My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 139
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 139
* * *
The rest of the journey was smooth yet monotonous.
As we passed each estate, the nobles who ruled them would appear and saluted us for the sake of the Crown Prince.
Towards evening, we stopped at a certain marquisate. As the Crown Prince had made arrangements in advance, the marquis's mansion was ready for us to stay in.
I suppose it's not so bad that the Crown Prince is travelling with us. If it had been just me and Lancer, I doubt we would have been able to find accommodation so easily. Though, Lancer would have tried to fix everything with magic. All of this is only possible because the Crown Prince is with us.
In the carriage, we gazed out the window at the scenery, took naps, stopped at estates for a break, joined the nobles we met for the first time for a meal, picked up forks and knives, and then went back to the carriage.
As the hours passed, I felt the air seeping into the carriage grow colder. I think we're getting closer to the North. And finally, on the second night…
"We've arrived!" The coachman's proclamation brings the carriage to a halt.
"We're finally here."
"Yes, my lady. You'll need to be well armed and ready to go."
"Alright." I pull on my hat, gloves, and other winter gear before stepping out of the carriage. I even put on the shawl that Phoebe specially customised for me.
At first, I didn't want to wrap it around my neck. Although it was made from the fur of a Welsh corgi, it technically included fur from Viscount Artisina's body. The thought of wearing such an object right in front of my nose was not pleasant. But since I'm in front of Phoebe, I have no choice but to wear it.
I wrap the shawl around myself and step out of the carriage. And in the next moment, I realise I made the surprisingly right decision.
"Sh*t." As soon as I'm out, escorted by Phoebe, the mucous membranes in my nose immediately freeze.
I panic.
What the f*ck?
"Keep breathing." Seeing me, Phoebe pulls the shawl tighter around me. "If you don't breathe, you'll freeze completely. Keep letting out the warmth inside your body."
"...Okay." I'm so grateful that Phoebe has been to the North before.
"Ugh, it's so cold. We've only been here for 23 seconds and I already want to go back to the capital. Is this homesickness?"
"At least it hasn't snowed yet."
The Crown Prince and Viscount Artisina alighted from the other carriage. Like me and Phoebe, they're bundled up from head to toe. Their thick coats make them look bloated and remind me of penguins.
"Lord Lancer, are you not cold?"
"I'm not cold because my body temperature has been raised by magic." Unlike the Crown Prince and viscount, Lancer wears a coat of average thickness. It's the same white fur coat he wore to Princess Julia's birthday party.
The Viscount, staring at Lancer with envy, asks, "Lord Lancer, do you know how to use nostril-melting magic?"
"I can't use that kind of nasty magic," Lancer replies.
The Viscount frowns. "Didn't you know? Long, long ago, the first king of the Hebnia Kingdom melted the nostrils of a frozen dragon so it could breathe?"
"That's the founding myth of that kingdom? I pity the people of that country."
"Wait, no. I know a friend who's born in that country, I'll tell you all about the myth!"
"Tell your friend I'm sorry he was born in a country with a strange founding myth."
At Lancer's response, the Crown Prince breaks into laughter. I stare at him.
"Ah, a cold breeze suddenly entered my mouth." The Crown Prince makes eye contact with me and excuses himself. But I know that's not true. He's smiling because he knows Viscount Artisina's true identity is Prince Cade of the Hebnia Kingdom.
Secretly hurt, Viscount Artisina sticks out his lower lip.
"Welcome." A heavy man's voice falls upon us like a sledgehammer as we're huddled in front of the carriage.
As I turn to see who it belongs to, I see a man of great stature. He has the appearance of stone, his fair skin was as white as a Northerner's, and his face was covered in scars and calluses. They were the marks of many harsh winters.
The Crown Prince recognises him at once. "It's been a long time, Grand Duke Sybeta. I thank you for coming to see me at such a late hour."
"There is no greater honour than to be greeted by His Highness the Crown Prince himself, travelling all the way from out of town." Grand Duke Sybeta bows.
So, this is Grand Duke Sybeta…. I sneak a glance at him. He was a man who must have been over forty years old, and he was completely unafraid to face the Crown Prince, the second highest ranking person in the empire after the emperor and empress.
One look at him must be enough to inspire respect. Seeing the Grand Duke, whom I only heard about in rumours, made me feel even more imposing. If only I could become a powerful figure like him, one who could radiate power like an aura.
"Let me escort you to the mansion before it gets darker."
"Alright."
All the people who are overwhelmed by his charisma follow him.
Including me, of course.
* * *
Arriving at his mansion, I'm the first to take a deep breath.
My nose, which has been stiffened by the cold, melts in the warmth. It hurts a little less than it did earlier.
"Skyla, are you alright?" Lancer asks in concern.
"Don't worry, unless you're going to cast a nostril-melting spell on me."
"I'll research and develop that spell right now."
"Don't. Please." I remove my glove and presse the bridge of my nose with my bare hand. I notice how my hand hurts less now that it's warmer.
