48 – prom night
After I finished eating, I met and talked with various people, and the sun was behind me before I knew it.
Saying she wanted to get some fresh air, Ariel led Edgar to the balcony and put her hands on the railing, inhaling the air and looking up at the night sky.
If the air of Hespania clears your mind with a cool and refreshing feeling, the air here is warm and cozy, giving you a feeling of filling your heart.
‘Maybe it’s because it’s night.’
Ariel, who had reached that point, immediately laughed and shook her head.
It was because, strangely, a part of his heart tickled when he realized that he had become quite sentimental, unlike himself.
‘I’ve never felt this sentimental before.’
It wasn’t a bad feeling, but I felt that it didn’t suit me.
As I removed my arm from the railing and turned around, the stars in my field of vision disappeared and only the lights of the ballroom came into view again.
Meanwhile, Edgar, who had been silently watching her from the side with his arms folded, let go of his body leaning against the wall.
He seemed to want to have some time alone, so he thought of leaving the place for a while, but it seemed that it was only for a short time.
I had to discuss tomorrow’s schedule, so I had no choice but to break the atmosphere and talk to her.
“What about the prom tomorrow? Will you stay one more day?”
“To stay. I had enough for one day, so I have to go back now.”
Responding to Edgar’s question as if it was needless to say, she slowly walked over to him, stood next to him, and leaned her back against the wall.
The ball is held for about three days until the day after tomorrow, and it is free to attend.
It was actually only the first day that it was called a debutante ball.
After that, it is just a place for small exchanges for those who have just entered the social world.
Of course, most young ladies who find this kind of place strange and new might fully enjoy the three-day schedule, but that was a story from a world that had nothing to do with Ariel.
“There is still a lot to do. And after 3 years, I also intend to go to the battlefield with my father. Until then, you have to learn so that there is nothing lacking.”
“Three years later.”
It’s an absurdly fast time.
only eighteen. To go to the battlefield at the age of not even being an adult yet.
But that must be the sense of duty weighing down on Ariel’s shoulders and, on the other hand, the mission to support her.
That’s why Edgar didn’t say anything reckless.
He just decides to be with her wherever she wants to go.
“When did the head of the family say he would come back?”
“There won’t be an exact schedule yet. That’s what war is like in the first place.”
War is not like a children’s play house where a set time is decided, ‘Let’s fight from now on!’, and then ‘Let’s stop fighting’.
Although Ariel had never experienced war, she knew how violent and brutal it was.
Perhaps that is why, when her father taught her, she prioritized cold-bloodedness rather than mercy or compassion.
To be able to jump into the battlefield at a young age. So that even if you see the death of a person, you can turn your gaze indifferently.
Eliminate what you don’t need. To kill what is stated as an enemy. Keep only those who you consider to be on my side.
“… Riel, Ariel.”
“Eh, huh?”
When I thought of my father’s blurry face, which I hadn’t seen in nearly a year, it seemed that a part of my heart felt stuffy for some reason.
When he came to his senses belatedly without even hearing his childhood friend’s voice calling him, Edgar’s worried face came into his field of vision.
“What are you thinking so hard about? Do you have any concerns?”
“What are you worried about… never mind.”
Ariel shook her head lightly and looked up at Edgar, who was about half a head taller than herself.
“Ed, aren’t you curious about my father?”
“I wonder. Because I’ve never seen you before.”
I knew his name and face, albeit vaguely.
In the annex of the Loveheim family that Ariel had shown you the other day, there were framed portraits of successive family heads on display.
And from Ariel’s attitude, it was also possible to know that the relationship between the two was not very smooth.
That would be the case, because he had asked Ariel about his father before, but the answer that came back each time was the same.
‘He is a person worthy of being the head of the Robeheim family.’, ‘He is the same person as my target.’ There were numerous compliments, etc., but among them, I had never heard an expression like ‘He’s a good father.’
There was only respect for the ‘head of the Loveheim family’.
I have never felt the affection and bond with my ‘father’ anywhere.
And when she addressed her mother in front of Edgar, it was always ‘mom’, but when she addressed her father, it was always ‘father’.
Even in the small gap between titles, Edgar felt a sense of difference.
“Come to think of it, at what point did you stop asking about my father?”
Ariel, who was pondering her memories, stepped away from the wall and faced him from the front, tilting her head and expressing her curiosity.
It seemed that he was intentionally avoiding the subject.
When he brings up a story about his family, when he brings up a story about his mother, even when he brings up a story about himself.
I would somehow block the situation from leading to that topic and change the topic.
“Because I also have something to notice. You don’t want to talk, but I have no intention of asking further questions.”
“He’s only quick-witted in strange places.”
Ariel sighed and heard the sound of air escaping from her cheeks, then slowly walked back toward the railing with her hands behind her back.
Edgar felt as if he was about to jump at any moment.
“Ed, if you had a belief or a duty, which would you choose?”
“It is a strange question. Can’t we put them on the same line?”
“yes. If the day comes when you have to pursue a path completely different from the obligations given to you, what will you do then?”
At the sudden difficult task, Edgar drooled and fell into thought.
For example, a question like this
If there is a hero who has vowed not to kill anyone for the rest of his life, when he is put in a situation where he must kill someone to protect his precious person.
Will you really stick to your beliefs or fulfill your given duties?
Edgar, who was in the middle of his thoughts, was able to reach a certain point.
