Translated by d6y (ko-fi)

Chapter 19

“Hmm…”

Lancer seemed to ponder my words.

I could hear the cogs of his brain turning from here, he was really considering it.

After a while, he stroked his chin and looked at me in confusion.

“Aren't we just close friends..?”

“If you say that at a party, you'll be treated as inorganic trash, so just shut up.”

It pains me more knowing that was his conclusion after considering it for a while.

The theory that magic power doesn’t equal common sense is correct.

“Ah, so super close friends then?”

“Only open your mouth to eat from now on.”

Lancer’s shoulders drooped again at my sharp remark.

“I can't open my mouth to drink water then…”

“That's not what I meant.”

I feel a little sorry seeing Lancer looking like a kicked puppy in the rain, but I had no choice.

If I didn't press him, there was no telling what strange things he would say outside.

“Anyways, we can't have sleepovers like we used to. What if I can't get engaged because a strange rumour comes out?”

“Are you getting engaged, Skyla?”

Oops.

My tongue slipped, I should've watched my mouth.

My fraudulent engagement with the Crown Prince is a secret that even Lancer cannot know. Or more like he can't know.

How would he react if he knew I was engaged to the Crown Prince?

-Skyla! Why are you suddenly engaged to the Crown Prince?!

He slams my office door open.

-Skyla! Don't abandon me! I only have you to play with!

He intrudes on my lunch hour

-Skyla! What about our friendship? We were supposed to get married later on!

He pops out from under my bed when I lay down.

Chills rose all over my body. They're just figments of my imagination but I already feel horrified.

I had to change the subject quickly so he wouldn't ponder it.

“Anyways, you should go find Rachel to get a room ready if you wanna sleep tonight…”

“Your engagement has already been arranged without my knowledge?”

The words flowed from Lancer’s mouth.

“No, that's not it…”

I started to panic. But the moment I was about to bluff, Lancer asks.

“Can I pick out the necklace for your engagement?”

Oh? He’s more chill than I thought?

It's a bit surprising. I thought he would be screaming and whining, “Who the hell are you getting engaged to?” but instead, he asks about an engagement gift?

“The colour of Skyla’s eyes is red, so maybe a necklace with a red gem would be good, or something similar to that. What are your thoughts on it?”

“Uh… do as you please..?

“Then let's make it a one-of-a-kind gem. Let's make it from Witch's Ode because it's red.”

“Huh?”

I was left dumbfounded by his words. Isn't Witch’s Ode a holy relic of the Hebnia Kingdom?

With my interest in the Hebnia Kingdom, it wasn't possible for me not to about the magic stone Witch’s Ode.

Witch's Ode is said to have brought two people together despite their forbidden love.

There’s a romantic legend that anyone with that magic stone can spend a loving eternity with whoever they want.

And now Lancer’s just going to take a national treasure like that from a neighbouring country?

“I don't think that's a good idea, Lancer.”

“Why? It's our only engagement, so I want it to be the best and most extravagant.”

Huh?

“Can you repeat that?”

“The best and most-”

“No, before that.”

I hastily interrupted Lancer.

“What do you mean by ‘our only engagement’?”

In response to my question, he asked me back in a ‘what are you on?’ tone.

“Aren't we getting engaged?”

Ah, I see.

No wonder why Lancer wasn't rolling on the bare floor and whining, the engagement he was thinking of was mine and his.

I just sighed, “Lancer, listen up.”

“Yes, Skyla.”

“Imagine a world in which I didn't exist, then who do you think you'll marry?”

Even if Lancer wasn't the heir to the duchy, there has been no shortage of noblewomen eager to marry him for the prestige of the Soli Duchy only. So he’ll probably marry a young lady of a decent family with a mansion.

As I was about to present him with that fact,

“I don't wanna.”

“What?”

“I don't want to imagine a world without you, Skyla.”

“...”

I can't explain the example if it turns out to be like this.

I've given up.

I can no longer deny it, despite Lancer and I speaking the same language, we could never understand each other.

“...We’re not getting engaged. Let's just stop talking.”

I held his hand and dragged him to where Rachel is.

Upon seeing how Lancer had calmed down, she gave me an appraising look.

‘I lived thanks to Lady Skyla! As expected, the Princess is the only one who can handle our youngest!’

Hearing Rachel's words, I felt a little down.

To put her words in another way, Lancer is out of control without me.

If I'm gone, what would happen to Lancer?

As I was thinking about it, Rachel gently pulled me aside.

“What's up?”

“Well, it's…”

Her voice sounded nervous and I noticed her shoulders were stiff. It seems like she's gonna bring up something uncomfortable.

Though, I already knew what she was going to say since I'd already been listening to her thoughts.

“It's very shameless to ask a princess something like this but… the Duke and Duchess are away from the mansion today.”

“Ah, I've heard about it.”

“Right… as you know the first and second you masters were also on duty elsewhere… so…”

I could complete the pieces without having to listen more.

Turns out, Lancer was more upset with me than I thought. His emotions must've been unstable all day. It's even worse when the mansion’s pillars of support were absent.

The servants of the mansion were worried that if Lancer were to be left alone, he would go on another rampage.

“So… you want me to sleep over?”

“...I'm sorry, I know I don't dare to ask the Princess this but…”

Rachel’s cheeks flushed. Seems like she feels pathetic and wants to run away for having to ask this to me.

‘The Princess is busy so she’ll probably say no…’

Gosh, I can't believe you're already assuming that I'm going to say no. But what else would I do?

“Alright.”

I wouldn’t say no.

“Huh? Really?”

Her eyes flashed like a blind man regaining his sight.

“Really, just for one night, though. I'll sleep in the room next to Lancer’s, so please get it ready.”

“Thank you! I'll get it ready and then guide you there right away!”

She hurriedly disappeared to give instructions to the maids.

Phoebe was not pleased when I told her I'll be staying the night in Soli Duchy.

"But my lady, what would you do if other nobles found out that you had spent the night at the Soli Duchy without a solid reason to do so? You'd certainly be in hot water." 

That's what she said, but this is what she's thinking.

'How dare he, that damn son of a duchy! My only joy in life is to end the day watching my lady fall asleep!'

Phoebe was reluctant to leave me on Soli Duchy and return alone, so I tried to soothe her.

"The other day, Duke Soli asked me to keep an eye on Landseer, and I agreed to it. As a noble, I must keep that promise."

"My lady…"

Her eyes began to turn red as she was moved.

Thank goodness she's easy to handle.

After ordering Phoebe to return to the Kaerun Duchy and explain my situation to my parents, I went back to Lancer.

Lancer was jumping up and down excitedly when he heard that I was staying overnight.

He's not a child, by the way.

"We're a two-way street, right? Skyla, you like me, too, right? That's why you're spending the night here, right?"

"Dream on."

I'm being serious.

It was purely because of Rachel that I decided to do that.

Lancer had no stake in my decision.

Rachel was a good person.

As Lancer is an archmage, most of the servants were reluctant to care for him. They treated him as if he were a monster.

Rather than serving him as their young master, they saw him as a ticking time bomb who could lose control of his emotions and go on a rampage at any moment.

Despite that, Rachel always thought about Lancer's well-being and was genuinely concerned for him.

So it wouldn't be a bad idea to compensate for her hard work.

Though Lancer doesn't see through any of that and only likes the idea because he could spend more time with me.

"I'll get ready for bed. I have something to show you before we sleep, visit my room later!"

"What are you going to show me?”

"My diary!"

Why on earth would you wanna show me that.

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