My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 102
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 102
I know immediately who the voice belongs to. Yet I don't dare turn my head to check.
But the Crown Prince confirms it anyway. "Ah, Lord Lancer."
He smiles brightly at the figure standing behind me. Beyond his smile, I can hear his thoughts.
‘It's no use, Lord Lancer. Kayla will choose me anyway.'
I stiffen at this worst-case scenario. The Crown Prince was discussing an engagement, I was unable to reject the idea, and Lancer overheard our conversation.
There's a chill in the air between me, Lancer, and the Crown Prince. It's a figure of speech, of course. It's warm in the botanical garden.
I'm going crazy.
Tears welled up in my eyes. I didn't expect Lancer to hear us!
I feel like the Duke of Desirune, caught in the act of having an affair with his childhood best friend. The unpleasant sense of identification I felt with the play is no coincidence.
I turn slowly towards Lancer, wondering what I should do to sort out the situation.
What should I say at this point?
1. It's not what you think it is, I can explain.
2. Yes, I'm getting engaged to Ryan, but I still have a crush on you.
3. Why are you eavesdropping on other people's conversations? Did your manners get eaten with your toast during breakfast?
They're all really bad choices….
Lancer doesn't question me. Instead, he turns to the Crown Prince.
"Do you intend to become engaged to Skyla? Have you asked if this is what she wanted first?" Lancer's face is unusually stony as a slab as he asks such an aggressive question.
The Crown Prince isn't moved at all. "Did you think I would ignore Kayla's wishes and force her into a betrothal? A betrothal she, of course, consented to."
Lancer's eyes widen in shock.
"Why...."
"I don't know. Maybe Kayla and I are in love with each other."
I can't believe the Crown Prince drops such a bombshell. As if that isn't bad enough, he asks me for confirmation.
"Isn't that right, Kayla?"
Why are you asking me that now?!
F*ck, f*ck, f*ck! I swear under my breath.
This Crown Prince doesn't bother to clean up the mess he made. What if this causes Lancer to go on a rampage again, in front of the Emperor and Empress?
What a mess! It's almost as if the Crown Prince is deliberately doing this.
“There was a reason I invited Lord Lancer to Princess Julia's birthday party.”
His true intentions are clear now.
'If I don't nail this down, I'm afraid Lord Lancer will continue to have his eye on Kayla.’
I thought the Crown Prince was only being generous to help Lancer, but now that I think about it, there's a catch!
I've always known that nothing in this world was free, but to be stabbed in the back like this made me feel a bit bitter.
This is why I hate scheming men!
All the good feelings I had for the Crown Prince were swept away like tiny shells in a wave.
Meanwhile, the eyes of Lancer and the Crown Prince are completely fixed on me.
I can't escape. I'm already in a tight spot. There are other people here. Besides, to leave this place I would have to make a big mistake in the presence of the Emperor and Empress.
The Crown Prince—subtly pressuring me to admit our engagement—and Lancer—glaring at me—are waiting for my answer.
Time passes slowly, as if it's been broken down. It's said that when humans are pushed to their limits, their minds begin to collapse.
I'm in that state right now. Why don't I just slap the Crown Prince right here and now and go into exile?
Injuring a member of the royal family is a heinous crime, punishable by imprisonment at best and death at worst. So why not flee to Hebnia and beg Prince Cade to hire me as a clerk?
I went from dreaming of rebellion to emigrating in an instant. Objectively speaking, they're rather ridiculous, but I'm desperate. How am I going to fix this situation? Where did I go wrong?
Was it when I accepted the Crown Prince's proposal of a fraudulent engagement when I was just looking for a betrothal at the time?
Or when I realised that Lancer had become morbidly obsessed with me, and I hoped I wouldn't be caught in the middle of his magical rampage and die?
Or when I fell in love with Lancer so long ago, that I can no longer remember?
No.
None of them are wrong.
I became engaged to the Crown Prince because it was the wisest thing I could think of at the time.
I deliberately pushed Lancer away at the time because it was what I thought was best.
I fell in love with Lancer so long ago because it was my own decision.
I don't regret it. I just made what I thought was the best decision at the time.
So now I just have to make the best choice I can make in this situation.
I lift my head slowly. "The Crown Prince is right, Lancer, I do intend to become engaged to him soon."
"Skyla! What does that mean—" As I expect, Lancer opens his mouth to protest, but I'm one step ahead of him.
"But," I say, my voice loud and clear as I meet Lancer's eyes. "I don't think I'll be marrying him."
I cannot divulge that the Crown Prince and I will be in a fraudulent engagement. But the end of it was fixed. So there's nothing wrong with what I said.
Hearing my proclamation, both Lancer and the Crown Prince look like they've been hit in the back of the head with a hammer. Lancer stares at me with the back of his hand covering his mouth, and the Crown Prince fiddles with the hairs on his nape.
It takes a while until Lancer breaks the silence. "So you're going to be engaged with His Highness... but then be married to me...?"
"...." Why does he say it like that….
I duck my head and evade the question. I don't know how to refute that.
Well, technically, that's how it works....
It feels so weird to experience it myself now. It's like the Duke of Desirune proclaiming that he will live with both Asilia and Serena by his side.
It's so brazen, but I'm also not ashamed.
Because I've already gone ahead and done it!
"...."
The Crown Prince, on the other hand, blinks rapidly, as if to double-check if he heard it right. And then, as if that wasn't enough, he turns to me.
"...." Unable to make eye contact with the Crown Prince, I quickly looked away. At that moment, his words were like wisps of smoke.
‘Are you suggesting that the three of us be in a relationship together…? You have unique tastes, Kayla.’
No, no, no! Why am I suddenly becoming the player of the century?! Stop making me sound like non-recyclable trash! What is this, really?!
The three of us freeze amidst our awkwardness and confusion. It's none other than the life of the party, Princess Julia, who comes to our rescue.
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my birthday party." The sound of the little princess's voice could be heard in the distance, accompanied by a distant cough.
Coming back to his senses, the Crown Prince jerks his head up. I turn my head in her direction.
The birthday party is about to begin. The Emperor, Empress, and a man who I presumed to be the Second Crown Prince stand beside Princess Julia.
A large pink cake is placed in front of the Princess.
Oh, what a cute cake. It's a colourful lime cake decorated with cream in the shape of pink petals. It's studded with sugar cubes that sparkle like pearls, and the soft castella looks delicious.
"...Let's go." The Crown Prince interrupts my admiration for the cake. I glance to see the Crown Prince striding briskly towards Princess Julia.
I follow his lead. The three of us can't have another conversation at this point.
"Let's go," Lancer whispers from behind. The expression on his face is incomprehensible. It's something I've never seen him do before.
I thought I had come too early since there were few people, but it seemed like there were only a few guests invited. I quickly scan the few guests with my eyes and realise I'm right.
I assumed that since Princess Julia was royalty, it would be a party with lots of guests, but that was not the case at all. Only the Emperor and Empress's closest aides, including Duchess Soli, were invited.
And only those sides seem to be invited and not their family.
Duke Soli isn't present. He's probably working at the Imperial Palace.
A small party with a minimal number of people.
I guessed the party was small because of Princess Julia's health.
She's been coughing since earlier, it's clear she's unwell.
Isn't she going to collapse at this point?
I'm concerned for the birthday girl's health without realising it.