My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 142
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 142
At Grand Duke Sybeta's words, I turn outside to see it has begun to snow heavily outside the window. I didn't notice it while getting ready in my room.
"I'm afraid we're not going to see any Ice Flowers today."
"Is it really not possible?" The Crown Prince asks.
"I suppose we could force our way through, but it would be a bit much for those who are not used to the snowy northern terrain."
"But if the Grand Duke goes with us, we have nothing to worry about. Don't worry, lead the way."
I'm a little surprised by the Crown Prince. I didn't expect him to be so blunt.
"Is the Ice Flower such a pretty flower?
"Ice flowers are not beautiful enough to be worth the risk," Grand Duke Sybeta scolds. "I would prioritise the safety of Your Highness more."
"I am not one to risk my life for a mere snowflake. Your concern for me is well-received, but I think you're going too far."
"Your Highness, the snow will disappear in a few days, so why don't you rest in the mansion for the rest of the day?"
A subtle, clawed war of words passed back and forth between the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke. The Crown Prince was adamant that they must go out to see the Ice Flower no matter what, while the Grand Duke was adamant that they stay inside the mansion, as the snow could be dangerous.
Now, who will win? Sitting on the sofa with Phoebe, I watched this debate unfold. Would the winner be the Crown Prince, the next emperor, or the northern grand duke, who controls the most extreme environment in the empire?
The outcome was obvious.
"Clear a pathway."
In the end, the higher bloodline wins. The Grand Duke bows before the Crown Prince and orders his servants to prepare to leave.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Let's go." The Crown Prince shuffles over to me and holds out his hand. A friendly smile still plays at the corners of his mouth.
I take his hand out of politeness and rise from my seat. I can't help but think of how he didn't even ask me if I wanted to go.
As I continue to watch the snow outside the window, they fall harder and harder. The angel statue outside was missing, its being buried under the snow.
"It's cold outside, so take one of these, they're enchanted stones that will keep you warm." The Grand Duke holds out a small stone to each of us.
I recognise it at once, a strange mix of purple and chartreuse. It's an enchantment stone, a mysterious object with magic embedded within it that could be activated by simply holding it.
As the Crown Prince and I study the magic stone in wonder, Viscount Artisina, standing behind us, asks the Grand Duke. "Is this magic stone rechargeable?"
"I'm not a mage, so I don't know much about magic stones, but I've heard… that it is. Why do you ask?"
"Because, judging from the power contained within this magic stone, it will only last for two or three hours." At his reply, the Grand Duke widens his eyes.
"You can see the magic?"
"No, I can't see it, but if I hold it in my hand like this, I can feel the magic it contains."
"Impressive." The Grand Duke mutters. "Measuring the magic contained in a magic stone is something only a skilled mage can do… I didn't know there were any other wizards of such distinction in this empire, aside from the Archmage, Lord Lancer."
"Oh, I'm from the Hebnia Kingdom, where magic of this calibre is common knowledge." The Viscount smirks, his ego inflating.
Lancer stares at the gem without a word.
"What's wrong, Lancer?"
"The magic is weak."
"Huh?"
"I can't feel anything. Just take this and go." Lancer puts his magic stone in my hand. Looks like his own magic is too strong for the gem to be of any help.
I'll take it, I guess. I tuck his magic stone into my coat pocket.
The Grand Duke's servants have cleared the snow from in front of the mansion. Climbing into a northern carriage specially designed to keep the wheels from getting stuck in the snow, we set off.
"Ice flowers thrive in high places. Let's go up the mountain a little way from the mansion." Even as he guides us, Grand Duke Sybeta doesn't seem to be too keen on this excursion.
The view from the carriage was a feast of ivory. It looks as if someone in the sky has accidentally spilled sugar powder.
"It looks like chalk dust is falling from the sky." The Viscount mutters beside me. Ah, how unromantic the adult imagination is.
"It looks like shaved ice, with chocolate syrup on top," Lancer says, sitting next to me, watching the snow.
Shaved ice… it reminds me of our summer favourite. The dessert, which consisted of ice shaved into crumbs and topped with syrup and toppings, had been a favourite of ours since we were children.
The Crown Prince smirks at Lancer’s comment. "Shaved ice? You're so childish. I thought my sister, Princess Julia, was the only one in the entire palace who liked it."
"Shaved ice is delicious." I turn to him, glaring at him and his mockery.
"...Yes, it is. Princess Julia is the only one of our family who has a taste for it." Embarrassed, he stammers and looks away.
