I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess

Translator : Idris

By the time Ariel woke up, Edgar was already gone.

Meanwhile, Sylvia, who was quietly reading a book who knows where she got it from, closed the book when she noticed her friend waking up.

“Did you slept well?”

“Yes… How long was I asleep?”

“About four hours? Dinner is soon.”

Maybe right after waking up, Ariel's fierce level was quite reduced due to her groginess.

Moreove, Ariel was rubbing her eyes like a little sleepy cat, and Sylvia, who was watching it, made an expression as if she would die of over cuteness.

Sylvia got up from her seat with a slight smile, approached Ariel, and sat down next to her.

It was to fix the hair and clothes of her friend which has gotten messy due to sleeping.

“I was surprised earlier, Ariel. I didn’t know you would react that way.”

“… Don’t talk. My face is still hot.”

Edgar held her in his arms until right before she fall asleep, and that sight was still vividly etched in her mind.

It’s a relief that the line was drawn, even if it was just an excuse that didn’t work.

“How long does the effect of the candy last?”

“It should be gone by tomorrow morning?”

“… I don't think I can face him in the meantime then.”

Ariel let out a deep sigh as her darkened eyes turned to Sylvia, who was seriously tidying up her hair.

‘What kind of friend will bring candy that has the effect like that?’

For her, who thought that no matter how long it was, it would be ineffective after dinner tonight, it was as if a bolt of lightning has strike her.

Still, for some reason, judging from the fact that she didn’t say anymore nonsenses in front of Sylvia, there seemed to be a slight difference in the effect for each person.

Or maybe it was because there were so many emotions and words she hadn’t been able to convey to Edgar, that was why she was out of control.

Either way, at the point of eating that candy, Ariel’s day was not going to be smooth sailing.

“How was it? After confessing to Edgar.”

“… Don’t do that again. Because I am really angry.”

Ariel coldly glared at her friend who playfully asked her question, and seemed to be about to blow fire out of her hand at any moment.

Sylvia smiled bitterly at this and nodded her head, obediently admitting her mistake.

At first, she did it with good intentions, but looking back now, she realize that it was too short of a thought.

“Yeah, actually, I do have some regrets too. I’m sorry, Ariel.”

“What, how come you reflect so easily? This is totally not like you.”

“You know I hate to cross the line, even though I like pranks, right?”

“… but.”

Ariel nodded as if she couldn’t resist.

But in her opinion, Sylvia has always played pranks, almost crossing the line most of the times.

In fact, Sylvia is a genius for pranks even far better than Edgar, and she was very good at pranks that were fun without offending others, but Sylvia's pranks always let Ariel throws a huge tantrum.

In that respect, today’s behavior was not like her.

Sylvia, who always thought of the future and played pranks, committed a dangerous prank today that was quite stimulating and difficult to undo.

It must have been a pity that the two of them were ignorant of each other’s feelings.

“It’s already been done, so I can’t help it. But next time, I am gonna shoot fireballs at you, friends or whatever.”

“I’m sorry, there won’t be anything like that in the future.”

“Huh really, how can I just believe your words?”

Ariel pursed her lips, clearly revealing that she was quite upset.

Because this was also part of Sylvia’s standardized patterns.

Always ‘I won’t do it next time.’ After saying that, she will go tomorrow and commit another prank.

It could be seen as a typical example of the story of the shepherd boy.

However, contrary to Ariel’s doubts, Sylvia was really sorry this time.

Next time she really won’t do anything like this.

No, to be precise, there might not even be a chance called the next time.

“Yes? Come to think of it… Where’s the candy jar?”

Ariel questioned when she couldn’t see the glass jar that contained the candy either on the table or near the seat where Sylvia was sitting.

It is because she believed that there was no way others would have eaten such a monstrous candy, and even if someone had tried to, Sylvia would not have let them eat it, that is if she had a conscience.

“Oh, that? Dumped. If someone else picks it up for no reason, it might get me into a big trouble.”

“That's good. I was thinking of exploding the glass bottle as it is if I ever see it.”

As the memory of the first time she ate the candy still lingered in her head, Ariel gritted her teeth and let out speculations.

Ariel's momentum was so intense that Sylvia’s hamstrings were tingling as she watched her friend.

“I’ll bring you a proper present next time. Look forward to it.”

“… Look forward to what?”

“Hey, stop doing that and trust me one more time.”

