I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess chapter 61

61 – What is love

When Ariel wakes up, Edgar is gone.

Meanwhile, Sylvia, who was quietly reading a book she didn’t know she brought from somewhere, closed the book when she found her friend waking up.

“did you sleep well?”

“Yes… How much do I sleep?”

“About four hours? Dinner soon.”

Maybe right after waking up, Ariel was quite fierce unlike usual.

In particular, the sight of it rubbing its eyes was a sleepy cat, and Sylvia, who was watching it, made an expression that she would die of 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 a friend who got messy from sleeping.

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

“… don’t talk Your face is still hot.”

Edgar held her in his arms until right before falling asleep, and she 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 this replacement effect last?”

“Are you leaving by tomorrow morning?”

“… I hope I never have to face him.”

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

‘What kind of guy’s candy has the effect like that?’

For her, who thought that no matter how long it was, it would be ineffective until dinner tonight, so it was like lightning.

Still, for some reason, judging from the fact that he didn’t say any nonsense in front of Sylvia, there seemed to be a slight difference in the effect each time.

Or maybe it was because there were so many emotions and words he hadn’t been able to convey to Edgar that he couldn’t control.

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

“how was it? After confessing to Edgar.”

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

Ariel glared at her friend who playfully asked her question with cold eyes, 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, I realize that it was too short a thought.

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

“What, why do you reflect so easily? You are not like that.”

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

“… but.”

Ariel nodded as if she couldn’t resist.

Even in her opinion, Sylvia has always played pranks, almost crossing the line.

In a sense, he was a genius for pranks even more than Edgar, and he was very good at pranks that were fun without offending others, but that made him tantrum when he did.

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

Sylvia, who always thought of the future and played pranks, was committing 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, but I can’t help it. Next time, I’ll shoot fireballs at you, friends or whatever.”

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

“Hey, how can you believe just 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, I 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 sure this time.

Next time I 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?”

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

“Oh, that? abandoned If someone else picks it up for no reason, it might get in big trouble.”

“That was good. I was thinking of breaking the glass bottle as it is if I see it.”

As the memory of the first time he ate candy still lingered in his head, Ariel gritted his teeth and let out speculation.

The momentum was so intense that Sylvia’s hamstrings were tingling as she watched.

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

“… Aren’t you going to wait?”

“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 removed herself.

Next time, please bring a proper gift to see your 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 I hadn’t been to since the incident, so somehow the scenery 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 head of the Loveheim family was a difficult existence for Edgar to carelessly look up to.

So, we greeted him 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 I wanted to ask for.

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

“… 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, Helen’s request was made only when he was young, and he could treat him like that as if he was still before he matured, but not now.

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

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

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

“The rumors must have bothered you.”

“Yes? oh, that’s… … .”

Watching him avoid his gaze, Yulken raised one corner of his mouth 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 would circulate.”

“… … .”

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

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

In a way, it was the simplest way, but at the same time it was a clumsy idea.

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

Well, if you ask me if that’s 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 what he was involved in, so I thought it would be better for him to take his place as the other two would bow their heads.

“Did you tell me? 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 other vassals 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 a friend in front of others.

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, even a slightly altered rumor that it was because of the magic potion, but one thing was certain: it was not easy to fix it.

But in a sense, it might be the right time.

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

The reason I called him today was to ask him about his intentions.

“Do you still consider yourself inadequate?”

“Did you know?”

“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 wasn’t on the same level as Ariel.

Of course, the 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.

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 and assist and protect others.

In fact, his aide, Elfelt, was just such a case.

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

Yulken vaguely knew.

The fact that her daughter’s love, which 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.

Still, he gave no advice. that would be too,

“… Don’t you think it’s pathetic?”

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

“Yes?”

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

In fact, seeing him reminded me of my childish self in the past, when I 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 Loveheim family.

Ilshin’s pseudonym.

Even a huge wealth that will not be enough for a lifetime.

Even though he had all of that, he hesitated even to approach the young lady of a lesser family, his innocent yet foolish self in the past.

But now, looking back on those memories and watching the boy in front of me, I could see that it was the right thing to do.

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

Compared to the person I have a crush on, I look infinitely shabby.

Even if you have everything you lack, such as ability, family, wealth, and appearance, you will 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?”

“Permission. That would mean something else.”

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

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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 to my father, who hasn’t given me any love for a long time, but I didn’t want to send him 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 we 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 in Edgar’s 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 my daughter.”

“Please don’t tease me too much.”

“I hope you will be lenient.”

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

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

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

What the effect of the candy Ariel had really been, whether the words of love that she whispered softly into her 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 two. There was something I knew for sure.

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

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

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

Even in this confusion, I decided to walk with only those two truths.

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

That was all.