Starlit Vows
After finishing the dinner that preceded the ball and meeting various people for conversation, Ariel noticed that the sun had already set. Claiming she wanted a breath of fresh air, she led Edgar out to the balcony. Resting both hands on the railing, she inhaled deeply and gazed up at the night sky. If Hespania’s air felt cool and crisp, clearing the mind, the air here was warm and gentle, filling the chest instead. Is it because it’s night? The thought made her chuckle softly and shake her head. A strangely sentimental mood had come over her, and something in her heart itched at the realization.
I’ve never felt this sentimental before. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it didn’t suit her. When she pushed away from the railing and turned, the stars that had filled her vision vanished, replaced once more by the glow of the ballroom lights.
Meanwhile, Edgar, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching her in silence, straightened up. He had considered stepping away to give her a moment alone, but it seemed that moment had already passed. Since they needed to discuss tomorrow’s schedule, he reluctantly broke the quiet.
“What about the ball tomorrow? Are you staying another day?”
“I’m staying, but one day was enough. It’s time to head back.”
Her reply came without hesitation. She walked over to him and leaned against the wall at his side. The ball would last three days until the day after tomorrow, and attendance was entirely optional. The so-called debutante ball was really only the first night; after that, it was little more than modest gatherings for those newly entering society. Most young ladies who found such events novel and exciting would probably enjoy the full three days, but that world had nothing to do with Ariel.
“There’s still so much I need to do. In about three years, I plan to follow Father onto the battlefield. I have to learn everything I can before then.”
“Three years, huh.”
It was an absurdly early timeline. She would be only eighteen—still not even an adult. Yet that was both the burden of duty pressing on Ariel’s shoulders and the sense of purpose that sustained her. Because of that, Edgar said nothing about recklessness. He had already decided that wherever she chose to go, he would go with her.
“When did the Grand Duke say he’d return?”
“There’s no exact schedule yet. That’s just how war is.”
War was not some children’s game where both sides agreed on a time to fight and then declared it over when they were done. Though Ariel had never experienced war herself, she knew how violent and merciless it could be. Perhaps that was why her father had taught her cold-blooded composure above mercy or compassion—so she could step onto a battlefield at a young age, turn her eyes away from death without flinching, discard what was unnecessary, kill what was marked as enemy, and keep only those she considered her own close by.
“…Liel. Ariel.”
“Hm? Yes?”
She must have been lost in thought about her father’s blurred face, which she hadn’t seen in nearly a year; her chest felt strangely tight. Only when her childhood friend called her name did she snap out of it, and Edgar’s worried face came into view.
“What were you thinking so hard about? Is something bothering you?”
“Bothering me? It’s nothing.”
Ariel shook her head lightly and looked up at Edgar, who stood half a head taller than her. “Ed, aren’t you curious about my father?”
“I am. I’ve never met him.”
He knew the name and had a vague idea of the face. The annex of House Robeheim that Ariel had once shown him displayed portraits of successive heads of the family. From Ariel’s usual demeanor, he could also tell that the relationship between father and daughter was not entirely smooth. Whenever he had asked about her father in the past, her answers had always been the same: “He is a man worthy of being head of House Robeheim,” “He is my ideal,” and so on—plenty of praise, but never once had she said anything like “He is a good father.” It was respect for “the head of House Robeheim,” nothing more. He had never sensed any affection or bond toward “Father.” When she spoke of her mother in front of him, she always said “Mother,” but when she spoke of her father, it was always “Father.” Even in that small difference in address, Edgar had felt the distance.
“Come to think of it, you stopped asking about my father at some point.”
Ariel stepped away from the wall, turned to face him directly, and tilted her head in puzzlement. It almost seemed as though he had been deliberately avoiding the topic—whether she brought up her family, her mother, or even herself, he would steer the conversation elsewhere the moment it threatened to lead there.
“I have some tact, you know. If you don’t want to talk about it, I’m not going to pry.”
“You’re only sharp when it comes to strange things.”
She let out a short huff, then turned and walked slowly back toward the railing with her hands clasped behind her back. To Edgar, the sight looked precarious, as if she might leap over at any moment.
“Ed, if you had to choose between your beliefs and your duty, which would you pick?”
“That’s an odd question. Aren’t they on the same line?”
“No. What if the belief you want to uphold leads you down a completely different path from the duty you’ve been given? What would you do then?”
Edgar fell silent, pondering the sudden dilemma. It was the kind of question where, for example, a warrior who had sworn never to kill might one day be forced to take a life to protect someone precious. Would he hold to his belief, or fulfill his duty? After thinking for a while, he reached a conclusion. He pushed off the wall, looked at Ariel, and suddenly flicked her forehead with his finger.
Thwack.
“…!? Why did you hit me all of a sudden, you idiot!”
