I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess

Translator : Idris

Ariel, who had calmed down a bit, was sitting on the bed with her head bowed.

Feeling angry at the way she was hanging her head low like she was guilty, Edgar thought about saying something, but couldn’t bring himself to speak.

What’s wrong with her?

It’s the father who can’t even say a warm word to the child who has been running tirelessly with a sense of duty weighing down on her shoulders, and the helpless childhood friend who can’t even find a way to comfort her.

Edgar brought a glass of warm water and held it out to her.

He was wondering what to do if Ariel swung his hand away, but fortunately, such an unfortunate incident did not happen, perhaps because she already managed to control her emotions.

gulp. gulp.

Ariel cautiously grabbed the glass and took two small sips.

Across from her, Edgar silently dragged the chair that had been around the desk and sat down.

“Have you calmed down?”

“… why are you still here? You said you will leave me alone.”

Without even answering Edgar’s question, Ariel demanded that the promise from earlier be fulfilled in a subdued voice.

Others might have been taken aback here because of her words, but this was the reaction Edgar had already expected.

So he shrugged and gave a mischievous smile full of ‘ You really believed it!? ‘

“You don’t know me that much. It’s just a lie I spoke casually.”

“…whatever! I don’t even have the strength to argue with you anymore.”

After looking at the boy admitting that it was a lie so proudly, Ariel handed him the empty glass with a helpless laugh.

She didn't believe his words in the first place.

Because he was definitely not a great man to leave her alone in this state.

He didn’t even bring up the story because he sincerely wanted him out of sight.

In other words, it was close to foolishness.

A child who doesn’t want to show a weak or unsightly appearance in front of her friends.

But now that she thinks about it, what does that mean?

We can call each other friends because we know each other’s weaknesses and strengths.

It was just that she was so ashamed of the actions she had taken earlier to express her anger at him because of her own shame.

‘Immature princess. That makes sense.’

Edgar repeated the words he used to say, and Ariel lifted one corner of her mouth weakly and nodded as if she understood.

This wasn’t something she could hide from him forever.

Even if she somehow tried to delay the meeting of Edgar and her father, it was a matter that would come to light someday, for whatever reason.

It’s just that it’s a little bit ahead of time.

Ariel looked up and met Edgar’s golden eyes.

As if to say that she is ready to talk her heart out.

“… … ?”

But for some reason, Edgar’s expression was very dull.

When she looked at him like this, he would surely have to react in some way.

For example, by bringing up what happened in earnest or by asking a brief question about what happened just a moment ago.

“… what?”

“what?”

When Ariel threw out a short word that contained the meaning of what he meant, Edgar showed a calm appearance by digging into his ear with his pinky finger.

On the contrary, it was Ariel who felt frustrated.

“Why don’t you ask? You’re not trying to say that you’ll move on if I don’t want to talk about this, are you?”

“That’s right.”

Ariel felt as if all the strength in her body was being released at the answer that was so depressing.

At this point, Ariel doubts that he is not being a gentleman, but is simply stupid.

Human curiosity is boundless, and the clearer the reasoning, the stronger the desire to confirm the unknown story.

The countless questions Edgar had thrown her so far.

The opportunity to get the answer is now in front of him.

Yet, how could this man so easily turn a blind eye at an opportunity where he could hear the truth from the mouth of the person concerned?

As if to put an end to her doubts, Edgar’s lips, which had been tightly closed, parted.

“If it felt like it was your personal business, I would have asked about it at this point. But this is a tangled matter for your family.”

Family matters are not so light that others can discuss them carelessly.

Even though Edgar may say that he still feels anger at what happened just right in front of his eyes, it is still a foolish act to act out of curiosity without much thought.

Besides, when he only heard bits and pieces of Ariel’s story, he couldn’t control himself.

It was because it seemed like what would happen to her mind the moment she shed the tears that had stopped before she knew it, and conveyed her sadness.

At times like this, it was more important to keep one's head cool.