“Ah, okay, don’t cling to me! you stupid!”

Eventually, Sylvia, who managed to get another chance, let out a small cheer and deattached herself from Ariel.

Next time, she must bring a proper gift to see her friend’s bright smile.

With such a small wish in mind, Sylvia left the room with Ariel after hearing that the meal was ready before she knew it.

* * * * * * *

After dinner, Edgar went straight to the study at Yulken’s sudden call.

It was a place he hadn’t been to since the last incident, so somehow the furnitures in the room looked quite different from back then.

“I heard you called.”

“Don’t stand there stiffly, come in.”

“Yes.”

The other day, due to circumstances, he had been treated rather rudely, but the other party is the head of the Robeheim family and such was an existence for Edgar to carelessly look up to.

So, Edgar greeted the other party with the utmost courtesy and headed toward the sofa. Yulken, who was tidying up something in front of the desk, belatedly walked towards him.

“Isn’t this the first time you’ve been here since then?”

“Somehow it happened.”

At the angular tone and posture, Yulken unknowingly smiled bitterly.

There was his position, and the boy’s position too, so it would be useless to say that he was comfortable with it, but there was one thing he wanted to ask for.

“That girl… It doesn’t matter to me, but in front of Helena, treat her with a limited tone. Do you know how disappointed my wife was?”

“… I will do my best.”

It was a fairly embarrassing request for Edgar, so he gently scratched his cheek and gave an answer that was neither refusal nor affirmation.

That’s also true, Helena's request was made only when he was young, and he could still treat Ariel like a friend if it was still before they matured, but it no longer seems possible now.

Besides, Edgar wasn’t stupid enough to not know that his position within the Robeheim family is slowly rising.

In this situation, if the way he treats Helena seems a bit frivolous, he will end up in the ranks of his vassals.

Edgar had recently heard rumors that the Robeheim couple favored him, so he was even more cautious.

“The rumors must have bothered you.”

“Oh? Yea, that’s… … .”

Watching him avoid his gaze, Yulken smirked and nodded his head slightly with an expression of understanding.

Even he knew what the boy cared about.

It was because the title of head of the grand duke’s family was not acquired through labeling.

“It doesn’t mean that I don’t have ears to hear and eyes to see. Like it or not, I knew right away that more talk about you are likely to circulate in the future. ”

“… … .”

Edgar, caught off guard, lowered his head, and Yulken burst out laughing.

Other than that, the boy must have thought that he had to be careful only with himself.

In a sense, it is the simplest way to keep things to himself and avoid trouble, but at the same time it was also a much clumsy idea.

Shouldn’t he have known if he had discovered when a branch of a tree lying on the floor was on fire, then the flames should have already spread considerably more than he thought.

Well, if one ask Edgar now, the answer is in a negative direction.

At least, Yulken didn’t think so.

“I heard about it today. Rumors spread throughout the castle.”

“… I’m sorry that it seems like there was a commotion because of me.”

Despite the sudden change of topic, Edgar calmly bowed his head and apologized.

It wasn’t really his fault, but he was also right about apologizing because he was the center of the problem, so he thought it would be better for him to take his place as the other two would bow their heads.

“You didn't say it out loud! But I have ears too. Sylvia, is it because of the medicine or candy that the child brought?”

“Yes.”

“At dinner, I deliberately kept quiet because I thought you guys would be uncomfortable, but thanks to that, my wife and subordinates were also busy whispering.”

The only female of the grand duke’s family, who wanted to be a little quiet, confessed to the man who was like her childhood friend, in front of the public.

Thanks to that, rumors spread among young maids and servants who liked to gossip, and it took less than half a day for it to reach the ears of others in the castle.

Everyone was busy making misleading remarks about this love affair, the rumor was even slightly altered that it was because of the magic potion, but one thing was certain: it is not gonna be easy to fix this rumor.

But on the other hand, it might also be the right thing.

Yulken believed that if there was a way to turn this situation into an opportunity, there is only one.

The reason Yulken called the boy today was to ask him about his intentions.

“Do you still consider yourself as lacking?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“A strong light casts a shadow. And from what I’ve seen so far, sometimes those who are in the shadows actually have a low opinion of themselves.”

From Yulken’s point of view, Edgar indeed isn’t on the same level as Ariel.

Of course, his martial arts that were cut through a clear desire to improve were acceptable, but that was just about it.

But that didn’t mean Edgar was less valuable either.

