100 – Meeting with friends
With the two of them crying out of nowhere, Ariel couldn’t help but wonder what the hell had happened.
So, when asked about everything, Sally and Gria, who were somewhat hesitant, looked at each other and discussed silently whether it was okay to tell them.
But even that was caught in Ariel’s eyes.
Ariel, who wanted to speak more strongly to open her mouth, added, “If you don’t want to humiliate yourself, speak up right away.”
Uncharacteristically for her, she turned around and spoke in a refined manner, but the tone was quite resolute, so the two of them ended up raising the white flag.
“That’s how it happened.”
“It didn’t seem like he had bad intentions either.”
Even though Sally, who has a mild personality, suddenly heard such a story in front of her face, she added a remark in defense of Mirabel.
Of course, when I heard that, both she and Griana were dumbfounded, and afterwards, I was in a bad mood, but I didn’t think it was enough to make things worse.
In addition, looking back carefully, Mirabel’s position also made sense to her.
The other person is none other than the daughter of a grand duke, who is said to be one of the best people she has ever met in the social world, and is a person who is anxious to make contact with people from other families.
A woman who seemed to show off her closeness by calling such a young lady openly by name appeared out of nowhere.
However, when I asked how they became close, he couldn’t answer and just evasive?
It was obviously a situation where there was room for misunderstanding.
“… … .”
But despite Sally’s reply, Ariel still noticed that something wasn’t quite right.
On the contrary, he frowned even more than before and openly expressed his discomfort, to the point where Edgar, who was watching from the side, calmed him down by gently patting his shoulder.
“Gria, do you think the same as Sally?”
“Yes? That’s right… It was a situation that could have been misunderstood… Until you have to work… … .”
Even Gria, who was calm in the cold air surrounding Ariel, stammered and replied.
Ariel’s answer to this was not a sentence, not a single word, but ended with a short sigh.
“… Sigh.”
Ariel couldn’t understand.
Are people good, or are they simply fools who live only by being victimized?
She is basically a personality that values honor.
For this reason, he was not the type to make remarks that recklessly discredited others, and when the opponent first insulted himself or insulted his precious person, he had to pay back twice as much.
And what had just happened was an obvious insult, even if it was obviously misleading.
In the first place, for her, it was absurd from the point of ‘possibility of misunderstanding’.
It’s not that the two did anything by selling Ariel’s name, it’s just that some crazy woman who stole it while having a conversation with each other mistakenly thought it was herself and spit out nonsense.
Is there anything here that could be misleading?
At least not from her point of view.
“Listen, Sally. Gria.”
“Yes, yes… … .”
“Even though it’s been four years since I’ve been face-to-face with you like this, and even though we’ve only communicated through letters until then, I sincerely consider you guys to be friends.”
Ariel basically doesn’t throw her eyes at others.
However, people who feel good when first seeing each other, regardless of age or gender, tend to give affection fairly easily, and Sally and Gria also belonged to that axis.
Otherwise, how could he have accepted the name so easily?
In fact, just a moment ago, when the two of them were crying and saying that they were thrilled that they thought of them as friends, they felt sad inside.
Even if we didn’t meet Amman in person, we’ve been talking consistently for four years, and now I think it’s that way.
On the one hand, I wondered if I was seeing myself as too cold-blooded.
“And I never go overboard with anyone who insults the people around them, whether it be my friends, family, or lovers. Do you understand?”
The two of them made a thrilled expression at the sentence that was firm but felt her heart, but soon realized what she was trying to say and timidly tried to refute.
“Yeah, but Ariel… … .”
“Okay, so what’s the answer?”
“Yes… ! Oh, I got it.”
“like. Well, it won’t do much harm, so don’t worry.”
Previously, there were cases where the sins committed with Vincent were so serious that Edgar did not listen to Edgar’s opinion and dealt with it alone, but this time, as the two requested it, she also intended to just punish lightly and move on.
“Anyway, the greeting was delayed because of a woman who didn’t learn anything. How are you?”
“of course.”
“I was doing so well that I had to leave.”
When Ariel lightly refreshed the atmosphere and changed the topic, the two of them nodded brightly without asking about what happened a little while ago.
“Four years ago, we only called each other childhood friends… It looks like you’ve made progress, Ariel.”
In contrast to Sally, who diligently talks about her current situation, Gria quickly noticed a change between the two when she saw Edgar and Ariel standing together.
That would be the case, because four years ago, although they were just as friendly, they still had a strange sense of distance, like the last line of defense.
To be precise, it felt like she was being pushed away from Ariel’s side.
Anyway, now I don’t feel that at all.
“It’s not progress… Perhaps?”
“Hmm.”
Sally also noticed this belatedly and looked at the two with astonished eyes, and Ariel shrugged and leaned on Edgar subtly.