In order to truly understand and care for her, sympathy alone will not solve the problem.

“And I know because I’ve been through something similar before. How you feel right now.”

“you… when?”

“… … .”

It was the first time she had heard the news of Edgar’s family discord.

As Ariel’s round eyes stared at him, Edgar raised his hands to his shoulders, shrugged, and said nothing.

Because it was a story he couldn’t tell.

Even if he tells her, she won’t believe it.

It was just a memory of the distant past that had faded even in his mind.

“Anyway, aside from that, the most important thing is your true intentions. Do you really want to open up about this, or do you feel desperate that you have already been caught and there is nothing you can do about it?”

Ariel flinched at the sensation of a tingling sensation in the corner of her chest.

He really knew the depths of her heart.

To be honest, she felt that she couldn’t help it since she was already caught, and it was because of this the biggest reason she decided to tell him about it.

But not now.

It was a decision that was made after a little bit of lengthy contemplation.

There must be several reasons. But the biggest cause of this was..

“Yeah, I want to tell you. Of course, there must be a reason why you found out… More than that, I don’t want to hide anything from you.”

“… hahahaha, is that embarrassing?”

Edgar scratched his cheek with an embarrassing expression at the sincere answer that made everyone in the audience feel ashamed.

Does it mean that it is easier for people to reveal their true intentions when they are sick and weak?

If you think about it, when she honestly revealed her heart like this, it was usually when she was mentally driven or in a difficult situation.

If possible, it is his wish as a friend to be a little more honest in everyday life, but how can people change so easily?

Now, it didn’t matter much, as it was fun to find her own honesty in the blunt and ticklish appearances.

“Where do you want to start from?”

“Everything you know, if possible.”

“This is going to be a long story, okay?”

“What remains is time. Don’t worry, I’ll be here until dawn.”

Edgar reassured Ariel by wiping away the traces of Ariel’s tears with his thumb.

If it was normal, she would have swatted away his hand shyly, asking what he was doing.

However, Ariel said, ‘Um…' Like a tickle, she only showed small resistance, accepting his touch like a cat and opening her mouth.

“Actually, it is not something special. It just happened because I didn’t live up to my father’s expectations.”

“… yes.”

Before opening the introduction in earnest, Edgar put on a confused expression at Ariel’s words.

‘Meet the expectations’ . Perhaps that is the chain that entangles Ariel now.

But the details can only be known by hearing the story.

So, without saying anything, he waited in silence for her to continue her story.

“Ever since I was little, my father was a bit strict. Besides, there are times when he goes to the battlefield and can’t come back for several months, so at some point, he naturally drifted away.”

When the body is far away, the mind is also far away.

It was no different than being a family.

No, it might have been more so because it was a family.

On the contrary, if they were lovers, they would have tried their best to be better for each other as much as they were neglectful.

However, within the fence of family, ‘because we are family’, it is considered that we are united with a stronger bond, and at some point it is easy to be careless.

Leaving behind Edgar, who nodded in agreement, Ariel’s words continued.

“My father was always like that when he returned to his hometown. Since I am the only one who will carry on my family’s lineage, I should be more diligent. He emphasized that from a young age.”

“Was it difficult?”

“Of course it was hard. My mom told me not to put too much pressure on me, but it’s actually not wrong, is it?”

Ariel was the only next heir, as she had not a brother to share her burden.

Yulken was always busy blaming his daughter for it.

When she did 1, he wanted 2, and when she did 2, he wanted 5.

Ariel’s education policy was so strict that she could count on one hand the memories of hearing her father praise her, and it was cold enough to make her feel like a stranger.

Helena, who knew this better than anyone else, took care of her daughter as much as she could and did her best with all her heart and soul, but that alone was not enough.

Parental love. It’s already been split in half, and no matter how hard one side tries, there’s no way another side can fill it all up.

“Actually, that was the reason I said I would go to the battlefield after three years. I haven’t told my father yet… I wondered if my father would praise me if I showed this kind of determination.”