"First time up North?" Grand Duke Sybeta asks, seeing me grunting through my frozen nose.
"Yes, it is my first time."
"Then may I ask, what made you visit this place in this winter?"
I glance at Lancer beside me. At this, Grand Duke Sybeta's attention also shifts from me to him.
"I have heard that His Majesty the Emperor had previously attempted to exile Lord Lancer to this place," he says after scanning Lancer from head to toe. "But how did Lord Lancer come to such an extreme place of his own accord?"
"Because I have never visited it before."
"For that reason alone?"
"What other reason do you need?"
In other words, he wants to come, so what’s anyone going to do about it? Lancer, you b*stard. You're getting out of bounds.
The Grand Duke is not shaken by his blunt retort. "None at all, but… let's be honest, the North is not exactly a tourist destination, especially in winter."
"Is there anything worth seeing here at this time of year?" The Crown Prince, who's been listening in, interrupts.
The Grand Duke's answer is straightforward. "The snow is beautiful. The first snowfall is due tonight, so you've come at the right time."
Pure white snow in the North! The thought of seeing snow, which is rarely seen in the capital, cheers me up.
The Crown Prince must have been thinking the same thing, because he smiles slightly. "I see. What else?"
"The snowman made of snow is adorable."
"And…?"
"The new snow on top of the old snow is beautiful."
"Um, other than snow?”
"When there's an overnight snowstorm, the snow is piled up on top of the leaves. It's a mysterious sight, especially when carriages are around."
"Isn't that just snow?"
"In the North, there's nothing to talk about but snow."
So it's just snow.
The disappointment on the Crown Prince's face did not go missing by me.
"Well, since it is late in the day, I suggest you retire to your rooms and rest. I'll have your meals brought up to your rooms. All of you are staying on the left side of the mansion, so if you need anything, you can go there."
With that, we begin to move towards our assigned rooms.
"Are you not tired?" The maid showing us to our rooms asks.
"I am tired."
"Then let's get you some good tea for your fatigue, shall we? This fellow makes very good tea, doesn't he, Dayton?" The maid jerks her head toward the servant following behind us.
The servant, carrying mine and Phoebe's luggage, blushes. "You flatter me, Betsy. I'm not that great...."
"Oh, how humble! You're so versatile, Dayton, you're good at everything, that's why I fell in love with you!" The maid laughs heartily and winks.
Then the servant stares at her and says, "Betsy… the truth is… I brewed the tea just to see your smile."
"Oh, Dayton!" The corners of her mouth instantly rise. And so does my blood pressure.
Oh, goodness. What do they want me to do now? I've been travelling in a carriage for two days and my body hurts. My bum muscles are tight and my back is aching.
Upon arriving at my assigned cabin, I slam and lock the door. I lay in bed.
"Haaaaa…."
The room is filled with a blistering heat, wood crackling in the fireplace.
"It's warm...."
"Do you like it?" Phoebe asks, overhearing my muttering. She’s sharing the room with me for the duration of my stay as my maid.
“Yeah.” I reply, slipping my hand under the covers. I'm trying to figure out how to warm the cold sheets.
But the duvet turns out to be warm too.
How? I look again and see that there's a magic stone attached to the bed. It seems to be emitting warmth and engulfing the bed with it.
I let out an inward cheer at this unexpected bit of happiness.
"Phoebe, I'll just lie there until dinner comes." I crawl under the covers. "Hah...." As soon as the warm blanket hugs me, I melt into it. It would be so nice to just rest like this forever….
After three days of being stuck in this room in the North, I'm starting to wish I could leave.
It's dangerous outside the covers after all.
* * *
Later, Phoebe wakes me up for my late dinner.
Half-awake, I sit down at the table and pick up my fork. I can't tell if the food is going to my mouth or my nose. All I know for sure is that something warm and delicious entered my stomach.
"You must be very tired." Phoebe lets out a shallow sigh as she helps me get dressed.
"I know it's still a little early for you to be sleeping, but…. you should try to get some sleep tonight, my lady."
"Yeah...." I yawn loudly, undignified, before promptly passing out.
And when I wake up again….
"Huh…?"
It's in the middle of the night.
I turn my head and see Phoebe lying on the bed next to me. She's fast asleep, perfectly expressionless, even in her sleep. I suspect she's expressionless in her dreams, too.
What time is it? Not wanting to wake her from her reverie, I cautiously get up and make my way to the desk near the window.
3 in the morning…. I check the time on my desk clock in the moonlight and wince slightly. I fell asleep early because I was tired. I'd woken up when I shouldn't have.
Speaking of which, the Grand Duke mentioned that it'll snow tonight.
With that thought, I carefully pull back the lace curtains covering the window. Sure enough, it's snowing hard outside. A blizzard with a strong wind. Snowflakes the size of pearls flutter uncontrollably. I'm at a loss for words as I watch the snow fall.
Hmm?
Beneath the white blanket of snow, I notice something out of place in the mansion's garden.
Someone is standing there.