I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess - I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess chapter 21

21 – Unexpected Proposal (1)

What the Loveheim mother and daughter felt every time they came to Ardenum was how friendly they were.

It wasn’t their hometown, at most it was just a place they frequented, but there was something like a strange warmth coming from this view.

The city of Hespania, where their home is located, is very large and magnificent, and there is something that is overwhelming even at a glance.

On the other hand, Ardenum exudes a relatively simple and tidy atmosphere, except for the surnames of some families.

The splendor and grandeur are captivating at first sight, but once you get used to them, even that becomes an ordinary foreground.

Perhaps the reason why the two preferred the scenery of Ardenum was because they could feel the ease in their daily life, where they had always seen only splendid things.

“You can come here anytime.”

After getting off the carriage, Helen took a deep breath and fully enjoyed the fact that she had come to Ardenum.

On the other hand, the two private soldiers of the Billhark family who were guarding the gate widened their eyes at the sudden appearance of the giant.

I had heard that the two were coming, but how many times had the two of them, who had been assigned to this place relatively recently, had the opportunity to face the mistress and daughter of the Loveheim family?

It’s fortunate that I was informed in advance from above, otherwise it was clear that I would have been startled right away.

“Is it okay if I come in?”

“Yes, yep! Please wait a moment!”

As Helene approached and cautiously spoke to them, they performed their duties to the fullest, stiff enough to be uncomfortably hard for all to see.

clap.

“You can go in, ma’am. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“thanks. Now, let’s go, Ariel.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Today, of course, there was no Sheppy, so Helene had to do everything she had to do as a representative.

Still, sometimes I thought that this wasn’t too bad.

Normally, it was a role that I always waited in the carriage and came out secretly, so there were often times when I felt embarrassed for no reason.

She smiled and thanked the soldiers and went inside, followed by Ariel.

Originally, it would have made no sense for the grand duke’s mistress to be so clear when she visited, but this was also thanks to Helene’s words.

I come here so often, but every time I come, I feel burdened when the gate is full.

Of course, even this didn’t work out well at first, but gradually, through trial and error, the present shape was achieved.

“yes?”

On the way to the mansion through the long road from the gate, there was a boy who was stepped on in the eyes of the mother and daughter.

The figure standing blankly, leaning on the pillar in front of the door as if waiting for someone.

Seeing that he looked like an old man who was free from life and spending time in vain, Helen burst into a small laugh.

“You don’t have to come out and wait, but you have a lot of trouble, Ed.”

“It’s something I love to do. Please bring your luggage.”

As time passed, Edgar’s attitude toward Helen disappeared as well, but his unique gentle courtesy was still the same.

Edgar notices and realizes that he has come without a servant, and immediately reaches out to receive the luggage.

On the other hand, Ariel was in a state of turmoil at the attitude of her childhood friend who did not say hello to herself.

‘Tch, are you ignoring me?’

It didn’t matter if I didn’t receive a greeting from that guy, but it was a matter of attitude towards people.

Does it make sense that no matter how old friends you are, you won’t even say hello to a guest who has come this far?

Ariel, who was so busy talking about manners that she wouldn’t have bothered with normally, mumbling inwardly.

Whether they knew what they were thinking or not, Edgar and her mother were busy sharing the latest news that they couldn’t tell hahahaha.

As if a stone was rolling on the floor of the neat mansion, she was walking with her feet tickling, and soon came across something.

aww

When I came to my senses with a cute scream, Helene walked in front of me first.

It was only that Edgar, who was half a head taller than her, was standing there staring blankly at her.

“What, what… Why don’t you hurry up and follow Mom?”

“… … .”

Ariel, who couldn’t adapt to the sudden pouring eyes, shrank and pointed at Helen.

However, despite her response, Edgar just stared at her in silence.

As if trying to find something.

“No, speak. Why? feel bad.”

It’s probably more embarrassing than embarrassing, but that’s the way most of the words come out of a girl this age.

How much longer did you have to stand like that?

After a while, Edgar must have been convinced, his eyes wide open and he pointed to the area around Ariel’s belly and said,

“It is pretty.”

“uh… uh?”

pretty? what? I?

He’s not the type to say things like this, so what happened all of a sudden? Have you had any change of heart?

While Ariel lost her senses at the sudden attack, Edgar’s comment continued to make the atmosphere tense.

“That dress. It looks like you haven’t seen it before, did you buy it new?”

“… … .”

A word he spat out as he trampled on her expectations at once.

Along with the sensation that the blood throughout the body was cold, the heartbeat that had been beating wildly returned to its original state in an instant.

