35 – while she was caught off guard
Seeing Ariel’s back, who had arrived at the rendezvous earlier, from a distance, Edgar greeted her and shouted her name as she approached.
I was afraid that people around me might be aware of Ariel’s name only, but fortunately, such an unfortunate incident did not happen.
“… … .”
On the other hand, Ariel turned her head away as soon as her eyes met with a sullen expression.
Edgar approached her with a wry smile and tapped her on the shoulder.
“Hey, it’s not too late, but please accept the greeting.”
When I checked the long pendulum clock in front of the store opposite, I could see that I had arrived five minutes earlier than the appointed time.
I was well aware of her dislike of waiting, but I wondered if this was extenuating the normalcy.
“I know, it’s not too late. Like my mother said in the first place, there is no reason to be angry about something like this.”
“Eat those puffy cheeks and talk. That’s why I’ll believe you well.”
I didn’t know why he was angry, but the fact that he was angry was certain.
It’s not like we’ve been together for 13 years for no reason.
Ariel glanced at Edgar, who was scratching his head as if in trouble, then pursed his lips again.
To be honest, I wasn’t angry.
No, to be precise, I was angry, but it wasn’t just my anger at Edgar, it was mixed with my anger at my own foolishness.
The beginning of this complicated feeling was that Edgar hadn’t come to his room for the past three days.
Of course, he must have circumstances, and he couldn’t always ask for such a risky thing, so Ariel understood that.
However, if he hadn’t come to see me for three days, I hoped that he would come a little earlier today, even if he wanted to see me.
Even though he arrived right now, it was definitely earlier than the appointed time, but it hurt his pride that he had come first.
It was as if the other side didn’t expect to meet him very much, but only he seemed to be anxious.
‘You idiot, idiot, Ed.’
Could you have left a little earlier? If that was the case, there wouldn’t be any reason to feel this sweet feeling.
But the most stupid thing was himself.
He’s not even a four-year-old, how can he have such childish thoughts.
Wake up, Ariel Loveheim.
You are the heir to lead the Robeheim family in the future.
It is only when I am swayed by emotions like this that I will only get hit by my father again… … .
“Hyat!?”
“Oh, how are you reacting?”
As she continued her thoughts, Ariel turned around at the strange feeling of the nape of her neck, making a sound like a cat screaming.
When I heard the voice of my mischievous childhood friend following, it was the moment when I was so excited that I was about to get angry.
“… … ?”
However, when I turned my head, what I saw was not the face of a nasty childhood friend, but a flower that filled my vision.
It wasn’t the amaryllis she liked, but from the outside it seemed to be a type of rose.
“You don’t like it? Why is that expression on your face?”
“Oh, no, it’s not like that… What flower?”
I was given a flower as a gift from him only once when I was young, but it has never been like this since I grew up.
Since he was a man without a mood in the first place, he hadn’t even expected a gift like this, so his surprise doubled.
Was there any wind?
“What, don’t you remember? When we met before, you made a fuss about coming to see the grand duke’s daughter and not bringing a single flower.”
“ah.”
Come to think of it, I had such a memory.
To be honest, it’s just absurd to ask for something like that when we’re meeting friends, but that day, I was in a good mood, so I said it without even realizing it.
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Later, when I went to bed asking why did I say that, I regretted it by banging my head against it.
Why does this man keep such private things in his heart?
“Bah, like an idiot… I just said it, but did you care about that?”
“Is that what you say to the person who brought it? Get it.”
Chit, if you give it a little cool, where will it go?
I knew at least that the level of difficulty was too high to be expected from such a stupid man, but there is such a thing as a mood.
Besides, why are you dressed like this?
It would be okay to pay a little more attention to coming to meet the princess of the grand duke’s family. It’s a very modest outfit.
If it wasn’t for this flower, I would have pointed it out right away, but let’s move on for today.
This must be an aspect that a lady of the grand duke’s family should have.
More than that, what was I trying to say?
nice to meet you? thanks? what did you do have you eaten?
no, this isn’t it I guess I had something else to say.
“Let’s go for now. You have to be busy to play hard.”
Without even thinking about it, I hurriedly reached out and grabbed the sleeve of his shirt as he turned around and started to walk away.
The guy who turned his head to look at me and sent his eyes as if he was wondering what was going on.
I kept my mouth shut for some reason, but belatedly spoke out.
Just as if you were pouring out all the emotions accumulated over the past three days in just one word.
“… I was bored, fool.”
It wasn’t something I really wanted to see.
I was just bored because I had no one to talk to.
Even if Shuri is there, he can’t treat me as comfortably as he does.
Yeah, that’s all.
Snug.
