I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess

Translator : Idris

The diary Helena held out contained most of the trivial things that had happened in the Robeheim family.

For example, the day Ariel took her first steps.

The day when Helena’s friend stopped by the Robeheim family.

The day Yulken returned to his home after the extermination of foreign invaders.

It was such a large volume that it took quite a while even though Edgar was reading quite quickly.

It was to the point where he couldn’t see the end even after he read the diary after finishing the meal Sheffy had brought him along the way.

For a long time, Helena waited quietly, answering his questions or taking actions such as reciprocating.

Whenever embarrassing or personal stories came up in the middle, she complained to him to hand the book over, but that was about it.

“Since childhood, Ariel has been a hard worker.”

It was Edgar’s short comment while reading the last note.

Perhaps because Helena had a lot of affection for her daughter, there were many stories in her diary about what Ariel did for the first time, and reading them reminded him of her past.

On the other hand, for Helena, Edgar’s words were nothing short of amazing.

“You are the only one who calls that child a hard worker. Everyone only speaks one word in unison.”

“A genius?”

“Whoops, yes.”

When Edgar answered correctly, raising one corner of his mouth as if he had predicted, Helena, who expressed an affirmation, also followed suit and smiled.

As a mother, she knew how hard the girl named Ariel worked behind the scenes.

However, she felt strange when a boy who, although a childhood friend whom her daughter often hung out with, but did not always live under the same roof, noticed it.

‘This child doesn’t only look at the outside of Ariel.’

Others were blinded by Ariel's talent, and did not want to take the effort to acknowledge her daughter's hard work.

So they weren't able to clearly see the effort the girl had put in.

That’s why the people around her always threw out this nonsensical praise(genius) whenever the story of Ariel came up in a face-to-face conversation with Helena.

‘You’ve such a genius as your daughter, your position as a wife is truly unshakable.'

Each time, Helena felt a sense of displeasure.

Why would no one recognize the child’s efforts?

She felt disappointed to those who tried to express everything about the child with just one word, genius.

However, this boy wasn't one.

“I think the word genius is very harsh.

No matter how much one works hard without a difference in day and night to achieve a high level, all their efforts are reduced to just one mere word ‘genius'."

“hah… … .”

A small sigh escaped from Helena’s mouth at those words that she even wondered if the boy had actually recited what she was thinking in her heart.

“That’s why I don’t like the word genius very much. How many books did she read and how much magic did she practice? I don’t think anyone will notice that.”

Edgar spoke as he calmly read his diary, not even making eye contact with Helena.

Helene, who was watching him blankly, drew a fresh, dark arc on her lips.

That smile she used when playing with Ariel from time to time.

However, Edgar, not noticing this, just read the diary quietly with his eyes down.

"The more I look at it, the more I think that you are the only one suitable to sit next to my daughter.”

[T: Congrats🎉Edgar won consent from Mommy.]

“Poohf!!!”

Edgar, who was tilting the teacup with one hand and with the diary open in another hand, was miserably thrown into a flurry at the unexpected remark.

Fortunately, there was no mishap and the spewed tea didn't fall on the diary, but he had to struggle in more pain as he tried to swallow down the remaining tea water in his mouth.

“Are you okay? Ed.”

“Okay, it’s okay. I didn’t know you would make a joke like that… … .”

“Huh, I’m sorry. If I had known it would surprise you, I would have refrained from pranks.”

Though Helena was more curious about how the boy would react if she said the earlier remark wasn’t a joke, since this wasn’t the main issue, Helena decided to take a step back for now.

She can’t even picture this boy tearing up with Ariel anyway, so she just needs to relax and think about it.

‘It seems he hasn't realized his feelings yet.’

She would have never thought that a child who usually has the air of a mature man would have this kind of side as well.

Maybe he thinks too much because he is too mature!?

Anyway, when she got excited at the thought of having saved such a good seedling for her daughter, a hum came out of its own accord.

At that moment, Edgar finished the last page of the diary and nodded slightly.

A look that seemed to have realized something.

At that, Helena stretched out her hand as if asking for the diary, and looked at him with a soft gaze, remaining silent.

What is he thinking? A primal curiosity arose in her heart.

