My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 104
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 104
I cringe. Resentment rises inside me.
I hate it when I can hear people's thoughts. It's so easy and quick to recognize what someone else thinks about you without even realizing it.
I feel a little uncomfortable with Julia’ sudden insistence on me breaking up.
But she's still a princess. I can't roll my eyes and say, "No thanks." I don't want to get dragged away for insulting the royal family.
I'm afraid of power….
I drag my heavy legs to follow her as best I can. She leads me to a fountain in the centre of the botanical garden.
"Did you like the cake?"
She's obviously seen that I hadn't eaten the cake.
"It's a pretty cake, pleasing to the eye." Having answered her question in a way that sounds good to me, I turn my head to glance around.
The guests are enjoying the cake and chatting among themselves. It's a lively party, as it always is at noble parties. So no one thought anything out of the ordinary if they saw me and the Princess head off to a place far from the crowd.
As I slowly scan the gathering, I lock eyes with two people.
...!
Lancer grunts, crossing his arms as he puffs his cheeks. The Crown Prince frowns slightly, his hands clasped behind his back.
They look like they've just been exchanging polite harsh words with each other.
"...." What the hell are those two doing, fighting at someone else's birthday party?
I avert my gaze from them and turn my attention back to Julia. Over her shoulders is a shawl I haven't seen before. The shawl hangs down to just above the floor, dragging at the hem as it doesn't fit her petite frame.
It's quite warm in the botanical garden, so the air can't be cold enough to warrant the shawl. Still, the fact that she has her arms wrapped around it like that is a sign of….
…She's feeling unwell.
I pity Julia.
"What does Princess Kaerun think of His Highness the Crown Prince?" Julia asks.
Oh no. I didn't expect her to be so blunt. She's quite the outspoken princess. "His Highness is a good man." I put on my commercial smile and pull out my most generic compliment card, just as I did for the Emperor and Empress.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work for Julia.
"So, does that mean you think His Highness is a suitable husband?"
If I was drinking tea, I would have definitely spat it out.
There's no question an eight-year-old— no, a girl, who just turned nine today, can't ask!
Was she a matchmaker in a past life?
I clear my throat at her bold questions. "I'm not interested in marriage yet."
I'd prefer to marry Lancer, but… that was still a long way to go, so it wasn't a complete lie.
"Really?" A beaming expression crosses Julia's face when she hears my answer, and at the same time, her inner thoughts ring in my ears.
‘What a relief!’
Relief? I flinch and mull over the words. Relief? Is the Princess happy that I've told her I have no intention of marrying her brother?
I'm not hurt too much, since I don't intend to marry the Crown Prince in the first place, but I can't figure out why she doesn't like me.
People have their own opinions and prejudices. Therefore, I know that I cannot be loved by everyone.
However, today was my first time meeting Julia. Moreover, she was still young. It's unlikely she's heard any of the gossip about me.
Why on earth does she not like me?
Surely my nickname hasn't evolved from "The Grim Reaper of Society" to "The Destroyer of Society" or something like that without my knowledge….
Just as I'm worrying about that,
"Good choice," Julia says, her voice clear. "Princess Kaerun deserves better, so I think you should reconsider your engagement to His Highness."
Huh?
My eyes widened at her response.
What?
"Princess Kaerun, you are very talented, beautiful, and have a good personality, so I'm sure you'll find a good husband."
I've never been complimented on my personality in my life… this is obviously an empty statement.
I click my tongue inwardly, staring at her in disbelief. "Are you saying that His Highness is not a good husband?" I ask, twisting her words.
Julia remains unfazed and replies calmly. "A good husband and a great husband are two very different things, Princess Kaerun."
Ah, yes….
I stay silent, not knowing how to respond.
It's a little funny, and a little strange, that I'm being lectured on the virtues of marriage by a girl who's only nine years old.
"I think you should take my advice." After gauging my reaction for a moment, Julia continues.n"I am the sister of His Highness, so I have the closest view of him."
‘Of course, since my brother is the Crown Prince, he'll be a good husband, but… will he care about Princess Kaerun enough to give up his time for her after marriage?’
I'm about to say something, but clamp my mouth shut.
‘My father and mother always look good in public, but I don't know if they love each other.’
Don't reveal your serious thoughts without any notice, Princess!
The corners of my ears twitch as I overhear the feud between the Emperor and Empress. I feel uncomfortable in this place.
If I make a mistake and accidentally reveal this, won't I be taken to prison?
But Julia's thoughts are unrelenting.
'My father is always busy with his duties, and so is my mother, and they don't meet with each other unless they have to. I'm afraid that my brother and Princess Kaerun will fall into the same dry relationship.’
What? Is that why she didn't want me to be engaged to the Crown Prince?
I stare at her with wide eyes.
Princess Julia gives me a small smile. "Princess Kaerun is still young, so think about it more thoroughly. Love isn't something you wait for, it's something you earn."
"...." She talks like that but she's less than half my age…. I'll just shut up now.
I secretly sigh to myself.
‘My brother says that my mother and father care for each other, but I don't think that's real love. A couple must sometimes burn like fire and sometimes be one like water….
"...." Hearing her thoughts regurgitate like water rushing out of a burst pipe, I'm at a loss for words.
What the hell.... What is her mental age? Wasn't today her 9th birthday party? Why does she seem to have blown out 90 candles? Why is she talking like she's been rejuvenated to her childhood after a lifetime of living? Do royals grow up this fast?
‘Just like in the book ‘My Husband and His Childhood Friend's Wedding as a Funeral.’’
Was she quoting a novel?
"Princess, you shouldn't be reading such an adult novel at your age!" I'm so shocked that I can't hold it in and shout.
Julia takes a step back in surprise. "What… what novel do you mean?"
"Oh, that's....”
I unconsciously reacted to her thoughts. This is my mistake.
After a few moments of improvising a lame excuse in my head, I finally broke through.
"You just said, 'Love isn't something you wait for, it's something you earn.’ Isn't that from the novel My Husband and His Childhood Friend's Wedding as a Funeral?"
Is that an actual passage in the novel? It would be nice if it was. If not, I can just pretend I misremembered it.
At the mention of the novel's title, Julia's mouth immediately twitched. "Do you know the novel?"
"Uh…. Of course, I saw the play with His Highness a few days ago."
The smile on her face spreads at my reply. I wonder why?
"So you've read the novel as well?" She asks bluntly. "What do you think of it? Isn't it the masterpiece of the century, so much so that they should create a new literary award right now and give it to that novel?"
As she speaks, Julia's eyes begin to shine. I'm stunned by the gleam in her eyes, they make them look like jewels.
I better behave myself.
After assessing the situation, I try to flatter her as naturally as possible. "Of… of course, I read it and was so impressed that I lent it to the servants of Kaerun Duchy's mansion to read as well."
It's the other way around, but whatever!
"Really?" Julia asks again with a small cough. "I bought three copies of that book! One to read, one to keep, and one to lend!"
"Ah…. you must really like the book," I respond soullessly.
"Yes, I love it this much!" Saying that, Julia opens her arms wide to show her affection for the book.
But it's the wrong choice.
"Aah!"
It must have been the long shawl dragging on the floor because Julia loses her footing for a moment and flails about.
There's no time to catch her.
Splash!
Stumbling backwards, Julia falls straight into the fountain.
"Princess!" I hurriedly run towards her.
The water in the fountain isn't very deep. However, for the small Julia, the water seemed quite deep.
"...!" She flounders in the fountain, flailing her arms and legs desperately.
For a moment, panic flashes across her face.