My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 137
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 137
The doors of the carriage in front of us open. The Crown Prince, Lancer, and Viscount Artisina step out one after the other.
I can't help but feel a little surprised at the sight of the three of them. Contrary to my fears, the air between them is not at all gloomy. Moreover, they seem to be friendly. They're all smiling and laughing for no reason. Even as they step out, they don't seem to want to stop talking.
"I never knew Lancer would think the same as me."
At the Crown Prince's comment, Lancer grins and nods. "Of course, and isn't that something the Viscount also agrees with?"
"Obviously! I'm afraid I couldn't agree with you two more!" The Viscount chimes in with a broad smile.
I stare at them, dumbfounded. Their gloominess is gone. It seems like yesterday when the Crown Prince was looking down on Lancer, and only a few days ago when Lancer threatened Viscount Artisina that he would not forgive him if he appeared in front of him again.
But now all that remains is the joyful friendship between men.
I thought there would be friction between them, especially Lancer and the Crown Prince. How come they're not at each other's throats? What's up with the good mood?
I blink, like a goldfish in a fishbowl, unable to understand whatever this is.
"How was your time in the carriage, Skyla?" Lancer spots me first. He waves at me and asks aloud.
"Uh… it was fine."
The Crown Prince nods. "I'm glad to hear it. Our carriage was a bit shaky on the way here, so I was afraid yours might have been uncomfortable."
"No, it was fine." Even though he's speaking kindly to me, I still feel wary as I stare at them both. Why do these two seem to get along so well, could I have been mistaken?
But later, as I enter Count Edinghan's mansion, dining with him and his wife, I realise that it's by no means an illusion.
"Did you have a hard time travelling from the capital to here?" Count Edinghan asks the Crown Prince.
His estate was not a very large one. It didn't have many advantages either, except that it was near the imperial capital. Therefore, Count Edinghan was proud that the Crown Prince had travelled here in person. This was evident in the way he treated the Crown Prince.
In response, the Crown Prince shrugs his shoulders. "The coachman and the horses have done all the hard work."
"Your Highness is right. I hope you were not bored on the way here?"
"Not at all. I had a companion the whole way, so I was never bored." As he says this, his gaze turns to Lancer.
Count Edinghan bursts into laughter. "His Highness seems to have a good relationship with the young lord of Soli Duchy!"
The sound of harmonious laughter never leaves the table. It's a heartwarming scene that would make anyone's heart melt.
But to me, who knows that Lancer and the Crown Prince have been putting heads until today, it all looks incongruous.
Since when are they so close?
They shouldn't suddenly be so close! It's scary!
They converse away, oblivious to my thoughts.
"Is something bothering you, Princess Kaerun?" Count Edinghan asks when I remain silent between all the noise.
"...It's nothing." I reply, trying to keep my composure. Still, the confusion in my mind doesn't go away. Think about it. Two people who disliked each other became friends out of nowhere. How could that not bother me?
Part of me wants to grab Phoebe and ask her if she doesn't think the situation is a little odd, since at least she might be on the same page as me.
But Phoebe, who's not of noble birth, is eating separately from us. Eventually I signalled to Viscount Artisina, sitting at the far end of the table.
By signalling, I mean sneaking under the table and touching his leg with my foot. Clearly that's gonna be a struggle, as I'm trying to gauge the invisible space under the tablecloth.
Not only did I miscalculated the distance, but also the force.
The result: "Ow!" The Viscount lets out an unearthly shriek as he's struck in the shin.
In an instant, all eyes are on him. Bewildered, he turns his gaze to me. His eyes are asking me why I suddenly kicked him.
In response, I mimic a response through my mouth.
‘Toilet.’
‘What? Pow…?’
I can see the confusion in his eyes.
‘Toilet. Bathroom.'
The ever-perceptive Viscount quickly realises what I'm trying to say and jumps to his feet.
"Toilet!"
With the way I’m making him guess, I think I've accidentally turned this into a speed quiz game.
"Uh… you mean you want to use the powder room?" The Count asks the Viscount, trying to make him sound more polite.
The Viscount nods, without a trace of shame. "Yes, I've just finished my meal, so I'd like to relieve myself!"
No, he doesn't need to announce it like that!
At that moment, a not-so-bright emotion pass over the faces of the Count and Countess. I'm sure they're both cursing him inwardly for making such a vulgar remark in the presence of the Crown Prince.
"You can follow the servant standing outside the door at—"
"Thank you. I've always wondered what a count's powder room looks like." The Viscount leaves the dining room first, not forgetting to wink at me in a way that only I can see.
I wait until he's out the door, then turn to the Countess, pretending to wipe the corner of my mouth with a napkin.
"Excuse me, Countess, but I was wondering if I might have a moment to…."
"Oh, of course!" As she also feels the need to use the lavatory, she gestures towards the maid standing by the wall.
Following the maid out of the dining room, I say, "I just wanted to get some fresh air, so if you don't mind, may you escort me to the powder room?"
"Would you like me to escort you to the garden instead?"
"No, I'd like to take a quick walk around here by myself."
Normally, it's not a good idea to wander around alone without someone from the mansion. But I'm a guest of the Crown Prince, and my status is that of a duke. Therefore, the maid lets me do as I please without a word.
"Princess!" Walking down the corridor away from the banquet hall, I hear a voice call out to me.
It's Viscount Artisina. "I'm sorry I kicked you earlier, I was trying to nudge you." As soon as I see him, I apologise.
He smiles and waves me off. "It's all right. I know you wanted to talk to me. You know, you can be a bit of a maverick at times, just my type."
I choose to ignore that one comment. "So what happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"How did things get so good between Lancer and His Highness, and since when?"
"Aha." He nods his head vigorously in understanding. He looks as if he's somewhat anticipated my reaction.
"Those two have found something in common."
"What?"
"At first, they stared at each other as coldly as a millennium of ice, but then they realised that they had a shared interest. They were moved by that common topic, they started talking, and before long, they were best friends."
What the hell is that supposed to mean.
I sigh in frustration as I listen to him. "So, what is this shared interest?"
In the first place, Lancer and the Crown Prince are polar opposites. Unlike the laid-back and innocent Lancer, the Crown Prince is a man who's more pragmatic than anything else, always looking out for his own best interests.
For example, Lancer is like a dragon lying in his lair, comfortable in his own skin, while the Crown Prince is more like a lion constantly scrambling for food.
How could two people with such opposite personalities have the same interests? What the hell could it even be?
"What could it be, you ask? What else if not you, Princess." He winks.
Huh? My eyes widen. "What, me?"
He looks at me as if I'm asking something obvious.
I'm even more confused.
"Wait, I'm not sure I understand what you're saying."
"Which part? The part where His Highness the Crown Prince and Lord Lancer of Soli Duchy both love to talk about you, so they've been talking about you all the way here to Count Edinghan's estate?"
What? Did I hear him right? Lancer and the Crown Prince, who were at odds with each other, had reconciled because of me? No, not just reconciled, but became best friends? Isn't this technically a sort of relationship now?
Even though I didn't like the idea of multiple men fighting over me, I knew the Crown Prince was somewhat interested in me. There was no way he would be in favour with Lancer, who also liked me. The same was true with Lancer.
Yet the two became close because of me?
This is the kind of bullshit as obvious as the reason for catching a cold being the flu.