“It’s hard to put into words how I felt after reading it.”

“In what sense?”

“In what sense? If I had to say, it would be close to anger, but… The sadness is even greater. It feels like a mixture of all kinds of emotions.”

He knew long ago that poking his nose into other people’s family affairs is not an easy task.

And to some extent, it was also expected.

However, even so, the heavy stone in his heart did not lighten the least bit.

“Your highness, you must have suffered a lot too.”

“… Still, it wouldn’t have been as hard as the other two. Rather, it was as if you were just watching this happen.”

Edgar shook his head in pity as he saw Helena's dispirited figure.

The contents of this diary show that it was not just a misunderstanding between father and daughter.

No, the problem is even more difficult because it wasn’t exactly a misunderstanding.

Because the situation right now was just a script that was already concocted long ago, from the start to the end.

It’s a script for a play that isn’t even funny, in which the daughter is neglected in the name of being for the sake of the family and her mother.

“Even if Ariel resents her father, the one whom she admires once, he(Yulken) volunteered to become a villain for Ariel to become stronger… That’s what Your Highness(Helena) meant.”

“Yeah, maybe it was when Ariel was about four years old.”

Although Helena became the mistress of the Robeheim family, it did not mean that noises of dissatisfaction about her did not cease.

Some were busy expressing their anxiety about the only heir, a girl who was not a strong man at all.

Of course, Helena was the center of the problem.

A woman with a body constitution that can only give birth to one child.

It is said that they got married with the knowledge of this fact, but when the actual problem occurred in reality in front of their very eyes, from Yulken's position, he must have been burdened by this incident very much.

However, Yulken loved Helena too much to give her up for the sake of his family.

So his conclusion was simple.

‘Let’s raise our own daughter as an heir who won’t be looked down upon by anyone.'

That way, no one would be able to blame his wife any longer, and the family would also prosper, so it would be the best thing to do.

“To put it this way, of the two of you, his love for you was greater.”

“I guess so. As a wife, I am grateful, but at the same time, it was also a pity. My husband loves me, so he has to treat the daughter I love so harshly.”

Paradoxical!

Besides, from Edgar’s point of view, it seemed that Yulken wasn’t the only one thinking that this idea makes sense.

Are they being harsh just to raise their daughter as a competent heir?

If Yulken had been foolish enough to think so one-dimensionally, he wouldn’t have even become a man Helena would fall in love with.

One could guess what happened after that. At least that was Edgar’s reasoning.

“ Isn't it because of Your Highness position?”

“Position?”

Helene’s eyes widened at the sudden word.

“Considering what is written in this diary and what your highness said… After all, at that time, the vassals must have been anxious to discredit Your highness(Helena)”

“That's right.”

“But if Your Highness(Yulken) treats her daughter strangely harshly, and Madame Helena takes care of her, where will Ariel’s heart turn?”

That, of course, is the answer.

Helena had already heard from her daughter several times that mother was better than father.

When it reached that point, a small sigh escaped his mouth.

Position. So it's all for position?

“I don’t know what to expect between vassals or power struggles within the family, but… At least from the point of view of the heirs and vassals, the head of the family will notice it.”

“… … .”

“That’s why I think His Highness, by inclining the heart of the heir named Ariel to her mother, on the contrary, raised the presence of the wife.”

It seems difficult to change people’s perceptions, but it is often not so.

What if Ariel becomes the perfect successor according to Yulken’s will, and at the same time is recognized as ‘a child with a warm mother’s care despite having a harsh father’?

It soon becomes an opportunity to spread the presence of a woman named Helena within this family.

At the same time, when Ariel truly rises to the position of head of household, the place where Ariel’s interest and affection will go is also towards Helena.

Then, naturally, her position will rise even higher.

Not as a successor, but as a person who receives the greatest attention from the head of the family.

“That doesn’t mean that Your Highness(Yulken) made the right choice. No, it just makes me angry.”

“I will apologize on behalf of Ariel if it was harsh, but the insult to him is… … .”

“No, Madam Helena. That’s not it.”

Edgar shook his head resolutely at Helena, who was trying to stop him because he couldn’t properly focus.

The underlying problem is not that.