Then it is. What do you want from this stupid man?

However, in contrast to the cold eyes, for some reason, I felt at ease.

Ariel stabbed him in the side with a half-disappointed, half-comfortable feeling and took a step forward.

Out of nowhere, he made a fuss behind him, asking why he was stabbing his hand first, but he tried to ignore it and just continued on with what he had to say.

“… yes. I didn’t wear it to show you on purpose.”

“Hey, I don’t even want to. Didn’t anything else happen anyway?”

“yes. It was just the same as usual.”

To be honest, it was a little different.

She knew better than anyone that there was no point in talking to this man anyway.

“Are you going to leave Mommy alone?”

“They told us to leave our luggage and play on our own. Perhaps you are thinking of going to your mother.”

“Well, it’s because you sang like that.”

Although they have a master-servant relationship in terms of family, it is not only Ariel and Edgar who are comfortable friends in private.

Even before Ariel was born, Helene, who had come and gone to the Bilhark family, definitely had a friend and companion called Catria.

Of course, if he told Katria about this, he would wave his hand, saying it was too much.

“You know the room, right? I’ll bring my stuff first, so come out and wait.”

“Wait, why?”

I was thinking of just lounging around in bed to take a break from travelling, but what happened all of a sudden?

Edgar smiled and disappeared at the end of the corridor without even solving Ariel’s doubts.

‘It won’t be a big deal anyway.’

At most, it showed the magic that she had been dealing with, and it was clear that it was not expected from her point of view.

That’s also true, because Edgar’s magic teacher for the past four years, when he delved into a new discipline of magic, was Ariel.

Maybe that’s why when she came, instead of saying hello, she was busy asking about magic.

It’s nice to have a passion for learning, but at some point, it felt like her existence was pushed back by magic, so Ariel’s visits to the Billhark family were rare for the past year or so.

‘Tch, idiot.’

After putting down her luggage in the guest room, which she always used whenever she stopped by, she stared at the full-length mirror next to the bed.

If you’re going to say it’s pretty, I’ll tell you including yourself.

I don’t know if it’s etiquette learned from which country to say it by picking out clothes only.

But on the other hand, I wonder if I should be grateful to the dull man for realizing that he has come in a new suit.

“Whew.”

yes.

Since you even looked at my clothes, I’ll at least act as your teacher for a day.

As if she had shaken off all her emotions, including her sad heart, with a short sigh, her eyes became lively again.

rattle.

“What, you came out quickly.”

“Because I can go and unpack my luggage. Hurry up and guide me.”

Are you asking me to see magic anyway?

As if she could clearly see it, Ariel said as she brushed her hair.

Then, as usual, she strides towards the garden.

However, at the questioning voice from behind, the two legs had no choice but to stop.

“Magic, what do you mean?”

“… … ?”

A huge question mark appeared above Ariel’s head at the behavior of her childhood friend who was scratching her ears and tilting her head.

Didn’t you call yourself to see the magic? Then what kind of business is it?

It wasn’t until a few years ago that we played in the mountains together and dug the ground in the garden, but we’re past that age now.

That said, sitting discreetly and having a cup of tea and talking didn’t suit this man… … .

As her doubts deepened, something appeared in front of her eyes.

It is none other than the hand of a childhood friend with calluses from swinging a wooden sword every day.

It was Ariel who tilted her head this time.

“I told you. Mrs. Helene asked us to come and play.”

“therefore?”

It didn’t look like him talking round and round.

He was, in a sense, more straightforward than he was, and had the personality to say what he had to say.

When asked about his intentions, Edgar scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

“Let’s go out for a while. Even if it’s a rural area, there are things to do if you go out to the village.”

“… uh?”

That means… … ?

“you… Are you asking me out on a date?”

“Am I crazy?”

You have to sound sensible.

However, it was also the part that Edgar himself tried to avoid because he felt embarrassed because he had thoughts like that for no reason.

“Puff, good. Shall we look at escort skills? I want to eat dinner at a nice place.”

“I’m thinking of eating it properly… I am the problem for telling you this.”

“Bee, can’t you hear me well?”

Of course, the reason he asked for a date wasn’t what he wanted, but he was thrilled with the long-awaited offer anyway.

Ignoring Edgar, who grumbled and followed behind, Ariel bounced out of the mansion with light steps like a rabbit.

The sunlight, which had only felt warm a moment ago, felt somehow warm.

She nodded her head with a smile on her face as she promised to eat her stomach from what she had suffered so far.

I never liked a man like that, but it wouldn’t be polite for a lady to refuse a long-awaited offer.

That’s just what accepted the offer today.