My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 106
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 106
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There was only one reason I originally wanted to take Lancer to Julia's birthday party.
Let's give Lancer a chance to meet other people!
To be more precise, I wanted him to learn how to carry on a conversation and how to greet others. And my goal was only half-fulfilled.
After the princess fell into the fountain, the birthday party came to an abrupt end.
Even though Lancer had dried her completely, the suddenness of the accident had left her exhausted, both physically and mentally.
The Emperor and Empress saw no point in having the party go on if the birthday girl couldn't enjoy it. All other events that had been planned were cancelled.
The party guests, including me and Lancer, wished Julia well and went home.
Inevitably, Lancer had to return to the Soli Duchy without carrying on a conversation with others. Things didn't go according to plan, but I wasn't sad.
It couldn't be helped.
I was genuinely worried about Julia. I didn't expect her to be so weak.
Still, from what I heard, Julia recovered completely after a few days of well-deserved rest. So much for the incident at her birthday party.
And now.
I'm sitting in Lancer's room.
Usually, when me and Lancer hang out, he would come to the Kaerun Duchy.
But today was different. I stopped Lancer from coming to me, and told him I was going to the Soli Duchy instead.
Before I went and met him, I had a vague idea of what he would say to me.
"The Crown Prince is right, Lancer, I do intend to become engaged to him soon.”
The bombshell I dropped at the Princess's birthday party. He seemed to intend to ask me more about it.
Of course, I could've summoned him to the Kaerun Duchy to talk to him.
But the Kaerun Duchy was no longer a 'safe' place.
The next day after Julia's birthday party— or this morning, to be precise.
Why did Ryan write to my parents? I ask myself.
The Crown Prince, who made it clear that he intended to proceed with the engagement, began to lay the groundwork for it.
And the first thing he did was approach my parents.
When I heard the news that a messenger had come from the palace, I immediately went to my parents' office, a place I had never travelled to on my own two feet in my life.
"Where's the letter?" I burst open the door to the office and step inside.
"Oh my God!" My mother, sitting on my father's lap, snuggling up to him, jumps out of her seat.
I turn to her, pretending I haven't seen the letter coming. "Mother, I heard that you have gotten a letter from the Crown Prince, what is it about?"
"Uh, I don't know." My mother giggles with her hands behind her back.
I can hear her inner thoughts.
‘It said that His Highness would be visiting the Kaerun Duchy soon, but for some reason, he asked me to keep it a secret from Skyla, so as a model citizen and Duchess of the Empire, I won't violate his honour!’
"Thank you for informing me," I reply before striding out of the room.
My mother, coming to her senses, calls out after me.
"Skyla, you…! That's cheating!"
"Don't worry. I'll pretend to be surprised when His Highness visits."
"Skyla!"
"If you're really worried, get me an acting teacher."
"That's not going to solve the problem!"
Retreating, I hastily send someone to the Soli Duchy to inform Lancer that I'm heading there.
Armed and ready, I go straight for him.
And here we are.
"...."
"...."
Not a word is exchanged between me and Lancer. The room is eerily silent.
It's strange. I wonder why the room feels so deserted, given the harmonious arrangement of furniture in Lancer's room.
On a table in the centre of Lancer's room are refreshments left by the maids. My favourite cake is there, too.
But neither I nor Lancer have touched the teacup.
"...."
I lower my eyes to study the tablecloth on the table. I don't dare to make eye contact with him.
Telling Lancer that I liked him, and then announcing that I was engaged to another man.
This is the worst.
Really, really, unbearably the worst.
"...." Lancer hasn't said anything either.
Unlike me, who's observing the pattern on the tablecloth, he begins to do something with his magic. He makes the cookies on the table float, or changes the colour of the tea in the teacups. In any case, he's abusing his magic for unnecessary things.
…This is getting on my nerves.
