49 – come back
Ariel woke up a little early to finish preparing to leave for Hespania.
As she expected, it was probably because she hadn’t slept so deeply yesterday, and when she checked in the mirror, her eyes were slightly puffy.
Ariel hurriedly washed herself and finished her makeup lightly without Shuri’s help.
When I left the room and headed to the terrace to wake up in the morning breeze, I saw a familiar figure among the crowd.
After holding her breath for a moment, she walked over to him with an effortless expression on her face and tapped him on the back.
“You woke up early too.”
“What, are you awake already? I was just about to wake you up.”
Edgar glanced at her from top to bottom as if asking for some reason.
Ariel, who had an unpleasant look in her eyes, cleverly stood up so as not to be seen by others, and struck him on the shoulder with her fist.
“100 million!”
“Oh, don’t be foolish… … !”
When Edgar let out a sound that sounded like he was about to scream for a moment in the ensuing intense pain, Ariel looked around in amazement and scolded him.
The moment he hit him, he felt as if he had hit a rock, but he wondered why it didn’t work out.
However, it was just unfair to Edgar.
Unless I had at least the magical power of control wrapped around my hands for a moment, this excruciating pain wouldn’t make sense.
I wonder if even she could have used magic to hit her childhood friend as a joke, but if she really did, it would be chilling.
“Oh, it still hurts… It’s because you don’t know how spicy your hands are.”
“How can a kid who trains every day be sick of something like this?”
“What does training have to do with being sick? Even Mr. Creed would die if he was stabbed in the stomach.”
Did he just think that no matter how much he practiced, he would not get a scratch even if he brushed against a spear or sword?
At Edgar’s uncharacteristically blunt words, Ariel shook her head slightly as if she finally understood.
I don’t know if it’s someone else, but since the target of the analogy is that Creed, I definitely felt it.
In the morning, as the two childhood friends continued their fruitless bickering, two shadows slowly approached from behind.
“You two are here too.”
“Did you have a good night last night?”
The opponents are none other than Sally and Gria.
I was about to step out of the annex to take a walk around the neighborhood, but when I came closer to see a slightly familiar back figure, sure enough, Ariel and the others were there.
Ariel, a little surprised by the unexpected meeting, greeted her face, and Edgar, who was leaning on the railing, responded by asking how he was doing for the night.
“Are you two staying until tomorrow?”
“Oh, we are going back to Hespania as of today.”
“You were too. I wondered if the clothes were too neat… … .”
When Edgar looked around at Grea’s words, there were certain differences in people’s attire.
Some, like Edgar and Ariel, finished their preparations in neat clothes, while others, like Sally and Gria, came out with rather simple clothes.
Apparently, the former are people who are going back to their respective hometowns as of today, and the latter is probably the case where they are staying here today as well.
Because he hadn’t even thought of that, Edgar’s expression was startled when he heard Gria’s words.
On the other hand, this side was conveying the regret this way.
Sally wanted to get closer to Ariel, the first person of the same age she met at this prom, except for Gria, but she was in a situation where she couldn’t have a conversation and let her go.
“It looks like Princess Loveheim is passing away in a hurry because she is busy with construction work… I’m sorry.”
“Not to that extent. It’s just that since my father is away for a while, I have to protect my home.”
“If you are my father… Are you referring to His Highness Loveheim?”
Julken Loveheim.
He is one of the most powerful people in the Hellvenier Empire and the current head of the Loveheim family, the ruler of the north.
It is said that he cuts off the heads of foreigners invading the north without any mercy, so he is also called the iron-blooded ruler, and he is a man longed for by many.
Anyone who doesn’t know that name shouldn’t exist in the aristocratic family.
Sally was also one of the many girls who admire Yulken’s achievements, having only heard of the name.
“Yes, he is a very busy person.”
“Well, I guess I have to do that. Princess must be having a hard time in many ways.”
“As a member of the family, it is our duty.”
He said that, but even Sally, who didn’t know her very well, could tell that there was a hint of bitterness in Ariel’s smile.
A 15-year-old girl who was born as the only child and shouldered family responsibilities early on.
It must be a weight that Sally couldn’t even dare to imagine because she has a younger brother who is younger than her.
Sally suddenly grabbed Ariel’s hands, raised them up to her chest, and looked at her with bright eyes.
Then,
“If you can afford a cup of tea later, would you like to send a letter to my family? I’m very sorry that there are many stories I couldn’t finish with the princess.”
“Yeah, I will. Rather, this hand… … .”
Ariel, who was taken aback by the sudden physical contact, no matter how female it was, stammered to the end, and Sally, who belatedly noticed her actions, removed her hand in surprise.
And soon after, Shuri found the two of them on the terrace and came over to talk to them.
It was because Ariel had to give a definite answer as to when they would depart, as everything from packing up and preparing the wagon was over.
“My lady, the carriage is parked outside the imperial palace. When will you be leaving? … .”
“I’ll go right now. Ed, let’s go soon.”
“Has it already happened? okay.”
As we talked, it seemed that we did not even notice the passage of time.
