I Became the Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess

Three days have passed since the day Edgar received a mountain as a birthday present.

Today is none other than Edgar's birthday.

Although it was not a family with great power, but as befits the birthday of the eldest son of an aristocratic family, some unfamiliar people still come to visit the mansion.

Among them, there were some prominent families famous for their long history.

‘A lot of people had come to visit the mansion. ‘

Edgar led his little body along with his parents to greet the guests on the first floor.

It was obvious that those people who were not usually seen visited the mansion in the name of his birthday.

The fact that the eldest son of the Bilhark family was the kid who was befriended by the daughter of the Grand Duke, has spread a long time ago.

"It's hard for adults too."

It may be a happy thing for the children to celebrate their birthday with a lot of people, but it may not be the same for adults too.

Edgar did not despise or view it negatively.

He just thought it was tiring.

"Good for you, son. There are so many people who came to congratulate you today."

"Yes, mother."

There is no way that Katria didn't notice their true intentions.

But you can't say something that would break your 10-year-old son's innocence, right?

Edgar also smiled innocently and nodded his head without noticeably pointing it out.

‘ My hair is going to be ripped off. ‘

Everyone who passed by him all praised his hair, saying that his hair was pretty, and they often stroked it once with permission.

It must have been because the red hair symbolizing the lineage of the Billhark family caught their eye because it was a rare color in other families.

Thanks to this, Edgar gave up tidying his hair halfway through. All the people will pass by and you'll have to sort things out again.

“Mrs.Helena is late. Honey, didn't you invite her properly?"

Lancel asked Katria, unable to hide his nervousness while glancing at the incoming crowd that seemed to be coming to an end.

With the exception of a few families, most of the people now gathered in the hall were as if they had come here to meet the mistress of the Grand Duke's family.

‘What if, by any chance, she couldn't come?'

Even if they don't make a ruckus outwardly unless some of them are shameless, they will still gossip behind their back and spread rumors among the social circle.

“Perhaps they are already on their way, so go up first.”

“I hope so. I can't leave the guests alone either."

Although this is not a formal occasion and there might not be any reason for Lancel to be present around all the time, still he is the head of the family.

At least he needed to greet the guests who came and mingle among the crowds anyway.

After leaving Katria's side, Lansel went straight up the stairs to the second floor.

“If you can't find the Princess, don't be too sad. Understand? Ed.”

“Don't worry, mother. And Ariel will definitely come too.”

“You sure are full of confidence.”

Edgar knew better than anyone that there was no such thing as a must in the world, but he was sure of it today.

If it is anyone but Helena, she would have sent a letter in advance to inform them if something were to happen that made her unable to attend his birthday party.

And the sword that she had promised to give him as a gift must have also been sent along with the letter. Although she is not a man, she is just as responsible as a man and keeps her promise.

Crush Crush.

And did he even listen to Edgar's confident words?

As the gatekeeper was about to announce the end of the visitors, at the entrance , the two women were seen walking hand in hand with each other, one short and one big.

Edgar shook his hand happily.

When both party's eyes met, regardless of who said it first, both the mother and daughter smiled and spoke out at the same time.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Katria."

“Happy birthday, Ed!”

The two first greeted each other through their eyes.

Ariel ran around from place to place as if it was her birthday, and it looked like a black rabbit jumping about.

"Thanks. You look pretty today.”

“Oh, really!? I didn’t come here to get compliments from you!”

“What?”

He can't figure out why the hell this princess is getting angry.

He just praised her with a pure heart, but why is she getting angry?

Still, judging from the fact that her mouth didn't protrude as usual, she didn't appear to be pouting either.

Even if she wasn't angry, why did she have to react so sensitively? Edgar's doubts only deepened.

“Huh, listen, Ed. My daughter says that, but in reality… … .”

“Oh, Mom! What are you talking about!”

What? Is there any behind the scenes story?

Unfortunately, he was stopped by Ariel's almost screaming cry, but Edgar signaled with the light nod of his head at Helena, deciding to find it out later.

At that moment, Edgar's heart was pierced by a sharp glare coming from those crimson eyes.

Edgar's body flinched involuntarily at the sight.

“When I’m not around, will you ask my mom!?"

“Nope, I won’t ask.”

“Really?”

Ariel asked again with her hands on her hips and a stern expression on her face.

Edgar wanted to cross his finger and make a promise, but he just nodded his head once more to cover it up.

(A promise made while crossing the fingers is invalid.)

‘This is why I don't like quick-witted kids.'

He shook his head helplessly.

Edgar sighed and shook his head, confirmed that there were no more guests after the two of them, and closed the door of the mansion.

