My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 115
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 115
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After that, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hear Lancer's thoughts.
I sighed heavily as I snapped back to reality. I tried so many times since then to hear his thoughts, but I only failed each time.
It was strange. I could hear other people's thoughts so well. Sometimes too well I wanted to cover my ears and run away.
But when I stood in front of Lancer, all was quiet.
I could hear nothing but the words coming out of Lancer's mouth. After each sentence from his lips, I strained my ears, hoping to hear something else, something contradictory.
No matter how long I waited in silence, his thoughts never came.
Maybe it's because Lancer is an archmage.
I pondered. Could it be that Lancer is beyond ordinary humans, so the spell cast on me didn't work?
That seems like the only reason…. No matter how hard I racked my brain, I couldn't think of any other explanation.
I wondered what the difference was between Lancer and other people. He's an archmage, and everyone else is a mundane being without magic. Isn't that it?
I thought back to the message the mage— no, witch left me through Viscount Artisina.
“The Princess already knows how to break the curse.”
I want to meet the viscount's grandmother and exclaim, “I don't know! I don't know how to break the curse!”
"Sigh." I sighed like I had the world over my shoulders and turned over on my bed. My hair trickled down onto the pillow.
Lancer….
I wonder what he's doing right now.
Lying in his room, sleeping. Or maybe he just finished bathing, stripped down his top and got into bed.
He says he doesn't like it when it's hot, so maybe he does the former. Now that the temperature has dropped considerably, it would be just right for him.
What does Lancer look like when he sleeps….
It takes me a while to fall asleep, wiggling in the duvet that warmed me.
And that night, I dreamt of Lancer.
In my dream, I was sitting in my office chair, processing paperwork.
I could tell it was a dream because of the layout of the office.
My parents, who were forced to work hard again after I quit as acting duke, had completely gutted the office. But the office I saw in my dream was exactly the same as the one I was using.
What did I do in my previous life to deserve this nightmare….
I felt bad for myself that I was still working, even in my dreams, when everyone else was flying around on unicorns or jumping over rainbows.
So I began to work in my dreams, grimly and honestly. I'd been working for a while, buried in a magical stack of papers that never shrank, when Lancer bursts in.
"Skyla, stop working and come play with me!"
"I can't. I have a lot of work to do."
Lancer clasped his hands together. "Well, then I'll get rid of all the work you have to do!"
With that, he snapped his fingers.
At the same time, the background I was in changed in an instant. The Duke of Kaerun's seal, the office, the lamps, and my bedroom vanished like sand.
Everything disappeared behind a hazy haze, reconfiguring itself.
And then I opened my eyes again.
I was in Lancer's bedroom.
Hmm? I rubbed my eyes at the sudden change in environment. Of course, it was a dream, so I don't feel anything, but I still wanted to double-check.
"Why did you suddenly send me to your room—"
But I couldn't finish my sentence.
"Skyla."
Lancer came up from behind and hugged me. Stumbling into his embrace, I turned my head in confusion.
"What are you doing all of a sudden?"
"I just feel like it."
Lancer laughed sheepishly. His jewelled eyes reflected my own.
"I love Skyla so much." He whispered, his head buried on my shoulder.
I stared at him for a moment, then smiled sheepishly and stroked his blond hair.
In my dreams, Lancer and I would play chess in that room, read illustrated books, or drink tea and talk about anything and everything….
"My lady."
I'm in the middle of an argument with him about whether bread pudding is bread or pudding (for the record, bread pudding is bread; it never gets refuted) when I hear a familiar voice.
Drawn to the voice, I slowly open my eyes.
"...Phoebe?"
"Good morning, my lady."
‘You're so cute! You're the cutest thing ever! You're so precious! I want to make you the happiest girl in the world!’
Dressed as usual in her maid's outfit, Phoebe greets me.
I jerk upright at the sound of her loud inner thoughts.
The light that seeps through the curtains illuminated my eyes, and it's only then that I realise I'm fully awake from my dream.
"...."
I looked down at the duvet in a daze.
Dang….
Once I'm fully awake, everything falls apart.