Some of the people Yulken has observed so far sometimes try to measure the value of individuals only with their own abilities.

In a world where ability proves everything, it may not be the wrong way.

However, in Yulken’s view, it wasn’t the right way either.

Some people sometimes stand out even more when they do not step forward, assist and protect others.

In fact, his aide, Elfred, is also just such a case.

“I don’t know what the chains that bind you are. Is it just a sense of self-blame for your own shortcomings, or a sense of disqualifications based on the difference in family and ability?”

Yulken vaguely knew.

The fact that her daughter’s love, which has always seemed to be one-sided, is becoming more and more two-sided.

The boy’s eyes, who always looked at his daughter playfully, are changing little by little.

And even though this boy is in the closest position to his daughter, he can’t get any closer.

So, maybe a little bit of advice will do!?

“… Don’t you think I am pathetic?”

“Pathetic? That sounds funny. The way you look now is the way I used to be, so how can I laugh at you?”

“Huh?”

Edgar made a dumbfounded noise at the unexpected answer, but Yulken’s expression was infinitely serious.

In fact, seeing the boy reminded him of his childish self in the past, when he was most passionately worried about the feeling of love.

‘Even though I had everything, I couldn’t step forward.’

The position of heir to the House of Robeheim brings one the prestige of a god and a wealth vast enough to last a lifetime.

Even though he had all of that, he hesitated to approach the young lady of a family that has lower status than him, his innocent yet foolish self in the past.

But now, looking back on those memories and watching the boy in front of him, he could see that his past actions weren't wrong.

“You may think that you are unworthy, but isn’t that what love is like since old times?”

Compared to the person one has a crush on, one will look infinitely shabby.

Even if you have everything that you lack, such as ability, family, wealth, and appearance, you will always be small in front of the person you love.

It could be called Yulken of the past and Edgar of the present.

“I didn’t call you to laugh at you, nor did I reprimand you for what happened today. I just wanted to give you some man-to-man advice.”

“… Are you allowing me?”

“Allow!?. That would mean something else.”

Yulken put on an uncharacteristically mischievous smile and raised his eyebrows, then got up and headed towards the window.

Like that day, after pouring wine into two empty glasses, he grabbed one and returned to his seat to hand the other glass to Edgar.

“I’m not saying this as her father, who hasn’t given her any love for a long time. But I don't want to send her away into someone’s arms.”

“I think any father would feel the same way.”

“Thank you for understanding. But, at the same time, I also thought about this.”

Yulken skillfully shook the wine glass in his hand and continued talking while observing the waves of red wine spreading around the rim.

“At least, if my precious daughter is to be held in someone’s arms, it would be nice if it was a man who resembled me in my youth.”

A person who thinks deeply about his feelings, never underestimates the person he holds in his heart, and can look back on himself calmly.

Yulken hoped that a man capable of this one thing would be by his daughter’s side, even if he put aside other abilities.

A long, long time before the relationship could be rekindled like this, and we were able to hold our daughter in our arms.

Dalgrak.

Edgar, who had been silently listening to Yulken’s story, stood up and heard a light sound from the buckle on his waist.

Yulken could have been taken aback by the sudden action, but he only tilted his wine glass with a benevolent expression.

“Looks like you’re busy.”

“… Yes, it seems that I have a schedule to go a little urgently.”

“Right. But what is that object in your hand?”

When Edgar put his hand into his bosom and saw something shiny his hand, Yulken asked what it was.

Edgar laughed at him and opened his hand to show something pink and round and replied quietly.

“It’s a joke I always play with your daughter.”

“Please don’t tease me too much.”

“I guess I will let you off.”

At the end of that conversation, Edgar bowed and said his greetings and then went straight out of the study.

It was an unusual way to gamble like this, but there was no way he could know what the royal road was for the first time in his life.

‘It’s full of things I still don’t know.’

What kind of effect of the candy Ariel had really had, whether the words of love that she whispered softly into his ear were true, and even the reason she had smiled at him all this time.

For him, everything was hidden in blackout, but at least there are two things he knew for sure.

‘She’s an immature princess who can’t be honest.’

As long as he can remember, the girl named Ariel Robeheim has always been disingenuous and a busy immature child.

And she was always overflowing with the desire to win, and hated losing to death.

In the midst of confusion, he decided to step forward holding onto those two truths.

All he has to do is play pranks on her as usual.

That is all.