Then he let go of his body and stared at Ariel, then suddenly flicked his index finger and hit her on the forehead.
damn
“… !? Why are you hitting me all of a sudden, you idiot!”
When Ariel grabbed my forehead and cried at the sudden violence, Edgar raised one corner of his mouth and deduced her psychology at once.
“You always ask me, ‘What would you do?’ Because I asked the same way. I think it will be the same this time.”
“Chi, you said you’re going to ask for some help among your friends, but that’s what makes you so angry!?”
I wonder how he noticed this again, but on the other hand, it was unfair.
At best, I asked my childhood friend for advice, but the answer didn’t come back, and it only happened overnight.
How can I not know what the atmosphere is like? this fool.
On the other hand, Edgar, who was staring at the pouting Ariel, reached out and stroked her head lightly.
Even today, without fail, she spits out blunt words saying that her hair is getting damaged, but she doesn’t shake her hand.
The smile on Edgar’s lips grew wider.
“The reason I hit you is to not think hard about it right now.”
“… … .”
“You have been like that ever since. He thinks about things that haven’t happened yet, asks me questions, and even cries because he’s scared.”
“Ooh, I didn’t cry!”
did you?
Edgar, who responded lightly to Ariel’s last protest, shrugged his shoulders and slightly bent his legs to meet eye level.
“Anyway, don’t be anxious about worrying about useless things already. Beside you is Madame Helene, family vassals, and me. It won’t be too late to ask for help when it’s hard to choose.”
“still… you never know How do you know if you’re going to wander around in despair alone?”
Ariel cautiously asked questions with her eyes wide open.
At that, Edgar snorted as if asking for something obvious, poked her forehead with his index finger, and then pointed at himself.
“I have friends for times like that. Don’t worry, I’ll give you a proper slap if you do something unsightly.”
“… do i have to hit it? Just looking at it, you are very violent.”
At least, there must be many expressions to replace such as hugging or comforting.
Do I really need to get out of my hands to wake up the spirit?
When Ariel protested timidly with a sullen face, Edgar replied proudly, banging his chest with a nasty expression.
“Have you ever heard of a love hawk? It all comes out of interest and affection for friends.”
“Huh, what about interest and affection?”
There were not even these elegant words to decorate the sentences in the pure fist phrase.
Why is it that I feel strangely relieved? It’s a really strange feeling.
They say sincerity works, but maybe this is similar to that.
The strange air of looking at each other while maintaining silence continued for a while, and it was none other than Edgar who took his eyes off first.
He walked slowly towards the balcony railing, cast his gaze over the distance, and spoke calmly.
“You have a lot of worries, of course. I can’t even fathom how many things I’ll have to do in the future. But Ariel, remember this one thing.”
I knew that saying things like this was pretty cheesy and childish even to think of myself.
Nevertheless, Edgar tried to put the words he had been saving to reassure this precious childhood friend and let her know that she was not walking alone.
“No matter what danger you go through in the future, there is a person next to you who is willing to give up his life for just one word to help. Well, he’s not that great, so I won’t believe him.”
The words he added at the end must have been his own way to overcome his shyness.
Ariel, noticing this, burst out with a dainty smile without even realizing it, and walked over to his side and put her arms on the railing.
Even though I heard these words, somehow my heart did not throb like it had happened during the day.
It wasn’t because the night wind was rather cool, or because he couldn’t hear his heartbeat.
As for the reason, Ariel herself had no way of knowing.
She reached out her right arm from the railing and slowly brought her hand to his shoulder.
And then knock. He tapped his shoulder silently with his finger.
Edgar’s head turned at the tickling sensation, like a cat’s madness, and their gazes met in the air.
Ariel saw Edgar blushing for the first time that day.
It wasn’t simply an optical illusion caused by the reflection of light, nor was it because the stars were shining red today.
sh*t.
Only then did Ariel realize that she had won for the first time, and a deep smile formed on Ariel’s lips.
As the man who always made fun of her became similar to herself, she felt something tickle in her chest.
‘Every time he makes fun of me.’
Perhaps in a fight like this, she had never attacked Edgar in reverse in about 15 years.
That’s why I decided to repay the debt today.
He reached out and grabbed his left cheek with his index finger.
I could feel the skin on my hands, which was quite soft for a man, and then I could tell that the cheeks were quite warm.
By the time his face was perplexed and the blush on his cheeks deepened.
To further annoy her childhood friend, she decided to say something she didn’t mean to say.
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Like the words he had conveyed that she would never have said before, lines that were childish and cheesy.
“… , … . … … . … … .”
Whiing.
The voice is drowned out by the sudden night wind.
Of course, it must have been partly because she lowered her voice due to the embarrassment that came at the end.
Belatedly, doubts appeared on Edgar’s face, and he asked again what he had not heard before, but the carriage had passed.
Ariel turned lightly with her hands behind her back, determined never to say those words again.
Could it be because he won the first victory? Suddenly, his beating heart started beating wildly.
Well, regardless of any era or place, the exhilaration of victory is stronger than anything else.
I thought I couldn’t help my heart beating like this today.
‘It’s windy.’
Maybe it’s the wind blowing from his hometown.
If I could float on this, I would be able to reach Hespania in no time.
It was only a pity that from tomorrow I would have to get on the wagon and go on an aimless journey for a while.
Please go to bed tonight and when you open your eyes you will be in Hespania.
Having such a small wish, Ariel led her childhood friend by the hand and headed for the room.
For some reason, it seemed difficult to get a good night’s sleep tonight.