My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 43
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 43
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The closer we got to the Imperial Palace, the more crowded the streets became.
People who woke up from their sleep were gathered, shouting and pointing at it.
The entire city must've heard the explosions that came from the palace.
I mean, that makes sense. Even the Duchy of Kaerun, which was some distance away from the palace, could hear it clearly.
"My God, what was that, an earthquake?"
"Did the Hebnia Kingdom invade?"
"Didn't it sound like something exploded?"
"I thought it was another dragon flying in from the borders of the Hebnia Kingdom crashing the city walls!"
Everyone who went out of their houses in their pyjamas was theorizing about the explosion. Fortunately, none of them involved Lancer.
"What are you going to do?"
Phoebe asked, riding her horse beside me.
"What?"
"If Lord Lancer was the mastermind behind this, what would you do?"
"What else? I'd give hit him in the head and take him home."
"Are you really going to do that?"
"No."
"Then how on earth are you going to persuade Lord Lancer…"
"I’ll think about it." Having said that, I stopped in my tracks.
Heeeeng-.
The halted horse raised its head and sniffed. The horse then shook its head repeatedly as if it was struggling to breathe.
We were only a few metres away from the palace.
Although a small lantern was hung in front of the horse, it was difficult to see because of the dense dust. Not only that, the sun had not yet risen.
I heard a jumble of noises of people shouting, calling for help, looking for support up ahead, but I couldn't see them anywhere.
The urgency of their cries made my body tense up.
"I think it'd be dangerous to move forward on horseback at this rate, little duke." Lewis, the commander of the Kaerun Knights, said.
I nodded in agreement, "Then, let's dismount and walk."
"Won't it be dangerous too?"
"Of course it will be, isn't that why you're following me, isn't it?"
At my words, Lewis gestured to the other knights and they dismounted without a word.
Entrusting the horses to one of the youngest knights, we took our lanterns and began walking towards the city walls.
It wasn't long before someone spotted us and shouted, "Who is it? You mustn't come here now!"
I lifted my lantern and saw two knights. They were covered in dirt as they held the shovels in their hands.
Shovels?
"I am Princess Skyla of the Kaerun Duchy. What is happening here?"
After I revealed my identity, they exchanged glances, not knowing what to do. Soon, they made up their minds and one of them spoke.
"I'm sorry. We can't tell you anything."
Did the imperial family order them to keep their mouths shut? Well, that's quick.
In response, I opted for a breakthrough head-on. "Did someone break down the walls with magic?"
"That's…"
I could see their surprised faces through the thick, dusty air.
No way, is Lancer actually involved in this?
I was about to question the soldiers again when they hastily spoke,
"I'm sorry, but we have to go carry out orders soon."
"This place is dangerous, so please leave now!"
With that, they grabbed their shovels and began to run.
But they didn't get far.
"Argh!"
With a piercing scream, one of the knights running ahead fell to the ground.
Startled, the knights and I rushed to him.
"Are you okay?"
"It's nothing!"
The fallen knight scrambled to his feet and pressed his forehead, which was trickling with blood from a small tear.
I glanced to his side and saw scattered pieces of stone. It seemed like he got hit in the head by a piece of brick that fell from the broken wall.
My heart sank.
I'm glad the pieces were small.
If this knight got hit by a stone the size of a palm, would he have survived?
If this is really the work of Lancer…
My heart felt like it was burning even more. It became hard to breathe as if there was grey smoke filling my lungs from anger.
I must find him quickly.
Lancer, where the hell are you?
"Can you walk?" Lewis helped the knight to his feet.
He nodded gratefully at him, "It's not a deep wound, thank you."
"But it's still bleeding, you'll have to get it treated."
"Don't worry about that. We have a competent mage among us specialising in healing magic… Oh, there he is. Mage! Please heal this wound!"
He waved towards the distance. Everyone's eyes, including mine, followed his gaze.
Hearing his cry for help, someone began to hurry in our direction.
The faint light of the lantern shone brighter and brighter, and soon a man's face emerged from the darkness.
