My Childhood Friend is Like a Stone - Chapter 2

Episode 2. Chapter 1. Prologue (2)

“Because he wouldn’t have known I was here. I was surprised to see him after such a long time.”

Of course, they exchanged letters during the war, and her final letter after the victory especially emphasized: ‘You have to make a debut, so I’m going to the capital. If you happen to meet me, don’t act like you know who I am.’ It was written clearly, though.

She didn’t know if he didn’t get the letter or if he just pretended not to know. Either way, Cyril’s reaction today was against Adrienne’s words. Of course, Adrienne, a country girl, found the social world in the capital to be too harsh and exhausting. It was especially tough to suffer in this way against a Young Lady set to make her debut or her parents.

‘Let’s run away.’

If she stayed, they would only ask her questions such as, “What kind of relationship do you have with Sir Thesar?”, “What kind of relationship will you have in the future?” and “Do you have any promises made in the past?”

‘Sir Thesar is only a friend who I grew up fighting with, and he would only be an enemy who I always argued with, and I have heard him declare in the past that he would never marry me…’

How great would it be to be able to say that?

Unfortunately, it can’t be the case, so the only answer was to run away. Exactly five minutes later, Adrienne sneaked out of her seat on the excuse that she was not feeling well. Despite the fact that she was in an amount of discomfort today, time seemed to pass quickly because her surroundings were already dark.

Adrienne stopped next to a bronze statue after walking around for a while. If she walked into a more remote area, she could bump into a pair of nobles who were enjoying playing with a ‘fire.’

‘I’ll have to go back after staying a little longer. I did a great job of keeping the carriage outside.’

If she left a carriage at the Imperial Palace, it would be useless since the Cassinel family’s emblem, which consisted of only a splendid crest, must have flapped. The news of Adrienne’s escape must have spread like wildfire.

There was a long shadow under Adrienne’s feet as she sighed in tiredness. Only then Adrienne just realized there was a man behind her. Because this was the location, there would be no confrontation with the evil party on this street, but it would be tough for her if someone recognized her face.

‘It’s best to pretend to be sick.’

Adrienne slowly turned back, her brows lowering and her slender fingertips pointing to her temples.

Then, “What are you doing here alone?”

In an instant, her expression was distorted.

Sensuality, amazing looks, and such a gentleman. Cyril Valentin de Thesar was standing right in front of her.

“Oh, look, it’s Cyril.”

Adrienne got rid of ‘pretend to be sick’ with amazing speed. Her fine-grained eyebrows returned to their place, and her pitiful hands were used to ruffle her hair.

“…Do you know we haven’t seen each other in two years?”

“Time flies so fast. I was surprised, too.”

“Why don’t you at least pretend to be glad.”

“Nice to meet you. It’s so nice to meet you. You’re in good shape, aren’t you? You look good.”

Cyril smirked in her sincere attitude. It was more amusing to see through the body with the eyes while talking like that. Adrienne, who had now grasped the situation, glanced up at Cyril and stopped.

She narrowed her eyes, looking at Cyril with a tilted head, to feel something really weird.

“Cyril.”

“What.”

“Have you ever felt such pain in your neck?” She doesn’t remember it being this much until two years ago. Adrienne spits out her words. Of course, he was already tall at the time, but it feels different now.

Adrienne’s sense of looking up at Cyril was strange.

“—Adrienne, I told you that your memory is severely distorted. I haven’t been shorter than you since I was thirteen years old.”

“I only remember you being so small until you were thirteen.”

Cyril frowned this time. There was an unspoken rebuke about when the false remarks would appear, but Adrienne was confident.

It was natural for memories of eight years of living together to be more vivid than memories of five years apart. That was because Cyril had always been smaller than Adrienne.

Adrienne was still tall for a woman – 5.5 br (about 170 cm) – when she was 13 years old. Cyril, who was sickly and frail, was always small in Adrienne’s memory.

When did Cyril get so tall? Looking back on Cyril in the past, it was close to a miracle how he grew up in one day as if he had given water to a bamboo tree.

Cyril Valentin, who wouldn’t be strange even if he died young, grew up to be a soldier, and even though it was only an honorary position of the Emperor, was a miracle himself.

“You, don’t look at me that way.”

“—Wait, what did I do?”

“You look at me as if I were a son who has been far away.”

“I have nothing to say to the Lady.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

She snorted as if she’d heard something that wasn’t even Cyril.

‘I know my cousin is in the military, but no one is as timid as Sir Thesar.’

Adrienne’s ears were filled with the words she had heard earlier. Few words…? Cyril Valentin? What kind of reticence exists in any country?

“More than that, Cyril, did you not receive the letter?”

“The last time I got it was about a year ago.”

“It’s no surprise. You dared to act as if you knew who I was.”

Cyril, who had heard her murmur, opened his mouth. It was a habit that came out when he was confused. Adrienne waved her hand familiarly. And so he closed his mouth.

However, if someone pretends to know their childhood friend they met after two years and hears such a noise, anyone will be shocked. Cyril held back to ask how her head was made up. Because the answer was sure to come back, pretending to be innocent.

“Give me that.”

“Did you leave it there?”

“Who said she’d give it better if I came back safely?”

Cyril took out a handkerchief from his pocket and waved it in front of Adrienne.

[Cyri]

The embroidery, done with terrible skill, was not even finished. How absurd it was for him to get this handkerchief on the day he left for war.

Cyril’s memory was still vivid.

‘—But my name is not Cyri?’

‘I know.’

‘I know, but this is… Is this how you put my name?’

‘Every time I see a handkerchief, my heart explodes. I can’t stand this. I’ll make it better when you get back safely.’

In this way, Cyril suddenly lost the ‘l’ from his given name. In fact, Cyril felt Adrienne had made a mistake. Surprisingly, the embroidery was neither crooked nor inconsistent. Anyone looking at it could see it was a beginner’s skill, therefore it seemed logical to leave off one letter of the name.

So Cyril received the handkerchief without saying anything. It was unfortunate that Adrienne, who lacked embroidery ability and skill, struggled with the cloth. Adrienne’s explanation, by the way, was quite reasonable.

In fact, whenever he saw the handkerchief, he would click his tongue at his incomplete name.  Two years to endure with the thought of getting the name back. Today was the very day.

“I asked who it was, Adrienne.”

Adrienne shrugged when Cyril noticed.

“Of course, I’m staying in the capital now. Don’t worry about it. I keep my word.”

Adrienne pulled something out of her dress pocket. Last time it was red and this time it was a pure white handkerchief. At first glance, the number of letters was much higher than last time. It didn’t seem like she was just playing.

Still, it wasn’t a bad feeling to think she’d embroidered herself worrying for his well-being.

Likable or not, it’s for a friend—.

“Why is it white?”

“…To make it harder to maintain? Or keep it as an ornamental?”

“You’re telling me not to go to dangerous places again.” The eyes that stared at her as if she didn’t grasp this deep meaning were annoying.

Cyril could bet all of his fortunes, saying that was the reason she had it. It must have been so that the only thing he could see was white. Still, it was commendable that she didn’t forget to keep her promise. Cyril chuckled and received the handkerchief.

But for a moment, too. “—Adrienne de Cassinel Bluea.”

“You haven’t forgotten my name yet. Good job, Cyril”

“Are you kidding me?”

The bright yellow eyes shone with anger. Cyril opened the handkerchief.

[Syril Valentin De Thesar]

“S” was proudly in the place where “C” was supposed to be.

Meanwhile, the remarkably improved skill and the rest of the perfect name saddened Cyril.

‘If you’re going to do this, just make sure you did all wrong—.’