Behind me, stunned and stiff, Phoebe asks if I want to wash my face, but I can't answer.
So unfair.
What the hell.
Why the hell!
Why are dreams so wholesome?
Shouldn't dreams be wild, shouldn't they unleash the beast inside of me?
I mean, I could've kissed him in my dreams…!
I lay back down on the bed, clutching the duvet tightly.
"My lady, are you tired?"
"No," I grunt, snuggling back into the comforter.
I almost want to cry, frustrated that I haven't gotten to hold Lancer's hand in my dream.
After that, I've been in a bad mood all morning.
"My lady, would you like me to pour more milk into your empty glass?"
‘I'm scared! Those fierce eyes! This is too much pressure!’
"Bring me some juice, not milk." After a short answer to the maid's question, I stab the bacon with my fork.
The maid's gaze at me is uncharacteristic. Perhaps she's afraid she'll get on my nerves.
Well, she must be a new maid, because no matter how bad of a mood I am in, I don't lash out at anyone.
So, after breakfast, I head toward the library of Kaerun Duchy until Austin calls out to me from behind.
"My lady, you have a visitor."
It's Lancer!
"Send him up to my room. Prepare the usual tea for him." I reply, almost reflexively. Austin looks puzzled for a moment.
"My lady…. I'm sorry, but I don't know what kind of tea Lady Aronia usually drinks…."
‘Since when were you close enough with Lady Antonia that you know her usual tea?’
Aronia?
At his words, I turn toward him hastily. "Lady Aronia came to visit me?"
"Yes."
"Why isn't it Lancer?"
"What?"
Austin heard my muttering and cocked his head in confusion.
‘My lady is looking for Lord Lancer first? Oh, my God, since when…!’
"I'll meet her in the parlour." Ignoring Austin's response, I head for the parlour.
I wonder why Aronia is looking for me.
She pops up unannounced once in a while, just when I think I've forgotten.
I think to myself as I descend the stairs.
In a way, Aronia has a good head on her shoulders. I'm sure she knows that I don't have the best feelings for her personally.
So if she had told me in advance that she was coming to see me, I might've found an excuse or pretext and refused to meet her.
She must've wanted to see me no matter what, like an unannounced inspection.
And she knows full well that I have no appointment today and I am the only one at the mansion….
I'm completely outwitted by her. She's amazing.
When I arrive at the parlour, Aronia greets me warmly. "It's been a long time, Princess Skyla!"
Unlike in the past, Aronia has been standing there waiting for me even before I arrived. What on earth does she possibly have to say?
Cautious, I accept her greeting and take my seat.
She smiles warmly and asks me how I'm doing. "Have you been doing well?"
"Yes."
"Has everything been okay?"
"Yes."
"I'm glad to hear that, I've been doing well too!"
"Yes."
Having answered three times in one syllable, I glance at her with an impassive expression. Unfortunately, I don't have the ability to be polite to others.
To be honest, I'm at my worst right now. I've been waiting for Lancer ever since I woke up from that dream. I'm very upset that Aronia, whom I hadn't even imagined, had popped up instead.
After taking a moment to study my face, she speaks up. "Ah, well, the reason I'm here today…."
‘Uh, for some reason, the Princess seems to be in a bad mood…. Is it because she doesn't like me?’
No, wait a minute, Aronia, it's not like that.
“Forgive me if I don't seem to be the best version of myself at the moment. The dream I had last night has made me a little… restless."
I can't tell her I want to cry because I saw my crush in a dream and I couldn't hold his hand.
Aronia lights up and grins once more. "I see! I've heard that drinking herbal tea before bed can help you sleep better, so why don't you give it a try?"
I think I'd sleep better with herbal tea and Lancer cuddled up next to me like a big teddy bear….
I want to go back to dreaming and hold Lancer….
I can't stop thinking about him, even as Aronia sits across from me.
Get a grip, Skyla!
A guest is a guest, albeit an uninvited one. It'll be rude to think about Lancer in front of Aronia.
"So, what brings you to me?"
"Oh." She blushes, a little embarrassed by my straightforward question. "Well, it's a little too much to say, but I'm here to repay a favour to the Princess…."
What favour?
