My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 138
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 138
I turn back to the viscount. "Didn't you just spend three hours travelling in a carriage?"
"Yes, we did."
"And you spent those three hours talking about me?"
"Yes."
What do they have to talk about for three hours?
The Viscount shrugs. "What do you think, Princess? Isn't the power of love wonderful? It's enough to make two men who used to fight over someone become friends."
"Don't teach me such a ridiculous lesson." I scowl and leave.
When I return to the dining room, the table is already empty, the servants having cleared away all the empty plates and cutleries in the meantime.
"I suppose you'll be off on your next journey soon." Count Edinghan glances at me as I return to my seat on the table, then turn to the Crown Prince.
"Yes. It's a long way to the north, Count, and we can't lose much time here."
"I understand. But why don't you rest a little while, at least until my servants have given your horses plenty of water?"
At Count Edinghan's request, the Crown Prince complies. As soon as he accepts, the Count’s face brightens, and he leads us to a room he prepared.
It was a lavishly decorated parlour, with the kind of old-wood furniture that was in vogue a few decades ago. My guess is that it's probably the most precious room in the mansion, and the servants have spent days and days painstakingly decorating it.
He's probably trying to score points by keeping the Crown Prince occupied for as long as possible. I think to myself as I watch the back of Count Edinghan's head as he stands beside the Crown Prince, talking to him.
Something feels off. I'm constantly second-guessing other people's intentions and trying to figure out what they're thinking, even though I can't hear them anymore.
I guess it's become a habit now. I don't hate myself for interpreting other people's goodwill as pretentious and worldly. After all, no one is the perfect epitome of pure in reality.
"The dress you are wearing is very beautiful." I hear the voice of an easygoing middle-aged woman next to me. I turn to see Countess Edinghan standing beside me, her eyes never leaving my dress.
She must be thinking to herself, ‘Is this the current trend in the capital?’
"Thank you for the compliment, Countess."
"If you'll excuse me, may I know what material your dress is made of? It's not something I've seen around here."
"Of course, it's a fabric called velvet…." With a shallow smile on my lips, I begin to describe my dress in detail to her.
As I do, I recall in my mind the contract that's gone back and forth between Lady Aronia and myself.
Seven percent of the profits from the velvet dresses sold in Lady Aronia's boutique this winter will be mine.
Rumours must have already spread in the capital that I was travelling with the Crown Prince. I'm sure the gossips are excitedly discussing what I'm wearing and how I got into the carriage. At some point in the capital, attention would have been refocused on the velvet fabric.
The capital was a fickle place, with trends changing so quickly. But the provinces were different. Trends that begin in the capital spread slowly, like the ripples caused by a pebble thrown on a lake, and only after a long time do they reach the provinces.
The provincial aristocracy was slow to catch on to fashions and tended to stick with them. So if the provincial nobility developed a new taste for velvet, there would be a lot of velvet fabrics traded in the long run.
And my dearest Lady Aronia will bring me money.
When settlement day comes, I'll be checking all the books and transactions to make sure she's distributed the profits correctly.
"This fabric seems to have so many advantages. Especially in winter, I'm tempted to buy one myself." Countess Edinghan, replies after hearing my sales pitch.
Yes, I've got her!
"This is a fabric I would definitely recommend to you, Countess. I think it would suit you perfectly."
"Thank you, Princess Kaerun. Oh, by the way." She glances towards Lancer and Viscount Artisina beside me. "I'm afraid I didn't get a chance to speak to the youngest son of Duke Soli and Viscount Artisina. My attention has been solely on Princess Kaerun, my apologies."
And Count Edinghan's attention was solely on the Crown Prince. Perhaps he has nothing to say to me or Lancer beyond a brief greeting. Viscount Artisina has no interest in their talks. So it's up to Countess Edinghan to deal with the rest of us.
"That's fine."
"I'm only a viscount, so you can just ignore me."
They forgive her with ease.