I can't help but notice Lancer's eyes keep wandering to anything else but me. It's becoming hard to stop my eyes from travelling up to him.
Finally, I've had enough and say to Lancer. "If… if you have something to say, say it."
I don't like the silence. Especially because I can't hear his thoughts. I have no idea what he's thinking, so I hate it when he says nothing.
At my urging, Lancer speaks up. "...I don't know what to say.”
"Why?"
"Because I'm confused."
"Confused about what?"
"Skyla, you clearly told me you like me, so why are you trying to get engaged to… the Crown Prince?"
"...." Lancer's straightforward question leaves me speechless. I somewhat expected him to ask about my engagement to the Crown Prince, but I didn't expect him to ask so bluntly.
As usual, Lancer doesn't hold back.
He asked if I liked the Crown Prince, or if there was some reason I couldn't go against him, or if I was lying when I said I liked him. There were no such speculative questions.
Lancer simply wanted to know, why was I engaged to the Crown Prince?
Well, it's unlike him to speak in circles. He was as transparent as the sea.
And I wasn't about to give him the same lame excuses. "I can't tell you why right now," I say firmly.
He tilts his head. "Why can't you tell me?"
"There's a reason for that, too."
"What is it?"
"Well."
"Okay." Lancer nods without saying anything else. Contrary to my fears, there's no questioning barrage. He doesn't probe to get an answer out of me.
Again, silence rode like the wind in Lancer's room. I stare at him. with my lips in a thin line, and he lowers his gaze without saying a word.
"...Are you not going to ask anything else?" Surprised at how quickly convinced he is, I finally ask.
Though, I wouldn't have answered even if he kept asking me. Or, more accurately, I couldn't. One of the stipulations of my contract with the Crown Prince was that I would not divulge any secrets.
No matter the situation, I must maintain this minimum level of pride as a noble.
But I wonder…
Why didn't Lancer ask me anything else?
"Because it's something you can't tell me," Lancer says calmly. "Skyla, I trust you, so I won't ask anymore."
"...You trust me."
Why doesn't he ask more? Why doesn't he wonder why I would get engaged to someone other than him?
Unbearable emotions spread through my mind like black ink in an instant.
I was furious. It might have been better if Lancer had screamed in anger. I secretly hoped that he would ask me why he would profess my love for him, only to end up with another man, why I would betray him like that.
But he doesn't.
I was afraid.
Afraid that Lancer would lose his feelings for me.
Afraid of Lancer's "indifference".
"Are you… honestly not upset?" I stammer, barely managing to squeeze the question out.
In response, Lancer rubs the back of his neck. "Uh… am I supposed to be angry right now?"
"Yes!" I blurt out despite myself.
The entire journey here to the Soli Duchy had been a torment. In the carriage, I could hardly rest with my eyes closed. Every time I did, I could see Lancer's disappointed face.
I said I loved him, and now I'm engaged to another man. It was unconscionable, disrespectful, and hurtful, no matter how you look at it.
So I prepared myself for the worst. If Lancer's emotions got the better of him and his magic went into a rampage, I would do whatever I could to keep it in check.
But then…
Lancer doesn't ask me anything.
"You… don't like me?"
The hurt I felt from Lancer all those years ago resurfaced. Was I mistaken again? Did he really love me?
"Lancer, you said you liked me, but now that I'm engaged to the Crown Prince, you're not thinking anything of it?"
"Of course I do," Lancer replies. "I just don't understand it, to be honest."
"Ah…," I trail off.
"I don't want to see you get engaged to him, and I'm definitely not going to your wedding if you do get married. I'm afraid I'll go on a rampage."
"Then why...."
"Skyla, I already told you."
I glance at his calm expression.
"You said you liked me, and I believe you. So I know you'll come back to me in the end."
—So don't treat me like a child anymore, Skyla.
With those words, Lancer leisurely raises his teacup.
I stiffen at the distant look on his face, so far removed from his usual joyous self.