It must have been a big surprise because I didn’t deliberately tell the story about this in the letter.
In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Ariel spoke to the two as soon as she entered the hall to see this scene.
“Princess Edgar, is it true?”
It wasn’t that I didn’t believe Ariel’s words, but since it was a long time since we met, it could have been a prank prepared to surprise her, so Sally asked a question to confirm.
Edgar smiled mischievously at Ariel’s notice.
It was a smile she had seen so many times that she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
“I’d like to say no, even as a joke, but if I did, I’d be in trouble with Ariel.”
“Heh, of course not. Just say something like that. It won’t go smoothly.”
When Ariel’s hand seemed to burst into flames at any moment, Edgar pretended to be exaggeratedly surprised and stepped back.
On the other hand, through a series of scenes, the two women confirmed that the two really became lovers, and only then congratulated them with soft smiles.
“Congratulations. Will you be sure to invite us to the wedding too?”
“If possible, I would like to receive the bouquet… … !”
Even in the midst of this, Sally generously revealed her desire.
It must be because she has a man she likes or dreams of getting married.
Ariel responded jokingly, saying that she couldn’t make a promise, but if possible, she would try to get her a bouquet.
“Anyway, it’s a fairly free atmosphere.”
“I was a bit surprised too. I thought it would have a more modest feel.”
When Sally, who had been looking around after accepting the glass handed to her by a servant, murmured quietly, Gria nodded her head in sympathy.
Some thought the word coming-of-age ceremony was somewhat heavy, but on the other hand, it was thought that the solemnity would be unique as it was held personally by the Loveheim family.
However, the current atmosphere was no different from an ordinary socialite party.
And the two of them felt more welcome that way.
“Since it’s a place where everyone here celebrates becoming an adult, I wonder if it doesn’t need to be particularly heavy.”
“I guess that was Ariel’s opinion.”
“It’s not just me, my father thought the same. Let’s create an atmosphere where everyone can enjoy it as comfortably as Zaryni, the main character.”
“How could it be, His Highness Loveheim… … !”
With a voice full of emotion, Gria clasped her hands together and let out an exclamation.
Since the organizers were the Loveheim family, it was assumed that Bonama or Ariel would be the protagonists of today’s coming-of-age ceremony.
It wasn’t particularly wrong, and in some ways it was the standard way, so the two of them also reached the castle while drawing a certain amount of composition.
For example, a picture in which Ariel steps forward and recites a congratulatory speech, leading the atmosphere of the ceremony.
In other words, although it was a happy place for everyone to become adults, it was thought that it would openly imprint the fact that there was a separate leading role in name and reality.
But the result was not like that at all.
Regardless of whether it was Ariel or Yulken, even though they hosted the coming-of-age ceremony, no one felt great pride about it or wanted to brag about it.
I just hoped that it would be such a modest place to celebrate that everyone here has finally entered the true starting line of life.
“Still, I would like to say a congratulatory message. Maybe everyone is secretly hoping that Ariel will step up.”
“It’s not my taste. Besides, my father is coming soon, wouldn’t that be enough?”
“Um, are you saying that Your Highness is coming in person?”
To think that the owner of the grand duke’s family, and no one else, would personally come to this place.
Especially as a girl who had adored him, Gria already showed her eyes full of anticipation and put her hands together in front of her chest as if she was desperately wishing for something.
“Yes. Still, since it’s a place where so many people gathered, he said it wouldn’t make sense to say a few words of gratitude.”
Yulken didn’t like to stand out in a place like this because the father and daughter looked exactly alike, but he couldn’t help it this time because of Helene’s words.
Still, compared to Ariel, Yulken’s situation was better.
Since he became the family head, he went to various places and had to speak in front of many people, so he was quite familiar with it.
It’s just that it doesn’t suit his temperament, so he rarely steps forward.
“To be able to see Your Highness in person… Sally, pinch my cheek. It’s not a dream, is it?”
“Calm down, Gria. Then I’ll collapse before I can see Your Highness.”
Sally supported Gria, who was staggering as if she was anemic as she held her forehead with the back of her hand.
Ariel, who was watching this, wondered what kind of things her father admired and how he reacted to this, even though her father was a great person.
“Ariel, over there… … .”
“yes? What is it?”
Edgar tapped her on the shoulder as she tilted her head like that, and pointed to the left with a whisper.
Ariel then turned her gaze to the direction he pointed, and there,
“… I don’t like noise.”
“Honey, you have a friend coming to visit you. Is that the only thing you have to say?”
“huh.”
Another friend of Ariel, Sylvia, a person of interest whom she was busy avoiding as much as possible, was walking with a bright smile.
Even with some unfamiliar man next to him.