"Viscount, what do you mean by “a mere viscount,” is that such a disrespectful way to use the precious title bestowed upon you by the Emperor?" Countess Edinghan tells him. The countess, who was well over forty years old, made him feel like he was being scolded by his mother.
He shrugs as he leans back on the sofa. "I was given the title simply because I'm a mage, I suppose."
"Oh, my, you're a mage, Viscount, I didn't know that." Countess Edinghan marvels in admiration. "I have a youngest daughter, who just turned twenty this year, and she's shown interest in magic. Would you like to meet her?"
"No." He blurts out without another thought.
The Countess seems offended by his attitude and turns her back on him completely. She begins to take an interest in Lancer instead.
Only after a while did the Crown Prince finish that it's time to leave. As we make our way back to the carriage, I pull on Viscount Artisina's sleeve while the Crown Prince and Lancer are still being held by the Count and Countess, respectively.
"Why did you do that?"
“Hmm? What?”
"Why did you act like that earlier when the Countess said her daughter was interested in magic? What's so hard about meeting and talking to someone who is curious about magic?"
The viscount smirks at my question. "My dear princess, why are you so naive?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really think the Countess would have called me to lecture her youngest daughter on magic? If she really wanted her to know about magic, she would have sought out the archmage, Lord Lancer, not me."
"Ah." That makes sense. Having been around Lancer since childhood, I sometimes forget that he's an archmage, capable of magic beyond imagination.
"Then what was the Countess after when she…."
He sighs. "Did you see the way her eyes changed as soon as she heard I was a mage? The Countess was probably trying to set me up with her daughter."
"Ah." Now I can understand the intent beneath the Countess's words. "...I didn't know that."
"Really? I'm a little surprised. I thought you were so perceptive that you knew everything."
He smiles mischievously. "Perhaps you're a little dull when it comes to romantic relationships. You're so innocent, how cute."
"I don't want to be called cute by you." Glaring, I walk away, deliberately keeping my distance from him.
At the front of the carriage where I was to board, Phoebe had arrived first and was waiting.
"Skyla!" As I wait to climb into the carriage, Lancer gallops toward me. "I'm afraid I didn't get to talk to you much during dinner. We'll talk more later!"
"So what? Me and you have known each other for years." I feel like we've had all the conversations we can have, so what's the point?
"I haven't met my quota."
"Quota?"
"Yeah. I have to spend a certain amount of time with you every day, Skyla, to keep going."
"What the hell’s kind of quota is that?" I huff and pinch his cheek lightly. His cheeks flush red, as if the gesture made him feel better.
"I'll see you later, then."
"Yeah." After a quick goodbye to him, I'm about to climb into my carriage when I hear a soft voice behind me.
"Kayla."
I turn to see the Crown Prince standing, looking quite amused for some reason.
"I hope you don't mind riding in the carriage with the Lancer." After a moment of silence, I ask him.
"No, there is nothing uncomfortable about it. On the contrary, I am grateful."
What does he mean by "grateful"? As I stare at him with curiosity, he speaks again. "During the carriage ride, I talked a lot with the Lancer. He knows a lot about you, having known you since you were a child and all."
"...And what did he tell you?"
"Nothing much except your childhood, Kayla. And your likes and dislikes."
I feel like I've been the subject of gossip despite it not being one. At least they weren't talking sh*t…?
"I didn't realise you were so interested in me."
"Of course. I like you a lot."
In the corner of my eye, Count and Countess Edinghan flinch slightly as they unwittingly overhear us. I wonder what they, oblivious outsiders, think my relationship with the Crown Prince is.
"To be honest, I think it will be quite entertaining to speak to Lord Lancer until we reach the North, so don't worry too much. Make sure you get some rest." He smiles brightly and places a hand gently on my shoulder.
"Oh, by the way." He pats my shoulder as if to cheer me up, then adds, "It seems like Lord Lancer knows a lot about you."
"...."
"A wholeee lot."
I have no idea what the Crown Prince is thinking.