The awkwardness extends in the carriage. Not long after leaving the mansion, the carriage comes to a halt.
"We'll have to walk from here." Grand Duke Sybeta points to a sign out the window. It shows a trail up the mountain.
It's not as cold as I thought. Was it the magic stone the Grand Duke had given me?
We walk up the mountain path, following Grand Duke Sybeta and the servants of the mansion.
The snow wind was still blowing. Snowflakes danced and flew uncontrollably through my tousled hair, making it difficult to see, so I tucked all my hair under my hat.
"Shoot." I take a step forward, and the snow on the ground engulfs my ankles. It was a good thing I was wearing boots that came up to my knees. Otherwise, my feet would have been frozen in the snow in no time.
"That's a lot of snow."
"It's just a bit." Phoebe, hearing my mutterings from the side, blurts out. The look on her face as she says it is one of defiance.
"Can you walk?" The Grand Duke asks the Crown Prince.
"Of course." The Crown Prince's nose flares red as he nods and proclaims. It seems that no matter how many magic stones we have, we still can't overcome the cold wind.
I duck my head into my shawl to protect my increasingly freezing nose.
I want to go home. I just want to be holed up in the mansion, cosy up to the fire in the fireplace, sipping hot chocolate with Lancer. Why the hell does the Crown Prince have to be obsessed with ice flowers?
"Don't you think the sound it makes when we step in the snow sounds cute?" Lancer asks, grinning from ear to ear.
Phoebe glares at him, thinking he's being condescending because he's using magic to overcome everything while everyone else suffers from the cold.
"That's the sound of a snow fairy's spine crushing."
"Huh?"
"In case you didn't notice, my lord. That crunching sound is none other than the bones of the snow fairies being crushed under your feet."
Lancer stares at her in disbelief. "What are you talking about? Snow fairies have wings, they can fly away."
Viscount Artisina, eavesdropping, interjects. "That's right, my lady. Fairies like fresh air, so they don't lie on the ground."
"...." At their replies, Phoebe stays silent. She folds her arms and mutters, “This is why mages are so….”
"Do you see that?" Grand Duke Sybeta stops in his tracks.bI lift my head in the direction he points. There's something shimmering on a cliff a short distance from where we stand. "It's an ice flower. It grows on cliffs like that."
I stare at the flower. It's as clear as glass and shines like a piece of crystal. The petals reflect the light as brilliantly as if they're diamonds.
"It's beautiful...." I blurt out.
"Do you want it?" The Crown Prince, who happens to be standing next to me, asks.
I glance up in surprise, suddenly realising he's next to me. "Oh, no."
"Didn't you just say it was beautiful?"
"Just because it's beautiful doesn't mean I want it."
"Still, I'd like to pick those flowers for you."
I stiffen. "Are you going to walk to that cliff?"
"It doesn't look so dangerous."
"It only looks that way because it's covered in a thick layer of snow. Stop this." I glare, worried that he might actually walk up the cliff with this wind.
"We can't go any further, so we'll stop here, rest for a while, and then we'll return to the mansion."
We thank the Grand Duke. He soon had his servants bring us hot tea he had prepared. As we admire the flowers and catch our breath, Viscount Artisina suddenly asks the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, if we shout from here, will we hear an echo?"
"I don't know. If you want to know, why don't you try it?" The Crown Prince replies sullenly.
The viscount, excited despite his boring attitude, strides to an open area. "Yahoo, I am the Viscount in the North! A Hebnian in an Empire!"
"The Viscount is Hebnian?" Lancer asks.
At this, the Viscount huffs. "What? I've told you several times that I'm from Hebnia! I'm a native! I speak my language! Are you insulting my ability in my own native language?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, how well do you speak Hebnian? If you travelled to the Hebnia Kingdom and suddenly found yourself lost, could you just grab some locals and ask them for directions to your hotel?"
"I think I could just teleport back."
"Wow, Lord Lancer. It must be so nice to be an archmage!"
"Thanks for the compliment. Though I'm not too pleased…."
As I watch the two of them bicker, Phoebe whispers. "Those two are getting along quite well."
"Indeed."
"You may wait here for a moment, my lady. I'll go and get some more hot tea."
"Sure. You get some for yourself too." With a nod, she approaches the Grand Duke's servants. I stand alone, arms folded, staring at the Ice Flower.
Then someone appears in my view.
And that someone began walking towards the cliff where the Ice Flower had bloomed.
It was the Crown Prince.
