I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess - Chapter 268



268 – Side Story – Looking Back on 10 Years (3)

It was the first time in a long time that Ariel was so happy to meet someone.

That’s because Sally and Gria never met except for the last time she was born.

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Even at that time, the two people who thought they might be a nuisance to Ariel quickly returned to their home after giving gifts and greetings after the visit, making the gap feel even longer.

“It’s been a really long time. Before, why did you just say hello as soon as you arrived and then leave?”

It was quite rare for Ariel to have such a comfortable conversation with someone.

Except for close relatives.

Therefore, people around her realized that they had a very close relationship with her and did not approach her carelessly.

If it were a public conversation, I would intervene out of concern, but interfering in a conversation with an acquaintance is almost like putting one’s head on the line.

“You’re busy, so we shouldn’t take up your time.”

“That’s right. Besides, we can meet again next time.”

She and Sally agreed, but Ariel still had a sulky expression.

I understand that because of location, even if you are her friend, she is bound to notice you to some extent.

But that doesn’t mean she just goes away without having time to entertain her friends who came to visit her on her birthday.

If Ariel knew how sad she and Sylvia felt when she belatedly realized that day, she wouldn’t have done something like that again.

“Ed. Please speak for me. “Do you remember that day too?”

“Just remember. “Do you know how much trouble I went through trying to comfort Ariel that day because of you?”

Edgar agreed with a playful smile.

It’s not that she was upset about Ariel that day.

Although she seems a bit cold on the outside, she really enjoys taking care of her acquaintances and relatives.

So, I had thought in advance that I would take care of various things for the two of them when they came, but I felt so lost when they just gave me a greeting and a gift and left me out.

The two people looked at each other with their eyes wide open, as if they had not foreseen this fact.

In particular, her embarrassment was so severe that she even asked Edgar again for confirmation.

“W-was it that bad?”

“That’s right. “It looks like the person in question is here too, so ask.”

“Yes? The parties… Ah.”

As Edgar pointed to her back with his chin, a question appeared in Gria’s eyes.

However, she soon turned her head and let out a small exclamation as if she realized what was being said.

“What are you all doing, leaving us alone?”

“It’s been a while since I last saw you.”

Silvia and Hagel were standing there waving happily.

*

There was no way for six people to stand alone in a space that others would pass by.

In the end, the group decided to move to a quiet place and use the separate room to the left of the venue where the banquet was being held.

Fortunately, there were no people who made harsh comments to Edgar and Ariel, who had been there for a long time, saying that the main characters should not leave their seats.

“Long time no see. “Sylvia.”

“I know. “It’s been a while.”

As soon as we moved to our seats, everyone held out their hands or attempted to hug each other, enjoying the joy of reunion.

In particular, Sylvia and Sally seemed the happiest, because these two had very similar personalities and became fast friends in a short period of time.

If I were to tell the story, I would have to go back more than 7 years already.

“I didn’t even know you were here. “Couldn’t you have at least told me?”

“We also received an invitation the day before yesterday. Thanks to that, her wife doesn’t make a fuss about not having enough time to choose her clothes.”

Hagel shrugs his shoulders and smiles.

Afterwards, Sylvia’s shout as she greeted Sally fell like a thunderbolt.

“Ha, Hagel! You don’t have to say things like that in front of others!”

“Haha, it’s still true.”

Hagel burst into laughter as if Sylvia’s anger she did not cause any harm.

“Two days is not enough time? It’s a world I don’t understand.”

“Si, be loud! Women need a little more leeway! Right? Sally.”

“Then. Of course.”

I can’t believe there is someone who can sympathize with such a unique case.

When Sylvia’s colleague appeared from an unexpected place, Edgar shook his head.

“It’s a banquet, so you’re not even going to have a drink?”

While we were in the middle of a conversation.

Suddenly, Sylvia realized that there wasn’t a bottle of alcohol on her table and her eyes twitched.

Isn’t it said that alcohol is the best way to enjoy a reunion?

She thought that alcohol was necessary on days like this, even though it wasn’t something she would say that made her feel dizzy after just three drinks.

Ariel was also feeling a bit bored, so she looked around and spoke quietly.

“If you want to drink, should I ask you to bring some?”

“On days like today, you should drink it. Isn’t that right?”

Although Sylvia narrowed her eyes with a triumphant expression, Edgar’s reaction was truly cold.

“Please go first today and don’t cause trouble to your husband.”

“Well, it only happened last time!”