The reason why Yulken made this choice, is it just a cause?

Edgar took note of that.

For the family, for the beloved wife, and for the daughter who will one day become the heir.

In a sense, he lowered the evaluation of himself, and even gave up his bond with his daughter.

Can you say that he's at fault!?

No, never.

Edgar could be sure that even though Yulken wasn’t the pinnacle of this problem, it couldn't be said that he doesn't play a role in this too.

“I am just angry at his complacency. Even more so, at that irresponsible thought that Ariel could be happy.”

To be sure, this is what Yulken thought.

Even if she grew up without receiving a lot of love from her father, as long as she had more love from her mother, the daughter would be able to grow up happily enough.

He said he would have to play the villain himself.

However, among those who live with the mindset of being shunned by their father, how many can truly say that they are happy?

Can a child who has received the love she should receive from both parents, only from her mother, be truly happy?

This is, to put it mildly, a sacrificial spirit, just complacency.

Yulken judged his daughter’s happiness at will and assumed that she would be able to endure it.

It was that part that made Edgar angry.

“Besides, he probably knew. The fact that when he expresses these opinions to Madam Helena, you will never be able to refuse.”

“… … .”

Helena couldn’t deny Edgar’s words.

If Yulken was the husband she had seen so far, he was a great man enough to think about it.

The reason Helena couldn’t reject his opinion was simple.

Because at the time he made his request, the hostage was none other than Yulken, himself.

‘If the child doesn’t make it into the heir of the successor, your position as her mother will be shaken.’ she heard the rationale in his tone.

He knew that she loved Yulken as much as he loved Helena.

‘For the sake of my beloved, please respect my choice.’ What kind of defense could Helena have against such a nuance remark?

Helena of those days, was so busy helping herself that she couldn’t do anything, that it looked like she was going to collapse at any moment.

‘By the time the misunderstanding became the truth, I wouldn’t have been able to choose.’

Edgar looked at Helena pitifully but said nothing.

He has thought about it several times.

Wouldn’t it be better for the two of them to inform their daughter about this fact and to truly understand their child's heart?

Actually, that would have been close to the answer. There must have been a better solution somehow.

But reality is cruel.

You have to be prepared to lose something in order to gain something.

Helena had no such determination.

She must have hesitated even if she tried to reach out to Ariel, thinking that the person he loved might destroy the sand castle he had built while giving up his bond with his daughter.

‘It’s difficult.’

At one point, Edgar could not offer any comfort as he sat down on his seat and watched her bitterly as she began to cry.

The most unfortunate thing about this story was that you couldn’t conclude that someone was at fault.

Even though Edgar’s anger is directed at Yulken, if you ask whose fault it is, it can’t be discussed in black and white.

The law of the world is complicated and there is no clear definition when dividing black and white.

Even though this world is an aggregation of countless colors, the definition is not divided into colors.

Some people call black white, others call white black.

In someone’s eyes, they may be equal beings that cannot be distinguished even from black and white.

The story of this family was just that.

“Huh… ! Whoa!”

Helena vomited out her sadness as if her castle would float away at any moment, and poured out words mixed with a sense of shame.

It is clear to see that it was her fault.

The fact that her beloved husband made such an extreme choice, and the reason why her daughter has to be sad because she is not loved by her father.

Because she couldn’t say anything at the time.

Because she was born with this curse.

Because she wasn’t strong enough to protect her beloved ones.

In the meantime, someone called this stupid woman who couldn’t do this or that, someone called her wife, and someone called her mother.

Their sincere affection and respect made her even more sick.

‘It’s a story that can’t even be laughed at.’

Because they loved each other, and because they trusted each other, this is the end of the story.

Edgar carefully patted Helena on the back, entrusting her consciousness to the pitiful variation of sorrow.

Then, as his gaze reached the other side of the window, the sky that had become dark came into view before he knew it.

He felt sorry for Ariel, but it seemed difficult to put an end to this story today.

How much better it would have been if it was an easy task to blame someone.

But at the same time, he also thought of this.

It’s no one’s fault, so it’s fortunate that it won’t end with a story that only someone will be sad about.

It would be nice to have at least one happy ending where everyone is happy. He thought so.