My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 143
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 143
Hmm?
Why is the Crown Prince heading that way?
I glance around at the people around me. Grand Duke Sybeta is instructing the servants to pour the tea. Phoebe is dutifully helping them, and Lancer and the Viscount are busy bantering. None of them seem to notice the Crown Prince walking towards the cliff.
I'm starting to be terrified that he might fall over the edge.
Sh*t. If he dies and there's a fight for the succession, it will ruin the economic system! If that happens, the duchy will be caught up in a troublesome political crisis.
"Crown Prince, where are you going!" I shout. My voice draws the attention of the others.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
"Then come back here immediately so I don't have to worry!" My heart sinks as I watch him approach the Ice Flower.
"You're worried about me? I'm grateful."
If you're so grateful, get your arse over here, you clueless Crown Prince!
Part of me wants to grab him by the hair and drag him over here. But I can't do that because I'll be sent to prison for pulling out the precious hair of an imperial prince and almost making him bald.
"Your Majesty, don't go there, it's dangerous!" shouts Grand Duke Sybeta.
"Wait for me. I just need to pluck this flower."
"No, come out at once! There's no way out there! It is only the snow that makes it look like there is a path—"
"Ah." The ground on which the Crown Prince was standing crumbles. The layer of snow cracks like a dry cookie.
"Crown Prince!" I, standing closest to the Crown Prince, launch myself at him as he falls. I don't have time to think, the need to save him takes over.
As I am no archmage or even a mere mage I have no ability to save him from falling off a cliff.
"Kayla!"
His fingers hold onto my fingertips.
And that was enough for me to follow him down.
F*cking hell.
Why would I even do this? Maybe I shouldn't have saved him.
We plummet down the cliff, the snowdrifts collapsing under our weight.
I black out the moment my head hits the snow.
* * *
I wonder how much time has passed?
"Kayla!"
Someone's anxious call pierces my ears.
"Ugh…."
My eyes widen in surprise. The first thing I see is the Crown Prince's face.
"Are you awake? Are you okay?"
"Crown Prince...?"
A trace of relief washes over him when he hears my voice. "Thank goodness. Are you alright?"
"My back hurts." I grunt, then grab his hand and pull myself up.
I glance around and see that I'm sitting in a darkened space that looks like a cave. It's as dark outside the cave's entrance as it is inside. I can see stars streaking across the sky.
Other than that, there's no sign of life.
I'm getting a bad feeling out of this….
"Where are we?"
"I'm not sure. I brought us here since this was the closest place from when we fell to get out of the snow...." He trails off. I don't know if he even knows that we won't be here in the first place if it weren't for him.
I let out an earth-shattering sigh. "Are you injured anywhere?"
"....I think I sprained my ankle slightly."
"What?" He'd brought me all the way to this cave with a sprained ankle? "Why did you do that? What if you hurt it further?"
"I couldn't just abandon you out there in the snow."
"Then why did you do something so dangerous in the first place?" My temper flares as I recall why we're here. "This is why men's life expectancy is so much shorter than women's! Why do you always impulsively do everything?!"
As much as I want to keep yelling at him, I can't bring myself to do it. I have to be at least somewhat polite to the imperial family.
He bows his head in shame. "I wanted to see...."
"What? See what?"
"I wanted to see… you smile with joy." The words slip out of his hesitant mouth.
"...." I don't know how to react. He wanted to see me smile….
"Why would you want to see that?"
He laughs weakly. "Why, you ask? Well, I...."
He doesn't say anything else. He remains still and silent. I decide not to question him, as I know he would be frustrated in more ways than one.
"Are you cold?"
"It's not so cold because of the magic stone."
He's right. Miraculously, I haven't frozen to death yet.
The magic stones saved my life…. I sigh, touching the two magic stones in my coat pocket. Thank goodness Lancer had given his to me.
No, wait. Viscount Artisina told me that these stones are supposed to provide a warming enchantment that lasts for a couple of hours. That means it hasn't been long since we were separated from the others.
It's winter, so the sun sets early, which is why it seems darker. If we wait, people will come to our rescue. Grand Duke Sybeta knows the terrain well, and Lancer is an archmage, so with their combined abilities, finding us shouldn't be a problem.
With that thought, my fear of the unknown eases a little.
"Don't worry, Crown Prince. I'm sure they'll come looking for us."
"I hope so."
"Ah, I found them." A familiar voice says outside the cave.
Startled by the sudden appearance, we whip our heads around.
"How are you?"
A large lantern dominates the view.
At the entrance to the cave stands a blond man in a pure white fur coat. With a smile as bright as spring, completely out of place in the cold of this place.
I jump to my feet. "Lancer!"
Without a second thought, I run to him and hug him. Relief warmly spreads through my body. I'm so happy to see him again.
Placing the lantern on the ground, Lancer stares down at me, his eyes wide. "Skyla, I can't believe you came to me first… what’s wrong, are you sick?"
"...Did you really have to ruin the mood of this reunion?" My excitement waning, I step away from him.
Drooping, he reaches out to me again. "I'm sorry, come back here."
"No." I decline, crossing my arms in front of me. His shoulders sag with a sour expression.
"Lord… Lord Lancer." The Crown Prince behind me calls out, calling Lancer's name. He looks as if he can't believe who's standing before him. "How did you find us?"
"I was looking for you." It's an unhelpful explanation. But the Crown Prince doesn't argue with him.
"I was worried that the magic stone would run out, but you found us just in time. Thank you." The Crown Prince thanks politely. His sincere manner and his gratitude are genuine.
"Did Phoebe worry much?"
"No, she went on a rampage, threatening to die if you disappeared, so Viscount Artisina put her to sleep with magic."
She'd die if I disappeared… I vow to live a long life, even if it's just for her.
"Where is Viscount Artisina?" The Crown Prince asks, obviously concerned that the Viscount he has brought with him as his escort is nowhere to be seen.
Lancer shrugs. "Don't worry. He's resting in the mansion."
"...." For a moment, I see the Crown Prince's expression crumble. It's a good thing, I can no longer hear his thoughts. I wonder how much anger he must be harbouring inside right now.
Turning away from him, I say to Lancer. "Lancer, let's go back now. Can you use your teleportation magic to take us there?"
Lancer is a genius that only appears once in a thousand years, so teleportation shouldn't be too difficult for him. In fact, when he came to my mansion in the past, he would often skip the carriage and use his magic instead.
But despite my thoughts, Lancer shakes his head. "I don't think that would work."
"What? Why not?"
"I can't cast teleportation spells on other people.”