“Then you should play a lot today.”
Again, he stroked my hair like a child, but I decided to close my eyes for today.
Even though it’s not my favorite amaryllis, the bright red flowers that resemble my eyes were very pretty.
* * * * * * *
Ariel was experiencing a truly strange feeling.
Certainly, given the number of years she lived in Hespania, Edgar would not be able to reach her feet.
For some reason, he felt like a resident who had lived here longer than he did, wandering around the city freely.
“Oh, the food over there is delicious. Haven’t you been there?”
“You couldn’t have been there. In the first place, I don’t eat well outside… … .”
Ariel, who responded bluntly to Edgar’s question, glanced sideways at the restaurant he pointed to.
It’s not often that I come out, but aside from that, I wish I could walk around the village so freely in the first place.
Originally, it was a kind of duty for her to have an escort follow her whenever she went outside, or to ride around in a carriage.
Even in the eyes of the people around her, it’s hard to go around recklessly because it feels like ‘the grand duke’s daughter is on an inspection tour’.
It was only because the timing was right that I was able to roam alone today without those distractions.
It was a shame because her father happened to be away for a while, and Helene, whom I know Ariel and Edgar don’t see often, was kind.
Just in case, I didn’t tell my mother that he was secretly visiting at night.
“Then shall we go over there? Because you’re in disguise anyway.”
Ariel’s hair was now dyed red with an object similar to the magic trinkets Edgar had worn.
Confusion could arise if her identity was discovered, and there was a high possibility of getting caught up in an accident by mistake, so a kind of safety device was prepared.
Conversely, Edgar had dyed his hair black, but somehow the two of them changed their hair color and ended up in a funny situation.
“Anyway. Instead, be prepared if it doesn’t taste good.”
“This is really heavy on my shoulders.”
Edgar shrugs his shoulders at Ariel’s bluff, but doesn’t take it seriously as he moves toward the restaurant.
Maybe that means that the taste is guaranteed.
Ariel never had a restaurant or stall he took her to that was distasteful, so even when he said that, he always believed and followed him.
Perhaps this is an example that proves that his taste is quite picky.
“Shall we sit outside? Wouldn’t it be better?”
“It doesn’t matter. You won’t even recognize it anyway.”
Then, at Edgar’s invitation to sit outside to get some fresh air, Ariel followed suit and took a seat.
Soon after, a clerk came to the place where the two were sitting with a menu board.
Judging from the limited number of items on the menu, Ariel guessed that this might be the kind of store that competes with a few representative menu items.
“Your black hair always looks awkward.”
Ariel was the first to speak.
Even when he came to visit me at night, I always had black hair, but even after half a year, I still couldn’t get used to it.
“Are you in a position to talk to your in-laws? Are you more awkward in my position?”
“That too.”
She nodded in agreement and touched the rim of the cup filled with water for no apparent reason.
Come to think of it, there were at most two occasions when he showed this revelation in front of his childhood friend.
It was only the third time today, so it would be normal to not adapt.
‘yes? Come to think of it, how did he recognize me?’
Ariel, who was continuing her thoughts, suddenly felt a sense of incongruity and tilted her head.
Apparently, a little while ago he saw his back and called his name.
But the hair color has changed, and the clothes are not what they usually look like, so how could they tell them apart?
“Ed.”
“ok? Why?”
Edgar, who was munching on the appetizer brought by the clerk, answered the sudden call.
At the very least, I would pass on everything that was in my mouth and reply back.
Ariel’s expression frowned, but it wasn’t yesterday or today, so she let out a sigh and continued talking.
“How did you know it was me? I should have only seen the back… … .”
The question asked to set the mood was so absurd that Edgar’s eyebrows naturally furrowed.
He wants food or something to eat.
“gulp. Hey, how can I not recognize you? We’ve been together for years.”
“Mo, maybe you don’t recognize me… ? To be honest, I don’t think I would have recognized it had it been the other way around.”
Although it is possible to infer from their physique or appearance to some extent, it is not so easy to recognize someone who has changed their clothes and even their hair color.
In all honesty, Ariel assumed that if she and her mother had been put in the same situation as before, she wouldn’t have noticed.
“Okay? It’s easy for me to recognize. It must mean that we are so special.”
Ariel’s face turned red at the sight of him holding out his fork like a finger and smiling smirkingly.
Special relationship, I’m sure you want to say that we’re childhood friends, but do I have to say it that way?
I felt really stupid for being ashamed of something insignificant.
Either that or not, Edgar had emptied a plate of salad before he knew it.
I would always be happy to see him eating happily from the side, but for some reason, Ariel felt disgusted by the way he munched his food naturally today.