I Became a Childhood Friend of the Northern Duchess

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It seems that due to the fever he had suffered all day, when Edgar woke up the next morning, he immediately realized that his body felt heavier than usual.

Most notably, his neck couldn’t turn easily, and it felt like something heavy was sitting on his shoulders.

‘This isn’t good.’

At this rate, it seemed like he’d have to skip his usual training.

It had become a part of his daily routine, so just skipping one day felt strange and unsettling.

Suddenly, as he tried to rise from bed.

*Thud*

“Ah!?”

When Edgar got up and stepped out of the room, he immediately bumped into an unexpected guest, causing him to stumble.

His body, already sore, had been further agitated, and he couldn’t figure out what had happened.

He feared he might have injured his tailbone, but luckily, the pain quickly subsided. Now, the question was: who had caused this?

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

At such an early hour.

First, he saw the flowing black hair, and then, a familiar voice tickled his ears.

Without even looking at her face, Edgar let out a wry smile and stood up.

“It’s fine. But what’s going on so early in the morning?”

“Mom asked me to bring breakfast. If you’re still not feeling well, she said I could send a maid to bring it to you.”

“Ah.”

Edgar, unconsciously, checked the time when he realized it was already breakfast time.

It was later than usual. It seemed that yesterday’s exhaustion had left him feeling drained.

‘Let’s go eat.’

Even though he wasn’t in his usual state, Edgar was able to go to the dining hall and eat by himself.

When he touched his forehead, he felt that his fever had subsided quite a bit, and he thought that moving around might actually help with his recovery.

“You’re still not feeling well? Should I have someone bring it to you?”

Ariel, watching him closely with a worried expression, asked when he hesitated to answer.

Edgar quickly shook his head.

If he told the truth, she’d probably start getting upset again. She was a tender-hearted girl, after all.

“No, let’s go together. I’m almost better.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Ariel’s face brightened immediately, and she started walking ahead with quick steps.

‘She’s really the one who likes to be the leader.’

She wasn’t the type to follow others, but more the type to make others follow her.

Whether it was the result of the imperial studies from the royal family or just her nature, he wasn’t sure.

In that sense, the two of them were well-matched friends. He also preferred following rather than giving orders to others.

And the fact that following Ariel often led to interesting adventures made it all the more enjoyable.

“So, what do you want to do today if you’re feeling better?”

“Are we playing again today?”

“Yeah, but it’ll be boring just staying inside the mansion.”

Should he be praised for his boldness.

After going through something like yesterday, it was absurd to see Ariel so carefree, worrying about what to do next. But at the same time, it made him think that this was the pure innocence of a ten-year-old.

‘Will she be okay?’

The problem was that his body wasn’t in the best condition to be playing around.

Though Ariel seemed to be walking without much trouble despite having sprained her ankle yesterday, Edgar couldn’t say the same for himself.

If he used his body as an excuse to refuse, he could already imagine how things would play out.

“Let’s eat first, and then we can think about it.”

“Okay.”

He decided to delay his answer for now and buy some time.

The two of them quietly entered the dining room once they arrived.

Except for Edgar’s father, who had left the mansion for some official business, there were only two people at the table.

“I’m sorry we’re late.”

“We were just about to serve the food. It’s alright, please, sit down.”

Helene smiled kindly and gestured for them to take their seats.

The seat of honor was left empty, with Helene and Kartia sitting across from each other. Edgar’s designated seat, as usual, was next to his mother.

“How’s your body feeling, my son?”

“I’m fine, you don’t need to worry.”

“Good, you’ve been through a lot. Your mother was praising you so much……”

Kartia gently patted Edgar’s head while giving him advice to not overdo things next time.

Edgar nodded obediently and watched as the dishes were placed in front of him.

‘Meat, nice.’

They say people lose their appetite when they’re unwell, but Edgar was the opposite.

In fact, when he wasn’t feeling his best, he found himself craving food more. A full stomach was the key to a quicker recovery.

Considering the breakfast spread in front of him, he considered it a great choice for today.

“Edgar, is there anything you’d like to receive?”

“Anything…I’d like to receive?”

As Edga was cutting into the meat in front of him, Helene gently posed a question.

Could it be that she was trying to make up for what happened yesterday by offering a reward?

The timing of the question seemed far too fitting for it to be a coincidence.

He couldn’t just brush it off, so Edgar decided to subtly probe her intentions.

“If this is because of what happened yesterday, there’s no need to worry.”

“Hm? Oh, it’s not just because of that. I’m sorry if I made you misunderstand.”

“Really? Then why……”

Why did she specifically ask him that?

Helene had brought gifts on occasion, but those were always for the exchange between families, not something given specifically for Edgar. He thought his assumption was correct, but now he was more confused than ever.

Seeing Edgar’s puzzled expression, Helene chuckled and subtly glanced at Ariel.

