My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 120
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 120
Excuse me?
I'm momentarily speechless at Lancer's bizarre words.
Did he just say what I think he did?
"You'll… give me the capital? Like, the capital of the empire?"
"Sure, Skyla, if that's what you want."
"How?" I ask again, and Lancer grins.
"Simple, I'll cast a brainwashing spell on everyone to make them think you're the next emperor...."
"Alright, that's it." I cut him off. At the same time, my hand grabs his arm and yanks it away.
A startled Lancer glances down at me. "S-Skyla?"
"You… how can you just say stuff like that?"
I look around hastily, just in case someone has heard him. Thankfully, it was just us at the top of the clock tower.
If anyone else heard what he just said, he would've been hauled off to jail.
"Lancer, why did you suddenly say that? I didn't ask you for the empire."
"Well, Skyla, you were looking at the landscape with a lot of affection, so I thought you'd be happier if you had the empire…." He trails off, unable to continue. The corners of his eyes drooped as he looked at my stern face.
After a moment of silence, I let out a sigh. "Lancer, I'm just looking at the capital since it's so well-made. So I'd like to take note of it if I ever rule the duchy."
"Ah, I see." Lancer nods at my explanation, then turns his gaze back down.
"Now that you mention it, it does look nice." After a few minutes of staring down at the clock tower, he says.
"Huh?"
"I didn't realize it before, Skyla, but now that you've mentioned it, this place is well-made."
Oh….
I stare at him, dumbfounded.
For once, I feel like we're properly conversing. To be honest, I'm quite surprised by the fact that Lancer, who couldn't read the room, is now responding to my words accordingly and carrying on a conversation.
"So, Lancer, what do you think you would have done if you were the Emperor?" I ask, to see how long this can carry on.
"If I were emperor, huh…. I would probably get rid of those buildings."
I turn my eyes toward the direction his finger is pointing. There stood tall commercial buildings.
"...Why would you get rid of those?"
"Too tall."
"What?"
"Those buildings are too tall. I can't see the Kaerun Duchy from my home."
"Oh…. I see." At his reply, I realise those buildings are located exactly between our residences.
Of course, I hadn't driven a carriage or traveled on foot to Soli Duchy since I was a child, so I wasn't sure which way it was.
"If it weren't for those buildings, Skyla, I'd be able to fall asleep every night facing you, wouldn't I?" Lancer glances towards those buildings like they were a bother. All the while, the bright smile he's been wearing doesn't fade at all.
"...." For some reason, a chill runs up my spine. Lancer, you punk…. you don't plan on blowing up those buildings, right?
If I don't say something here and now, he might actually try to pull something about those buildings.
"Ah, I don't know, though… I like it the way it is." I say, in an attempt to save the buildings that were doomed for merely existing between the duchies of Soli and Kaerun.
"Really? Why?" he asks, tilting his head.
"Why? Well...." His question leaves me speechless.
Does he not know?
I like it because it's the city you and I live in together.
It's the land where you and I were born and raised.
It's where you and I share fond memories from childhood.
It's a happy place where you and I have spent quality time together.
While I'm still processing these thoughts, Lancer asks me out of the blue. "Skyla, have you ever thought about moving somewhere else?"
"Not really." I'm quite happy where I am, in Kaerun's mansion. "Why, where else would you want to live?" I ask back, and he blushes slightly as he scratches the back of his head.
"I wanna be wherever you are, Skyla."
"Why are you so shy all of a sudden?"
Something about Lancer brushing strikes me as odd. He's never the shy type.
"You've been saying all these weird things. Do you have something you want to tell me?" I question mindlessly.
"...Yes."
Huh?
"Skyla, there's something I want to talk to you about."
"Go ahead."
"There's this thing I've been wanting to get my hands on lately."
"What is it?"
"I actually don't like my name, so I wish I could have a new one."
What? I blink owlishly. What the hell is he on about now? "What's wrong with your name, Lancer?"
"Nothing’s wrong with it, my parents' gave it to me, after all. But…." He trails off.
I glance up at him, waiting for his next words.
His eyes meet mine.
"...."
A pause.
The sun begins its slow descent. A brilliant crimson sunset falls on the clock tower where we stand. The view is of an oil painting by a nameless painter, the colors blending together to create a sky of unique hues.
In the light, his eyes glisten.
"Skyla, I wish I could change my name," he says. "So please do me a favor. Will you… make me Lancer Kaerun?"
At that moment.
All the noise beneath ud magically disappeared. Everything drowns out. The people chattering away as they wait for the bell to ring, the carriages rushing home, everything.
It's as if the world has been trapped inside a bottle, except for me and Lancer.
"Lancer."
"Yes, Skyla."
"I was just wondering, just to make sure...." I cross my arms, closing my eyes as I take a deep breath. "You're not asking me to make you Lancer Kaerun as my brother, or son, or nephew, or something related by blood, are you?"
Ouch. His expression crumbles in an instant. "I don't want to be your little brother Skyla, no way, I'd rather be reborn than be your little brother!"
I cringe at the intensity of his voice. "You don't have to be so blunt, do you hate being my little brother that much?"
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt by that. I remember thinking as a kid how much I would have loved to have him as my little brother.
He doesn't seem to share the same sentiment.
He rests a hand on his chest and exclaims, "Of course, I do! If I were your brother, I wouldn't be able to marry you!"
Marry?
Marry? Like, marriage?
I stare at Lancer, wide-eyed. Lancer squeezes his eyes shut and turns away, unable to meet my gaze.
"Skyla, I have ears. I know what's been going on lately. I heard the Crown Prince is thinking of asking for your hand in marriage!"
"What, how do you know...."
"Have you forgotten that my mother is the Empress's closest confidant? Besides, I heard all about it the last time I went to see Princess Julia to get my coat back."
I stand still, unsure of what to do. I thought if I didn't tell him, he wouldn't know. I was wrong.
"Skyla, do you like the Crown Prince?"
"...I don't like him in a romantic way."
"Then, do you want to marry the Crown Prince?"
"No."
"Good. I don't want to see you marry him either!" Lancer clenches his fists. "Skyla, even though I’m inferior to the Crown Prince in terms of power and status, you still picked me!"
"Aren't you being too confident?"
"Right." He coughs, as if my point had struck a nerve. "Well… I'm your boyfriend. And the guy who likes you more than anyone else in the world, so...!"
He takes a step closer to me, the corners of his eyes flaring red.
"Skyla." His hands come up to rest on my shoulders. "I like you."
Taking another step closer, leaning, Lancer stares down at me. I can feel his warmth.
"I wouldn't mind if all the flowers in the world disappeared so I could see your smile. I wouldn't mind if all the music in the world disappeared so I could hear your voice. And I wouldn't mind if all the people in the world disappeared so long as you were by my side."
"...."
I stare at him wordlessly as he grips my shoulders tightly, unperturbed by my silence.
"You're my world, Skyla, so… please, give me a chance to make you the happiest woman in the world!”