“Right.”

Edgar could finally realize the deja vu he felt back then.

At the time, Ariel expressed her aspirations with a face as if she had given up on something rather than a determined expression.

It was also something that Edgar would never have done if he had never seen Ariel Robeheim.

Because she has always been a bold and noble girl.

A girl who has a will on her own path and walks fearlessly with her own determination.

‘I felt it was simply because of my mood.’

Edgar didn’t know everything about her.

That’s why sometimes he felt that there were times when he couldn’t detect her moods and passed them off. That day was just such a case. (the night at the ball)

“But I only felt it after seeing him today. Maybe my father just hates me. There might be nothing more he wants from a daughter who doesn’t even live up to expectations.”

“… … .”

To think that the father who gave birth to her hates her.

Even if it’s a family, it would be a pain to put it in your mouth.

pop. pop.

Soon, tears like chicken droppings flowed from Ariel’s eyes and wet the back of her hand resting on her thigh.

Edgar just watched her without giving her a handkerchief or comforting her.

Whatever he did now, what would it mean to her?

Edgar clenched his fists firmly.

It was the first time in my life that I had felt such intense helplessness.

It was the first time he realized how painful it is to know what a friend’s sadness is, but not be able to solve it or comfort it.

“Ariel, what do you want to do?”

“Huh… What?”

“Sir Yulken… So, do you want to repair your relationship with your father?”

For him now, the most important thing was Ariel’s true intention.

Does she really want to continue her life without having an understanding with her father?

Or, even if it’s a father who always left her with only pain, do they still want to share the sincerity they couldn’t convey to each other?

He knew it would be too much to put off making a decision for a girl who is shuddering with pain, but that’s also the reason why he had to ask.

Because the choice at this crossroads can be seen as sharing the life that Ariel herself will walk.

Family in someone’s life, bond is like that.

“Yes… I want to know if I really hate my father. And I want to tell you that I do not hate my father. I want to believe that the day will come when we will understand each other.”

“… Alright.”

Edgar got up and wiped the tears from Ariel’s cheeks, then ran his hand gently through her hair.

“Ariel, do you remember? What I said on the ball night.”

“yes… … ?”

Her memory was a bit hazy because her heart was beating so fast that day.

However, even so, the words he tried to convey in the end remained imprinted in her memory and remained clear without forgetting.

Please remember that there are friends by your side who are willing to lay down their lives for a single word of help.

He must have said that.

When the thought reached that point, tears flowed down from Ariel’s eyes one by one fell like a waterfall.

She knew she shouldn’t have told him.

Also the fact that it is a path that you have to be brave and pioneer.

Even so, because of the one step she hasn't taken yet, she reaches out her hand and says the words she would never have otherwise said.

“Huh, help me, Ed… … .”

At his friend’s earnest request, Edgar stood up without a word, took off his overcoat, and placed it on her leg.

He wondered if she would tremble with loneliness when the person who stood by her disappeared.

He was given the cause and the courage to step forward(to help her).

With those words, he would be able to draw his sword with confidence even if the highest of the empire was right in front of him.

After leaving the room saying to get a good night’s sleep, Edgar’s vision came into view of Shuri waiting by the door.

“Shuri, take care of Ariel.”

“Uh, where are you going?”

“Madam Helena. Of course, in the end… … .”

This matter should be consulted with the party involved.

Even if he couldn’t deliver the words right away, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, it didn’t matter.

The important thing is not speed, but looking at the context and making sure to tie a knot.

However, the first person to meet before that is Helena.

A story that maybe even Ariel doesn’t know. Except for Yulken, the person involved, Helena was surely the only one who could have known about it.

As long as you can’t reach it, even the meaning of the bold step cannot be said to have made the couple understand each other in the true sense.

Facing the back of Edgar as he moved his steps, Shuri sent him off with the most sincere courtesy she could.

Hope everything works out.

All she could do was make a wish like this for her master.