ball get help from the men around them.

A close friend of the opposite sex, a lover, or even a fiance determined by the family. The number of such cases are large.

[T: the partner could be their father or brother too, as long as the other party is someone close who is the opposite sex. Debutante ball is, just like a dancing ball too.]

However, if there is anything in common, it is that at least the family and personal reputations of men and women should be at a similar level.

In that sense, Edgar was still lacking in many ways to take the position.

“What, don’t you like it? They said they would let the young lady of the Robeheim family choose her partner to attend her first socialite initiation ceremony, but would you refuse?”

“Not that I don’t like it, it’s a problem because it’s too much, you idiot.”

Edgar lightly gave a tick to her forehead, then brushed off his seat and stood up.

Even if the girl only wanted him to be her partner, it would be difficult for her family to allow it.

It would be difficult for her to even give out a business card to the heir of a nameless aristocratic family, unless he was at least a prominent Count.

If Helena used her breath, it is possible, but that wasn't what Edgar wanted.

Somehow, until the time comes, his main goal would be to become a good friend enough to be by the side of this immature princess.

“Mmm, your hair is messy.”

"I'll be sleeping soon anyway, so what's the point?"

Edgar, who was standing beside her seat, looked down at her softly and then stroked her head without saying a word, and Ariel threw her body behind her, groaning at the comfortable sensation.

She wondered what's the use of combing when she is about to go to bed.

Edgar gave a low chuckle, removed his hand and walked slowly out onto the balcony.

“You get lonely a lot, so I’ll come often.”

“Tch, there’s no problem if I don’t see you for a few days, okay?”

[T: Guys, please mark her words. There is a scene for payback to her sentence.]

‘Well, I won’t stop coming though', Edgar said afterward, barely holding back his laughter.

To what extent can she maintain her dishonesty?

It was tricky, but it also had a cute taste to it.

"Hang in there. I'll be coming through that door in a little while.”

“… … .”

Not to come up to her balcony to meet her like a shoplifter, but as her friend-to-friend with confidence.

Edgar thus revealed his aspirations and put one foot on the railing of the balcony.

Jumping to the first floor just like this is crazy, so as he was examining the steps he had climbed up one by one, someone suddenly grabbed his right hand.

Surprised, he turned his head to check the back of his hand, where Ariel was holding him with her head bowed down.

She chewed on her lips for a while, before gathering more strength to speak, with her cheeks coloured red under the pale moonlight, she belatedly parted her lips.

“… You know I hate waiting, so don't be late.”

The words that sprang from the mixture of her dishonest mind and the desire to speak frankly carved a smile on Edgar's lips.

He didn't carelessly stroke her hair, as before, but gently, as if he were stroking a precious glasswork.

“Okay, I’ll come visit you on time.”

After saying that, he quickly disappeared from the balcony.

Suddenly, the lighting dimmed, as if the moonlight, which was bright just a moment ago, had hidden behind the clouds.

Ariel thought the scene from a moment ago was a dream, but realizing it wasn't because of the warmth left on her head, she smiled lightly.

‘Anyway, pretend to be cool.’

Will she admit her real feelings?

A little bit, not a lot, really, a little bit is enough.

[T: Sorry, to have you guys waiting and for not updating as per the schedule. And I have created a group where you guys can pester me to update or discuss about the novel. Here is the link – https://discord.gg/arPpjtnZ