Edgar and Shuri shared all of Ariel’s simple belongings, which she had brought out separately, and left the annex.
Since Sally and Gria had a long-awaited relationship, they followed her out of the palace, asking to see her off, but Ariel did not stop them.
There is a bond between people, but there is nothing good if you treat them too coldly.
It was a somewhat different sight from when he left Hespania.
At that time, all the family retainers came out to see Ariel and the others off, but today it was just the two of them.
“I’ll send you a separate letter later, so let’s have a cup of tea, Princess Dewalos.”
“oh… ! Hey, could you call me by your first name if you don’t mind? If possible, I would like the princess of Loveheim… … .”
“I want to ask you too.”
It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten acquainted with you, but I’m sorry to let you go like this.
Besides, even if I promised the next time, as long as I didn’t know when it would be, I wanted to change the title even now.
Read at noblemtl.com
Like a token of a promise to promise the next one.
“… okay. Sally, Gria. You don’t even need a hard title for something like this, right?”
“Yes, yes! Ariel.”
“If there is a chance next time, we will definitely meet the three of us. I’ll be waiting for you, Ariel.”
How many people did the daughter of the precious grand duke family call for so innocently?
Sally hurriedly nodded with a thrilled expression, and when Gria delivered the words promising the next move, a faint smile formed on Ariel’s lips.
Edgar and Shuri, who watched this scene from the side, were busy whispering and giggling to each other.
It was rare to see Ariel, who was not anyone else, open her heart to the invitation screen.
Most of all, they probably haven’t had much conversation, but maybe it means that Sally’s sincerity touched me that much.
Even if she pretended not to be, she was a girl with a lot of affection.
“Goodbye, Ariel! See you next time!”
“I’ll prepare a nice cup of tea, so if you get a chance, stop by the Zernin family.”
As the carriage departs, Ariel waves through the door.
The two of them waved their hands at her, promising their next meeting.
In that way, the carriage disappeared in an instant across the great highway that stretched to the center of Heldeck.
The two remaining girls licked their lips in regret and laughed at each other.
Hopefully we can talk more in the future.
* * * * * * *
Ariel, who felt the air coming in through the gaps in the carriages was quite cool, and when she woke up, a familiar view unfolded outside.
It must have snowed just before they came, and snowflakes bloomed beautifully on the endless plain, which had only been dry, reminiscent of a picture.
Ariel loved this sight very much.
This moment when everything in the world is covered with snow and all beings seem to be equal.
Beautiful flowers, gigantic trees, private houses built here and there, and sharp spires.
There is no need to argue about which one is beautiful or not, this scene where everyone is taking a nap in nature.
“Have you seen it come down? Aren’t they piled up in the castle?”
“I guess so. As soon as you get off, it disappears in an instant.”
Strictly speaking, the symbol of domination is not something that changes the weather itself.
This means that we cannot be free from meteorological phenomena such as snow or rain falling from the sky.
However, since the temperature is kept mild, the snow melts as soon as it touches the ground, or it melts before it falls and becomes rain.
So, Ariel lives in Hespania, but ironically, she rarely sees snow when she stays in the castle for a long time.
“It will arrive soon. Will Madame Helene be there?”
“I don’t know. He may have gone to where his father is… After all, there is Elfelt in the main house.”
Ariel stares at the snowy plain with a nonchalant look, as if it doesn’t matter.
Meanwhile, soon after, the carriage arrived in front of the gate of Hespania, and moved quickly across the road to the castle of the Loveheim family.
“Miss, shall we prepare warm water first when we arrive?”
“Okay, it’s okay. I’ll close my eyes for a while and then get up and wash. Ed, what about you?”
“I have to wait in my room. Call me if necessary.”
Anyway, I can meet Creed tomorrow, and it’s not too late to leave after seeing Ariel asleep.
While the three of them were asking and answering questions about their schedules, the carriage that had arrived in front of the castle stopped slowly and the guards guarding the entrance rushed out and saluted the carriage.
“Are you home, lady?”
“You went through a lot of trouble to travel far away.”
Ariel smiled and nodded at the words of the two guards and asked about her current situation while she was gone.
“Yes, thanks to your concern, nothing special happened.”
“What about your mother? Didn’t you go to where your father is?”
At Ariel’s question that followed, the two guards opened their eyes wide, and suddenly looked at each other and secretly postponed the answer to each other.
“what’s the matter? did something happen?”
“Ah, that… … .”
If you are a member of the Loveheim family, there is a fact that you know to some extent.
Even if I hadn’t seen it in person, the stories I would have heard by ear.
These two knew about it, so they hesitated to bring it up, but they couldn’t keep it a secret anyway.
In the end, the man who opened his mouth with a gun barrel was a little taller and had a sleeker look.
“Actually, Your Highness has returned.”
“… Father?”
“Yes.”
Only then did she understand why they were staring at each other and avoiding answering.
Edgar, who was listening to this, changed his expression, and Shuri’s face was also shaded.
Ariel kept her mouth shut and gazed at the waterway flowing beneath her feet with her eyes set on sinking.
It seems that it is still too early to sleep peacefully.