Ariel, who hadn’t even begun eating, was nervously fidgeting with her hands, and today, for some reason, she looked particularly cute.

“Your birthday is soon, right? I wanted to give you a gift, as a way of thanking you for yesterday.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Edgar realize his birthday was just three days away.

‘I completely forgot.’

He usually paid attention to other people’s birthdays, but when it came to his own, he didn’t care whether it was celebrated or not.

If this was a birthday gift, he’d accept it with gratitude.

Refusing it would be disrespectful to her.

“In that case… I would like a sword.”

“A sword?”

The unexpected request made both Helene and Ariel’s eyes widen in surprise.

Surely, a ten-year-old wouldn’t be asking for a sword to display as a decoration. Was he intending to use it himself?

“It’s not difficult, but I want to ask first what you plan to use it for.”

In most prestigious families, even the eldest son doesn’t receive a real sword until the age of thirteen. Before that, children would train with wooden swords or similar substitutes.

It wasn’t simply because swords were dangerous for children.

A sword symbolized willpower. It was believed that the one wielding it must have the strong will to use it.

‘Does this child have that kind of resolve?’

Edgar had always thought of himself as an unusual child, but asking for a sword was a completely different matter.

For the head of the prestigious Löweheim family, bestowing a sword upon someone wasn’t just about the weapon; it carried a profound meaning. It symbolized the bearer’s will and honor, a testament to their ability to uphold the family’s reputation.

As the mistress of the Löweheim family, Helene wasn’t merely acting as an individual, but as a representative of the family’s honor. Her judgment of him wasn’t just personal, it was bound by the family’s legacy.

Edgar met Helene’s gaze, unwavering, refusing to shy away from her scrutiny.

It wasn’t that he had any grand aspirations, as he knew full well he wasn’t yet worthy of such a thing. But yesterday had taught him a valuable lesson. To truly be by this stubborn princess’s side, watching over her future, he would need to be stronger than he was now.

“I don’t need a sword because of a desire for one, I only want it as a symbol to solidify my resolve.”

“Resolve.”

Helene fell silent for a moment, her gaze never leaving Edgar. This boy was something special. If it were any other child his age, they would’ve tried to convince her with lengthy justifications.

She wasn’t a woman who would be swayed by such empty words. But Edgar wasn’t like the others.

He didn’t state his plans or reveal the resolve behind his desire for the sword. Yet something about his words made Helene feel as though he was inviting her to place her trust in him.

Despite his silence, the fire in his eyes spoke volumes.

“Well, if it’s a sword, then so be it.”

“Yes.”

“Next time I visit, I’ll make sure to bring it. Look forward to it.”

It was a gift, but more than that, it was a form of consent from Helene. Edgar lowered his head, bowing deeply to express his thanks.

Meanwhile, Katria, who had been quietly observing, looked between the two of them with a stunned expression.

Once their conversation concluded, the meal continued without incident.

Having finished his meat before anyone else, Edgar wiped his mouth with a napkin.

In the midst of this, a memory from yesterday suddenly flashed through his mind, and he gasped in realization.

“By the way, Ariel, what was the gift you were supposed to give me yesterday?”

“Oh, that…”

What is this? Why is the response so lukewarm about the gift?

Wondering if Helene might know something, Edgar glanced at her, and when their eyes met, she placed a finger on her lips, signaling for him to listen carefully.

It seemed like she was implying he should hear it directly from her.

Edgar’s curiosity grew even more intense.

“Did you notice anything strange yesterday?”

“Strange?”

The only thing that could be considered strange was that she had stubbornly refused to listen to him.

That couldn’t possibly be the answer though.

But he figured there was no harm in asking, and if she got upset, he could figure that out later.

“You know, when you didn’t listen to me and insisted on going all the way to the mountain yesterday?”

“Exactly.”

Wait, really?

Edgar’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected response.

But what does that have to do with the gift? He thought hard, but couldn’t come up with a clear connection.

“The mountain we went to yesterday…….”

“Why the mountain?”

There was no way she was planning to give him something like ginseng from that mountain, right? He didn’t even know if there was ginseng in this world.

“That mountain is the gift.”

“…What?”

“Ugh, I mean…! the mountain itself is the gift!”

Edgar, frustrated by the situation, couldn’t believe his ears as Ariel returned to her usual energetic self and shouted. He still couldn’t grasp what she meant, staring at her with wide eyes.

So, what she’s trying to say is…?

“You’re giving me the mountain?” 

“Yeah.”

He had thought he’d become immune to her antics after dealing with her for so long, but it seemed his confidence was misplaced.

In a daze, Edgar finally managed to take a sip of water. He had joked that she might give him the mansion, but a mountain? Was this really happening?

“So, does this mean… the reason you wanted to go up the mountain yesterday…?”

“I thought it would sound cool to say I gave you the mountain as a gift from the summit…”

As expected of the Grand Duchess. Her way of thinking was certainly different from an ordinary person’s.

***