"Where are you hurt? Is it a scratch, a bruise, or... huh?"
Huh?
I froze in place.
Is this actually happening right now?
"Princess Kaerun!"
The 'competent mage specialising in healing magic' was none other than Viscount Artisina, the one who followed me around the ballroom.
'That mushy butter Viscount hasn't died yet!'
Phoebe glared at Viscount Artisina. I think the two got off on the wrong foot since their first meeting.
"My goodness, Princess Kaerun! Are you really her?"
The way he stared at me was unusual. It was like the face of someone who sees a rain cloud after a long drought.
His eyes were filled with hope, like honey overflowing from its jar.
Even his thoughts are unusual,
'Princess, princess, princess, princess, princess, princess, princess, princess!'
I couldn't figure out why the hell he was like this.
What's wrong with him?
I was stunned to see him.
On the other hand, he was completely unperturbed by my reaction and strode towards me.
He reached out his arms and pulled me into a tight embrace.
Huh?
"Viscount, what are you..!"
Startled, I scrambled backwards to get him to fall off of me, but he didn't even think of it and still clung onto me and then began to ramble on in a bizarre tirade.
"Oh, Princess, I missed you so much!" I didn't miss you so much.
"Princess, I was just about to tell His Highness that you must be brought to the Imperial Palace, even if it means sending men to the Kaerun Duchy to move your bed! But you show up on your own like this! I thank you infinitely-"
Before he could finish, two silver swords were at his throat.
"Let go of that hand."
"What disrespect are you committing to the lady?"
Two swords were drawn, one from Phoebe's hand and the other from Lewis'.
'What is this?'
The viscount was bewildered and finally let me go. He began to stammer out a gibberish excuse.
"Look, look, I'm not a weirdo, I'm an imperial mage! I've ridden in the carriage with the princess, committed corruption with her, and I've even had the chance to dance with her once!"
None of them put down their swords at his baseless explanation.
In particular, Phoebe's hand was gripping the sword tighter.
"If you're not a weirdo, why are you hugging the lady?"
'Why are you doing something that I can't do no matter how much I want it? Disgusting.'
Phoebe, you're jealous.
"Viscount, why don't you treat the knight first?"
With a sigh, I had Phoebe and Lewis sheath their swords.
I pitied the wounded knight who was caught in the middle.
The viscount quickly used his magic to heal the wound. At that moment, the magic stone in his ear glowed red, and the wound disappeared without a trace. His healer title wasn't given for nothing.
"What do you mean you found me?" I asked him as the healed soldier and his companion scrambled off.
"Well, it's…"
He briefly glanced behind me at Phoebe and Lewis, before lowering his head to me and whispered. "I'm sure the Princess is well aware of who destroyed the palace walls."
"Please tell me it wasn't Lancer."
"Yes, it was Lord Lancer. Who else would it be if not the archmage, Lord Lancer…"
He raised his head to the walls, lamenting,
'I'll never forgive you, Lord Lancer. How dare you overwork me until dawn…'
Hey, Viscount. I don't think that's what you should be worrying about right now.
Even now, the broken walls were occasionally cracking. From above, people could be seen shovelling away to clear the broken pieces.
If Lancer were to go on another rampage now, it would be dangerous. The walls might be obliterated.
"Where is Lancer now?"
"I don't exactly know, but I think he's somewhere inside."
'The ballroom, to be exact.'
"How do you know?"
At my sharp question, the viscount let out a laugh and scratched the back of his head.
"I… I just do… haha…"
'How can I say I have witch's blood in my veins so I have a keen sense?'
Alright, I got it. I didn't ask to not push him. After all, I promised to never pry into his situation again.
Instead, I gestured to him, "Please Guide me."
"Huh?"
"You're a keen viscount and a mage, you should know where he is."
I deliberately raised my voice for others to hear.
"Lead me to where the Lancer is, Viscount. I'll take care of the rest."
At my declaration, he covered his mouth.
'Princess, your power..!'
Don't keep falling for me, you mage.