Still, since she was a guest who came to visit him on his birthday, she felt that she should refrain from teasing him further.

So, when Katria and him were escorting the two to the second floor and climbing the stairs, this time Ariel tapped him on the shoulder.

“Hey, Ed. Are there any friends of yours among the people here today?”

"Friend? Well… … .”

Unfortunately, Edgar had very few people he could name as friends.

He knew that he had peers of the same age in other families, but he had hardly ever met them.

At least, the children of familiar families were already adults or had a significant age difference from Edgar.

Unfortunately, Edgar had few people to call as friend.

"I don't have any."

"Really? Hehe."

“……?”

Edgar was stunned by her unexpected reaction.

How can you laugh at your childhood friend when he says he doesn't get along with anyone. He couldn't understand the innermost thoughts of this immature princess at all.

‘Ariel must have a lot of friends, right?’

There are some occasions where children were forced to meet often due to family relationships, but friendships were also formed between these childrens.

‘I'm just guessing all of this because I have never had any other friends either.'

The four of them went up to the second floor and stood in front of the door leading to the hall.

When other family members who were talking outside confirmed that Helena had come, they hurriedly bowed their heads and greeted her.

Among them were those of a powerful family who Edgar recognises.

‘It's amazing.’

‘Do they usually get along with people like this?'

It wasn't that Edgar became close to Ariel after looking at the girl's family status, but there were many rumors flying about her.

Her family is said to be one of the three most prominent and powerful families in the whole empire.

He then realized again how luxurious and delightful it was to live under their protection.

A rattle sounded.

As the door opened and the four entered the hall, the voices of the chattering crowd gradually ceased and soon silence filled the entire hall.

He tried to look as casual as he could in case Helena found his behavior inappropriate, because most of the people in the hall were gazing at them intently.

"Isn't this Mrs. Robeheim? It's an honor to see you again."

The first to break the serene silence was a middle aged man about 40 years with a bold expression on his face.

Helena, who was searching for his face in her memory, greeted him with an exclamation, "Ah!" as if she remembered it vaguely.

"Nice to meet you, I'm sure… You are from the Ardeltine family? I apologize for not memorizing your name due to my poor memory."

"Haha, my name is Maltred Ardeltine. It's not a great name, but I'd appreciate it if you could remember it from now on."

The Ardeltine family is a family of Count who rule the provinces with power.

Although he has a sincere smile, the fact that a head of the family bursts out laughing at the other person who can't even remember his name, it must have been because of his opponent's reputation is so high.

Edgar, who was watching this from the side, smiled bitterly and sent condolences to the family head whose name was forgotten.

Even if he pretended not to be angry, he musy be boiling with anger inside.

The more power you have, the more prideful you are.

"I've been waiting for your arrival Mrs. If you don't mind, can I talk to you for a while?"

Maltred tried to escort her in a fairly aggressive manner.

Edgar was quick to catch that, Maltred was trying to snatch the lady into his own circle while the rest of the guests were still in a stunt, catching them off guard.

However, the opponent is the mistress of the Robeheim family .

One cannot even count the number of times she has been through various social gatherings so far.

As such, she was well aware of how to escape from this situation easily.

"ah… I am not available right now. I am sorry for the inconvenience."

She talked in a roundabout way, but it was obvious what she meant really if one were sensible enough.

The main character of the day is the small head of the Billhark family who just celebrated his birthday, and she is just the mother of his childhood friend who came to congratulate him.

She didn't come here to be a scapegoat and a topic of gossip for other families.

When Maltred, whose face was black from the rejection, hurriedly gave her an apology, Helen only shook her head with a smile while maintaining the silence.

An implicit answer that there is no need to say more.

Maltred greeted her in a hurry and ran to his seat immediately.

"Katria, let's leave the kids for a while and we'll just talk amongst ourselves. I'm not feeling very well today, so it's not appropriate to mingle among people."

"Oh, I see Mrs"

Helena deliberately talked out loud as if for the other people to hear at the same time.

In fact, it was also a threat not to come and start a conversation with her.

If the mistress of the Robeheim family has already said this with her own mouth, and if there is anyone still approaching her for a chat, then that person must have either left their senses deep in the sea or have no regrets in their life anymore.

"Ariel, let's go over there and play."

"There are many delicious things today."

"Ok!"

Edgar took Ariel's hand and left the seat.

His eyes met Helena along the way, but she smiled silently and waved at them.

The eyes of the other family members who were watching this from the side, suddenly shone.

If you can't shoot your enemy, then shoot his horse.

The two children who were away from their mother, looked like huge war horses in their eyes.