“Sylvia. For that matter, last week…”

“Hagel is on my side!? Are you on Edgar’s side!?”

Those around her could only giggle as they watched her being bullied by both her husband and her friend.

The sight of Sylvia, who loves teasing others, being treated one-sidedly was a scene not often seen.

“Phew… “I don’t know how it stays the same no matter how old you get.”

Ariel laughed and cried repeatedly, wiping away her tears and muttering in a low voice.

Even when I was a teenager, this was exactly the flow of conversation.

When Sylvia says something, Edgar usually criticizes her, and Hagel secretly agrees, causing Sylvia to break down.

Ariel watched this as if she were a spectator and only smiled.

That didn’t change much even after a considerable amount of time had passed and we each had our own families and were in a position to lead someone.

That fact is truly amazing to Ariel.

“It doesn’t seem to be much different from before.”

“Huh. It’s completely the same.”

In response to Gria’s question, Ariel smiled and declared without a single second of hesitation.

“Still, things have changed a bit, haven’t they? “What was it like before?”

“Well. I’ve had Edgar since he just started walking, but I got to know Hagel and Sylvia when I was in my mid-teens…”

Even though she gets along well with the two people, there are many things Ariel doesn’t know about them.

“If I had to express it, Sylvia was a model of external oil, and Hagel was the opposite.”

“Hehe, I managed to meet you too.”

“Rather, I think that’s why we met. Didn’t they have an intuition that they could make up for each other’s shortcomings?”

Ariel also never thought that Edgar would suit her because she liked this calculating side of him.

It’s just that through the opportunities I accumulated when I was young, at some point, I started to look at him often, found out what he liked, and tried to turn his eyes towards me even a little.

“Will there be someone like me too?”

After hearing Ariel’s words, Gria, who was deep in thought, tilted her head.

She had felt longing and a little heart fluttering before, but she had never looked at someone and thought, ‘He is mine.’

In response to this, Ariel frowned and gave very realistic advice.

“You meet some people. That’s because I’m stuck at home forever.”

“I still like this life. Phuhu…”

Even though people around her had been pushing her back, she had given up, but even so, she didn’t feel like she wanted to meet anyone she knew.

“Well, if you don’t have any ideas, there’s no need to rush, right? If you want to meet someone instead, this won’t work.”

“I know, right. Although we already had a meeting a while ago…”

“Right? Who is it?”

Ariel’s eyes widened at the quite unexpected content.

Recently, Ariel, like Helen in the past, has become more interested in the love interests of those around her.

As she reaches the area where she can be said to be the final destination of love and becomes more relaxed, her eyes and attention will naturally be focused on her.

Among them, the news of her close acquaintance’s new meeting was a topic of gossip that could not be missed.

If I could pay money to listen to it, it would be a material so attractive that I would willingly throw away hundreds of gold bars and listen to it.

When her blood-red eyes glowed, Gria instinctively got scared and retreated to the edge of the chair.

“Oh, nothing has been confirmed yet.”

“But didn’t you at least hear who the opponent was?”

“Yes, that’s true, but…”

Since it was the most important information in a confrontation, I had to listen to it of course.

Aside from what family he is from, there are quite a few details, such as evaluations of those around him and his character.

However, since the confrontation was not confirmed yet, Gria tried to bury this story, but Ariel was a little faster than that.

“Ed! “Are you drunk?”

“I should have brought it soon. Why?”

“Because Gria didn’t tell me that there was a meeting coming soon. “Wouldn’t it be better if I poured some alcohol?”

Ariel talked about people’s right to remain silent as if it were some kind of disease, but at this moment, her actions were enough to get everyone’s response.

“What. “You hid such an important fact?”

“Then I have to tell you to bring it as soon as possible. “I’ll go.”

“Gria, did you finally say it? They said nothing has been confirmed yet…”

“It’s something to celebrate.”

In her separate room, which suddenly became a mess, Gria quickly waved her hand and tried to protest.

However, not long after, even that was stopped as workers outside came bringing alcohol and food.

“It’s been a while since we got together, so we can talk about old times and listen to the story of Gria’s confrontation.”

“It’s good. But I don’t know if it’s okay to leave the banquet hall empty like that.”

“I guess His Majesty won’t mind?”

The conversation, which I thought would end up being just a short chat, suddenly turned into an interrogation and a year-end party to look back on the past.

It is said that someone later desperately looked for the Robeheims at the venue, but they did not even show their faces until the banquet was over.