Ariel clutched her forehead with a pained expression. Edgar raised one corner of his mouth in a smirk, having instantly read her thoughts.
“Because whenever you’re stuck, you always ask me ‘What would you do?’ I figured you’d do it again this time.”
“Ugh, I was just trying to get some advice from a friend, and this is how you react!?”
It was impressive how he had noticed, but at the same time she felt utterly wronged. She had gone to her childhood friend for roundabout advice, only to receive a flick instead of an answer. How could he be so oblivious to the mood? This fool.
Yet as he watched the sulking Ariel, Edgar reached out and gently patted her head. The young lady grumbled about her hair being ruined again, but made no move to swat his hand away. The smile on Edgar’s lips deepened.
“I flicked you so you wouldn’t overthink things right now.”
“……”
“You’ve always been like this. Worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet, asking me, even crying because you’re scared.”
“I-I didn’t cry!”
Edgar shrugged at her last protest and bent his knees slightly to meet her eyes. “Anyway, don’t stress yourself out over things that haven’t happened. You’ve got Lady Helene, the retainers, and me. If the time comes when you need help deciding, it won’t be too late.”
“But… you never know. What if I get stuck and panic all by myself?”
Ariel asked cautiously, eyes wide. Edgar snorted as if the answer were obvious, poked her forehead with his index finger, then pointed at himself.
“That’s what friends are for. If you start acting pathetic, I’ll smack you properly, so don’t worry.”
“…Do you have to hit me? You’re really violent, you know that.”
There were plenty of other ways to express it—hugging her, soothing her—yet he always resorted to his hand to snap her out of it. Ariel pouted and protested weakly. Edgar thumped his chest with a smug look.
“Ever heard of tough love? It all comes from care and affection for a friend.”
“Hmph, care and affection, my foot.”
Her words were blunt and unadorned, yet strangely reassuring. It was a curious feeling. They said sincerity always got through—perhaps this was something similar.
A quiet moment passed as they looked at each other. The first to look away was Edgar. He walked slowly to the balcony railing, gazed into the distance, and spoke in a calm voice.
“I know you have a lot on your mind. You can’t even guess how many things you’ll have to face from now on. Still, Ariel, remember this one thing.”
He knew how cringeworthy and childish the words would sound even to himself. Yet for the sake of reassuring his precious childhood friend, to let her know she would not be walking alone, Edgar decided to say what he had been holding back.
“No matter what dangerous situation you find yourself in later, if you say the word, there will be someone beside you willing to lay down their life. Well, it’s not like I’m anyone impressive, so you probably won’t believe me.”
The last part was probably his way of deflecting embarrassment. Ariel, who noticed, let out a small, charming laugh without meaning to and stepped up beside him, resting her arms on the railing. Even after hearing those words, her heart did not race the way it had during the day. It wasn’t because the night breeze was cool, nor because she couldn’t hear his heartbeat. The reason was something even Ariel herself could not name.
She lifted her right arm from the railing and slowly brought her hand to his shoulder. Then, tap, tap—she tapped it lightly with her fingers. At the ticklish sensation, like a cat’s playful nudge, Edgar turned his head. Their eyes met in the air.
Ariel saw Edgar’s face flush red for the first time that day. It was not an illusion caused by reflected light, nor because the starlight happened to be red tonight.
She grinned. Realizing she had won for the first time, a deep smile spread across her lips. Seeing the man who always teased her now in a similar state made something flutter in her chest.
He’s always the one teasing me.
In all their fifteen years together, she had probably never turned the tables on him in this kind of exchange. So tonight, she had decided to repay that debt. She reached out from his shoulder, caught his left cheek between her fingers, and pinched. His skin felt surprisingly soft for a man, and warm to the touch. Just as bewilderment crossed his face and the blush on his cheeks deepened, she decided to tease him further with words she would never have said before—words as childish and cringeworthy as the ones he had spoken.
“…, …. ……. …….”
A sudden night breeze carried her voice away. Perhaps it was also because she had lowered her voice out of the embarrassment that had rushed over her at the last moment. Edgar’s face filled with confusion a beat later, and he tried to ask her to repeat what he hadn’t caught, but the moment had already passed. Ariel resolved never to say those words again and turned away lightly, hands clasped behind her back.
Perhaps it was because she had claimed her first victory over him. Her heart, now flushed with heat, began to pound fiercely. After all, the thrill of victory was always intense, no matter the era or place. Just for today, she thought, it was all right for her heart to race like this.
The wind is cold.
Perhaps it was blowing from the direction of her homeland. If only she could ride it and float away, she would reach Hespania in no time. It was a shame that starting tomorrow she would have to board a carriage and set off on another uncertain journey. She hoped that when she went to bed tonight and opened her eyes, she would already be in Hespania.
Holding on to that small wish, Ariel took her childhood friend’s hand and led him back inside. It seemed sleep would not come easily tonight.